130 Years Ago
Oct. 14, 1892
E. M. Todd, of that popular firm of druggists, Todd & Lewis, left last Saturday for Chicago and will purchase a large stock of toys and other Christmas goods. He expects to be absent about three weeks and visit St. Louis and other cities before returning.
125 Years Ago
Oct. 8, 1897
Edgar, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Wait met with a misfortune yesterday morning that will cause him a great deal of suffering, and possibly cost him his life. He secured matches in some manner and started a bonfire in the coal shed. The flames caught his dress and by the time his mother reached him his clothes were destroyed and he had received terrible burns upon the chest, side and one side of his face. Mrs. Wait also had her hands and wrists burned very severely in extinguishing the flames, and it will be a long time before they are entirely healed. The little fellow is about five years of age, and the same that was so badly kicked by a horse about a year ago. Mr. and Mrs Wait have our deepest sympathy for the many afflictions that are being visited upon them at their home and in a business sense. Dr. L. W. Bowman and Dr. W. S. Bellwood were both summoned, but are unable at this time to say as to the exact extent of the boy’s injuries.
120 Years Ago
Oct. 10, 1902
Two men having a young girl in charge have been outraging decency by giving exhibitions wherein the girl bit the heads off of live snakes and ate the raw flesh. The sight was so shocking and disgusting that Judge Wilcox, acting in the interests of humanity, filed a complaint against them, and one of the men was taken into custody by the sheriff, but the other man and the girl are in hiding or have left town. This is a case where tar and feathers might be consistently used.
115 Years Ago
Oct. 8, 1907
A man and woman gave some open-air exhibitions on the street Saturday afternoon and evening that drew large crowds. The lady was a fine contortionist and did some good trapeze acts and the man furnished the music for the show, at which he was quite proficient on the slide trombone.
110 Years Ago
Oct. 11, 1912
Mrs. Maude Germain, who was arrested in Alliance several weeks ago and taken to Lincoln to answer to a charge of adultery, was tried there this week and sentenced to twelve days in jail. The Lincoln State Journal has the following regarding the matter: Mrs. Maude Germain was arraigned before Judge Cornish in the criminal division of the district court yesterday afternoon, pleaded guilty to the charge of adultery and was sentenced to twelve days in the county jail. The offense to which Mrs. Germain pleaded guilty was committed at Havelock, the other party Tom O’Donnell. When O’Donnell learned that he was to appear and testify he hastily left the court room and later blew his brains out in a Havelock saloon. The statutory penalty for adultery is from one day to six months in the county jail.
105 Years Ago
Oct. 12, 1917
“The Dandy Sixth” march, composed by Paul Thomas, of this city and dedicated to the Sixth regiment of Nebraska, has obtained the sobriquet of the “Nebraska Funeral March” among the boys at Deming, because it was given its first presentation on the day that the Sixth was disbanded. Although the name was ill chosen in view of the disbandment of the regiment, it is destined to become one of the official military marches of the Nebraska troops and the local composer will come in for considerable credit in view of his ability as a composer.
100 Years Ago
Oct. 10, 1922
Bent with the weight of her 64 years and a load of sorrow now happily lifted, Mrs. Margaret M. Anderson, a former resident of Alliance, who walked 1,000 miles to Washington to see President Harding and secure a pardon for her soldier son in federal prison. Her son, Joe, got into some trouble with an officer and was sentenced to federal prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Not having the money to pay her railroad fare to Washington, she started out to walk from Sioux Falls to see President Harding and try to persuade him to intercede in her son’s behalf and grant him a pardon. She had a two hour interview with President Harding and returned home to await news of her son’s release. Her son is now making his home with her at Sioux Falls. She lost another son, Don, in the war. He was a lieutenant and was killed in action in France.
