Year in Review - Part 2

JULY

WNCC Hosts New Business Workshop

Most everyone in the work world sees things on the job that could be done "better." Sometimes it is only a point of view, and other times it motivates a person to seek an opportunity to do it their way. Yet others find themselves in the kind of job uncertainty that encourages entrepreneurship.

Regardless the reason for exploring business ownership, the path is seldom smooth. Western Nebraska Community College's business development program held a meeting Friday for potential entrepreneurs. The program includes meeting where potential business owners can meet with resources and people who have worked their way into business ownership.

Paula Abbott, WNCC Sidney Campus Director, said as the college was evaluating the cosmetology program five years ago, it was decided to close the program for lack of students. She convinced the administration to allow her to use the location for start-up businesses.

The agreement is for start-up businesses to use WNCC the facility as part of the Business Incubator program for up to two years at no cost.

Sidney Library Introduces New Tech to Hobbyists, Small Businesses

MakerSpace is a program at the library that offers computer-based technology including 3-D printing, engraving and Virtual Reality. Thursday afternoon, library supervisor Andrew "Sherm" Sherman hosted a tour on the MakerSpace program including what it can do and what the limits are.

Most of the MakerSpace program is in a room separate from the main library. The laser, a 40-watt laser, is an entry-level unit but still costs about $10,000.

"We're happy to have it," he said.

He said most of the activity in MakerSpace has been hobbyists using the tools for unique gifts and special occasions. He said new businesses are welcome to use the resources. However, if a business begins to require too much of the resources, the owners may be encouraged to seek his or her own printers and engravers.

Nebraska Farmland Values Continue to Decline

Results from the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Survey show a statewide average value drop of 4 percent to $2,720 per acre. This marks the fourth consecutive year of declining Nebraska agricultural land values.

Results of the survey are divided by land class and summarized by eight Agricultural Statistic Districts of Nebraska. Respondents of the annual survey included consisted Nebraska land professionals including appraisers, farm and ranch managers, and agricultural bankers.

In the seven land classes, tillable grazing land values dropped by seven percent, the largest of the group. Survey participants suggested that crop prices and property tax levels are the reason for the declining Nebraska farm real estate values.

"The fourth consecutive year of declining Nebraska agricultural land prices reflects the steady year over year reduction in farm income resulting from lower commodity and cattle prices combined with yearly increases to property taxes," explains Hertz Farm Manager Scott Henrichsen.

Earning potential for the major commodities grown across the state, input expenses, and monetary policies influencing the cost of borrowing for future land purchases, will all affect future prospects in Nebraska.

Community Comes Together to Help Farmer in Need

One of the values of small towns is the community spirit, the willingness to get involved when a neighbor needs a helping hand. It is the value that goes beyond knowing the community. It is about knowing who lives in the community and how dependable they can be when circumstances result in difficult challenges.

Randy and Mari Jane Fehringer of Peetz found out recently how valuable their farming community is. The Fehringers were in a two-vehicle accident lat Sunday July 1. Both of them were flown to Regional West Medical Center with injuries from the crash. Randy Fehringer has since been released from the hospital although he does have another surgery scheduled, according to his son Sean Fehringer. Mari Jane Fehringer is still in the hospital being treated for her injuries.

Meanwhile, the wheat fields are ripe and weather is always a tough bet. This time the odds were in the Fehringers' favor. Sean Fehringer said close to 30 people came out, bringing combines, grain carts and trucks to get the job done. The volunteer team included 10 combines divided into two teams at different locations.

Commercial Resins

Returns to Sidney

A pipe and rebar coating company is returning to Sidney after a two-year absence.

Commercial Resins, with a facility also in Henderson, Colo., had a location in Sidney from 2005 to 2016. The Sidney facility closed and the staff laid off when the oil industry went into hard times.

Sidney Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard said the company recently signed an agreement with Adams Industries to reopen in an existing building at Adams Industries. She said the company will be hiring 10 to 15 employees directly and will need 10 to 15 more indirectly related to the company returning to Sidney.

Lukjan Among Third

District Award Winners

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) announced the winners of the 2018 Third Congressional District Excellence in Economic Development Awards Tuesday, with a local Sidney business among those honored.

