Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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Karl Rove is no friend of democracy. To suggest so would be much like calling the History Channel an educational outlet. How many episodes of “Pawn Stars” or “American Pickers” do you have to watch to hear one reference to George Washington or ancient Athens? You could, of course, switch to the station formerly known as History International—now H2—and catch up on such scintillating shows as “Ancient Aliens” or “Modern Marvels.” No wonder American understanding of the past is somewhat fuzzy. Rove’s nascent days in politics involved pec...
Wonderful House occupies an enviable space. The destination restaurant in Scottsbluff is a multiple winner of the local paper’s annual “best of” survey. It attracts near full house crowds at lunch and dinner—with respectable service in between. It is also one of a scant few Chinese sit down restaurants in the southern panhandle…unless you really want to count a handful of soggy buffets. Like most ethnic kitchens in this part of the world, staff members stick with dishes familiar to the less...
Sauza Hornitos reposado remains one of the best tequilas on the market, when price point is taken into consideration. While brands with bigger names and flashier livery demand $50 or more per bottle, it’s possible to find this aged, 100 percent agave beauty in the $30 range. That discount lends a tequila redolent of agave and wood, streamed with traces of juniper and salt, with softer, sweeter notions lurking underneath. It promises on the nose to be one smooth yet intense ride. Be aware that t...
Time can slow to a crawl. It certainly appeared to as Darbi Klinkhammer drove into the lane, forced her shoulder between frantic defenders and arched a shot toward the net with just five seconds on the clock. The awkward lay up fell through, giving the Longhorns a 54-52 edge. Mitchell’s desperation response sailed off target, propelling Klinkhammer and her mates to Thursday night’s subdistrict final against powerful Chadron. In the wake of yet another thrilling finish against the Tigers, Kim...
Throughout the opening eight minutes of Saturday’s 63-40 Kimball win, visiting Sutherland looked like potential giant killers. They connected on four of five three point attempts and rushed out to a 16-14 lead. “They shot lights out in the first quarter,” Zach Rockhold-O’Brien said. The Longhorns sprang to life in the remaining three periods, knocking down 64 percent from inside the arc in the second, squelching the visitor’s offense in the third and eventually cruising to their 15th win of th...
Who says there is strength in numbers? Banner County will send three of its five man wrestling squad to Class D state competition in Omaha this weekend after the trio qualified during the district meet at Sutherland. “We did a pretty good job,” said Wildcats head coach Bill Gifford in a bit of an understatement. “We were just a few breaks from taking everyone.” David Gifford finished third at Sutherland in the 220 weight class, winning three and losing only to Levi Peterson of SMC. Gared K...
Despite Wall Street’s newfound optimism and other indications of stuttering economic growth, close to 15 million Americans remain out of work according to reasonable estimates. This figure accumulates the unemployed, the long term unemployed and the “marginally attached”—meaning those who have flat out given up after dozens of months on or off the dole. Now, there are countless plans to correct this problem. One group wants to cut taxes, especially for the wealthy. Another prefers to raise them, specifically targeting the wealthy. Others...
Tacos Mexico presents a dubious face. A plasticized banner strung outside advertises their breakfast burritos, calling to mind thoughtlessly prepared, Americanized things stuffed with sage sausage and scrambled eggs. And it shares space with one of the half-dozen or so tattoo parlors lined up along Overland Drive. Walk inside, however, and first impressions crumble into so much dry maize dust. The little kitchen serves tacos filled with beef, pork and chicken, of course. But the menu also lists...
Fans of the movie “Sideways” know that Pinot Noir is a moody, unreasonable grape. It is thin skinned, despises all manner of weather and, finally, is quite willing to wither or rot if not treated with the greatest sensitivity by man and nature. Meanwhile, fans of Hollywood will recall that director Francis Ford Coppola almost cracked during filming of his classic “Apocalypse Now.” Perhaps, then, the temperamental grape and the equally intense filmmaker belong together. Coppola recently revampe...
Kimball’s seventh consecutive Western Trails Conference title on Saturday did not come as easy as the 42-28 score line would indicate. Bridgeport outscored the Longhorns 14-7 in the second period of a long defensive struggle and tacked on 4 more quick points at the start of the third, closing to within one, 21-20. But there was something intangible driving Kimball’s veterans. “We didn’t want to be the team to end the streak,” Caleb Reuter, Austin Pile and Zack Rockhold-O’Brien said in unison....
The final seconds came and went, and then returned to impose their agony so often on Tuesday night, the Longhorns’ 63-61 overtime win at Mitchell could only be measured by frayed nerves and frantic moments. “It was tense,” admitted Kimball center Amber Kilgore. With just over a minute remaining in added time, the senior’s hurried shot glanced off the glass and through to put the Longhorns on top of their conference rivals, 61-59. The hosts tried to respond, but a traveling call handed the ball back and Kilgore found herself at the line with 31...
A number of articles appeared in print recently cringing over the future of America’s vaunted middle class. Once upon a time, white collar jobs and well paid union labor—as well as a global war that left this country in a most enviable position as the only completely intact, up-to-date industrial complex on earth—ensured that a good chunk of the population had access to merchandise and other aspects of the good life. Yet all the while, it seems, modernization incubated the seeds of middle class destruction. Well, that’s what I’ve been read...
If you ask most people, they will tell you that dishes prepared from scratch beat out frozen quick service meals every time—particularly if the cook works with fresh ingredients. In the hippest dining enclaves, “slow food” restaurants earn raves. There is a reason, however, that chains like McDonald’s, Taco Bell and other prefabs exist in just about every corner of the western world. Beyond the obvious—value and the questionable comfort of knowing what to expect when placing an order—fas...
