Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
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A man sentenced to life in prison for the 2012 shooting death of a Sidney woman is appealing his conviction to the Nebraska Supreme Court. Larry Martinez, 57, was was convicted following a jury trial and sentenced to life imprisonment consecutive to 10-50 years. The sentence came last September on convictions of 1st Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm to Commit a Felony. In July, 2012 Martinez shot Mandy Kershman over a text message that she sent him. Martinez was found guilty by a Cheyenne...
A vehicle fire Tuesday in the Sidney Regional Medical Center (SRMC) parking lot still has an unknown cause. Sidney Police and Fire departments were dispatched to SRMC Tuesday at approximately 11:50 a.m. to respond to a 2001 Lincoln Navigator on fire. The car's owner, Jody Quintin, said she was inside SMRC at an appointment with her daughter and two grandchildren when an employee informed her that her vehicle was smoking. Quintin said she is an employee of SRMC and the other employees knew what t...
Cheyenne County’s Board of Commissioners held a public hearing during Monday’s regular board meeting to adopt the 2016-17 Cheyenne County budget. In the hearing, the Commissioners increased the 2016-17 restricted funds revenues, set this year’s tax levy, and approved a resolution of adoption and appropriations of this year’s Cheyenne County budget. All three items discussed in the hearing were approved, but not unanimously. An email was read in the hearing, submitted by Terry Jessen, who said he has been attending budget hearings to provide...
Authorities responded to an accident in a construction zone on I-80 Monday evening. According to the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) Lieutenant Krzyzanowski, the accident occurred around 9 p.m. near mile marker 58 near Sidney. Krzyzanowski said Jesse Conn, 66, a construction worker currently working on I-80, was driving his 2012 Ford F-150 west bound on the closed lane when he struck a parked concrete paver. Both Conn’s air bags were deployed and the truck was totaled. Restraints were not in use and the paver received an estimated $1000 in d...
Cheyenne County Commissioners held their regular meeting Monday, to review the 2016 Cheyenne County Fair.. Fair Board member Anita Pennel gave the 2016 Cheyenne County Fair Report. “Our fair this year went really well,” Pennel said. Pennel laid out 2016 fair expenses, budget, ticket sales and income for the commissioners, coming out with a positive grand total of $54,826.53. “Good report,” said Commissioner Darrell Johnson with Commissioner Philip Sanders adding that he was “impressed” with report. Pennel said maintenance on the fairgrounds...
Two men face felony charges after approximately 150 to 200 pounds of marijuana were recovered in the trunk of one of the vehicles on a semi-truck car hauler that was on fire on Interstate 80, Tuesday night. According to the arrest affidavit, on Tuesday Sept.13 at approximately 9:20 p.m., Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Bryan Woods was dispatched to a semi-truck car hauler on fire at mile marker 42, on I-80 near Potter. Cheyenne County Deputies had both lanes of eastbound I-80 closed, as the Potter and Sidney fire departments were attempting to...
Deer become more active in the fall. With temperatures falling and increased activity, the Nebraska State Patrol urges drivers to be more alert on roadways. According to information from the patrol and Nebraska Game and Parks, deer pose a potentially dangerous threat to themselves and the occupants of vehicles traveling Nebraska’s highways and country roads, especially during October and November. There are many different reasons that drivers may see an increase in deer on the the roadways in the fall. As the harvest begins, crop and cover p...
Monica Roberts is a Chappell graduate who has been fighting a losing battling with cancer for two years, her last wish was granted this year, thanks to the diligence of Deul County Social Worker Kayla Rempe. Roberts, 57, graduated from Chapell High School in 1977, before the school became Creek Valley. Her mother and sister still live in the area. Roberts now lives in Omaha, her ties to area remain strong. Since she was 14, Roberts has admired the lead singer of the classic rock band Grand Funk...
Two new hotels will be opening up in the Sidney area, adding more then 150 accommodations to passing visitors and locals alike. According to information from management of the 75-room Fairfield Inn & Suites is scheduled to open Tuesday, Sept. 27 with its "smart, inventive public space and guest room design, and its bright and inviting decor." In its promotional materials, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott promises visitors "innovative next generation design and decor." Located at 889 East...
Students gathered in the Performing Arts Center early Wednesday morning for a chance to bid on their favorite football players jersey. Sidney High School (SHS) cheerleaders held their annual jersey auction before classes began Wednesday morning as part of Sidney's Homecoming week. Cheerleading Coach Abby Green said the proceeds from the auction go to the cheerleader's expenses. Expenses such as uniforms, traveling expenses and their trip to state competition held annually in Grand Island. This y...
Sidney’s Historic Preservation Board is requesting bids for an Intensive Level Survey, after being awarded a 2016 Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant from the State Historical Society and Historic Preservation Office. Sidney Economic Development Director Tina Hochwender said this is the city’s 4th CLG Grant and second Intensive Level Survey. The first Intensive Level Survey was completed last year for the Original Old Town Plat of Sidney. The intensive level survey will enable the board to gather greater detail and verifiable inf...
Sidney High School (SHS) kicked off its homecoming week Sunday with the installation of homecoming lawn displays. SHS English Teacher Tanya Lewis said, "This is the second year that the Sidney High School Student Council has designed, constructed and painted homecoming lawn displays." A process that begins with freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes that are led by their student council representatives to come up with an original design for their lawn display. Once the designs are concep...
