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

Articles written by Daria Anderson-faden


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  • A Closer Look At Proposed Land Trade

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Mar 14, 2024

    Last week’s Observer article “A Look At Kimball Land Swap Plan” stirred some discussion among residents on the practicality of the land swap. Under the Kimball Rec land swap plan, four ballfields on 44 acres at the Rec Center would be exchanged for 4.5 acres that include the former Windbreak Restaurant and two golf sheds. The Windbreak Restaurant would be remodeled into a Four Winds Golf Course pro shop with a possible bar. The entity in charge of the land swap or conversion is the Park and Rec Executive Board. Residents have expressed...

  • Stopping Terror Discussed In Kimball

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Mar 14, 2024

    See something. Say something. That was the message. The Kimball County Transit Service building was packed with local and state law enforcement, politicians, city and county employees, a group from Sidney, and citizens interested in learning about threat assessments and the need to report suspicious activity. Nebraskans are of the mindset to mind your own business, but speaker Lt. Monty Lovelace, director of the Nebraska Fusion Center, said those days are over. He said people need to be vigilant...

  • Kimball Recycling Gets Its Money

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Mar 14, 2024

    Keep Kimball Beautiful scored big again in the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy financial awards. In response to being awarded the money, Director Spud Rowley said, "The totes are coming to the alleyways." He said the totes are in high demand, and he is constantly being asked for alley totes for residents to place recyclables to be collected The Kimball facility, operational for 42 years and functioning out of the city building for the past 30 years, received three different grants...

  • Banner County FFA Auction Raises $20,000

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Mar 14, 2024

    Banner County FFA adviser Bill Gifford reported that 200 people were in attendance at the recent 2nd ever FFA auction. The FFA Boosters served the meal and feedback has been very positive on the event. Gifford said, "I think we collected nearly $20,000 in donations this year, and we were overwhelmed with that number. "We really are grateful to our community and the surrounding communities that supported us. It is very humbling to think that so many can be so generous in so many ways to support...

  • District FFA Champs Show Their Stuff To Board

    Daria Anderson-Faden|Mar 14, 2024

    A presentation from the Kimball FFA Parliamentary Procedure team topped the agenda Monday at the Kimball School Board meeting. Using Robert's Rules of Order, they conducted a mock meeting in preparation for the state FFA contest. The presentation was done by team members Nolan Cook, Landon Norberg, Grace Anderson, Aubrey Culek and Hayden Sours. Meanwhile, Superintendent Trevor Anderson reported two more donations of locally raised beef in February, making the total beef donations five for the...

  • More Drug Busts Go Down In Kimball, Several Arrested

    Daria Anderson-Faden|Mar 14, 2024

    A search warrant resulting in multiple Kimball arrests was executed on March 9 at separate residences by the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s department was assisted by the Kimball police and the Nebraska State Patrol. A traffic stop in the 600 block of Burg Street produced stolen items as well as a white powdery substance on the person of Jordan Crews. Crews, 27 was arrested and charged for possession of a controlled substance (meth) and possession of stolen property with a...

  • A Look At Kimball 'Land Swap' Plan

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Mar 7, 2024

    The "land swap" at the Rec Area should be a topic of interest to taxpayers, baseball/softball players and golfers. It is not actually called a land swap by the Nebraska Game and Parks, but it is called a conversion – outdoor recreation land is being converted to other outdoor recreation land. Hannah Jones from Nebraska Game and Parks said that the Kimball Rec Area conversion is in the "early stages" and "it is not a short process." The lengthy process is meant to safeguard outdoor recreation...

  • Grounds Director: 'Learning As We Go'

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Mar 7, 2024

    The Kimball County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday morning to hear from department heads on the workings of the county government. Heads of the roads, buildings and grounds, veterans office and KCTS gave the commissioners updates and reports. Veterans Service Officer Program Coordinator Darcee Wheeland reported on new veterans numbers, military records and medical record requests for December 2023 and January 2024. County veterans receive more than $80,000 in benefits from the Veterans Administration each month. Newly appointed...

  • The Costs OF A Jail

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Mar 7, 2024

    From the smallest to the largest, all counties in Nebraska elect a sheriff. The county sheriffs throughout Nebraska have several duties and responsibilities, with their number one responsibility law enforcement. State statutes requires the sheriff to serve, execute and return writs or other legal process issued by a lawful authority. The sheriff shall prepare and file an annual inventory statement of county personal property in his or her custody. The sheriff has charge and custody of the jail...

