POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk: Florida Man!

Whether you intend to release a fish you catch or plan to legally keep it, the fish should be handled properly. For the fish’s sake – and yours.

Any fish you do not intend to keep should be returned to the water immediately with as little stress to the fish as possible.

Their coat of slime can make that challenging. The slime is what protects them from diseases and parasites, but it also potentially makes grasping and holding them difficult. The more a fish is handled, the more its protective slime coat is compromised. The best way to release a fish without damage is to remove the hook and release the fish while standing in the water. For boat anglers, net the fish, if possible, and remove the hook while the net and fish still are in the water.

For removing hooks from fish, use needle-nose pliers or forceps. If you plan on releasing all your fish, use the pliers to bend down the barb on the point of the hook, making hook removal easier.

Another tool you can use is a net made of fish-friendly material that minimizes stress on fish.

“The best fish handling is to keep a fish in the water as much as possible,” according to Daryl Bauer, fisheries outreach program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Keep the fish in the water, handle them in the water, remove hooks, hold them up quickly, snap a photo, let ’em go.”

When holding a fish out of the water for a photo, the preferred method is to hold larger fish horizontally, supporting them from below.

When fishing, anglers also should avoid playing the fish to exhaustion and avoid touching a fish’s eyes or putting fingers in a fish’s gill flaps.

Knowing the sharp parts of a fish is the first step in avoiding them. Catfish and bullheads have sharp, barbed spines located on each pectoral fin and the dorsal fin. Carp have spines in the anal and dorsal fins. And white bass, striped bass, wiper, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, and crappie have spines in their fins that can cause a small puncture.

On the other hand, if you want to harvest some fish for a meal, there are ways to handle that. A bucket of water or stringer will keep fish for a short time; otherwise take a cooler of ice to the lake. Place the caught fish on ice immediately.

“Fish are a perishable food product and the quality of the meal is only as good as the handling of the fish after the catch,” said Larry Pape, aquatic education specialist Game and Parks. “If possible, fish should be kept alive until just before cleaning.”

If you are just getting into fishing and want more details on planning a fishing adventure, a helpful resource is the Game and Parks’ Going Fishing Guide, available at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.OutdoorNebraska.gov%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019635d1b900-e5da708b-7237-4418-95c0-5517780477b1-000000/2QjdY8KTqU45A_xbqtJIQ8X5fAMMVnlFwEztP6Li7hA=400" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;by searching “Learn to Fish.”

By Nebraska Game and ParksWhether you intend to release a fish you catch or plan to legally keep it, the fish should be handled properly. For the fish’s sake – and yours.Any fish you do not intend to keep should be returned to the water immediately with as little stress to the fish as possible.That means minimal handling of the fish.Their coat of slime can make that challenging. The slime is what protects them from diseases and parasites, but it also potentially makes grasping and holding them difficult. The more a fish is handled, the more its protective slime coat is compromised. The best way to release a fish without damage is to remove the hook and release the fish while standing in the water. For boat anglers, net the fish, if possible, and remove the hook while the net and fish still are in the water.For removing hooks from fish, use needle-nose pliers or forceps. If you plan on releasing all your fish, use the pliers to bend down the barb on the point of the hook, making hook removal easier.Another tool you can use is a net made of fish-friendly material that minimizes stress on fish.“The best fish handling is to keep a fish in the water as much as possible,” according to Daryl Bauer, fisheries outreach program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Keep the fish in the water, handle them in the water, remove hooks, hold them up quickly, snap a photo, let ’em go.”When holding a fish out of the water for a photo, the preferred method is to hold larger fish horizontally, supporting them from below.When fishing, anglers also should avoid playing the fish to exhaustion and avoid touching a fish’s eyes or putting fingers in a fish’s gill flaps.Knowing the sharp parts of a fish is the first step in avoiding them. Catfish and bullheads have sharp, barbed spines located on each pectoral fin and the dorsal fin. Carp have spines in the anal and dorsal fins. And white bass, striped bass, wiper, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, and crappie have spines in their fins that can cause a small puncture.On the other hand, if you want to harvest some fish for a meal, there are ways to handle that. A bucket of water or stringer will keep fish for a short time; otherwise take a cooler of ice to the lake. Place the caught fish on ice immediately.“Fish are a perishable food product and the quality of the meal is only as good as the handling of the fish after the catch,” said Larry Pape, aquatic education specialist Game and Parks. “If possible, fish should be kept alive until just before cleaning.”If you are just getting into fishing and want more details on planning a fishing adventure, a helpful resource is the Game and Parks’ Going Fishing Guide, available at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.OutdoorNebraska.gov%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019635d1b900-e5da708b-7237-4418-95c0-5517780477b1-000000/2QjdY8KTqU45A_xbqtJIQ8X5fAMMVnlFwEztP6Li7hA=400" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;by searching “Learn to Fish.”

Handle fish with care when releasing them

The Chadron Police Department is reminding all residents of the importance of responsible pet ownership to ensure the safety and well-being of animals, their owners, and the community.

With the warmer weather, the Chadron Police Department is seeing an increase in calls related to stray animals, barking dog complaints, and other pet-related incidents. Officers are urging pet owners to take the following steps to promote a safe and respectful neighborhood:

• Restraint ordinance: City ordinance 6-204- The owner shall keep his or her dog under restraint and shall not permit the dog to be at large. This helps prevent bites, fights, and traffic accidents. Restraint under city ordinance is defined as- if it is controlled by a leash or chain held by a competent person, on or within a vehicle being driven or parked on public property, or within an adequate fence on the property limits of its owner or keeper.

• Licensing and Identification: Make sure your pet is licensed and wears a collar with identification tags. A contact phone number is also recommended.

• Clean Up After Your Pets: City ordinance 6-303- It shall be unlawful for the owner of every animal to fail to remove any excreta deposited by his or her animals on public walks, recreation areas, or private property. Always pick up after your dog during walks. Proper disposal of waste keeps public areas clean and prevents health risks.

• Provide Adequate Shelter and Care: Pets left outdoors should have access to shelter, food, and clean water. Extreme temperatures can be dangerous or even fatal.

• Vaccinations and Health: Keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date to prevent the spread of diseases, including rabies. 

Violations of our local animal control ordinances may result in citations and if your pet is impounded at our local impound, it can add up in fees that could have been avoided. Impound cost is an automatic $40.00 fee and a $20.00 per day fee for boarding. We ask everyone who owns a pet to be responsible pet owners and help make our community and our pets safe.

