A Look Back: February 9, 2018

100 Years Ago
Feb. 7, 1918

Goshen County Journal

Send smokes to Jackies on Battle Ship Arkansas
Last Friday, J. P. and H. H. Rogers collected a barrel of smokes in about 30 minutes to be sent to the boys on the Battle Ship Arkansas and which was accompanied by the following letter:
To Alfred Rogers and the Boys of the Battle Ship Arkansas.
All remembering and being deeply interested in Alfred Rogers and every mother’s son of you, we take this means of expressing our good will to all of you.
We assure you all that while you are the men behind the guns we are behind you and with you who are fighting for the biggest and best country God ever established.
Do not be particular about hitting below the belts as these Germans have no scruples.
This little token was raised by Rogers Brothers in 30 minutes. May it last you longer.

School entertainment
All departments of the Torrington public school will render a program in the Lyric Theatre on Friday night, Feb. 15. This promises to be the best home talent entertainment of the year. Proceeds will be used to pay membership fees of school children in the Junior Red Cross.
You patronage will help the school, the Red Cross and the cause of freedom.

75 Years Ago
Feb. 11, 1943

Point rationing to begin March 1
Rationing of commercially canned, bottled and frozen fruits and vegetables, including juices, all soups and dried fruits, under the point system will begin Monday, March 1, according to M. W. Berry, chairman of the local rationing board.
Retail sales of the above foods midnight, Saturday, Feb. 20, and registration of the civilian population for War Ration Book Two will be conducted during the period Feb. 22 to March 13. During the first ration period, which will cover the month of March, each holder of Ration Book Two, with the exception of those possessing more than the allowable maximum of five cans, will have 48 points to “spend” for rationed foods when retail selling resumes on Monday, March 1.

Beet laborers will arrive Saturday
According to word received Wednesday by Alva W. Hamilton, county farm security administration supervisor, 15 workers, together with their families, are scheduled to arrive in Torrington some time Saturday evening for employment on Goshen County farms and ranches.
The families will be housed at the Traveler’s Motel here until employment arrangements can be made. Sam Hitchcock, of the state department of vocational education, will arrive Tuesday to supervise any training. It is not anticipated the workers will require much training, as all of them have been engaged in agricultural work prior to being sent here. The men, all originally recruited from Missouri, have been working under the year-round labor program in Arizona.
Thirty-one applications for laborers have been received in the local USES and FSA offices since the meeting was held here on Jan. 20. It is anticipated more farmers and ranchers will sign up under the program in the near future.

50 Years Ago
Feb. 12, 1968

Harrison announces sixth congressional run
Cong. William Henry Harrison this morning ended speculation regaring his political plans by announcing at the Lincoln Day press conference in Casper that he intends “to wage a vigorous and successful campaign for a sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Recalling his service in five congresses and three sessions of the Wyoming legislature, the veteran Republican lawmaker said, “I intend to run on my record and accomplishments for Wyoming – past, present and future – and I hope any who would oppose me would do the same.”

Kautz named Leading Young Farmer
The happiest man in Goshen County today is probably Ron Kautz of Huntley, who was named the state’s Outstanding Young Farmer in ceremonies here Saturday night. Last month, Kautz won a similar award for Goshen County. He shed tears of happiness when his name was announced.

A number of state dignitaries were present for the awards dinner. The five finalists for the award represented thousands of young farmers across the state.
Kautz will represent Wyoming in the national finals at Des Moines, Iowa, later this year. The national program is sponsored jointly by the U.S. Jaycees and the National LP Gas Association.

25 Years Ago
Feb. 10, 1993

New winter storm blankets Torrington
A winter storm dumped more than half a foot of snow on Torrington as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, with higher amounts in parts of southeastern and north-central Wyoming.
According to officials at the University of Wyoming Research Station in Torrington, the six inches of new snow brings the season total for the area to 36 inches, with a water content of 2.91 inches. The National Weather Service says another four inches of snow are possible before the storm is over.
Torrington Police Chief Billy Janes said there has only been one accident in town related to the storm.
“A lady hit a fire hydrant down by Covello Motors,” Janes said. “Other than that, it’s just been pushing people away from the curbs.”
Roads throughout eastern Wyoming from the Montana boarder to the Colorado border reported problems with drifting snow and slick conditions. One road, Wyoming 34 between Wheatland and Bosler, was closed, according to information from the Wyoming Highway Department.

GCEA sounds funding alarm
At a town meeting sponsored by the Goshen County Education Association, teachers from the district told parents the quality of the education their children are receiving is in danger of being lowered.
The meeting, held in the Torrington High School Auditorium, was to call attention to the crisis in funding for the coming year, said Lingle fifth-grade teacher Judy Brooks.
Brooks, president of the GCEA, said if parents want a quality education for their children, they need to get involved in lobbying their legislators to try and affect change in school funding.
According to the Heritage Society in Casper, Wyoming is spending $1,000 less per pupil than it did six years ago. Teacher salaries in Wyoming have gone from a sixth-place ranking to 30th in the nation and the state went from second in the nation to 24th in revenue per student.