Good Old Days 05-16-14

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

May 16, 1914

'Patrons Day Attracts Crowds To The School'

Friday, May 8, Patron's Day at the public school was celebrated with open doors. The many rooms had been put into the holiday attire of completed work for inspections. For two hours the large assembly room was thronged and visitors. Miss Starrett, Miss Neubauer and Miss Morgan Being the reception committee. The high school orchestra rendered a choice program during the afternoon. The orchestra consists of Blaine Grabill, Goldwyn Doran and Dorothy Hart. Dorothy being absent at the state contest, Mrs. Bently kindly presided at the piano. Several of the dainty high school girls served punch and wafers to the other callers. At will the pleasant company drifted through the rooms thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit which teachers and pupils had been to such pains to prepare.

Miss Neubaures primary room, a very large one, fairly overflowed with the year's work on tiny fingers. It called forth constant remarks of praise that very young children, properly directed, could do so much and so well. The second and third grades, Miss McFadden's was a marvel of neatness and exactness. If one finger mark existed no eye was sharp enough to find it. The fourth grade, Miss Mann's, emphasized painting, drawing and writing, each of which was beautifully done. The fifth grade, Miss Starrett's, excelled in free hand drawing and note book work, and this in that frisky fifth grade age when boys and girls have so much unfinished business outside that their minds have hard work to slow down to mental tasks. The sixth grade, still in that hurry-up period, under Miss Greenlee's careful eye had produced a specialty in South American produce map. On the outline of South America were placed tiny bottles containing the product of each distinct locality. It was very unique and instructive, In the seventh and eighth grades, Miss Mead's and Miss McKercher's classes, the industrial work, sewing and carpentry work especially, attracted great attention and approval. Certainly this is a commendable branch of learning to carry in the curriculum. The high school displayed work of year's note books of exercises, drawings and exhibits from each department and subject.

In all the rooms were displayed work in writing music and in expositions of the Palmer movement in writing both under the direction of Miss Johnson. Regular note book work in usual studies were displayed liberally also. The entire exhibit was unquestionably the best ever given in Sidney and it would be hard to find a better any where. This article can not begin to give a complete description of the display but all present were converted over to ardent support of the sometimes maligned public school system. It seems to work out all right in Sidney. But perhaps Sidney's unsurpassed corps of teachers is what makes the system a success.

75 YEARS AGO

May 14, 1939

'Safe Robbers Pled Guilty To Charges'

Four men pleaded guilty to burglary charges when arraigned in district court at Denver Saturday in connection with a widespread investigation of safe burglaries. A fifth pleaded innocent. Those who pleaded guilty to the burglary charge were Adolph Dorchak , 29; Clyde Langley, 34; Glen E. Whittier, 35 and Dick "Diamond" Grey, 32.

Lloyd Mounts, 44, of Denver, pleaded innocent to the burglary charge, and guilty to a charge of receiving stolen goods.

All five, Whom police and sheriff's officers have questioned with four others in connection with numerous robberies in Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska, pleaded innocent to a larceny charge. The charges were based on the burglary of a safe containing $700.00 from a Denver store last February 13. Sheriff Irving Gates of Fall City, Nebraska, Sheriff Milton Gates of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Deputy Sheriff Ed Mahoney of Tecumseh, Nebraska left Denver after failure to connect the group with burglaries in their districts. Sheriff W.W. Schultz returned to Sidney Thursday night, after conferring with Denver police in an attempt to link the Fox theatre safe robbery here last July with the Gang now in custody. Shultz said he is confident some of the members of the ring did the Fox safe job, although none of them would confess it. He said Vern Bowman and Gorge Collins of Sidney, who were also taken into custody, were merely victims of circumstances. Both were riding with Grey when he was picked up by highway patrolmen, he stated, but neither has been charged with a crime.

50 YEARS AGO

May 17, 1964

'Spring Planting Underway; Moist April Benefits Wheat'

Excellent moisture during the month of April has put the winter wheat crop in good shape, according to Cheyenne County Agent Ivan Liljergren. The wheat has made good growth and has a completely different appearance from that of April 1 when it was definitely behind schedule. "The cool, wet weather has been favorable to wheat growth," Liljegren said, "However, warm, gusty weather such as that on Thursday is not too good." He added that it is too early to tell the extent of mosaic and crown root disease, but he predicted that the wheat could get a head start on these infections if the weather cooperates.

