130 Years Ago
November 9, 1894
Box Butte county’s vote this election shows an increase of eleven votes over last year, there being cast then 1,235. Were it not for the increase made in Alliance precinct—fifty-two votes—there would, however, have been a decrease.
125 Years Ago
November 10, 1899
The Hotel Charters has changed ownership again, Myron Tuttle having traded it to George Mandeville, of Cherry county. The hotel and furnishings were valued at $9,000 in the deal. Mr. Tuttle comes into possession of a sheep ranch, with control of about ten quarter-sections of land and a large amount of range besides.
120 Years Ago
November 4, 1904
The number of homestead entries made at the Alliance office during the month just closed was 333, showing a slight decrease from the previous month, that for September being 392.
115 Years Ago
November 5, 1909
Those who witnessed the presentation of the play, “The House of a Thousand Candles,” at the opera house last Monday evening, saw one of the best stage productions ever in Alliance. It is to be regretted the attendance was not larger, the house being probably not more than one-third filled. Alliance has been getting a class of theatre attractions of late that are equal to those to be seen anywhere.
110 Years Ago
November 6, 1914
At the regular meeting of the city council Tuesday night it was voted to install electric street lights in South Alliance similar to those being used in the new lighting system throughout the city. That section of the city has been without adequate street lighting and the new system will be a much needed improvement. The material will be ordered at once and installed as soon as received.
105 Years Ago
November 7, 1919
While only fifty per cent of the voters of Box Butte county cast a ballot last Tuesday, those who did vote were unanimous in their choice and Jas. H. H. Hewett was given the largest majority ever received by a candidate in Box Butte county. Of the 765 votes cast he received all but 18 of them.
100 Years Ago
November 7, 1924
County Judge Tash Wednesday morning dismissed the complaint against Ernest Tracewell, farmer living northeast of Hemingford, who was charged by Ralph S. Pryce, received for the First National bank of Hemingford, with the sale of potatoes mortgaged to the bank. Mr. Pryce was the only witness and gave only hearsay evidence.
95 Years Ago
November 8, 1929
Considering the past records of convictions by juries at district court terms here, the winding up of the docket of criminal cases tried before District Judge Earl Meyer reveals a favorable outcome for the prosecution. Running the gauntlet of difficult objections to various evidence and facing a battery of shrewd aggressive attorneys representing the defendants in the criminal actions, County Attorney Romig won half of the liquor cases that went to trial.
90 Years Ago
November 9, 1934
The problem of caring for the poor and needy in Alliance this coming winter is a local one and willtake much thought and planning, State Director Randell Biart told the city council and manager Wednesday night in a special conference.
85 Years Ago
November 7, 1939
Bill Seebohm, proprietor of the Corner grocery at 501 Niobrara, had just closed up Friday night when he heard a rattle at the door. Going to investigate, he found—a little girl, dressed only in her night clothes, and sound asleep. Seebohm recognized her as Lois Green, six year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Green and took her in and warmed her. After warming the tot, Seebohm took her, still asleep, to her home, where he found several neighbors scouring the neighborhood for the little sleepwalker. Not until she was safely home again, did the tot awaken.
80 Years Ago
November 7, 1944
The campaign to drastically reduce the rat infestation in Alliance will be launched Wednesday morning, starting in the business district, according to announcement this morning by City Manager C. H. Hoper. H. J. Martley of the U. S. Fish and Wild Life service of Lincoln will take personal charge of the poison campaign. He will organize a crew of city employees who will be able to carry on the program at future dates, if and when this becomes necessary.
75 Years Ago
November 8, 1949
Sheriff Dan Hoppes informed County Attorney Wade Ellis by telephone Monday that he will return Wednesday with Kash Russell, escapee from the county jail. Russell, held in the county jail for the stabbing of Sam Liakos, escaped Sept. 19. He was arrested in Kenton, O., last week and held for county officials. Hoppes left for Ohio last weekend where a habeas corpus hearing was held Monday afternoon.
70 Years Ago
November 6, 1954
Tension was high at the Alliance stockyards this morning. Thirty-four top-flight 4-H and FFA teams were vying for honors in the sixth annual junior livestock judging contest, held in conjunction with the Tri-State Polled Hereford Show and Sale.
