130 Years Ago
June 1, 1894
The board of education met again Monday evening. Prof. B. G. Moulton, of York, was present to apply for the principalship of schools, but as he would not accept the place at less than $1,200 per year and the board did not wish to pay that much, his application was laid on the table, and he departed for home on the night train.
125 Years Ago
June 2, 1899
Considerable excitement resulted here the latter part of last and first of this week on account of the disappearance of George Reitmeier. The last time he was seen last week was Thursday evening, and as he had received a considerable sum of money that day, it was feared that someone had made way with him. He finally was located at Hyannis, whither he had walked, apparently while laboring under temporary aberration of mind.
120 Years Ago
May 31, 1904
The agitation and movement looking to the proper observance of Decoration day finally bore good fruit, and a very proper and creditable showing occurred at Alliance, thanks to the efforts of the ladies committee and interest shown by the old veterans.
115 Years Ago
May 28, 1909
Wednesday at about one o’clock, people having business at the depot were very much annoyed by a man who displayed a twisted wrist and insisted in no very gentle language that they listen to his tale of woe, and bestow upon him all the small change they had at hand. Several timid people gave him small sums of money to be rid of him. Our police judge arrived on the scene about this time, was held up as others had been, and after a small war of words, marched the hobo off to the city jail, where after making quite a fight and being overpowered by the city marshal, he was locked up. Upon being searched, he was found to have a very large sum of money in both silver and paper on his person, and his crippled hand was a sham affair.
110 Years Ago
May 29, 1914
In the Alliance city schools all students who have not been tardy during the semester, not absent to exceed five days, who have taken all previous examinations during the semester, and who have an average grade of 90 per cent with no grade below 80 per cent are excused from taking the semester examinations.
105 Years Ago
May 30, 1919
When Deputy Sheriff Laing saw J. W. Riley emerge from the Corner Barber shop under suspicious circumstances Thursday afternoon, he immediately placed him under arrest on a charge of obtaining liquor. Information was secured which implicated Thomas Young, the porter, and he was taken to the police court. After a thorough investigation, the porter said: “Say, boss, I don’t sell this liquor, William Ezell sells it and gets the money; I work there and that’s part of my work.” Then a warrant was issued for Ezell and the place was searched. More liquor was found and the proprietor plead guilty to having intoxicating liquors in his possession. He paid a fine of $100 and the costs.
100 Years Ago
May 30, 1924
A recent raid by Sheriff Jones and his deputy resulted in the capture of about 30 gallons of what the owner of the ranch insisted was “chicken feed,” but which, on closer acquaintance, proved to be the equal of liquid dynamite or TNT. There was no still, stove or coil anywhere about the place, and the hogshead filled with a mixture of finely chopped corn and barley was the only evidence that had anything like an incriminating look. The sheriff confiscated a gallon of the stuff for good luck.
95 Years Ago
May 28, 1929
Box Butte’s board of county commissioners were hot under the collar this morning because many people are dumping tin cans and other rubbish on various roads over the county. Some of them have the tin cans in large gunny sacks and driving out on the road they toss the sacks aside without even pouring out the cans.
90 Years Ago
May 29, 1934
Upon fingerprints found on plate glass broken from a front window of the Joe Pozza store at Lakeside today hinged officers’ hope of a solution of two break-ins in that town Friday night in which loot expected to total nearly $500 was taken. The bits of broken glass upon which the prints appear have been brought to Alliance for photographing and for examination.
85 Years Ago
May 30, 1939
All members of the crews escaped serious injury when the Burlington’s North Platte Valley livestock special smashed into the rear end of freight train No. 72 shortly before 1 o’clock Monday afternoon 12 miles south of Alliance, reducing No. 72’s way car to kindling and piling a stock car up on the front end of the special’s locomotive. Both trains were headed into Alliance.
80 Years Ago
May 30, 1944
Four youths entered pleas of guilty to charges of vandalism in connection with the smashing of 15 windows in the high school building a week ago and each was fined $36, including the cost of replacing the glass, by County Judge P. E. Romig.
75 Years Ago
May 27, 1949
Box Butte County Sheriff Dan Hoppes this morning announced the appointment of William “Dutch” Maunier as deputy county sheriff to serve on a day-to-day basis.
70 Years Ago
May 29, 1954
School land lease holders from more than a dozen counties will meet in Alliance at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, to organize an association to oppose increased rental fees. At 1:30 o’clock that afternoon, the Nebraska Legislative Council will hold a public hearing on the problem.
