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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Sometimes life isn't fair. The job didn't work out. Medical bills are claiming much of the paycheck. The cost of food is increasing. Some families just need to know they have help when life seems a little stormy. That is the role of Table of Grace. The organization offers discount clothing, various furnishings and household items, and on the other side of the facility a food pantry for people struggling to feed their families. The shelves are stocked with essentials for families in the Sidney...
The news breaks interrupted the day like a thunder clap on a still day. Yet another fire was announced. This one generally between and west of the Cameron Peak Fire near Fort Collins, Colo., and the Mullen Fire in Wyoming near the Colorado border. The Mullen Fire is 97 percent contained after burning nearly 177,000 acres. However, the East Troublesome Fire, in Grand County of Colorado, is near 194,000 acres and as of Nov. 12 was only 60 percent contained. The high country of Colorado has a...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners Monday approved a policy addressing COVID-19 and the increasing number of positive cases in Cheyenne County and the Nebraska Panhandle. The policy addresses county employees, staff or elected official, and the public. The policy states that if a person has tested positive for COVID-19, they must self-isolate at home until at least 10 days have passed since the date of the positive test, or at least 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms, your symptoms...
As of Saturday afternoon, the Associated Press announced former Vice-President Joe Biden had reached the 270 votes needed to clinch the presidency. The count as of 3:18 p.m. MST Saturday was 290 Electoral College votes for Biden to 214 electoral votes for President Donald Trump. Nebraska voters made their voices heard and favored keeping President Donald Trump in office. With 94 percent of votes counted as of mid-day Nov. 4, 58.8 percent of returns, 542,398 votes, were in support of President...
Voters returned Joe Arterburn and Burke Radcliffe to their seats on the Sidney City Council Tuesday. Voters faced three choices for two seats: Arterburn, Radcliffe and Loren Hoekema. Hoekema, the challenger, garnered 1,073 votes, to Radcliffe's 1,880 and Arterburn's 1,680. Hoekema ran on the platform of adding technical and engineering experience and expertise to the council. Arterburn has served on the city council since 2012 and has lived in Sidney since 1993. Radcliffe is a Sidney High...
Some towns are small enough, quiet enough, that when two departments meet outside of a cafe, the occasion gets attention. Shades are opened, the cafe staff drop their towels and even the banker takes notice. That is when the real story is told. The officers aren't in town after a fugitive or retrieving stolen property. They are part of a cross-county chain of recognition for fallen officers, called "Flag for the Fallen.” The flag is in memory of Capt. Tyler Erdman of Pennsylvania who died F...
The cumulative positivity rate for the western Panhandle has reached 15 percent, according to Panhandle Public Health District. Unified Command announced Thursday, Nov. 5, 338 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle region. Scotts Bluff is seeing the highest number of cases at 184, followed by Morrill County at 33, Cheyenne County at 30, Box Butte at 29, Dawes at 25, Sheridan County at 20 and Kimball County at 12. Garden County reported three cases, Grant two, and Banner, Deuel and Sioux Counties h...
The Sidney City Council recently approved an engineering firm for work at the Sidney Elks Lodge. The City received $415,000 in Community Development Block Grant Tourism Development Funds for the Elks Lodge project. The intent is for the funds to be used to initiate a restoration effort for the building. A Request For Qualifications was sent out in September for architectural design and engineering services. Four firms submitted qualifications: Joseph R. Hewgley and Associates (office in North Pl...
SCOTTSBLUFF - Western Nebraska Community College has updated more COVID-19 related protocols for the Alliance, Scottsbluff, and Sidney campuses, due to the recent elevated risk level in the Panhandle. All classes are scheduled to continue with face-to-face instruction until Nov. 24. After the Thanksgiving break, all classes, with the exception of Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, will complete the semester online. "We understand that the hands-on style of instruction is critical for successful learning for the students in our CTE...
Nic Haas and Jesse Mueller have are seeking voter support as write-in candidates for the Sidney Airport Authority Board. The board has two positions open, and two candidates. The ballot will show Jim Price as a candidate for the board. However, he has left Cheyenne County. He was appointed earlier this year to fill a vacant seat. Mueller is a pilot for a major airline, and involved in aviation in his spare time. He owns a personal airplane which is hangared at the Sidney airport. He graduated...
Five COVID Cases at Sidney High School are under quarantine. In a report on the Sidney Public Schools website, the District reports five cases under quarantine at Sidney High School, one at Sidney Middle School, one at West Elementary School and one at South Elementary School. The report also shows there are three defined as recovered cases at Sidney High School, and one at Central Elementary School. There is also one active case at SHS. Active is defined as staff or student “who have not yet been deemed as recovered.” A staff member or stu...
In any given town, there are attractions that draw people, social cathedrals in a sense, that people value as part of the community's identity. In many towns, especially smaller communities, theaters fall within that definition of cathedral. There is the anticipated release of a new movie. Historically, theaters started as a venue for stage performances, then the black-and-white reels. Along the way children saved their allowances for the night out; the five cents that a generation later turned...
