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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When one passes by first grade teacher Kelly Leininger's classroom, it wouldn't be uncommon to hear the laughter of children throughout the day. For the past week, however, the din emanating from the room at South Elementary School in Sidney had a new sound added to the mix: the peeping of baby chicks. Throughout April, Leininger's class worked together on a project where they incubated more than three dozen eggs as part of lessons on life cycles. "We do ladybugs, tadpoles, butterflies, and...
All last week, I heard from coworkers and people around the community about the possible snow that was coming. Not being from this area, snow in late April or early May just sounds ridiculous to my southern ears. Still, I heeded the warnings and dusted off my winter coat. I had planned on working Saturday as that was the day the Sidney Regional Medical Center was set to hold their health fair at the Cheyenne County Community Center. And then Friday afternoon, I learned the health fair was cancel...
The month of April went out with one last wintry storm last weekend as Cheyenne County experienced several inches of snow beginning Friday afternoon and continuing all day Saturday. The National Weather Service reported the county saw between four to eight inches of snow, with the northern parts receiving the heaviest amount. Snow depth was kept to a minimum for the most part, especially in urban locations with a lot of vehicle and foot traffic, but snowfall was heavy enough to down tree...
Now that the City of Sidney has filled the months-vacant city manager position, work is underway to filled remaining administrative vacancies within the city. Ed Sadler was officially appointed as the new city manager of Sidney in late March, filling the position vacated by longtime city manager Gary Person in August last year. The city manager serves as the city's chief executive officer (CEO) and is responsible for managing day-to-day operations. City clerk/treasurer Geri Anthony has served...
More than 160 Cheyenne County second grade students spent all day Thursday at the Lodgepole Valley Youth Camp in Sidney learning how to stay safe during the 2016 Progressive Agriculture Safety Day. Safety Day is a collaborative effort that brings volunteers and experts from around the area to provide students information and hands-on activities that teach them how to stay safe in a variety of situations they might encounter at home, in town or on a farm. The program began 24 years ago after...
The Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners and Board of Equalization will convene for a regular meeting beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 2, inside the commissioners meeting room at the county courthouse located at 1000 10th Ave. in Sidney. According to the meeting’s agenda, the commissioners will consider approval for a proposed independent contractor agreement with Interstate Power Services, as well as approval of a letter of support for a Chautauqua celebration. Commissioners will also address procedures that authorize use of the county fai...
This Saturday, the Sidney Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will be on-site at the Sidney Police Department to give the public an opportunity to help prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The effort is part of The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, aiming to provide communities a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing prescription drugs, as well as educating the general public about the potential for abuse...
More than 200 fourth graders from five area schools filled the Cheyenne County Community Center and Lodgepole Valley Youth Camp in Sidney all day Wednesday as they learned the ins and outs of water as a natural resource during the 2016 Western Nebraska Children's Groundwater Festival. The annual festival, now in its 26th year, is a joint effort between the South Platte Natural Resources District (SPNRD), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln...
Several Sidney High School seniors were treated to a pizza party during lunch Tuesday in celebration of their recognition as students of the month during the 2015-2016 school year. Each month, the SHS principal and teachers pick up one senior who has demonstrated overall excellence in academic achievement, extracurricular activities, leadership and commitment to serve in the community. During the pizza party, the students were also interviewed to determine the recipient of a $500 scholarship...
During Tuesday's regular meeting of the Sidney City Council, Councilor William Gaston presented the award and flag recognizing Sidney for its 30 straight years as a Tree City U.S.A. Community to city administration. The award and flag were given to Gaston during Saturday's tree giveaway celebration held at the Lodgepole Valley Youth Camp. Arbor Day is generally observed the last Friday in April in the state of Nebraska, which this year will be April 29....
With the summer break a few short months away, the Sidney Police Department partnered with the First United Methodist Church to sponsor a bike rodeo last Saturday at Legion Park, giving children an opportunity to receive free safety gear and have their bicycle checked for mechanical issues. "It's important for kids to know about bike safety because they are on the road with other vehicles," SPD Officer Jennifer Woodis said. "And they need to realize that they should be observant of the other...
It was a split vote Tuesday evening as the Sidney City Council approved 4-1 to modify the pay grid for city employees to reflect changes to minimum wage and keep the city comparable to surrounding area employers. The modification was brought before council as an action item during their regular meeting this week, and was recommended by the city's wage and comparability consultant, Paul Essman with Capital City Concepts LLC. City Manager Ed Sadler presented the agenda item to the council. Sadler...
West Elementary School students in Sidney were buzzing about a special presentation in their science classes Monday as two Cheyenne County 4-H'ers gave presentations and led them in an activity centered around the declining population of honey bees worldwide. The presentation was part of the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, a collaboration between the National 4-H Council and agribusiness corporation Monsanto. In the program, 4-H'ers are educated on a real-world agricultural challenge, which they...
