Good Old Days 12-11-15

Compiled By the Sun-Telegraph Staff

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

'Farm-Ranch Outlook In West Promises Area Upturn in '66'

Dec. 10, 1965

The economy of western Nebraska is certain to show substantial improvement next year if present farm and ranch outlook predictions hold firm through 1966.

Those who watch the economy of the region are forecasting a much improved agricultural and business situation a year from now – provided the prospects now in clear focus continue to prevail for the coming twelve months.

State and Federal crop observers agreed this week that the winter wheat crop is advancing into the dormant stage in very good condition – much better than a year ago.

The government experts said plants have made good growth and have developed crown roots and to growth that should anchor the plants and prevent wind erosion in the western area, while growth in the central area has been somewhat limited although plants have tillered well.

Top soil was very dry and plants showed some off-color indicating a lack of nitrogen in the east central and southeastern areas of the state, observers said. Rain would be beneficial to the crop as dry soil will permit cold temperatures to penetrate and dry out the roots of the plants. This situation is not apparent in the west.

The observers said harvest of crops was practically completed last week.

The report said mild, open weather permitted the utilization of corn and milo fields and at the same time livestock were turned onto volunteer wheat and fall seeded rye.

Also on the "plus side" in future farm and ranch prospects is the feeling among Federal Agricultural Department spokesmen that the livestock industry is headed for happier days. The department emphasized this in a report issued yesterday.

It said in a market review that lot operators continued last week to show a good demand for young feeder animals suited for feedlot fattening for quality slaughter markets. Normally, the fall season for placement of such cattle has ended.

The review noted mild weather continued over much of the nation, making it favorable for running cattle on corn stalk fields and on wheat pasture. These two sources of feed which are usually lost because of poor weather.

"This fact, coupled with abundant stockpile of feeds and a generally optimistic attitude in regard to price levels for slaughter cattle in the months ahead, were among factors which influenced a good demand (for feeder animals) and prices continued to strengthen," the review said.

In the case of hogs, prices at most livestock markets were the highest in 11 years and in some were the highest for December since 1947. Slaughter supplies have been smaller this year and last week totaled 295,000 head compared with 391,000 in the like week last year.

In another report, the department said range feed conditions for cattle and sheep in the western states on Dec. 1 were at 81 per cent of normal, compared with 74 per cent a year earlier.

At the Sidney Livestock Pavilion in recent weeks, hogs have topped out at $27 and cattle have continued to hold strong, with heavy demand.

Farm observers in this region say the growing number of animals on the range and on feed in the Panhandle is contributing to a diversity in crop production (particularly in feed grains) and this is considered a healthy thing for the area economy.

Bank deposits throughout the Panhandle continue to remain steady.

40 YEARS AGO

'Clark to probe insurance prices'

Dec. 10, 1975

The Legislature's appropriations committee Tuesday assigned Sidney Sen. Robert Clark to look into a 64 per cent increase in state employee health insurance costs.

The rates, under a bid accepted by Gov. J.J. Exon, are to increase from $11.45 per employee per month to $18.69. Fiscal analysts estimated the cost to the state to be $2 million per year if the employees are not asked to pay for the increase.

Also, the committee was critical of Exon's decision to pay for insurance coverage for the entire family in addition to the individual employee.

According to fiscal analysts, both individuals and families would have a chance to add to the state-provided insurance by selecting a "high option." The high option for the family plan would be $72.11 per month.

"That's monthly?" exclaimed Sen. Leslie Stull of Alliance.

Clark said the specifications could have been written so that only Blue Cross-Blue Shield said, "I've got a captive outfit here, I'm going to take the whole ball of wax," Clark said.

"I don't understand why someone else didn't bid," he added.

Dirk Burbach, a fiscal analyst, said the decision to pay for family plans would be unfair to single plans.

However, the current insurance policy expires at year's end and committee members said it would be hard to get new bids in time.

25 YEARS AGO

'First wave of hostages head home'

Dec., 10, 1990

The first wave of American hostages freed under Saddam Hussein's blanket release headed home today. But even as it relented and released foreign captives, Iraq declared it would not compromise "one iota" over Kuwait.

U.S. consular officials in Germany said 152 Americans and four Canadians left Frankfurt on a Pan Am flight headed for Andrews Air Force Base near Washington. Provisions aboard included hamburgers and champagne.

While expressing relief at the freeing of the hostages, the Bush administration wants nothing less than Iraq's total withdrawal from Kuwait.

But the Baghdad government's information minister, Latif Jassim, said today any talk of an Iraqi withdrawal from the emirate was "nothing but dreams and wishful thinking."

"Kuwait is for Iraqi, whether in the past, present or future," Jassim said in a statement carried by the official Iraqi News Agency.

"We will not compromise one iota on Kuwait territory, its waters, or the money and investment of the buried Al-Sabah dynasty," he said, referring to Kuwait's deposed ruling family.

The Bush administration is urging a meeting between President Saddam and James A. Baker III by Jan. 3 so Iraq would have time to pull out by Jan. 15, the deadline set in the U.N. resolution authorizing force to drive Iraq from Kuwait.

In the hostage exodus, about 277 Britons gathered at a downtown Baghdad hotel today to prepare to fly to London. Four Americans and an unspecified number of other Westerners also were given seats on the British-chartered plane, which can carry 350 passengers, British consular officials said.

The Americans who left Frankfurt today were among about 175 former captives who had arrived a day earlier from Baghdad aboard a U.S.-chartered Iraqi Airways jet. Some spoke of hiding barefoot in Kuwait City apartments.

10 YEARS AGO

'Sidney man hits lottery for $10k'

Dec. 14, 2005

A stop at Pro-Mart, 440 Illinois Street, proved to be beneficial to a Sidney man after he found out Monday night he had won $10,000 from the Nebraska Lottery's Powerball game.

This was the first big winning ticket for Eldon Wilson, who had won smaller lottery prizes before. It will make the holiday season a little more merry for he and his wife Pat.

"We'll probably pay some bills, buy some Christmas presents and put the rest in the bank" Wilson said.

The prize was easy on Wilson's gas mileage as well. Prizes from $501 to $19,999 can be picked up at local claim centers, but prizes of $20,000 or more have to be picked up at the lottery headquarters in Lincoln. The nearest claim center is in Scottsbluff.

He was one of 8,111 winners from Monday night's drawing that featured a top prize of $100 million for the person to match all six numbers. The top winners were Wilson and another lottery winner paid out from an Auburn location. They both won $10,000.

Over 4,000 people cashed in on $3 winning tickets. A total of $57,575 was awarded from the Monday drawing.

The last area big winner took home the top $20,000 prize from the 2by2 lottery game in May. The ticket was sold at Gas and Stop on 10th Avenue in Sidney.

Pro-Mart was also a winner. The retailer is rewarded with one percent of the amount of the winning ticket from the state lottery commission, which was $100.

Beneficiaries from Nebraska Lottery include the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, education as determined by the Legislature (Education Innovation Fund and The Nebraska Scholarship Fund), Nebraska State Fair and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund.

Wednesday's Nebraska Lottery Powerball jackpot was estimated at $112 million Tuesday night.