The Chivas name is dated, recognized by some of us—me, to be precise—from the days of shag carpeting and polyester. Yet they have longevity on their side. And in 1950 they purchased the Strathisla distillery, using its product to blend into their Chivas Regal. Fortunately, they allowed Strathisla 12 year single malt to remain. It breathes pale oak, clover honey, juice and chaff, backed by hints more difficult to discern—floral and tropical at the same time, with a touch of dry spice. The profile is typical of a Speyside malt. There’s little...
Heartbeats paused, eyes widened and minds raced as Quentin Baxter’s desperation shot sailed toward the net. Kimball held a scant two-point advantage thanks to Caleb Reuter’s free throw with four seconds left. Bridgeport hustled back up court and the final seconds slipped away. With two ticks remaining, Baxter left fly from near the half court line. “After,” Jake Reader replied when asked if he could breathe as the ball arched toward its target. “I was just hoping he wouldn’t make it.” The po...
It was apparent from the beginning that visiting Bridgeport hoped to smother the Longhorns’ versatile guard, Darbi Klinkhammer. They double-teamed her inside the arc, the pressed her on the perimeter and held the prolific shooter to three attempts from the floor. But they forgot that Ken Smith’s squad possesses many weapons—and that Klinkhammer is just as happy piling up assists as she is scoring points. In Saturday’s 52-29 shellacking of Bridgeport at The Arena, Shelby Vogel led the way wit...
When Kimball’s high powered offense shifts into gear, the resulting speed and noise can be exhilarating--for local fans, if not for the opposing team. The Longhorns’ commanding 55-36 victory on Friday night at Pine Bluffs began as a back and forth battle. Although Shelby Vogel and Darbi Klinkhammer seemed unstoppable, the Hornets’ Sam Hanson hit a jumper less than a minute into the second quarter that narrowed Kimball’s lead to a paper slim 12-11. “In the first we weren’t playing as well as we...
An ill-omen occurred before the Longhorns took to the court at Pine Bluffs on Friday night. Big center Mike Daum tossed an empty bottle toward a garbage can barely three feet from his seat. The clear plastic container bounced off the rim and onto the floor. Over the next 32 minutes, Kimball put the ball up 68 times from the field but converted only 26 into points—a 38 percent rate. “We couldn’t throw it in the ocean,” said head coach Bruce Tjosvold. That the Longhorns emerged from Pine Bluffs’ s...
Brady Knigge admits to being a bit shocked by the news--so much so that he hesitated to mention it to anyone. But after a few moments, the Potter-Dix senior and standout wide receiver put down the phone and walked back to his mother’s room and let her know that he had been named to the prestigious Sertoma 8 Man All Star football squad. “She was watching TV,” Knigge recalled. “She jumped out of bed and gave me a big hug.” The shy receiver generally lets others applaud his accomplis...
The Man died on Saturday. On the surface, Stanley Frank Musial was one of the greatest hitters ever to step onto a baseball diamond. A member of the Hall of Fame, a 24-time all star, player of the decade, 475 home runs, a lifetime batting average of .331—there’s no way around his stature on the field. Back his playing days, between 1941 and 1963, a songwriter even plugged the line “he’s the finest in the land, swingin’ Stan the Man” into a ditty dedicated the Cardinals’ legend. Now, I grew up hearing stories of Musial and his exploits. St....
It’s no stretch to label Deacon’s the most popular restaurant in Torrington. Granted, I have not canvassed the town on this matter—just passing along an observation. With every parking spot filled during rush times, overflow traffic spreads down the block. Inside regulars greet each other and chat knowingly with staff members. So what’s the deal? Masterful cooking? Well, their ribs are meaty and tender, but overwhelmed by a barbecue sauce as shrill as a television talk show host. There is no s...
Cream or milk stouts draw both their strength and sweetness from the addition of lactose during the brewing process. Odell’s Lugene, released just a couple of weeks ago, goes a step further, introducing milk chocolate into the mix. The result is something like a cross between latte and Ovaltine—with an 8.5 percent belt of alcohol thrown in. This combination strikes your nose as you pour. The aroma is heady and sweet, with light chocolate riding over roasted malt comparable to torched bread. It...
At times on Tuesday night the Longhorns amassed leads comfortably in the double digits. Basketball, however, is game that rewards persistence—and there is one fact everyone in red and white agreed on. “They’re a good team,” Danika Daum said of the visiting Tigers. “They’re fast.” That Kimball held on the claim a 62-56 win had much to do with surprising touch from the line down the stretch and a few critical shots that stretched a lead here or stemmed a Mitchell rally there. Early in the fourth...
There were a few moments when Tuesday night’s game might have been in doubt. They came in the first quarter and were wiped out by Austin Pile. While the Longhorns rolled over visiting Mitchell, 67-48, the senior guard was on a tear of his own Pile scored 13 points, engineered 2 steals and handed out 4 assists. With the game teetering at 8-7 in favor of Kimball in the opening period, he fired a three that sank off a friendly rim. A few minutes later, Caleb Reuter rolled in a lay up after taking a...
Ranked second in the district at 220 and in the top five statewide, David Gifford is used to sitting out the early round of any tournament. On the way to gold in his weight class at the Lingle-Ft. Laramie tournament, the Wildcats’ big man spent much of Friday afternoon waiting for his single match, which lasted just over a minute. “You just keep your shots nice and clean and technical,” he said after pinning Southeast’s Tanner Wyse. Saturday proved more difficult. Patrick Forster, from a stron...