Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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After 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Kimball County Clerk Cathy Sibal released the unofficial results of the Nov. 5 general election. Official results will not be available until the canvassing board meets on Nov. 13. On the local scene, Kimball County Agricultural Society requested up to a 1.15 cents levy on $100 of taxable valuation was narrowly passed by the voters with 853 voting yes and 789 voting no. The other levy request from the Plains Historical Society was successful by a slim margin of 818 for...
The energy and excitement was palpable as Brogran Cross, 8, and Breklyn Cross, 6, described their recent Make-A-Wish trip and gifts. Brogan and Breklyn are active and happy kids, participating in such activities as volleyball, basketball and football at recess and P.E. And riding horses. Brogan is the typical older sibling, not one bit shy, as he took charge of the interview for this story by sharing both of their experiences. But eventually, his sister Breklyn got to tell her story. Banner...
Brad Hottell said, "The military changed my life." Brad graduated from Kimball High School in 2003 with no direction or "zero goals" in mind, but circumstances led him to enlist in the U.S. Army before his graduation. He left for Fort Knox, Kentucky, and basic training shortly after graduation. Landing in Fort Knox was the first time Brad had been outside of Nebraska. After basic training, he was assigned to live at Fort Lewis, Washington, until deployments. He said, "All the units I was with co...
Clouds of smoke could be seen from Kimball at just past noon on Thursday, Oct. 24, as the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department was called into action for a large and fast moving grass fire south of I-80 just across from the Four Winds Golf Course. Emergency Management 21 said that 245 acres were burned and fortunately the fire ran into a green wheat field, which halted its southeast progress. Fire Chief Andrew Bohac said the fire started on the interstate right of way but the cause is...
Plans for the 2025 Longhorn All-Class Reunion are being solidified with the dates set for July 3-6, 2025. The reunion committee is on a special mission to find the oldest living graduate of KCHS, with a keen focus on the graduates of 1957, 1958, and 1960. Your presence is not just desired, but it’s crucial to make this event truly memorable. With an influx of individuals hitting the town of Kimball, the All-School Reunion committee is asking for residents with extra rooms to offer up a place for alumni to stay. The Kimball Public School F...
A recall process has begun on Kimball’s Mayor John Morrison with the filing of the Recall Petition Filing Form. The form was filed Oct. 22 by Ronald C. Buchart. Recall is a lengthy process in the state of Nebraska; the process could take up to 80 days with deadlines and certifications. In this case, for a recall election to occur, 280 valid signatures must be gathered, which is 35% of those that voted in the last general election. An attachment to the recall form included these reasons for the recall form: • Raised community property tax levy d...
Several weeks ago, incumbent Senator Deb Fischer was interviewed by the Observer during her visit to Kimball. In an effort to provide fair coverage, the Observer contacted her opponent, Independent Dan Osborn for an interview. The long-awaited election is Nov. 5, and Osborn was crisscrossing the western part of the state. While in Sidney on Monday, the Observer met with him for a brief interview. Osborn noted that as he travelled throughout the state, Nebraskans expressed concern about the economy/inflation, immigration and the border, and...
For the second time in two days, Gloria Gonzales went missing last week. She was found both times but not without a very long and extensive search in Kimball and surrounding areas, a credit to the dedication of the search teams. Numerous agencies were involved in the search for Gonzales, including CERT teams from Kimball, Scottsbluff and Sidney, the Nebraska State Patrol with a drone, Kimball police, the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department, Kimball County Sheriff's Office, Kimball EMS, and Region...
Over 400 Kimball County voters have cast early ballots for the November 5 election. With early voting continuing through November 4, and then polling places opening on November 5 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the time to make your voice heard is now. The polling places are the Sagebrush in Kimball, Bushnell Fire Hall, and the Dix Fire Hall. At the forefront of the local ballot issues are the property tax levies for the Kimball County Agricultural Society and the Plains Historical Society. If approved, these levies will be in effect for five year...
Kimball woodcarver Don Story said, "I don't sell anything; I have never sold a carving; I give a lot of them away." Story shared some of his carvings and his love of the skill with the crowd at the Kimball Friendship Center last week. Each and every carving is a work of art with tiny details and intricate designs. Every Christmas, he makes an ornament for his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, that is, 19 ornaments he will make. He began his carving days while delivering fuel, waiting for the...
Eldon B. Lewis, 27, of Kimball, has been arraigned and appeared in court again on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Lewis is accused of a Class 3A felony, intentional cruelty to an animal, during an alleged Oct. 8 incident in Kimball in which he killed and ate a pet cat. Mark L. Kovarik, attorney for Kimball County, said in a complaint that Eldon Lewis “then and there … knowingly and intentionally, cruelly mistreated an animal by intentional torture, repeated beating, or mutilation of the animal.” In addition to the felony, Lewis is charged with viola...
The Sons of the Union Soldiers of the Civil War ceremoniously honored George W. Beard, the last Civil War Union soldier to be buried in Kimball during a brief ceremony at 11 a.m. Oct. 19 at Kimball Cemetery. The ceremony was conducted by the organization's John Surman. Beard's grave is highlighted by a Grand Army of the Republic marker. This marker, a symbol of his service and dedication to the Union, serves as a poignant reminder of his contributions. Beard was in his 30s when he fought for...
