130 Years Ago
July 31, 1896
Mr. L. Ashbrook, of Whistle Creek, shipped seven carloads of cattle from here Tuesday evening. Parties living in the vicinity of the stock yards were treated to the sight of a cattle stampede when an attempt was made to drive them in the pens, and this was only accomplished by subterfuge.
125 Years Ago
August 2, 1901
This paper has entered upon its fifteenth year of existence, and more than thirteen years of this time the present editor has been identified with the publication of Times in some capacity, during the last nine years as publisher and sole proprietor. Though not quite the oldest paper in Box Butte County, Times was the first paper in Alliance, and we hope during our growth with the city have always worked for the town’s best interests.
120 Years Ago
August 3, 1906
The Alliance Post Office made a big gain in postal receipts for the month of July over the same month last year. The receipts for the month of July 1905 were $776.03 and the receipts for the same month in 1906 were $1,045.20. This is a good gain and shows that Alliance is growing in more ways than one.
115 Years Ago
August 4, 1911
Aside from railroad interest, probably no one industry in Alliance during recent years has paralleled the plant of the Alliance Creamery and Produce company as an important factor in the development of this city, and then besides, this is one that has been of material assistance to the country.
110 Years Ago
August 4, 1916
A native of Sweden, Olie, wanted to fight and several men attempted to accommodate him, but he could consume too much of it. One fighter broke two fingers on Olie’s nose, another bent a cane around his neck and received in return a blow that sent him to the floor in a heap. All manner of hooks, jabs and uppercuts were used, to no avail – Olie kept wading in and begging for more.
105 Years Ago
August 2, 1921
With a train of 68 cars of oil going through the Alliance yards today and an average of 60 cars each day during the past week, together with a heavy increase in sugar and stock shipments railroad business is much heavier than it has been for many months, according to the statements of a local official this morning.
100 Years Ago
August 3, 1926
They tell us that Worthams’ carnival is mad about the treatment accorded the gamblers at the Alamo carnival last Saturday night and they won’t come in. It is apparent that in order to have carnivals the officers must stay off the lot and let them do just as they please. Regulate them in any way and they won’t play with you.
95 Years Ago
August 4, 1931
A model A Ford two-door sedan was stolen from Milo Long, Hemingford, at Dunlap early Saturday morning. Word of the theft was sent here by Officer Wyland at Hemingford and local police located the machine near Broncho Lake. The gasoline tank was empty and a quantity of groceries valued at ten dollars that were left in the car were missing.
90 Years Ago
July 31, 1936
If the average housewife were to make a trip through the Box Butte County courthouse she would throw up her hands in holy horror! Not since the structure was first built has it been in such a deplorable state. In the common language of the county officers, “It’s filthy.”
85 Years Ago
August 1, 1941
Though no definite quota was set for Box Butte County in the recent aluminum drive, apparently this governmental subdivision has gone “over the top,” judging from Kansas City’s goal. The City of Alliance scraped together 1,210 pounds of the lightweight metal, while Hemingford and the balance of the county got together 420 pounds.
80 Years Ago
August 2, 1946
A number of licensed pilots and other aviation enthusiasts are now working toward establishing a wing of the state Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in Alliance. Already plans have progressed far enough that an invitation has been extended to Lt. Col. Rudy Mueller, Omaha, wing commander of the state CAP, to come to Alliance for an informal talk to interested men.
75 Years Ago
August 4, 1951
Swarms of bees in other parts of the city caused more trouble than the ones downtown. According to reports one swarm picked out the interior of an automobile and another on a vacant lot chased away a beekeeper when he came to lure them away.
70 Years Ago
August 2, 1956
Milk processed outside Alliance increased one cent a quart Wednesday in most grocery stores here. Milk processed by Alliance dairies did not advance in price.
65 Years Ago
August 5, 1961
The Board of Directors of the Alliance United Fund voted Friday afternoon to discontinue the organization which, in recent years, has raised money here to meet annual budget requirements of 10 charitable and youth agencies.
60 Years Ago
August 1, 1966
Since the Alliance Knight Museum opened on May 30, a total of 5,456 persons have visited the premises. During the month of July, there were 1,526 visitors, according to Miss Ava Taylor, curator.
55 Years Ago
August 4, 1971
Preliminary investigation into problems confronting rural America communities brought three Washington D. C. men to Alliance this morning and a meeting was held at the Airport Inn with invited local persons.
50 Years Ago
August 2, 1976
Owners of The Alliance Livestock Auction Company have been notified by the Burlington Northern Railroad that they must vacate their Alliance facility on or before January 1, 1977. Alliance Livestock has been in business on the leased ground since 1939. The entire operation is on land owned by the Burlington Northern Railroad and carries a 30-60 day cancellation clause.
45 Years Ago
August 4, 1981
Regarding air traffic controllers striker: Pioneer Airways has all its flights on time in and out of Alliance Airport, according to Sandy Sutton, manager. “I talked to two of the pilots yesterday and they said they had no problem getting in and out of the Denver airport,” Sutton said. All flights were as scheduled.
40 Years Ago
August 6, 1986
While the possible sale of the city’s electrical system is only in the primary stages, most members on Alliance’s City Council agree the subject is “worth looking into.” City officials announced last week that they are discussing the sale of the system to Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD).
35 Years Ago
August 2, 1991
Mark S. Lake, D.D.S., will open a new dental practice in the Doctors’ Center Aug. 12. He will begin taking appointments Aug. 5. His practice will be adjacent to, but not in partnership with, the practices of Dr. Don Taylor Sr. and Dr. Don (“Corky”) Taylor Jr.
30 Years Ago
July 30, 1996
Members of the Box Butte County Commissioners and Alliance City Council agree that an overpass at 19th Street might best serve the residents they represent. Although no official decisions were reached.
25 Years Ago
August 2, 2001
The new west addition of Box Butte General Hospital has just finished opening its full range of services, with the emergency room, convenient care, and multi-specialty clinics moving in the last couple of weeks, Jim Parks, the hospital’s vice president of Support Services, told the hospital’s Board of Trustees this past Monday, July 30.
20 Years Ago
August 1, 2006
No one ever said high school was easy. Try learning in an entirely different language though. This is what Lindsay Reiber, 16, and Aaron Gonzalez, 17, plan on doing in the near future. With the help of the Rotary Club of Alliance, Reiber and Gonzalez will be studying abroad for nearly a year.
15 Years Ago
August 5, 2011
Just a few days before the carnival arrives at the 2011 Box Butte County Fair, company Extreme Ink announced that they have gone bankrupt, Fair Manager Rachelle Poyzer said Friday morning. What this means, she explained, is that the hard rides such as small roller coasters and the Zipper, which have appeared in previous years, will not be available along the midway.
10 Years Ago
August 4, 2016
The City Public Transit System is looking at adding Saturday and Sunday rides to extend the transit service into the weekend. About a year ago, the City took over the public transit system for the community.
5 Years Ago
August 4, 2021
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol seized methamphetamine and marijuana during a search of two vehicles in Box Butte County. The first incident occurred at approximately 12:45 a.m. Saturday, a trooper observed two vehicles parked near the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 71, in Box Butte County.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher