Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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FFA teams from around the district completed in a variety of contests during the recent contest in Kimball. At right, these FFA members listen to instructions before they participate in the meat judging contest that was held. Banner County's FFA meats team listened well – and placed third. Alliance was first with 1,450 points, Minatare second with 1,241, Banner County third with 1,203 and Scottsbluff fourth with 1,176. See more area FFA news from Kimball on pages A1 and A5....
After hours of cooking before Kimball FFA's annual banquet and labor auction Saturday, FFA Alumni members pose for a picture in front of boxes of Rocky Mountain Oysters. Considered the unsung heroes of the FFA banquet are, from left, Ashley Laidlow, Bobby Martin, Dustin Wilke, Greg Wilke, Erwin Wilke, Brandie Wasielewski, Byron Wilke, Colton Boren, Keith Wasielewski and Duane Weisbrook...
The definition of legacy is something that can be passed on. But legacy can take many forms. It may be one’s faith, ethics or core values. It also may be monetary or asset gifts. Legacy may come from one’s character, reputation and the life they lead, setting an example for others and to guide their futures. There are many people in Kimball County who left a legacy – not necessarily monetarily or with property, but by their character, reputation and leading by example. I think of Gotte Park. It was started by a man who loved trees and wanted to...
Those who have left legacies in Kimball include folks who worked to save, at right, Oliver Lake. Others include those who led by example in the areas of trees, the outdoors, music and sports. In her column below, Karen Bivens shares her thoughts on those who leave legacies to help their communities....
The spring sports season is inching ever closer for the Kimball boys and girls track teams and the boys golf team, but that’s not all that’s going on in Longhorns Nation. Kimball Public Schools also looks to fill a number of coaching positions for the 2024-25 academic year. Here they are: • Varsity head boys basketball. • Varsity assistant girls basketball. • Varsity head and assistant girls wrestling. • Varsity head boys track. • Assistant cheer. • Junior high head and assistant boys wrestling. • Junior high head girls track. For folks...
Last week’s Observer article “A Look At Kimball Land Swap Plan” stirred some discussion among residents on the practicality of the land swap. Under the Kimball Rec land swap plan, four ballfields on 44 acres at the Rec Center would be exchanged for 4.5 acres that include the former Windbreak Restaurant and two golf sheds. The Windbreak Restaurant would be remodeled into a Four Winds Golf Course pro shop with a possible bar. The entity in charge of the land swap or conversion is the Park and Rec Executive Board. Residents have expressed inter...
See something. Say something. That was the message. The Kimball County Transit Service building was packed with local and state law enforcement, politicians, city and county employees, a group from Sidney, and citizens interested in learning about threat assessments and the need to report suspicious activity. Nebraskans are of the mindset to mind your own business, but speaker Lt. Monty Lovelace, director of the Nebraska Fusion Center, said those days are over. He said people need to be vigilant...
Keep Kimball Beautiful scored big again in the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy financial awards. In response to being awarded the money, Director Spud Rowley said, "The totes are coming to the alleyways." He said the totes are in high demand, and he is constantly being asked for alley totes for residents to place recyclables to be collected The Kimball facility, operational for 42 years and functioning out of the city building for the past 30 years, received three different grants...
Preparations are being made for the construction of apartments across the street from Kimball County Manor, top center, for employees of expanding Clean Harbors Environmental Services. The lots were leveled and infrastructure has been installed. The premanufactured units should be arriving soon, and expectations are that the 16 units will be ready for occupancy sometime in May. There are eight one-bedroom rentals, four two-bedroom units, and 4-three bedroom units planned....
Nate Entingh of Kimball adds a bag of shoes to the many shoes that local folks donated to help the needy. The annual shoe drive organized by Heather and Nate Entingh netted 103 bags of shoes. Volunteers of all ages hauled bags up stairs and loaded them on a truck. Bags had 25 pairs of shoes and weighed 50 to 60 pounds. In addition to helping those who need shoes, the 103 bags will bring back $1,000 to the Positive Spaces effort and be earmarked for Kimball parks. The Entinghs continue to take...
Banner County FFA adviser Bill Gifford reported that 200 people were in attendance at the recent 2nd ever FFA auction. The FFA Boosters served the meal and feedback has been very positive on the event. Gifford said, "I think we collected nearly $20,000 in donations this year, and we were overwhelmed with that number. "We really are grateful to our community and the surrounding communities that supported us. It is very humbling to think that so many can be so generous in so many ways to support...
Good morning! Typical spring weather here in western Nebraska. Nice and pleasant, windy, with rain and snow! This week and weekend many people will be celebrating St. Paddy’s Day; here is to you and your fun and safety if you are one of them. I have a little green St. Paddy gnome that my cat George has gotten a hold of several times this past month. His little four leaf clover and buckle have been glued on more than once. Darn cat. The schoolhouse has very little going on compared to how their weeks usually go. Tomorrow, March 15th, there w...
