Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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The Kimball County Fairgrounds was a destination spot last weekend for families and youth on the progress show circuit. People from all over the Panhandle, Colorado and Wyoming converged on Kimball for the 21st annual Father's Days Progress Show. A small but mighty group of Kimball FFA Alumni run the show, which has grown to become a major stop on the traveling youth progress shows. The FFA Alumni have the details down and the show runs like clockwork. Amber Wilke said they strive to make it...
Banner County's Wyatt Reichenberg is the two-time Nebraska High School Rodeo Steer Wrestling Champion. Wyatt competed at the state finals June 10-12 in Burwell. The Harrisburg cowboy had a total of 132 points. State finals was two rounds and a short go. Wyatt had a time of 6.07 in Round 1, but broke the barrier in the second round with a 14.03. In the short go, Wyatt won the round with a 4.42. All the points from the top 15 rodeos of the season and the state points earned him his championship....
The Men's Thursday Night Golf League had a great turnout, great scores, and beautiful weather at the annual Father's Day golf tournament. League president Randy Bohac announced prizes and winners. Kenny, Jordan and Jeff Greenwood won the championship division with a 113. The Greenwoods are not new to winning the tournament. According to their calculations, they have won seven of the last 10. Both Greenwood boys played high school golf in Kimball and went on to play in college, Jordan resides in...
In 1966 and 1967, Australian foreign exchange student Ewan Vickery called Kimball his home, and it appears that after almost 60 years Kimball is still very much home to Ewan. "The people were lovely, and the town was just a fantastic place," he recalled. "I was a novelty in the town." Ewan made quite an impression on Kimball and vice versa. During his visit last week, he estimated that this was his 12th or 13th return trip to Kimball to see friends and attend many class reunions. On Friday,...
A construction bid from Anderson-Shaw Construction totaling $473,569 for two sewer extension projects on Nadine Street (a duplex) and 7th Street (Clean Harbors apartments) was denied by the City Council due to concerns about the cost at the June 4 Kimball City Council meeting. Olson Engineering, the city’s engineering firm, recommended that the council deny the bid for the sewer extensions. It was decided that the City of Kimball could handle the project internally at a much lower cost. Estimates of the costs for doing it internally were e...
Kimball’s first-year agricultural education teacher’s resignation letter was accepted at the June 10 Kimball School Board meeting. After accepting Emily Sowards’s resignation, the following action item was the approval of Monica Jenson’s contract as the agricultural education teacher for the 2024-25 school year. Jenson, formerly Monica Wasielewski, is a Kimball Public Schools graduate. With finances always a concern, it was noted that they saw an increase in receipts from the courthouse, SPED money and state aid that helped the June budget...
After visiting St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kimball on Wednesday this week, the National Eucharistic Procession planned to travel through Nebraska. On Thursday, June 13, the procession will stop in Sidney at St. Patrick’s Church for Mass at 10 a.m. From Sidney, they will stop in Colton, then Ogallala, and move on to North Platte. As part of the procession’s western route, the pilgrimage stopped at St. Joseph’s Church in Kimball from 6-7 p.m. June 12 for a procession followed by a potluck supper. The journey began on May 17 and will end July...
The second annual Red/White Classic Golf Tournament on Saturday June 8 raised more than $40,000 for the Kimball Longhorns athletic programs. Of the 25 teams, first place went to Kimball Auto Parts with a 51 total score, Team Tolstedt came in 2nd with a 55. Third place went to Kimball Insurance with a 56. A variety of games add to the fun at the Classic. The games include closest to the basketball, closest to track shoes, hit ball off the water bottle, wearing football helmet, and Kyler Lusche...
The imminent resignation of long-time Kimball County Attorney Dave Wilson surprised many June 4 at the regular county commissioners meeting. His resignation will become effective July 31. Wilson has served as Kimball County attorney for 37½ years – and according to one of his sons’ calculations, Wilson has served as county attorney for 27% of the time that the county has existed. Wilson said he would like to slow down and move closer to family, and “that it had been an honor to serve.” He said has met a lot of great people. He advised the commi...
From Germany to Argentina and then north to Alaska. Two German college students, Antonia Staacke and Laura Moller, have shown remarkable resilience on their journey from Germany to Argentina and then north to Alaska. They embarked on their bicycle trek in Patagonia, traveling through South America and Central America, and now they are biking through North America. This journey that has spanned almost eight months since October 2023. Antonia Staacke, 27, and Laura Moller, 28, have demonstrated...
Pulling up the rear of the parade on Banner County Historical Day last Saturday is the hit of the parade, Banner County's famous Lawnmower Ladies. Linda Barret started the group more than 10 years ago to add a little spice to the parade. The group is open to anyone and everyone with a riding lawnmower and a Hawaiian shirt....
The weather cooperated for a great Saturday evening for the 15th annual Kimball Ranch Rodeo. The rodeo, which returned after being rained out last year, started with wild bronc riding. Sixteen riders tried their hand at staying atop the broncos with 10 individuals staying on until the buzzer. Ty Fenster won the contest with an 86, followed by Wes Aragon in second with an 82 and Beau Lake in third with a 79. Eight ranch rodeo teams competed in four timed events, from trailer loading to wild cow...
The Kimball Board of Commissioners conducted three executive/closed-door sessions at the May 22 meeting on Wednesday afternoon. The first session required the commissioners to deal with an employee/personnel matter. The second and third executive sessions centered around the strategy and terms regarding the sale of real estate involving the former Kimball County Hospital and the strategy and disposition of real estate involving the Kimball County Annex building. When the commissioners emerged fr...
