Peekin' into the Past

Five Years Ago
July 26, 2012
    Todd Peckham, a 1989 graduate of HHS, reflects on his experience of helping victims of the Aurora theater shooting at the Century 16 Movie Theater July 20.
    Fifteen youth participated in the Gear Tech 21 robotics and GPS camp, sponsored by Colorado State University Extension, July 9-12.
    Jeremy Loutensock and Matt Golden of Holyoke received a 9News Agents of Change Award July 20 for the work they have done with their FCCLA project to inform people about how hearing loss can be prevented. They modified a mannequin, named Viviana, which works as a sound meter to test the volume of headphones to show students that volume levels on their electronic devices can be too loud.
    Border League All-Stars 13-14 team captured the state championship July 23 and will now head to the regional tournament Aug. 3-8.
    
Ten Years Ago
July 26, 2007
    A weighted grading scale in which advanced placement and post-secondary classes are based on a 5.0 scale instead of 4.0 will be eliminated at Holyoke High School, effective with this year’s juniors, the Class of 2009.
    Having obtained a majority of votes from current Holyoke City Council members, Kevin Scott was sworn into office July 17, filling the seat that was left vacant when council member Dave Nygaard accepted the mayoral position following Mayor Roberta Tonsing’s death.
    Harry Potter fans from the greater Holyoke area lined up outside Inklings Bookstore late Friday night, July 20, in anticipation of the midnight release of J.K. Rowling’s seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Bookstore owner Laura Krogmeier estimates that 50 people attended her Harry Potter party, which included snacks, fun and a discount on Potter merchandise.
    
Twenty-Five Years Ago
July 30, 1992
    What was once a beautiful pine tree northeast of the school administration office was reduced to kindling Saturday morning when a bolt of lightning virtually caused the tree to explode.
    After complaints at the city council’s July 21 meeting about the hospital’s use of a cannon-like noise-maker to scare away pesky birds from the hospital grounds again this summer, followed by a formal complaint with the Holyoke Police Department, hospital officials have agreed to discontinue the cannon’s use. Meanwhile, the possibilities of a better solution to the problem are being investigated.
    A new local outlet for center pivot irrigation system parts and a financial services office are expected to be open by the end of this week in the building that formerly housed Bill’s Radio and TV at 136 W. Denver St. Holyoke’s Deane Anderson will utilize part of the building for his Waddell and Reed Financial Services office. Meanwhile, Dale Anderson of Wray (no relation to Deane) will have an irrigation system parts outlet in the same building.
    Brad Haynes, a 1988 HHS graduate, has been attending a number of open-tryout pro baseball camps this summer in hopes of getting his foot in the door to someday play ball in the professional circuit.
    Jessie and Larissa Koch and B.J. and Jamie Carlstrom have been competing with the Country Gymnastics team from Sterling this summer, and all four qualified for the regional meet July 24 in Broomfield.
    
Fifty Years Ago
July 27, 1967
    The Cates Sisters will be among the Grand Ole Opry stars in the evening show at the Phillips County Fair on Aug. 3. Other well-known performers who will appear in the Grand Ole Opry show here are Don Helm, Don Bailer and the Nashville Tennesseans, and the Wilburn Brothers.
    A break-in at the Holyoke swimming pool last Wednesday night or early Thursday morning resulted in damage to the glass on the front door, estimated at about $70.
    Books are now being printed in enlarged type to assist people with visual handicap who have difficulty reading ordinary-size type, enabling them to again enjoy reading.
    Wayne’s Grocery, a Holyoke business owned and operated for more than 10 years by Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Shew, is to be closed sometime in August. Shew has accepted a position as assistant manager of the Shop-All store here and assumed his new duties there Monday morning.
    Pearl Schneller stated this week that she has leased the Schneller Produce Co. building here to Dale Hofmeister of Wray, and he announced yesterday that a “Save” store will be opened for business there at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
    Rick Nierman, son of the Fritz Niermans of Holyoke, is playing baseball this summer with the semipro Greeley Grays. Rick, a 1964 HHS grad, hasn’t played much ball the last few years, but if he “comes along” this summer, he might get a crack at professional ball.
    
Seventy-Five Years Ago
July 30, 1942
    A nationwide drive for junk, which includes scrap iron and steel, other metals of all kinds, old rubber, rags, manila rope, burlap bags and cooking fats, is underway. The campaign is under the sponsorship of American Industries Salvage Committee.
    An emergency allotment of welding iron was released to the state last week to be used in blacksmith and welding shops. This material will be allocated in the counties, according to the classifications of the blacksmiths and repairmen, and the applications submitted to get equipment and repair material.
    Phillips County ranks second among all the other counties of the state in the scrap rubber drive. The record Phillips County set was 171,234 pounds, or 34.61 pounds per capita for every man, woman and child in the county.