The Kimball County Emergency Dispatch is open and staffed 24/7, 365 days a year, to field calls for various agencies making response times as quick as possible. Last year, county dispatch answered 7,244 calls for Kimball Fire Department, Kimball ambulance, the Kimball Police Department, Bushnell Fire, Dix Fire and, of course, public calls. On occasion, they receive calls out of Banner County for fire response. Dispatchers sit on the third floor of the Kimball County Courthouse and often are need...
Former Kimball City Councilman and former Mayor Greg Robinson was appointed by current Mayor John Morrison to fill a council seat left vacant by the resignation of Don Muench. Robinson’s appointment was approved at the Oct. 15, 2024 meeting by the council in a 3-0 vote, and the former Larsen’s Jewelry Store owner will assume his duties in November. Morrison said in December there would be two new council members with no experience, and he felt he needed to appoint someone with experience. An executive session completed the council meeting. How...
The Horns handed the Morrill Lions a season ending defeat by a score of 46-0. The Longhorns also ended the season with a big win, but an overall record of 2-6 and fifth in district standings. Kimball football will miss the following seniors: Trenton Hottell, Jacob Wurdeman, Connor Deboodt, Noe Trevino, Hunter Funk and Aaspyn Tyan. Efforts forge on to build a bright future for the Horns. Coach Darrell Howitt said that 10 eighth-graders will add to the program for next fall. He said the eighth...
Eleven law enforcement personnel converged on 404 Myrtle St. in Kimball shortly after 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, to execute a search warrant in reference to possible animal cruelty case. In an affidavit, Kimball Police Officer Logan Luft stated that Eldon Blake Lewis, 27, was being investigated for capturing, killing, skinning, eating and keeping the head of his ex-wife's cat. While Lewis was detained in the patrol car, the household, garage and property were searched. Luft's affidavit states...
The Kimball County Commissioner accepted the resignation/retirement of highway superintendent Randy Bymer on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Bymer has served in the superintendent capacity for five years and will retire effective Dec. 27. After a review of the job description, the county will begin the search for a new road superintendent. In other business at the meeting, discussion centered on filling a vacancy on the Kimball County Visitors Committee and seeking a person to fill an at-large position to represent the county on the City/County Park and...
A Dix man is facing a variety of charges after an incident on Oct. 8. Mike Evans has been charged with assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest, obstruction of law enforcement, flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, and driving under revocation for the incident which started with a Kimball County Sheriff’s deputy attempting to stop Evans south of Dix on county roads 59 and 18. Deputy Youngquist said that while he was on patrol, he observed a vehicle run off the road, get back on the road, and drive down the center. When Y...
Budgets for area governmental entities have been approved by their boards and submitted to the state. Here’s how the budget numbers break down for the city of Kimball, comparing the 2023-24 and 2024-25 budgets. Property Tax Request: $533,102.24 in 2023-24 and $743,113.56 in 2024-25. Valuations: $147,439,939.00 in 2023-24 and $179,818,174.00 in 2024-25. Municipal Levy: 0.361572 in 2023-24 and 0.413258 in 2024-25. Value Attributable to Growth: $2,081,295.00 in 2023-24 and $2,172,301.00 in 2024-25. Real Growth Percentage: 1.68 in 2023-24 and 0...
The Kimball Volunteer Fire Department celebrated National Fire Prevention Week, observed from Oct. 6-12 this year, with its annual open house on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Leading up to the event at the fire hall, community support for the department remained strong. KVFD's first open house was held in 2007, and this now-established successful community event continues to this day. This year's turnout was not immediately available, but more than 180 people attended last year. A light supper and...
Traveling parts of the state of Nebraska, Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer visited Kimball and the Western Nebraska Observer for an interview Monday. She is seeking a third six-year term and facing off against registered Independent challenger Dan Osborn. Fischer outlined her recent official stops in Kimball, with elected Scottsbluff officials, in North Platte for an airport opening, and at meetings in Broken Bow and Ogallala. "So that is the job," she remarked. Fischer also touched on topics...
Kimball FFA members ride their float down 2nd Street in Kimball during the Farmer's Day Parade on Saturday, Sept. 28. The float treated parade watchers with a patriotic ag theme including flags, corn, wheat and hay bales. Kimball FFA has about 30 members....
The Lady Longhorns have only one home game left in the 2024 season. The Arena should be packed on Oct. 15 for the home JV/V game with Paxton. The team will travel for eight games beginning from Tuesday, Oct. 8, with a Triangular at Bayard, then on the 10th they play at Morrill. The season's remaining games are tournaments and triangulars throughout October. Subdistricts is scheduled for the end of October. Experience will pay off in the future as a young team is gaining in playing time and...
With two games left in the regular season, the Kimball Longhorns have the opportunity to improve their record and head into next year with momentum. Though the Longhorns have demonstrated grit and determination, never giving up despite facing tough opponents and lopsided scores. This Friday they travel to Sutherland for their final road trip. Sutherland is 1-5. They lost 26-6 to common opponent Hemingford. The Horns lost 68-20 to Hemingford. This could be a great match up. The final game of the regular season is against Morrill (0-6) on the Hor...
Edward Barnes and his sister, Autumn Uglow, aren't your typical siblings. They spend their time behind the wheel, crashing and smashing their way through local demolition derbies. And with their combined 23 years of experience – nine years for Edward and 14 for Autumn – they are seasoned veterans in the local derby scene. Their preparation for the Farmer's Day Demolition Derby started long before the engines revved up on Saturday night. "Stripping everything out, including the seats," is the...