Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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Here we go again. Another midweek dose of severe winter weather was forecast for Kimball County and surrounding areas this week. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning and forecast on Tuesday that 6 to 9 inches of snow could hit the area. Some other forecasts called for more snow. The City of Kimball made changes Tuesday morning in anticipation of the storm, canceling its 5:30 p.m. Tuesday City Council meeting due to the forecast – and also a lack of quorum of council members available to attend the meeting. In p...
Construction carries on as Kimball's new $43.5 million hospital continues to take shape, but this area's harsh winter weather may have slowed the development a bit. "The project has experienced about a week's delay due to the snowy conditions this winter," Kerry Ferguson, Kimball Health Services director of community and foundation, told the Observer on Monday. "Hopes are we can make up this time later in the project." Prior to the weather delay, hospital officials said construction remained on...
Hello! Here we are smack dab in the middle of January. Man is time ever flying, sometimes in a winter mode and sometimes not so much. There has been more ice and my driveway is still blocked. More moisture would be great and to my way of thinking if the ice would melt we would have more moisture! As you know the Dinner Theater and One Act Play was cancelled due to bad weather in December. However, they performed for the entire school one day last week, and if you were able to attend you know...
This week's scheduled Kimball City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17, was canceled due to the snowstorm forecast and lack of a quorum of council members available to attend. From left at last month's reorganizational meeting are Councilmember Christy Warner, Mayor John Morrison and Councilmember Creg Pike....
Newly elected and re-elected Kimball County officials and deputies were sworn into office before the Kimball County Commissioners meeting Jan 5. At the first meeting, the first order of business for the commissioners was to elect a chairman and vice-chairman. Rich Flores was elected chairman, Carl Stander was elected vice chairman, and new member Elyse Schlake Lukassen joined the board.The appointments of commissioners were made to various regional boards, and contact officials were designated...
The first meeting of the year for the Kimball School Board consisted of reorganization and installing new board members. After the four new or re-elected members took their oath of office and were sworn in, Travis Cook was re-elected president, Jennifer Griebel vice president, Tom O’Brien secretary, and Chauncey Pederson was re-elected treasurer. Community Building Solution’s Jacob Hurla reported the progress on the HVAC project. After a series of supply chain delays, Hurla estimated that the project would be completed by the end of Jan...
While the New Year is still young, and those resolutions are still fresh in your mind, a little motivation from others is always beneficial. Four of the top 10 most common resolutions include healthy living –such as exercising more, losing weight, living life to the fullest and quitting smoking. "In 2016, I began losing some weight," Steve Knigge of rural Kimball recalled. But that was just the beginning of his transformation. Steve was looking to improve his life, and a passion for running w...
New Kimball County Sheriff Dave Hottell signs his oath of office Jan. 5 in the Kimball County Courthouse....
Good morning and here we are in the first month of a New Year. A New Year coming with challenges and changes, some of those which began here last week with the swearing in of newly elected county officials. An estimated 50 plus Banner County residents attended the ceremony and reception which also included a short meeting and district court. We all know that it will take a while for the new officials to get their feet on the ground. However, I for one know that it will happen, and we will be...
A tinge of the red and orange sunset reflects off the Wildcat Hills in Banner County this past week....
Radon, a cancer-causing radioactive gas, is found in homes throughout Nebraska and in Kimball County. The gas is odorless, tasteless, and invisible, but it can pose a danger to you and your family in your safest environment, your home. Testing for radon is easy and takes just minutes. At Panhandle Public Health District, January is Radon Awareness month, and test kits are readily available. The test kits are easy and free. Call 308-487-3600 and request a test kit. Radon is a byproduct of the natural decay of uranium and can seep into homes...
Newly elected Kimball School Board member Ken Smith takes his oath of office on the left. The current member seated is Lanny Little. Others taking their oaths of office on Monday evening are, from left, Jennifer Griebel, Travis Cook and Thomas O’Brien....
Due to no agenda items, the Kimball City Council will not meet on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 3, for its bi-monthly meetings. In December, the council and mayor went through the reorganizational process. Now, in January, the county will reorganize. The county will start the New Year off with a mandated reorganizational meeting. Nebraska Statute 23-156 states that “The board of county commissioners at its regular meeting in January of each year shall elect a chairman of the board to serve for the ensuing year, and such chairman shall sign a...
