Kimball County, NE

The Kimball County Commissioners dealt with a variety of topics Tuesday in their regular bi-monthly meeting. The county Road Department will begin working again on their 1/6 Year project located 14 miles south of Kimball and 2 miles west. Seven culverts will be installed in the two-mile area and the site will be graveled.

Wayne E. Lukassen, 88, of Kimball, died at Kimball Health Services on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kimball with Father Robert Karnish and Mike McDermott officiating. Burial was in the Kimball Cemetery. Visitation was held on June 4 from 2:00 until 6:30 p.m. at the Cantrell Funeral Home. Rosary services were held following the visitation at the funeral home.

Charles (Charlie) W. Goins, 76, of Skiatook, Oklahoma, died on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, at Hillcrest Heart Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his loving wife, Beverly, of 52 years by his side. Charlie's daughter, Trish Lynn Goins, was born on March 15, 1972, in Kimball and died on May 19, 2021.

The AmeriCorps team was worth celebrating Tuesday at the historic old high school, where team members have done so much. From left are Terri Lukassen of Plains Historical Society; U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith aide Val Jansante; Kimball Mayor Keith Prunty; Elyse Schlake Lukassen of Kimball economic development; Kimball County representative Christy Warner; Rep. Smith; the historical society's Jowain Sherman; AmericCorps team members Brendan Dyer, Brandon Abbot, Jason Husena and Dave Schuldiner; the historical society's Tim Nolting; and AmeriCorps team members Kierra Mowery and Sasha Allen.

The study continues into whether to upgrade Kimball Public Schools facilities. On May 24, the Kimball School Board met with Jacob Sertich from Wilkins Architecture, Design and Planning to discuss an architect’s role in designing/planning a facility renovation or addition. According to schools Superintendent Trevor Anderson in an email to...

One year ago, the Kimball County Commissioners purchased a new 2020 John Deere 770 G motor grader. Murphy Tractor and Equipment’s Max Miller, vice president, and Travis Fix, sales representative, met with the current board of commissioners to review the information about the grader. The grader has 1,012 hours recorded...

KIMBALL — In its ongoing support of rural communities, the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council, announces the 2021 communities taking part in its national initiative, the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design. Kimball County is one of 15 communities selected for the Design Learning Cohort in which leaders participate in peer learning. This includes training in design, planning, community engagement, and facilitation techniques; one-on-one technical assistance on their community design challenge; and support in navigating funding opportunities.

Kate Tyner, BSN, RN, CIC with Nebraska Infection Control Assessment and Promotion Program (ICAP) joined the Monday, May 24 Panhandle briefing to provide additional understanding and recommendations for fully vaccinated people. “People that have received their COVID vaccine are similar to wearing a fireproof suit,” Tyner explained. “For those that...

Beverly Ann Atkins passed away on May 14, 2021 at Kimball Health Services after a protracted bout with multiple myeloma cancer. A graveside service for family and church members will be held at Kimball Cemetery on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Alan Foutz officiating. Friends may visit http://www.cantrellfh.com to view Beverly's Tribute Wall and leave condolences and stories for the family. Visitation will be held on Friday from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the Cantrell Funeral Home.

Donald D. Maxted, 91, of Kimball, died at Kimball County Manor on Friday, May 14, 2021. Funeral services for Don were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Kimball with Pastor Roger Gillming officiating. Burial will be held in the Kimball Cemetery with military graveside honors. Friends called at the funeral home on Monday from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m. Friends may also visit http://www.cantrellfh.com to view Don's Tribute Wall and share condolences and stories with the family.

Randy Bymer, Kimball County highway superintendent, updated the Kimball County Commissioners on the county roads at their May 18 meeting. He said wet conditions were putting a damper on work to be done. The department has been grading and graveling between rains, and work on the 1/6 Year plan project...

The Kimball County Clerk’s Office confirmed Tuesday that the City of Kimball mayoral recall effort is over. The allowed time for signed petitions supporting a recall lapsed May 14. The effort sought to remove Mayor Keith Prunty from office. The clerk’s office on April 23 sent certified letters and emails...

On May 3 the Unified Command confirmed that Kimball County once again has zero COVID-19 cases and vaccinations are continuing. Panhandle Public Health District has vaccination data per county, and Kimball County data shows that 837 individuals are fully vaccinated, which equals 29% of the population. Banner County data reports that 38% of residents are fully vaccinated, and Scotts Bluff County reports 36% of the people have been fully vaccinated.

The Kimball County commissioners heard a financial update from the Veterans Service Office assistant, Darcee Wheeland on Tuesday, May 3, at their regular semimonthly meeting. According to Wheeland’s records, Kimball County veterans or spouses received $34,395 in April from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation, VA pensions, retired military funding, or VIP Program Care. About 350 veterans live in the county.

An effort to recall Kimball's mayor is expected to end, really before it even got started. Mary "Maggie" Laughlin told the Star-Herald Tuesday she contacted Kimball County Clerk Cathy Sibal that morning to withdraw her request for a recall petition against Kimball mayor Keith Prunty, declaring an end to the recall attempt.

Cassie Gasseling, Kimball Health Services chief financial officer, speaks April 13 at Kimball County Transit Service headquarters to present plans for a new hospital to the community. A reported 38 people attended two meetings regarding the plans and another 12 checked in on Zoom.

Daria anderson-faden / the observer Kimball's Main Street Market recently purchased a bench for Kimball County Transit riders to sit and wait for the arrival of the next transit vehicle. Above, Kimball resident Jody Hardin waits for her transit ride on a snowy Monday morning. The store is a popular stop for KCTS.

Kimball County Clerk Cathy Sibal said she has received a phone call from one of the petitioners looking to recall Mayor Keith Prunty inquiring about withdrawing her recall petition – but it appears the only way to stop the process is to let it move forward. Nothing in the recall...

The Kimball County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, April 20, with much of their meeting consumed by discussion of road department equipment. According to Randy Bymer, road superintendent, road grader operators were out on Friday after the last significant snow. They were only out until it got “sloppy,” Bymer said, “and it got sloppy fast.”

Kimball County Government Day occurred on Tuesday, April 13. Kimball High senior civics students listen to District Court Clerk Deb Diemoz explain the duties associated with the District Court. Students are, left to right: Zander Hottell, Emma Martin, Draven Vickery and Maddie Cook, Jared Barnes, Kate Fraser.