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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This weekend officially kicks off the summer season for many, but Monday, the "end" of the holiday weekend, is the real reason for this important national holiday. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Memorial Day was born out of the Civil War and a desire to honor fallen soldiers. It was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the...
Sidney residents closed out Armed Forces Day Saturday with a first-ever local Armed Forces Ball and the results were far better than any of its organizers could imagine. "We thought we would have a couple of tables with people around them," Ylani Cole said during her opening welcome. "We had no idea we would have a turnout like this." More than 200 people, from former servicemen and women to their families, to interested supporters turned out at the Sidney Elks Lodge for food, fund raising and...
Friends, family and well wishers packed Sidney High School's gymnasium to overflowing Sunday as the Class of 2018 closed the book on their high school days. With the motto "Chase your dreams, but always know the road that'll lead you home again," by Tim McGraw, 93 seniors accepted their diplomas in the ceremony. Superintendent Jay Ehler welcomed graduates and guests, then shared thoughts for them to remember. "Your next chapter is about to begin - a chapter filled with the adults you are becomin...
Family was the theme of Leyton High School's graduation Saturday, as speakers continually referred to class members not only as classmates, but members of a "family." With 11 graduates, class members got close over the years. A couple who had been there, only a short time, felt they were drawn into the folds of a family. For Co-Valedictorian Payge Ernest, her reflection of the class' lives together was that they weren't like the movies. "The most disappointing thing is that our lives are not lik...
Local law enforcement personnel are once again gearing up to support Special Olympics with its annual Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torn Run. Each year, the Special Olympics benefits from proceeds raised by Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torn Runs across the state. Last year, Sidney law enforcement personnel and supporters turned out for what proved the largest Torch Run the state has ever seen. More than 100 walkers and runners turned out for the event, serving notice to the rest of the st...
Hundreds of riders will stream toward the middle of Nebraska this weekend, participating in the 10th Annual Law Enforcement Ride. From both ends of the state they’ll travel, meeting in Grand Island and then going together to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial. The riders will be primarily members of law enforcement motorcycle clubs, but participants don’t have to be law enforcement, or even motorcycle riders to participate and show support. The ride has several parts to it. One is the com...
A recommendation by the Cheyenne County Assessor's Office to lower the percentages on which property tax values are based has been approved by the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission. Last month the Cheyenne County Assessor's Office made its recommendation to the Department of Revenue to lower the percentages on a number of property types. With the Department of Revenue's approval, the matter needed final approval from the Tax Equalization and Review Commission. Properties taxes are...
OMAHA - Sidney's Ylani Cole didn't come away with the Mrs. Nebraska crown at the Mrs. Nebraska Pageant last weekend, but that is secondary to what she did gain. "I won so much more than a crown and a sash," Cole said. "I've gotten to develop so many wonderful relationships and friendships. Getting out there and getting involved with my community was great." "It was a reward, not an award, and it's something I'll always treasure," Cole said of the her time serving the community as Mrs. Cheyenne...
A hard-hitting spring storm that hit the area Friday left more than a hundred motorists stranded around Sidney, and electric customers from Sidney to Lake McConaughy without power for between 24 and 48 hours. The storm began dropping snow mid-morning, and around 11:30 a.m., a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 80 near mile marker 66 was reported and it went downhill from there. The Nebraska State Patrol reported two major areas where accidents and poor visibility shut down traffic on I-80,...
Sidney volunteer firemen gathered Saturday evening to honor their own, with awards and recognition going out to 10 firefighters with a cumulative total of 175 years of service to the community. Fireman Greg Brekel was chosen by his peers as Firefighter of the Year. Three other firefighters were also nominated for the award - Jamie Savage, Bronson Reece and Mike Butts. Three of those, Loren Rood, Glenn Morrison and James Harmon, each had more than 25 years. Morrison and Harmon received recognitio...
In just a little more than a week, Ylani Cole will join nine other women from across Nebraska, vying for the title Mrs. Nebraska America and a chance at Mrs. America. As of Monday, she was still looking for that "just right" outfit for the interview portion of the pageant, still practicing for those interviews, and remembered with a start, "I've got to start packing." While it might seem Cole is flustered at the last minute, she says she is really just "a little nervous," with the day she's...
Those who work with youth will celebrate Week of the Young Child next week, and in our area, the celebration kicks off tonight. “Celebrating Our Youngest Learners” opens to students and their families from 6-8 p.m. at the Cheyenne County Community Center. Free to the public, there will be a host of activities to challenge and delight. “We’ll be celebrating people who work with, and are in early childhood,” said Cassis Challburg, pre-school teacher at the Learning Corner Pre-School. At the site,...
