Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 4499
At Tuesday’s Kimball County Commissioners meeting, the structure of the courthouse was a topic that building and grounds superintendent Steve Warner reported on. Warner told the commissioners that he contacted Jacob Hurla from Community Solutions, and Hurla obtained a structural engineer to look at the foundation. Warner said that the structural engineer found that the grade on the foundation of the courthouse needed to be raised. Warner said, “In 1988, the grade was lowered, but it should have been raised.” The next step is to get an idea...
Josh Thompson was named Kimball Volunteer Fire Department Fireman of the Year at KVFD's recent banquet. Josh, who joined in January 2020, said the "best part of being on the fire department is the friends and family you gain from being involved in the community." Here are the KVFD election results: Chief Andrew Bohac, 1st assistant chief Mark Whetham and 2nd assistant chief Taylor Brown. Other officers are President Tim Culek, Vice President Tyson Culek and Secretary/treasurer Jordan Autrey....
Reorganization was the main objective of the Dec. 14 meeting of the Kimball City Council but the council entered executive session to discuss selling of city properties and pending claims and imminent litigation involving Hometown Hardware, Inc. The city had a long list of appointments and approvals for their reorganization meeting. The council approved Mayor John Morrison’s appointments of Annette Brower for City Administrator, Paula Tarnago for city clerk, Jean Klassen for treasurer, and Jose Ruiz for chief of police. The active members of t...
The Kimball Food Pantry has scored again for the second month in a row, and just in time for the holidays. Kimball EMS volunteers sponsored and organized the "Fill the Ambulances" food drive on Saturday. They estimated their food collection to be about 2,000 pounds of products, and an additional $1,370 in cash that will help stock the pantry. Chellie Autrey, director of the Kimball Food Pantry, said that she was overwhelmed by the amount of food and money they brought in. "They probably had six...
Results from the survey on whether Kimball Public Schools should move to a four-day school week were shared with the Kimball School Board at its meeting on Monday evening. The results from students, staff and parents were favorable, although lots of questions remain before any decision will be made. Superintendent Trevor Anderson stressed that the school district wants to do what would be best for the students of Kimball County. During the public comment period, Laura Perry spoke on the issue. Perry favored the four-day week, but was concerned...
Don Lease has been appointed to be the newest Banner County commissioner. He will serve the remaining term of long-time commissioner Robert Gifford that expires January 5, 2025. The appointed followed an open session on Thursday, Dec. 7, in which a committee of Banner County officials interviewed three candidates for the open county commissioner seat. Those interviewed were Eddie Shaul, Lacy Krakow and Don Lease. The interviewing committee is composed of County Clerk Katie West, County Treasurer...
Kimball Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary and Kimball Health Services EMS have accepted the challenge of taking over the Hometown Heroes program. Former organizer Erin Heidemann helped the auxiliary with its first event on Saturday. For 19 local children, Saturday began with breakfast at the fire hall, a fire truck ride, a visit from Santa with gift cards to give out, and other gifts and prizes. Each child's family received a $50 gift card to Main Street Market for the holiday meals. Four...
FirsTier Bank in Kimball invites everyone to its holiday open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18. The event will offer door prizes, complimentary coffee, cookies and punch. The bank is located at 115 S. Walnut St.... Full story
Upside Down Childcare opened its doors on Monday, December 11, one year after purchasing the former church building at 1200 East Sixth Street. Mother and daughter co-owners Angie Luppen and Dalton Barber say the license will give them the ability to care for 39 children, including 12 infants. The newly remodeled building has an infant room, a preschool area, and a toddler room. They will accept children from 6 weeks to 13 years of age. When Luppen began her daycare quest, her experience...
Canine respiratory virus is affecting dogs in Fort Collins and along the Front Range of Colorado. Local veterinarian Dr. Mimi Shaw said that, with people and animals from this area going back and forth to the Front Range, it should make it a concern for dog owners. Shaw said she had not seen any cases but encouraged owners to make sure and have dogs current on their vaccinations, including canine influenza, bordetella, and parainfluenza. Shaw confirmed that symptoms include sustained coughing...
Kimball County ended its long exhausting relationship with convicted murderer Vencil Leo Ash III on Friday, October 27, when he was delivered to the Nebraska State Penitentiary. The Kimball County Sheriff's Office was responsible for the transportation of Ash from the Federal Super Max prison in Florence, Colorado, to the penitentiary in Lincoln. Before Ash could fulfill his first degree murder sentence from Kimball County, he had to complete a sentence for federal gun charges from an incident...