Lukjan Metal Products was named as one of 11 individuals and businesses helping to strengthen Nebraska communities through innovation, hard work, entrepreneurship, and historic preservation.

The winners will be recognized by Smith before the U.S. House of Representatives.

"I'm proud to announce the winners of our 2018 Excellence in Economic Development Awards who have done so much to expand opportunity in Nebraska," Smith said. "Tax reform and deregulation are improving the conditions necessary for robust economic growth and I'm excited to see their benefits improving the lives of all Americans."

Community

Center Reports Busy

Summer

Use of the Cheyenne County Community Center is changing, but Center Director Michael Namuth says participation in programs is strong.

Community Center staff are responsible for scheduling reservations of Legion Park facilities such as pavilions, gazebos and the Shelter House. He said with few exceptions, the Shelter House is full all summer. Pavilions on the north end of the park are the most popular. They also manage reservations for the Lodgepole Youth Camp

"Through our summer leagues, we have had pretty good participation," Namuth told the Sidney City Council Tuesday.

He said there is a decrease in adult participation in programs.

Some of the changes that are scheduled include changing third and fourth grade football to flag football and beginning tackle football in fifth grade.

Namuth said membership at the Community Center is down 25 to 30 percent. It is a trend that started last fall, a change he credits to changes with Cabela's. He added this is the first time in more than 30 years no one signed up for the adult softball league.

AUGUST

Trash Rates go Up Next Month; Bonds for

Landfill

Equipment Sold

Sidney City Manager Ed Sadler announced in the July 24 city council meeting that the finance bonds for the landfill have been sold.

The funds will be loaned to the City at 3.35 percent with cash available by the end of August.

In the July 10 Sidney Area Solid Waste Agency meeting, Sadler said he expected the bonds to be finalized at 3.37 percent. The Sidney Area Solid Waste Agency is borrowing up to about $1.5 million to purchase a new baler and a compactor.

The bonds are to finance new equipment at the Sidney Area Solid Waste Landfill.

New Business Sprouts

Up in Sidney

The project started from a news cast of lettuce and similar vegetables being recalled. The recall was first at specific restaurants, then later at grocery stores.

While at a Juice Plus Tower Garden conference in Phoenix, Ariz., Jeanne Ogden thought of a way to offer vegetables that have almost no way of being infected. She is opening a store that allows the customer to cut herbs and leafy vegetables from the plant in a grow tower, or the customer can purchase the plant to take home and transplant to their own garden.

"I thought - we should just take these tower gardens and grow vegetables that won't have a chance of recall," Ogden said.

Fast forward, she is just days from opening her enterprise, "Growcery, An Indoor Garden," at 920 Tenth Ave., in Sidney. Her official opening is planned for Monday, Aug. 6.

Two businesses, One

Location: Shirt Tales Changes Ownership, Partnership Opens 'Urban Cowgirl'

It started out as following a concept with an available storefront, and a meeting of necessity resulted in a second business opportunity.

Amanda Sharman and her friend Carson Faesssler talked about a business venture. They envisioned a store with old farm and ranch materials and refashion, repurpose the material into household decorations. The concept became a reality adjacent to Shirt Tales.

Urban Cowgirl offers an array of one-of-a-kind decorations, repurposed and recycled farm materials, pallet artwork, barn wood, and home decorations.

Taking over ownership of Shirt Tales is not something Sharman immediately envisioned. It is an opportunity that presented itself unexpectedly.

Saddle and Tack Shop Opens in Sidney

Monte and Kathy Decker are opening "Cowboy Connection" at 827 Tenth Ave. The store offers a full line of new and used saddles and tack. What they offer is the knowledge of what is best for the rider and horse and how to make a deal - customer service.

Board reviews 2018 Fair

The Cheyenne County Fair Board met to review this year's events. The overall opinion is the numbers are up from last year.

"Attendance was up," said board member Anita Pennel.

She clarified some of the numbers are estimates. The ambiguity is because of how entrance to grandstand events included children under 12 at no charge. Pennel said 1,340 people attended the rodeo, up from 2017. She said final numbers are based on taking the number of tickets sold and multiplying it by three as an average number of children to pass through the gates with adults.

