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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The Panhandle Public Health District recently reported an improvement in the region's response to COVID-19. From March 2 to Aug. 4, the Panhandle area has conducted 8,320 tests. Of that number, 444 tests were returned positive for the coronavirus for a 5.3 percent cumulative positivity rate. Of the 444 positive cases, 384 have recovered and 54 are active. There are six COVID-related deaths, one active hospitalization and 45 cumulative hospitalizations. PPHD publishes a chart, a dial, explaining...
I remember some of the shows from my early years. They were odd, challenging and mysterious all at the same time. They were mysterious because even at that time, “the latest in polyester and spandex” didn’t add up to a new planet or an unexplored world. One tear walking through a sticker patch and you can almost hear the rest of your shirt tear. Some of the favorites, well, the fantasy I suppose, were of heroes, the testosterone-rich get-it-done and take-no-prisoners type of movies that proba...
Build your reputation right and customers will find you. That is the experience of Nick Eddy and his new shop Outlaw Motorsports. Several years ago, Eddy had a business called “Nick’s Small Engine Repair.” After a time he got away from small engines, but never really left the mechanical way of viewing things. That just comes naturally, he and his wife Diadra say. He has had a wrench in his hand most of his life. “I’ve been wrenching on motor sports since I was 12,” he says. His newest vent...
The Sidney City Council agreed July 28 to continue its contract with the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce. The contract is for the Chamber to execute "services and deliverables" for the City each fiscal year, according to the summary presented to council members. "I think we put as many results and checks and balances in it as we could," said Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard. In the contract, the Chamber is to work with the city's Economic Development office on projects...
“Enough is enough” was the chant Thursday morning when residents of Western Heritage Apartments in Sidney took to the street to present their case. Residents are complaining of his prices for maintenance services, when work is completed, and long waits for service. “My toilet has been clogged since Friday,” said Bette Castle. Castle has lived at Western Heritage Apartments for about six years. A shower unit was installed in another resident's apartment. She reported a gap in the unit and was...
The Cheyenne County Emergency Communications Center (CCECC) logged 21,325 calls from all the agencies it dispatches in fiscal year 2019-2020. CCECC Manager Heidi Gillespie presented her annual report to the Sidney City Council on Tuesday, July 28. The dispatch center dispatches Sidney Police Department, Sidney Fire Department, Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office, Deuel County Sheriff's Office and Regional West EMS. Most of the dispatch service is for the Sidney Police Department at 8,053 calls for...
"If you want to see evil, evil is all you will see." Many years ago now, I was driving what was then a rural section between two cities in Colorado. The sun was just beginning to set and the colors that would be absolutely soothing in the backyard with a glass of iced tea caused a little doubt when driving and still comfortable with some light-colored sunglasses. The wake-up call occurred when I realized the "yellow line" was actually white, discolored by the glasses I was wearing, and what...
Caution, communication and environmental awareness appear to be the keywords for Sidney Public Schools bringing students back to the classroom. District Superintendent Jay Ehler released a statement Monday morning on how the District plans to move toward reopening schools this fall. "We know that there is no way to please everyone in this situation. We gathered as much information as we could and attempted to put together a plan good for kids and staff," Ehler said. The anticipated date for stud...
The tradition of 4-H members walking their sheep, goats or cattle before potential buyers continued this year, although with some noticeable changes. This year's 4-H Livestock Sale, the key point of 4-H events at the Cheyenne County Fair, was conducted this year virtually and before a crowd of supporters. It was most-notably done without the presence of the club members' animals. Each 4-H member displayed a framed picture of their entry before the video feed and the audience before bids were...
Sometimes I wish there could be a way to record quick thoughts from a radio broadcast. The problem or challenge is that I heard this particular comment while driving. I’m pretty sure the only thing more distracting than talking on a phone while driving is trying to take notes while driving. So to paraphrase, in this coronavirus reaction, never forget the importance of social connectivity. Social connectivity, or being socially connected. The difference is between seeing someone familiar a...
Sidney Seniors Fall to Alliance 1-12 Saturday, 5-3 against Chadron Friday The Sidney Seniors have a 7-11 record as of Monday morning after losing to the Aliance FNBO Spartans 1-12 Saturday and the Chadron Senior Nationals Varsity 3-5 Friday. Sidney Seniors Defeat Sheridan County 10-1, Fall to Chadron 6-1 The Sidney Seniors defeated the Sheridan County Regulators on Wednesday, July 22, by a score of 10-1, following Sidney’s defeat by the Chadron Seniors Nationals Varsity on Tuesday, July 21. Chad...
It isn't often an insurance carrier approaches a client with the words “Here's a check.” More often it is facing the challenge of minimizing claims and related increases. But that was not the case in the July 14 Sidney City Council meeting when the City was presented with a check for about $146,000. The return was presented by Rob Robinson of Points West Insurance. “What its based on is your loss ratio,” Robinson told the city council. He said in addition to safety, company also stresse...
The Sidney School District approved an agreement with Education Service Unit (ESU) 13 for the Valley Alternative Learning Transitioning School (VALTS). VALTS is a program designed “to provide alternative ways for students to achieve high school graduation." The program includes methods to ensure students have reached or surpassed the district and/or state performance assessments. The mission of VALTS is to empower students to meet the challenges of a changing world. The philosophy is based u...
