LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen issued an emergency declaration and imposed a statewide burn ban Wednesday in response to escalating drought conditions and an out-of-control wildfire in north-central Nebraska.

The Plum Creek Fire, which began Monday as a permitted controlled burn by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, had scorched 6,631 acres, destroyed a cabin, killed 45 cattle, and leveled eight utility poles by Wednesday afternoon. The fire remained 0% contained, with officials citing “very challenging topography” as a significant barrier to firefighting efforts.

“It’s way too dry, and it doesn’t make any sense,” Pillen said during a press conference at the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) headquarters. “It only takes one burn, one mistake, and the one that took place yesterday really, really made no sense.”

More than 50 local volunteer fire departments, along with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Nebraska National Guard, State Fire Marshal’s Office, and other agencies, have been deployed to battle the blaze. The Nebraska National Guard has dropped approximately 50,000 gallons of water and 16,000 gallons of retardant on the fire using UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.

John Erixson, director of the Nebraska Forest Service, said the fire is part of a broader and unusual wildfire season, worsened by a dry winter and lack of soil moisture. “It just takes one little spark from any source to take off,” Erixson said.

Calling for caution and cooperation, Pillen urged Nebraskans to avoid any activity that could spark a fire. “We need Mother Nature to get on our side, and we need to get drenched,” he said. “If Nebraskans want to pray for a tsunami, I think we’d take that — or a drenching rain.”

Col. Shane Varejcka of the Nebraska National Guard said communities like Ainsworth and Valentine are helping support the 29 service members assigned to the operation.

Officials said updates will continue to be issued by NEMA and local emergency agencies as the situation develops. The burn ban will remain in effect through April.

Gov. Pillen Declares Emergency, Statewide Burn Ban as Wildfire Rages in Drought-Stricken Nebraska

Loaded Dice, Avid Dischord, Donny O &amp; the Trouble Makers will perform at the Midwest Theater's "Live and Local" in Scottsbluff on Thursday, April 24 starting at 6pm.&nbsp;

Loaded Dice, Avid, Donny O & the Trouble Makers to play in Scottsbluff

SWANN Board of Directors meeting to be held in Chadron 

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Recent obituaries and service times

Easter Celebration to be performed twice by Alliance Community Choir 

Alliance High School will be hosting the annual Alliance track meet on Thursday, April 17, 2025.&nbsp; At this meet we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1975 class B state championship team.&nbsp; Athletes, coaches and family members of the 1975 championship team will be honored with a ceremonial lap around the track during the intermission of the track events.&nbsp; We hope many interested community members and family will be able to attend and celebrate this fine group of athletes and coaches.

Alliance High celebrates 50th anniversary - 1975 Class B State Championship Team

On Thursday, April 17 th , the Alliance Police Department will host its next Community Forum at the Knight Museum. 

The forum will begin at 6pm and last for approximately one hour.

 Members of the Alliance community are encouraged to attend, On the agenda will be updates from the police department as well as an opportunity for citizens to share their concerns. Light refreshments will be provided.

Alliance police to hold community forum 

Brandon Ulmer and The Elevens to play in Torrington, WY

Josh Hoyer to perform in Scottsbluff 

Alliance, NE – Red Cross swim lessons will once again be conducted at Big Blue Bay this summer. The 2025 schedule was developed with the expectation that staffing levels will be adequate to offer all sessions.

Registration for lessons will begin on Saturday, April 12 th at the Knight Museum, located at 908 Yellowstone Ave. in the Theatre Room, from 8:00am to 12:00pm. Sign-ups will continue to be available through May 23 rd as class space allows. Payment of $30 per child is required at the time of registration. To expedite the process, the registration form is on the City’s website at www.cityofalliance.net. Go to departments, click on Parks and Recreation, then Big Blue Bay Outdoor Pool. You will find the form under swim lessons. Complete the form and bring it with you to the Knight Museum. THERE WILL BE NO EARLY REGISTRATIONS AND NO PHONE REGISTRATIONS.

May 23 rd is the last day we will accept registrations. Please feel free to contact the Knight Museum &amp; Sandhills Center with questions at 308-762-2384.

The following dates have been assigned for each level:

Level One – June 9 through June 13 July 14 through July 18

Level Two – June 16 through June 21 July 21 through July 26

Big Blue Bay swim lessons schedule in Alliance

Construction has begun on new amenities at Frye Lake and Avocet Lake near Hyannis. If all goes according to schedule, anglers will have an easier time launching boats at both locations by the end of the summer.

Joe Rydell, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission northwest district fisheries manager, said the two Sandhills lakes on state wildlife management areas are easily accessible from paved highways, but getting on them for fishing and hunting is often challenging because of fluctuating water levels, thick shoreline vegetation and a gentle slope not conducive for launching boats.

