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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The Cheyenne County Community Center is offering more services and serving more people than ever. So Mike Namuth, Director of CCCC, spoke with the Sidney city council on Tuesday about future needs, recreation enrollment and services. Namuth is reviewing possible expansion plans for the CCCC. The center is considering the costs of possible growth to the north and east, or moving into the old hospital once the new one is completed. "I can't tell you any way anyone would be leaning," Namuth said.... Full story
Cheyenne County Sheriff's deputies face the unknown everyday. At least Sergeant Adam Frerichs has a partner along for the ride. Frerichs, a veteran of 13 years on the force, works with a German Shepherd named Colonel as the county's K-9 unit. Colonel is trained to locate hidden illegal narcotics. But their job also involves more routine patrols. Within minutes after turning onto Highway 385 on Wednesday morning, a gray sedan zips by at 79 miles per hour in a 65 zone. It is the first of six traff... Full story
Policies concerning attendance and accepting gifts of personal property were top policy changes at Tuesday's school board meeting. "This is another slight revision that authorizes superintendents to accept gifts of personal property as long as they're consistent with the district's mission," Sidney schools superintendent Jay Ehler told the board. "So what you need to come up with tonight is a particular dollar amount." For example, Ehler suggested he get board approval for any gifts he accepts worth $10,000 or more. This policy change was at th... Full story
General Daryl Bohac, the Nebraska National Guard's new Adjutant General knows the importance of small transportation units like the one based in Sidney. Bohac, who was sworn in on July 14, oversees three large divisions. These include the Army National Guard which currently consists of 3,800 soldiers, the Air National Guard which lists slightly less than 1,000 airmen and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. "It is responsible for coordinating and managing disaster response," Bohac said.... Full story
A combination of creativity and technology won a $5000 grant for the Sidney High School art department. Sidney was one of seven Nebraska schools awarded the Century Link Nebraska Educational Technology Association Classroom Technology Integration Grant this year. "We get to do the happy dance today because we got a grant proposal of $5000," said Ann Darling of the Sidney High School art department. The purpose of the grant was to recognize Nebraska elementary and high school teachers who are using technology in innovative ways as well as to... Full story
The emergency response care program in Sidney faces a shaky budgeting future due to federal cuts and uncertainty resulting from upcoming changes in federal healthcare laws. Randy Meininger, the program manager for emergency response care, which is a department of Regional West Medical Center, spoke with the Sidney city council last night about his troublesome budget. In 2002 a partnership for emergency response care was formed with the city, the county Regional West Medical Center and Sidney... Full story
Eight goals were identified by the Sidney Preservation Board's long term plan, currently in the drafting process. The plan sets the guidelines for future development of Sidney's historical buildings. Goals include developing a legal framework for preservation, preparing education and outreach programs, detailing historic resources and other programs to strengthen the review process. Funding for the development of the plan came form the Nebraska State Historical Society, National Parks Service and the City of Sidney. Board member Meagan Smuin...
Tom Carlson loves the campaign trail. After announcing his candidacy as a Republican for Nebraska's 2014 gubernatorial race, Carlson and his wife, Margo have been traveling the state, meeting people and hearing their concerns. "That's the thing that we do best," Margo said. "We could not wait to get out here." While touring the panhandle this week, the Carlsons visited with shoppers in the grocery store in Dalton and attended the Greek Festival in Bridgeport. "We had so much fun and talked to... Full story
The fields have been cut and the wheat has been harvested. Now some Nebraska farmers will turn their attention to millet. The old world grain was once considered bird seed, at least in the U.S. These days, however, it is an important—though finicky—agricultural product, used as food and in medicines, brewed into beer and cycled into bio-fuels. Growing millet is a challenge. The season is short, the stem fragile and panhandle winds can knock down a portion of a farmer's profit on any given day... Full story
West Nile has spread from mosquitoes to humans in the panhandle. Four human cases of the disease have been confirmed so far in Nebraska, as of July 26. One human case was found in Scottsbluff within the past few weeks. The other three cases were in north central Nebraska, central Nebraska and Douglas county. “We’ve had four clinical positives,” said Tabi Prochazka, Environmental Health Coordinator for Panhandle Public Health District She recommends that Nebraskans take extra precautions when going out during dawn or dusk and that they wear... Full story
Night of Hope was held at Legion Park Aug. 9. The event celebrates the victims and survivors of cancer, as well as their families, in Cheyenne County and surrounding area. This year’s effort raised over $43,000. Funds cover travel and other expenses for local cancer patients. While luminaries and the survivor’s walk once again drew crowds, the evening featured a unique fundraising twist—the “chair-ty.” Supporters auctioned off 17 chairs, earning $3,300. “Now that people know what it is, it will... Full story
This summer ’s wheat harvest was a mixed bag— low on yield, high on quality. And recent rain has spurred optimistism about fall crops. Farmers were cutting wheat for a more extended time period than is usual and fields yielded less than an average crop, said Dave Secrest of Cross Roads Cooperative. There were a few reasons for a prolonged harvest. “It was stretched out because of hail damage,” said Logan Snyder, merchandiser at Scoular Grain. “And it took a lot longer to get the moisture out.” The crop brought in about 30 percent less in vol...