Under action items at Tuesday’s Kimball County Commissioners meeting, the commissioners ratified a resolution to transfer funds from the Inheritance Fund to the general fund. Due to a negative balance and cash flow issues in the general fund, $300,000 was transferred as of November 28. In July, $200,000 was transferred to the general fund from the Inheritance Fund. At budget time, the commissioners had determined to budget $900,000 to be taken from the Inheritance Fund for the General Fund. In other action items, the commissioners passed a r...
A traffic stop on Friday, December 1, resulted in the arrest of one person – and then five additional people on Saturday. The half dozen individuals will appear in court for status hearings and arraignments beginning December 13, with the others to follow up on January 10 and 24. The charges for the entire group include possession of methamphetamine. The six arrestees include Crystal Hunter, 29, Gary Peters, 62, Stevn Graupensperger, 30, Mark Vigil, 62, Jeffery Barborak, 55, and Christopher H...
Landfill billing for Kimball County rural residents will be taken over by the City of Kimball beginning in January 2024, according to the discussion at the Kimball County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21. Rural residents will receive a $23.00 bill for December landfill services, and then future billing will come from the City of Kimball offices. Kimball County Treasurer Cindy Rahmig was on the agenda to inform the commissioners of the billing move, and the treasurer’s office will send letters to rural residents explaining the move a...
The discussion on Gotti Park playground equipment and surfacing consumed a significant amount of time at the Kimball City Council meeting on Tuesday evening, Nov. 21. A variety of colors for the playground surfacing were discussed, but no decision was made. Concerns were raised about the heat retention and pricing of the surface. Other suggestions included matching the surface with the red, white and blue structure. A cost difference between the current funds and expenses for the playground...
Santa was delivered to the kids of Kimball area via the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department truck during the Christmas parade Nov. 25. Kids swarmed the KCTS building to talk to Santa. Kimball residents headed downtown on the bitterly cold Saturday evening to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season in Kimball. Santa's Helpers served up hot chocolate, while KCTS hosted Santa and had a chili feed. The Christmas parade included decorated police and emergency vehicles, businesses, churches and...
As the shape and sounds of the new Kimball hospital become more of a reality, rumors and questions persist about the new hospital and its helicopter pad. Kimball Health Services Human Resources Director Stephanie Pedersen and Community Relations Director Kerry Ferguson answered questions about the location and safety of the helicopter pad at the new Kimball Health Services facility. The helicopter pad was never going to be anywhere except where it is located on the northeast side of the hospital grounds near Highway 30 and Webster Street, they...
New Hope Assembly of God Church in Kimball entered one of the nicely designed floats, "Jesus The Sweetest Name," in the Kimball Christmas Parade on Nov. 25. See other parade photos on pages A1 and A6....
Although a bit chilly, Reese Hinton, 10, throws candy out at the Christmas Parade. Reese rode along in the Ag Society float....
All bundled up on a very cold November evening, Daryl Leitza, 1, enjoyed tasting the fresh snow as he and his family waited for the Kimball Christmas Parade to begin....
With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, Lela Carpenter is thankful to "be here." She is also grateful to be around her family and can now hear their laughter daily. She has been home about a week from an extended stay at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, and then two different nursing homes in the central and eastern parts of the state. Lela is home to Kimball as a quadriplegic. But her goals center on "being a good grandma and getting up and walking again." At her home, Lela tells...
The exit and entrance ramps to Kimball are cluttered with trash and other types of waste from truckers who park there, creating a disgusting look for travelers getting off for business or pleasure in Kimball. The trucks also create a safety issue as cars and others enter or depart the interstate. Any day or night, truckers park on the exit or entrance ramps even though the ramps are clearly marked as a no parking zone. Signs clearly displayed on the ramps direct vehicles to the large truck...
Litter continues to be a problem on Road 32 south of Kimball across from the walking path and dog park. Three pigs’ heads were found this past week alongside the road with other trash. Speculation was that someone cleaned out their freezer and dumped the contents in the ditch. Another option would be taking the trash to the Kimball Landfill. Kimball and Kimball County residents are charged monthly for use of the landfill, and out-of-county residents are charged fees at the gate. The Kimball County Sheriff’s Office was on clean up duty to rem...
Everyone was a winner at the Kimball Recycling Center open house in honor of America Recycles Day on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Every participant received a gift or a prize and free promotional products. Kimball Recycling Center Executive Director Spud Rowley's celebration included breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with raffles and a guessing contest for his guests. He gave tours and provided education on recycling. Over 50 people enjoyed the games, food and gifts at the Kimball facility. Everyone...
Isaac Olsen, above, was among those who delivered remarks at the Veterans Day program Nov. 13 at the Banner County School gymnasium. Two days later, he did something else. He placed second in senior public speaking at the FFA District 12 Leadership Contest in Chadron to qualify for the state contest next April. See story on Page 5A about the students from Banner, Kimball and Potter-Dix who placed highly at district....