For both locations, Game and Parks has hired contractors to improve the parking areas and install concrete boat ramps and docks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A new vault toilet also will be installed at Frye.

The new ramps will be built on elevated peninsulas that extend into the lake, which will be functional for varying water levels.

The construction is beginning at 120-acre Avocet Lake just east of Hyannis. The east access point, the location of the new ramp, will be closed during construction, but anglers will be able to use the middle and west access sites.&nbsp;

The 243-acre Frye Lake just north of town will remain accessible while the Avocet boat ramp is being constructed, but parking may be limited. Trucks will be coming in and out as they remove soil from Frye to be used at the Avocet project.

When Avocet is complete, Frye Lake access will be closed to the public until its improvements are finished.

Funding is provided through the Recreational Boating Safety grant program managed by the U.S. Coast Guard, with matching funds from the Game and Parks game cash fund. The total construction cost for both locations is $690,000.

Last year, Game and Parks employees also made improvements at DeFair Wildlife Management Area, the site of the 70-acre lake 2 miles south of Hyannis. They added rock to the boat launch and parking area and constructed two new cattle guards at the fence crossings.

Construction begins at Hyannis area lakes

Alliance, NE – The Alliance Public Library will host the Humanities Nebraska presentation “And all that Jazz,” by Randall Snyder on Thursday, April 24 th at 5pm in the Community Room.

Snyder will present a survey of the development of American jazz from the late nineteenth century to the present, with special emphasis on its African American origins and the stylistic idioms of individual performers, incorporating historic recordings and live demonstrations using piano and other instruments.

Speakers are available to any non-profit organization in Nebraska. Each program lasts 30 minutes to an hour, plus a question-and-answer period. The most frequent users of the HN Speakers Bureau are primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, libraries, museums and historical societies, agencies for the elderly, rural organizations, churches, arts organizations and ethnic organizations. Humanities Nebraska sponsors the largest Speakers Bureau program in the U.S. according to the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For information detailing the available speakers and guidelines for booking them, please access our website at www.humanitiesnebraska.org (Speakers section) or contact Humanities Nebraska at 215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 330, Lincoln, NE 68508, phone (402) 474-2131, fax (402) 474-4852 or e-mail info@humanitiesnebraska.org.

For more information about the presentation, contact Adult Services Librarian, Nalani Stewart, at nstewart@cityofalliance.net or call 308.762.1387.

'And All That Jazz' presentation to be held at Alliance Public Library

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp; --&nbsp;A deadline is fast approaching for World War II veterans who wish to receive their medal and certificate at a special ceremony in the State Capitol Rotunda on May 8. That event will recognize Victory in Europe Day. Applications must be submitted by Thursday, May 1.

Last May, Governor Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) announced the state’s&nbsp;World War II Veteran Recognition Program&nbsp;to honor living World War II veterans with specially minted medals. The program officially kicked off in 2025 to coincide with the 80th&nbsp;anniversary of the end of World War II. To date, over 125 applications have been submitted and nearly 100 veterans have been presented with a medal at over 30 events and ceremonies held throughout the state.

“Being able to honor these heroes from the Greatest Generation has been an incredible privilege,” said Gov. Pillen. “The response we’ve received from the veterans, their family members, friends and neighbors, has been tremendous. The stories they tell are hard to fathom. Some of these veterans are lucky to be with us today. We are blessed that we can show our heartfelt appreciation for their service to our state and our nation.”

The medal was designed by NDVA. On the front is the slogan of the initiative: Celebrating 80 Years of Victory. It includes Nebraska's famous Sower&nbsp;in front of the state and surrounded by a laurel wreath, a symbol of triumph.&nbsp;The backside of the medal&nbsp;features the words “On Behalf of a Grateful State, Thank You for Your Service” emblazoned above the personification of Victory&nbsp;standing in front of the 48-star flag of 1946. The design of the ribbon pays homage to the U.S. Military's&nbsp;World War II Victory Medal,&nbsp;which is itself a doubling of the pattern on the&nbsp;World War I Victory Medal.&nbsp;

The medal is available to living veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces between December 1, 1941, and December 31, 1946; are legal residents of Nebraska or can demonstrate Nebraska residency at the time they entered the service; and discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates there are around 250 living World War II veterans in Nebraska. While there is a deadline to apply to receive the medal during the May 8 ceremony, the recognition program will remain open, and medals will continue to be presented to eligible veterans as applications are submitted.

“Our goal is to recognize every living World War II veteran in Nebraska for their role in, literally, saving the world,” said NDVA Director John Hilgert. “The other component of this initiative is to shine a light on these veterans’ stories and highlight how the entire nation came together for a common cause. It was an incredible time in history with stories and lessons we want to keep alive today and into the future.”