A presentation from the Kimball FFA Parliamentary Procedure team topped the agenda Monday at the Kimball School Board meeting. Using Robert's Rules of Order, they conducted a mock meeting in preparation for the state FFA contest. The presentation was done by team members Nolan Cook, Landon Norberg, Grace Anderson, Aubrey Culek and Hayden Sours. Meanwhile, Superintendent Trevor Anderson reported two more donations of locally raised beef in February, making the total beef donations five for the...
A search warrant resulting in multiple Kimball arrests was executed on March 9 at separate residences by the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s department was assisted by the Kimball police and the Nebraska State Patrol. A traffic stop in the 600 block of Burg Street produced stolen items as well as a white powdery substance on the person of Jordan Crews. Crews, 27 was arrested and charged for possession of a controlled substance (meth) and possession of stolen property with a bon...
Julie Golembiewski, 58 of Kimball, died at her home in Kimball on Friday, March 8. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Cantrell Funeral Home in Kimball. A complete obituary will be published in next week’s edition. Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements....
The Kimball Longhorns placed a number of athletes on the Western Trails Conference and South Platte Valley Association 2023-24 all-conference high school teams for boys and girls basketball and boys wrestling. Here's how it breaks down. Western Trails Conference Boys Basketball Three Longhorns received All-Conference Honors: Brandon Paxton, Kyler Lusche and Braxton Miller. Two Longhorns received honorable mention: Trevor Fuss and Wyatt Cords. WTC MVP went to Bridgeport's Kolby Lussetto. Girls Ba...
Remember shooting a basketball or attending PE in the West Elementary School gymnasium? Well, times have really changed. The old gym, the lone surviving remnant of the school still in place, has begun a new life as part of the newly opened Kimball Health Services hospital. Troy Kurz, KHS facilities director and the new hospital project manager, provided some insight to the Observer. "The former West Elementary gymnasium space is the hospital's new central utility plant, which provides all of...
The "land swap" at the Rec Area should be a topic of interest to taxpayers, baseball/softball players and golfers. It is not actually called a land swap by the Nebraska Game and Parks, but it is called a conversion – outdoor recreation land is being converted to other outdoor recreation land. Hannah Jones from Nebraska Game and Parks said that the Kimball Rec Area conversion is in the "early stages" and "it is not a short process." The lengthy process is meant to safeguard outdoor recreation l...
The Kimball County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday morning to hear from department heads on the workings of the county government. Heads of the roads, buildings and grounds, veterans office and KCTS gave the commissioners updates and reports. Veterans Service Officer Program Coordinator Darcee Wheeland reported on new veterans numbers, military records and medical record requests for December 2023 and January 2024. County veterans receive more than $80,000 in benefits from the Veterans Administration each month. Newly appointed...
From the smallest to the largest, all counties in Nebraska elect a sheriff. The county sheriffs throughout Nebraska have several duties and responsibilities, with their number one responsibility law enforcement. State statutes requires the sheriff to serve, execute and return writs or other legal process issued by a lawful authority. The sheriff shall prepare and file an annual inventory statement of county personal property in his or her custody. The sheriff has charge and custody of the jail...
A large crowd enjoyed a meal, games and bidding on auction items at the Banner County FFA auction. The purchase of a red Solo cup from the Banner County FFA bought attendees a chance to win a gift certificate from The Sagebrush in Kimball. They either put the cup on the head or their tail and a coin was flipped. Winners went onto the next round until just one person had picked the right side of the coin every time....
Good morning and happy Windy month of March! Nice kite weather if anyone does that anymore. Before we start the weekend, today, March 7, is the beginning of a Lakota language learning class that will be taught at the Scottsbluff High School. Beverly Running Bear from Black Hills State University will be teaching the classes through the 13th of March at 6 p.m. Friday, March 8th is an eventful day with a lot going on. There will be no school at Banner County School. State Sen. Brian Hardin and the Nebraska State Patrol will hold a meeting in the...
Vonda Kay (Palmer) McCracken, one of three children of Jerry L. and Mary M. (Hanner) Palmer, was born January 31, 1966, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. She grew up and attended school in Kimball, Nebraska. On June 14, 1987, Vonda was united in marriage to Terry McCracken in Bushnell, Nebraska. They made their first home in Bushnell, and were blessed with two daughters, Heather and Cinnamon. In 1994 the family moved to Holdrege, Nebraska for some time and eventually settling in Fairmont, Nebraska. Vonda was primarily a stay-at-home mom in her younger...
The Kimball Police Department received approval on two items at the Kimball City Council meeting on Feb. 20. A CargoGlide for a department pickup received approval for this budget season, and the council approved the purchase of a drug dog for the 2024-25 budget year. The CargoGlide, priced at $5,657.99, will provide storage for traffic cones, spikes, pepperballs, evidence collection kits, ballistic shields and instructor gear. Chief Jose Ruiz also received approval for a canine program to be started; this would include a female yellow lab....
Several ribbon cuttings were conducted for different folks associated with the new Kimball Health Services hospital. This one involved the hospital present and past leading figures. From left are board Chairman Jim Cederburg, past CEO Ken Hunter and new CEO Cassie Gasseling....