Information taken from archived files of the Blue Valley Blade and the Seward County Independent for the third week of February.
1925
Last Saturday, the patrons of School District No. 28, known as the Bates School, located about two miles south of Bee, voted unanimously to create a building fund and to build a fine all modern school house the coming season.
On February 18, an election will be held at Ulysses to vote on the issuing of $10,000 in bonds for the improvement of the municipal water works system at that place. The improvements consists of a 50,000 gallon steel tank on 100 foot to balcony shell tower, among other things. If the bonds carry, it is expected to commence as soon as contracts can be awarded.
The “1925 Sewardonian” staff is attempting to make the year book complete in every respect. Every individual, organization or school activity will be represented in the book.
1935
Nebraska Republicans will have a big homecoming at Lincoln March first when they inaugurate Founder's Day. Officially, March first is State Day in Nebraska and the purpose of Republicans is to celebrate it as they do in Kansas. It is believed that more than a thousand men and women will attend this year's Founder's Day meetings in Lincoln.
Aurora will be the scene of the new conference basketball tournament next Saturday. All the teams will play their first round on Friday, those defeated being eliminated. Teams in the conference are: Seward, Schuyler, Aurora, Central City, Stromsburg, David City and Fullerton.
1945
Well, Nebraska is now the “Cornhusker” state. That carries on the name of the Nebraska University football team, and it is a good name at that. The old name of “Tree Planter” was of real significance, as Nebraska is the birth place of “Arbor Day,” nationally recognized as a day to plant trees.
The Seward Blue Jays won their third consecutive conference Championship Tuesday night by defeating Central City 31-15. This gave the Seward boys a clean sweep in their Central Five Conference for this season.
1955
Leonard Geesen was named President of the Seward Chamber of Commerce at a Board of Directors meeting. He served as vice-president of the organization last year and succeeds outgoing president Wilber Wood.
A Naval Aviation Cadet Procurement Team from the Naval Air Station, Lincoln, will visit Concordia Teachers College Feb. 25 to talk to male students and any other interested young men about the Naval Aviation Cadet Program.
1965
An explosion and fire destroyed the interior of Martins Standard Oil station in Milford about 8:30 a.m. today (Wednesday). Early reports indicated that two or three men were injured, including a Milford fireman.
Plans for construction of a new supermarket in Seward were announced this week by Hinky Dinky president C.M. “Nick” Newman, Omaha. The new facility will be located on lots to the northwest of the corner of Main and Columbia streets. Construction will start March 15 and the target date for completion will be early summer. Hinky Dinky has had a store in Seward for 25 years.
1975
Seward County residents 60 years and older are eligible to ride the Handi-Bus for a 50 cents round trip fee. Bus driver Erwin Sundermann says there are many days when the bus is not filled and encourages citizens to use the bus.
With nearly a dozen citizens at the Board meeting of the Seward County Commissioners Tuesday, the members established boundaries for the five new districts. Candidates for the new districts should file in the early spring of 1976 for the May primary. In the November 1976 election, the new commissioners will be elected and the new five-member board will go into effect in January 1977.
1985
A one-pound can of blasting powder, found in the Bergers Auto Parts Store during remodeling, has been destroyed, said Seward Police Department chief Marlin Sturgis. The blasting powder was found about two weeks ago and ignited last week. Sturgis said the coffee can, found in the building at 5th and Main St., was “almost full” of what he called “blasting and/or stump powder.” Sturgis dispelled the rumor that someone had planted a bomb in the building and that a fuse had been attached to it.
Sen. Edward Zorinsky and Rep. Doug Bereuter told farmers and area businessmen at the Seward Civic Center Feb. 16 that farmers are running out of time to receive aid during the worsening agricultural economy. Zorinsky said farmers who can survive the serious crunch in the next few weeks will see help coming in the form of the 1986 Farm Bill. However, he said immediate solutions are needed for farmers in trouble now.
1995
The Seward United Methodist Church has established a fund to assist the United Methodist Church in Seward, Alaska, which burned to the ground Dec. 26. The Rev. Al Smith of the Seward (Neb.) United Methodist Church said the church's administrative council began a fund to benefit the Alaskan church with $500. The structure was insured and the congregation is planning to rebuild.
A photo caption read: Seward's Jeff Theobald grimaces as he wages battle with Darrick Arndt of Cozad in the B-3 District Wrestling Tournament in Hastings on Feb. 11. Theobald placed second in the 160-pound division and is one of 10 Bluejays to qualify for state competition, a new school record. Five Centennial wrestlers are also state-bound.
2005
Mother's Day came early for Myrna Swanson of Seward this year. Instead of flowers in May, Swanson received a phone call Jan. 15. It was the Nebraska Mother's Association, calling to tell her she had been selected as the 2005 State Mother of the Year.
After 43 years on the job, Richard Stillahn's last day with the Jones National Bank is slated for Tuesday, March 1. Stillahn began working at the bank shortly after graduating from Seward High School.
2015
For about seven years, Denny and Cheri Wullenwaber of Seward have been serious about tailgating. So serious, in fact, they tricked out a trailer and took it to every home Nebraska football game. Now, they're donating the trailer to be auctioned off at the Team Jack Foundation Gala on March 7.
The projected cost for the new justice center is more than $200,000 over the previous estimated budget. The target budget for the center is $12 million, but preliminary expenses totaled $12.9 million at the beginning of the project, but the new estimated budget has come in at $13.1 million. One of the reasons for this increase in cost is an increase in the price of steel.
