Peekin' into the Past

Five Years Ago
July 18, 2013
    Velva Notter and the late Bill Notter were named 2013 Historical Master Breeders by the Brown Swiss Historical Society at the recent National Brown Swiss Convention July 3-6 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
    After 40 years in the real estate business in Holyoke, Dorothy Scott is exchanging the work world for retirement.
    Family Fun Day at Phillips County Fair includes a mud volleyball tournament, youth soccer tournament, Family Farm Olympics and an ATV rodeo.
    Daniel Koch, D.C., and his wife, Kristin, have purchased the chiropractic practice and clinic in Imperial, Nebraska, from Dr. Dale Longan and his wife, Liz.
    A new treat at the Phillips County Fair this year is the addition of a Mexican Rodeo and Fiesta to be held on Sunday.
    
Ten Years Ago
July 17, 2008
    Deana O’Gorman is the new family nurse practitioner at Melissa Memorial Hospital.
    Chris Winckler, age 17, of Holyoke, recently returned from a three-week trip to Europe with the People to People organization.
    Blake Marvin, last year’s opener for Lonestar at the Chase County Fair, will be returning to the area once again this summer to star as the main entertainment at the Phillips County Fair.
    
Twenty-Five Years Ago
July 22, 1993
    Kristol Bradley of Holyoke was one of the top 10 merit finalists in the Miss Teen Colorado Pageant held July 16-18 in Denver.
    The 16th annual Harold Millage Tennis Tournament attracted 59 participants, with some competing in two or three divisions.
    Rose Kreher, who will officially finish her duties as librarian at the Heginbotham Library at the end of this month, will be honored at an open house tea July 30.
    Holyoke sculptor Mardelle Pocock will be attending the Loveland Sculpture Invitational and Sculpture in the Park, the largest gathering of sculptors in America, Aug. 7-8.
    
Fifty Years Ago
July 18, 1968
    Construction of a new alfalfa dehydration plant will get underway in Venango, Nebraska, before the end of July, according to a spokesman for Dudden Elevator Inc. of Venango, which has contracted for construction of the plant.
    Phillips County Sheriff Fred Thietje said yesterday that a man suspected of stealing two high-powered rifles and ammunition in Holyoke recently is being held in jail in St. Joseph, Missouri.
    In line with recently announced curtailment of mail service throughout the U.S., a reduction of service at the Holyoke post office will go into effect Saturday, July 27. Postmaster Everette Lappart said that on July 27 and each Saturday thereafter until further notice, there will be no window service at the Holyoke post office.
    King-size firecrackers or homemade “bombs” awakened many residents of Holyoke early Monday morning. Police Chief Paul Plummer said yesterday that two local youths have been questioned about the blasts, and there are others suspected of similar mischief.
    
Seventy-Five Years Ago
July 22, 1943
    Wednesday, July 14, was a red-letter day in harvest history of the local elevators. On that day, Reimer-Smith handled approximately 50,000 bushels, and the Farmers Co-op reported it had cared for over 40,000 bushels of wheat alone, and an all-time record was established. To date, the two elevators have handled approximately 425,000 bushels this season. A bumper wheat crop throughout eastern Phillips County is piling on the ground as the shortage of box cars and storage space becomes more serious.
    With the thermometer reaching to 100 degrees, as reported by L.V. Stones, local weather observer, Wednesday is to date the hottest day experienced this year.
    With the additions of a new circular-shaped brick and cement front porch at the Holyoke library, another step has been taken toward making it one of the best in this part of the state. The library has been housed in the present building for the past five years, and at present there are 13,000 books there, cataloged by the Dewey Decimal System.
    Poultrymen and farmers who are doing their best to produce all of the poultry meat and eggs they can to help feed our fighting men and civilians may find that their enlarged flocks are apt to crowd their poultry houses this coming fall and winter.