Total attendance for grandstand events is estimated at about 7,100. Pennel attributed some of the increase to the change in the price structure. She said ticket books in 2017 were $60. For 2018, the prices were dropped to $35.

"The attendance on the rodeo, it's the highest it's been in a long time," said Fair Board President Gerald Frerichs.

NOH Records

Successful Night

Legion Park had a different kind of buzz through the evening Friday. It carried the drone of activity from walkers, music, dancing, auctions and many other activities in support of cancer research and local people who have been touched by the disease.

Friday night, Sidney held the 2018 Night of Hope Walk for Cancer. The event is staged as an opportunity to remember those who lost their battle against cancer, recognize those who are still in the fight and those who have survived, and to support local cancer patients and their families. Proceeds from the Night Of Hope also fund scholarships for students entering Western Nebraska Community College to study medicine.

Voters Approve LB840 Changes

Sidney voters made their decision Tuesday, allowing the City of Sidney to modify the LB840 program to include private and public funding sources.

Presently, the City's economic development plan receives funds only from a tax within the LB840 bill. Sidney voters approved extending the LB840 economic development plan through 2027.

A few months ago, City staff talked with the city council about amending the economic development plan to allow funds from sources other than the tax. The scenario brought before the council is if a person wants to offer an endowment, or a company wants to support a cause, the City would have to decline the offers because they can only accept LB840 funds.

Sidney Prepares For Leaner

Budget

Sidney's City Council took a good hard look at its 2018-19 budget during a workshop Wednesday, and found there will be a lot of cuts that could sting a little over the next couple of years.

In making his budget presentation, Sidney City Manager Ed Sadler told council that, at least on paper, the city could be facing up to $1 million in cuts. That's due in part to double counting some revenues, re-budgeting unspent funds and budgeting possible federal grants.

In eliminating those miscues, the "on-paper" picture looks a little better, but the city still faces the need to cut several hundred thousand dollars to make up for a loss in revenue.

New Chief

Chosen by Sidney Firemen

Sidney's Volunteer Fire Department is under new leadership, following the installation of new officers earlier this month.

Four members of the Department's command staff have moved up in the ranks, while two remain in the same slots and two officers have accepted new roles in the command ranks.

Twenty-six year department veteran LaVerne Bown was chosen as the new fire chief, replacing Keith Stone, who stepped down after serving in that spot for 32 years. Bown has been one of the department's two assistant chiefs since 2002.

Rising from captains to serve as assistant chiefs are Dana Reece and Matt Butts. Reece has been on the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department for 18 years, and was previously with Chadron's squad for eight years. Butts has been with the Sidney volunteers for 13 years.

Area Enrollment Numbers Not As Bad As Projected

Potter-Dix Continues to Buck The Trend

Nearly all schools, which had by last spring already seen mild dips in enrollment, and based on interviews and expectations, figured they could see substantially fewer students - up to 20 percent in some projections.

But as students enrolled for the 2018-19 school year, the projections were disproved.

While Creek Valley and Leyton School Districts are down slightly on numbers, Peetz (which lies just over the Colorado border to the south), has a handful more students than it did last spring. Without exception, the districts are glad the tide turned a little in their favor.

City keeps mill levy unchanged

The Sidney City Council held a public hearing Tuesday on the proposed 2018-2019 city budget.

The City is facing cuts because of reductions in sales tax revenue and valuations. According to the budget summary presented to council, the 2017-2018 property tax request was $2,695,848.57 with a mill levy of .531496. . For 2018-2019, the proposed mill levy is .531496.

City Finance Director David Scott said the impact of keeping the mill levy the same will be felt across the city.

"We're feeling it all across the the board, and we're spreading it all across the board" he said.

SEPTEMBER

UST Global And Xpanxion To Bring New Healthcare And Technology Jobs To Sidney

Xpanxion, in partnership with its parent company UST Global, has formally announced it will be expanding operations into Sidney. The move is part of the company's practice to expand its portfolio of services and the geographic footprint of its existing Rural Sourcing ecosystem by opening a new Rural Delivery and Services Center in Sidney.

Services will include healthcare platform-based solutions, operations and supporting digital services.

Xpanxion was founded by Nebraska native Paul Eurek, who built the company on the strengths of Midwest standards.

