The drive to Colorado from Sidney, Nebraska started out a bit rough since we have so much interstate construction going on right now (for the better, of course). But upon getting into Colorado, things were truly awesome. I kept driving through magnificent hills, farm life, and little homes with ‘God Bless America’ signs and flags. The whole atmosphere of these tiny towns amazed me. I even recall thinking to myself “I could TOTALLY live here, this is so beautiful!”.

I was originally supposed to be headed to Sedgwick, Colorado, but found out about 10 minutes into my journey that I was to go to Julesburg. So I re-did my GPS and was headed in the right direction. When I finally arrived in Julesburg, I was met by Trish Stever, the Sedgwick County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, and all of her members. I was actually surprised by how many people were in attendance at this meeting, most of the time, I have about 10-15 people attend these Regional Presentations. I sat down, and started eating the meal that was served (lasagna, salad, and garlic bread) and patiently waited for my turn. Once the business was taken care of, Trish introduced me. I got up and explained all about the High Plains Compass (and how great it is, of course). The members applauded, asked very good questions, and gave me their business cards.

The meeting was concluded and I sat down to eat the dessert (brownie with vanilla ice cream) before departing. I said my goodbyes to the few remaining people at the meeting and headed down the street to their convenience store for a soda. The cashier was super friendly and polite.

What a great trip this was for me. I can’t tell you how friendly the entire town was, the rolling hills out there were amazing, and you could tell, just by simply looking at the farm homes that you passed along the way, that this place has a great sense of community. I always used to say that I wanted to live in  a big city, but since having the position I do now, and getting to see these wonderful places, that there is no way I could. I want to see these friendly faces every day, I want to be able to drive a few miles and be ‘in the country’, I want to feel small when I’m standing in the middle of the field, and be able to see for miles, I want to trust my neighbor, and most defintely, this is the place to do it.

So, if you haven’t already visited Julesburg, Colorado. I highly recommend it. If not for the great food, or the friendly faces, go for the atmosphere of the environment, there’s truly nothing like it. Aw-Inspiring to say the least.

The members of the Segwick County Chamber of Commerce Meeting!

Trish Stever, the Sedgwick County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

Welcome to Colorful Colorado!

What do you think Coloradoans? Do these facts make sense to you?

*The United States Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs.

*In Fruita, the town folk celebrate ‘Mike the Headless Chicken Day’. Seems that a farmer named L.A. Olsen cut off Mike’s head on September 10, 1945 in anticipation of a chicken dinner – and Mike lived for another 4 years without a head.

*The highest paved road in North America is the Road to Mt. Evans off of I-70 from Idaho Springs. The Road climbs up to 14,258 Ft. above sea level.

*Colorado means “colored red” and is known as the “Centennial State.”

*The United States federal government owns more than 1/3 of the land in Colorado.

*Colorado contains 75% of the land area of the U.S. with an altitude over 10,000 feet.  

*Colorado has 222 state wildlife areas.
 

*Colfax Avenue in Denver is the longest continuous street in America.
 

*The 13th step of the state capital building in Denver is exactly 1 mile high above sea level.
 

*The Dwight Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel between Clear Creek & Summit counties is the highest auto tunnel in the world. Bored at an elevation of 11,000 feet under the Continental Divide it is 8,960 feet long and the average daily traffic exceeds 26,000 vehicles.
 

*Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States at 10,430 feet elevation. Because there was lots of “silver” named towns at the time, the founding fathers suggested Leadville.
 

*Katherine Lee Bates wrote “America the Beautiful” after being inspired by the view from Pikes Peak.
 

*Hundreds of thousands of valentines are re-mailed each year from Loveland.
 

*Fountain, has the distinction of being the United States’ millennium city because it best symbolizes the overall composition of America. Fountain is the most accurate representation of the American “melting pot.” Fountain was chosen after a Queens College sociologist crunched Census Bureau statistics in an effort to find the one city in the country that best represented the population make-up of the United States.
 

*Pueblo is the only city in America with four living recipients of the Medal of Honor.
 

*The tallest building in Colorado is the Republic Plaza at 57 stories high, in Denver.
 

*Every year Denver host the worlds largest Rodeo, the Western Stock show.
 

*Denver has the largest city park system in the nation with 205 parks in City limits and 20,000 Acres of parks in the nearby mountains.
 

*Dove Creek is the “Pinto Bean” capital of the world.
 

*The tallest sand dune in America is in Great Sand Dunes National Monument outside of Alamosa. This bizarre 46,000-acre landscape of 700-foot sand peaks was the creation of ocean waters and wind more than one million years ago.
 

*The World’s First Rodeo was held on July 4th, 1869 in Deer Trail.
 

*Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike explored the southwest portion of the Louisiana Territory in 1806 and though he never climbed the peak that bears his name, he did publish a report that attracted a lot of interest to the area.
 

