Good Old Days 06-26-15

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

'Flood Damages to County Bridges was $127,000'

June 28, 1965

Flash floods that followed cloudbursts in Cheyenne County caused a total of $127,210 in damages, principally to bridges and drainage structures.

Orville Smith, Cheyenne County road commissioner, said this morning that he is spending to the State Highway Department, by request, a report listing the damage. There is a possibility that the flood damage in this area may be in line for Federal Aid, if it can be included in the Denver flood area.

Smith said that the total amount of damages does not include more washing out that occurred over the weekend in the southeastern part of the county. This flooding eliminated much of the repair work that had been done following the May 15 cloudburst that struck the Sidney area.

Therefore, the cost of repair work to the washed out repairs still have to be added to the $127,000 total.

The commissioner estimated that 40 bridges in the county have been heavily damaged as a result of the water cascading through this area. Most recent rains have not been absorbed as were the earlier ones because the ground has already reached saturation point.

Reports of more heavy rainfall in the offing are alarming to say the least, considering the fact that the water will have no place to go except downstream or spreading along the already soaked surface of the ground on either side, he said.

At least eight bridges, many of them the concrete structures installed by the Air Force on missile site roads, were put out of commissions Thursday night when up to five inches of rain in cloudburst proportions in the Sidney Draw area southwest of Sidney. Fortunately, rainfall along the Lodgepole Creek and Highway 30 area was in lesser amounts. As it was, the highly vulnerable city of Sidney had to throw up additional dirt dikes at the west edge of town to take care of the water.

25 YEARS AGO

'Water 2000 Finally Approved'

June 27, 1990

Sidney City Council unanimously approved Water 2000, the sweeping $10 million long-range program that has been many months in the making and which is considered the best hope for solving Sidney's water ills.

Council again discussed an ordinance that would place municipal water rates on a linear flat rate rather than the complicated formula now in effect that tends to reward the biggest users of water with lower rates. However, council did not approve it but voted to give it a second reading at a later meeting. If approved, it will raise the average household's water bill 52 cents a month, city officials estimate. Council formally accepted City Manager Roger Anthony's resignation by a vote of four to one, Mayor Bruce Hauge voting no without explaining his vote.

To objections that Water 2000 is too expensive, City Attorney Jordan Ball told Council, "That's the point. The city has not bought into anything here," but he said by having a plan to solving its critical water problem the city can be eligible for federal assistance. Russell Jacobson of High Plains Development said, "The Bureau of Reclamation will eventually define what will need to be done."

Anthony said, "The Bureau of Reclamation wants to set up a test station here to see if they can reverse the nitrade trend."

Before voting on Water 2000 council candidates Whitey Hendrick and Lois Ham were asked their opinion, and both said they favored the Council going ahead with the program.

Council members all voted to recommend with conditions a request by Two J's Liquor for an addition to its licensed premises.

Council received but took no action on requests for Economic/Community Development funds from representatives of Cheyenne County Youth Services, Highway 385 promotion, to reduce the city's bonded indebtedness , and the Cheyenne County Visitors Committee.

The Sidney Jaycees request for a special designated permit for the Appreciation Days Street Dance the last Saturday in July receives anonymous approval.

10 YEARS AGO

'Storm Cell Produced Eight Tornadoes'

June 29, 2005

Large hail, torrential rain, high winds, funnel clouds and eight tornadoes were all part of Monday night's storm.

Larry Collins, Region 21 emergency management coordinator, said the National Weather Service reported eight tornadoes, produced from funnel clouds, but the severity of those tornadoes will not be known until a full report is completed.

The storm produced numerous funnel clouds in Banner, Cheyenne, Deuel, and Morrill Counties as well as high winds, hail and rain and sounding the tornado sirens in Sidney. The storm took twelve hours to cross southeast from Scottsbluff County through Deuel County. Collins said he had around 100 spotters across Cheyenne, Deuel and Morrill Counties, spotters include local law enforcement and volunteer fireman.

Lloyd Sisson, director of engineering at High West Energy out of Pines Bluff, Wyo., said the storm caused damage to between 15 and 20 power poles. Only one stuck well and house were still without power on Tuesday morning. He said that all poles were expected to be fixed by the end of Tuesday given crews could get to them due to rough terrain.

Aavo Taaler, Wheatbelt Public Power manager, said there was no damage to Wheatbelt Power poles, but there was a transmission problem at the Western Area Power Administration sub station located in the Chappell area. The problem cause a power outage from around 6:30 p.m. to midnight for area residents.

Jeff Ortgies, Deuel County sheriff, said that one pole was snapped off due to wind and rotting of the pole.

5 YEARS AGO

'Ag Lab Celebrates 40 Years'

June 29, 2010

The High Plains Agricultural Laboratory (HPAL) near Sidney has served for four decades as a beacon of research into dryland crop and livestock production.

On June 17, the facility hosted a field day to celebrate 40 years of operation. Special guest and field marshal for the day was Harold Tremain, the lone remaining original member of the HPAL Advisory Board.

The event featured a tour of the research plots at the facility led by researchers from HPAL. In the evening, those in attendance were treated to a deer and pig roast sponsored by the Nebraska Wheat Board. Don Cruise, chairman of the HPAL Advisory Board, estimated that around 200 attended the dinner.Following the meal, John Oades, vice president of U.S. Wheat Associates, spoke on the world wheat export standards. Equipment demonstrations, a rainfall simulator and a mobile baking lab were also featured in the evening.

The facility can trace its roots back to the efforts of local residents and ag producers in the 1960s. Members of the Cheyenne County Rural Area Development Committee began lobbying for the establishment of a field of research laboratory in the area beginning in 1962. By 1964, the need for a research facility became more apparent as the Panhandle region's wheat production was struck by outbreaks of black stem rust, wheat streak mosaic and crown and root rot. The following year, the Nebraska legislature approved legislation establishing the laboratory and appropriated $100,000 for its operation.