100 Years Ago
Oct. 10, 1918
Goshen County Journal
Influenza epidemic strikes county
The epidemic of Spanish Influenza which has been sweeping over the east, smiting war training camps and causing hundreds of deaths, has invaded Wyoming and Goshen County. People are now struggling with it.
The first indications of the epidemic appeared last Friday or Saturday. By Sunday, several people in town and a number in the county were sick with “something.” Monday morning, Dr. C. H. Platz, county health officer, acting under instructions from the State Board of Health, ordered all schools in the county closed, all public meetings discontinued and all places of public amusement shut down.
Today (Oct. 10, 1918) between 25 and 30 cases are reported in Torrington and a number of additional cases from, it seems, all parts of the county. As yet no deaths are reported and many who take the proper care are able to be around in two or three days, although not entirely well.
Changes at the electric light plant
Lou Austin will again become manager of the Torrington Light Plant on Nov. 1. Mr. Austin resigned last spring to move to his farm near Sunrise and his place as manager was taken by J. B. Murdock of Gering, Neb. Mr. Murdock is moving back to Gering today and will accept a position with either the sugar company or the government, both places having been offered to him.
F. W. Berry, who has been second man at the plant since last spring, is leaving to accept work elsewhere. His place will be taken by William Rogers, who has just left the employ of the Burlington after several years’ service as section foreman.
75 Years Ago
Oct. 14, 1943
Factory campaign postponed
Due to the inclement weather and harvest conditions, the Holly Sugar Factory here will not open until Oct. 16, instead of Oct. 14 as announced last week. According to R. E. MacLeod, superintendent of the factory, all employees are asked to govern their time of reporting accordingly.
Sugar beet content is higher this year than last and tonnage is expected to be greater per acre, said T. W. Bracken, field supervisor for the Holly concern.
The potato harvest is scheduled to draw to a close next week with the beet harvest now underway, although off to a slow start due to the weather conditions. The Mexican labor is shifting from the potato to the beet fields, since high school boys have been secured to assist with the potato harvest this weekend.
Torrington boy awarded ribbon
Sgt. Conrad E. McCoy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Barney McCoy of Route 1, was recently awarded the Good Conduct Ribbon at the headquarters of the Panama Canal department, it was announced this week.
Sgt. McCoy, stationed with the armed forced guarding the vital Panama Cana, entered the Army in March 1942. Upon being decorated, he was congratulated on his efficiency and deportment during the performance of his duties.
50 Years Ago
Oct. 10, 1968
THS senior semifinalist
in scholarship program
Kathryn L. Krieger, a senior at Torrington High School, was one of 31 Wyoming high school seniors named as a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship program.
Each was among the highest scorers in Wyoming in the qualifying tests given last Febrary in 17,500 schools nationwide.
Kathy has received the Scholastic “T” at THS for the past two years and is a member of the National honor Society. She is also a member of the Thespians, chorus, pep club, drill team and is co-editor of the 1969 Blazer year book.
The semifinalists represent less than one percent of graduating secondary school seniors in the United States. They will compete for about 3,000 merit scholarships to be awarded next spring.
Beet trucks start to roll
Elmer Morgheim, superintendent of the Holly Sugar Corporation, said Monday the first day’s delivery of sugarbeets brought in more than 500 loads, or pretty much an average day’s receipts. He stated the rain slowed things up a great deal temporarily, especially in the southeast area, but with no noticeable let up in the northwest sections.
With the coming of the better weather conditions, beet deliveries have returned more or less to normal. All dumps are in operation at the present time with the exception of the Duroc and Petsch stations. Mr. Morgheim said the quality of the sugarbeets looks very good and the tonnage appears to be over the 10-year average, though it’s still a little early to tell.
25 Years Ago
Oct. 13, 1993
Snow slows area beet harvest
A blanket of early snow starting last Thursday brought the local sugarbeet harvest to a grinding halt for a couple days.
According to Rod Fullmer, agriculture manager at Holly Sugar, the harvest resumed Sunday, but at a fairly slow pace. By Monday, he said, warmer weather allowed for all 14 receiving stations to be back in motion, though some were only handling half capacity.
The stop in the harvest had its effect on plant production. The plant did not get back up to full production until Monday evening.
“In some cases, it did more good than harm,” Fullmer said, especially for some growers with dry fields. He also said it was fortunate the nights were not too cold as to hurt the crop.
KNE rate increase approved
KN Energy’s application to the Wyoming Public Service Commission to raise its natural gas rates in 10 of the state’s eastern towns has been approved, according to information from KNE Division Manager Jim Fitz.
The commission met in Cheyenne on Thursday, Oct. 7, in a public hearing on the proposed 17.7 percent rate increase request.
“No one from the public attended, which surprised me,” Fitz said.
The increase will affect Torrington, Lingle, Fort Laramie, Guernsey, Douglas, Wheatland, Lusk, Glendo, Glenrock and Hartville and will go into effect Nov. 1. Fitz said the average residential user will see an increase of about $7.60 a month on their bill.
“We’re not any happier about raising the rate than any of our customers,” Fitz said.
