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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As the responsibility of distributing general relief funds has been shifted from a state agency to counties, local officials are working to introduce pragmatic policies. "We've run into situations where there's basically two forms of general relief that we've been dealing with, and with the transition from [Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services] over to counties, we've just been ironing them out as we go along," Paul Schaub, Cheyenne County attorney, told commissioners this week. For...
LifeSmiles of Sidney hosted its seventh annual Halloween candy buyback event on Monday. The event is sponsored by LifeSmiles of Sidney, Hoppens Orthodontics, Western Nebraska Endodontics, Sidney Regional Medical Center and local UPS employees. The office collects the candy to be made into care packages for soldiers overseas through Operation Gratitude. Its mission is to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of the active duty and veteran communities and provide volunteer opportunities for...
LODGEPOLE – The communities of Lodgepole and Chappell are collaborating on a proposed water project to drill a shared well field. Every public drinking water system is required to have its water tested, and a level of arsenic slightly over what the state allows has been found in Lodgepole’s, village clerk Tammy Sherman said. Chappell, 10 miles southeast, is facing a similar issue, she added. Working with the state, a regional water study – which encompassed just the two communities – was recently completed. From the report, the idea of a colla...
Cheyenne County could have a public defender in place by the first of the year. Paul Schaub, Cheyenne County Attorney, has said in the 20 years he’s worked in the county, there’s never been a public defender. Instead, Cheyenne County judges currently appoint lawyers to represent individuals charged with crimes who can’t afford to pay for counsel – and the county takes care of the bill. In recent years, the annual cost of paying court-appointed lawyers has grown. Last year, the county paid out nearly $350,000, according to numbers provide...
Children's health and well-being were the focuses of attention at the first Sidney Regional Medical Center kids health fair on Saturday. The "All About Kids Health Adventure" was held at the Cheyenne County Community Center and included more than a dozen local groups and organizations. Tammy Meier, a community health nurse at SRMC, said children and their parents were able to learn about nutrition, physical activity and drug awareness at the many booths. The idea for the event came out of a...
OSHKOSH – As Garden County High players celebrated their victory at the opposite end of the field, Leyton coach Glen Lipska stood in the north end zone, surrounded by his players and Warrior supporters. In a low voice, he praised his team's effort despite the 74-32 loss in the first round of the Class D-2 eight-man state playoffs. He asked his senior players, who had just competed in their final high school football game, to lead the team in a cheer. And then, under the bright lights and with t...
Interstate 80 through Sidney should return to normal traffic patterns in the coming weeks. Work began this spring on eastbound lanes, from mile markers 51-69. Next year, the project will move onto the westbound lanes, from mile markers 62-90. Wayne Rhamy, Nebraska Department of Roads project manager in Gering, said workers are wrapping up work for the season and both east and westbound lanes would be open for normal traffic flow by the middle of November. While this year's construction was...
After a four and a half hour-standoff with authorities, a 44-year-old man was placed into protective custody Wednesday morning in Sidney. Police and sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence near North Elementary School at about 3 a.m., Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub said. “Family members reported concerns that the subject was not taking his medication, hallucinating and delusional,” a media release from Schaub’s office states. The man – whose identity was not disclosed because of state laws regarding mental health subjects – told au...
The search is on for a new Sidney city manager. On Tuesday, city councilors approved a proposal from Texas-based J.D. Gray Group, an executive recruitment firm, to help lead the search. At a cost of $27,500, J.D. Gray will consult with stakeholders to determine what qualities are desired in a new city manager, conduct a national recruitment effort and screen perspective candidates. According to the agreement, the firm will present a minimum of four individuals to the city council – which will make a final hiring decision. Mayor Mark N...
Prosecutors have charged Joshua Woolery, 26, of Sidney, with six felony charges relating to the alleged sexual assault of a minor between the ages of 12 and 16. A County Court judge bound the case over to District Court on Monday, ruling it appeared the offenses were committed and that there was probable cause to believe Woolery committed them. He is being held on a $500,000 bond. Throughout the hearing, Woolery – who wore shackles and an orange inmate jump suit – sat with his head looking dir...
SUNOL – Residents and visitors in Sunol got an early start to Halloween last weekend. On Saturday, the community held its fifth annual Halloween festival. Throughout the afternoon and evening, games, activities, food – and for the brave, a haunted house – greeted those who visited the former Sunol School. Brenda Broughton, who helped organized the event along with Barb Henke and Brenda Stene, said planning for the event began in February. Numerous community members pitched in, she said, point...
No injuries were reported after a cement truck rolled on its side late Monday Morning in Cheyenne County. Emergency crews were dispatched to the intersection of county roads 19 and 19A shortly after 11 a.m. Both the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department and Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office responded. Fire crews worked to clean up diesel fuel that had spilled on the road as deputies directed traffic and conducted an investigation into the cause of the crash. No further details were available as of...
