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

Articles from the April 1, 2021 edition


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  • Shopko Building Owner Planning

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    The new owner of the former Shopko building, Jeff Lepp, confirmed to the Observer this week that he purchased the property. Lepp owns and operates Specialty Sports & Supply in Colorado Springs, Colo., and also owns Chadron Ace Hardware and Annex. Lepp's Colorado store is advertised as the "largest gun store in Colorado" and "is the premier retailer of knives, firearms, ammunition, and accessories on the Colorado front range." The Chadron location also has a wide selection of guns for sale. Lepp...

  • Super Great: Our Church Buildings Are Open For Easter

    Barb Cross, The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    Good morning Banner County, friends near and far! Beautiful weather just in time for Easter. We still have a little snow piled here and there, but I suspect that the high temperatures and high winds will take care of that. As far as Easter, our church buildings are open, which is super great and hopefully families will continue to celebrate together. The zoo in Scottsbluff is hosting Easter egg hunts, Seven of them over a three day period. The first one will be on Friday, April 2nd at 1 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, the third and fouth hunts wil...

  • A Close Look At Proposed Hospital

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    Operating in a 70-year-old building and facing rising patient numbers, Kimball Health Services is looking to build a new hospital. Hospital officials say the new facility would enhance patient care, comfort and privacy, replace the current facility that's at the end of its useful life, and expand services to meet current demand and future needs. The increase in services and patient numbers as reported by Kimball Health Services: • Hospital discharges up 24%. • Rural health clinic visits up 10%...

  • Downtown Accident

    The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    Emergency personnel attend to one of the vehicles involved March 27 in a downtown Kimball accident. According to Kimball Police, on Sunday afternoon two cars collided near the stoplight and intersection of Highways 30 and 71. One person was injured and taken to the Kimball hospital by ambulance. No other details were made available....

  • 32% Of Panhandle Residents Vaccinated So Far

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    Panhandle Public Health District reported no new COVID-19 cases in Kimball County for the past week, and the county is in the yellow or moderate risk category. All of the Panhandle counties are in the yellow or green category. One year ago, on March 29, the first case of COVID-19 appeared in the Panhandle; that case was in Scotts Bluff County. Almost 32% of Panhandle adults have received their vaccination, and COVID doses regularly arrive in the area. This week 2,700 doses, plus the required second doses, will arrive. Anyone over the age of 18...

  • One And Done For Interviewee

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    Mayor Keith Prunty, Kimball City Council and the Board of Public Works conducted one interview last week for city administrator position. The candidate, John Walz, a mechanical engineer from Hastings, was interviewed. Since Dan Dean retired in May of last year, the post has been vacant. Mayor Keith Prunty told the Observer on Monday afternoon that due to “lack of support from the city council, the individual that was interviewed would not be pursued....

  • TGIF In Banner County

    Jim Orr, The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    As Banner County School's four-day school week moves through the final quarter of its second year, enrollment numbers appear to be adding up in its favor. Superintendent Evelyn Browne told the Observer that enrollment at the rural Harrisburg school increased 22 percent from 124 in the 2019-20 school year to 151 through the second week of March in the 2020-21 school year. "Our four-day week is very successful," she said. Option students account for much of Banner's enrollment. The February...

  • Pool Players Shoot For John Aguiniga

    Apr 1, 2021

    Beer & Loathing and Chute 7 were the scenes of the 1st Annual John Aguiniga Memorial Pool Tournament. The pool tournament, silent auction, raffle, and food raised enough money for John's wife, Jen, "to finish paying for his headstone," according to Amy Sapp. In the coming years, the memorial tournament will be held every March with the proceeds going to a local family in need on behalf of the Aguiniga family. Winners of the upper-division pool tournament at Chute 7 were 1st place Seth Krafczik,...

  • Longhorn Girls Third At Morrill Early Bird

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    Kimball's Longhorn track and field teams had to cancel the Kimball Invitational due to weather last weekend, but the team was still able to travel Saturday to compete in the Early Bird Meet at Morrill High School. The girls team placed third overall, while the boys team tied for ninth at the end of the day's competition. The girls finished with 63 points – just five behind champion Crawford and four behind runner-up Bayard. Medal winners for the girls included: • Senior Raven Johnson pla...

  • P-D Boys 4th, Girls 12th

    The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    The area’s Track & Field Teams are in full swing. The Potter-Dix Coyotes are among them, having traveled to Morrill on Saturday to compete in the Early Bird Invitational. The boys squad was fourth and the girls 12th. Medal winners included Luke Kasten and Javon Coyle fifth and sixth in the 200 Meters, Thomas Muldoon third in the 400 Meters and second in the 800 Meters, Brayden Kasten fifth in the 1600 Meters, and Jared Anton second in the 110 Meter Hurdles. The team of Ben Johnson, Javon Coyle, Luke Kasten and Donnie Moench placed second in t...

  • Potter-Dix Pumps Brakes on Four-Day School Week

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    Potter-Dix Public Schools are not rushing a decision on whether to switch to a four-day school week or stick with the traditional five-day week. When the Observer contacted Potter-Dix Schools Superintendent Adam Patrick via email, he responded with this statement on March 25: "A decision to slow the time frame on approaching the four day school week has been made. “Providing a high-quality education for all students is the number one priority of the district. We want to ensure whatever decision is made aligns with that goal, and we do not w...

  • Easter Egg Hunt Returns!

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Apr 1, 2021

    After being canceled last year due to COVID-19, the popular Easter Egg Hunt in Kimball is back and will occur on Saturday, April 3 at 11 a.m. The event will be at Gotte Park, and the New Hope Youth group has taken over the event from Bob and Dawn Hinton. Since the beginning of March, Katharine Roberts, Pastor Roberts' wife, and about 10 youth group members have been working on the Easter Egg Hunt. According to Katharine Roberts, "The eggs are stuffed, all the prizes are ready, and we have a bunny." With the help of church members, they plan to...