Gov. Pillen, NDVA Continue Celebrating 80 Years of Victory Through WWII Recognition Program

ALLIANCE, Neb. — The Panhandle Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will host its annual Hunting Heritage Banquet on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at The Eagles Club, located at 1520 W. 3rd St., Alliance.

Doors will open at 5 p.m., with dinner served at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public and is described as a family-friendly celebration of over 50 years of conservation efforts.

Attendees can enjoy a variety of activities including a general raffle, live auction, and games. Items up for grabs include Second Amendment-related gear and general outdoorsman items.

Tickets are available for $60 for individuals, $75 for couples, and $25 for youth members, known as Jakes. Sponsorship tables are also available. Those interested in attending can purchase tickets by scanning the QR code on the event flyer.

The NWTF’s Hunting Heritage Banquet is part of its ongoing mission to promote wildlife conservation and preserve the nation's hunting heritage.

National Wild Turkey Federation to Host Hunting Heritage Banquet in Alliance

BY McAYE FEGLER/CSC COLLEGE RELATIONS

CHADRON – Gerardo Vazquez Jr. Of Odessa, Texas, is Chadron State College’s Project Strive/TRiO Student of the Month for April.

Vazquez is a freshman majoring in business finance and minoring in management. He said he would like to break his family’s cycle of working in the oilfield and work behind the scenes of those performing the manual labor.

“Someone&nbsp;<a>has to</a>&nbsp;do the desk job and understanding finance is a big part of any operation. Up until now, everyone in my family has done&nbsp;<a>the physical</a>&nbsp;<a>work</a>&nbsp;and I want to make a change. I want others to know that it’s okay to break a cycle in their family,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez came to CSC as an offensive lineman after being offered a scholarship. He wanted to move away from home and experience new opportunities. Vazquez enjoys the atmosphere of the football program at CSC and has received recognition from his teammates for&nbsp;demonstrating dedication on and off the field.

“Not everyone gets a chance to play college football. I am very grateful for the opportunity to go out every day and work hard to better myself, both physically and mentally,” Vazquez said.

Offensive Line Coach Logan Zacharias described Vazquez as having a great personality.

“Gerardo is one of the hardest working kids that I have in my offensive line room and one of the most respectful as well. Gerardo is one of those kids that when he smiles, he brightens up the room and is always trying to make your day better,” Zacharias said.

Vazquez is involved in the Familia club on campus which welcomes native Spanish speakers as well as those at all levels of learning the language. Vazquez enjoys the club because it gives him an opportunity to meet new people, speak Spanish, and learn about different cultures.

Project Strive/TRiO Retention Specialist Amanda Lewin said Vazquez is a valuable addition to the program.

“Gerardo is a shining example of a first-generation college student, consistently demonstrating perseverance and resilience in everything he does. Stepping out of his comfort zone to attend college so far from home, he has received incredible support from his family throughout his academic journey. He greets everyone with a big smile and kind words, and we always look forward to seeing him in our offices. Gerardo is always looking for ways to help out and volunteer. Last semester, he was featured in the Project Strive video, where he did a wonderful job explaining how the program benefits students and helps them succeed,” Lewin said.

Vazquez said he enjoys personal finance classes because they teach students the importance of the small aspects of finance and how to manage personal funds. He also enjoys learning about how America came to be and digging into the events of history.

Being at CSC has allowed Vazquez opportunities to meet new people, experience different weather, and explore unique landscapes. In his free time, Vazquez enjoys hanging out and cooking with the offensive line, going fishing, and exploring different plants. In Texas, Vazquez grows tropical fruits such as bananas, avocados, pomegranates, loquats, watermelon, and cantaloupe.

Vazquez plans to graduate in Spring 2028. After graduation, he wants to pursue a master’s degree in business before moving back to his hometown to work in finance for the oilfield.

Chadron State College’s Project Strive/TRiO program, located in the lower level of the King Library, is an academic enrichment program committed to helping students succeed. Project Strive also focuses on career exploration, cultural and social enrichment, and self-awareness. To be eligible for the program, a student must be one of the following: A first-generation student where neither parent has a four-year degree, meet low-income status based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services criteria, or have a documented disability. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.csc.edu/projectstrive/" target="_blank">https://www.csc.edu/projectstrive/</a>.

Vazquez named Student of the Month in Chadron 

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk: Ode To A.I.

POST PODCAST: Alliance Police Chief David Leavitt

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Farm Bureau and the state’s congressional delegation are urging Congress to act before key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) expire at the end of 2025, warning that inaction could result in steep tax increases for farm families, small businesses, and rural communities.

“The uncertainty surrounding the future of these tax provisions is causing real concern,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue. “These reforms helped level the playing field for agriculture. Losing them would hit producers hard at the worst possible time.”

