Good Old Days 12-19-14

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

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1964

'The Cookie Exchanges Held On Tuesday'

Christmas cookie exchanges are still proving to be one of the most delightful ways to "do your Christmas cookie making" in Sidney, and each cookie exchange party is a wonderful chance to visit, admire the hostess's Christmas preparations and taste the culinary results of many Sidney homemakers.

Yesterday morning at 9:30 a.m Mrs.H.C.Q. Nelson of 2616 El Rancho Road was hostess to more than 25 women in her beautifully decorated home. Each guest brought her own particular "best" cookies, and returned home at the end of the party with a wide variety of cookies to please her family, and holiday guests.

Mrs. Nelson's tea table was centered with a lovely white net Christmas tree and the table cloth was covered with a white net cloth with a red felt border appliqued with appropriate figures complimentary to the season.

Presiding at the coffee service in the Nelson home was Mrs. J.D. Olinger.

Following the Sidney Public Schools Choral concert last evening, Mrs. James Thayer was the hostess at her home in Hillcrest Addition to more than 25 woman who also brought their favorite Christmas cookies to exchange with their friends.

Mrs. Thayer's home had been decorated for the holiday season, also and everywhere one turned there was a Christmasy scene, wall hanging or centerpiece to please the eye. A more than 12-foot, long-needled tree graced the living room area.

The tea table was centered with a centerpiece arrangement of white and gold. Presiding at the tea and coffee service was Mrs. Glen Wilcox. Mrs. Thayer was also assisted by her daughters Debi and Linda.

A very conservative estimate of the number of cookies "exchanged" at both affairs would be 5,000 and "very special" cookies, too.

25 years ago

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 1989

'Damage Set At $15,000 In Gas Well Blaze'

Eighteen Sidney Volunteer firemen extinguished a fire was a natural gas well Tuesday afternoon that caused an estimated $15,000 damage.

Firemen answered a call that came in at 3:05 p.m. and sent five fire department vehicles to Borchert No.1, about four miles west of the Dinklage Feed Lot, southwest of Sidney.

Assistant Fire Chief Larry Collins said today the firemen had extinguished the fire by 4:12 p.m. but not before it destroyed the well's treater house that contains the valves for the treater thank that separates the water, oil, and gas after it comes from the ground.

Collins said, "It was just a matter of knocking the fire out with water and we mopped up some burning oil spots no the ground that came from the treater tank. The fire, at one point, surrounded oil storage tanks, igniting brush."

Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles and a number of motorists spotted to watch the firemen's efforts.

Chief Keith Stone said Tuesday night that he felt the department has had to fight in a long time, he said, and such fires can be very dangerous.

Collins said he believed there was a leak in the treater tank and it leaked gas as well as water and oil. The treater house nest to the tank got a build up of natural gas fumes and were probably ignited by the pilot light on the treater tank.

10 years ago

Dec. 21, 2004

'Gurley Toddler Killed In Vehicle Accident'

Sixteen-month-old Seth Robert Cruz, of Gurley, died Saturday at Memorial Health Center after being involved in a one-car accident.

At 7:49 p.m., Dec. 18, a 1987 Buick Le Sabre owned by Ruth R Heine, of Gurley, was parked facing northbound in a driveway at 316 Rose St. in Gurley. Cruz was approaching the vehicle to climb into the rear driver's side door when the car was knocked into gear by a sibling seated inside. The vehicle moved forward, knocking him to the ground and running over him.

Funeral services for Seth Robert Cruz will be held today at 10:30 a.m., in Grace Lutheran Church in Gurley. Burial will follow in the Dalton Cemetery.

5 years ago

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009

'Historic Plaques in Downtown Sidney'

Plaques depicting Sidney's historic downtown have arrived. The granite plaques showing the date the building was constructed, along with a picture, will be placed on designated buildings in Sidney's downtown district. Sidney's downtown district is one of a few in the state to be recognized as a historic district on the National Register of Historic places.

According to Cheyenne County Chamber Director Megan McGown, the total project cost about $11,000. She said a total of $6,449 has been received from the National Park Service for the project. "We should have received 40 plaques for buildings within the historic district," McGown said. "The plaques were part of a Certified Local Government Grant Program awarded in 2007 from the National Parks Service."

Other funding came from the voters' approval of City of Sidney's LB840 funds in 2007, which are reserved for downtown historic improvements in the amount to $500,000 over a 10-year period.

McGown said "match money was put into the project by the city LB40 voter-designated funds for downtown improvements."

Less than half the total cost of the plaque project was used from those designated funds, she said.

The plaques were purchased as a way to enhance the walking tours of downtown Sidney.

Walking tours take people through the historic district and the plaques will be used to help tell the history of designated buildings.

McGown said $400 in shipping was donated by Sterling Monument, the company in charge of creating the plaques.

Plaques will be installed when the weather permits.