Following that model, Xpanxion will be leasing up to 65,000 sq. ft. of space in downtown Sidney, at the site of the original Cabela's retail store at 13th and Illinois.

In its press release, Xpanxion said it will be providing up to 200 jobs.

Council Approves

Paving Project

The Sidney City Council Tuesday approved a street improvement project for the north side of Sidney.

Tuesday's city council meeting included discussion on projects in the North Sidney neighborhood following a community meeting. The meeting was held May 3 between North Side residents, City Manager Ed Sadler and Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard. At issue was if the residents wanted to invest some of their funds in community improvements or continue to save for a bigger project. The LB840 funds received by the City includes $50,000 allocated for North Side projects. The North Side currently has a balance of about $200,000, according to a memo from Norgard to the city council.

Norgard said the discussion generated five priorities: 1) Paving Elm Street from 13th Avenue to 17th Avenue, 2) New sidewalk from Sky Manor to 16th Street, 3) Improve the walkway at the 13th Street underpass, 4) Build walkway over the Union Pacific railroad tracks at 19th Avenue or 5) Utilize funds to incentivize new businesses to locate on the North Side.

She said after residents voted, a new sidewalk from Sky Manor to 16th Street was chosen as the top priority.

Quad/Graphics Announces

Intended Layoff In Sidney

From the second such action in as many years, a large group of graphics professionals are uncertain of their future following a Wednesday afternoon announcement that Quad/Graphics would be closing its Sidney operation.

The announcement was another shock for many of the people working for the company, a good share of them who joined Quad/Graphics after Cabela's shut down its graphics operations early in 2016. That action was taken as Cabela's was working to streamline it operation, which was under corporate attack by Elliott Management.

To trim its overhead, Cabela's at the time entered into an agreement with Quad/Graphics to take care of its media and print needs. At the time, 120 people worked in that area for Cabela's and it was reported about 90 were offered jobs with Quad/Graphics.

This time, the employees are being laid off because, employees were told, Cabela's new owner, Bass Pro, is moving the work to its own in-house operation. Employees were informed by company officials in a meeting around 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Vitalix Moves Production to Sidney

In June, the Vitalix facility in Alliance was destroyed in a fire. The company was soon in a dire situation trying to keep up with customer demand, even with other facilities capable of producing their product.

Since then, the company has moved to Sidney and expects production to begin this weekend. Olson said he was attracted to Sidney by the available warehouses, railroad access, available natural gas and employees.

Cabela's Sue Local Start-up Companies

Cabela's LLC has lodged a complaint against two groups of former employees alleging unfair competition and misappropriation of confidential information, according to court records.

A case filed by Cabela's on Aug. 16, lists Ryan Wellman, Trent Santero, Mike Riddle, Jeremy Nesbitt and NexGen Outfitters, LLC as plaintiffs in the case.

A similar case, filed August 8, is against Matt and Molly Highby and Highby Outdoors.

Both cases were filed in Delaware courts because jurisdiction of the companies involved are in that state, and agreements involved specify Delaware law holds jurisdiction.Since then, the court has issued a mixed ruling. NexGen Outfitters can continue but it cannot solicit contacts developed through Cabela's or Cabela's employees.

Holecheck Announces

Retirement, Sale of

Business

For more than 50 years the Holecheck family has served the area with services through Holecheck Funeral Home. That came to an end this week when Jim Holecheck, who has run the Sidney funeral home announced his retirement.

Since 1979, Holecheck has been part of the business his father, Robert, started with the purchase of Craig Mortuary in 1966. Jim began taking the lead when Bob passed away in 1985, purchasing the business from his mother in 1991.

In making the announcement, Holecheck said he has sold the business to Gordy Stitt with Gehrig-Stitt Funeral Home. The change of ownership became effective today. Earlier this year, Holecheck sold locations in Chappell and Oshkosh to Paula Bondegard.

OCTOBER

Feddersen Fount Not Guilty On Two Felony Charges

A Sidney man who was accused of beating and robbing an acquaintance during a burglary has been acquitted by a jury.