The TCJA, signed into law under the Trump administration, significantly revised the federal tax code, including benefits that were particularly valuable to farmers and small businesses. These included lower tax rates, expanded estate tax exemptions, and increased deductions for income and equipment purchases.

Estate Tax Changes Could Impact Family Farms

One of the most pressing concerns is the potential rollback of the estate tax exemption. Under the TCJA, the exemption doubled to more than $13.9 million per individual, or $27.9 million for couples—allowing many family farms to transfer property without triggering estate taxes. If the provision expires, the exemption could drop back to 2017 levels, near $5.5 million.

“Land values in Nebraska are high, and many family farms and ranches could be subject to the estate tax again if the exemption drops,” McHargue said. “Farm and ranch families work to build something to pass down. This could threaten that.”

Business Deductions, Depreciation Provisions at Risk

Also set to expire is the 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction, which benefits sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S-corporations—common structures in agriculture. The loss of this deduction could significantly raise federal tax burdens for producers already coping with high input costs and interest rates.

Another expiring benefit is 100% bonus depreciation, which allows immediate write-offs on new and used equipment purchases. This provision has encouraged farmers to invest in modern machinery and infrastructure. Without action, bonus depreciation will fully phase out by 2027.

“Bonus depreciation helped us modernize our equipment without killing our cash flow. Losing that would make upgrades a lot harder,” McHargue said.

Nebraska’s congressional delegation is voicing strong support for renewing the TCJA provisions, citing economic pressure on working families and rural businesses.

Sen. Deb Fischer said, “Nebraska’s farmers, ranchers, and small businesses benefitted greatly from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Congress must come together to make these tax cuts permanent.”

Sen. Pete Ricketts warned that expiration would amount to a $4 trillion tax hike nationwide, including an estimated $1,700 per year increase for a family of four earning $80,000.

Rep. Mike Flood called the TCJA “critical to ensuring that we get America back on track,” while Rep. Don Bacon said families could face a “devastating 20% tax increase.”

Rep. Adrian Smith, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, emphasized the importance of the TCJA for succession planning and reinvestment by rural businesses.

McHargue said the Nebraska Farm Bureau isn’t asking for special treatment, but for a tax policy that reflects the long-term, capital-intensive nature of farming and ranching.

“This is about preserving family farms and ranches, keeping rural communities alive, and ensuring that Nebraska agriculture remains strong for generations to come,” he said.

Nebraska Farm Bureau, Delegation Warn of Looming Tax Hike for Ag Producers

By Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating Opportunity

Last week Earl and I went to California, and we were mugged. By whales. Three humpbacks. "Mugged" is the official term, meaning we were held up. When whales swim close to a boat, we are required to shut down the engines and propellers and wait until the whales move on. The three humpbacks came right beside us and entertained us with their blows, flips, and dives for about thirty minutes. Neither the experts for our tour or the boating company had ever seen anything like it! Normal behavior for dolphins, but not humpbacks!

Earl and I spent last week at Channel Islands National Park, which lies twenty miles west of Ventura, California. We kept looking at that trip in the Road Scholar catalog, intrigued. All I knew about the Channel Islands was that they were the setting for&nbsp;Island of the Blue Dolphins, which our children read in fourth grade, and that they are often called the Galapagos of the North.

There are eight Channel Islands, running from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. Five make up the National Park, and these are the ones nearest Ventura, where the visitor center is found. Only one, Santa Cruz, was open to the public in April. They lie above colliding tectonic plates which caused folding and uplifts, creating the islands.

The channel between the California coast and the islands is deep and swift, so the wildlife and vegetation developed in isolation, with many species found nowhere else; endemic, a new vocab word for me.

As is true in the Galapagos, plants and animals that are isolated evolve into new species. Island foxes, spotted skunks, scrub jays, ashy storm-petrels, and sage sparrows are different from those we see on the mainland and exist nowhere else. Plants like the Torrey pine and varieties of oaks, bushes, and flowers are unique to the islands.

Our hikes on Santa Cruz Island allowed us to see many of these species. It was spring in full bloom. So many flowers everywhere!

When we think of mammoths, we envision the 15-foot tall skeleton in Lincoln's Morrill Hall; the Columbian mammoth which was excavated near Fort Robinson. Its cousin, the pygmy mammoth, was found only on the California Channel Islands, and died out about 10,000 years ago, just like the mainland mammoth. Pygmy mammoths varied from 4.5 to 7 feet high at the shoulders and weighed only about 2,000 pounds.

This phenomenon, where large species that relocate to islands get smaller over the centuries, is called insular dwarfism. The Channel Island fox is the largest mammal on the islands, the size of a house cat, weighing about four pounds. Small species like many of the birds and mice evolve larger, called insular gigantism. &nbsp;

Channel Islands provide major breeding grounds for elephant seals, sea lions, and brown seals. Breeding colonies of brown pelicans, ashy storm petrels, and several types of gulls exist on the more remote islands.

