Year 2012 in review, January to June

January

Council To Test The Waters For New Pool

SIDNEY – When approached about the condition of the city’s public pool a few months back, Mayor Wendall Gaston realized things weren’t going swimmingly.

“It’s been remarkable that the pool has been able to stay open,” Gaston said, “but it’s getting old enough where the repairs are becoming a problem. And one of these years, we’re going to be told, ‘You know, we just can’t put it back together again.’”

Saddled with that prospect, Gaston was asked to spearhead a pool committee. That organization, with five months under its collective belt, will begin the process by approaching Sidney City Council at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“Knowing that (the pool’s closing) could happen in the next two to five years, I was asked to put together a pool committee as mayor,” Gaston recalled, “and it included anybody who was interested in the swimming pool. Some committee members are swimmers. Some are, or have been swim team coaches and others are just interested in swimming.”

The mayor’s group hit the water splashing, idiomatically speaking.

“We decided what we would want to see, and then we invited aquatic engineering company representatives to come speak with the group,” Gaston said. “They made presentations and from there, we met once again and chose a company to make the presentation to the council.”

Burbach Aquatics of Platteville, Wisc. was chosen to offer its professional services.

“The advantage of who we picked is that they do everything,” Gaston said. “They do the engineering -- everything they do focuses on pools.”

Gaston said the committee covered a variety of options.

“The committee was thorough; there was a lot of discussion about outdoor pools and indoor pools, aquatic centers and lane swimming,” Gaston said. “This is a very good, active group that’s very outspoken, which helps get a very good project in the end.”

City manager Gary Person says the issue may very well turn into a November referendum, and that city officials are hoping the legislature will pass a half-cent sales tax for municipalities.

Johnson remains silent during arraignment;

Not Guilty Plea Entered At Arraignment

SIDNEY — Cheyenne District Judge Derek Weimer entered a not guilty plea on behalf of accused murderer Craig Anthony Johnson during his Tuesday morning arraignment in District Court.

Remaining motionless and never once turning to face the bench, Johnson only nodded while responding to Weimer during the proceedings.

Johnson, of Cheyenne County, is charged in the Dec. 11 unlawful death of April M. Smith, 42, of Sidney. Smith was employed as a manager at The Sip, a convenience store in Sioux Meadows Park.

Noting that Johnson’s attorney, Kelly Breen, had advised his client to remain mute during the arraignment, Weimer advised that the court enter not guilty pleas on a Class 1B felony count of second-degree murder and a Class 2 felony charge of use of a weapon (other than a firearm) to commit a felony.

Smith’s death was reported on Monday, Dec. 12 at 1029 Deuel Street in the Sioux Meadows Park neighborhood of Sidney.

The following day, a warrant was issued, seeking Johnson in connection with the death. Johnson was apprehended in Jackson County, Mich. in the early morning hours of Dec. 15 by sheriff’s deputies following a high-speed chase.

Johnson waived extradition and Nebraska authorities were sent to Michigan, where they processed the van that Johnson was driving for more evidence.

The second-degree murder count carries a sentence of 20 years to life upon conviction, with the unlawful use of a weapon sentence ranging from one to 50 years.

Weimer noted the two charges are the types which merit consecutive sentences.

Change Is Inevitable; Patient Care Remains Top Priority

SIDNEY – Dr. William Printz, DDS, once a submariner in the U.S. Navy, and prior to that a disc jockey, found his home in Sidney as a dentist and has built his life in the town his wife called home as a child.

Printz moved his family to Sidney and began his career here after attending dental school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Printzes raised their three children here, where they went to a good school, according to Printz, and all have gone on to do well.

“It’s been a good area, the community has been very good to us and we have enjoyed it,” Printz said.

Dr. Leasa Hlavinka, the dentist who recently purchased the thriving dental practice, agrees.

“The best part of being a dentist in Sidney is providing high quality dental care with a personal touch patients would expect from someone who really cares,” Hlavinka said. “The patients we see are fellow business owners, our children’s teachers, our neighbors and people that we grew up with. It is more than just doing dentistry, we are taking care of our friends.”

