Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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On Monday, Leota Kant, 86, of Kimball remained in the Lincoln County Jail with a $200,000 bond after last week's Tuesday evening shooting incident. By midday Tuesday, a week after the shooting, Kant was in the process of bonding out. Her bond was 10% of $200,000. Kant is charged with attempted murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, and discharge of a weapon in city limits. Kant was scheduled to appear in Kimball County Court on Nov. 8 for a preliminary hearing. The incident occurred on...
Main Street Market hosted a wild and intense Supermarket Sweep on Friday, the brainchild of Kimball Jr/Sr High School Principal Danielle Reader to benefit the Kimball Food Pantry. Thirty-two students from Kimball Jr./High School raced, ran, searched and scoured the shelves for the 61 items on the shopping list. Reader explained that "Throughout the years, our school community, comprising both staff and students, has dedicated itself to various endeavors aimed at gathering essential food items...
Ironically, all of the current Senior Center Hand Quilters picked up the hobby later in life. Gretta Shoenemann, in her mid-90s, picked up quilting about 20 years ago. She said they did a lot of hand work as a child, but quilting was not one of them. She started quilting after her husband passed away in 2001. Claude Jones, a regular senior center quilter, began quilting after she retired in 2005. Each individual stitch is hand-done through every layer, making the back of the quilt design almost...
Laura Baker, the Farm Service Agency executive director for Kimball County, received the FSA Administrator's Award for Service to Agriculture and one of the Supervisors of the Year during a recent ceremony and reception at the USDA office building in Washington, D.C. The Administrator's Award acknowledges hard work and diligence in delivering FSA and USDA programs. The Supervisors of the Year Award recognizes individuals who hold supervisory positions and have demonstrated and contributed to...
Western Nebraska was well represented at the TAP National Pool Tournament in Biloxi, Mississippi, happening this past week. Seventeen players from Kimball, Sidney, Ogallala and Gothenburg represented the Trails West League in Mississippi. Kimball sent one of the youngest players, 9-year-old Able Kuhns. Able, along with his dad, Anthony, to handle 8-ball and 9-ball duties. Fellow Kimballites Seth Krazick and Adam Warner played 8-ball and 9-ball, respectively, in Biloxi. These players all...
Many of today’s benefits for veterans – including the 293 served in Kimball County – can be traced back to the passage of the G.I. Bill of 1944. With the realization that World War II was coming to a close, politicians and government officials were fearful of the return of over 16 million American men and women who had been serving during World War II. The returning veterans would be unemployed and this could result in another depression and bring on worldwide economic instability reminiscent of the 1930s. So the 1944 G. I. Bill offered aid f...
Several issues that merit corrective action were addressed in a letter to the Village of Dix Board Chairwoman Linda Rasmussen from the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts. The letter was dated Oct. 24. The audit for the village determined that "Despite withholding the federal taxes from employees' compensation, the village clerk has neither remitted those amounts to the IRS nor filed the quarterly Form 941s." The audit report explained that the clerk at the time apparently stopped making...
The Kimball Police Department reported a traffic accident at approximately 11:52 a.m. Tuesday. Emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of 3rd Street and Chestnut for an accident involving a car and a pedestrian. The injured pedestrian was transported to the Kimball hospital to receive medical aid, then according to individuals present the pedestrian was transported to Regional West in Scottsbluff for monitoring. The driver of the vehicle was issued a citation for failure to yield to a pedestrian. Their identities were not...
The Kimball City Council approved new playground equipment for Gotte Park at its monthly meeting on Oct. 17. The representative from Cummingham Recreation presented a proposal to update the Gotte Park playground equipment. The company offered a matching funds grant as an incentive to purchase prior to Oct. 27. The cost of the basic structure with the grant included is $40,000, but the city will pay an additional $73,000, which will consist of installation, sensory chair, a rocket ship, and...
The recent apprehension and prosecution of a Miami, Florida, man has brought fraudulent activity to the forefront in Kimball. Suspect Abraham Espinoza traveled to Kimball from Florida to retrieve tens of thousands of dollars from a victim of a computer scam. Here are four signs from the Federal Trade Commission on how to avoid a scam: • Scammers pretend to be from an organization you know. They act to contact you on behalf of the government, Social Security, the IRS, or Medicare. They might also pretend to be from a business such as a u...
Tack Cross, 13, of Banner County has qualified in breakaway roping for the Junior Patriot Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas. He said there will be "kids from all across the country; you can qualify in every state" at the Junior Patriot Rodeo held Feb. 28-March 10, 2024. "It will be cool to compete against a bunch of famous kids that already rope a lot." The lessons Tack has gained from the sport of rodeo will guide him throughout his future. Tack was quick to share lessons learned through roping: "It...
Keith Jones said he can't stop smiling since receiving his kidney about a week ago. He feels so blessed and is so thankful for the donor. "I feel wonderful," he said. Keith's new kidney is from a live donor and, according to Keith and his doctors, it is "a very good kidney." The donor is younger than him and in excellent health. At the end of August, the Joneses returned to Kimball after Keith's wife, Melissa, had been hospitalized with guillain barre syndrome. Keith received a phone call with...
The officers of the Kimball FFA addressed the county commissioners Tuesday in reference to applying for the National Chapter Award. According to the officers, the award was created to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the the FFA organization. This includes recognizing improving chapter operations, emphasizes growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture. The students' goal is to apply for the National Chapter Award. They must...