The Sidney City Council on Oct. 13 approved the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department contracting for a new fire truck. Fire Chief LaVerne Bown reported the truck to be replaced is 30 years old and undergoes frequent repair. The truck will take about a year for assembly and delivery, according to Bown. City Manager David Scott said because of when payment would be made, the council is committing into the Fiscal Year 2022. Bown said the biggest difficulty is finding parts for the current engine. He...
LINCOLN – On Oct. 16, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced changes to the State’s directed health measures (DHMs) that will take effect statewide today, Oct. 21. The Governor also launched a campaign to encourage Nebraskans to avoid the “Three C’s” to help slow the spread of the virus: 1) crowded places, 2) close contact, and 3) confined spaces. Dr. James Lawler, associate professor of infectious disease at UNMC, joined the Governor to emphasize the increasing spread of the virus across the state. Th... 
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The Panhandle Public Health District announced on Oct. 19 that the level of concern has moved further into the Orange, or High Risk stage. As of Monday, Oct. 19, there have been more than 17,000 people tested, 1,396 who were positive for the COVID-19 virus, 1,010 who recovered, 375 currently active, 20 active hospitalizations and 11 deaths related to COVID-19. The PPHD report on Oct. 12 that the COVID-19 caution level increased to Orange, or High Risk. As of the school board meeting that night, the change in status has little impact on the...
When life gets challenging, Nebraskans come together. The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce held its Fall Forum via Zoom conference from Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff on Oct. 7. Wednesday's teleconference was part of a series of Zoom meetings. Thursday's virtual forum included Nebraska Chamber President Bryan Slone and Blueprint Nebraska President Jim Smith. The Fall Forum was named “Straight Talk with State Leaders,” designed to inspire community dialogue on economic dev...
The Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) released a statement Monday afternoon, Oct. 12, that six Panhandle counties have joined Box Butte County in moving to orange on the risk dial. The risk dial is a four-level definition of COVID-19's impact on the Panhandle region. Green is the lowest level, then Yellow (Moderate), Orange (High risk) and finally Red (Severe risk). The chart has shown a slow but steady increase in recent weeks. The PPHD stresses the chart is only guidance and does not...
The Alan Hartzler Memorial Basketball Court is a step closer to reality. In the Oct. 5 meeting of the Cheyenne County commissioners, the commissioners were asked to consider a donation from Keno Funds. On Jan. 28, John Phillips and Sidney Parks/Aquatic Center/Cemetery Superintendent Tom Von Seggern first presented the proposal of constructing a memorial basketball court to the city council. The site will be at 519 Toledo St., east of the Cheyenne County Community Center. In February, a project...
Voters will be deciding on several local races, including school boards, the Sidney City Council and a county commissioner seat. Sidney voters will have two seats and three candidates for city council. Incumbent Joe Arterburn is seeking a return to office, as is Burke Radcliffe. Loren Hoekema has tossed his hat in the ring to unseat one of the incumbents. The Sidney School District No. 1 School Board has two incumbents and one newcomer on the ballot. Incumbents Brad Kennedy and Kathy Nienhueser...
The Sidney City Council candidates were asked to respond to a few short questions regarding their candidacy. Below are their responses: 1. There appears to be a gradual economic recovery momentum in Sidney; more small businesses, medium to larger players showing interest in the area. How do you propose keeping the momentum positive? Joe Arterburn: Positive is the key word. It is the positive attitudes of Sidney residents creating the momentum; positive attitudes of former Cabela’s employees w...
LINCOLN – Cheyenne County has received another membership dividend, this time in the amount of $16,530, from the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (NIRMA), the county’s property, liability and workers’ compensation coverage and risk management services provider. The dividend was part of a $1 million distribution shared with 81 Nebraska counties and eight county-associated agencies. With this latest distribution, Cheyenne County has now received a total of $423,709 in dividends since becoming a member of NIRMA in 1988....
LINCOLN -The Appropriations Committee of the Nebraska Legislature is studying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the early childhood workforce as well as the financing requirements needed to ensure a high-quality early childhood system in the state. Senator John Stinner (District 48), Appropriations Committee chair and member of the Nebraska Early Childhood Workforce Commission, introduced Legislative Resolution 390 in July to authorize the study. Today’s hearing at the Capitol features invited testimony from various experts and s...
“Affordable” has different meanings, depending on if the buyer has two quarters in his pocket or an extensive line of credit. The same can be said for determining a community's housing market. Additionally, available housing is a key part of encouraging economic development of a community. Sidney Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard met with the Sidney City Council on Sept. 22 proposing a comprehensive housing needs assessment of the community. In her proposal, Norgard said the study is...
LINCOLN – Cheyenne County has received another membership dividend, this time in the amount of $16,530, from the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (NIRMA), the county’s property, liability and workers’ compensation coverage and risk management services provider. The dividend was part of a $1 million distribution shared with 81 Nebraska counties and eight county-associated agencies. With this latest distribution, Cheyenne County has now received a total of $423,709 in dividends since becoming a member of NIRMA in 1988....
The Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce continues to stay active in promoting the business community of Sidney and the county, according to Chamber President and CEO Hope Feeney. Feeney met with the Sidney City Council Sept. 16 to present her quarterly report. In her report, Feeney reported an “uptick” in responses to business outreach efforts. She said the Chamber received four business relocation contacts this quarter. Charlotte & Emerson Boutique was approved for rental assistance. She sai...
