100 Years Ago

March 14, 1918

First quota second draft called soon

The local draft board has been notified the first quota of the second draft army is to be called this month to be ready for entrainment to the training camps between March 29 and April 1. The quota for the entire state of Wyoming is 130 men and for Goshen County is six men. Those six will all be Class One. The department has also ordered that all men actively engaged in agricultural pursuits shall be excused from this first draft.

Old clothes needed for Belgian relief

The Red Cross would like to get in what old clothes the people of Goshen county can spare for the sufferers of Belgium.

Those having old clothes to spare will confer a favor upon the Red Cross by notifying the committee or by leaving these articles with the committee. The committee to look after this work is Mrs. A. L. Lutz, Mrs. W. E. McDaniel and Mrs. S. Tebbet.

75 Years Ago

March 18, 1943

Nolan family has eight-star flag

John A. Nolan of Chicago, brother-in-law of Joe McDonald of Torrington, boasts an eight-star flag in his window. He has six sons, a daughter and an adopted son in the service and another daughter will soon leave to become an
Army nurse.

One of the sons, James B. “Jimmy” Nolan, worked in Torrington at the Wyoming Theatre for nearly four years and is now a corporal, stationed at the ordnance transport school at Ft. Lewis, Wash. He arrived in Torrington on Wednesday to visit the McDonalds.

Will not buy ‘Bluffs hanger

Expressing the belief that Torrington does not at present have an urgent need for the equipment, Mayor Guy Pool and the city council decided against purchasing the Scottsbluff Municipal Airport after a visit to the field last Sunday.

“We felt that, as long as we have no immediate need for the airport and, inasmuch as such materials are at a premium during the present war, it would not be practicable for us to purchase it and deprive some other group to whom the equipment was necessary,” Mayor Pool said.

If, at a later date, it becomes vital for the town to improve the present airport, provisions will be made, he said.

50 Years Ago

March 18, 1968

Membership in Chamber up

Torrington Chamber of Commerce membership chairman Roger Hamer told The Telegram that membership in the local group has taken a 20 percent jump.

Hamer said membership as of today was at 135, compared to 115 last year. He gave credit to the work of his committee for the increase.

County pioneer Theodore Fintus passes away

Theodore J. Fintus, pioneer Goshen County resident, passed away Saturday at Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne. He was 83.

A resident of Fort Laramie, Mr. Fintus was born Aug. 5, 1884, at Kolding, Denmark. He came to this country in 1904, settling in Illinois. He later went to Fort Collins, Colo., arriving at Fort Laramie in 1906.

Mr. Fintus was a water master for the Pathfinder Irrigation District, retiring after 50 years of service. He was a member of Fort Laramie Community Church.

25 Years Ago

March 17, 1993

Decision flipped, teachers cry betrayal

A decision to hire the Goshen County Unified School District’s administrators for the 1993-94 year has the local teachers’ association crying foul play, according to Simon Lozano, Goshen County Education Association member.

During a special meeting March 10, the GCUSD Board of Trustees voted 6-3 to reverse its decision to hire administrative staff. The board voted 5-4 the previous evening not to hire administrative staff while at the same time invoking the Reduction in Force policy for teachers.

“Last year, we heard board members tell us this year we’re having to cut teachers,” Lozano said. “Next year, we’re going to take a real hard look at administration.”

For the 1992-93 school year, 12 teachers’ positions were eliminated, Lozano said.

EWC administrator award Fulbright scholarship

Eastern Wyoming College Associate Dean of Students Billy Bates has been chosen as a J. William Fulbright Scholarship recipient to the U.S.-German International Seminars this spring.

“This is a very prestigious award,” EWC President Roy Mason said. “Only 25 people in the United States are chosen for this program each year.

The award “sets him apart as a leader in his field and as a great leader in the Community College system,” he said. “This is not only a great personal honor for Billy, it is also a great honor for EWC to have an administrator represent us in the Fulbright program.

The Fulbright program recognizes individuals for excellence in their respective
professional areas.