Peekin' into the Past

Five Years Ago
    July 12, 2012
    Lawn chairs were set up and people were eager to watch the only fireworks show scheduled for northeast Colorado Wednesday night, July 4. However, the skies darkened and a much-needed rain fell upon Holyoke.
    As of July 8, the fire ban put in place in Colorado was lifted by Governor John Hickenlooper. He said favorable weather allowed him to ease the statewide ban that came June 14 as wildfires raged throughout the high country.
    Phillips County commissioners invite the community to an old-fashioned day at Homesteaders Park July 15. A ribbon cutting and dedication of the universally accessible playground will be the highlight of the day.
    Shopko Stores announced they will be closing Pamida Pharmacy in Holyoke. Abts Pharmacy will close and remodel the current pharmacy building in Holyoke.
    
    Ten Years Ago
    July 12, 2007
    Jennifer Boettner will be at the helm of Holyoke Elementary School this fall as she takes on the principal position vacated by Nathan Lightle.
    In a drastic contrast to last year’s disappointing wheat harvest, this year has been a real boost to farmer morale, with bushels harvested recorded between 30-70.
    
    Twenty-Five Years Ago
    July 16, 1992
    Responding to a Dutch elm disease survey report from the Colorado State Forest Service, the Holyoke Tree Board met to formulate tree removal recommendations to be presented to the City Council. City Superintendent Garold Roberts pointed out that there are 78 dead trees at the golf course, which brings the total count to 635 in Holyoke.
    Akron native Leland Morrison last week signed a contract for the principal position at Holyoke High School.
    Jan’s Floral & Gift, owned by Bob and Jan Oswald for the past 19 years, will be purchased by Tim and Mariane Ortner, with the transaction to be effective Aug. 1.
    
    Fifty Years Ago
    July 13, 1967
    Larry Weiss, employee at O.K Tire Store in Holyoke, escaped serious injury Monday when a tractor tire exploded after he had filled it with air in a field near the state line. Heavy powder that is used to weigh down the tire was blown into Weiss’ eyes and he was rendered unconscious for a minute or two but was not otherwise injured.
    Although the calendar says it’s time for Phillips County’s wheat harvest to be about finished, wet weather continues to hamper ripening of the relatively small acreage that will be harvested in fields that have escaped the summer’s devastating hail storms. County agent Darrel Shafer said approximately 65 percent of the wheat in the county has been lost to hail.
    
    Seventy-Five Years Ago
    July 16, 1942
    J.G. Scholl, chairman of the Phillips County scrap rubber campaign in Phillips County, announced Tuesday morning that 171,234 pounds of scrap material was collected in the county during the nationwide rubber drive.
    A three-day drive July 17-19 will be made in Holyoke and the community to gather up old phonograph records. In Holyoke, the drive is under the auspices of the American Legion and Auxiliary, and here, as well as all over the nation, the old records will be collected and sold as scrap, the funds to be used in the purchase of new records for the armed forces.
    Harvesting is getting generally underway in the Holyoke territory, and by the end of the week all the harvesting equipment will be in the fields. Hailed wheat so far harvested has made from 10-35 bushels per acre and is testing 57-60 pounds per bushel. Wheat that was not hailed is making up to 50 bushels per acre with tests ranging from 60-62 pounds.