Good Old Days 08-21-15

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

'Cowboy Vie For Honors, Good Purse'

Aug. 20, 1965

With more than $5,000 prize money at stake, the annual Cheyenne County Fair Rodeo swings into action Sunday and Monday nights, Aug. 22-23, here in Sidney.

Last year's cowboy competition in the fairgrounds arena saw a record 180 entries on the roster, with event winners dividing $5,575. Biggest share went to Texas calf roper Lee Cockrell, who collected $656.

Cockrell, 33, said a new record for the fairgrounds arena in the tying this calf in 9.8 seconds and topping a field of 59 other entries in the event.

One of nearly 600 rodeos approved each year by the professional rodeo Cowboys Association, competition in the fairgrounds arena is conducted under nationally recognized rules with prize money won by contestants credited to the game's annual championship standings.

Pro rodeo awards its annual crowns by the simple method of who wins the most money in an event during the almost year-round playing season.

Last years saddle bronc winner here Wood, went on to nail the national title of the 1964 season.

Steer wrestling winner Hale, born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he was a star athlete in falcon high School, finished 1964 as runner-up for the steer wrestling championship. Current tabulations from the R.C.A. office in Denver show Hale is back in the same spot in this season's title race.

R.C.A.-sanctioned rodeos hit an all-time high in 1964 with 591 across the U.S. and Canada, distributing $3,665,469 prize money. This, for the second year in a row, was higher than the payoff in professional golf.

25 Years Ago

'Pilot Needed To Help Fly Local Link Of Air Mail Re-Enactment'

Aug. 22, 1990

Wanted: Pilots to fly air mail from Cheyenne to Sidney and from Sidney to North Platte on the 70th anniversary of transcontinental airmail service, Sept. 8.

Russ Brinkley, founder and president of Silver Wings, the national organization that arranges re-enactments of the historic series of flights that first brought mail coast to coast by air, is calling for volunteers in the Sidney area to complete the link in the plans.

As in just about every type of transportation across the United States, Sidney was a stop on the original transcontinental Air Mail flight. In 1970 and 1980, Brinkley – who lives in Harrisburg, Pa. – has organized the commemorative event in honor of the airmail. At 85, he still flies. "Heck, there are a lot of pilots older than me," he said today in a telephone interview. He learned to fly in a World War II surplus Canadian Jennie bi-plane, which was powered by a 90-horsepower water-cooled engine.

Brinkley has been a flying instructor since before World War II but lately has been "tapering off" in that area.

Pilots that Brinkley has recruited through his Silver Wings organization, largely by his stories in his monthly newspaper, Slipstream, will each fly a "leg" of about 100 miles or a little more on Sept. 8.

10 Years Ago

'Cheyenne, Deuel counties Experience Fuel Price Crunch'

Aug. 17, 2005

The rising cost of gas and diesel is changing the way local county government's function.

With skyrocketing fuel costs, Cheyenne and Deuel County Commissioners have no choice but to spend more cash while also attempting to trim their budgets in other areas to make ends meet.

Deuel County road superintendent Kara Essman said they have two county employees who have retired and the commissioners have chosen not to replace until a later date due to the increased price of fuel. With higher fuel costs, the county simply cannot afford to replace their retirees at this time.

Last year, Deuel county budgeted $60,000 just for fuel. It wasn't enough to keep up with the county's needs and they overspent their fuel budget by $500.

Essman said while $500 was a small amount to go over a budget, the number remains tiny because county employees were careful and trimmed fuel expenses late in the fiscal year.

"We went over last year but it wasn't very much," Essman said. "We really watched it for the last two months of the year."

Meanwhile, Deuel County Commissioners are in the process of passing their FY2006 budget total of $742,875 – with $70,000 expected to be spent on fuel.

When asked if she thought a $10,000 increase in the county's fuel budget was enough, Essman said, "Possibly not. We may have to cutback on some roads and the taxpayers aren't going to like that. Counties get what (income) they get and what is it. We do not have any additional funding sources and it is difficult to make your budget work."

Essman also said Deuel County is also looking at alternatives like upgrading fuel-burning equipment to items which are more fuel efficient.

5 Years Ago

'Sidney Man Charged With Terroristic Threats'

Aug. 24, 2010

A 35-year-old Sidney man has been formally charged with a felony count of terroristic threats, officials said.

Timothy D. Weinbender Jr. appeared in Cheyenne County Court last Friday for presentment on the Class IV felony charge. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26.

Court documents state that Weinbender was arrested by the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office for domestic assault in the early morning hours of Aug. 20. Deputies responded to a call for help from Weindbender's wife, Alicia, made from a neighbor's home at 2:57 a.m.

On the scene, the deputies discovered a distraught Alicia, who claimed her husband threatened her life with a knife. Court documents state that no marks were found on her body, and their two children, ages 5 and 3, were discovered unharmed and asleep in the house after Timothy Weinbender left. Alicia Weinbender further claimed that her husband threatened to rape and kill her.

During an interview with Timothy Weinbender, officials learned that he had heard through several sources that his wife was having an affair, which upset him. He said he attempted to wake her, and when she would not wake, "he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the bed" to the living room, court documents state.

After a short physical altercation, Alicia Weinbender threatened to "call the cops," so Timothy Weinbender took some clothes and left the residence.

According to the booking affidavit, Timothy Weinbender admitted that he may have blacked out and if he did threaten his wife, it was "to scare her."