For more information, or to report concerns about animal welfare, contact the Chadron Police Department (308)

By Chadron Police DepartmentThe Chadron Police Department is reminding all residents of the importance of responsible pet ownership to ensure the safety and well-being of animals, their owners, and the community.With the warmer weather, the Chadron Police Department is seeing an increase in calls related to stray animals, barking dog complaints, and other pet-related incidents. Officers are urging pet owners to take the following steps to promote a safe and respectful neighborhood:• Restraint ordinance: City ordinance 6-204- The owner shall keep his or her dog under restraint and shall not permit the dog to be at large. This helps prevent bites, fights, and traffic accidents. Restraint under city ordinance is defined as- if it is controlled by a leash or chain held by a competent person, on or within a vehicle being driven or parked on public property, or within an adequate fence on the property limits of its owner or keeper.• Licensing and Identification: Make sure your pet is licensed and wears a collar with identification tags. A contact phone number is also recommended.• Clean Up After Your Pets: City ordinance 6-303- It shall be unlawful for the owner of every animal to fail to remove any excreta deposited by his or her animals on public walks, recreation areas, or private property. Always pick up after your dog during walks. Proper disposal of waste keeps public areas clean and prevents health risks.• Provide Adequate Shelter and Care: Pets left outdoors should have access to shelter, food, and clean water. Extreme temperatures can be dangerous or even fatal.• Vaccinations and Health: Keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date to prevent the spread of diseases, including rabies. Violations of our local animal control ordinances may result in citations and if your pet is impounded at our local impound, it can add up in fees that could have been avoided. Impound cost is an automatic $40.00 fee and a $20.00 per day fee for boarding. We ask everyone who owns a pet to be responsible pet owners and help make our community and our pets safe.For more information, or to report concerns about animal welfare, contact the Chadron Police Department (308)

Chadron police reminds residents about pet ordinances 

&nbsp; Lincoln, Neb.,&nbsp; April 15 — Ninety bold and driven students have been awarded scholarships through the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for the 2025-26 academic year. A total of $175,000 in one-time scholarships will support these aspiring builders in their pursuit of purpose and entrepreneurial growth.Rooted in a gift from the Paul and Virginia Engler Foundation, the Engler program was founded in 2010 with a mission to embolden people on the courageous pursuit of their purpose through the art and practice of entrepreneurship. 

Today, Engler is more than a program—it’s a community where students from all majors and backgrounds converge to build purpose-driven enterprises, turn problems into solutions, and chase down the American Dream.

2025-26 Scholarship Recipients:Incoming Freshman Scholarship Winners:

Denton:&nbsp;Addison Woods &amp; Micah Pracheil

Fort Lupton, Colo.:&nbsp;Vincent Gittlein

Friend:&nbsp;Zach Spohn &amp;&nbsp;Baylor Behrens

Continuing Student Scholarship Winners:

Albion:&nbsp;Braden Benes &amp;&nbsp;Brant Benes

Avoca:&nbsp;Jenna KnakeAzle, Texas:&nbsp;Kaytlynn Lemley

Bridgeport:&nbsp;Laura Albro &amp;&nbsp;Bethany Nichols

Gothenburg:&nbsp;Jake Burge,&nbsp;Elissa Foley &amp;&nbsp;Braeden Anderson

Kearney:&nbsp;Logan Greeno &amp; Gage Fryda

Lincoln:&nbsp;Riley Dinslage &amp;&nbsp;Austin Kamm

Rising City:&nbsp;Rylie Carter &amp;&nbsp;Alexa Carter

Saint Paul:&nbsp;Madison Hirschman &amp;&nbsp;Zach Hirschman

Stapleton:&nbsp;Lance Jones &amp; Caleb Burnside

These scholarships reflect our commitment to investing in the people who are ready to build—people willing to take risks, solve real problems, and lead with grit and humility.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; Lincoln, Neb.,&nbsp; April 15 — Ninety bold and driven students have been awarded scholarships through the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for the 2025-26 academic year. A total of $175,000 in one-time scholarships will support these aspiring builders in their pursuit of purpose and entrepreneurial growth.Rooted in a gift from the Paul and Virginia Engler Foundation, the Engler program was founded in 2010 with a mission to embolden people on the courageous pursuit of their purpose through the art and practice of entrepreneurship. Today, Engler is more than a program—it’s a community where students from all majors and backgrounds converge to build purpose-driven enterprises, turn problems into solutions, and chase down the American Dream.2025-26 Scholarship Recipients:Incoming Freshman Scholarship Winners:Bladen:&nbsp;Aidyn BonifasChadron:&nbsp;Jadyn TidymanCook:&nbsp;Nolan WellensiekDenton:&nbsp;Addison Woods &amp; Micah PracheilFort Lupton, Colo.:&nbsp;Vincent GittleinFriend:&nbsp;Zach Spohn &amp;&nbsp;Baylor BehrensGothenburg:&nbsp;Maxwell WyattHarrisburg:&nbsp;Isaac OlsenHerman:&nbsp;Mason StoddardHildreth:&nbsp;Alex CasperKennard:&nbsp;Jack PohlmannLong Pine:&nbsp;Miah OrtnerLoomis:&nbsp;Garrett ScholzMonroe:&nbsp;Clara PreisterNorth Platte:&nbsp;Landan GreenoOrd:&nbsp;Claire CargillPender:&nbsp;Alex RothScribner:&nbsp;Aubree SchlueterTryon:&nbsp;Peyton PaxtonWaco:&nbsp;Josephine TurnbullContinuing Student Scholarship Winners:Adams:&nbsp;Trevor PardeAinsworth:&nbsp;Libby WilkinsAlbion:&nbsp;Braden Benes &amp;&nbsp;Brant BenesAmherst:&nbsp;Breanna BosshamerAshland:&nbsp;Jessie LampAurora:&nbsp;Morgan BonifasAvoca:&nbsp;Jenna KnakeAzle, Texas:&nbsp;Kaytlynn LemleyBartley:&nbsp;Bryn LampeBeatrice:&nbsp;Kaden Van WinkleBlair:&nbsp;Alexis WarnerBlue Hill:&nbsp;Libby MacklinBrainerd, Minn.:&nbsp;Addison HillmanBridgeport:&nbsp;Laura Albro &amp;&nbsp;Bethany NicholsBroadwater:&nbsp;Alexis HardingBurwell:&nbsp;Jaci LarsenChambers:&nbsp;Claire WoeppelCozad:&nbsp;Sarah TrefferDavid City:&nbsp;Lydia OckanderDeshler:&nbsp;Colten IsernhagenDodge:&nbsp;Meg AndersonEddyville:&nbsp;Adi McFarlandFairbury:&nbsp;Alexis MauFirth:&nbsp;Erin OldemeyerFremont:&nbsp;Adelaide WitteGering:&nbsp;Mackenzie LiakosGothenburg:&nbsp;Jake Burge,&nbsp;Elissa Foley &amp;&nbsp;Braeden AndersonHamilton, Mich.:&nbsp;Nate FreyhofHay Springs:&nbsp;Braydon BingerHooper:&nbsp;Ashley AbrahamsIndianola:&nbsp;Nathan RippeJulian:&nbsp;Abby HodgesKearney:&nbsp;Logan Greeno &amp; Gage FrydaLincoln:&nbsp;Riley Dinslage &amp;&nbsp;Austin KammLoomis:&nbsp;Allison WalbrechtMcCook:&nbsp;Charlie BortnerMorse Bluff:&nbsp;Nolan WilliamsNorth Bend:&nbsp;Paige BunnNorth Platte:&nbsp;Ceidan ChildearsOakland:&nbsp;Isabella BenneOgallala:&nbsp;Caleb MostO'Neill:&nbsp;Emma WredeOrchard:&nbsp;Karter OtteOrd:&nbsp;Adam KnappOsmond:&nbsp;Reagan ChoatPender:&nbsp;Brieann BrunsRising City:&nbsp;Rylie Carter &amp;&nbsp;Alexa CarterRoseland:&nbsp;Ashley BonifasSaint Paul:&nbsp;Madison Hirschman &amp;&nbsp;Zach HirschmanSeward:&nbsp;Crayton KorandaShelby:&nbsp;Eli KreikemeierShickley:&nbsp;Lynley SwartzendruberSt. Paul:&nbsp;Abby HirschmanStapleton:&nbsp;Lance Jones &amp; Caleb BurnsideSteinauer:&nbsp;Leah ChristenSumner:&nbsp;Mattie BeattieSutton:&nbsp;Carson MauWaco:&nbsp;Cora HoffschneiderWaverly:&nbsp;Emelia RourkeThese scholarships reflect our commitment to investing in the people who are ready to build—people willing to take risks, solve real problems, and lead with grit and humility.&nbsp;&nbsp;

90 Students Awarded Scholarships Through Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program

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.

