130 Years Ago
August 9, 1895
E. R. Draver invited us to smoke as the result of the advent of a son at his home Sunday. We said “No” to the smoke, but wish that boy long years of usefulness just the same.
125 Years Ago
August 10, 1900
About two weeks ago notices were mailed to about all TIMES subscribers who were owing a year or more. These notices stated frankly that we desired settlement as soon as possible on account of the expense of our new building. A large number have responded promptly with the cash. This evidence of good will and ready response by so many of our delinquents is very gratifying to the editor, and we trust the remaining delinquents will do likewise.
120 Years Ago
August 11, 1905
The new cable for the Alliance telephone system arrived yesterday and was unloaded. It will be placed on the poles today and tomorrow, and no doubt eventually contribute much to the improvement of the service.
115 Years Ago
August 9, 1910
Residents living a short distance west of this city had a warm time a few days hence, in putting out a prairie fire started by some parties driving by, who carelessly threw out a lighted match or cigar.
110 Years Ago
August 10, 1915
It is so very seldom that Alliance enjoys the novelty of a woman preacher that when one does come the event takes on in a way the nature of a feminine innovation. Such was the case here Sunday when Mrs. Bassett of Sioux County, in the absence of the pastor occupied the pulpit of the Baptist Church.
105 Years Ago
August 10, 1920
According to present plans, Alliance is to be headquarters of the Nebraska Potato Growers’ exchange, the organization of which was completed at a meeting of potato men from various parts of the state at the court house last Friday afternoon and evening.
100 Years Ago
August 11, 1925
Frank Loveberg, truck driver for the gravel contractors on the Hemingford road, had a narrow escape from injury Friday afternoon when his truck collided with the switch engine at the crossing on the circus track at the east end of the yards. The truck was completely demolished and the rear tires were the only salvage. How the driver escaped without injury is a mystery.
95 Years Ago
August 12, 1930
With laying of the asphalt surface on Niobrara street more than half finished, the task of paving two of Alliance’s principal streets is rapidly nearing completion. Paving was completed down as far as Fifth street last night and work is progressing today on the stretch between Third and Fifth streets on Niobrara.
90 Years Ago
August 9, 1935
Enthusiasm for the Alliance Race Meet August 14, 15 and 16 has already begun to boom, horses are arriving, reservations for barn space are being grabbed up and work on the pari-mutuel betting office, the paddock and third new barn is being rushed to completion.
85 Years Ago
August 9, 1940
Dr. Clinton W. Giles, geologist of Casper, Wyo., has been in Alliance the past week completing the geology on what he terms is an oil structure – a survey he started several years ago. He hopes to get sufficient land under lease to justify a standard rig test within the new few weeks.
80 Years Ago
August 10, 1945
Regulating Beer Taverns: Alliance wishes to cooperate with the Army at the Alliance Air Base – let that be thoroughly understood. But Alliance reserves the right to analyze the methods employed to bring about desired results.
75 Years Ago
August 10, 1950
Rumors that the annual state bull sale of the Nebraska Hereford Association might go to North Platte were dispelled today with the booking of the event at the Alliance Livestock Commission Company on December 18.
70 Years Ago
August 9, 1955
Free rides for children at the County Fair in Hemingford are available again this year. The fair dates are August 25-28. C. O. Rosenberger of Hemingford and his carnival committee are selling the tickets to merchants at $10 for 500 or $5 for 250 tickets (which figures 2 cents apiece).
65 Years Ago
August 9, 1960
A proposal to bring a small fiberglass industry to Alliance was promised assistance Monday by the industrial committee of the Chamber of Commerce at the organization’s noon luncheon.
60 Years Ago
August 9, 1965
Alliance Community TV Company today received a new set of rules and regulations from the Federal Communications Commission which affects all community antenna TV systems. Contained in the new list of commission rules is one paragraph that directly affects the Alliance system according to Pete Karn, Alliance Community TV Company manager here.
55 Years Ago
August 11, 1970
St. Agnes Academy will open this year on August 31. It was originally announced that the school would open September 1 but members of the Academy Board of Education moved the date up at their meeting here Monday night.
50 Years Ago
August 9, 1975
Box Butte County deputy sheriffs are happy with pay raises offered them by Sheriff don Underwood and all will remain on the force.
45 Years Ago
August 9, 1980
Box Butte County’s 1980 fair will complete its program today and Sunday and is expected to attract hundreds of people to Hemingford for its remaining events. At 9 a.m. today the annual livestock sale opens at the fair grounds with 72 head of cattle, 32 beef carcasses, 75 sheep and 25 hogs to sell.
40 Years Ago
August 9, 1985
Refusing to follow the advice of their attorney, the Hemingford Village Board voted to accept a higher KN Energy gas rate increase than was advised. The vote took place at a special meeting held Thursday night. Hemingford voted 3-1 to adopt the plan that will save the village taxpayers an estimated $1,982 per year over the gas company’s proposed rate increase.
35 Years Ago
August 8, 1990
Time-consuming requests for information or research were regulated Tuesday night by the Hemingford Village Board. The village office, under the direction of Administrator Peg Reynolds, will now have to get the go ahead from the board of trustees before they do extensive research for Hemingford residents.
30 Years Ago
August 10, 1995
In a Box Butte District Court packed with beefed up security Wednesday, William (Bill) K Jr was sentenced to 15 to 30 years hard labor for count one, first degree assault, and 10 to 20 years hard labor for count two, second degree assault.
25 Years Ago
August 9, 2000
Yesterday, the Alliance City Council conducted an extensive and intensive interview with its top-rated city manager applicant, Don “Wally” Baird. Based upon that interview, the City Council has offered the position of the Alliance City Manager to Baird, and he has accepted.
20 Years Ago
August 11, 2005
“You can’t find it on the map anymore, but I was born near Spencer, Nebraska,” Iva Coleman said this week. Ivy – as friends and family call her, turns 100 years old Saturday, Aug. 13, and will be celebrating that milestone at Good Samaritan Care Center where she has been living for almost two years.
15 Years Ago
August 11, 2010
Charges have been filed in Box Butte County Court against two people. Vincente G, 18, Alliance, is charged with possession of a stolen firearm, a Class III felony. Elizabeth D, 34, Alliance, is charged with second-offense, third-degree domestic assault, a Class IV felony, and obstructing an officer, a Class I misdemeanor.
10 Years Ago
August 11, 2015
Two counts against 31-year-old Erwin S. have been dismissed. Erwin was facing two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, a Class III felony, in Box Butte County, but those charges were formally dismissed Monday as they are now part of a federal indictment.
5 Years Ago
August 12, 2020
On Aug. 3, the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department battled a grass fire with the help of mutual aid from other area departments, containing it after it had burned 80 acres.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher