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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Members of the Nebraska Legislature's Natural Resources Committee will be in Sidney on Tuesday as part of an ongoing study into how the oil and gas industry is regulated in the state. A Legislative fact-finding hearing will be held in the Sidney High School Performing Arts Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a pair of reviews examining the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. The Commission, based in Sidney since its creation in 1959, approved an application for a commercial wastewater...
The Sidney School District Board of Education unanimously passed a $17.9 million general budget for 2015-’16 earlier this week. The vote was held after no comments were offered at a public hearing earlier in the meeting on Monday night. In an interview, Superintendent Jay Ehler said overall, the district is in good financial shape. “We have about that three month cash reserve that [the auditors] ask for, and we’ve stayed steady for past five or six years,” he said. “And that’s despite having to hire more staff because of more kids.” As t...
Dalton will celebrate the changing seasons this weekend as the village hosts the Dalton Fall Festival. This year marks the 88th anniversary of the celebration. Jessica Hurt, a member of the organizing committee, said the event is held to bring the community together – and this year, that means food, games, music, contests and a parade. The festival kicks off Saturday morning with a senior citizens' coffee and rolls, and is scheduled to conclude with the Dalton Volunteer Fire Department feed o...
Last year's seniors at Sidney High School topped the national average and tied with their peers throughout Nebraska on scores received on the ACT. The ACT is a test that measures college readiness, and at most schools, only college-bound students complete the assessment. At Sidney, however, the ACT is administered to the entire junior class – meaning Sidney's scores are compared with many schools and states where only students planning on pursuing post-secondary education take the test. The l...
Two school board polices were modified and another tabled at the Sidney School District Board of Education meeting on Monday night. The district's student illness policy was updated to conform with changes passed during the past state legislative session. Changes to the policy include a section explaining accommodations and supports the district will provide if a student suffers from a significant illness that is expected, or does, last six months. When needed, the district will create an...
LODGEPOLE – Months of preparations and the efforts of countless volunteers were on display in Lodgepole last weekend as the 91st Old Settlers' Days took place. Tammy Sherman, Lodgepole village clerk, said community groups and residents worked for eight months planning the four-day celebration. This year's event had the theme, "An old fashioned welcome to classmates and friends." The annual festivities went well, Sherman added. "The weather was good and it was just a really nice weekend," she s...
POTTER – The streets of Potter were bustling last weekend as residents and visitors turned out for the annual Potter Days event. Festivities began on Thursday when Brooke Glass was crowned Miss Potter 2015 along with her attendants Cortney Lewis and Alana Thies. Throughout four days, the community hosted more than a dozen activities, including competitions, a free barbecue, parade and a street dance. On Sunday, the event concluded with a golf tournament at Prairie Pines Golf Course. Erika R...
Despite pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing government operations, Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson is challenging his conviction. In a court document filed last month, Wilkinson’s attorney Thomas Sonntag argued that the Cheyenne County Court committed three errors in finding Wilkinson guilty of the alleged crime and sentencing him to 30 days in jail. Wilkinson has filed an appeal in the case. At a hearing on Aug. 7, special appointed Cheyenne County District Court Judge Travis O’Gorman gave Wilkinson until next wee...
The trial for an 18-year-old Alliance man accused of burglarizing a Sidney residence is scheduled to begin later this month. Troy Christofferson, 18, is facing a felony charge of burglary. He has pleaded not guilty. In court documents, police allege Christofferson participated in a burglary in May along with at least four other individuals. More than $6,000 was taken from the residence and nearly $2,000 of damage was done to the property. The house was burglarized while the residents were out of town. Authorities identified the alleged...
A plea deal was reached this week in a Cheyenne County District Court case involving a Colorado man accused of sexual misconduct. Gabriel Martinez, 50, pleaded no contest to enticement by an electronic communication device, a class IV felony. As part of the agreement, an additional charge of violation of visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct was dismissed. The court has sealed documents relating to Martinez's arrest. He is represented by court-appointed attorney Michael Snyder, who at a...
A Potter woman who robbed a Sidney bank in 2014 was sentenced this week to five years imprisonment by a federal court. Janetta Lenstrom's sentence was reduced from 68 months to account for time she's already served in custody, according to court documents. Following her prison sentence, she will be subject to four years of supervised release. A plea agreement in the case was reached in June when Lenstrom pleaded guilty to a single count of felony burglary. An additional charge for using a...
With nine decades of experience, residents in Lodgepole know how to make the most of Labor Day Weekend. On Friday, the community will kick off the 91st annual Old Settlers' Days – a four-day celebration full of family activities, food and competitions. Lodgepole Village Clerk Tammy Sherman said the weekend gathering began as a reunion for the community. "And it blossomed from there," she said. A turkey softball tournament – where competitors run the bases in reverse – will begin the festi...
