130 Years Ago
May 3, 1895
The members of the fire department are all agog these days over the prizes, which according to city ordinance, are paid the successful teams in review before the Mayor and Council on the 21st of May each year. The tests have not been decided upon, but they will doubtless consist of races and other interesting features.
125 Years Ago
May 4, 1900
A traveling photographer has erected a tent here and expects to remain about a month.
120 Years Ago
May 5, 1905
Burglars gained entrance to the Right clothing store sometime Tuesday night and appropriated a variety of furnishing goods, some valises, etc. The perpetrators are at present unknown, but Sheriff Reed has offered a reward of $25 each for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the thieves. This is the second time the store has been broken into in that manner within a few months.
115 Years Ago
May 6, 1910
Deputy Sheriff Chas. Jeffers returned to Alliance yesterday from Rushville, where he had gone to place Harry Redington, the man who was arrested last week by the Alliance officers for breaking into a car at Reno, and taking therefrom a considerable amount of money, in the hands of the Sheridan county officials.
110 Years Ago
May 4, 1915
The Wortham shows, the largest and best street carnival attraction in the United States, will likely be added to the Stockmen’s convention program for June 16, 17 and 18. If the arrangements are completed they will be in Alliance the entire week beginning June 14. It is without doubt one of the best and cleanest shows of the kind ever brought to the city.
105 Years Ago
May 4, 1920
Rymond Henderson was arrested three minutes after he arrived here by Night Chief Reid early this morning. Henderson stated that he had not even been given a chance to eat, it was all done so quickly. He was arrested as a suspect in the Scottsbluff burglary in which a tailor shop was looted. Chief Taylor says that Henderson exactly fills the bill on a description card of a criminal who escaped from the authorities in Wyoming.
100 Years Ago
May 1, 1925
Alliance, known for many years as the medical and surgical center of western Nebraska, will be able to lay still further claim to that honor by the construction of a new wing to St. Joseph hospital, which is to cost from $50,000 to $60,000. Although it was enlarged but a few years ago the hospital has witnessed such a remarkable growth that it is too small to accommodate the demand owing to the increased number of cases received.
95 Years Ago
May 2, 1930
Alliance business men and especially those interested in university football welcomed the University of Nebraska head coach, Dana X. Bible, and his party to Alliance last Wednesday noon, and a luncheon was arranged at the Alliance Hotel by the local alumni association of the university and the Chamber of Commerce.
90 Years Ago
May 3, 1935
Twelve coppers and a “chief” – unlucky 13 to you – were assigned the job of policing Alliance today as a part of the American “Youth Week” program which is being fully observed here. Following the election of the “council” in the Youth Week activities at the high school and St. Agnes academy, John Ranahan of the academy was chosen city manager for the day, and he appointed Eugene Stilley acting chief of police.
85 Years Ago
May 3, 1940
Ben H. Henderson, arrested Wednesday in the Burlington yards here by Special Agent John Hunter, was sentenced to serve five days in the county jail pending investigation. He is believed to be a deserter from a U. S. army fort in Alabama.
80 Years Ago
May 4, 1945
Total value of 10 crops grown and livestock reported in Box Butte county last year was $7,689,590, according to preliminary estimate issued by the state-federal division of agricultural statistics. Final data will be issued later. The statistics show that the value of the county’s fall and spring wheat produced was $2,232,190.
75 Years Ago
May 2, 1950
William J. Enyeart of Hemingford was found guilty of driving while intoxicated, and of reckless driving at a hearing conducted before County Judge P. E. Romig Monday morning. In an escapade April 24 Enyeart drove down the Burlington track several blocks, and forced a freight train to stop.
70 Years Ago
May 4, 1955
Alliance Heifer Is Chadron Champion: A Box Butte County FFA member exhibited the grand champion heifer in the junior division of the Chadron Black and White Show Tuesday. John Stark of Alliance captured top honor in that division with his Holstein heifer, then took fourth place in the open class for all 67 animals in the show. John also had a heifer calf entered.
65 Years Ago
May 3, 1960
South Americans Stop In Alliance On Ag Tour: Eleven members of a Chilean agriculture team spent a few hours in Alliance Monday night on their tour of several states studying agriculture in the United States. Included in the team are those specializing in the production of dairy products for consumption in the metropolitan areas. Other team members are interested in beef production.
