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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Peace is a hard thing to find after the death of a loved one. But the Angel of Hope statue in Legion Park might give those searching for the elusive feeling a place to start. "You look down at a cemetery," said Rita Schinzel-Anest, who helped bring the statue to Sidney. "You look up at the angel." The Angel of Hope is meant as a grieving spot for people who have lost children, but the memorial plaques that go up on the granite walls around the sculpture are not limited to young people. Legion... Full story
Next month's scheduled closure of the 13th Ave. underpass will likely slow emergency response times. The underpass will be barricaded temporarily as part of the Illinois street road project that has already affected 13th Ave. and Illinois St. traffic in all four directions. "In regards to the police, their plans are to have one officer on the north side at all times," said John Hehnke, Sidney's Emergency Director. The city is looking at ways to speed up the construction timeline in order to ease the pain likely to be caused by re-routing... Full story
Jesus and motorcycles might seem an unlikely pair. At the Christian Motorcyclists Association, however, they fit like a worn leather jacket. Riding together helps to build friends and fellowship. But when Brent Jeffers decided to start a chapter of the CMA in Sidney, almost eight years ago, he didn't know what a source of support the organization would be for his family. About six and a half years ago, when Brent's son Jon was on his way back to college in Chadron, Jon was involved in a terrible... Full story
It's confusing, it's complicated and it might be costly. But it may help improve the health of the nation. Although it elicits strong reactions on either side, not many people admit to really understanding the Affordable Care Act. Last week Ward Haessler, Sales Manager for individual and small group products at Blue Cross Blue Shield, traveled across Nebraska to hold talks with small business owners from Scottsbluff to Lincoln to educate them about the ACA. "What I found when I did these meetings is, there's a lot of confusion," Haessler said.... Full story
Sidney's Meals on Wheels program delivers more than just food. Volunteer drivers make sure that the person they're delivering to has a home that's in a livable condition. Drivers are instructed report any problems they see and let family members or officials know if the person they're delivering to seems to be sick or hurt. "We work to make sure the patients are well cared for," said the program's manager, Virginia Gregory. The program is based in Cheyenne County Community Center, where the...
It is summer and West Nile virus is back for a visit. Mosquitoes in the panhandle area have recently tested positive for the dangerous virus. Officials with the Panhandle Public Health District caught and tested mosquitoes in Dawes, Garden and Scotts Bluff counties. Mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile were culled from Garden and Scotts Bluff. “Finding the virus in mosquitoes gives public health officials an indication of the level of virus in the area and the risk to human beings of c...
Fourth of July fireworks will light up Sidney skies—on the third. The city's display will start at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, said Fire Chief Keith Stone. The Sidney Volunteer Fire Department coordinates and puts on the show every year. The department usually has around 18 to 24 volunteers working to make the production the best it can be for the community. Department volunteers light the fireworks from just off of College Drive by Western Nebraska Community College. The City of Sidney pays for the show. Those who want a good view might watch from F... Full story
Cheyenne County will begin a new road project in conjunction with the state of Nebraska in August. The Weyerts Road project will involve installing a box culvert, which is a cement culvert that goes across the road instead of a bridge. This will replace a bridge that was washed out in 2010, said Cheyenne County Highway Superintendent, Tom Noel. Cheyenne county decided to use a culvert because it's cheaper to construct than a bridge. Weyerts Road is located northwest of Lodgepole. This project uses state funding and will cost approximately... Full story
Rattlesnake bites can be deadly, but Sidney Regional Medical Center has the cure. SRMC recently received several phone calls from worried residents who were under the impression that the center does not keep antidote for rattlesnake poison in stock. "Unfortunately they think we don't carry the anti-venom, when we do," said Rachel Forster, Director of Pharmacy at the Sidney health care facility. The center always carries the anti-venom because Sidney's climate and geography are considered rattles... Full story
Jason Cagle, 29 of Sidney, was arrested June 19 after a physical altercation with his neighbor. Charges include making terroristic threats. Sergeant Tim Craig was dispatched to Cagle's apartment to investigate an assault, according to the police report. When Craig arrived at Cagle's place of residence, Cagle was present and wasn't wearing a shirt. He told the sergeant that he'd gotten into an argument with his neighbor, Levi Hallett. Cagle admitted to tackling Hallett to the ground, but informed officers he never hit Hallett. Cagle said he was... Full story
After an outburst during which he shouted profanities at a citizen, Sidney Police officer Scott Tobler is being disciplined by the department. In addition, a written reprimand has been placed in his file. Acting Police Chief Joseph Aikens also issued a written apology to Sidney resident Stephen Bell. The highly publicized incident took place the night of June 21. During a traffic stop, Officer Tobler directed explicatives in a raised voice at Bell, who caught the scene on camera and posted it on YouTube. It has since tallied more than 34,000... Full story
Everyone enjoys a good celebratory explosion, but Independence Day partiers need to remember safety and courtesy first. "The noise ordinance allows them up to 10 p.m.," said Police Chief Joseph Aikens. This time limit is extended to midnight on July 4. In the state of Nebraska, fireworks sales are allowed June 24-July 5. There are some fireworks that are illegal in the state, including bottle rockets and firecrackers containing more than 50 milligrams of explosives, according to information from the Nebraska State Fire Marshal. The State Fire M...
