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

Articles from the October 15, 2020 edition


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  • Grassfires Scorch Area

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    A grassfire burned about 20 to 30 acres on Horse Shoe Hill, south of 9th Street on Wednesday, Oct. 7, according to Kimball Fire Chief Andrew Bohac. A worker was in the area of County Road 43 and was either using a welder or grinder, which produced a spark. No structures were damaged, although the fire came close to a few buildings owned by Brandon Mossberg. "It just burned up the grass," Mossberg said. "Everything else for the most part was good." According to Bohac, the department had a "busy...

  • Area Now In COVID High-Risk Category

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    The COVID-19 Risk Dial has inched its way into the orange or high spread category for the week of Oct. 12 to 19 for an additional six counties in the Panhandle, including Kimball County. Five counties remain in the yellow zone. Box Butte County had previously been in the orange category. Panhandle Public Health District reported on Oct. 12 that Kimball County has one new case in the age 19 and under bracket and no new reported cases in adults. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kimball County has had 31 confirmed cases, with 23...

  • Observer COVID Announcement

    Jim Orr, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    In an abundance of caution due to close contact with an infected individual, the Observer office will be closed to the public for a time to be determined. The Observer plans to continue publishing, but office doors will be closed and business mainly will be conducted by mail, email and phone at 308-235-3631. Subscribers, advertisers and readers can continue to email the Observer as usual and use the mail slot near the front entrance. Thank you for your understanding during this time of increased spread of the virus across the Panhandle. We...

  • Lynn Vogel Steps Down From School Board

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    Long time Kimball School Board member Lynn Vogel submitted her letter of resignation at the regular board meeting on Monday, Oct. 12. Vogel and her husband will be moving out of the area. Vogel stated in her letter: “I am proud of our collective achievements and the significant progress the Board has made toward improving our Kimball Public School system. As a board and as individuals, your commitment toward maintaining the Board’s Level of Excellence is commendable, i.e. Policy 203.09. I feel lucky to have volunteered by your side these pas...

  • MEET THE CANDIDATES

    Daria Anderson Faden, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    This article includes responses to an Observer questionnaire from the six candidates seeking four seats, including that of departing Lynn Vogel, on the Kimball School Board in the Nov. 3 general election. The order of their responses is presented alphabetically, according to the first letter of each candidate's last name. The candidates are: Jennifer Griebel Albert Hargreaves Lanny Little Heather Norberg Tom O'Brien Chauncey Pedersen This full article can be read in the Observer print edition or by subscribing to the Observer online digital...

  • Dix Site Wins 'Small Towns Matter' Contest

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    While working in the kitchen at the Potter-Dix Elementary School, cook Shirley Skaja heard about the Small Towns Matter contest. She and her associate Teresa Loghry both filled out nomination forms. Shirley's nomination was the winning entry, which was announced at the ceremony. Shirley is originally from Denver and has only been in the Panhandle a few years, but she loves the area's small towns. "I went to a really big school," she said. "I now just love the small town atmosphere." She also...

  • Clarification

    The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    Two vehicles parked in front of Mary James' home in Dix on Oct. 3 do not belong to neighbors involved in reported conflicts with her over the years, as indicated in an Observer article Oct. 8....

  • KIMBALL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE

    Daria Anderson-Faden, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    The Kimball Volunteer Fire Department Annual Open House was Oct. 7 at the Kimball Fire Hall. The department worked with all the COVID-19 rules, had a drive-thru lane and seating was spaced out throughout the fire hall. People were encouraged to check out the equipment and the building updates. Although reports indicated the numbers were down due to the COVID, the department still had a good showing....

  • Wind Blows Through, Life Carries On In Banner County

    Barb Cross, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    Good Morning and Happy Fall y’all! I have had my doubts as to what season we were in here this past month or so, but it blew in this past weekend for sure. Wow, the wind we had here this past Sunday was outrageous. Needless to say the horseshoe tournament with the Harrisburg Community Church was postponed until another time. Thank goodness it died down that evening and the sun shined bright and beautiful Monday morning. In the valley the Spooktacular continues out at the Riverside Discovery Center and they are planning on moving Smokey and B...

