Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Sorted by date Results 326 - 350 of 4556
Good morning! Well summer is officially underway and boy has it arrived with a heat wave. With 90 degree plus pretty much all of this week, well here we go! Today is Thursday, June 22nd and we are looking at a busy weekend. Today at the Leid Library in Scottsbluff and through Saturday, the teen advisory Council will host a last Escape Room session, “Mystery of the Missing Podcaster.” Teams of up to 6 people are invited to enter for a one hour time slot. Please call either 308-630-6290 or 308-630-6250 to choose your time. Later that evening the...
The Observer received the unofficial Kimball special election results from Kimball County Clerk Cathy Sibal at about 7:40 p.m. Tuesday. Sibal said all the measures on the June 13 ballot were defeated. The voter turnout was a disappointing 18.12%. Results will not be official until the canvassing board meets to verify the results. At this time, Sibal did not believe there was a need for a recount. Both propositions 1 and 2 reflected the possible continuation of the existing half-cent sales tax...
The Kimball County Assessor’s office has been busy answering questions and explaining the changes in property valuations to local residents. On June 1, letters went out to property owners showing the changes in valuation. Most residential properties increased in value, while a few were reduced. By statute, every six years, all property in the county must be re-evaluated and reviewed. Therefore, the increase in valuation is partially a result of going from the 2016 cost tables to the 2022 cost tables. Another factor that influenced the property...
The Kimball City Council has two special meetings scheduled for next week to address and possibly approve the annexation of land along Highway 71 south of the city where Clean Harbors proposes a 60-acre, 120-lot housing development to help accommodate added workers due to its expansion. The first meeting is scheduled to begin 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, at the City Council Chambers. The main item on the agenda is the second reading of Ordinance 821 to annex the land. A public comment period also is on the agenda, but any comments would be for...
After just one event on Saturday, the Kimball Ranch Rodeo was canceled due to the continual downpour of rain. About a half dozen bronc riders enjoyed the dry conditions to start the 14th annual ranch rodeo. Local cowboy Lane Wasielewski got a turn before a home crowd to ride a bronc. After grabbing the reins, Wasielewski rode the wild bronc for about three jumps, and then he had a flying dismount. But he jumped up and grabbed his hat to the cheers of his rooting section. Eight teams were able...
The Yard of the Week went to 314 Walnut St., the home of Nicole Gifford and James Fraser. The family has owned the house for two years and began improvements soon after they purchased the property. With a sprinkler system there but no lawn, they dug up the entire yard and replanted grass, fixed the sprinkler system, replaced sidewalks, removed stumps and removed overgrowth. They built a backyard pool deck and are ready to enjoy their improvements over the summer. From left are James Fraser,...
Good morning Banner County! Well here we are smack dab in the middle of June and a good part of the time it feels like April. This past Monday was even chilly. Hummm ... must be in Nebraska! Heading down south to our neighbors in Kimball, the city pool is open and ready for your swim. Open swim has various hours – noon to 5 p.m. or 1 to 6 p.m. Plus there are lap and lesson schedules, so stop by and get the info you need to help you cool off. I know the heat is going to show up one of these days! Sidney had its Gold Rush Days celebration r...
Perjury charges were filed on June 7 against Kenneth D. Childs in another legal case involving the Dix resident. The Kimball County Sheriff’s Office handled the case. The charges stem from Sept. 30, 2022, and Feb. 20, 2023, when Childs completed and signed a financial affidavit and application attesting to income, cash, savings, stocks, and bonds. His wife, Lyla J. Childs, also faces perjury charges. According to the court documents from Sept. 30, 2022, “Kenneth recorded $0 in cash, savings, stocks and bonds. Based on the information obt...
Lifeguards spray down the Kimball Swimming Pool area in preparations for the pool’s annual reopening earlier this month....
The ranch rodeo crowd stayed dry under the grandstands, but when the rodeo was canceled they headed to their vehicles and them felt the rain....
New Kimball Police Chief Jose Ruiz has a wealth of knowledge not only from his years of experience with the Cheyenne Police Department but also from growing up on the south side of Denver in Adams County. Growing up, Ruiz said their family was impoverished, and the culture he was raised in centered on violence, gangs and drugs. Ruiz said his mother tried to keep "us away from as much as she could," but in the end Ruiz said he decided himself that he "didn't want to have the life that his brother...
Text 911 is now available in Kimball County. Alicia Downey from the Sheriff’s Department explained to the Kimball County Commissioners on Tuesday that texting 911 would work with the communication desk texting back and forth to the “caller.” Downey said calling 911 should always be the first option, but in some cases where coverage is limited, texting is a great option. The other reason to text to 911 is a possible domestic situation, and the “caller” must be silent. Texting 911 is nationwide and in Nebraska, the Public Service Commissio...
