Good Old Days 06-19-15

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

'Good Samaritans From Sidney Help Rescue Colorado Cattle'

June 21, 1965

Among the many bright spots amidst the grim and muddy details of the Colorado flood last week was the Friday story of a Sidney man with a big truck and seven Sidneyites with horses.

As the swollen South Platte river threatened for the second time the city of Sterling, a call went out for volunteers to help move some 22,500 head of valuable cattle from the Seckler Feed Lots in northeast Sterling, right along the river bottom.

Heeding the plea, Curley Doggett, owner of Doggett Trucking, volunteered one of his big cattle trucks to carry horses to Sterling to help in the emergency drive. Then from the Sidney Saddle Club came seven members with horses and the group was on its way. Among the riders were John and Rita Underdown, Bernie and Tom Gass, J.B. baker, Steve Wright and Gary Kerz.

Arriving in Sterling, about two p.m. the horses were unloaded and the Sidney group along with around 40 other horsemen, began the hardest part of the task – getting the cattle out of the pens. The mud was deep and the cattle were most uncooperative but the job had to be done and quickly; the flood water was already waist deep in the power plant not far away from the feed lot.

Once the cattle were away from the pens, it was a relatively easy task, said John Underdown, herding them across the highway and then a mile and a half along the Union Pacific railroad tracks to higher pasture.

Doggett himself loaded 200 head of cattle into his truck and moved them, free of charge, to ground unreachable by the flood waters.

Six hours later, the task completed, Doggett and his cattle drivers sat down in a local cafe to eat supper only to have the city power turned off because of the high water. This time it was William Seckler's chance to return a favor as he invited all hands to his home for sandwiches.

25 YEARS AGO

'Veterans March For Rights'

June 18, 1990

A group of American veterans, engaged on a 700-mile march to promote veterans' rights, are scheduled Tuesday and will spend the night here at the Sidney National Guard Armory.

L.L. "Swede" Nelson, local coordinator for the veterans march, said plans are being made to hold a free concert at the War Memorial in Legion Park Tuesday night at about 7:30.

The march is called "The Last Patrol." Marchers departed from the D.A.V. Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Chapel in Angel Fire, N.M., on May 28. Their destination is Pine Ridge, S.D., arriving at the home of the Ogallala Vietnam Veteran's Association, on the Sioux Indian Reservation, on June 27.

The marchers are seeking public support for a number of veteran's rights issues including bringing home prisoners of was, rights of women veterans getting the government to admit that the use of chemical agents in Vietnam has had effects on veterans and their families and the post traumatic stress disorder has caused suicides, broken marriages and homelessness.

An organizer of the march said, "The way all these issues and many more are being handled is unacceptable. We must continue to fight for our rights. There have been some results on some rights, but until all issues are addressed, The Last Patrol will continue to walk this Nation."

The marchers passed through Pine Bluffs, Wyo., on Sunday and are to spend tonight in Nebraska.

Nelson said he didn't know if any local veterans would join the march in Sidney.

10 YEARS AGO

'MHC Admissions To Receive Face Lift'

June 18, 2005

Construction will begin Monday on the admissions area at Memorial Health Center to provide increased patient privacy during the admissions process.

At Thursday night's Business After Hours sponsored by the Sidney Chamber of Commerce, Holly Anderson, MHC director of community involvement, outlined the new construction, treatment and specialist to begin at MHC.

The construction of the admission area will last 30-60 days and patients will be asked to use the business office door which is the first door to the right of the current admissions area. Signs will be posted throughout the facility's entrances directing patients to the correct place.

The addition of several walls and redesign will allow patients to enter a private area while completing paperwork and verifying information for their hospital admission.

"Memorial Health Center strives to provide excellent patient care in the clinical and administrative setting," said Nancy Browner, MHC business office coordinator. "The private admissions areas are an amenity we feel will greatly benefit our patients."

5 YEARS AGO

'Leadership Class Graduates'

June 19, 2010

The first Leadership Cheyenne County class graduated Thursday night during a "Business After Hours "event at 21st Century Equipment.

"We had 13 outstanding participants in the first class and felt that we offered them an educational and very relevant program," said Megan McGown, executive director of the Cheyenne County Chamber. "We are very fortunate to have employers that are willing to make the commitment to both their employees as well as to the community, by sponsoring employees' participation in the LCC program."

According to McGown, the program consisted of eight learning days, a trip to Lincoln during the legislative session, the Ropes Course, a team-building experience and a kickoff social. The learning days are held once per month.

"LCC has truly been a rewarding and eye-opening experience," said graduate Mike Palmer. "I can honestly say that I'm better of both professionally and personally for this group."