  • Kimball Police To Get Drug Dog

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 29, 2024

    The Kimball Police Department received approval on two items at the Kimball City Council meeting on Feb. 20. A CargoGlide for a department pickup received approval for this budget season, and the council approved the purchase of a drug dog for the 2024-25 budget year. The CargoGlide, priced at $5,657.99, will provide storage for traffic cones, spikes, pepperballs, evidence collection kits, ballistic shields and instructor gear. Chief Jose Ruiz also received approval for a canine program to be started; this would include a female yellow lab....

  • Gov. Pillen's Other Business In Kimball

    Daria Anderson-Faden, THe Observer|Feb 29, 2024

    Gov. Pillen arrived in Kimball for the Kimball Health Services hospital ribbon cutting on Monday, Feb 26, but he also tended to other business. The governor and his entourage landed on the newly resurfaced Kimball Municipal Airport runway 10/28 and found the landing was incredible. The resurfacing project recently received a 2023 Project of the Year award from the state. Before the ribbon cutting, Pillen met with KCTS staff and toured Kimball Public Schools. Pillen and members of his Department...

  • Big, Beautiful Celebration For Hospital

    Daria Anderson-Faden|Feb 29, 2024

    The Kimball community came out en masse for Kimball Health Services new hospital ribbon cutting on Monday, Feb. 26. On a windy day, an estimated 200 or more people crammed into the entryway and clinic waiting area while officials were recognized and spoke of the process to develop the facility. Gov. Jim Pillen started off the ceremony with a message of congratulations. "This is a big, big deal for rural Nebraska, for Kimball, for your community," he said. Pillen spoke about what a fantastic...

  • Banner County Helping Fight Wildfire

    Daria Anderson-Faden, THe Observer|Feb 29, 2024

    The wildfire that began 8.6 miles northeast of North Platte on Monday morning continued to burn as of Tuesday afternoon. The Betty’s Way Fire has consumed 71,022 acres, according to a press release from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, with the hopes of some containment later on Tuesday. With winds over 40 mph the fire continues to spread east, and evacuations have been issued. According to Emergency Management Region 22 (Scottsbluff and Banner counties), local departments have responded to the mutual aid request by taking firemen...

  • Pillen, NDOT Boss To Visit KCTS

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 22, 2024

    Kimball County Transit Service Administrator Christy Warner informed the Kimball County Commissioners at their Tuesday meeting that Gov. Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Transportation Director Vicki Kramer will visit the transit service Feb. 26 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Statistics for KCTS also were presented by Warner. Of 33,943 rides for the calendar year 2023, 61% were from Kimball County. Other numbers showed that 8,843 rides were educational and preschool, school or college; 3,690 rides were for employment; 2,086 were deliveries f...

  • Kimball's Unsolved Mystery

    Daria Anderson-Faden|Feb 22, 2024

    Bobby "Shorty" Wilson disappeared without a trace from the streets of Kimball on October 30, 1956, and the family struggled with his disappearance and searched for years for clues or his remains. In 1958, the family had a marker erected in the Kimball Cemetery that read: Robert G. "Shorty" Wilson. His birth date was May 28, 1925, and he was born in Kimball, Nebraska. The simple headstone says, "Disappeared on October 30, 1956." A description of Shorty Wilson was provided in a reward posted in...

  • Suspect Being Held After Standoff

    Daria Anderson-Faden|Feb 15, 2024

    A high-drama scene unfolded on Thursday, Feb. 8, when the Kimball Police Department answered a disturbance call at 311 Cedar St. and followed up with an attempted arrest. The situation led to a standoff between law enforcement and a suspect in his home from morning until late evening. The next day, the suspect called the Kimball County Sheriff's Office and talked with Sheriff Dave Hottell. They worked out a method for the suspect to be taken into custody. Later, Hottell showed up at the...

