10 Years Ago

  • Brian Dillard, a longtime veteran of the Mineral County Sheriff’s Department, was advanced to the rank of lieutenant.
  • Hawthorne customers will also pay .35 cents more each month for sewer usage, up to $1.50. But despite the utility’s recommendation and the urging of Anna Fitzgerald, Hawthorne Utilities office Manager, the board didn’t increase the garbage rate by the recommended 25 cents.
  • Last week’s decision by the Federal Aviation Administration is not likely to have much of an impact on plans to bring drone testing to Mineral County, a Mineral County economic development planner said.

20 Years Ago

  • The Hawthorne Ordnance Museum received the Nevada Tourism Development Award at the 20th annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Las Vegas. Accepting the award for the museum were Larry and Carole Mortensen.
  • Glen Strouse reported that the Audubon Society members were determined to make a census of the birds on Walker Lake over Christmas holidays, in spite of their weather, over 72 different species of birds were observed.

30 Years Ago

  • The Mineral County Commissioners held their first meeting of 1994 and a number of items were on the agenda, including the proposed naming of a director of economic and community development, an update on block grant applications actions pertaining to landfills.
  • Hawthorne and Mina, and consideration of appointments to the boards and commissions.
  • Local BMX enthusiasts were looking forward to the construction of the new track that was being constructed on land located at the Odd Fellows base field.The track previously was located at the Western Dirt Track Racing Association race track.
  • Lee Lockwood , Jr., Josh Neade, Danny Womack, and Mark Ramsey, students at MCHS attended a baseball camp in Twin Falls Idaho. They received instruction on pitching, infield work, batting, base running and baseball. The MCHS Boosters Club and local residents helped to send the boys to the camp.

40 Years Ago

  • A state permit to appropriate water for Walker Lake had been approved by State Engineer Peter Morris. The appropriation applied to surplus flows along the Walker River which terminated at Walker Lake after supplying upstream users who had long established water rights for agriculture.
  • As part of the effort to keep Walker Lake from becoming a “dying lake “, the commissioners of Mineral County initiated a movement to have Walker Lake adjudicated as a beneficiary of the Walker River system. An appropriation of 575,670 acre feet per year was approved for Walker Lake in any year the river flow exceeded the volume of water required to meet the establishment of upstream users.
  • Members of the Independent-News staff drove up on Lucky Boy hill and photographed the “pogonip” from above.

50 Years

  • Sunday, January 6, was the date set for return to daylight savings time in accordance with the special law passed by Congress as part of the effort to combat the energy emergency.
  • Congressman David Towell registered a strong protest with the Environmental Protection Agency over a move that threatened to close the Basic Incorporated operation at Gabbs.

60 Years Ago

  • The Mineral County Power System was requested to take over the power line owned by the TV district.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration listed some changes that were necessary to complete the airport construction project.
  • The Serpents had a rough time on a road trip as they were defeated by Winnemucca 57-47 and Lovelock 67-46.
  • Uncle Vane Day made a comment in his weekly column: “It’s no wonder the newborn baby cries. It’s hungry, it’s naked, and already owes the government $2,400.”

70 Years Ago

  • Basketball season was slated to start with the Hawthorne Serpents meeting the Lovelock Mustangs in the first game in the new Elementary School gym. A dedication of the new gym was part of the evening’s program. The Serpents played hard for their new coach, Winton King, and defeated Lovelock by a score of 51-43..
  • The Christmas mail rush was greatly alleviated during the holiday season when the Post Office Department authorized the movement of first class mail, papers, and special holiday parcels post packages via air lines and the first shipment was dispatched from Hawthorne via Bonanza Air Lines which was serving this community on a regular schedule.
  • A big wind caused a lot of damage. Heaviest hit were relocated houses in Babbitt where several roofs were relocated—to the ground.

80 Years Ago

  • War bonds subscriptions in Mineral County reached the $7,000 mark.
  • Sheriff Loyd Wilson left for the state of Virginia to serve a warrant for the arrest of D. M. Buckingham, who had recently resigned as County Clerk and Treasurer of Mineral County. The complaint charged Buckingham with embezzling $12,500.67.
  • MCHS Hawthorne Serpents defeated the Tonopah Muckers, 30-26, at the local gym, but were edged by the Fallon Greenwave 29-27 in a game played on the Fallon count, They were slated to play Gardnerville and the Stewart Indians the next weekend.

90 Years Ago

  • Jimmy Grousl suspended work at his mine near the top of Mt. Grant for the winter months. His final shipment of two sacks of gold ore netted him a return of $976. He planned to spend the winter in Hawthorne.
  • Poles were in place to carry an extension of the Mineral County Power System line to the CCC camp west of the NAD Industrial Area. Five local men enrolled to serve at the local camp: Joe Tiller, Wade West, Hector Davis, Bud Thisby and Everett Harris.
  • Civil Works Administration crews placed curbing and a sprinkler system at the courthouse. Ben Louthan was in charge of a crew doing the work on Lucky Boy road, George Becker headed a crew working in the Pamlico and Garfield area, and Frank Muckers was in charge of a crew in the Rawhide district. Bob Overman, Bureau of Aeronautics representative in Reno, came to Hawthorne to discuss work on a landing field here, and possibly emergency landing fields in Mina and Schurz.
  • Forty-one men were employed by the Federal Works Administration which had three parties designated for civil works and one party for public works.
  • A flat rate of $5 was set for motor vehicle license plates, regardless of size of the vehicle. License plates in Mineral County number 507 in 1933 compared to 655 in 1932.