Chloe Coplen-Anderson, of Gordon, Nebraska, was sentenced today by Judge Travis O’Gorman to 35 to 60 years in prison for the murder of her newborn baby. Coplen-Anderson pled guilty to one count of 2nd-degree murder last August in Sheridan County District Court.

Coplen-Anderson gave birth to the baby in her bedroom, unbeknownst to her parents, and immediately thereafter retrieved a knife from the kitchen and killed the newborn baby.

The Gordon Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office were involved in this case's investigation, arrest, and prosecution.

Gordon woman sentenced to 35 to 60 years for murder of newborn baby   

A spaghetti feed benefit will be held at the Hemingford American Legion on Sunday, April 27 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. for the Roger and Dixie Bussey family.&nbsp;

The family recently lost belongings in a house fire.&nbsp;

The legion is asking the public to bring a dessert or salad if you wish to help.&nbsp;

There will be a silent auction to help the family at the event as well.&nbsp;

Benefit to be held for Hemingford family 

Super Dope will perform at The Gathering Spot in Alliance on Saturday, April 26 starting at 9pm.&nbsp;

Super Dope returns to Alliance 

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 

&nbsp;Written By: Jacob Klaudt, K-State Research and Extension news service

MANHATTAN, Kan. – A powerful geomagnetic weather event known as the Gannon Storm caused mass global navigation satellite system outages the weekend of May 10, 2024, leading to an assumed&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/management-finance/precision-agriculture/impact-gannon-storm-corn-production-across-midwestern-usa">$565 million</a>&nbsp;in losses for midwestern crop producers.

Kansas State University precision agricultural economist Terry Griffin said what seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime space weather storm may become more of an expectation for growers in the future.

“It seemed like an oddity because we haven’t had something like this happen during planting time, yet the actual anomaly is we’ve had mild solar cycles as of late, which are usually 11 years,” he said.

Humans have been measuring solar cycles since 1750. Griffin said the planet is entering its 25th right now, though only the third one since GPS has been commercialized, which is part of why these outages seemed out of the blue.

“It’s probably what we should expect moving forward, not just for the next solar cycle, but also for this spring because we haven’t passed the maximum amount of geomagnetic disturbances for the solar cycle yet,” Griffin said. “Spring 2025, fall 2025 and even spring 2026, we should still expect this type of activity.”

Looking back to the weekend of the Gannon storm, there was increased solar activity, which included sunspots seen by the naked eye and several coronal mass ejections that led to part of the atmosphere becoming more dense – the cause of the GPS and GNSS signal degradations.

“It was sort of a perfect storm of solar activity that even caused a radio blackout at one point,” Griffin said. “Space weather is different from terrestrial weather. Besides the northern lights, there’s nothing we can see, feel or hear from space.”

He added: “Still, it is definitely a real thing and expected to be an issue for the remainder of this solar cycle.”

Until researchers develop alternatives to GPS and GNSS less vulnerable to space&nbsp;<a href="https://www.morningagclips.com/tag/weather/">weather</a>, Griffin said producers can best prepare themselves for future events by simply being aware and quickly determining the source of system outages.

“It’s important to know whether it’s a local problem with your hardware or if it’s a global problem that is outside of your control,” he said. “You can learn that online through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s&nbsp;<a href="http://swpc.noaa.gov/">Space Weather Prediction Center</a>.”

Growers can find a bar chart on the Space Weather Prediction Center’s website that denotes high geomagnetic activity for the entire planet with orange or red bars.

“If you’re having problems with GPS and the bars are green, it’s probably a local issue,” Griffin said. “Call the dealer, but if the bars are dark red for nine hours or so, it’s probably the atmosphere being activated by solar activity, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Could Last Year’s Gannon Space Storm and GNSS Outage Impact Farmers Again?

*All individuals included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. The Panhandle Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. Any person who believes information provided is not accurate may submit a complaint via the “Contact Us” tab on the homepage.

-Simon Gous, Class 1C Felony, Use firearm to commit a felony, Class 3A Felony, Terroristic threats, False imprisonment 1st degree

-Margaret Edwards,&nbsp;Poss cont sub, Drug para, Resisting arrest

-Miguel Rios,&nbsp;Poss Cont Sub, Poss Drug Para

-Savannah Billie,&nbsp;2nd Degree Assault, Use of a Weapon to commit a felony

-Jessica Rodriguez,&nbsp;Terroistic Threats, Use of a Deadly&nbsp;Terroistic Threats, Use of a Deadly

-Patrick McLachian, Class 3A Felony, Assault or cr/hlth care prof-3rd degree

-Lawrence Brewer, Class 4 Felony, Drive while revoked from DUI/refusal

Panhandle police activity, April 16 - April 23

By Nebraska Game and Parks Commission&nbsp;

The improvements might not be obvious to those driving through Fort Robinson State Park, but visitors who stay in the historical lodging offerings of the northwestern Nebraska attraction will surely take note.