Scam suspect Abraham Espinoza of Miami, Florida, was bound over from Kimball County Court to District Court on Friday morning after a preliminary hearing. Judge Randin Roland said that "based on the totality," a crime was committed. Espinoza faces three charges and will be arraigned in District Court on Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. The charges include theft-deception more than $5,000, conspiracy to commit a Class 2 felony, and abuse of a vulnerable adult. When Espinoza couldn't get Zoom to work for the...
A Miami, Florida, man is charged with three offenses in Kimball County Court, including theft by deception of more than $5,000, conspiracy to commit a Class 2 felony, and abuse of a vulnerable adult in Kimball. Abraham Espinoza has been released on 10% of $100,000 bond. His preliminary hearing will be held Oct. 13. According to court records, he may appear by telephone or Zoom. Espinoza is represented by Scottsbluff attorney Audrey Long. The apparent victim had withdrawn $20,000 from a local bank, then another $10,000, according to court...
At the "topping" ceremony for Clean Harbors' Kimball expansion, company CEO Eric Gerstenberg said Tuesday that the construction phase of the new Kimball incinerator will be completed by 2024 and the incinerator operational by early 2025. "With the addition of this new incinerator and the jobs it brings, our commitment to Kimball and Western Nebraska will only deepen," he said. "Today is not just about acknowledging a milestone; it is about instituting a brighter and more prosperous future in...
Carlee Murdoch, a Kimball High School senior, is the 2023 Farmers Day queen. Carlee, who is Jamie and Dwain Murdoch's daughter, is active in band, choir, show choir, track, student council and FFA, where she serves as the student advisor. After graduating from high school in May, Carlee plans to attend Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff and transfer to a four-year university. Carlee hopes to pursue a degree in special education with hopes of returning to the Panhandle. The...
Long-time residents and community minded citizens Jerry and Sharon Williams were selected as grand marshals for the 2023 Farmers Day. The Williams belong to the Methodist Church and help with church projects and Christmas events. Jerry has worked for years on the Farmers Day hamburger feed. The Farmers Day volunteer award was presented to Craig Markum for his time and effort to the community's youth. He is involved in the youth basketball, baseball, and softball programs, including coordinating...
The Kimball County Commissioners accepted two resignations at their Tuesday meeting on October 3. The first was from Zeb Brown, assistant county buildings and ground superintendent. Brown gave his two-week notice on Sept. 27. He has performed custodian services at the courthouse since November 2022. He has accepted a position in the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office. Brown’s employment in the sheriff’s office will be as a dispatcher and jailer. The other resignation was for the recently filled veteran’s service officer position that was held by...
Kimball Health Services CEO Ken Hunter told the Kimball County Commissioners on Tuesday that he anticipates an announcement for his replacement to happen in the next couple of weeks. Kimball Health Services representatives attended the commissioners meeting to give an update on the building and to discuss any action concerning the future of the existing county hospital building. Hunter gave an overview of hospital financials. He said two challenges are occurring, with one being the continuing inflation and the other the continuing pressure...
The KCHS Class of 1973 will gather Farmers Day weekend for its 50-year high school reunion. The 1973 graduating class had 92 members, with 45 set to attend the reunion, according to Sue Maxted. Fourteen graduates are deceased, and those buried in the Kimball Cemetery will be adorned with Class of 1973 grave markers. Seven classmates were not able to be located. Locals heading up the celebration have been working on the events since last fall. Committee members include Sue Maxted. Dennis Deboodt, Mike and Mary Moehr, Dave Lukassen, Leo...
Gov. Jim Pillen addressed a group of Kimball County residents on Monday afternoon during a town hall meeting at KCTS headquarters. Pillen said he wants to be the governor of everyone in Nebraska, all Nebraskans. He stressed that Nebraskans all have to live within their means, and a high priority for the state is to be more financially responsible. Pillen explained that four things are what he has focused on throughout his life and continues to focus on as governor: kids, taxes, agriculture and...
The Kimball County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to adopt the 2023-24 Kimball County Budget. In addition, the final 2023-24 Property Tax Request for $3,786,671 was approved and adopted. No members of the public other than county employees were in attendance Tuesday, but a large crowd packed the KCTS meeting room for the Joint Public Hearing on Sept. 19. The Joint Public Hearing was required because the county proposed to increase its annual property tax revenue by more than 2%. Property owners had received a...
On Monday, October 2, the Longhorn cross country team will host the WTC meet at the Four Winds Golf Course. The day should be perfect for catching a glimpse of the runners, with the high expected to be 79 degrees and sunny. The meet starts at 11 a.m. Personal records were set by Braxton Miller, Trey Cook, Eddie Duran, and Kip Gillming at the Ogallala Invite. Coach Johnson said the kids “continue to work hard and improve from meet to meet.” The cross country team competed with a variety of larger schools at the Ogallala Invite on Thursday, Sep...
The Remote Control Airshow on Sunday of Farmers Day weekend is set to happen, according to organizer Rick Kirby. The Kimball Kamakzee Club Flyers R/C Airshow is at the Kimball Airport at 10 a.m. The airshow was "up in the air" for some time because the FAA had instituted a new rule that required drones and RC aircraft to have a remote ID number. Each craft needed to have its own digital license plate. The deadline for obtaining the remote ID was 12:01 a.m. Sept. 16. With only four manufacturers...