60 Years Ago
May 4, 1965
Miss Ann Sixta, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. A. F. Sixta, is valedictorian of the 1965 graduating class of St. Agnes Academy. Timothy Kosmicki, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Kosmicki is salutatorian. Miss Sixta last year was awarded a scholarship to the National Science Foundation at Holy Name’s College in Oakland, Calif. She plans to enter the University of Nebraska, where she earned the Regents scholarship through examinations last fall.
55 Years Ago
May 5, 1970
Sister Agnes, principal of St. Agnes Academy, explained a new general math course which will be offered to some of the sophomore students next year at the regular meeting of the St. Agnes Board of Education Monday evening. This course will be offered this coming year for the first time and was approved by the board.
50 Years Ago
May 3, 1975
A report was released Friday that the Alliance board of education has acted to offer Supt. Martin Petersen a three-year contract at a 7.8 percent increase in salary. His present salary is $23,653, and the increase would raise it to $25,500. In another report in the City Schools offices Friday, it was disclosed that four members of the Ainsworth board of education visited Alliance recently in connection with community education.
45 Years Ago
May 6, 1980
Sixteen 8th graders, half from the Middle School and half from St. Agnes Academy, will participate in a full schedule of activities on annual “City Government Day” Thursday. Sponsors are Elks Lodge 961 and the City. Boys and girls taking part are to be selected by their teachers.
40 Years Ago
May 8, 1985
The recent 95 cent increase by Alliance Community TV for basic subscription will be discussed by the Alliance City Council during its Thursday meeting. The cable television firm notified the city on May 1 of its rate increase on May 1 for the current month to all of its Alliance customers. The rate increase reflects an 8.6 percent increase in the current $11.00 a month fee.
35 Years Ago
May 2, 1990
James Schmidt said his family feels that a ruling by Box Butte District Court Judge Robert R. Moran to move the first-degree murder case of Angel Carrizales to juvenile court is not “serving justice.” Carrizales was charged with first-degree murder in the January 21 stabbing death of Schmidt’s son, 18-year-old Jason Schmidt of Alliance, at 407 Grand Avenue. Carrizales, 17, was charged as an adult in the incident.
30 Years Ago
May 1, 1995
BN Veterans Host Officers: Regional officers of the Burlington Northern Veterans will conduct an annual visitation to the Alliance Chapter on Wednesday, May 3. A dinner provided by the club will be served at the Alliance Senior Center, 212 Yellowstone, at 6 p.m. The Spirit Singers of St. Agnes Academy, directed by Barbara Golden, will provide entertainment and there will be drawings for door prizes.
25 Years Ago
May 5, 2000
The Alliance City Council, with council member Donna Hagen absent from last night’s meeting, unanimously denied the request of Lyn Miller to rezone the property at the northeast corner of Potash Avenue and Twelve Street. This property is currently 9.6 acres and the zoning is R-1 to the west, R-3 in the center and C-3 to the east.
20 Years Ago
May 7, 2005
Contest Seeks County Logo, Slogan: “A Great Place To Visit…. Wonderful Place to Live.” The beauty of Box Butte County can be explained in many ways and forms. “How would you describe where we live?” Teresa Boness, Box Butte County tourism director, asked. May 7-15 has been proclaimed See Nebraska Week and June is Alliance Tourism Month.
15 Years Ago
May 6, 2010
Costly Miscommunication Over Golf Course Well: As the well shaft lowered into the earth, the cost kept rising. Due to the failure of the irrigation well at Skyview Golf Course in 2009, the city of Alliance needed a new well constructed, one to continue maintaining proper irrigation for the grasses. At that time, July 2009, Sargent Drilling was in Alliance working on other Alliance City Water Department projects.
10 Years Ago
May 6, 2015
Liquor sales could soon be available any day of the week. A move to allow Sunday sales advanced on first reading at the Alliance City Council meeting Tuesday. The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing at their regular meeting on April 14, and made the recommendation to the City Council for approval. The council approved the ordinance on first reading by a five-vote majority.
5 Years Ago
May 6, 2020
A man on the run from Scotts Bluff County law enforcement officers was taken into custody in Alliance at a local motel on Friday morning after leading Scotts Bluff County Deputies on a pursuit the prior afternoon. Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman stated in a press release that Rueben Mendez, 31, had multiple warrants out for his arrest on charges that included stalking and domestic assault.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher