Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
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Discussion and action items consumed a majority of the meeting time at the Tuesday, January 16, Kimball County Commissioner meeting. At the last meeting, the commissioner decided not to reappoint Steve Warner, buildings and grounds superintendent, but no action was taken on his termination. The non-appointment turned out to be a gray area and so the termination of Warner was on the agenda. Commissioner Carl Stander stated that Warner has worked for the county for 7-8 years and has built and repaired a number of projects, including most...
When the Kimball School Board voted to approve the negotiated two-year agreement with the Kimball Education Association for the 2004-25 and 2025-26 school years, it cinched the four-day week school year. The deal included a 162-day contract with a $1,000 base increase for both school years and a retention bonus. The agreement was approved in a 5-0 vote, with board member and former athletic director Ken Smith abstaining with conflict. After the approval of the 162-day contract, the board...
Kimball County Court has increased its traffic and criminal caseloads significantly from 2022 to 2023. Traffic cases from 2022 to 2023 rose from 645 in 2022 to 941 in 2023, a 32% increase. Agencies responsible for the traffic cases are the Nebraska State Patrol, the Kimball Police Department and the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office. County Attorney Dave Wilson explained reasons for the increase in cases. Wilson said that the Nebraska State Patrol does a concentrated patrol on certain areas, and in the Kimball area the patrol focuses on I-80. T...
Kimball County Buildings and Ground Superintendent Steve Warner was stripped of his appointment at the first meeting of the year by the Kimball County commissioners. The appointment never came to a vote because when Commissioner Carl Stander made the motion to reappoint Warner, the motion died for lack of a second. This all occurred shortly before the vote when three commissioners, attorney Matthew Turman, County Clerk Cathy Sibal and Warner had an executive closed meeting. Even with the vote to not reappoint Warner as superintendent of...
After two long days and nights of working wrecks on the interstate during the Christmas blizzard, Kimball County Sheriff Dave Hottell said he anticipated having a nice, quiet day at home on Wednesday. The relaxing day off did not happen. A county court arrest warrant for nonpayment of a fine would trigger a search warrant and eventually the arrest of a total of seven individuals for felony meth possession. Wednesday began by serving an arrest warrant for fines unpaid from the County Court of...
Josh Holz is moving in a positive direction as the New Year begins. "You have to look forward," he said. "There is no sense in looking backward." These wise words from 33-year-old Josh Holz ring true as he begins 2024 using his first prosthetic hand. Daily, ordinary things have been difficult, but with his new prosthetic, he can hold and grip things. Josh said it is "easier to hold the plate and cut my steak" and "easier to butter toast." His first prosthetic "is a very simple one that uses a...
After public hearings and agenda items, the Kimball City Council rezoned two properties from single family residential to multi-family residential for a planned Clean Harbors housing developent. At the public hearings, the council heard neighbors of the properties voice concerns about traffic, the number of apartments, and the stipulation that Clean Harbors open the apartments to the general public. The two rezoned tracts directly north of Kimball County Manor were re-plated to one tract. The...
The Kimball School Board is expected to continue discussing and gathering information on the four day school week into its next regular meeting. According to Superintendent Trevor Anderson, the next year’s school calendar is typically approved in March – and decisions will be made. Kimball Public Schools currently function on a 4.5 day a week calendar with a half-day of professional development scheduled on Wednesday afternoons for the entire year. In recent weeks, surveys were sent out to students, staff and patrons to obtain information. A m...
The Kimball City/County Park and Recreation Executive Board voted unanimously to borrow $182,500 at 5.35% interest to drill a well and repair Four Winds Golf Course’s largest pump. Sargent Irrigation from Broken Bow will be doing the installation and repairs. The well will be operational by April 1, 2024. Approval for the well was given at a meeting on Tuesday, December 19. Four Winds Superintendent Jeremy Williams explained to the Observer the recent trouble with the large 100 hp well. For the past couple of years, the heads have plugged up wi...
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...
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...
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...
The experience and maturity of the Kimball girls was the difference between Kimball and Garden County. Garden County's young team was overpowered by Kimball's experience and Kimball won, 51-30. Coach Jaclyn Burks was pleased with their execution and the press. Facing Garden County, Addy Olson had 19, Julia Winstrom playing a solid post position had 12, Grace Anderson added 8, sophomore Grace Moore was all over the court and had seven. Finishing out the scoring were Joey Perry with 3 and Rachel...
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...
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...
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...