Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Articles from the September 22, 2016 edition


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  • Fritz Memorial dog park planned

    Tonia Copeland|Sep 22, 2016

    Kimball may soon be home to a dog park in memory of Fritz, the first Kimball County Sheriff's Department K9 officer, who passed away July 31, 2016 following a sudden illness. Following the loss of Fritz, Kimball Police Department Captain Andy Bremer approached the new Special Projects Coordinator, Amy Sapp, and City Administrator Daniel Ortiz with an idea of a Service Dog Memorial, according to Sapp. "I hope to construct a memorial in Fritz's name," Bremer said. "I haven't checked into it yet,...

  • Huff placed on leave

    Tonia Copeland|Sep 22, 2016

    Kimball Police Chief Darren Huff has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to City Administrator Daniel Ortiz, who could offer no further information. A confidential source alerted Western Nebraska Observer staff that Huff was under investigation due to actions prior to and during the traffic stop, though that has not been confirmed by the City Administrator, County Attorney, Nebraska State Patrol or State Attorney General’s office....

  • Shots fired call leads to traffic stop

    Tonia Copeland|Sep 22, 2016

    A Labor Day traffic stop caused some citizens and passersby concern. The Western Nebraska Observer received a letter asking why nothing had been printed following “an apparent drug bust near the underpass at I-80 on Highway 71”. The letter further stated that there were “at least two people spread-eagle on the ground”. After following up on the letter, Kimball Police Chief Darren Huff explained that the traffic stop was not connected to drugs in any way and that no one was detained spread eagle on the ground. Instead, he said, his departm...

  • Theater facelift continues

    Tonia Copeland|Sep 22, 2016

    The Goodhand Theater received a bit of a facelift this past week, as work continues to ready the building for business. The repainted marquee and signs were rehung following a true team effort, according to Kimball Mayor Keith Prunty. Prunty credited Sonny and Zach Porter of AutoLok for the prep work on the marquee, Greg McDaniel, owner of Kim-Bowl, purchased the primer and paint and Scott Sterling of Hastings Ford and Kent Holub from Team Chevrolet had the signs repainted. In addition to a new...

  • Life saving device donated to BVFD

    Tonia Copeland|Sep 22, 2016

    The Bushnell Volunteer Fire Department recently received a donated life-saving, grain bin rescue tube from Farm Credit Services, according to Chief Klent Schnell. FCS donated more than 400 of these devices, which sell for more than $3,000, throughout an 8-state region, Schnell said. "Keith Wasielewski, a member of our department, was the driving force to get Bushnell Fire Department on the list for this great donation," Schnell said. "He was in contact with Farm Credits Crop Insurance agent, Car...

  • Friends and Neighbors: Farmer's Day Dignitaries

    Tonia Copeland|Sep 22, 2016

    Lifelong Kimball resident Martha Mossberg, 99, was chosen as the 2016 Farmer's Day Outstanding Homemaker. Mossberg was born and raised on a farm in Kimball County and graduated from Kimball High School in 1937. "We worked on the farm, in the fields," she said. "I was from a family of ten." She raised her three children, Elsie, Kenneth and Marshall, in the same way, on the farm and in Kimball schools. "We farmed in Banner County, but we lived in Kimball County," Mossberg said. "They are still...

  • Pork and beef donated to Banner County School

    Aleta Pearson|Sep 22, 2016

    This month’s Banner County School board covered numerous issues with decisive understanding of both the school and county’s needs. While reviewing the thorough accounting from Lana Sides, Superintendent, of the school’s first month’s spending, Sides discussed a few new purchases for the school. Sides negotiated for five fold-up lunchroom tables at a vastly discounted price from another school. Principal Charles Jones believes these tables will greatly enhance the schools ability to clean the floors and rearrange for different events. To comp...

  • Autumn officially begins today

    Aleta Pearson|Sep 22, 2016

    Today is the Autumn Equinox which is most often referred to as the first day of fall in astronomical terms. The day and night will have near equal representation here in Kimball as the sun crosses the equator heading south for the next six months. The earth’s tilt is neither at its maximum lean nor at its least, we, as a planet, are directly in the middle for a change. Did you know that this morning the sun rose exactly due east and it will set precisely due west? An occurrence that only happens twice a year on our planet. This happens along w...

  • Boyd E. Russell

    Sep 22, 2016

    Boyd E. Russell, 90, formerly of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, died in Peoria, Arizona, on September 10, 2016. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept 29, 2016 at the Pine Bluffs Methodist Church with Pastor Lesley Matschke officiating. Burial will be in the Kimball Cemetery. Friends may visit www.cantrell fh.com to view Boyd's Tribute Wall and leave message of sympathy for the family. Memorials have been established to the American Alzheimer's Association. The local services for...

