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 2423 - 2447 of 3067
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
As the temperature rises, sightings of rattlesnakes will increase, as well. Rattlesnake attacks on pets were more common last year at the beginning of summer, and tapered off toward the end, said Don Devie, office manager at Sidney Veterinary Hospital. Rattlesnakes were probably more active at the beginning of the season last year because of the higher temperatures, he said. "Well, by this time last year we'd dealt with six or eight," Devie said. Dogs can be protected from the worst affects of a rattlesnake bite by receiving a vaccine. Sidney V...
Home is where your memories are stored, where your children are born and grow up, where you make friends. For Marvel Freudenberg Moore, Betty Kurth and Elain Weyerts, Gurley is more than just a town. The Burlington Railroad founded Gurley October 18, 1913, as a stop on their line. Trains still pass through Gurley, but the depot is gone. For longtime residents, the community's centennial celebration, scheduled for this weekend (June 22-23), will bring back memories of the town and its people, including those that moved away. Marvel Freudenberg...
For local teens, sales and community service go together. Sidney’s teen outreach program, which is based out of the Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska (CAPWN) office, is hosting a yard sale this Saturday for its community service project. Money raised at the sale will go toward the purchase of games and furnishings at the CAPWN office. “We want to make it a more fun youth hangout,” said Brenda Dickinson, who does youth, family and community outreach for CAPWN. Workers at the office would like to buy an Xbox and some games—and couc...
Working nine to five—more likely eight to five—can have its draw backs in a small community, particularly when it comes to shopping. While grocery stores and national chains remain open, the unique retail shops that define downtown shopping districts often open after 10 a.m. or lock their doors around 6 p.m., leaving little time for residents to peruse their aisles during the work week. But, say Sidney retailers, there is always Saturday. The first day of the weekend counts as the busiest for...
The KSB board met yesterday at Grandma Jo's and discussed past and upcoming projects and expenses. One of their goals was to clean up the Welcome to Sidney sign east of town by highway 30. The board discussed getting some new trees to plant near the sign but decided on native grasses instead, because they're heartier and they look better in the winter. They also planned to pick up any litter around the sign. "That's what Keep Sidney Beautiful is about," said executive director, Cheryl Jones....
More road construction started in the Sidney area last week. The state's Sidney West project opened on Highway 30 at the west edge of Sidney and extends eight miles west. The project will begin with repair of the concrete pavement underneath the road and will end with replacement of the asphalt on top. The Nebraska department of roads is hoping to complete the project by sometime this fall, said Maryanne Jacobs, project manager with the Nebraska Department of Roads. This project will be an inconvenience to the 1,400 vehicles per day which...
The Cheyenne County Sheriff's Department is investigating numerous vehicle break-ins in Sidney. "We started getting complaints this week," said Sheriff John Jenson. The sheriff's office has received more complaints from the south side of town, but says that the break ins could potentially happen anywhere. The sheriff advises that the citizens of Sidney lock their cars. Anyone who keeps valuables in their vehicle should bring them inside, he said. Most of the break-ins occurred late at night, according to Jenson's department. If you hear...
The rumble of thunder, lighting flashing across the sky--what started as a beautiful day on the plains now has the potential of becoming a major storm. Rain begins to fall, followed shortly by chunks of hail. Roof drains, street gutters and surrounding hills are gushing with water. The torrent begins to surge to the center of town with such speeds and force that it could sweep adults off their feet. The 10th avenue viaduct is underwater and closed; Lodgepole Creek is full of water. It's a scenario city engineers and elected officials consider...
Farmland valuations went up more than 10 percent this year in Cheyenne County. But the news could be worse. "In my county they didn't go up as much as they did in other counties," said Cheyenne County Assessor, Louella Pippitt. Although values spiraled in Cheyenne county by a double digit margin, there are many other counties where the changes from last year to this year were much more drastic. Assessments in 16 Nebraska counties rose more than 30 percent. Farmland valuations rose the least--at 1.5 percent--in Thomas county and the most--at 40...
Building codes are up dated every three years, taking into consideration the load dynamics of wind shear, water tables, environmental problems that have an affect on building any type of structure. These codes are the guidelines for the official to use in making determinations for construction or repair. For much of daily life in Sidney, these instructions generally go unnoticed. But Chief Building Official Bradley Rowan has been trying to bring Sidney’s building codes up to current standards. “What happens is that it (the codes) affect the...