A day out with friends is on tap for the girls Saturday, when Girl’s Day Out provides the opportunity for plenty of visiting, the chance to support local businesses, along with a little “shopping therapy.” Hosted by the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce, Girls Day Out begins with registration from 10 a.m. to noon. Then the real fun begins, with the chance to visit 40 local vendors and walk the downtown area. The event, open to girls from age 12 and up, provides a goodie bag filled with coupo...
A Colorado man escaped injury when his home built lightweight airplane lost power and he made a crash landing along Interstate 80 late Saturday afternoon. Ty Witt, 21, of Lamar, Colorado was moving the plane from Lamar to Sidney's Lloyd Carr Field and was approaching the airport just prior to the incident. Witt said as he flew toward the field, another aircraft called on the radio informing local air traffic it was on final approach. Witt said he went around to the west to come in second when...
A recommendation by the Cheyenne County Assessor has been accepted by the Nebraska Department of Revenue to be forwarded to potentially lower the level at which properties are taxed. Cheyenne County Assessor Sybil Prosser last week sent the office’s annual review to the Department of Revenue, proposing value changes based on property sales. Prosser was informed Friday that the Department of Revenue approved the proposal and forwarded it on to the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review C...
Cheyenne County Republican leaders met in convention this week, choosing its leadership and delegates to the state convention in June. Part of the lightly-attended gathering included discussion to draw more participants into the party fold. "It's a non-election year, so there isn't a very big turnout," said Bernie Fehringer, a long-time member of the party's leadership team. Fehringer said part of the party's work over the next couple of years should be to grow active members prior to the 2020...
A young Easter egg hunt participant lays claim to one of the larger prizes offered at the event, a canister of drawing chalk. Youngsters braved below-freezing temperatures for the annual event, hosted by Dr. Jeff Cook....
Sidney High School's choir has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York city next month. The choir, under the direction of David Mead, received the invitation after performing the work "Sleep," by Composer Eric Whitaker, on an audition recording. The group learned by mid-week last week that its recording had been well received, and after further review by officials from Distinguished Concerts International New York City, they were officially invited to perform. The concert, a...
Raiders Reaching Out, an extension of Sidney High School's human development class, closed out a special project Friday with a multi-generational prom that capped a months-long project where class members got to know people from a few years to decades older. Senior citizens from extended care facilities, one of the target audiences for the Raiders Reaching Out, were unable to attend, but those in attendance were impressed by the students' enthusiasm and energy as they conducted interviews, visit...
A Sidney nursing home and assisted living center are among a group of facilities across Nebraska affected by a move by the State of Nebraska. The state has taken control of 21 nursing homes around Nebraska because their owner couldn't make payroll. Affected are Sidney Care and Rehabilitation Center skilled nursing center and assisted living center. The homes' owner, Cottonwood Healthcare, also known as Skyline, which is headquartered in New Jersey, notified the state about its financial crisis,...
Creek Valley's School Board upheld a teacher's release at a hearing Tuesday, continuing an action authorized at its February board meeting. The release was not due to any wrongdoing of business teacher Janet Hill, but rather a Reduction In Force (RIF) due to work on the district's high budget. In February, the board authorized RIF reductions of two positions, Hill's and a special education spot. The other teacher accepted the action without protest, but Hill chose to protest the decision and...
Creek Valley’s School Board upheld a teacher’s release at a hearing Tuesday, continuing an action authorized at its February board meeting. The release was not due to any wrongdoing of business teacher Janet Hill, but rather a Reduction In Force (RIF) due to work on the district’s high budget. In February, the board authorized RIF reductions of two positions, Hill’s and a special education spot. The other teacher accepted the action without protest, but Hill chose to protest the decisio...
Raiders Reaching Out, a project of the human development class at Sidney High School, is hosting an event Friday that will bring young and old together to share experiences. The class, along with help from the community, will host a Multi-Generational Prom at the Sidney Elks Club. On tap are dance lessons for those in need, along with hors d’oeuvres, dancing to the tunes from a student DJ, and interaction that class teacher Brett Avila says has been welcomed by young and old in the classes’ prev...
Potter-Dix and Leyton High Schools won their respective divisions in district speech contests last week, as each local school qualified at least one student for this week's State Speech Championships. The district contests were held at Sidney High School. Leyton won the D1-6 title while qualifying students in eight categories. Leyton actors earned gold medals in three areas. Janessa Carley won both Persuasive Speaking and Informative Public Speaking, while the team of Paige Ernest and Sierra...