The Kimball County Board of Commissioners met May 22 with appointed heads of department Randy Bymer, highway superintendent; Matthew Meyers Veterans Service officer; Monica Todorov, interim building and grounds superintendent; and Christy Warner, administrator of KCTS; along with elected official Sheriff Dave Hottell. Bymer explained that while he was on vacation, an unfortunate incident occurred at the county shop. An inexperienced individual was servicing the 2018 CAT 120M long block when due to miscommunication he put all the oil into the tr...
The spring morning Monday was perfect for the local Memorial Day ceremony. John Beatty, vice commander of the Kimball VFW, opened the ceremony and Randy Bohac provided the opening and closing prayers honoring veterans. Two Kimball High School graduates, Emma Patterson and Jasmine Gawith, honored the veterans with the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner and playing of Taps. Marine Corporal Noah Thomas of Cheyenne was the speaker. Accompanied by his wife and two children, he referenced the bond...
At the Kimball City Council meeting on Wednesday, May 15, the City of Kimball announced a settlement with Hometown Hardware, Inc., regarding an incident involving a waterline break that occurred July 12, 2021. As a result of the incident, Hometown Hardware claimed property damage. The city’s insurance company settled in the amount of $210,000 through mediation. State law requires notice to the general public of any municipal settlement. No council action was required. In a variety of action items for the council, the new playground equipment or...
Jeffrey Barborak has been sentenced to be incarcerated in a facility to be determined by the Nebraska Department of Correction for a term of 18 months after an incident in April. Barborak was arrested for a bond violation, then was arrested for terroristic threats when he refused to comply for a urine analysis. During the booking process, Barborak told the deputy and staff that “I’m going to come in here and shoot you guys up.” He told the deputy that he was going to come back and after he gets out that he would blow the deputy’s head off. Ba...
Two Kimball City Council agenda items on May 15 were discussed but no action was taken on either a salary increase for the city clerk or an interlocal agreement for a proposal in which the city would purchase the Windbreak Restaurant from Kimball County. The discussion of the Windbreak purchase prompted council member-elect Austin Garner to read this prepared statement: “The progression of the ballpark/land swap and Windbreak transaction to most seems to be convoluted and veiled in secrecy. The lineage of this idea is cloudy and details are vag...
Today known as the E-Free Church, the Log Cabin building was constructed in 1946 for veterans but has served many valuable purposes for the city of Kimball. Located at 101 S Walnut St., the building known as the Log Cabin was built for such veterans as the American War Dads and those in the American Legion. It was a recreational place for servicemen. In 1946, the 105-foot-long and 65-foot-wide building was estimated to cost $20,000, with $12,000 raised "by popular subscription." The facility had...
Valentine Murdy and Hugo Rodriguez, both 16, have spent the last school year attending the rural high school and living in Banner County. Valentine is from the south of France, while Hugo is from Spain. Valentine, hailing from the south of France, was taken aback by the vastness and spaciousness of Banner County, a stark contrast to his home. His most significant adjustment was to the culture and the language. Initially, he struggled to string a sentence together, but now he's proud to say he's...
Good morning! After a couple of cool days earlier this week, we are off to warmer temperatures once again. The tumbleweeds still continue to be a pain in the derriere and we sure do need some rain. School is out for the summer, so here in town things are pretty quiet. The stoplight during the roadwork out on the spur is slowing things down also. The first stop light in Banner County, and most likely the last! In town, there are kids everywhere. Summer swimming lessons, reading programs, baseball and soccer! Today, May 23rd, the Calvary...
The first three Class C high jumpers at the state meet in Omaha all jumped 5 feet, 3 inches, but it came down to misses to determine the placings. Kimball Longhorn high jumper Addison Olsen jumped 5feet, 3 inches at State and came home with third place in state. The jump tied her personal record from her first place at District. The sophomore high jumper will participate in an extra meet June 1 and has plans to attend a high jump camp. Addison said about her first trip to Omaha, "I thought how...
The primary election results from Tuesday, May 14 had only one race of local importance. Four individuals filed for Kimball County Commissioner on the Republican ticket and Tuesday determined the next commissioner because no Democrats sought the seat. In the commissioner race, David R. Hottell had 218 votes while incumbent Carl Stander had 197 votes cast in his favor, Hottell will serve as commissioner for the next four years beginning in January 2025. Matt Bright had 147 votes cast for him,...
Superintendent Trevor Anderson informed the Kimball School Board on Monday evening at the school board meeting that expenses are up mainly due to salary increases and benefits, which were necessary to retain and attract quality staff. The superintendent’s financial update stated that 51.41% of the budget had been spent, with 67% of the fiscal year completed. At the end of April 2024, 51.41% has been spent compared to 49.18% in 2023 and 2022 45.84% was spent. Anderson mentioned that the property tax draw to date is about half of previous y...
The Kimball High School Class of 2024, a group of individuals with some remarkable achievements, celebrated its graduation on May 11. The ceremony began at 11 a.m. with 29 individuals, each with unique accomplishments, receiving their long-awaited diplomas. The National Anthem was sung by Rachel Berger, Amber Childers, Carlee Murdoch and Rene Murdoch. Special recognition was given to former elementary guidance counselor Mr. Jim Reeves, who unexpectedly passed away five years ago. Mr. Jim Reeves...