Holyoke Enterprise

Holyoke Elementary School volunteer crossing guard Jim Gribben, at left, pauses for a picture with fourth-grader Maelynn Frost. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

Give Back.

They say it’s better to give than to receive, but those who give will often find they receive more in return than they ever thought they would. It’s easy to think of “giving” as donating money to a worthy cause, but volunteering one’s time...

Martin Luther King Jr. speaks at a press conference in 1965. While visiting Memphis, Tennessee, to support a strike by black sanitation workers, on April 4, 1968, he was shot and killed by escaped convict James Earl Ray, sparking unrest and debate across the country. — Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ppmsca-49864

Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1968 slaying left a nation divided and a dream in peril

The evening of April 4, 1968, found presidential hopeful and New York senator Robert F. Kennedy preparing to break the news of an ongoing national tragedy to a predominately black, poor neighborhood in Indianapolis, Indiana. Just hours...

Sisters Lacey Tharp, age 2, and Callie Tharp, age 4, concentrate on a puzzle at great-grandma Cherrie Brown’s house. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

National Puzzle Month

It’s fitting that National Puzzle Month is celebrated in January, and, more specifically, that National Puzzle Day is Jan. 29. The sparkle of Christmas has faded away, the weather has turned cold and snowy, and people young and old need an...

Phillips County Sheriff Thomas Elliott warns drivers to be mindful of traffic control devices and road closures, which may be used to indicate dangerous conditions.

Don’t get caught in the cold when winter storms hit roads across the Midwest

Every year, winter finds motorists unprepared for the challenges of driving in the ice and snow, stranding people for hours and sometimes days until help arrives or conditions improve. Fortunately, there are steps that drivers can take to...

Parkview Assisted Living in Imperial has a community coffee time once a week. These nine residents were seated around one of two tables enjoying fresh coffee, cookies and cake. A rousing discussion ensued about their memories of snow days at home when they were children. Seated from left were Mava Jane Hurd, Jan Huser, Wilber Kuenning, Dee Taylor, Harold Maris, John Osler, Kaye Barker, Elaine Hink and John Karns. — Johnson Publications

Snow days unplugged, past and present

Snow days are bound to happen, and children find themselves home from school wondering what to do. Staying home from school while the white stuff covers the ground can enable more time to electronically vegetate. Electronic devices and...

In the surgery room at BarkWell, veterinarian Nicole Lenz makes preparations for the grand opening of her animal care center at 520 S. Interocean Ave. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

BarkWell Animal Care Center grand opening planned Feb. 2

After sitting empty for years, the brick building at 520 S. Interocean Ave. is having new life breathed into it by veterinarian Nicole Lenz. Though she describes the months of renovations she’s completed with the help of her father a “labor of...

Local

Holyoke Elementary School volunteer crossing guard Jim Gribben, at left, pauses for a picture with fourth-grader Maelynn Frost. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

Give Back.

They say it’s better to give than to receive, but those who give will often find they receive more in return than they ever thought they would.

By Darci Tomky, The Holyoke Enterprise

Martin Luther King Jr. speaks at a press conference in 1965. While visiting Memphis, Tennessee, to support a strike by black sanitation workers, on April 4, 1968, he was shot and killed by escaped convict James Earl Ray, sparking unrest and debate across the country. — Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ppmsca-49864

Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1968 slaying left a nation divided and a dream in peril

The evening of April 4, 1968, found presidential hopeful and New York senator Robert F.

By Max Levy, The Holyoke Enterprise

SNAP benefits issued early; make them last

Due to the continuing partial federal government shutdown, the U.S.

Sports

Jesus Trejo wastes no time in pinning his Burlington opponent in 46 seconds in the 145-lb. match at Thursday’s dual. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

Wrestling hosts Burlington in Parents Night event

A nice-size crowd turned out to support the Dragon wrestling team in its only home action of the season Thursday, Jan. 17.

