Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Articles from the February 7, 2013 edition


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  • Budget Shortfall, Need For Upgrades Makes West Elementary Expendable

    Daniel Thompson, Reporter|Feb 7, 2013

    Superintendent Troy Unzicker had little room to maneuver as he stood in front of a crowd of concerned citizens the night of January 30, at McNees Auditorium to discuss the fate of West Elementary. "We're all reluctant to close the building," Unzicker said. "But we don't see a lot of options." Unzicker started the forum by explaining the school's financial situation, and what would be needed to keep the public school system afloat. "Right now, I still look at being approximately $200,000 short in paying our bills. What that means is our...

  • City Again Takes Up Issue Of Nuisance Properties

    Daniel Thompson, Reporter|Feb 7, 2013

    Kimball's City Council heard updates on the city's nuisance abatement properties by Police Chief Mark Simpson at their meeting February 5. According to Simpson, the property located at 207 S. Walnut Street, owned by Mike Schadegg, has shown improvement since the last city council meeting. "He's gotten rid of a lot of the scrap iron. He's gotten rid of a lot of tires. He said he'll have another load of tires leaving shortly. He has moved several vehicles. He's done some stuff, and he has cleaned up quite a bit back there. It's not as messy or...

  • Judge Considers Price's Motion To Suppress

    Feb 7, 2013

    Jacob Price came before Judge Derek C. Weimer in Kimball District Courtroom the afternoon of February 5 with his attorney Cassie Baldwin for a motion to suppress the case against him. Price was charged on November 3, 2012 for his alleged involvement in break ins that had occurred at Petyon's Island Time Eatery October 18, 2012 around 10:00 p.m and a second break in that occurred at the Kimball Civic Center. Captain Darren Huff was called to the stand by Kimball County Attorney David Wilson who was representing the state. WIlson asked Captain...

  • It Seems You Can't Turn Either Way

    Dave Faries, Editor|Feb 7, 2013

    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...

  • Editorial: Standing On Principle

    Feb 7, 2013

    Over the weekend, Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy resigned. The decision came suddenly, after reports surfaced regarding improper use of his state-issued mobile phone. Apparently Sheehy logged more than 2,000 calls to four women, one of whom admits to a romantic relationship with the now former Lieutenant Governor. Of course, this is not the first time a politician has been caught with his pants down, literally or figuratively. We wish to call attention to Governor Dave Heineman’s performance when he learned of the scandal. He immediately calle...

  • Maybe There Is No Answer

    Daniel Thompson, Reporter|Feb 7, 2013

    With the recent tragedies and shootings around the nation, I find myself like most of you wondering "Why?". I do not wonder why it happens, because most of the time there is no good reason or even a reason that will in any way soothe the pain inflicted or make enough sense so that we can point to it and say "Oh, that's why." I wonder why we blame the people who we blame for the act itself. Take the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut for example. Residents of Newtown were quick to offer sympathy to the families that had...

  • Girl Scout Cookie Sales Begin This Month; Which Is Your Favorite?

    Feb 7, 2013

  • Court Report

    Feb 7, 2013

    Traffic: TR13-52 James Fallis, Ft. Collins, CO. Speeding. TR13-53 Jozenn Walters, Olney SPGS, CO. Speeding. TR13-54 Corey Olson, Appleton, WI. Speeding. TR13-55 Sherri Everton, Scottsbluff, NE. Speeding. TR13-56 Ruben Cuellar, Rock Springs, WY. Speeding. TR13-57 Shane Ray Luke, Milton-Freewater, OR. Speeding. TR13-58 Heather Warner, Kimball, NE. Careless driving. TR13-59 Rodney Ingersoll, Scottsbluff, NE. Possession/Consume open alcohol container. TR13-60 Andrew Cox, Laramie, WY. Violate stop or yield sign TR13-61 Lauren Knox, Broomfield, CO....

  • Rural Free Delivery

    Tim Nolting, Columnist|Feb 7, 2013

    The United States Post Office Department was created in 1775, by decree of the Second Continental Congress, with Benjamin Franklin being named the first Postmaster General. However, it was not until 1896 that Rural Free Delivery was begun as standard delivery to non-city dwellers by the U.S. Postal Service. The idea of a free delivery to rural areas had been debated for a long time and experimentation with the concept was begun in 1891 amid a firestorm of opposition. The strongest argument against the implementation of Rural Free Delivery was...