The Nebraska Press Association is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2023, and Observer publisher Jim Orr helped create the logo that it will use all year to commemorate the milestone. Orr won a contest among NPA members to design the logo. More than 20 entries were submitted statewide. Newspaper managers and staff, including graphic artists and advertising designers, were invited to enter. Orr's submission added elements to the existing NPA logo for the anniversary year. "It's a great honor...
A Pennsylvania brother/sister pair who were arrested before Christmas on I-80 with a suspected 50 pounds of marijuana are still in jail. Brett Donohue, 22, waived his preliminary hearing and the case has already been moved to District Court. He was scheduled to be arraigned 1 p.m. Jan. 3. He is being held in Kimball. Meanwhile, Diamond Donohue, 19, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 10:45 a.m. Jan. 25 in Kimball County Court. She is being held in Garden County. Both Brett and Diamond are charged with three felonies: possession with...
Some might say it's been an uphill climb to get through the last couple of weeks of winter – with the blizzard, then the minus 20s, then the freezing rain covered with fluffy white stuff. This photo was taken late Monday afternoon on Chestnut Street as it declines toward the underpass. See more weather photos on Page B5....
On Jan. 1, the inheritance tax that Nebraskans pay was reduced from the highest category of 18% to 15% – but the actual final percentage one pays depends on the relationship to the deceased. The closer the relative, the lower the rate. And 15% is the cap. The Unicameral also increased the exemption amount from $10,000 to $25,000. Additional changes include anyone under 22 years old will not pay Nebraska’s inheritance tax at all. Nebraska is one of only five states that still have a state inheritance tax. According to CEO Jim Vokal of the Pla...
Good morning and Happy New Year! The last 2/3 have been pretty tough, so hope for better this year. Things are now moving in a slower pace, but we all know that is temporary. The Midwest Theater will show the movie "Strange World" January 6th & 7th at 7:30 p.m. and on the 8th as a matinee at 1:30 p.m. This one is rated PG. Here is a heads-up! On January 12th the Midwest will be featuring two Grand Ole Opry members, Dailey & Vincent. These two artist have won many awards for their talents...
At the Kimball City Council meeting Dec. 20, Mayor John Morrison reported that he is trying to learn and "read as much as possible." He said the city had been run well over the past years, and he stressed that an excellent job was done clearing the streets after the first blizzard this past month. The council approved the renewal of the liquor license for the Panhandle Cooperative Association/Main Street market in a 2-1-1 vote. Council members Gabe Ingram and Christy Warner voted aye to approve...
The home of Drew and Sheryl Biesecker at 210 W. 9th St., above, placed first among homes in the 2022 edition of the Santa's Helpers Kimball Christmas Lighting Contest. Second place went to Charlie and Cheryl Paul at 316. S. Chestnut St., and third went to Bob and Helen Donner at 706 S. Elm St. The winner of the contest for businesses was Shavonne Singleton's Farm Bureau Financial Services at 215 S. Chestnut. See other photo on Page A2....
The Nebraska State Patrol arrested a brother/sister duo Dec. 18 on I-80 at mile marker 20. The two, Brett A. Donohue and Diamond A. Donohue, have been charged with three felonies: Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana (more than 1 pound), and No Drug Tax Stamp. The affidavit by a Nebraska state trooper observed a black 2021 Jeep with Texas plates traveling 82 mph in a 75 mph zone at mile marker 18. When the vehicle was stopped, the driver, Brett A....
The new, long-awaited Dollar Tree/Family Dollar combo store in Kimball plans a soft opening Jan. 5 with a grand opening to follow. The new manager, Michelle Renter, said trucks with products will begin arriving this week at the store along Highway 30. Renter said at this time time some employees have been hired, but the company is always looking for more. She said the employees have been working and gaining experience at other stores and are pretty excited about "finally" get the Kimball store...
The winner among businesses in the 2022 Santa's Helpers Kimball Christmas Lighting Contest is Shavonne Singleton's Farm Bureau Financial Services at 215 S. Chestnut....
The Banner Country School Christmas Program was postponed due to the blizzard but finally performed on Dec. 20 under the direction of Vocal and Instrumental Director Sandy Wounded Arrow. Members of the third grade, fourth grade and fifth grade sang a variety of Christmas songs....
Good morning, saying Goodbye to 2022 and Welcoming 2023. Wishing a Happy New Year to your house from me. This past year has seemed to fly by, especially the past three months. I have spoken with several people who feel this same way. Maybe this year life will settle down a little bit and calm down. That would be OK with me. However, at this point who knows? For all of you who wanted a white Christmas, we sure had that! I still am driving through a tunnel of snow in order to get to the house. During Christmas break one of the kids was riding a...