130 Years Ago
July 29, 1892
Truly Box Butte county could not have been more greatly blessed as regards to moisture, than has fallen to its lot this season. Wednesday just when the ground was getting a little dry, but still crops were not suffering in the least for a shower, comes a nice, gentle rain lasting all day and the soil is once again thoroughly soaked. What more could a mortal ask – an abundance of rain, no hail storms and warm days and nights which make crops fairly climb?
125 Years Ago
July 30, 1897
Chas. F. Suesser, of Crawford, spent the first week in Alliance considering the advisability of locating here. He decided to open a music and art store, is a piano tuner, cornet player and instructor in music. Mr. Suesser now has stores at Crawford and Chadron, and returned to close the one at the latter place and prepare to remove it to Alliance.
120 Years Ago
July 29, 1902
A haying hand by the name of Richenstein was brought in from Brennen’s ranch, forty-five miles southeast, last evening, having been injured in the morning by a runaway team. His left sleeve became entangled on one of the sickle guards of a mowing machine and the team starting, his arm was frightfully shattered by the sickle. On account of the serious nature of the wound and the hours that necessarily clasped before attention could be given, his surgeons fear the loss of the arm will result. We understand he goes by the sobriquet of “Dutch” and that his home is in the northwestern part of this county.
115 Years Ago
July 26, 1907
Henry Mooring, who was fined $100 and costs for being too free with a knife and who has been serving time in the county jail because of his inability to meet the assessment levied by the court, has left for other parts. Yesterday Sheriff Wiker, acting under orders from those in authority, escorted Mr. Mooring to the edge of town. He was then informed that the sentence was suspended for the time being but that if he was ever caught in Alliance again that he would be required to serve out the balance of the sentence.
110 Years Ago
July 30, 1912
Mrs. Williams missed her chickens and at first didn’t know just whom to suspect. She had started out over the neighborhood to tell of her loss and had gotten as far as the home of Heper, when she noticed a number of chickens under the bed. Not knowing of any good reason why anyone should attempt to conceal chickens under a bed, Mrs. Williams investigated and upon closer attention discovered the chickens belonged to her. She at once proceeded up town and told her story to the authorities. A search warrant was secured and a visit paid to Mr. Heper. Sure enough, the chickens were worth about fifty cents apiece and for stealing them Heper could have been sent to the penitentiary, but because of his extreme age the officials believed a fine would be sufficient to teach him to leave such business alone.
105 Years Ago
July 27, 1917
G. W. Clayton was severely injured Tuesday night in a fall from the ground floor of the new residence he is building on Big Horn avenue. He landed on the cement floor of the basement, eight feet below. A paper covering over the joist led Mr. Clayton to believe that the boards were laid and he stepped over only to fall between the timbers. He was taken to his home where he is resting comfortably.
100 Years Ago
July 28, 1922
A young man giving the name of Carl Stuckey is a prisoner in the county jail, where he is held in connection with the alleged theft of a Hudson touring car believed to have been stolen at Rapid City, S. D., a little over a week ago. Stuckey and a companion, who gave the name of Bud McCullough, were arrested on the streets here Tuesday night by Sam Fink, a member of the city’s special police force. After taking the men in charge. Officer Fink left them and the Hudson car in charge of Frank Baker, who is also a special officer, while he went to a telephone to notify Sheriff Miller. The men asked Officer Baker for permission to wash and were permitted to go into the Cook pool hall and soft drink parlor, while the officer remained to guard the car. The men went into the washroom while the officer waited at the car outside. Presently Stuckey returned to the car, but McCullough turned up missing. He had given the officer the slip and taken “French leave” for parts unknown.
95 Years Ago
July 26, 1927
Mrs. Roy Wilson, 31, was sentenced to a term of 30 years in the state penitentiary by District Judge E. L. Meyer for the murder of her mother, Mrs Dan Loomis, and the attempted murder of her father at Marple. The confession was submitted to Judge Earl Meyer who, after reading it, asked the woman if she had anything to say before sentence was imposed. “Yes,” she replied. “I want the electric chair right away.” The county attorney said he learned that the woman’s grandfather, who died a few years ago, left a comparatively large fortune to her mother, Mrs. Dan Loomis. This money, together with the Marple farm and all the personal property, was to go to the daughter at the death of her parents.