  • Kimball Airport Runway A Winner

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 15, 2024

    The rehabilitation of primary runway 10/28 at the Kimball Municipal Airport/Robert E. Arraj Field received the 2023 Project of the Year at the Nebraska Department of Transportation Aeronautic Division yearly awards night on Jan. 23. Chair of the airport board Ryan McElroy also received an Award of Merit. The new runway project provides a safe landing and takeoff surface for all users of the airport. Runway 10/28 is 6,200 feet long and 75 feet wide. The rehabilitation included 6 inch concrete whi...

  • Kimball's Unsolved Mystery

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 15, 2024

    First Of Two Parts Almost 70 years ago before social media, cells phones, and cable TV, when oil was king, local children suffered from polio, and a washing machine at Montgomery Ward would cost you $159.95, Kimball's Bobby Wilson, 4 foot 6 inch in stature, disappeared from a local service station in broad daylight and was never heard from again. No body was ever discovered that matched his size, and no crime scene was ever found. Bobby Wilson just disappeared into thin air, never heard from...

  • School Board Gets Plasma Table Cutter For Kimball FFA

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 15, 2024

    Kimball Jr/Sr High School received the Circle of Excellence award from Cognia on Monday evening at the Kimball School Board meeting. Cognia is the largest accreditation organization in the world and does on-site reviews for educational institutions. Cognia did the accreditation for Kimball Public Schools last year. The presentation included comments from the regional accreditation evaluator, Dr. Dan Leikvold, "Kimball Jr/Sr High School has a robust continuous school improvement process and an...

  • Diesel Theft Ring Hits Kimball

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 8, 2024

    Kimball has been added to the list of areas that have suffered thefts of thousands of gallons of fuel at fuel stations. Other communities hit by the theft rings include Chappell, Benkelman, Haigler, Sidney and Dalton. Video shows that on Jan. 26, a white straight box truck with two subjects pulled up to a fuel station at Frenchman Valley Coop in Kimball and absconded with over 1,000 gallons of fuel. With the theft occurring in the city of Kimball, the Kimball Police Department is investigating....

  • Welcome Center Sale Date Near

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 8, 2024

    At the Feb. 6 Kimball County Commissioners meeting, an update on the sale of the High Point Welcome Center was provided. After completing its due diligence, Big D Oil Company of Rapid City, S.D., will complete the purchase of the High Point Welcome Center and surrounding acres on Feb. 12. The county will lease the welcome center back for $500 a month until Big D is ready to start construction. The center and additional eight acres were sold to Big D for $500,000. The company plans on developing the area as a truck stop. Other business in front...

  • THE BLESSING BUS

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 8, 2024

    "It is a joy, a blessing," Lela Carpenter said. "It is large enough for our family to go places and be together. It's great." Lela and her family purchased the "blessing bus" when it was declared surplus property for the county. The commissioners requested that the County Clerk's Office handle the bid process, and it went out for bid two different times. The first time there was no bid. The second time, the Carpenters bid $500 and they were the only bid, so they received the "blessing bus."...

  • Red Letter Days Set For New Hospital

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 1, 2024

    Officials for Kimball Health Services anticipate that the new building will be fully operational and ready for patients on Feb. 19. An open house and ribbon cutting is scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 26 with Gov. Jim Pillen in attendance, along with other politicians, officials and the public. The hospital, clinic and emergency room will open on Feb. 19 at 255 West 4th St. if all goes according to plan. CEO and CFO Cassie Gasseling said that employees from the portable trailers at the old hospital...

  • Missile Costs Concern Air Force

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 1, 2024

    Discussions continue in Washington, D.C., on the modernization of weapon systems for the United States. The Air Force Sentinel project is destined for F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne and bases in North Dakota and Montana. The Sentinel is the ICBM replacement package for the current outdated Minuteman III missiles, and the program is often discussed by Air Force officials and think tanks in Washington, D.C. The Sentinel is the land-based leg of the United States nuclear triad on air, land and sea. Recently, when the Sentinel project came...

  • Four Candidates File For County Commissioner Seat

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Feb 1, 2024

    Not many candidates have filed for open offices for Kimball County or the City of Kimball, County Clerk Cathy Sibal told the Observer. But as of early Tuesday, she said four individuals have filed for Kimball County commissioner on the Republican side. They are incumbent Carl Stander files and challengers Dave Hottell (former Kimball County highway superintendent), Matt Bright and Sarah Weisbrook. The winner of the primary election on May 14 will move forward to the general ballot. No Democrats have announced their intentions for the...

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