Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

Dec. 15, 1921

Messrs. Jones and Owen of the state enforcement department have been getting results in Crook County during the past few days. Friday they visited the Andrew Mickelson ranch in Grand Canyon, where they found a still hooked up for operation, 250 gallons of mash and several hundred empty bottles. Only one quart bottle of moonshine was found and the owner also was missing. A peculiar feature of this outfit was the fact of the coil being run through a government watering trough for the condensing operating. The mash was destroyed, still brought to town and a charge preferred against Mickelson. On Sunday the officers returned from a trip up north, bringing in custody A. A. Bannigan, who is postmaster at Terhune, and Sam Butts, both of whom are charged with operating stills. In each case the operator was caught with the goods, the stills being in operation. Mr. Owen and Sheriff Hurtt returned Tuesday night from a trip to the country north of Hulett, bringing with them Virgil Moore and Leo Harshfield, who were associated together operating two stills. Ten gallons of moonshine and the tow stills were brought along or evidence.

The process of consolidating The Citizens Bank and the Sundance State Bank, of this place, has been brought about successfully. The State Bank Examiner has approved the process and the Sundance State Bank at this time has absorbed the assets and liabilities of the Citizens Bank and all the indebtedness of the Citizens Bank has been taken care of. This, indeed, speaks well for the financial strength of these two institutions.

There is a report that Campbell County will soon have another newspaper. If the report is true Paul Yeoman, editor and land commissioner at Hulett will soon start a paper at Rocky Point.

75 Years Ago

Dec. 19, 1946

Mrs. Olga Rossin, former hostess at the Townsend hotel in Casper, arrived in Sundance Tuesday to take over the management of Ray’s café in Sundance. The new manager invites patrons to make reservations for private parties and to telephone for reservations for Christmas dinner.

Meeting Sunday afternoon, members of the Western saddle Club reelected Mrs. Ed Mathews, president and selected Ray Bryan vice-president and Mrs. Fred Good secretary-treasurer. The club set aside the Rodeo and Face meet donations made by Sundance businessmen and Crook county ranchers until June at which time the rodeo and race meet which had to be cancelled last fall due to bad weather will be held.

50 Years Ago

Dec. 16, 1971

Several Sundance High School speech students will participated in a speech meet in Newcastle Fri. and Sat. Competing in the various events will be: Charles Shelton, boys’ extemporaneous; Linda Barnes and Lois Barnes, girls’ extemporaneous; Andrea Lee and Shannon Lee, oratory; Judy Carson and Shannon Lee, dramatic; Wanda Hejde and Connie Bell, poetry; Bob Wagaman and Harry Vore, humorous; and Debby Lamb and Debby Jones, debate.

Deborah Proctor, Sundance, a senior in education at the University of Wyoming, is serving as a senator for the Associated Students of the university. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dick Proctor. She is a member of the executive, finance, union management and co-ed living communities.