By Alliance Public SchoolsAlliance 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

POST PODCAST: Cherished Memories Headstone Restoration (sponsored)

By McAYE FEGLER, COLLEGE RELATIONS

CHADRON – The Chadron State College’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) recently approved a returning club, War Eagles.

Club President Kylie Coomes of Rushville, Nebraska, said War Eagles is pleased to be back on campus.

“After a year and a half hiatus, the CSC Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program was reinstated thanks to Dr. Patterson and others on campus. With the program being back, we also wanted to bring back the War Eagles Club,” Coomes said.

According to Coomes, the War Eagles Club strives to promote companionship and patriotism, while gaining knowledge about military science and leadership skills.

The club currently has 10 members . Officers include Coomes, Vice President Chayton Bynes of Chadron, Treasurer Danara Abshire of Scottsbluff, Neb., Secretary Lily Rafteseth of Colon, Neb., and CAB Representative Korbin Cowan of Scottsbluff, Neb.

The club plans to host events such as a leadership seminar, a ruck march, and an emergency medical simulation. The club plans to meet every other Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the CSC Student Center. The first meeting is April 7. For more information, email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kylie.coomes@eagles.csc.edu" target="_blank">kylie.coomes@eagles.csc.edu</a>.

By McAYE FEGLER, COLLEGE RELATIONS<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744729843139.jpeg" alt="Dashton Edgren and Spencer Knuth both of Holdrege, Neb., left, talk to Harrison Perchal of Omaha, Neb., Austin Alexander of Newell, S.D., and Chase Mestas of Colorado Springs, Colo., at the War Eagles booth during the club fair at the Chadron State College Student Center Oct. 26, 2021. (Photo by Abigail Swanson/Chadron State College)" />
 <figcaption>Dashton Edgren and Spencer Knuth both of Holdrege, Neb., left, talk to Harrison Perchal of Omaha, Neb., Austin Alexander of Newell, S.D., and Chase Mestas of Colorado Springs, Colo., at the War Eagles booth during the club fair at the Chadron State College Student Center Oct. 26, 2021. (Photo by Abigail Swanson/Chadron State College)</figcaption>
 </figure>CHADRON – The Chadron State College’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) recently approved a returning club, War Eagles.Club President Kylie Coomes of Rushville, Nebraska, said War Eagles is pleased to be back on campus.“After a year and a half hiatus, the CSC Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program was reinstated thanks to Dr. Patterson and others on campus. With the program being back, we also wanted to bring back the War Eagles Club,” Coomes said.According to Coomes, the War Eagles Club strives to promote companionship and patriotism, while gaining knowledge about military science and leadership skills.The club currently has 10 members . Officers include Coomes, Vice President Chayton Bynes of Chadron, Treasurer Danara Abshire of Scottsbluff, Neb., Secretary Lily Rafteseth of Colon, Neb., and CAB Representative Korbin Cowan of Scottsbluff, Neb.The club plans to host events such as a leadership seminar, a ruck march, and an emergency medical simulation. The club plans to meet every other Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the CSC Student Center. The first meeting is April 7. For more information, email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kylie.coomes@eagles.csc.edu" target="_blank">kylie.coomes@eagles.csc.edu</a>.

War Eagles Club returns to Chadron State 

By TENA L. COOK, CSC MARKETING COORDINATOR

CHADRON – Chadron State College Communication Arts students won awards in three categories of the Golden Leaf Awards contest sponsored by the Northern Plains Collegiate Media Association March 29 in Kearney.

Austin Glanz of Sidney, Nebraska, won second place in Best Audio of a News Story for his entry, Presidential Election Results.

KJZC student production team members Taylor Burch of Gillette, Wyo., Aaron Dockery of Scottsbluff, Neb., Mekenna Fisher of Hershey, Neb., Glanz, and Johnathan Prouty of Fort Morgan, Colo., won third place for their Voting PSA entry in the Best Audio Public Service Announcement division.

Adeline Beason, a 2024 graduate, won a third-place award for her entry, Tattoos: Still Taboo?, in the Best Column category.

Dr. Julian Berrian, associate professor, said the commendations the students received are well-deserved results of their hard work, creativity, and dedication to the discipline of communication arts.

“Having interacted with all of these students at one point or another in my Communication Arts classrooms, I discern within them great potential for success as media makers and communicators in society at large,” Berrian said.

By TENA L. COOK, CSC MARKETING COORDINATORCHADRON – Chadron State College Communication Arts students won awards in three categories of the Golden Leaf Awards contest sponsored by the Northern Plains Collegiate Media Association March 29 in Kearney.Austin Glanz of Sidney, Nebraska, won second place in Best Audio of a News Story for his entry, Presidential Election Results.KJZC student production team members Taylor Burch of Gillette, Wyo., Aaron Dockery of Scottsbluff, Neb., Mekenna Fisher of Hershey, Neb., Glanz, and Johnathan Prouty of Fort Morgan, Colo., won third place for their Voting PSA entry in the Best Audio Public Service Announcement division.Adeline Beason, a 2024 graduate, won a third-place award for her entry, Tattoos: Still Taboo?, in the Best Column category.Dr. Julian Berrian, associate professor, said the commendations the students received are well-deserved results of their hard work, creativity, and dedication to the discipline of communication arts.“Having interacted with all of these students at one point or another in my Communication Arts classrooms, I discern within them great potential for success as media makers and communicators in society at large,” Berrian said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744651509283.jpeg" alt="KJZC student production team members pose with Associate Professor Dr. Julian Berrian, center. From left, Austin Glanz of Sidney, Neb., Johnathan Prouty of Fort Morgan, Colo., Mekenna Fisher of Hershey, Neb., and Taylor Burch of Gillette, Wyo., won third place in the Best Audio Public Service Announcement division of the Golden Leaf Awards sponsored by the Northern Plains Collegiate Media Association on March 29, 2025, in Kearney. Not pictured: Aaron Dockery. (Photo by Tena L. Cook/Chadron State College)" />
 <figcaption>KJZC student production team members pose with Associate Professor Dr. Julian Berrian, center. From left, Austin Glanz of Sidney, Neb., Johnathan Prouty of Fort Morgan, Colo., Mekenna Fisher of Hershey, Neb., and Taylor Burch of Gillette, Wyo., won third place in the Best Audio Public Service Announcement division of the Golden Leaf Awards sponsored by the Northern Plains Collegiate Media Association on March 29, 2025, in Kearney. Not pictured: Aaron Dockery. (Photo by Tena L. Cook/Chadron State College)</figcaption>
 </figure>

CSC students win 3 Golden Leaf awards

Update: as of April 15th, it has been reported that Dominick Peterson is no longer the Mitchell police chief.

