Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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Farmer's Day 2018 had many new activities to enjoy along with several familiar festivities, but one thing was missed by many – the car show. According to committee member Assunta Nelson, the longtime chairperson for the event stepped down and no one else stepped up. This is something that she, and the entire committee along with the community, hopes to remedy next year. Anyone interested in helping the committee is welcome and particularly if there is a specific event one wants to see. Regardles...
Each year the Farmer's Day committee seeks nominations for stand-out citizens in three categories: Outstanding Farmer/Rancher, Outstanding Homemaker and the Grand Marshal. This year they culled the nominations down to three winners. The 2018 Farmer's Day Grand Marshals are well known in both Kimball and Banner Counties and they have served the area for years in numerous ways; are committed to education and they are steadfast stewards of their home, their land and the relationships made in their...
The Farmer's Day Demolition Derby was another exciting show for spectators on Saturday evening, with one car getting turned on its side and another ablaze, it was maybe a little too exciting for emergency workers on scene. The derby is an annual event that the Kimball Ag Society puts on for the town-wide local celebration. "The Ag Society works hard each year to make this a great event for contestants and spectators alike," coordinator Mark Vowers said. Kimball saw 34 entries this year, with...
Results are in for the 2018 Farmer's Day Fun Run. Those running the five mile were few, and led by Bryant Knigge with a time of 33:16. Many readers will remember Bryant from his days at Kimball Public Schools and later at Potter-Dix. He ran in the 20-29 age category. Great job Bryant! Following Bryant was Colby Lukassen in the 30-39 age category. Colby, an avid runner, came in with a time of 43:15 and is a past winner of the Fun Run from Bushnell. Third place went to Steve Knigge, Bryant's dad,...
Bob Quick isn't afraid to live, in 14 years he was been dead twice, once for 3.5 minutes and once for 22 minutes. Bob has had 27 heart procedures, 19 stents and now has an ICD in his chest that doctors use to track him. He is a heart disease survivor who has also survived a stroke. "Everything says I should not be here. They told me I would never get on a bike again, but look, I'm on it," Bob said. "If it wasn't for guys just like your sheriff, your police chief, your paramedics and fire...
Kimball's Cross County team ran the course in Gothenburg on Thursday, Sept. 27 with nearly all the Longhorns showing improvement, once again, on their times. Perhaps the standout at Gothenburg was Brandi Councilman, who shaved more than seven seconds off her time from last week's Alliance meet, going from 27:50 to 20:03. Councilman ran 112th our of 126 girls and was led in Gothenburg by Chantel Malson, 24th, with a time of 22:21 and Anabela Whitehead, 63rd, with a time of 24:41. Each of these...
Each year the Farmer's Day committee seeks nominations for stand-out citizens in three categories: Outstanding Farmer/Rancher, Outstanding Homemaker and the Grand Marshal. This year they culled the nominations down to three winners. The 2018 Farmer's Day Grand Marshals are well known in both Kimball and Banner Counties and they have served the area for years in numerous ways; are committed to education and they are steadfast stewards of their home, their land and the relationships made in their...
Kimball will be bursting with activity this weekend as the Farmer’s Day committee has planned lots of family friendly and fun activities for celebrants of all ages. Though the official day is Saturday, Sept. 29, the fun begins on Friday with the Friends of the Library book sale at the Kimball Public Library from 3 – 6 p.m. and a soup supper hosted by the Kimball Friendship Senior Center from 5 – 7 p.m. Cruise night begins at 6 and lasts through 9 p.m. on Friday as well, with cars meeting at the Kimball Event Center where, for the first hour,...
Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How. This is the theme of 2018 National Preparedness Month, which is observed each September. September is a perfect time to learn lifesaving skills, such as first aid and CPR, according to the official NPM website, www.ready.gov. It is also a great time to check insurance coverage for disasters such as floods, tornados and earthquakes. Preparing for a disaster can begin with learning valuable skills like shutting off natural gas and water and, as always, citizens are reminded to make an action plan for...
Kimball’s Cross Country runners competed at Alliance on Saturday, Sept. 15 with one medal winner, Zachery Wagner, finishing sixth in varsity in just 18:33. Wagner was followed by teammates Thomas Lenzen in 19:40, Draven Vickery in 22:27, Brady Kilgore in 23:31 and Cole Henton in 23:44. Standout runner Chantel Malson finished in 22:34 and in 11th place, just one away from medaling as well. She was followed by teammates Anabela Whitehead in 26:30 and Brandi Councilman in 27:50. Boys Junior Varsity finishers at Alliance were Christopher Barker in...
Mayor's have come and gone, council members and city administrators too, but the underpass renovation project remains. The underpass renovation project has been discussed in Kimball for more than 15 years, and in all that time the one thing that has not changed – the underpass. After receiving word that the City of Kimball's share for the long awaited underpass renovation, 20 percent of the total project cost, has doubled, City Council addressed the issue once again at the recent council m...
The Kimball Board of Education considered additional renovation to the Harry E. McNees Auditorium, built in the 60s, at the recent board meeting. Part of the renovations have already begun, and been completed, as Kimball High School Principal Eugene Hanks reported that the stage at the auditorium is finished. Hanks added that Gene Mohr's residential construction class plans to complete the baseboard around that stage. With the work that has already been completed, further renovation is...
