10 Years Ago

  • Shaiitarrio Brown, 18 of Hawthorne, and Devonte Williams, 20 of Southern California, escaped the Mineral County Jail using ladders to climb over a fence and slithered through the razor wire to escape custody, said Mineral County Sheriff Mike Dillard.
  • The Mineral County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on May 1 to offer employment as the Mineral County Senior Center Director to Mike James of Hawthorne.
  • Hawthorne kicked off its annual celebration of Armed Forces Day on May 4 by crowning a Hawthorne girl Junior Miss Armed Forces Day.

20 Years Ago

  • The construction stages of the Plasma Ordnance Demilitarization System (PODS) and the process that will be used for the demilitarization of the ordnance at Hawthorne Army Depot. This project was allocated $1.48 million.
  • Don Vaden will be the 53rd Armed Forces Day grand marshal.
  • Contestants for the Miss Armed Forces Day contest were: Shannon Amussen, Renee Seaton, Beth Doyle, Amanda Schrepfer, Jamie Convis, and Shawna Davis.
  • Kyle Reuter accepted a donation from the El Capitan as he begins another year racing the “Cops &Kids” drag car.

30 Years Ago

  • The MCHS Serpents moved into first place in the Central Nevada AA Baseball League by defeating the Battle Mountain Longhorns in a twin bill. Hawthorne won both games 6-5 and 6-5. Their league record was 8 wins and 0 losses.
  • Candidates for the 1993 Rodeo Queen Contest held by the Mineral County House’s Association were: Katrina DuPree; Carol Knapp; JayCee Magnuson; Mellissa Sprigg Mills; Melony Minor; Jessica Palmer; and Sherry Yott.
  • Strong winds ranging over 70 miles an hour broke two high power lines on first and D St., causing power outage for almost 5 hours to the west side of town.

40 Years Ago

  • The multi-million dollar demonstration factory located at the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant  was to be included in the tour schedule for Armed Forces Day. The Demil facility was scheduled to open in October.
  • Sixteen applications have been received by the advisory committee for the newly created position of County Administrator.
  • Marvin Schnicke was the grand prize winner at the El Capital’s Annual Walker Lake Cutthroat Trout Fish Derby. Marvin won the $1,000 prize with cutthroat trout weighing 5 1/4 pounds. Other winners were Ruth Fowler of Fallon, Linda Schaaf and Elmer Werner of Hawthorne and Emiliano Gonzales of Babbitt.
  • Millie Jeffers received a gift from Frank Miller, manager of the Hawthorne Safeway Store, upon her retirement after 32 years.

50 Years Ago

  • An explosion ordnance disposal team and ordnance workers from the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot were sent to Roseville, California to assist in clearing bombs following a costly explosion that occurred.
  • A new club in Hawthorne for all dune buggy fans and owners was being established.
  • A sale of surplus items at the Naval Ammunition Depot was to be held and items that were offered included camping equipment clothing, outboard motors, office furniture and appliances, trucks and trailers and anchor drums.

60 Years Ago

  • Prize fish caught in El Capitan’s annual Walker Lake Cutthroat Trout Derby for 1962-63 was a 19 pound trout landed by Mary Lavonne Hines of Hawthorne.
  • A well-established garment manufacturing firm was seriously considering Hawthorne as the site for the first manufacturing plant in the west. The company, Rockingham Sleepwear, planned to eventually employ 250 women in the manufacturing of pajamas and other sleepwear.
  • The Serpents placed a 10-1 win over the Douglas Tighter and topped second ranked Manogue Miners 3-1 in baseball league play.
  • Uncle Vane Day told about an elderly farmer who had finished his haying one Sunday morning as the pastor of the local church drove by. “Brother,” the Minister lectured him, “ don’t you know that the Creator made the world in six days and rested on the seventh?” “Yes,” said the old farmer as he looked uneasily at the rain clouds in the west, “I know all about that. But  he got done and l didn’t.”

70 Years Ago

  • Ten “old timers” who worked for the contractor to help build a Hawthorne Naval AmmunitionDepot, and shortly afterwards took employment with the NAD were pictured and listed in the Independence News. The workers were Frank Hammocks, H. E. Edison, Harvey Leo Linderman, Ora Q. Denny, Ross “Bud” Leavitt, Francis Bowman, Wesley Dike, Al Hughes, Hank Barlow and Edwin Brown.
  • Charles Leonard, operator of the Babbit Theater, announced plans to build a drive-in-theater in Hawthorne.
  • Twenty-eight pilots b flew into Hawthorne for a fly-in breakfast and get together for local aviators.

80 Years Ago

  • May 8 was set as the date for the grand opening of the new Recreation Center at the Naval Ammunition Depot. A 24-piece band was being brought to Hawthorne to provide dance. Music and residents were invited to bowl in the new bowling alley and enjoy the big new swimming pool.
  • Junior Prom Queen would be chosen on the basis of candidates selling the most war bonds and stamps.
  • Justice of the peace John Andrews collector $412 in fines in one week from traffic and drunk charges.

90 Years Ago

  • Ward Davis, Hector Daves and J.W. Lamb struck a good vein of gold in the tunnel in the hills behind Mike Knof’s Golden Willow Ranch 12 miles north of Hawthorne.
  • A  Rockslide at Walker Lake left mud and debris on the highway until it could be cleared by Bert Belzar and Gene Ferretti. State Highway Department maintenance crew.