Years Ago

December 2011

Alexis Ann Thomas of Potter was among nearly 1,500 students who received degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at commencement exercises Dec. 16 and 17.

Thomas received a B.S. in education and human sciences with distinction from the College of Education and Human Sciences.

The graduates are from 36 states and 30 countries.

Alberto Ibarguen, president and CEO of the John S. andJames L. Knight Foundation, delivered the commencement address and received an honorary doctor of humane letters. Charles Wood, Lewis Lehr/3M University Professor of Biological Sciences and professor of biochemistry at UNL and director of the Nebraska Center for Virology, addressed the graduate commencement.

Cheryl Zwart, magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, addressed the law commencement.

December 2007

Kimball’s boys Longhorn basketball team beat Perkins County by five points, 49 - 44, in a game played in Grant on Dec.17. Colton Daum and Charles Ferguson each scored 11 points, Tony Robinson had 10, followed by Shawn Becker with eight, Kendall Ferguson with seven while Brandon Sharp-Haun scored two. Trips to the foul line made a big difference with Kimball making 16 of 23 while Perkins County shot only nine and made five

The Lady Longhorns were defeated 62-37 by Perkins Co.

This game was limited to varsity teams by mutual agreement of both schools. The original game had been set for Dec. 7 but was rescheduled because of bad weather and treacherous roads.

December 2002

Ed DeFranco’s meticulously decorated Gingerbread house took first place and he also earned a third place in the first-ever Gingerbread House Contest sponsored by the Kimball Business Boosters. There were four adults who entered and 41 children who pasted together candy and cookies to create the masterpiece. They are displayed at Santa’s Den, 105 E. Second St. in Kimball.

Second place in the adult division went to Deb Revell for her creation of City Hall. Trevor Brower won first place for the youth, Dalton Lockwood was second and Justin Skovgard was third. All contestants received a certificate for pizza.

December 1977

Andersen Brothers Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Inc., Kimball’s newest car dealership, will have their grand opening Thursday (today) with an open house all day. Refreshments will be served and there will be door prizes.

Sale of J-K Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Inc. to Jerry and Larry Andersen was announced last month by the Andersens and Kelly Castleberry who had owned the business for the past 12 years. Jerry Andersen will be general manager and operator of the dealership.

December 1957

“A lot of Kimball county farmers are getting tired of thoughtless rabbit hunters,” Sheriff George Bradt said this week.

Many hunters are showing complete disregard for personal property of others, the sheriff said. They tear down fences and drive through wheat fields and shoot from roads and highways, he said.

“Hunting on personal property without the landowners permission,” Bradt said, “Is, of course, illegal.”

He added that authorities were asking the cooperation of all hunters to respect the property and safety of others, and to show a little good sense when hunting.

December 1942

Alliance--Charles H. Chamberlain, about 35, was killed in an accident at the Burlington railroad roundhouse Tuesday. His chest, arms and hips were crushed by the pilot of a locomotive that was on the turn table at the time of the accident. Chamberlain, whose parents live at Rushville, had worked in the shops here as a machinist’s helper since last October.

December 1932

Kathryn Hassenstab, four-year old daughter of Joe Hassenstab of Bridgeport, dangerously injured December 6 in an automobile accident which claimed the lives of her mother and aunt, is showing daily improvement at a Bridgeport hospital, where she was taken after the mishap.

The little girl fully regained consciousness for the first time Friday. Until that time, she had been in a semi-conscious condition, rousing only occasionally. When taken to the hospital, little chance for recovery was accorded her as she had suffered a four-inch fracture of the skull and had lost her entire right eye. The other eye is uninjured.

Jerry Hassenstab, the year old infant brother of the girl, is slowly recovering from a broken hip he received when his father’s car crashed into the rear end of the loaded truck.

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Sidney Telegraph--An old style, rusted pistol, believed to have been used by the outlaw, Black Hank, or one of his notorious gang members who preyed on this section of the country during its early development, has been located by a farmer living in the neighborhood of the outlaw’s reputed hangout northwest of here and is now on exhibition in the Telegraph window.

The obsolete model firearm was found within a few hundred yards of the dugout where the Black Hank gang hid out during its reign of terror in the panhandle. The farmer who, who expressed the desire to remain anonymous, said he is certain the gun belonged either to Hank or one of his renegades, inasmuch as he had found several other articles in the vicinity which undoubtedly were used by the gang while they dwelled in the well hidden and protected dugout.

The supposed location of the hangout is a desolate canyon northwest of Bronson has been located and when the weather clears a party of local people interested in the history of this county plans to make a trip to this spot and photograph it for use in a historic volume now being compiled on western Nebraska happenings and early day citizens.

December 1922

Mrs. Ed Bergman received word from Denver Monday that her father Benj. Lathrope, was very ill with black small pox, “Mr. Lathrope was formerly a resident of Kimball and is well known to many. He went to Denver recently on a business mission and took the disease soon after arrival.

December 1912

George C. Wright, a labor for the Western Union telegraph, was found dead in his bunk. Dr. Mockett and Coroner Amos Irey were called.

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Messrs. Bellows, Woldridge, and Dr. Barfoot were at Sidney Friday night attending a regular communication of the Masonic order.

The first two gentleman were made Mater Masons that evening.