Year 2012 in review, July to December

July

Battle Of The Weeds

It’s a constant battle, but the City of Sidney is up to the task when it comes to snuffing out weeds and the eyesores they create.

Jeanie Matthes, Code Enforcement Officer for Sidney’s City Police Department says the recent drought has provided weeds a breeding ground.

“This season is bad for bindweed,” Matthes said. “It’s just been so hot and dry.”

For the most part, citizens have been cooperative. However, Matthes says violations do occur locally, and the steps taken to resolve a violation can be tricky.

“Sometimes, it’s hard to get things done in a timely fashion,” Matthes said. “It can really be a long, drawn-out process.”

For those not familiar with the city’s weeds ordinances, the ball starts rolling with the measuring stick: The city draws the line when grass and weeds reach a foot high on a property or along an alley way.

“At that point, we leave door hangers notifying the occupants that they need to comply and get rid of the weeds,” Matthes said.

Rabid skunks reported in

Cheyenne County

LODGEPOLE — Two recent reports of rabid skunks in eastern Cheyenne County is creating a cause for concern.

The first incident occurred July 2 in the Lodgepole-Sunol area, when a skunk managed to get inside the back yard of a residence and tried to attack a small dog. That skunk was taken to White Bluffs Veterinary Hospital in Sidney, before being sent by Dr. Dave Weiderspon to laboratories at Kansas State University in Manhattan, where the animal tested positive for rabies.

A week later, another skunk was discovered in the back yard of a residence along Road 109, near Sidney Airport.

In that instance, a dog was playing with the dead skunk, which also tested positive for rabies at KSU.

Kathy Weiderspon, wife of Dr. Weiderspon and co-owner of White Bluffs Veterinary, says a sure sign skunks are rabid is when they come out in the daylight and become aggressive with domestic animals.

“In both cases, the skunks have been very aggressive and have gone into the back yards of residences.”

According to Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services, 32 cases of rabies — 22 of those being skunks — have already been reported this year, which is well ahead of last year’s pace.

“Nebraska reported 35 cases last year,” Kathy Weiderspon said. “The state requires we report each case.”

Fire Guts home On Rose Street

SIDNEY — Sidney Volunteer Fire Department responded to a Wednesday morning fire which gutted a home on Rose Street.

According to Sidney Public Services Director John Hehnke, the blaze broke out at the Richard Haupt residence at 1211 Rose St. around 9 a.m. Wednesday. At the time of the fire, Haupt was working on construction in Oshkosh.

Those reporting the fire noted they saw smoke and fire coming out of a window air conditioning unit on the home’s east side.

SVFD chief Keith Stone said that 16 firefighters were on the scene, and putting the fire out required two pieces of equipment. Crews were dispatched at 9:09 a.m., and stayed at the scene until around 11:30 a.m.

Though no one was home at the time, Stone said two dogs were trapped inside the house, and were unable to escape.

Sidney Man Charged With

Woman’s Death

A Sidney man has been charged with a pair of felonies in the shooting death of a north-side woman.

Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub has charged Larry G. Martinez, 53, with an amended complaint – citing him with Class I/IA felony first-degree murder, and Class IC use of a firearm to commit a felony – in the Wednesday afternoon shooting death of Mandy Kershman, 30, at 1740 Grant St., just north of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

Martinez was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Cheyenne County Court before Judge Randin Roland. Schaub, noting he had amended the charge from Class II second-degree murder, requested that Martinez be held without bond. Roland agreed, and set Martinez’s preliminary hearing for July 30 at 1:30 p.m.

City police first responded to a 911 call of a woman having been shot at 4:51 p.m.

When authorities arrived, they discovered Kershman on a couch. Emergency Response Care arrived on the scene in an ambulance, and determined through a check of vital signs that Kershman was deceased.

Golf Course improvements discussed

Hillside Golf Course is in need of major uplifting, and Sidney’s City Council learned Tuesday night just how badly the 50-year-old links are in disrepair.

