Niobrara Swings Into War-Time Activities
The Lusk Herald, December 11, 1941
Supply of Farm Machinery May be Short in '42
The availability of new farm machinery for 1942 is very uncertain, according to a report from Wyoming USDA Defense Board. Pointing to the defense cuts in machinery allocations to the farm machinery industry the report urged all farmers to check their equipment for necessary parts and to place their order with their dealers immediately.
All operators were asked to report any difficulty in securing repair parts to their county USDA Defense Board.
The Lusk Herald, December 18, 1941
Old Mine Hill Might Be Air Raid Shelter
Just in case we do have an air raid W. J. Tooley suggests that the old mining property now owned by himself, Jamesetta Hale and Ross Lambert might provide security in the tunnels.
Under the old mine hill just west of town is one tunnel 1200 feet long, another 600, another 300, several caves 30 and 40 feet back in where the tunnels were started.
The Lusk Herald, December 18, 1941
Scouts Gather Paper For National Defense
Lusk Boy Scouts want to collect your old newspapers. Though they have no immediate market the Scouts are gathering the old papers in cooperation with the National Defense policy. Anyone having papers or magazines should notify the Hi-Way Super Service or Scoutmaster Millard H. Marshall.
The Lusk Herald, January 29, 1942
Scouts Put Hay Baler in Action on Waste Paper (Excerpt)
A hay baler went into action Monday for the Lusk Troop of Boy Scouts in baling more than 10 tons of paper gathered for national defense.
With the Help of Scoutmaster Millard Marshall, Committeeman Jake Lorenzen and a number of other men, the boys were fast getting the paper in shape Monday and Tuesday to ship by rail.
Ralph Larson had loaned his pickup truck which was being used with the Hi-Way Service Station truck to haul loads of paper from various storage places. Eldon Lewis, Ed Mitchel and Robert Thomas, ranchers from nearby were assisting with the baling.
Clyde Blackmore from the Hi-Way Service Station was helping, along with Melvin Penfield.
The baler has belonged to Robert Thomas, but arrangements are being made to purchase it to use in the baling of every possible bit of waste paper in the county.
Joe Kuhn has loaned a tractor to operate the baler and Emil Klemke has provided a big belt.
Of course, the Scouts were even willing to give up school Monday to do their patriotic job, but not that they haven't been giving considerable time to the job already.
The Lusk Herald, December 25, 1941
"Nails for Defense" say Eighth Graders
The Eighth Grade of Lusk is sponsoring a campaign to gather nails and other scrap iron. They ask the cooperation of the whole town. In less than three days we have collected 50 pounds---what could the whole town do? We are not only collecting nails but also saving tires. Our slogan is "Nails for the Nation."
****************
The Lusk Herald, January 1, 1942
"Grow Your Own" Is New Slogan of Farm Defense
There are 330 gardens in Niobrara county according to the Farm Defense sign-up report. This means that of the 533 farms in this county only 330 had a garden in 1941. In other words, 203 farmers purchase their foodstuffs from the store. Someone else is doing their producing for them.
In view of the ever increasing demand of the armed forces and of defense workers these farmers are being urged to "grow their own." The amount of foodstuffs which can be released in this manner is enormous when viewed on the national scale in which it exists.
There are two reasons given by the Defense Board why every farmer should have a garden, a good garden; first, he will be providing a much better diet for his own family with the added fresh fruits and vegetables, also in a greater quantity that would be possible with direct purchase, and two, he would be releasing prepared foodstuffs to persons unable to grow their own.
All farmers are urged to make an effort toward a farm garden next spring. Whether or not it is worked by the operator or a hired man, a garden should be located on every farm in 1941. Many farmers who have heretofore either planted no garden at all or simply scattered seeds in unused places, are today calling of the advise of local gardeners, Vocational Ag students and teachers and 4-H boys and girls. a good garden will be one of a farms' most valuable assets in 1942.
*******
"HELP DEFENSE --Clean out Your Attics and Sheds. Someone Else Needs What You Don't Want. Use Herald Classified Ads."
