Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Sorted by date Results 601 - 625 of 1126
William Shane Serrano, 36, remains in the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center. On Jan. 5, his bond was set at $100,000. Serrano has been charged with a Class IIA Felony. The punishment for such a charge ranges from zero to 20 years in jail. Serrano's next appearance in court was scheduled for Jan. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for a status of waiver of preliminary hearing. According to the complaint filed by County Attorney David L. Wilson, “William S. Serrano, on or about the 3rd day of January A.D. 2022, in the County of Kimball and State of Nebraska, the...
On Monday, Jan. 10, during the Kimball School Board meeting, the board members heard the results of the Progress on School Improvement Goal – which is that 90% of all 3rd to 12th grade students will be proficient (70% or better) in the math skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division as demonstrated on Rocket Math Worksheet. Jr/Sr High School Principal Reader presented the results for 7th-12th grades. Students tested at the beginning of the quarter and tested once again at the end of the quarter on the four basic math o...
The Kimball County Commissioners spent the first meeting of the year in reorganizational mode. Reorganization started with the election of officers, which remained the same as last year with Larry Engstrom chairman and Carl Stander vice chairman. The meeting dates, agenda deadlines, publication methods and bank depositories remained the same as previous years, and the appointments to the various boards and committees that the commissioners serve on did not change. Committee appointments for county boards included Jordan Autrey and Gary Haack....
When the Observer received this question from a citizen, we reached out to the hospital and received this response from Jim Cederburg, chairperson of the Kimball Health Services Board of Trustees. “Kimball County Hospital DBA Kimball Health Services has had the opportunity to operate for 70 years in a building that is owned by the county. However, it has always been understood that the hospital is responsible for the care and maintenance of the facility. “Initially, the USDA requested a transfer of ownership from the county to the hospital, whi...
The Nebraska State Patrol released a statement Tuesday afternoon confirming that a 21-year-old Kimball woman, Tessa Ghering, was found deceased from an apparent gunshot wound to the head at about 8:45 p.m. Monday. The shooting occurred at 602 S. Oak Street in Kimball. On Tuesday morning, Kimball Police Chief Andy Bremer completed an affidavit regarding the case because he was first on the scene. "I made the arrest on the scene, cleared the house and turned it over to NSP," Bremer told the... Full story
As area COVID-19 cases rise again, Kimball Health Services has made some changes. A mask is required to enter Kimball Health Services, and once again, only the main entrance is open. All other entries have been locked. The clinic is still doing vaccines on Friday. The facility has all vaccines and will vaccine ages 5 and older. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms, the clinic asks that you call for directions. Meanwhile, Kimball County Manor is still testing staff twice a week, and the...
If health, exercise or fitness appeared on your New Year's resolution list, then check out the many places in Kimball that will help you keep that resolution. Even when the wind is blowing 65 mph and the temperatures are below zero, there are places out of the weather to get your workout in. Just ask Marie Janicek and Nancy Turner as they put in their daily 2 miles at Main Street Market. When the weather is good, you can see them walking outside, but for the past seven years, when winter comes...
Tiffany LaBeau, founder of Kimball's catch and release feral cat program, says she is pleased with the progress of the program. To date, she has had eight cats fixed and vaccinated. Tiffany told the Observer that the Cheyenne Animal Shelter is very busy this time of year, and they "normally only have time to get in my cats once a month." According to LaBeau, "Cheyenne is easy to work with, and I love their company. I never have any problems when I bring my kitties in. They are very grateful for...
A little luck never hurt anyone. Here is how to usher in 2022 with good luck traditions from around the world. Some practices require a little planning but others are quite simple. One of the simplest traditions to let the old year out and help the new year in is to just open the doors and windows. This popular superstition will let the old year out and welcome in the new year. Another simple and easy tradition from Puerto Rico: Dump a bucket of water (or a glass of water will work) out the window – it drives evil spirits away and signifies l... Full story
"So it is kind of like the Olympics, like getting a gold medal in the Olympics. Fort Worth that is the big show!" This according to Dave Haack. While Ernie Hottell chimed in, "It sure made it worth it." The big show that the Hottells and Haacks are talking about is the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America-Horn Showcase. The show is for registered Longhorns and is the only official horn measuring event for the Texas Longhorn industry. Longhorn owners Ernie and Lea Hottell, Dave and...
In coordination with the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, the Dix Cemetery was one of 2,500 locations participating in the National Wreath Across America Day. Christmas wreaths were placed on veterans' graves on Dec. 18 in Dix, as well as thousands of cemeteries across the country. The LaSalle Colorado Historical Society was instrumental in making Dix a part of the Wreath Across America. The LaSalle Historical Society has donated any extra wreaths to another rural cemetery... Full story
The Kimball City Council met in regular session on Dec. 7. Mayor Keith Prunty's appointments for city clerk and city treasurer from within the city's employment were approved unanimously by the council. Kim Barnwell was appointed city clerk, while Jean Klassen was also appointed city treasurer. The city staff and the city attorney were directed to investigate the matter and the cost of infrastructure due to an annexation request by Ryan McElroy and Stephanie Risk-McElroy. The McElroys own a... Full story
The Kimball School Board met for their final meeting of the year on Monday, Dec. 13. The board received a “clean opinion” on their annual audit conducted by Trevor Schuessler from Rauner & Associates, P.C. The presentation by Schuessler showed no compliance issues, and the district is in a “much stronger position than two years ago.” The audit also indicated that the board has three months of expenditures, so there is “plenty of surplus.” Schuessler said the financial position of the school district has improved. The school board has a regular...
