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 met with a full council March 24, but only a few council and staff in the council chamber. The Council is following safety protocol and introduced the public to its first webcast meeting. The meeting was held via Zoom, an audio/video communications system designed to conduct “cloud meetings.” Participants call by computer or mobile device and can then participate in the meeting without approaching the 10-person crowd limit. Mayor Roger Gallaway announced the State of Neb...
When the novel coronavirus presence in the United States was announced, its impact was noted in specific areas, people who had health struggles. Then it arrived on “Main Street” and it became everyone's concern. Two local families share their perspectives and what enduring the pandemic means to them. At the close of the March 24 Sidney City Council meeting, Brett Bently of Sidney asked what the City is doing for families facing utility disconnection. During the virtual meeting, Bently asked if...
People in Nebraska are being warned to be extra vigilant as scam callers are likely to ramp up their activity over the next few weeks to take advantage of increasing amounts of people being at home due to the current Coronavirus outbreak. CPR Call Blocker, makers of the US’s best-selling call blocking device, is predicting that scammers and fraudsters will be ready to strike and take advantage of the situation as more states go into lockdown, forcing people to stay at home, and is warning people in Nebraska to be on their guard for a rise in b...
The Potter American Legion Auxiliary Unit to Potter Post #291 has selected Mary Kasten, daughter of Jason and Amanda Kasten, and MiKayla Lee, daughter of Rob and Toni Lee, to attend the 2020 Cornhusker Girls State session in Lincoln on May 31 to June 6, 2020. Mary’s school activities are volleyball, basketball, track, one act plays, speech, band, choir, swing choir, quiz bowl, FFA, FCA, peer tutoring and class officer. Mary volunteered at the Art Loft, helped with the Youth involved In Potter program, Children’s Theater, Church youth gro...
Sidney Regional Medical Center (SRMC) announced recently the move to "essential staffing" as a precautionary measure. Essential staffing is a general definition for reducing staff to only those needed during emergent situations, yet being able to provide patient care. The decision to decrease non-essential personnel at this time was made through consulting with the medical staff and the Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD). "The organization is taking every precaution to ensure the safety...
Omaha – In light of the national shortage of one-use personal protective equipment (PPE), Nebraska Medicine has developed a safe and effective method to decontaminate these items so they can be used multiple times, instead of just once. A team led by John Lowe, PhD, UNMC assistant vice chancellor for inter-professional health security training and education, is using ultraviolet light towers to irradiate high numbers of masks, which were originally designed to only be used once. The strategy will allow Nebraska Medicine to greatly extend its su...
LINCOLN, Neb. – In a continued, proactive effort to prevent the potential for spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission temporarily will close state park and recreation area playgrounds and play structures beginning March 30. The closures are in keeping with national recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which encourages maintaining physical distance’ and limiting in-person social interactions. Game and Parks will continue to keep open state park and recreation areas gro...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners have stated that the Court House is open; however, individuals are strongly encouraged to use the online services, if possible, to conduct business and limit personal visits to the Court House. The Cheyenne County Commissioners held an emergency meeting Monday morning to address the impact of the coronavirus on county business. The meeting was held in the Cheyenne County District Courtroom with a maximum of 10 people in attendance, and numerous local officials...
Not all disabilities are visible. Not all service dogs are about physical help. Sometimes, the best of service dogs match what the handler needs, not what he or she wants. The Disability Dogs clinic held at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday focused on matching service veterans and first responders. The clinic brought together veterans with a variety of needs. Disability Dogs founder Ashley Tomberg, of Gainesville, Fla., is a no-nonsense direct speaking veteran who focuses on...
A young couple moved from Sidney a few months ago, setting up house in Parker, Co. Life moved on for the young parents and their child, until a night out resulted in becoming a statistic, a coronavirus-19 patient. Dylan Gregg talked about his experience with the virus also referred to as COVID-19 by phone recently. “It pretty much feels like you're having constant asthma attacks,” he said. He said it started March 12 following his attending a hockey game. He started experiencing symptoms, inc...
The Panhandle region welcomed spring with a dose of heavy wet snow and wind last week. As the first day of spring arrived, so did moisture-heavy snow, resulting in power outages and closed roads throughout the region. The National Weather Service recorded readings near Sidney from clear but overcast and breezy on Tuesday afternoon to windy and heavy snow on Thursday. Between then, the area also experienced heavy fog officially reducing visibility at the airport to a quarter-mile before falling...
Lincoln – Judge Randin R. Roland of Sidney is one of 30 distinguished Nebraska lawyers honored as a Fellow of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation. The lawyers were recognized March 13 at the Foundation's 32nd Annual Fellows Dinner at the Holland Center in Omaha. Roland is County Judge for the 12th Judicial District. Also, at the dinner Supreme Court Justice Mike Heavican received the Foundation's Public Service Award and Prof. Edward J. Birmingham of Creighton University Law School received the O...
