Looking Back

1892Conrad Zimmerman, formerly of Fairbury, had taken over the hotel at Jansen.1922To take advantage of prevailing lower prices, work was started on paving Fairbury streets.1952The National Production Authority gave Fairbury the go ahead to purchase steel for the construction of a municipal swimming pool. Construction on the pool was scheduled to be completed the following year. A bond was issued for $125,000 by the city for the project.1962“Exciting Days…at Rock Creek Station” was the title of the essay that won first place for Beverly Kay Henrichs of rural Endicott in the statewide contest sponsored by the Nebraska Press Association.Additional entries in the Miss Fairbury contest included Diane Wiedel and Connie Ahlman of Hebron.The Rev. E. A. Binger, pastor, presided at the paid-off mortgage burning for the Trinity Lutheran Church in Jansen. The new edifice, built in 1948, cost about $50,000, including furnishings.Many improvements in residences and business places had been taking place throughout Fairbury in the Spring. Shelburne Motel, formerly located at 14th and “B” Street added a six-inch slab of hard surfacing to provide a better place for loading and unloading cars.The Rock Creek Ranchers 4-H club fared very well at the Marysville Better Beef Days. Mickey Gill showed the grand champion Hereford female and won the travel-ling trophy. David Dawes showed a first place Angus Heifer, open class and Marvin Dawes showed a fifth place Angus heifer in the 4-H division. Individual placings were Gary Dick-first, Mickey Gill-second, John Marcum-third, Marvin Dawes-fourth and Alan Seeley-fifth.1972The Jefferson County School Fund had received $23,615 from 1971 fines and licenses, about three times that of either 1969 or 1970. Alan Dux of Fairbury FFA chapter was named Area Star Farmer; Roy Shinn and Mark Willoughby were State Farmers.A record total of 448 animals had been shown at the Blue Valley Beef Revue. Harlan Ruhnke was president. Bob Engle of Geneva won the 4-H judging prize offered by Henry Evers of Odell.Key roles in the FHS play, “Matchmaker,” were handled by Kim Austen, Karen Bohlmeyer, Mike and Patricia Kidder, Todd McDaniel, Chuck Glaesemann, Larry Hiller, Jody Johnson, Debbie Quam, Theresa Hill and Julie Wilkinson.1982Fairbury Elks installed Fred Drexler exalter ruler; other officers included John Wilson, Bob Minks, and Larry Schwan.Fairbury elementary school pupils whose art work was accepted for statewide exhibit were Derrick Barker, Kendra Cummins, Bryce Heitman, Mary Niemeier, Jerolyn Smith and Krista Ward.Work began on a new bridge over the Little Blue River just south of Endicott.A Jeff wrestler, Mark Schacht, was invited on South American Tour as part of the Nebraska contingent. This was a South American goodwill wrestling tour. Schacht has a record of 27-2 and has been on varsity for the past three years.Three Fairbury High School students qualified to compete in the Nebraska High School Press Championship. Kevin Peterson placed in the sports writing category, with Lana Welsh competing in the yearbook theme development section and Keith Trimm was the first alternative in editorial cartooning.1992Stephen Deger, a 1960 graduate of Fairbury High School, was to assume duties as Meridians's superintendent of schools in the upcoming summer.The First Church of God located at 818 Fourth St. in Fairbury, celebrated its 100th year anniversary.Fairbury Journal-News Publisher Fred A. Arnold Jr. noted frigid temperatures returning to the area made the day after Easter feel more like the day after Christmas.Greg Trimm was promoted to the position of meeting planner at UNO's Peter Kiewit Conference Center (PKCC).Fairbury senior Danyel Grammer, daughter of Bob and Elaine Garrett of Endicott and Gail and Mary Ann Grammer of Council Bluffs, Iowa, accepted a two-sport scholarship from Teikyo-Westmar University in LeMars, Iowa.2002Fairbury High School Seniors, Terrell Hurst and Ahren Ambrose, earned positions at the state finals by scoring among the highest in the state on the written exam, testing their knowledge of automobile technology. Their instructor was Tim McAllister. These students went on to compete at the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills contest at Southeast Community College in Milford.Two Fairbury High School Seniors signed letters of intent to play sports in college. Luke Beerbohm signed to complete in basketball at Doane College in Crete. Ross Boeckner signed with the University of Sioux Falls to play football.Renovation and improvements of Park facilities included a new shower house and hook up area located to the old tennis courts at Crystal Springs. Expenditures for the new shower house/restroom were approximately $32,400.Hazardous materials training for emergency personnel was put to good use when a trailer pulling an anhydrous tank toppled over into a ditch, releasing a small amount of the gas into the air. Responding to the situation were members of the Fairbury City Fire Department, the Fairbury Rural Fire Department, Jefferson County Ambulance District 33, Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and Farmers Coop hazardous materials team members.

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