Peekin’ into the past

Five Years Ago
July 25, 2013
    Eight-year-old Luke Sprague returned home from Children’s Hospital in Denver on July 21 after losing the lower portion of his left leg in an auger accident on his family’s farm July 17.
    Around 35 people were present at the 51st state public information meeting with Phillips County commissioners at SunSet View on July 18, and most agreed they wanted to see a question on the November ballot regarding secession from Colorado. Phillips County Administrator Randy Schafer also explained his alternative — a proposal to give rural counties a voice by changing state representation in either the House or Senate to representation by county instead of by population.
    An extensive water feature and expansion of the bicycle/pedestrian path are coming soon to Homesteaders Park and the Phillips County Fairgrounds.
    Jody Kropp Hinrichs, a Holyoke native and 1950 graduate of Phillips County High School, will be doing a reading and signing copies of her recently released novel, “Triumph of the Spirit: land... love... life...,” on July 27 at Phillips County Museum.
    The Border League All-Stars 16-18-year-old Babe Ruth baseball team claimed the state title July 20 in Holyoke.
    
Ten Years Ago
July 24, 2008
    Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club recently opened two new facilities to accommodate for an ever-growing membership. The Terrapin Lodge includes guest rooms, a spa, a large bar and eating area and a patio, and the Meadowlark Lodge offers more guest rooms.
    For the first time in 30 years, Border League’s 13-year-old All-Star team won the state championship.
    Sharon Crist with PC Telcom said that PC Telcom customers will not be affected by the Feb. 17, 2009, transition to digital television. Additionally, no cable or satellite customer who is paying for service will be affected.
    
Twenty-Five Years Ago
July 29, 1993
    Laura Roth looks forward to assuming her new post next week as librarian of the Heginbotham Library.
    Purchases for the Re-1J computer technology plan were approved in the amount of $111,902 at the July 20 meeting of the Board of Education. The plan includes both an IBM and Macintosh lab at the high school, as well as computers at the elementary school and administration office.
    Breaking new ground for Concordia College’s director of Christian education program, Dianne Hinz arrived in northeast Colorado last week to begin a one-year internship at Zion Lutheran Church in Holyoke and Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray. She is the first Concordia DCE intern to serve different churches for her internship.
    
Fifty Years Ago
July 25, 1968
    Two local youths were fined and jailed here last Thursday by Municipal Judge A.C. Adams on charges of violating an ordinance concerning fireworks. One was found guilty of possession and explosion of firecrackers. He was fined $125, costs of $5, and was sentenced to the Phillips County Jail for 10 days. The other was found guilty of exploding firecrackers. His fine was $100; court costs, $5; and sentence, 10 days in jail. The two youths were charged as the result of a series of explosions here early Monday morning, July 15.
    Four Holyoke men spent Monday in Greeley conferring with the state highway engineer for this district concerning a recent letter from the Colorado State Highway Department requesting that the town go to parallel parking on Interocean Avenue.
    
Seventy-Five Years Ago
July 29, 1943
    Despite the railroads’ use of all available facilities, there are just too many people traveling. Last year, passenger traffic exceeded the previous all-time record of 1920 by 14.6 percent, and the railroads had to serve all these people with fewer employees and less equipment. The government asks you to think before you travel. If civilians stay off the trains, servicemen can have more comfortable riding conditions — and those who stay home will be more comfortable too.
    Holyoke girls may have an opportunity to become a member of the first women’s service band, according to information received today from Ensign Catherine W. Cockburn of the SPARS.
    According to J.S. Tohill, inspector in charge of the produce dealers section of the Colorado Director of Markets, wheat marketing operations in eastern Colorado reached its peak this week and is of finer quality than ever before.