95 Years Ago
Oct. 11, 1927
When George Squires, a big burly laborer, was arraigned before County Judge Ira E. Tash yesterday morning on a charge of assault, he admitted that he was guilty of hitting F. B. Rickard in the eye at the Maryland cafe at 10 o’clock Sunday night. Rickard said that he hardly knew Squires and that the latter walked up to him and administered a good healthy sock that landed flush on his right eye. Squires said that he made a mistake and hit the wrong man. He was fined $50 and costs. It is alleged that Rickard was sitting at a counter with some companions and calmly eating when the defendant stepped up and let go with the haymaker blow.
90 Years Ago
Oct. 14, 1932
Earl Gregg of Marsland was arrested on Monday by Sheriff George P. Jones on a charge of stealing six hogs from Mat Shimek, who lives in the western part of Box Butte county. When arraigned before County Judge Tash he pleaded not guilty and his bond was fixed at $300, which was provided by his mother.
85 Years Ago
Oct. 12, 1937
Rick Ricketson, district manager for Fox theatres with headquarters in Denver, spent Sunday in Alliance inspecting the new theatre and consulting with J. E. Hughes, local manager. Mr. Ricketson was well pleased with the progress made on the new theatre and expressed the belief that it will be reopened by December 1.
80 Years Ago
Oct. 13, 1942
Ghost Dog, an amateur golden-gloves fighter, started a fight at the Koester Bros. Farm Sunday, and, instead of the applause that usually follows his efforts, he drew a highway patrolman and a night in jail. This is the third or fourth time that Ghost Dog has been on the blotter this summer. Highway Patrolman Jack Knudtson answered a call from the Koester place and Ghost Dog was hustled to jail.
75 Years Ago
Oct. 14, 1947
Phyllis Smythe, senior at St. Agnes Academy, will present a half hour program of classical piano music over station KOLT, Scottsbluff. A talented musician, she is planning to continue her studies in music at St. Mary’s in Kansas after her graduation. The program she will give includes the following: “Grand Polka de Concert,” Bartlett; “Humoresque,” Rachmaninoff; “Whispering Winds,” Wollenhaupt; “Roundo Capriccioso,” Mendelssohn; and “Valse Parisienne,” Roberts. The program will be dedicated to Miss Smythe’s aunt, Nora Lauder of Alliance.
70 Years Ago
Oct. 11, 1952
Buyers from five mid-western states shipped out 57 railroad cars of cattle at the conclusion of the annual Peterson cattle sale. It was the 12th annual sale of cattle by Mary E., Maurice and Clarence Peterson. The cattle were shipped to Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Nebraska. Buyers and persons helping with the sale were guests of the Petersons at a dinner at the Alliance Hotel.
65 Years Ago
Oct. 11, 1957
The School Board approved hiring Thomas W. Nay as guidance director for the High School. He succeeds Richard Kemp in this position. Nay, an Omaha native, got his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska and his master’s from the University of Iowa.
60 Years Ago
Oct. 10, 1962
A County Court jury found Albert Wait guilty of making a menacing threat on his farm tenant, Art Baier, and County Judge Samuel O’Brien fined Wait $300 and costs. Baier, who signed the complaint, charged that Wait pointed a .22 calibre rifle at him. Baier and his part-time employee, Vernon Johnson, testified for the State in the case.
55 Years Ago
Oct. 13, 1967
Work of clearing buildings from a quarter block at Fourth and Niobrara in Alliance is advancing rapidly. A decision was made by the City Council to keep parking meters on the lot at the same rate, 5 cents per hour, as those on City Streets. There will be 60 meters on the lot, which will be paved with concrete. Cost of the purchase of the ground and developing the lot, estimated at $42,000, is to be amortized by City parking meter revenue. The purchase cost of the lot, $32,000, is held in the form of City-registered four percent warrants with no date of maturity, by a number of downtown businessmen.
50 Years Ago
Oct. 13, 1972
Young men from the area have entered branches of the armed forces, according to a report today from the Selective Service office here. David O. Best, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Best of Alliance, enlisted in the Navy. Kenneth W. Miller, son of Wilford Miller, Alliance, enlisted in the Marine delay program. Samuel K. Cullan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cullan, Hemingford, is now enrolled in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y.