&nbsp; By&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/author/nalamdari/">Natalia Alamdari</a>, Flatwater Free Press

The photos would light up her phone late into the night. Sometimes, she’d get 20 photos in a single day, all from the same man.&nbsp;

They were photos of the man shirtless, or in the shower. They were photos of the man’s crotch, covered by shorts. He repeatedly asked her to send back “very explicit pictures” of her own, according to court records.&nbsp;

She told him “no.” He kept asking. Then she blocked him.

“Now he drives by my house and my parents’ house at least three times a week,” the woman, 24, wrote in her petition seeking a protection order from the man 20 years her senior. “I’m afraid he will come after me and harm me …”&nbsp;

Dominick Peterson, head of the police department in Mitchell, was ordered by a judge last week not to contact or go near the woman, who described feeling terrified by his behavior.&nbsp;

“Her worry was that if she felt like she needed to call the police, she was afraid she would not be believed, because the person she was accusing was not just some guy off the street, but a law enforcement officer,” said Maren Chaloupka, the attorney representing the woman. “She was afraid that other law enforcement officers would disbelieve her, would feel protective of somebody that they serve with.”

Mitchell, a town of 1,527 people near Scottsbluff, went through three police chiefs in just over a year. The town’s mayor told the Flatwater Free Press he was unaware of the protection order against the latest chief, despite the fact that the city was subpoenaed for records tied to the case.&nbsp;

During an interview, Mayor Paul Murrell was asked if Peterson’s behavior was appropriate for a police chief.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“That’s not appropriate for anybody, I would think,” he replied.&nbsp;

Murrell said on Monday he needed to speak with the city attorney before saying anything about Peterson’s future employment. He didn’t respond to additional phone messages.

The protection order issued against Peterson is the latest turmoil in this small Panhandle city. Before cycling through police chiefs, Mitchell switched between three mayors in 15 months. Then its city administrator resigned. And months later, a City Council member stepped down, saying she felt “unsafe and devalued.”&nbsp;

In April 2024, Peterson and the woman crossed paths through their jobs. He soon added her on social media, something Peterson confirmed in his court testimony. The police chief, now 44, found the 24-year-old woman on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

But he messaged her only on Snapchat, a platform known for self-deleting messages and images. On Snapchat, if a user screenshots a message or picture, the original sender is notified.&nbsp;

Because of that, the woman said she didn’t keep screenshot evidence of the messages Peterson was sending her – she feared that a notification would provoke him, her lawyer argued in court.&nbsp;

The woman testified that she told Peterson she had a boyfriend; that he needed to respect her boundaries. She ignored him, thinking he’d realize she wasn’t interested.&nbsp;

The messages persisted, according to court records. Peterson would send Snapchat images indicating that he knew the woman was home alone, that he knew her boyfriend was at work.&nbsp; Peterson did not dispute these facts in court.&nbsp;&nbsp;

She worried that blocking him would escalate the situation. Peterson carries a gun because of his job, Judge Randin Roland noted while granting the protection order. Peterson’s large frame looms over the woman, who was described as “very petite and probably weighs about 100 pounds” in court records.&nbsp;

“The petitioner was cowering and shaking with tears in her eyes from having to be in the same room with (Peterson),” Roland described in his order granting the protection order.&nbsp;

In July 2024, the woman blocked Peterson. And the situation did escalate, according to court records.&nbsp;

Peterson – who works in Mitchell and lives in Scottsbluff – started driving past the woman’s Gering home.&nbsp;

“He has training. He has a weapon. He has special professional knowledge,” Chaloupka said. “All of that was very unnerving to her, especially when this individual began to drive by her home.”&nbsp;

He stopped when she filed her request for a protection order in August 2024, according to court documents. City leaders should have known about this protection order, Chaloupka said, since the city attorney was notified when Chaloupka subpoenaed city records.

Peterson’s attorney, William Madelung, argued in court that since Peterson stopped interacting with the woman once she requested a protection order, there was no need to actually grant the order. He argued that she could have blocked Peterson sooner, and that she could have deleted the Snapchat app entirely.

This isn’t Peterson’s first time before a judge for a protection order. He’s been the subject of four other such cases since 2020. Two individuals, both men, each tried twice to get protection orders against Peterson.&nbsp;

All four were dropped or dismissed in court, with the judge ruling that while the men could demonstrate that they were “irritated and frustrated,” they could not prove they were “terrified, threatened or intimidated.”&nbsp;

In the fourth protection order case, the judge described both parties as engaging in “public displays of juvenile and petty behavior.”

All five of Peterson’s protection order cases have been heard by the same judge in Cheyenne County – the Scotts Bluff County judges all recused themselves from his cases, Chaloupka said.&nbsp;

Peterson didn’t respond to emails from the Flatwater Free Press seeking comment.

Reached by email, his attorney Madelung said, “my client has no comment at this time beyond that we have received and are currently reviewing Judge Roland’s order.”&nbsp;

Protection orders can be appealed, but Peterson has not yet decided if he will pursue an appeal, his attorney said.&nbsp;

Since 2010, the same three men have competed – often in incredibly close elections – to become Mitchell’s mayor.

Brian Taylor was first, beating Murrell, the current mayor, in 2010 and 2014.

Then, in 2018, David Curtis defeated Taylor. But Curtis resigned before the end of his term. Taylor, the then-president of the City Council, replaced him.

Murrell then challenged Taylor yet again in 2022. This time, Murrell won – by four votes.&nbsp;

Within a month of Murrell being sworn in as mayor, police chief Kevin Krzyzanowski was fired. The two men had clashed over cutting the number of on-duty officers, according to local radio station KNEB.

In paperwork filed with the Nebraska Crime Commission, the city said Krzyzanowski was “unable to meet agency standards.”&nbsp;

Krzyzanowski was replaced with Matt Holcomb, at the time a Scotts Bluff County deputy. A year later, Holcomb left to take a job with the Gering Police Department.&nbsp;

Peterson, hired as a part-time officer at the same time as Holcomb, was promoted to chief.&nbsp;

Murrell said he’s not concerned about the turnover since he took office.&nbsp;

“It’s fine,” he said. “Some of it needed to happen.”&nbsp;

Police chief turnover isn’t an automatic red flag, said Tom Casady, who retired as Lincoln’s Public Safety Director after&nbsp;17 years as that city’s police chief.&nbsp;

In the U.S., the average tenure for a police chief is seven years, according to a 2021 survey.&nbsp;

In small towns, where chiefs are paid less than their urban counterparts, the churn can be more pronounced, Casady said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

But the turnover in Mitchell would worry Casady if he was a member of Mitchell’s city council, he said.&nbsp;

“Three in two years is a lot,” Casady said. “You have very little continuity in leadership if you’ve gone through three police chiefs in two years.”&nbsp;

Soon after Murrell started as mayor, the city administrator departed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Seven months later, Angie Preston, the only woman on the City Council, quit, too.

In her resignation letter, Preston cited “communication breakdown and lack of professionalism” that spanned administrations as a reason for stepping down.&nbsp;

“My voice has repeatedly been silenced and I feel my experience and viewpoints are no longer respected,” Preston wrote in November 2023. “I feel it is no longer safe or wise for me to remain on the council.”

Preston, reached by the Flatwater Free Press, declined further comment.&nbsp;

The protection order granted against Peterson prohibits him from communicating with the woman in any way.&nbsp;

Protection orders are civil proceedings with a lower standard of proof than criminal cases.&nbsp;

Before seeking a protection order, the woman filed a police report with the Gering Police Department. The Nebraska State Patrol also had records of her case, according to court records.&nbsp;

Peterson has not been charged with a crime.