  • Mildred Alice (Jacobs) Tobler

    Oct 15, 2020

    Sept. 4, 1928-Aug. 29, 2020 Mildred (Millie to her many friends), was born in Whitney, NE to Marcellus and Ellen (Anderson) Jacobs. She was the youngest in her family with 3 brothers and 5 sisters. They all called her "Babe" and the nickname has stuck to this day, through the generations. Her family relocated 9 times before she was 10 years old. Crisscrossing the country, they finally ended up in Kimball, NE (for a while). Mildred graduated from Kimball High School in 1946. On August 14, 1947,...

  • Wise Finishes Sixth At State

    Tom Southard, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    Another outstanding finish for Kimball junior Payton Wise as she wound up 6th in the final standings of the 2020 Class C Nebraska State Golf Tournament at Elks Country Club in Columbus. Payton slipped a bit on Day 2, shooting a round of 82 to finish overall with a two-day total of 166. Brodersen of Boone Central won individual honors at 155, followed by Becker of Cozad at 157, Colby of Minden at 159, Lovegrove of Lincoln Christian at 162 and Mesti of Heartland at 164 – the only five girls to f...

  • Jock Talk

    Tom Southard|Oct 15, 2020

    The feature spotlight on Kimball High athletic events this week is of course the girls state golf tournament of which Kimball qualified for by placing 3rd at the District Tournament reported last week. The Kimball team departed from Kimball High School at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, headed for Columbus, the site of the Class C Tournament. On Sunday they got in a practice round, battling some wind, like what’s new? By the way, they got a nice sendoff with the Kimball Fire Department escorting them out to the interstate with a string of well wishers...

  • Kimball Boys Third At SPVA Meet

    Tom Southard, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    A tough test for the Kimball High Cross Country Teams this past week as they competed in conference competitions on back-to-back days. The Longhorns were at Grant on Thursday to run in the SPVA Conference event, and the very next day they ran at Bridgeport in the WTC Conference race. The Horns fared the best at the SPVA meet where the boys finished 3rd led by Matthew Johnson's 7th place individual finish with a season personal best time of 19:59. Freshman Joseph Bremer also ran an all time...

  • Football Coyotes Keep On Chugging

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    Potter-Dix’s Coyote Football team continued its undefeated season with a decisive 50-26 road victory over the Hay Springs Hawks on Friday night. The Coyotes’ big play offense and aggressive defense were too much for the Hawks to handle, and the Potter-Dix team was again powered by sophomore quarterback Luke Kasten, whose three touchdown runs and two touchdown passes led the Coyote attack. Kasten ran nine times for 121 yards while completing nine of 15 passes for 250 yards. Senior Javon Coyle also had a big game for Potter-Dix, catching fou...

  • Volleyball Action: Kimball & Potter-Dix

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Potter-Dix Lady Coyotes hosted a Triangular against Bayard and Kimball, and were able to manage a split against the two teams. The Lady Coyotes first matched up against Bayard, and although the Coyotes played well, the Lady Tigers were too much for Potter-Dix, and won in straight sets 25-to-16 and 25-to-19. Senior Mikayla Lee led the Lady Coyote’s offense with five kills in the loss. Potter-Dix next faced a Kimball Lady Longhorns team that lost to Bayard in straight sets, but played a very tight first set against the L...

  • Missed Opportunity For Kimball Football

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Oct 15, 2020

    Kimball’s Longhorn football team had chances to earn its first win of the season on the road against Hyannis, but mistakes and penalties sent Kimball to their six straight defeat, 16-12. Kimball finally had an opponent that has had similar struggles in the season with the Hyannis Longhorns, but every good play made by Kimball was countered by a penalty or a mistake that made a winnable game a frustrating effort. Not only did the Kimball squad have two touchdowns called back because of penalties, they also had two easy touchdown passes dropped....