Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 4669
Today known as the E-Free Church, the Log Cabin building was constructed in 1946 for veterans but has served many valuable purposes for the city of Kimball. Located at 101 S Walnut St., the building known as the Log Cabin was built for such veterans as the American War Dads and those in the American Legion. It was a recreational place for servicemen. In 1946, the 105-foot-long and 65-foot-wide building was estimated to cost $20,000, with $12,000 raised "by popular subscription." The facility had...
Community is the focus of the Mary Lynch Elementary School kindergarten's field trip. On Monday, they toured seven different places around town. Here they make a stop at Dr. Ryan Behrend's High Point Spine and Joint Center on 2nd Street....
A life-threatening incident several weeks ago had a happy ending for a Kimball man who was reunited today with the EMTs and others who saved his life. Kimball Health Services emergency responders, medical providers, nurses and others received lifesaving awards for their actions April 2 when Paul Quicke, 68, suffered a heart attack and was found lying unresponsive in the intersection of Washington and 7th St. in Kimball. Responding to a Kimball County Sheriff's Office dispatch, off duty paramedic...
The primary election results from Tuesday, May 14 had only one race of local importance. Four individuals filed for Kimball County Commissioner on the Republican ticket and Tuesday determined the next commissioner because no Democrats sought the seat. In the commissioner race, David R. Hottell had 218 votes while incumbent Carl Stander had 197 votes cast in his favor, Hottell will serve as commissioner for the next four years beginning in January 2025. Matt Bright had 147 votes cast for him,...
Superintendent Trevor Anderson informed the Kimball School Board on Monday evening at the school board meeting that expenses are up mainly due to salary increases and benefits, which were necessary to retain and attract quality staff. The superintendent’s financial update stated that 51.41% of the budget had been spent, with 67% of the fiscal year completed. At the end of April 2024, 51.41% has been spent compared to 49.18% in 2023 and 2022 45.84% was spent. Anderson mentioned that the property tax draw to date is about half of previous y...
The Kimball Longhorns Class of 2024 gathers before Saturday's graduation ceremony for this group photo on steps in the high school. Below: Valedictorian Grace Anderson delivers a powerful speech. Her exceptional academic performance was recognized with a multitude of awards. See other Kimball graduation photo, Page B6....
The Kimball High School Class of 2024, a group of individuals with some remarkable achievements, celebrated its graduation on May 11. The ceremony began at 11 a.m. with 29 individuals, each with unique accomplishments, receiving their long-awaited diplomas. The National Anthem was sung by Rachel Berger, Amber Childers, Carlee Murdoch and Rene Murdoch. Special recognition was given to former elementary guidance counselor Mr. Jim Reeves, who unexpectedly passed away five years ago. Mr. Jim Reeves...
Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested a Kimball man following an investigation into a reported sexual assault of a child. In early April, the Nebraska State Patrol was made aware of a reported assault of a young child that had occurred in Kimball County in 2019. The initial report came to the Keith County Sheriff’s Office, which referred the case to the state patrol because of the location of the assault. Upon investigation, patrol investigators obtained an arrest warrant for the subject, identified as Chris Wilson, 46, of K...
Kimball's new hospital will be the site of this weekend's Kimball Community Health Fair. A cooperative effort between Kimball Health Services and Wyoming Health Fairs, the health fair offers low-cost blood testing and free vital sign testing as a community service to help residents identify health problems before they become life-threatening. The event runs 7 to 11 a.m. both days. Appointments are highly recommended to minimize waiting time but not required, said Kerry Ferguson, director of Comm...
The last week of school for the 29 graduating Longhorns in 2024 was full of many final events. Graduation is on Saturday at 11 a.m. And it will be the culmination of years of hard work, and as Longhorn senior Hayden Sours said, it will be “sad and stressful” although they are all excited to the next chapter of their lives. Grades had to be completed on Friday to have time to calculate the GPA for valedictorian, salutatorian and scholarships. Academic awards were presented on Monday at Lon... Full story
A new person apparently will be in the mix among those with a voice in overseeing the Kimball City/County Recreation Area while it’s at a crossroads. The county commissioners are seeking interested parties to serve on the Kimball City/County Park & Recreation Operating Board as a county appointee to complete Ashley Thurin’s four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2026. Thurin resigned. The commissioners on May 3 decided not to vote on appointing Klent Schnell to the position in favor of advertising it. This development comes during talk of a pro...
Due to scheduling needs of the Kimball County Commissioners, their May meeting was held Friday, May 3, instead of Tuesday, May 7. The second May meeting also was moved to accommodate scheduling requests from Tuesday, May 21, to Wednesday, May 22. Before the agenda items, the board was informed of an 8.7% increase in the county's health and dental insurance. Two county departments, roads and transit, updated the board on business. Randy Bymer, county highway superintendent, reported that...