In Nebraska, stalking is often difficult to prove, said Christon MacTaggart, executive director of the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. Technology, like disappearing Snapchat messages, can make it harder.&nbsp;

Social media harassment becomes scarier if it’s coming from a person in a position of power, MacTaggart said.&nbsp;

“It can leave a victim of stalking feeling like they don’t have any recourse,” MacTaggart said.&nbsp;

Since 2021, six Nebraska police officers have had their law enforcement certifications revoked for domestic violence misdemeanors, according to the Nebraska Crime Commission. Another included a stalking misdemeanor. Two others were because of findings after protection orders were granted.&nbsp;

“If it falls under that area of conviction for a crime or serious misconduct, then (the agency has) to tell us that that’s what’s occurring. And then we look at that,” said Bryan Tuma, the commission’s executive director.&nbsp;

But because Peterson’s case doesn’t involve a criminal charge, there’s no requirement to notify the commission, Tuma said. Most revocations involving a protection order also include a criminal case, said Mark Stephenson, director of the Law Enforcement Training Center.&nbsp;

But a protection order – issued when a judge believes a person represents a risk – on its own is enough to undermine an officer’s credibility, said Casady, the former chief.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I don’t think anyone that’s got that kind of behavior pattern can credibly serve as a law enforcement officer, or a public official of any kind for that matter.”&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.flatwaterfreepress.org/">The&nbsp;Flatwater&nbsp;Free&nbsp;Press</a>&nbsp; (<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/to-serve-and-protect-police-leader-barred-from-contacting-terrorized-woman/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqRT9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHrpgjHgVRVp2kGWkciKxni7GB_ZFwX1XoVdyHPGdaZpCt2v3ludjy9C-VJvL_aem_MsN0ZvnkRNcyLqMCMugQHw">https://flatwaterfreepress.org/to-serve-and-protect-police-leader-barred-from-contacting-terrorized-woman/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqRT9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHrpgjHgVRVp2kGWkciKxni7GB_ZFwX1XoVdyHPGdaZpCt2v3ludjy9C-VJvL_aem_MsN0ZvnkRNcyLqMCMugQHw</a>) is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744660763055.jpeg" alt="The Mitchell Police Department has had three chiefs in a little over a year from 2023 to 2024. Its current chief is now facing a protection order after a 24-year-old woman accused him of sending her explicit, unwanted messages on Snapchat, driving past her home repeatedly and letting her know he knew when her boyfriend wasn’t there. Photo by Irene North for the Flatwater Free Press" />
 <figcaption>The Mitchell Police Department has had three chiefs in a little over a year from 2023 to 2024. Its current chief is now facing a protection order after a 24-year-old woman accused him of sending her explicit, unwanted messages on Snapchat, driving past her home repeatedly and letting her know he knew when her boyfriend wasn’t there. Photo by Irene North for the Flatwater Free Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Update: as of April 15th, it has been reported that Dominick Peterson is no longer the Mitchell police chief.&nbsp; By&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/author/nalamdari/">Natalia Alamdari</a>, Flatwater Free PressThe photos would light up her phone late into the night. Sometimes, she’d get 20 photos in a single day, all from the same man.&nbsp;They were photos of the man shirtless, or in the shower. They were photos of the man’s crotch, covered by shorts. He repeatedly asked her to send back “very explicit pictures” of her own, according to court records.&nbsp;She told him “no.” He kept asking. Then she blocked him.“Now he drives by my house and my parents’ house at least three times a week,” the woman, 24, wrote in her petition seeking a protection order from the man 20 years her senior. “I’m afraid he will come after me and harm me …”&nbsp;The man is the police chief.&nbsp;Dominick Peterson, head of the police department in Mitchell, was ordered by a judge last week not to contact or go near the woman, who described feeling terrified by his behavior.&nbsp;“Her worry was that if she felt like she needed to call the police, she was afraid she would not be believed, because the person she was accusing was not just some guy off the street, but a law enforcement officer,” said Maren Chaloupka, the attorney representing the woman. “She was afraid that other law enforcement officers would disbelieve her, would feel protective of somebody that they serve with.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744660870082.jpeg" alt="Mitchell Police Chief Dominick Peterson worked as a Scottsbluff police officer before joining the Mitchell Police Department. In April 2024 he was promoted to chief. Last week, a judge ordered him to have zero contact with a woman who alleged Peterson had harassed her for months. Photo by Irene North for the Flatwater Free Press" />
 <figcaption>Mitchell Police Chief Dominick Peterson worked as a Scottsbluff police officer before joining the Mitchell Police Department. In April 2024 he was promoted to chief. Last week, a judge ordered him to have zero contact with a woman who alleged Peterson had harassed her for months. Photo by Irene North for the Flatwater Free Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Mitchell, a town of 1,527 people near Scottsbluff, went through three police chiefs in just over a year. The town’s mayor told the Flatwater Free Press he was unaware of the protection order against the latest chief, despite the fact that the city was subpoenaed for records tied to the case.&nbsp;During an interview, Mayor Paul Murrell was asked if Peterson’s behavior was appropriate for a police chief.&nbsp;&nbsp;“That’s not appropriate for anybody, I would think,” he replied.&nbsp;Murrell said on Monday he needed to speak with the city attorney before saying anything about Peterson’s future employment. He didn’t respond to additional phone messages.The protection order issued against Peterson is the latest turmoil in this small Panhandle city. Before cycling through police chiefs, Mitchell switched between three mayors in 15 months. Then its city administrator resigned. And months later, a City Council member stepped down, saying she felt “unsafe and devalued.”&nbsp;***In April 2024, Peterson and the woman crossed paths through their jobs. He soon added her on social media, something Peterson confirmed in his court testimony. The police chief, now 44, found the 24-year-old woman on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.But he messaged her only on Snapchat, a platform known for self-deleting messages and images. On Snapchat, if a user screenshots a message or picture, the original sender is notified.&nbsp;Because of that, the woman said she didn’t keep screenshot evidence of the messages Peterson was sending her – she feared that a notification would provoke him, her lawyer argued in court.&nbsp;The woman testified that she told Peterson she had a boyfriend; that he needed to respect her boundaries. She ignored him, thinking he’d realize she wasn’t interested.&nbsp;The messages persisted, according to court records. Peterson would send Snapchat images indicating that he knew the woman was home alone, that he knew her boyfriend was at work.&nbsp; Peterson did not dispute these facts in court.&nbsp;&nbsp;She worried that blocking him would escalate the situation. Peterson carries a gun because of his job, Judge Randin Roland noted while granting the protection order. Peterson’s large frame looms over the woman, who was described as “very petite and probably weighs about 100 pounds” in court records.&nbsp;“The petitioner was cowering and shaking with tears in her eyes from having to be in the same room with (Peterson),” Roland described in his order granting the protection order.&nbsp;In July 2024, the woman blocked Peterson. And the situation did escalate, according to court records.&nbsp;Peterson – who works in Mitchell and lives in Scottsbluff – started driving past the woman’s Gering home.&nbsp;“He has training. He has a weapon. He has special professional knowledge,” Chaloupka said. “All of that was very unnerving to her, especially when this individual began to drive by her home.”&nbsp;He stopped when she filed her request for a protection order in August 2024, according to court documents. City leaders should have known about this protection order, Chaloupka said, since the city attorney was notified when Chaloupka subpoenaed city records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744660935829.jpeg" alt="Mayor Paul Murrell won election by four votes in 2022 after falling short in both 2014 and 2018. Shortly after taking office, a wave of departures rippled through the ranks of city leadership. Photo by Irene North for the Flatwater Free Press" />
