Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Sorted by date Results 1804 - 1828 of 3090
The sun was shining and the temperatures admittedly well above a late November average. Yet, downtown Sidney businesses had shoppers seeking early season deals. Pat Finney, owner of Ace Hardware, said she is pleased with how the holiday shopping started. Beginning with Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, she reports business has been good. "We've been busy. They weather has been nice. People are decorating outside," she said. Viaero Wireless of Sidney also reported a good start. However,...
LINCOLN - The Nebraska Departments of Economic Development and Labor urge households in the Sidney, Nebraska area to participate in a study of the employment situation in and around Sidney. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bureau of Sociological Research mailed surveys this week to a sampling of households in the Panhandle and Northern Colorado. Sidney Economic Development Partnership initiated the study, which follows a series of similar studies conducted throughout Nebraska to determine how many people within an area are available and willi...
LINCOLN. – A Sidney man is one of two new commissioners appointed to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission by Gov. Pete Ricketts. Doug Zingula of Sidney and Scott Cassels of Omaha have been appointed to represent District 7 (Panhandle) and District 9 (at-large), respectively. The appointments to four-year terms are effective Jan. 16. Zingula is retired from a career with outdoor retailer Cabela’s, where he was vice president of corporate merchandising. He serves on the board of the Nebraska Big Game Society and is a member of the Wild She...
LINCOLN (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected the post-conviction appeal of a California man serving life in prison for the 2012 fatal shooting of a Sidney man. Jason Custer, formerly of Chico, California, was convicted in 2014 of first-degree murder and other counts for killing 35-year-old Adam McCormick, of Sidney. Prosecutors said Custer shot McCormick at a Sidney house after the two men argued over $160 in drug money. Custer was sentenced to life in prison without parole in March 2014 for the murder of McCormick. After losing d...
To make money, it takes money. Likewise, to expand a business it takes an investment, some seed money. A local company was awarded funds to expand and Monday was recognized for fulfilling its obligation. The federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program provides funding for community and economic development projects to encourage additional federal, state and private resources. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) administers the CDBG program for most of the state;...
In an abbreviated agenda, the Sidney City Council heard Tuesday that attendance for the Sidney Aquatic Center rose by nearly 300 in its second year. After approving minutes from its last meeting, Council's next action turned to discussion of December meetings. With its second scheduled meeting falling right after Christmas, council members agreed to hold just one meeting in December. In his report on the pool, Sidney Parks Superintendent Tom Von Seggern told council last summer 14,682 people...
Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg and First National Bank of Omaha today announced four randomly selected winners of the 2017 Big Dreams $20K Giveaway. Each received a $5,000 contribution to a NEST 529 College Savings Plan account for a beneficiary 10 years old or younger. The names of the winners are as follows: Robert Clause – Minatare, Nebraska - Jodi Spady – Enders, Nebraska - Karen Miller – Omaha, Nebraska - Mike Jaggers – Sidney, Nebraska In total, 2,442 eligible entries were receive...
LINCOLN – Candidates who are interested in running for office and must file with the Secretary of State’s office will find readily available information and forms online. Secretary John Gale says it is a “one stop shop” for anyone interested in knowing what offices are on ballot, the fees for filing and essential deadlines for the 2018 primary and general elections. “December 1 is the first day someone may file to have their name placed on the ballot as a candidate in the 2018 primary election,” noted Gale. “If you are an incumbent in...
"Ideas to Grow With" is the theme for the Annual Western Sustainable Ag Crops and Livestock Conference set for Dec. 16 at Sidney. The conference will cover a diverse set of topics, including good and bad bugs; making the transition to organic farming; planting annual forage mixtures for cattle; gardening for profit; the business of new ag enterprises; and solar panels. The Western Sustainable Ag Crops and Livestock Conference was initiated by farmers who saw the need for a conference to bring...
OMAHA, – New and revised government statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) at the Department of Commerce show Nebraska's economy grew in the 2nd quarter of 2017, but that the state technically went through a recession first before returning to the black. Growth was significantly weaker in Nebraska and the Plains states than in most of the country in the 2nd quarter, and BEA statistics show that comes on the heels of two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth in Nebr...
Western Nebraska Community College Health Professions is hosting an open house for students and parents to discuss healthcare career opportunities. Those attending will be able to visit with faculty and staff to learn more about exciting and high-demand careers in healthcare, including: - Basic Nursing Assistant - Emergency Medical Services (EMR, EMT, Paramedic) - Health Information Management - Medical Lab Assistant - Medical Lab Technician - Medication Aid - Nursing (LPN and RN) - Pharmacy...
In the county commissioners meeting Monday, the commissioners met as as the Board of Equalization, approving a $2,964 tax correction for the City of Sidney. The commissioners reconvened as the board of county commissioners, meeting with John Fahey, operator of Cheyenne County Keno. A new location for Keno was approved. Ol Pals, doing business as The Rock Sports Bar & Grill, will be offering the game, bringing the number of outlets to five. The commissioners also reviewed an audit of June to...
