Years Ago

Feb. 2012

Kimball’s junior high boys lost two heartbreakers to Bridgeport on Monday.

The 7th graders dropped a tight two point contest, 29-27--a game coach Dane Wurdeman characterized as hard fought all the way.

“We just couldn’t get shots to fall when we needed them to,” he added.

Brandon Barker let the way with 12 points, followed by Jaden Withrow’s eight.

On the 8th grade side things were even more nerve-wracking. Bridgeport’s closest game coming into Monday’s matchup was an 18 point runaway. Over the weekend they drilled Bayard 68-2.

Kimball handed them a 36-31 scare.

“Bridgeport has a very big, physical and well coached group of guys,” said coach Michelle Daum. “We did all things right up until the very end of the game.”

Cole Christensen again led the offense with 17 points against tough opposition. Trent Rutledge added five. Angel Flores provided the offensive spark on the floor.

Mary Lynch Elementary School was placed on lock down for about an hour Friday while local law enforcement responded to a complaint of terroristic threats being made by a Kimball man.

Feb. 2008

Michael Kudebeh, 33 of Kimball, was taken into custody without incident about 1:25 p.m. Friday at his home at 516 Monroe. Law enforcement placed Mary Lynch on lock down at 12:30 p.m. while they were preparing to make the arrest. The school is only about three blocks from Kudebeh’s home.

Sheriff Marv Jensen said a supervisor at Clean Harbors reported that Kudebeh had made credible and specific threats while at work at the hazardous waste incinerator south of Kimball.

Because of the nature of the threats, Kimball Police and Sheriff’s Departments coordinated efforts to deal with the situation. They were assisted by Troopers from the Nebraska State Patrol.

Kudebeh was booked into Kimball County jail on a felony terroristic threat charge and later released on bail.

The school was released from lock down just after 1:30 p.m.

Feb. 1993

When’s the last time you did something really sweet for your sweetie for Valentine’s Day? If it’s been awhile, take heart-- especially if you’re looking for something unique to present your loved one. A new service being offered in Kimball this week will sweeten the Valentines pot.

Kimballites are looking forward to the premiere this weekend of the HeartBeats. The quartet of Kimball women will deliver Cupid’s messages around town Friday afternoon and Saturday…for a small fee, that is. But the fee will be donated to support this year’s Farmers Day activities.

Kim Hottell, Lori Hettinger, Pam Steele and Denice Culek will deliver tunes, flowers and/or candy to your sweetheart. The music, a variety of romantic melodies, is tape recorded and the messengers will lip-sync along while presenting the gifts.

Patorns have the choice of having them deliver a rose and greenery, a box of Valentines candy, or both, along with the lip sync song. The fee is $12 for one or the other, or $15 for both a rose and a box of goodies.

Members of the quartet can deliver Friday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. or from 6 to 9 p.m. Orders can be made by calling Pam Steele at Kimball Ford (during business hours) or Kim Hottell (after business hours).

Hottell is co-chairperson of this year’s Farmers Day and hopes, through the sing-O-grams to both raise a little cash for the fall celebration and raise interest and enthusiasm. The Farmers Day Committee is (starting earlier this week) now meeting monthly until June, and then will meet more frequently, she said. They’re actively seeking new ideas, support and new volunteers to help make the day bigger and better than ever.

Feb. 1963

Robert Jack Quail, 19, of Waterloo, Iowa, met his Waterloo here. He was arrested in a car police said was stolen at Salt Lake City.

Safety Patrolman Roy Anderson of Kimball stopped Quail near Kimball Sunday shortly before noon when the young man was driving over the center line.

He was without identification, and a closer check showed the car had been taken Saturday night.

Quail was in jail here awaiting FBI authorities who were to question him.

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Edwin Meistrell of Kimball was sentenced to two years and ten months at the state penitentiary at Lincoln Saturday by District Judge John H. Kuns. He had entered a plea of guilty to a charge of forgery.

Meistrell was arrested in December for signing the name of Howard Reare to a check for $45.00 made payable to himself. It was drawn on the Farmers State Band of Pine Bluffs.

Feb. 1938

Casper, Wyo., Feb. 8-- Melvin Morris, 40-year-old ex-bartender held for 19 days as a “material witness” in the county jail here, tonight was arrested on a warrant charging him with the slaying of George Boughner, 40-year-old oil worker.

Morris, who originally was detained when blood was found on his clothing, refused to testify in the coroner’s inquest conducted last Friday claiming “constitutional rights.”

Officials said they felt they had uncovered enough evidence to prove their charges against Morris.

Feb. 1928

A note threatening to kidnap one of the children of William Ostenberg, owner of the two theatres in Scottsbluff, was received last Thursday morning by Mr. Ostenberg.

The note ordered Mr. Ostenberg to leave five hundred dollars near a signboard in the west end of Scottsbluff. In response to the demand a package of money was taken to the designated spot and several detectives were delegated to watch from a distance, but the would-be kidnapper failed to appear for the package.

The threat of the kidnapping was received through the mail Thursday of last week but this matter was not made public until Satruday. The family of Mr. Ostenberg, consisting of his wife and three children, the oldest being nine, has been under police guard since the threat was made. Officers are endeavoring to trace the sender of the note.

Feb. 1913

Someone told us there is a petition being circulated to boost a bill in the legislature cutting Kimball county off Judge Grimes’ district and placing it over in Judge Hobart’s district. Who in thunder is the fell who has the temerity and gall to want a change? We venture the assertion that ninety-nine percent of Kimball county people want Judge Grimes to continue dishing up our justice.