The channel is a major whale area because of its depth. Warm southern currents meet the cold currents coming the north, and their churning brings exceptional nutrition in the waters for all the marine life. This time of year the gray whales are moving from their summers off the coast of Mexico to Alaska. The grays we saw were moving right along! Blue whales are around in the summer. In winter the humpbacks play in the waters. And so many dolphins!

The waters around the Channel Islands are filled with kelp forests. Because of the&nbsp;mixing of both warm water currents from the south and cold currents from the north, an incredible abundance and diversity of marine life is supported. Many people come to the Channel Islands for scuba diving and snorkeling in these kelp forests.

We would have guessed that these islands had not been populated because of the difficulty of getting to them. However, they have provided the earliest evidence of both seafaring and settlement in the Americas. A femur has been found on one of the islands that dates to 13,000 years ago! The Chumash were the indigenous people. Like most Native Americans, they were decimated by diseases brought by Europeans.

In the mid-1800's the islands were purchased and turned into ranches, first for sheep, then pigs, and finally Herefords. When the islands became a national park in 1980, these animals were removed from the islands, and native species are being restored. There is also work to remove the other invasive species that were brought by those settlers.

Getting Ahead: Channel Islands National Park 

Alliance, NE – Officials with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Alliance Municipal Airport would like to remind the public that starting Wednesday, May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older (including those flying domestically) who do not present a REAL ID-compliant license or acceptable alternative form of identification, such as a passport can expect to face delays, additional screening, and possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint. This requirement is outlined in the REAL ID Act, which mandates federal agencies to accept only state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards that meet specific security standards.

To determine if a Nebraska driver’s license or identification card is REAL ID-compliant, look for the gold star in the upper righthand corner. The presence of this star indicates the credential is REAL ID-compliant.

Alliance airport reminds public about REAL ID policies 

By: Paxton Ritchie&nbsp; CSC Sports Information Director

CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State football's 2025 spring game will be open to the public on Friday at 5 p.m. at Elliott Field, featuring multiple free opportunities to win prizes and purchase game-worn CSC apparel. 

The start time of 5 p.m. is an hour earlier than previously announced, with the event taking place slightly earlier in the evening due to weather forecasts. 

All fans who attend the spring game will be entered, free of charge, into a raffle to win a grand prize of two season tickets to the Eagles for the 2025 season. 

School-age children and Chadron State College students in attendance will have the opportunity to be selected to come onto the field during Friday's activities and attempt to catch either a pass or a punt from a CSC football player to win a prize. 

Also, for Eagle super-fans, Chadron State's game-worn gray jerseys from the 2024 season will be available for purchase at the spring game. Jerseys can be bought for $150. Any CSC student-athletes or recent Eagle football alumni wishing to buy their own game-used jerseys will be charged a rate of $130 to purchase. 

Unlike in past years, the 2025 spring game will not feature another school as an opponent and will not be played like a timed, continuous game. The new format allows Eagle student-athletes to showcase and compete against one another with the goal of maintaining depth, avoiding injuries and involving other CSC students and community members in the day's festivities. 

The football portion of the spring game will feature different matchups (first/second team offense vs. first/second team defense, for example) playing out a series from a certain spot on the field. The "mini-games" featuring kids, students and community members will take place between some of the matchups, including an on-field "punt, pass and kick" competition among CSC football players.

CSC football spring game is open to public Friday night

Ogallala, Ne - Brent Bauer, the head football coach at Ogallala High School since 2017, is heading to Alliance to become the new Athletic Director and Assistant High School Principal. 

Bauer made the move public on social media Monday. Bauer a Pleasanton native just celebrated his 25th year in coaching. He said, "

We can’t wait to get started as the Activities Director and Assistant Principal at Alliance High School!  Wendy and I are so excited to get the opportunity to work with the coaches, sponsors, school and community of Alliance!  Just as we did at Ogallala, we will give Alliance all we have.  Huge thank you to the administration at Alliance along with the coaches, staff and faculty that have taken time to introduce themselves and express their excitement for the future of Alliance High School.  Our excitement matches theirs!"

Bauer replaces Alliance Athletic Director Michael Baker. Baker has accepted the same position at Lincoln Lutheran High School. Baker spoke to the POST and said, "Alliance was a great place for me to teach and&nbsp;coach basketball for 22 years and then return to serve as AD for these last&nbsp;two years.&nbsp; My wife and I leave with many memories we will always cherish.&nbsp; But more importantly, Alliance Public Schools provided our three children everything they needed to be prepared for success in college."

