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 COVID-19 risk dial continues to improve for the Panhandle region. The current risk level is defined at 2.50, about the midpoint of the high risk range, the third highest of the four-point dial. Cheyenne County’s risk assessment is at 2.7. The city of Sidney is also assigned a risk level of 2.7. As of the January 18 update, there have been 32,122 tests administered. Of that number, 8,238 returned positive. There have been 173 deaths attributed to COVID since records started. More than half o...
The Nebraska Department of Revenue (DOR) has approved a sales tax refund claim that will impact the City of Sidney by about $275,000. In the Jan. 12 meeting of the Sidney City Council, City Manager David Scott presented a letter from the DOR regarding a request for sales tax refund from Sidney businesses. “It is a big hit,” Scott said. “We're going to lose a lot of money.” The bill comes to the amount of $275.177.84. The City has the option of allowing the DOR to deduct the full amount in one...
Lincoln — Senator Wendy DeBoer introduced LB485 to make affordable child care available to more low-income workers in our state. The Child Care Subsidy program, also called Title XX, provides child care assistance for low income workers by distributing funds directly to child care providers. Currently, families whose income is less than one-hundred thirty percent of the federal poverty level, or approximately $22,412 per year or $1,868 per month for a single parent with one child, are eligible to receive assistance through the program. LB485 wo...
The Sidney Airport Authority Board spent most of its Jan. 14 meeting discussing how many improvements to schedule, and with whose money. The Airport Authority board has been working with Jeff Wolfe of MC Schaff Engineering from Scottsbluff on an improvement project that would include new striping and crack sealing. The Authority Board is seeking repairs on the cement approaching hangars. The conflict is, according to Wolfe, the Federal Aviation Administration will not help with the cost of hangar approaches. During the Jan. 14 meeting, board...
COVID conditions in Cheyenne County are improving, according to Sidney Public Schools Superintendent Jay Ehler. The Sidney Public Schools Board of Education met in the Sidney High School Performing Arts Center on Jan.11. Much of the meeting was spent assigning roles to board members. As the meeting began, the night was recognized as the first meeting in several years with Steve Mattoon not an active part of the board. Newly elected member Matt Wallace was absent that night, and Kathy Nienhueser...
LINCOLN — Gov. Pete Ricketts discussed Nebraska's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in his State of the State Address Jan. 14. He also outlined his proposed budget including a property tax relief initiative. "Even as we've had to overcome the challenge of the pandemic, the work of Nebraskans everywhere has kept the state of the state strong," Ricketts said after welcoming and congratulating new members of the Nebraska Legislature. Before discussing the plans for the budget, Ricketts commended N...
A little more than a year ago, the state of Nebraska had challenges of filling employment needs. With the announcement of COVID-19, the need is multiplied. Members of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce held a virtual conference meeting January 7 entitled “Back to Business.” Mike Boyle, chairman of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, said the goals for 2021 include keeping people safe, keeping businesses open and planning for the post-pandemic economy. Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Cha...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners in their Jan. 4 meeting approved extending benefits related to COVID-19. County Attorney Paul Schaub said the county was contacted by the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (NIRMA) regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The Act requires employers to provide 80 hours of sick leave in relation to the coronavirus. The Act was required through Dec. 31, 2020. However, it can be continued at the discretion of the employer. “The b...
Regardless the size of community, the question Chambers and economic development promoters face is how to keep people shopping in the local stores. There are people who plan day trips around a certain store, sometimes to learn later there was a better price at home. One of the most challenging struggles of communities is maintaining a healthy economy. The struggle is in knowing what people are seeking and how best to provide it. The Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce is encouraging Cheyenne Cou...
The COVID Risk Dial continues to slowly move back to a safer zone. The Risk Dial for Sidney was recently just within the Severe category, the highest of the four levels. In the time since then, the Dial has continued to return toward the Moderate range. As of Dec. 28, the Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) reported 7,708 positive cases from 30,052 people tested, and 114 deaths related to the COVID-19 virus. In the days between Dec. 14 and Dec. 28, there were 350 additional cases. As of...
The blustery nearing of Christmas and trace of snow reminded us it is still winter even though the moisture has been missing. Winter officially started Tuesday, Dec. 22 with winds reported up to 12 mph from the southwest in the early morning to negligible and increasing to a high of 54 mph from the northwest at about 9:53 p.m. Winds continued into Wednesday morning with gusts reaching 67 mph with 71 percent humidity at 5:53 a.m. Winds continued throughout the day from the north and northwest...
There are people who just stand out in the world. They don't lead armies or research medicines. They take the harsh or bitter ingredients of life and make something sweet. Bertha Mueller, known locally for her chocolates, has a story of adapting to what life gave her family. She was born in 1930 in Byron, Wyo., moving to Topeka, Kan., when she was a child and moving back to Wyoming a year later. Her mother died when Mueller was 14 years old. Then she lost her dad when she was 16. She and her two...
