Good Old Days 11-07-14

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.

50 Years Ago

Nov. 6, 1964

'Veterans Day Activities at Potter, Peetz, Sidney'

Although Veterans Day, Nov. 11, is not observed as a holiday it will, nevertheless, be paid tribute by veterans groups and in schools.

Special programs are planned at Peetz that evening, at Potter in the morning and there will be the traditional VFW-American Legion bean feed in Sidney in the evening.

The observance at Peetz will be sponsored by the school for the fourth consecutive year. It will be in the form of a pageant at the school auditorium. Title of the production is "America, Our Heritage" and the theme is the "Melting Pot." Performers will be students and music will be provided by the band and choral groups. Brian Albers, music director at the school, is in charge. He is being assisted by Mrs. Merna Meyer. American Legion members will present the colors. Refreshments will be served later by the Legion Auxiliary.

At Potter another annual tradition will be followed this year. There will be a 10 o'clock morning program in the Legion Hall, sponsored by the American Legion Post. Principal speaker will be Whitey Kurkowski of Grant, national committeeman. Talks will also be given by two students, Dyke Anderson and Lonnie Theis. The invocation and benediction will be presented by the Rev. Irwin Kiel. Music will be furnished by the Potter High School Band which will play a 15-minute concert preceding the program.

At noon the Potter School will be the scene of the annual bean feed in the cafeteria. All patrons and families in the school district are invited to be guests at this time.

In Sidney, the VFW Military Order of Cooties will pay a Veterans Day visit to the local hospital in the morning and will take entertainment and gifts to the patients at the Veterans Hospital in Cheyenne that afternoon. The entertainment will be furnished by the Zwickl School of Dance.

In the evening, the traditional VFW-American Legion bean feed and stag party will be held at the Jaycee-Legion club rooms. All veterans and servicemen are invited to attend.

25 Years Ago

Nov. 6, 1989

'UP Conductor's Death Termed 'Human Error' '

The Union Pacific Railroad was investigating the accidental derailment of three cars in Sidney early Sunday morning that killed a 65-year-old UP conductor.

William Schockly of Cheyenne was crushed beneath one of the cars when it overturned in the derailment, Cheyenne County Coronor Michael Pieper said.

"It is a case of human error," UP spokesman John Bromley said today. Bromley said Schockly was riding on an outside ladder as workers prepared to hook 25 cars on a side track to cars on the main line. He said someone failed to throw a track switch called a "derail" which derails runaway cars as a safety measure.

Two cars toppled to the ground and a third car went off the track.

The accident occurred at 1:15 a.m. just to the west of U.S. 385 on the east side of Sidney. Bromley said the company is conducting an investigation to establish who was responsible for the failure to throw the derail switch. No one else was injured in the accident.

Bromley said Schockly had worked for Union Pacific since 1942.

Filsinger Excavating Company rushed heavy equipment to the scene and by mid-morning Sunday cleared the tracks and pulled from the tracks the two cars that had toppled over. The company is frequently called upon to clear the tracks of derailed cars, sometimes traveling hundreds of miles to go to the scene of derailments.

The cars were moving at about five miles an hour at the time of the derailment, Bromley said.

10 Years Ago

Nov. 6, 2004

'Gurley Teen Injured In Tangle With Semi'

A Gurley youth was injured in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon when the pickup he was driving was struck by a semi pulling a flatbed trailer.

According to the accident report from the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office, Ty Schmidt, 17, of Gurley was driving a 1985 GMC K1500 pickup northbound on Hwy. 385 when he slowed to make a left-hand turn onto CR46 (First Street). At that time Edward Kruse, 57, of Cresco, Iowa, who was driving a 1994 Peterbilt semi-tractor and flatbed trailer, drove into the passing lane to go around the Schmidt vehicle.

When Schmidt turned left, his pickup was struck in the left front corner by the northbound semi. Both vehicles came to rest in the west ditch, north of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad crossing between Hwy. 385 and the railroad tracks.

According to the report, restraints were not in use in the Schmidt vehicle. Damage to the Kruse semi was estimated at $10,000 and the Schmidt pickup was totaled.

A speed limit sign owned by the State of Nebraska received $50 damage and a telephone box owned by Sprint received $75 damage in the accident.

Schmidt was transported to Memorial Health Center from the scene.

5 Years Ago

Nov. 7, 2009

'Sidney Graduate Receives Scouts' Prestigious Award'

A 1976 Sidney graduate is being honored with the highest and most prestigious achievement given by the Boy Scouts of America. Gary Sharman will receive the Silver Beaver Award for his 20 years of volunteerism in the program.

During the past 20 years he has received 16 awards for his service in 17 volunteer positions.

He will be awarded along with 16 others from Nebraska and Iowa by the Mid-America Council in Omaha today.

Sharman's three sons and daughter have all reached the highest achievement in the Boy and Girl Scouts of America program. Sharman currently serves as a committee member of Troop 279 in Columbus, where he now resides with his four children and wife, Jean.

Some of his past positions have included den leader, Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Unit Commissioner, Boy Scout District Chairman, Merit Badge Counselor and Weblos Camp Chair.

He Began his Scouting years in Sunol. His older bother, Don Sharman, was his den leader.

He is the son of Lillian and the late Verne Sharman of Sidney.