By Brenda Johnson Brandt, The Holyoke Enterprise

Swimmers defeat Valley, Estes Park

Holyoke High School girls swim team defeated Valley and Estes Park 105-104 and 105-63, respectively, in a double dual at Valley last Thursday, Jan.

By Max Levy, The Holyoke Enterprise

Senior Kaylee Camblin gets ready for the tipoff at Holyoke’s Pink Out home game versus Sedgwick County last Friday, Jan. 18. The Dragons won the game handily, 50-15. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

Lady Dragons beat Sedgwick County, lose close game to Wray

Holyoke High School girls basketball split its weekend lineup against Sedgwick County and Wray last Friday and Saturday, Jan.

By Max Levy, The Holyoke Enterprise

Ag & Business

City pledges $2K for county housing survey

Phillips County Economic Development Director Trisha Herman approached Holyoke City Council last Tuesday, Jan.

By Max Levy, The Holyoke Enterprise

Chamber’s community excellence winners announced

Holyoke Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of the 2019 community excellence awards.

In the surgery room at BarkWell, veterinarian Nicole Lenz makes preparations for the grand opening of her animal care center at 520 S. Interocean Ave. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

Editor's Picks

Sam Distefano, playing the role of a rescuer, signals a team on the shore of the Lions Club Fishin’ Hole, while Dustin Carrick, playing the victim, lies prone on a rescue sled. The simulated rescue was conducted during a Jan. 11-13 training for Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department and other nearby rescue agencies. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

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Scott Korte of Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department and rescue instructor Dave Martin are pictured from left, as Martin gives encouragement to Korte, who is attempting to pull himself out of the frozen-over Lions Club Fishin’ Hole. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

Fire department stays frosty with ice rescue training
Shayla Hecht, pictured at center, gets her game face on and competes as a blocker for the Flat Rock Roller Derby team based in North Platte, Nebraska.

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While at a photo shoot for the Flat Rock Roller Derby Team, Molly Weils, at right, shows off the traditional roller skates used in the fast-paced contact sport.

Fierce. Fearless. Fast. Fit.
Ground has been broken and the footprint is starting to take shape for the new Phillips County Pavilion and Education Center at the fairgrounds. Pictured from left, county commissioners Harlan Stern, Don Lock and Joe Kinnie are at the work site, where project manager Matt Brasby said progress on the foundation is ahead of schedule. Skarco Design of Burlington has been contracted for the concrete foundation, and Maverick Steel of Byers has been contracted for both the building materials and its erection. The pavilion is expected to be finished in time for the the 2018 Phillips County Fair. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

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Mike Frazier measures hail that’s 3 inches in diameter — about the size of a baseball — at his home northeast of Amherst.

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Holyoke EMS director Brady RIng, pictured at center, addresses his junior EMT class at their final lesson May 23, which included setting up an on-scene landing zone and touring an AirLife helicopter. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications

Goodbye 2018, hello 2019!
It may not look like much to someone driving down a stretch of county road, but this mailbox has been standing throughout Bob Brandt’s entire mail carrying career — and that’s no small feat for a country box. The house that it accompanies has been home to three generations of a single family, and families with deep roots in Phillips County are commonplace on his route.

Letters & Lineages
Holyoke’s Cap Holtzman, pictured at left, does some sparring during World War II. It was common at the time for boxers to keep up with the hobby during their time in the service.

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Among old posters collected by the descendants of local 1930s boxers, this April 5, 1932, event is the earliest Holyoke Stadium fight represented.

Pay-per-view’s got nothing on Depression-era pugilism
Usable vacant properties in Holyoke as of Jan. 1, are indicated on a map of the city. Out of the 41 properties listed by the Phillips County Assessor’s office as vacant, 36 properties, totaling about 26 acres were identified as buildable by City Superintendent Mark Brown.

25-plus acres of usable Holyoke land offers room for development
Horses and buggies drop off customers at the mercantile at 105 S. Interocean Ave. in Holyoke. A business partnership in the early 1900s called LeBlanc and Scheunemann was profitable and resulted in this brand-new brick building constructed in 1907.

