6 I The Lovell Chronicle I September 18, 203_4
BY DAVID PECK
The venerable Hyart
Theatre, and those who
have lovingly cared for her
over the years, were hon-
ored Friday night by the
Wyoming State Historic
Preservation Office during
a banquet and awards cer-
emony in Powell.
According to Hy-
art Theatre Board Presi-
dent Mike Steenbakkers,
the Hyart Redevelopment
Corp. was honored by
SHPO with a Preserve Wy-
oming Award at the Com-
mons in Powell, one of five
entities honored with the
award Friday. Two of the
awards went to the com-
munities of Newcastle and
Cheyenne, and three went
to individual projects like
the Hyart.
Steenbakkers said the
award was given for the
entire body of work done by
volunteers over the years
to preserve and upgrade
the theater since the initial
volunteer push to re-open
the theater in 2004.
"C ongratul ations ! ...
The work you have all done
to preserve the Hyart The-
atre is truly exceptional,
and we want to recognize
your efforts at our Preserve
Wyoming Banquet on Sep-
tember 12," Wyoming State
Historic Preservation Offi-
cer Mary Hopkins wrote to
the Hyart Redevelopment
Corp. on Sept. 2.
The awards were pre-
sented Friday by Bobbi
COURTESY PHOTO
Posing with the State Historic Preservation Office Preserve Wyoming Award
Friday night in Powell are (l-r) Jerry Capellen, Oliver Mitchell, Loretta
Bischoff, Jack Brinkerhoff and Mike Steenbakkers. Unable to attend were
board members Todd Wilder and Ronda Schroeder.
Barasso, wife of U.S. Sen.
John Barrasso. The sena-
tor also attended the ban-
quet Friday.
"It was a pleasure to be
with you as you received
this well-deserved hon-
or," Sen. Barrasso wrote
to Steenbakkers Friday.
"To be recognized for your
substantial contributions
to historic preservation in
Wyoming is an impressive
achievement. Your tire-
less efforts to maintain,
restore and protect our
state's culture and histo-
ry is truly commendable.
As we look toward Wyo-
ming's future, we contin-
ually lean on you to pre-
serve our past."
The Hyart Theatre was
built in 1950 by Hy and
Virga Bischoff featuring
the latest technology avail-
able at the time. Featuring
nearly 1,000 seats, it was
a movie palace; considered
to be the finest theater in a
500-mile radius.
The theater was the
entertainment hub for
North Big Horn County for
decades, and Loretta Bis-
choff took over operations
from her parents and ran
the theater for many years,
opening it up to school and
community productions as
well as movies.
After a slowdown in
the motion picture indus-
try caused the theater to
go dark for a few years, a
community effort in 2004
to renovate the theater
was a smashing success as
the all-volunteer Hyart Re-
development Committee
purchased new sound and
projection equipment and
launched a restoration and
refurbishment project that
continues to this day.
The theater was lat-
er placed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
When a move to all-dig-
ital projection by the movie
industry again threatened
the future of the Hyart,
the community rallied once
again to come to the aid of
the theater. The "Go Digi-
tal or Go Dark" campaign
in the spring of 2013 raised
more than $125,000 in just
a few weeks to convert the
theater to a state-of-the-
art 4K NEC projector -
the only 4K projector in a
wide radius, a 10,000 watt
7.1 surround sound audio
system and a bright, new
40-by-20-foot screen.
Attending the banquet
Friday were Hyart Theatre
Board members Steenbak-
kers, Jerry Capellen, Jack
Brinkerhoff and Oliver
Mitchell, as well as Loret-
ta Bischoff.
"I was really pleased
for Loretta," Steenbakkers
said. "They recapped the
history of the Hyart and
the Bischoff family in the
theater business includ-
ing the Armada (prior to
the Hyart), as well as the
efforts at restoration over
the years."
ONGOING WORK
Work continues at
the theater. Under way
this week is the replace-
ment of the worn, chipped
tile in front of the theater
with new sidewalk featur-
ing multi-colored pebbles.
Steenbakkers said the
original tile was breaking
up and was impossible to
replace.
The next hurdle is a
new roof. The current roof
has been patched many
times over the years and is
now "at the end of the line,"
Steenbakkers said, adding,
"It has been patched so
many times it needs to be
replaced."
Estimates range from
around $40,000 for an
overhaul to $110,000 to
$115,000 for a complete
new roof.
