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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Western Nebraska Community College and ESU13 are combining efforts to construct a new building at the Sidney campus of WNCC. In the Feb. 25 meeting of the Sidney City Council, a public hearing was scheduled for March 10. Monday afternoon, ESU 13 Administrator Andrew Dick said the plan is for a 10,000 square foot addition to the Western Nebraska Community College building in Sidney. The addition would house new office space, a large conference room and a kitchen. He said the ESU 13 program is in...
About four years ago, Ed Sadler walked into Sidney City Hall with a task. Simply put, he was directed to keep the city moving forward through one of the toughest periods in recent time. On Tuesday, Feb. 25, he attended his last Sidney Council meeting as city manager. "I've been here four years now," Sadler said near the end of the meeting. "We've done some great things." Sadler announced in October he would be retiring in February/March, at the completion of his four years as city manager. In...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners Tuesday approved a resolution in support of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and in protest against. The Nebraska Legislature is considering Legislative Bill 54 (LB 54) which would give the courts authority to have firearms removed from a home. Tuesday morning, Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub presented a resolution defining the county's position against the bill also referred to as the “Red Flag Law.” “Our position is it would take away a per...
Every community has its history. There are museums and there are informal collectors who have living museums off the main road. And there is living history a community refuses to let die. That is the story of the Potter Sundry and the Tin Roof Sundae. According to Wikipedia.org, the Tin Roof Sundae was created in 1916. The "lab" was the Potter Drug Co., owned by Jame Earl Thayer. The designer of the slathering concoction of chocolate and vanilla ice creams, chocolate syrup, peanuts and...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners opened one bid for work on County Road 115. Wieser Construction of Sidney submitted the winning bid. The bid extension of a paved surface south from Love's Truck Stop to County Road 21. The board also met with a representative of the PRCA Committee to discuss improvements of the rodeo grounds. Commissioner Randal Miller was appointed to meet with Wheat Belt Public Power District. The County recently received a notice of underpayment to Wheat Belt. The...
South Elementary School students were greeted Friday, Feb. 21, by the school's "Wacky Waving Arm Guy Day" character. The school set a goal to get 2,500 Raider Badges. Principal Rick Meyer also dressed as a second Wacky Waving Arm Guy....
After more than 35 years in business, Sidney Vision Clinic has been sold to My Family Vision Clinic. A letter dated Feb. 1 announced that Dr. Jeff Cook's practice "will now be in the hands of Shelby Rookstool." Thursday afternoon, Dr. Rookstool confirmed Dr. Thomas Moser of My Family Vision Clinic has purchased the Sidney Vision Clinic and clinics in McCook and Benkleman. Dr. Moser's My Family Vision Clinic has been providing eye and vision care for residents of southwest Nebraska, according to...
Nestled between the Hickory Street history and the business of downtown Sidney is a connection between the eastern coast and the state of Nebraska. It is a place where the window seats include a view common from the town's history: the passing trains. Stan and Melissa Norgard recently purchased the Sidney location of Sam & Louie's New York Pizza. They purchased the location from Jerry and Diann Steffens. They plan to reopen for the public on Feb. 26. The Norgards are not new to food service....
The Sidney City Council received the City's annual audit on Feb. 11. The report presented by Rauner & Associates, P.C., shows total assets for the city increased slightly less than .5 percent with expenses decreased almost 5 percent and revenues increased nearly 1 percent. Total assets of Business-type Activities decreased by nearly a quarter percent, down by $119,773, expenses decreased by 1.37 percent, $179,945 and revenues decreased by $43,393, or .31 percent. Robert Rauner, Jr., said the...
If something is right, it needs to be on the books, written into law. It cannot be enforced unless it is first written into law. That is the direction the Sidney Police Department is following. While some parts of the city have parallel or diagonal parking by habit, or history, there are areas where city code have it designated opposite of what is practiced, and therefore cannot be enforced except according to what is in the written code. Police Chief Joe Aikens addressed the Sidney City...
I remember watching the movie “Marley and Me” and relating to some of the events. Owen Wilson played the part of an aspiring writer and columnist fresh to the Florida community. It is a little bit familiar. Having a dog that immediately attaches to the family. Again, it is a little bit familiar. Fortunately, our canine family members have never eaten jewelry intended for my lovely wife. I’m not sure she would be too excited about an amethyst necklace having traveled the insides of a rambu...
A little more than 60 years ago, Julie and Al became one home. Dec. 20, 1959, is recognized as the next step from their initial conversation at a Rural Life meeting. Rural Life is a program just as it implies, all about rural life, designed as the next step after 4-H. They were in Kansas at the time. "We came here January 1971," said Julie. "We've been here a long time." The move followed graduating from Kansas State, and moving to Dodge City, Kan., then to Carlton, Kan. Al was then offered a...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners opened three bids for purchase of a backhoe. The three bids, from Titan Machinery, ranged in price from $34,500 for a 2008 Case 580 to about $20,000 lease for a 2020 Case or about $93,000 purchase. Titan Machinery also offered a 2006 Case 590 for $35,900. The bids were tabled for review. The commissioners also opened and approved a bid from Nebraska Machinery for a skid steer lease at a price of $5,700 for two years. Where is the line between compassion and...