65 Years Ago
November 6, 1959
A 3-cornered game of verbal catch highlighted the regular meeting of the Alliance City Council Thursday night as that group, Harry Corbitt of the Kansas-Nebraska Natural Gas Company, and five residents of Trailerville tossed around the touchy question of whether or not the City, under the terms of a franchise, could force the gas firm to run gas into individual trailers.
60 Years Ago
November 6, 1964
Ticket sales and reservations indicated today “more than 400” will attend the Alliance Farmer-Rancher Appreciation Days banquet at the Community Building Saturday evening.
55 Years Ago
November 6, 1969
According to latest voter registration figures at the Box Butte County Clerk’s office, there are a total of 5,078 registered voters in Box Butte County. The breakdown reveals that the Republicans hold an edge in registered members with 2,975. There are 1,949 registered Democrats, 151 registered Independents and three registered American Party voters.
50 Years Ago
November 6, 1974
Democrat Clifford Bartels easily won election to the Box Butte County Board of Commissioners by placing highest in nine of the county’s 10 precincts, but Republican incumbent Commissioner J. L. Saylor was elected by a scant 145-vote margin over the third place candidate, Ralph Lockridge, in the at-large balloting. Republican Kenneth Ware was just 46 votes behind Lockridge.
45 Years Ago
November 6, 1979
School District No. 10’s board of education is preparing for a bond issue election to build a new 75X100-foot combination structure. The building which it is expected may cost from $250,000 to $300,000 would house a hot lunch area, five classrooms, restrooms, offices, a teachers’ lounge, guidance room and a custodial room.
40 Years Ago
November 6, 1984
Hemingford has some new residents living in town. The Boag family, from Peebles, Scotland, exchanged houses and teaching positions with the Planansky family in Hemingford through the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Scotland and the corresponding organization in the United States, the Fullbright Trust.
35 Years Ago
November 7, 1989
Leaders of the Strategic Targeting And Resource Training (S.T.A.R.T.) kick-off luncheon encouraged all 30 persons attending to be positive in the coming months. Dan Contonis, chairman, said, “We need to erase all past emotions and start at ground zero and turn the county/community attitude around.” The luncheon was held at Kelly’s Restaurant Monday.
30 Years Ago
November 5, 1994
Alliance City Parks Department director Jim Osche is a bird fanatic. He raises and breeds one type of bird particularly, the Birmingham roller, a species developed in England in the early 1800s.
25 Years Ago
November 6, 1999
Leah King, finance director for the City of Alliance, has announced that she received a letter from Richard A. Getterny, administrator for the Nebraska Department of Revenue’s Finance and Management Services, stating that the city must refund $336,080.64 in sales-tax revenue to a local business.
20 Years Ago
November 6, 2004
Art Thomsen’s collection of military gear and various war memorabilia is on display at the Alliance Public Library until the end of November. Thomsen was born and raised on his parents’ ranch in South Dakota between Oelrichs and Ardmore. A Cold War veteran who was based in Friedburg, Germany as an international Morse Code radio operator, Thomsen was a member of the 3rd Armored Division, attached to the 7th Army Division.
15 Years Ago
November 6, 2009
Rich Otto, on behalf of MJLC LCC, appeared before the Alliance City Council last night. He addressed the excavation expenses that have accrued at Fifth St. and Box Butte Ave., the future site of a new office building. It is also property that MJLC has purchased from the city of Alliance. Otto had previously appeared before the City Council in August to address the issue of unforeseen excavation expenses, but at the time the Council tabled the matter until all excavation expenses were known.
10 Years Ago
November 6, 2014
It seems like everywhere you look in Box Butte County, there is a new business, a new building, an expansion or a remodel. The county continues to develop and that is what Box Butte Development Corporation celebrated and recognized Wednesday night with their annual membership meeting at West Side Events Center.
5 Years Ago
November 6, 2019
A fire raged north of Lewellen on Friday, claiming between 3,000 and 4,000 acres in the process. The Alliance Volunteer Fire Department was one of the agencies that worked to battle the blaze.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by staff.