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 2373 - 2397 of 3107
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...
Steve "Snorkel" From's rodeo adventures have taken him all over the world and to performances throughout the west. But soon he'll be ready to give up bull fighting and comedy to focus on farming in his hometown of Lodgepole. The 52-year-old, who served as clown at the Cheyenne County Fair Rodeo has been a part of the rodeo scene as a rider and comic for the past 26 years. He explains his transition into the career simply. "I was in Australia riding bulls and I was broke," From said. "I turned...
Seatbelts save lives and everyone knows it, yet people still suffer when they fail to buckle up. Deaths in motor vehicle accidents are up this year, according to Bob Grant, highway safety manager at the Nebraska Department of Roads. There have been 122 fatalities on Nebraska roads this year. At this time last year, there had been 110. Although around 80 percent of drivers obey the safety law, well over half of those who die in auto accidents aren't wearing seatbelts, Grant said. For instance, in June 22 people died in vehicle accidents on state...
The Cheyenne County Fair is one of the largest summertime gatherings in Sidney. On some nights thousands will converge on the grounds for rodeos, concerts, food and carnival rides. Crowds also create a need for additional law enforcement. County Sheriff John Jensen reports that crime is down this year, compared to past fairs, though he and his deputies have encountered the usual minor violations. Daytime events are smaller and more family oriented. The rodeo crowd was also relatively quiet before and after the events. But, Jensen assured, deput...
A new doctor joins the staff of Sidney Regional Medical Center this week. Dr. Rebecca Allard will begin seeing patients at SRMC on August 1. "Dr Allard's focus is toward providing care for the entire family," said SRMC director of public relations Evie Parsons. "She is dedicated to serving all ages and needs." The incoming doctor was most recently employed at Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis, Kans. Because she spent the last five years working at this small town hospital, she is familiar with the unique challenges patients face in a...
Road construction projects will continue to jog traffic across the city of Sidney for the foreseeable future. The Illinois Street project is well underway, which is evident to anyone who lives on the north side or who travels across town on Highway 30. City officials hope that work on this roadway will be complete by Oktoberfest. "It's progressing," said Sidney Public Services Director John Hehnke. "There have been afew twists along the way." The portion of the Illinois Street project which...
A Nebraska State Trooper received a big surprise during what he first thought was a routine traffic stop last Thursday: a vehicle stuffed with around $500,000 worth of marijuana. "It's one of the bigger [finds] we've made in a year or two," said Lieutenant Jamey Balthazor of the Nebraska State Patrol. Nebraska State Trooper XXXX Reed was traveling south on L17C, which links Interstate 80 with highway 30 west of Sidney, when he spotted a grey vehicle parked on the wrong side of the road. Reed was working with other troopers at a nearby drug...
A Sidney family called to court because of their son's absences from school contends that Nebraska's attendance law is unreasonable. Under the initial version of this law, every child who missed more than 20 days whether excused or unexcused, would be reported to his or her county attorney who would then file a petition with the court regarding the absences. There was quite a bit of parental backlash after children with cancer and other diseases were reported to their county for excused absences. Brenda Vosik, of the Nebraska Family Forum, an...
Zach and Jeff Deal, both Eagle Scouts, know the importance of community service as well as the value of having a good time. Although the Deals finally achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in December of last year, they received praise from scout leaders in a court of honor for their accomplishments at the end of last month. "To become an Eagle Scout there's several requirements and one of them is to plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious...
Cabela's continues to grow at an exponential rate. On Thursday, the Sidney based corporation announced plans for four additional new stores in 2014. Cabela's is scheduled to open two new stores in Georgia, one in Montana and one in Ontario, Canada. The Acworth, Ga. location will span 100,000 square feet and will employ around 200 people. The store in Augusta, Ga. will be 42,000 square feet and will employ around 90 people. "We are thrilled to bring Cabela's to a state with such a great outdoor tradition," said Cabela's CEO Tommy Millner in a...
The Sidney Police Department, in conjunction with WING/HIDTA Drug Task Force made quite a few drug related arrests Thursday.Trevor Franklin, 19, of Sidney was arrested for deliver of a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a school which is a Class Id felony.Cordell Relerford, 18, of Sidney was arrested for delivery of Marijuana, a class III felony.Joshua Pilger, 23, of Sidney was arrested for delivery or distribution of hydromorphone, which is a class III felony. He was also charged with delivery or distribution of fentanyl, a class III...
On the day before his 27th birthday Sam Bass, along with several of his gang, walked intothe general store in Round Rock, Texas for a fresh pouch of Bull Durham. The local Deputy Sheriff A. W. Grimes recognized the group and approached them, demanding their surrender. In response, Deputy Grimes was shot and killed. As the gang attempted their escape, Texas Rangers George Herold and Richard Ware shot and fatally wounded young Sam Bass. Although he escaped, Bass was later found in a nearby...
At 9:20 Thursday morning, Nella Tucker of Lodgepole pulled into the Sidney Perkins parking lot. As she did so, the accelerator reportedly stuck on her 2008 Kia Sedona mini van, sending her vehicle hard into the restaurant's wall, according to Police Chief Joe Aikens. The incident resulted in a sizable dent in the side of the building, causing insulation to spill out into the interior of the restaurant. Approximately $6000 worth of damage was done to the building. The vehicle received about...
An update to the city's energy conservation code was cause for debate at Tuesday's city council meeting. Troubled by an incomplete understanding of its requirements, the body looked for more information—and time—before making a decision. Sidney's Chief Building Inspector, Brad Rowan, introduced Ordinance 1700, adopting the 2012 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code. This code would regulate and govern energy efficient building practices and the installation of energy efficient mechanical lighting in the City of Sidney and in...
Between the federal government and international bodes, the organic farmer faces a unique set of regulations. South of Sidney along the Colorado border, however, three families are navigating the challenges with success. Fresh Wind Farms on County Road 8 has found a market for organic eggs, selling them to a small but growing number of people in the Sidney community. To meet the requirements, their chickens must receive organic feed—an often expensive prospect. Fortunately, a neighboring farm s...
Authorities say two Pennsylvania men have been arrested and 127 pounds of marijuana has been seized along Interstate 80 in the Nebraska Panhandle. The Nebraska State Patrol says the two were taken into custody just off the Sidney exit on Thursday evening. The patrol says a trooper reported smelling marijuana when he was checking on a sport utility vehicle that had stopped. The patrol says the pot, a pound of hashish and a small amount of cocaine were found during a search of the SUV. Troopers arrested 23-year-old Kenneth Turner, of Pittsburgh,...
Many people who work 9 to 5 have trouble racing downtown in time, when most shops close their doors at or shortly after 5:00 p.m. Starting last week, however, some of Sidney's downtown stores joined together, staying open until 7 p.m. on Thursday nights. The city is helping to promote these idea with advertising in print, radio spots and social media. Community Development Director Megan McGown said, "We want to create a buzz as well as help generate traffic downtown,” observed Sidney's C...