Methamphetamine continues to be a problem in Cheyenne County, but marijuana is by far the most commonly used and trafficked drug in the area. "Our number one drug is marijuana, but that leads to other drug use," said Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson. After arriving in Sidney, Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson was briefed at a staff meeting earlier this week about the most pressing issues facing Sidney Police. Officers informed Wilkinson that the top three drugs causing problems in this area are marijuana, methamphetamine and prescription drug... Full story
“My grandfather [Edmond Alfred Cook] was a stagecoach driver on the Cheyenne to Black Hills Stage Line. He grew up working in a livery and knew how to handle horses. One day, at the Hat Creek Station, a driver for the stage line had shown up for work, drunk. The station manager shouted, ‘Does anybody here know how to drive a six-up team?’ ‘I do!’ Grandpa said, as he raised his hand. He was 14 years old.” This was the beginning of a wonderful day-long tour that my wife, Deb, and I received as...
LINCOLN, Neb. — A devastating swine disease new to the United States hasn't shown up in Nebraska yet, but it's already forcing bacon prices nationwide to new highs. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Veterinary Diagnostic Center stands ready to test piglets for the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, said Dr. Bruce Brodersen, assistant professor in the center and the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea – PED for short – has been around since at least the 1970s but first showed up in the U.S. this... Full story
Closure of the underpass, the gateway to the north side of town, has again been delayed. Following many schedule changes due to shallow utilities in the way of construction at the intersection of Illinois St. and 13th Ave., the underpass will finally be closed to traffic next week. After tests on the concrete on the south side or eastbound lanes of Illinois Street, it was determined that the pavement was not yet strong enough to hold the weight of traffic. The concrete will continue to be tested, but the underpass closure has been pushed back... Full story
It's hard to imagine that a little sand could be so important, but according to preschool teacher April Misegadis, a sandbox can be the key to preparing Sidney children for successful lives. "We build the future engineers in there," Misegadis said. Sidney Community Preschool moved to its new location at Central Elementary School in May. The facility did not have a sandbox. To the rescue, those in the Cabela's Emerging Leaders program, who resolved to help with the move—and to fix the problem of... Full story
A quick glance would lead passers by to believe that little transpires in panhandle fields, other than routine planting, irrigation and harvest. But a Field Day hosted this week by the University of Nebraska's High Plains Agriculture Laboratory, north of Sidney, suggests so much more. One research project, presented by Dipak Santra, focused on a new millet seed being developed that will require less water for germination and growth. Millet is often a risky crop—temperamental, yet with high r...
"We like to help prevent drug and alcohol abuse as well as cyber bullying," said LaNaya Gutierrez president of Teens in Prevention, referring to a group of local teens committed to community service. The Sidney group puts on various events throughout the year, such as alternatives to Oktoberfest, which usually involves a fair amount of alcohol, and provides information to the community about how to prevent teenage drinking. For younger people they assemble material about the pitfalls of... Full story
David McPhie, 51, was arrested Monday after a Nebraska state trooper discovered methamphetamines in his car during a routine traffic stop. McPhie was pulled over for speeding on County Highway 19 on the night of August 5. When the trooper approached the vehicle, he smelled marijuana and searched the vehicle based on probable cause. When the trooper asked McPhie if he had anything on his person, McPhie allegedly admitted to possessing a small knife. The trooper questioned him about this knife. During this process, McPhie reportedly confessed... Full story
A Sidney woman dealing with cancer credits the generosity of the community for lightening her burden. The support from those she knows and those she doesn't has been astounding, Jan Lawler said. Will Castner, a 14-year-old and incoming freshman at Sidney High School this year, is heading a group to raise money in Lawler's name for Night of Hope's yearly fundraiser walk. "Jan Lawler was just somebody that I've always admired," Castner said. "I've just always admired her and when I found out that she had cancer, I wanted to figure out what I... Full story
Many young people in Sidney are making efforts to raise funds for Night of Hope. Camille Highby, 10 and Elsa Highby, 8 started their own little enterprise this summer in the form of a lemonade stand. They've had the stand open a few times this summer, but yesterday they saw some relatively major success. The girls raised about $20 yesterday and had about 20 customers. The pair are donating all money made at their stand to Night of Hope. They're walking in the benefit this weekend for their uncle, Beau Mathewson, of Potter. Mathewson just went... Full story
The Nebraska Department of Roads held an open house in Chappell on Tuesday to present information an upcoming construction project. Work is scheduled to begin on Highway 30 west of Chappell in the spring of 2016, extending east of town the following year. Construction will start at Reference Post 97 and run to RP 107 on the west side and RP 87 to RP 97 east of Chappell. The open house was held at the NDOR's building in Chappell with representatives from the NDOR answering questions from residents living along U.S. Hwy 30. The plans include...
Keith Rexroth, who farms near Sidney and has a passion for conservation, has been recognized with the annual University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research and Extension Center Outstanding Service to Panhandle Agriculture Award. The award was presented to Rexroth Tuesday at the High Plains Ag Lab field day near Sidney. Rexroth is a longtime supporter of agricultural research in the High Plains. A member of the High Plains Ag Lab Advisory Board since 1973, he chaired the committee to raise funds for a new headquarters and laboratory... Full story
Monica Gehrig of Sidney was arrested after an extensive investigation by the Western Nebraska Intelligence & Narcotics Group Task Force and Sidney police on charges of distribution of a controlled substance. The incident took place within 1,000 feet of a school. Gehrig is currently being held in Garden County. She is scheduled to appear in Cheyenne County Court on August XX. Interest in Gehrig's activities began in March of 2011 when a WING investigator received a telephone call from a cooperating individual informing him that they could make...
