The Star Valley Independent has bee providing a weekly newspaper to the various communities of the area for almost 110 consecutive years without missing a single edition.  Take a look back at what made the pages of the newspaper during this week, 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago.  As always, content is compiled from previous editions of the Star Valley Independent. 

25-years ago:

Plans for the recreational development of the Swift Creek Canyon were further prioritized Tuesday . . . to review the possibility of improving public access and use of the area.

In an effort to combat the foreseen troubled economic conditions of the county the commissioners took a an initial step in the battle by unanimously voting to put a freeze on all salary increases in the county during their regularly scheduled meeting.

Lincoln County’s unemployment rate for November at 9.4 percent was up from the October rate of 8.4 percent according to the Wyoming Employment Security Commission. The November rate of 9.4 is also up from 8.1 for the same time last year. . . . During November, six counties in the state had double-digit unemployment rates. Big Horn again was highest at 13.4 percent.

50-years ago:

The Smoot Ward this week completed its new chicken house built to house 500 laying hens, from which it is anticipated about 700 dozen eggs and 145 lbs. of dressed chickens can be produced annually for the ward welfare project.

Mercury Plummets to 34 Degrees Below Zero following January Thaw in Valley–The mercury skidded to the lowest reading in six years Wednesday morning in Star Valley with an official minus 34 being recorded at the Marvin Hepworth government weather station north of Afton. . . . It was the second real cold spell this winter; about a month ago, on Dec. 11 it dropped to 28 degrees below zero. It was reported to be 40 degrees below zero at Auburn Wednesday morning, and although there is no official station there, it is generally considered that it gets several degrees colder at Auburn and Freedom than it does in Grover and Afton, so the minus 40 reading is probably authentic.

The current cold spell came only two days after a “January thaw ” Sunday when the temperature rose to 38 degrees above zero; it rained all day and night and melted some of the snow.

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75-years ago: Kemmerer suffered defeat on their own floor for the first time in nine years last Saturday night when Star Valley high school hoopsters beat them 36-31 in a thrilling encounter. Star Valley lead the score in the first two quarters. In the third quarter Kemmerer’s team forged ahead with a swift attack and lead the score by six points . . . . Rallying to the defense the local boys caught the Kermmererites again. When there was but five minutes left to play the score was tied 28-28 holding the spectators spellbound . . . . With swift scoring attack led by the Star Valley captain, Paul Stocks, who scored eight points in that short time, the local boys captured the first scheduled game of the season and broke the long standing record of the heretofore indomitable Kemmerer Rangers.

Last Friday night was the coldest night this winter for Star Valley. The temperature dropped to 33 below in Afton and 44 at Grover. Saturday was very cold with 20 below at noon in the shade, with a bright sun shining all day. …There is about 11 inches of snow in Afton with a little more in some parts of the valley. The roads are in good shape.

100-years ago:

Fifteen inches of snow, followed by twenty six below zero.

Etna news: We are not snowed under yet but expect to be if very much more snow comes our way. The storm has lasted since Saturday snowing, blowing and piling the snow up in not very small drifts. There are scarcely any roads and the milk haulers and the mail team are about the only ones . . . out in it and it’s almost all they can do to plow their way through the snow.

Thayne news: Well we are not all dead if we are almost snowed in. We have enough snow now to last us until next December if all we have now lays until April which it will from all indication. This has been one of the fiercest storms known here for a number of years.

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