 <figcaption>Mayor Paul Murrell won election by four votes in 2022 after falling short in both 2014 and 2018. Shortly after taking office, a wave of departures rippled through the ranks of city leadership. Photo by Irene North for the Flatwater Free Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Peterson’s attorney, William Madelung, argued in court that since Peterson stopped interacting with the woman once she requested a protection order, there was no need to actually grant the order. He argued that she could have blocked Peterson sooner, and that she could have deleted the Snapchat app entirely.This isn’t Peterson’s first time before a judge for a protection order. He’s been the subject of four other such cases since 2020. Two individuals, both men, each tried twice to get protection orders against Peterson.&nbsp;All four were dropped or dismissed in court, with the judge ruling that while the men could demonstrate that they were “irritated and frustrated,” they could not prove they were “terrified, threatened or intimidated.”&nbsp;In the fourth protection order case, the judge described both parties as engaging in “public displays of juvenile and petty behavior.”All five of Peterson’s protection order cases have been heard by the same judge in Cheyenne County – the Scotts Bluff County judges all recused themselves from his cases, Chaloupka said.&nbsp;Peterson didn’t respond to emails from the Flatwater Free Press seeking comment.Reached by email, his attorney Madelung said, “my client has no comment at this time beyond that we have received and are currently reviewing Judge Roland’s order.”&nbsp;Protection orders can be appealed, but Peterson has not yet decided if he will pursue an appeal, his attorney said.&nbsp;***&nbsp;Since 2010, the same three men have competed – often in incredibly close elections – to become Mitchell’s mayor.Brian Taylor was first, beating Murrell, the current mayor, in 2010 and 2014.Then, in 2018, David Curtis defeated Taylor. But Curtis resigned before the end of his term. Taylor, the then-president of the City Council, replaced him.Murrell then challenged Taylor yet again in 2022. This time, Murrell won – by four votes.&nbsp;Within a month of Murrell being sworn in as mayor, police chief Kevin Krzyzanowski was fired. The two men had clashed over cutting the number of on-duty officers, according to local radio station KNEB.In paperwork filed with the Nebraska Crime Commission, the city said Krzyzanowski was “unable to meet agency standards.”&nbsp;Krzyzanowski was replaced with Matt Holcomb, at the time a Scotts Bluff County deputy. A year later, Holcomb left to take a job with the Gering Police Department.&nbsp;Peterson, hired as a part-time officer at the same time as Holcomb, was promoted to chief.&nbsp;Murrell said he’s not concerned about the turnover since he took office.&nbsp;“It’s fine,” he said. “Some of it needed to happen.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744660986382.jpeg" alt="Mayor Paul Murrell listens during the April 8, 2025, City Council meeting. Murrell told the Flatwater Free Press he was unaware that a judge had recently issued a protection order against Police Chief Dominick Peterson. Photo by Irene North for the Flatwater Free Press" />
 <figcaption>Mayor Paul Murrell listens during the April 8, 2025, City Council meeting. Murrell told the Flatwater Free Press he was unaware that a judge had recently issued a protection order against Police Chief Dominick Peterson. Photo by Irene North for the Flatwater Free Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Police chief turnover isn’t an automatic red flag, said Tom Casady, who retired as Lincoln’s Public Safety Director after&nbsp;17 years as that city’s police chief.&nbsp;In the U.S., the average tenure for a police chief is seven years, according to a 2021 survey.&nbsp;In small towns, where chiefs are paid less than their urban counterparts, the churn can be more pronounced, Casady said.&nbsp;&nbsp;But the turnover in Mitchell would worry Casady if he was a member of Mitchell’s city council, he said.&nbsp;“Three in two years is a lot,” Casady said. “You have very little continuity in leadership if you’ve gone through three police chiefs in two years.”&nbsp;Soon after Murrell started as mayor, the city administrator departed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Seven months later, Angie Preston, the only woman on the City Council, quit, too.In her resignation letter, Preston cited “communication breakdown and lack of professionalism” that spanned administrations as a reason for stepping down.&nbsp;“My voice has repeatedly been silenced and I feel my experience and viewpoints are no longer respected,” Preston wrote in November 2023. “I feel it is no longer safe or wise for me to remain on the council.”Preston, reached by the Flatwater Free Press, declined further comment.&nbsp;***&nbsp;The protection order granted against Peterson prohibits him from communicating with the woman in any way.&nbsp;Protection orders are civil proceedings with a lower standard of proof than criminal cases.&nbsp;Before seeking a protection order, the woman filed a police report with the Gering Police Department. The Nebraska State Patrol also had records of her case, according to court records.&nbsp;Peterson has not been charged with a crime.In Nebraska, stalking is often difficult to prove, said Christon MacTaggart, executive director of the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. Technology, like disappearing Snapchat messages, can make it harder.&nbsp;Social media harassment becomes scarier if it’s coming from a person in a position of power, MacTaggart said.&nbsp;“It can leave a victim of stalking feeling like they don’t have any recourse,” MacTaggart said.&nbsp;Since 2021, six Nebraska police officers have had their law enforcement certifications revoked for domestic violence misdemeanors, according to the Nebraska Crime Commission. Another included a stalking misdemeanor. Two others were because of findings after protection orders were granted.&nbsp;“If it falls under that area of conviction for a crime or serious misconduct, then (the agency has) to tell us that that’s what’s occurring. And then we look at that,” said Bryan Tuma, the commission’s executive director.&nbsp;But because Peterson’s case doesn’t involve a criminal charge, there’s no requirement to notify the commission, Tuma said. Most revocations involving a protection order also include a criminal case, said Mark Stephenson, director of the Law Enforcement Training Center.&nbsp;But a protection order – issued when a judge believes a person represents a risk – on its own is enough to undermine an officer’s credibility, said Casady, the former chief.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I don’t think anyone that’s got that kind of behavior pattern can credibly serve as a law enforcement officer, or a public official of any kind for that matter.”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.flatwaterfreepress.org/">The&nbsp;Flatwater&nbsp;Free&nbsp;Press</a>&nbsp; (<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/to-serve-and-protect-police-leader-barred-from-contacting-terrorized-woman/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqRT9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHrpgjHgVRVp2kGWkciKxni7GB_ZFwX1XoVdyHPGdaZpCt2v3ludjy9C-VJvL_aem_MsN0ZvnkRNcyLqMCMugQHw">https://flatwaterfreepress.org/to-serve-and-protect-police-leader-barred-from-contacting-terrorized-woman/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqRT9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHrpgjHgVRVp2kGWkciKxni7GB_ZFwX1XoVdyHPGdaZpCt2v3ludjy9C-VJvL_aem_MsN0ZvnkRNcyLqMCMugQHw</a>) is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

To serve and protect? Police leader barred from contacting terrorized woman

April 14, 2025 (North Platte, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from multiple other agencies, apprehended five juveniles after a pursuit with two vehicles early Sunday morning.

Early Sunday, NSP was made aware that five juveniles were reportedly missing from a juvenile facility in Wyoming and were believed to be traveling eastbound through Nebraska in a stolen vehicle. Troopers then learned that the group was believed to have stolen another vehicle in North Platte and was traveling together in both stolen vehicles.

