Peekin’ into the past

Five Years Ago
Nov. 14, 2013
    Because of his crucial role as a supporter and sustainer of the arts in the Holyoke community, Holyoke Elementary School Principal Kyle Stumpf was awarded the 2013 Distinguished Leadership Award from the Colorado Art Education Association.
    José Alvarado opened La Original Espiga Dorado Market of Greeley in Holyoke in October. Located at 430 E. Denver St., the store serves as the second location for the business, which is also located in Greeley. The store currently serves authentic Mexican dishes and baked goods, along with a variety of meats available for purchase, and Alvarado also has plans to construct a tortilla factory in the next three to six months.
    K.C. Martin’s construction company, Grassland Homes & Building, began serving Holyoke in January 2012. With business picking up, Martin is ready to expand services while continuing to focus on providing quality projects to the community.
    K99’s Good Morning Guys on KUAD Radio out of Windsor/Fort Collins repeated as winners when they were named the 2013 Small Market Personalities of the Year by the Country Music Association. Todd Harding, Brian Gary and Susan Moore make up The Good Morning Guys team. Harding is a 1984 HHS grad, and Gary is the father of Nick Flaa, who now lives in Holyoke.
    
Ten Years Ago
Nov. 13, 2008
    Gusts of wind blowing up to 78 mph were recorded in the area on Nov. 6, and over the course of the day, they took a heavy toll on trees, fences, buildings, windows and crops all over the county.
    Changes to the lunchtime closed-campus policy for grades 6-8 were approved by the Re-1J Board of Education at its Nov. 4 meeting. In general, the board approved the opening of campus for seventh and eighth grades but left the details of administration to principal Susan Ortner.
    After a slow start, corn harvest is now officially in full swing in Phillips County, though the snow that fell Monday night has delayed its progress for a couple of days. A late planting season, followed by cooler August weather has slowed the growth of the crop, yet yields are still expected to be nearly as high as last year.
    
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Nov. 18, 1993
    In the Nov. 16 special election in the city of Holyoke, citizens said “no” 2-to-1 to the question of whether the City should apply for an Impact Assistance Grant for the construction of the Peerless Center project as proposed by Golden Plains Recreation Center Inc.
    A 5-inch snow was recorded in Holyoke Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 13-14.
    Wally Dusenbury, president of Speer Cushion Company of Holyoke, was one of four Colorado business persons who spoke in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement in a nationally televised program with Vice President Al Gore in Colorado last week.
    
Fifty Years Ago
Nov. 14, 1968
    A large crowd attended the fifth annual Holly Daze, which was held at St. Patrick’s Hall on Nov. 7. Three hundred twenty-one people signed the register and were eligible for the door prizes (bread) which were drawn for in the evening after the second bread demonstration. This year, Holly Daze featured a foreign and holiday bread contest which was open to the public.
    Eleven Boy Scouts of Holyoke Troop 32 braved the cold weather of last weekend and spent Friday night at Gilbert’s Grove, 5 miles west of Holyoke.
    
Seventy-Five Years Ago
Nov. 18, 1943
    In a directors’ meeting of the Holyoke Lions Club Tuesday night, the matter of establishing an airport near Holyoke was discussed. Several men present proposed that action be taken on the matter so as to be ready for the post-war development of air transportation, which is believed is sure to come to county seats and larger towns. Action was taken to bring the matter before the town council for consideration.
    All restrictions covering farm slaughter of hogs have been suspended for 90 days, Russell E. Dixon, state supervisor of the Food Distribution Administration, announced today. “The purpose of the suspension of restrictions,” Mr. Dixon said, “is to facilitate marketing of this year’s record pig crop. Producers will not be required to have a license or permit during this 90-day period.” At the same time, the previous 400-pound limitation per farm-producer was lifted for the three-month period.
    A crew of 60 people are working here at the turkey dressing plant, and they pick for shipment 1,000-1,500 birds each day, according to Fred Dudden, plant proprietor. In the month of October, 250,000 pounds of dressed turkeys were shipped from the plant. Last week alone, 100,000 pounds were prepared for shipment — that was the fourth week of work this fall.