10 Years Ago

  • Some Hawthorne residents received a surprise last week when a bear decided to pay a visit to 210 Pine St. and lodge in a tree for a happy, multi-hour rest. Officers from Mineral County Sheriff’s Dept. and Brain Eller, a Nevada Dept. of Wildlife game warden out of Yerington, arrived on the scene to monitor the animal.
  • Mineral County celebrated the 64th Annual Armed Forces Day.

20 Years Ago

  • Amber Medina was named Miss Armed Forces Day 2004. With voting so close, Anessha Felix, Marshae Laryea and Juanita Carr were all named first runners up. Bud Gazaway, who gave a performance of the “Bugle Man Boogy”.
  • Mineral County High School student Toby Montoya was notified by Nevada Wildlife Federation, Inc. as a selection of “Youth Conservationists of the Year”.
  • Two guzzlers in the Silver Peak Mountain Range south of Coaldale Junction received upgrades. More than 50 volunteers from around the state worked on various phases of the construction.

30 Years Ago

  • Ed Jones of Hawthorne was the big winner in the El Capitan 1993-94 Walker Lake Cutthroat Trout Derby with his 7.8 pound catch he made on April 17. Ed’s prize was  a $1,000 check presented by Rick Shields, general manager of the El Capitan.
  • The MCHS Baseball Team won the Central Division AA League trophy after winning a double-header over the Battle Mountain Longhorns. The Serpents finished the season with their  second perfect 10-0 record. Member the team that were pictured in the newspaper were, Josh Neade, Mike Welch, Matt Shorey, Bryan Mecham, Travis Lyle, Lew Lockwood, Rameriz Greenwood, James Farrell, Kris Jones, Darren Hamrey, Jakob Anderson, Jed Cornella, Cam Cornella, Roy McKnight, Tyran Greenwood, Mark Ramsey, Terry George, Justin Manfredi, Tracy Bryant and Albert Sea-Wong. Also pictured were cheerleaders Nicky Berrier, and Jaime Cardenas.
  • The Lady Serpents Softball Team also won the league title. Team members in the paper were, Kristy Emmett, Angela Mugpnger, Theresa Montoya, Tami Jamison, Dawn Winters, Sarana Jackson, Juli Fisk, Janice Nixon, Angela Byrd, Kari Emm, Jeri Munden, Jessie Going, Monica Emm, Mika Legg, Sandi Emm, Shalon Worthen, C.C. Montoya, and Libby Carothers, Coaching the team were Randy Emm and Raymond Montoya.

40 Years Ago

  • Two women filed to run for Mineral County Commissioner, Karen Wilson and Bea Collier.
  • A notice in the newspaper asked citizens who did not see their stories in the present issue of the newspaper to provide the office with a duplicate copy. An “infernal mini twist” wind storm came across town and entered the Independent News office in the rear door and exited through the front door taking with it a number of news items classified ads, some receipts bills and at least one photograph.
  • Featured performances at the St. Paul Baptism Church were Hattie Garry, Mildred Morr, and Bessie Durrell.
  • Three Hawthorne Serpents were chosen to play in the Kiwanis Charity basketball Classic. The three were Lonnie Winters, Nancy Schaaf and Deon James.

50 Years Ago

  • Governor Mike O’Callaghan attended the annual Hawthorne Elks Senior Class Awards Banquet and presented the year awards to Carla Inman and Larry Valesquez. The Leadership award went to Don Cavin and Suzanne Mortensen and Scholastic Scrolls went to Lynette Hagel and Dee Johnson.
  • Five young ladies were running for Armed Forces Day Rodeo Queen. Debbie Aurich, Kim Fairbanks, Ronda Gurule, Shelly Lucero and Beryl Warner.
  • Ceremonies were held at the Hawthorne Care and Share groundbreaking.
  • MCHS track Teams took second in the state tournament.

60 Years Ago

  • C.A. McKay and K. D. (Charlie) Markas announced that they had opened their golf course at Mina, and extended an invitation to all golfers to try this new challenge in the desert.
  • Those from Schurz attending the All-Indian Pow-Wow in California were Mr. And Mrs. Wolsey Jim and son, Ralph, Mr. And Mrs. Raymond Williams and daughter Anne Louisesnd son Ralph, Mr. Mrs. Alex Whitefeather and daughter Janice.
  • In keeping with the Centennial theme the spring pageant of the Dorothy Brockett Dance studio was pictured in the paper. Debbie Irwin, Lisa Bailey, Donna Marcus, Susan Mongelli, Karen Wright, Sherry Verling, Jody Malone, Kathy Parker, Maryann Barlow and Margaret Nuttal.
  • Uncle Vane Day, who was a native of of Missouri wrote in his “Every Day by Vane Day” column in this paper 60 years ago. My fellow Missourian of an earlier day. Mark Twain said: ‘Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with.”

70 Years Ago

  • Prior to the regular City Council meeting an informal meeting was held among citizens discussing a proposal to sell Hawthorne Civic Center. An offer to purchase the building, which housed City Hall and various city offices, was made by a local church group. Many people were opposed to selling the building while others believe it was a logical move since the facility was too large for the city to maintain.
  • Mineral County had 2,700 voters registered and otherwise qualified to vote but failed to re-register up to the May 1 deadline.

80 Years Ago

  • A sanity hearing was conducted in Hawthorne for a men following a suicide attempt on Main Street bin Hawthorne. The report stated bye was a constant companion to his mother prior to her death 12 years prior and that he had started drinking and became despondent after her death. He was sent to the state mental institution.
  • C.E. Sullivan of Mina was appointed to the board of Mineral County Commissioners after following the resignation of Farrell Seevers, who entered the Navy.
  • Mineral County High School announced that 26 seniors would receive diplomas at graduation exercises. Of the 26 who were graduating, only eight had attended the local school the full four years. They were Mary Humphrey, Evenlyn Miller, Freddy Parker, John Snyder, Don Gruwell, and Lois Gage, Laura Smith and Ed Therkelen had attended for three years.

90 Years Ago

  • J.J. Conelly, former County Auditor, was appointed for the Nevada Emergency Relief Administration (NERA), the new relief agency replacing the Civil Works Administration (CWA).
  • Mineral County had enough cash to pay most creditors but salaries of elected county officials were deferred pending the June apportionment of tax money.
  • Joanne and Eddie Barrington had a close call when playing in the yard of their home in Mina and started moving towards a bush. The family dog, Pat, sensed danger in the bush and as he moved closer to keep the kids away, a rattlesnake used Pat’s head as a target. Pat retaliated with a fight to the finish, and the kid’s father, Ed Barrington, escorted the children to a more “playful ‘ area of the yard.
  • Commanded by Captain J.H. Hoover, USN, a contingent of 20 naval officers and enlisted men flew to Hawthorne in five planes, one off which was a tri-motor transport.
  • Operetta “Eeny Meeny Miny Moe’’ was presented by the High School girls glee club, plus one male, Tony Gomez, under direction of Mrs. June Phillips. The club members were Dorothy Barton, Wanda Bradford, Marjorie Gunn, Hazel Morris, Carrie Pimental, Eola and Alicia Thompson, Anne Wood, Chorus, Rose Bachman, Alzo Cornelius, Maxie Connelly, Dorothy Goodrich, Charlene Hebrew and Barbara Morris.