At approximately 4:15 a.m., a trooper located both vehicles, a Dodge Durango and a Chevrolet Tahoe, as they were traveling eastbound at over 100 miles per hour on Interstate 80 near Gothenburg. The trooper attempted a traffic stop and both vehicles exited I-80 at the Cozad interchange and began traveling southbound on Highway 21. Both vehicles continued southbound, driving in the northbound lane at times.

Near the intersection of Highway 21 and Highway 23, the Durango left the roadway and came to a stop in the ditch. Both occupants then fled on foot into a field south of the intersection. The Tahoe continued southbound for a few miles before coming to a stop. The three occupants of the Tahoe also fled on foot. Additional troopers, along with deputies from the Dawson, Frontier, and Gosper County Sheriff’s Offices responded to the scene.

Troopers, along with deputies from Dawson, Frontier, and Gosper County Sheriff’s Offices, launched a search that lasted several hours. All five juveniles — ranging in age from 14 to 17 — were eventually located and taken into custody. They have since been turned over to probation officials.

April 14, 2025 (North Platte, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from multiple other agencies, apprehended five juveniles after a pursuit with two vehicles early Sunday morning.Early Sunday, NSP was made aware that five juveniles were reportedly missing from a juvenile facility in Wyoming and were believed to be traveling eastbound through Nebraska in a stolen vehicle. Troopers then learned that the group was believed to have stolen another vehicle in North Platte and was traveling together in both stolen vehicles.At approximately 4:15 a.m., a trooper located both vehicles, a Dodge Durango and a Chevrolet Tahoe, as they were traveling eastbound at over 100 miles per hour on Interstate 80 near Gothenburg. The trooper attempted a traffic stop and both vehicles exited I-80 at the Cozad interchange and began traveling southbound on Highway 21. Both vehicles continued southbound, driving in the northbound lane at times.Near the intersection of Highway 21 and Highway 23, the Durango left the roadway and came to a stop in the ditch. Both occupants then fled on foot into a field south of the intersection. The Tahoe continued southbound for a few miles before coming to a stop. The three occupants of the Tahoe also fled on foot. Additional troopers, along with deputies from the Dawson, Frontier, and Gosper County Sheriff’s Offices responded to the scene.Troopers, along with deputies from Dawson, Frontier, and Gosper County Sheriff’s Offices, launched a search that lasted several hours. All five juveniles — ranging in age from 14 to 17 — were eventually located and taken into custody. They have since been turned over to probation officials.

Five Juveniles Apprehended After Pursuit with Two Stolen Vehicles south of Cozad Sunday

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp; — Alliance High School students brought home a host of awards from the Nebraska FBLA State Leadership Conference held last week in Lincoln, showcasing their skills across a wide range of business-related competitions.

Several students earned top-10 finishes, with standout performances from Emily McCune, who placed 5th in Accounting II, 8th in Financial Statement Analysis, and 8th in Word Processing. McCune was also part of a strong showing in multiple categories.

Chili Potmesil also had an impressive showing, earning 8th in Broadcast Journalism, 6th in Journalism, and 5th in Business Communications. Potmesil received additional honorable mentions in Advertising (13th) and worked alongside Kinzie Bridge, who placed 4th in Business Communications and earned an honorable mention in Personal Finance (28th).

In team events, Isaac Baker, Tremaine Redbear, and Kade Rickey received an honorable mention for their Digital Video Production entry, placing 9th overall.

Other recognitions included Henry Hoff with an 8th-place finish in Advertising and Mia Gomez, who earned honorable mention in Introduction to Business Communications (17th).

The Nebraska FBLA State Leadership Conference is an annual event that draws students from across the state to compete in business and leadership events, preparing them for future careers in business, finance, communications and more.

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp; — Alliance High School students brought home a host of awards from the Nebraska FBLA State Leadership Conference held last week in Lincoln, showcasing their skills across a wide range of business-related competitions.Several students earned top-10 finishes, with standout performances from Emily McCune, who placed 5th in Accounting II, 8th in Financial Statement Analysis, and 8th in Word Processing. McCune was also part of a strong showing in multiple categories.Chili Potmesil also had an impressive showing, earning 8th in Broadcast Journalism, 6th in Journalism, and 5th in Business Communications. Potmesil received additional honorable mentions in Advertising (13th) and worked alongside Kinzie Bridge, who placed 4th in Business Communications and earned an honorable mention in Personal Finance (28th).In team events, Isaac Baker, Tremaine Redbear, and Kade Rickey received an honorable mention for their Digital Video Production entry, placing 9th overall.Other recognitions included Henry Hoff with an 8th-place finish in Advertising and Mia Gomez, who earned honorable mention in Introduction to Business Communications (17th).The Nebraska FBLA State Leadership Conference is an annual event that draws students from across the state to compete in business and leadership events, preparing them for future careers in business, finance, communications and more.

Alliance High Students Earn Honors at Nebraska FBLA Leadership Conference

Visit a new city long enough to grab a quick, sugary breakfast one morning and you will likely search for the best donut shop within a 15-20 minute drive. That happened to my wife and I almost twelve and a half years ago in Denver. There was Winchell’s Donut House and Voodoo Doughnut and surprisingly little else. As an Alliance native my favorite was Daylight Donuts – from scarfing a plate-size chocolate frosted cinnamon roll while my jaw was still numb from the dentist as a kid to chef salads on lunch break working at the paper.

Jason and Teresa Judd opened the latest Daylight location on January 9 with a minimum waste attitude from recycling through Keep Alliance Beautiful to donating the day’s leftover donuts to Community Table.

Prior to the dawn of 2025, local residents could purchase freshly baked donuts at the grocery store or bakery cooperative though neither location was a dedicated donut shop. Teresa said her husband had been wanting to start a business. She left her job at Ken and Dale’s telling him a new venture “would have to be something I love . . .”, in other words, the food industry. Jason inquired about the details of opening a Daylight Donuts location. “She wanted something like a pastry shop or a bakery, so we compromised,” he explained.

Teresa’s culinary interest goes back years to when she worked at the Ranch House when they lived in Texas. After moving to Nebraska she cooked at The Remington Club in Minatare. Jason, who is also an engineer with BNSF Railway, noted this is the third business he’s owned and operated following a carpet cleaning/restoration service and years as a truck driver. The first “brick and mortar” variety has “a lot more to it” such as inventory and different tax considerations.

One of the employees helped facilitate recycling at the donut shop, contacting KAB for a bin. The tote, one of five along the 300 block of that alley, fills about once a week with cardboard, paperboard and two-and-a-half gallon plastic icing buckets. Jason explained that the cooking oil (beef tallow) recycles itself through a power filter daily. Although they are still short of the six-month mark for a new batch of oil, the couple said they will probably obtain a recycling dumpster or similar container so it can be reused in a different capacity. The business saves on electricity by only having one freezer, for breakfast ingredients. Also, there is less waste from drinks in bottles and cans versus a fountain setup’s cups, straws and lids that (in my experience) are less likely to be recycled.

On a number of occasions I have taken donations of as many as 15 dozen donuts to Community Table for people eating lunch at the Masonic Center (free to anyone 11:30-12:30 Monday through Thursday). “I do like to donate it to the community and pay it forward,” Jason said. “One of the biggest challenges in the donut industry is how many donuts to make on a certain day and week to week.”

