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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Two Leyton School Board members resigned and Superintendent Chris Geary is on administrative leave following a special meeting. A special meeting was held Friday evening, Jan. 22, when the board accepted the resignation of two school board members. In accepting the resignations, the resignations of board members Galen Bartling and Anne Rexroth. Board President Susan Ernest said she wished discussion could have taken place. She then referred to the District policy on board vacancies. Friday the...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners heard two requests for vacation of county roads in their January 19 meeting. Randy Mathewson met with the commissioners regarding closure of County Road 24 between County Roads 77 and 79. He said the land adjacent to the road was bought more than 40 years ago. “It's an attractive nuisance. Nobody lives there,” he said. Commissioner Phil Sanders asked about access to pastures for fire protection. “Access to that area, there's just not a lot of it,” Sanders...
The COVID-19 risk dial continues to improve for the Panhandle region. The current risk level is defined at 2.50, about the midpoint of the high risk range, the third highest of the four-point dial. Cheyenne County’s risk assessment is at 2.7. The city of Sidney is also assigned a risk level of 2.7. As of the January 18 update, there have been 32,122 tests administered. Of that number, 8,238 returned positive. There have been 173 deaths attributed to COVID since records started. More than half o...
We’re in the early days of a new administration. Joe Biden is officially the 46th president of the United States and Kamala Harris his second. What is yet to be seen, what will be proven as time goes on, is how free we are. When was the last time we had, by appearances at least, more military presence than elected officials, VIP invitations and public in general at an inauguration? News feeds spent much of 2020 overwhelmed with videos of events labeled as protests that quickly resulted in destro...
The Nebraska Department of Revenue (DOR) has approved a sales tax refund claim that will impact the City of Sidney by about $275,000. In the Jan. 12 meeting of the Sidney City Council, City Manager David Scott presented a letter from the DOR regarding a request for sales tax refund from Sidney businesses. “It is a big hit,” Scott said. “We're going to lose a lot of money.” The bill comes to the amount of $275.177.84. The City has the option of allowing the DOR to deduct the full amount in one...
The duties of education go far beyond taking attendance and presenting a lecture. The process involves several layers of employees, from the custodians to the administrators. Three Sidney businesses have come together to recognize employees of Sidney Public Schools. On Monday, Jan. 21, Janet Volkmer was recognized as the first employee of the month. Eric Packer, manager of the Dairy Queen stores in Sidney and Ogallala, said the award is not just for teachers. He said the recognition award can go...
COVID conditions in Cheyenne County are improving, according to Sidney Public Schools Superintendent Jay Ehler. The Sidney Public Schools Board of Education met in the Sidney High School Performing Arts Center on Jan.11. Much of the meeting was spent assigning roles to board members. As the meeting began, the night was recognized as the first meeting in several years with Steve Mattoon not an active part of the board. Newly elected member Matt Wallace was absent that night, and Kathy Nienhueser...
Golf Operations Director Patrick Kilbride presented the Sidney City Council a proposal of adding a golf simulator to the clubhouse. Kilbride told the city council there are currently no courses in the area with a simulator. The nearest course with a golf simulator is in Kearney. “This would potentially not only attract Sidney residents, but out of towners to come and use the simulator,” Kilbride said in his presentation. “Additionally, the simulator can be used for such things as closest to th...
A protest turned riot and almost in the same breath social media platforms showed how private they truly are. Twitter and Facebook banned Trump and most anything that supported him or his ideas. This might be a short-lived grandstanding as Twitter’s stock fell by at least 10 percent within the first few days of the decision. Maybe society needs to look at this strategically. What happens when a storm hits and cell service is suspended? After the shock and frustration wears off, there’s the boo...
After five city managers and 30 years, JoDene Houser decided to disconnect the time clock and face life at a different pace. Friday, January 8, was Houser's last day as Human Resources director and Administrative Assistant to the City Manager. Friday morning was spent with a surprise reception with friends, family and co-workers past and present taking a moment to wish her a happy retirement. She came to the City after working at Social Services for six years. “When I first applied, my mom a...
A little more than a year ago, the state of Nebraska had challenges of filling employment needs. With the announcement of COVID-19, the need is multiplied. Members of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce held a virtual conference meeting January 7 entitled “Back to Business.” Mike Boyle, chairman of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, said the goals for 2021 include keeping people safe, keeping businesses open and planning for the post-pandemic economy. Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Cha...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners in their Jan. 4 meeting approved extending benefits related to COVID-19. County Attorney Paul Schaub said the county was contacted by the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (NIRMA) regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The Act requires employers to provide 80 hours of sick leave in relation to the coronavirus. The Act was required through Dec. 31, 2020. However, it can be continued at the discretion of the employer. “The b...
On Wednesday, Jan. 6, the American people should have heard reports of the Electoral College votes being verified and shouts of excitement and probably protest. Let’s face it. No matter who won. The other side would not be happy and probably would explain why the election was stolen. Was it? The better question might be can it be proven such that a court and the American people will accept it. Burden of proof is a challenge. Yes, there are videos of people being denied access to the polling plac...
