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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Republican candidate for Nebraska governor Charles W. Herbster calls this year's election the most important governor's race. Herbster made another stop at Beans and Steams Coffee House in Sidney on Wednesday, March 30. In his visit, he said issues and candidates make this a critical election for the governor's race. Among the issues, he said, is the Critical Race Theory (CRT). He said governor's races will impact the states and the country. He said CRT has been in the state for several years....
About two years ago, Cheyenne County added technology necessary to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. The new technology allowed the county and district courts to continue remotely. Inmates or defendants could make an appearance for a court procedure by a secure Zoom type of conference, and likewise Judge Derek Weimer admitted he held court remotely from his home while recovering from COVID. “Our court rooms are right where they need to be,” he said. “I would put our court up against any of them...
The Cheyenne County Republicans met in the basement conference room at Security Bank on March 22. The night included a briefing on the Primary election by Cheyenne County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh. Fiegenschuh talked about how the Primary ballot may not appear as some voters expect. The only races to be decided in the Primary election are contested races, she said. She said there needs to be more candidates than open seats to have an election; including incumbents and challengers. “Locally, t...
A community college has an extensive list of possibilities, of opportunities to be part of the community. Western Nebraska Community College's Interim President John Marrin met with Cheyenne County community representatives Thursday, March 17. The visit was part of a listening tour hosted by WNCC. The goal is to visit all 13 counties in the service area. “We want to hear from as many people as possible,” Marrin said in a press release on the college's website. The Sidney visit was initially sch...
The Sidney City Council on March 8 approved a crack seal contract with Hein Construction of Fairbury, Neb. In his presentation to the city council, Street Superintendent Hank Radtke said two companies submitted bids; Hein at .27 per linear foot and Bader's Highway & Street at .40 per linear foot. The council had already approved $75,000 for crack sealing. Hein Construction was awarded the contract as low bid. The council also approved a proposal by John Phillips for purchase of new light bulbs f...
The corner of Jackson Street and 10th Avenue has a history of mixing venues. There was a bookstore, and beside it a coffee shop. There was the coffee shop within the retail store, and soon there will be a coffee bar as part of a firearms store. A few years ago, as the Cabela's-Bass Pro change was being felt locally, several employees decided try their own ventures, resulting in two additional stores selling firearms and related accessories. Highby Outdoors started as an online business, then...
“It's a matter of life or meth.” The message is simple and straight-forward, and has resulted in a campaign against use of methamphetamines. Nebraska State Patrol Troopers Tim Flick and Brandon Smith were guests at West Elementary School for a presentation on drug use and abuse. The program is through the US Attorney’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) of Omaha, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division, and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office....
Methamphetamine is defined as the significant threat to the state of Nebraska. It has caught the attention of law enforcement and drug counselors to the point a campaign has been launched: “It's a matter of life or meth.” “Meth is a major threat across the state of Nebraska, Phil Lenz, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Omaha, said at a meeting at Western Nebraska Community College in Sidney March 8. “We held our first training in Kearney,” he said. From Kearney, officials met with law enfor...
The May 10, 2022 Primary Ballot is dominated by candidates seeking to return to office. Of the 30 seats available, seven are challengers and one seat is vacant. No names were submitted for the office of county surveyor. Mindy Wiegand is challenging incumbent Debra A. Hume, both Republicans, for the office. County Commissioners Darrell J. Johnson (R-Second District) and Philip E. Sanders (R-Third District) are running unopposed, as is County Assessor Melody H. Keller (Republican), County...
Thursday afternoon, people started to gather at the west side of Sidney. It had the feeling of something expected, almost supernatural, as the American Freedom Convoy trucks were anticipated. Early this year, Canadian truckers protested the vaccine mandates in Canada. The protests and blockades were against the COVID-19 vaccine requirement to enter the country. The protest evolved into a protest against COVID-19 mandates in general. “Many around the world have watched the Freedom Convoy and p...
On February 22, the Sidney City Council held a changing of the guard in a matter of speaking. February 22 was councilman Joe Arterburn's last day as a seated councilman. He had submitted his resignation in the January 25 council meeting. His resignation came with his wife Kathy retiring and they were spending less time in the Sidney community. On February 22, Mayor Roger Gallaway announced the City had received two applications for Arterburn's seat. “We had a couple of people apply,” Gal...
The Sidney City Council approved pursuing a contract to support solar energy generation in the community. If a solar field is established, Sidney's electricity superintendent Mike Palmer said, it won't affect the cost to the city much. Solar production is only about 5 percent of the energy purchased by Sidney. “No matter what we do, it's not going to be a big windfall,” he said. The concept was first brought before the council Dec. 14, 2021. MEAN (Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska), the who...
Nebraska candidate for governor Brett Lindstrom stopped in Sidney Saturday, Feb. 19, for a meet and greet event at the Sidney Elks Lodge. Lindstrom grew up in Omaha and was a walk-on for the Huskers following high school. In 2014, Lindstrom ran for the Nebraska Legislature from the 18th District in northwestern Omaha. In the 2015 Legislative session, Lindstrom was appointed to the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee, and to the Natural Resources Committee. Lindstrom is an avid outdoorsman...
