From our files: Barney Parks reaches 100 in 1975

100 years ago, Oct. 3, 1925

The Cowley Progress

Local News: Am prepared to do marcelling in the latest approved fashion. Parlor in rear of Aldrich Buchanan store building with Mrs. Cleo A. Vaterlaus. Appointments made to suit. Charges reasonable. – Miss Hope Ketchum

75 years ago, Oct. 5, 1950

The Lovell Chronicle

Local people were congratulating Bob Kastein last week on his completion of a successful bean picking machine. After working for the past four months on the unique picker, Bob demonstrated the machine successfully in the field. It was built for Fon Moncur, largest bean raiser for the Big Horn Canning company. Bob is proceeding with minor alterations and will secure a patent. It is expected that the machine will be in full use for next year’s crop.

50 years ago, Oct. 2, 1975

The Lovell Chronicle

A century is a long time to live. Lovellite Barney Parks qualified for that elite group last Tuesday. “I ain’t gonna complain about it,” Parks said, two weeks before his birthday, sitting by his room in the Lovell nursing wing. “But I ain’t gonna celebrate either, because I’m broke.

“I’ve smoked a pipe since I was 30, and I guess it’s my only hobby,” Parks said, puffing on his small-bowled, long birch pipe. “All I do here is sit and smoke.” Smoke rolled up around the bill of his tattered, red baseball cap as he peered out of thick, green sunglasses through a window a few feet away. Parks said he would much rather be herding sheep or cattle than sitting there.

25 years ago, Oct. 5, 2000

The Lovell Chronicle

Byron News: The lot formerly owned by Wilbur and Sylvia Freeman has been sold to the Town of Byron to be used for the Memorial Park. When I looked out the window Wednesday, the house that was there was no longer. Employees of the town were busy cleaning the site. To drive into Byron and be greeted with the Memorial Park dedicated to the men and women who settled here will be wonderful. Steve Wirth, the artist for the park, will now be able to adapt his design to accommodate the site.

10 years ago, Oct. 1, 2015

The Lovell Chronicle

With a possible government shutdown looming but looking less likely in the wake of the announced resignation of U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner, officials at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area are cautiously optimistic, even as they prepare for a worst case scenario.

Two years ago a government shutdown forced Bighorn Canyon to close for 16 days, during which time visitor access to the park was halted with barriers erected at Horseshoe Bend and Barry’s Landing and the visitor center closed.