Peekin’ into the past

Five Years Ago

Oct. 1, 2015

Starting this week, David Flatt is stepping in as the new executive director of Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, following the retirement of Mary Tomky.

Dave Tennant, owner of Tennant Funeral Homes and Crematory, announced that Randy Jacobson has been hired to manage the funeral homes in both Holyoke and Haxtun.

A decision was reached regarding the long-discussed Melissa Memorial Hospital renovation project. East Phillips County Hospital District board members entered into a contract with the Neenan Company by resolution at the Sept. 22 meeting.

Ten Years Ago

Sept. 30, 2010

David Churchwell emerged as the newest member of Holyoke City Council after being appointed to the vacant seat at the Sept. 21 council meeting.

More than doubling the size of the current service shop, a new 100-by-200-foot building has been built onto the south side of MV Equipment in Holyoke. If everything stays on schedule, service crews could be able to move in as soon as the first week of November.

Larwill “Biddie” and Lois Biddle will celebrate 75 years together next week. The couple was married Oct. 5, 1935, in Holyoke.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

Oct. 5, 1995

Brothers Jerry and Kurt Oberle recently decided to put their combined 16 years of construction experience to use by opening a new Holyoke business. General contracting will be the focus of Oberle Construction, which officially opened Sept. 10.

Following a Sept. 27 hearing, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved expanded local calling areas for several communities, including Holyoke and Sterling. According to Vince Kropp of Phillips County Telephone Company, the changes will be effective at 7 a.m. on Oct. 5.

Commissioners announced at their September month-end meeting that Phillips County is ready to apply for an incinerator permit. County representatives are hoping the state will approve the use of the Pactherm burner that they have been so impressed with.

Fifty Years Ago

Oct. 1, 1970

Girl Scouting has come to a complete standstill in Holyoke due to the lack of leaders. The value of a Girl Scout program is unlimited, but help is desperately needed.

Ten Holyoke merchants are cooperating with Holyoke High School to provide on-the-job training for 14 high school students. The students attend regular school classes except for one period, and in some cases two periods, when they work for local businesses. They spend 144 hours on the job, plus 36 hours in a vocations class at the high school for school credit. While the program is new to the Holyoke community, several Colorado schools have operated similar programs for several years.

Digging of sugar beets in the Holyoke area got off to a good start on Sept. 28. Factory sugar content average is running 13.8%, and average tare is 6.9% and making approximately 16.5 tons per acre. As of noon yesterday, 70 railroad cars had been loaded with beets for the Fort Morgan factory.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

Oct. 4, 1945

Among the many attractions scheduled for Holyoke Day is “Shorty, Sue, Sally and the Boys,” leading KOA radio entertainers of Denver. Those who have enjoyed their harmonious western melodies on the air will now have the pleasure of seeing and hearing these top-ranking stage and radio stars in person at the Holyoke Airport on Oct. 5.

The Alva B. Adams Tunnel which is being drilled through a mountain to allow water to flow through it for power to supply more electricity to east-slope territory is progressing. Holyoke is interested in The Colorado Big Thompson Water Diversion and Power Project and Adams Tunnel because the Highline Electric Association here expects to energize its lines from a highline connecting the project. The local association is expected to use the present diesels in the Holyoke municipal power plant as standby generators for emergency.