130 Years Ago
Aug. 26, 1892
A man by the name of Taylor living in the north part of Box Butte county was badly hurt one day last week. In attempting to mount a horse his foot hung in the stirrup and he was dragged for some distance over the prairie. Finally the stirrup strap broke and left Mr. Taylor on the ground with a broken arm and internal injuries. Dr. Sheffner was called and made the man as comfortable as could be expected.
125 Years Ago
Aug. 27, 1897
A dance was given by Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Young, at the ranch sixteen miles southeast of town, Wednesday night. Quite a number of young people were in attendance from Alliance, Reno and Lakeside. The music was good and the dancing enjoyed by most of those present. For those who did not dance, various games were furnished, so that none lacked amusement. Splendid ice-cream and cake was furnished and everybody had a royal good time. Those who attended from here were Messrs E. M. Todd, John Wiker, Clarence Dahlburg, Ralph Lewis and Chas. Cornell and Misses Cora and Anna Wills, Augusta Perry, Bessie Stewart, Standard, Piersol and Lizzie Wadum.
120 Years Ago
Aug. 26, 1902
The superb company of acrobats which Ringling Brothers have secured for their circus this year, illustrates as never before the magnificent possibilities of the human form in absolute perfection of physical development. Not only are these performers the greatest exponents of acrobatism that the world has ever produced, but they are handsome, superbly-developed men and women, whose lives are a tribute to the value of modern athletic training.
115 Years Ago
Aug. 30,1907
William Taft, secretary of war, went through Alliance this morning, being entirely alone, and occupying a private compartment of the regular Denver-Alliance-Billings sleeping car, “Nausha.” He came in on the Denver train. When the editor of the Times and Mr. J. B. Kennedy knocked at his room door, we were promptly invited in, but found Taft alone and yet in bed. He gave a cheerful welcome, asked the time and what point the train had reached. Said he would have been glad to be up and meet Alliance people had he known there was time here and any would be around.
110 Years Ago
Aug. 30, 1912
A tornado swept through a small area nine miles northeast of Alliance yesterday afternoon about four o’clock and did considerable damage to buildings and grains in stack and field. J. R. Lawrence and Casper Worm narrowly escaped death as they were directly in the path of the tornado as it swept past their heads with terrific force, scattering four large grain stacks over and about them. At the Fairview church the wind was strong enough to lift the buggies up and smash them considerably. J. R. Lawrence’s house was damaged, the west end of it having been torn apart and the roof lifted off. The windows were smashed all over the house by the wind and hail.
105 Years Ago
Aug. 31, 1917
Editor Mayes, arbiter of the fortunes of the Alliance News, has decided that the grass at Antioch is a bit greener and because of this Alliance is to be deprived of the great fireside companion and religious weekly. Packing cases and boxes have been stuffed with type, presses have been hoisted up ready for shipment and pretty soon – adios, good night, au revoir, – Alliance will have to give way to the advancing glory or a more commanding presence and get along with two papers.
100 Years Ago
Aug. 29, 1922
Victor L. Jackson and Harry Goss, local Burlington brakemen, who were arrested last week in connection with an assault they are alleged to have made against Frank Curry, railroad employee, were taken to Omaha by U. S. Deputy Marshal Toland of Omaha, where they were to be given a hearing before Federal Judge Woodrough on charges of violating the federal injunction issued some time ago for the protection of railroad employees.
95 Years Ago
Aug. 30, 1927
Dallas Vernon, five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Howard of Alliance, was severely injured when he was kicked by a saddle pony on the Virgil Wessel place, seven miles northwest of Alliance. The child was playing in the yard, where the pony was grazing and evidently got too close to the horse’s heels. Mr. Wessel picked him up and rushed him to the hospital. An examination by Drs. Slagle and Johnston disclosed that a large potion of the scalp was torn loose and a piece of his skull was broken in. Nine stitches were required to close the wound and the bone in the forehead was removed. It is thought that the child will recover.
90 Years Ago
Aug. 30, 1932
Sheriff Ben Parker of Sheridan county was taken into custody by officers here last night when he is alleged to have been found intoxicated and had a gallon of liquor in his possession. With Parker was a prisoner from Sheridan county jail whom Parker was taking to Oregon. The prisoner was an autoist who was being held a few days at Rushville for investigation following an accident on the highway near there which a man was killed. Parker was “wild-eyed” and mean when the officers found him. They succeeded in getting his revolver from him. While the officers were having difficulty in getting Parker out of his auto here, the “prisoner” sat calmly in the car and made no effort to get away. He went back to Rushville with the deputies who came after Parker.
