Peekin' into the Past

Five Years Ago

July 5, 2018

Alerts for extreme workplace violence are in the works for Melissa Memorial Hospital and Holyoke School District Re-1J through Guard911 app technology.

Unaffiliated voters in Colorado were able to participate in the June 26 primary election for the first time ever. In Phillips County, 299 unaffiliateds took advantage of that opportunity, representing close to 20% of the total vote in the county.

Total money raised for the Phillips County Pavilion and Education Center is right around the $2 million mark, and the board of commissioners continues to seek funds, make changes and prioritize spending for the project, which was reported at the June 29 meeting.

Ten Years Ago

July 4, 2013

Steve Deaver of Holyoke is the owner of the Marston derringer that was used on the set of “The Lone Ranger” to threaten Johnny Depp’s character, Tonto.

Sabrina Zink, 11, of Holyoke, got to participate in the Miss Colorado princess mentorship program June 27-29.

The 51st state movement, which already has expanded to 10 counties, is being opened to all interested counties in Colorado and neighboring states. Washington County hosted a meeting June 24 at the fairgrounds in Akron and will host another one on July 8 as the new-state movement moves forward.

Although at one time it appeared as though wheat harvest would take place in mid-July, the recent dry, hot weather has pushed the date up a few weeks.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 9, 1998

John Duca was approved for the Holyoke High School principal position at the July 2 meeting of the Re-1J board of education. 

Residents of Phillips County came closer to being able to buy flood insurance last Tuesday, June 30, as the county commissioners adopted floodplain regulations to send to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

After starting in April, having fundraisers this summer and practicing three to seven days a week, the Holyoke drill team kicked off its performance schedule Saturday at the local Fourth of July festivities.

Two separate Tae Kwon Do instructors are offering classes in Holyoke this summer. Ken Hensel offers classes every Thursday in the wrestling room at HHS. Trent Brandt teaches the martial art every Tuesday and Thursday at the Phillips County Boy Scout Den at the fairgrounds.

Fifty Years Ago

July 5, 1973

Hot, drying temperatures over the county has contributed to the rapid maturation of wheat, and wheat harvest should be getting underway about July 10. Daytime temperatures during the past week ranged from 91 to 102 degrees.

Jeri Oltjenbruns, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elton Oltjenbruns, Amherst, left June 20 with a group for a three-week tour as volunteer medics in Acoyapa, Nicaragua.

Cindy Colver, Miss Holyoke, will leave Sunday for Sterling to join the other contestants in the Miss Colorado pageant for a week of activity prior to the pageant. Next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the young ladies will be presented in shows each evening.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 8, 1948

The Holyoke Gun Club sponsored a ham shoot on Wednesday night, June 30. This was the first public shoot under the new lighting system at the club grounds east of town. Forty-four squads of five men each entered the shoot, and shooting was engaged in over two well-lighted traps. Shooters were here from Paoli, Amherst, Yuma, Clarksville, Big Springs, Nebraska, Grant, Nebraska, and Venango, Nebraska.

The hot, dry weather of the past week has been idea for the harvesting of the wheat crop in Phillips County, which has been underway since the latter part of last week. The county agent, Geo. J. Rober, estimated Thursday morning that approximately 50% of the wheat had been cut in the east half of the county.

The two-day celebration of Independence Day, which was sponsored by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, was partially called off due to the harvesting of wheat.

Patrolman Joe Relihan of the state patrol today appealed to Colorado drivers to make use of hand signals in an effort to reduce traffic accidents.