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 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...
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...
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...
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...
“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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
More road construction, on county roads this time, is in store for the Sidney area. At yesterday's commissioner meeting, County Highway Superintendent Tom Noel informed the board of plans for a maintenance asphalt overlay on County Highway 19A for some three miles west of Sidney and County Road 20 along approximately three miles west of Highway 19. The job received two bids. Werner Construction's total price was around $940,000. Simon Contractors put in a bid at about $860,000. "I was surprised," Noel said. "I thought that it would be the...
Sidney's new police chief is here and ready to get to work. Byron R. "B.J." Wilkinson was sworn in yesterday morning by District Judge Derek Weimer in Cheyenne County district court. "I feel wonderful," Wilkinson said. "The community is very welcoming and friendly." Before the swearing in, Weimer took a few moments to speak to Wilkinson about his choice to devote himself to service. "As we make decisions in our lives about what we want to do going forward in the community, we are often faced...
The scheduled closure of the underpass linking the north and south sides of Sidney on 13th Ave. was once again delayed by authorities. Last week the city announced a change in the original plans, moving the closing date to Tuesday, Aug. 6. They hoped to open the lanes again after one week. But on Tuesday they announced that the project must wait until the concrete on the south side of Illinois Street is strong enough to bear the weight of vehicles. Once this portion of construction starts, traffic will continue solely on the south side of...
Starting next Tuesday, the underpass on 13th Ave. will be closed to vehicle traffic, according to public services director, John Hehnke. The city had planned earlier this week to push back the underpass closure, but was forced to move up the construction again. Scheduling conflicts involving some utilities that must be relocated due to the pavement project on 13th and Illinois made this change necessary, Hehnke said in a press statement. On Tuesday, August 6, traffic on Illinois Street will be shifted from the north to the south side of the...
A Sidney volunteer firefighter got a pleasant surprise at the fire house's annual meeting Thursday, in the form of a $10,000 check. "I feel awesome," prize winner Tom Vail said. "It's always good to get a little extra." Vail entered California Casualty's Work Hard, Play Hard contest, which honors and rewards everyday heroes such as firefighters, volunteer firefighters, peace officers and EMTs. The insurance company, which only insures those employed in public safety, conducts this nation-wide drawing each year. This time, the choice of prizes...
Upgrades to the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds will depend on the charity of the community. A charity account set up specifically for donations to improve the fairgrounds was approved in late July. Two donors have already stepped up for the initial donations. These donors will be honored for their contributions at 1 p.m. today at the livestock arena, before the auction. Both are significant contributions, Connie Hancock of the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds Association said. She admits that it still won't be enough to pay for all the upgrades her...
For Ray Thompson, hypnotism isn't just a gimmick, it's a way to change bad habits. Thompson, of West Des Moines, Iowa will perform his hypnotism show at the Cheyenne County Fair grounds at 7 p.m. at the grandstands. He of course hopes to entertain the crowd, to make people laugh. But Thompson isn't just a sideshow, he has a clinical background in hypnotism. "I started using it as a mental health therapist in 1974," Thompson reported. He originally intended to become a clinical psychologist. But...
Casey Diedrich was arrested on July 30 by Sidney police for the alleged theft of an automobile form 1900 Ash St. Police received a report of the missing 2000 Kia Sportage from its owner, Linda Dickey. When Officer Curtis Hofrock arrived, Dickey informed him that two female neighbors watched Diedrich enter her apartment and run back out. According to police reports, the witnesses informed Officer Hofrock that Diedrich waited for them to re-enter the building. They added that they did not see him take the vehicle. One of the witnesses also...