The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Kimball as Gretchen Green, owner of Gretchen's Grooming, hosted a Groom-A-Thon fundraiser for a family. Gretchen said, "I wanted to make sure those kids have a Christmas. I know how hard it is to not have their mom." On Saturday, Dec. 11, Gretchen and her assistants held a fundraiser for the Tom Milhollin family. Tom's wife, Destaney, 29, died on Nov. 9 from a pulmonary embolism. According to Gretchen, she leaves behind her husband Tom, seven children,... Full story
Jimadaya Wheelock, 9, was one of the young shoppers Saturday in the Holiday Heroes program, which evolved out of the old Shop With a Cop effort. He said, "I am going to get some stuff for my sister and my cousin." The morning began with the Kimball Volunteer Fireman cooking breakfast, and Jimadaya's mom said, "He ate two pancakes, two sausages, and a bunch of eggs." Jimadya chimed in that he could have eaten more. Santa greeted the 20 children who were selected to participate in Holiday Heroes...
A luncheon was held Nov. 16 in Kimball for candidate Matt Williams, who is running for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 7. Williams serves in the Nebraska Legislature and will term out next year. He is a lifelong banker from Gothenburg. "I was looking for something else to be able to continue serving, and so it is kind of natural for me with my connection to the university," he told the Observer. "I have both my undergraduate and law degrees from the university, and I have...
The Kimball County Commissioners ended their Dec. 7 meeting by entering into an executive session to discuss "imminent/potential litigation regarding personal matters." The executive session lasted 30 minutes, and the commissioners adjourned the meeting after they appointed Christy Warner the grievance hearing officer. A laundry list of discussion items was addressed, including a yearly membership to the Heartland Express for $379.44, transferring $150,000 from the general fund to road fund as...
On Sunday, Dec. 5, St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kimball will celebrate 100 years as a parish. Most Rev. Joseph Hanefelt, Bishop of Grand Island Diocese, will be in Kimball to help celebrate this milestone of faith. In those 100 years, the people of St. Joseph's built a new brick church, a parsonage, and an elementary school while dozens of clergy have past through the doors of St. Joseph's teaching to the faithful. Before 1921, area Catholics practiced their faith in homes, including those...
This is the second of two installments of the Observer's question and answer interview with new Kimball administrator Annette Brower. Which department needs the most attention right now and which department has had the most success? Our departments are successful together, as a team. One of the greatest aspects of the city department personnel is their willingness to come together and help each other out whenever needed, regardless of busy work schedules which has been prevalent over this past y...
The Observer's Daria Anderson-Faden asked questions. New Kimball City Administrator Annette Brower answered them. This report is the first of two parts this week and next. What is the one thing that the city did very well this past year? One of the best things that the City accomplished this year was building on our collaboration between the City Boards. We scheduled joint Board of Public Works and City Council meetings to discuss future changes ahead of us; we worked openly together to plan on... Full story
The Kimball City Council met with a full agenda on Tuesday, Nov. 16, with a variety of discussion items. Topping the list of items was the approval of needed new sidewalks, gutters, pavement, ADA ramps, and pads at Dollar General. The council had expected two bids but only received one from Hennings Construction, Inc., Gering, for $14,120.74. The weather will determine when the project will begin and be completed. Two ordinances, 796 and 797, were amended by the council to clean up language and clarify the meaning. Ordinance 796 deals with...
Everyone, including the school kids, seems to be getting into the holiday spirit. Thanks to the Mary Lynch Elementary School kindergarten students for explaining the meaning of Thanksgiving. Alex said, "It means more presents," while Ryder decided, "It means we eat a big turkey." But Gunner and CJ are wise beyond their years. Gunner said, "It means kindness and respect," and CJ said he was "thankful for my friends and family." The annual Thanksgiving dinner at the First English Lutheran Church...
Here's another installment of the Observer's series on community newcomers. This time it's Keri Foster. According to new resident Keri Foster, Kimball is the "most warm, welcoming place." From day one, she made friends in the community and found a church family. "I can't say enough," she said about the community. Keri and her husband, Jeff Brumbaugh, have "very much enjoyed settling into" the area, she said. They moved to Kimball in September, and Keri took a job as a nurse practitioner at the K...
The Kimball County Commissioners met on Tuesday, Nov. 16, for their regular bimonthly meeting. At the meeting, County Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Jim Calvin provided an update on work currently being conducted on the courthouse building. The buildings and grounds employees are working on windows, repairing chairs, finishing caulking on outside of the building, and have helped in the transit building with projects. Calvin reported that the boiler was finally fixed after it had had some issues since August. He said: "it is finally...
The owner of the long-planned Japanese restaurant in Kimball, Edi Yanto, said the new restaurant should be open before Christmas. Yanto said that COVID had prevented the restaurant's opening, but they were back on track and anxious to get it open. On Monday, Yanto and a crew member were in town cleaning and moving equipment. The restaurant is located at 114 S. Chestnut in Kimball. In another city change, according to Kimball County GIS, Reck Investments, LLC C/O Shane Hays had purchased the old...