Voters in the City of Kimball have a special election approaching Tuesday, June 13. Voters have two issues to consider. LB840 has been in effect for the past 15 years as a method of economic development for businesses or start-ups in Kimball. A vote for LB840 will continue a ½ cent tax for economic growth. The second issue on the ballot is a ½ cent sales tax for infrastructure projects. This sales tax would be in effect for 10 years. Infrastructure refers to roads, streets, sidewalks, wastewater and water systems, transmission lines, s...
The Kimball School Board met in a special session on Tuesday, May 30, to accept the resignation of business teacher Ty Neill. Neill in his resignation letter wrote, “I appreciate the opportunity to teach in the district as a provisional teacher. Throughout the semester, I questioned whether or not this job would lead to a career. Recently, I have confirmed that teaching is not a profession I want to pursue.” The business classes will be handled with instructors on staff, according to Superintendent Trevor Anderson. In another agenda item, Tar...
About 100 people helped open the Kimball swimming pool on Friday, June 2. Manager Bob Edwards said he has 12 certified lifeguards to oversee the pool through the summer months....
Mark and Tiffani Anderson have received the first Yard of the Week award for the summer of 2023. The front yard of the Andersons' home at 610 Cedar is well manicured and lush, but the surprise comes when you enter the backyard. A visitor gets the feeling of being at a resort with two large fountains dividing a putting green and chipping area. Last July, the Andersons had their backyard transformed into a recreational and entertaining area where you feel like you are on vacation. Pictured, from...
Good morning! With all of the rain that we have been having...Wow! Is it ever green out! I returned this past week from a short visit to the desert and all of the green was an awesome sight indeed. Maybe there will be a chance for some wheat harvest after all. We are kicking off the summer with the second Free movie at the Midwest Theater, “Shrek,” which is today, June 8th, at 1:30 p.m. The SkyView drive-in will play “Transformers:Rise of the Beasts” June 8 -11. The gates open at 8 p.m. and the movie begins at 9:05 p.m. This one is rated P...
The Stauffer family cruises in style behind tractor driver Justin Stauffer during the Banner County Historical Day Parade. From left are Jennings, Emersynn, Priscilla, Judd (cool dude in the funky shades) and Jessie....
Alex Rundell splashes a little sauce on his ribs for the Banner County Historical Days Cook-Off on Saturday, June 3....
Pat Parsons uses some ingenuity to keep dry at the Historical Day parade in his 1949 Pontiac Chieftain convertible. He recently purchased the "Rat Rod" on Big Iron. The interior is one of a kind and very "original" as the seats are made of welded horseshoes and the doors are welded shut....
A solemn ceremony honoring those who died in the service of their country was held Monday, Memorial Day, at the Kimball Cemetery. About 125 people attended the event, which began with 2023 graduate Emma Patterson singing the national anthem, Mayor John Morrison saying a few words of welcome, and Randy Bohac providing the beginning prayer and benediction. VFW member Larry Engstrom raised the flag to full staff, and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary placed a wreath to honor all those who served in the...
In a special meeting on Wednesday, May 24, the Kimball City Council unanimously approved the mayor’s appointment of Jose Ruiz as police chief. According to the Mayor John Morrison, Ruiz is in the process of purchasing a house and will be moving to Kimball in the near future. Morrison said, “I had an interview process, had two very good candidates. When it came down to it, based on the recommendation from the selection committee. My interview, I felt that Jose was the candidate that I wanted.” After Ruiz was approved, the council had to approve...
Educational Service Unit 13, which serves the Panhandle, would like to find some children and young adults in Kimball County to participate in its Title 1C Education Program. Title 1C helps students – who work in agriculture or fishing –with supplemental educational programs to catch them up to regular schoolwork. To qualify, the students must be younger than 22, have made a qualifying move to work in agriculture or fishing, moved from one school district to another, and made a change from one residence to another. The program helps reduce dis...
The Kimball City Council on Tuesday, May 16, spent a significant amount of meeting time on presentations and reports from Olsson Engineering on preliminary expansion and upgrades to the sewer and water systems in Kimball. Using GIS, surveys and opening up manhole covers, Olsson has determined efficiencies and problem areas. The town has anywhere from 4-inch sewer pipes, which are unacceptable, to 6-inch and 8-inch, with 8-inch required for new construction. Olsson Engeering recommended four...
Good morning Banner County, neighbors and friends near and far. Memorial weekend has come and gone, bringing typical cloudy wet weather with it. Remembrance of our lost ones,especially those lost in service to this country never lessens whatever the weather. As we move on into the month of June, we begin with more rain forecast, tornado watches, and farmers trying to get it done. Today, June 1st over in the valley the Scottsbluff Stand Down will take place between 5-7 p.m. at the WNCC Harms Center building. Services will include: lunch,...