*The slogan of “Pikes Peak or Bust,” painted across many of the prairie schooners, was born at a time as fortune hunters headed west. Although only a handful of those who flocked to the region ever found gold.
 

*At 14,110 feet above sea level over 400,000 people ascend Pikes Peak each year.
 

*The aptly named town of Twin Lakes lays adjacent two natural lakes at the foot of Colorado’s highest Fourteener, Mt. Elbert.
 

*The Colorado Rockies are part of the North American Cordillera, which stretches 3,000 miles from Alaska, through western Canada and the United States, into northern Mexico. The centerpieces of this dramatic uplift are the peaks over 14,000 feet, or “Fourteeners”, as they are affectionately referred to by climbers. There are 52 Fourteeners in Colorado.
 

*Rocky Ford has been dubbed the “melon capital of the world.”
 

*The Yampa River below the northwest town of Craig holds northern pike in the 20-pound range, while the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan rivers are prime spots for trout fishing.
 

*Colorado has the highest mean altitude of all the states.
 

*Mesa Verde features an elaborate four-story city carved in the cliffs by the Ancestral Pueblo people between 600 and 1300 A.D. The mystery surrounding this ancient cultural landmark is the sudden disappearance of the thousands of inhabitants who created the more than 4,000 identified structures.
 

*Colorado has more microbreweries per capita than any other state.
 

*The Kit Carson County Carousel in Burlington dates back to 1905, making it the oldest wooden merry-go-round in the United States. It is the only wooden carousel in America still with its original paint.
 

*The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been in continuous operation since 1881 and has appeared in more than a dozen movies including How the West Was Won (1963) and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).
 

*The highest suspension bridge in the world is over the Royal Gorge near Canon City. The Royal Gorge Bridge spans the Arkansas River at a height of 1,053 feet.
 

*The world’s largest natural hot springs pool located in Glenwood Springs. The two-block long pool is across the street from the historic Hotel Colorado, a favorite stop of former president Teddy Roosevelt.
 

*Built in 1867 by Seth Lake, the Astor House in Golden was the first stone hotel built west of the Mississippi River.
 

*Colorado’s southwest corner borders Arizona, New Mexico and Utah the only place in America where the corners of four states meet.
 

*There are nearly 20 rivers whose headwaters begin in Colorado, with the Continental Divide directing each river’s course.
 

*The Colorado Rockies play at the 50,000 seat Coors Field, located in downtown Denver.
 

*In 1859, John Gregory discovered “The Gregory Lode” in a gulch near Central City. Within two weeks, the gold rush was on and within two months the population grew to 10,000 people in search of their fortune. It came to be known as “The Richest Square Mile on Earth”.
 

*Colorado’s first and oldest military post, Fort Garland was established in 1858 and commanded by the legendary frontiersman Kit Carson.
 

*Abundant nesting and migrating birds and other native animals provide a “world-class” watchable wildlife experience. Bald eagles and other raptors, sandhill cranes, shore birds and water birds can be seen seasonally at San Luis Lakes near Alamosa.
 

*Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument near Cripple Creek is a lesson in history set in the one-time shadow of the Guffey Volcano. The volcano erupted millions of years ago, creating fossils and leaving the valley filled with petrified trees.
 

*John Henry “Doc” Holliday’s brief and tumultuous existence led him to Glenwood Springs where he succumbed to tuberculosis and died at the Hotel Glenwood on November 8, 1887.

Wyoming Welcomes YOU!

Do you think you know everything about Wyoming? How about some of THESE facts!!

Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote. 

Yellowstone is the first official National Park (1872)
 

Devils Tower was designated as the first National Monument (1906)
 

The city of Gillette has the largest High School in the state (Campbell County High School)
 

The first coal mine in Wyoming was in Carbon in 1867
 

The largest coal mine in the USA is Black Thunder located near Wright.
 

Wyoming leads the country in coal production in 1994 with 3 million tons per week
 

The JCPenney stores were started in Kemmerer.
 

The first Dude Ranch in Wyoming was the Eaton Ranch, near Wolf. The Eaton’s also came up with the term “dude”
 

The Horse on the Wyoming license plate has a name, “Old Steamboat”. It is named after a bronc that could not be ridden back in the oughts or the teens.
 

Wyoming has the lowest population of all 50 United States.
 

Cody Wyoming is named after William “Buffalo Bill” Cody.
 

The majority of Yellowstone Park lies within the boundaries of Wyoming.
 

The Red Desert in south central Wyoming drains neither to the east nor to the west. The continental divide splits and goes around the desert on all sides leaving the basin without normal drainage.
 

The Wind River actually changes its name in the middle of the stream becoming the Big Horn River at a site at the north end of the Wind River Canyon, where each year the Native Americans hold a ceremony depicting the “Wedding of the Waters.”

