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 2256 - 2280 of 3078
A bus rollover crash about seven miles northeast of Potter Thursday afternoon resulted in some significant injuries. A Ford Ranger pickup truck was traveling west on County Road 40 and struck a Potter-Dix School District bus that was traveling north on County Road 83, according to the Cheyenne County attorney's office. Officials estimate that the bus rolled over one and one quarter times. The accident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. There were seven students on the bus from 10 to 16 years of age. All seven, as well as the drivers of both...
City manager Gary Person presented a significantly bigger than usual city budget for approval at Tuesday's city council meeting. The council approved the finished 2013-2014 budget that night, as well as the new, slightly lower tax levy. "We're pleased to announce the proposed budget will reduce the property tax levy for the 5th consecutive year," Person said. "Albeit, it's a small margin, but it's still going in the right direction." Many other municipalities in the surrounding area figure budgets backwards, determining the maximum level that...
The city council decided on Tuesday night to split up the golf course improvement between two separate companies. Members were hesitant about a slightly higher cost than expected, but issued their approval anyway, considering the golf course an asset to the community. "I think I have a little better news than the last time I was up here," said Andy Staples of Staples Golf Design, the company that designed the project. Staples adjusted the work schedule and relaxed or reset many of the specifications for the project after receiving only one offe...
Beau McCoy hopes to be elected the next governor of Nebraska. He held a meet and greet at the Coffee Corner on Wednesday. The main pillars of McCoy’s campaign are to lower taxes, control state spending, create more jobs in the state and make sure schools are adequately preparing Nebraskans for life’s many opportunities. He insists revenue becomes available to cut taxes, create higher-paying jobs and provide quality education for the state’s youth when a governor controls state spending. “We’r...
Can school board members work for the district? Even the members themselves were uncertain of the answer during Monday's board meeting discussions. Two employment policies were presented to the board. One of the options allowed board members to be employees of the school as long as they don't work as certified teachers or administrative staff. In this option, board members can be substitute teachers. Option two states that a board member cannot be a employee of the school, whatsoever. Some districts would like to be able to hire school board...
Bids for the upcoming north side street projects were awarded to Nienhueser Construction at Tuesday night's city council meeting. This project involves replacing the street, curb, gutter and sidewalk on four blocks of Forrest Street between 15th Ave. and 17th Ave. The work will continue along 17th Ave. from Forrest to Elm, according to Brett Meyer of Baker & Associates, the company engineering the job. The bid opened on August 29 at which time two companies submitted proposals on the project, including Nienhueser Construction and Reed Construct...
Cars are the most dangerous weapons encountered on a daily basis. The Sidney and Scottsbluff Police Departments teamed up to conduct a seminar at Sidney High School on Tuesday to educate students on the dangers of not buckling up. “Airbags are engineered to work with seatbelts, not by themselves,” Officer Chuck Elley told students. The airbag deploys at 200 miles per hour and causes a body not restrained by a seatbelt to pinball around the car. This action renders the person helpless and vul...
Brenda Roberts cannot explain the grilled cheese phenomenon. Just about every American craves the warm, gooey sandwich from time to time. The Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce even made it a centerpiece of this year’s newcomer’s social, adding a grilled cheese contest to their event lineup. On film, Johnny Depp famously whipped up a batch using an iron rather than a grill. Yes, the simple sandwich can be prepared cheaply and quickly at home, yet people order it in Roberts’ restaurant almos...
The 9th Street apartments, located on 9th and Jackson, were evacuated yesterday after suffering extensive damage during Monday's storm when a tree crashed through the structure. "The roof sustained severe, catastrophic damage," said Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson. The building was deemed unsafe for habitation by the city building inspector, according to the evacuation notice. Residents had to be out of the building by 3 p.m. Tuesday. Landlords worked with the city to attempt to refund...
Sidney's school bond was voted down by a narrow margin of 105 votes on Tuesday. The final results were 1139 votes for the bond and 1244 against. The bond would have financed new K-4 school, consolidating three of the system's current schools, the oldest of which was originally constructed in 1929. The school board cited difficulty with installing new technology in the older buildings, the newer of which were built in the 1950s, as one of the reasons students needed a new structure. "I think it was good to have an election," said Sidney schools...
The following people appeared in Cheyenne County Court on Monday, September 9, before the Honorable Randin Roland: Casey Diedrich, age 25 of Sidney, appeared for entry of plea on a charge of 2nd Degree Trespass. This is a class II misdemeanor. A pre-trial conference has been scheduled for Oct. 15. Atinot Staman, age 26 of Potter, appeared for entry of plea on a charge of 3rd Degree Assault: Fight by Mutual Consent, a class II misdemeanor. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Oct. 15. Harold Dunkle Jr, age 45 of Potter, appeared for entry of...
The Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce is holding the 16th annual Newcomer’s Social on September 26th at Sidney High School. The Newcomer’s Social originated to help people new to town—due to Cabela’s, the hospital or otherwise—meet people and get acclimated. “We know that it’s a big adjustment to move to a new community,” Cheryl Jones said. The social is for those who are new to town within the last two years. Last year, around 40-50 newcomers showed up at the event. The Chamber of Commerce has sent out 300 postcards. They give the postcards...
