Cheyenne County, A look Back

10 Years Ago, The Sidney Sun-Telegraph, 2015

Nine Cheyenne County officials – winners in this past November’s election – were sworn in to office Thursday morning at the courthouse by District Judge Derek Weimer. They included Ben Dayton, county surveyor; Paul Schaub, county attorney; Phillip Sanders and Darrell Johnson, board of commissioners; John Jenson, sheriff; Debra Hume, clerk of District Court; Louella Pippitt, county assessor; Diane Scott, county treasurer; and Beth Fiegenschuh, county clerk.

20 Years Ago, The Sidney Sun-Telegraph, 2005

Cell Phones for Soldiers, a project started last April by two Massachusetts teenagers to help buy calling cards for American military personnel in the Middle East, now has a Sidney collection center. The Sidney Post Office has joined the program as a sponsor and cell phone collection center. Cell phones may be left at the post office during normal business hours. Cell Phones for Soldiers will recycle the cell phones for cash to purchase more calling cards to be distributed to American troops. Any make or model cell phone with attached battery will be accepted.

30 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1995

A private corporation’s proposal to lease Hillside Golf Course from the city prompted a number of questions and attracted about 20 observers to the Tuesday evening meeting of the Sidney City Council. Chris O’Connell and Doug O’Connell, representing their BOPI company, presented ideas they would implement at the golf course if they were granted a lease. The arrangement would be financially risk-free for the city, they said, and would erase the annual budget deficit at the course. In the 1993-94 budget year, the city-owned golf course generated revenues of $129,449 and expended $244,491, a deficit of $115,000. Golf pro Bob Vanderzee, in the public comment period, pointed out that $50,000 of the deficit was improvements to the course that increased its equity and was not an operating loss. “We believe we can make the golf course profitable,” said O’Connell. Mayor Pete Petroff said the council would consider the proposal “and get back to you in the very near future.”

40 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1985

Safe-Play Manufacturing, maker of Tuf-Wear Boxing Equipment, has signed an exclusive contract to provide ring gear for the production of the upcoming “Rocky IV” Sylvester Stallone movie. Safe-Play president Art Easterday announced the conclusion Monday of six months negotiations between his company, Stallone and Winkler Enterprises, producers for the upcoming Rocky Balboa sequel. Over $20,000 worth of gloves, boxing rings, punching bags and other goods were provided for the “Rocky III” epic, and most of the equipment returned to Sidney where it was sold at a benefit auction to assist the Sidney Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.

50 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1975

A Senior Citizen’s Association is to be formed in Dalton. An organizational meeting has been set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 in the building which was formerly the Dalton Fire Hall. All senior citizens, representatives of local organizations and any other interested are urged to be present. The idea of establishing a senior citizen’s center in Dalton is not new. In the past six months, however, definite action has been taken with Mrs. Howard Gerke as the principal promoter. The next step is to organize a senior association which can start making plans for an active center. “We feel that such a center is a definite need in our community,” Mrs. Gerke explained. “And we hope that there will be a good turnout at the meeting. If we all work together we can get a lot accomplished.”

In early January, according to Agriculture Department livestock reports, farm market prices were still running well below a year earlier. The average quotation for choice-grade steers at midwestern markets during the week ended Jan. 4, the department said Thursday, was $35.65 per 100 pounds, compared to $36.34 the previous week and $42.45 a year earlier.

60 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1965

The new Goodyear Service Store at 12th Avenue and Hickory St., will open for business Monday morning. A grand opening is planned later, probably in the latter part of February. Manager of the store is E. P. Sherman, who comes to Sidney from Cheyenne where he has been credit manager of the Cheyenne store. The Sidney store will be a wholesale and retail outlet for the complete line of Goodyear products and a retail outlet for the complete line of General Electric major appliances. Mr. Sherman said the store will have one of the largest stocks of tires and tubes in this area.

70 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1955

Three unidentified men reached a new low in “burglary ethics” Tuesday at Iliff, Colo., 30 miles south of Sidney. Logan County, Colo., authorities said the trio apparently forced a window in the door of the Korrey Liquor Store Tuesday afternoon while the owner, George Korrey, was in Sterling attending the funeral of his mother. Most business places, the sheriff’s office said, were closed for the funeral and the town was semi-deserted. A Crook man, John A. Monheiser, notice “one man inside the store handing out bottles of liquor to two more outside” as he drove through Iliff after the funeral. Monheiser said the trio’s car bore Nebraska license plates, but he was unable to obtain a full license reading. Deputy Sheriff Larry Lemen, who arrived “about ten minutes” after a call from Iliff, said the Crook man “apparently spooked them when he slowed down on the highway,” and the three left immediately. Clemen said lawmen in Julesburg and Sidney were alerted by radio, but the dragnet failed to locate the car. Monheiser described the automobile as a 1953 Chevrolet Bellaire green with a cream top.

