Peekin’ into the past

Five 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 mentoring 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 and will host another one on July 8 as the new state movement moves forward.
    
Ten Years Ago
July 3, 2008
    Deana O’Gorman will be joining the Melissa Memorial Hospital staff as a second family nurse practitioner. She is expected to start at MMH during the second week of July.
    A new event has been added to this year’s tractor pull show at the Phillips County Fair. Following the antique tractor pull, a stock pickup pull has been added to the schedule.
    The Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department attended the 91st annual Colorado State Firefighters Association Convention, hosted by South Adams County Fire Department June 16-20, and the six-man team brought home the Overall Championship Trophy in the races. This is the first time Holyoke has won the overall championship.
    When the final count was made at the end of Phillips County Healthcare Foundation’s two-year fundraising campaign for the new Melissa Memorial Hospital on June 30, it was discovered that the Legacy Fund Raising Campaign had exceeded its $600,000 goal, raising a total of $750,784.63.
    
Twenty-Five Years Ago
July 8, 1993
    An L&L Ready Mix cement truck fell into the basement of a new home under construction in the 500 block of East Carnahan St., where it was being used for pouring cement for the basement walls.
    Dr. Myrlen Chesnut of Holyoke was recently recognized as the Outstanding General Practitioner of 1992 by the Colorado chapter of the American College of General Practitioners.
    Announcement of approved grant funding for the proposed Frenchman Trail and the viewing of the newly released Phillips County promotional video highlighted the general membership meeting of Holyoke Revitalization Inc. on June 21. The Colorado Board of Parks and Outdoor Recreation approved a grant of $23,184 under the Colorado Greenway Project Grant Program for building a trail to the Lions Club Fishing Pond.
    
Fifty Years Ago
July 4, 1968
    Thieves broke into the Gambles store in Holyoke during the weekend and got away with merchandise worth $400, according to Deane Anderson, owner of the store. He said the loss could exceed $400 if other items are found to be missing. It is definitely established that two high-powered rifles, a BB gun, two archery sets and a portable stereo were stolen, and a sleeping bag or two and perhaps other items are missing.
    The Rev. Donald D. Smidt was ordained as a pastor during a special service of ordination Sunday evening at Zion Lutheran Church in Holyoke. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Smidt of Holyoke.
    Climaxing a long period of planning, on July 1, four northeast Colorado counties embarked on a new cooperative program which will better utilize the specialties of the area’s Extension agents. The new plan, known as the Golden Plains Area Extension Program, includes Phillips, Yuma, Washington and Kit Carson counties.
    Plans are underway for an interesting new event at this year’s Phillips County Fair — a tractor pulling contest. L.D. Dirks will serve as superintendent of this event.
    
Seventy-Five Years Ago
July 8, 1943
    Straw and stubble from the fields of Phillips County farmers will soon be made into the corrugated layers of cardboard shipping crates. Elmer Spray, representative of Hinde & Dausch Paper Company, has been in the county for several days contracting with farmers for the straw and stubble.
    A local price panel was organized last Thursday and Friday, holding its first meeting Friday night. It was stressed that this panel is not a law enforcement agency but is to act in an advisory manner in regard to reported violations of ceiling prices and related manners.
    No critical labor shortage was reported on the eve of Phillips County’s record-breaking harvest as farmers put the finishing touches on repairing combines and tractors. Because of the scarcity of reliable, steady farm labor previously, it had been feared that part of the bumper wheat crop might not be harvested for lack of crew members.