City To Consider Funding For Conference Center

SIDNEY — City council members tonight will consider supporting a preliminary grant assistance application from the state’s Civic and Community Financing Fund, and discuss building a potential major conference and training center here.

In a memo to the council, city manager Gary Person noted that preliminary discussions have begun with potential partners on the feasibility of such a project. The facility would give the city the ability to host events of up to 800 attendees and provide space for additional business and industry training.

”Many events bypass our community because of our limited ability to host events,” Person wrote. “All of these types of events provide a thrust of new outside revenue into our community and would complement the travel industry business sector that has located at our I-80, Exit 59 interchange.”

The city would be eligible for $250,000 in conference center funds. Albeit early in the process, Person noted that he has heard support from the Cheyenne County Visitors committee; Chamber of Commerce and major employers in the city, including Cabela’s.

In the preliminary proposal, Person said the center would be built in close proximity to Cabela’s headquarters campus and the Visitors’ Center, house 30,000 square feet and with a pricetag of around $5 million.

Borges Is Cheyenne County’s First Female Deputy

SIDNEY — Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Department not only has a new face among its deputies, but is also making a bit of history with its latest hire.

Lisa Borges, sworn in Dec. 1 as the newest member of John D. Jenson’s squad, can hold claim as the county’s first-ever female deputy.

“We may have had female applicants before,” Jenson said, “but never have we had a female deputy make the cut until now.”

Borges was hired from a pool of three finalists for the open position, created after another deputy moved out of the county. When it came down to the person best suited for job, it was a no-brainer decision for Jenson to fill the opening on a staff of six deputies.

“Without a doubt, she was the most qualified, and the best fit, for the position,” Jenson said. “She has a military background with the Navy and Coast Guard.”

Borges has prior experience in dispatch, having worked for the Cheyenne County Communications Center for some time before making application with the sheriff’s department. Borges also worked as a jailer in Kimball County.

“I have 12 1/2 years of dispatch experience, in both in the Coast Guard and Cheyenne County Emergency Communications,” Borges said. “ I have little experience in Corrections but was a Dispatcher/Jailer for Kimball County Sheriff’s Office in 2003.”

Borges says she is ready to tackle the position.

Hakonson Moving On; Sidney School Super Accepts New Position

SIDNEY — Sidney Schools Superintendent John Hakonson is making a move down the I-80 corridor.

Hakonson confirmed Monday morning he has accepted the head administrative duties as superintendent of the Lexington school district.

Hakonson interviewed for the position Thursday and Friday, and was offered the position Monday morning, the culmination of a weeklong interviewing process by Lexington’s Board of Education.

Hakonson’s family matters played a big role in the move. Hakonson and his wife, Tricia, have three children, Thomas, 8, Aaron, 6, and Micah, 4.

“The position allows us to be closer to my wife’s family,” Hakonson said. “Lexington is a larger school district, and with the job comes a new set of challenges.”

Hakonson said his wife will resign her position as school psychologist with the Nebraska Education Service Unit 13 out of Scottsbluff.

February

A Fighter Emerges; Local Doctor’s Battle With Cancer Inspiring Many, Including Lady Raiders

SIDNEY – Dr. Mandy Shaw’s diagnosis has shocked a lot of people.

It has affected her coworkers, friends and family. It has concerned her patients. It even came as a terrible surprise to the Sidney girls’ basketball team.

And it hit her and her husband, Tyler Shaw, hard for about an hour.

On Jan. 1, Mandy Shaw, who works as one of four family physicians at Memorial Health Center, noticed a lump on her breast.

She had a biopsy done on Jan. 5, and a day later she had the diagnosis – breast cancer.

She immediately called her husband, who teaches at Sidney High School and is the Sidney girls’ basketball head coach.

“I was just shocked. I have cancer in my family, and it was a very not great feeling,” Tyler Shaw said. “I was kind of mad, kind of angry about it.”