Former Ogallala Football Coach headed to Alliance to become Athletic Director

CSC freshman Trace Hanchett just set the school's all-time record javelin throw.  He talks with Voice of the Eagles Dave Collins about his great first season, the record spear launch, and life growing up on the farm in Kansas!

🔊 PODCAST: CSC Sports Journal - Trace Hanchett - T&F - 4/16/25

Creek Valley Twilight Track &amp; Field Results April 15

Boys Team Champion: North Platte St. Pat's Girls Team Champion: North Platte St. Pat's

Full Results: <a href="https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/593196/results">Creek Valley Twilight Results</a>

Creek Valley Twilight Track & Field Results

By: Paxton Ritchie CSC Sports Information Director

CHADRON, Neb. – Lauren Zimmerman finished with an RBI in each game to become Chadron State's all-time program RBI leader as Chadron State took three of four games in the series against Fort Lewis, splitting the two games on the day with an 8-1 victory followed by a 10-2 loss. 

Tori Haug continued her impressive pitching on the weekend, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings for her second victory of the series after a five-inning shutout the day before. Aside from Zimmerman, Ashland Baca and J'lyssa Martinez also drove in two runs apiece on the day. 

Chadron State's record now sits at 17-25 overall with a 13-23 record in the RMAC. Fort Lewis sits at 9-31 overall and 8-27 in the RMAC after Sunday's split. 

The Eagles continued their momentum from a dominant Saturday that saw CSC outscore Fort Lewis 10-0 over the first doubleheader of the series. Chadron State exploded for a five-run second inning that set the home team on its way to win its third straight in game one of Sunday's action. 

Freshman Skyhawk starter Addison Gavigan lost the strike zone, with four walks to Brogan Allen, Sophia Brennan, Angelina Quezada and Elizabeth Thorngren plus a wild pitch putting the Eagles on the board. Gavigan recovered with a strikeout and a sacrifice fly from Jazlyn Arvizo, which made it 2-0 CSC but also put a second out on the board. 

Then, it was Zimmerman's moment. The senior third baseman doubled to the left-center field gap, scoring Quezada standing up. It was Zimmerman's eighth double and 39th RBI of the season, and it gave her 140 RBI for her career, passing alum Allison Hendricksen for first on CSC's all-time lists. 

Ashland Baca continued the inning with another double to straightaway center that just missed going over the fence, scoring Thorngren and Zimmerman to run CSC's lead up to 5-0. 

Fort Lewis got on the board in the fourth on back-to-back doubles, but Haug recovered to end the inning with the help of a line-drive double-play from third baseman Zimmerman to second baseman Arvizo. 

The Eagles answered in the bottom of the frame with a two-out rally, as Arivzo singled before Zimmerman and Baca walked to load the bases and J'lyssa Martinez came through with an opposite-field double down the left field line to score two runs and make it 7-1. Kenzi Garner, pinch-hitting at the plate before her game two start in the circle, went yard to left center for her second home run of the year to cap the CSC scoring. 

For as many things went right for the Eagles in the first three games of the series, everything seemed to unravel in game four. Garner allowed five runs on six hits in three-plus innings, Chadron State made five errors defensively and Fort Lewis hit three home runs in the fourth and fifth innings to end the series finale by run rule in the minimum five innings. 

Zimmerman added to her RBI total by scoring Arvizo, who had doubled to lead off the bottom of the first, with a one-out single. Zimmerman's program-record career RBI total now sits at 141 and counting. The Eagles got their other run on the day on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Elizabeth Thorngren. 

Chadron State now hits the road to face Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction next Friday and Saturday. The Mavericks (31-11, 29-7 RMAC) are in the RMAC title hunt and lead by half a game over MSU Denver and a full game over Colorado Christian, who CMU just split a four-game series with. First pitch Friday is set for 12 p.m.

Zimmerman sets CSC softball RBI record as Eagles take three games from Fort Lewis

By: Paxton Ritchie CSC Sports Information Director

CHADRON, Neb. – The 2025 Eagle Athletic Auction fundraiser and 2025 Don Beebe Golf Classic will officially take place this Memorial Day weekend from Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 25. 

The weekend serves as an opportunity for Chadron alumni, supporters and community members to hear from CSC coaches, student-athletes and athletic administration in a variety of social settings. Registration is now open. 

REGISTER: <a href="https://www.csc.edu/alumni/events/eagle-athletic-auction/">Eagle Athletic Auction</a>

REGISTER: <a href="https://www.csc.edu/alumni/events/golf-classic/">Don Beebe Golf Classic</a>

The weekend of festivities will begin with the Eagle Athletic Auction on Friday night. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium will host a social featuring registration and games, including a chip-in golf event. 