85 Years Ago
Aug. 31, 1937
A mother and five children who were making their way by riding in box cars were cared for here late Monday. They were en route from Sheridan, Wyo., to Des Moines, Ia., where the mother, who gave her name as Mrs. Stevens, has relatives. She explained that her husband is in the penitentiary. The oldest child is 13 and the youngest 10 months. Railroad men bought them food and milk for the baby.
80 Years Ago
Aug. 28, 1942
Mrs. Valeta Davee was charged with operating a dance at the Dutch Mill after 1 a. m. Thursday in violation of a city ordinance regulating dances in the City of Alliance. The complaint was signed by City Attorney William Hein on information furnished by city officers, who were called there at 1:15 a. m. Thursday on complaint of neighbors. Hearing has been set for 4 p. m. Friday.
75 Years Ago
Aug. 29, 1947
Late Wednesday night there was a crash and a noise of breaking glass along the quiet stretches near Fifth and Laramie avenue. Curious citizens got out of bed and saw a lamp post down, the glass shattered. Police investigated and reported they could find no marks on the pole by which they might locate the automobile which had hit it. Thursday morning Jack Julius, who lives at 511 ½ Laramie avenue, came to the police station to report he had knocked down the pole and to arrange to pay for it.
70 Years Ago
Aug. 29, 1952
When Burlington passenger train No. 43 pulled into the Alliance station this morning from the east, it marked the termination of a long railroad career for Engineer Herman Nelson of 808 Big Horn Avenue. Among those on hand to greet the veteran engineer as he stepped from the diesel cab for the last time were his wife, Division Superintendent E. R. Shrader, Master Mechanic C. J. Hardy, other veteran Burlington engineers and several other of his close friends and neighbors. Nelson started his railroading career with Burlington in 1901, at the age of 19.
65 Years Ago
Aug. 30 1957
Mrs. Mike Frerichs. Wife of a State Highway Patrolman stationed here, boarded a Western Air Lines plane at 9 a. m. today at the Alliance Airport. She was en route to New York City where she will appear on a television program that will be seen in this area at 7:00 p. m. Sunday over Cheyenne and Scottsbluff stations. Mrs. Frerichs was sworn to secrecy concerning details of the TV program upon which she was chosen to appear. The air trip was the first for Mrs. Frerichs.
60 Years Ago
Aug. 30, 1962
DeWayne Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Mitchell of Alliance, will enlist on September 5 for radar repair in the U. S. Army. Following basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., he will go to the U. S. Army Signal School at Ft. Monmouth, N. J., for nine months training in Radar. He is a graduate of Alliance High and is an Eagle Scout.
55 Years Ago
Aug. 31, 1967
An effort has been initiated to return Eugene A. Williams, 45, who was once arrested in Alliance, from Brazil, according to the U. S. District Attorney’s office in Omaha. This has come to the attention of Alliance law enforcement men. Williams, of Reno, Nev., was arrested here by the late Sheriff Matt Berg on October 8, 1959, Alliance Police Department records show. He was charged with possession of burglary tools, and spent about 10 days in the County Jail here before the case was terminated by a dismissal of the charge. Arrested with him were two other men. Williams is wanted for an attempted bank burglary in Cody, Neb. In 1963. Both of his companions were convicted and sentenced to five years in a federal prison for bank break-in attempt. Williams jumped his $15,000 bond in 1964, according to a report of the incident recently published in the Omaha World-Herald. He has been on the Federal Bureau of Investigation wanted list, and has been traced to Brazil.
50 Years Ago
Aug. 29, 1972
Mrs. Bob Briggs, who was one of the skydivers during the Box Butte County Fair, suffered a fractured ankle as she landed on the Hemingford Golf Course Sunday afternoon. According to reports here a walking cast has been put on the ankle and she is expected to return to her librarian duties within a week in Council Bluffs, Ia.
