From our files: Freak hailstorm hits riders in 2000

100 years ago, June 13, 1925

The Cowley Progress

At  Eucalps, California, members of the First Methodist Church witnessed a Bible-reading marathon recently. Starting at midnight devoted church members began “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth,” and 69¼ hours later the biblical marathon ended with “The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you all. Amen.”

75 years ago, June 22, 1950

The Lovell Chronicle

Ad: Armada Theatre, Thursday & Friday, June 22 & 23, “Ichabod and Mr. Toad” 68 minutes, Disney Cartoon, Bing Crosby and Basil Rathbone.

50 years ago, June 19, 1975

The Lovell Chronicle

In a complete about face, the Wyoming Highway Department commissioners cancelled a contract for a pioneer trail down the rugged face of the Big Horn Mountains. Planned as the first step to constructing the final and most difficult phase of U.S. Highway 14A, the contract called for building an access trail off the near vertical face. 

Big Horn County Senator Cal Taggart said Wednesday no estimate was available as to what it would cost the WHD to cancel the project. He said the commission had the authority to cancel contracts it had approved, but the possibility of a lawsuit still exists.

“We’re fools if we accept this lying down,” Taggart said. He defended the construction of 14A on the basis of it being the major route across the Big Horns when completed. With the development of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Taggart predicted heavy traffic on 14A.

25 years ago, June 15, 2000

The Lovell Chronicle

According to Linda Coates-Markle, she, Scott Burnham of the National Park Service, a seasonal employee and three interns were at the Britton Springs corrals Friday afternoon ready to take a horseback ride and show the interns the area and the horse herd. About 2:30 p.m. Coates-Markle said they began to see a lot of storm activity. 

The cloud was coming out of the southeast, and the group, fearing a wind and hail storm, took cover under the overhang of the cabin. One student intern, Heather Jenson of Idaho, stayed in a tin horse shed with her horse. That tin shed was lifted up and blown across the cabin and shredded, with pieces landing in different spots, including one down at the road intersection.

Jenson and the others survived without hardly an injury. Burnham received a scrape on his arm when his horse spooked and he held on, not wanting to let the horse go. Others received bumps on the heads and minor bruising from the marble-sized hail that pummeled them for about 10 minutes.

10 years ago, June 18, 2015

The Lovell Chronicle

Lovell Education Foundation Chairman Cliff Revelle recently announced the final projects funded by the foundation as the organization was closed out and the funds distributed by the end of the school year. Revelle announced that the accumulated funds would be distributed evenly to the three schools in School District No. 2. Each school was to receive $6,200.

Lovell High School used the money toward the purchase of a baby grand piano after Principal Scott O’Tremba conducted a grant application process. Lovell Middle School will use its $6,200 to purchase more than 500 books to enhance reading. Lovell Elementary School used the money to purchase iPads for all fifth graders.