Good Old Days 08-14-15

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

'Policemen Face $10,000 Suit'

Aug. 16, 1965

Two Sidney police officers are defendants in a $10,000 assault and battery suit-filled Monday morning morning in Cheyenne County District Court.

Officers Gerald Brestel and John Bauer Jr. are accused of the assault on Clarence Bills, 1248 16th Ave.

The City of Sidney held a hearing on the alleged police brutality case, took 167 pages of transcript and determined that the officers were not guilty of any undue force in the arrest of Bills.

Attorney P.J. Heaton Sr., representing Bills, said the damage action was filed after it was determined the city planned no further action in the case.

Police records show that the officers were called to the Bills home at the request of a neighbor.

Both Brestel and Bauer denied any assault on Bills and said the force they used was necessary because of his resistance.

Bills received medical treatment at Memorial Hospital, but was not admitted as a patient.

The arrest was made July 16, and Bills was charged with careless driving.

City Manager Tom Coffey told the city council at the last meeting that he has discussed the case with Chief of Police Sol Willis and city prosecutor John Peetz Jr. and that "appropriate action" will be taken within the police department to try to avoid a reoccurrence of a similar situation. The council was told that Willis and Peetz plan to conduct a school within the next month for all Sidney police officers pertaining to proper procedures and conduct while making arrests, and to brief them on new laws and Supreme Court decisions relating to such procedures.

25 Years Ago

'Fair's Final Tally Expected To Please'

Aug. 13, 1990

It's too early to know how many ticket books were sold for admission to the 1990 Cheyenne County Fair and Rodeo, but Fair Board members Ernie Ewing and Marvin Filsinger agreed this morning that when final figures are tabulated this week everyone is going to be pleased.

There were some people apparently buying the whole $12 ticket package just to attend the Friday night performances by Eddie Rabbitt or by Marie Osmond. Some people were turned away from the first performance by Osmond and had to go to the second show which was jam-packed like the first.

Fair board members estimated there were 3,000 at her first show and a little more than half that many for the later performance. They said even more went to the Rabbit performances.

Fair board members and other volunteers were busy cleaning up the grounds today, hauling trash, taking down exhibits and trying to total ticket receipts.

The fair and rodeo had near ideal weather conditions. The only thunderstorm came through the fairgrounds late Saturday afternoon just as the annual barbecue was being served. "That was a very unusual barbecue," Filsinger said. "A long line formed, then it started to rain and the line disappeared. Then it stopped raining and the line formed again. Then it started raining again and the line disappeared. Then it stopped raining and the line formed again."

Filsinger said about as many persons were served as in the past but in three shifts.

A popular new attraction at the fair this year was chain saw sculptor A.J. Lutter, who carved lifelike animals before groups of onlookers. His creations later were auctioned off with the proceeds benefiting the fair.

10 Years Ago

'Former Public Services Director Enters No-Contest Plea'

Aug. 17, 2005

Steve Lloyd spent his 49th birthday in a Cheyenne County courtroom entering a no-contest plea to one of three felony charges against him.

Lloyd, the former public services director for the city of Sidney, was arrested Oct. 29 on three drug counts. In an Aug.16 plea arrangement in Cheyenne County District Court, Lloyd agreed to enter a no-contest plea to possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, with intent to deliver.

In the plea arrangement, two other drug charges against the long-time city employee were dropped.

District Judge Kristine Cecava accepted Lloyd's plea of no-contest after finding a factual basis for the plea. She ordered a pre-sentence investigation, a chemical dependency evaluation and set Lloyd's sentencing date for Oct. 14.

He remains free on the board.

If handed the maximum sentence for the class III felony, Lloyd could serve as much as 20 years confinement and pay as much as a $25,000 fine. In this case, if the state department of probation and parole accepts him, the state has already recommended he receive supervised probation and no more than 90 days in jail, though the court is not bound by the plea arrangement.

5 Years Ago

'Not In My Backyard; Planning Commission Vetoes Dog Day Care'

Aug. 18, 2010

A junkyard permit and a dog day care proposal dominated the agenda Monday evening as the Sidney Planning Commission met for its August session.

Ross Lehmkuler appeared before the commission for a second time seeking a special permit for a dog day care facility at 813 17th Ave., an area currently zoned for heavy commercial. Lehmkuler had brought the request before the commission during its July meeting at which time the issue was tabled pending additional information concerning similar businesses in other communities throughout the state.

Lehmkuler's proposal called for the business to operate between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. with no more than 10 dogs at the facility at any time. Lehmkuler said a 5 foot wire and panel fence would be in place as well as shady areas and an indoor area during inclement weather.

During the public hearing, commission members raised concerns over the height and type of fencing at the facility as well as controls for moving animals between areas. It was suggested that a six-foot privacy fence would need to be constructed to shield both the animals and the public.

"This is a stepping stone. I'm trying to reach a happy medium with just doing a strong fence," Lehmkuler said. he added that if the enterprise was successful, he intended to expand and upgrade the facility.

Lehmkuler informed the commission that he did not feel he could install a privacy fence prior to beginning operations because of the cost associated with the fence.

"There is just no way I can. I'm not taking out any loans to do this, I'm doing this on tip money, so that's an impossibility." Lehmkuler said.

Commission member Dave McCarville said he thought the proposal had merit, but was concerned that the proposed facilities would not be adequate.

"I really think that it's something that could go over here in Sidney and I think you have the right attitude to do it. I just can't cote for it with the facilities that you're working with right now," McCarville said.

Karen Lehmkuler informed the commission that from her research the only regulation concerning the proposal was that the facility have a five- to six-foot fence in place. She inquired as to where written regulations concerning the proposal could be attained.