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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Greg Huck promised himself he would not end up like his father. The owner of Sidney business Financial Partners grew up with a father who volunteered for just about every community event or cause. So Huck vowed to set limits. They didn't last. "Whether we like it or not, a lot of our parents rub off on us,” he said. Nowadays Huck volunteers with several local charities, serves on the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce board and participates as often as possible when events are planned. “How can...
Fenugreek is an herb that fans of Indian cuisine are familiar with, whether or not they know what the plant looks like. But its flavor and appearance are not as important as the herb's versatility. Used for centuries both to flavor dishes and in home remedies, it is included in modern medications for diabetes, high cholesterol and liver damage. Fenugreek can also be forage for ranch animals. Dipak Santra and Alexander Pavlista from the University of Nebraska Lincoln Agriculture Laboratory in... Full story
On Sunday nights the old church fills with the sound of music, as brass, woodwinds and piano play for an empty room. Just a handful of musicians, known as the Cheyenne County Community Band, gather to practice for their love of the music, led by trombone player and conductor Chris Gabis. “Now we’re trying to get people to join us,” he said. “Its been a real challenge, we don’t have enough players to fill all the parts.” The band currently counts 11 members. They play for fun, but have also a...
There's a new drink in town. At least there will be in October, when brothers Nicolas, Manuel and Gustavo Morales plan to open Tres Margaritas, a Mexican restaurant. “We think this will be great here in Sidney," said David Villasenor, who is heading up the local project. He confirmed that the new establishment would stock a full bar, serving margaritas by the glass or pitcher. But cocktails are not the soul of this Seattle chain. Nicolas and Manuel Moralas opened their first restaurant, Las Margaritas, in that city 27 years ago. It featured s... Full story
The Sidney Housing Authority held its monthly meeting on site. While they sat at Western Heritage Apartments, they board discussed both that complex and Sioux Village. The net worth of Western Heritage has increased, but the city spent $46,000 for hail damage repairs and painting. Continued renovation projects are part of the next year's budget, as well. In addition, tenents compound repair problems by not following proper form in turning in work orders. The board frowns on the hiring of outside contractors to perform routine repairs that their...
The man charged for his involvement and a 2012 multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 80 that killed two adults and two children appeared in Cheyenne County Court on Tuesday. Josef Slezak enter the courtroom escorted by Sheriff John Jenson for a pre-trail hearing with his lawyer, Kelly Breen. Slezak faces four counts of manslaughter and four counts vehicular homicide for the fatal crash on I-80 in September of that year. Through an interpreter on the telephone in Vancouver, Judge Derick Weimer...
A Sidney man faces two charges of distribution of marijuana after a Western Nebraska Intelligence & Narcotics Group Task Force investigation. Alfredo Balandran, age 39, of is accused of the class III felonies following a tip to the force that they could purchase an eighth of an ounce of marijuana. WING personel met with the informant and provided $50 in buy money to purchase the drug from Balandran. After making the deal in a garage near 13th Ave. and Newton St., the informant presented the marijuana to task force members who had observed the... Full story
Winter wheat has been harvested, but the threat of crop destruction has not gone away. The enemy farmers face even after the combines are parked is so tiny that a microscope must be used to see it. The wheat curl mite itself does not kill a plant. Rather, a virus often carried by the mite, known as wheat streak mosaic virus, can infect a field. Infected crops can be identified by mottling and light green streaks, which eventually give way to blotches that leave a mosaic pattern. Justin McMechan from the University of Nebraska Lincoln...
Cheyenne County Sheriff's deputies face the unknown everyday. At least Sergeant Adam Frerichs has a partner along for the ride. Frerichs, a veteran of 13 years on the force, works with a German Shepherd named Colonel as the county's K-9 unit. Colonel is trained to locate hidden illegal narcotics. But their job also involves more routine patrols. Within minutes after turning onto Highway 385 on Wednesday morning, a gray sedan zips by at 79 miles per hour in a 65 zone. It is the first of six traff... Full story
Eight goals were identified by the Sidney Preservation Board's long term plan, currently in the drafting process. The plan sets the guidelines for future development of Sidney's historical buildings. Goals include developing a legal framework for preservation, preparing education and outreach programs, detailing historic resources and other programs to strengthen the review process. Funding for the development of the plan came form the Nebraska State Historical Society, National Parks Service and the City of Sidney. Board member Meagan Smuin...
The fields have been cut and the wheat has been harvested. Now some Nebraska farmers will turn their attention to millet. The old world grain was once considered bird seed, at least in the U.S. These days, however, it is an important—though finicky—agricultural product, used as food and in medicines, brewed into beer and cycled into bio-fuels. Growing millet is a challenge. The season is short, the stem fragile and panhandle winds can knock down a portion of a farmer's profit on any given day... Full story
Night of Hope was held at Legion Park Aug. 9. The event celebrates the victims and survivors of cancer, as well as their families, in Cheyenne County and surrounding area. This year’s effort raised over $43,000. Funds cover travel and other expenses for local cancer patients. While luminaries and the survivor’s walk once again drew crowds, the evening featured a unique fundraising twist—the “chair-ty.” Supporters auctioned off 17 chairs, earning $3,300. “Now that people know what it is, it will... Full story
A quick glance would lead passers by to believe that little transpires in panhandle fields, other than routine planting, irrigation and harvest. But a Field Day hosted this week by the University of Nebraska's High Plains Agriculture Laboratory, north of Sidney, suggests so much more. One research project, presented by Dipak Santra, focused on a new millet seed being developed that will require less water for germination and growth. Millet is often a risky crop—temperamental, yet with high r...
