FINAL Kimball 16-Page Marketing Piece.Indd
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Kimball Welcomes You! As seen in the March/April 2008 issue of Nebraska Life MagazineKIMBALL. WELCOMES YOU School HOPE THAT THE FOLLOWING feature story, pictures and ads will be Superintendent of Schools helpful in familiarizing yourself with Kimball and our citizens. Since 1889, Troy L. Unzicker the town of Kimball has welcomed both travelers and settlers into the warm 901 S. Nadine St. embrace of its friendly and welcoming community nestled in the far southwestern Kimball, NE 69145 corner of Nebraska. (308) 235-2188 Safely secured under the brightest stars and the most spectacular sunsets, Kim- Fax: (308) 235-3269 ball has emerged as one of the most desirable destinations to live, work, raise a [email protected] family, retire and even start a business in the Great Plains. http://kimball.k12.ne.us Th ere’s so much to like about Kimball. Its natural, rural beauty. Close proximity to the Colorado Front Range, Interstate 80 and the future Heartland Expressway City make our location a huge attribute. City of Kimball Administrator Harold Farrar • Healthy living. 223 S. Chestnut St. Hospital University of • Top notch health care facilities. Kimball, NE 69145 Kimball Health Services Nebraska Extension • Assisted living and nursing home that are second to none. (308) 235-3639 or 235-2971 Julie Schnell - Chief Kimball-Banner Co. • Excellent schools. [email protected] Executive Offi cer Extension Offi ce • Welcoming churches. www.ci.kimball.ne.us 505 S. Burg St. 209 E. 3rd St. Kimball, NE 69145 • Unique shopping. Kimball, NE 69141-1401 (308) 235-1951 Hospital • Rich rail history and presence Economic (308) 235-3122 (308) 235-1966 Clinic (308) 235-3077 • Many dining options. Development www.kimballhealth.org [email protected] • Historic architecture. City of Kimball [email protected] www.ckb.unl.edu • Proud heritage. Economic Development • Stately homes. Kent Worker • Full city and county services. 223 S. Chestnut St. Nursing Home Airport • Aff ordable land. Kimball, NE 69145 Kimball County Manor Robert E. Arraj Field • Tree lined streets and parks. (308) 235-3639 Bev Schnell - Administrator Dennis Bastian - DR Aircraft LLC • The state’s highest golf course (888) 274-6004 810 E. 7th St. (308) 235-4008 Kimball, NE 69145 • World class landing strip and support services. [email protected] (307) 631-3679 (308) 235-4693 • Outstanding cultural and sporting events. dennis@draircraft .com Kimball Area Foundation [email protected] www.draircraft .com • The best drinking water straight from the tap, and so much more. Dr. Doug McConnell PO Box 483 County Offi ces Kimball is a place where there’s always something happening, always someone (308) 235-3829 or 235-3601 Kimball County Courthouse to visit with, always somewhere to go, always something to do if one so chooses; [email protected] Th is publication supported in 114 E. 3rd St. or one can bask in relative privacy for a little recharging of the soul! part by these sponsors: Forward Kimball Industries Kimball, NE 69145 Welcome to our amazing home town – we invite you to consider Kimball your 122 S. Chestnut St. (308) 235-2241 GOLD SPONSORS home town! Kimball, NE 69145 [email protected] Will & Lillian Brown (308) 235-3782 or 235-5818 www.co.kimball.ne.ue Kimball VFW Post #2243 & Ladies Auxiliary First National Bank of Kimball Kim Baliman, Executive Director Kimball Health Services Th e Kimball-Banner Chamber of Commerce Golf WNCC Community Clean Harbors First Tier Bank of Kimball Four Winds Gold Course College Kimball Co-op Food Store Chad Wise - PGA Pro Southern Panhandle Kimball County Visitors Committee Box 22 E. Hwy 30 Sidney Center Kimball Public Schools If there is anything you would need to know Kimball, NE 69145 Deanna G. Volkmer - Castronics & Evertson Oil Companies Kimball Area Foundation about the area, or if you have comments regarding (308) 235-4241 Associate Dean the same, please visit or contact us. Pro shop open mid-March (308) 254-7404 SILVER SPONSORS through Oct. 31. Course open [email protected] Kimball Banner County Chamber of Commerce City of Kimball mid-March through Dec. 31. www.wncc.net Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce 122 South Chestnut Street, Kimball, NE 69145 308-235-3782 voice • 308-235-3825 fax [email protected] • www.ci.kimball.ne.us Cover photo by Alex Blanche NEBRASKA LIFE KIMBALL WELCOMES YOU Kimball Ready for the Next Big Break Story and photography by CHRISTOPHER AMUNDSON IMBALL was practically deserted dripped onto the Western Nebraska Observer one Saturday night back in 1954 as it rolled off the press that week. Within K when most able-bodied residents two years pumping units pulling