*********
The Lusk Herald, January 8, 1942
Sheriff to Take Alien Radios and Cameras
Sheriff Dell Shoopman received a request from G.A. Nicholson, Federal Bureau of Investigation in charge at Denver, to aid in the collection of radios and cameras from all Japanese, German, and Italian enemy aliens in this area.
The action so far does not require action by the sheriff, but simply asks him to act as an agent accepting article turned in by aliens. Each alien will be given a receipt for articles received.
By presidential proclamation of December 7 and 8 all enemy aliens should not possess radio transmitting sets, short wave radio receiving sets or cameras. In order to carry out these regulations it is necessary to require alien enemies to deposit such prohibited articles with law enforcement agencies. The sheriffs office will act for Niobrara county.
It is believed that most persons who will be affected by the regulations are law-abiding and loyal to out Government. For this reason officers are only being asked to provide a depository for the articles.
However, the federal proclamation provides that any articles not surrendered are subject to seizure and forfeiture and the persons holding them subject to apprehension as an alien enemy.
The Lusk Herald, January 15, 1942
Ask That Books For Soldiers Be Left at Library
The committee in charge of collecting books in the Victory Book Campaign , announces that arrangements are ready for receiving these books at the Carnegie Library from where they will be shipped to boys in the armed services.
Saturday, January 24 has been designated as Victory Book Day. Rural people as well as town people are asked to cooperative in the drive.
People who have books are asked to help the committee by leaving the books at the library. If, however, it is impossible to deliver the books, he may call Mrs. E. Floyd Deuel.
It is thought this project will prove of immeasurable help to the men in the service, some of whom are from this area.
Members of the local committee are the Rev. M.H. Marshall, Jake Lorenzen, Frank Barrett, Otto Klemke, Don Taylor, Ford Kuns, Mrs. Lois Watt, Mrs. John Blankenhorn, Mrs. Charles Thomason, and Donabelle Hoblit.
..........
Jantine Kaan Enlists as Army Nurse at Denver
Miss Jantine Kaan is believed to be the first woman from Niobrara County to enlist as an Army nurse. She enlisted for three years and must report the first of February.
**************************
The Lusk Herald, February 19, 1942
Grade Children Give Up Valentines; Instead Give to Red Cross War Fund
Instead of the frilly sentimental Valentines of former years that filled each grade school room box to the brim, the grade school children brought money to be given to the Red Cross. Each room had a heart-shaped box mounted in front of the room, with a slot cut in the middle in which to drop their donations.
*****************
The Lusk Herald, September 3, 1942
Niobrara Women To Make Cookies For State USO
The American Legion Auxiliary is again asking individual women and women's clubs of Niobrara County to help in keeping the U.S.O. cookie jar at Cheyenne filled from Sept. 12 to 19 inclusive dates set for Niobrara.
Cookies may either be taken to presidents of women's organizations or to Augusta Hogan in Lusk for shipment to Cheyenne. If anyone finds it impossible to bring cookies into Lusk, they may call 172 and some Auxiliary member will arrange to pick up the cookies. Cookies should be turned in on the 9th and 11th so arrangements can be made for shipment during the specified week.
The response was exceptionally good for the last call for cookies, and it is expected Niobrara women will again respond.
***************
The Lusk Herald, September 17, 1942
"Like Mark Twain's Death, the "So -called PAPER SHORTAGE" seems to have been exaggerated
There is nothing unpatriotic in the use of paper for printed matter. The plain unvarnished fact is that paper producing capacity is IN EXCESS of current requirements.
Our Commander-in-Chief, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, has openly encouraged a continuance of advertising of all kinds, and use of present stationery forms such as letterheads, envelopes, statements, cards, bills and other forms used in you business. There is plenty of paper.
Consult Us Today for Quality Job Printing
The LUSK HERALD."
*************
The Lusk Herald, November 26, 1942
There will Be No Outdoor Christmas Lighting This Year
In accordance with a request by the War Production Board, there will be no outdoor decorative lighting in Lusk this Christmas.
In making this request to city officials, civic clubs, merchants and citizens generally, it is pointed out that such outdoor lighting requires large amounts of critical materials, vital electricity and man power. so far as can be learned, there will be little, if any, decorative Christmas lighting in any of the cities or towns of the nation.