Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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Ron Buchart told the Observer that the effort he publicly led to recall Kimball Mayor John Morrison, which began on Oct. 22 and ended on Dec. 12, ended up 70 signatures short of the necessary 280 to force a recall election. Dec 12 was the statutory deadline for signatures to be turned in to the Kimball County Courthouse. Buchart requested the petition that set the recall effort in motion. “We gave it everything we could,” Buchart said. “All of my spare time went into it.” The petitions will be shredded as required by law, he said. The mayor a...
Former Kimball resident Leota Kant was found incompetent to stand trial for a shooting incident on Halloween evening 2023 in Kimball. Kant who was 86 at the time of the shooting recently received a diagnosis of dementia from court appointed Forensic Psychiatrist Klaus Hartmann. Judge Derek Weimer signed the order finding the defendant incompetent on Dec. 13. Kant was charged with attempted murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony and discharge of a weapon in city limits. The incident occurred at the Finer Motel on the east edge of Kimball....
Two Kimball City Council meeting took place one Dec. 5, one for the outgoing members and one for the new members. After the consent agenda was approved, Christy Warner received a Presentation of Appreciation for her eight years of service on the council. Meanwhile, Gabe Ingram, who also left the council, was not in attendance to receive his Presentation of Appreciation Award. The meeting was adjourned at 5:01 p.m. The 2023-24 council adjourned and the 2024-25 council was called into session with Jamie Murdoch and Austin Garner taking their...
A whirlwind of activities – from ice cream school to opening Josie's Creamery – describes the past year for Coralee Smith, Josie's owner. The creamery is named after Coralee's first milk cow, Josie. Josie inspired Coralee to begin milking and initially making raw ice cream, which was sold at Farmers Markets. Now, her legacy lives on with the pasteurized premium ice cream made in Burns, Wyo., and delivered to Laramie, Cheyenne, Pine Bluffs and Kimball. Coralee has always dabbled in milk cows and...
The audit for the Kimball School District from Rauner and Associates, P.C. stated that Kimball Public School and Creek Valley Schools are in the best financial position of the 10 districts that they audit in the Panhandle. The audit was reviewed and accepted at Monday evening’s Kimball School Board meeting. On another positive note, the Kimball district was assessed as excellent in the state’s ratings, a status that three districts in the Panhandle received. Mary Lynch Elementary was rated as a great, the junior high was rated as excellent, and...
Sixth graders in Banner County spent a quarter learning introductory skills about business and how to start your own business. Items from the entrepreneurship project were marketed and sold last week at the Banner County Christmas concert. Instructor Cameron Geary explained that the project, which has been a part of the school curriculum for many years, was created by retired business teacher Kari Gifford. The students' journey extended from creating a product, learning the basics of signage,...
Good morning here in the middle of December! Christmas is on everyone’s mind, as well it should be. Almost everything in this newsletter is in some way Christmas related, so here we go. Here at home, December 12th, the elementary students will be heading to Heritage Estates to bring some Christmas caroling cheer, and there will be a homeschool program at 10 a.m. at the Wildcat Hills Nature Center. Also, at 10 a.m. there will be Storytime at the Scottsbluff Library. At 3 p.m. in Sidney, Sensory Night at the “All is Bright Christmas Tour” will be...
Kimball Farm Service Agency newcomer Dallas Bilyeu was awarded the coveted Novice/Newcomer Employee of the Year Award on Oct. 29 in Washington, D.C. The criteria, according to Bilyeu, is that the employee must have worked for the agency for less than five years and goes above and beyond for the agency and the producers in their county. Bilyeu said that she also helps other counties and offices with programs and has done mentoring activities. She said, "It is a great opportunity helping...
A trip to Greece for 24 Kimball High School students is coming together, according to social studies instructor Matt Shoup. The students will spend nine days in Greece in May of 2026. Mr. Shoup explained what better place to visit than the “birthplace of democracy.” With the parents meeting completed, the group has begun to plan fundraisers. Ideas for fundraisers include 50/50 raffles at basketball games, concessions at various events, and a Greek festival with food, culture, and entertainment. Recently, at the Christmas opening activities for...
Retiring Highway Superintendent Randy Bymer updated the Kimball County Commissioners on the road department at their meeting on Tuesday, December 3. The department is blading, mowing, and graveling where necessary. He assured the board that the bridge inspections had been completed and that the 120 motor grader with the oil pan issue was back home and working with no additional costs to the county. The new door in Kimball shop has been installed, but a recent November hire quit, so Bymer is hunting and advertising for another individual to...
Kathy Walker began donating blood many years ago when her mother was hospitalized. "I give blood because it's a way I can help someone in their time of need," she said during Monday's community blood drive at The Sagebrush. Kathy is a double red donor, meaning she gives a concentrated dose of red cells, the part of your blood used every day for those needing transfusions as part of their care. This type of donation separates your red blood cells from the other blood components, and then safely...
A fun and exciting basketball season is in store for the Kimball fans as both the guys and gals teams appear motivated offensively and defensively and ready to play some great basketball. In the Jamboree on Monday evening, Kimball played Alliance in the Nebraska Hall of Fame Game – technically considered a scrimmage. Girls Game With no senior leadership, the three juniors – Joey Perry, Grace Moore and Aubrey Culek – did everything possible to try to win the game but came up short, 41-30. The L...