Mike Morava, regional park supervisor for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said this winter’s many upgrades to Fort Robinson’s buildings will be popular among those who use them, and help solidify the park’s standing as one of the nation’s best places to have a family reunion.

“I have never been part of a busier off-season than this one, but everything was needed, and it is a substantial upgrade,” he said.

Depending on the building, the improvements include rehabilitation and refinishing of hardwood floors, new kitchen cabinets, electrical service and panel upgrades, and gutters. All rental units also received new furniture, including bunk beds.

The buildings that received substantial upgrades include Comanche Hall, the 1909 Officers Quarters known as “the Bricks,” the 1887 Officers Quarters known as “the Adobes,” the 1874 Officers Quarters on the east side of Highway 20, the Bandmaster Quarters, two lodge rooms, the Nurses Quarters and Sutler’s Store activities center. Also, one lodge room was upgraded to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Fort Robinson State Park upgrades lodging facilities

By Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating Opportunity

"National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst. . .&nbsp;Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed." Wallace Stegner, 1913

In early April Earl and I took a trip to the Channel Islands National Park, located just west of Ventura, CA. As we listened to and hiked with Road Scholar experts, I spent a great deal of time reflecting on why we have a National Park System.

Our national parks protect and preserve our natural and cultural heritage. They vary from islands, like Acadia or Channel Islands; mountain landscapes like Denali or Teton; rock formations like Arches or Bryce; caves like Carlsbad Caverns or Wind Cave. We wonder at the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde and their creators. The Grand Canyon takes our breath away.

In the United States there are 63 national parks, and hundreds of other protected areas such as preserves, battlefields, and historic sites.

Who was the first president to see the need to protect our nation's stunning landscapes? I always thought it was Teddy Roosevelt - wrong! President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act in 1864, establishing both California’s Yosemite Valley and the nearby&nbsp;Mariposa Grove of sequoia trees as protected wilderness. In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant established Yellowstone as America's first national park. President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service in 1916. National Parks have been established by 22 presidents!

Let's consider Yellowstone, our first national park. Its 2.2 million acres sit over a volcanically active caldera, making it a geologic hot spot. Yellowstone has more geysers and hot springs than the rest of the world combined. Old Faithful is one of 500 geysers! When we visit, we see bubbling, colorful, odd-smelling phenomena. White bluffs are created by mineral deposits from the hot springs.

The Yellowstone ecosystem includes forest, tundra, grasslands, wetlands, rivers, and lakes. Because of the ecosystem, the park boasts incredible wildlife diversity. The park has the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states.&nbsp;Visitors marvel at grizzlies, black bears, bison, elk, otters, wolves, coyotes, and so many other species.

Yellowstone had about 4.3 million visitors last year, making it our nation's sixth most visited national park. The 331.9 million total visitors to our parks last year included millions of international tourists. Consider the economic value of tourism in the communities near our parks!

When we think of national parks, we think of unique ecosystems and land features, and people visit for sight-seeing and hiking. When we were at Channel Islands, we discovered that these parks are also the nation's largest outdoor classroom. We saw students from third grade through high school. Most were there for hiking. Older groups were camping or kayaking. Middle schoolers were putting on wetsuits to snorkel in the underwater kelp forests. What an opportunity for kids of all ages and economic backgrounds!

We learned about work being done by national park personnel in protecting breeding grounds of elephant seals and brown pelicans. Workers were removing invasive species. Ranches and livestock have been removed from the islands, allowing native vegetation to once again thrive. The island foxes on Santa Cruz numbered only 80 in 2000, but now have come off the endangered species list, with populations over 3000. Nature's balance is being restored.

Why is it so important to protect these wonderful places - these jewels found throughout our nation? Many people believe the parks should be privately owned and developed, which would not protect their natural beauty or allow them to be visited by everyone.

National parks face various industry threats; resources could be extracted from this "underutilized" land.&nbsp; We hear this especially from oil and gas developers, mining, and logging businesses. This would lead to habitat loss, air and water pollution, and disruptions to wildlife, impacting both the natural environment and the recreational value of the parks.&nbsp;

There are also people who believe we should "starve the beast" and cut government spending. They believe national parks are not an essential government expenditure. DOGE has cut funding and terminated thousands of national park employees just before the summer tourist season begins.

Getting Ahead: National Parks - Our best idea

Post Podcast: Kman's Concert Calendar, weekend starting April 24 

This information is not a criminal history. Criminal charges
are often dropped or reduced. All individuals included in this post are
presumed innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. The
Panhandle Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of this information. Any person who believes information provided
is not accurate may submit a complaint to panhandlepostnews@gmail.com.