A hearing open to the public to voice criticism or suggestions about Sidney schools proposed 2013-2014 budget received little public interest last night. The hearing was opened and closed with no public comments. After the hearing the school board approved next fiscal year's budget with a general fund of around $6.5 million. The qualified capital purchase undertaking fund for kindergarten through 8th grade was approved for around $50,000 as well as the qualified capital purchase undertaking fund for kindergarten through twelfth grade for...
Extensive flash flooding paralyzed the city of Sidney Monday night. High winds related to the storm caused damage to houses, signs and trees across the city. Heavy rains around 6:30 p.m. soon overwhelmed the city's storm drains and filled many streets with deep and fast flowing water, which made travel in parts of the city dangerous or impossible. The underpass to the North side of town was still closed at press time due to extensive flooding that left it impassible. Illinois street at 13th...
Sidney Schools technology integration teacher Rick Meyer received a $2,000 grant for his efforts to use technology in creative ways. The grant, awarded by ING, a national financial institution is called the ING Unsung Heroes Award. "Since I applied for it in January, with how fast technology goes, my original idea is not even close to what we're doing now," Meyer said. "But the same premise is still in place." Originally he wanted to use QR codes, which can be scanned by any smart device and...
With the fall harvest just around the corner, many are wondering what farmers are anticipating. The yields depend on when the crops were planted, but overall, this year will yield a good harvest for corn, millet and wheat. However, wheat crops are significantly below average, but the Crossroads Co-op refused to expand on that detail. Due to multiple hailstorms, a few farmers had fields wiped out, causing some fields to look healthier than others. The summer heat had an effect on the crops. “The heat didn’t help,” said Logan Snyder from Scoul...
After receiving only one bid during the first attempt to contract out work on the city's golf course irrigation project earlier this summer, the city's second effort went much more smoothly. "There was far more competition in bidding," City Manager Gary Person said. Sidney contracted with Staples Golf Design to design, plan and coordinate the irrigation project for improvements to the municipal golf course. Project One, a project management firm, is coordinating with Staples on the plan. Although the project initially only received interest...
The body of Martin Wilson, 30, of Texas was located at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the pasture to the north of the Dinklage Feedlot in Cheyenne County. Wilson was reported missing Thursday evening after walking off a job site on the day before. He was last seen on Wednesday, traveling on foot in the hills north of the feed lots, carrying a .410 shotgun. The feedlot is located about six miles west of Sidney on county road 20. The Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office received a missing persons report from the company Wilson was working for at about 5 p.m. Th...
Josef Slezak, 36, of Rivergrove, Ill. pled no contest Friday afternoon to four counts of motor vehicle homicide, a class IIIA felony and one count of motor vehicle homicide involving an unborn child, a class IV felony. Judge Derek Weimer, ruling over Cheyenne County district court accepted the pleas and found Slezak guilty of all counts. Weimer ordered a pre-sentence investigation report and scheduled sentencing for October 16 at noon. On Sept. 9, 2012 Slezak was driving a commercial tractor...
Martin Wilson, a 30 year-old white male from Texas, was reported missing yesterday evening after walking off a job site on Wednesday. He was last seen walking with a shotgun in the hills north of the Dinklage Feedlots, located about six miles west of Sidney on county road 20. Wilson is 5'10" tall and weighs around 160-165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen Wednesday at around noon. The Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office received a missing persons report from the company...
If you've got scrap tires, during at least one week of September Sidney has the means for free disposal. Currently, the Sidney landfill takes tires for a fee. Car tires are $5, truck tires are $10 and tractor tires are $20. "When we have enough, we send them off to get recycled," said Rob Campbell, solid waste superintendent with the city of Sidney. Cheyenne County's first scrap tire cleanup since 2009 will start Sept 16 and will run through Sept 21, or until a 300 ton quota is reached. Tires...
Cultural norms in the United States are constantly evolving. One facet that has arguably changed the most is the way people dress. Women have traded in long dresses lined with petticoats for fitted mini skirts and men swapped three-piece suits for collared shirts and khakis. One example of the massive change is the Axe Body Spray commercial about the “crisis” of girls getting hotter over the decades. The pictures simply show women in tinier bathing suits. Acceptable clothing has become increasingly more casual. This change in trend can esp...
Gabriel Portillo, 37, of Sidney sustained a gunshot wound to the chest area Wednesday evening. At this time, it appears to law enforcement that Portillo was accidentally shot by a juvenile. Portillo was flown to Loveland, Colorado for surgery and is currently in stable condition. Witnesses have been identified in this case and the investigation is ongoing....
Today, Governor Dave Heineman announced that Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann and members of the Nebraska trade delegation to Asia signed agreements with Taiwanese grain and soybean trade officials for approximately $400 million of Nebraska corn, soybeans and wheat to Taiwan. Lt. Gov. Heidemann is currently leading a Nebraska trade mission to Taiwan and Japan. “This is good news for Nebraska,” Governor Heineman said. “This agreement shows the value of developing and fostering relationships when it comes to trade opportunities.” “Throughout this visi...
Area senior citizens were surprised to learn yesterday that they have a place to turn for free legal help. Shelldon Skelcher, an attorney out of Scottsbluff with Legal Aid of Nebraska, spoke with seniors at the Cheyenne County Community Center about their rights and the services his firm provides. "We're the organization for individuals who don't have another place to turn legally," Skelcher said. He advises all those who can afford their own legal help to pay for a lawyer, but understands that...
