Good Old Days

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

'Leaseholders Point To Big Cash Loss In West If Improvements Taken'

Dec. 1, 1965

At least a million dollars in improvements on state owned land in Cheyenne County could be lost to the leaseholders if the Nebraska Supreme Court upholds a Justice Department ruling that the improvements belong to the state.

This was reported Saturday night at an informal meeting of the Cheyenne County school land leaseholders, who were from Banner, Kimball and Deuel counties.

Such a move, it was pointed out, would seriously jeopardize the financial future of many farmers and ranchers, and this county, and the rest of western Nebraska, inasmuch as a high percentage of the income from these sales would go to the eastern part of the state, where school census is much higher.

Tom Allington of Sunol, a member of the Board of Educational Lands and Funds, emphasized that the Justice Department ruling is binding on the board until such time as it may be changed. He said it is assumed now that the State of Nebraska owns all improvements such as buildings, wells, fences, soil conservation practices, growing crops, etc., which may have been put on the land without written permission from the Board of Educational Lands and Funds.Senator Ramey Whitney, of Chappell, sponsor of the School Land Sales Bill, (LB-234), gave a briefing on the new law. He stated that the drafters of the bill considered the school of the leaseholders to be the owners of improvements put on the land prior to September 14, 1953, without approval or consent of the Board of Educational Lands and Funds. The sponsors of the bill were advised by legal authority that such improvements could be disposed of under existing policy of the Board of of Educational Lands and Funds without including in the bill a provision for the sale of such improvements. He reported that a test case was being organized to be handled by the courts for a decision on the school land improvements ownership. Senator George Fleming of Sidney assisted in the discussion concerning possible constitutional legislation to the State and the leaseholders with improvements find themselves.

40 Years Ago

'Progress Made Toward Local Shopping Center'

Dec. 3, 1975

Definite progress is being made on plans for the proposed Sidney Plaza Shopping Center, but the direction of economic activity in the Sidney area could have a bearing on the progress of the development, according to a spokesman for the shopping center's developer.

Marty Goodman of Leo Eisenburg & Co. of Kansas City, Mo., said in a news release today that "one of the main things to remember about developing a shopping center is that there are a lot of variables involved. The economic conditions in the country, as well as the status of the money market, have a great bearing on the speed of the shopping development. Needless to say, activity in the Sidney community does have a great bearing on the progress of the development."

The proposed shopping center is planned to be located in southeast Sidney at the intersection of State Highway 19 and Parkland Drive. Parkland Drive is the four-lane road that is panned to run between South 11th Ave. and Highway 19. It has not yet been constructed.

Goodman said a major tenant in the shopping center will have approximately 25,000 square feet and will face Parkland Drive. Further information on that tenant will be forthcoming, he said.

In addition, Goodman said negotiations are taking place with other "major tenants" who have expressed strong interest in the shopping center.

He said the shopping center will consist of 74,218 square feet of floor space for retail shop.

Those figures are are down from earlier statements on the proposed size of the shopping center.

25 Years Ago

'New Council Will Take Oath, Choose Mayor'

Dec. 4, 1990

Three new council members of Sidney City Council will be sworn in tonight at the council's regular meeting and a new mayor and a vice mayor will be elected.

To be sworn in as new council members will be Lois Ham, E.C. "Pete" Petroff and White Hendrick. This is the first time Ham and Hendrick will have served on council, but Petroff is a former mayor of Sidney.

Petroff, having received the fewest votes in the general election, will serve out the remaining two years of Dr. Jay Matzke's term. Matzke resigned several months ago and moved to Omaha. Since that time, Lori Geiger served Matzke's term until the general election was held.

Ham, Hendrick and also incumbent Mel Saylor, re-elected in November, will all receive full four-year terms. Ham and Hendrick will replace Gerald Bristle, who did not seek re-election, and Mayor Bruce Hauge, who was eliminated from the ballot in the May primary election.

The Council will appoint two members to the Library Board tonight. The terms of Connie Peetz and Pat Von Seggern expire this month. Peetz has agreed to serve another term but Von Seggern said she does not wish to.

The only major item on the agenda facing the new Council tonight is a presentation by the Cheyenne County Community Center Foundation board of directors and advisory committee members. They are scheduled to approach the Council about a long term financial commitment from the half cent sales tax.

Following the council meeting the council members will meet as the Sidney Housing Authority and elect a chairman and vice chairman.

10 Years Ago

'Proposed Natural

Gas Pipeline Could Impact Area'

Dec. 2, 2005

The Rockies Express Pipeline Project (REX) is proposing a 1,323-mile natural gas pipeline with part of the pipeline running just south of the Cheyenne County border in Colorado.

Gary Person, Sidney city manager, said the project could impact Sidney's economy and the city is interested on the project.

The pipeline would run from Weld County, Colo., to Monroe County, Ohio. The first phase of the project covers 710 miles from Weld County to Audrain County, Colo.

REX LLC is having an informal open house community meeting at 6:30 p.m., Dec. 9 at the Sidney Holiday Inn for the public to learn more about the proposed new interstate natural pipeline. The public is invited to express interest or any concerns.

A REX press release states "public participation and input is an important component of this project."

The proposed pipeline would go through Kimball County and drop down into Colorado just south of the Cheyenne County border. It would continue through Colorado and re-enter Nebraska in Perkins County. It would then continue through the southern part of Nebraska into Lincoln, Dawson, Gosper, Phelps and Kearney Counties before entering Kansas.

REX has initiated the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulatory process for the initial 710-mile section and is now contacting landowners along the proposed route to ask permission to conduct initial route surveys.

FERC will oversee the project and coordinate the participation of many other state and federal agencies which must also review relevant parts of the project to ensure that it is safe and protects the environment.

According to REX, the pipeline's proposed route parallels existing pipeline and utility corridors which would help minimize the amount of new land that would be affected. REX stressed that safety and environmental concerns will be addressed. The pipelines, when completed, will be buried and the land can bemused as it is now with mineral restrictions.