On Nov. 14th the South Platte Natural Resources District (SPNRD), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension hosted an Awards Ceremony for the 2017 Conservation Award Winners. This year four area award winners were recognized, the Conservation Farm Award, Environmental Educator Award, Grassland Management Award, and the Tree Planter/Caretaker Award. "The winners of these awards make a difference in our District," said Shelly Gerk,...
Lodgepole Man Escapes Injury In Truck Accident A Lodgepole man escaped injury when the truck-trailer he was driving went off the rolled and rolled Nov. 14. Tucker Peterson, 30, of Lodgepole, was driving a 2006 Freightliner trucker with a trailer on Cheyenne County Road 139 at 10:40 a.m. when the truck drifted off of the right side of the road and entered a ditch. The trailer then rolled a quarter time, totaling the truck and trailer. The accident occurred about two miles east and 2 ½ miles north of Sunol, about a mile south of County Road 30....
Christmas tree cutting permits went on sale beginning Monday, November 20 at two of the Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands (NNFG) District Offices: the Pine Ridge and Bessey Ranger Districts in Chadron and Halsey, respectively. The permits entitle the purchaser to harvest one Ponderosa Pine or Eastern Red Cedar, measuring up to 15 feet tall. Maps will be available with the permits to identify selected areas for tree harvest for each of the Ranger Districts. The permits cost $10 and are...
LINCOLN - The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) is looking for the next class of recruits to join the ranks as Nebraska State Troopers. Applications for the 2017 Sworn Officer Selection Process are now available. Get your application submitted now for consideration to be a part of the 59th Basic Recruit Camp scheduled to begin on May 6, 2018. "We're looking for men and women who have what it takes to become part of our team at the Nebraska State Patrol," said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the...
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters they must first gain permission before hunting on private property. GPS mapping applications are a popular tool with many hunters. These apps may show some properties as public lands, such as the School Trust Lands held by the State of Nebraska. However, these school trust lands are leased by the Nebraska Board of Education Lands and Funds to private individuals and require permission to access them for hunting. Nebraska conservation officers have received an increased number o...
Sidney volunteer firemen will qualify for a new tax break in coming years, thanks to a resolution passed by the Sidney City Council Tuesday. The break, which comes in the form of a tax credit against state income taxes, is available due to the Volunteer Emergency Responders Incentive Act passed by the Nebraska Legislature. The Act provides the tax credit for volunteers meeting certain criteria during the year. As firefighters attend training, respond to fires, serve as elected officials and...
Sidney’s school board continued work to update district policies when it met Monday evening, approving 10 measures so they are in line with state practices. The changes were largely in wording through “3,000 series” policies, of a number of series that will be updated over time. Board members looked four policies, on the School Activities Fund, Audit, Emergency Closings, and Sale of School Property for additional discussion. In the School Activities Fund, the changes meeting state prefe...
Sidney’s City Council is accepting applications to fill roles on two key advisory boards. There are three vacancies to be filled, one on the Sidney Airport Authority, two on the Sidney Planning Commission. The Airport Authority is responsible for the operation of the airport on behalf of the City Council. Members are normally elected for six year terms, but in the case of a vacancy, the city council may appoint a member to serve out a term. The current Airport Authority vacancy expires in 2020. Nine members, serving three-year terms, make up t...
Paving on U.S. Highway 30 should be wrapped up this week, and along with it, the end of a trying construction season through downtown Sidney. All that's left for this season, says Bucl Simmons, a construction tech inspector with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, is a little finish work prior to shutting down for winter. The only paving remaining is the completion of shoulders on east Illinois between the railroad tracks and Link 17J. After that, Simmons said, the contractor will have a...
LINCOLN — Despite a state budget crunch and a push to lower property taxes, Nebraska lawmakers will likely face another debate over income taxes in next year’s session. Key lawmakers say they’re hopeful they can reach a compromise on a package and overcome the sharp divide that kept them from passing any major tax measures earlier this year. A proposal to reduce income tax rates and slow the growth of property taxes stalled this year after rural senators argued that it didn’t provide enough benefit to agricultural landowners. Some urban l...
LINCOLN (AP) — Nebraska regulators plan to announce their decision next week on the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline route across the state. The Nebraska Public Service Commission will announce its ruling on Monday after spending months evaluating arguments for and against the long-delayed project. TransCanada’s proposed 1,179-mile crude oil pipeline has faced persistent opposition from environmental groups and some landowners. But the project has received needed approvals in the other states between Alberta, Canada, and Nebraska. Tra...
LINCOLN – Nebraska has joined the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which is an agreement that recognizes the suspension of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses in states that are members of the compact. Any person whose license privileges or rights are suspended in any compact member state may also be suspended in all other member states. Nebraska became the 46th compact member state in 2017. Suspensions on or after Nov. 7, 2017 are subject to the compact. Nebraska’s participation in the compact offers the following benefits: -- It all...
COLUMBUS (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker says the state is struggling to offer mental health services as it moves from state-run regional centers to locally run operations. The state made the decision to switch from institution care to local programs more than a decade ago, The Columbus Telegram reported . While the state has saved money by closing regional centers, local programs haven’t received enough funding, said Sen. Paul Schumacher. That’s led to a “real deficiency” in mental health services, particularly in rural communities, Schumache...
