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  • Election time is upon us

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Oct 21, 2016

    Election time is upon us. Wednesday night, the nation watched the last presidential debate for the 2016 elections. With early elections already underway, here is some voter information that may come in handy. Cheyenne County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh said voters may early vote in the Clerk’s office until November 7 at 5 p.m. To do so, a voter or agent may pick up a ballot at the clerk’s office. Ballots can be delivered or mailed back to the Clerk’s office, but it must be received in the office by 7 p.m., on Election Day, Nov. 8. “In order to earl...

  • SPS Board members discuss policies

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Oct 12, 2016

    Sidney Public Schools (SPS) Board Members met Monday for their regular meeting, and the agenda tackled various items including updates to current school policies. School polices for SPS are created by KSB, which stands for Karen, Steve and Bobby. They are three attorneys who founded KSB School Law in 2015, a practice that represents public school districts and other educational institutions. Policies formed through KSB are voted on by Sidney school board members before adopted. In Monday’s school board meeting policy 5053 and policy 5063 w...

  • Elliot Management cashes in its shares

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Oct 12, 2016

    Following the pattern it has shown in previous investment actions, the investment firm that last winter turned Cabela's and Sidney’s world upside down has taken the money and run. In a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, New York hedge fund Elliot Management has sold more the half of it's six million Cabela's shares. A “hedge fund” is defined as a limited partnership of investors that use high risk methods in hopes of realizing large capital gains. Elliot Management serves as the management affiliate of American hedge funds flags...

  • Yates changes plea to guilty

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Oct 7, 2016

    Tonya Yates, 37, of Sidney was in District Court Wednesday in front of District Court Judge Derek C. Weimer, for an entry of plea hearing on the charge of aiding consumation of a felony, a class IV felony. In court, special prosecutor for the Sate of Nebraska, Doug Warner, read the allegations against Yates. Warner read that on May 21 2015, Yates was arrested in Logan County Colorado with Mindy Richmond for allegedly attempting to burglarize a home. Warner went on to read to the court that upon release from Logan County Jail, Yates contacted...

  • Bass Pro Shops acquisition leaves questions unanswered

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Oct 5, 2016

    A long awaited announcement was made Monday, validating some of the speculation that has been circulating about Bass Pro Shops purchasing Cabela’s. However, the announcement still leaves questions to be answered. A press release sent out by the two companies Monday stated they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Bass Pro Shops will acquire Cabela’s for $65.50 per share in cash, representing an aggregate transaction value of approximately $5.5 billion. According to the press release, following the closing of the tra...

  • Running of the wieners

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 29, 2016

    As part of the upcoming Oktoberfest festivities the 14th annual "Running of the Wieners" will be held at Legion Park Sunday. Dachshunds, also known as "Wiener-dogs," are a short-legged, long-body hound-type breed of dog. The standard sized dachshund was bred to flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals, while the miniature dachshund was bred to hunt smaller prey. Event creator Judy Scott said she attended a wiener-dog race in Grand Island twice with her grandson's dog before deciding...

  • SPS releases 2015-16 test scores

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 24, 2016

    Sidney Public Schools (SPS) released the scores for the 2015-16 NeSA testing. NeSA stands for Nebraska State Accountability and is the main state test taken by all Nebraska students in grades 3-11. Superintendent Jay Ehler said the subjects students are tested on are reading, writing, math and science, with writing only tested in grades 4, 8, and 11 and science is only tested in grades 5, 8 and 11. Recently released results for the tests completed last year show Sidney students were above the state average in 16 of the 20 areas tested....

  • A good deed goes a long way

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 24, 2016

    "A good deed really does go along way," said Isaiha Ortivez, he and his cousin Nicholas Balandran turned in a wallet they found laying on the sidewalk Wednesday. Balandran said they were playing at the Central Elementary playground when they spotted the wallet near a house located close to the school. "We spotted it and picked it up," Balandran said. "We looked in it to see if we knew the person but closed it right away because it would be rude to look through it." The boys said after finding...

  • DAR commemorates the signing of the Constitution

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 23, 2016

    Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Sidney chapter, commemorated the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America this week. In 1955, DAR petitioned Congress to set aside Sept. 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into Public Law No. 915 on Aug. 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This past week commemorated the 229th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution....