At their third meet of the season, in Bridgeport, the Banner County cross country runners continue to find their stride and are matching, or beating, their personal records. The lone Banner County Junior High runner, Nathan McGowan, ran a personal best and was just one place shy of medaling at the Bridgeport meet, held on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Following that meet, coach Kari Gifford said that her newest runner, Kathryn Blankenship, continues to improve her time and earned another personal best. Blankenship is determined to improve with each...
Kimball Public Schools recently received three new route buses to replace aging vehicles. The buses are expected to save the district about 50 percent in fuel costs as well as increase the safety and security of passengers, according to Superintendent, Dr. Elizabeth Owens. In past years the district spent more money servicing buses that were due to be retired, so the district also expects savings in repairs and less down-time for repairs. Director of Transportation, Gregg Fossand added that,...
Kimball needs more sidewalks, walking trails and biking trails as well as better maintained sidewalks according to the results of a recent assessment by the Kimball Active Living Advisory Committee. The assessment also indicated that many would like to see more bike lanes in the area. Kimball Active Living Advisory Committee consists of representatives from Panhandle Public Health District, the City of Kimball, Kimball County and Kimball Health Services among others and the group wants to improve conditions that make walking and biking in...
Tim Nolting, Kimball County Commissioner, was elected secretary of the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) in 2017-18 and was selected to attend the National Association of County Officials Convention in Nashville, Tenn. in July. “It was a privilege and an honor to attend,” he said. He added that he did not travel and attend the convention on tax payer money, instead, the for-profit division of NACO paid for his attendance. I picked sessions that mostly involved community development, economic, social and artistic ,” he said. “There...
Where is the money? Kimball residents and those in neighboring communities are again questioning where the rail spur project money is and how it will be used. Kimball City Administrator Dan Dean, along with Mayor Keith Prunty and City Treasurer Annette Brower addressed the question last week. “I thought everybody was informed. We have a sheet here outlining where the monies that came in went,” Prunty said. “According to our attorney, it was just another revenue stream for economic development that the people voted on.” The funds, collect...
With just one meet prior to Kimball's last week, Banner County cross country runners found both challenge and success at Four Wind's Golf Course. The newest runner, Kathryn Blankenship, has been working very hard, according to coach Kari Gifford. Blankenship has never run distances before this year and Kimball was just her second distance experience. The young runner improved on her time at the Kimball meet over the "pretty tough course" she experienced in Gering, making Kimball her personal...
The Lady Longhorns started their 2018 season in a triangular with Hemingford and Gordon-Rushville on Aug. 23. The Kimball volleyballers took the first set against Hemingford 25-16 before losing the next two sets with a narrow margin, 25-22 and 25-21. Though Coach Jeri Ferguson prefers the girls not concentrate on their personal stats, the unofficial stats taken during the games put Madison Wynne high on the game with nine points against Hemingford, including two ace serves, followed by Sydney...
Kimball City Council examined a number of properties at their Aug. 21 meeting and declared the addition of three areas to the substandard and blighted property list. Properties recently considered are Ridgewood Trailer Park, shown above, the property north of Phoenix Conoco and Hilltop Drive and the property west of and including the visitor's center, according to Dean. Considerations taken to declare a property substandard or blighted include current use and condition of the land and...
Flags fly high at Kimball's Gotte Park with the completion of phase one of the Veteran's Memorial, a project two years in the making. On Monday, Aug. 27, citizens gathered with community leaders, local scouts, and representatives from Francis E. Warren Air Force Base of Cheyenne, Wyo., as well as Carol Brehm, a representative of ACE (Alliance for Community Energy). Nearly $8,000 in ACE returns were used to complete the first phase of this project, which include ground breaking, a concrete base,...
Last year the Kimball Schools nutrition program served more than 20,000 breakfasts and more than 50,000 lunches between both schools. “Of course, it goes down every year because our enrollment goes down,” Program Director Danessa Terrill said. Many of those meals were served at a reduced cost or free to families. Last year more than 125 students qualified for free or reduced cost lunches in Kimball. Families receiving SNAP and medical benefits through the state are automatically eligible for free or reduced cost meals. “Those students that...
The city of Kimball received notice that estimates have nearly doubled for the long-awaited underpass project. Though the underpass has been discussed since as early as 2009, the most recent project was initiated in 2014. At that time the city’s share was approximately $250,000, but that amount edges ever closer to $500,000, totaling an estimated $480,000 currently – half of the total needed to complete the project. Plans to renovate the structure are cosmetic only, Mayor Keith Prunty added, as the structure is owned by Union Pacific Rai...
Immediately following the Park and Recreation Executive Board meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14, Kimball County Commissioners met with Kimball City Council to discuss several joint ventures the two municipalities share. For a number of years the City of Kimball has provided snow removal as well as sanding and salting roads outside of city limits that are the responsibility of Kimball County. Kimball County previously paid $2,250 annually to the City of Kimball for use of equipment needed to complete the job. Additionally, Kimball County was then bill...
Kimball saw an influx of emergency issues this past Tuesday, Aug. 28, with real life scenarios carried out by high fidelity simulators. Kimball emergency responders joined those from Pine Bluffs, Wyo., for a hands on training on in one of the University of Nebraska Medical Center's SIM truck at Kimball Health Services. More than a dozen emergency responders trained in a realistic and safe simulated emergency room and ambulance, according to Kerry Ferguson, Kimball Health Services' Director of...