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While its front exterior and flashy neon sign — both from the 1950s — are different from the original structure, Scheunemann’s Department Store remains a business icon in Holyoke in 2018. — Johnson Publications

Main Street Icon: Sudden death of Chip Scheunemann leaves behind 3-generation department store
Where in the world do I come from?
Alejandra Almanza, daughter of Marcela Almanza, demonstrates how to use the AFEX remittance service available at Carniceria y Abarrotes Aldama in Holyoke. — Johnson Publications

Hispanic migrants sacrifice pay to help family abroad
Brittney Ferguson receives a few tips for successful paddling before her group sets out for some rafting.

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Brittney Ferguson, at left, participates in one of the many activities at a Challenge by Choice camp.

Traveling with Brittney the Intrepid
Jorge Cobian inspects cattle on horseback at Timmerman Feeding Corporation southeast of Holyoke. Cobian, who was trained in Mexico, is one of the ranch’s Spanish-speaking veterinarians. — Johnson Publications photo

CSU offers Spanish certificate for aspiring vets
Kaitlyn Thomas says her last goodbyes to her goat, Zach, before the junior livestock sale at the Phillips County Fair on July 28. The sale, which was held in the new Phillips County Pavilion and Education Center, was an emotional day for many in 4-H and FFA. — Johnson Publications

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Cousins Brandon and Austin Durbin are pictured from left with Austin’s goat, Ty, before the junior livestock sale at the Phillips County Fair. — Johnson Publications

Livestock auction a bittersweet affair for 4-H, FFA youths
Dearest Ida,
A new administrative team at Holyoke School District Re-1J is already at work to prepare for the start of the 2018-19 school year. Administrators are pictured from left, Shane Walkinshaw, JR/SR high principal; Kyle Stumpf, superintendent; and Andrea Kammer, elementary principal. — Johnson Publications

Building relations targeted by new school administrative team
Down the drain: City money is flushed away with wet wipe misuse
Recent CU graduate Max Levy joined the Holyoke Enterprise staff this week as a reporter. — Johnson Publications

Levy is new Enterprise reporter
Tayla Martin takes first place in the 100-yard freestyle, setting a new record for 11-12-year-old girls. — Johnson Publications

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Holyoke Swim Club is well-represented in the 15-18-year-old girls 100-yard breaststroke. Pictured from left, Anna Jelden placed fourth, Traeli Hutches third, Rylee Schneller first and Regan Van Overbeke second. — Johnson Publications

Holyoke Swim Club wins opening meet, breaks 6 records
Blye McCallum, decked out in one of his favorite Star Wars T-shirts, shares his infectious smile in a typical classroom setting several weeks ago at Holyoke Elementary School. (Johnson Publications)

Blye McCallum packs mounds of memories into 13 short years
Highline Electric Association crews are out in full force Saturday, April 14, to rebuild power lines and restore power to rural residents. Matt Miller, at left, and Eric Luedke do work from the buckets south of Fleming as warmer temps quickly melt the snow.

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Stacy Fulscher’s cattle weather the storm that blew into northeast Colorado Friday afternoon, April 13.

Spring blizzard shuts down northeast Colorado
The bullfighting featured in Bulls Gone Wild! will return to Phillips County on July 28 for the fair. — Johnson Publications file photo

Fairgoers, get ready for a ‘Small Town Showdown’
6 observations based on 6 young board members
1 year with Holyoke rec: What has the lodging tax done?
Carl and Kathy Schneller are anything but weary travelers. The Holyoke couple has traveled to roughly 85 countries and can’t wait to plan their next vacation. Here, they are pictured at Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, in Peru.

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Carl and Kathy Schneller strike a pose at the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx near Cairo, Egypt.