Andy Staples, a golf course architect from Scottsdale, Ariz., offered a PowerPoint presentation that outlined the course’s needs, both aesthetically and in regards to irrigation.

Direct concerns with the course include small unlevel tee boxes, limited middle-tee yardage, the lack of strategic features (the 18-hole course has three bunkers, all on the same hole), and that the entire course is made of poa annua (a form of Kentucky Bluegrass) which does not like dry heat, as is the case in the Panhandle area.

The irrigation system faces five major problems: the lack of a central control computer, inconsistent sprinkler spacing, poor mainline hydraulics, inefficient pump design and insufficient water storage.

Staples presented a list of goals in the presentation, but was quick to note he had very little input in the final goal-setting process, only to say he had performed an extensive study of the course and its irrigation system.

“The goals were made with the golf committee,” Staples said, “and it was driven 100 percent by the people of the community that plays here.”

Statewide oil play picking up

After stagnant trends in the past four years, oil drilling is making a comeback in the Cornhusker State.

“The last down time happened in late 2008, when activity fell off because of commodities prices,” said Bill Sydow, director of the state’s Oil and Gas Commission. “With the recession in 2008, things folded up, so we haven’t drilled a gas well for four years in Nebraska. But we’ve been drilling oil, so at least it came back.”

Sydow reports that this year’s well leases have picked up in the first six months.

“Last year we permitted 150 wells or so,” Sydow said. “Thus far, we have permitted 61 through May, and had another 18 in June, so it’s around 80 for the entire state.”

A majority of the leases involve southwestern Nebraska.

“We have production in Nebraska oil production with associated gas in three areas,” Sydow noted. “That would be in Richardson County, the very southeastern-most county, and the oldest area; McCook going to west and some to the east; and along the Cambridge Arch, a buried sub-service structure that comes out of the Central Kansas Uplift (in western Nebraska).”

August

Council approves AMI system

Sidney Public Services Director John Hehnke presented a report which outlined the cost and advantages of using an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system for the city’s water and electric departments, and the City Council agreed to move ahead with the project at Tuesday night’s meeting.

AMI is an automated, two-way communication between a customer’s smart utility meter with an IP address and a utility company.

Hehnke was questioned at length during the previous council meeting about the city’s return on investment if such a project was approached.

Hehnke’s report stated that the city would realize a savings of $161,533 annually, and added that it would be difficult to come up with a precise return on investment, but savings that would be passed onto the consumer in terms of maintaining rate bases, and potential societal and environmental benefit that couldn’t be measured in dollars and cents have to be considered.

Consumers would be able to monitor their own usage, through an online account, as well as using digital thermostats inside the home.

Mountain lion spotted east of Sidney

Yet another report of a mountain lion has surfaced, and the latest sighting is extremely close to the Sidney city limits.

Sheriff John D. Jenson said his office received a report of a mountain lion at around 10 a.m. Tuesday, and a deputy was dispatched a property just one mile east of Sidney.

“The deputy did not locate the mountain lion, but was able to detect fresh tracks,” Jenson said.

Tuesday’s sighting is the second this month in Cheyenne County. Another sighting occurred in Lodgepole on Aug. 1. In that instance, three individuals gave similar descriptions of the cat.

Jenson asks any residents who see the mountain lion, to call his office (254-2922).

“We need for people to keep their eyes open,” Jenson requested. “Again, we ask for people to not get involved with the cat. Don’t approach it, feed it, or take pictures.”

New movie could be filmed here

Sidney and Cheyenne County may find itself on the silver screen, if a film company finds certain aspects of the city to its liking.

Though the request was merely preliminary, locals have been contacted to locate certain sites for the upcoming filming of “Nebraska” a film to be directed by native Nebraskan Alexander Payne.

The filming will be based in northeast Nebraska, in and around Norfolk, but that decision won’t limit a radius for making the movie.

Nebraska Film Officer Laurie Richards has been identifying locations across the state for the project, while the Nebraska Department of Economic Development staff and other contacts statewide have been instrumental in recruiting sites.