Said Mandy Shaw: “We had a rough hour. But we have kids, and he had a game. So we went to the school. An hour after I was diagnosed, I was at the high school, and we told the basketball team and we told my kids and Tyler called all our immediate family and immediate friends, and we had a game. That was Friday.”

The execution of an aggressive plan followed, along with a unique rallying cry of “Die Stan, Die!” – referring to the name given the lump before it was diagnosed as cancerous.

Sidney Council incumbents don’t re-file

SIDNEY — There will be two new Sidney City Council members in 2013, after neither incumbent filed for re-election prior to Wednesday’s 5 p.m. deadline.

Wednesday served as the deadline for incumbents to file for offices in Cheyenne County; the deadline for non-incumbents is March 1 at 5 p.m.

According to Cheyenne County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh, neither Bob Van Vleet nor Dave Weiderspon chose to run again. Both seats vacated by Van Vleet and Weiderspon are four-year terms.

Among other filings, two Sidney School Board members, Tanya Flores-Lewis and Steve Mattoon did file for re-election, but one incumbent, but Gary Dible did not.

Cabela’s expanding

SIDNEY — Cabela’s Inc. is adding to its family.

The Sidney-based specialty retailer of outdoor gear distributed a press release Thursday, announcing the addition of three new outlets, a slight relocation of a store in Canada, and the unveiling of a new outpost store retail initiative.

Cabela’s plans to open a trio of brand-new stores, in Columbus, Ohio; Grandville, Mich.; and Louisville, Ky. Each location will feature 80,000 to 90,000 square feet of floor area, and the company expects each store to be open in the spring of 2013.

The company also announced it will move one its Canadian location in Winnipeg, Manitoba, approximately four miles from its present site. The move will more than double the work force of the present store, and the new property will span around 70,000 square feet.

Cabela’s has another Canadian location in Edmonton, Alberta, and plans to open a third, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, this spring.

Also this year, the company — 34 locations strong — is opening American stores in Wichita, Kan.; Tulalip, Wash.; Rogers, Ark.; and Charleston, W.Va.

Huge silo expansion in Gurley; Crossroads Coop breaking ground

on $5 million project

SIDNEY — Crossroads Cooperative Association in Gurley will break ground Monday on a new multi-million-dollar addition of silos.

The expansion project, estimated at $5 million, will add three concrete silos, which will house an additional million bushels of storage space at Crossroads’ flagship Burlington Northern shuttle train location.

Deb Brauer, CEO of Crossroads in Sidney, said Thursday morning that the additional silos will be a boon to local producers.

“The farmers now won’t have to stand in line at harvest,” Brauer said. “We’re pretty excited about the expansion. It will increase the tax base for Gurley, and in the Leyton school district.”

Jon Calahan, Crossroads Construction Manager in Gurley, said the current silo area stores about 1.5 million bushels of corn, wheat and millet.

“The new silos will result in a 67 percent increase in storage.” Calahan said. “We will also be adding scalping and gravity cleaners.”

Tort claim filed against City;

Targets August auto accident

SIDNEY — The aftermath of an August traffic accident involving city inspector Jim Pelster has led to a political subdivision tort claim which will be presented to Sidney’s City Council during its Wednesday meeting.

The claim, filed by Scottsbluff attorney Andy Snyder, seeks from the city a minimum of $1 million in damages for Lori J. Miller of Columbus, the driver of a vehicle which was struck by Pelster’s City of Sidney vehicle on Aug. 4.

Snyder writes that Pelster turned the city’s 2008 Ford Explorer from northbound Highway 385 onto westbound Highway 30, and into the southbound path of Miller’s vehicle. According to the claim, the collision led to Miller with several injuries, including deformity of the left fifth finger.

Both vehicles were totaled.

Snyder’s claim contends Pelster was negligent in failure to maintain a proper lookout for Miller’s vehicle, that he failed to yield the right of way to Miller’s automobile, and that he failed to maintain his vehicle under proper control.

March

Community Center Celebrates 20 Years

SIDNEY – March marks the Cheyenne County Community Center’s 20th anniversary. The doors first opened on March 1 to a charter members, and the support of the community has only grown.

