Peekin' into the Past

Five Years Ago
Sept. 20, 2012
    Phillips County has hired Erik Young as a new deputy with the sheriff’s office. Young brings the force back up to four officers following the departure of deputy Barry Winckler, who accepted a job with the Sterling Police Department in August.
    Tyler Loutensock earned the rank of Eagle Scout in a ceremony held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Sterling Sept. 5.
    
Ten Years Ago
Sept. 20, 2007
    After months of construction, the new Bank of Colorado building is complete and open for business in Holyoke. The bank has moved from 106 S. Interocean Ave. down a block and across the street to 133 N. Interocean Ave. The bank will host a grand opening Sept. 20.
    So far this year, prices for corn have been around $3.20. The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists the average for the last nine years as $2.20. The result is the largest corn and soybean crops the nation has seen since World War II and an estimated jump of $134 million in Colorado corn sales from last year.
    Ballyneal is offering social memberships, cooking lessons with their head chef and golf lessons with their golf professionals to give community members an opportunity to utilize the facility and enjoy the perks of living near the award-winning private golf course and hunting club.
    Efrain Bencomo and his family opened their new Mexican restaurant, El Buen Sazón, located in the former Basically Business store at 116 N. Interocean Ave., on Sept. 17.
    “Dangerous intersection” signs have been installed on Emerson Street on both sides of the intersection with Interocean Avenue. Holyoke City Council decided to put up the new signs after taking down the “right turn only” ones.
    Matt Payne is the new assistant golf pro for Ballyneal.
    
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Sept. 24, 1992
    Holyoke area residents can recycle their outdated phone books in boxes located at Jack & Jill, Shop-All and the Phillips County Telephone Company office. The project is sponsored by the 13 Northeastern District FHA chapters.
    After discussing a suggestion to increase the speed limit for East Johnson Street, the Holyoke City Council voted Sept. 15 to change the current 20 mph restriction to 30 mph unless school is in session. During school hours, the speed limit will still be 20 mph.
    Melissa Memorial Hospital announced this week that Dr. Stewart Abbot, M.D., of Greeley, specializing in obstetrics/gynecology, and his new associate, Pamela Snyder, M.D., will again be holding regular monthly clinics at the hospital.

Fifty Years Ago
Sept. 21, 1967
    The Phillips County primary road between Holyoke and the Colorado-Nebraska state line at Venango, known locally as the “angle road,” was approved for designation as Federal Aid Secondary Route 176 by the Bureau of Public Roads on Aug. 28.
    At the meeting of the Holyoke Town Council Monday evening, it was made known of changes in the police department personnel.. Willard Bolen, who has been connected with the police department since Nov. 15, 1943, is stepping down from police chief and will devote his time to street, water, parks and sewer departments. Paul E. Plummer, a member of the force since Feb. 1, 1963, will be the new chief of police.
    Robert R. Goldenstein is the new manager of Highline Electric Association. Goldenstein, who has been office manager of the Holyoke-headquartered rural electric firm for 20 years, succeeds Fred W. Cooper, who retired Sept. 1 after 19 years of service.
    
Seventy-Five Years Ago
Sept. 24, 1942
    The nomination of Thomas H. Hargreaves for postmaster of Holyoke was confirmed by the Senate Tuesday. Shortly after his second four-year term, the Holyoke post office was placed under civil service as a second-class post office. Hargreaves has not yet received his civil service commission but expects to get it within a few weeks.
    Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Williams opened their cafe Wednesday in the former location of the Kinch Cafe, having moved from West Denver Street. The new location will be called Bob’s Place, as was their former location.
    The last two vacancies in the county schools were filled last Monday when Mabel Lane was secured to open the Sunnyside School, which had been closed up to that time because no teacher could be secured, and Evalyn Reno of Denver was employed by District 31. Four districts are transporting their children to town schools. District 17 is the only school which was closed this year.
    The El Jebel Shrine Hillbilly Band of Denver appeared in complete hillbilly style Friday at the Legion hall. The band is touring towns in eastern Colorado sponsoring the sale of war stamps and war bonds.
    Four elevators in this territory were burglarized early Wednesday evening when two men broke into the Holyoke Cooperative Association elevator in Holyoke, the I.J. Taylor Grain Company in Paoli, and the Denver and Harris elevators in Haxtun, taking a portable typewriter, two electric razors and $17.50 in change.
    A statewide drive in Colorado is requesting bed, stand and floor lamps for military hospitals in the state. The drive is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, and the goal is 6,000 lamps.