Peekin' into the Past

Five Years Ago — July 27, 2017

On July 23, about 150 people gathered after Mass for a dedication service for the St. Patrick Catholic Church addition at 541 S. Interocean Ave. in Holyoke.

Judge Charles Hobbs recently ruled with the city of Holyoke in defining the easement boundary for the stormwater drainage pit area involved in the lawsuit between Rupert and Claire O’Neal and the city.

With the new school year rapidly approaching, the Dragon Booster Club has been formed again to support students at Holyoke JR/SR High in athletics and drama. In recent years, separate organizations existed to support the football and basketball teams. This year, the Dragon Hoopsters and the Dragon Fan Club voted to disperse and donate their funds to the new booster club to support students in all sports as well as the drama department.

The Holyoke Recreation Department is kicking off a new flag football program this fall for kids in grades 1-4.

Ten Years Ago — July 26, 2012

Holyoke City Council accepted the resignation of city code enforcement officer Dawn Worley at the conclusion of its July 17 meeting.

Todd Peckham, a 1989 HHS grad, reflects on his experience of helping victims of the Aurora theater shooting at the Century 16 Movie Theater on July 20.

Jeremy Loutensock and Matt Golden traveled to Denver on July 20 to receive a 9News Agents of Change Award for their leadership and work in health advocacy at the Alan D. Laff Scholarship and Advocacy Awards Ceremony. They received the award for the work they have done with their FCCLA project to inform people about how hearing loss can be prevented.

Twenty-Five Years Ago — July 31, 1997

Building a better workforce is what the school-to-career program is all about, and Holyoke is set to be a pilot school for this grant program. Bruce Yearous is coordinating the school-to-career activities through a grant received by Northeast Colorado BOCES.

A new Holyoke business, Computers, Etc., is in beginning stages at 218 E. Denver St., just west of Brandt Chiropractic. Owners Susan Vogelgesang and Lori Nelson noted that they plan to open the store in October. Computer sales and service, office supplies and furniture, and computer classes will be key features in the new local business.

Goldbars Bullmastiffs, a nationally known and respected kennel, is a recent addition to the community after Jon and Michelle Harms and their family moved north of Holyoke from Littleton in May.

The EchoStar Company of Englewood recently appointed Howard and Betty Hunter (H&B Home Service) of Holyoke as an authorized retailer for the Dish Network satellite TV systems. Prior to becoming a direct dealer for Dish Network, the Hunters sold a number of satellite systems through a Denver dealer.

Fifty Years Ago — July 27, 1972

Colorado District 65 Democratic chairman Bob Donnelly announced after a district meeting Saturday that David Sprague, Holyoke, had been selected as the party’s candidate in this year’s House election. As the party nominee, Sprague will take on the Republican incumbent Lowell Sonnenberg.

Mary Louise Evans, Phillips County clerk and recorder, reports that effective with the primary election of this year, all election clerks will be a thing of the past. Judges of new elections have replaced the clerks.

New bucking shoots and a new announcers booth at the rodeo grounds are ready for the opening of Phillips County Fair on Aug. 7.

Seventy-Five Years Ago ­— July 31, 1947

Louis Bloom of Haxtun was robbed of $77, his gold watch and his 1937 Studebaker coupe Thursday afternoon of last week when he was put out of his car 22 miles southeast of Holyoke on the Alvin road east of Highway 51. Bloom was in Haxtun in the afternoon and was approached by Wm. Ury, former resident of Holyoke, and asked if he would take him to his home south of Holyoke. A short distance down the Alvin road, Bloom was told to stop the car and get out and remove his trousers. Ury then gave him a blanket and drove off in Bloom’s car. Ury was noticed at the telephone office, and Chief of Police Bolen was notified. Bolen pursued the car to Venango, Nebraska, where a tire rolled off Bolen’s car, forcing him to give up the chase.

Harold Blakesley, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Blakesley of Holyoke, was fatally injured when the Piper trainer plane he was flying crashed Thursday evening of last week.

The 1938 Ford pickup belonging to Wm. Radtke of Amherst, which was stolen from the co-op oil station in Amherst on Monday night at about 11 o’clock, was recovered later that night in Grant, Nebraska.