100 Years Ago

Oct. 18, 1917

Goshen County Journal

Potato harvest nears completion

The potato harvest in this vicinity will be completed within a week or 10 days. The weather has been all that could be desired and the crop hereabouts has been gathered in fine condition.

The yield has exceeded even the expectations of the most sanguine, and the quality is excellent. 

The general average probably is around 150 sacks to the acre, though some growers report as many as 225 sacks. The shipments so far have amounted to something more than three hundred cars and probably as many more are awaiting cars, about which there has been considerable difficulty. 

The hitherto unequaled Greeley (Colo.) district has lost its long-time crown of potato blossoms. Goshen County beats the world, both for quality and quantity.

Second draft Army probably in three months

Discussion of the advisability of expediting the call for the second increment of the draft Army is now in progress at the war department and it appears likely a date may be fixed for some time in December or January.

Mobilization of the first increment of 687,000 men is now far enough advanced to show clearly that there will be a big deficiency for the 17 National Army divisions. More than 250,000 of the first increment are still be assembled, but it already is evident there will be space available at the 16 cantonments quarters for an additional regiment at each post and at some for a full brigade, or two regiments.

The shortage is due partly to the necessity of taking out of the National Army men to fill up National Guard divisions. Two complete national Army divisions of southern troops have been absorbed in this way.

75 Years Ago

Oct. 14, 1942

Local Guard troop feted

Members of the Torrington Lions Club were hosts Tuesday evening to members of the local state guard troop at which gathering Col. R. L. Esmay, adjutant general of the Wyoming State Guard, gave a short but inspiring address as the principal feature of the evening program.

The affair was staged in the Wyoming Room of the Zephyr Grill, which was filled to capacity by the members of the two organizations.

Col. Esmay highly complimented Lt. Col. G. D. Boyer for the excellent job the latter has done in organizing the troop over the state. He thanked the Lions Club for being behind the troops and said he truly appreciated the efforts of the Goshen County Civilian Defense council for their fine cooperation.

Huge scrap drive success here

The All-Out Drive for scrap metal staged today (Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1942) has proven most successful with more than 140 tons, or 280,000 pounds, received as the Telegram goes to press. It’s estimated that, during the night, many more loads will be brought to town.

Business houses and professional offices closed 100 percent as the men of hte city turned out in full force to bring in the scrap.

Under the able sponsorship of the Torrington Volunteer Fire Department, cars and trucks made a thorough canvass of the northern and central parts of the county. Everywhere the trucks stopped for scrap, the farmers and ranchers of the county cooperated to the utmost, digging out all kinds of waste materials and willingly assisting in sorting and loading. Many of the farmers had previously hauled loads of scrap into town but sill searched for more to add to the huge collection.

50 Years Ago

Oct. 12, 1967

Teacher endorses bond issue

Lucille Beede, operator of Torrington’s Jack and Jill Private Kindergarten, today urged voters to support a proposed bond election on Nov. 10 to provide a public kindergarten, a program for the trainable child and other facilities.

Contrary to some public opinion, Mrs. Beede has been in favor of the public kindergarten and was one of the signers of the petition presented to the school board recently to initiate the election.

“Every child should have the advantage of kindergarten training and, if it is not included in the public school, some children who need it will be without this training,” Mrs. Beede said. “Some children do not need kindergarten for academic reasons but these same children benefit emotionally and socially.

Enrollment up over last year

Enrollment in the Torrington schools stood at 1,854 students on Oct. 2 as compared to 1,798 one year ago.

In the elementary school, 936 students are enrolled in first through sixth grade. There are 479 students on the rolls of the middle school and the high school hosts 439 students

The first grade is the largest class, with 180 students, while the second grade is the smallest at 133. The senior class has an enrollment of 145, the largest in the history of the school.

25 Years Ago

Oct. 14, 1992

School Board tables admission fee issue

Amid public opposition to the proposed policy change in admission fees for school activities, the Goshen County School Board voted to indefinitely table the policy.

Two of the seven board members present voted against tabling the proposal.

Voting against the decision, Donna Duncan said: “When we table something it means you can consider further action at another time.”

She said she wanted to let the current policy stand.

“I wasn’t in favor of the procedure of tabling the current policy we have for not charging admissions,” Duncan said. “The current policy is strong enough and stable enough to not be changed. 

Board member Mike Callahan, however, said he voted against tabling the proposal because he believers charging is an option the board should look at.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Callahan said. “The input that I have had is that the outlying schools are wholeheartedly against it and Torrington doesn’t really care. Most of the people that I’ve talked to from Torrington have no objection to paying a couple of bucks to get into the games.”

Community colleges irked by proposed rule changes

Eastern Wyoming College Board of Trustees met Tuesday to hear an informational report from President Roy Mason’s two-day meeting with the community college commission in Casper.

Mason said one reason for the meeting with state officials was proposed changes to the rules that guide community colleges in the state. One of the proposed changes would cut state reimbursement to the colleges for community education programs, he said.

Trustee John Maier, who also attended the Casper meeting, said the commission was wanting to start the process of adopting new rules, but because of opposition from nearly all of the representatives at the meeting, decided to postpone the start of the public input process.

James Meznek, director of the commission, said the function of the commission is to help coordinate the community colleges and to be involved in the budget process.

“We are the ones who provide as much as 82 percent of their operating funds,” Meznek said. “We help to run the system.”

Maier said administration officials at EWC had spent hours and hours researching and talking with the school’s lawyer about the proposed changes, only to be told by some members of the state commission, “Oh, we just wanted to get your attention.”