Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
The "Howdy" letters lay in the grass on the east edge of Kimball and will be stood up early Wednesday morning to greet Tour de Nebraska riders. They were created by John Faden and Jim Schulte.
"Howdy" to all the Tour de Nebraska bikers!
Over 460 riders will arrive in Kimball on Wednesday, June 19, and exit north to Scottsbluff on Thursday morning. The ride starts in Sidney, then they travel to Kimball, Scottsbluff, Bridgeport and back to Sidney. This is the 32nd Annual Tour de Nebraska.
The Tour de Nebraska was started in 1988 and this is the first time the event will extend to the western part of Nebraska. According to TDN, the "goal is to have a rest stop every 15-20 miles. TDN Assistant Director Shari Rosso works very closely with every community to make plans for food, restrooms and activities."
Kimball will welcome the riders with a "Howdy" sign of about 50 bicycle rims, painted in red, white and blue, a creation of John Faden along with Jim Schulte. The rims came from the Kimball Landfill, while the Street Department hauled the sign to the east edge of Kimball. The Landfill crew and community-minded individuals like Shirley Crossman and Diana Engstrom helped assembled the rims.
Activities throughout the day will include lunch and dinner specials, craft and street vendors, story telling and poetry, the Dave Stahla will play Wednesday evening and the Goodhand Theatre will play "Breaking Away".
The riders will camp at Gotte Park and Kimball High School football field.
The riders will have an entourage with them including massage therapists, mechanics from Cycle Works, a couple of luggage trucks, and two white Honda Odysseys for mechanical and medial emergencies.