Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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Imagine being 17 or 18 years old and the last half of your senior year of high school is cancelled. Although Nicole Delphane has mixed feelings about the end of her high school career, she said, "I honestly am not super bummed not having to go to school every day. Most of my classes are pretty easy and my assignments don't take long too complete." But for Nicole, the cancellation of the SPVA and district music competition is more upsetting. "I have prepared a very difficult piece to perform for...
The coronavirus has cancelled the "big" annual Easter Egg Hunt usually held at Kimball High School, but thanks to Dawn Hickman, Bob Hinton and families there will be many "little" Easter egg hunts at Kimball, Bushnell and Dix homes. This is a great service to the community in this unsettling time, and the tradition of the Easter egg hunt will continue. This is the fourth year that the Hinton and Hickman families have organized the hunt, but 2020 will be the most unusual and require the most...
Heroes comes in all shapes, sizes and ages. At 88 years old, Ruth Phillips is the matriarch and family hero to her eight adult children. The eight children have a true devotion to their mother. They know that she worked very hard to raise them, and she provided each and every one of them with a great work ethic. "I am so proud of them" Ruth said ... before giving some parental advice. "These kids now don't get spanked," she said. "My kids wouldn't dare talk to me like kids talk to their parents...
The Kimball City Council discussed a variety of subjects at the July 16 regular monthly meeting. Among the items was an update on the City of Kimball swimming pool. The pool was built in 1982 and according to background information that Carson Sisk had done, the life expectancy of a swimming pool is 25 to 40 years. He also gave a rundown on the filter system, heaters, and other equipment which need attention. According to Sisk, the city has maintained the pool but it is beginning to show that it is 35 years old. A variety of businesses received... Full story
A special dedication ceremony was held this past week for Jim Reeves, a counselor at Mary Lynch Elementary School, who passed away during the school year. Reeves' family was on hand to participate in the dedication of the memorial bench placed in front of the school. Former Principal Mike Mitchell praised Reeves as a truly caring individual and friend, Dane Wurdeman explained the significance of a travelling award that Reeves gave weekly to the most well-behaved class. Reeves' sister, Lynn...
Dr. Alan Foutz from the Kimball Presbyterian Church will provide the sermon for the second “Church in the Park” on Sunday, July 28. Gotte Park will be the setting for breakfast at 8 a.m. and the service at 9:30 a.m. Last month, the Brad Reader family supplied the breakfast and there was plenty for everyone, according to Paster Roger Gillming. The plan is the same for this month. The Assembly of God Church will provide the music. Pastor Gillming was encouraged by the turnout as he estimated 125-150 people attended the June service. In add...
Save yourself some good hard cash by participating in the Scrap Tire CleanUp. The normal rates for tire disposal at the Kimball Landfill are: car tires-$6.00 each, truck tire-$13.00 per tire and to dispose of a tractor tire it will cost you a hefty $45.00. But from August 5th through August 17th bring your tires to the City of Kimball Landfill and there will be no charge; it's free. Come early because tires are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and they will only accept a total of...
Dix producer Chris Bogert said, “We are going to shoot for today!” (Friday, July 19). He thought that he would try cutting some of his wheat. “It is the last of the 100 degree days for a while and we might as well be in the combines.” Chris has dryland and irrigated wheat, corn, sunflowers and millet primarily in the northwest part of the county. Chris plants both white hard winter wheat and red winter wheat, the hard white winter wheat is preferred for baking. Chris has had a little hail in northeast Kimball County but said his wheat “looks...
Bairco Construction out of Lowell, Wyoming, is a prime contractor and has received the contact for replacing and rebuilding the surfaces of the Lauch Facility Contours, which is just basic maintenance and not related to the anticipated huge missile project. In addition, they will fix gates, fences, culverts, replace or repair ditches around 110 missile sites in the tri-sate area. They have a five-year contract to do this general maintenance work on the missile sites. Currently, Bairco Construction has one crew and they are working on one site...
Weeks 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Women's Golf Association League are in the books at Four Winds Golf Course with one week of regular play to go this summer Pattie Klinginsmith has been low-scoring and consistent much of the season. That proved true when she nabbed low gross for weeks 4 and 5 with an outstanding score of 43 each week. Klinginsmith also nailed low net for Week 4 with a 35, while Judy Daum showed her skills with a low net of 35 in Week 5. Daria Faden had low gross in Week 6 with a 47 and...
In the period from the 1950s and 1990s when this little town was booming from the discovery of oil and the building of missile sites, Kimball had service stations located up and down Highway 30 – and all these service stations had underground tanks full of petroleum. Over time those tanks, lines or pumps have leaked, and now the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy is doing an investigation and testing for petroleum leakage. Those sites that have leaked are considered Petroleum R...
The Kimball Public Schools board of education met for its regular board meeting on Monday, July 13. While the regular business meeting was conducted in quick fashion, of special notice was future financial savings to the district. Much of the reason is that 14 certified staff members either retired or left the system, and they were replaced by only seven positions. Thus there will be considerable savings to the district in wages and benefits, well into the thousands of dollars, officials said. Many of the positions were consolidated into the...
The Kimball Banner County Chamber of Commerce is temporarily a chamber with no office space. According to Kimball-Banner County Chamber board member Annette Brower, Century 21 Realty has purchased the building where the chamber was located The chamber is, in Annette’s words, in the state of a “temporary hiatus.” Although there is no building to call home right now, the work of the chamber continues, according to Annette. The chambers Facebook page is still up and operating with events and happenings listed. Kimball Economic Director Amy Sapp...
