Cheyenne County, A Look Back

10 Years Ago, The Sidney Sun-Telegraph, 2015

Wendell Gaston was honored at the 2014 Year End Convention hosted by the Nebraska Jaycee Foundation in Lincoln. He is the 39th former Jaycee member inducted into the Nebraska Jaycees Hall of Fame.

A packed crowd was on hand for Sidney High’s wresting match against Sedgwick County (Colo.) on Thursday night at Cabela’s Athletic Facility. The Red Raiders’ Zach Borges won the final match of the night to help lift his team to a narrow 34-31 victory to remain undefeated.

20 Years Ago, The Sidney Sun-Telegraph, 2005

Deputy Cheyenne County Attorney Greg Lauby was arrested Monday night in connection with a felony sexual assault investigation being conducted by the Sidney Police Department. Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub said he filed an application to have a special prosecutor appointed. That application was granted Tuesday afternoon when the Cheyenne County District Court Judge appointed John R. Freudenberg of Rushville. According to Schaub, there are no charges filed at this time and it will be up to Freudenberg to review the investigative reports and determine what, if any charges will be filed. Per Schaub, “At this time Lauby is suspended without pay.”

Nebraskans were saddened to learn that native son Johnny Carson, the quick-witted “Tonight Show” host who became a national institution, putting his viewers to bed for 30 years with a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter and heartland charm, died Sunday, at the age of 79.

30 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1995

The reward being offered by The Telegraph has been increased to $150 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons stealing copies of the paper from news racks. The rack at Safeway has become the popular target in the last week. Earlier, papers were removed and strewn around the area. Late last week, most copies were taken without being paid for.

It may have only been mid-January, but a capacity Junior High gym crown got an early taste of “March Madness” at the Minuteman Activities Conference basketball tournament Saturday night, as the Lodgepole High girls’ and boys’ teams each pulled out exciting come-from-behind victories, over Chappell and Potter-Dix, respectively.

40 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1985

A 42-unit luxury apartment complex for senior citizens will be built in Sidney at 13th and King, occupying the site of the old St. Patrick’s Academy. Mrs. Hazel Brewer of Santa Barbara, Calif., developer of Jay Manor, said papers have been signed purchasing the land from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Once bids have been let, in the spring, and the old school razed, construction will begin. It is anticipated Jay Manor will be ready for occupancy in about one year. Mrs. Brewer, a Sidney native and graduate of St. Patrick’s Academy and daughter of Mrs. Hazel and the late W.E. Gehrig, said intention of Jay Manor is to provide a comfortable home for the elderly and to help “reinstitute the family life for the people who may not have any more families.”

50 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1975

Local authorities continued their search today for a white automobile believed used in the theft Thursday of a large quantity of Class 2 drugs from Ellison Rexall Pharmacy. Detective Lieut. Richard. Willis of the Sidney Police Department said today an all-states bulletin has been issued on the auto and at least one man believed involved in the robbery. Pharmacist Darrell Siefert said the loss could be “several hundred dollars.” At about 9:30 a.m. Thursday a lone man entered the pharmacy, pulled a gun, and asked clerk Phyllis Dodds, for “all your Class A drugs.” Mrs. Dodds gave the man the drugs in three small paper bags. Seifert said the Class A drug classification has not been used for several years. “Although he asked for Class A drugs, he was given Class 2 medications,” which include amphetamines, methamphetamines and narcotic analgesics.

60 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1965

Sheriff W. W. Schulz is asking the help of the public in locating a package containing a hand vacuum cleaner that disappeared in October after being delivered to Sergent Apartments by a mailman. The sheriff said he has talked to youngsters who admitted taking the package and hiding it under some lumber at 11th and Osage. It has disappeared from that location, however.

The 24-year old annex to the old Farmers Elevator in Gurley is being torn down, a victim of the removal of stored CCC grain. The ripping away of the annex began two weeks ago under the supervision of Fred Kriesel, Gurley and was to be completed by mid-week. The structure, as high as the elevator, was torn apart systematically so that the lumber can be used to construct a storage building at the other side of the old elevator.

70 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1955

West Virginia law enforcement agents last week learned something Cheyenne County officials have known for a long time. And that is – Deputy Sheriff Bart Taylor is a first class fingerprint man. When Curtis Schoolcraft, 16, was arrested on an auto theft count recently, Taylor took the youth’s fingerprints. Later an escape circular came to Taylor from the West Virginia Medium Security Prison saying Schoolcraft had fled that institution. The circular also had the prison’s classification of Schoolcraft’s fingerprints. Upon checking Taylor discovered his interpretation of the prints did not match the West Virginia report, indicating one of two things; either somebody made a mistake in classifying the prints, or somebody had the wrong man in custody. Last week Prison Warden Ira Briers responded to Taylor’s question about the prints. “Please be advised our escape circular fingerprint classification was incorrect, and yours was correct,” the warden wrote.