  • Letter to the Editor: Seconds

    Sep 22, 2016

    In a few seconds a huge semi-truck with a long trailer rumbled south on Chestnut through Kimball. Just long enough for me to look up and see the trailer loaded with hay. What a beautiful sight. All these bails of hay represented an incredible amount of energy. Energy received from the sun, the rain and mother earth. But most of all it also took an amazing input of long hours, lots of know-how, patience, faith, hope and stick-to-it-ness by the farmer. Who are these farmers who send truckloads o hay or produce down the road? And how far does...

  • Veterans History Project

    Larry Nelson|Sep 22, 2016

    The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Kenneth Mueller (Ken) has been a part of this community for nearly all his ninety-four years! He was raised on a farm north of Potter, NE. He graduated high school and knew of the war raging in Europe and in the Pacific. Right out of high school, he used the farm deferment to help his parents on...

  • Pride of Kimball Yard of the Week

    Sep 22, 2016

    Dawn Moeser, representing Keep Kimball Beautiful, presented Moul and his four-legged friend, Desi, with the Pride of Kimball Yard of the Week sign. Moul was nominated and chosen for the award based on his neatly manicured lawn as well as his colorful small gardens, set apart with landscaping timber and filled with decorative stone. Moul combines evergreens with native grasses, adds a dash of whimsy with garden art and throws in the bright pop of color from both early and late blooming...

  • Going to a hukilau

    Sep 22, 2016

    The Kimball County Manor hosted a Luau for residents on Thursday, Sept. 15. Residents enjoyed many games, a hula performance and unusual tropical treats throughout the afternoon....

  • Kimball runners push for season and personal best

    Tonia Copeland|Sep 22, 2016

    The Kimball Cross Country team competed in Alliance on Sturday, Sept. 17, according to head coach Tiffany Johnson. "It was a really good day and all of our runners ran really well. Most of our athletes had their personal best or season best time at this meet," she said. "The race in Alliance starts a busy week for our athletes." Kimball's varsity boys placed two in the top ten out of a field of 63 runners with Brandon Barker taking fifth in 18:11, followed by Zachery Wager in ninth place with a...

  • Wildcats struggled with Minatare's size

    Staff Report|Sep 22, 2016

    The Banner County wildcats took one on the chin as they lost a conference game against Minatare, at home Friday, 45-83. "Our biggest challenge was Minatare's size, I knew going in we would struggle with their size and that is what happened," coach Charles Jones said. "I felt that they wore us down as the game went on and that is something that we struggle with in practice is simulating other teams size," he added. Recognizing these things, coach Jones said they need to keep working on the...

  • Longhorns fall to Mitchell and Chase County

    Tom Southard|Sep 22, 2016

    The Kimball High Football Team is still looking for that first win after dropping games to Mitchell and Chase County the past two weeks. On top of this, the schedule doesn't get any easier as they travel to Hershey this Friday night for a 6:30 Mountain Time contest with a club that has been top ten state ranked. The Horns scored 30 points at Mitchell getting their offense untracked somewhat, but gave up 46 pints to a Tiger Team that averages around 300 pounds up front and equipped with speed...

  • Jock Talk

    Tom Southard|Sep 22, 2016

    News from Four Winds Golf Pro Chad Wise is “Come out and enjoy some beautiful Fall golf.” Jeremy Williams and his crew have recently sanded plugged the greens and they are in pretty nice shape again and getting better each and every day. Right now, there are discounted green fees and lots of open golf. This year’s Open Stroke Tournament was not held due to lack of entries, but a new format is in the plans for next year and it is expected to attract more golfers. The Men’s combined year-end scramble will be held this Sunday (September 25), with...

  • Nationally honored runner to compete in Farmer's Day Fun Run

    Tom Southard|Sep 22, 2016

    Andrew Knutsen will be out to set a new record as he runs in the Farmer’s Day Fun Run this Saturday. Andy, with Kimball ties, including his uncle Jerry, and his father Steve, who will also be back in town to help celebrate his Class of 1966 Kimball High reunion, is a runner of National honors. Andy has been competing in the Xterra Tri-Athlon events where each contestant swims .93 miles, bikes 17.7 miles, and runs 6.2 miles. In a recent Pan American Championship event in Ogden, Utah, he place 29th overall including the Pro contestants, and w...

  • Longhorn Volleyball upgrades season record to 3-8

    Sep 22, 2016

    The Kimball Lady Longhorns brought in another win when they hosted the Pine Bluffs, Wyo. Hornet on Thursday, Sept. 15 in Kimball upgrading their record to 3-8 for the season. The Lady Horns played in the Alliance triangular on Tuesday, Sept. 20. No stats were available for the game. Kimball 20 25 25 25 11---2 Pine Bluffs 25 19 27 23 15---3...