80 Years Ago, The Telegraph, 1945

Over two hundred families are now living in the Ordville Housing Project across the road west from the Sioux Ordnance Depot, it was revealed this week by Lt. Col. H. J. Preble, commanding officer of the depot. Of the two hundred families, approximately sixty are Japanese Americans that have arrived here to work at the depot, Co. Preble stated.

Application for 2100 seedling trees have been made by Cheyenne County farmers at this time, according to the records in the County Extension Office. These seedlings costing $1.25 per hundred are mad available to farmers under the Clarke McNary act. Nine varieties of broadleaf including Elm, Mulberry, Ash, Locust, Hackberry and others as well as the evergreens, Red Cedar, Yellow Pine, Jack Pine and Austrian Pine are available this year.

90 Years Ago, The Telegraph-News, 1935

Cheyenne county was the center of a vigorous bank robber search late Tuesday after an armed band of five thugs had held up the First National bank of Scottsbluff and escaped with $11,400 and five hostages. The hostages were released near Scottsbluff and the robbers changed to another car at Melbeta and headed toward Cheyenne county. Reports that the five bandits had been sighted near Gurley sent peace officers scurrying into the hills near there, heavily loaded for a possible gun battle. School teachers were warned to stay out of their school buildings and avoid possibility of being shot or held as hostages. Motorists will have occasion to remember the robbery. In their flight, the gunmen scattered thousands of large headed tacks to discourage pursuit. One motorist picked up a double handful at one stop.

100 Years Ago, The Telegraph, 1925

Sunday was a gala day in the history of the Knights of Columbus of this city, when a class of 23 candidates were initiated into the order. Thirteen others were candidates at this time but were unable to attend on account of living in the country and the roads being impassable. The event began at the 9:30 high Mass, where the sermon was preached by Father Link who spoke of the great opportunities and responsibilities of the Catholic men in the cause of God and country. The initiatory work was held in the afternoon, followed by a delicious banquet in the evening at St. Patrick’s school auditorium. A most excellent and splendid program was enjoyed by the three hundred Knights and guests present..

110 Years Ago, The Telegraph, 1915

The various merchants are busy invoicing this week, following the more modern plan of invoicing while keeping open for business. In an earlier day the job used to be a colossal one and dreaded by all the establishment. There is one merchant here who hasn’t invoiced for seven years. Neither has he advertised in that length of time. If he will look up his freight bills of the beginning of his business he will find that he has about that amount of goods on his shelves for the public hasn’t discovered that he has it yet. It pays to invoice and to advertise.

120 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1905

Comrade Jos. W. Nelson, of the south divide has had for a couple of years a large brown bear, which he has found a rather expensive boarder and so he has decided to butcher Master Bruin and give the people a chance to have a taste of genuine bear meat. The meat will be on sale at the Greenlee & Benson meat market on Saturday, January 14th and those wishing can get a nice piece of bear steak at very reasonable figures.

130 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1895

Charles Trognitz received a message this morning awarding him the contract for furnishing the Union Pacific Railway Company with ice. The contract price is thirty cents per ton.

The Telegraph desires a good live correspondent in every town and settlement in the county. All correspondents will be furnished with stamps and stationery and a free copy of the paper.

R. S. Oberfelder has been appointed signal officer for Sidney and will receive daily telegraphic weather bulletins and display the flag signals. Bob has started out by giving us a first class article in the way of weather and if he continues the good service he will be a very likely candidate for General Greeley’s position.

140 Years Ago, Plaindealer Telegraph, 1885

The four horse stage team hitched to the outgoing stage ran away this morning. The stage was returning from the post office and had stopped opposite C. A. Moore’s when the horses became frightened and turning ran down Front street. Opposite Urbach’s they made a sudden turn to avoid the ditch. The right fore wheel was broken, the spokes breaking off near the hub, and the tongue was snapped off. Ben Hill, the driver, who was holding onto the lines and attempting to stop the team was thrown from the seat and a wheel passed over his right ankle. The ankle was not broken, but the hurt was a painful one. The horses did not succeed in getting away from the wreck and were taken off uninjured.