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

Articles from the March 19, 2015 edition


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  • Kimball city council approves drug dog purchase, nixes bomb dog

    Tonia Copeland|Mar 19, 2015

    The Kimball City Council approved the police department’s request for a drug dog at Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting, while it denied the request for a bomb dog. The council voted 3-2, with Mayor Keith Prunty casting the deciding vote, in favor of a drug dog for the police department. Others voting in favor were council members James Schnell and John Morrison, while council members Christy Warner and James Shields voted against it. The vote for the bomb dog was defeated by a 4-0 margin. The council also denied the department immediate app...

  • Corky Lee 'fortunate,' 'blessed' to survive accident

    Tonia Copeland|Mar 19, 2015

    Fire alarms rang out when Kimball's main intersection became an accident scene on just after 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10. Police reports state that Dr. Donald Gerner of Kimball was traveling west on Highway 30 and attempted a left-hand turn onto Chestnut Street at the stoplight. According to the police report, Dr. Gerner did not see Cora "Corky" Lee, also of Kimball, on her orange RX8 Vespa-like scooter because the sun was shining very brightly in his eyes. Corky, with her dog, Bella, was...

  • Slight uptick in drug use seen over a year after Colorado pot laws go into effect

    John Verser|Mar 19, 2015

    Kimball County Sheriff Harry Gillway said the biggest problem with marijuana is that it is a segue drug, and he knows first-hand the sorrows that can come from its use. Gillway’s nephew used marijuana and eventually tried methamphetamines. He died from a methamphetamine overdose. “My older half brother, he grew up in the ‘60s, the late ‘60s, the countercultural revolution, and he smoked marijuana. He tried LSD, he used speed,” Gillway said. “And he grew up, and he was older, he was married, had children. He told his children that marijuana i...

  • Friends and Neighbors: Baliman plays the role of 'cheerleader' for the town that almost spells her name

    Tonia Copeland|Mar 19, 2015

    Kim Baliman is called Kimball's biggest cheerleader by many, and it is one of the names she proudly wears. "That's a big honor, so I will take it," Baliman said. "I don't know why I have such passion for Kimball, I think it is just who I am." Born and raised in Kimball, Baliman said she cannot think of a better place to live, work and do business – or a better place to call home, than Kimball. "We have good people, honest people," Baliman said. "We have great businesses, banks, hospital, schools...

  • Celebrating Ag Week: Ag Society hopes to create awareness

    Tonia Copeland|Mar 19, 2015

    The Kimball County Ag Society is involved in more than just the county fair. Doug Lukassen, president of the Ag Society, said that though the local organization is meant to put on the county fair, it contributes in many more ways to the community and to young people of the county. The organization works to educate young people about agriculture and safety and increases the opportunity for programs such as 4-H and FFA to grow, according to Lukassen. “We really strongly support 4-H and FFA programs in any way we can,” he said. That support inc...

  • Ambulance fees to increase beginning April 1

    John Verser|Mar 19, 2015

    The Kimball County Commissioners unanimously approved an increase in fees for the county's ambulance service at Tuesday's regularly scheduled meeting. Carla Goranson, county ambulance director, said the increase was needed to cover the cost of operating the service. She said the cost of an average call to the ambulance service is $938.20. However, Medicare only reimburses the service $260 per call, leaving the county to lose money if paid for through that program. Goranson said 58 percent of...

  • City to force removal of 'junk' vehicles

    Tonia Copeland|Mar 19, 2015

    It is spring cleaning time again and the City of Kimball is reminding residents to spruce up by taking care of junk vehicles. To this end, the city will begin citing owners of junk vehicles on May 1. Junked motor vehicles, as defined by Chapter 98, Section 98.02 of Kimball Municipal Code, are any non-operational motor vehicles or those which do not have current license plates and tags. These vehicles may be partially or fully dismantled, abandoned or wrecked, but they do not necessarily have to be in that state to be considered junk vehicles....

  • Dwight D. Walker

    Mar 19, 2015

    Dwight D. Walker, 58, of Fort Morgan, Colo., passed away March 14, 2015, at Valley View Villa in Fort Morgan. Dwight graduated from Kimball County High School in 1975. He attended diesel mechanics school in Wyoming. Dwight worked in several occupations during his life. Dwight has lived in Fort Morgan since 1983. He married Susan Pritchard on Feb. 28, 1987, in Littleton, Colo. Dwight’s favorite activity was spending time with his family. He enjoyed playing video games. Survivors include his wife, Susan; three children, Dustin Walker, Marley H...

