Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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Kimball's Shelby Vogel begins her senior year at Dakota State University this year, and she is once again on the varsity basketball roster for the Trojans. The 22-year-old is studying to be a secondary english teacher and her team welcomes a new head coach, David Moe. Moe, comes to the Lady T's basketball team from Mayville State in North Dakota, where he was the assistant women's coach for the last decade. He helped lead the Comets to multiple trips to the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Na...
Junior High girl’s basketball is underway and the younger local club started the season off with a 14-8 win against Pine Bluffs on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Coach Danielle Reader said, “I was really proud of the way they came out and played their first game. They played hard and have great attitudes.” Leading the girls was Alyssa Paxton with seven points, followed by Charlotte Hargreaves, Alycia Vrbas and Jaydin Paxton with two each and Halsey Clark added one to the Kimball board. Though the seventh-grade girls won their game, the Kimball Junior High...
Following closed session during the Wednesday, Oct. 25 special meeting, the Kimball Board of Education announced that Kimball Superintendent of Schools, Marshall Lewis, mayno longer be employed at Kimball Public Schools, though circumstances surrounding this decision are not currently available, and may not be made public in the future. The Board entered into closed session at 5:36 for the evaluation of job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person and if such person has not requested a publ...
Boxing has been a part of Ed Avila's life since he first put on a pair of gloves at four years old. In 1958, at his grandmother's house, Ed received his first pair of boxing gloves and ten years later he saw his first Golden Gloves match. "Boxing was a big part of the family because my grandmother, being a tough German gal, liked the boxing biz," he said. As a high school student he began boxing, using elephant hide, horse hair gloves that he still has today, and though he did not box much, his...
Mayor Keith Prunty appointed Katherine Terrill, longtime City of Kimball employee, as the City Clerk following Rosie Russell’s retirement. The process to hire a new City Clerk included accepting applications, of which the City received 12 in just three weeks. The hiring committee, comprised of City Administrator Dan Dean, Chief of Police Andy Bremer, City Treasurer Laurie Sisk, Russell and Prunty, culled three applicants from that group for interviews. “We used our appointed officials, because they are the ones who have to work with the per...
Since 1967, when Forward Kimball Industries first wooed George Risk to move his business west, George Risk Industries (GRI) has been a leading employer in Kimball. The company, family-owned now for three generations, moved to Kimball with about five employees, mainly manufacturing heatsinks and eventually expanding into security switches and proximity products. The early years were financially tough for the company, according to long-time employee and board member Dan Douglas. At some point the...
Improvement concepts for Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area west of Kimball have become a big deal. Last week representatives from the National Park Service and Environmental Stewards joined local committee members and representatives of the South Platte Natural Resources District to discuss shelters, electricity and walking trails at the local recreation area. "Right now they (SPNRD) are looking at enhancements. Currently the conditions are primitive camping and they are interested in creating...
Kimball Friendship Senior Center recently received a $1,500 grant from the Immanuel Vision Foundation, part of more than $230,000 in grants given. The Immanuel Vision Foundation in Omaha gave $1,500 to 155 senior programs throughout the state in eight regional Agencies on Aging. "As our population ages, senior centers have increased demands," said Executive Director Rev. Mark Grorud. "The Immanuel Vision Foundation wants to help improve the lives of Nebraska seniors and their families by...
As alternate sources of energy become more commonplace, the City of Kimball is considering an update to the net metering policy. Net metering allows a consumer to “bank” energy produced by personal solar panels or wind turbines that goes unused at the time of production. Rich Andrysik presented information about net metering at the Sept. 26 Board of Public Works meeting. Andrysik is an engineer employed by the Nebraska Municipal Power Pool (NMPP). Customer-owned renewable energy generation may be net metered in Nebraska, but that energy mus...
Kimball’s seventh grade volleyball club participated in a Sept. 19 game against Mitchell during which they lost in two sets, 20-25, 16-25 with Emma Patterson scoring six for the home team. The following week they participated in the Scottsbluff Jamboree with games against Alliance, Scottsbluff and Gering on Sept. 25. The young team struggled against the much larger schools, losing in three sets to Alliance, 6-15, 15-4 and 12-15 before rallying for the first of three sets against Scottsbluff, but ultimately losing again in three sets, 15-9, 1...
Kimball County’s voter rolls were recently called into question, along with three other Nebraska counties, by a letter to Kimball County Clerk Cathy Sibal from the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a non-partisan, non-profit, public interest law firm. The letter alleges that Kimball County had more registered voters than it has eligible, living citizen voters. “I had a meeting and we discussed this matter, which the Secretary of State is researching,” Sibal said. Secretary of State John Gale, in a recent public announcement, stated, “My o...
After 33 years as an active fireman on the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department, Bob Nagel, has moved on. He and his wife Corrie moved to Lincoln last week to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Born and raised here, Bob graduated from Kimball High School in 1974 and attended University of Nebraska-Kearney until 1978. He began his employment with the Farm Service Agency in Rushville at that time, but returned to Kimball in 1984. Bob married Corrie Schilz, a 1984 grad of Kimball High...
The fourth supplemental agreement between the City of Kimball and M.C. Schaff and Associates for preliminary engineering on the underpass project was approved at last month’s City Council meeting. According to City Administrator Dan Dean, the document amended the contract for the final underpass design. “Evidently, between the time lapse and the changes in the design, this is an increase in the contract,” he said. While the cost of the project has increased, so has the timeline. Dean reported that the hope is to have a bid on the project late...
