Information taken from archived files of the Blue Valley Blade and the Seward County Independent for the first week of October.
1926
Under school notes were the words to the high school song.
Hail to Seward High! Let every loyal student cheer her
Sing of wondrous deeds that this dear school of ours has always done.
We do the best by every test, our records show that we stand high.
For we are always boosting for our dear old Seward High.
Boost for Seward High! May her standards ne'er be lowerd.
Help the dear old school in anything that is the best to do.
In future years, bring back to us thoughts of the dear old days gone by.
For we shall always love to sing her praises – dear old Seward High.
Governor Adam McMullen made a campaign speech in Seward Monday morning on the square. The high school students were dismissed that they might hear the talk.
1936
Chief of Police Rufus Anderson informs us that many bicycles have been stolen in Lincoln and in other cities and towns in the state. Fifty-one bicycles have been taken in Lincoln, and none recovered. According to reports, there is a racket of general thefts of this kind going on all over the country, and Chief Anderson warns the people to see that their children's bicycles are kept locked when parked about town.
Samuel Smith Weatherby, 69, a prominent Staplehurst resident and a pioneer of Seward county, died at his home there early Wednesday morning. He had lived in the county 53 years, spending the first 20 years in Seward and living in Staplehurst since.
1946
A photo caption read: Above is pictured the new water tower and tank, and the old standpipe that has served Seward for the past fifty-six years. The job of dismantling it was completed Friday afternoon. Mayor Geo. D. Thomas was on had to witness the finish, and as a boy, he witnessed its construction more than a half-century ago. It has been a faithful servant of the city, and if its successor will serve as long, that will something worth bragging about in the year 2002.
The Seward Blue Jays almost upset the dope bucket last Friday night, when they played to a 0-0 tie with Crete. An inspired Seward team seeking their first football victory over Crete in 24 years did everything but score against their heavier opponents.
1956
Exactly 1017 dinners were served Sunday by members of the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church at Bee at the States Ballroom. This proved to be the most successful dinner and bazaar ever to be given at Bee. It is an annual fall event. Included in the quantities of food prepared and served by the ladies were 700 pounds of roast duck, 135 pounds of ham, 6 bushels potatoes, 100 dozen rolls, 800 potato dumplings and numerous other items.
First of the new 1957 models of automobiles goes on display today in Seward as Laird-Lester Motors unveil the new Ford. In the Fairlane line, the new cars are nine inches longer and four inches lower than their 1956 counterparts.
1966
The weatherman cooperated as the State Corn Picking Contest was the event of the day in Seward County Tuesday. With 10 entries competing for prizes and politicians coming in for their share of the spotlight, around 7,500 were estimated in attendance at the event on the Bill Tomes farm 3 1/2 miles east of Utica. The contest got off on schedule at 9 a.m. and was completed by the time Vice President Hubert Humphrey arrived about an hour behind schedule at 11 a.m.
Merle's Florist, Seward, was the first business house to receive air freight via Denver, on the newest transportation jet, Boeing 727. Two cartons of cut flowers from Denver were received by the Seward business house on September 27.
1976
Concrete paving has begun on the road beginning at Interstate 80 near Goehner and running north about 5 miles to Highway 34 and 2. Constructors, Inc., of Lincoln has the $686,200 contract.
Centennial Superintendent Darryl Kile said at a special school board meeting he hopes to utilize staff, people, students and volunteers to move into the new Centennial School later this month. He said one day should be enough for each of Beaver Crossing, Waco and Utica districts to move into the new facility, one school at a time.
1986
After spending more than five hours in closed session, the Seward County Commissioners voted to lay off 10 employees in the county road department. The layoffs are necessary because of the economic conditions of the road department brought about by declining revenue sharing funds and tax revenues, according to the motion made by commissioner Clarence Schmidt and seconded by Harold Busboom.
1996
The Seward Fourth of July Committee has been notified that it will receive the National Freedom Foundation's George Washington Honor Medal for its 1995 celebration commemorating the veterans of World War II. This is the third time the Fourth of July Committee has received the prestigious award from the foundation based in Valley Forge, Pa.
Plans to widen Highway 15 between Interstate 80 and Seward to a four-lane highway will remain on the Nebraska Highway Department's long-range planning stages for at least another year. The Highway 15 project was first programmed in 1992 and is on the state's plan for seven years and beyond.
2006
Although it hasn't happened yet, health officials across the country are getting ready for a pandemic flu. The Four Corners Health Department hosted a town hall meeting to review some of the planning that's taken place in Seward County. Laura McDougall of Four Corners said a pandemic flu is “a pneumonia-type severe respiratory illness with a high mortality rate.”
A photo caption read: The Seward County Courthouse Anniversary Committee installed a new time capsule on the northeast corner of the courthouse Sept. 30. The capsule was set behind a rededicated stone from the Freemasons of Nebraska. The new stone was dedicated Sept. 18, 2005, during the 100th anniversary celebration of the courthouse.
2016
A farmhouse built in 1890 made a 5-mile journey to its new home last week. Five generations of Jensens lived in the house. It was moved from Jim and Jayne Jensen's land on the south edge of Goehner. Aaron and Andrea Leibhart of Lincoln bought the house and arranged to move it to Andrea's grandparents' farmland, five miles east and a quarter-mile north of the Jensens.
Southeast Nebraska CASA welcomed a new executive director. Marci Fehlhafer of Utica began serving as the executive director on Sept. 15. She previously worked in insurance for 19 years.
