Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Sorted by date Results 426 - 450 of 628
After the loss of an expensive piece of equipment at the landfill this summer, the city has made an agreement with a local businessman, which it believes will be beneficial to both entities. The idea for this arrangement came out of the city’s budget workshops. City workers discussed the cost of purchasing a new grinder to turn scrap wood into mulch, because the old one had burnt out. This grinder would cost the city around $300,000. “During those discussions is when Mr. (B.J.) Raffelson approached the city about entering into a contract wit...
The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is working to recruit more members and to promote kids' interest in the nation's beginnings. The DAR wants young people to realize where their freedom to participate in activities and to attend school originated. "We want to encourage kids to understand what our American way of life is all about," said Carol Mason of the Fort Sidney DAR. The local DAR is working on a project to encourage 5th and 6th graders at West Elementary to parti...
As new developments and projects continue to pop up in the city, Baker & Associates, an engineering firm, is opening an office in Sidney this week. "We've never had an engineering firm make that kind of commitment," said city manager Gary Person. Baker & Associates is a civil engineering and surveying firm based in Scottsbluff. The new office, located on Illinois Street, will be home base to one full time employee. Others from the Scottsbluff office will work in the Sidney office from time to time when overseeing projects in the area. "I think...
A little local history and a meander through unmarked graves might be just spooky enough for some end of October fun. Skeptics and believers alike are invited to the third annual ghost tour at Sidney’s historic Boot Hill Cemetery. The tours begin at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 26 at the cemetery, located at 640 Elm Street on the north side of town. Those taking part in the tour will take a trek through the cemetery and learn about the eerie past of Sidney’s first official resting place for the... Full story
Many Sidney residents received a notice in the mail this week about two positive tests for coliform in the drinking water. Although the tone may have caused some concern, the city’s water department explained that this is simply a requirement from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, based on the amount of bacteria samples the city of Sidney water department takes per month. Sidney has not had two positive coliform samples at anytime in the recent past. Repeated tests show that the problem is now resolved although the city n... Full story
Efforts by the Sidney police to rid the city of abandoned, unlicensed and inoperable vehicles on private property has been put on hold while contract issues are ironed out. The council accepted an initial bid from Affordable Towing, the only company to submit paperwork, in September. Specifications of the bid required a storage facility to house the vehicles once they were towed. Affordable Towing has such a facility and bid accordingly, but then advised Sidney that storing the vehicles on city property would save money. These changes irked...
Josef Slezak was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment yesterday for his role in an accident that took the lives of an entire family on Interstate 80 in 2012. Family members of the victims and Slezak supporters were both present in Cheyenne County Court as Judge Derek Weimer sentenced the man on four counts of motor vehicle homicide due to recklessness and one count of motor vehicle homicide of an unborn child. Slezak was ordered to serve 60 months in prison for each of the first four counts of motor vehicle homicide, Class IIIa felonies, to be... Full story
James Russell of Sidney was sentenced last week on one count of burglary and one count of theft after his involvement in two break ins at the concession stand in Legion Park and thefts from numerous unlocked vehicles around town this summer. He received additional time in jail, probation and community service. Russell was arrested June 17 for the first burglary of the concession stand at Legion Park and theft of coins and cash from numerous vehicles. Russell stole money and various items from cars around Sidney from June 3 to June 13 of this... Full story
The city council hopes that new stop signs on the alternate route to the north side of town will make it safer. A resolution to place stop signs on East Elm Street by the BNSF overpass came before the council at last week's meeting. "These stop signs are ones that we put in temporarily as part of our project down at 13th and Illinois when the underpass closed," said pubic services director John Hehnke. "The stop signs seemed to be a big hit, had a lot of good comments about having those stop signs there." The council had heard positive...