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and for every suicide there are 25 attempts, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The Panhandle Health Group, in connection with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), is hosting a suicide awareness and prevention walk, Out of the Darkness, on Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Legion Park in Sidney. While there is no single cause for suicide, it most often occurs when one cannot cope with current stressors, and often underlying mental health...
The Annual Farmer's Day Fun Run results are in and the top three runners in each age bracket are as follows: The top four finishes in the five mile run were Nathaniel Mars in the 19 and under bracket, Colby Lukassen in the 30 – 39 bracket, Jason Benes in the 40 – 49 bracket and Stan Fox in the 60 and over bracket. Many more runners finished the 2 mile course. Girls aged 7 and under were led by JaLeigh Bohac in first, MacKenzie Miller in second and Kyndal Reich in third. Boys in the same age gro...
After last week’s story regarding the anonymous person(s) placing festive scarecrows in the downtown planters, the Observer received a call from the responsible party. Jo Caskey, Director of the Kimball Banner County Chamber of Commerce called to let us know that the scarecrows had taken up residence in the Chamber Office. She called Keep Kimball Beautiful, who picked up the scarecrows and gave them an outdoor home here in Kimball. Thanks are offered to all parties responsible for adding a touch of fall charm to our downtown area. They look r...
It’s that time again – Farmer’s Day 2017 is this weekend and the committee has a full weekend of family-fun events scheduled throughout the community. Though the weather threatens a bit of rain, the Farmer’s Day Committee promises “Fun in the Sun”. Changes are bound to happen with a 90 year plus event and this year is no exception. While there are traditionally a Grand Marshall, Outstanding Homemaker, Outstanding Farmer and Farmer’s Day royalty, this year there will be just one dignitary to honor. Eileen Dudney has been named the Farmer’s Day...
Kimball City Council reluctantly approved Rosie Russell’s resignation and appointed Katherine Terrill the acting City Clerk at the regular council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Council also set Kimball’s 2017-18 budget and finalized the property tax request. The budgeted amount for proposed disbursements and transfers totals $12,433,674, nearly double last years actual estimated amount of $6,463,189. Additionally, the council approved $5,799,832 for the cash reserve, totaling $18,233,506. “We basically lowered our tax rate to compensate for t...
The Kimball Board of Education set their 2017-18 budget and final tax request at the Sept. 11 regular board meeting. Though the total amount of taxes requested has changed, those fluctuations are due to property valuations as opposed to the district’s tax request. The board set their levy at $1.04 for the fourth consecutive year, according to board president Lynn Vogel. “We have tried to be consistent with that (tax request),” Superintendent Marshall Lewis said. In 2014-15 that levy request totaled $555 million for the district, the following y...
Rick Dickinson was recently named the Nebraska Rural Water District Operator of the Year, according to County Commissioner Tim Nolting, an honor handed out just once a year to only one individual throughout the state. Water operators in municipalities across Nebraska must be certified, a process that takes a minimum of 40 hours to complete in a classroom and with hands-on training ending with a certification exam, Dickinson said. Those certifications require continued education as well and...
According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, work is scheduled to begin on Interstate 80 in Kimball County on Sept. 18, weather permitting. In a news release sent by the department, construction will occur from reference post (mile marker) 8.51 to reference post (mile marker) 10.51. Paul Reed Construction, of Gering, is the primary contractor for the $700,000 project, which, according to the news release will include a concrete crossover in the median. The project is expected to be completed in November and motorists are asked to...
Kim and Chuck Christensen were awarded the Pride of Kimball Yard of the Week this week. The Christensen's lawn is thick, even and beautifully maintained, thanks in large part, according to Kim, to Chuck's turf knowledge. The beds that are in front of their home, and around the side, are alive with vibrant fall colors from perennials such as Kim's favorite, chrysanthemums. The mulched beds are also home to potted plants, ornamental grasses and colorful bushes. The time and love the couple have...
Mrs. Amy McManigal's 6th grade students begin each year learning about life cycles, birth rates, death rates, populations and ecosystems. These large lessons capture the students' attention because they are taught in an small incubator. On Sunday, Sept. 3, two dozen chicken eggs went into McManigal's incubator and students anxiously wait for them to begin hatching, generally in 21 days. Their baby chicks are expected around Sept. 24, but students will keep a close eye on them for days after...
The inaugural community-wide garage sales were a huge success according to organizers at the Kimball Banner County Chamber of Commerce. Hundreds of visitors from neighboring communities and states came to Kimball to shop. Shoppers came from Mitchell, Morrill and Ft. Collins visited local citizen Geneva Withrow’s sale. Withrow said that Dairy Queen, Kwik Stop and other local businesses were packed with extra traffic throughout the day. Withrow asks those who hosted sales to be on the lookout for questionnaires, as the data will be compiled to m...
Two triangulars and a tournament last week provided a lot of action and tough competition for the Kimball volleyball program. The Lady Horns split the first triangular with one loss and one win at Bridgeport on Sept. 5 and followed up at home for two disappointing losses on Thursday, Sept. 7. The Horns were back at it just two days later for the Bridgeport tournament and came home in third place with three wins. In the first game against host Bridgeport on Tuesday, Hannah Biesecker and teammate...