Sidney Public Schools (SPS) Board of Education held its monthly meeting Monday, approving 2016-17 school budget. Sidney Superintendent Jay Ehler said Sidney’s fiscal year spans from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31. Ehler said he and the SPS business manager spent quite a bit of time in July and early August composing the budget for the year. The budget was then reviewed and worked on with the aid of the board’s finance committee, which is comprised of three of the six school board members. Ehler said SPS receives its tax valuations around August 20 fro...
Homeschooling is an alternative method of education that is on the rise in the United States. Homeschool is defined by the Nebraska Department of Education as parent-led, and family-funded education of a child at home. Though homeschooling is generally parent-led, there are a multitude of different programs, ranging from online school to faith-based teaching. In Nebraska, there is no certain format of teaching that must be used, so parents are free to decide what curriculum works best for them....
Two local residents were recognized with certificates of excellence by the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs, Inc.(ANAC). Their art, along with others who were recognized with awards by the ANAC are now on display at the Sidney Public Library. The ANAC was created in 1965. The organization held it's an annual convention in McCook in July, providing the opportunity for Nebraska artists to network and choose from several workshops hosted throughout the event. Awards are given at the convention to...
The French Door Antique Mall is in its seventh year of business offering a wide variety of vintage and antique décor for home, porch, patio and garden. Owner Mary Jo Putman said the store is housed in an 3,800 square foot warehouse space which was originally the Coca Cola Bottling company in the 1930s. "We have an eclectic group of 20 vendors that bring a different take on antique and re-purposed furniture, primitive and rustic décor as well as unique industrial finds," said Putman. Putman s...
Tonya Yates, 37, of Sidney was in District Court Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing on the charge of aiding consumation of a felony, a class IV felony. According to court documents, on or about March 20, 2015 to June 5, 2015 Yates “did intentionally aid another to secrete, disguise or convert the proceeds of a felony or otherwise profit from a crime of felony burglary.” Yates’ charge is connected to a case that was in Cheyenne County District Court in July, where 34-year-old Mindy Richmond was was sentenced to serve 25 to 50 years in priso...
Sidney's DOVES program hosted an open house along with a ribbon cutting Wednesday at it's new location in the Panhandle Health Group Building in Sidney. The DOVES Program in Sidney provides services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, the organization serves women, men, teens, and children. Victoria Williams, program coordinator for Cheyenne/Kimball County DOVES program, said DOVES has been providing assistance to survivors in the community for more...
Cheyenne County Commissioners and the Cheyenne County Board of Equalization met Tuesday for their regular meeting at the Cheyenne County Court House in Sidney. In the meeting the Cheyenne County Fair Board submitted reservation dates for the upcoming 2017 year, three event reservations were approved by the board. Also submitted for approval by the fair board was its annual inventory submitted by fair board member Anita Pennel and approved by the Commissioners. Another request was submitted to the Commissioners for a circus to be held Sept. 19...
It was a Lakota prophecy that prompted Sidney's Rebecca Faustino to travel to the Sacred Stone Camp and stand with the people who have gathered against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) in North Dakota. "For Lakota people there is a prophecy that the seventh generation, which is my generation, will rise up and fight the black snake that envelops the country," Faustino said. "The black snake will bring an end to the human race." There is more than prophecy, however, that has thousands of people...
Sidney Police Officers briefly held two suspects Friday after receiving a report that a vehicle stolen from Pueblo, Colo. was located in Sidney. Based upon the vehicle's electronic tracking, Sidney police and Cheyenne County Sheriff deputies responded to the area of Arby's. According to Police Chief Joe Aikens, witnesses at the scene observed two occupants, a male and a female, leaving the car to walk to Wal-Mart, where the suspects were detained by officers. Aikens said the suspects were temporarily detained pending the investigation of the...
Lodgepole's Depot Museum will be open to the public in observance of the Old Settlers' Days celebration held over the Labor Day weekend in Lodgepole. Lodgepole has a rich history with the Valley of Lodgepole Creek having historic trails, telegraph lines, and railroads run through it. and items on display at the museum tell the story of this history. According to the Nebraska Historical Society, the Pony Express followed the valley from 1860 to 1861. Pole Creek No. 2 station was a few miles west...
Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) beefed up it's numbers in Sidney Wednesday to conduct surprise commercial vehicle inspections. NSP Sargent Mike Maytum said the officers that came to Sidney to conduct the inspections were from all over the state, essentially tripling the State Trooper population in Sidney for the day. Morning inspections were conducted at 23rd Ave. and Illinois St., where commercial vehicles were pulled over and thoroughly inspected. The NSP said surprise inspections target...
Labor Day is the first Monday in September, and is recognized as a National Holiday. In observance of this holiday some area businesses, as well as area schools will be closed for the holiday next week. Labor Day’s creation was part of the labor movement in the 1880s and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. According to the Department of Labor, the first governmental r...
Abundance is a support group to help victims become survivors and communicate in the recovery of sexual abuse. Their mission is to support, empower, validate, and educate survivors, as well as their families and supporters. Fee Rocha, who grew up in central California, is now a resident of Sidney and a survivor of sexual abuse. It was her experience that prompted the organization of Abundance. Rocha, along with the cooperation of DOVES, a victims advocacy program, began organizing the support group after coming to terms her past and its...