“One of the things we are looking for in a potential shoot is an abandoned, run-down motel,” Richards said. “Perhaps a wooden structure that was built in like the 1940s. From the recent feedback, there are several good examples in western Nebraska.”

The movie, which will be entirely black and white, will be produced by Bona Fide Productions and released by Paramount Pictures. Actors Bruce Dern, Bill Forte, Bob Odenkirk and Stacy Keach will star.

Cabela’s to open stores in

Va., Del., In 2014

SIDNEY — Cabela’s Inc. plans to open two new stores in Virginia and Delaware in 2014 to sell sporting goods and outdoor gear.

The Sidney, Neb., company said Wednesday that construction on both stores will begin in 2013.

The 85,000-square-foot store planned for Bristol, Va., will be the first Cabela’s in Virginia.

The new store in Christiana, Del., will be roughly 110,000 square feet.

Cabela’s CEO Tommy Millner says the locations of both new stores was chosen partly because sales data from the company’s website and catalog showed it already had a sizeable customer base nearby.

Sioux Villa seeks rezoning,

visions big changes

Sioux Villa Apartments could be looking at a makeover project that would eventually lead to modern, market-rate housing.

Sidney City Council Tuesday night will consider accepting the City Planning Commission’s final report and decide to set a public hearing for Sept. 11 to discuss possibly rezoning Sioux Villa area from R-1 single-family residential to R-3 (heavy density multi-family).

During the Aug, 20 Planning Commission meeting, City Manager Gary Person explained that the existing zoning had not been changed since 1968, when the Sioux Army Depot had relinquished the property to the city.

Person noted that since no new development or demolition/replacement had occurred during that time, it was not necessary to rezone before now.

“Right now, we have multi-family housing available,” said Nancy Bentley, executive director of Sidney Housing Authority. “The first step is to correct the zoning for the entire complex.”

Person added that it was best to rezone the entire area owned by SHA, rather than choose to do it each time the Housing Authority decides to demolish or build in the future.

Smoke from Panhandle Fires drifts South

Where there are wildfires — with northerly winds — there’s plenty of smoke to be had in the Panhandle.

Smoke from separate fires in Dawes and Sioux counties — affecting up to 25,000 acres — is making its way south, and Cheyenne County residents are feeling the effects.

Residents throughout the region were puzzled as to why the smell and smog of smoke permeated the air without the presence of a local fire call.

To the north, in Bridgeport, city offices employee Sharon Frickey reported heavy smoke.

“It was really heavy (Thursday morning),” Frickey said. “People thought there were places on fire locally, but checks of several areas turned up nothing. It’s just smoke from the fires.”

City of Sidney Public Services Director John Hehnke said the city has received numerous calls about the smoke.

“A lot of people are wondering why there’s smoke, but no fire sirens,” Hehnke said. “We explain to them it is merely smoke from the fires up north in Chadron, Harrison and Crawford.”

September

“Ag Lab” Looks For Help To Replace Building

Sidney’s agricultural lab, a part of the University of Nebraska’s Agriculture Division, needs the help of the community to replace the aging research building.

The “Ag Lab” has been in Sidney since 1967 and is divided into three and a half sections northwest of Sidney in an old military building constructed in 1942.

Why is it important to construct a new building for research in our area?

This answer is quite simple­­­-----expansion of research possibilities.

“We now have the green light to do isolation research on crops,” said Building Chairman Keith Rexroth, “This is a new program to do continued research on crops and is a first (in Sidney).”

Sidney, a prime location for agricultural research, is similar to most of the world in rainfall, making this area unique and has the potential to help the world.

According to Tom Nightingale, farm manager for the Ag Lab, part of the isolation research will help to develop better drought-tolerant crops.

Multiple Fatality Accident

on I-80 Results in One Arrest

Potter – A disabled semi-truck, parked in the right driving lane, heading westbound on Interstate-80 at mile marker 41, led to two fatal accidents early Sunday morning, Sept. 9.

