Peekin’ into the past

Five Years Ago
Aug. 30, 2012
    Holyoke students in grades 7-12 will experience an eye-opening and likely emotional program Sept. 5-6. This will be the second time the Challenge Day program has visited Holyoke. The Challenge Day mission is to provide youth and their communities with experiential programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity, truth and full expression.
    Holyoke City Council approved a $50 fee for excavation permits during their regular meeting Aug. 21. The council voted to increase the fee from $30 to $50 per segment, set at one block or 360 feet.
    
Ten Years Ago
Aug. 30, 2007
    Melissa Memorial Hospital recently welcomed a new full-time doctor to its staff. Dr. Maria L. Soto is the new family practice physician, and she is now ready to take new patients.
    Eleven foreign exchange students from all over the world are currently taking classes at HHS and discovering what it’s like to live in small-town America.
    HHS teachers Clark Ginapp and Lynette Hudiburgh defined Advanced Placement classes in a presentation to the Re-1J Board of Education at its Aug. 21 meeting. Until last year, anyone could teach AP courses. At that time, the college board felt more qualifications were needed, so teachers of AP classes had to go through an audit process.
    
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Sept. 3, 1992
    Holyoke Revitalization Inc. is officially incorporated, having had the Colorado Secretary of State accept the group’s Articles of Incorporation recently. The group, which serves as a vehicle for community betterment projects, is commonly known as HR Inc.
    Having worked with adult educational programs from Argentina to Zimbabwe, Dorothy Ortner is now helping launch such a program right here in the northeast Colorado county where she grew up. Phillips County’s Literacy for the ’90s Project will begin benefiting residents next month, with Ortner serving as project coordinator.
    Outstanding attendance reports opened the SunSet View Community Center last week when the congregate meals were served from the new facility Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Fifty Years Ago
Aug. 31, 1967
    Phillips County experienced its hottest week of the summer Aug. 23-29, with high temperatures averaging 94 degrees. The summer’s highest temperature to date, 101 degrees, was recorded here Friday.
    Fred W. Cooper, manager of Highline Electric Association for the last 19 years, plans to retire as soon after Sept. 1 as a replacement is obtained.
    New water pumps are being installed in two of the town’s three water wells. One installation of a new pump at the city park has been completed, and the installation work is making good progress at the well located in the town power plant. The old pumps were of the oil-lubricated type and have been outlawed by the State Health Department. The pumps are being replaced with water-lubricated-type pumps.
    About 500 people attended open house Sunday afternoon at the new home built by the vocational carpentry class of Holyoke High School. The home, located at 507 E. Johnson St., has been purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lohmeyer, newcomers to this community.
    
Seventy-Five Years Ago
Sept. 3, 1942
    Elimination of Class I-B, the selective service designation for registrants considered fit for limited service only, beginning Aug. 20 was announced today by national headquarters of the selective service system. Thereafter all registrants who are not totally disqualified will be reclassified in Class I-A, and the Army will decide, after induction, on their individual assignment to full or limited military service.
    Five local schools looking for teachers have not yet found instructors. With the lowering of qualifications, several Nebraska teachers and Holyoke women have been able to fill a number of vacancies.
    A heavy downpour all Tuesday afternoon and a greater part of the night brought 2.90 inches of rain, assuring plenty of moisture to mature the corn and feed crops.
    Effective Sept. 7, the Burlington Trailways bus will pick up mail at 7:45 each evening in Holyoke. The new arrangement will furnish the same service as has been in effect for several years here while the Brooks Transportation has been handling this service in connection with the truck line.