Smoking in parks and an agreement to allow nearby villages use the services of Sidney's chief building official were hot topics at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Several complaints received through the city website about smoking in Legion Park ignited discussion from the start, before the council determined to urge residents to act responsibly. "It continues to be a subject in almost all communities," said City Manager Gary Person, referring to lighting up in public. Most of the complaints... Full story
In the early morning hours of April 10, Misty Tyson was awakened by one of her dogs to a house engulfed in flames. She and her son Owen Schaefer, 11, escaped from the house with little more than their lives. "We got the clothes we had on and our three dogs and that's all we got," Tyson said. Misty and her husband Patrick Tyson, who was away from home working in the oil fields when the fire occurred, were leasing the house to own and didn't have renter's insurance. They lost everything. Codi Cass, Misty's mother, is holding a fundraiser for the... Full story
Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale, traveling with his wife, Carol, made Sidney an early stop on his reelection campaign trail. The secretary, who is running for his fourth term, announced his candidacy last week. “I feel I have a rare opportunity to offer my background to the citizens.” Gale is a fifth generation Nebraskan. He spent his childhood in western Nebraska before completing high school in Omaha and a law degree at the University of Chicago. He served as a federal prosecutor, liv...
How often have you been out to dinner while your friend or child ignores all conversation going on around them to stare down at the glowing light of their smart phone? We're all guilty of getting caught up in mindless reality TV shows instead of doing something more productive or getting out and being with people. Everyone knows that Facebook is addictive. Even if you're angry the entire time you're looking at it, you're still looking at it. Yelling at the computer that you don't care what your neighbor from 10 years ago is making for dinner...
A Sidney police officer was caught on video last weekend yelling profanities at a citizen. The YouTube video documenting the incident features Sidney police Officer Scott Tobler and Sidney resident Stephen Bell, who taped the altercation. The video has tallied more than 29,000 views so far. It starts as Bell and his wife sit in his vehicle across from the hardware store at 11th Avenue and Illinois Street. A police scanner is audible in the background. Bell advises his wife that she doesn't have... Full story
Cheyenne County has issued an arrest warrant for Brenda Haller for theft by deception. On May 20, Mark Mossman, regional manager for the Scoular company out of Omaha, which buys, sells, stores and transports grain, reported an employee theft to the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office. Mossman claimed that Brenda Haller took around $17,500 from the company. Mossman said that Haller took the money by making alterations to company accounts, then drafting checks payable to customers on those accounts. She would then endorse the checks with the custome... Full story
There's a new police chief in town. Byron R. "B.J." Wilkinson of Litchfield, Illinois accepted the position as Sidney's new chief of police yesterday. City manager, Gary Person announced the appointment at last night's city council meeting. This hire followed the city's three month search for the right person to head the department. "We had an exceptional field of candidates that wanted to serve as Sidney police chief," Person said. "We very feel fortunate so many law enforcement officials... Full story
Sandra Steinbrecher, is one of many citizens working to make Sidney a beautiful place to live. Steinbrecher of 1325 Country Club Drive won Keep Sidney Beautiful's June yard of the month. KSB gives out the award to an exceptional yard each month during the summer. KSB Board members drive through different Sidney neighborhoods and spot yards that look exceptional. They send pictures of these yards to Cheryl Jones, executive director of KSB. Then, all the board members vote to decide who will win... Full story
Local business owners are preparing for a sales tax increase, accepted in exchange for improved roads. Residents voted to pass a city wide sales tax increase last November. The increase will raise the local sales tax from 1.5 percent to two percent. This will increase the overall sales tax, combined with a state rate of 5.5 percent, to 7.5 percent. The tax hike is set to take effect July 1. Half of the funds collected from this increase will go toward street repair and construction. The remainder will be split among various projects, including... Full story
During hot summer days when a cold glass of water sounds particularly enticing, water safety might be the last thing on the minds of Sidney residents. While no violations were reported in the city's 2012 annual water quality report, which was published earlier this month, one sample last September tested positive for coliform bacteria, which is sometimes naturally present in the environment. The presence of coliform bacteria can be a sign that other harmful bacteria might also be in the water. "They only thing that can get us health-wise is... Full story
For local author, Diane Nielsen, writing is a family affair. So far Nielsen has published two books in what she plans to be a five part series through Trafford publishing. Her latest book, entitled "Dark Whispers" came out in February of this year while her first book, "Wish Me Dead" hit the shelves in 2011. She considers her books to be paranormal romances because they include supernatural elements. "I have immortal guardians in them," Nielsen said. "Not vampires, not werewolves. They're more l... Full story
Sidney housing authority hopes to help alleviate Sidney's distinct housing shortage. The housing authority oversees the administration of two complexes in Sidney. Western Heritage, located on the south side of town was built in 1977 to accommodate the elderly and disabled, said executive director, Nancy Bentley. Of the 40 units at the complex, 30 of the units receive rental assistance. The 10 units that are not part of the direct rental assistance program can receive vouchers from the Scotts Bluff County housing authority, if they qualify. All...
If you hit the road while drunk, you're likely to lose your license. If you hit the road while high, you might not. Although reports in Cheyenne County of driving under the influence have dropped compared to last year, incidences of driving under the influence of drugs have risen sharply, said deputy Cheyenne county attorney Jonathon Stellar. In 2012, from January to July there were 23 DUI stops in the county and no DUIDs. This year, from January to June 19 there have been 19 DUIs and six DUIDs. Stellar believes some of this can be contributed... Full story