Jackson (Jack) Feddersen was arrested just more than a year ago when he was named by a former high school classmate, Ryan Stettner, regarding an incident in Stettner's home. Stettner said Feddersen was the man who attacked him in his bed in the early morning hours of Aug. 31, 2017. Stettner claimed $3,000 was taken from him during the incident by the accused and at least one other unknown assailant.

The trial, which lasted two and a half days in Cheyenne County District Court, was argued before the Honorable Derek Weimer and a 12-person jury. Evidence was presented by the prosecution and defense in the first two days, and attorneys made their closing arguments Friday morning. The jury deliberated for a little more than hour before returning its verdict.

Exotic Meat Leaves Bad Taste

POTTER – Potter-Dix students got a taste of exotic meat in a meal last week. In a letter to parents Wednesday, School Superintendent Mike Williams said kangaroo meat was mixed in with the beef used to prepare students' chili at the Potter site.

Upon discovering the addition of the exotic meat, Williams discusses the addition with head cook Kevin Frei, who said he added the kangaroo meat because of it's nutritional value as a very lean meat. Frei also provided nutritional information on the meat.

School officials do not believe kangaroo meat is unhealthy or dangerous and it meets USDA standards in order for companies to sell it, but Williams says it will not be a part of the Potter-Dix meal program.

Peetz Raffelson

Recognized as

Teacher of the Year

The Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented recently named Peetz teacher Leslie Raffelson as Educator of the Year.

She was presented the award during the annual conference in Loveland, Co., Monday, Oct. 22.

"As is the case in most small schools, Leslie wears multiple hats. In addition to her normal classroom duties, she is also our director of technology, our art teacher, a class sponsor and our gifted and talented coordinator," Peetz Superintendent Mark Collard said in his nomination.

Governor Appoints Sidney Man to Board

A Sidney farmer has been chosen to represent the southern Panhandle on the Nebraska Wheat Board.

In a press release this week, it was announced that Tyson Narjes was appointed to the board by Gov. Pete Ricketts to represent Nebraska's wheat production district two, which covers Kimball, Cheyenne and Deuel counties. He is replacing Potter farmer Rick Larson, who served on the board for three five-year terms.

While it is the smallest production district physically, Wheat Board Executive Director Royce Schaneman said the district is largest when it comes to wheat production. Half of the state's wheat production comes from the Panhandle.

"We're excited to have him," Schaneman said. "He's passionate about agriculture and about wheat. He will be a great addition to the board."

Schaneman said he is also excited that at 29 years old, Narjes brings another younger farmer to the board.

City Okays 'Shovel Ready' Approach

When the Bass Pro acquisition of Cabela's began, properties went on the sale block in relation to the change of staff. It didn't take long before Sidney real estate was attracting buyers, enough buyers the City of Sidney wants more assets available when companies do show interest.

The Sidney City Council met Monday for a short meeting and an executive session, where City Manager Ed Sadler explained the need for the meeting is because "circumstances are changing rather quickly." He said with UST Global under contract for a downtown location, including an option for the upper floors, Sidney doesn't have an abundance of properties available. In addition, Sadler said Sidney is one of three Nebraska locations considered for a new government office.

NOVEMBER

County Approves New

Veteran Service Officer

The Veterans Service Committee met with the Cheyenne County Commissioners Monday, announcing their choice for a new county Veterans Service Officer.

Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Fred Wiedeburg will be assuming the duties of Veterans Service Officer Jan. 1. Veterans Service Officer Ron Gusman announced his retirement earlier this fall.

Gusman said Monday there are about 750 veterans in Cheyenne County, and likely more who are not aware of the service or do not take advantage of the programs.

Wiedeburg is a 20-year veteran, having served five years in the U.S. Navy and 15 years in the U.S. Army. He has been on staff with the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office since 2004.

A.D. Rutherford

International Opens

New Location in Sidney

A.D. Rutherford International Inc. (ADR) has announced it has officially opened its newest location in Sidney.

For more than 36 years, ADR customs brokers have specialized in customs filing and clearance across the Canada and U.S. border. They provide superior importing, exporting and logistics solutions to ensure that goods cross the border in a timely manner. The company is expanding and has six offices in Canada and now four offices in the U.S.

ADR is leasing 1,900 sq. ft of space in downtown Sidney, from Bass Pro Shops for $1, part of a Bass Pro Shops initiative and incentive to create jobs in the Sidney area.