Panhandle Public Health Director Kim Engel says all COVID-19 tests as of March 18 have returned negative. However Nebraska did record its second case of “community spread,” this time in Douglas County. During a recent video press conference, Engel also said restaurants are still open, for take-out and delivery only. She added that small business loans for up to 30 years and $2 million will be available. “Of course they (businesses) are being impacted,” she said. At that time, she said stores...
Facebook group Nebraska Beekeeping is buzzing with activity as local beekeepers find out if their hives survived the winter. With over 800 members on the social networking platform, ranging from serious professionals to newcomer enthusiasts, the group has become a central hive for beekeepers looking to find mentors, equipment, and even new bees. As the weather warms and spring approaches, the Facebook group’s members are sharing the status of their hives and whether or not they “overwintered.” If temperatures drop too low it’s possible not eno...
NORTH PLATTE – In a proactive state and national effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and ensure the health of its customers and staff, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is closing the public crane viewing blind at North River Wildlife Management Area north of Hershey. The Commission aims to protect its staff and customers by removing opportunities for crowds to gather at facilities and events and by maintaining clean areas that are available to the public. A prairie-chicken viewing blind located south of North Platte, is a p...
Worship leader, Sarah Jenkins is welcomed and appointed to the Lodgepole and Chappell United Methodist Churches. Sunday, March 1st was when the congregation first heard from their new district appointed lay speaker. Sarah has said, "Yes Lord" in response to filling a four month period as pulpit supply for these two church families. During the past 20 years Sarah has served in a variety of leadership roles. Her early years of public speaking began with 4-H speech and demonstration projects in...
On Sunday afternoon, the Sidney Public School District announced it is closing through March 27, possibly longer if necessary. The decision was made following a meeting of the COVID-19 Unified Command, a panel of health department officials and emergency management coordinators of the Panhandle area. Monday evening, the school board held an emergency meeting to address compensation of staff during the additional two weeks. Superintendent Jay Ehler said the teachers and principals are designing...
The Sidney Airport Authority Board expects to close on purchasing of the former Cablea's hangar at the airport today. Bass Pro/Cabela's accepted an offer of $225,000 for the hangar. The hangar is valued at close to $400,000, according to Sidney attorney J. Leef, who serves as legal counsel for the City of Sidney and the Airport Authority Board. Leef briefed the Sidney City Council on plans to purchase the hangar during the March 10 city council meeting. During the city council meeting,...
People who are passionate, act from their heart, do so with a sense of duty that is deeper than a written code of duty. People whose compassion is for children within the court system, children who need a voice, carry more than a passion for a children, more like a calling. CASAs answer the call for children within the court system. They are Court-Appointed Special Advocates who are appointed by a judge to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, and to ensure children do not...
The City of Sidney is modifying access to its public offices in reaction to the corona-19 virus. The Sidney Public Library and Hillside Golf Course is closed through March 27. The city transit Stageline Bus service will also be idled through March 27. Additionally, the city building will be closed to walk-in traffic through March 27. Business can still be conducted by appointment or by the drive-through window. Bills can also be paid online by visiting cityofsidney.org and clicking on the...
The Cheyenne County Commissioners Monday reviewed sealed bids submitted for purchase of a backhoe/loader. All three of the bids were submitted by Murphy Tractor and Equipment. The first bid opened was a 2004 John Deere 301 5G with about 3,000 hours for $35,000, the second a 2002 Caterpillar 420D with 5,300 hours for $35,000 and the third was a 2002 Case for $25,000. However, the commissioners learned upon opening of the bid that the Case was sold after the bids were submitted and before they...
Richard Sandstrom was recently selected as the new director of the Sidney Public Library. Sandstrom comes to Sidney from Emporia, Kan., where he worked at the college library and then at the public library. "We went there (Emporia) because my wife was a pastor there," he said recently. He said after spending some time at home as a stay-at-home dad, he earned his Master of Library Science degree from Emporia State College. He earned his MLS degree in 2015. He earned his undergraduate degree from...
Eleven departments and more than 100 firefighters responded to a grass fire north of Lodgepole March 4. According to Lodgepole Fire Chief Wade Dickinson, the fire occurred when a previous controlled burn rekindled. Response included departments from Sidney, Oshkosh, Big Springs, Julesburg, Sedgwick, Broadwater, Ovid, Gurley, Chappell, Brule and Lodgepole. There were also two Emergency Management coordinators, 47 fire apparatus, 103 firefighters, four tractors and discs, private water trucks and...
A program is coming to Sidney designed to meet the specific needs of military veterans and the disabilities they face. Sidney is one of the stops on Disability Dogs' first road trip since becoming a nonprofit organization. The stop in Sidney is scheduled as a two-day clinic offering veterans, then First Responders, to meet trainer Ashley Tomberg and discuss opportunities with the Disability Dogs program. “My program is designed to target veterans and and first responders,” Tomberg said. Loc...
Sidney firefighters responded to a fire near Dixon Drive and Greenwood Road at 3:22 a.m. Wednesday, March 4. The home was a total loss, according to Sidney Fire Chief LaVerne Bown. He said the house was unoccupied at the time....