After 16 years as the city manager of Sidney, Gary Person tendered his resignation at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Person's resignation comes amid a controversy that in recent months enveloped two other high-ranking city employees. City Clerk Geri Anthony, who has been employed with the city for nearly 50 years, was appointed the interim city manager while a long-term plan is drafted. Person's tenure as the chief executive of the city, which began in 1999, was the longest since Sidney...
Three agenda items at Tuesday’s Sidney City Council meeting – which have all been topics of discussion in recent months – moved closer to a final resolution. A proposed ordinance to rezone three lots at the Sidney Business Park to allow commercial activities and another proposed ordinance to enact citywide landscaping regulations received second readings. The council also reviewed a draft of the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. Two budget hearings are set to take place next month to finalize the numbers. Those for and against changing three p...
After 16 years as the city manager of Sidney, Gary Person tendered his resignation at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Person's resignation comes amid a controversy that in recent months enveloped two other high-ranking city employees. City Clerk Geri Anthony, who has been employed with the city for nearly 50 years, was appointed the interim city manager while a long-term plan is drafted. Person's tenure as the chief executive of the city, which began in 1999, was the longest since Sidney...
The Village of Dix was awarded $616,000 for improvements to its water system. Funding for the project is being provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s water and waste disposal loan and grant program. The grant will cover the total cost of developing a new well, well house and well control system, along with the replacement of aging water mains and valves. Natalie Furrow, a USDA community programs specialist, said the project will serve the Village of Dix in the present and for years to come. The community p...
Equations for public education funding vary among states and can be complicated. A Lincoln-based, non-partisan policy institute is hoping to pull the veil back. On Monday, representatives from the Open Sky Policy Institute stopped into Sidney to explain the state's school finance policy at a Rotary Club meeting. Tiffany Joekel, the organization's policy director, said her group compiles data and research for lawmakers and citizens to use as tools. Earlier this year, Nebraska legislators passed...
Over the course of three days, two semi trucks were involved in separate single-vehicle crashes on Interstate 80 near Sidney. The Nebraska State Patrol led investigations into both crashes and said neither resulted in severe injuries. Troopers were dispatched on Friday at 12:43 p.m. to milepost 57 on I-80 – between the interstate's two Sidney exits – for a report that a semi truck left the road and struck power lines. Because the incident occurred in a construction zone where east- and wes...
The Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners met twice this week for workshops to create a balanced budget for 2015-'16. The budget year actually began on July 1, but counties have until Sept. 20 to finalize the expected revenues and expenses of each of their departments. Budget consultant Pete Peterson has helped Cheyenne County prepare its budget for many years and was present at the workshops on Thursday and Friday. Department heads presented financial forecasts for the upcoming year and...
The great grandson of the man Chappell was named for visited the community in western Deuel County this week. Charles Henry Chappell IV lives in a suburb near Washington, D.C., and last visited Chappell 35 years ago with his father – Charles Henry III. For the next week, he'll be retracting the trip throughout Nebraska and Colorado that he took with his father in 1980 with his own children, Chas, 12, and Cate, 9. "I wanted to take them to see Chappell," he said. "It was named after my great g...
The Sidney Volunteer Fire Department conducted a training session Thursday night at Central Elementary School. While some area residents turned out thinking it was a real fire, their fears were put to rest when they learned it was a routine event....
A 19-year-old woman already facing six felony drug charges was arrested again this month after law enforcement officers say she tampered with evidence. Mylissa Pennington is scheduled to be arraigned on the new charge in Cheyenne County District Court on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 9 a.m. According to a probable cause affidavit, Pennington told a health care worker she flushed acetyl fentanyl – an illegal drug more potent than morphine and heroin – down a toilet after discovering her boyfriend unr...
With students back in classrooms at schools throughout the county, drivers are reminded to be aware of increased pedestrian traffic. “That’s the first thing, the need to be aware, especially around schools,” said Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson. “There’s a bunch of kids. We have new drivers coming into school parking lots. We all need to take a proactive approach.” Sidney School District Superintendent Jay Ehler echoed the sheriff’s remarks. “School is back in session, so please remember that there are going to be a lot of young kids walk...
Students and staff at Potter-Dix schools returned to classrooms Wednesday morning. At both the elementary and junior and senior high schools, students eased into the first day of school with classes ending at 11:15 a.m. Mike Williams, who is in his first year as the school district's superintendent, said things were going well 30 minutes into the first day. At the junior and senior high school in Potter, students met for a school-wide assembly at 8:05 a.m. The gathering began with the pledge of...
The Sidney City Council met on Tuesday for a workshop to discuss the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. The discussion had originally been scheduled for the council’s regular meeting last week, but was tabled until Tuesday to allow the council more time to talk over the budget. While approval of the final budget is expected to take place at a meeting next month, the council reviewed city departments’ expected revenues and expenses. The park’s department has a budget of $1.1 million, which is $1 million dollars less than the current fiscal year. S...
