Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Sorted by date Results 451 - 475 of 780
For more than ten years Kimball Health Services has partnered with United Blood Services and will be hosting a blood drive today, August 18 from 2 – 5:30 p.m. at Kimball Health Services. Walk-ins are welcome and appointments can be made by calling 307-638-3326. United Blood Services holds a drive approximately once every three months in Kimball. According to UBS, donors must wait seven days between platelet donations, 28 days between plasma donations, 56 days between whole blood donations and 112 days between double red cell donations. Blood d...
Safe spaces to walk in Kimball seem to be in short supply as more and more local walkers are taking to Facebook to complain about errant dogs. Complaints range from the approach of an unknown dog to outright attacks and some report that they are on solo walks while others have their own dog(s) on a leash. In addition to their own personal safety, many are concerned for the safety of their pets, as well as, that of the animal at large. Walking on County roads is not a safe alternative either, as...
The recent Kimball City Council budget workshop began nearly 30 minutes late as city employees made copies of the budget for more than 30 citizens in attendance. With a budget shortfall of approximately $100,000, the mill levy nearing its limit, and with Keno receipts being at the lowest point since February of 2015, Kimball's council has tough decisions to make. "Two years ago we brought $765,000 (in sales tax revenue)," City Administrator Daniel Ortiz said. "This year we are on track to bring...
Scammers are at it again, targeting the elderly population in Kimball, according to the Kimball Police Department. Katherine Terrill, longtime KPD dispatcher, said that between her department and the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office more than 30 complaints have been logged. One scam includes a caller claiming to be from the IRS. The caller begins threatening the party with jail over a sum of money. The Kimball Police Department warns citizens that the IRS will not call asking to verify information over the phone, nor will they request payment o...
Kimball Police chief Darren Huff is expecting more budget cuts to come in his department as the City of Kimball looks at a budget short fall of nearly $100,000. The local Police Department, which is funded solely by property tax, the more stable of the tax bases, has weathered budget cuts in previous years and has continuously ended the fiscal year under budget. “Property taxes primarily have been used to fund public safety – police and fire. In our case police have been getting the majority of that property tax,” Ortiz said. “In order to make...
Amid concerns for the future of the Kimball Landfill, Keep Kimball Beautiful (KKB) Director Larissa Binod asked the Kimball City Council to grant the $2 monthly fee originally agreed upon from each household and further asked that the fee be granted annually without future request. With a budget shortfall of nearly $100,000 due mainly to a vast reduction in sales taxes but also with 30 to 45 percent decreased utility revenues, the council is considering drastic cuts to several departments, many of which do not pay for themselves at the end of...
Two area business owners dominated conversation during the recent Board of Public Works meeting, on July 26, as each business owner requested time to discuss fee and rate increases at the local landfill and the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Jerry Brown, owner of Brown Pump and Septic requested the board lower the rates for disposal at the Wastewater Treatment Plant to match those of neighboring communities. Brown has been pumping septic tanks for six years and has dumped into the Kimball pond, as well as in Bridgeport, Chappell and Gering....
Deputy Fritz #K971, the Kimball County Sheriff's Office canine passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2016 following a sudden illness. Fritz and Kimball Sheriff's Deputy Brandon Loy graduated their training on Jan. 14, 2012 and have been attached at the hip since, according to Loy. At nearly nine years old, Fritz was nearing retirement age when he was rushed to Prairie Animal Hospital in Kimball Sunday evening and died within minutes. "I received a call from Deputy Brandon Loy at approximately 7:20...
Tyler Tussing, 23, formerly of Kimball was arrested in Aurora, Colo., in possession of a stolen Dodge pickup from Wolf Automotive in Kimball according to Kimball Police Chief Darren Huff. Tussing was also in possession of an undetermined amount of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest and is currently being held in Colorado as a fugitive after he walked away from a court-ordered halfway house. According to Huff, Tussing will be charged with the burglaries of Wolf Automotive and Schadegg Motors, but will serve time for a probation violation...
“Love it or list it,” Kimball City Council member James Schnell said, regarding the Kimball Event Center at the July 19 Kimball City Council meeting, amid serious budget concerns. “We are so strapped on our finances, we know now that the funding we would need to use almost all of our trust to try to redo the Event Center,” Schnell said. “Now, that funding is probably going to have to be redirected to help offset our share of the underpass project. I’ve been preaching for the last year either we love it or we list it.” The operational b...
The July 19 Kimball City Council meeting began with the second public hearing regarding planned zoning changes within corporate limits and the surrounding one mile planning jurisdiction. The proposed changes had some residents outside of city limits questioning the future of their unzoned, rural residential or agricultural properties. City Administrator Daniel Ortiz offered an overview on the proposed changes to the zoning map and added that the city had received much feedback following the last meeting, including letters submitted to the board...
Pokemon Go, a new location-based, augmented reality game, has people out of the house and exploring new places in search of the fictional characters with mystical powers. Not since the introduction of the Wii have gamers been as active. While encouraging many to get out and walk about, the craze may not be all fun and games. In addition to distracting players from work and even driving it seems that some who have caught Pokemon Go mania have difficulty even walking safely. Two men in their...