In the last 20 years the center has developed programs based on the needs of the community and has grown to 1,696 members.

Under Director Mike Namuth’s direction, the center has expanded the daycare three times, has increased the available physical fitness classes and equipment to support the growth and added senior involvement and services.

The senior citizen program continues to grow as more people are becoming aware of it.

“The seniors have never really had a place to congregate where they could call home,” Namuth said. “It gives them a place to come and do the things they want to do.”

In 2011, the center had 147,560 visitors, including people working out, participating in the 20 different youth programs or the adult sports programs and those attending meetings and activities.

Namuth is quick to make sure the credit goes to the center’s board members, employees, the community and the members.

“I would put my staff up against anyone,” Namuth said. “I surround myself with the best of the best and it makes my job a lot easier.”

2012 Is The Year Of The Girl;

Girl Scouts Turns 100

SIDNEY – Girl Scouts of the USA, the leading girl-oriented leadership organization, is turning 100 on March 12.

Area Girl Scouts have already begun participating in celebratory activities this last weekend at the annual Cabela’s Scouting Day held at the Cabela’s retail store.

Nearly 90 Girl Scouts representing 16 troops were joined by two Cub Scouts for the day where they cooked in Dutch ovens, ate hot dogs, raced rockets, tied fly-fishing lures, and practiced archery, among other activities.

After a cold, windy and busy day, Girl Scouts assembled at the United Methodist Church for an overnight and participated in more activities and enjoyed the company of friends, old and new.

To kick off the overnight, nearly 20 area Girl Scouts paired off with a fellow Scout whom they did not previously know and worked together to write a newspaper story about their day, the upcoming celebration, or what it means to be a Girl Scout.

Sidney library materials online

SIDNEY — Come Thursday morning, checking out materials at the Sidney Public Library — or any Panhandle library for that matter — will be as simple as pointing and clicking.

Today will mark the third and final day of preparation for the library to launch its new online system.

“We’ve been at it, and closed to the public, since Monday, and we plan on re-opening at 9 a.m. Thursday,” said library director Doris Jensen. “By updating the technical part of the system, we think things will be much more convenient.”

According to Jensen, more than 41,000 books, CDs and DVDs have had bar codes changed to accommodate the new system.

“We have had to take each book, change the bar code, and make sure the code corresponds to the bar-code number on paper,” Jensen said. “It’s been time-consuming.”

Jensen has been assisted daily by 25 volunteers and staff.

Johnson declared

incompetent to stand trial

SIDNEY — Accused murderer Craig Anthony Johnson this morning was declared incompetent to stand trial for the unlawful death of April M. Smith, 42, of Sidney.

Upon receipt of a determination of competency test performed by Dr. Y. Scott Moore of the Lincoln Medical Center, Cheyenne District Judge Derek Weimer determined that Johnson, 46, was not mentally fit at this time to continue with the proceedings.

Johnson is facing two felony charges: a Class 1B count of second-degree murder and a Class 2 felony charge of use of a weapon (other than a firearm) to commit a felony.

“There is sufficient evidence in the report to indicate Mr. Johnson is incompetent to stand trial,” Weimer said.

Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub did not object to the report of Dr. Moore’s findings, which was received March 2.

However, he did request that Johnson’s medical condition be re-visited in six months, and every six months thereafter, pursuant to statute 29-183.

Sidney’s First Christian Church

Celebrates 100 Years

SIDNEY – In the beginning, there was one man, A.T. Hiett, whose faith and persistence led to the founding of the Church of Christ in Sidney.

The year was 1912, and Hiett desired a church of his chosen brotherhood in the town he had lived in for nearly a year.

With a group of likewise dedicated people, Hiett requested and obtained a seven-week series of evangelistic services held in the Cheyenne County Courthouse by S.R. McClure and his son D.A. McClure.

On March 12, 1912, Hiett established what is now known as the First Christian Church of Sidney.

The young church faced many obstacles, including financial difficulties, difficulty maintaining a minister, and fluctuating active membership.

