130 Years Ago
August 16, 1895
The chance to spend a day in delightful forest shade does not come to Alliance-ites very frequently. It is therefore almost a certainty that a very large number will avail themselves of the projected excursion to Belmont, which occurs next Thursday (August 22).
125 Years Ago
August 17, 1900
Clare Cornell is fast coming into a knowledge of the wicked ways of the world – too fast to suit him entirely. Returning from Lincoln last week some accommodating gentleman skillfully removed Clare’s pocketbook while he was wrapped in the sound slumber of youth and a clear conscience. His smooth-figured friend only wanted the $6 the wallet contained and slipped the book back into Clare’s pocket.
120 Years Ago
August 18, 1905
C. L. Drake, the well known Guernsey hotel man, arrived here Tuesday evening and means business in the construction of a modern hotel, which he will build, equip and conduct in Alliance.
115 Years Ago
August 16, 1910
Alliance stockyards were filled to the last car capacity the last of the week because of the washout of the railroad bridge at Berwyn. One hundred cars of cattle were held in the yards here until the bridge could be repaired for traffic, while eighty-one carloads were unloaded at Whitman and turned into a pasture to graze awaiting reopening of the line.
110 Years Ago
August 17, 1915
At 1 o’clock today the fire department was called to the first house across the Burlington tracks on West Second Street, in West Lawn, to quench a fire which threatened destruction to a house owned by Mrs. Schansdorf, of Scottsbluff, and occupied by a family named Selby. The loss will be in the vicinity of $50.
105 Years Ago
August 17, 1920
Silk shirts, silk kimonos, silk dresses and waists, men’s suits and silk skirts and ten suit cases, to the estimated value of approximately $2,500, were stolen from the Golden Rule store Saturday night by thieves who gained entrance by prying open a window at the rear of the store.
100 Years Ago
August 18, 1925
W. D. Rumer parked his car hurriedly in front of Mallery’s Grocery Monday afternoon, while he went into the bank and when he returned he was served with a summons to appear in police court at “9 a.m., July 17.” The car was parked across the corner.
95 Years Ago
August 19, 1930
First prize in the Alliance yard improvement contest which has been in progress for the past few months and which has created much interest among local home owners was awarded to Paul Schmol, 711 Emerson, this week with the close of the contest which has resulted in some close competition for prize-winning honors.
90 Years Ago
August 16, 1935
If Alliance business men are smart, and we believe there are no better, they will take cognizance of the house shortage in the city and take steps immediately to provide living quarters for new families. It’s hard to compute the loss to general business when 50 families a year are forced to go to some other city to find suitable living quarters, yet the record will sustain the statement.
85 Years Ago
August 16, 1940
They thought they had him, but they didn’t. Like the old coin trick – “now you see it, now you don’t” – 23-year-old William Still of Alliance did a disappearing act after he was supposedly arrested to face ever-mounting charges of writing no-fund checks.
80 Years Ago
August 17, 1945
The Alliance Post of the American Legion has announced plans for the construction of a $75,000 club building as a memorial to veterans of World War II.
75 Years Ago
August 17, 1950
Two Alliance electricians Wednesday morning made a big “find.” They found a horse that had been reported missing from Alliance since June 1949 and was reported stolen. The animal was the “Rodeo Horse” that has been displayed in front of a local market every year during the Rodeo.
70 Years Ago
August 15, 1955
Alliance Company L of the Nebraska National Guard returned Sunday from two weeks of “highly successful” training at Camp Ripley, Minn. Wives, families and friends were a welcome sight to the three officers and 52 men of the company as they debarked from a special train at 2 p.m.
65 Years Ago
August 16, 1960
The Chamber of Commerce received a letter from the Board of Directors of Scotts Bluff County Agricultural Society today, announcing that they have designated Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, as Alliance Day at the Scotts Bluff County Fair and Race Meet.
60 Years Ago
August 16, 1965
Another new business today announced plans to open in Alliance with the signing of a lease agreement on the building directly north of the Alliance Hotel on Box Butte Avenue. The new business, Abe’s Discount Store, will be managed by Robert Kerns.
55 Years Ago
August 18, 1970
David Kirchner, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kirchner, is reportedly doing fine at St. Joseph’s Hospital after suffering first, second, and third degree burns on his arms and hands Monday morning. According to reports, Kirchner was attempting to start a car at the Co-op Service Station when it backfired and gasoline exploded.
50 Years Ago
August 15, 1975
Lynette Green is one of those who “becomes better with age,” as she was crowned the 21st Box Butte County Fair Queen Thursday evening – a title she pursued two years ago. Miss Green’s second attempt at the crown proved to be her best as she earned the title over 15 other contestants.
45 Years Ago
August 16, 1980
A public hearing on the proposed use of $80,000 worth of federal revenue sharing funds took back seat Friday afternoon to discussion of a request to open up the selection process for a new county attorney.
40 Years Ago
August 16, 1985
The Alliance City Council in a rare two-hour meeting Thursday night gave the green light to financial consultants Dain Bosworth to go ahead and seek refinancing on $2,240,000 in various purpose bonds which will allow the city to save $107,125 through 1996.
35 Years Ago
August 16, 1990
Motorists in Alliance and the rest of Box Butte County will benefit from a cooperative road project currently underway in the northern part of Alliance. An agreement was worked out between the City of Alliance and Box Butte County Tuesday morning to take a half-mile section of dirt road and transform it into a paved road.
30 Years Ago
August 17, 1995
Due to incorrect information supplied to The Times-Herald, budget figures for the sheriff’s office in Tuesday’s county board story were inaccurate. The 1994-1995 budget for the sheriff’s office was $161,873. Sheriff Dick Bauer requested $175,600 for 1995-1996.
25 Years Ago
August 17, 2000
In their latest progress report about renovation and expansion construction at Box Butte General Hospital, the administrator’s office noted that floor demolition in the Dialysis space has been completed (no more loud jack-hammering).
20 Years Ago
August 17, 2005
“Our main goal is to assist downtown businesses in maintaining or returning a historical look to their facade.” Bob Neville, president of the Historic Main Street Alliance, said recently. The goal of Main Street includes keeping the downtown as a vital place for businesses.
15 Years Ago
August 17, 2010
An Alliance suspect has been bound over to Box Butte District Court on a charge of possession of a stolen firearm, a Class III felony. The charge alleges that, between May 10 and July 4, Guillermo S, 33, was in possession of a Glock Model 17, 9mm, knowing that it had been or believing that it had been stolen.
10 Years Ago
August 19, 2015
The Animal Center recently welcomed a new doctor to their staff. Dr. Alissa Edoff, who is originally from just outside Denver where she was born and raised, is entering her fifth week with the center.
5 Years Ago
August 19, 2020
A week after approving the reopening plan for Alliance Public Schools at a special meeting, school board members discussed adopting new measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher