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 2413 - 2437 of 3067
In the early morning hours of April 10, Misty Tyson was awakened by one of her dogs to a house engulfed in flames. She and her son Owen Schaefer, 11, escaped from the house with little more than their lives. "We got the clothes we had on and our three dogs and that's all we got," Tyson said. Misty and her husband Patrick Tyson, who was away from home working in the oil fields when the fire occurred, were leasing the house to own and didn't have renter's insurance. They lost everything. Codi Cass, Misty's mother, is holding a fundraiser for the... Full story
Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale, traveling with his wife, Carol, made Sidney an early stop on his reelection campaign trail. The secretary, who is running for his fourth term, announced his candidacy last week. “I feel I have a rare opportunity to offer my background to the citizens.” Gale is a fifth generation Nebraskan. He spent his childhood in western Nebraska before completing high school in Omaha and a law degree at the University of Chicago. He served as a federal prosecutor, liv...
A Sidney police officer was caught on video last weekend yelling profanities at a citizen. The YouTube video documenting the incident features Sidney police Officer Scott Tobler and Sidney resident Stephen Bell, who taped the altercation. The video has tallied more than 29,000 views so far. It starts as Bell and his wife sit in his vehicle across from the hardware store at 11th Avenue and Illinois Street. A police scanner is audible in the background. Bell advises his wife that she doesn't have... Full story
Cheyenne County has issued an arrest warrant for Brenda Haller for theft by deception. On May 20, Mark Mossman, regional manager for the Scoular company out of Omaha, which buys, sells, stores and transports grain, reported an employee theft to the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office. Mossman claimed that Brenda Haller took around $17,500 from the company. Mossman said that Haller took the money by making alterations to company accounts, then drafting checks payable to customers on those accounts. She would then endorse the checks with the custome... Full story
There's a new police chief in town. Byron R. "B.J." Wilkinson of Litchfield, Illinois accepted the position as Sidney's new chief of police yesterday. City manager, Gary Person announced the appointment at last night's city council meeting. This hire followed the city's three month search for the right person to head the department. "We had an exceptional field of candidates that wanted to serve as Sidney police chief," Person said. "We very feel fortunate so many law enforcement officials... Full story
Local business owners are preparing for a sales tax increase, accepted in exchange for improved roads. Residents voted to pass a city wide sales tax increase last November. The increase will raise the local sales tax from 1.5 percent to two percent. This will increase the overall sales tax, combined with a state rate of 5.5 percent, to 7.5 percent. The tax hike is set to take effect July 1. Half of the funds collected from this increase will go toward street repair and construction. The remainder will be split among various projects, including... Full story
During hot summer days when a cold glass of water sounds particularly enticing, water safety might be the last thing on the minds of Sidney residents. While no violations were reported in the city's 2012 annual water quality report, which was published earlier this month, one sample last September tested positive for coliform bacteria, which is sometimes naturally present in the environment. The presence of coliform bacteria can be a sign that other harmful bacteria might also be in the water. "They only thing that can get us health-wise is... Full story
In Mark Twain's hierarchy of misinformation, statistics occupy the bottom rung, lagging behind lies and "damned lies." It's no wonder America's most revered humorist cast doubt on the validity of numbers. Those who study such data can't even pin down Sidney's exact population. The Census Bureau's head count puts it at 6,748. Yet survey-based research from the same organization bumps the figure above 8,000. Meanwhile, Sidney City Manager Gary Person considers both numbers low, estimating a population of up to 12,000. Why the confusion? "It...
For local author, Diane Nielsen, writing is a family affair. So far Nielsen has published two books in what she plans to be a five part series through Trafford publishing. Her latest book, entitled "Dark Whispers" came out in February of this year while her first book, "Wish Me Dead" hit the shelves in 2011. She considers her books to be paranormal romances because they include supernatural elements. "I have immortal guardians in them," Nielsen said. "Not vampires, not werewolves. They're more l... Full story
Several years ago the s tate closed then demolish ed a r est stop along I-80 n ear Kimball Since then , the only visitor 's center alon g t he In ter state corridor in Nebraska's panhandle has been Sidney's log cabin. That is about to ch ange. A n ew visitors center is set ot opening in early July on the south side of Kimball, thanks to frnancial assistance from Gering and Morrill County, along with funds from Kimball's hotel t ax. "Once we get up and running we will be the first stop for...
Sidney's wild west history of Sidney and the buildings that still stand from that and calmer eras serve downtown well these days, at least to some extent. “When they advertise like that, people stop—those that have some time,” said Tim Miller, owner of Miller Office Supply. Travelers on I-80 sometimes encounter Sidney's interesting story by accident. “They're at Cabela’s they hear or see the advertising about Historical Sidney and people who have some interest come down,” Miller continued. Dates... Full story
Sidney housing authority hopes to help alleviate Sidney's distinct housing shortage. The housing authority oversees the administration of two complexes in Sidney. Western Heritage, located on the south side of town was built in 1977 to accommodate the elderly and disabled, said executive director, Nancy Bentley. Of the 40 units at the complex, 30 of the units receive rental assistance. The 10 units that are not part of the direct rental assistance program can receive vouchers from the Scotts Bluff County housing authority, if they qualify. All...