22 questions with 2 lively travelers
In fierce Bible quizzing competition, the first person to stand up gets to answer the question. A typical quiz looks much like this, with quizzers attentively listening to the questions and physically ready to jump up as soon as they’re ready to answer. The team pictured competed in the Youth Challenge 2018 Jamaican Bible quizzing tournament earlier this month. — Photo by Emily Malmkar | EMDesign

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Frances Patterson, seated at left, works with the team of students from Coronaldi School in Montego Bay, Jamaica, while students from last year’s Bible quizzing team look on. Formerly of Dailey, Patterson now lives in Omaha, Nebraska, and has traveled to Jamaica with Youth Challenge nine times. — Photo by Emily Malmkar | EMDesign

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This particular photo was taken on a February 2014 trip to Jamaica, but such scenes are common, as Rick Cleaver, pictured at right, has served on close to 60 missions trips to Montego Bay with Youth Challenge.

1 book, nearly 60 trips, countless lives changed
Librarian Laura Roth, pictured at right, sees Audrey Murray regularly as one of the patrons she delivers to at the Carriage House. — Johnson Publications

From one book-lover to another, access to reading is delivered
Community Excellence Award winners at this year’s Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Gala are pictured from left, Citizen of the Year Casey Blake; STAR of the Year Star 92.3’s Marc Maelzer and Michelle Harms; Employee of the Year Earl Downing; Youth of the Year Shianne Willmon and Josie Herman; and Business of the Year Cobblestone Inn & Suites’ Sue Razo, Scott Murray, Amber Salas, Jorge Salas, Carol Kumm and Bailey Hamaker. Not pictured is Youth of the Year Emily Jelden. — Johnson Publications

Excellence celebrated
A dinner service isn’t for everyone
Holyoke third-graders get their first glimpse of the solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21. Students are pictured from left, front row, Alexx Mateo Zazo and Claire Hubbard; second row, Ricardo Goytia, Elia Wear and Sophie Rahe; and back row, Peyton Adams, Maelynn Frost, Daniela Castillo Marquez, Jackie Santiesteban and Roxy Santos. — Johnson Publications file photo

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This scorched semitruck lies on the Phillips-Logan county line, a fitting representation of the violent power of wildfires. No lives were lost in the March 6-8 incident, but extensive property damage covering 50 square miles became evident as the smoke cleared. — Johnson Publications file photo

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Holyoke High School boys basketball team, led by head coach Scott Dille, brought home the championship trophy from the 2A state tournament in Loveland, giving them bragging rights alongside the two other HHS boys teams who won the title in 2010 and 1984. Team members get their hands on the coveted trophy after defeating Sedgwick County 44-41 Saturday, March 11, in front of a massive Holyoke crowd. Emotions are running high for team members, pictured from left, in front, Austin Herman, Tyler Camblin, Arturo Dominguez and Brendan Mayden; and in back, Alex Strauss, Slaten Burris, M.J. Taylor, Wyatt McCallum and Anthony Beltran. — Johnson Publications file photo

Goodbye, 2017!
Donthe Lucas, Kelsie Schelling

Donthe Lucas arrested
Holyoke High School alumnus and Army veteran Robbie Doman addresses students and community members at the Nov. 10 Veterans Day program, sharing his story of service and life after an injury sustained in Iraq. — Johnson Publications

From soldier to warrior, Robbie Doman continues to inspire
The sale ring at the Phillips County Fairgrounds gets torn down in the early stages of preparing the site for the new Pavilion and Education Center that is to be built in the coming year to be ready for the 2018 fair. — Johnson Publications

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There one minute; gone the next
Wages Church is pictured about one year ago.

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Students gather at Wages’ last day of school in May 1921 with the Methodist church in the background.