This accident, involving two semi-trucks, began a domino effect on I-80 that led to a second, more deadly accident.

The second accident occurred approximately a mile east of the original, and involved two vehicles and two semi-trucks.

In an effort to keep from more tragedy from occurring, officials closed I-80 westbound to Sunday traffic, until 6:46 p.m.

Vehicles traveling westbound on I-80 – from mile marker 48 to mile marker 38 – were redirected for an alternative route, Highway 30, as emergency crews contained and began investigation of the two fatal accidents.

Sidney to get new hospital

Cheyenne County Hospital Association Inc., the governing board of Sidney Regional Medical Center, is set to receive $40 million in funds in direct and guaranteed loans from the United States Department of Agriculture., according to a USDA press release.

This is the largest project that the USDA Rural Development in Nebraska has funded, according to Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul.

“There are many steps to a project of this size and the USDA Rural Development approval for financial support is a major step towards ensuring SRMC’s goal to build a new state of the art facility for our community,” hospital CEO Jason Perik said.

The USDA Rural Development has awarded $20 million to the CCHA under the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program.

Funds, leveraged with $20 million Rural Development guarantee partnering with AgStar Financial Services.

According to AgStar Financial Service, ACA’s Vice President Robert Madsen the new hospital will “help to ensure the long-term health and prosperity of the Sidney community.”

‘Project Dash’ is no longer: Bell Lumber and Pole Co. expanding to Sidney area

“Project Dash” is no longer.

The lid came off the confidentiality at Tuesday night’s Sidney City Council meeting, as Bell Lumber and Pole, based in New Brighton, Minn., announced its intentions to expand a plant into Sidney.

The entire project, expected to cost $25 million, received the unanimous blessing of the council Tuesday in the form of $500,000 in economic development grant money.

Bell Lumber and Pole will be purchasing 40 acres of land currently owned by Adams Warehousing, placing the plant approximately eight miles due west of the city in the annexed portion.

The company will be building its plant in the near future, and will hire 30 employees in its first year in Cheyenne County, beginning in the summer of 2013.

October

Sunday morning, single-vehicle accident involves eight occupants

SIDNEY – A single-vehicle accident Sunday morning involving eight occupants resulted in the transport of two passengers by medical air flight.

According to information from a Nebraska State Patrol spokesperson in Scottsbluff, troopers responded to an accident at 1:14 a.m. along Greenwood Road.

Authorities learned that a 2009 General Motors Sierra, driven by Cory Lundgren, 22, Sidney, was southbound on Greenwood Road, and had left the roadway on a maintenance road just south of Pennington Feed.

The vehicle struck an embankment and was ruled a total loss. The spokesperson added that the report indicated that seat restraints were not in use.

The Sierra had seven other occupants, six of those from Sidney: Valarie Wright, 26, Morgan Peterson, 26, Ashley Wells, 24, Isidor Alvarez, 24, Quin Lund, 22, and Matthew Wells, 21. The other passenger, Tevin Cooper, 32, has a Lincoln address.

According to NSP reports Monday, Lundgren and three other unspecified passengers were transported by medical air flight to Regional West Medical Center, while others were taken to Sidney Regional Medical Center and treated for injuries.

No citations were issued, according to the NSP spokesperson, who said that the accident is now being treated as alcohol-related.

Bond named to leadership

post at Sun-Telegraph

Gary Stevenson, president of Stevenson Newspapers, has announced that Hank Bond has been named to the position of Editor and Publisher of the Sidney Sun-Telegraph.

Bond began his duties on Sept. 24 and follows Sue Mizell who accepted another position within Stevenson Newspapers.

Bond came to Sidney from Russell, Ky., where his family owns a small weekly newspaper and associated web site.

O’Fest tradition passed on

SIDNEY– Over the past 20-plus years during Oktoberfest people know Benny Hochman as the man in charge of the sauerkraut served up at the Kiwanis booth, located in the beer gardens.

This Oktoberfest marked the first year the spoon has been passed down from the sauerkraut master to a new master.