Last week the city council approved street improvement districts tied to a new hotel development north of Runza. The requests for these improvements came from M.P. Patel of Krishna Management. A redevelopment plan for this area was put in place five years ago, but Patel’s main business prospect chose a different location while the plan was being developed. Although East Old Post Road was reconstructed as part of this redevelopment, until now Patel was not ready to move forward with any new development of his own. Patel is now prepared to begin... Full story
After almost two and a half hours of jury deliberation, the defendant was found not guilty on both counts in the case of Nebraska vs. George Makris. Makris, a California man, was charged last summer with first degree sexual assault of a child and third degree sexual assault of a child, both felonies. The defendant was accused of touching his female minor relative in inappropriate ways over the course of multiple years. In the last day of the trial the defendant took the stand to deny any allegations of sexual abuse between he and his minor... Full story
In day four of Nebraska vs. George Makris, the defense attempted to persuade the jury that no one ever observed any inappropriate behavior or fear between the alleged victim and Makris. The state maintained that witnesses for the defense, mostly Makris’ friends and family, were not around the alleged victim often enough and were not qualified to make judgments on her behavior. Makris, a California man, was charged last summer with first degree sexual assault of a child and third degree sexual assault of a child, both felonies. The defendant i... Full story
In day three of the State vs. George Makris, the courtroom was tense as the 12-year-old alleged sexual assault victim took the stand to testify about her reported abuse. Makris was charged last summer with first degree sexual assault of a child and third degree sexual assault of a child, both felonies. The defendant is accused of touching his female minor relative in inappropriate ways over the course of multiple years. During her testimony in Cheyenne County District Court, the alleged victim said she stayed in Sidney frequently in the past... Full story
In day two of Nebraska vs. George Makris the defense attempted to discredit the interviews in which the alleged victim divulged information about the reported abuse, while the prosecution worked to convince the jury that no interview is perfect. Makris, a California man, was charged last summer with first degree sexual assault of a child and third degree sexual assault of a child—both felonies. The defendant is accused of touching his female minor relative in inappropriate ways over the course of multiple years. Makris's relative, the a... Full story
During opening statements in The State of Nebraska vs. George Makris, the prosecution attempted to convince the jury that this was a case of betrayal of trust, while the defense worked to persuade them that the defendant had been wrongly accused. Judge Derek Weimer heard opening statements from the prosecution and defense and three witnesses in the case yesterday. Makris, a California man, was charged last summer with first degree sexual assault of a child and third degree sexual assault of a child, both felonies. The defendant is accused of... Full story
With overcrowding in Nebraska state prisons reaching a critical point, state officials are seeking ways to reform the system. According to a report by the Omaha World-Herald, Nebraska state prisons are currently resting near 151 percent capacity. As of June 30, the nine major state prison facilities throughout the state housed 4,796 inmates. However, they are only designed to hold 3,175. Other states such as Kansas, Texas, Colorado, and South Carolina, which have faced the same problem of overcrowding, have greatly reduced their populations by... Full story
As Sidney continues to grow, so do the major businesses that employ the city's residents, new and old. As a result of the increase in population, Sidney Regional Medical Center has added 15 additional full time positions this year. The hospital has added workers in areas such as rehabilitation service, laboratory, surgery, acute care and the physicians clinic, according to SRMC director of public relations, Evie Parsons. Dr. Rebecca Allard joined the staff in July, while two additional physicians have signed on for next year, in advance of the...
Sidney's school zones are safer for the moment due to stepped up police patrols. The Sidney Police Department received a grant for $5,000 from the Nebraska Department of Roads in late August to help promote safety in school zones. "We want to do anything we can to keep kids from getting clipped by cars," said Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson. The grant allowed the officers to work exclusively around Sidney schools during their off hours to enforce traffic laws and enhance safety awareness during the beginning of the fall semester. The... Full story
Those looking for a caffeine fix or a quick burger will soon have new choices. Safeway plans to revamp its look starting this week, according to Michael Nichols with Seagren Construction. Nichols started work Wednesday which will include a minor remodel with new shelves and tile and, most importantly for those who are looking for a new place to get their cup of joe, a Starbucks kiosk. A new, more convenient entryway will also be constructed at the front of the store instead of the side. It will... Full story
I met Nick when I was about 12. We were members of the same friend group for many years usually going to the movies or bowling together. Nick was a lover of big trucks and baseball, much like many young people around here, I'm sure. Nick was never known for being the smartest person around, even though he always managed good grades. He could never keep up with our smack talk, but that is one of the reasons we loved him. He received a community service award in high school because he was simply a nice person. The summer before senior year of... Full story
Sidney's 39th annual Oktoberfest promises a plethora of food options, foot stamping music and of course, free flowing suds—despite the predicted cold weather. Featured inside the 16,000 square foot tent at the fair grounds will be 15 food vendors, which is about the same amount as last year, according to Becky Rezac, member of the Oktoberfest committee. The shooter's club will have a booth for the first time this year, offering rocky mountain oysters. The beer gardens on the East and West e... Full story
The Nebraska State Bar Association hopes that changes to the juvenile justice system in this state will lead youth toward more positive actions instead of deeper into the corrections system. LB 561 was passed by the Nebraska Legislature in May of this year. This bill and the associated legislation bring extensive reform to the juvenile justice system in an effort to expand services and allow alternatives to detention for youth in Nebraska, according to the NSBA. The bill states that, "...the services available for the treatment and... Full story
Three local ladies want to spread the news about breast cancer awareness and to celebrate breast cancer survivors as part of the Sidney Oktoberfest parade. All breast cancer survivors are welcome to walk alongside or ride on the float in recognition of October which is breast cancer awareness month. These women wish to raise awareness about breast cancer detection and think that if only one person gets a mammogram as a result of seeing the float that it's worth it. Those who want to walk with the float and anyone who would like to support... Full story
Local law enforcement already claim that medical marijuana legalization in Colorado led to an influx of the drug in surrounding areas, but with the upcoming switch to sales of legal marijuana to those over 21, agencies are worried the problem will grow. "Colorado is becoming the new source state," said Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson. In 2012 there were 274 reported seizures of marijuana coming from Colorado on its way to other states. This compares to 54 in 2005—a 407 percent i... Full story
A semi, driven by 22-year-old Taylor Covalt rolled over on county road 93 earlier this month near Gurley, spilling 2000 gallons of fertilizer. The semi was attempting to turn onto county road 93 from county road 52, when the trailer ran off the road to the right, causing both the tractor and trailer to roll onto their sides, spilling the load onto ground alongside the route. The county called the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to take steps to remove the contaminated ground where the spill occurred. This caused damage to the...