Living in the big city of Denver, crossing main streets was always an adventure. You never knew if an innattentive driver would plow through an intersection and mow you down—and if you watch news from that town, you know it happens far too often. Once I was crossing at Alameda Ave. close to Wadsworth Blvd., my bike all lit up. You should never ride without some kind of reflection, certainty not after the sun goes down. I entered with the light in my favor when a black Cadillac bore down at me. I watched as it blew through one red light and c...
The Nebraska Department of Roads held an open house in Chappell on Tuesday to present information an upcoming construction project. Work is scheduled to begin on Highway 30 west of Chappell in the spring of 2016, extending east of town the following year. Construction will start at Reference Post 97 and run to RP 107 on the west side and RP 87 to RP 97 east of Chappell. The open house was held at the NDOR's building in Chappell with representatives from the NDOR answering questions from residents living along U.S. Hwy 30. The plans include...
Monica Gehrig of Sidney was arrested after an extensive investigation by the Western Nebraska Intelligence & Narcotics Group Task Force and Sidney police on charges of distribution of a controlled substance. The incident took place within 1,000 feet of a school. Gehrig is currently being held in Garden County. She is scheduled to appear in Cheyenne County Court on August XX. Interest in Gehrig's activities began in March of 2011 when a WING investigator received a telephone call from a cooperating individual informing him that they could make...
Casey Diedrich was arrested on July 30 by Sidney police for the alleged theft of an automobile form 1900 Ash St. Police received a report of the missing 2000 Kia Sportage from its owner, Linda Dickey. When Officer Curtis Hofrock arrived, Dickey informed him that two female neighbors watched Diedrich enter her apartment and run back out. According to police reports, the witnesses informed Officer Hofrock that Diedrich waited for them to re-enter the building. They added that they did not see him take the vehicle. One of the witnesses also...
The Cheyenne County Fair is one of the largest summertime gatherings in Sidney. On some nights thousands will converge on the grounds for rodeos, concerts, food and carnival rides. Crowds also create a need for additional law enforcement. County Sheriff John Jensen reports that crime is down this year, compared to past fairs, though he and his deputies have encountered the usual minor violations. Daytime events are smaller and more family oriented. The rodeo crowd was also relatively quiet before and after the events. But, Jensen assured, deput...
Cynthia Gill can trace her 4-H roots through several generations.She first participated at the age of 9 in Tennessee. Her father and grandfather were both members of the organization. And her kids are involved, too.It's fitting that the family moved to Sidney during fair week a dozen years ago. Gill, who serves as a University of Nebraska extension educator for Cheyenne and Kimball Counties, has served as a 4-H volunteer—during the year and at the fair—for the past eight years."We live in a won...
It is unusually cool for the end of July, cloudy and overcast dulled by a light rain. It is also opening day for competition at the Cheyenne County Fair. Horses and riders wait to be judged by keen eyes, posted just inside the arena. Judges Ashlynn Jensen and assistant Tonya Madden will bear the drizzle to assess each rider in the horsemanship competition. Yet they know the role means more than selecting a ribbon winner. Judges at the county fair help young riders learn their craft. Madden's...
Between the federal government and international bodes, the organic farmer faces a unique set of regulations. South of Sidney along the Colorado border, however, three families are navigating the challenges with success. Fresh Wind Farms on County Road 8 has found a market for organic eggs, selling them to a small but growing number of people in the Sidney community. To meet the requirements, their chickens must receive organic feed—an often expensive prospect. Fortunately, a neighboring farm s...
Harvest is in full swing and at the Scoular elevator trucks have been rolling in steadily. But this season has a distinct character. “It's been a different type of year with the late rains that we had,” reported Scoular Merchandiser Logan Snyder. “There is a lot of wet stuff out there right now.” As every farmer knows, weather is a big factor in determining when to harvest, as well as the quality of a crop. While trucks loaded with grain arrive at Scoular's elevator day and night, Snyder...
Cuffed at the hands and ankles, Dale Robertson was escorted into the Cheyenne County District Court by a deputy. Dressed in orange he sat quietly at the table, waiting for Judge Derek Weimer to enter the room. His lawyer, William Madelung, said in an aside that Robertson's life had been “tainted with drug abuse.” Judge Wiemer sentenced the defendant to two to four years in jail, with a possible chance for probation after one year. This sentence runs consecutively with a term of one year in the county jail. Robertson was charged with sel... Full story
Summer is half gone, wheat harvest is here and I have still not found the time to ride my bicycle. Because there is so much to do on a daily basis, I wake up around 5 a.m.--generally--and sit outside in the cool air, sipping my cup of tea. The other morning it was the right sky to see the sunrise, my first in Nebraska. The right sky? Yes, the right sky—when you see all the colors imparted into the clouds. But there has to be just the right amount of billowy clouds. The cool deep blue sky with little puffy spots catching the opening rays of t... Full story