A recipe Hochman said was developed even before he was born by the lady who worked for his mother back in his native country of Poland.

“We had a bakery and my mother was a business lady so she didn’t cook.”

Hochman said he never changed the recipe or even added anything to the recipe to make it his own, opting to keep the original recipe as close to how he remembered it as a child as possible.

Gary Hawkins, the new “kraut” master, said, “The only difference is we buy the sauerkraut in the can and we add the spices to it.

Council approves temporary town square

SIDNEY – Using the holidays for a test run, Sidney’s City Council Tuesday night approved a makeshift town square that could eventually lead to a downtown public plaza area.

Two members of Sidney’s Main Street committee, chairman Greg Huck and director Megan McGown, addressed the council on a temporary closing of the 10th Avenue section between the alley and Hickory Street.

The Downtown Master Plan calls for the section to be closed permanently for a plaza area, and the trial run, from Nov. 26 through Jan. 2, 2013, will include the Design committee holding the Holiday Kickoff and the lighting of the Christmas tree in the closed street space, creating a town-square type feel for the holidays.

“It will be kind of a catch-all; all those events can be held in one spot,” Mayor Wendall Gaston said.

Traffic will flow through the alleys off 10th and around back side of the awning parking lots along 10th Avenue, and going through Hickory Street

Huck said the city will use concrete tree planters to provide a concrete barricade, and they will be decorated to alert drivers at night.

“We’re not losing a lot of parking spaces,” Huck said. “This is just a test run for 30, 40 days.”

One issue may be with delivery drivers, but Huck said he has spoken to businesses along 10th Avenue, and that the city will work with those businesses to allow traffic to flow during the time frame.

Sheehy awards Sidney

$350,000 block grant funding

LINCOLN — Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy on Monday awarded $2.7 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, and Sidney is among eight communities whose applications were approved.

Sheehy said Sidney will receive $350,000, which is to be used for infrastructure in the public works and water/wastewater treatment categories. In addition, the city will pump in an additional $390,300 — through taxes and economic development funding — to be used in replacing approximately four blocks of streets, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks along 17th Avenue, between Elm and Forrest streets.

“This is one of a couple application processes we will go through in a year’s time,” Sheehy said in a monday morning telephone interview. “We’re always happy to partner with the City of Sidney to help enhance the community.”

City Manager Gary Person welcomed the news with open arms.

Accident snarls I-80 for hours

Three individuals were taken to a northeast Colorado hospital Thursday morning following a four-vehicle accident in Deuel County on eastbound Interstate 80, a mishap which caused hundreds of motorists to be diverted off the road and onto the exit 59 interchange in Sidney.

Information was limited at press time, but Nebraska State Patrol spokesperson Thomas Venable of Troop E headquarters in Scottsbluff indicated that three semi trucks and a pickup were involved in the crash at the eastbound 91 milepost, near Chappell.

Venable stated that three individuals were taken from the scene to Sedgwick County (Colo.) Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries.

The accident caused traffic to back up, and around the noon hour, the NSP ordered eastbound I-80 traffic to be diverted at the Sidney mile post 59 exit.

Within an hour, hundreds of semis, recreational vehicles and buses were being directed to park along roads and parking lots in the exchange area.

Cabela’s unveils $9 million redevelopment plan; 80 new hires possible

SIDNEY – Details on a $9 million downtown Sidney development plan of Cabela’s Inc. were discussed Tuesday night before the Community Development Agency, which passed a resolution to move the issue back to the Sidney Planning Commission for transmission of Tax Increment Financing.

The project would renovate not only the former corporate headquarters at 812 13th Ave., but also revitalize the area along Illinois Street, between 13th and 14th Avenues.

As a result of the renovation, Cabela’s would add an additional 80 new jobs and eventually 130 permanent employees would be placed downtown at the former headquarters, which are currently being used for storage.

Ralph Castner, Cabela’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, described the plan.

“I’m here tonight to share with you just another exciting chapter in the story of Cabela’s expansion,” Castner said.