Patty Haiar is not new to Kimball, but she has opened a new real estate office here – Kimball Realty at 110 W. 2nd St. in downtown Kimball. Haiar previously worked for L.E.S. Realty in Kimball and decided it was time start her own agency. She purchased her Kimball Realty building from Tom and Karen Hewitt. Kimball Realty joins Century 21, L.E.S. Realty and other real estate companies in the Kimball market. After gaining 27 years of realty experience in South Dakota, Haiar said she and her h...
As harvest inches closer and closer, preparations for harvest are in full swing. Located just east of Highway 71 in central Banner County, Justin Stauffer said that they are currently preparing machinery for harvest. “We had a little hail, but nothing too significant,” he said. Justin was cautiously optimistic when he said, “I think the wheat looks pretty good.” He added that they were able to get all their planting done, “some of it later than we like.” The Stauffers raise wheat, corn, millet, barely and triticale. Justin said that they harves...
Mark your family calendar for two Movies in the Park this summer, July 20 and Aug. 17. The movies will begin at dark, so don’t be late. The Goodhand Theatre will play “Wonder Park” on the 20th of July, so bring your lawn chairs, blankets and the whole family to Gotte Park. “Wonder Park” is sponsored by the Kimball Health Services nursing staff. A new release in March of 2019, “Wonder Park” is about a magical amusement park run by a group of animals by the names of Boomer, Steve, Peanut, Cooper and Greta. The second Movie in the Park on Aug....
With results for three weeks of the 2019 Women's Golf Association play in the books, Pattie Klinginsmith captured low gross score all three weeks, although she had to share week three with Phyllis Greenwood. Playing the front nine, the low gross score for week one was 49, low net 33 was taken by Shirley Crossman and Nora Robinson had low putts with 15. Shellon Anderson pitched closest to the pin for handicappers 0-25, Nora Robinson was closest for those with a handicap 26-30, and Betty...
Kimball Kiwanis member Kayla Fennell displayed her "fun little hidden talent" at the 2nd annual Kiwanis "Fun on the Fourth" event in Gotte Park that attracted an estimated 200 to 250 people. Kayla "is the pro," according to Kiwanis president Maggie Laughin. Her talent is making balloon animals and they were a hit. The lines were long and the kids patiently waited for their special animal to be made. Kayla has been making balloon animals since high school and she recently taught Maggie to make a...
Wheat farmers are “patiently” waiting for the wheat to turn golden, dry up a bit and then harvest will get underway. Farming south and west of Kimball, Paul Heidemann said he has plenty of moisture on his wheat and hay millet. Paul thought it would be two to three weeks before his wheat was ready for his custom cutters--“because it is wet”. He said his hay millet “looks beautiful”. Paul added a little extra to the interview in relation to the price of wheat. He said: “His brother sold 300 bushel of wheat plus a few dollars to the Chevrolet dea...
Mary Lynch students obtained a stronger background in science last week as over 30 children in grades K-6th participated in the first ever summer camp of its kind here. Kimball Public School partnered with the Kimball-Banner County Extension Office to host the academic and hands-on camp. The Extension Office supplied the curriculum for the camp. Kimball teachers Denelle Klosterman, Kelli Patterson, Cassady Malm, Katie Culek provided the instruction while Robin Whitehead and Julia McGinnis...
Tire Clean Up Days is tentatively set for August 5-17, according to Kim Barnwell at the Kimball City office, Kimball has received a Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality grant to accept tires from individuals and businesses, but no tire companies. The grant helps take the tires and either has them recycled or disposed of in an appropriate manner. The last time Kimball received this grant was 2016, so it’s time for folks to gather up those old tires and load them for the Tire Clean Up Day. In addition, the city will be running an ad in l...
As spring turns to summer, area farmers are working from early morning to sundown in the fields. They are rushing around trying to get as much done as possible and hoping to minimize breakdowns. Wheat, millet, corn, sorghum, beans, suar beets and alfalfa are the major corps for the panhandle. Swathing, baling, spraying corn, planting millet or sorghum, and summer fallow are the focus now. Each area of Kimball County has its unique characteristics, but it appears this year all areas of the...
Roberta Marshall, 88½, has been a participant of the Tai Chi class for "several years". Roberta, a resident of Vista Villa said, "It is good for bones and muscles" and "I hear it helps with balance." Roberta and the rest of the Tai Chi class meet Wednesdays, 12:05 p.m. at the Senior Center. Their instructor, Charlotta Young, teaches the class for free. Charlotta said "You have someone who will come and do it with you, because the truth is we all kind of like movement and we realize that i... Full story
An arrest warrant out of Laramie County, Wyoming, was issued for Jarred Michael Neuhalfen of Kimball. The warrant was issued on June 20 as a result of a “failure to appear” for an arraignment on three felony charges in Laramie County. The charges included aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon and two theft charges for more than $1,000. Bond of $3,000 has already been posted for Neuhalfen....
Three and a half years after the U. S. Post Office in Dix was closed due to mold and structural issues, a new post office building has been set down and is expected to open in late July, although no date has officially been set for the opening. In a few short weeks, Dix will once again have a full service postal site. In an era when many post offices nationwide are downscaling or shutting down, Dix has beaten the odds. It has gained a new post office facility. "Historically," according to...