‘It was a white Christmas’

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

‘A Serious Accident’

December 28, 1912

Last Saturday little Harold Edens four years old, son of Gus Edens, living fifteen miles northwest of town, fell through the plate glass window, completing severing the muscles at the back of the neck. Mrs. Edens was alone at the time, with the two children. Leaving the baby in the high chair she ran with the injured child half a mile for help. A neighbor took them in an auto to Dalton and finding the doctor gone another auto brought them to Sidney. It took number of stitches to close the wound and the little fellow is pretty weak but improving nicely. Time will tell whether a scar or stiffness will remain, but modern surgery accomplishes wonders so there is every reason to hope no lasting ill effects will result.

75 YEARS AGO

‘New Penney Manager Is

Named This Week’

December 31, 1937

For the second time within a year, a change in managers has been made at the Sidney J. C. Penney Company store. H. S. Strom of Scottsbluff has come here to take over the local store and H. W. Shively goes to Scottsbluff to replace Mr. Strom.

Mr. Strom was next to the manager in the Scottsbluff store and it is understood that Mr. Shively will take that position. The Telegraph was informed that the change should work out to the advantage of both men.

Mr. Shively came here from Lamar, Colorado early this year to replace D. . Ewing. Within the short period of his residence here he had been active in civic work and created a wide circle of friends.

Sidney breaks even from a population standpoint in the change. Mr. Strom ill bring his wife and youngster to Sidney as suitable living quarters are found. Mr. Shively said he ould leave for Scottsbluff as soon as possible, probably today.

50 YEARS AGO

‘Three Facing Auto Thievery

Charges Here’

December 31, 1962

Three Ontario, Calif., men, arrested in Ogallala with a stolen car, are no in Cheyenne County Jail facing auto theft charges.

To of the men, Richard Brockbank, 17, and Harley Ray Harmon, 22, were arraigned Friday and pleaded not guilty to the count. The third man, who had escaped from Ogallala authorities while being searched, was later apprehended and will be arraigned today.

Sheriff W. W. Schulz said he anticipates that the third man, James Harry McNeal, 24, will plead guilty.

The men were found with a 1956 Chevrolet, owned by Jack Loveland of Sterling, Colorado, and taken sometime between 7:15 and 8:15 p.m. Thursday night from its parking place between the Telegraph and the Fox Theatre.

Sheriff Schultz said that he had learned from the trio that they were hitchhiking from California to Kansas City where they hoped to get employment. The sheriff was of the opinion that “thumbing” involved more foot work than they had anticipated so they decided to ride.

The stolen car had a faulty switch and could be turned on without a key.

25 YEARS AGO

‘It Was A White Christmas

And Then Some’

December 28, 1987

‘Dreaming of a White Christmas’ in Cheyenne County led to more white than Christmas.

The pre-Christmas snow that blew into the panhandle Wednesday was apparently joined by a big brother Saturday, leaving four inches of fluffy flakes on top of a six-inch accumulation. Sunday’s continuation deposited another four inches, to bring the total to 14 inches on the ground this morning.

In Dalton, eight inches of snow from from the early storm, was united with an additional eight inches Saturday, followed by two more Sunday, for a total of 18 inches on the ground Monday.

At Potter the original four and one-half inches of snow gained six more Saturday and an additional six Sunday, for a sum of 16-1/2 by the week’s beginning. Lodgepole’s initial five inches united with eight more inches Sunday.

Throughout Cheyenne County, according to County Highway Superintendent Howard Kurth, “It’s not so bad. The roads are snow packed and it will take a while to clear, but in most places you can get through – maybe not with a little car.” Kurth reported his drivers, who began plowing at 6 a.m Monday, were reporting the northwest corner of the county had received the brunt of the storm, although even there the roads were passable.

He also reported one case where the Dalton Rescue crew called him for assistance getting oxygen to a rural home. “I guess they decided later to just go in and get her out.”

“I don’t believe we are blocked anywhere,” Kurth opined, then added, “one guy said he was being helped by the wind, which was blowing the snow off the roads. That’s one thing we need to worry about. If that wind picks up, we could have trouble.”

Dan Jenson, Civil Defense coordinator for Cheyenne County, reported no major trouble in the area. Jenson, who is also civil defense coordinator for Kimball and Banner Counties, noted no unusual troubles in any area. He pointed out that I-80 had been closed for a period of hours Sunday, but area lodging was able to handle the additional load and the Sidney National Guard Army was not opened.

State Highway plows were not reporting any unusual problems with the road-clearing process either Monday morning. The Interstate had been closed at 8 a.m. Sunday due to blowing and drifting now and poor visibility between Sidney and the Wyoming State line. It was re-opened at 1:36 p.m.

Nebraska State Patrol Officers did not report any accidents during the majority of the weekend storm in the Sidney/Cheyenne County area. Trooper Don Connelly said he had observed “numerous vehicles which had apparently slid off the roadway into ditches.

10 YEARS AGO

‘Potter Woman In Serious

Condition After Rollover’

December 28, 2002

A Potter woman was severely injured in a one-vehicle rollover accident northeast of Potter Monday. As of Friday, San Juana Valdez, 44, remains in serious condition in ICU at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, according to a hospital spokesperson.

At 3:49 p.m. Monday, the Çheyenne County Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical personnel were dispatched to an accident 2.5 miles east and 2.3 miles north of Potter in which a 1996 Jeep Cherokee northbound on County Road 83 crossed the center line, exited the roadway to the left and rolled two and one-half times landing on its top. Valdez was completely ejected from the vehicle and transported by Air Link to Regional West for treatment of injuries. The vehicle was totaled.

The Potter Volunteer Fire Department aided in the rescue effort.

The cause of the accident remains unknown at this time.