65 Years Ago
May 29, 1959
The last thread of governmental red tape hanging around Alliance’s new Airport Administration building was snipped today when word was received from W. J. Kreuscher, state airport engineer, to go ahead with the project. City Manager R. W. Laing received a copy of a letter sent to Architect Arthur Hehnke in Scottsbluff from Kreuscher telling Hehnke the execution of the contract with Lumir Peltz, low bidder on the job, had been approved. Peltz is an Alliance contractor.
60 Years Ago
May 29, 1964
A suspension of rules motion, which would have enables immediate passage of a new dog leash law, failed 3 to 2 in the City Council meeting Thursday evening. The defeat means that the proposed ordinance must proceed through three readings at successive Council meetings. The leash law, a stronger measure than was discussed at the Council meeting two weeks ago, was introduced and the first reading held.
55 Years Ago
May 29, 1969
A net containing some fish, picked up at the Box Butte dam north of Hemingford and brought to the Nebraska Game Commission office here today, was identified as a Game Commission Fishery department net. It was brought in by an Alliance fisherman who suspected it to be an illegal net.
50 Years Ago
May 29, 1974
An ordinance to increase some electric rates is expected to be considered tonight at the City Council meeting. The ordinance is expected to follow the C. H. Hoper report submitted to the City Council last November. In that report, Hoper recommended the residential rate scheduled be increased by about five per cent with changes in the rate structure to facilitate abandonment of the present rates for both water and space heating.
45 Years Ago
May 29, 1979
Wednesday is the final deadline for the airline survey forms to be accepted by the office of the Alliance City Manager. According to City Manager Robert Placek the total surveys returned to date total 185 with the goal of over 200 possible if persons will either mail their forms. The survey forms will be used in attempts to attract a new airline to Alliance.
40 Years Ago
May 29, 1984
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Elks and Disabled American Veterans marched America’s colors and organization banners into Alliance Cemetery to begin Memorial Day ceremonies Monday morning. Flower wreaths, words of prayer and respect and firing squad salvos paid homage to those who died in service to our country.
35 Years Ago
May 29, 1989
Alliance residents brought the town spirit to an all time high Saturday morning when about 400 people gathered for the Fountain Fest Water Ceremonies before the water in the restored City Park fountain was turned on. Alliance Mayor Eve Knight conducted the activities in a brisk wind. Also on hand were Sen. Sandra Scofield who read a Nebraska Legislature proclamation and Gary Person, a representative from Gov. Kay Orr’s office, read her letter to Alliance.
30 Years Ago
May 30, 1994
Brad Schrum of Alliance was one of 10 firefighters from across the state who received the Ak-Sar-Ben/ConAgra Firemanship Award during the 57th annual Nebraska State Fire School held recently in Grand Island.
25 Years Ago
May 28, 1999
School’s out for the summer. And, for the kids at Grandview Elementary, that means the end of the Accelerated Reading program (AR) for the year. Grandview students read 3,120 books this year alone through AR.
20 Years Ago
May 29, 2004
With the Ribbon Cutting and Open House scheduled from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday, June 3, the brand new Municipal Swimming Pool, now named “Big Blue Bay” and “Jean Thomas Bathhouse,” will be that much closer to opening to the public for swimming.
15 Years Ago
May 28, 2009
After 23 years of serving as a judge for the Nebraska Panhandle, Judge James Hansen will be retiring this Friday. Though, with Hansen leaving there is some concern as to what might happen with the Panhandle County Court judgeship. Though one might think that the retirement of a judge would automatically mean there is a vacancy, Hansen explained that the system is set up to get judicial resources set up in an area as needed.
10 Years Ago
May 29, 2014
Tuesday night, Box Butte General Hospital CEO Dan Griess informed the Board of Trustees of his participation in a virtual hearing with the national Health Information Technology Policy Committee. During the hearing, Griess testified on BBGH’s experience with Meaningful Use implementation, which defines the use of Electronic Health Records.
5 Years Ago
May 29, 2019
During their meeting on May 20, the Alliance School Board took action to get more students involved by providing more athletic opportunities in the form of a unified track program. Superintendent Dr. Troy Unzicker described the program as a way to help students become more active. He cited the success of having a unified bowling team as an example of the benefits of the program.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by staff.