Western Nebraska Observer - Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

The Kimball Volunteer Fire Department had a relatively busy year according to Fire Chief Rick Wynn’s year-end report to the City Council at their meeting on December 19. In total, the Fire Department had 55 calls putting in 1,068 volunteer hours...

The Plains Historical Society which has worked to put a fence around the old high school on highway 30 here in Kimball has set a date for the project’s completion. The fence is scheduled to be completed by June 13. The reason for the process...

It may seem as if 2012 passed quickly into the history books--and thankfully so. Remember, it was a year of drought and parched earth. Wildfires blazed through the scorching summer, farmers and ranchers struggled with the lack of moisture, the price...

Elisha Hunt Rhodes kept a diary during his time in America’s Civil War. It was later published under the title “All for the Union.” As a graduate student studying military history, I thumbed through a modern edition of the book rather perfuncto...

As we celebrate the season of giving and spending time with friends and family, I want to highlight some of the efforts made by state workers this year who have also chosen to give back to their communities. Every year, the Nebraska State Employees...

I am writing this letter regarding the hiring of a tourism director for Kimball County. I think our administrators have gone nuts. Kimball as a tourist destination? Let’s see--a broken down Wheat Growers Hotel and a few mills. Yep, that will put...

Traffic TR12-484 Christina Bell, Salt Lake City, UT. Speeding TR12-485 Angela Deaver, Kimball, NE. No Valid Registration TR12-486 Shaun Schuman, Windsor, CO. Speeding. TR12-487 Samuel Eller, Johnstown, CO. Overweight single axle- group of axles 5%...

Over the course of the last few months, I have had the opportunity to write several articles pertaining to agriculture in our daily lives. As those months went by, I notice, regardless the topic, there was always one thing that had major adverse...

As I sit down to write this last newsletter of 2012, I cannot help but remember when we on the brink of the new century, back in 1999. Some folks were pretty sure that the world was coming to an end. And most recently of course all of the hoopla...

The swearing-in ceremony for the new Kimball and Banner County elected officials will be held Thursday, January 3 at 8 a.m. in the District Court courtroom. This is open to the public, so feel free to come and support your representatives. The...

Sitting Bull, his son Crow Foot and fourteen other Sioux, had been killed in a botched attempt to arrest him on December 15, 1890. Stunned by his death and fearful of reprisal approximately 200 of his Hunkpapa band left the Standing Rock Reservation...

By the time you read this Christmas Celebration of 2012 will be past. And we look forward to New Year 2013, hoping it will be more peaceful. The library staff wishes everyone joy, peace, goodness in life and prosperity. I hope you all are more prepar...

Chadron State College conferred degrees to 181 graduates during two commencement ceremonies Friday, December 14. Graduates from the region: Travis Harrison, Harrisburg, Bachelor of Arts. Kristen Juelfs, Potter, Bachelor of Science in Education. The 1...

A warm and grateful thank you to Kimball Ambulance Service, KPD and Dr. Jay and Dr. Bush, plus the Kimball Health Services Staff. for the exceptional care. Dale “Arkie” Pruett and Family...

We started out the year in Pasadena riding in the Rose Parade as part of RFD-TV’s 100 Palominos entry. I came home with flowers in my hair!  It was one of five speaking programs I did (out of 65 in 2012) that were in California. The National Wes...

‘Twas the morning after Christmas, and all through the Mule Barn truck stop’s philosophy counter … “Happy Boxing Day!” said Herb, settling in and flipping his cup to the upright and fillable position. “Boxing Day?” said Steve. “It cer...

I hope everyone is able to spend the holidays with friends and family spreading good cheer throughout our region. We have the results of our cover crop biomass sampling back and the cover crops performed about like we thought they would. I think we...

Fruit and vegetable growers, both large and small, are becoming increasingly aware of the food safety issues related to field-grown produce, and the importance of food safety to consumers. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, signed into law in...

Some people really, truly want to splurge on New Year’s Eve. Whether they’ve won a chunk of change in some 50-50 fundraiser or cashed out their bank account in anticipation of a Mayan apocalypse, they have money to burn and vintage French...

Critics now refer to the Bourne series as a “franchise”--the Hollywood equivalent of McDonald’s or Walmart, with a few more plot twists. In The Bourne Legacy, they’ve introduced a new hero, forced to deal with events triggered by the...