Five members of the Sidney High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, returned from a speech competition with awards, and just importantly experience. Angel Helms, Erika Meakins, Isis Finnie, Riley Rohn, Alyssiah Green and Sidney Allard competed in the speech event. Helms competed in persuasive speaking, Meakins competed in extemporaneous speaking, Finnie in FFA Creed, and Rohn also competed in Creed. This year’s competition took place under the health directives in reaction to the C...
Regardless the size of community, the question Chambers and economic development promoters face is how to keep people shopping in the local stores. There are people who plan day trips around a certain store, sometimes to learn later there was a better price at home. One of the most challenging struggles of communities is maintaining a healthy economy. The struggle is in knowing what people are seeking and how best to provide it. The Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce is encouraging Cheyenne Cou...
The COVID Risk Dial continues to slowly move back to a safer zone. The Risk Dial for Sidney was recently just within the Severe category, the highest of the four levels. In the time since then, the Dial has continued to return toward the Moderate range. As of Dec. 28, the Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) reported 7,708 positive cases from 30,052 people tested, and 114 deaths related to the COVID-19 virus. In the days between Dec. 14 and Dec. 28, there were 350 additional cases. As of...
About a year ago, press conferences and news reports were grabbing everyone’s attention. Politicians and health experts were lining up to explain a crisis. A new virus was detected. It was quickly defined as contagious and deadly. It was also defined as preventable by washing your hands, covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing and stay home when sick. The advice was simple. Remember what you were taught in kindergarten and you will be fine. As time moved on, so did the restrictions. It b...
The blustery nearing of Christmas and trace of snow reminded us it is still winter even though the moisture has been missing. Winter officially started Tuesday, Dec. 22 with winds reported up to 12 mph from the southwest in the early morning to negligible and increasing to a high of 54 mph from the northwest at about 9:53 p.m. Winds continued into Wednesday morning with gusts reaching 67 mph with 71 percent humidity at 5:53 a.m. Winds continued throughout the day from the north and northwest...
There are people who just stand out in the world. They don't lead armies or research medicines. They take the harsh or bitter ingredients of life and make something sweet. Bertha Mueller, known locally for her chocolates, has a story of adapting to what life gave her family. She was born in 1930 in Byron, Wyo., moving to Topeka, Kan., when she was a child and moving back to Wyoming a year later. Her mother died when Mueller was 14 years old. Then she lost her dad when she was 16. She and her two...
The COVID-19 Risk Dial is showing a gradual improvement. Only a few weeks ago, the dial showed the Panhandle region in the Severe Risk area. Since then, conditions have moved to about the mid-point of High Risk. The Panhandle Public Health District stresses the dial provides a summary of current conditions, with each color or risk level incorporating federal and national guidance. The risk dial is only guidance and is not intended to replace federal, state or local directed health measures. The...
Almost 12 months ago, when I flipped the calendar to 2020, I had visions of getting better at what I do, finding time for some things I don’t do enough and, as I told a friend as a goal or resolution, ride more. I saw myself retracing the Tour de Nebraska ride through the Panhandle. I saw myself doing a few more weekenders, seeing people I miss and scheduling excuses to let the mind and body relax. Instead, I like most of us, spent the year moving from thinking I was a normal hard-working guy t...
The hallways have the inviting appearance of newness while work rooms are overwhelmed with supplies to be put in their place, and the scent of industrial adhesives are still lingering in the air. Meanwhile, the former building is becoming increasingly vacant as the Educational Services Unit (ESU) 13 staff make their move to the new location. Offices are gradually filling with staff, followed by the computers and reference books for them to do their job working with regional schools and...
Each year the Sidney Public School District is assessed by the State. The District continues to earn a grade of “Great.” “This is the one we do every year,” said Superintendent Jay Ehler. “We will remain in the ‘Great’ category this year as well.” Schools are graded on a four-level scale: Needs Improvement, Good, Great and Excellent. The report card defines the number of students in the District, Facilities, staffing, and student achievements. Sidney students performed better than the averag...
West Elementary Principal Gene Russell is known for his love of students and excitement that sometimes makes relating to children that much easier. He is also known among staff for his focus on details and caring for teachers. On Dec. 14, the announcement was made official. Russell was offered and accepted the position of superintendent of the Ogallala schools. “I am going to miss everything about Sidney: the board, the world class education, the staff and the community,” he said in his res...
Two Sidney residents were recently arrested on drug-related charges following the execution of a search warrant recently. Sidney Police announced Dec. 16 that a search warrant was served at 1229 Jackson St. with the assistance of Cheyenne County Sheriff's Officers, the Western Intelligence Narcotic Group (WING), and the Nebraska State Patrol on Dec. 14. Thomas G. Clark, 34, and Brittany Swanson, 27, were arrested on charges of Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Possession...
