100 Years Ago
May 2, 1918
Goshen County Journal
Men leave for Camp Lewis
A large crowd was at the depot on Tuesday to bid farewell to 18 young men who left that evening for Camp Lewis to enter the military service of our country. They were all fine young men, a credit every one of them to this community and we know they will be found true and brave.
To see them going away to give their all for the country, and to see the parting of parents from loved sons, should inspire every true American citizen to greater efforts and greater sacrifices to help in this great cause where they are giving so much.
In addition to the 15 boys leaving from this county, two young men from Nebraska and one from Laramie took the train at this place.
Young man killed at Lingle
A young man was accidently killed at Lingle on Wednesday when trying to board a freight train. He tried to get on the moving train near the stock yards and had caught it when the projecting wings of the stockyards loading chute knocked him off and under the train.
He was discovered a few minutes after the accident. His right leg was cut off at the thigh, his left leg crushed and other bruises over his body. He was rushed as quickly as possible to the hospital here but died in a few minutes after arriving.
He had been working near Lingle for a short time and was a comparative stranger here. His relatives at Broken Bow, Neb., were reached by wire and the body was shipped to that place for interment.
75 Years Ago
May 6, 1943
Goshen man given promotion
William “Billy” Austin of Torrington was named Tuesday as head of the Wyoming Liquor Commission to fill the position left vacant by the resignation of Thomas M. McKinney of Basin.
Austin was purchasing agent for the commission during McKinney’s tenure in office.
The new liquor head will take over June 15, his salary and other details of administering the office to be worked out by the commission prior to
Kiddies warned to
refrain from damaging trees
Mayor Guy Pool this week is making an urgent plea to the children of the community to refrain from whittling on the trees in the city park.
“I realize that this is done without malice or forethought,” Mayor pool said. “But it is greatly jeopardizing the growth of the trees and deteriorating the appearance of these trees planted by the city last year. Many of the older cottonwoods were planted years ago and can stand a great deal of abuse, but the newer plantings need more care.”
The northwest corner of the park has also been sown to new grass seed recently with many loads of the old lawn and dirt hauled out. Cooperation is also asked in refraining from trespassing on this newly-seeded ground.
50 Years Ago
May 2, 1968
Torrington student Blazer of the Quarter
Bryan Schwartzkopf was chosen as Blazer of the Quarter for the third quarter of the 1967-68 school year. He is the first boy to receive the honor this year.
Those receiving this honor are nominated by the high school faculty. The final decision is made by members of the National Honor Society.
Schwartzkopf was chosen for his character, leadership, cooperation in class and sportsmanship. He was this year’s basketball team captain. Other organizations he is a member of an active in are T-Club, French Club and Thespians.
Blazer of the Quarter is an honor which began this year. In previous years there has been a Blazer of the Month. Others who have received the honor this year are Rita Anderson and Cony Gesick.
Eaton to study in Vienna
Warren O. Eaton, a graduate of Torrington High School with the class of 1967 and now a freshman at Stanford University it Palo Alto, Calif., was recently informed he’d been selected for the opportunity to attend the Stanford Overseas Campus Program in Vienna, Austria.
He will begin college there in the fall and continue his studies from September 1968 through March 1969.
Selection of students for the program is based on scholastic achievement at Stanford from among the freshman and sophomore classes. Stanford’s European campuses are extension of the Palo Alto campus and regular courses are offered. Students will receive the usual credits towards graduation and instructors are members of the Stanford faculty.
25 Years Ago
May 5, 1993
Sears to close June 5
Sears catalog store owner Aileen Leithead is adamant that even though Sears is closing its branch here in Torrington, the Leitheads are not going anywhere.
The Leitheads plan to open an appliance store in the same location as their Sears store on Main Street.
“Our closing day is June 5,” Aileen said. But after three or four weeks, she and husband Gary plan to reopen an independent appliance store.
Torrington has a need for a full-line appliance store with services to go along with it, Aileen said.
“It’s what we know,” she said. “So, it’s what we’ll keep doing.”
Gary plans to continue operating Harry’s Appliance Repair out of the store. Repairs will continue to operate during the weeks they close for remodeling and restocking, Aileen said.
The Leitheads were planning on celebrating the 12th anniversary as Sears catalog store owners this month, but the closure changed all that.
“I guess, when you work for a company as big as (Sears) is, it’s hard when it disappears underneath you,” Aileen said.
Lack of financing kills nursing program
Laramie County Community College will be withdrawing its support from the local, two-year Associate Degree program in nursing provided at Eastern Wyoming College because of financial considerations.
Chuck Engbretson, Vice President for Academic/Student Services, LCCC said it was unable to continue the program at this time.
The program began four years ago as a cooperative split between EWC, LCCC and Memorial Hospital in Torrington. EWC provides the classes, including psychology and anatomy, while LCCC provides the nursing classes. Memorial Hospital provides the work experience site for students.
Engbretson said LCCC might be able to pick the program back up in a year or so, but until then he is looking into other options for the program. He is speaking to administrators at other community colleges in the state, which all have nursing programs, to try and set up a similar arrangement.
Casper College has indicated some interest, but Engbretson said more discussion and exploration is needed.
“It’s too late in the year to set up anything for next fall,” he said.
