Good Old Days 05-22-15

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.

50 years ago

May 24, 1965

'Tornadic Winds Hit Hardest At Lodgepole; Threat Of Flooding'

Operation "Deep Soak" was in effect over the weekend dumping from .8 to 5 inches of rain in the Southern Panhandle area, accompanying tornadic winds and sharp thunder and lightning.

More was in store today as the Scottsbluff Weather Bureau issued a severe weather warning to be in effect from noon until 7 p.m.

Many eyes were on the Lodgepole Creek and Sidney Draw this morning but flooding fears diminished as the crest seemed to lessen the closer it came to Sidney.

O. Albin Olson reported at about 9 a.m. that water from the draw had reached the point where it empties into the Lodgepole down the creek from the west. At Potter, George Coulter said the creek was high but not over the bridges and it seemed to be handling itself pretty well.

At 6 this morning Nebraska Highway Patrol troopers checked the crest at Buffalo Bend. In their opinion, the water seemed to be soaking in as it progressed and they did not anticipate too much trouble with flooding here.

In Sidney, officials were waiting for the arrival of flood waters and hoping they would be diminished before before getting to a number of vulnerable points in town. Strong winds Sunday afternoon downed a tree a few feet west of the 11th Avenue bridge and it fell into the creak creating a barrier. It was removed this morning.

A persistent rain accelerated at about 6 p.m, Sunday coming down hard for about an hour. In Sidney, the 13th Avenue underpass was blocked for a brief time and when it was opened cars forded several feet of water. In business and residential sections, water was running curb high as it overtaxed the drainage facilities. No reports were received of water damage or flooding of buildings, however.

The high winds that reached gusts exceeding 55 miles and hour and averaged in the vicinity of 30 miles an hour most of the afternoon and part of the evening did some damage to TV antennas, trees, and the like.

East of here, in the Sunol area, there were reports of two tornado funnels being spotted but they apparently did not touch the ground. In Lodgepole, the east section of town was visited by a small tornado that ripped off antennas and scattered tree limbs throughout the area.

25 years ago

May 23, 1990

'Local Voters Will Deal Fate On Keno'

Sidney voters will decide at the polls in November whether Sidney will have a city lottery – the game of Keno.

The four Council members present (Gerald Brestel was not present due to injuries he suffered from a recent fall) voted to place the issue on the ballot for the general election. A majority of the registered voters living in Sidney would have to approve the lottery for it to be legal here.

Gary Osborn, owner of the Silver Dollar, addressed the council, urging that voters given the opportunity to decide whether they want a lottery. He said Sidney could attract a lot of gamblers because it is on both I-81 and U.S. 385, a route to Deadwood, S.D. where gambling is now legal.

Osborn said he would like to be the operator of the Keno game but pointed out that the city could negotiate with whomever it wanted to. He said he projected revenues to the city at between $50,000 and $200,000 a year from the city's share of the profits.

In answer to a question, Osborn said the law require to a question, Osborn said the law requires that 74 percent of wagers be returned to the pla¥ers. Two percent of the money wagered must go to the State of Nebraska. The remaining 24 percent would be split between the city and the games operator on a negotiated basis, Osborn told Council.

No one present expressed objection to placing the keno issue on the November ballot but Councilman Jay Matzke, in voting yes, commented that he personally objected to using gambling as a for of tax.

10 years ago

May 15, 2005

'Lied Main Street Trying To Stir More Interest'

Stir up some excitement, generate some interest and make people want to come to downtown Sidney. "Get people excited about the downtown," J.L. Schmidt, director of the Nebraska Lied Main Street Program said Tuesday morning. "It's time to show people a good reason to get involved."

Schmidt and Elizabeth Chase, deputy director of the Lied Main Street Program, spoke to about a dozen downtown business representatives in an effort to revive interest in the program. "You are here because you care," Schmidt said.

"If you as business people can get excited,then you can get others excited about downtown," Chase said.

Sidney has been a Lied Main Street community more than three years, but in recent months, interest has been lagging, primarily because of an ordinance that could require some property owners make improvements on their buildings. City Manager Gary Person said that has owners about the government telling the owners what to do with their property. Schmidt and Chase hope to reinvigorate the program, create excitement in the Main Street program and get more people involved.

"You can't always rely on the business owners," Schmidt said.

He said Sidney needs to get more volunteers working with the Lied program: "Get the word out."

5 years ago

May 26, 2010

'Heritage Nebraska Main Street Awards Sidney'

Nebraska celebrates its downtown districts and Heritage Nebraska Main Street program recently announced winners of various excellence awards in recongnition of those who work hard to ensure there is reason to celebrate.

The May 21 ceremony, attended by Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Megan McGown, was held in Fremont at the Love-Larson Opera House.

Awards were given in 10 categories celebrating Main Street programs of 13 communities in the state. Sidney received three awards in recognition of its volunteer and business of the year, and for recognition of effective communication, marketing and image development.

Eleanor Plummer of Sidney was honored by Sidney's Main Street Program at the Ceromony as its Volunteer of the Year. McGown said Plummer, a member of the Chamber's promotions committee, simply does everything.

"If we need items or if we need help on a subcommittee, she just does a lot of stuff," McGown said. "She gives back with a lot of time. Eleanor is thoughtful, creative, and a gem to the Historic Downtown Sidney Main Street Program."

Recognized by the State Main Street program was Sidney's historic downtown, which was honored with recognition for its Shop Local Appreciation Fridays program. Mcgown said the program began last fall, and allows downtown businesses to purchase T-shirts with its logo on the front while the back carries the Chamber logo with a "thank you" message for shopping downtown. The shirts are worn on Fridays.