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 Cheyenne County Commissioners on May 17 approved funding for two promotional projects. The commissioners approved a request by Gold Rush Days for $3,000, and $4,000 for Downtown Sounds. Gold Rush Days is an historic-educational-recreational weekend held at Legion Park. This year the event is scheduled for June 11-13. Event planners suspended activities in 2020 due to the coronavirus. It comes back this year with fan favorites including blacksmithing, woodworking, spinning, and gold panning....
LINCOLN – On Tuesday, May 25, Governor Pete Ricketts signed Legislative Bill (LB) 387 into law, allowing 100% of military retirement pay to be exempted from Nebraska income tax starting January 1, 2022. The bill was sponsored by Senator Tom Brewer of Gordon at the request of Gov. Ricketts and prioritized by Senator Tim Gragert of Creighton. It passed final reading with a 47-0 vote. “This is a great win for our state, for Nebraska’s job creators, and for military families looking to put down...
The Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office is reaching out to county schools to create a partnership. It would be a partnership, that, according to Sheriff Adam Frerichs, could curb issues occurring in county schools. In the May 10 meeting of the Leyton School Board, interim Superintendent Charles Bunner said the sheriff's office had contacted the school regarding a possible resource officer that would be shared with Potter-Dix and Sidney High School. In the May 10 meeting, Bunner said the concept...
On Thursday morning, May 20, a rumbling of excitement entered Sidney from the west. The sound of thundering horsepower was the indicator the Pony Express Riders were approaching Sidney. They were riding with a purpose, to make people aware of children's mental health. “For the past 14 years, these dedicated motorcyclists have been a key partner in raising awareness for children’s mental health,” said Sheri Dawson, director of the Division of Behavioral Health. “Half of all lifetime mental...
LINCOLN - Nebraska will no longer participate in federal pandemic unemployment programs effective June 19. The State has notified the US Department of Labor of its intent to withdraw from the following: • Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which provides an additional $300 weekly payment to all recipients of state or federal unemployment benefits. • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides benefits for those who would not usually qualify, such as the self-employed and gig workers. • Pandemic Emergency Unemp...
The Sidney City Council approved first reading of an ordinance funding the City's share of Link 17J costs. The road from Interstate 80 north to Sidney, and places beyond, is now tight and slower than normal as work is underway replacing the surface. The work is a part of a state project resurfacing the Link 17J from Fort Sidney Road north to just past the Highway 30 interchange, and west to where work stopped a couple of years ago. The City's 20 percent of the cost comes to about $2.6 million....
The Leyton Board of Education decided in its May 10 meeting to reinstate Superintendent Chris Geary. Geary was placed on administrative leave early this year. He was informed by the Nebraska Department of Education that all charges had been dismissed. The Leyton Board of Education discussed if interim Superintendent Charles Bunner should be kept through his contract as a transition period for Bunner and Geary to work on the budget. Board member Sam Schumacher moved for Bunner to be retained...
In early 2020, the coronavirus was announced and resulting health precautions. By spring and early summer, schools were hoping to reopen, posting modified schedules as they adapt to health agency directives. Meanwhile, popular parks and attractions in the region were sitting empty as crowding was prohibited and social distancing encouraged. Restaurants, hotels and recreation areas went from breathtakingly busy to some becoming financial victims of the virus. Cheyenne County Visitor Center...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners took a formal stand against the part of President Joe Biden's Executive Order 14008 known as the “30 x 30” program. In late April, the commissioners discussed the proposal during a commission meeting. The concern included the impact on privately-owned land and potential impact on local tax revenues. The 30 x 30 plan is an effort to have 30 percent of land in a conservation program, “at least 30 percent of the lands and waters in the United States by 2030....
The Cheyenne County Commissioners and Emergency Communications Manager Heidi Gillespie met in the May 3 meeting regarding the Interlocal Cooperation agreement between the county and the City of Sidney. The Communications Center dispatches communication services for the Sidney Police Department, Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office, Deuel County Sheriff’s Office, Regional West Emergency Medical Service, Potter Volunteer Fire Department, Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, Gurley Volunteer Fire Dep...
Among the many shops and coffee houses off the beaten paths in Nebraska are specific locations participating in the Passport Nebraska program. The locations in this year's program include a print shop, a bigfoot museum, a church made of baled straw, and a new coffee house and weaving and wool shop in Cheyenne County. The Passport Nebraska program is being featured in the Wall Street Journal. Business participants were cautioned their role in the program could increase business by at least 25...
The Sidney City Council tabled action on proposed changes to the Cheyenne County Communications Center agreement. The proposed changes include adjusting cost sharing of the service to increase Deuel County's share and including the Deuel County sheriff as a voting member of the board. Two years ago, the City and Cheyenne County signed an agreement for the Cheyenne County Communications Center to dispatch Deuel County agencies. The discussion centered around if the City is receiving adequate...
