Good Old Days 03-04-16

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

'Missing Girls

Found In Reno'

March 2, 1966

Two girls, Georgianna Coleman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Coleman of Sidney, and Cheryl Adams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ashby Adams of Bridgeport, who have been reported as missing persons to the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office Monday, were located today in Reno, Nevada, safe and well. They had been the object of an intensive search by law enforcement officials in neighboring states, as well as local officials and the Cheyenne County sheriff's posse.

According to Deputy Sheriff Gene Morris, the girls are safe and in custody a the Reno welfare office, where both girls came to seek assistance in returning to Sidney.

The girls told officials that they were heading for San Francisco, but changed their plans and decided to return to Sidney.

The sheriff's posse organized an air and land search mission last night in a meeting at the courthouse, but ground fog hampered the operations and a search was conducted by car. Since the disappearance was so sudden, authorities were led to believe the girls might have been abducted, and were taking no chances in case they were still in the county. About 10:30 this morning a call was received at the sheriff's office from the welfare office in Reno, informing them that the girls were there and perfectly fine.

40 Years Ago

'Dils Elected to Board'

March 2, 1976

Sidney City Manager Maynard Dils was elected Tuesday to a 2-year term to the board of directors of the Nebraska Municipal Power Pool. Dils is one of the four persons representing towns of 5,000 to 19,999 population.

Dils said today the first problem facing the newly organized board will be "researching the best method of generating, or otherwise securing sufficient electrical power for member municipalities."

In other business the board approved a $103,700 budged for fiscal 1976-77 to be obtained by dues paid by member municipalities.

The power pool was created in December 1975, and consists of 24 member municipalities. The power pool is open to any municipality that owns an electrical system. There are about 100 potential members in the state, according to H. Steve Wacker, of Lincoln, general manager of the pool.

"By pooling our resources we hope to offer all the advantages that any one member has to all members," Wacker said.

He added that power pool would be a tool "to help hold the line on fast rising costs" enable members to share power resources and provide for a two-way sharing of resources with the public power districts.

Elected to represent towns with population of 20,000 or more were Bill Welton, Hastings, 1-year term; Walt Canney, Lincoln, 2-year term; R. Olson, Grand Island, 3-year term; and John Dick of Fremont, 4-year term, the Associated Press reported.

Representing town of 5,000 to 19,999 in addition to Dils, are Glenn Beachler, Fairbury, 1-year term; Dick Prohs, Gering, 3-year term; and Dale Shaffer, Falls City, 4-year term.

Elected from town less than 5,000 were George Wolverton, Broken Bow 1-year term; Vern Martens, Wahoo, 2-year term; George Beyer, Crete, 3-year term; and Bob Arraj, Kimball, 4-year term.

Welton was named president and Beachler, vice president. Secretary treasurer is Wolverton.

25 Years Ago

''It's Real Fun'

Say Students About Anti-Drug D.A.R.E Program'

March 1, 1991

D.A.R.E. to say NO to drugs!

It's a simple and straightforward concept being presented to fifth and sixth grade students in Nebraska.

Currently Trooper Tami Otto of the Nebraska State Patrol drives from Scottsbluff each Wednesday to meet with sixth graders at Sidney's Central School to discuss with them how they can combat the pressures from peers and the influences and how to seek out healthy alternatives to drugs and alcohol.

On other days of the week Trooper Otto travels to other Panhandle schools to present the D.A.R.E. program, including Oshkosh and Chappell.

D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

The program is taught by a uniformed police officer over a 17-week period. According to the philosophy of the program, the officer adds both credibility and experience to drug abuse prevention education.

In September 1989, a pilot project was initiated and 34 law enforcement officers from various city, county and state agencies were certified as D.A.R.E. instructors.

D.A.R.E. officers use role-playing and other interactive techniques to instruct students on dealing with peer pressure, improving self concept, making decisions regarding personal safety and respecting authority.

The program targets fifth and sixth graders, a spokesman said, because students of this age are aware of drug abuse through discussion with peers or through the media, but generally have not yet experimented with drugs themselves.

10 Years Ago

'Armed Standoff

in Chappell'

March 4, 2006

A shotgun blast interrupted a calm afternoon in Chappell Friday.

Deuel County Sheriff Jeff Ortgies was dispatched to a Third Street home at about 2 p.m. after someone from the home called the sheriff's department and said he was going to commit suicide, a source said. Shortly after parking his vehicle near the residence and making contact with the caller, Ortgies, known as "Taco" to his friends, was hit with a shotgun blast.

"I heard a loud bang and I look out my front window and saw both of them on the ground," said Bruce Johnson, who lives across the street from the house the caller emerged from. "And Taco's hand was all bloody, but he managed to run into the ambulance."

Ambulances were on the scene at about 2:30 p.m., according to witness reports.

Reports from the ambulance heard over the scanner revealed that the shotgun pellets apparently hit Ortgies in the hand, chin and right shoulder. The ambulance took Ortgies to Memorial Health Center in Sidney.

After the ambulance left Deuel County Deputies and the Nebraska State Patrol worked together to all close roads in a one-block radius, and Creek Valley Schools were locked down to protect the students. A SWAT team was called in from Kearney to assist with the situation.

Law enforcement officers took up strategic positions all around the house, but trees lining the outside of the building made it difficult to tell what was going on inside.

Authorities made contact with caller later in the afternoon and he made repeated assurances that he was coming out.

Ortgies' car remained in front of the house, but after the initial contact the rear driver's side window was busted out and a small puddle of blood marked the spot on the asphalt where Ortgies fell. The Nebraska State Patrol went from house to house in the one-block radius at about 5:30 p.m. to evacuate homeowners for their own safety.