The National Association for Family and Community Education's Nebraska West District convened for its annual meeting Tuesday at the Cheyenne County Visitors Center in Sidney. The meeting included a special presentation from Brian Eads, investigator with the Nebraska State Patrol's WING Drug Task Force, concerning human trafficking. In his presentation, Eads said human trafficking was the third largest criminal enterprise in the world, and the second largest, as well as the fastest growing,...
With Arbor Day just around the corner, the City of Sidney celebrated its 30th straight year as a Tree City U.S.A. community last Saturday with its annual tree giveaway at the Lodgepole Valley Youth Camp at Legion Park. Ninety trees were given away to Sidney residents during the event, including 30 pine trees special to the 30th anniversary. "We usually don't (have pine tress)," Tree Board Chairman Tom Von Seggern said. "It's typically all deciduous trees, but to recognize the 30th year, we are...
Modification of the City of Sidney’s pay grid is on the agenda for consideration and possible action during this week’s regular meeting of the Sidney City Council, scheduled for this Tuesday, April 26, beginning at 7:15 p.m. in the city council chambers at the Sidney City Hall located at 1115 13th Ave. Administration is recommending the city’s pay grid be modified to address salary survey concerns regarding its comparability to other employers as well as reflect implications of the new minimum wage level set at $9 an hour. The council had a...
During Saturday's tree giveaway and Arbor Day celebration held at the Lodgepole Valley Youth Camp, the City of Sidney Tree Board honored family physician Dr. C.J. Cornelius with the Community Spirit Award in recognition for his commitment to supporting tree planting and care in the area. Cornelius is a physician who owns a practice specializing in family medicine at 1116 10th Ave. in Sidney. Tree Board Chairman Tom Von Seggern said Cornelius had been to nearly every tree giveaway and Arbor Day...
The Sidney City Council had a change in venue for their special "goal setting retreat" meeting held Thursday evening, convening in the meeting room at the Hampton Inn located at 635 Cabela's Dr., to discuss and prioritize their long-term and short-term goals for their new city manager as well as city staff. "It's for me to pass down to staff," Sidney City Manager Ed Sadler said. "'This is (the council's) priorities. These are their expectations of you.'" The retreat was facilitated by Nebraska...
Sidney native Lorin Anthony has always had a passion for cars. Especially hot rods. "I grew up with it," Anthony said. "I was doing hot rods since I was 14, so I just stuck with it." As a youth, Anthony said he spent most of his spare time with his cars, rebuilding and replacing parts and taking them far from stock. At the height, he said he had a solid collection, although he no longer has any of the cars from those days. "I wish I did," he said. "I had a '46 Ford, a '47 Mercury, a '48 Ford, a...
After tabling the application during last month’s meeting, the City of Sidney Planning Commission approved the rezoning of the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds from a single family residential zone, or R-1, to Agricultural. The Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners had approved zoning change during their March 7 regular meeting. However, County Attorney Paul Schaub said at the time that while the county fairgrounds are technically outside of the city limits, there is a rule in place under the z...
Two Sidney High School seniors were awarded $1,000 scholarships from Kid's Plus Inc. this week in recognition of their academic accomplishments. "This is the third year for our scholarship," Kid's Plus Director Cassie Challburg said. Challburg said the organization offers the scholarships to two Cheyenne County students every year. She said after receiving applications, a committee then selects the top five candidates and sets up interviews with the students. "We received 15 applications this...
The Sidney Employee Volunteer Committee received $400 from the natural gas supplier Public Alliance for Community Energy, or ACE, for placing door hangers around town. The money was donated to the Sidney Aquatics Center that is nearing completion. Pictured left to right starting from the front are Kanon Palmer, Krayton Palmer, Cameron Brauer, Cody Childers, Jo Houser, Tina Hochwender, Kim Phillips, Tom Von Seggern, Sheryl Celestino, Mike Palmer, Lori Borchert and Casey Brauer. Not pictured are...
Bicycle tourism was the main topic during a community presentation held Monday evening at the Cheyenne County Community Center in Sidney as a consultant with the Nebraska Tourism Commission discussed ways Sidney could make the city more friendly to visiting cyclists. Eco-tourism consultant Alex Duryea with the Nebraska Tourism Commission led the hour-long presentation, covering the growing popularity of long-distance and rural cycling across the country as well as ways that Sidney could...
In my last column, I wrote about how I used to weigh north of 250 lbs. and was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes by the time I turned 30 years old. During a rough period in my life, I decided to take charge of my physical health, one of the few things that I had any control over at that time, and lost 85 lbs. in less than a year. With my weight goals reached, I didn't want to slide back into my old habits. I began to search for a new venture, something that would keep me engaged in diet and exercis...
Despite rainy, and at times snowy, weather conditions, hundreds of women turned out in droves along downtown Sidney last Saturday for the ninth annual Girls' Day Out. Girls' Day Out is a "shop local" event where area businesses and restaurants offer discounts, sales and specials throughout the day to female downtown visitors. It is organized by the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce. "It's a great way to get the ladies of Cheyenne County all in one place, and support our local economy as...