The Sidney High School Class of 2020 met as students one last time Saturday at the high school football field. The breeze and high temperatures welcomed a new day as students waited to hear their names called for completing the requirements of Sidney High School. The service was opened with District Superintendent Jay Ehler addressing the crowd. "These graduates have lived through some major challenges in the last five years," Ehler said. He mentioned the community struggles as Cabela's was...
Several years ago, I read through a proposal that brought together a strange unity of “The Jetsons” and the latest “save the animal of the month” club. There was a report released of meat, a hamburger patty as an example, made entirely in a lab. Scientists glowed with the excitement of having what was biologically, chemically, a beef patty. What it lacked was the rancher walking the field, immunizing the herd, the 4-H teens growing up with more than dust on their boots and not blinking an eye to...
The Sidney Juniors record added two notches to the wrong column Sunday, falling to the Chadron Junior Nationals 9-7 Sunday afternoon, then 4-3 later that night. The Sidney Juniors entered Sunday with an 11-1 record after their 10-0 loss to Alliance on Wednesday, July 15, 10-0 victory over the Sheridan County Regulators and an 11-3 win Saturday over the Alliance FNBO Spartans. The Sidney Juniors also faced the Sheridan County Regulators Friday, July 17, and played again on Saturday afternoon. The...
There were tears, smiles, laughter and quiet memories as local farmers gathered for one last chance to return a favor to one known to give to anyone who had a need. Life seldom ends on a schedule. Too often family get that phone call no parent wants to answer. From that point, life changes. The son or daughter is no longer walking among the living. Conversations become like retrieving memories from a shelf. In the course of moving forward, there comes addressing the details of when everyone...
To the passing motorist, that creature running alongside the car, then darting into the field is a harmless creature of semi-arid desert. They appear to have almost chipmunk-like qualities that from a distance implies pet potential. To the farmer and rancher, the story is often much different with negative results. A quick search on prairie dogs defines the four-legged animal as “gregarious ground squirrel that lives in interconnected burrows that may cover many acres." It is native to the g...
If I remember right, this is a statement most recently connected with programs like Challenge Day and Sidney High School’s Unified Raiders. It might sound soft and all goody-feelie, but it has a lot of impact. It also has a lot of current relevance. Somehow, we have become a society where we are treated right, or we are offended. What happened to our great-grandparents is as important as what happened to us 10 minutes ago. The middle ground is increasingly hard to find. I’ve had discussions wit...
The Sidney Seniors defeated the Akron Rams 18U Saturday by a score of 11-1, bringing their record to 6-6 for the season as of July 11. Later Saturday, Sidney defeated the Buckley Bombers varsity 7-2, and faced Chadron Tuesday evening. Sidney also defeated the Sheridan County Regulators 8-2 on July 10, lost to the Bridgeport Bombers 7-3 on July 7, and to the Platte Valley Companies Gering 18U by a score of 6-2. Sidney defeated the Bridgeport Bombers June 24 by a score of 9-1, lost to the Platte...
Months in the works, the Sidney City Council is closing in on a decision for its new city manager, announcing three finalists for the position in the June 9 meeting. The council announced David Scott of Sidney, Pamela Caskie of Sevierville, Tenn., and Jeff Wells of Fort Morgan, CO., as the finalists. Scott has been employed with the City of Sidney as finance director since May of 2017, having moved to Sidney from Alaska. Jeff Wells is a former city manager for city of Fort Morgan. On May 20, 201...
The Sidney School District approved an agreement with Education Service Unit (ESU) 13 for the Valley Alternative Learning Transitioning School (VALTS). VALTS is a program designed “to provide alternative ways for students to achieve high school graduation." The program includes methods to ensure students have reached or surpassed the district and/or state performance assessments. The mission of VALTS is to empower students to meet the challenges of a changing world. The philosophy is based u...
As of July 1, the Panhandle Public Health District has recorded three deaths in the Panhandle region of Nebraska related to the COVID-19 virus. Nine more cases were announced July 1, bringing the total to 312. Of that number 111 were active as of July 1, and 198 recovered, with three deaths. The nine new cases include a man in his 50s in Banner County from community spread, a woman in her 50s from Dawes County by close contact, a man in his 20s whose exposure is travel-related, three from...
One of the annual events in Cheyenne County is the county fair. There is the viewing of crafts, including clothing designs, animal shows and auction, carnival, concerts and many other events. Many of this year's events have been put on hold. The good news is the majority of the 4-H programs will remain. The livestock judging and showing, and the numerous other programs, from clothing construction to static exhibits, will be conducted. However, this year, 4-H members will be the only ones in the...
Some people might see them as cute prairie creatures. Others, however, see prairie dogs as disturbing the soil, causing holes that can result in injured livestock, and potentially spread plague. In a previous county commissioner meeting, the commissioners met with Matt Anderson of the USDA regarding a yearly contract with the county for services including prairie dog eradication. On Monday, July 6, the commissioners met with Anderson, Jerry Feist, Tim Veenendaal and opened the meeting to Sen....