After a short stint on the Kimball Board of Public Works, former Mayor Greg Robinson was sworn in to take a seat on the Kimball City Council at its meeting last Tuesday, Nov. 19. After the official swearing in, the council approved the consent agenda which was composed of the past minutes, claims, and financials. The first item on the agenda was Ordinance #832-Chicken Permit. In an effort to simplify the backyard chicken issue, Ordinance #832 provides for a special use permit to be issued. The...
For the second year in a row, the Kimball Food Pantry was the real winner at the Kimball Jr/Sr High School Supermarket Sweep contest on Friday. Eight teams composed of two shoppers each scoured the Main Street Market for 70 specific, high-demand items ranging from 3 pounds of Joyfully Grown Gala Apples to Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies in a 13.1 ounce package. The students had to obtain the correct brand, correct items, and the correct amount of all 70 items. The 70 items from each duo of...
The Kimball Ministerial Association Thanksgiving Praise Gathering crowd was treated to some beautiful musical selection by the Trinity Methodist Church Bell Choir and the Cornerstone Community Church Quartet. The Cornerstone Quartet shared "Amazing Grace" while the Bell Choir played several selections, including "Yankee Doodle Medley," religious music and Thanksgiving music. Since the 1980s, the United Methodist Church has had a bell choir, which was under the director of Harry McNees in the...
Two new Kimball City Council members, Jamie Murdoch and Austin Garner, are preparing to take their seats at the December meeting. The Observer asked them about their short- and long-term goals and what constituents can expect from them. Austin Garner wrote this response to the questions: “In order to prepare for my seat on the council, I have been studying city ordinances, the comprehensive plan, financial report and Roberts rules of order. I have also spoken with a representative of KHS Ambulance, Chief of Police, Sheriff, the City Administrat...
Kimball Board of Public Works Chairman Jim Cederburg sat to discuss electric rates with the Observer. The five-member board has struggled with consistency as only one member has been on the board for more than two years, although some were members previously. The board serves at the discretion and appointment of the mayor, with the approval of the City Council for a four-year term. With the appointment of Greg Robinson to the council the Board of Public Works is looking to fill his seat. Shocking and concerning for the board was the 2023-24...
The streets by Mary Lynch Elementary School were lined with cars, and the guests were lined up out the doors of the school on Tuesday morning for the Grandparents Breakfast. Doughnuts, fruit and sausage were on the menu for the annual breakfast on Tuesday. Monday, Danessa Terrill was getting everything ready for the event, which brought out 140 adults last year along with 142 students. Normally, she said that they feed 70 students breakfast. Excited for breakfast, students and grandparents...
Interviews were held for the open position on the Park and Recreation Executive Committee at the Kimball County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday morning. Individuals interested in the position were Maggie Laughlin, Gabe Miller and Harold Farrar. All three individuals had completed an application. Maggie Laughlin was interviewed via phone, while Miller and Farrar had an in person interview in open session. After the interviews, Chairman of the Board Rich Flores made a motion for Farrar to fill the position, and it was seconded by Carl Stander....
America Recycles Day on Friday, Nov. 15, was celebrated in Kimball at the Kimball Recycling Center with an open house, tours and education. Guests were treated to breakfast, lunch or dinner at the all-day affair. Kimball Recycling Center Director Spud Rowley is passionate about recycling. He never tires of giving tours and explaining statistics. In the third quarter, the center recycled over 212,000 pounds of cardboard, 11,000 pounds of shredded paper, almost 17,000 pounds of household...
After a tension filled, heated discussion and debate at the Kimball City Council meeting on Thursday, Kimball Police Chief Jose Ruiz and Kimball County Sheriff Dave Hottell have met – and according to the sheriff all dispatching will remain in Kimball County. This is the most recent information obtained by the Observer on Tuesday afternoon and confirmed by the sheriff in relation to the retention of the city's dispatch in this county and not Cheyenne County. Mayor John Morrison also confirmed t...
Scheduled to take office in January 2025, two newly elected Kimball School Board members attended the Monday, Nov. 11, board meeting. Taylor Brown and Landon Smith introduced themselves. Taylor is from Kimball and is looking forward to involvement in the school system, while newcomer Landon Smith hails from Holyoke, Colorado, and spent 14 years in Wyoming. He and his family reside in Kimball County. He is also excited to become involved in the local educational system. Trevor Anderson's superint...
The process and deadlines continue on the recall petition for Kimball Mayor John Morrison. Morrison provided his defense statement to Kimball County Clerk Cathy Sibal, and that statement and the recall statement appear on the first pages of the recall petition. Lines for 20 signatures appear on each page after the statements. Recall petitioner Ronald Buchart was scheduled to pick up the petitions on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at about noon. He will have 30 days to gather signatures and submit the pages, then return them to the clerk’s office. After t...
Claiming not to be an emotional guy, Air Force Col. Stephen M. Kravitsky, the keynote speaker at the Veterans Day program in Kimball, said he got a little emotional when a group of high school students sang the national anthem and the elementary students sang the "Armed Forces Salute" on Monday, Nov. 11. The anthem was beautifully sung by Rachel Berger, Skyla Stierwalt, Grace Moore, Renee Murdoch, Parker Fredrick and Connor Markum. Their voices resonated with pride and respect. The "Armed...
E SPORTS in Kimball is competitive and finding its way in the high school gaming world. Coach Kelvin Pittman has five players participating in regional play for the fall semester. Pittman took his five players to Scottsbluff for the 2nd annual E SPORTS tournament despite the snow that blanketed the area on Saturday. The team departed Kimball at 5:30 a.m. and played in the first round from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kimball had two Fortnight teams participating. Finals continued after the first round...