  • 10th annual Kids Fitness and Nutrition Day

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 23, 2016

    Third grade students from the Panhandle area had the chance to learn about health and wellness at the 10th annual Nebraska Kids Fitness and Nutrition Day held in Sidney on Thursday. Janelle Hansen, health educator for Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) said eight schools gathered in Sidney to participate in the fun-filled day. "Third graders traveled from Big Springs, Kimball, Bridgeport, Potter-Dix, Lodgepole, Dalton, and Sidney to participate in this non-competitive event," Hansen said....

  • Registration open for Oktoberfest run

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 23, 2016

    Sidney Regional Medical Center (SRMC) is taking registration for it’s Oktoberfest 5/10K that is part the 2016 Oktoberfest festivities that begin next week. Runners have participated in the Oktoberfest 5K for the past few years. However, this year participants will run a new course. “We changed up the course this year to further integrate the race into the Oktoberfest celebration,” said Randi Norton, marketing and public relations for SRMC. “As always, the race will start at the Cheyenne County Community Center. This year the race will end at...

  • Man sentenced to life in Sidney case appeals to Supreme Court

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 22, 2016

    A man sentenced to life in prison for the 2012 shooting death of a Sidney woman is appealing his conviction to the Nebraska Supreme Court. Larry Martinez, 57, was was convicted following a jury trial and sentenced to life imprisonment consecutive to 10-50 years. The sentence came last September on convictions of 1st Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm to Commit a Felony. In July, 2012 Martinez shot Mandy Kershman over a text message that she sent him. Martinez was found guilty by a Cheyenne...

  • Cause of vehicle fire still unknown

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 22, 2016

    A vehicle fire Tuesday in the Sidney Regional Medical Center (SRMC) parking lot still has an unknown cause. Sidney Police and Fire departments were dispatched to SRMC Tuesday at approximately 11:50 a.m. to respond to a 2001 Lincoln Navigator on fire. The car's owner, Jody Quintin, said she was inside SMRC at an appointment with her daughter and two grandchildren when an employee informed her that her vehicle was smoking. Quintin said she is an employee of SRMC and the other employees knew what t...

  • Board of Commissioners adopts county budget

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 21, 2016

    Cheyenne County’s Board of Commissioners held a public hearing during Monday’s regular board meeting to adopt the 2016-17 Cheyenne County budget. In the hearing, the Commissioners increased the 2016-17 restricted funds revenues, set this year’s tax levy, and approved a resolution of adoption and appropriations of this year’s Cheyenne County budget. All three items discussed in the hearing were approved, but not unanimously. An email was read in the hearing, submitted by Terry Jessen, who said he has been attending budget hearings to provide...

  • Accident in I-80 in construction zone

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 21, 2016

    Authorities responded to an accident in a construction zone on I-80 Monday evening. According to the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) Lieutenant Krzyzanowski, the accident occurred around 9 p.m. near mile marker 58 near Sidney. Krzyzanowski said Jesse Conn, 66, a construction worker currently working on I-80, was driving his 2012 Ford F-150 west bound on the closed lane when he struck a parked concrete paver. Both Conn’s air bags were deployed and the truck was totaled. Restraints were not in use and the paver received an estimated $1000 in d...

  • Cheyenne County Fair impresses commissioners

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 20, 2016

    Cheyenne County Commissioners held their regular meeting Monday, to review the 2016 Cheyenne County Fair.. Fair Board member Anita Pennel gave the 2016 Cheyenne County Fair Report. “Our fair this year went really well,” Pennel said. Pennel laid out 2016 fair expenses, budget, ticket sales and income for the commissioners, coming out with a positive grand total of $54,826.53. “Good report,” said Commissioner Darrell Johnson with Commissioner Philip Sanders adding that he was “impressed” with report. Pennel said maintenance on the fairgrounds...

