70 Years Ago – In the not too far distant future some Nevada women undoubtedly will be wearing fur coats, the fur for which will be produced right within the state of Nevada. Chinchillas are taking their place with mink and silver fox as a third producer of valuable fur in the rapidly growing industry. The Silver State Chinchilla Farm is located at 832 F Street in Hawthorne and is operated by Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Martin.

10 Years Ago

• Mineral County High School celebrated homecoming this week. Crowned in royalty were King Curtis Espinosa and Queen Elyse Trujillo. Princesses were Toni Johnson (freshman), Emma Crowe (sophomore) and Kyndra Nelson (junior). Senior’s float placed first, freshmen placed second, sophomore’s placed third and junior’s placed fourth.

• The first Mineral County Sheriff’s Explorer Cadet fundraiser, which was a car wash was a huge success.

• Local veterans now have two replacement vans to use for transportations to medical appointments. A 2007 Ford Freestyle, all wheel drive, six passenger van was donated jointly by National Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Department of California DAV and the local Reno Chapter One. The Reno VA Medical Center took receipt of this van May 2007. The AMVETS California Service Foundation donated a 2005 Modified E-350, with wheelchair lift and capacity to transport three wheelchairs and passengers.

20 Years Ago

• A presentation of a large portrait of Woodrow (Woody) Loftin was made to the Mineral County Library by Mary Jo Mongelli on behalf of her mother, Wilma May Loftin of Carson City. County Librarian Steve Schlatter accepted the picture of Woody for the library. Woody donated a large sum of money for the construction of the library and the picture is now part of the library to honor him.

• Mineral County BMX Association bike riders did very well at the Ely Silver State Qualifier held in Ely, Nevada. Those participating from Mineral County Association were: Oscar Berry, Cory Collins, Brian Harvey, Grant Harvey, Brett Hughes, Casey Kee, Seth Lyons and Jay Sears.

30 Years Ago

• The Mineral County High School Junior Varsity football team defeated the Tonopah Muckers 40-6.

• The Whittell Warriors stunned the Hawthorne Serpents by defeating them 32-0 in football play.

• “Yard of the Month” awards at the base were presented to Mr. and Mrs. John Welch of 405B Conelly Drive, Pat and Cathy Thyne of 437B Schweer Drive and Jack and Betty Wiggens of Quarters W on the Residential Quarters of the Industrial Area.

40 Years Ago

• The Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot became the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant during formal ceremonies held at the base when Col. Royce L. Powell, USA assumed command of the base from Commander W. F. Kimsey, USN. Prior to that time the ammunition base at Hawthorne was a Naval depot for forty-seven years and 15 days, being officially commissioned on Sept. 15, 1930.

• The Mineral County High School Girls Basketball Team edged the Yerington girls team by a score of 30-29.

• MCHS Serpents varsity team defeated the Stewart Braves 26-6 in a football game played at Stewart.

• Promotion of Dan Dillard to district supervisor at Sierra Pacific Power Company’s Hawthorne sub-district was announced by Ray Masayko, Hawthorne/Tonopah district manager.

50 Years Ago

• Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Kichenmaster of Hawthorne flew their Cessna Airplane on a zig-zag course to eastern states, visiting friends and relatives enroute.

• Norbert Dow joined Walker Lake Country Club “Hall of Fame” when he plastered a four iron shot right in the bucket on Number 8 green for a hole-in-one.

• Residents of all Mineral County and other western Nevada communities are invited to the annual Pinenut Festival held in Schurz this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

• A barbecue, Indian hand game tournament and the Pinenut Prayer and dance will be held Saturday night.

60 Years Ago

• More than 200 entries have been received to date in the “Name Your Street Contest” which closes on Nov. 1, according to Judge Vane Day, who is preparing the entries for judging by the board of county commissioners.

The person submitting the name selected will be awarded a $500 cash prize being offered by Joby and Helen Lewis of Hawthorne’s Monte Carlo.

• A high rate of flu cases in this community led to the closing last Friday of all schools in Hawthorne, Babbitt and the Cotter School on base by order of Dr. Norman Baker Smith, county health officer. At the time local schools were ordered closed, more than 300 youngsters were absent. It is not known how many of these absentees stayed home because of the flu; however, it is estimated that many of them were sick with the disease.

• A vaccine clinic for the administration of second polio shots, scheduled for today, Sept. 25, has been postponed.It was announced Monday by Arthur Turner, chairman of the Mineral County Chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.

70 Years Ago

• A proposal to disincorporate the City of Hawthorne was formally presented to voters of the city this week when Charles Tiller commenced circulation of petition to obtain the necessary number of signatures. More than half the voters and residents of the city must sign the petition in order to have it presented to the county commissioners for final action, under provisions of state law. At the regular city election held in May of this year there were 841 registered voters.

• Mineral County High School is planning to offer evening school courses again this year for adults. In addition to the commercial courses that have been taught in the past few years, an adult class in home economics will be offered, providing enough interest is shown.

• A decision to have no open season on the Walker River Indian reservation was reached by the tribal council at Schurz at a meeting on Sept. 2, local sportsmen have been informed. This decision was reached after discussions were held with a representative of the federal fish and wildlife service. It was pointed out that the general season of only thirty days for hunting ducks, with limit cut to four daily, reveals the need for a program of conservation in order to improve the wildfowl situation.

80 Years Ago

• Mineral County High School is considering issuing a challenge this winter for a snowshoe race. At least five out of 45 boys in school wear shoes size 12 and larger.

• Four congressmen, members of the important sub-committee of the House Naval Affairs Committee, spent approximately four hours at the Hawthorne naval ammunition depot Monday. That their inspection of the local depot will result in a favorable action by Congress on proposed appropriations for expansion and improvement of facilities at the depot is hoped by depot officials and Hawthorne townspeople. The congressional committee was headed by Rep. James G Scrugham of Nevada on the visit to Hawthorne. Other congressmen in the party were Rep. Charles A. Plumley of Vermont, Rep. William Ditter of Pennsylvania and Rep. Joachim O. Fernandez of Louisana.

• Mineral County’s two new Caterpillar diesel No. 11 auto patrols, representing an investment of ten thousand dollars, were brought to Hawthorne Tuesday night from Reno under their own power. One machine is to be retained here for use within Hawthorne road district while the second is being sent on to Mina for use in that section of the county. Painted a bright yellow with black letters designating the department to which each machine is being assigned, the patrols attracted considerable attention as they passed through several towns on the trip from Reno.