Good Old Days 10-24-14

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.

50 YEARS AGO

Oct. 23, 1964

'Woman's Death Brings Charges Against Driver'

Charges of motor vehicle homicide were filed Tuesday in County Court against David Santana Flores, Ovid County. The 27-year-old native of Puerto Rico pleaded not guilty of the death of a Sterling, Colo., woman and a hearing was set for October 27.

Bond was set at $2,000 and a lawyer has been appointed by the court to defend Flores. The charges arose from the death of Miss Virginia Rios, who was killed early Sunday morning, Oct. 11, six miles west of Chappell while riding in a car driven by Flores. Miss Rios was struck in the face by a section of a bridge rail when the car crashed into a culvert bridge. She was apparently killed instantly.

After the crash, Flores drove away from the scene of the accident and turned south off the highway. Later, the car stalled on a dead end south of the Fred Rocker farm and the driver set out on foot to find help, leaving the dead girls' body in the car.

25 Years Ago

Oct. 24, 1989

'Jaycees Will Introduce Program To Russia'

The president of the United States Jaycees told the Sidney Telegraph on Monday he will go to the Soviet Union in December to help start Jaycee chapters in the Eastern Bloc nations.

In an interview prior to his speaking to the local Jaycee chapter last night, Robby Dawkins of Florence, S.C., said he doesn't yet know just who he will be speaking to in Moscow and Leningrad but the Soviet government has definitely approved his trip Dec. 1-15.

Dawkins said there are three groups in Estonia that are interested in becoming Jaycees. "If we can get them going in the Soviet Union, we can get in the other Eastern Bloc notions as well," the 31-year-old national president said.

Dawkins was in Sidney and other Panhandle cities to recognize Nebraska's number two Jaycee ranking among the nation's states.

"If we can get the Jaycees started over there ... then we might possibly be changing history," he said.

The trip to the Soviet Union has been about three months in the planning stage he said and is being coordinated with the American Institute for International Leadership headquarters in Indianapolis.

"I really think we have a good chance of being successful because of the recent changes – remarkable developments" in the relationship between the U.S. And the Soviet Union.

During his year-long term as Jaycees president Dawkins, his wife and eight-year-old daughter are living in Tulsa, Okla., at the organization's national headquarters. He is on leave from his position as a staff member with the South Carolina legislature because the Jaycee presidency is a full-time job. Dawkins said that in his term of office he wants to turn around the trend in recent years of declining Jaycee membership. He is especially interested also in expanding individual improvement programs including "a new program of teaching people how to start their own businesses." He said he wants to get more people aware of Jaycees "whether they want to join or not."

From Sidney, Dawkins will depart tomorrow for Tulsa and then will fly to Birmingham, England, to attend the Jaycees World Conference along with other members from 93 countries.

Dawkins said Nebraska's No. 2 rating in Jaycees is based on community service, money raised for charity, recruiting abilities and training provided to members.

Ten years ago, Dawkins was working part time for a moving and storage company when the owner, president of the local Jaycees chapter, asked him to join. "I did but I didn't go to a single meeting for the next six months. Then one night they had a steak dinner and the mayor was going to speak. I didn't care a thing about the mayor but I didn't want to miss that steak."

Since that night, Dawkins has rarely missed a Jaycee meeting, he said.

Last year, he was national vice president. Before that he was South Carolina state president of the organization.

Dawkins praised Gary Person of Sidney, the Nebraska Jaycee state president. "The job he is doing is something that has needed to be done for a long time. The thing that sets him apart is how he cares for the members. He is always ready to help. You won't find a more dedicated young man."

The two men have known each other for two years.

This was Dawkins' first visit to Western Nebraska and he said he found the countryside "beautiful" and remarked that it was as warm in Sidney Monday as it is this time of year in his Deep South home town.

10 Years Ago

Oct. 26, 2004

'Public's Help Needed Concerning Break-Ins'

The Sidney Police Department is looking to the public for help in providing any information concerning a rash of break-ins at various businesses over the weekend.

"We need your help," said Sidney Police Chief Larry Cox, sending out a plea to the community. "We need anyone who has seen or heard anything to help us."

According to the SPD, four break-ins and one attempted break-in were reported to have occurred at businesses during the early morning hours of Sunday, Oct. 24.

The first break-in was reported at 3:37 a.m. at Foster Lumber & Rental Center on Fort Sidney Road. Windows were broken out of doors, but nothing was taken.

Two more break-ins followed at the Rolling Pin Bakery and Subway reported simultaneously at 4:49 a.m. Both businesses are located next door to one another on 10th Avenue, across from Sidney's Legion Park.

Windows were broken out of doors at Subway and a door damaged at the Rolling Pin. Cash was also taken from both sites.

Performance Automotive on East Hickory Street was the target of a fourth break-in reported at around 5:46 a.m. Again windows were broken out of the door and cash taken.

A fifth attempt was made at Two J's Liquor on West Illinois Street. The liquor store's glass door was damaged though entry failed. Evidence of the attempted break-in was discovered and reported around noon when the store was to open.

Cox says he believes all of the incidents are related, and the SPD is continuing to investigate into the party or parties responsible for the crimes.

5 Years Ago

Oct. 24, 2009

'Sidney Residents Victims Of Acts Of Kindness'

Several unsuspecting Sidney residents were the victims of random acts of kindness last Sunday evening as members of the Fusion Youth Group participated in a "Rake & Run" service project.

The project allowed area youth to go out into the community to help others and gain nothing in return but the satisfaction of knowing their good deeds helped someone else.

According to sponsors Kahla Nelson and Janet Rosenbaum, the group left one thing: a leaf-free yard.

Youth leader Janet Rosenbaum said the group had a total of 40 bags by the end of the night.

"The bad news is that we ran out of bags. The good news is that we ran out of bags," Nelson said.

"The kids did a great job working in teams to bag up the leaves. There were many laughs as we found a way to serve the Lord and show love to others."

Fusion split into three groups as 23 youth and eight adults raked leaves at sundown.

"This was the first time that our youth group did this. It was a hoot," Nelson said. "One of the groups decided to ring doorbells after the leaves were bagged and run off."

Nelson said the group received a few thank-you notes for their efforts.

"Look for us to do this again next fall or possibly a snow-shoveling event this winter," Nelson said.

The recently-formed youth group is a combination of Sidney's Holy Trinity Lutheran and First United Methodist churches, but youth from any church is welcome to attend. The group is open to any teen in grades 7-12.