Good Old Days 07-18-14

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

July 18, 1914

Robinson Show Has Largest Elephant Known

The scenes attending the arrival of the largest elephant ever known, "Kongo", were most remarkable. From the time people of this country, some twelve months ago, read the capture of Kongo, there has been a curiosity to see this huge beast. At the "round up" of elephants, in Siam last spring, there were twenty-three elephants captured - this being the entire haul for the season. Among the few held last season, was the real monarch of the Jungle, an elephant that has been the goal of every hunter to the forest for years. This big beast was Kongo. Immediately the concessionaires of the San Francisco Exposition cables secure this big beast for the wonderful trained animal exhibit they will have three there during the fair. The promoters of the Yankee Robinson shows happened to have Mr. Harvey Hale, their European representative in Siam, at the time of this offer. Without any conferring with the owners of the big circus, he secured this beast (for an enormous rental) for the coming season. It is expected that the principal cities of the country will be visited by the show during that time.

The arrival of Kongo in New York, as stated above, was witnessed by tens of thousands of people. He was lowered from the vessel by means of a large car, heavily ironed and secured with enormous chains. As the big steam derrick hoisted Kongo in the air to be lowered to the harbor, he emitted a terrific "Bowl" of the dessert. This is a noise peculiar to this specie of animals in extreme fright. He was immediately taken to the yards of the Pennsylvania yards where, in a specially constructed car, he was brought to the Yankee Robinson shows. The unloading from the cars of this enormous beast is well worth your time. Kongo is unloaded usually about six in the morning and taken to the lot immediately.

The Yankee Robinson Show will appear in Sidney on Tuesday, July 28th.

75 YEARS AGO

July 18, 1939

Child Theft Charge Lodged At Kimball

Child stealing and child concealing charges were filed against Robert Garrard, Sr., Kimball rancher, and Oran W. Bybee, former employe of Garrard, in county court last Monday by James F. Bourrett, Kimball auto owner.

Garrard and Bybee pleaded not guilty to the charges in county court Tuesday afternoon and were released on $1000 bond. Preliminary hearing was scheduled yesterday morning at 10 o'clock.

The petition alleges that the pair entered Bourrett's home the evening of March 3 and "did then and there willfully, unlawfully, feloniously, maliciously and forcibly lead, take and carry away Ina Marie Bourrett, a child under the age of eighteen years, to-wit of the age of sixteen years, with intent unlawfully to detain said Ina Marie Bourrett from James F. Bourrett and Jennie L. Bourrett, parents" Ina Bourrett and Robert Garrand, Jr., were married at Harrisburg last March 4. Witnesses to marriage were the elder Garrands and Bybee.

At the time of the marriage young Garrand was released on bond pending hearing in Banner county district court on charges of breaking and entering for which he is now serving a term in the Men's reformatory at Lincoln.

The complaint was drawn by Attorney P.J. Heaton of Sidney on the recommendation of Assistant Attorney General Rush Clark who it is said made a personal investigation several weeks ago.

50 YEARS AGO

July 22, 1964

No Relief Seen From Heat Wave

Yes, it's hot --- and it appears it will stay that way. At least through Monday. The Scottsbluff Weather Bureau gave forth the discouraging word this morning that temperatures through next Monday will average a few degrees above normal with only minor day to day changes.

The highs will be in the 90's and the lows will be warm 60-65 degrees. There is a vague possibility of widely scattered afternoon and evening thunder showers throughout the period. But don't get your hopes up. The weather Bureau said that Scottsbluff was blessed with .11 of a inch of rain on Tuesday but was also subjected to an electrical onslaught that rattled the rafters and knocked out some power lines.

It has been two weeks (this evening) when the last moisture was felt in this area. That was when the entire southern Panhandle was well doused with rainfall --- Sidney registered 1.56 inches at that time, according to Dave Ells, volunteer observer.

Since then perfect harvest weather got and dry has prevailed. Temperatures have been princely in the high 90's with the exception of an 84 degree high last Saturday and two days July 5 and July 21 when mercury got up to 101 officially.

In downtown Sidney the temperatures ran a good five or six degrees over that. Nights have been warm, not going below the low 60's, and air conditioners and fans have been going day and night, along with irrigation pumps in the rural areas.

Temperatures ranges: July 20, 62-95; July 21, 61-98. Enough is Enough!

25 years ago

July 21, 1989

Okay For State's First Uranium Mine Possible

Scottsbluff, NE – A permit for Nebraska's first commercial uranium mine could be granted as early as next month, but a decision hinges partly on whether Ferret Exploration of Nebraska is foreignly owned, a state environmental officer said.

Ferret Exploration is seeking a permit to operate a commercial uranium mine near Crow Butte, several miles southeast of Crawford. Company officials have said most of the company is owned domestically.

The ownership question was raised by the Chadron-based Western Nebraska Resources Council, which alleged that more than 50 percent of Ferret Exploration appears to be owned by foreigners.

Assistant Attorney General Steve Moeller said Wednesday the foreign ownership question has been researched and he is writing a memo to Attorney General Robert Spire. It will then be up to Spire to issue an opinion, Moeller said.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Control is expected to decide as early as next month whether to issue the permit, said Brain McManus, the department's pubic information officer. The DEC is reviewing the evidence it received during a public comment period that ended July 10.

McManus said the foreign ownership question is one of two central issues the DEC is considering. The other is the role of geologic faults in the underground aquifer that Ferret Exploration intends to mine. In May WNRC produced a letter from geologist Jon Petersen of Pearce, AZ, to the Nuclear Regulattory Commission in which Petersen warned of possible danger to the aquifer.

McManis said the DEC is examining evidence about geology issue. Ferret Exploration officials have maintained that the geology around the planned uranium mine would allow for safe operation of the mine, without seepage from the aquifer. Jeff Tracey of Scottsbluff, a staff member for Western Nebraska Resources Council, said he has been disappointed with the DEC's efforts.

He said that in several waste is sues facing the state - low-level radioactive waste, hazardous waste, municipal landfills and uranium mining the DEC has followed the industry line without fulfilling its public duty of being a watchdog agency. Tracey said the DEC did not follow advice from State Sen. Sandra Scofield of Chadron, in whose district the mine would operate, to hire an independent set of geologists to examine the data on faults in the aquifer.

The company has been conducting tests at the site using the in situ method of mining, in which a chemical solution is injected into a well to release uranium ore, which is then pumped to the surface in solution. A hearing on the permit was held May 11 at Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford. At that time the DEC granted a 60-day extension for written testimony. That extension ended July 10. The department's goal is to issue a decision within 45 days after the close of the public comment period, McManus said. That would be about Aug. 24.

10 YEARS AGO

July 17, 2004

Complaint Filed Against Shooting Suspect

A pair of complaints have been filed against a local man arrested in connection with shooting death of another Sidney man. Eddie R. Gibbs, 24, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting death of David L. Herrington, 32, Sidney early Thursday morning.

Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub filed an official complaint against Gibbs in Cheyenne County Court later that day. Included in the complaint were the crimes of Manslaughter and Tampering With Evidence. Following the presentation of the complaint, Gibbs requested a continuance to review to review the charges brought against him, said Schaub.

On July 15, at 12:45 a.m., the Cheyenne County Communications Center received a report of a man who sustained a gunshot wound to the head. The Sidney Police Department and Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene. An Autopsy was ordered for the deceased. Gibbs is expected to be arraigned by Monday, July 19.