Church bell still rings at Wages after 100 years
Jason Redman takes a measurement as he and Mark Brown re-install the bell at the City of Holyoke’s newly refurbished mini park. — Johnson Publications

Something old, someplace new
Dragon Blake Mosenteen gains ground for the Dragons behind the blocking effort of Seth Watson in Holyoke’s 12-8 win over Bridgeport Friday, Sept. 1. Mosenteen led the HHS rushing stats with 140 yards in 22 carries and scored a touchdown in the season opener. — Johnson Publications

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Dragon Trent Huffman (63) pulls down Bridgeport quarterback Drake DeMasters for a nice sack midway through the first quarter of Friday’s football opener. — Johnson Publications

Dragons hang on for 12-8 win over Bridgeport
Districts using 4-day weeks pass 50 percent
In addition to helping line up the Phillips County Fair parade for many years, the Holyoke Lions Club often gets in on the candy-throwing action themselves. In the 2012 parade, Don Beckius drives a golf cart decorated with lions, offering a smile and a wave to everyone lining the street. — Johnson Publications file photo

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Bingo nights from days gone by were made possible by Lions Club members, pictured from left, Don Beckius, Gene Hinck, Jean Brown, Larry Stein, Leroy Smith and Rich Brown. Bingo is not only fun to play but also raises money for a college scholarship.

Looking back on 75 years of service
Cesar Favela, in front, and Paige Marlow, Holyoke second-graders, gaze at the highly-anticipated solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21. — Johnson Publications

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Holyoke third-graders get their first glimpse of the solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21. Students are pictured from left, front row, Alexx Mateo Zazo and Claire Hubbard; second row, Ricardo Goytia, Elia Wear and Sophie Rahe; and back row, Peyton Adams, Maelynn Frost, Daniela Castillo Marquez, Jackie Santiesteban and Roxy Santos. — Johnson Publications

Look to the sky
Mothers sending their children to the next step in school hold their little students’ baby pictures close. Pictured clockwise from top left, Ashley Clayton and son Levi, who is entering kindergarten; Letty Penzing and daughter Juana, who will start at Purdue University; Tracy Steggs and son Bo, who is entering kindergarten; and Brenda Krueger and daughter Tara, who will start at Colorado State University. — Johnson Publications

A bit bigger than baby steps
MMH CEO Trampas Hutches, pictured at center, speaks at the State Capitol Tuesday, June 27, on behalf of the Colorado Hospital Association against the Better Care Reconciliation Act being discussed in the U.S. Congress.

Hospital CEO speaks at Capitol
This photo of two WWI soldiers in uniform is part of the Phillips County Museum collection, where actual uniforms are also on display. The man pictured at left is identified as Lauritz Peterson. (Source: Phillips County Museum)

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This is only a portion of a giant panoramic photo housed at the Phillips County Museum. In its entirety, the photo is a sight worth seeing in person. It is one of the many items donated to the museum by Leslie Taylor, who served in World War I and later lived in Haxtun. According to the museum, the photo is probably of the 35th Infantry Regiment at Nogales, Arizona, in 1918. (Source: Phillips County Museum)

Local WWI artifacts tell century-old story
Jane Imlay, at left, and future sister-in-law Louise Kuhl, mother and aunt of former Holyoke resident Jane Krueger, make camp in Omaha, Nebraska. The photo noted it was the first and only mud they found as they traveled the Detroit-Lincoln-Denver auto route in 1924.

Happy Campers
Pictured from left, Martha Nolan, Emily Ouillette, Christopher Burton, Julian Sanderson and Lara Milward walk through Holyoke as part of a pro-life cross-country protest walk. —Johnson Publications photo

Students walk for life through Holyoke on cross-country journey
Lucas Schlachter looks down the line as he drives a combine through a wheat field, owned by Douglas Kerr, several miles east of Holyoke last Sunday afternoon. —Johnson Publications photo

Farmers focus on harvest
See that small line running across the photo? Anchored between two trees about 6 feet off the ground, that slackline is Dylon Lousberg’s ticket to international trickline recognition. —Johnson Publications photo

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The average trickline measures just 2 inches across, but Dylon Lousberg has no problem maintaining balance as he bounces from his back to his feet to his chest. —Johnson Publications photo

Lousberg advances from GoPro Mountain Games to Japan
Golfers who played a combined 534 holes at the Ballyneal Hundred Hole Hike Monday, June19, are pictured from left, Josh Bills, Jim Colton, Gary Albrecht and Brandon Urban.

4 golf at Ballyneal Hundred Hole Hike
Food drive donations pile up at MMH