The lush theater car-
pet in the building is also
worn, Steenbakkers said,
and is in need of replace-
ment. He said it is far too
expensive to match the car-
pet perfectly, so the theater
board is looking into spe-
cialty theater carpet that
would be burgundy like the
original carpet.
Third on the project
list is giving the marquee
a facelift with new lights,
paint and lettering.
Completed in recent
years was a restroom up-
grade for about $10,000
and a new popcorn ma-
chine for $12,000.
Fall Cent$ible Nutrition classes are
starting soon for eligible participants.
"If you are tired of your grocery bills go-
ing up, and would like to eat healthier for
less money, then the Cent$ible Nutrition
Program is for you," Director Kristy Mi-
chaels said.
"This is a fun hands on program that
you don't want to miss. Join our free class-
es and receive a free cookbook, comput-
erized diet analysis, kitchen gadgets and
much more.
"Join us for healthy foods, fun, cook-
ing, great nutrition information, and infor-
mation on how to budget and menu plan.
In addition, participants in the fall classes
will learn how to make their own unique,
inexpensive holiday gifts."
Classes will be held on Wednesdays
from Sept. 24 through Oct. 29 at the Lovell
Annex from 9-11 a.m. For more informa-
tion or to register, contact Michaels at 307-
765-2868 or kmichae2@uwyo.edu.
Senior Center Chatter
Alzheimer's Walk will be great fun Saturday
PHYLLIS BRONKEMA
The North Big Horn Senior .Center is
finally down to the wire. The Alzheimer's
Walk for the Cure, jointly sponsored by the
Center and North Big Horn HospitaL is fi-
nally about to take place.
It will be held this coming Saturday,
Sept. 20, from 8-10 a.m. Everyone is hop-
ing for clement weather, but sunny, rainy
or snowy, the hosts and participants are
prepared to have a good time.
Bret Savage will be back as MC for the
event. Besides his usual humorous com-
ments and jokes, he will also announce nu-
merous door prizes and fun laps. Each par-
tic;punt's registration/donation of $15 will
enable them to drop into the dining room
any time during the walk to enjoy a con-
tinental breakfast of cinnamon rolls, fruit,
coffee and juice.
Anyone can still buy quilt raffle tickets,
join the 50/50 raffle or buy the $5 Walk for
the Cure flowers.
Many of you in the community already
walk for good health. Why not come to the
Senior Center track and walk there? Ev-
eryone is invited, and we look for a great
turnout. Thanks for your support.
Extreme Weight Loss filming Saturday
People interested in participating in
the nationally televised "reveal" of Jennifer
Snell of Lovell via ABC's Extreme Weight
Loss series are reminded that filming will
be done this Saturday, Sept. 20, at 9 a.m.
in the 200 block of East Main in front of the
Hyart Theatre.
The block will be cordoned off from 7:30
a.m. to noon during the filming, and traffic
will be diverted.
All people entering the "reveal" filming
area will be photographed and must sign a
release waiver in order to be shown on TV.
Taking photographs will be forbidden.
Saturday?, Sept.
10am-6pm
ne :t to ow own in Cowle
Home Decor, Clothing, Hats, Purses,
Silversmith Jewelry, Belts,
Children's Slippers and more.
Apply now for Elks Most Valuable Student
Scholarship Contest, deadline Dec. 5
Information, including fact cards and
posters, has been sent to school counselors
at Greybull, Basin, Burlington and Lovell
high schools for the Elks National Founda-
tion's 2015 Most valuable Student Scholar-
ship Contest.
Awarded will be two $50,000, two
$4,000 scholarships. In addition to the na-
tional awards, 10 $1,000 Wyoming Elk State
Stipends will be awarded.
Interested seniors can go on line to re-
ceive applications at www,ELKS.ORG/ENF/
SCHOLARS/MVS.CFM. Applications must
be mailed to Greybull Elks Lodge, 622 Grey-
$40,000, two $30,000 14 $20,000 and 480 bull Ave., Greybull, WY 82426 before Dec. 5.
OPEN MON,-SAT. 10-6 • CLOSED SUNDAY
alzheimer'$ assoct ton" ,
Every
someone new is
diagnosed with
ALZHEIMER'S
Join us for the Lovell Walk To End Alzheimer's
20 from 8-10 am
North Big Horn Senior Center
757 Great Western Ave., Lovell
Join us September 20 for our Walk To End Alzheimer's!
Walk to End Alzheimer's
Tickets: $1 ea. or 6/$5
Drawing will be held at the
Walk Sept. 20 at the
Senior Center.
Need not be present to win.
Good Luck!
!