CHEYENNE —The Cheyenne Veterans Affairs Healthcare System will begin COVID-19 vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine today, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization for this vaccine. “Cheyenne VA is eager to offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel and community living center residents,” said Sam House, public affairs officer. “Receiving the vaccine is like having hope delivered. As vaccine supplies increase, our ultimate goal is to...
The hallways have the inviting appearance of newness while work rooms are overwhelmed with supplies to be put in their place, and the scent of industrial adhesives are still lingering in the air. Meanwhile, the former building is becoming increasingly vacant as the Educational Services Unit (ESU) 13 staff make their move to the new location. Offices are gradually filling with staff, followed by the computers and reference books for them to do their job working with regional schools and...
Two Sidney residents were recently arrested on drug-related charges following the execution of a search warrant recently. Sidney Police announced Dec. 16 that a search warrant was served at 1229 Jackson St. with the assistance of Cheyenne County Sheriff's Officers, the Western Intelligence Narcotic Group (WING), and the Nebraska State Patrol on Dec. 14. Thomas G. Clark, 34, and Brittany Swanson, 27, were arrested on charges of Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Possession...
While many people are gratified with a career in one occupation but several locations, others have interests that develop into careers, including “volunteer careers.” Steve Mattoon is closing his 36th year of service to one “career” and location — Sidney Public Schools. “I am concluding my 36th year and ninth four-year-term,” he said recently. He said he considered not running prior to the last two elections. He decided to stay on the board because of the instability related to the changes a...
The Sidney City Council has a change and a continued leadership. In the Dec. 8 Zoom council meeting, the council approved the verification of votes cast in the Nov. 3 election. The Sidney City Council approved the purchase of a new fire truck for just less than $500,000. The vote came during the Dec. 8 meeting of the city council. County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh's certified count shows1,695 votes for Joe Arterburn, 1,896 votes for Burke Radcliffe, 1,089 for Loren Hoekema and 19 scatterings. For...
The COVID-19 testing station in Sidney is staying busy, according to Sidney Regional Medical Center CEO Jason Petik. “We're seeing roughly 75 people per week,” Petik said. The number equates to about 1,300 since the testing unit opened in July. Petik said the Sidney location has had to address a couple of transportation issues. "Otherwise, the testing site is working well", he said. “Overall, I think the program is working really well,” he said Thursday, Dec. 3. Petik said the length of quarant...
A Sidney man was arrested recently based on documentation presented by a group independent of law enforcement. On Wednesday, December 2, Sidney Police Officers arrested Jamie Daniels, 45, of Sidney, for the offense of Child Enticement, according to a release from the Cheyenne County Attorney's office. A team that calls themselves “Predator Poachers” was involved. Messages were exchanged between Daniels and an 18 year old female, who represented herself to be 8 years old. During these mes...
If you want to know where you're going, you need a plan. You need to have an idea of where you are, where you want to be and how to get from where you are to where you want to be. On Nov. 24, the Sidney City Council was presented with an update of the City's Master Plan. The update was conducted by RDG Planning and Design. Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard said the last Master Plan update was in 2008. “The whole premise to doing a Master Plan — we should do an update every 10 yea...
The southwest corner of 10th Avenue and Jackson Street is filled with fun and delightful items for shoppers from the creative to the unique, and delectable drinks and snacks in the coffee shop to follow. But Brand New Items and Coffee Shop wouldn't be where it is without the community support. And that is why Janette Ford and the store staff rolled out the banquet table to express her thanks. "Without the community, I wouldn't have a business," she said. She decided to offer the community her th...
Business or building owners within the Expanded Historic District of Sidney are eligible for a grant to improve the exterior appearance, the facade. On Nov. 24, the Sidney City Council approved updating the program, making more funds available to property owners. The facade enhancement program was first approved by the city council in 2005. Prior to the Nov. 24 meeting, the program offered up to $5,000 per building with the property owner providing a 50 percent match for a maximum of $10,000. El...
The Sidney City Council approved on Nov. 24 the purchase of mowers for the golf course and for Parks/Cemetery. Parks Superintendent Tom Von Seggern addressed the city council with a request for two front deck mowers. During the 2020 budget sessions, $68,000 was budgeted for the Parks and Cemetery Department to purchase two mowers, one for the cemetery and one for parks. The parks department is replacing a 2015 Kubota front deck mower with attachments, and the Cemetery is replacing a 2012 John...
On Nov. 17, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and the State's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary J. Anthone, M.D., held a press conference regarding the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the state. By Friday, Nov. 20, Panhandle Public Health District reported COVID-19 related deaths had increased to 47 with the addition of five more deaths. The new Panhandle deaths include a Cheyenne County man in his 70s, two Morrill County men ( one in his 60s and one in his 90s), a Scotts Bluff County man in his 60s and a Sheridan County man in his 90s. “This i...
Sometimes the best business card is a craftsman’s work displayed. That is the hope of Josephine Marie who recently completed a mural on the south wall of The Rock. “I love putting art in public places,” Marie says. She has been in Sidney about four months, moving here from Key West, Fla. She has a 22-year history in art, starting in a business not directly related to art. “I had an antique shop,” she said. “I ended up selling more art than antiques.” Since coming to Sidney, she’s been se...