90 Years Ago
July 29, 1932
Mrs. Richard McDonald of Hemingford spanked one of her children with a shingle. Neighbors thought she was too severe. William Huskey telephoned the officers. McDonald and his pal, Francis “Red” Drake, resented this and started to “beat up” on Huskey, proprietor of a battery service station. Result: McDonald got 90 days in the county jail on a charge of assault and battery and Drake was sentenced to 90 days on the assault and battery charge and 30 days additional for possession of liquor. County Attorney William Hein prosecuted the charges before Judge Lockwood of Hemingford. They were found guilty and given stiff sentences. McDonald had been serving time for the robbery of a filling station and Drake has been an old offender. Huskey was too fleet of foot to take a beating from his would be assailants and before they could catch up with him in his circling around the battery service station a crowd had gathered and the fight was off. But the two were apparently willing to beat up on him and for that they must serve the time.
85 Years Ago
July 30, 1937
Tuesday afternoon the new underpass was opened to traffic. Vehicles can now travel through the new cut under the Burlington railroad tracks on West Third Street. Completed after weary months of waiting and detouring, the underpass represents an investment of approximately $70,000.
80 Years Ago
July 28, 1942
Three Burlington railroad workers were killed Sunday morning when two long freight trains collided near Belmont. The three men were Engineer E. J. McGuire of Alliance; Fireman J. O. Stark of Alliance; and Brakeman John Cochran of Sterling. The men injured were Engineer J. A. Witowak, Brakeman F. A. Zeman, Fireman Earl Coupens and Flagman A. J. Stuart.
75 Years Ago
July 29, 1947
Mr. and Mrs John Stollar, victims of a brutal ax murderer, were well known in Alliance and the surrounding ranch area, having lived here for many years. The mutilated body of John Stollar was found covered with trash in a small shed at the rear of the Sheridan county ranch property. Police believe the unknown assailant first slew Mr. Stoller, put his body in the shed and then went into the house to murder Mrs. Stollar. The gashed body of Mrs. Grace Stollar was found late Saturday night in the sandhills ranch home. Mail carrier G. R. Kittleman always went into the glassed porch and put the mail on a table there. The Thursday and Friday mail was still there Saturday morning which made Mr. Kittleman suspicious and when he returned to Alliance Saturday evening he notified relatives of the Stollars. This led to the gruesome discovery of the two slain people.
70 Years Ago
July 30, 1952
One man was hospitalized and two others treated for injuries following a 2-car collision at the intersection of Eighth Street and Platte Avenue at 6 p.m. Tuesday. In St. Joseph’s Hospital today with a broken shoulder and cuts and bruises is J. F. Hilton who was riding in his car driven by a granddaughter, Martha Boyer, Miss Boyer was treated for cuts and bruises on the head. Also treated for a cut on the ear and an injured wrist was Donald Tschacher, 19 year-old Alliance youth who was driving the other machine.
65 Years Ago
July 26, 1957
District Judge E. L. Meyer sentenced three men to the Nebraska State Prison in Lincoln Thursday afternoon with all three to be confined at hard labor. John Erick Jansson was sentenced to two years on an auto theft charge. He stole a car in Hemingford and was arrested by local police officers this week. He pleaded guilty. Frank C. Henderson was sentenced to one year at the State Prison for issuing a no-fund check. He also pleaded guilt. James Maggard received a sentence of one year after pleading guilt to writing a no-fund check. The three men will be taken to Lincoln early next week by Sheriff Matt Berg.
60 Years Ago
July 25, 1962
Harvey Knoblock, an 11 year veteran of the company, has moved here from Great Falls, Mont., to take over manager ship of the Alliance Hested Store from Joe Amen, who has been transferred to Sterling, Colo. Knoblock served as an assistant under Amen here for a year in 1952-53. Mr. and Mrs. Knoblock and their 3 children are living at 1239 Platte.