45 Years Ago
Aug. 29, 1977
The Sheriff’s Department has arrested two men on assault charges following an altercation early Sunday morning west of Hemingford. Larry Stover, 23, and 33-year-old James Pierce were arrested after they allegedly assaulted Dave Horner, Jim Laursen and a minor, all of Hemingford. Horner told authorities a car chased and forced his pickup off a county road west of Hemingford, causing an estimated $300 damage. Horner said he and his two companions were then assaulted and threatened with a knife by Stover and Pierce. Horner said Stover and Pierce forced him and the two others to go to the Box Butte Reservoir with them. After the three from Hemingford were returned to Horner’s pickup, Horner contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Pierce and Stover were arrested at the Lynes Motel in Hemingford, and further charges against the pair are being studied, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
40 Years Ago
Aug 28, 1982
The mild-mannered lady visiting Dick Schafer didn’t look like someone who would get involved in the risky business of helping men escape through the French Underground during World War II. But she did Dr. Bertranne Auvert was a link in the French Underground and she harbored aviators shot down in France. One of these aviators was Dick Schafer of Alliance. Dr. Auvert is in Alliance for a couple of days to visit the Schafers and reminisce about the days of the war.
35 Years Ago
Aug. 31, 1987
Baxter Black a cowboy poet and philosopher from Brighton, Colorado, entertains a crowd of 800 plus Saturday night at the Five C’s Building located south of Alliance on U. S. 385. The event which had hamburgers and baked beans as the main course was sponsored by Alliance Animal Clinic, The Animal Center, and Sandhills Veterinary Clinic and Supply Co. According to Dr. Richard Jaggers, the event was to show area ranchers that the veterinarians appreciate their business.
30 Years Ago
Aug. 29, 1992
Good Samaritan Village has had a long and continuing journey from a World War II housing project known as “Chimney Town” to a modern retirement center. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society became involved in caring for the elderly and handicapped of Alliance in 1959 when “Chimney Town” was purchased from the City of Alliance. Since that time, renovation and expansion has taken place to further meet the needs of the community and surrounding area. The Village presently has a 98-bed health care center with an 18-bed unit for residents afflicted with Alzheimer’s and 110 apartments and including the Towers, which is a 72-unit complex.
25 Years Ago
Aug. 29, 1997
Donna Votruba of Hemingford was in serious condition at a Scottsbluff hospital according to a hospital spokesperson. Mrs. Votruba was injured in a traffic accident north of Scottsbluff Thursday. She suffered back and neck injuries and was transported to Regional West Medical Center by Valley Ambulance. She was a passenger in a 1991 Chevrolet pickup driven by her husband, Julius Votruba. The pickup was southbound on Highwas 71 when it was struck by a 1967 Ford pickup driven by Andrew E. Groskopf, 17 of Scottsbluff. Groskopf was northbound on the highway and attempting a left turn onto a country road. Both pickups were totaled.
20 Years Ago
Aug. 30, 2002
Box Butte General Hospital has reached a formal agreement with Dr. Bois Kirov, an Internal Medicine resident. Chief of Staff Dr. Ray Carlson, D. O., announced the signing of a contract for the hospital’s newest physician during this past meeting with the Board of Trustees. Dr. Kirov is completing his final year of Internal Medicine residency at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, N. J. He will graduate in late June 2003, and plans to relocate with his family to Alliance next summer.
15 Years Ago
Aug. 29, 2007
Amy Rischling, daughter of Dick and Gretchen Rischling of Alliance, and Matthew Dimmitt, son of Sue Dimmit and Brian Dimmit of Alliance, are among the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 287-member Cornhusker Marching Band making its 2007 debut Sept. 1 at Memorial Stadium with pregame and halftime performances at Nebraska’s football season opener against Nevada.
10 Years Ago
Aug. 31, 2012
Chadron, Crawford and Hay Springs – Firefighters continue to battle fires in the northern panhandle. More than 68,689 acres have burned in the Region 23 Complex fire in northwest Nebraska according to Rocky Mountain incident Management Team C officials.
5 Years Ago
Aug. 30, 2017
Alliance sophomore Kat Kuzmic, who volunteers at the Alliance Animal Shelter, has been running with a couple of shelter dogs through the summer and into the fall cross country season. Trying to train for the cross country season and guide the shelter dogs on a run took a little bit of balancing at first, Kuzmic said. “The more you practice, with them the easier it gets, “she said. “Then you start to enjoy it way more.”