But the young congregation persevered, and purchased a lot on March 16 for the purpose of building a church.

April

Legion Park To Receive New Backstop

SIDNEY – Construction has begun to replace the backstop at American Legion Park.

The backstop is the most recent of several improvements for the park. Over the past two years a new concessions stand and a new press box have been built, and, Arellano said, dugout improvements are next on the list.

The improvements have been funded through a mix of fundraising and donations of labor, equipment and money, said American Legion Baseball Board member Bev Arellano.

Dustin Thomas of Thomas Welding Service, Marvin Filsinger of Filsinger Excavating and the City of Sidney have donated most of the labor and equipment for the backstop project, and Milestone Redi Mix has donated all the concrete, Arellano said.

“We couldn’t do it without them,” she said. “If we didn’t have sponsors, we would not have what we have.”

Arellano said she expects the frame for the backstop to be completed by next week.

City to map out plans to replace Vice Mayor; Hiett leaving Panhandle for Michigan job opportunity

SIDNEY— As word of Dalan Hiett’s decision to accept a job offer in Michigan spread Monday afternoon, Sidney city government leaders sprung into action as to learning what steps they must take to replace the popular Vice-Mayor.

Hiett, currently employed at Cabela’s as an inventory control analyst in the Marine department, will be leaving the Panhandle April 30 to accept a similar position with Meijer, defined as an “American hypermarket” chain based in Grand Rapids, Mich.

“There is a process outlined by state statute,” Sidney City Manager Gary Person said, “that allows for the Mayor (Wendall Gaston) to appoint a replacement up until the November General Election.”

Hiett, who has served six years on the council, has not formally submitted his letter of resignation.

“Dalan has up until the time he leaves to resign,” Gaston said.”I do know that once the council accepts a resignation, I have 30 days to name a replacement.”

Ehler Offered Superintendent Position

SIDNEY — Sidney Public Schools has made yet another offer in its search to replace outgoing Superintendent John Hakonson.

Following an executive session, the board of education offered the full-time position to current Sidney High School principal Jay Ehler. Ehler’s contract negotiation and acceptance deadline are set for noon Thursday.

Ehler was among the initial four finalists — as screened by the Nebraska Association of School Boards — scheduled to be interviewed in March when the position opened, along with Dr. Tamyra Pickering, Dennis Fischer and Tony O’Brien, the latter of which was offered the position.

Ehler withdrew from the first set of interviews.

“By doing so, (Ehler) felt he could use his experience to help the district in their assessment of the three remaining candidates from an administrative perspective,” board president Tom Von Seggern said in a press release.

O’Brien verbally accepted the position then later withdrew, leaving the board to pursue an interim replacement.

Ehler was interviewed at Monday’s regular board meeting by a panel consisting of board members and administrative staff.

Marcia Herring — the NASB’s Search Service Administrator — revealed screened applicants via telephone at the meeting.

After reviewing each screened candidate in executive session, the board decided to halt the search and make Ehler a permanent offer.

City hears Tort claim; Woman claims police wrongfully took children

SIDNEY — City council members had an opportunity to hear the reading of a Tort claim filed against the city by a woman who claims her children were wrongfully taken from her during the winter by the Sidney Police Department.

Amiela Donley, 2446 11th Ave., Sidney, is seeking an estimated $107,992.46 for lost wages, hotel lodging, medical and transportation expenses, as well as emotional trauma and distress to her two minor children, a nine-year-old daughter and three-year-old son.

According to the claim, Donley states that city police and representatives of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services looked into a report of discoloration of her son’s ears, which officials suspected was “ear twisting.”

On Nov. 11, a case worker with NDHHS interviewed the children and the claim states that the interviews revealed no mistreatment to the children.

Donley states that despite no signs of mistreatment, Lt. Keith Andrew took the children from her custody — and also from the care of Steven Bell, whom she was sharing living quarters — and placed them in a foster home on Nov. 15. That placement ended Jan. 18, and Donley claims that Lt. Andrews’ “wrongful actions” resulted in the filing of juvenile petitions on behalf of both children, which led to “intrusive” searches of the Donley home by the police department and NDHHS.