The auction program includes dinner at 6 p.m. and both silent and live auction items, including branded apparel, golf trips, handmade local items, outings to local attractions and experiences with Chadron State teams and coaches. 

Individual entry tickets for the auction are $50, or $25 when combined with the purchase of a Don Beebe Golf Classic entry. Dinner is provided and included in the ticket price. Another option is to purchase a table for $500, where eight guests will be joined by two CSC coaches or student-athletes. Table pricing includes two drink tickets per seat. 

The 2025 Don Beebe Golf Classic at Ridgeview Golf Club presented by Monument Health will take place on Saturday and Sunday. There will be two flights, both with shotgun starts, and various hole prizes. The morning flight will tee off starting at 7 a.m. while the afternoon flight will begin at 1:30 p.m.

There will also be a social at The Ridge in downtown Chadron on Saturday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Awards presentations will take place for the morning flight at noon and at 6 p.m. for the afternoon flight on Sunday.

Registration prices are $200 for an individual and $800 for a full four-golfer team. There are limited team slots available, so teams are encouraged to register as soon as possible to lock down a spot. Competing golfers can also purchase discounted Eagle Athletic Auction tickets for $25 instead of the non-golfer rate of $50.

Registration open for CSC's annual Don Beebe Classic golf tournament

Lincoln, NE - The home of Nebraska Volleyball will now officially bear the name of one of the legendary coaches in the history of the sport, as the University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Friday approved the naming of John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Cook retired in January following a remarkable 25-year run as the Huskers’ head coach. He guided the Huskers to four national championships, 12 NCAA Semifinal appearances and 14 conference championships. Cook achieved a career record of 883-176 (.834), the fifth-best winning percentage all-time for a Division I volleyball coach. His record of 722-103 at Nebraska is the best winning percentage (.875) for any DI program over the last 25 years.

The success of Nebraska Volleyball under Cook extended off the court to record-setting attendance. Since moving home matches to the Devaney Center in 2013, Nebraska has led the nation in attendance every season in the 8,309-seat venue which will now be named to honor Cook’s accomplishments.

In addition to the naming of John Cook Arena, the project also includes a bronze statue honoring Cook on the north side of the Devaney Sports Center. Nationally recognized sculpture artist and Nebraska native George Lundeen has been commissioned to produce the life-size tribute to Cook and his career.

“John’s success as the leader of our volleyball program is unmatched,” Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen said. “His impact goes beyond what his teams accomplished on the court, from our athletic department, our university, community and state of Nebraska. To recognize John in a manner that will be visible for generations to come is a fitting honor.”

The court inside John Cook Arena will continue to hold the name of Terry Pettit Court to recognize Cook’s predecessor and fellow Hall of Famer. Additionally, the full athletics complex will continue to be named the Bob Devaney Sports Center in honor of Nebraska Hall of Fame football coach and long-time athletic director Bob Devaney.

"This is an incredible honor. I am truly humbled by all of it,” Cook said. “I am so grateful to Troy, the entire Nebraska administration and the Board of Regents for this recognition. The Bob Devaney Sports Center and Terry Pettit Court are named after two legendary coaches, and it's an honor to be able to share the name of the facility with them. And to have a statue outside the arena just blows my mind. I'm so thankful for the run we had at Nebraska, and I know the program is in great hands moving forward. I continue to be amazed at the amount of support and all the messages I've received from Husker Nation since retiring in January. All of this just reaffirms what I've always said: There is No Place Like Nebraska."

The new John Cook Arena signage and the bronze statue will be unveiled later this year.

Board of Regents Approve Naming of John Cook Arena

🏈🎥 #CSC Spring Football Interview: Senior Linebacker Logan O'Brien...LOBO!

🎙 PODCAST - CSC Sports Journal: Lauren Zimmerman Softball SR - 4/9/25

By: Con Marshall CSC Sports Information

The Chadron State College offensive and defensive units had vastly different objectives when they launched spring practice the last week of March. Last year’s team had 20 seniors, 17 of them from the offensive unit.  Those grads included four starters in the line, a three-year stalwart at tight end and two of the three leading pass receivers. On the other hand, the defense is returning all but three of its 2024 starters and also has most of last season’s alternates back.

              Thus, the offense is undergoing a major rebuilding project, while the defense is concentrating on polishing its schemes, adding depth in places and building on last year’s success.   

              The Eagles had a 3-8 record last fall, losing five games by a touchdown or less, including one by a single point and two by three points. It wouldn’t have taken much to have had a winning record. 

              CSC finished second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in total defense, giving up just 288 yards a game, and was third in scoring defense, yielding only 19.3 points a game.

              “We’re fortunate to have a good group coming back,” said Defensive Coordinator Clint Sasse. “But we’re not going to rest on our laurels. We’ll keep trying to improve. We’ve already made progress. Some of the guys in our front seven (linemen and linebackers) have added what I call ‘good weight’ and strength during winter workouts that will help us improve our run defense.”

