130 Years Ago
January 25, 1895
Mrs. Gallarneau and Mrs. Birdsall favored the school with a call Wednesday afternoon. If you are not familiar with the workings of a kindergarten school, you will be well repaid by a visit to the department. Come and bring your knitting.
125 Years Ago
January 26, 1900
“Buffalo Bill” passed through Alliance a few days ago, en route to his ranch in Wyoming.
120 Years Ago
January 24, 1905
Reports come from Billings to the effect that that city has an epidemic of small pox, with something like a hundred or more cases. There is doubtless much exaggeration about this and no cause for alarm here.
115 Years Ago
January 28, 1910
Alliance has been escaping the epidemics this winter to which number of the surrounding towns have been subjected, although a few cases of measles have developed here recently. Som of the nearby towns are quarantined.
110 Years Ago
January 22, 1915
County Attorney Basye has received numerous requests for the information concerning the responsibility of allowing stallions and other animals to run at large. The law clearly states that such animals may be taken up by the owner of the land on which they are found and advertised for sale under the proper legal procedure.
105 Years Ago
January 23, 1920
H. G. Tuttle, of Hemingford, has reported to Box Butte county authorities the loss of two valuable horses Tuesday night. The were found the next morning with their throats slit, and Mr. Tuttle is of the opinion that the guilty person or persons may be caught with the proper effort.
100 Years Ago
January 27, 1925
On information furnished Sheriff George P. Jones warrants were issued last night for Albert Stickrod, city police officer, Ed. Lewis, a cook, and Marvin Gebhardt, former member of the police force, charging them with being implicated in the robbery of the Fashion Shop on the night of January 15 when the store was entered shortly before midnight and good valued at between $7,000 and $8,000 were taken.
95 Years Ago
January 28, 1930
Say what you please, it’s going to be a sad mistake to dispose of the fair grounds without some definite plan to take its place. If fairgrounds were essential 20 years ago, how much more essential are they now? Is Alliance going to sit idly by and have nothing in the way of an outdoor attraction the whole year through?
90 Years Ago
January 25, 1935
Anonymous letters to officers about crimes are becoming the vogue in Alliance and Chief of Police George Barnum now has exhibit No. 2, written by a mysterious “C. H. R.,” who not only gives information, but asks help and protection from the law. The letter is not taken seriously by Barnum. While he is taking what steps of investigation he can, little is expected to result.
85 Years Ago
January 26, 1940
“Queen of the Sandhills” was the title suggested for Mrs. Essie Davis of Hyannis at the Alliance Production Credit association annual meeting in Alliance Wednesday. The suggestion was made by Charles Lewis, secretary-treasurer of the Valentine association. He paid tribute to Mrs. Davis’ accomplishments, pointing out that she is the only woman president of a production credit association in the nation, and the third woman in the nation to be named a Master Farmer.
80 Years Ago
January 26, 1945
Sheriff Dan Hoppes is looking for a man using the name of John Rowen who forged a check in Alliance Wednesday night. He said that the man forged the signature of B. P. Hawley of Alliance on the check.
75 Years Ago
January 24, 1950
Alliance high school students Friday held their primary election to name candidates for Boys’ and Girls’ County. Hemingford High school students will vote in the final election Wednesday to choose a slate of county officers. St. Agnes Academy students have already voted on their candidates.
70 Years Ago
January 27, 1955
Shooting a pheasant out of season proved expensive for Donald D Herrmann of Alliance. County Judge P. E. Romig fined him a total of $85 plus $4 costs, on charges brought by the State Game Commission. In addition, Herrmann’s rifle was ordered confiscated.
65 Years Ago
January 30, 1960
L. T. (Les) Chamberlin, who resigned this week as superintendent of the Hay Springs schools, appears to be in line for the principalship at the Alliance Senior High School.
60 Years Ago
January 27, 1965
Thirty-six Alliance High students have been named to the first semester honor roll and 39 students earned recognition for the third six-weeks period. The lists were announced today by Principal Les Chamberlin. Students to be eligible must have at least three “A’s” and no grade below a “B”.
55 Years Ago
January 29, 1970
Judicial statistics for Box Butte County District Court released by Court Clerk Susan Hippe reveal that there was an increase of 14 cases filed in 1969 over 1968. In 1969 there was a total of 132 cases filed compared to 118 filed in 1968.
50 Years Ago
January 27, 1975
Union officials ordered an end today to a brief strike by railway workers which hit rail lines from the Midwest to the South. “The railroads invoked mediation through the courts,” said William Crawford, a spokesman for the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen in Kansas City. “We were forced to end the strike,” he added.
45 Years Ago
January 31, 1980
Alliance Police Sgt. Bernie Suprano and School Resource Officer Jerry Stricker were promoted to Assistant Chief and Lieutenant, respectively, according to Alliance Police Chief Walter R. Burroughs. The promotions are effective Feb. 1.
40 Years Ago
January 24, 1985
Three air carriers have shown interest in providing essential air service to the Panhandle and Southern routes in Nebraska, according to John Auer, Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics (NDA). The routes involved include Hastings, Kearney, McCook (southern route), Alliance, Chadron and Sidney (Panhandle route).
35 Years Ago
January 26, 1990
Welcome to the 90s! We always hear about the “woman in a man’s world.” How about the man in a woman’s world? Mike Cox has gone against the odds. Mike was just another shy “face in the hall” when he walked into the 1989 cheerleading tryouts at Alliance High School trying to get a girl to notice him; the ironic thing is that the girl he wanted to impress wasn’t chosen. He said he was glad he made the cheerleading squad even though his original plan failed.
30 Years Ago
January 26, 1995
The first rehearsal for the Box Butte Ministerial Association-sponsored Easter Cantata will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at the United Methodist Church. All interested persons are invited to attend and participate.
25 Years Ago
January 26, 2000
Alliance’s Carnegie Arts Center has been selected to receive the 2000 Governor’s Arts Award, to be presented in Lincoln on Tuesday, Feb. 1, by Gov. Mike and First Lady Stephanie Johanns and members of the Nebraska Arts Council.
20 Years Ago
January 26, 2005
Man Sentenced on 4th DWI: District Judge Brian Silverman sentenced one man yesterday in the 12th Judicial District Court of Box Butte County. Chris Maxey was sentenced to three years intensive supervision probation (ISP) on one count of driving while intoxicated (fourth offense), a Class IV felony.
15 Years Ago
January 26, 2010
Monday in Box Butte District Court, a suspect charged with six sexually-based offenses pleaded no contest to two of them. Donnie L. Benzel, 54, Alliance, entered his plea on two counts of sexually explicit conduct, visual depict, a Class IV felony.
10 Years Ago
January 29, 2015
Wednesday in Box Butte District Court, 39-year-old Alex Baca of Albuquerque, New Mexico was sentenced to 10-12 with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Service (NDCS). In November, Baca pleaded guilty to a Class III felony of felon in possession of a deadly weapon.
5 Years Ago
January 29, 2020
The Alliance City Council voted at their meeting on Jan. 21 to approve a contract with Tarrah Johnson to take the reins as the new City Clerk. The contract includes a severance package that includes payment on regular city pay days for two months “in the case of termination for reasons other than Just Cause, resignation, or change from a council-manager form of government.”
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher