Area News
The Memory of “Dudes” McDonald Inspires at Miracle on 34 Fundraiser
As part of the Miracle on 34 Emergency Responders fundraiser held in Benkelman on Saturday, March 20, 2021, the family of the late Kenny “Dudes” McDonald’s, a longtime Benkelman firemen, donated his fire fighter helmet to the live auction. The special helmet, that was presented to Dudes on his retirement from the department, raised…
Read MoreEl Dorado Manor Turns 50
The staff and residents of the El Dorado Manor Nursing Home and Assisted Living Center are celebrating the facilitie’s 50th Anniversary. El Dorado Manor became a reality in 1970, through the perseverance of business people and private citizens who petitioned the Village Board of Trustees to approve bonds for the construction of a nursing home.…
Read MoreGive Back to the Fire Departments and Emergency Responders Who Helped Save Benkelman
You can still smell smoke and see the scar of the wildfire on the west edge of Benkelman. The memory of the wildfire that came so close to spreading into Benkelman if not for the efforts of the Benkelman Rural Fire Department and 13 other departments answering the mutual aid call after midnight on January…
Read MoreCity of Benkelman Asking Residents to Conserve Energy Usage
The City of Benkelman is urgently asking customers to cut down on their power and natural gas usage to mitigate the risk of potential power outages due to extreme cold weather and increased regional demand. Customers are urged to lower their thermostats by 3 degrees, unplug unnecessary appliances, close fireplace dampers, and refrain from large…
Read MoreUpdate: Short Term Electricity Blackouts Possible
From Southwest Public Power District Monday, Feb, 15 The red area is the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) of which NPPD and SWPPD are a part of. The issue is the winter storm that has developed is causing unprecedented demand extended from Texas to the Dakotas that exceeds generation and reserve capacity. SPP is asking for…
Read MoreNPPD asking customers to voluntarily conserve energy
February 14, 2021 Columbus, Neb. – Wholesale and retail customers of Nebraska Public Power District are being asked to take steps to conserve energy use due to current and future low temperatures that are affecting the state and midwestern portion of the country. Customers are asked to reduce any electrical usage effective immediately and through…
Read MoreThank You to Everyone
Submitted by Benkelman Fire Chief Relgene Zimbelman “I want to shout out a big thank you to all the volunteer fire fighters that were here and helped us put out the fire on Friday, January 15, to all the EMS personnel who came, to the Sheriff’s Office and the dispatchers for their help, to Helena…
Read MoreFirefighters Save Benkelman
Longtime Benkelman Fire Chief Relegene Zimbelman says the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the community early Friday ranks #1 as the most intense and scariest call he’s been on. Zimbelman has served on the Benkelman Rural Fire Department for 49-years and 30-years as Fire Chief. “People don’t really know how close we came to…
Read MorePhases for COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) is following the rollout plan for COVID vaccinations as directed by Nebraska’s governor and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The rollout plan is divided into phases, and the first phase has 3 sections called 1A, 1B, and 1C. Within each of the phases, the categories are…
Read MoreLate Night Fire Results in Evacuation Order for Benkelman
Benkelman residents didn’t get much sleep Thursday night after a wind driven wildfire reached city limits in the middle of the night. The fire resulted in Emergency Management issuing an evacuation order for the city shortly after 3AM. The Haigler American Legion was made available for people to stay in if needed. …
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