-Donald J Lafferty, Class 1C Felony, Possess methamphetamine 28-139 grams, Felony, Habitual criminal&nbsp;

-Dayton Aguayo,&nbsp;Distribution of cont sub

-Kayden Dawn,&nbsp;Child Abuse w/ intent, Resisting Officer,

-Keaton Adams, Class 2A Felony, Burglary&nbsp;

Panhandle police activity, April 3 - April 15

Alliance, NE – Western history author and lecturer Jeff Barnes brings the life and legend of the notorious Jesse James to the Alliance Public Library on Thursday, May 1, at 6 p.m. The Humanities Nebraska-sponsored talk is free and open to the public.

“A Bad Man in a Better Place: Jesse James in Nebraska” covers the outlaw and his family’s several visits to the Cornhusker State, from the 1860s until just before his assassination in 1882.

“Jesse James typically isn’t thought of in connection with Nebraska, but he was here,” said Barnes. “Nebraska was where the outlaw could find family and friends. It was where he could plan amazing robberies, make a recovery or an escape, and even sit for his most famous photograph. He wanted to buy a farm here and possibly retire here.”

Barnes will also discuss the historical legend of Frank and Jesse James in the Devils Nest area of northeast Nebraska, a remnant of which can still be found. The 45-minute presentation includes rarely seen images and seldom-heard stories of James, with the opportunity for questions afterward.

A former newspaper reporter and editor, Barnes writes and lives in Omaha. He is a former board trustee with the Nebraska State Historical Society, former chairman of the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission, and a frequently requested speaker with Humanities Nebraska, the organization’s first to present in all 93 Nebraska counties. He is the two-time Nebraska Book Award-winning author of Cut in Stone, Cast in Bronze: Nebraska’s Historical Markers and Monuments, 150 @ 150: Nebraska’s Landmark Buildings at the State’s Sesquicentennial, The Great Plains Guide to Buffalo Bill, The Great Plains Guide to Custer, and Extra Innings: The Story of Modisett Ball Park. His newest book – Forts of the Northern Plains – was published by Bison Books in 2024.

Humanities Nebraska Presentation by Jeff Barnes at Alliance Public Library

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

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

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.   

              With two of the best in the business returning for their final seasons, there’s lots of confidence in the CSC kicking game.  Brodie Eisenbraun averaged 43.3 yards on 53 punts last fall, including 15 that were 50 yarders.  Wilson Yee has booted 23 field goals the past two years, including five that were at least 52 yards long, including the school-record 61-yarder.  

              The CSC coaches say the 90-man roster includes other promising players.

              “We’ll know a lot more about them by the end of the spring,” Long noted.  “We always find some diamonds in the rough.” 

              The Eagles’ spring finale is set for Friday, April 25.

Deep Dive: Con Marshall takes a look into CSC spring football practice battles

Trump and Zelensky meet just before pope's funeral

Pope Francis' funeral mass takes place at St. Peter's Square, followed by a procession and cortège to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major for his burial.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/event/international-telecasts/pope-francis-funeral-mass-in-vatican-city/432696">Click here to watch beginning at 3a.m. CDT</a>&nbsp;or the video below

🎥Pope Francis' funeral mass in Vatican City

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/henry-redman/">Henry Redman</a>

FBI agents arrested Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday, accusing her of obstructing an immigration enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/fbi-investigating-milwaukee-county-judge-after-third-courthouse-ice-arrest/" target="_blank">action</a>&nbsp;last week.

Dugan was arrested at 8:30 a.m. at the county courthouse, according to the U.S. Marshal’s Service. She was scheduled to make an initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries at 10:30 on Friday. According to a criminal complaint, she’s been charged with obstructing or impeding before a department or agency of the United States and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest.

Online court records show that the government did not request that Dugan be held in detention and that she was released on an O/R bond, meaning she was released from custody without having to post bail and signed an agreement that she’d appear in court when required.

The agency’s director, Kash Patel, wrote on the social media platform X that Dugan had “intentionally misdirected federal agents away” from Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a 30-year-old Mexican immigrant accused of misdemeanor battery. In the now-deleted post, Patel accused Dugan of creating “increased danger to the public.”

Flores-Ruiz appeared in Dugan’s courtroom on April 18 for a pre-trial conference on charges of misdemeanor domestic battery. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/23/ice-arrested-mexican-immigrant-after-hearing-before-judge-dugan/83233154007/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents appeared outside Dugan’s courtroom, she led Flores-Ruiz and an attorney out a side door and down a private hallway.

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