Good Old Days 09-04-15

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

''Q' Crossing Starts This Month'

Sept. 9, 1965

The Burlington Railroad expects to start work on installation of warning signals at the 13th Ave. crossing by Sept 21, it was learned today.

J.E. Hammer, general manager of the CB&Q, said work would start by then if all agreements between the participating parties had been completed by Sept. 16.

City Manager Tom Coffey said the last of the agreements were signed and mailed to the CB&Q this week.

Mr. Hammer, in a letter to the city manager, said material should be assembled at the site and work should be under way not later than Sept. 21. He estimated it would take about five weeks to install the lights, bells and the arm-type barrier which will help stop traffic when the signal is operative.

If work does get started this month it will mark the end of about three years of negotiations between the city and the railroad on the project.

The city first made its request for some of adequate warning signals after receiving a number of requests from residents living in south Sidney who said they regarded the 13th Ave. crossing as hazardous.

13th Avenue is one of the city's busiest north-south streets. Officials said a number of "near misses" have taken place at the crossing.

Mr. Coffey said he is confident the problem will be solved within the next few weeks.

25 Years Ago

'Miss Nebraska Has High Hopes'

Sept. 4, 1990

Michelle Ebadi, a University of Nebraska graduate student, and first-generation American, takes her tap dancing talent to the Miss America stage on Saturday, Sept. 8 (NBC) at 8 p.m.

Ebadi has studied dance for 16 years and hopes to complete her education in curriculum and instruction. She has just authored her first book, following in the footsteps of her father, a noted neuroscientist and text book author.

The telecast will be hosted by Phyllis George and Gary Collins and will feature a special return engagement of the show's long time host, Bert Parks. Pageant officials have not revealed Park's specific role in the production as yet.

Celebrity judges for this 70th celebration of the Miss America Pageant are Delta Burke (Designing Women) and Cynthia Sikes (St. Elsewhere), both former contestants; talk shows host Larry King, author Sidney Sheldon and actresses Neil Carter and Shirley Jones.

Some lesser known 'celebrities' will also be featured on the telecast. They include LexAnn Haughey Edmundson, a Houston stockbroker and former Miss Texas; Barbara Jennings, a Miss Maryland 1976 who was recently named Young Optometrist of the Year in Tennessee, and Marie Carroll, a school principal in Kenner, La., who competed on the Atlantic City stage as Miss Minnesota.

The pageant has featured vignettes on past contestants in the past few years answering audience requests for updates on hometown and television favorites. Others spotlighted included Wellesley grad and romance novelist Miss Massachusetts 1985, Lisa Kleypas, who makes home in Mabank, Texas; Sonya Pleasant, a staff member of the Office of Legislative Affairs at the White House and former Miss Tennessee, and TV news reporter Pam Rigas, who competed as Miss Ohio, received a law degree and handles consumer fraud issues in Orlando.

15 Years Ago

'Will Nebraska's Economy Survive?'

Sept. 1, 1990

As gas topped $3 a gallon fear began that the nation and this state may plunge into a recession.

"It's going to affect Nebraska's economy negatively because of rising costs," said Tom Doering, a research coordinator for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. "In agriculture you have fuel needs for running the tractor and energy costs for running the sprinkler systems. On the other hand ethanol production is going to be enhanced."

Doering said there will be a large, swift and strong rising demand for ethanol as an alternative fuel. Gasohol is already an important part of the fuel industry, according to Doering.

"Corn production for the ethanol plants in the state is a good thing," said Doering.

The third-leading industry in Nebraska is tourism, behind farming and industry.

Tourism brings in about $2.9 billion in Nebraska revenue each year, according to Doering.

"I can't say these prices will really kill tourism. We have already had significant increases in gas prices and, at least through July, the traffic counts on Interstate 80 have been up except near Sidney. At every other major rural location, traffic has been up on Interstate 80. People were still hitting the roads without the gas price increases being a deterrent," said Doering.

Doering added breaking the $3 per gallon barrier might create a psychical barrier influencing people to stay some more often. He is hoping that prices may relax then the high summer demand disappears.

"Overall it is a negative for our economy. As energy cost rise it is a deterrent and it effects consumer spending," said Doering.

Doering said he believe these higher gas prices are likely to stay with Nebraska's consumers for some time as gas prices have actually be rather low compared to other items being sold.

"In some other ways, gasoline prices are catching up," he said.

While hurricane destruction in the Gulf has created a sudden surge in prices, Doering said other stresses in the world's fuel supplies are created by China emerging as a much more serious consumer of oil.

5 Years Ago

'We Remember 9/11'

Sept. 8, 2010

The Sidney Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution would like to remind everyone that the anniversary of the attack on America is upcoming.

DAR wishes everyone to remember the nearly 2,977 victims killed by the attacks, including more than 400 first responders, firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement officers, and military personal whose lives were given in the effort to save so many.

Sept. 11 has been designated Patriot Day by Congress. Citizens are encouraged to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the moment the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Citizens are also asked to fly the flag of the United States of America at half-staff at home, as will be done at all U.S. government buildings and establishments.

Patriot Day is a day designed to participate in appropriate programs in honor of those who died."The National Society Daughter of the American Revolution commemorates the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, by honoring the memory of innocent victims and remembering always: those who are rebuilding their lives from the loss of loved ones; the heroic response of those on the scene; the unity of purpose of citizens everywhere who did whatever they could to help; and the dedication of those who continue to serve daily in harm's way to rescue or protect us from such tragedies."