The outbreak of equine infectious anemia in northwestern Nebraska earlier this month did not spread to any horses that came in contact with the infected herd, a cause for celebration as the summer horse show and rodeo season arrives. The herd that included the infected horses, in northwestern Cherry county is still being quarantined and will continued to be tested in the near future to ensure that the disease has not spread. Other animals that had come into contact with the infected herd have also been quarantined and tested. There is no sign... Full story
If you hit the road while drunk, you're likely to lose your license. If you hit the road while high, you might not. Although reports in Cheyenne County of driving under the influence have dropped compared to last year, incidences of driving under the influence of drugs have risen sharply, said deputy Cheyenne county attorney Jonathon Stellar. In 2012, from January to July there were 23 DUI stops in the county and no DUIDs. This year, from January to June 19 there have been 19 DUIs and six DUIDs. Stellar believes some of this can be contributed... Full story
The people of Sidney are looking fresh-faced these days, but expensive lotions are not the reason. "The trend is continuing for the age to get younger," said city manager, Gary Person. Sidney's median age was 37 in 2010, which is significantly below that of most rural areas. Banner County's median age in 2010 was 48, more than 10 years older than Sidney's, according to Sidney's 2012 comprehensive plan. The city is working deliberately to create an environment that embraces job growth, which in turn attracts younger people, Person explained. He... Full story
As you pass through Gurley Driving to Dalton on Highway 385 the road is smooth. Vehicles zip along the route. Suddenly the road surface changes to a rough, worn and rutted highway. At the end of June the state will begin repairing this particular stretch, from the county line through Dalton to Gurley. Nebraska Department of Highways Doug Hovert said the state examines the condition of a road to determine if it should need repaving. And this means listening to ride quality complaints. Weather...
A June 7 report by the Associated Press and Lincoln Star-Journal pointed to an Australian oil company, Black Star, reportedly finding oil in Banner County. According to a news release from the company, the find in Banner County could account for between 4.3 million and 23.3 million barrels of oil between the two wells. “This is a fairly large area, that comes down into the northern part of Kimball County,” said Bill Sydow, director of the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. “It... Full story
Affordable housing is in high demand in Sidney. The city's housing authority works to provide quality affordable housing for Cheyenne county residents with limited incomes. The housing authority is responsible for the administration of Sioux Villa and Western Heritage apartment complexes in Sidney. Sioux Villa, located on the north side of town has very low rent, but no income restrictions. Western Heritage, located on the south side of town, is income restricted. The housing authority is responsible for making sure those managing these two...
The days of the old west will flicker back to life for a moment when the Pony Express Re-ride gallops through Sidney on June 20. Riders began their living history trek in St. Joseph, Mo., heading to Sacramento, Calif.--just as in the storied past. Volunteers on horseback will complete a 1,966 mile route, handing off their mochila as the relay progresses. The mochila is a specially designed mail pouch with four compartments. It carries commemorative letters people can purchase along the way to... Full story
Some residents on the south and east parts of Sidney experienced short power outages yesterday morning. "We just had a bird get up in the lines and took out a substation," said Sidney electric superintendent Mike Palmer. The outages took place at around 9:45 a.m. and most were restored by 10:15 or 10:30, he said. The incident was unrelated to the city's work to move downtown power lines and meters underground. Instead, city officials point out, random incidents such as yesterday's outage are one of the reasons the Sidney decided to bury the...
Alleged burglars stole snacks to fuel up for car break-ins. James Russell, 20, was arrested June 17 for the alleged burglary of the concession stand at Legion Park and theft of coins and cash from numerous vehicles in the Sidney area over the past few weeks, according to a Cheyenne county sheriff's office affidavit. On June 16, an officer went to Russell's residence on 11th Avenue and found numerous snack items that were consistent with a burglary of the concession stand at Legion Park. The Legion Park concession stand burglary occurred June...
Marking livestock is not new in the United States. Electronic tagging, however, is a new concept. Where old fashion brands identified the origin and ear tags added new information, electronic tagging allows access to age, disease history and more, tracking the animal from birth to destination. “The ear tags do fall off,” said Jeff Elsen, a local rancher. “The implantation of a micro chip would be more effective.” Small to medium livestock producers may not find electronic tagging cost effective but for livestock owners who want to sell their a... Full story
O'Malley's cab service maybe not be owned by an Irishman, but it serves those who enjoy a St. Patrick's Day party—or anyone else in need of a ride. O'Malley's, at 700 Hickory Street, started up in January of this year. Sidney needed a cab service because the city is growing so fast, said owner, Brad Zalesky. New people in town needed transportation that the city couldn't provide, he added. Some students at the community college also needed transportation outside of city limits and at odd hours. The company hopes to provide a public service o... Full story
The Sidney school board voted last night to have a bond election to finance a new elementary school. The election will take place September 10. At the May meeting, the board decided to give the public an opportunity to speak out before going through with an election. The board held two public hearings June 10 about a possible new elementary school. "The meetings were not hugely attended by any means," said Jay Ehler, superintendent of Sidney schools. He estimated that there were a total of 35... Full story
With continued development on the east side of Sidney, storm drainage has come under increased scrutiny. Development means more asphalt in the form of parking lots and roads—and these have a direct impact on the direction and energy of storm runoff. In the absence of planning, heavy rains can cause flooding, erosion and structural damage. The South Platte Natural Resource District held a recent meeting in conjunction with the city to hear the findings of an independent study, commissioned by Sidney and conducted by Olsson Associates. At the m... Full story