LINCOLN – Gov. Jim Pillen on Monday requested a federal major disaster declaration for Nebraska counties impacted by winter storm conditions on April 6 and 7. The request includes the following eight counties: Banner, Cheyenne, Dawes, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff and Sioux. What began with thunderstorms and heavy rains developed into a system that produced freezing rain, snow, strong winds and blizzard conditions. The most significant damage was to power systems, including downed power lines. The five utility systems affected by t...
A team effort helped the sixth annual Casino Night benefit Kimball Health Services on Saturday at The Sagebrush. "We had lots of fun on the gaming floor and during the silent and live auction to raise money for new surgical equipment at Kimball Health Services," said Kerry Ferguson, director of community relations and foundation at KHS. Ferguson gave a "special shout-out" to the KHS staff, foundation board members and other volunteers who made it happen. They include KHS staff Nicole Snyder,...
The Kimball City/County Parks and Recreation Executive Board members tabled the only item on their agenda Monday evening under current business. They discussed but took no action on items related to the timeline, finances and budget of the operating board pertaining to a proposed land swap. Six months are left for approval from the federal government for the trade in which involves 44 acres of what is now the four ballfields being exchanged for three acres and the Windbreak restaurant property at Four Winds Golf Course. The Park and Rec...
Plans are being made for the Kimball Longhorn All-School Reunion to occur next year after a decade absence. Set aside July 4, 5 and 6 of 2025 to renew old friendships and start new relationships. Chairperson Kim Baliman is thrilled to see the diverse representation from all age groups, ensuring that everyone's voice is heard and the event is a true reflection of our community. Events that have been considered are numerous and include a 4th of July parade, car show, wine tasting, softball tourney...
The Western Nebraska Observer ranks among the top three newspapers of its class in general excellence statewide for the third time in four years. The Observer regained this distinction when winners were announced Saturday in Lincoln for the Nebraska Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest. The Observer won 10 awards in Division B, its highest total during a four year run of strong showings. Publisher Jim Orr and reporter/photographer Daria Anderson-Faden both received multiple awards with some firsts sprinkled in to underline the Ob...
The search for justice is often difficult, but when a legal technicality occurs, the case doesn't always go the way some people think it should. This story begins during a time when Cory Shiflett, a superintendent at Paul Reed Construction, and company workers and equipment were working on the Heartland Express south of Alliance in Morrill County. At the Heartland worksite, a yellow 2019 John Deere 325G skid steer owned by Paul Reed Construction disappeared. When new, the skid steer was worth...
Kimball's Keith Jones was surrounded by his heroes, living donor Jennifer Kaufman and pair-exchange donor Candy Rodgers, on Monday afternoon for a Donate Life program. Six months ago, Keith and his living anonymous donor and paired exchange donor were having surgery at UC Health in Aurora, Colo. On Monday, Keith met Jennifer, his living anonymous donor, for the first time. Although his paired exchange donor, Candy Rodgers Keith, knew and had previously worked with her, Candy's interest in donati...
The Kimball City Council conducted six public hearings at its Tuesday, April 16, meeting. The hearings were to subdivide and rezone three specific areas destined for new housing. The Lighthouse subdivision, owned by Clean Harbors, Inc., located west of Highway 71 and south of Kimball’s Ninth Street, was re-platted and rezoned to include a mix of single-family and multifamily districts. The only comment received was from council candidate Austin Garner. He said that “there was a missed opportunity” because a park and a walking trail shoul...
Deb Hays and David Craig of Kimball have formed a unique family bond with their two foreign exchange students, Matias Sokas from Norway and Francesco Cagnoni from Italy, both seniors at Kimball Jr./Sr. High School. Suffering from the empty nest syndrome and a tranquil household, the couple previously sponsored foreign students and decided to renew their experience. The program's rewards are plentiful, but the primary goal is "getting to know the students themselves" and their culture and traditi...
Linn Hardware, a local business fixture in Kimball's early years, was founded in 1893 by Eric Gustav "Gus" Linn. He came to Kimball about 1886 to work for Hoagland Lumber Co. at 101 S. Walnut St. In 1893, he bought out the owners, adding a line of hardware and farm implements. The business moved to 104 S. Walnut St. in 1907, after the initial structure, measuring 50 feet by 80 feet, was erected. A few years later, the south addition was built for a shop. About 1917 or 1918, the brick section,...
On Thursday, April 18, Michael Hammond, Jr., 42 from Moorcroft, Wyoming, sought treatment at the Kimball Health Services emergency room for a stab wound to the face. Medical and hospital staff are required by law to report gunshot and stab wounds to the authorities, and the Kimball County Sheriff's Office responded to the hospital after being notified. After an investigation and questioning of Hammond, it was determined that the stabbing had not occurred in Nebraska but happened in Campbell...
The four candidates for one Kimball County Commissioners seat all replied to questions from Observer reporter Daria Anderson-Faden for this report preceding the May 14 primary election. Their answers follow, with the candidates listed in alphabetical order of their last names: Matt Bright, David R. Hottell, Carl Stander and Sarah Weisbrook. MATT BRIGHT Please provide brief background info on yourself: I was born and raised in Kimball. I have a wife and a son that we would love to continue to raise in Kimball. I have served on city council and...