Good Old Days 12-23-15

Compiled By Delaney Uhrig

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

Fifty Years Ago

'64th Wedding Anniversary Celebrated By Thompsons'

Dec. 20, 1965

Sixty-four years of married life were observed by Mr. and Mrs. George C. Thompson, 1051 7th Avenue, Saturday. With the well known couple to help them celebrate were their entire family, with the exception of one grandson, George Bertels of Van Nuys, Calif. An anniversary dinner was served at noon. Here for the occasion were the Thompson's three daughters and their husbands: Mr. and Mrs. Percy Dimick of Fort Collins, Colo., Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson of Byers, Colo., and Mr. and Mrs. William Bertels of Dix. Also present were Mrs. Carrie Dimick, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Dimick and family, and Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Dimick.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson came to Cheyenne County with homesteading parents when they were very young. Mr. Thompson, a native of Illinois, came to Lodgepole in 1888 when he was eight years old. Mrs. Thompson, the former Mary Jurgens, came with their parents from Germany when she was 11 and they settled near Gurley.

The Thompsons were married at 11 a.m. on Dec. 18, 1901, in the Weyerts Lutheran Church. They recall vividly the blizzard through which they drove in a buggy to get to the church. The snow was a foot deep on the ground.

During the early years of their marriage the Thompsons homesteaded land east of Gurley and farmed there until Oct. 23, 1911, when they moved into Sidney. Mr. Thompson was first employed by the Union Pacific Railroad, then worked at the store that is now Greenlees', owned and operated a pool hall for three years and then served as manager for the Cheyenne Country Trading Co. until his retirement 30 years ago.

Mrs. Thompson has devoted her life to her family and her home. She has one special diversion -- her hobby of crocheting.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are alert and interested in the activities around them. They are devoted to one another and their family.

40 Years Ago

'City Council Table Truck Ordinance'

Dec. 24, 1975

Action on proposed ordinance that would prohibit certain trucks from using South 11th Ave. as a throughway was tabled by the Sidney City Council Monday afternoon pending refinement of terms used in the draft.

Council tabled the ordinance after Councilman Ed Bauman noted that it prohibited trucks exceeding eight feet in width. Bauman noted that even the widest tractor-trailer units on the highways today are generally narrower than eight feet.

City Atty. Tom Dorwart said the proposed ordinance was drafted according to specifications provided by City Engineer Larry Richards, but that he would attempt to correct the apparent error.

Subsequent discussion by Council on how to establish a fair set of truck route regulations brought up several other possible limiting methods, such as gross weight and number of wheels. Most of those suggestions, however, were discounted in discussion.

"The problem as I understand it then," Bauman said, "is without the big semi units. This is an agricultural community and I don't want to jump on the farmers. Eleventh Ave. is a through street, and if people thought it was going to be too noisy they shouldn't have built there in the first place."

Councilman Tom Kokjer said he would like to hear from farmers and truckers who use South 11th. Ave. on how they feel about putting restrictions on the route.

"We don't know the feelings of farmers, ranchers and truckers on this issue yet," he said. "But I'd like to find out how the farmers feel about it. And I want to hear from the truckers."

"No one is trying to restrict farm and city marketing. I think we should try to make the ordinance right," Kokjer said.

South Elementary School principal Ed Marquardt said he favored for safety reasons an ordinance that would prohibit heavy trucks from using Toledo St. near the school.

25 Years Ago

'Wind Chill Here Falls To Below Minus 60'

Dec. 21, 1990

Winter made its entrance into Cheyenne County today bringing with it a wind-chill reading of more than 60 degrees below zero.

The Scottsbluff Weather Service said there were wind-chill indexes of between minus 50 and minus 60 degrees throughout the Nebraska Panhandle. The National Weather Service issued wind-chill, snow and blowing snow advisories for the entire state. However, at 9:30 this morning it call doff the snow advisory for the Panhandle but the wind-chill advisory was to continue through this afternoon for the entire state.

Many people are having problems starting their frozen vehicles and water pipes have frozen throughout the region. Joyce Hipwell of Snell Services in Sidney said the company made 22 services calls Thursday, all related to the cold. "The guys worked until 10 last night and they'll probably be working until 10 again tonight." She said the problems were frozen pipes and furnaces and boilers in need of repair.

Because of the bone chilling cold the Sunol school did not hold classes today and the Sidney pubic schools dismissed students at noon.

By noon today there had been no reports of any local serious power of natural gas interruptions. Sidney turned on its natural gas and diesel powered standby electric generator late last night at the request of its power supplier.

The city is producing part of the power it is using so that additional power can be directed to areas more in need of it.

Rick Matousek, manager of Scoular Grain, said the bitter cold is not apparently causing winter kill of planted winter wheat because there is sufficient moisture in the subsoil. "Even this little bit of snow is helping," he said.

Overnight lows were 20 below at the Sidney airport, minus 21 in Dalton, 18 below at Lodgepole and 16 below at Chappell. The lowest overnight reading reported as of 6 a.m. today was 22 below zero at Kimball. Omaha Eppley Airfield was the state's warm spot Thursday with a high of 13 degrees.

At the Sidney airport Thursday manager Ed Nelson called a plumber when he came to work and found the water pipes frozen. It took the plumber several hours to get their partly because he had trouble getting his car started and partly because he had dozens of other similar calls.

10 Years Ago

'King's Daughters Receive Ladies Chamber Dress Down Day Funds'

Dec. 23, 2005

The King's Daughters delivered food baskets Wednesday to those families who would otherwise not have a Christmas dinner and delivered to them was a check from the Cheyenne County Ladies Chamber Dress Down Day funds to aid in continuing their benevolence.

The $977.52 will be used for food baskets. The King's Daughters also send letters and cards and delivered goody trays and Christmas decorations to those people who live alone, who have endured major hardship, who are sick or immobile.

Shirley Flohr, president, said the group's continued efforts would not be possible without the support of the community, city employees who help deliver the baskets and the local grocery stores who help with the baskets.

In Sidney, the King's Daughters began in 1891 by Sidney ladies and wives of officers of Fort Sidney. The group, which is all volunteer and plays no salaries, has continued their efforts throughout the years.

The next Friday Dress Down Proceeds will go to the High Plains Arts Council to help fund the Missoula Children's Theatre. Their activities involve at least 50 students as part of the cast and approximately 500 students as audience members.

Any charity organization wishing to be considered for the Dress Down Funds are required to fill out an application form. The application is reviewed by the Dress Down Committee who then make the decision as to whether the project meets all criteria and qualifications. If accepted, a month is then assigned and the group notified. If you know of a charity that may meet the requirements, they can pick up an application at the chamber offices.

Anyone interested in contributing to the Dress Down proceeds, donations can be left the Cheyenne County Chamber Office.