130 Years Ago
September 6, 1895
Depositions were being taken yesterday for use in the trial of Mathes and Tracy for cattle stealing, which will be taken up at Sidney in district court, convening September 23rd.
125 Years Ago
September 7, 1900
Times believes the time is at hand when some move should be set on foot that will insure the construction of a sewerage system for Alliance. Though such a public work would involve heavy expense, it is generally conceded feasible by disposing of the city’s accumulated filth either southeast or south of town.
120 Years Ago
September 8, 1905
Albert B. Smith, aged eleven years, is reported ill in this city with typhoid fever and the case a serious one. It’s a wonder there hasn’t been a great deal of typhoid this season. Maybe the Lord is giving Alliance one more chance for sewerage.
115 Years Ago
September 6, 1910
Some one entered the store of C. A. Newberry last night and proceeded to play havoc with a window display in which guns and hunting “togs” were the main articles. Entrance was gained by breaking a pane of glass in one of the rear windows. The arms were all first class weapons, the loss amounting to about $75.
110 Years Ago
September 7, 1915
A defective carburetor resulted in the complete loss of Fred Showalter’s Ford car down in the lake country on the J. E. Rice ranch Saturday afternoon. The gasoline continued to lead after the car had been shut off for over an hour and when it was started by Clint Ewing, the surplus of gas caused a back-fire that sent the machine up in flames.
105 Years Ago
September 7, 1920
Nichols & Covert have installed one of the latest improved machines for stitching soles on ladies’ fine shoes. Heretofore it has been difficult to handle this class of work on the old type of machines, but the local men are now able to do it as well as the factories. New equipment has also been installed on the harness-making and repair shop.
100 Years Ago
September 8, 1925
There have been cases dismissed in court because the complaining witness failed to appear at the proper time, but it is very seldom that the defendant fails to show up. This happened Monday afternoon, when the wheels of justice were all read to start grinding in the case of the State of Nebraska vs. Carl Nelson, charged with striking a lad over the head with a chair in a dispute over wages.
95 Years Ago
September 9, 1930
After several years of more or less indifference, railroads are beginning to look at an increase in passenger traffic and as a result are making rates that induce people to take the train instead of the but or private cars. Everybody prefers to ride a train for more reasons than one. They refuse only when they feel the rates are too high. A $35 rate to California is cheaper than driving a car.
90 Years Ago
September 6, 1935
One of the new liquor laws not well known or understood in Alliance prohibits drinking on a public highway or thoroughfare. Local persons were informed of this ruling in a statement by Judge Wayne Huston in police court Tuesday night when he said that in the future violations will be prosecuted and those convicted will be subject to a fine up to $500 for first offense.
85 Years Ago
September 6, 1940
The city council at a meeting Tuesday night awarded the contract for five inch concrete paving on Platte avenue from Third to Tenth to the W. J. Parker construction company of Hastings, and work will get under way Monday. The contract was awarded on a WPA aid basis at a total price of $24,910.
80 Years Ago
September 7, 1945
The electrical storm here Thursday night was one of the worst the city has ever experienced, according to City Manager Clarence Hoper, who said this morning that lightening made several direct hits on the city’s high voltage lines.
75 Years Ago
September 7, 1950
There’s a story going around about a local marksman who scored a direct hit on a disdainful antelope the other day. Details are rather clouded, but it seems the antelope looked the hunter over, turned and walked away.
70 Years Ago
September 6, 1955
Box Butte County’s contribution to the Red Cross Disaster Fund totaled $451.50, well over the quota of $380 assigned by the national organization.
65 Years Ago
September 9, 1960
Permission was granted to the Jaycees by the City Council Thursday evening, to close off the 200, 300 and 400 blocks on Box Butte Avenue, and the 200 and 300 blocks on Laramie Avenue September 17 for Fall Festival.
60 Years Ago
September 6, 1965
Today is Labor Day and a legal holiday. Recreation was the main order of the day here. Free swimming is on tap at the Alliance Municipal Pool until 6 this evening and then the pool will close for the winter. The Panhandle Golf Tourney was in full swing early this afternoon and it also will be completed today.
55 Years Ago
September 9, 1970
The Alliance City Schools has started a bus transportation arrangement for elementary school children who are eating at the cafeteria at the North High School building, it was reported at the September meeting of the Board of Education Tuesday evening.
50 Years Ago
September 6, 1975
Another fast, active sale was held Friday at the Alliance Livestock Auction Co. with the market again showing strength over the previous week. While a large crowd was not on the seats all were in the market for cattle. There were 2,029 cattle in the sale and they sold in slightly over three hours.
45 Years Ago
September 6, 1980
Developments in the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association power plant proposal here Friday included word from Don Prochazka, president of the Box Butte County Farmers Union, that his organization has decided to take a neutral stance on the issue.
40 Years Ago
September 7, 1985
The total tax levy in Alliance per $100 of property valuation has risen to $3.1329 as compared to $2.7517 in 1984, and it will rise another few decimal points. That means the “tax bite” will be about 38 cents more per $100 valuation, or about a 13.8 percent raise above last year.
35 Years Ago
September 6, 1990
Mike Swanson, 10, has received a new heart and is in fair condition, according to a spokesman at Denver’s Children’s hospital. His vital signs are well within normal limits. Mike is conscious and may be uncomfortable and experiencing minor complications, but doctors give him a favorable outcome. It was the first heart transplant performed at Children’s Hospital.
30 Years Ago
September 9, 1995
According to Sgt. Rae Ann Christensen, Alliance police officer, crime is still commonplace in Alliance. Some of the crimes could be referred to as gang activity. However, Sgt. Christensen said, “What I know and what I can prove are two different things.”
25 Years Ago
September 7, 2000
The Alliance Volunteer Fire Department had a busy day yesterday, Sept. 6. In addition to responding to a motor vehicle accident in the morning, they also responded to two fires on the outskirts of Alliance and provided mutual aid for the fires burning near Harrison and Crawford.
20 Years Ago
September 8, 2005
The Alliance Police Department is seeking information on several burglaries that occurred between Aug. 4 and Aug. 25. In the early morning hours of Aug. 4, the suspect(s) forced entry into Espresso Lane, removing a large amount of cash.
15 Years Ago
September 8, 2010
After a workshop line item review of the county budget Tuesday, the Box Butte County Commissioners trimmed about $370,000 from the approved budget, thereby reducing the County tax levy from .416672 to .406672.
10 Years Ago
September 9, 2015
Commuting is often synonymous with bumper-to-bumper traffic, stop and go travel and waiting for accidents. Drivers working away from home in Western Nebraska and other rural areas often spend as much time behind the wheel as their metro area counterparts. Alliance was recently ranked No. 8 on a list of the 10 Best Commuter Cities in Nebraska.
5 Years Ago
September 9, 2020
On Sept. 1, Alliance City Manager Jeff Sprock verbally resigned from his position, effective immediately, after serving in the role for a little more than one year. Sprock, who came to Alliance in November 2018, had served as Mitchell’s city administrator since 2015. He ascended to the city manager position in March 2019, following the retirement of Rick Kuckkahn.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by Christine Melcher