Years Ago

January 2012

Kelly Meehan-Ash, 24, is being tried as an assessory to murder in connection with the murder trial of Vencill Ash III. When the trial for Ash III was pushed back in date, the Meehan-Ash case was likewise rescheduled.

Meehan-Ash made a request to her attorney, Donald Miller of Sidney, to be moved to a different facility stating that she did not feel “safe” in the Kimball County jail, located in the courthouse. Meehan-Ash stated that because of the seriousness of her charges, that she feared someone might want to harm her.

According to Sheriff Harry Gillway, the Kimball jail is a minimal security jail, to a certain extent. There is no bullet proof glass, and the area is a fairly open space.

“Better to be safe, then sorry”, commented Gillway in regards to the situation.

Meehan-Ash was transferred last week by the Sheriff and Linda Williams to another facility in Eastern Nebraska at the request of her attorney. The Sheriff requested that the media withhold information on her location, to further assure her safety.

Her 42-year-old husband, Ash III, is being held in a Scottsbluff facility awaiting his murder trial.

“We get to pay for it,” observed Dave Bashaw, chairman of the Kimball County Board of Commissioners, when he learned of the requested move.

January 2008

It was a month after scheduled date but it was worth waiting for. The Kimball Public School’s Pre-K Christmas program had first been set for Dec. 18 but the weather was bad that night so the Pre-K portion of that evening’s Elementary Christmas program was put off to a later date and, hopefully, better weather. The weather didn’t improve much but the program was a school bus full of delight.

Who can resist a stage full of pre-k age kids? Some are outgoing, some are shy, there are all kinds and no one knows exactly what would happen next. The program was 30 minutes of joy, featuring recitations and acappella songs by the 30 Pre-K students. Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Moore directed the program.

January 2003

Bryan D. Hahn, of Kimball, avoided a jury trial by pleading guilty to three counts of burglary at a hearing last week in Kimball District Court. He could receive up to 60 years jail, 20 years for each count. He will be sentenced March 4 at 9 a.m.

He was originally charged with five counts of burglary and two counts were dismissed.

Hahn entered several Kimball homes last year and took women’s underwear. A garbage bag full of items and a notebook listing the victims was found on a downtown rooftop near an apartment where Hahn lived.

January 1978

Pastor Donald R. Coombs has announced he and his family will be leave the First Baptist Church in Kimball after Sunday, Jan. 29. They will move to Pierre, SD where Pastor Coombs will be involved in mission work.

The Coombs family has lived in Kimball for 4 years serving the church at Sixth and Washington. Pastor Coombs was ordained while in Kimball.

The family will maintain their membership at the Kimball church until their new work becomes established in Pierre. Work will begin Feb. 5 in the new mission.

Officials of the First Baptist Church in Kimball are making plans for obtaining a new pastor.

January 1958

A new oil discovery 13 miles south of Kimball highlighted an otherwise drab week of oil activity in Western Nebraska. It was the third wildcat strike in Kimball County since the beginning of the year.

British-American Petroleum Company got the discovery, the Mintken No. 1, on the NE NE Section 2-12-56. It is about three quarters of a mile south of the Lukes No. 1, a small producer which was later abandoned.

Production was found in two Benches of the J sand. A drill team test from 6,528 feet recovered 2,250 feet of oil and 90 feet of slightly oil and wat cut mud in two hours. A test from 6,517 feet recovered 575 feet of oil and 180 feet of oil and gas cut mud.

Shoreline Petroleum’s No. 1 Fredericks, first discovery of the year, was reported pumping 200 barrels of oil per day. Five wells were plugged during the week.

January 1943

The way would be paved for salary increases for Nebraska county sheriffs if the legislature passes a bill handed in by Senator C. Petrus Peterson of Lincoln, Friday.

Peterson proposes to amend the present law to set up the following county divisions and pay scales:

In counties of not more than 8,000 population the county board to set the pay at not more than $1,500. Old limit $1,200; counties 8-12,000, $1,750 in place of $1,200; counties 12-16,000, $2,000 in place of $1,500; counties 16-20,000, $2,500 in place of $1,750; counties 20-25,000, $2,400 in place of $1,800; counties 25-35,000, $2,500 in place of $2,000; counties 35-50,000, $2,700 in place instead of $2,200; counties 50-100,000, $3,000 in place of $2,400; counties of 150,000 up $4,500 in place of $4,000.

January 1933

A Sidney reporter thought for a moment last Monday that a real scoop was in hand when the name of Irene Dunne was found on the marriage records at the court house. However, closer examination revealed that it was not the movie actress who had entered wedlock. The innocent cause of the thrill was Emma Irene Dunne of Fort Morgan, Colo., who, incidentally, resembles the famous actress slightly.

January 1923

Athletic Coach J. F. Nelson of the Kimball county high school was elected principal of the Gering high school for the ensuing year. the Gering Courier states that Mr. Nelson has been desirous of locating in Gering and accepted the election promptly.

January 1913

F. J. Bellows, P. C. Mockett and J. Pedrett appointed members of Board of Health for 1913. Sam Richardson janitor for court house at $30 per month. F. J. Bellows member of Soldiers Relief for three years.

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Guy Forsling is back from the hospital at Omaha minus his appendix and looking rather pale and thin. Guy was a big, husky fellow when he went away.

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Fred Chow left for the old home at Adair, Iowa, Friday. His wife will return with him. They have rented their farm southwest of Kimball and have moved to A. B. Beard’s ranch in the northeast part of the county.