Peekin' into the Past

Five Years Ago
Dec. 31, 2015

In December, PC Telcom was the first in Colorado to be recognized as a certified gig-capable provider for delivering gigabit broadband speeds and enabling technological innovation in the Holyoke and Amherst communities. The certification came from the National Telephone Cooperative Association — The Rural Broadband Association — the premier association representing nearly 900 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America.

For the 400,000 people who were expected to find drones under their Christmas trees this season, a new rule is now in effect. Beginning Dec. 21, anyone who owns a small unmanned aircraft of a certain weight must register with the Federal Aviation Administration Unmanned Aircraft System registry before they fly outdoors.

Hoverboards, or “self-balancing electric scooters,” are making their debut in Holyoke.

Ten Years Ago
Dec. 30, 2010

A crew with Doug Sessions Construction of Wray began the demolition of the Baldwin building, located on West Denver Street on Dec. 21. The building was constructed in 1929 and first housed Garland Auto Company.

An Eastern Plains Internet Crimes Against Children program was recently started in the area.

The Federation of American Consumers and Travelers, under its Visions to Ventures Community Grants Program, has awarded $1,100 to Phillips County Family Education Services for their pilot after-school homework program to provide students in grades 1-12 a productive, safe and comfortable place to work on their homework, study and read.

HHS senior Briar Bergner started Bri’s Tie Dye in July with the goal of raising enough money to attend World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain, in August 2011. She’s stayed busy designing over 1,000 shirts in the last six months, surpassing her goal of 600.

Twenty-Five Years Ago
Jan. 4, 1996

What began as a hobby has turned into a thriving new business for Jim and Betty McBee of Paoli. They own the Paoli Glass Station, a stained glass and pottery shop. The new business is located on Highway 6 in Paoli.

A successful rodeo team is retiring from barrel racing on a high note. Judy Lamb of Holyoke and her horse Thumper qualified this season for the Mountain States Circuit Finals for the fourth — and final — time. They won’t be competing at the finals though, as Lamb has decided that Thumper is done with barrel racing for now.

Upon the end-of-year retirement of State Farm agent Bud Colver, Mike Neill opened a local insurance office for the company on Jan. 2, located in the west half of the former Jack & JoAnne’s building at 201 E. Denver St.

Fifty Years Ago
Dec. 31, 1970

Surface soil moisture is becoming very short in Phillips County due to the lack of precipitation which during the month of December has amounted to only 0.18 of an inch. Temperatures during the past week ranged from a nighttime low of 1 degree below zero to a daytime high of 56.

1971 is the year the Uniform Monday Holidays law takes effect, changing dates that Washington’s birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day fall from their traditional day to specific Mondays, thereby providing, with Labor Day, at least five three-day weekends for workers in 45 states. The law itself applies only to the District of Columbia and federal employees. Almost immediate acceptance of the idea by various state governments led to rapid enactment by every state except Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Seventy-Five Years Ago
Jan. 3, 1946

A preliminary hearing to secure depositions for a case in district court having been held last month in which Arthur Claymon seeks to renew his license to sell liquor in Holyoke at his Star Liquor Store, which renewal was refused by the town board, the court will hear the case on Jan. 9.

The management of the Paoli State Bank decided to discontinue that institution and therefore arranged for a new home for that bank’s deposits. The Community Bank, Haxtun, accepted the deposits without obligation and purchased the bank fixtures.

The recent plane trip by President Truman to Missouri to be with his mother and other relatives on Christmas was considered too risky by many editors. One said the act was “foolhardy,” and others censored the trip as indicating the president did not realize his value to his country. We have not heard that President Truman enjoys breaking precedents as was said of his predecessor. In this case his lack of regard for his personal safety may be breaking some kind of a record. We do wish the president would take reasonable precautions for his own safety, and also, lest inadvertently for the first time a secretary of state be precipitated into the office.

It is comforting to learn of the success of the recent Big Three discussions in Moscow, and especially that the atomic bomb question has been agreeably settled as a United Nations Organization matter. Taking the atomic bomb from approved war use and placing it under the protection of approved scientists in the UNO seems to us a step in the right direction, and one which may be heralded in future years as an act which saved the world from utter destruction.