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 Sidney City Council agreed July 28 to continue its contract with the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce. The contract is for the Chamber to execute "services and deliverables" for the City each fiscal year, according to the summary presented to council members. "I think we put as many results and checks and balances in it as we could," said Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard. In the contract, the Chamber is to work with the city's Economic Development office on projects...
“Enough is enough” was the chant Thursday morning when residents of Western Heritage Apartments in Sidney took to the street to present their case. Residents are complaining of his prices for maintenance services, when work is completed, and long waits for service. “My toilet has been clogged since Friday,” said Bette Castle. Castle has lived at Western Heritage Apartments for about six years. A shower unit was installed in another resident's apartment. She reported a gap in the unit and was...
The Cheyenne County Emergency Communications Center (CCECC) logged 21,325 calls from all the agencies it dispatches in fiscal year 2019-2020. CCECC Manager Heidi Gillespie presented her annual report to the Sidney City Council on Tuesday, July 28. The dispatch center dispatches Sidney Police Department, Sidney Fire Department, Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office, Deuel County Sheriff's Office and Regional West EMS. Most of the dispatch service is for the Sidney Police Department at 8,053 calls for...
OMAHA – The Drug Enforcement Administration urges its DEA-registered practitioners and members of the public to be cautious of telephone calls by scammers posing as DEA employees attempting to defraud and extort victims. The schemers call the victims, spoofing DEA phone numbers in order to appear legitimate, and threaten arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment for supposed violations of federal drug laws or involvement in drug-trafficking activities unless victims pay a “fine” over the phone, via wire transfer, or through a gift card. The reporte...
On Friday, July 31, the South Platte Natural Resources District (SPNRD) was notified by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) that the water sample for Oliver Reservoir meets or exceeds the threshold of the toxin, Microcystin, which is associated with the presence of harmful algal blooms. Oliver Reservoir will remain on Health Alert until a new sample tests below 8 parts-per-billion (ppb). Samples are taken weekly. On Aug. 7, the South Platte Natural Resources District was...
Caution, communication and environmental awareness appear to be the keywords for Sidney Public Schools bringing students back to the classroom. District Superintendent Jay Ehler released a statement Monday morning on how the District plans to move toward reopening schools this fall. "We know that there is no way to please everyone in this situation. We gathered as much information as we could and attempted to put together a plan good for kids and staff," Ehler said. The anticipated date for stud...
Farmers and ranchers in Cheyenne County who want to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) are encouraged to do so by the August 28, 2020 deadline according to Farm Service Agency Cheyenne County Executive Director, Brad Fraass. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is available to farmers and ranchers whose operations have been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. CFAP provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19. To find the latest information...
When an adult breaks the law, depending on the infraction, he earns a period of time away from society. If a juvenile is found guilty of a crime requiring incarceration, the process quickly gets complicated. There is specific housing, separation from adult population and possible therapy programs. The process is further complicated by the lack of available residential facilities, according to Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub. In the July 20 meeting of the Cheyenne County Commissioners, the commissioners renewed a contract with Lancaster...
The tradition of 4-H members walking their sheep, goats or cattle before potential buyers continued this year, although with some noticeable changes. This year's 4-H Livestock Sale, the key point of 4-H events at the Cheyenne County Fair, was conducted this year virtually and before a crowd of supporters. It was most-notably done without the presence of the club members' animals. Each 4-H member displayed a framed picture of their entry before the video feed and the audience before bids were...
The Night of Hope Board of Directors met Tuesday night, July 28, to discuss this year's event and whether or not it should be cancelled. It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that this year's walk has been CANCELLED! It was a difficult decision, but the board felt that it was the right one to make considering the risks surrounding the COVID -19 virus. The event has some of the highest risk people in attendance and we felt the the risk was too great to leave to chance. The board encourages everyone to continue to form your teams and...
It isn't often an insurance carrier approaches a client with the words “Here's a check.” More often it is facing the challenge of minimizing claims and related increases. But that was not the case in the July 14 Sidney City Council meeting when the City was presented with a check for about $146,000. The return was presented by Rob Robinson of Points West Insurance. “What its based on is your loss ratio,” Robinson told the city council. He said in addition to safety, company also stresse...
The Sidney School District approved an agreement with Education Service Unit (ESU) 13 for the Valley Alternative Learning Transitioning School (VALTS). VALTS is a program designed “to provide alternative ways for students to achieve high school graduation." The program includes methods to ensure students have reached or surpassed the district and/or state performance assessments. The mission of VALTS is to empower students to meet the challenges of a changing world. The philosophy is based u...