80 Years Ago, The Telegraph, 1945

Sidney’s many advertising signs, store window lights and other ornamental illumination will become a casualty of the war on February 1, is the opinion of Vern Livingston, manager of the Sidney Public Utilities. According to the procedure as is carried out, Livingston said that it was his understanding that it would be his duty to acquaint each business house with the rulings of the War Production board, and request that compliance be made. He stated, however, that he had not yet received any definite instructions on the matter. That Sidney will come under the ruling is certain, the manager said, as both diesel fuel and coal are used in the local plant, and both come under the restriction orders.

90 Years Ago, The Telegraph-News, 1935

Nebraska farmers in need of small grain seed for spring planting are being urged by P. H. Stewart, extension agronomist, and a member of the federal seed stocks committee to turn in their applications for seed held by the federal organization. A total of 350,000 bushels of oats has been allocated to Nebraska but it is not known whether this amount will be sufficient.

Winter’s first icy attack of western Nebraska sent the mercury skidding downward to a minimum of 23 degrees below zero early Monday morning for the coldest weather experienced here in five years. Sidney was the coldest location in the state both Sunday and Monday morning, a questionable distinction which virtually paralyzed business and all other forms of activity.

100 Years Ago, The Telegraph, 1925

Jack W. Kay, who has been conducting the battery station on the Lincoln highway for some time, walked out of town Monday carrying a grip. He left the battery station without an attendant, and it was discovered a short time later that he had disposed of some twelve batteries which he carried in stock, and on which the Liberty State Bank held a chattel mortgage. A complaint was filed and a warrant issued but Kay could not be found and was not located until he showed up in Cheyenne Tuesday, where he became involved in difficulty over a “no fund” check. As soon as Sheriff J. W. McDanial got trace of Kay he took vigorous steps to affect his return to this county. He succeeded in securing his man and returning him here Thursday.

The Farmers Union local, No. 445, gave a rabbit hunt last Monday which was very successful. Fourteen members went out and killed about one hundred rabbits. All report a very good time.

110 Years Ago, The Telegraph, 1915

Notice to Telephone Users: Starting February 1st all telephone subscribers will be put on a mailing list. Each will receive through the mails an unsigned receipt which he will present at the central office to have signed as he pays his bill. This will expediate the matter of settling with subscribers.

The Fishman stock of goods was sold at auction Wednesday to the highest bidder. Frank Tafeita of eastern Nebraska was the purchaser paying the price of $3,040 for the entire stock. A distress warrant for unpaid personal taxes had been issued against the stock which amounted to $490 and was deducted from the amount realized from the sale. That left $2,550 to be divided among the creditors which would give them less than ten cents on the dollar.

120 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1905

Dr. Towne of the State Board of Health gave some simple instructions for those nursing patients suffering from smallpox, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, and other diseases, to the members of the village board on Thursday afternoon. The scope of the doctor’s remarks was on the necessity of sprinkling with an antiseptic solution the floor of the room before sweeping, using a damp cloth for dusting, sprinkling sheets used on the bed before boiling and washing, to avoid raising dust about the sick room, and such dust contains the germ of the disease which are transmitted to others in the room by that means. Especially so with scarlet fever, as soon as the patience commences to scale off, frequent baths should be given in solution of bi-chloride. The room, bedding and clothes of the patient should also be thoroughly fumigated with formaldyhyde gas or if preferred sulphur fumes may be used.

130 Years Ago, The Sidney Telegraph, 1895

Chas. Callahan purchased the Sidney Telegraph the first of the year. He had moved a new newspaper outfit to Sidney for the purpose of establishing the Cheyenne County Times, but the new paper will not appear. Mr. Callahan, having been owner of The Telegraph once before is no stranger to the people of Cheyenne and our surrounding counties. He is a good all-around newspaper man and no doubt The Telegraph which has got to be a pretty good paper under the ownership of Jas McMullen, will continue to improve with Mr. Callahan at the helm. – Potter Review

140 Years Ago, Plaindealer Telegraph, 1885

We are informed that the part of the commissioners’ proceedings relating to the letting of a contract for medicine and medical attendance was an error, but that it is not let or accepted yet, as stated, and probably will not be as the law provides that the county physician shall not receive to exceed $200 in any one year.

Crane and Barlow went to Sidney to help drive a few nails in the new skating rink and get acquainted with the young ladies. We hear they succeeded in both objects.