Good Old Days 03-11-16

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

'Lots of Dirt, But Loss

Is Light From Winds'

March 7, 1966

A three-day battering by tornadic winds, blowing snow and dust finally came to an end at about 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon, leaving a thick dust cover indoors and out.

Unlike the northern Panhandle and South Dakota, the gale winds did not bring an excessive amount of snow to paralyze the activity. A lot of dust moved, however; there was heavy damage to buildings, particularly in rural areas, and glass panes in doors took quite a battering.

People had to watch their hats and their step whenever they ventured out of doors into the big blow. Cars had a rough time keeping on the highways, ground blizzards cut visibility to a few feet a times in open areas and the temperatures fell to bitterly cold depths.

According to the Federal Aviation Agency, flight service station the storm started at about midnight Wednesday. Light feathery snow swirled through the air, zeroing out visibility and then swinging on. Winds were steady at about 30 miles an an hour on Thursday, gusting to 60. And there were a lot of gusts!

Forecasts of the wind diminishing that evening proved premature as the gale whistled merrily all night long. On Friday the velocity averaged 37 miles an hour, reaching peaks of 60.

On Saturday, after an all night barrage by winds that hit 45 miles an hour at midnight, the winds lessened somewhat but were still going steady at about 28 miles an hour and gusting to over 40. At 4 p.m. a definite drop in velocity was noted and the wind dwindles to a calm 11 miles an hour. Temperature ranges during the storm were 7-25 degrees on Friday, and 12 to 34 on Saturday.

Sunday was a beautiful day with the sun shining, the wind down and the temperature up to a high of 47. Everyone was cleaning like and mad and mud-streaked cars were getting baths.

This (Monday) morning dawned bright and calm, with a low temperature reading 21 recorded by the FAA and a high at 10 a.m. of 37 degrees.

40 Years Ago

'Gurley Boy Killed

Early This Morning'

March 8, 1976

A 13-year-old Gurley youth, Clifford Wayne Houk III, was killed early today after the car he was riding in was struck by a Burlington Northern freight at the main crossing in Gurley.

The driver of the auto, Richard Spearow, 15, also of Gurley, was taken to Memorial Hospital.

Investigators said Spearow suffered fractured ribs and possible lung damage. He was listed in critical condition at Memorial Hospital after surgery this morning.

Investigating trooper Scott Kendall of Kimball said the two youths were on their way to school activity when they were struck by a northbound train. The engineer was Jacob Sewald, 53, of Sterling, Colo. The auto, a 1960 Chrysler, was totaled.

Both youths were rushed to Memorial Hospital, where Houk later died.

School officials said this morning that the youths were scheduled to meet at school to take them on a Spanish club field trip to Denver at 5:30.

Spearow is a student manager for the Gurley High School basketball team which is scheduled to play in the Class D tournament at Lincoln this week.

The crossing where the accidents occurred has warning signs, but no drop arms or flashing lights.

Funeral services for Houk are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Salem Lutheran Church in Gurley with the Rev. C.R. Moermond officiating. Burial will be in Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery at Bridgeport.

He is survived by his parents, Clifford and Marilyn Wylie Houk; one brother, Jason of Gurley; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Houk of Ontario, Ore., and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wylie of Bridgeport.

A memorial has been established to the Gurley Rescue Unit.

Houk's death was the fourth of the year involving a motor vehicle and a train, the Associated Press report.

25 Years Ago

'SHS Student

Council Posts

Ribbons For Troops'

March 5, 1991

It seemed to some passerby along Sidney's main street – Illinois – Monday a bit late in the Gulf conflict to be tying more yellow ribbons on light poles and trees. But Sidney High School Student Council President Katie Dorwart explained that the new yellow ribbons are not only to show students' support for our troops but also to welcome them home – before long, hopefully.

At any rate, the 200 yards of ribbon took several weeks to arrive and had been ordered well before the cease fire over there. By starting time, 4 p.m., more than a dozen members of the SHS student volunteers had arrived with scissors and, equally important, step lathers. The students policed the ribbons just as high as they could reach while standing on the ladders.

The council had obtained the permission of the city before going ahead with the project. One of the volunteers who helped steady the ladders for others tying the ribbons was German exchange student Anja Roese, who said she had never heard about the custom of displaying yellow ribbons to show support for troops in times of war.

"I can just imagine the looks on the faces of Germans if war broke out and I yelled, 'Quick, get your yellow ribbons,' she said. But she said it appeared to be a very meaningful thing to do her in the U.S. She asked a fellow student about the origin and was sung a few bars of the song about the inmate returning from prison who saw a hundred yellow ribbons tied around an old oak tree, signaling his welcome home.

10 Years Ago

'Look, Listen, and

Live in the Face of

an Oncoming Train'

March 9, 2006

For kids, trains can be seen as exciting and spark a sense of adventure and curiosity, but they should know that trains can also prove to be very dangerous.

Safety was the key point Paula Durfee wanted to get across to the students at Lorenzo yesterday during a presentation on trains.

Several key factors were discussed, but ultimately it came down to the three L words, look, listen and live.

"It's up to you to get out of a train's way," Durfee said.

She explained that trains are incapable of swerving and it takes a moving train the length of 18 football fields to come to a complete stop.

Durfee's presentation gave several tips people can follow to ensure that they aren't ever in the position to have to jump out of a moving train's way, though.

Durfee said people should never be on a train track because not only is it considered trespassing, but you never know when a train could be coming from either direction. The only place to cross train track is at a designated railroad crossing. These can be marked with signs, gates, or a combination of both.

If you are riding a bike and you come to a railroad crossing, get off of your bike and look both ways before crossing.

While Durfee says it's okay to watch trains passing, you have to make sure to keep at a safe distance. She says sometimes cargo can become loose and injure someone standing by if they're too close.

Durfee again stressed to the kids how playing on the tracks could only lead to trouble.