In August 2019, Matt Innis announced his candidacy for US Senate against incumbent Ben Sasse. Innis introduced a platform of three points: Nebraskans want a senator who will represent them and their interests, and thirdly to support appointment of conservative judges to the federal bench. On Feb. 7, Innis toured Cheyenne County from Leyton Elementary School to Grandma Joe's cafe in Sidney. "Everywhere we go, it is incredible," Innis said. He said it doesn't matter if he is in Omaha, Lincoln or...
The Sidney High School Administration is changing. The Cheyenne County School District No. 1 board of education officially accepted the resignation of Activities Director Mike Brockhaus. In his letter to the board, Brockhaus said he has accepted the superintendent's position with Elgin Public Schools. His new duties will begin July 1, 2020. Brockhaus is currently Activities Director, Transportation Director and Assistant Principal. According to his resignation letter, Brockhaus has been part of...
Some people do things because they need to be done, not because of the time in the spotlight. This kind of person has a passion that is seen in how he, or she, works with people and applies the sweat to be quietly involved in projects benefitting those same people. Sidney and Cheyenne County overall has people with those qualities. In December 2019, friends and family said their goodbyes to Alan Hartzler of Sidney, one of the people whose passion was young people and sports. "He had a really...
Sidney city utility customers will soon see modest changes to their utility bills. On Jan. 28, the Sidney City Council approved third reading of proposed changes to the water rates and the electricity rates. The Third Reading was approved with a 4-1 vote. Vice-Mayor Joe Arterburn voted against changes to the electric fees and the water fees. "I still think to pass this now would be short-sighted," Arterburn said before the votes were cast. He said he was concerned about saddling the new city...
February is just arriving and deadlines are approaching for the Primary Election. The filing deadline for incumbent candidates wishing to be on the Primary Election ballot must submit their filing forms by Feb. 18. Even if an office-holder is seeking a different position, one other than what they current hold, they are required to file their intent by 5 p.m. Feb. 18. The deadline for non-incumbents is 5 p.m. March 2. The 2020 Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12. The following...
In 1977, a Seattle juvenile court judge developed the concept of citizen volunteers who are directed to meet with, speak for juveniles who are in the court system. The program developed into Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). In Nebraska, CASA programs operate in compliance with the Nebraska Court Appointed Special Advocate Act. In Cheyenne, Kimball and Deuel Counties, volunteers are appointed through PlainsWest CASA. PlainsWest CASA Executive Director Krista Bruns met with the Cheyenne...
In a year where people question if we are still on track, where commentators say "Sidney is dead," it is necessary to recognize those who are dedicated to swim against the tide, do what they can to support the economy and the community. On Friday, Jan. 24, the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet, recognizing businesses, entrepreneurs and every day residents who support Cheyenne County. "Each year, the Cheyenne County Chamber honors businesses and individuals that...
The Sidney City Council recently approved a plan to update the city's Downtown Master Plan. The City is currently working with the Downtown Master Plan from 2008. Originally, the plan would include support from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning funds. The City applied for funding through CDBG, but was not selected for a grant. Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard proposed the City commit $20,000 from the downtown portion of the LB840 fund to have the Plan updated. “My t...
In 2019, Siona Kshirsager finished the Cheyenne County Spelling Bee in second place to Aadhay Krishna. Last week, Siona finished her experience in spelling contests with a first place trophy and an invitation to the state spelling bee in Omaha at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple. The Cheyenne County Spelling Bee was held Jan. 21 at West Elementary School with 29 contestants from Potter-Dix, Leyton, Sidney Middle School and West/North Elementary Schools. Words varied from the simple to the...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners Tuesday discussed a proposal for the 4-H program to hold its archery program at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds. In other business, the commissioners approved a Special Designated Liquor License for the Pheasants Forever annual banquet. The banquet will be held March 6 at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Happy Hour starts at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner buffet at 7 p.m. A single membership and buffet is $50, membership/buffet and...
The Sidney City Council recently approved new people on the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and on the Historic Preservation Board. In the Jan. 14 city council meeting, Dave Hausmann, Steve Hume and Scott McDaniel were recommended to return to the Board of Adjustment. Hausmann has served on the board for 15 years, McDaniel 10 years and Hume 19 years. The Board of Adjustment consists of five regular members plus one alternate, all of whom are appointed by the City Council for a term of...
Almost to the day two months ago, the Western Community College Area Board of Governors chose Dr. Carmen Simone as the sixth president of Western Nebraska Community College. On Friday, Jan. 17, she visited the Sidney campus, meeting with staff and students and visiting the aviation program. "I am so grateful to be here," Simone said. "You can tell when you're at the right place." Simone was the vice president and dean at the University of South Dakota Community College in Sioux Falls, S.D.,...