According to the plans, several businesses along Illinois Street from 13th to 14th Avenues, would be turned into a parking area. Another parking area would replace the grassy area in front of the current brick warehouse, and the warehouse would remain.

Holly Realty’s location would not be affected by the project, Castner noted.

Total project cost of the project is estimated at about $9,073,000, and of that amount, $2.03 million would be funded through TIF.

Deadly Deuel County accident

CHAPPELL — A Cheyenne County woman was killed Monday afternoon in a single-vehicle accident in Deuel County.

According to the Deuel County Sheriff’s Office, Gabriel “Gabby” Palmore, 22, Sidney, was taken by air medical transport to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colo., were she later died from head injuries.

Though a final report has yet to be issued on the accident, authorities said that Palmore was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe on Deuel County roads 22 and 175 at around 1 p.m. Monday.

The vehicle left the roadway and crashed, with the driver being ejected from her seat.

A deputy with the DCSO said that Palmore was transporting two children, but neither sustained injuries due to being in their respective car seats.

November

Man with California ties charged with second-degree murder; Two arrested in connection with shooting

SIDNEY – A man with California ties has been charged in the Saturday morning shooting death of a Sidney man.

According to a complaint filed by Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub, Jason William Custer, 33, 2460 Fort Sidney Road, Apartment 6A, and formerly of Chico, Calif., is charged with one felony count of Class IB second-degree murder and one Class IC felony count – use of a firearm to commit a felony.

Custer is charged in the shooting death of Adam E. McCormick, 36, Sidney, which occurred just after midnight at 2475 San Marino Road. Custer is being held in Cheyenne County Jail, in lieu of $1 million bond, or 10 percent.

Custer appeared Monday in Cheyenne County Court for presentment, and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. His arraignment in Cheyenne County District Court is set for Nov. 15 at 8:30 a.m.

Two other Sidney residents - Billy Fields, 35, also of 2460 Fort Sidney Road, and Amber Davis, 38, 829 Olsen Drive – were charged in connection with the case and also taken to Cheyenne County Jail.

According to Custer’s arrest affidavit, Sidney City Police responded to a call of a man being shot on San Marino Road at about 12:25 a.m. Saturday.

When authorities arrived at the residence, a male with bullet wounds to the abdominal area and upper right leg was lying in the driveway. Two witnesses gave accounts of the situation, and one account described how McCormick had confronted a man, believed to be Custer, about $160 owed to McCormick for drugs (either methamphetamine or marijuana).

One witness said McCormick had approximately three phone conversations with a man known only as “Jason.”

Sales tax provision passes 3-1

Election 2012 in Sidney brings a change in the taxes paid in the city as the restaurant tax will be removed on April 1, 2013, keyed by a vote of 1925-650 a one-half cent sales tax on purchases will go into effect that same day.

Sidney City Manager Gary Person says the new tax is expected to generate $10 million over the next 10 years to be used for roads and other infrastructure needs.

Schaub appointed to additional position as Deuel County attorney

Cheyenne County Paul Schaub is expanding his horizons after being appointed to serve as Deuel County Attorney.

Schaub in late October agreed to an offer which would allow him to serve the remaining term of Doug Palik, who had his law license suspended by the Nebraska Supreme Court in September following his mishandling the administration of a woman’s estate, and subsequently covered up the delay of payments, and lied about the particulars.

Palik was eventually ordered to repay $60,000 plus interest to an heir who had not received money due to him from the woman’s estate.

Schaub said the new position will take some additional time, but won’t prevent his office from doing its duties here.

December

A 60-year-old business; with a family mentality

Over the past 60 years Dude’s Branding Iron and Steak House has been a regular stopping place for residents and guests of Sidney.

Patrons have gone into the well-known establishment to take advantage of Dude’s entertainment and dining options.

The restaurant was recognized as being family owned for three generations and in business for 60 years by the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce, but according to the Gorman family it really has been a four generation business.

“Her grandpa worked here too,” Larry Gorman said, as Jennifer Gorman added there has been four generations already that have worked within those walls.