Nebraska: possibilities....endless.

Fun Facts, which ones did you already know? Which were a surprise?

*Nebraska was once called “The Great American Desert”.

*The state nickname used to be the “Tree Planter’s State”, but was changed in 1945 to the “Cornhusker State”.

*State insect is the honeybee.

*State motto: Equality before the law.

*The goldenrod was declared the state flower on April 4, 1895.

*Nebraska is the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich.

*Nebraska has more miles of river than any other state.Nebraska is the only state in the union with a unicameral (one house) legislature.

*Nebraska was the first state to complete its segment of the nations mainline interstate system, a 455 mile stretch of four lane highway.

*Nebraska is both the nation’s largest producer and user of center pivot irrigation 

*Nebraska’s Chimney rock was the most often mentioned landmark in journal entries by travelers on the Oregon Trail.

*Nebraska has more underground water reserves than any other state in the continental U.S.

*The Nebraska Cornhuskers have been to a record 27 consecutive bowl games and 27 consecutive winning seasons

*The University of Nebraska Cornhusker football team has produced more Academic All-Americans than any other Division I school.

*Origin of Nebraska’s Name: From an Oto Indian word meaning flat water

*Nebraska’s State Gem is the Blue Agate

*The University of Nebraska-Lincoln weight room is the largest in the country. It covers three-fourths of an acre

*In Nebraska in 1986 for the first time ever two women ran against each other for governorship of a state.

*The cost of the Nebraska Capitol building was $ 9,800,440.07 in 1932. The construction job came in under budget and the building was paid for by the time it was completed. 
 
*Union Pacific Railroad’s museum is headquartered in Nebraska.

*In 1950, Omaha became the home of the College World Series. 
 
*There are five army forts open to the public in Nebraska: Atkinson, Kearny, Hartsuff, Sidney, and Robinson. 
 
*Sidney, Nebraska was the starting point of the Black Hills Gold Rush. 
 
*Antelope and Buffalo are counties in Nebraska named after animals. 
 
*Dr. Harold Edgerton of Aurora, Nebraska is the inventor of the strobe light.

If you are having trouble with the link above, just copy and paste this link into your web browser:  http://www.allpublib.blogspot.com/

Here is what we have received so far:

Chappell, NE:
Joe and Helen Huska:  308-874-3455
Steph and Stacy Hanway
Leonard Littlejohn (green apartment building on 5th St.) 308-874-2636
Jim Behrends:  308-874-3273
Jack Nerud Agency (local realtor)  308-874-3334
Steger Realty:   308-874-2833

Alliance, NE:
Lonnie Cowher: 308-760-0954 or 308-762-1786]
Great Plains Apartments: 308-762-7413
Lakefield Villa Apartments: 308-762-1569
Jerry Reynolds: 308-762-1725
John Tuttle: 1214 Yellowstone Road, no phone
Ken & Linda Wood: 308-762-2624
Rick Farritor: 308-762-5551
Rose Vasquez & Don Literas: 308-762-8832
James Karrell: 308-762-3911 or 308-760-0386
Barry Harris: 308-762-4310
Dale & Marilyn Wood: 308-487-3904
Larry & Nancy Leider: 308-762-4669
Kutch Kutchera: 308-760-1880
Alliance Housing Authority: 308-762-5130
Derald Morgan: 308-792-1672
Bryan Morgan: 308-760-0986
Elizabeth Moeller: 308-762-8642
Ana Duran: 308-762-3624
Northpark Apartments: 308-762-3878
Judy Riggs Properties: 308-762-6146
John & Lora Herian: 308-762-9606
Chris Powell: 308-762-5748
Walt McCauley: 308-762-8901
Tim Garwood: 308-762-8442
Jim Moravek Apartments: 308-762-1710
PamBri Apartments: 308-762-9874
Cheyenne & Ryan Baily: 605-673-2441
Greg Moeller: 308-487-5566
Offultt Group: 308-760-7548
Karen Johnson: 308-762-5100
Peggy Sheldon: 308-762-1599
Gary Goodell: 308-762-2088
Nancy & Ryan Reiber: 308-762-1978
Ann Sutton: 308-760-0926
Kay Delio: 308-760-0926
Dennis Best: 308-760-4696
Psota: 307-674-5292
Alliance Area Apartments: NEW: 308-760-1507
Kelly Jesse: 308-760-1180
Shirlee Renteria: 605-574-2043