Student Honored For Saving Friend’s Life

SIDNEY – JT Herboldsheimer, 11, of Sidney faced a life-threatening circumstance on March 28 while eating lunch at West Elementary in Sidney.

But as fate would have it, his fellow sixth-grader and Boy Scout Zane Autrey was sitting with him and knew just what to do when a taco chip became lodged in JT’s throat.

“JT stood with his hands (crossed over one another at his throat),” Zane said. “I asked him if he was being serious, and when he nodded I just did the Heimlich maneuver. I think it took like three times.”

Both boys are Patrol Leaders in Boy Scout Troop 90 and Dana Reese is their Troop Leader.

“They learned that about a year ago,” Reece said. “It is part of the Tenderfoot requirement, so they definitely learn in their first year, and sometimes it is the first thing they learn.”

Ehler accepts superintendent offer

SIDNEY — Jay Ehler is taking the next step in administration in the Sidney Public School system.

Ehler, who is finishing his sixth year as high-school principal, on Wednesday accepted the board of education’s offer to replace outgoing superintendent John Hakonson.

Ehler signed a two-year contract that will pay him $115,000 annually, plus benefits, and he will begin his duties July 1.

Also, Ehler will relinquich his duties as boys varsity basketball coach.

Board president Tom Von Seggern, in a press release, said Ehler brings many strengths to the position.

“We have three important ingredients to enhance student achievement: a strong faculty, a dedicated support staff, and experienced administrators,” Von Seggern said. “Mr. Ehler will provide goal oriented leadership and community visibility for the District. His drive, and ability to channel staff strengths, are going to expand on what Sidney Schools are already doing — to prepare our students for college and fulfilling careers.”

Ehler originally applied when Hakonson first resigned, but withdrew before being interviewed,

“I originally applied because I thought it was a challenge I was anxious to take on,” Ehler said, “and Dr. Hakonson has done a great job, so you’re stepping into a good position.

“There were still a few question marks in my mind; my wife still works in the District and coaching basketball was something ... I wasn’t certain what direction I was going to take with it.”

The board offered the job to Tony O’Brien of Frederick, Okla., who at first accepted but then withdrew a verbal agreement.

“When it came open again, it just seemed like maybe there was a reason why, so I applied,” Ehler said.

Ehler interviewed Monday in what at first seemed to be an interim capacity, then was notified later by Von Seggern that he would be offered the full-time duties.

Memorial Health Center Officially Changes Its Name

SIDNEY – After many months of consideration and following a merger with Sidney Medical Associates in January, Memorial Health Center has changed its name to Sidney Regional Medical Center.

The change was officially announced Saturday at the 2012 Cheyenne County Health and Wellness Fair by CEO Jason Petik.

What began in the 1950s as a community project with 70 years of local fundraising, Memorial Health Center has been an integral part of the community and has grown into the modern healthcare system it is today.

As part of ongoing growth, Memorial Health Center merged with Sidney Medical Associates in January, Petik said, prompting a change to encompass both businesses effectively.

Cabela’s Announces Plans for Colo. Stores

SIDNEY – Cabela’s Incorporated, the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, announced Thursday plans to extend its footprint in the Colorado market, bringing the unique Cabela’s retail experience to two Denver-area locations – Thornton and Lone Tree.

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and Cabela’s expects to open both locations in 2013. The stores will be Cabela’s second and third in Colorado, joining the Grand Junction location.

“Because of the longstanding loyalty of our customers in the Centennial State, the abundance of outdoor opportunities across the region and Denver’s proximity to Cabela’s headquarters, it’s the perfect situation to open two stores,” said Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer Tommy Millner. “This is the first time we’ve simultaneously announced two stores in the same metropolitan area so that says a lot about how we feel about the Denver area. It’s a landmark day.”

May

Sidney’s Longest-Standing Beauty Shop Closing

SIDNEY – Said to be reminiscent of the beauty shop in the movie, “Steel Magnolias,” the Cameo in Sidney will be closing its doors today, and the four stylists working there will disperse to other Sidney locations.

