"What is past is prologue."

Since 1886, The Lusk Herald has recorded the story of Niobrara County. Following are bits of that story. (All misprints and typos in this section are in keeping with the original printing.)

100 YEARS AGO – April 25, 1919

• Gambling Dens Closed Up Saturday Night-Last Saturday night Sheriff Joss and State’s Attorney Hartwell were aroused from their peaceful slumbers by a couple officers from the governor’s office, who informed them that they were here for the purpose of cleaning up the gambling houses of our city. They got busy. In fact they were real busy for a short time with the result that about twenty gamblers were corraled and headed for the county bastile. It is said that when the officers arrived at the jail they were shy about half a dozen first class poker players, who took to the free and wide prairie.
• Lee Miller Receives Letter From France-Mr. Lee Miller received a German helmet the first of the week from his son Tom, who is soldiering for Uncle Sam, and is now located in France. Tom enlisted last fall, only remaining in this country a short time after enlistment. He, like the balance of the American boys stationed in France, is anxious to take a look at the Statue of Liberty and will be glad to again return to the good old U.S.A.

75 YEARS AGO-April 27, 1944

• “Tuffy” found Dead at Bottom of Oil Tank-“Tuffy” the friendly little bull terrier belonging to Walter Fernau, now in the service, was found dead at the bottom of one of the large concrete oil reservoirs on the northwest side of the Lusk Country Club golf course, last Sunday. “Tuffy” had been missing for about a week.
• Lusk Masons Greet Their Grand Master-Grand Master Dr. B.O. Hanna of Lingle Wyo., paid his official visit to Harmony Masonic Lodge Tuesday night, and was welcomed by a large number of visiting Masons, besides the local members. Visitors came mostly from Lingle and Newcastle.

50 YEARS AGO-April 24, 1969

• Two Boys Almost Buried Alive-Death came perilously close to two boys Sunday afternoon when the cave which they and two others had dug caved in. For a time Bruce Boutwell, 14, and Leon Lemons, 11, were buried alive inside a sandy bank near the Siver Springs ranch in the Rawhide area south of Lusk. Bruce and Leon together with Wayne Leno, 13, and Aldon Dobson, 11 had been digging a cave which had two tunnels about four feet deep in the bank and which were connected with a tunnel of about five feet. Bruce and Leon were in separate four foot tunnels when the whole cave fell in. Leon’s legs were visible and Wayne and Aldon dug him out first as rapidly as they could. As soon as Leon was out Aldon took off running for the Ernest Paulsen ranch some two miles distant and Wayne and Leon dug out Bruce who was unconscious. The boys sprinkled waner on Bruce and he came around.
• Sam Erlewine Elected Student Body President-Sam Erlewine was elected N.C.H.S. Student Body President for the 69-70 school year last Friday. Also elected by next year’s student body were the N.C.H.S. cheerleaders.

25 YEARS AGO-April 27, 1994

• Breakin reported-Residents would be wise to lock their vehicles, said Police Chief Bill Nunamaker. A local citizen spotted two individuals in his parked vehicle early Monday morning, and reported it to the police department. Nothing was stolen, but the perpetrators left the area with their own vehicle lights out. Nunamaker suspects the perpetrators were travelling through and were interested in articles easy to turn into cash. Radios, cameras and other protable articles left in vehicles are vulnerable to such pilfering.

"If you don't see it in The Herald it didn't happen."