  • Banner County News, Notes & Nonsense

    Barb Cross, Correspondent|Feb 7, 2013

    Who believes that underground chipmunk Punxsutawney Phil anyway? Little snow here this past week and looking like warmer weather for at least a few days. Rain would be nice. This past weekend I had a chance to finally visit for a few minutes with Gwen Bayeral about her recent trip to Alaska to see kids, grandkids, and great grands. Of course she had a great time although she returned with the beginnings of a cold, or whatever this current nasty bug is. She is well now and we are glad for that. She said that the coldest day they had while she...

  • Bushnell Bits

    Jamie Carpenter, Correspondent|Feb 7, 2013

    The Bushnell Lions Club is having a pancake feed Saturday, February 9. Stop in from 11-1 or 5-7 for orange juice, pancakes, and sausage. $5 for adults, children 5 and under are free. Johnsons Surplus will be open Saturday, February 9 and every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from now until further notice. Contact me to register for the “Cupid’s Pen” poetry workshop that Tim and Deb Nolting will be holding at the bookstore from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, February 10. Cost is $20 per person, and the class is limited to 10 people. We will also be makin...

  • Library News

    Jan Sears, Kimball Public Library|Feb 7, 2013

    Wyoming book author C. M. Wendelboe will be at our library to talk about his books on THIS Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. His first two books, “Death Where the Bad Rocks Live” and “Death Along the Spirit Road” are part of a series set in Pine Ridge . Please set the time aside now to attend and hear the background. If there are any budding authors that attend, he will talk about writing also. The photography contest organized by the HighPlains ShutterBug Photography Club is fast approaching. The photographs are due at the library...

  • Rollover Accidents Common On Area Roads

    Daniel Thompson, Reporter|Feb 7, 2013

    With winter upon us and the changing weather conditions, it is important to remember safe driving habits to avoid potential dangers on the roads, dangers such as rollover accidents. According to Kimball County Sheriff Harry Gillway, there are on average 12 rollover accidents each year here in Kimball County with speed being the most consistent contributing factor. “Two years ago we had a woman who had lived here all of her life, and she got caught in the gravel to the right. Her speed was so great that when she corrected herself, she swerved c...

  • Hinton Named Kimball High Student Of The Month

    Feb 7, 2013

    Congratulations to Kimball High School’s January’s Student of the Month, Regan Hinton. Regan has always been a strong-minded and committed student at Kimball High School with a 3.97 GPA. She has been on the principal’s honor roll all four years of high school, and has participated in a number of activities throughout her high school career along with receiving many honors. Regan has been active in Volleyball for four years, cheer for three years, basketball and track for one year. She was award...

  • Tourism Director, City Plan For Lincoln Highway Celebration

    Daniel Thompson, Reporter|Feb 7, 2013

    This year marks the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Lincoln Highway that stretches from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, California passing right through Kimball along the way. The 100th anniversary celebration will consist of automobile tours that will depart from Times Square and Lincoln Park on June 22 to follow the original Lincoln Highway route to Kearney, Nebraska where they will meet for the official centennial celebration events to take place June 30 through July 1. Though the official...

  • Keep Kimball Beautiful Awarded Two Grants

    Daniel Thompson, Reporter|Feb 7, 2013

    Keep Kimball Beautiful has received two grants from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. The first of the grants was for $40,362 for the litter reduction and recycling with the second being $13,702 for the public education grant. According to Keep Kimball Beautiful Director Larissa Binod the litter reduction grant will mostly be used to pay personnel and help sustain the recycle center. "I write the grants to help fund the personnel and the supplies needed and the operating expenses to offset the cost of running the recycle...

  • Restaurant Review: Tacos Mexico

    Dave Faries, Editor|Feb 7, 2013

    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...

  • Coppola's 2010 Silver Label Pinot Noir

    Dave Faries, Editor|Feb 7, 2013

    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...

  • Daum Scores 21 As Kimball Boys Capture Seventh Consecutive WTC Crown

    Dave Faries, Editor|Feb 7, 2013

    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....

  • Kimball Girls Edge Mitchell In Overtime Thriller, 63-61

    Dave Faries, Editor|Feb 7, 2013

    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...

  • Athletes Of The Week

    Feb 7, 2013

    Mike Daum Kimball center Mike Daum dominated the WTC tournament. In the title game against Bridgeport he registered a double-double, with 21 points and 12 rebounds. The day before he punished Bayard with 22 points, 7 boards and 2 assists. He also blocked 7 shots over the two game span. Taylor Wismer The Longhorns' Taylor Wismer opened the weekend with a 15 point performance in the WTC against Gordon-Rushville. She finished it with another 15 point game in the overtime win at Mitchell. Others Of...