10 Years Ago

  • The government shutdown pushed back the opening of tax season.
  • The Library showed a new promotional video. “What’s really special about it is the kids and young adults getting to actually see what sets are like and everything, getting to be around the equipment,” said Dillion Oberhansli.

20 Years Ago

  • Dean Oberhansli and Jeremy Willams handed out stockings filled with goodies and clothing to the Kindergarten students at Hawthorne Elementary. The stockings were from SBC, the telephone company now known as AT&T.
  • Army Pvt.Jerrick M. Petty graduated from One Station Unit Training at Fort Bennington, Ga. The training consisted of basic military training and advanced individual training.
  • Dorothy Larson celebrated serving Avon customers in Hawthorne for 40 years Joanna Souza celebrated 25 years in the community garden. Both received beautiful engraved plates from Tiffany’s. The two ladies remained among the top sellers in their district and enjoyed their Avon customers.

30 Years Ago

  • The boundaries of Luning and Mina were extended by approval of the Mineral County Board of Commissioners. Mina was extended to nine square miles in area, making it the largest town in Mineral County. Walker Lake is the second largest. Hawthorne with approximately two square miles is third in land and Luning is one square mile making it the smallest incorporated town in the county. The Schurz Indian Reservation, also in Mineral County, covers several miles from Walker Lake, though the town of Schurz, and along the Walker River for miles.
  • A double-wide mobile home located on Desert Street in Hawthorne, and owned by Nancy Hall of Fallon, was completely destroyed by fire. The home was vacant at the time.
  • Construction started on the new fire house on south E. Street in Hawthorne. E-Z Construction Co. of Fallon was the contractor building the new unit.

40 Years Ago

  • Christmas Day temperature was recorded by Korey Wells observer at the Hawthorne Airport, as a warm 57 degrees.
  • An attempted burglary of the office at the Montgomery Pass Casino was averted when the owner of the establishment Irwin “Bud” Soper detected the attempted crime and scared off the would be burglars.
  • Denise Greece’s and Debbie Watson won $500 for first place in the annual gingerbread house contest at MCHS. Jeanne Trujillo and Dianna Stingerie, took second place with Tina Trujillo and Vikki Blancey took third place.

50 Years Ago

  • Teenagers of the month  pictured in the Independent News-News were Suzanne Szuszitzjy, Ven DeWayne Johnson, Cheryl Ann Justus and Paul Neal.
  • The Hawthorne Serpents won their second game of the season with guard Larry Velasquez making 20 points. Brent Kidd aided the cause with 8 rebounds.
  • The Eighth Grade class at Hawthorne Elementary School presented the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks with a box of groceries were Darla Boak, treasurer, Rhonda Gurule (standing in secretary), Bill Sanchez, president, Janell Johnson, vice president, Amos Parker, master at arms and Gene Kunzi, Elks, club representative.

60 Years Ago

  • Students at MCHS were listed on the citizenship honor roll in the newspaper. To be eligible for the honors roll students must have had all “E’s” a grade equivalent to an A in the older grading system. Those receiving the award were Celeska Beall, Dru Bott, Marilyn Brandon, Marlene Brinkmanship, Mary Campbell, Evelyn Clarke, Toni Dellonica, Judy Heinz, Lynne Parks, Ranae Pollock, Kenneth Polwort, Katherine Powell, Karen Roberts, Cheryl and Janet Russell, Donald Sarnowski, Alleyn Taylor, Linda Thyne, Janice Tomb and Barrie Wilson.
  • Terry Bott, son of Jack Bott began a two year assignment as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador.
  • Uncle Vane Day reminded us of the ups and downs of the NAD when he wrote in his column back in 1963: “It was during the last political campaign in 1962, a gentleman with an advanced personality paid this community a short visit. It was a candidate for the nomination of the great office of United States Senator. He was defeated in the general election but when here on his tour he naturally dropped in for a visit with Jack McCloskey, the press. During the conversation the visitor, the candidate, casually asked, “Is the Naval Ammunition Depot here still in operation?” Quickly Jack became aware of a sad situation. How little was known of us beyond our community limits. A little world unknown to the big world. Brother McCloskey immediately contacted Capt. Clarke, Commanding Officer of the great Naval installation, and plans were initiated to entertain the members of our state legislature during their next session. It was Capt. Clarke contacted Aerojet and found their spacious plane available. Jack met with anxious and willing cooperation from El Capitan, and their management contributed a luncheon to the visiting legislators and local hosts. Yrs, the NAD  of Hawthorne still is going strong and many state VIP’s became aware of it.

“Thanks Jack, for your unfailing loyalty to your hometown. Many times you have contributed generously of time, money, and your good offices for the benefits of our community and its people. You have never taken an ounce of credit in your columns and that can be understood. But this in my column, Mr. McCloskey, and it gives the credit where it belongs for the recent visit of the Carson City lawmakers to Jack McCloskey. A real hometown booster while many of us sleep.

70 Years Ago

  • Marjorie LaMont, well known reader of astrology,numerology, and handwriting analysis, was predicting the past, present and future of local residents at the Hawthorne Hotel in Room 2.
  • Vera Noble was named City Clerk, succeeding Evelyn Anderson.

80 Years Ago

  • A Christmas party was held for “old timers” at the Babbitt USO.
  • The War Manpower Commission designated the wholesale warehousing and distribution of petroleum products as a “local need” in this area.
  • A warrant for the arrest of D. M. Buckingham, ex-county clerk  and treasurer, was issued by Mineral County Justice of the Peace, John Andrews. The warrant was the outcome of a shortage in the county clerk’s office of$12,500,Buckingham had announced intentions of resigning the office for the purpose of joining the Sea-Bees.

90 Years Ago

  • Three United Airlines pilots on flight from Bakersfield, Ca. Stopped in Hawthorne to refuel their single engine Boeing plane. They were scouting a possible bwinter route for United Airlines between Reno and California cities.
  • A crew of 30 men arrived in Hawthorne to serve as a survey party to work on a Civil Works Administration project, under direction of the General Land Office L.B. Spencer, Mineral County Surveyor, was named to serve as Chief of the party that would be divided into three groups to run section lines east of Walker Lake between Luning and Schurz in an unsurveyed area. The men in the crew were to receive $60 a month plus room and board. The lunch counter and at the NevadaClub was leased by the government to serve as a mess hall for the crew, and no longer would be open to the public.