  • All the 'injured' come out for KHS ribbon cutting at Potter

    Mar 19, 2015

    It was a gruesome scene in downtown Potter last Wednesday afternoon. "Patients" sporting an arrow through the head, bandaged arms and more wandered down the street to the official grand opening of the Kimball Health Services Clinic in Potter. Those who showed up dressed creatively with the fake injuries had staff members guess those "injuries" prior to the official ribbon cutting ceremony. The venture officially opened last fall, and visits to the clinic have increased from 67 in September to...

  • Kimball/Banner Farm Bureau scholarships available

    Mar 19, 2015

    The Kimball/Banner Farm Bureau will again offer scholarships to high school seniors in the two county schools. The scholarships are available to seniors who plan to attend an accredited college, trade school or university of the 2015-16 school year. Consideration for the scholarships will be given on basis of scholarship, activities in the school and community, and an interest in an ag-related field. Real estate, nursing, technical training, aviation, engineering, teaching and more may be considered an ag-related field. Students do not have to...

  • 3 Kimball speech team members qualify for state

    Mar 19, 2015

    Three members of the Kimball High School speech team earned state berths Monday at the district competition in North Platte. Kimball finished third as a team at the competition. Darcy Usher, Taylor Muldoon and Leisha Casimiro will each represent Kimball at state. Usher finished first in poetry interpretation, Muldoon took second place in serious prose and Casimiro finished third in informative speaking. Other competitors included: Ryan Soper, Kaden Adrian, Sebastian Portillo, Nicholas...

  • Stull tabbed Kimball student of the month

    Mar 19, 2015

    Congratulations to Kimball High School's February Student of the Month, Colton Stull. Colton has participated in many activities throughout his high school career. He has maintained a 4.0 GPA, achieving a place on the Principal's Honor Roll every quarter throughout high school. Colton's activities have included four years of football, four years of basketball, and three years of track. He has received all-conference and/or all-district honors along with NSAA Academic All-State honors in each...

  • Kimball sends 15 students to Western Trails Conference Honor Band

    Mar 19, 2015

    On Tuesday, March 10, Kimball sent 15 students to participate in the Western Trails Conference Honor Band in Gordon. Students from the seven conference schools spent six hours practicing and put on an excellent concert to those that were able to attend....

  • Muneio, Rutledge sign with Midland University

    Tom Southard|Mar 19, 2015

    Two more Kimball High athletes signed letters of intent Tuesday to continue their education and athletic careers at the college level. Ryan Muneio and Damien Rutledge both signed to attend Midland University with Muneio to participate in track and Rutledge in football. Kyle Peacock, a former football player for Midland located in Fremont, Nebraska, is now the Admissions Counselor for Midland, and was in town to handle the signing. Muneio plans on focusing on the middle distance events in...

  • Heading to nationals

    Mar 19, 2015

    Tyson Culek, above, from Kimball, will advance to the American Poolplayers Association's (APA) 8-Ball National Singles Championships in Las Vegas in April after winning his skill level tier at the Nebraska Singles Regional Championship recently at TJ's Family Fun Center in McCook. Over 60 players from all over Western Nebraska qualified to play in the two day event in McCook and the top seven players advanced to the National Tournament in their respective skill level tiers in 8-Ball and 9-Ball....

  • Land earns All-America honor

    Mar 19, 2015

    Kimball's Brady Land, right, shows off his All-America honor with University of Nebraska-Kearney assistant track coach Ross Fellows. Land finished sixth in the long jump at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Ala....

  • Spring is in the air...well, sometimes

    Mar 19, 2015

    The lone senior on this year's Kimball High golf team, Michael Ferguson, watches his ball off number one tee box during practice Monday evening at the Four Winds Golf Course. Ferguson will bring experience and leadership to the Kimball High team....

  • A hole in one on opening day

    Mar 19, 2015

    Jordan Greenwood, Kimball High sophomore, scored a hole in one at the Four Winds Golf Course Sunday on opening day. Playing in a three-some including his dad Kenny and Kimball High team mate Kyle Spicer, he got his first hole in one on number 17....