55 Years Ago
July 28, 1967
Box Butte County Sheriff Freddie Marsh announced today that he is increasing his staff by a second deputy who will begin work next Tuesday. Dennis Garrett, 23, a 1961 graduate of Alliance High School and a veteran of overseas Army service, has been employed. Garrett is unmarried and is living at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don Garrett, 515 Grand Avenue. He has completed two and one-half years of college at Chadron State and Kearney State.
50 Years Ago
July 31, 1972
Sergeants Vic Hansen and Vern Johnson of the Nebraska Highway Patrol were “eyes in the sky” Saturday morning as they watched for speeding motorists by timing motorists between white markers, from the air on Highway 2 north of Alliance. The Sergeants are able to determine the car’s speed and aid troopers on the ground in stopping speeders.
45 Years Ago
July 27, 1977
The basics of track work has not changed a great deal since the first rails reached Alliance in 1888. Today, 1977, men hammer spikes and use shovels and pry bars much as they did 89 years ago for a new track extending east from “mile 366 on lines west” as Alliance was known in dispatcher’s language. The early-day crews lacked sophisticated equipment that speeds the work today, such as a machine which finishes driving the spikes after they are “started”. The new parallel line now extends as far east from Alliance as Birdsell Siding (mile 359) and is in use. Mileage measurements are from Lincoln.
40 Years Ago
July 27, 1982
Two members of an Alliance singing group, the Country Sounds, finished with trophies in the Heritage Days Country Music festival. Stan Bedient took third in division two of the fiddler’s contest and Rocky Bell took third in the male singing division.
35 Years Ago
July 29, 1987
An inmate at the Box Butte County Jail escaped while being escorted back into the Box Butte County Regional Law Enforcement Center Tuesday afternoon. The inmate was apprehended by local authorities about 40 minutes later. According to Box Butte County Sheriff Deputy Jim Pittman, Danny Brenner, 18, of Alliance was being escorted back into the jail facility after having a haircut at a local barber shop when he escaped from the jailer. The jailer was unable to apprehend Brenner. Brenner was found in the cab of a pickup in the alley between Fifth and Sixth Streets and Yellowstone and Missouri Avenues. He was placed back into custody by deputy sheriff Dick Waddell and did not resist arrest when approached by Waddell. Brenner had been in jail since July 17 waiting a July 30th court appearance on theft charges. He is also waiting a court appearance in Grant County for theft.
30 Years Ago
July 30, 1992
At a recent conference in Kearney, Shawn Baumgartner was named “EMS Person of the Year” for Western Nebraska. He is a full-time EMT for the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department. He also instructs emergency care for Western Nebraska Community College and teaches CPR locally, as well as at out-of-state conferences.
25 Years Ago
July 28, 1997
Mary Edith Lacy Murray will be 100 years old August 6. Her family will enjoy the event by getting together. The Murrays moved to Alliance in 1943. Hansen was the Box Butte County Superintendent of Schools and Mary was his assistant for 18 years. She kept records, helped teachers, sent board members’ reports to the state, and helped with the exhibits at the Box Butte County Fair.
20 Years Ago
July 31, 2002
Steven Stanec, executive director of Nebraska Brand Committee, was elected president of the International Livestock Identification Association (ILIA) during the organization’s annual meeting at Kearney. Already serving as executive director, chief criminal investigator and chief brand inspector from the Nebraska Brand Committee’s office in Alliance, Stanec will expand his philosophy for preventing livestock theft to the 28-member ILIA.
15 Years Ago
July 27, 2007
When I was little I really wanted to do pageants cause I always wanted to be like a princess with a little crown,” Sydney Swanson said. Well, she’s got the crown now. Swanson, 15, sophomore at Alliance High School, was crowned as the 2007 National Sweetheart Hospitality at the American National Teenager pageant in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday July 22.
10 Years Ago
July 27, 2012
Gordon Hoff will present a program about the end of summer gardening in the Alliance Public Library Garden on Thursday, Aug. 2 at 7 p. m. as the final segment in the summer evening concert series.
5 Years Ago
July 29, 2017
Kyle Cummings has been named the new publisher for the Alliance Times-Herald, effective August 1, 2017. Cummings replaces Tom Shaal, who has stepped down from the position after serving as the publisher for the last six years.