In tour of the county Thursday, the agent noted that considerable field work is underway and the ground is in good condition for it. Some oats are being planted on the dryland table land farms and sugar beets are being planted in the fields in the irrigated fields of the valley. Farmers are also busy with summer fallow work. Liliegren said that the winter barley fields vary---some are all right, some show winter kill. This difference can be accounted for by the different varieties, with varying degrees of winter hardness, being used.

Winter barley has suffered greatly from winter killing the last few years and acreage is down considerably. Liljegren noted, too, the fine calf crop in the county. The blizzard last Sunday morning gave cattlemen some headaches, but otherwise, the weather has been good for calving.

25 YEARS AGO

May 19, 1989

'Lorenzo Students Clean Up Environment Day'

The day was chilly and windy, the dirt was flying and winter jackets were essential, but the Lorenzo students still had a great time May 12 at their first Environment Day. Purpose of the day was to divide the students into groups to study the outdoors and develop greater understanding of the elements. One group traveled the streets of Lorenzo, picking up litter, and then nailing it to the crossed boards to form a "Junk Man." This bit of litter sculpture will hopefully be placed at a point along the highway to help discourage littering. Bags and bags of pop cans, cartons, junk of all sorts, were gathered by the youngsters who bent in the wind to do their collecting.

Another group sat outdoors to write poetry about their impressions of the habitat, particularly birds.

A third group played games, including the cougar game in which they got on all fours like cougars and pretending they were gathering food for their families and establishing a habitat for them.

A nature Scavenger hunt was a fun thing for anther group. The students had quite a list of things to mark off – not collect and bring back. They had to find a meal for a Robin (worms and seeds); a relative of a mouse ( a squirrel); everything they found under a log, listed in alphabetical order, such as worms, bugs, rotten wood and a plain hole in the ground; and a gull (a growth on a tree), among other items.

Teachers and students alike enjoyed the day, in spite of the chill and the wind. They promise they will soon have the "junk man" on display as part of their part in cutting down littering. The Lorenzo teachers are Karen Hruza, Kindergarten; Arith Nienhuser, first and second; Evelyn Gue, third and forth ; and Antha Hornbeck, fifth and sixth. The students; Kindergarden – Jason Cagle, Kaseu Finnell, Haellie Houser, Megan Meier, Wade Meier, Kyle Nienhueser, Ashley Rice, Kevin Rieken,, Sarah Roelle, and Tony Walker. First: Justin Brown, Justin Cagle, Stephanie Meier, Ryan Runge, Roni Staudenmaier and Micheal Treinen. Second: Nicholas Brauer, Jimmy Cagle, Dawn Christensen, Amy Houser, A.J. Meier and Jerod Roelle. Third: Julia Brauer, Brandi Christensen, K.C. Lafler and Erin Roelle. Fourth: Joni Kurz, Melissa Kurz, Bradley Lafler, Brian Rieken, Jason Roelle and James Staudenmaier. Fifth: Stephanie Fernandez, Shauna Marsh, Carli Peters, Brandon Raddatz and Charles Walker. Sixth: Dusty From, Ila Lafler, JaNae Roelle, Sarah Runge, Travis Secrest and Jim Treinen.

10 YEARS AGO

May 12, 2004

'Judge Delays Sentencing For Suspect'

Norfolk, Neb. - A hearing to decide whether a man convicted of killing five people during an attempted bank robbery should be executed or serve life in prison has been delayed. Madison County District Court Judge Patrick Rogers on Monday postponed Jose Sandoval sentencing at the request of the public defender Harry Moore, who said his office didn't have enough money to hire legal experts in time to be ready for the May 17 hearing. Moore said his office ran out of money April 20.

Last week the Madison County Board voted to transfer an additional $30,000 into the public defender's budget, but Moore said the money came too late. Sandoval was found guilty in December of five counts of first-degree murder. Rogers also decided the circumstances of the case qualified Sandoval to receive the death penalty.

The final decision on whether Sandoval is sentenced to death or life in prison will be made by a three-judge panel, which includes Rogers. A new date for the judges to meet has not been set. Madison County Attorney Joe Smith argued against continuing the case until a later date, arguing the three-judge panel was prepared to receive evidence and that the county has funded the public defender's office adequately. Smith also noted the public defender's office has had five months to prepare for the hearing.

Sandoval is one of four men found guilty of five counts of murder in the Sept. 26, 2002, slayings at U.S. Bank branch.