The idea might sound little bit like a fish out of water, but Sidney and Cheyenne County have some of the characteristics to be home of one of the first inland port authorities Adams Industries is seeking designation as an Inland Port Authority (IPA). Kim Matthews, Business Development Manager at Adams Industries, met with the Cheyenne County Commissioners and the Sidney City Council for support of Adams Industries receiving Inland Port Authority designation. An Inland Port Authority is a...
Sometimes lunch is on the run, a quick sandwich and a drink. Sometimes “quick” is a street corner vendor, but what are the options when the vendor has days when the daily receipts aren't much more than the daily fee to operate an approved food cart? That is the question Stephen Wood brought before the Sidney City Council in the February 8 meeting. Wood asked to be on the agenda to gain clarification on licensing for “transient merchants,” those who include food trucks and carts and tempora...
Offer a cause $10 in support and you get a smile and a thank you. If 100 people each offer $100 to the same cause, change happens. That is the goal of “One Hundred Women Who Care.” 100 Women Who Care is a national organization, although affiliation might be a better description, according to Amber Kerkman. The concept is one of combining resources for a selected cause. There is no treasurer, no dues. Members of the group meet quarterly for an evening of fun and socializing, and of choosing bet...
In April 2021, Cheyenne County stood in line with numerous other municipalities expecting yet another round of federal recovery funds. The county's share of Fund 2580 COVID American Rescue Plan funds was expected to be about $1.7 million. The challenge from the beginning is no one knew what the county can or should do with the funds. The lack of direction came back before the Cheyenne County Commissioners Feb. 7 when the board was approached with a funding request they didn't know if they could...
Sidney Park Project Awarded $23,760 Quality of Life Grant from Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and a $50,000 grant from the Peter Kiewit Foundation. Funds total more than $680,00 of a $711,000 goal. What started as a dream is getting closer to reality. The children's playground equipment at Legion Park became the focus of a needed update and is now within reach. The goal was to upgrade the play equipment to be safer and more inclusive for people of all mobility levels. SIDNEY PARK...
As of February 2nd, all incumbent Cheyenne County officials with terms expiring in 2022, have filed for re-election. Those filing for re-election are Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh, County Attorney Paul Schaub, Sheriff Adam Frerichs, Assessor Melody Keller, Commissioner 2nd District Darrell Johnson, Treasurer Shelley Bowlin, Commissioner 3rd District Philip Sanders and Clerk of the District Court Debra Hume. Also filing for Clerk of the District Court is Mindy Wiegand. All incumbents or officeholders have until February 15th to file for the Primary Ele...
The Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce is going digital. The Chamber has a program that encourages exchanges between member businesses. Chamber Bucks are designed to be given as gift certificates, for drawings and other gift efforts. The concept is purchase a value of Chamber Bucks and they can be used for goods or services, as long as it is with a member business. In the January 25 meeting of the Sidney City Council, Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO McKailie...
What started out as an interest in the process and trying to stay informed, is closing after nearly a decade of service. Now in his tenth year on the Sidney City Council, councilman Joe Arterburn has decided to do something else. In the closing minutes of the January 25 city council meeting, Arterburn announced his plan to resign and submission of a formal letter that he is stepping down. He plans for his last council meeting to be February 22. “I would like to thank the voters of Sidney for p...
This story is reprinted in memory of Vincent Havorka who died Jan. 25, 2022, at the age of 99. “Go west, young man” must have been ringing in the ears of Vincent Havorka (Vince). After graduating from high school in northeastern Nebraska, he made his way to California. It was late in 1940. He looked for jobs and found a good one with Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank, CA. Vince liked his work there where he worked on assembling the P-38 and 414 Hudson Bombers. He developed some metal-smithing ski...
What areas of Sidney should be defined as "blighted," and what areas should be removed from the blighted definition? That is a question proposed to the Sidney City Council on Jan. 26. Bobbi Pettit, Five Rule Rural Planning of Kearney, explained to the city council with City Manager David Scott how the city can have no more than 33 percent of the city defined as blighted. Pettit said cities like Sidney need to consider when to designate an area blighted, and when to "de-blight" a neighborhood. A...
In June 2018, Kevin Howard was hired as the new tourism director for Cheyenne County. He came with the presence of a man who sits down with a stranger and a cup of coffee and later get back on the road as friends. In exchange, that random driver with a curiosity prompted by the welcome sign may stop at other locations in the county, or on his next trip through. In the Jan. 18 Cheyenne County Commissioners meeting, Howard announced he is reaching the point where he is more interested in fishing...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners signed off on a sports event grant approved by the Visitors Committee. The Visitors Committee recently wrote a grant process designed to support sporting events. Tourism Director Kevin Howard said the tournament is a three-day event with more than 40 teams and exceeding 2,500 spectators. “It's right in line with our way to spend funds,” Howard said. The commissioners also approved the Sidney High School FFA chapter hosting an event at the Cheyenne County Fai...