light sweet made their way southwest of town to Seth crude became a fi xture of the landscape Torgeson’s farm. Rumors had spread that – both in and out of Kimball. Th e city was the drilling crew was close and “touchdown” divided into 40-acre sections and drilling could happen any time. rigs moved into backyards, vacant lots and Th e secret was already out. Seismograph alleys to get at the oil 6,000 feet below the crews had been surveying Kimball County city. Landowners shared in the revenue and for months. Others had already had luck in the city fi nanced new building and improve- Cheyenne County to the east. “Black gold” ment projects. Workers poured new wide was underfoot. streets that gave the city a look of readiness Th e evening turned to dark at Torgie’s for success. farm and eventually the onlookers headed Kimball became known as Nebraska’s oil home none the wiser. But the news came capital but more importantly it became a with morning light. Touchdown! Th e oil hub for servicing a huge area of oil fi elds in boom had come to Kimball County! eastern Wyoming, northeastern Colorado Th is would be the beginning of big chang- and western Nebraska. New buildings for es in Kimball and everyone knew it. Sam- drilling and service companies, parts stores ples of the oil were brought into town and and oil companies like Standard fi lled High- Boomtown Left, when community leaders began to feel the oil industry slump in the 1960s, they recruited Ken Risk’s dad, George Risk, to Kimball with a $150,000 investment and a promise that George would employ fi ve KIMBALL people at his electronics manufacturing plant. Today, George Risk Industries employs nearly 300, including 38-year veteran Marcella Baack, 87, who works as the order “expediter.” “If the orders aren’t getting out on time she gets out there and cracks the whip,” Ken said, with a smile. Above, Kimball’s main drag, Chestnut Street, is full of hometown businesses. NEBRASKA LIFE KIMBALL WELCOMES YOU Oil and Big Mamou Cards, Cards, Cards Tim Wistrom tends to maintenance The gift is complete with the on “Flying Eagle Number 1” at the JR’s sentiment of the card. Hallmark Kleinholz oil fi eld west of Kimball. Restaurant cards complement any gift selection Below, Morgan Williams’ dad named from Walker Pharmacy. Kimball’s their steakhouse on the west edge Open 5 am-9 pm everyday. of Kimball “Big Mamou” after a Hank ‘main-street’ drug and gift store. Williams song. He named a drink Breakfast served anytime. “Morgan Nicole” after Morgan. And as for her brother Lance, well, he JR’s Restaurant WALKER gets to work as the bartender “so he I-80 exit 20 and Hwy 71 Pharmacy feels important.” Kimball, NE 69145 129 S Chestmut • Kimball, NE 69145 308-235-4330 308-235-2361 aft er local residents completed the Oli- ver Reservoir irrigation project in 1911. The good times Today long trains of Union Pacifi c grain keep coming cars haul wheat from the Kimball Co- Meet friends for a game of darts, Op elevator toward foreign ports. Every pool, shuffleboard or a great fall, sugar beets wait in giant mounds off burger and your favorite cold drink. Highway 71 for processing into sugar at Nebraska wine available. We’re the sugar beet co-operative in Scotts- also Kimball’s hot spot for Keno. bluff . But as a teenager, Evertson saw the downside and uncertainty of production Jolly Roger’s agriculture. Good Times Bar & Grill “Hail devastated my dad seven years in 109 W. 2nd • Kimball, NE a row. I said enough of that and I went to Need a tow? Call Jolly Roger’s Towing work in the oil fi elds,” Evertson recalled. 308-235-4421 or 3403 He learned the oil business from the way 30 and Chestnut Street downtown. ground up as a basic laborer – a rough- As many as 30 drilling rigs operated from neck – digging trenches, laying pipe and Kimball with thousands employed on whatever else he could do to get oil on Spirit of Volunteerism roustabout crews, maintenance crews and his hands. He worked in Wyoming, Col- as engineers and geologists. orado, Utah, and of course Nebraska. He Th is little town on the Lincoln Highway loved the oil business and worked nights, Volunteers make a huge diff erence in became an oil boomtown. Th e population weekends and whenever he could get Kimball. The Ambassadors help the Chamber of Commerce with events, tour groups, climbed from 1,700 to 4,300 by the late away from school. beautifi cation and annual toy drive. Helping 1950s. Good fortunes had come to Kim- Th ere was a saying an old crew super- where they are needed is what they’re about. ball. visor – a “tool-pusher” – used when Ev- Marion Abramson and her husband ertson and his crew of roughnecks would Kimball Ambassadors John were at Torgie’s pasture that night in strike oil.