45 Years Ago
Oct. 12, 1977
Awards given at the recent graduation exercises of the Alliance School of Practical Nursing have been announced as follows: Best all-around nurse, Ellen Adamson of Hemingford. Best geriatric nurse, Scott Finch of Alliance. High Scholastic award Mary Stavropoulos of Alliance. Special scholastic recognition, Dorothy Moss of Alliance.
40 Years Ago
Oct. 12, 1982
Marvin Pebley, a member of the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department, will be installed as president of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firemen Association at Kearney. Others attending the meetings from Alliance will include Fire Chief Roger McGrath, Bud Taylor, Bus Overstreet, Roger Rohrbouck, Wes Burton, Brad Moomey, Wayne Zobel, Greg Burri and Brad Schrum. The Alliance Fire Department’s 1944 LaFrance fire engine will be in the annual parade during the convention.
35 Years Ago
Oct. 12, 1987
Former Alliancite Jim Podhaisky, son of Tom and Roxie Podhaisky, will be appearing on a nationally televised game show on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct.13 and 14. The show, “Scrabble,” can be seen on NBC, Channel 12 on the cable system, at 11:30 a.m. local time.
30 Years Ago
Oct. 13, 1992
Steve Forney, son of Dr. Bruce Forney, is a fourth year medical student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. His medical education requires that he spend two months learning family practice in a rural setting. Since he grew up in Alliance where his father is a doctor, he decided to spend his two months at the Alliance Medical Center.
25 Years Ago
Oct. 13, 1997
“I think we should go to the hospital,” Janet Anderson said to her husband Wylie after she was stung by a wasp. They had hardly gone a mile when spots began to appear on Janet’s face. It had been less than 15 minutes from the initial sting and Janet knew she wasn’t doing well. She recalls telling her husband “you better speed.” As Wylie sped down Highway 385 toward Alliance with car lights flashing, he encountered a patrol car and another patrol car pulled off on the shoulder. Wylie pulled up behind the parked cruiser as the other patrolman turned around. As Wylie explained the situation to State Trooper Ed Peterson. Janet sat in the van semi-conscious and barely breathing. Due to the seriousness of the situation, Trooper Peterson and State Trooper Tim Wangler determined that waiting for an ambulance was not in Janet’s best interest and decided to transport her to Box Butte General Hospital. Trooper Peterson radioed ahead to alert medical personnel and to clear traffic. Emergency room staff was notified by the Alliance Police Department and contacted Larry Isom, PA. Janet’s care provider. A team of four nurses began making preparations to treat Janet for anaphylactic shock. Janet responded within minutes to the medication that was administered intravenously. She was taken to ICU where her condition was monitored until she was release eight hours later. For their involvement in saving Janet’s life, Troopers Wangler and Peterson each received the Nebraska State Patrol Lifesaver Award.
20 Years Ago
Oct. 15, 2002
Any person born after Jan. 1, 1971, who applies for a hunting license in the state of Nebraska, must participate and pass a Hunter Safety course. This past weekend, Garry Bauer and Ken Hennings taught and graduated the latest Hunter Safety class in Alliance. The courses are free to the public, and the instructors are volunteers.
15 Years Ago
Oct. 12, 2007
After many years as serving chief of the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department, Dave McCarty officially retired from the position. In his place AVFD Brad Schrum was appointed interim chief. However he could later take the position left by McCarty. Schrum said that the department has been advertising for the position, but didn’t know how many applications had come in. He noted that he knows of at least one application – his own. He said it has been a “life-long ambition” to become a fire chief. He has spent 29 years with the AVFD.
10 Years Ago
Oct. 12, 2012
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has awarded $23 million to Box Butte General Hospital under the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program. Leveraged funds of $8 million from Box Butte County and more than $3.3 million from the hospital will also be utilized. The funding will construct a 79,000 square foot two story to the west side of the current hospital.
5 Years Ago
Oct. 14, 2017
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society announced Tuesday Oct. 10, that the Alliance area Good Samaritan skilled nursing facility would be closing its doors on Dec. 31. The news quickly spread throughout the community as the nursing home facility has been a prominent business in the community since it was built in 1965.