Voter Turnout

Unexpectedly High

In County

A number of uncontested races - during a mid-term election - could have spelled for low voter turnout this week, but Cheyenne County voters turned out in numbers surprising to some officials.

Just more than half of Cheyenne County's 6,468 registered voters went to the polls Tuesday to make their mark on ballots.

County school boards were the mist highly contested local races, with more than 20 people vying for 12 spots on area school boards.

Sidney Breaks Ground on Housing Development for People with Disabilities

The Sidney Housing Authority determined several years ago that people with disabilities sometimes struggle to find housing within the community. Funded in partnership between the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED), the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority and Midwest Housing Equity Group, the Canterbury Estates housing development will provide 10 new one- and two-bedroom apartment units on Canterbury Lane, designed for persons with disabilities in mind.

Sidney Students perform well in ACT Tests

Sidney High School principal Chris Arent updated the school board on the ACT test performances at the district board meeting Monday. Arent said 2018 test results are still embargoed; however, the 2018 results, from tests completed in April, show students doing above the state average.

"I can tell you we did very well," Arent told the school board.

He said the 2018 class performed above the state and national ACT test performances. Arent and Curriculum and Assessment Director Sheri Ehler also mentioned a report correlating the relationship between socio-economic status and test performance.

"It is kind of an exiting experience for all of us," she said.

Manufacturers Meet to Address Needs: Employees

Local manufacturing companies met at Western Nebraska Community College Thursday to discuss challenges in being fully staffed and how they can work through the obstacles. Thursday's roundtable luncheon was hosted by Paula Abbott of WNCC and Sidney Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard.

Several businesses defined qualified as having the skills necessary to do the work, and capable of passing a background check. Many of the industries represented also require employees to be at least 18 years of age. Older workers are not an issue as long as they can do the work needed.

Residents Seek Solution to Train Crossing Delays

Locomotives united the east and west. The Panhandle Nebraska area knows it well as local history. But some Cheyenne County residents are also familiar with long trains that can delay transit from one point to another.

The dilemma, sometimes stress, is when a blocked crossing keeps residents from the rest of the community, or worse yet, when the blocked crossing keeps first responders from completing a call.

"We are landlocked," Kim Phillips said recently.

Kim Phillips and Jim Pelster recently addressed the Cheyenne County commissioners regarding the dilemma.

"It really picked up after the derailment," she told the commissioners.

At the time, commissioner Darrell Johnson admitted the Phililps and their neighbors are landlocked when the crossing is blocked. Phillips shared an incident when her mother injured her head about two years ago. She said first responders were delayed because of the train. The outcome would have been worse if her brother had not been at the scene.

DECEMBER

Tour de Nebraska Starts, Ends at Sidney

The 32nd Tour de Nebraska announced its route for June 19-23, 2019. This bicycle adventure starts and ends in Sidney, Nebraska home to Cabela's, the World's Foremost Outfitter. Sidney is roughly 4.5 hours from Lincoln, all on I-80, which makes travel ultra convenient.

Flamig Finishes Two Decades of Service

About 20 years ago, Randy Flamig was encouraged to make a difference in his community. He took the direction and Monday night concluded most of two decades of service to the Cheyenne County School District No. 1 school board.

"I got on the school board from some friendly advice, 'everyone should run for public office,' and I still believe that," Randy Flamig said in the board meeting.

He said in his 20 years on the board, he has served as board president, vice-president and on nearly every committee designed. He said as far as he can tell, is the third longest serving board members since the 1960s.

No One Injured In Apartment Fire

Two Sidney families escaped injury early Wednesday morning when a fire broke out in adjoining apartments, gutting one.

Sidney Volunteer Fire Department was called to the scene at Fort Sidney Apartments, just off of Fort Sidney Road, at around 2:30 a.m. The initial report was that someone was trapped inside one of the apartments, but fortunately all occupants had escaped from the building by the time responders arrived.

Firefighters knocked the blaze down, but not before it gutted the interior of the main apartment involved. Sidney Fire Chief LaVerne Bown reported the adjoining apartment had extensive smoke damage.

Bown said no cause has been determined by the Nebraska Fire Marshall's Office, which is investigating.