Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

Apr. 7, 1921

Jack Hosfeld was in Sundance Friday in company with W.M. Smoots who has contracted to drill for the Sundance-Wyoming company. The well is to be spudded on the Fred Hawken ranch which is conceded to be the most favorable location for striking oil. The rig will be set up at a point barely three miles from Sundance on an air line.

Johnnie Thorn, acting as deputy sheriff, brought in one Harry Karr, of the Little Missouri country, on a charge of shooting at his son-in-law, Maurer.

Two deserters from Camp Dodge were brought to Sundance four days ago by Deputy John Thorn, who arrested them in the north part of the county. Sometime early this morning the prisoners escaped by digging through the brick wall. They had rolled the blankets to appear as if they were in bed, then laid down in the corridor, and were locked outside the cage. After that it was an easy matter to ram a hole through the wall with a heavy stick. The men are Floyd Farrington, a small man of light complexion and Carl Foulk, dark with a large mole on the cheek.

75 Years Ago

Apr. 4, 1946

On a complaint signed by B.A. Gibbons of Belle Fourche, S.D., Ernest L. Funk, operator of the establishment known as the “Line Club” near Colony was arrested early Thursday morning of last week charged with operating gambling devices in his place of business. Pleading guilty to charges, Funk was fined $500 and all the gambling equipment, which included a roulette wheel, slot machines, dice tables, dice and black jack tables, valued at approximately $4,000, was ordered destroyed.

Lord Halifax, British ambassador to the U.S. and his wife and party were guests Friday of the national park service at Devils Tower. The party enjoyed a picnic lunch on the lawn at the Tower with Mr. and Mrs. Newell Joyner and then enjoyed a walk part way around the Tower. Of the Tower, the Lord and Lady said that it was the most marvelous thing they had ever seen and were greatly interested in the “prairie dog town” on the Tower grounds, that day being the first time they had ever seen anything like it.

25 Years Ago

Apr. 4, 1996

Tri-County Electric Association and Sheridan-Johnson Rural Electrification Association will hold eleven informational meetings throughout their service territories in April to help members learn more about their proposed merger. Merger talks between the two electric cooperatives began in 1995. Studies have indicated that merging would benefit both cooperatives and reduce operating costs by $5.3 million over the next ten years. During April, Tri-County Electric and Sheridan-Johnson members will vote on the issue by mail ballots. If approved, the merger will take effect January 1, 1997.