Sidney:
Barb Worster: 308-254-0930
Bob Volkmer: 308-249-2827
Christopher Kurtz: 308-231-2513
Doug Meier: 308-249-2111
Heath Holly: 308-249-3937
Larry Peetz: 308-254-4109
Robert Mika: 308-254-3870
Rob & Soni Schilz: 308-255-7107
Kelly Lapp: 308-249-3248
Keith & Lori Andrew: 308-254-0773
Dustin Shelley: 308-249-5264
Steve Kadie: 308-250-0948
Sioux Meadows Park: 308-254-2192
Cheyenne Villa Apartments: 308-254-5751
The Village At Sidney*: 308-254-3800
Christ Apartments: 308-254-2715
Crestview Apartments*: 308-254-0303
Crosswind Apartments: 308-249-2827
Diamond T Apartments: 308-254-0144
Fort Sidney Apartments*: 308-254-6350
J & D Development: 308-254-7393
James Apartments: 308-254-5970
Northview Apartments: 308-254-0144
Poppen Apartments: 308-254-7393
Printz Apartments: 308-254-3436
Sidney Apartments*: 308-254-0303
Sidney Properties*: 308-254-4431
Sioux Villa: 308-254-3670
Student Housing: 308-254-5450
Taylor Apartments: 308-254-3436
Thayer Apartments: 308-249-2501
Turner Apartments: 308-249-6021
Western Heritage^: 308-254-3670
Western Sky Villa^: 308-254-5856

*Income Requirements   ^Age Requirments

Individual Rentals Received:

1345 Osage Street
Sidney, NE
Landlord: Steve Kadie
308-250-0948
Apartment Complex, $450 Rent, One Month Damage Deposit, 1 or 2 bedroom available, 1 bathroom, some utilities furnished, No Smoking, 1 year lease required, unfurnished, Pets Negotiable.
Date of Notice: March 15, 2010

2214 11th Avenue
Sidney, NE
Landlord: Jim Nielsen
970-580-8994
3 bedroom, 1 bathroom, basement, unfurnished.
Jim would like to sell this house for $89,500 but would be willing to rent it out. New Roof, new gutters, new paint inside, new carpet/linoleum, new hot water heater, and new air conditioner.
Date of Notice: March 8, 2010

1135 6th Street
Sidney, NE
Landlord: Emmett Clark
308-254-4434
Emmett would like to sell this house but is also willing to rent.
3 bedroom (2 up, 1 down), 2 bathrooms, No Smoking, 6 month and 1 year leases available, Basement, No pets. Emmett is willing to give a great deal on this home. New furnace, carpet, roof, and windows!
Date of Notice: February 23, 2010

2405 11th Avenue
Sidney, NE
Landlord: Robert Poppen
308-254-0704
House for Rent, $450 Rent, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, Electric and Heat are paid by landlord, 1 year lease required, No basement, furnished with refridgerator, stove, and A/C, No pets, Laundry Room provided.
Date of Notice: July 9, 2009

Hay Springs, NE:
Meadows: 308-430-2499

I need your ideas for this endeavor, what kind of fundraiser would you like to see done as a region? Let’s pull together and make the High Plains Compass Region known for it’s volunteerism and willingness to help when it’s needed.

Here are some facts on Haiti:

USGS: USGS called it the strongest earthquake since 1770 in what is now Haiti

USGS: USGS called it the strongest earthquake since 1770 in what is now Haiti

• The quake struck on January 12, 2010 at 4:53 p.m.

• The 7.0 magnitude quake’s epicenter hit just 10 miles west of Porte-au-Prince and its 2 million inhabitants

• 3 million people in need of emergency aid after major earthquake

• The major quake sent 33 aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 4.2 to 5.9

• The Red Cross dispatched a relief team from Geneva and the UN’s World Food Program is flying in two planes with emergency food aid.

• The Inter-American Development Bank said it was immediately approving a $200,000 grant for emergency aid.

• Some 9,000 peacekeepers have been in Haiti since 2004, including 1,266 Brazilians.

• Haiti has no real construction standards.

• November 2008: Following the collapse of a school in Petionville, the mayor of Port-au-Prince estimated about 60% of buildings were shoddily built and unsafe in normal circumstances.

• The quake struck on January 12, 2010 at 4:53 p.m.

• The 7.0 magnitude quake’s epicenter hit just 10 miles west of Porte-au-Prince and its 2 million inhabitants

• 3 million people in need of emergency aid after major earthquake

• The major quake sent 33 aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 4.2 to 5.9

• The Red Cross dispatched a relief team from Geneva and the UN’s World Food Program is flying in two planes with emergency food aid.

• The Inter-American Development Bank said it was immediately approving a $200,000 grant for emergency aid.

What are your thoughts? What should we do?

~Amanda

Are you looking to relocate to one of these areas? Are you coming for a career? For family or friends? Or do you just like the area? Let us know why you love Western Nebraska, Northeast Colorado, and Southeast Wyoming!! We love this area because of the warm and friendly faces, the environment (hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, biking), and all of the businesses in our areas!

What about you?