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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Police are aware that there is some sort of connection between the many thefts and acts of vandalism that took place in Sidney and the surrounding area over the past few weeks, according to Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson. Two additional thefts took place over the last weekend, from both residential and commercial buildings. Both structures were occupied at the time of the incidents. Police are sharing information with the sheriff’s office, state police and other counties to attempt to get to the bottom of these crimes. “They’re getti... Full story
An Iowa man was charged with first degree assault, strangulation and disturbing the peace after an incident at a local hotel last weekend. Douglas Wiese, 45 is accused of assaulting James Reddick after the two came to Sidney together for a construction job. Reddick claimed that Wiese started to drink immediately upon arriving in town on the day of the incident. Then Wiese tried to hug and kiss Reddick and even told the other man he loved him, according to the report. When Reddick resisted, Wiese reportedly put him in a wrestling hold. This is...
As more and more development continues to the Sidney area, new businesses continue to move here as well. Specialized Engineering Solutions, housed on the second floor of the Security First Bank building held its official ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday. SES is a mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology engineering firm which provides engineering solutions for justice, government, commercial, educational, worship, healthcare and laboratory facilities. The Sidney office is currently home... Full story
I recently saw a sign hung on the wall of an area business that stuck out to me. It read, “Anything that makes you smile, giggle or laugh buy it or marry it.” Although I’m sure the sign was meant to be cute and funny and not words of advice to live by, it made me wonder what would happen if we all began basing our life choices on prolific sayings and quotations. Sure these tidbits that we deck our homes and workplaces with can be inspiring and can keep us going on a bad day, but what if we really lived by their advice? If I married every man wh...
Pine Bluffs Gravel and Cheyenne County have been at odds for many months now. The row began over the company’s work on agricultural land, which the county says is in violation of zoning code. Two cases pertaining to the company’s continued use of a gravel mine are currently under advisement in district court. Last week, the county’s civil case against Pine Bluffs went to trial. The case was based upon county attorney Paul Schaub’s complaint against the company seeking an end to its work at a gravel mine and batch plant on County Rd. 99. The...
Nancy Gipfert immediately filed an appeal bond earlier this month, after being sentenced for a conviction of negligent child abuse, a misdemeanor. She soon dropped the bond, according to court documents. On the same day the bond was dropped, Gipfert informed the court of her intent to submit to the Cheyenne County Sheriff to begin serving her sentence. Don Miller, the local attorney who represented Gipfert in this case cited several reasons for dropping the bond. “Financially and emotionally, she and her family are just exhausted,” Miller sai...
On Monday night the planning commission made recommendations to the city council to change city ordinances to accommodate The Ranch, Cabela’s unconventional subdivision planned for the east Sidney development. These changes included decreasing the minimum width restrictions for residential lots and removing the maximum front yard setback restrictions. Before the changes, the minimum lot width was 70 feet for lots zoned for single family homes. “That’s rather large compared to other communities,” said city manager Gary Person. Now the minimum wi...
The planning commission approved a conditional use permit for Verizon Wireless to construct a 184 foot communication tower at 11720 Road 18, east of Interstate 80 to improve Verizon’s services there. The decision was made on Monday night. “The reason it’s conditional, just because it’s allowed on a certain parcel, there might be mitigating circumstances that you have to take into account from surrounding property owners or whatever that may have concerns,” said city manager Gary Person. Jeff Skinner, a representative for Verizon, informed...
Another busy road construction season will begin in Sidney this spring, as soon as weather allows. The $6 million Toledo St. expansion, which will extend the current road to the east and is in the final design phase, will be bid out in the early spring. An expansion to the west will follow at a later time. The city council held multiple discussions in 2013 about renaming Toledo St. and have not yet come to a final decision on the matter. The Greenwood Road reconstruction and expansion is in the...
Two persons traveling from out of state on Interstate 80 in Cheyenne County were arrested last week and were each charged with four drug related felonies. On the night of Jan. 16, a Nebraska State Trooper arrested driver Joshua Feyes, 36, and his passenger Melissa Janssen, 36, after allegedly finding almost 10 pounds of illegal drugs within the vehicle in which they were traveling. The trooper stopped the eastbound vehicle for a speeding violation near mile marker 52 on the interstate. Once the vehicle was pulled over, the trooper learned that...
JaCee Pilkington, 2013's Miss Nebraska, visited West Elementary Friday afternoon to tell the kids about treating one another with dignity and respect. Each child who attended the talk received a puzzle piece which demonstrated that like the puzzle pieces, each one of them is a little different and has a special place in the world.... Full story
The Cheyenne County Community Center thanked two retiring board members Friday for their time and commitment to the community. Dr. James Garcia, a three year board member, and Ralph Castner, a nine year member, both received plaques from the center in honor of their time on the foundation board which owns the center and makes decisions about overall operations. "I really appreciate being on the board and making decisions to keep the community center functioning and looking for better things to...