What was once a home at 917 14th Ave. here has been, for approximately 75 years, The Cameo.

In the beginning years, according to Cameo veteran stylist Janet Peetz, the shop was the premier place to go, and was the longest-running salon in Sidney.

Peetz and owner Kathy Solburg have both been at the Cameo for more than 40 years, but co-worker Jana Tarrell said the time is right for everyone to close the shop down.

“The opportunity came up and I decided that it would be a good time to sell and start over,” Solburg said. “The decision was hard and there were a lot of tears. It was a family oriented place with kids coming in all the time.””

Public Transportation Has a New Home

SIDNEY – Sidney’s Public Transportation Department now has garages for the buses that run the Fixed Route Stage Line and Dial-a-Ride.

“The building allows for the administrative functions and indoor shelter of the buses during off hours,” Person said. “It gives the buses longer durability and they are ready to roll each morning regardless of the weather conditions.”

The project was completely federally funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for which the City of Sidney applied.

In addition to garages, the department has offices and a meeting room as well in the newly remodeled building at 1443 Illinois.

New Sidney High Principal

SIDNEY — Chris Arent says there’s plenty to like about Sidney, and he and his family will soon get every chance to experience it.

That’s because Arent will become the next Sidney High School principal on Aug. 1, replacing Jay Ehler, who is assuming the superintendent duties July 1.

Arent, currently the middle school principal in the Wahoo District, says the Panhandle region isn’t foreign to himself nor his family.

“We like being out here,” Arent said. “We’ve spent a lot of time in Colorado and Wyoming, and my college roommate’s family has a cabin just north of Laramie.”

June

Downtown parking issues being addressed

SIDNEY — A recent open letter to downtown merchants and employees by a fellow businessman has opened the eyes of local leaders, who say prime parking spots reserved for shoppers and customers are being used by business owners and their employees.

Greg Huck of Financial Partners, who recently issued the letter this week, began seeing the situation fester after his company’s office moved directly into the downtown area in November.

“When you are here eight hours, you see it more and more,” Huck said. “The same vehicles are parked in front of the businesses, for three, four hours, up to all of the business day. It’s obvious the cars are not owned by customers, but rather store owners and those they employ.”

That sight isn’t lost on the likes of Sidney City Manager Gary Person and Community Development Director Megan McGown, who have also voiced concerns with the situation.

“It’s a serious problem that needs addressing,” Person said. “You’re dealing with owners and workers who are parking for long periods in a two-hour limit. It’s a legitimate concern.”

Cabela’s Shareholders meeting draws big crowd

SIDNEY — Cabela’s 2012 Meeting of Shareholders proved to be quite a celebration, yet The World’s Foremost Outfitter is hardly going to rest on its laurels.

“We will never be satisfied with the status quo,” CEO Tommy Millner told a packed house in Sidney High School’s auditorium.

The Sidney-based outdoor recreation retail company is continuing to expand, and will be opening five test-model Outpost stores, which are 40,000 square-foot stores in communities with populations of 250,000 or less.

During a Power-Point presentation, Millner showed how the company — despite somewhat stale economic times — was able to flourish in 2011.

Retail profitability increased, the company’s CLUB Visa active accounts increased, return on capital expanded, and earning per share increased by 56 percent.

However, Millner pointed out there were a few chinks in the proverbial armor.

“Not everything wasn’t perfect in our company in 2011, Millner said. “We were frankly disappointed that we did not create growth in our direct business.”

City takes on flash flood, hail

SIDNEY — A torrential storm which hit the Sidney area Thursday night created quite a flash flood, in addition to dumping an array of hailstones.

Sidney Public Services Director John Hehnke said Friday morning that park rain gauges measured up to an inch and a half of precipitation during the evening-long deluge.

“Most of the flooding occurred downtown,” Hehnke said. “We had up to two feet of water in the flood channels.”

Hehnke said numerous agencies, including the city’s street, water, parks and police departments, helped with the evening’s flooding issues.