One suspect is in custody and the Kimball Police Department continues to investigate recent burglaries and vandalism. According to Kimball Police Captain Andy Bremer, while the investigation is ongoing, the stolen vehicle was recovered in Colorado and one suspect is in custody in Aurora, Colo., but will be extradited to Nebraska on felony charges. "We do have some other evidence," Bremer added. "The biggest thing was the vehicle." Items were missing from both Schadegg Motors as well as Wolf...
Staffing for Kimball Public Schools was expected to be difficult this year, but Superintendent Marshall Lewis proudly informed the Kimball Board of Education at their July 11 meeting that "We are full." Aside from that announcement, the board reviewed and updated board policies and administrators offered reports. The summer breakfast and lunch programs are doing very well, according to Mary Lynch Elementary principal, Mike Mitchell. Special Services Director Jamie Soper reported that high...
A mosquito pool in the Nebraska Panhandle has recently tested positive for West Nile Virus according to a Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) news release. West Nile virus is spread when mosquitoes feed on an infected bird. The mosquito can then pass it on to humans through a bite as well. This positive result indicates a potential for humans to contract the virus. According to Laura Bateman, infection prevention coordinator at Kimball Health Services, mild infections can cause fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph...
Jordan Burroughs, University of Nebraska wrestling champion is headed to the Summer Olympics in Rio and Kimball's own Shawn Nagel was in Lincoln for the big sendoff. Burroughs, a three-time All American and two-time undefeated national wrestling champion, followed his college career with a freestyle world title in Istanbul, Turkey and a gold medal win in the Pan American Games in Guadalajara in 2011 before winning the gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Burroughs went on to win the world champions...
William Charles Parry, 22, of Lakeland, Fla. was arrested on Thursday, July 7 without incident following a multi-agency manhunt lasting more than three hours. Parry was arrested as a fugitive of justice from Florida on felony charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was traveling with a female minor at the time of his arrest and had made claims that they were married. These most recent charges stem from a report of a missing female juvenile on June 9, 2016 to the St. Lucie...
The Potter-Dix Children's Theater invites the public to join them for "hypnotic hijinks and mesmerizing music that will leave you all shook up!" The group, directed by Kristin Kasten, will be performing a musical comedy, "Elvis!", on July 15 at Potter Legion Hall beginning at 7. "ELVIS!" is a musical comedy which includes classic Elvis music, such as "Viva Las Vegas", "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Jailhouse Rock." The play contains not one, not two, but three Elvis impersonators, according to the...
The Kimball Junior Legion coach Luke Dea counts the team's first season as a win though they came home from districts in Ravenna last week with two losses. "We lost both games, but we are a young, inexperienced team and we weren't quite ready for the level of a couple of the teams," Dea said. "We had a tough draw." The young team faced the challenges of youth and inexperience this year, even playing a few athletes from the younger, Babe Ruth league (ages 13-14). The Kimball team scheduled a...
The fireworks display that nearly wasn't went off seemingly without a hitch on Monday, July 4, from Horseshoe Hill in Kimball. When the Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce ceased collecting donations for the Kimball fireworks display, the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department was left with willing members but no funds for the show. Enter lifetime Kimball resident, and owner of Larsens Jewelry Store, Karen Robinson. She, alongside her son, Greg, collected funds from local businesses and...
As Kimball loses one business, another one is ready to open its doors...almost. Kimball Distribution NOW site, formerly Challenger Industries has been closed down. According to Aaron Cook, branch manager in Kimball, the company purchased three Challenger Industries locales, including one in Sterling, Colo., one in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Kimball. The sale was made public knowledge on August 1, 2015. Each of these locations supplied pipe valves and fittings to oil, gas and industrial industries. On Tuesday, June 28, Cook got the call that the...
The local Lion's Club is assembling care packages for children facing trauma, such as a vehicle accident, house fire or removal from their home. These packages are distributed to the Fire Department, Sheriff's Office, Police Department and the Kimball County Ambulance. The packages include a stuffed lion, flashlight, coloring book, crayons and stickers....
As the City of Kimball begins to send out letters regarding dead and overgrown trees, the South Platte Natural Resources District offers some assistance through the Community Forestry Program. Kimball residents are encouraged to apply for cost-sharing funds through the City of Kimball. Because Kimball has an established Tree Board, according to Galen Wittrock, assistant manager at SPNRD, the Community Forestry Program benefits the community in two ways. The first is financial assistance by...
The City of Kimball, Kimball Police Department and the Kimball County Sheriff's Office as well as local Emergency Management were busy following the June 28 storm that caused severe damage to several properties and businesses on South Highway 71. The event, seen firsthand by Kimball County Sheriff and Emergency Management Coordinator Harry Gillway, was not a tornado, as there was no rotation to the wind. "I was at the top of hill on Chestnut St., just about in front of the Jehovah Witness Hall w...
Counterfeit money is being circulated in Kimball according to a recent news release from Kimball Police chief Darren Huff. Initially, Huff said Points West Bank identified phony bills on several occasions and contacted the police to report them. However, FirsTier Bank in Kimball has also reported counterfeit money and Huff said that, to date, fake $5, $10, $20 and $100 denominations have been collected. These bills have been passed and returned from business deposits this year, and many of the local businesses have no way to determine when they...