Good Old Days 05-23-14

Compiled By The Sidney Sun-Telegraph Staff

These stories from the past first appeared in The Sidney Telegraph. Original writing is preserved, though some stories were shortened for space reasons.

100 YEARS AGO

May 23, 1914

'Missing Sterling Man Living In California'

Sterling Democrat: Sol Faust, the eccentric farmer who disappeared from his ranch in what is known as Fisher colony, has been heard from. He is residing in California. This information came to officials of the Logan County National Bank the first week in a letter from Faust dealing with business matters; but in the letter he made no statement as to why he left his place so suddenly and mysteriously. The disappearance of Faust created a stir in Logan County, and for many weeks a search was made for him, the general belief being that he had strayed from his home and been drowned in a lake near his place, or that he had been murdered. In fact parties were under suspicion of having knowledge of what had become of the old gentleman, and were closely watched for a time. One thing which added to the belief that Faust had met with an accident or foul play, was the fact that he left everything he possessed in his house, his stock uncared for and crop in the field. After a diligent search and failure to learn anything of the missing man a conservator of the estate was appointed by Judge Landrum of county court and bond of the conservator had recently been filed.

75 YEARS AGO

May 26, 1939

'Loses Driving Permit, Fined $10 And Costs'

The driver's license of Joe Frauntorter will be revoked for a year, following his arrest early Monday by State Patrolman Church on a charge of driving while intoxicated. Frauntorter was fined ten dollars and costs by County Judge Robert A. Barlow Wednesday. A second count, charging Frauntorter with failing to stop at the scene of an accident, was not prosecuted and will be dismissed when Frauntorter produces a receipt showing he has paid for damage to the other car, Barlow stated. Frauntorter was picked up early Monday morning, the state patrolman disclosed. He was returning to Sidney from a dance. The accident occurred within the city limits, Church said.

50 YEARS AGO

May 22, 1964

'Cigarette Use Shows Drop In Nebraska'

The federal report linking cigarettes with cancer apparently had more effect, although temporarily in reducing cigarette consumption in Nebraska than rising prices resulting from the tax increase last year. These are the conclusions of a study conducted by Keith Turner of the University of Nebraska Bureau of Business Research. "Wholesale sales of cigarettes in January 1964 declined 677, 500 packages from the same month in 1963, and dropped 3,027, 000 in February. By April, sales were down only 81,570 packages from April 1963. It appears that cigarette sales in Nebraska and the nation are approaching last year's levels," Turner reported in the May issue of Business in Nebraska.

"Since the long run trend of cigarette consumption is almost stable in Nebraska, tax revenue from this source is not likely to increase if the tax remains constant. During the past four years, for example, both total and per capita consumption of cigarettes have not shown any substantial growth,"

Prior to May 1963, cigarette tax revenues amounted to $500, 000 to $600,000 per month. The legislature increased the tax rate per package of cigarettes from 4 to 6 cents effective June 1, 1963 and monthly revenues jumped to about $750, 000. Total tax revenue in 1963 amounted to $8,015,587 compared to $6,522, 301 in 1962 an increase of 22 per cent.

25 YEARS AGO

May 22, 1989

'City Placing Emphasis On Seat Belt Use'

The emphasis is on seat belts this week at Sidney joins the nation in observance of '1989 Buckle Up America' Week! Police Chief Richard Willis says the week-long nationwide campaign is heartily endorsed by the Sidney Police Department and is a top priority in the programming of safety measures which the department stresses the year around. Willis says the safety and the seat belt issues are already being addressed through the schools and elsewhere with the McGruff campaign which has found such popular acceptance since it was inaugurated by the Sidney department last year.

"During this special week (May 22 to 29) we are urging all people to buckle-up safety belts correctly. We are especially anxious to see this message reach the children, but in order to do that we must call on parents, teachers and all other adults to set the good example by using seat belts correctly in their everyday driving."

As means of urging compliance with common sense buckle-up habits, the City of Sidney is: (1) Approving a proclamation signed by Mayor Bruce Hauge which spotlights sensible driving habits, urges seat belt usage and puts particular stress on the need for use of child safety seats in all vehicles. (2) Distributing news materials and other literatures for public attention, describing seat belt usage as a 'new health habit' which can save thousands of lives annually. (3) Calling for a reduction in last year's vehicular traffic death statistics in Nebraska when 261 people dies, many of whom may have been spared if seat belts had been in place.

Too, the appeal cites the fact over 22 thousand people were injured in these accidents and most of them probably could have been spared pain, anguish and expense if they had been using their seat belts at the time of the accident. Willis pointed to one natural statistic which shows that "medical costs for unbelted occupants involved in crashes are twice as high as medical costs for occupants who wear belts " This statistic alone should be enough to convince all people that seat belt safety is the best way to go. Safety belts cut your chance of being killed or seriously injured in a crash by fifty to sixty percent. How much more convincing evidence do we need to do the sensible thing?"

10 YEARS AGO

May 22, 2004

'Class Meets Challenge; Teacher, Principal Keep Their Word'

Judi Roach's second grade class met the challenge and she and Brent Jeffers paid the price. Roach, a second grade teacher at North Elementary, and Jeffers, the school's principal, agreed that if the second graders met the challenge of their Hawaiian e-mail buddy, Kent Matsutani, they would host a luau for the class Friday and would wear grass shirts and coconut tops for the day. The students did their part, and so did Roach and Jeffers. The luau, coming with only three days of school remaining, was a good way for the second graders to release some pent up energy as they went through several activities ranging from hula dancing to doing limbo. There, Cassie Kennedy proved to be the best at going under the lowering bar, held by Roach and Jeffers.

Other activities included a feast featuring a sweet potato and pork dish in place of the traditional Hawaiian poi. There was also a tub filled with soft drinks, island style decorations and all of the second graders were wearing grass skirts they mad made for the occasion.

Matsutani, whose son, John is a member of the class, has been emailing the class since he arrived in Hawaii in January as part of Natural Resource Conservation Service after several years in Sidney. He challenged the students to read books and improve their math skills. Roach said each of her second graders read five chapter books and all accomplished at least 80 percent of their math papers, prompting the occasion for the luau. "He challenged the kids," she said, and they did it.