Good Old Days 05-29-15

Compiled By Delaney Uhrig

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

June 2, 1965

'SHS Band To Lincoln For Parade'

Sidney High School's 115-piece marching band is one of nine such units from throughout the state to be invited to perform in the second annual Nebraskaland parade in Lincoln this Thursday.

The band will leave by buses at 4 a.m. Thursday to reach Lincoln in time for the 6:30 p.m. parade. The aggregations will be televised in the east and films will be available to all television stations in the state.

The local delegation will stat at the Town and Country Motel on Thursday evening and will return to Sidney on Friday.

In addition to Duane Johnson, director, and Duane Nichols, assistant, there will be a number of adult sponsors. Included are Mrs. Marie Osborne, Mr. and Mrs. Don Robinson, Gene Zwickl, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Mintken, Mrs. Harry Benzel, Mrs. Benny Hochman and Mrs. Bud Empson.

Also present for the parade will be Susan DeVier, Miss Fort Sidney Days, who will be garbed in her western outfit.

Arrangement have been made for the band to tour the University of Nebraska, the Art Gallery and the museum. Those who wish can visit the Capitol and other points of interest.

Grand Marshal for the parade will be Dale Robertson, popular western movie star.

25 years ago

May 30, 1990

'Sidney Will Regain Air Service Monday'

GP Express is scheduled to resume air Service to Sidney on Monday, June 4 with its first flight leaving for Denver's Stapleton Airport at 6:50 a.m.

The flight service was suspended January 1 after the airline lost its federal subsidy under the Essential Air Service program.The City of Sidney has contracted since then to provide a subsidy to GP Express for a one-year period.

GP Express' Sidney station manager Bill Plummer said today the flight schedule will be the same as it was before the service was cut off. He said any joint fare between United Airlines and GP Express Airlines from Denver to any United and Alaska destinantion will be only $10 higher if travel to Denver is on GP Express, though some restrictions may apply.

Plummer said he probably won't know until June 4 what the fares will be simply to fly without going on from Denver on a United connecting flight.

There are to be two flights to Denver daily, leaving Sidney at 6:50 a.m. (arriving Denver at 7:45 a.m.) and the other leaving Sidney at 4:35 p.m. and arriving in Denver at 5:30 p.m.

All flights to Denver will originate from Chadron, with a stop in Alliance. Flights coming back from Denver will stop in Sidney and Alliance, ending in Chadron.

10 years ago

June 1, 2005

'Holiday Inn Sold'

The new owners of the Sidney Holiday Inn and Convention Center plan to make a quick impact.

Western Management of Scottsbluff and Ft. Pierre, S.D., have purchased the Sidney property, the only full-service Holiday Inn between Kearney and Cheyenne, Wyo., from Glenn and Alice Chase, who opened the 85-room motel 10 years ago.

The sale became effective today.

"We are very excited to have this property," said Monte Hartl of Ft. Pierre, director of operations for Western Management. His partner is Clarence Gealy of Scottsbluff.

Western Management currently operates the Holiday Express in Ft. Pierre and the Hampton Inn and Conference Center in Scottsbluff. Western Management specializes in small communities market with potential for economic growth.

Hartl said a $1.1 million renovation program will begin this fall that will include upgrading of all guest rooms, the conference center and all public areas.

The Sidney Holiday Inn features about 8,000 square feet of meeting space. The Wheat Ridge Streak House will be renovated and become a full-service, family restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Sidney Holiday Inn and Convention Center is an award-winning operation in Nebraska. It has also been a Holiday Inn Quality of Excellence winner since its opening.

The Holiday Inn Quality has about 80 employees, said Patty Pollnow, general manager. She will retain that position."They are very community oriented," she said of the new owners.

The Chases will return to North Platte and operate a new motel they built there.

5 years ago

May 28, 2010

'Business Owners Discuss Bulb-Outs'

Tuesday's decision by the City Council to place the intersection bulb-outs on the back burner has elicited mixed opinions from business owners and employees in the downtown corridor.

"I think it's a waste of money and a waste of time," said insurance agent and former city councilman Jim Lodes. "I think there are other things they can do to beautify the downtown area, like getting more stores in."

Lodes added that he feels the community has a stron base and he doesn't see a need for the bulb-outs.

"There are so many things this town has to be proud of, and I don't think this is one of them."

Diane Nielsen, a clerk at the Salvation Army Thrift Store, said she was opposed to the bulb-outs because she felt they would adversely affect traffic in the area.

"We get a lot of traffic down here so I just think it's going to make it very difficult," Nielson said.

Jerry Steffens, owner of Steffens Home Interiors and Steffens Appliance Center, said he was in favor of the bulb-outs, but understood the concerns over access for delivery trucks to the area. He added that after speaking with individuals who deliver merchandise to this store, he felt comfortable with the drivers' ability to maneuver around the bulb-outs if installed.

Barb Meier, owner of the Coffee Corner and Book Corner, said she was looking forward to the bulb-outs.

"I was excited for them out here," Meier siad,

Eleanor Plummer, proprietor of Imagine That, expressed disappointment in the council's decision. She said that she felt the bulb-out and the beautification efforts would provide a unifying effect for the business district.

"I'm disappointed, I really am. I think it would have made the downtown more unified. It would have been a great experiment," Plummer said.