“Most everyone was in by 9:30,” Hehnke said.

Hail was another item, however.

“The city’s north side had the larger hail,” Hehnke said. “We had reports of hailstones close to three-quarters of an inch. The south side hail was about a half-inch.”

Alliance drugstore standoff ends; Suspect, father dead; four injured, including hostage

ALLIANCE — A portion of downtown Alliance was shut down Wednesday as crime scene investigators attempt to piece together Tuesday’s 14-hour hostage standoff that left an armed suspect dead and four others injured, including the hostage.

Nebraska State Police have confirmed the gunman’s father was killed at a separate crime scene.

According to John Weare, managing editor of the Alliance Times-Herald newspaper, businesses in the 300 block of Box Butte Avenue — including Thieles Pharmacy and Gifts, where the standoff occurred — were closed.

Nebraska State Patrol confirmed late Tuesday night that the armed suspect, Andres Gonzalez, 27, of Alliance, was pronounced dead following an exchange of gunfire between Gonzalez and NSP SWAT team inside the drugstore at 304 Box Butte Ave.

The gunfire exchange began at approximately 10:30 p.m., and within an hour, the incident was finished. According to the NSP, no SWAT team members were injured in the final action, which included 30 to 40 rounds of fire, and Gonzalez had barricaded himself in a back office in what proved to be a fatal, final stand.

Contained county wildfire damages 3,000 acres north of Potter

POTTER — Almost 3,000 acres of Cheyenne County backwoods were damaged by a wildfire during the weekend.

According to Bob Hilpert, Potter Volunteer Fire Department’s public relations officer, the wildfire — which scorched an area 17 miles north of Potter (also known as the Wilson Ranch area) — began Saturday night as the result of lightning.

Hilpert said the fire was extinguished, but due to some smoldering and high winds the flame kicked back up Sunday morning.

“They blanketed it with water,” Hilpert reported, “but I guess it was a crust around the smoldering, and the winds helped pick it back up.”

Wheat Harvest Off To Early Start

Normally by the second or third week of July the roads in Cheyenne County are clogged with combines, grain carts and semi-trucks cutting and hauling wheat to the nearest elevator.

This year, the hot, dry weather has equipment traveling up our roads nearly a month early.

For those of us in town, this might mean more dust or slower commutes from outlying villages, but for the producers it means extremely long hours and possibly unexpected, often costly, repairs.

And the cool fog that provides relief from the hot, summer sun for most of us means a slower start to the harvester’s already long day.

While many farmers hire custom cutters from other states, such as Kansas and Iowa, some area producers are still cutting their own fields.

109-degree heat tops them all as records fall

Sidney residents can be forgiven for thinking that the start of the work week was a bit warmer than normal, because the mercury’s tell was a tad more brutal.

That’s because the thermometer at 4 p.m. Monday rose higher than it ever has in this community. According to Mike Jamski, Senior Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyo., the heat reached a high mark of 109 degrees, making Monday, June 25 the hottest day ever for the Cheyenne County seat.

“The old record was 107 degrees,” Jamski said, “and that was reached twice — July 11, 1954 and again on July 16, 2006. So, the folks there are in on a record.”

Fire raging north of Sidney, several hundred acres scorched

Searing heat and a steady breeze caused a barn fire to spread into a major field blaze Friday afternoon.

Numerous local agencies, including the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department and local Emergency Medical Services teams, were dispatched to the Keith Rapp residence, 2676 Road 119, just north of Sidney on Route 385.

Rapp, who has been ill recently, said he was in his house when he saw the barn go up in smoke.

“I was in my house trying to stay cool, when I saw the fire,” Rapp said. “I did call the fire in, but it had already been reported. I have no idea how it started.”

Rapp said a neighbor came to his aid, and assisted in moving some equipment out of the way. A tractor near the barn had its tires melted, and Rapp said other equipment was still in the field, to the south of his house.

“It’s filling up the south area pretty quick,” Rapp observed as firefighters worked through the blistering 104-degree heat and thick, billowing black smoke.