This house at 640 S. Baxter Ave. was once owned by Fred Dighton Hotaling. Hotaling was born Jan. 22, 1879, in Johnson County, Nebraska. He married Donnie Belle Funk in December 1903, and they moved to Holyoke from Garden City, Missouri, in 1910. They lived for many years on a farm 6 miles east of town, where Fred farmed and ranched. He was a director of the Phillips County Telephone Company for many years. He served as county commissioner from 1919-21, and he spent his final years working at the courthouse in the wheat production control association and the corn-hog association. — Source: Phillips County Museum
Peekin' into the Past
Five Years Ago
July 28, 2016
With thoughts of expanding the police force and concerns about evidence storage, council members discussed relocating the police department to a larger building at the July 19 city council meeting.
A fierce Friday night wind demolished the roof on the east side of Luke and Megan Garrett’s home southeast of Holyoke. Some twister or microburst activity seemed apparent as huge trees, multiple dog kennels and grain bins were strewn about the area southeast of town during the storm.
The Buckley Bombers took runners-up honors in the Midwest Plains Regional Babe Ruth 16-18 Tournament held in Holyoke July 21-24.
A substantial amount of methamphetamine was found July 23 when Holyoke Police Department arrested Ivan Murillo-Rivera, 27, formerly of Holyoke and currently of Ogallala, Nebraska, after a traffic contact at Ampride.
Ten Years Ago
July 28, 2011
Seven state champion teams, a Canadian team and Border League All-Stars will bring high-level baseball action to the Holyoke ballfield Aug. 4-9. The Midwest Plains Regional 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth baseball tournament will serve as a qualifying tournament, with the winner advancing to the Babe Ruth World Series in Jamestown, New York.
Another storm packing a punch rolled through part of Phillips County Friday night, July 22. Some corn received damage southeast of Holyoke, and hail damage ran in a northwest by southeast lobe through the Pleasant Valley ballpark area.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Aug. 1, 1996
Many crops this summer have taken a beating from storm after storm, with a number of farmers losing almost all of their wheat. Corn and sugar beet loss in the area is as much as 50%, with beans an estimated 85%, and millet and sunflowers at an 80% loss.
Starting Aug. 1, residents are asked to water lawns according to their addresses. Those with even house numbers water on even-numbered days, and odd house numbers water on odd-numbered days.
Fifty Years Ago
July 29, 1971
The Department of Agriculture today ordered a nationwide census of all horses as part of its program to confine and eradicate Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis already detected in six states. The survey will be conducted nationally by the cooperative Extension service.
Winter wheat harvest was completed by the end of last week with county yields considered good. Yields in bushels ranged from 35 to 55 bushels throughout the county and testing from 52 to 60 pounds. The county’s dry bean crop has been making good progress, and standing sugar beets are in good condition.
Seventy-Five Years Ago
Aug. 1, 1946
During the past two years, the load at the light plant increased beyond the capacity of the old and original cooling system. It was necessary to purchase a new modern cooling tower. The installation was completed July 27 after two weeks’ work.
A bill was introduced July 15 in the House of Representatives for adoption by the United States of a perpetual, unchanging, fixed calendar. Under the World Calendar, the familiar 12 months are retained but the number of days in the months are rearranged so they follow a uniform and regular pattern. They are grouped in to four quarters, approximating the four seasons, and in each quarter, the first month has 31 days, the second 30, and the third also has 30 days.
Members of the P.J. Club had a wiener roast and slumber party at the home of Lou Ann Einspahr on Sunday night.