Good Old Days 02-06-15

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

'Three Oil Wells Are Confirmed'

Feb. 8, 1965

Petroleum Inc. apparently has drilled a successful confirmation well in a new oil field in a new oil field in the Potter area.

The company ran production casing at the No. 1 Anderson-C and has asserted its confidence in the findings by spotting another location at the No. 1 Anderson-D which is a move to the west.

The Anderson-C confirms the No. 1 Buhrdorf discovery in a new producing locality which the Nebraska oil and Gas Conservation Commission has named the Filon Field.

Fundamental Oil Co has announced completion details on a recent discovery east of Sidney, the No.1 Schnell. Initial production of potential of 82 barrels of oil per day has been reported, with 48 barrels of water.

This discovery is three-quarters of a mile southwest of the Schnell Field. There have been strong rumors that more drilling will be done in the vicinity of the discovery in the near future.

Kimbark Exploration has revealed completion data on another recent Cheyenne County discover, the No. 1 Webster about a mile and three-quarters north of the Eddy Field near Dalton. The well pumped 100 barrels of oil and 40 barrels of water per day in initial pump tests. Additional drilling locations are anticipated here, although Kimbark has not announced any future plans for testing its acreage.

25 years ago

'Lorenzo: Where kids are the best commodity'

Feb. 5, 1990

"The best commodity we have is children," said Telegraph Publisher Don Evans.

Evans and I visited the Lorenzo school for lunch Thursday with 43 students and four teachers.

We were met with kindness and hospitality. Lunch consisted of beef nuggets, buttered corn, mixed fruit, chocolate cake and milk. The meal was expertly cooked by Mary Reiken. We had a great time out of the office and back in school.

After we started our meal, we had a small problem. One of the boys really made fun of us because we both failed to pick up a straw for our milk. Evans retrieved straws for both of us and peace was maintained.

After lunch we mingled with the students. In speaking with Roni Staudenmaier, a second-grader, I told her that I do sports at the Telegraph and she simply replied, "I do school work."

The kids all got together following the heavy snow and built a giant snow fort for a daily game of Cops and Robbers. That brings back memories of a day gone by to me. It was one of my favorites as a child.

The publisher of the Telegraph has a good reason for our stops at the county schools for lunch. "The reason we're going is because I think the best commodity in Cheyenne County has is children. We're going to lose all our small schools. They're going to be a thing of the past very shortly. They will bus everybody into Sidney or someplace close. I think it's a shame because I think the small school, although the don't have all the activities, has a better education," said Evans.

"I hate to see the schools close. If the school closes, then the town closes. Everything works together." Evans went to a small county school in Sunol and feels a close tie to this area's small school in his own personal experiences.

10 years ago

'Winter Weather Makes A Bold Return'

Feb. 8, 2005

The first week of February may have had area residents doubting conventional folklore.

The groundhog, if there is one in Sidney, easily saw his shadow on Groundhog Day on Feb.2, which, according to legend, sent him scurrying back into his den for six more weeks of winter weather.

But Mother Nature has reminded the area that it is still the middle of winter, and that last week's spring like conditions are no more.

The average high reading last week was 55 degrees, 10.6 degrees above normal for this time of the year, according to the National Weather Service office in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Following a high of 61 degrees Friday and 59 degrees Saturday, a cold front moved into the area. Sunday's high was 31 degrees, with a low of 14 degrees Monday morning. Temperatures struggled to rise above 20 degrees Monday, and a light snow tried, but did not have much success, turning the ground white.

The Weather Service forecasts the possibility of up to two inches of snow in Sidney today. High temperatures are not expected to climb into the 40s until Thursday.

Last week's balmy weather had temperature highs ranging from a low of 45 degrees Feb.12 to 61 on Feb. 4. Morning lows were from 14 degrees on Feb. 1 to 24 the morning of Feb.3.

Despite a week of spring like weather, once aspect of the weather remain the same-dry. Since the first of the year, the airport has recorded only .09 in precipitation.

5 years ago

'Burglary Charge Dropped'

Feb. 4, 2010

Although a Class III felony burglary charge was dropped against 35-year-old Timothy Jimenez, he will go on to Cheyenne County District Court to face a Class IV felony charge of possession of methamphetamine, officials said.

Jimenez appeared in Cheyenne County Court earlier this week for a preliminary hearing on both charges. County Attorney Paul Schaub said testimony was heard from Sidney Police Officer Mike Modec and Investigator Justin Loghry.

"The court dismissed the burglary charge, indicating that there was insufficient evidence of intent, but found that it appears that the drug offense happened and that there is probably cause to believe the defendant committed it," Schaub said in a release.

Jimenez is scheduled to appear for arraignment in district court on Feb.9 at 8:30 a.m.

According to court documents, Jimenez was arrested after allegedly breaking into a Dove's Safe House on Jan. 20. The document states that Sidney police responded to the safe house after the resident awoke to find her ex-boyfriend sitting on the edge of their bed. She identified the ex-boyfriend as Jimenez.

The alleged victim reported that after a struggle with Jimenez for her cell phone, she was told by him that she took his belongings and grabbed a CD case containing 15 to 20 CDs. The resident informed Jimenez "she was calling the cops." She reported that Jimenez left at that time.

The report said the alleged victim was housed in the safe house due to a physical altercation with Jimenez in Illif, Colo., a few days prior.

According to the document, the resident had been out at a local bar earlier in the evening where Jimenez also was visiting. She informed officers that she had her boss drop her off about a block from the safe house, and she had walked the rest of the way.

Officers went on the search for Jimenez and found him at another Sidney residence lying the basement with "a methamphetamine pipe and two syringes" beside him. According to the report, Jimenez told officers he had gone to the Safe House after the resident failed to call another person after getting home. He stated he pushed on the door after he received no answer to the doorbell. He said the door opened, and he "took items which belonged to him."

The report stated "he had been using marijuana and using methamphetamine."

The resident was taken to another Dove's Safe House.