Peekin’ into the past

Five Years Ago
April 11, 2013
    Huge trees were uprooted, airport hangars blew away, buildings were leveled, a semi overturned, and much of the town lost power Monday evening, April 8, when a spring storm roared through Holyoke.
    After serving as the Holyoke Community Federal Credit Union president for 28 years, Ron Goldenstein officially clocked out for the last time March 29 and is looking forward to the change of pace retirement will offer.
    José Gonzalez and his wife Alicia Ruiz have purchased Amanda’s Mercado, located at 430 E. Denver St., from Ramón Dominguez and officially began their new positions as owners and managers of the newly named Gonzalez Mercado on March 8.
    The HHS chapter of Future Business Leaders of America hosted basketball games featuring members of the senior class vs. faculty members. The event served as a fundraiser to help send FBLA members to leadership conferences.
    
Ten Years Ago
April 10, 2008
    Tim Bartels of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, recently purchased the former Pix grocery store building at 128 S. Campbell Ave. and is in the process of remodeling and adding new areas and has announced the opening of Holyoke General Store this summer.
    Carol Schmidt has turned over Schmidt’s restaurant, located at 110 N. Interocean Ave., to new owners Pat and Danette Vasa. The Vasas have decided to call their new restaurant Pizza p.a.d. Danette explained that p.a.d. can stand for both “Pat and Danette” and “pies and desserts.”
    A kickoff event for the Colorado U.S. Route 6 Heritage Corporation has been scheduled for April 19. Community members are invited to participate and tour the history of the “Grand Army of the Republic Highway.”
    
Twenty-Five Years Ago
April 15, 1993
    While her retirement won’t be official for two more weeks, Mary Jung is taking this month as vacation, having closed her 30-year career as deputy county clerk when she worked her last day in Phillips County Clerk’s office on March 31.
    This past Saturday, Melissa Memorial Hospital donated some outdated and unused medical equipment to Orphan Grain Train, a humanitarian aid effort for the former Soviet Union. OGT, operated under the auspices of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League, was initiated in Norfolk, Nebraska, last year by ministry volunteers returning from Latvia.
    Fun, food, merchandise and the satisfaction of helping others will be highlighted at the annual BeCause benefit dinner and auction on April 18.
    
Fifty Years Ago
April 11, 1968
    The Central Hotel has been leased by Mr. and Mrs. Ted Hollinger of Wray, and they plan to move here soon to take over management of the hotel. Mr. Hollinger is employed by Bing’s Laundry as a route man.
    A new front has been installed at the local Ben Franklin store, owned and operated by George Sumpter, and considerable remodeling is also planned inside the store.
    A large and enthusiastic crowd turned out at the HHS gym Monday night for an exhibition basketball game between the Holyoke All-Stars and the Southern Belles, a traveling girls team. The score was close all the way, with the All-Stars ahead 72-70 at the final buzzer. Members of the All-Star squad were Bob Trumper, Glen Haney, Max Bernard, John Smith, Ron Morgan, Jerry Cox, Gary Sperber, Dr. Paul Gregory and Charles Frankmore.
    
Seventy-Five Years Ago
April 15, 1943
    Three rains, totaling 1.85 inches during the past week, have put the soil in this territory in fine condition, and prospects for crops are promising.
    To stimulate efforts toward better gardens in Holyoke, the Holyoke Lions Club is sponsoring a contest with $20 in prize money for the best gardens within the city limits of Holyoke. Prizes are divided as follows: first, $10; second, $6; third, $4.
    Elimination of dependency as a cause for deferment for men with collateral dependents and wives only, except in the case of men necessary to and regularly engaged in agriculture or in cases where extreme hardship and privation would result, was announced today by Chairman Paul V. McNutt of the War Manpower Commission.