130 Years Ago
August 10, 1894
A few weeks since we made mention of an irrigation project in the southwestern part of Box Butte County and stated we would investigate and report to our readers. This we did and herewith give facts learned.
125 Years Ago
August 11, 1899
The ladies of the Baptist church will give a lawn social at the parsonage, Thursday evening, Aug. 17th. Ice cream and cake 15c. Everyone invited.
120 Years Ago
August 9, 1904
Will and Miss Fannie Bowman, brother and sister of Dr. L.W. Bowman, arrived in Alliance Sunday and visited their brother and family until yesterday, when they returned to their home in hay Springs, being accompanied there by Miss Hazel Bowman, who will make relatives there a visit.
115 Years Ago
August 10, 1909
At a meeting of stockholders of the Fair Association held at the city hall Saturday night it was decided by a vote of 188 to 27 to purchase of the Lincoln Land Co., the forty acres where the base ball park is located for a fair grounds.
110 Years Ago
August 14, 1914
Interesting facts and figures concerning the schools of Box Butte county are shown in the annual report of the County Superintendent of Schools, Miss Della Reed, for the school year ending July 1 as compiled and submitted to the state superintendent of public instruction.
105 Years Ago
August 12, 1919
After a long and tedious wait the people of Alliance will be able to attend the performances at the Imperial theatre next week. Manager DuBuque is unable at this time to announce the exact day, but he promises to have everything in readiness before the end of the week.
100 Years Ago
August 12, 1924
A recent accident, in which a pedestrian who cut across the street was stuck by a passing car, has resulted in a flood of complaints to Sheriff Jones and Chief of Police Jeffers from motorists who want to find some way to avoid this added risk. The practice of cutting across Box Butte avenue at any point is most general, and men, women and children are all offenders.
95 Years Ago
August 13, 1929
Rate of speed. – No person shall operate a vehicle on any highway at a rate of speed greater than is able and proper, having regard for the traffic and the use of the highway, and the condition of the highway, nor at a rate of speed such as to endanger the life and limb of any person, nor in any case at a rate of speed exceeding twenty miles per hour within the congested district, and the person operating such vehicle shall at all times have said vehicle under complete control.
90 Years Ago
August 14, 1934
Wells that will produce a thousand gallons of water a minute for irrigation are easy to obtain in the vicinity of Alliance according to Harry C. Minnick, local well driller, who is familiar with the formations.
85 Years Ago
August 11, 1939
Thanks to the PWA, Alliance will have one of the most efficient and modern power plants in Nebraska. The city’s gratitude to the governmental agency doesn’t incorporate a gift of funds, but for causing a year or more delay while waiting for them, which gave the city administration ample time to select the best location for the plant, the best architect and the best construction contract.
80 Years Ago
August 11, 1944
Crop conditions are very promising in Box Butte county generally, according to a statement made here by County Agricultural Agent J.F. Decker, who said prospects for the corn and potato crops now are better than in many years.
75 Years Ago
August 12, 1949
Crop values in Box Butte County will be approximately $7,852,825 for 1949, top farm income in history. This huge figure does not include the sale of cattle scheduled to begin within the next week.
70 Years Ago
August 14, 1954
Seven Alliance merchants contributed toward the purchase of the swimming suits for eight young Alliance women who will appear in the “Aqua Antics” show on Sunday.
65 Years Ago
August 14, 1959
Th Alliance City Council zipped through a relatively routine agenda Thursday night, easing restrictions on parking of trailers, authorizing payment of funds for work on the Airport Administration Building, and taking the first step toward obtaining further federal airport funds in the process.
60 Years Ago
August 13, 1964
The Community Building parking lot has recently been “striped” by City workmen to mark out 54 parking stalls for cars. Other improvements are planned for the lot, including lights to be installed by the City and a sidewalk at the west edge of the paving to be installed by the School Board.
55 Years Ago
August 14, 1969
Two Burlington Passenger trains, Nos 41 and 42, were off and apparently, on again, in series of actions today. Burlington Train No. 41, with 33 passengers aboard, was abruptly halted at Hemingord at 8:19 a.m. today by orders relayed from Alliance chief dispatcher to Station Agent Clyde Lawson.
50 Years Ago
August 13, 1974
A letter from Deputy State Fire Marshal Harold Sobotka to the Box Butte County Commissioners in which a number of fire safety corrections were ordered has been turned over to County Attorney Paul Empson for an opinion regarding the options the county has regarding the proposed changes. The biggest item in the proposal is that “a second means of exit shall be provided from the second, third and fourth floors of the building.”
45 Years Ago
August 13, 1979
Bidders – for the most parts business firms from area towns – paid premium prices totaling $78,496.96 for live meat, animal and beef carcass offerings at the 1979 Box Butte County 4-H and FFA Market Livestock Sale here Saturday.
40 Years Ago
August 14, 1984
A former Alliance man was sentenced to one year in prison for federal income tax evasion. Glen L. Merriman, 49, now of Farmers Branch, Texas, pleaded guilty last month to evading $3,453 in taxes in 1978 as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.
35 Years Ago
August 14, 1989
Actor/singer Michael Damian performs before a near-capacity crowd at the Box Butte County Fair Saturday night in Hemingford. Damian’s was the first rock ‘n roll concert presented during the fair’s 64 years.
30 Years Ago
August 12, 1994
The 1994 queen of the Box Butte County Fair and her court were crowned last night at the fairgrounds grandstand. The new crown-holders include Queen Kory Obermiller, First Attendant Jennifer Ullrich, Second Attendant Angela Schafer and Miss Congeniality Karleen Becker.
25 Years Ago
August 14, 1999
A special recognition of outgoing Board President Sandy Moore, and the appointment of a new board member to replace her, will be part of Monday’s District No. 6 Board of Education agenda.
20 Years Ago
August 16, 2004
Last night’s wind, hail and rain storm affected Alliance and Box Butte County residents in various ways. Large hail, from golf ball sized down to pea-sized struck the east side of Alliance including the Meadowlark and Homestead Additions and out to the fields and farms north and east into Sheridan County.
15 Years Ago
August 14, 2009
For the majority of the summer, the Alliance Rifle Club had to go without a shooting range, as construction took place on the new Glen Fiebig Range about eight miles east of town. That will change on Sunday afternoon, as the range will open with a ceremonial shot from Fiebig himself at 4:30 p.m. The range will be open for members during daylight hours except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the area will be irrigated.
10 Years Ago
August 14, 2014
Senator Deb Fischer met with veterans at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in a constituent listening session Wednesday to hear questions and concerns with the recent problems regarding VA hospitals. Veterans from around the region gathered at the museum to voice their opinions and worries in regard to the complications they face when trying to get prompt medical attention at the VA hospital in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
5 Years Ago
August 14, 2019
Taking the oath of office at the last school board meeting, Joshua Freiberger took his spot on the Alliance School Board, replacing Amanda Mockerman, who resigned due to a move out of the district that disqualified her from serving on the board. Superintendent Dr. Troy Unzicker explained that Freiberger was one of two people who applied for the position.
*Compiled from The Alliance Times-Herald Archives by staff.