Leyton School District Superintendent Chris Geary was placed on administrative leave during a special meeting held by the school board on Jan. 22. The board held a meeting Jan.29 when it appointed Charles Bunner to serve as the interim district superintendent. On Friday, April 30,Geary confirmed he had been contacted earlier in the week that all charges had been dismissed with “Non-Public Sanction,” which means the charges will not be on his record. In a telephone call with Geary Friday, Apr...
Some would call them an unlikely team, a rural and agricultural background on one side and urban roots on the other. However, bringing the Nebraska voters together means starting with a united team. That is the philosophy of Charles W. Herbster, Republican candidate for Nebraska governor. Herbster, his Lieutenant Governor Theresa Thibodeau, and his election team were in Sidney on April 28. When asked why he is running for office, his answer was simple, and direct. “I'm concerned about W...
The Sidney City Council on Tuesday, April 27, approved $40,000 in ACE funding for the Sidney Park Project. In City Manager David Scott's response to the request, he wrote that the City has used ACE (Public Alliance for Community Energy) funds for other park projects. The park project promoters have not asked the City for General Fund support. The ACE Fund is generated by rebates received by the city from ACE. ACE is a supplier option of natural gas for Black Hills Energy customers. ACE refunds...
On Jan. 27, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” “The United States and the world face a profound climate crisis. We have a narrow moment to pursue action at home and abroad in order to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of that crisis and to seize the opportunity that tackling climate change presents. Domestic action must go hand in hand with United States international leadership, aimed at significantly enhancing global actio...
Cheyenne County is expecting funds totaling nearly $2 million from the federal government. The problem is, so far no one knows what it can or cannot be used for, or the specific accountability needed. In the April 19 meeting of the county commissioners, County Treasurer Shelley Bowlin proposed a resolution establishing Fund 2580 COVID American Rescue Plan. She said the county will be receiving a total of about $1.7 million in two installments. “The first wave of it should hit in May,” Bow...
At approximately 12:55 pm on Friday April 23, 2021, the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Regional West Ambulance Service and the Sidney Fire Department responded to a double fatality motor vehicle accident at the intersection of County Road 111 and County Road 32. The report stated that there was a child in a car seat that was still alive and crying. An investigation determined that Mark Dalbey was driving a semi-tractor pulling an enclosed van trailer westbound on County Road 32. Brian Johnson was traveling northbound...
The Cheyenne County School District No. 1 school board approved several resignations and staff contracts during the April 12 meeting. The board approved five resignations and eight teaching contracts. Technology teacher Steve Raymond will retire at the end of the school year, completing more than 20 years in Sidney. “I have enjoyed my 22 years of teaching in this district and have spent some time in every building except Middle School,” Raymond said in his resignation letter. “I have proba...
LINCOLN — A school safety reporting system was approved April 6 in the second round after a long debate. Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg said he introduced LB 322 to reduce violent incidents in all K-12 schools in Nebraska by having a trained crisis team on staff 24/7. The reporting line, Safe2HelpNE, would allow students, school staff, parents and community members to anonymously share information about concerning behavior by phone, mobile app, website or email. Some examples of concerning behavior that may be reported include bullying, s...
The internet is an integral part of everyday life for most Americans. We use it to communicate with friends and family, stream our favorite television shows and shop from the comfort of our living rooms. More importantly, this technology connects health care providers with patients, teachers with students and businesses with a global marketplace. Affordable, high-speed internet is almost a necessity in today’s world, yet many people living in the U.S. still lack access. The Federal Communications Commission estimates that 19 million A...
In December 2020, Madison “Madi” Wilkinson and Ally Benzel presented an idea to the Sidney City Council. The concept was simple although the goal might seem a little lofty: redesign the play area to welcome children, and adults, with varying levels of mobility. In the December 8 meeting, Wilkinson and Benzel said the goal is to not use tax funds and to update the equipment for children of all ages. The concept is to make the play area safer for children and therefore less of a worry for par...
SIDNEY — A memorial service for Western Nebraska Community College students Yemin An and Zhaoxin Chen will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, April 17, at the Elk's Lodge #1894 in Sidney. An and Chen died Thursday, April 1, in an accident during hands-on instruction at the WNCC Aviation Maintenance Facility in Sidney. Facial coverings will be required at the service and social distancing will be observed. Additionally, to honor the traditions and customs of the families, WNCC respectfully asks that i...
Sidney Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard announced in an email Tuesday, April 13, that she is resigning her position with the City. After working for Cabela’s for nearly 4 ½ years, she was hired by Sidney’s previous city manager Ed Sadler as the new economic development director. She maintained that position from March 2017. In her letter to the Sidney Sun-Telegraph, she said she will continue her position through the end of April and then transition to part-time for the month of M...
The Cheyenne County Board also approved changes to the Emergency Communications Center bylaws, and the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement. Emergency Communications Director Heidi Gillespie said the interlocal agreement will be adjusted as of July 1, reflecting the percent each agency serviced pays. Gillespie said the changes to the agreement include adding the Deuel County Sheriff to a voting member of the communications board. Previously, the Deuel County Sheriff served as an ex-oficio member of...
