Good Old Days 02-12-16

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

'Welcome Wet Snow Boosts Farm Hopes'

Feb. 9, 1966

Cheyenne County got its share of a good, wet snowfall that started Tuesday at midmorning and continued until about 9 p.m. Up to three inches of stuff lay where it fell, depositing up to a quarter inch of moisture.

The temperatures have been mild this week, hovering around the freezing mark with no wind problems.

The Federal Aviation Agency flight service station reported temperature ranges as 25-33 on Monday, 23-33 on Tuesday and 21-25 by 10 a.m. today. The snowfall measured at the airport amounted to two inches with .18 of an inch moisture counted.

Dave Ells, government observer, reported two and a half inches of snow with a moisture content of .19 of an inch.

At Potter no official measurement had been taken this morning, but Mrs. George Culter Sr. estimated a three-inch fall of wet snow.

Moisture value to farms and ranches in the region is incalculable, farm observers agreed.

Winter wheat profits from the snow cover protection, and also will be aided later on from the ample moisture supply now in and on the ground. Stubble fields caught virtually all of the snow and this should soak in thoroughly, putting this ground in excellent shape for spring field work which will be getting under way within the next month or so.

The snow was gentle, with little wind, so that it was no threat to livestock.

The Nebraska Safety Patrol reported this morning that packed snow and ice on the highways was starting to break up. Roads were extremely slick and treacherous during the day and evening Tuesday.

40 Years Ago

'Chamber Plans Retail Cooperation'

Feb. 11, 1975

Representatives of Sidney's retail merchants and Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce board members met Tuesday to formulate plans for this year's promotional activities.

Both board members and merchants are optimistic "that this year will prove to be a time of pulling together and moving Cheyenne County forward," according to the chamber.

President Rod Hinman and executive secretary Mary Meick are looking forward to working with the entire retail community, they said. Art Montgomery, chairman of the membership drive, announced that the drive is scheduled for Feb. 18, to begin with a kick-off breakfast at the Fort Sidney Motor Hotel at 7:15 a.m.

Anyone wishing to assist in the drive or have breakfast with the board of directors is welcomed to attend, Mrs. Meick said. The breakfast will be "dutch-treat - order from the menu."

The board is hoping to have a drive completed by March 1.

25 Years Ago

'SHS Cheerleader Program in Lines For Guidelines'

Feb. 12, 1991

Sidney High School's cheerleading program was a hot topic at Monday night's monthly meeting of the Sidney Schools Board of Education.

Supt. of Schools Myron "Bud" Jasnoch opened the subject by recommending to the board that a committee of parents and board members be formed to discuss reorganization of the cheerleading program. A speaker from the audience said that new rules and regulations for the program was not the issue; what was needed, she said, was a sponsor who would do all the coordinating, scheduling, parent contacting, and other responsibilities relating to the program. Such a sponsor, the speaker said, would have to attend practices and supervise try-outs and pep rallies.

A second speaker from the audience heatedly asked why cheerleaders had been to attend a game in Scottsbluff a few weeks ago unattended. Athletic Director Stan Custer replied that the circumstances had been hectic; an arrangement with adult volunteers had fallen through at the last minute, and that at the time he had been busy supervising junior high games which included an injured player. Consequently, he said, he hadn't given the matter adequate thought and had made a decision he wouldn't do again.

Board President Bill Printz appointed board members Colleen Langdon and Steve Mattoon to form a committee which would include an administrative team to meet with parents and cheerleaders to determine future activities and to establish guidelines. The committee is to complete its actions before tryouts for cheerleaders are held later this spring.

In other business, Loren Hoekema asked the board to approve the South Parents Advisory Committee Plan for relieving parking congestion at the school which he will present at the next City Council meeting. The plan includes graveling a one-way road between 12th and 13th Streets and to remove parking on the west side of 12th.

10 Years Ago

'Artist Mixes Love of Painting With Rodeo Action'

Feb. 10, 2006

Chuck Borcher loves to paint and loves the rodeo, two things he has fused together into one love.

As a painter he often chooses to paint scenes depicting a western motif of cowboys and rodeos.

His love for both painting and the rode as well as his talent as an artist has earned Borcher the distinction of being chosen as the Artist of the Month for February by the Cheyenne County Art Guild.

Borcher, a native of Cheyenne County, was born and raise in Gurley.

As a young child he always loved to draw, and later while attending school in Sidney he also developed a love for painting.

He continued his art education in high school by studying with teachers Jan Pippitt and Millie Elwell.

Art was set on the back burner for awhile as he went to school earning a degree in Agriculture Engineering Water Resources from the University of Nebraska.

Borcher developed a reinvigorated interest in his love of art when a visiting art show came to Imperial where he was working at the time.

He immediately rekindled his passion and picked up his paintbrush once again starting his career as an artist.

He first started out dong watercolors, but later switched to oils when a fellow artist told him it might be better, now he considers his favorite painting medium.

As well as being a painter Borcher is also a freelance rodeo photographer traveling to various rodeos across the country.