Peekin’ into the past

Five Years Ago — March 20, 2014
    Community focus groups on six targeted subjects will be facilitated by members of the Holyoke Re-1J Board of Education. The idea was suggested at the March 4 board meeting and approved March 17.
    Golf Digest — which for 50 years has served as the most authoritative and innovative voice in the golf industry — recently ranked Ballyneal Golf Club as No. 68 among the World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.
    It’s been confirmed that “Heaven is for Real” is slated for an opening-day showing at the Imperial Theatre in Imperial, Nebraska, Wednesday, April 16.
    
Ten Years Ago — March 19, 2009
    CBS4 News reporter Suzanne McCarroll recently interviewed Holyoke’s Albert and Annie Bahler and Chip Scheunemann for a report on beating the recession, to air on the program in the near future.
    A gripping tale of survival is in store for area residents March 19 as Benny Hochman, 85, will share his story of surviving the Holocaust.
    The Tom Doak-designed Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club in Holyoke has been ranked the eighth best golf course in the United States by Golfweek magazine.
    
Twenty-Five Years Ago — March 24, 1994
    Jack and JoAnne Kiernan took over operation of the local Jirdon Fertilizer dealership on March 17. They purchased the business from Jim and Vicki Ocken.
    Penny Teply is now practicing massage therapy, along with Dawn Tarver, at Brandt Chiropractic Clinic in Holyoke.
    Consideration of a Phillips County Fair manager, to be hired by the County, is in discussion stages.
    
Fifty Years Ago — March 20, 1969
    A meeting will be held tonight at the swimming pool for all who are interested in taking part in a scuba diving course.
    J&E Sweet Shop, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Jim Harvey for the past 15 years, and DeVee Floral and Gift Shop, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. E. Blaine Scott for the past eight years, will celebrate their anniversaries on March 24.
    According to a report issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, nearly three-fifths of the land in the United States is used to produce crops and livestock, another fifth is covered by ungrazed forests, nearly 3 percent is taken up by cities and other urban uses, and 12 percent is desert, tundra, swamp and other land of limited use.
    
Seventy-Five Years Ago — March 23, 1944
    Two distinct explosions set ablaze the interior of the Holyoke Implement Company building and Rebekah Lodge Hall on the northwest corner of Interocean Avenue and Market Street Tuesday evening about 7:30. The fire gained such rapid headway that within a few minutes, flames were pouring from the windows and the entire interior of the store was in flames. Water applied by the Holyoke Fire Department prevented the spread to nearby buildings. The implement building collapsed within an hour of the first explosion.
    George G. Hall, area supervisor at Denver, said Wednesday that the War Food Administration indefinitely extended the period in which farmers can slaughter hogs and deliver pork to others without a permit or license.
    Postmasters throughout the state have been notified that the new postal rates as provided by Congress will go into effect the 26th of this month. Under the new rates, air mail stamps will cost 8 cents instead of 6 cents, and the rate of 2 cents for local delivery of letters will be increased to 3 cents.