Good Old Days – 03-07-14

Compiled By The Sidney Sun-Telegraph Staff

These stories from the past first appeared in The Sidney Telegraph. Original writing is preserved, though some stories were shortened for space reasons.

100 YEARS AGO

'The Bakery Burns'

March 1, 1913

A fire soon after midnight Tuesday, destroyed the workroom of the McFadden Bakery and all the contents. It was occupied by S.A. Deiken who located here this winter and built up a nice trade for his excellent line of baking. this fire was more than decent than it's class usually is, selecting a time when the air was dead and all surfaces were covered with wet snow. It is not known how the fie build with cement walls. The fur where no fire was needed was needed. Mr. McFadden's loss will be small as he carried insurance. He will rebuild with cement walls. The furnace and oven were not damaged a great deal. Mr. Deiken's loss is about three hundred fifty dollars in apparatus, tools and supplies. He was not insured and will not remain because of his inability to start at present. His patrons are regretting this.

75 YEARS AGO

'Newspaper Week To Be Observed By Fox'

March 3, 1939

Fox Theatre in the intermountain division will observe newspaper starting Sunday March 5- a program aimed at a developing closer cooperation and understanding between theatre and the press. During the week additional advertising will be carried by fox theatre and publicity tie-ups will be sought to stress the importance of the newspaper as the main advertising medium for all pictures and houses in the division.

The idea was developed at a conference of fox officials in Denver. Their division is attempting to wean the public away from the "give away" trend of entertainment and hopes to accomplish this outstanding picture fair on every change in program. Manager Jack Bruno of the Sidney Fox Theatre is asking a number of booking alterations to bring Sidney's entertainment schedule into line with those in larger cities.

50 YEARS AGO

'Search For Water'

March 5, 1965

Chadron – The search for a more dependable supply

for water for the city of Chadron took a few more steps at the regular , meeting of the City Council.

The Counsel set March 22as the date for the drilling of five test wells to determine where plenteous supplies of water may be found. The deadline for submitting bids was set at 5.p.m. on the 22nd. they will be opened at 7:30 p.m. the same day. A representative of the brandy Engineering Co,., Gorge Fullerton. attended the meeting and explained the test well plans. Fullerton said Engineering firm has set the estimated cost of the test wells at $26.000 He noted, however that this was the extreme maximum cost and the actual costs would probably cost lower.

25 YEARS AGO

' Bluffs Man Counties First '89 Traffic Accident'

March 8, 1989

Cheyenne county recorded it's first traffic fatality of 1989 Monday.

Allen L. Helling, 41 of Scottsbluff was killed instantly at about 1:25 p.m. Monday when the car he was driving collied with a 1988 Ford Bronco 4 by 4 vehicle driven by Lowell l. Swansen of Dalton. The accident occurred about one mile south Dalton on US highway 385.

Cheyenne County Sheriff Darrell Johnson, who was called to the scene in his capacity of County Deputy Coroner, said Heiling was driving his 1987 Toyota Tercel northbound on Highway 385 and Swanson was approaching the highway, driving east on an un numbered county road. The Swanson car slid on the ice through the intersection, striking the Heiling vehicle on the drivers door left front fender.

Swanson was reportedly unhurt.

The Dalton Fire and Rescue Squad was the first emergency agency to reach the scene. A member contacted Cheyenne County officers by radio, summoning a cruiser to the accident scene. Shortly later Johnson and Cheyenne County Coroner Michael Police were contacted and both went to the scene.

Swanson a co-owner of Dalton Telephone Company, was driving a company vehicle at the time of the accident. The crash was near Burlington Northern railroad crossing, according to the accident report. The officer who investigated said both vehicles involved in the accident went off the highway into a field on the east end of the highway. Both vehicles were towed away.

10 YEARS AGO

'Two Injured in Semi Accident'

March 9, 2004

Two sustained injury and two semis set a blaze in an accident on I-80 near Sidney early Saturday.

According to the Nebraska State Patrol, James Roberts of Omaha, driving a 2001 Mack semi, pulled out of a rest area on westbound I-80 and was struck in the rear by a 1999 Freightliner semi trailer driven by Franklin McMasters of Franklinville, N.C. The trailer on the Roberts semi and tractor and trailer of the McMasters semi caught fire.

"When we got there both trucks were on fire," said Fire Chief Keith Stone of the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department. "It looked like two semis plowed into each other."

It took five trucks and 18 firefighters around nine hours to extinguish the fires. Stone said the actual fire to the truck took 10 to 15 minutes to extinguish but that the trailer fires, due to having to dump the loads, took longer to put out. The accident occurred shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday with firefighters returning to the station around 3 p.m.

Both drivers were transported by ambulance to Memorial Health Center with minor injuries and later released. A passenger in the second semi, David Barlekamp of Ashbourgh, N.C, also complained of back and chest pains. Restraints were in use.

In addition, the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the Qwest building at 11th and Jackson around 6 p.m. Saturday. The building's fire alarms were set off by a motor fire. No major damage was reported.