  • Car fire call leads to drug bust

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 17, 2016

    Two men face felony charges after approximately 150 to 200 pounds of marijuana were recovered in the trunk of one of the vehicles on a semi-truck car hauler that was on fire on Interstate 80, Tuesday night. According to the arrest affidavit, on Tuesday Sept.13 at approximately 9:20 p.m., Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Bryan Woods was dispatched to a semi-truck car hauler on fire at mile marker 42, on I-80 near Potter. Cheyenne County Deputies had both lanes of eastbound I-80 closed, as the Potter and Sidney fire departments were attempting to...

  • Deer activity, accident potential increases in fall

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 17, 2016

    Deer become more active in the fall. With temperatures falling and increased activity, the Nebraska State Patrol urges drivers to be more alert on roadways. According to information from the patrol and Nebraska Game and Parks, deer pose a potentially dangerous threat to themselves and the occupants of vehicles traveling Nebraska’s highways and country roads, especially during October and November. There are many different reasons that drivers may see an increase in deer on the the roadways in the fall. As the harvest begins, crop and cover p...

  • Rock legend makes wish come true

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 16, 2016

    Monica Roberts is a Chappell graduate who has been fighting a losing battling with cancer for two years, her last wish was granted this year, thanks to the diligence of Deul County Social Worker Kayla Rempe. Roberts, 57, graduated from Chapell High School in 1977, before the school became Creek Valley. Her mother and sister still live in the area. Roberts now lives in Omaha, her ties to area remain strong. Since she was 14, Roberts has admired the lead singer of the classic rock band Grand Funk...

  • Two new hotels set to open this fall

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 16, 2016

    Two new hotels will be opening up in the Sidney area, adding more then 150 accommodations to passing visitors and locals alike. According to information from management of the 75-room Fairfield Inn & Suites is scheduled to open Tuesday, Sept. 27 with its "smart, inventive public space and guest room design, and its bright and inviting decor." In its promotional materials, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott promises visitors "innovative next generation design and decor." Located at 889 East...

  • Sporting their favorite jerseys

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 15, 2016

    Students gathered in the Performing Arts Center early Wednesday morning for a chance to bid on their favorite football players jersey. Sidney High School (SHS) cheerleaders held their annual jersey auction before classes began Wednesday morning as part of Sidney's Homecoming week. Cheerleading Coach Abby Green said the proceeds from the auction go to the cheerleader's expenses. Expenses such as uniforms, traveling expenses and their trip to state competition held annually in Grand Island. This y...

  • Historic Preservation Board requests bids for survey

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 15, 2016

    Sidney’s Historic Preservation Board is requesting bids for an Intensive Level Survey, after being awarded a 2016 Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant from the State Historical Society and Historic Preservation Office. Sidney Economic Development Director Tina Hochwender said this is the city’s 4th CLG Grant and second Intensive Level Survey. The first Intensive Level Survey was completed last year for the Original Old Town Plat of Sidney. The intensive level survey will enable the board to gather greater detail and verifiable inf...

  • Homecoming week kicks off for Sidney

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 14, 2016

    Sidney High School (SHS) kicked off its homecoming week Sunday with the installation of homecoming lawn displays. SHS English Teacher Tanya Lewis said, "This is the second year that the Sidney High School Student Council has designed, constructed and painted homecoming lawn displays." A process that begins with freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes that are led by their student council representatives to come up with an original design for their lawn display. Once the designs are concep...

  • Sidney Public Schools set 2016-17 budget

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 14, 2016

    Sidney Public Schools (SPS) Board of Education held its monthly meeting Monday, approving 2016-17 school budget. Sidney Superintendent Jay Ehler said Sidney’s fiscal year spans from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31. Ehler said he and the SPS business manager spent quite a bit of time in July and early August composing the budget for the year. The budget was then reviewed and worked on with the aid of the board’s finance committee, which is comprised of three of the six school board members. Ehler said SPS receives its tax valuations around August 20 fro...

  • Homeschooling provides an alternative in education

    Amanda Tafolla-Sutton|Sep 13, 2016

    Homeschooling is an alternative method of education that is on the rise in the United States. Homeschool is defined by the Nebraska Department of Education as parent-led, and family-funded education of a child at home. Though homeschooling is generally parent-led, there are a multitude of different programs, ranging from online school to faith-based teaching. In Nebraska, there is no certain format of teaching that must be used, so parents are free to decide what curriculum works best for them....

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