The defense graduated two of its standouts from last fall:  End Hunter O’Connor, a three-time RMAC First-Team honoree who set the CSC record for career sacks (35.5) and linebacker Xavier Harrell, who was the Eagles’ second leading tackler with 66, including 6.5 for minus yardage. 

               Sasse is confident sophomore Griffin Clubb will be a solid replacement for O’Connor and blend in well with highly-regarded returning starters Tanner True and William Stemler in the three-man front.

Ryder True, Tanner’s younger brother, and Darryl Williams are slated to provide support as edge rushers, while senior Andrew Calderon and sophs Bo Douglass and Tucker McGinnis are prominent in the nosetackle plans. 

Sasse also is confident the Eagles’ linebacking corps that includes returning starters Reed Henkel and Logan O’Brien, along with sophomores such as Liam Blaser and Reese Jacobs, will be excellent.  Transfer Cooper Walton is also highly regarded. 

Last year’s secondary was vastly improved, allowing 90 fewer yards a game through the air than the previous year.  Its leader, senior Dax Yeradi, intercepted four passes and earned First-Team All-RMAC. Fellow safety Tucker Peterson also picked off three passes and Sutton Pohlman is one of the team’s surest tacklers.

Also returning are cornerbacks Omar Ali, a talented pass defender, and Jadon Bowen, who swiped a pass in both of the Eagles’ final two games last fall. Good help is expected from Ja’Far Bashir, an all-conference corner from a California juco.

Sasse added that 2024 freshmen such as Alijah Bruce, Eli Martinez and Gage Mintkin are waiting in the wings in the secondary and are expected to key members of special teams this fall. Sophomores such as Cedar Amiotte and Aiden Kuester are in the same category.

In a nutshell, Offensive Coordinator Micah Smith said his unit’s goal is to assemble a line that can protect the quarterback and help the Eagles run the ball more effectively.   

Head Coach Jay Long, who also is the chief offensive line mentor, seems invigorated by the challenge.  There are at least a dozen candidates for the playing time. He is pleased with their potential and says the future is bright up front.

The lone returning starter is guard Levi Banuelos. Two alternates from last fall, Iskandar Albitar and Rudy Gish, figure in the mix, along with seven redshirt freshmen and three transfers.

Taking advantage of a rather recent rule change that allows freshmen to play in three games without losing a year of eligibility, five of the rookies started a game last fall and have something like 40 to 50 snaps under their belts.

“We knew we would need these guys this fall and found a way to get them some experience last season without burning any eligibility,” Long said. “This spring we’re putting them in different combinations and moving them to various positions, trying to find the best five. I anticipate they will still be competing for playing time when we open the season this fall.  We should be improved in the line and have lots of depth.”

 The redshirts are Wyatt Anderson, DeAndre Berry, Fletcher Black, Corbin Holler, Matt Jennings, Tristan Randall, and Geraldo Vasquez.  They hail from six different states.  To make sure there will be plenty of competition, three transfers--Dominic Castanon, Jal Chan and Carlos Orea—were added at the start of the second semester.  Each was an all-conference choice at his former school.

The quarterback position is also getting a long look this spring.  Last year’s starter, DJ Ralph, played well when he was healthy, but that was only a handful of games.  He completed 94 of 140 passes for 1,085 yards and eight touchdowns and threw only three picks.

Ralph required surgery on his ailing left shoulder before the season ended. He is still rehabilitating, but is expected to be at full strength this fall.   

Thus the Eagles’ quarterbacks this spring are Aiden Thompson, a transfer from Oklahoma Baptist, where he threw for more than 2,400 yards the past three seasons, and Wyatt Sprague, a Colorado all-stater at Holyoke in 2023.  Like his offensive line classmates, Sprague played in three games last fall while preserving his four years of eligibility.

              Junior Jake Marschall is the most experienced of the CSC running backs. He has rushed 283 times for 1,208 yards the past two seasons.  Sophomore Isaac Jean-Pierre also saw action late last season while transfer Anthony McMillen, who is 6-1, 235 pounds, and redshirt Quincey Ryker, who broke loose for a 72-yard touchdown jaunt last fall, also are contending for playing time.

              One of the Eagles’ standouts is senior receiver Tommy Thomas, who has caught 91 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns the past two seasons. This year’s receiving corps also will include Rollin George, who had 21 receptions for 218 yards last fall, along with versatile senior Preston Pearson, who has played various positions while coming to the Eagles’ rescue several times.

              Scatback Chase Nelson came out of the backfield to catch 17 passes for more than a 10-yard average last fall and speedy transfer Devon Sandgren is expected to be a good addition.   

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