10 Years Ago

  • Ted Orian Hughes, 73, a life resident of Hawthorne, NV passed away from earth life on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013 at Renown Hospital in Reno, NV. Ted owned the Mineral County Independent-News alongside his brothers Tony and Gene for many years.
  • A problem with the fire alarm system at Hawthorne Elementary School forced an evacuation of students on Aug. 30. Classes were back in session on Sept. 3 the next scheduled day of school.
  • A mudslide caused by a summer thunderstorm closed a stretch of Nevada Highway 359 outside of Hawthorne for several hours on Aug. 27.

20 Years Ago

  • Two new businesses opened their doors in Mineral County. Rosie’s was opened at 537 D Street by Roselyn Pirodeau. Hart’s place was opened at Walker Lake by Richard and Sandy Hart.
  • Pvt. Glenn DeSimon, grandson of JoAnne Fisherman of Schurz, sent a letter home about his experiences in Iraq. He said that the worst thing is the 138 degrees heat.
  • With the assistance of Leader Max Hughes, the Cub Scouts made tool boxes at their day camp.

30 Years Ago

  • A “farewell picnic” to the community of Babbitt was held on the lawn at the Babbitt Bowling Alley. A day of fun and relaxation was enjoyed by several former residents of Babbitt and this vicinity. Alvin Hughes, a long time resident of this area, and former NAD employee who at one time lived in Babbitt, gave the closing remarks (eulogy of Babbitt), while many former residents of Babbitt expressed remembrances of happiness during their stay in Babbitt.
  • An exciting Labor Day celebration was held at the Cliff House Marina at Walker Lake, Members of Adventure Sports of Carson City gave demonstrations of hang gliding from Mt. Grant, and lots of fun, food and friendship was enjoyed by many.
  • Herb Telkamp, VFW State Commander, Rick Isom, Stare Inspector and Don Swanson VFW National Special Aide-de-Camp, attended the Veterans of Foreign Wars national conference in Dallas, Texas.

40 Years Ago

  • U. S. Senator Chic Hecht visited Hawthorne and learned about conventional ammunition at the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant. Mr. Hecht toured the preparation building at the Western Area Demilitarization Facility which included the remote control control room.
  • The Mineral County Secret Witness reward fund reached the $60,500 mark and was still growing, the committee spearheaded the program reported. The goal of the committee was to reach a total of $100,000. A blanket reward of $250 was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of drug pushers and another $250 reward was offered for information on the theft of property from the High School which included computers and accessories with a value over $5,000.
  • The Mineral High School Serpents opened the 1983 football season and were defeated by the Fernley Vaqueros, 34-9.

50 Years Ago

  • An apparent customer at Scotty’s Self Service Station helped himself to more than gasoline when the cash register and contents from the office area of the station were removed. The attendant was cleaning the restroom when a person or persons quickly took the cash register valued at $325 containing a substantial amount of cash.
  • With the opening of dove season, two Hawthorne men were wounded by two boys who were walking and a gun was accidentally discharged. Trailers in the Tamarack beach area were also damaged by stray shots as hunters were shooting too close to the trailers.
  • University of Nevada anthropologists made the determination that remains found .6 miles south of Hawthorne were that of a murdered man. They estimate the man had been dead for five years.

 60 Years Ago

  • Indonesian and Korean naval officers were on a 30-day study mission at the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot.
  • The Hawthorne Serpents won over the Manogue Miners 34-9 In football play.
  • The California side of the Pole Line Road (23 miles from the state line to Highway 395). was officially approved as part of the highway system, leading to the construction of a standard highway, known as Nevada Highway 359 today, running from Hawthorne to the state line, and California Highway 167 from the state line to Highway 395 near Lundy Lake in California.
  • Uncle Van Day reminded us all of what Weavin ‘Winnie had to say…. “A hangover is something that happens to a head that wasn’t used the night before.”

70 Years Ago

  • Representatives of a Los Angeles firm specializing in building swimming pools spoke at the weekly meeting of the Hawthorne Lions Club, to outline in detail the procedures to follow and give estimates on costs of various phases of building the swimming pool to serve the community.
  • Firemen responded to a fire when a resident living in a cabin here put a roast in the oven to cook and fell asleep. The result was a lot of smoke and a ruined supper, but no other damage was done, officials said.

80 Years Ago

  • Additional construction projects at Hawthorne NAD were approved by the Secretary of the Navy as reported to the Independent News by U. S. Senator Pat McCarran.
  • Women who were 29; years of age and had not yet passed their 50th birthday were eligible for enlistment in the Women’s Army Corps.
  • The Mineral County Sheriff’s Department and the Hawthorne NAD held two picnics for children at Walker Lake. The attendance at these events was 3,391 people.

90 Years Ago

  • E. W. Kronquist, engineer for the Indian service at the Walker River Indian Reservation in Schurz, said that a request would be made for $132.000 from the federal government to finance construction of a dam in the Weber area on the reservation. Kronquist said the request would be for a grant not reimbursable from Indiana funds.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Max Ripps announced the purchase of the Weinstein store which had been established in Hawthorne in 1929 and which had been managed by Mr. Ripps since that time. The name of the business would be the Economy Department Store.