• Unified Command Confirms more COVID-19 Cases The Unified Command announced there are four more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Panhandle area. The four include a woman in her 50s in Deuel County (Community Spread), a man in his 60s in Morrill County (Community Spread), a woman in her 50s in Scotts Bluff (unknown origin) and a man in his 20s (unknown origin). The Panhandle Public Health Department also announced a community exposure site at Cedar Lanes in Sidney. The PPHD encourages anyone who was at the business between 7:30 p.m. and 1...
There were tears, smiles, laughter and quiet memories as local farmers gathered for one last chance to return a favor to one known to give to anyone who had a need. Life seldom ends on a schedule. Too often family get that phone call no parent wants to answer. From that point, life changes. The son or daughter is no longer walking among the living. Conversations become like retrieving memories from a shelf. In the course of moving forward, there comes addressing the details of when everyone...
The Unified Command announced July 14 that there are four more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Panhandle area. The four include a woman in her 50s in Deuel County (Community Spread), a man in his 60s in Morrill County (Community Spread), a woman in her 50s in Scotts Bluff (unknown origin) and a man in his 20s (unknown origin). The Panhandle Public Health Department also announced a community exposure site at Cedar Lanes in Sidney. The PPHD encourages anyone who was at the business between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. July 8 to monitor for...
To the passing motorist, that creature running alongside the car, then darting into the field is a harmless creature of semi-arid desert. They appear to have almost chipmunk-like qualities that from a distance implies pet potential. To the farmer and rancher, the story is often much different with negative results. A quick search on prairie dogs defines the four-legged animal as “gregarious ground squirrel that lives in interconnected burrows that may cover many acres." It is native to the g...
Months in the works, the Sidney City Council is closing in on a decision for its new city manager, announcing three finalists for the position in the June 9 meeting. The council announced David Scott of Sidney, Pamela Caskie of Sevierville, Tenn., and Jeff Wells of Fort Morgan, CO., as the finalists. Scott has been employed with the City of Sidney as finance director since May of 2017, having moved to Sidney from Alaska. Jeff Wells is a former city manager for city of Fort Morgan. On May 20, 201...
As of July 1, the Panhandle Public Health District has recorded three deaths in the Panhandle region of Nebraska related to the COVID-19 virus. Nine more cases were announced July 1, bringing the total to 312. Of that number 111 were active as of July 1, and 198 recovered, with three deaths. The nine new cases include a man in his 50s in Banner County from community spread, a woman in her 50s from Dawes County by close contact, a man in his 20s whose exposure is travel-related, three from...
The Nebraska economy is slowly recovering from the COVID-19 crisis thanks to steady home sales and a downturn in unemployment claims, according to a new report. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business released a report on June 24 illustrating the state of Nebraska’s economy. The monthly report measures the economy through key economic indicators such as the number of building permits, airline passengers and the dollar exchange rate. These indicators make up the economic indicator percentage, which increased by 2.45% for May. E...
Some people might see them as cute prairie creatures. Others, however, see prairie dogs as disturbing the soil, causing holes that can result in injured livestock, and potentially spread plague. In a previous county commissioner meeting, the commissioners met with Matt Anderson of the USDA regarding a yearly contract with the county for services including prairie dog eradication. On Monday, July 6, the commissioners met with Anderson, Jerry Feist, Tim Veenendaal and opened the meeting to Sen....
Oh, say, can you see? By the dawn’s early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming; Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there: Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave? O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! On July 3, the Sidney celebrated Independe...
The Elks Lodge restoration project is one step further along in returning the building to its former luster. The Sidney City Council signed a memorandum of understanding with Nebraska Department of Economic Development, and the Nebraska Elks Association. In April, the City was awarded $415,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for revitalization and restoration of the Elks Lodge at 1040 Jackson St. The remodel is part of a Tourism Development project with funds from the Department of Ec...
The Sidney Fireworks Display will be held on Friday, July 3 at dusk. The Sidney Volunteer Fire Department will be lighting the fireworks at the soccer fields. Fireworks can be set off until 10 p.m. nightly, with the exception of July 4, where they can be set off until 12 midnight. Lighting of fireworks in Legion Park is prohibited. Nebraska State law allows for fireworks to be sold between June 24 and July 5. The City of Sidney will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence...
In late March, soon after responses to the coronavirus included restricting social interaction and business availability, the federal government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The $2 trillion-plus package is designed to provide economic relief for people impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions. The CARES Act was designed to provide assistance for American workers and their families, assistance for small businesses, assistance for state, local and tribal...
