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.

Brittney Ferguson receives a few tips for successful paddling before her group sets out for some rafting.

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

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

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

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

Recent CU graduate Max Levy joined the Holyoke Enterprise staff this week as a reporter. — Johnson Publications

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)

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

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

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
 

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Wages Church is pictured about one year ago.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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)

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)

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

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

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