As Cheyenne County moves toward constructing a new jail, officials say they are deliberately moving slowly to ensure a new facility is prudent, economical and sensible. Earlier this week, the board of commissioners approved an agreement with D.A. Davidson, a bond underwriter, to help crunch the numbers. A feasibility study has already documented the myriad deficiencies of the existing jail and the need for an expanded facility. Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson said that report just put in writing the lack of space, safety issues and...
A structure fire on Thursday afternoon caused extensive damage to a single-dwelling trailer in Sidney. The Sidney Volunteer Fire Department responded to the residence in the 2300 block of Jackson Street at 2 p.m. "When we arrived, smoke was coming out of the trailer," Larry Chaon, assistant fire chief, said. "After we entered, we found a fire in the back end of it, in the bedroom." An investigation conducted by the Nebraska State Fire Marshall's Office determined the flames were caused by an...
Cheyenne County law enforcement agencies are looking for two men who are wanted in separate cases and who may be in the area. Wyatt Coleman, 28, is wanted on a felony warrant from Colorado, said Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson. According to court documents, Coleman was arrested in Logan County in August and charged with four felonies: eluding authorities in a vehicle, menacing with a real or simulated weapon, possession of a weapon by a prohibited person and using the identification of...
Despite a constant drizzle, contractors from Tri-City Sign Company installed signage along the recently placed decorative wall on the corner of 11th Avenue and Old Post Road in Sidney. The beautification project – that includes the wall, landscaping, irrigation and sign – was first discussed by city councilors in 2014. The project had been delayed by a lack of bids, and then subsequent quotes above the engineer's estimate. Ultimately the plan was broken into three projects, and councilors wer...
Irrigation allocations for farmers in the South Platte Natural Resources District for the three-year period between 2016-'18 have been set. Travis Glanz, the South Platte NRD's water resources coordinator, said allocations in only two of the six subareas regulated by the agency were amended from current allotments. In the South Platte Valley – in eastern Deuel County – allocations were reduced by 2 inches. In the Tablelands – primarily the areas north and south of the Interstate 80 corri...
Critical questions about a proposed new jail in Cheyenne County – such as how big, how much it’ll cost and can the county afford it – could be answered in coming months. This week, the county’s board of commissioners approved a letter of engagement with D.A. Davidson, a bond underwriter. Paul Schaub, Cheyenne County attorney, explained that while the agreement does not force the county to maintain the firm as the underwriter if a bond is issued for the project, it allows D.A. Davidson to collect information and offer direction. “This is a typi...
Two former City of Sidney employees have accepted leadership positions with the North Platte Chamber of Commerce and Development Corporation. Former Sidney City Manager Gary Person has been hired as the CEO and former Sidney Economic Development Director Megan McGown has been named economic development vice president and director of communications and marketing. McGown's position was newly created, and Person will oversee a staff of four. Both Person and McGown will begin their jobs on Nov. 1....
A $6.6 million change in a property valuation means Cheyenne County and 15 other political subdivisions – such as schools and fire districts – must repay $121,700 in tax dollars already collected. The Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners was notified of the change at its meeting on Tuesday. The county alone must repay $31,000. After Frontier Pipeline protested the valuation assessed on its property in 2014, the state recalculated the numbers and issued a certified value of $1 million – significantly less than the original value of $7.6 millio...
Officers of the Grand Lodge of Masons from throughout Nebraska gathered in Sidney on Friday afternoon to perform a cornerstone laying ceremony at the new Sidney Regional Medical Center hospital. Two dozen people were on hand to watch the ceremony, including SRMC's CEO Jason Petik and Sidney City Councilor Joe Arterburn....
A portion of road along Illinois Street in front of Sidney's Fox Theatre could be opened up to daytime parking, allowing an additional two spaces. Kim Philips, who owns the theater with her husband John, this week requested city councilors remove a fire zone, which prohibits parking, in front of the business. Instead, she asked the area be opened to parking during non-theater hours. Phillips said the shift would add additional parking spaces for other businesses on the block. Sidney Mayor Mark...
B.J. Wilkinson has resigned as chief of the Sidney Police Department. "It has been my privilege and my honor to serve the people of Sidney," he said when reached by phone on Thursday morning. Wilkinson submitted his resignation on Wednesday, which was then accepted by Sidney Interim City Manager Geri Anthony, according to a media release from the City. His departure is effective immediately. Wilkinson has been on paid administrative leave since July, after he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor... Full story
A decision on Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson’s employment with the city is expected soon, city officials say. According to state statute, city employees report to the city manager – meaning Sidney Interim City Manager Geri Anthony will make the final determination. “It’s getting really close today,” Anthony said in a phone interview on Wednesday. “We’re just waiting for our attorneys to come up with the proper paperwork.” Wilkinson has been on paid administrative leave since July, after pleading no contest to obstructing government oper...
