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 1813 - 1837 of 3090
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...
An inflammatory headline and incomplete quotations this week led to a false indication about Cheyenne County Visitors Center Director Heather Hausmann. The headline, in Wednesday’s Sun-Telegraph, falsely stated that Hausmann was under the scrutiny of the Cheyenne County Commissioners. Hausmann’s part in the discussion at Monday’s Commissioner’s meeting was a side note in an agenda item looking at the Cheyenne County Tourism Board’s budget. The Commissioners, along with Tourism Board board member Hal Enevoldsen, were examining the board’s b...
After more than a week of pursuit, Elijah Mason Dunning, 21, was arrested in Broomfield, Colorado, on five charges: theft by receiving stolen property, a Class 2A felony; possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, a Class 1D felony; possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, a Class 2 felony; and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest and possession of a controlled substance, both Class 4 felonies. Dunning had eluded law enforcement officers since Oct. 30. At about 11 p...
A new traffic light for the intersection of Illinois Street and 13th Avenue is scheduled to be shipped on Dec. 5, with installation to occur before the end of the year. "I would expect for us to see it sometime the second week of December, with installation shortly thereafter," Mike Palmer, Sidney electric superintendent, said. In August, the light pole was hit by a truck. Since then, the intersection has had flashing yield lights for east- and westbound traffic and stop signs for north- and...
With expenses increasing for Cheyenne County Visitors Center, County Commissioners Monday questioned the effectiveness of its director, Heather Hausmann. Promotions fund expenses have increased drastically, according to information provided by Diane Scott, county treasurer. From July 2016 through June 2017, expenses totaled $240,056, a difference over its revenue of $63,454. It is the greatest difference between revenue and expenses over the previous four years combined. Lodging tax dollars...
City of Sidney's dispute with energy-provider MEAN (Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska) is going to the state supreme court, J. Leef, city attorney, informed the city council on Nov. 24. "This is not something that often comes up," Leef remarked. The city's dispute with MEAN is over increased transmission rates. Ed Sadler, city manager, said these increases will cost Sidney taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. "We had an agreement," Sadler said. "You pay for two things. You're...
A male subject remains at large today after eluding law enforcement officers Monday evening. Just after 11 p.m. Monday, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper made a traffic stop on Hwy. 30 near Chappell. When the trooper approached the vehicle, the driver sped off. State Patrol Lt. Kevin Krzyzanowski said the trooper gave chase, but ended the pursuit after the driver made a u-turn and headed into the east side of Chappell at high speeds. Approximately 30 minutes later the trooper re-contacted the...
Cheyenne County Emergency Communication Center services could cost more than $110,000 for Deuel County, Heidi Gillespie, CCECC director, said. In August, Gillespie reported to the CCECC advisory board Deuel County was considering moving its dispatch services from Keith County to Cheyenne County. The cost, though, may be prohibitive for Deuel County, Gillespie said. “Initially I was asked for a ballpark figure, and the ballpark figure was off by quite a bit honestly from the research I found,” she said. In building a cost allocation model, Gil...
An upper level disturbance is expected to move through Montana and the northern Plains Tuesday night and Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Cheyenne reports the disturbance will cause strong winds to develop over the wind prone areas and Laramie late tonight with these strong winds spreading into the Wyoming Plains on Wednesday. For southeast Wyoming, confidence is increasing that a significant high wind event will take place across much of the state. The time frame of highest winds...
Law enforcement officers from the area searched into Tuesday for a suspect following a chase in which suspects eluded officers near the county line. According to unofficial reports, the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office and Nebraska State Patrol chased the suspects to near the Cheyenne-Kimball County line. After eluding officers, the suspects, believed to be armed, were reported to have stolen another vehicle. Because of the suspects remaining at-large, Kimball Schools were closed Tuesday. Potter-Dix schools were open, although school o...
