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 2258 - 2282 of 3090
The city Planning Commission found Monday that the Cabela’s corporate expansion plan was in line with city’s overall vision for the future. This redevelopment plan had already been reviewed by the Community Development Agency, who referred it to the Planning Commission. The commission’s role was to refer it back to the CDA, after ensuring that it conforms with the 2012 comprehensive plan and the overall goals and strategies of the community. “It does over time look at the development of this ground as being commercial,” said Dennis Armstrong, C... Full story
Taking tests is rarely fun, but for some high school kids, scoring well on the ACT is the boost they need to jump start a college career. Sidney High School is one of eight school districts across the state of Nebraska participating in a pilot program in which 100 percent of students take the ACT. Nationally only about 54 percent of kids participate in the test. It usually isn't required for high school, but ACT scores are necessary for most college applications in the Midwest. Schools in the eastern and central part of the state participating... Full story
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Floodwaters from Colorado quickly filled the South Platte River in western Nebraska Wednesday and began to spill out onto the rural land nearby. Flooding is expected to continue as the surge moves east down the South Platte and into the larger Platte River over the next several days. But much of the land at risk initially is pasture or cropland with little development, and the cities along the river for at least the first 75 miles don't sit directly on the South Platte, so officials are optimistic. "We're hoping that the c...
A city planning commission meeting Monday night was marked by frustration, confusion and lengthy discussion in an attempt to understand and work toward solving issues with a tract of land currently occupied by a sand and gravel pit. Representatives of the Kielian Family Trust owns the ground in question. The gravel pit is located east of Sidney one half mile south of the intersection of Roads 20 and 117. Representatives with Kielian Family Trust met with the planning commission to appeal the... Full story
The Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners met on Monday morning. The Board approved the budget for 2013-2014 as well as three other items from the public hearing. For the two budget years (2012-2013 and 2013-2014), the two cemeteries will receive $3,300 each and all three historical societies will be given $1,000. The Jail Medical Agreement between Cheyenne County and the Sidney Regional Medical Center was smoothed over from the last meeting and will be effective starting October 1. Payment of $20,000 per year for economic development will... Full story
A man who exposed at least one child to illegal drugs entered into a plea agreement with the state earlier this month. On Sept. 6 Justin Warren, 30, of Kimball pled no contest to possession of methamphetamine, a class IV felony and child abuse, a class IIA felony. The court accepted the pleas and ordered sentencing for October 15 at 9 a.m. According to the court's factual basis for accepting Warren's plea, law enforcement served a warrant to the residence of Justin Warren and Shirley Brewer in March of this year. Officials found marijuana and m... Full story
Cancer patients in Sidney who need radiation treatment have to travel to receive it, at least for the time being. Sidney's Dorwart Cancer Center closed last week due to storm damage and won't open until the beginning of next week at the earliest, according to Jonanne Krieg, marketing specialist at Regional West Medical Center. Due to water damage during the Sept. 9 storm, patients of the Dorwart Cancer Care Center will have to travel to Scottsbluff to receive radiation treatments. The storm caused significant water damage to the facility. Power... Full story
Boot Hill, which has been a Sidney establishment since the 1800s, has fallen into disrepair, but the Boot Hill Restoration Committee plans to work this year to patch it up. The original Sidney Cemetery, otherwise known as Boot Hill, has existed since 1868. It was first created to bury soldiers of Fort Sidney. Mike Hartzler, a member of the committee met with the city council earlier this summer to discuss the budget for improvements. "I know right now it's kind of a mess up there," Hartzler... Full story
The rollover bus crash that resulted in multiple injuries last Thursday northeast of Potter was caused by a driver's failure to stop at a stop sign. A Ford Ranger pickup truck, driven by Robert Hilpert, 55 of Potter, was traveling west on County Road 40 and struck a Potter School District bus, driven by John Herboldsheimer, 73, also of Potter, that was traveling north on County Road 83. According to accident reports filed by the Cheyenne County Sheriff's office, Hilpert failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of these roads and... Full story
After the 18 families living in the 9th Street Apartments were displaced by the storm last Monday, agencies both statewide and local came together to help them. Ron Leal, region 21 emergency manager, contacted the Red Cross to let them know about the storm and that there was an apartment with 18 units which were not safe for residents. "We responded by getting our emergency response vehicle, ERV," said Shelly Penner, Red Cross, spokesperson out of North Platte. Penner's territory extends all... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