“My dad’s dad used to come here every morning and help open for breakfast, and chop all the salad for the restaurant for the dinner crowd,” Patty Gorman remembered, “and he would also help with the cleanup. He was very much a part of it as we have felt him to be.”

Patty said her father and mother opened the doors to the bar on her second birthday in 1952.

“On the day,” Joe Gorman said.

The steak house part of the restaurant was opened 10 years to the day, Patty said, of the original opening, again on her birthday.

“He (Patty’s father) loved people and thought everyone had an interesting story,” Patty said to the opening of the business. “He just enjoyed people and loved this part of the country. He was born and raised here and just wanted to serve the public here.”

The story of how the establishment got its name and logo is both sad and endearing, “I don’t know if you know about Dude, but Dude lost his arm to cancer,” Larry said, “if you look at the cowboy on the sign, the cowboy has one arm. So if you ever wondered why there is a one armed cowboy up there, that’s him.”

Dude is Patty’s father.

New store deals in Comic Books

Beanie Baby animals line the windows in the view of passersby, while comics line the inner walls and fill four shelves behind Michael Lucero, a man surrounded by his passion. By the register, books stand holding action cards with all the big name heroes. Spiderman slings his web right next to Batman giving a big deserving “POW!” to the enemy.

A slight whiff of antiqueness that comes with old books drifts through the store, even though most comics are sleeved in protective plastic to keep age from betraying them. Posters of modern films and film series line the walls, ranging from “Star Wars” to “Winnie the Pooh” for all ages.

White cardboard boxes in the center of the store give you an old time record store feel as you search the alphabet for what comic you want to see. Labels like Batman, Superman and Valiant grab customers’ immediate attention.

Getaway Comics And Collectibles has been in business since Nov. 21 and is located at 1014 Illinois St. in Sidney. Store hours range from 2-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and up until Christmas, Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gaston to continue in Sidney Mayor’s spot

Wendall Gaston was elected mayor once again at the City of Sidney Council Meeting Tuesday night.

As required by Nebraska law, the new council in place always elects one of its own to serve as the upcoming year’s exeo president, or mayor. Mark Nienhueser was elected as vice president of the council during the meeting as well.

Results from the 2012 election for city council were also approved and the new council members took to their seats.

Leaving the council last night were Dave Weiderspon, Roger Gallaway and Bob Van Vleet.

Newly elected city council members Joe Arterburn, Aaron Barnes and Chris Gay walked to the front of council chamber and took the oath as their predecessors took a seat with community members.

The newly elected members deep, strong voices filled the room as they were sworn in together.

Following the oath, each new member placed their signature next to the oath they had just taken and took their new seats, facing the community.

School shooting prompts Sidney officials to review policies

SIDNEY - After the tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary Friday morning in Newtown, Conn. administrators with the Sidney School District are looking at their own safety procedures to see if there is anything that could be changed.

“When an unfortunate event like this happens, it always makes us open our eyes and reflect on what we are doing. While I think that we have some pretty good safety procedures in place, nothing is perfect. So we always will make a habit of revisiting safety,” said Sidney Public Schools Superintendent, Jay Ehler.

“School shootings like this are just very sad. Your heart goes out to everybody that is involved. It’s just an extremely tough situation,” Ehler said.

Ehler said that every quarter school administration professionals meet with law enforcement officials to discuss a variety of topics but also school safety and how the schools would respond if there were to be a situation.

“We talk about everything. One thing we focus on is access points at schools, we try and limit access points,” Ehler said.

Snowed-in in Sidney; storm closes I-80

The snowstorm brought more than large flakes to Sidney yesterday (Dec.19); it brought stranded truck drivers from all over the states and a few from Canada after I-80 was shut down by state officials.

Some drivers were trying to make their way to unload or pick up in time to be home for Christmas, others were fortunate enough to have their loved one with them as they traveled.

So many trucks were forced to stop off and stay by the I-80 interchange that it became a race to see who could find a place to part those big rigs for the night and into today.