From our files: Low water levels in 2001 spark concern

100 years ago, July 23, 1926

The Cowley Progress

J.A. Winn, Cowley’s erstwhile shoemaker, has sold his plant to Alvin Steele, who will shortly take charge of the business, when Cowley once more will have an expert shoe repair shop. The Winns are once more making their home in Lovell.

75 years ago, July 26, 1951

The Lovell Chronicle

The Byron schools have announced that the summer school band program will take place through the month of August. All students of Byron who are in the third grade or above, who are interested in getting into the band regardless of whether they now play a band instrument or not, are urged to attend a short get together meeting to be held Thursday, Aug. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the high school music room. 

Robert S. Potter, supervisor of music in the Byron schools, has stated that each child that takes part in the summer band school will receive a private lesson each week on the instrument of his choice, in addition to the sectional and full band classes, all of which will be free of charge.

50 years ago, July 22, 1976

The Lovell Chronicle

The wording on signs warning against through trailer traffic on U.S. 14A will be changed following an appearance by a Lovell-Powell delegation before the Wyoming Highway Commission last Thursday, charging the wording on the signs was hurting the area financially by discouraging people from traveling that route. 

The signs at Lovell and Burgess Junction will read “Steep Grades 20 Miles” or something very close to that, according to Keith Rounds, Wyoming Highway Dept. public information officer. Signs at the top and bottom of the mountain will warn “Sharp Curves, Steep Grades.” All the signs erected last fall with the wording, “Thru Trailer Traffic Not Recommended, Steep Grades 20 Miles,” will presumably be taken down, Rounds said.

25 years ago, July 26, 2001

The Lovell Chronicle

The declining water levels at Big Horn Lake have prompted the National Park Service to begin shutting down services at Horseshoe Bend. According to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Assistant Superintendent Bob Byrne, the concession docks were removed on Friday, July 20. Tuesday, Byrne announced that the main courtesy dock would probably be removed by Thursday, and boaters are advised to launch at Barry’s Landing. He said Park Service personnel have noticed just two to four feet of water in some places this week.

According to Lovell Canal ditch rider Glen Howe, the levels of the Lovell Canal started dropping last week, but they could come back up a little bit with area farmers finishing their last watering of grain. Howe said that it could get lower unless some precipitation is seen, but without it, it is going to be very hard to make it to the end of harvest.

10 years ago, July 21, 2016

The Lovell Chronicle

A group of nearly 40 young men and their adult supervisors from North Big Horn County embarked on a bicycle riding adventure in South Dakota last week, riding a 110-mile course in the Black Hills over three days. According to Roland Simmons of Cowley, the young men ages 16-18 undertook the Bike Trek sponsored by the Lovell Wyoming Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with all eight Lovell-Cowley-Byron wards participating.

After the drive from Lovell and the visit to Devil’s Tower, (starting at Deadwood) the riders had a 12.7-mile segment the first day, though it was a steep and hilly course, Simmons said. Day two was 40.9 miles, and day three was 55.2 miles, with the trek ending in Edgemont, S.D.

“We want our young men to do hard things,” Simmons said of the inspiration for the trek.