Various city departments informed the city council of recent projects and upcoming plans in the 2013-2014 first quarter report. These plans include possible changes in the power line conversion project, which was partially completed in 2013. The electric department had previously planned to begin phase two of its downtown underground conversion this year. However, after last year’s Sept. 9 storm, which downed many power lines, the electric department is reconsidering how to move forward. Because of cost, it may take many years to bury the m...
Cory Lundgren was sentenced to five years of intensive supervised probation as well as jail time earlier this week for his part in an accident on Oktoberfest weekend in 2012 that sent eight people to the hospital, including himself. Lundgren was found guilty of attempted second degree assault, a class IV felony on Oct. 16, 2013 for his part in the incident. Some of the stipulations of his probation require that he have no alcohol in his home or vehicle, that he never be in the presence of anyone in possession of alcohol, that he attend one...
There are around $200 million in projects going on in the Sidney area this year. Here are some updates based on the city's 2013-2014 first quarter report. The city's fiscal year begins in October. Housing shortage relief is on the way. There are around $4 million in proposed housing projects in the Sidney area, in addition to the Cabela's projects. The biggest of these is a 12 unit apartment building in the Cottonwood Addition. Project construction will begin as soon as assistance funds are released and the state contract is finalized. Of the...
Nancy Gipfert, who filed an appeal directly after being sentenced for negligent child abuse last week, officially withdrew that appeal, according to court documents. Gipfert also informed the court on Jan. 9, the day after she was sentenced, of her intent to submit to the Cheyenne County Sheriff to begin serving her sentence. Gipfert was sentenced to 24 months of probation, the first 90 days to be served in Cheyenne County jail, for her part in an incident which led to the permanent brain injury of an infant in her care. Gipfert will serve her...
A new building or a remodel of the old headquarters might be in the Sidney Police Department’s future. The largest project currently in the works at the department, outside of their day to day efforts, is a feasibility study to discover the most viable options for an updated police department building. The current building on Illinois St. is past its life expectancy. To allow for future growth as well as continued use, the current building would require a potentially pricey remodel and expansion. This work would include structural rehabilitatio...
In the course of the past week, two of my good friends from high school gave birth to baby girls. I couldn’t be more happy for my old friends and their husbands, although it seems weird that I’m finally at the age where peers are getting pregnant intentionally. I’m so pleased that both ladies are doing well and their little ones arrived safely. This recent occurrence caused to realize that I do not wish to become a parent anytime soon, if at all. There are arguments out there both for and against becoming a parent later in life and both seem...
Sidney police hope to avoid being overworked and understaffed. One of the department’s veterans recently resigned to pursue a career opportunity in the front range. Another officer is currently off duty due to a medical condition, while a third will soon require time off for medical reasons as well. This could potentially cause a three officer shortage. “So with all the activity that we have going forward, with a lot of contractors, construction workers in town, a growing community and all the challenges you’re reading about and hearing about t...
Sidney residents will likely enjoy a new pool in upcoming years. “It appears that we will have enough money to do an outdoor pool,” said Mayor Wendall Gaston at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Gaston came to this conclusion based on higher than projected sales tax numbers. The city is collecting more than expected overall, despite a refund the city had to pay out in December which left that month’s numbers down. The mayor suggested that the council make a decision about a pool within the next two months to make sure plans get underwa...
The city council, the South Platte Natural Resource District and the Joint East Sidney Watershed Authority will hold a joint meeting next week to discuss storm water policies that affect the east Sidney development. A master plan for the area developed by Olsson and Associates will be reviewed prior to discussion about specific projects. “With all of the projects now going forward, the timing is of such that we need to make some decisions to be proactive in getting some of these upstream storm water mitigation projects going forward,” said cit...
Financing for a new elementary school continues to be a top priority for the Sidney school board. “During the last 12 months we’ve got input from staff and administrators on what our needs will be for a replacement elementary school,” said school board president Tom Von Seggern. “The board sees this time with the low interest rates as a time to keep pursuing improvements to our school when the interest costs will be down.” The district hosted public forums at North Elementary and Cheyenne County Community Center on Nov. 25 and 26 to hear inpu...
Four ladies graduating from Nebraska high schools this spring will receive $10,000 scholarships from Cabela’s in collaboration with the Harry and Reba Huge Foundation. These Women in Leadership scholarships are part of the local company’s goal to encourage more women in management positions. This is the second year for the scholarships. Only females graduating from Nebraska high schools and planning to attend college this fall are eligible. “We are pleased to continue the Cabela’s Women in Leadership Scholarship program,” said Sue Saathoff,...
The city expects to extend its borders in the near future, according to city manager Gary Person. Discussions about the pros and cons of annexing portions of land adjacent to the city were discussed at city council and planning commission meetings last month. The state’s annexation roles have changed in the past five years, making it a more intensive process than in the past. Annexation simply means incorporating ground currently adjacent to Sidney into the city limits. Some areas outside the city limit are under the city’s two mile zoning inf...
The intersection of 12th Ave. and King Street in Sidney was closed for a time Friday afternoon after a rollover blocked 12th Ave. No one was seriously injured in the wreck.... Full story
