Peekin' into the Past

Five Years Ago
Aug. 6, 2015

Rupert and Claire O’Neal have filed two separate lawsuits involving the City of Holyoke in Phillips County District Court. The O’Neal pit used for city wastewater management south of Holyoke City Park is the key link in both lawsuits.

Serving in 20 different health care facilities in nine states in his career that began in 1971, Jim Murphy is now on board at Melissa Memorial Hospital as interim CEO, as of Aug. 1.

Martin Bremmer of Venango, Nebraska, has developed the Grain Goat, a one-person grain testing machine that has the potential to save time and money for agriculture producers. In essence, the Grain Goat is a portable combine and grain sampling device.

Jacinda Krueger brought home the hardware from the 2015 State Games of America in Lincoln, Nebraska, July 28-Aug. 2. Competing against women 19-29, Krueger earned second place in the 400 meter hurdles, third in the 100 meter dash and third in the 200 meter dash.

Ten Years Ago
Aug. 5, 2010

Colorado expanded its child passenger safety law beginning Aug. 1, requiring all children under age 8 to be properly protected in a child safety seat when traveling in a motor vehicle. Previously, the law required only 4- and 5-year-olds to be in booster seats.

In July, Phillips County commissioners signed a nonsupport resolution for Proposition 101 and Amendments 60 and 61, in an effort to protect the fiscal health of local government. They also signed a resolution prohibiting the operation of medical marijuana centers, optional premises cultivation operations and medical marijuana-infused products manufacturers’ licenses within Phillips County.

Twenty-Five Years Ago
Aug. 10, 1995

A full range of festivities are planned for the Holyoke Cooperative Association’s 75th anniversary celebration on Aug. 12. Swimming, playing, eating and dancing are included on the day’s agenda, open for the whole community at Holyoke City Park.

Fulfilling a dream to own his own insurance agency, Thad Scholl, 35, opened Plains Insurance Agency LLC this week. The new Holyoke business is located on the second floor of the Mailander office building at 143 S. Campbell Ave.

At the Aug. 1 regular meeting of the Holyoke City Council, the four members present voted unanimously to enter into a feasibility study to gather information about purchasing KN Energy. It was reported that the council has been contemplating getting involved in the gas business for a number of years. Tuesday night’s vote was contingent upon three or more cities agreeing to be involved in a study, which results in a considerable price reduction.

Fifty Years Ago
Aug. 6, 1970

Temperatures have ranged in the 90s and 100s during the past seven days, with only small amounts of moisture.

Most of the farmers who participated in the 1970 wheat and feed grain programs in Phillips County have now received their program payments, according to Clyde Sperber, chairman of the county Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation committee. A total of $1,292,715.11 has been paid as of July 29.

Seventy-Five Years Ago
Aug. 9, 1945

A single atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima of the Japanese island of Honshu is said to have wiped out 60% of the city, which corresponds in size to Memphis, Tennessee, last Monday, Washington announced Wednesday. The new weapon is reported to have “completely destroyed” everything in an area within 4 and a half square miles of the Japanese city. Russia’s entry into the war yesterday was announced in Washington by President Truman. These incidents of great import bring the end of the war in the Pacific months nearer and are looked upon in this country as means of saving many American lives.

Theo G. Weyerts, storekeeper in Amherst since 1913, has sold his stock of goods to the Amherst Cooperative, an organization of the people of the community. For the past 15 years, the store has been under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Weyerts and his mother, Anna Weyerts, when it was strictly a grocery store. Previously Mr. Weyerts operated a general merchandise store, including dry goods and notions.

Elevators having been filled with this year’s bumper crop and bin room insufficient, farmers are piling wheat on the ground in eastern Colorado, as the harvest of the largest crop in the country’s history comes to an end.

Within the last two weeks, two new political parties have been formed in this state: the American National Party and the National Citizens Political Action Party. The first is supposed to be an offshoot of the Republican organization, and the latter is said to have sprung from the Democratic Party.