Afternoon and evening, so far, are the only periods the Judds or one of their seven employees is not there on business days. Teresa comes in at 11-11:15 p.m. to set up. Another baker arrives at 1 a.m., she said, as they drop the cake donuts then start a batch of raised dough that requires 40 minutes. As the saying goes: timing is everything.

“There’s never a dull moment . . . Everything is fairly time sensitive,” Jason said. He added that he is more of the logistical half of the partnership while she runs the kitchen.

If you drove from Chadron to Alliance on a Tuesday morning, for example, and bought a chocolate cake donut with chocolate icing at both Daylight Donuts the two would probably be a close match since all locations are required to follow company guidelines and use Daylight ingredients. Conversely, any other food served is not bound by the same rules. “Breakfast and lunch, we can do what we like,” Jason said. Steak burritos are one of their menu items “back by popular demand from the old Daylight Donuts,” he added.

Trends are apparent a quarter after opening the doors. The couple is expanding into the afternoon and would eventually like to offer lunch. Proving some people are serious about donuts, the location’s data shows 65 percent of the people they serve are repeat customers.

Looking ahead, Jason talked about the importance of recycling. “Definitely good for the community,” he emphasized. “(Recycling) keeps Alliance beautiful like the name says, employs people and is just good overall for the planet. This rock has an expiration date.”

By JOHN E. WEARE KABVisit a new city long enough to grab a quick, sugary breakfast one morning and you will likely search for the best donut shop within a 15-20 minute drive. That happened to my wife and I almost twelve and a half years ago in Denver. There was Winchell’s Donut House and Voodoo Doughnut and surprisingly little else. As an Alliance native my favorite was Daylight Donuts – from scarfing a plate-size chocolate frosted cinnamon roll while my jaw was still numb from the dentist as a kid to chef salads on lunch break working at the paper.Jason and Teresa Judd opened the latest Daylight location on January 9 with a minimum waste attitude from recycling through Keep Alliance Beautiful to donating the day’s leftover donuts to Community Table.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744373990755.jpeg" alt="Teresa and Jason Judd began recycling not long after opening Daylight Donuts in January." />
 <figcaption>Teresa and Jason Judd began recycling not long after opening Daylight Donuts in January.</figcaption>
 </figure>Prior to the dawn of 2025, local residents could purchase freshly baked donuts at the grocery store or bakery cooperative though neither location was a dedicated donut shop. Teresa said her husband had been wanting to start a business. She left her job at Ken and Dale’s telling him a new venture “would have to be something I love . . .”, in other words, the food industry. Jason inquired about the details of opening a Daylight Donuts location. “She wanted something like a pastry shop or a bakery, so we compromised,” he explained.Teresa’s culinary interest goes back years to when she worked at the Ranch House when they lived in Texas. After moving to Nebraska she cooked at The Remington Club in Minatare. Jason, who is also an engineer with BNSF Railway, noted this is the third business he’s owned and operated following a carpet cleaning/restoration service and years as a truck driver. The first “brick and mortar” variety has “a lot more to it” such as inventory and different tax considerations.One of the employees helped facilitate recycling at the donut shop, contacting KAB for a bin. The tote, one of five along the 300 block of that alley, fills about once a week with cardboard, paperboard and two-and-a-half gallon plastic icing buckets. Jason explained that the cooking oil (beef tallow) recycles itself through a power filter daily. Although they are still short of the six-month mark for a new batch of oil, the couple said they will probably obtain a recycling dumpster or similar container so it can be reused in a different capacity. The business saves on electricity by only having one freezer, for breakfast ingredients. Also, there is less waste from drinks in bottles and cans versus a fountain setup’s cups, straws and lids that (in my experience) are less likely to be recycled.On a number of occasions I have taken donations of as many as 15 dozen donuts to Community Table for people eating lunch at the Masonic Center (free to anyone 11:30-12:30 Monday through Thursday). “I do like to donate it to the community and pay it forward,” Jason said. “One of the biggest challenges in the donut industry is how many donuts to make on a certain day and week to week.”Afternoon and evening, so far, are the only periods the Judds or one of their seven employees is not there on business days. Teresa comes in at 11-11:15 p.m. to set up. Another baker arrives at 1 a.m., she said, as they drop the cake donuts then start a batch of raised dough that requires 40 minutes. As the saying goes: timing is everything.“There’s never a dull moment . . . Everything is fairly time sensitive,” Jason said. He added that he is more of the logistical half of the partnership while she runs the kitchen.If you drove from Chadron to Alliance on a Tuesday morning, for example, and bought a chocolate cake donut with chocolate icing at both Daylight Donuts the two would probably be a close match since all locations are required to follow company guidelines and use Daylight ingredients. Conversely, any other food served is not bound by the same rules. “Breakfast and lunch, we can do what we like,” Jason said. Steak burritos are one of their menu items “back by popular demand from the old Daylight Donuts,” he added.Trends are apparent a quarter after opening the doors. The couple is expanding into the afternoon and would eventually like to offer lunch. Proving some people are serious about donuts, the location’s data shows 65 percent of the people they serve are repeat customers.Looking ahead, Jason talked about the importance of recycling. “Definitely good for the community,” he emphasized. “(Recycling) keeps Alliance beautiful like the name says, employs people and is just good overall for the planet. This rock has an expiration date.”

KAB: Daylight Donuts Offers Delicious, Eco-Conscious Fare

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.

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.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605207543684.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>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

Visitors to state park areas in&nbsp;southwestern&nbsp;Nebraska will find enhanced day-use and camping amenities. Projects in the works or completed will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects:

Ash Hollow&nbsp;State Historical Park&nbsp;– Visitors will find upgraded lights in the interpretive center built over the entrance of Ash Hollow Cave to protect it while allowing visitors to experience its unique features. The museum in the visitor center also received upgraded lighting where park guests can view displays of pioneer history, Native American history, as well as geologic and palaeontologic history. The lighting project was completed in March 2025 with park cash funds of $1,000.

Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area –Concrete voids were repaired at the Martin Bay boat ramp and boat ramp repairs were made at Cedar View in October 2024. The $30,900 in repairs was funded by the boating access program.

Martin Bay is slated to build a new, full-service, 37-pad campground with 50-amp electric soon.

Upgrades to the Martin Bay dump station will give the existing basic campground and the proposed new campground ample room for use.

At the public archery range, the archery shelter was reroofed and painted last October. The $2,500 project was funded by Park Cash and Big Mac Sports Club.

Buffalo Bill Ranch SRA –&nbsp;Three new waterfront basic camping sites were built in 2024 using Park Cash funds of $3,500.

Lake Maloney SRA –&nbsp;The project at Kansas Point has increased access along the shoreline at the inlet for anglers to be able to fish closer to the water’s edge.

An approximately 340-foot walking trail was constructed from the fish-cleaning station and parking area and leads to a new wooden fishing pier overlooking the spillway at the inlet. An Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant paved angler access walkway was included in the project and provides about 450-feet of accessible fishing along the shoreline. The walkway contains block walls with built-in lighting, benches, along with ADA parking and ramp. Additional lighting was added to help make the area more user friendly for night anglers. Tree removal along the inlet also was completed, which opened access to the shoreline, providing room for bank fishing or wading.

Five rock shoals were installed perpendicularly along the paved walkway to create habitat diversity for fish. The shoals contain four cubic yards of concrete rip rap and are marked with fish stamps along the walkway. Three gravel spawning beds were placed on the sandy bottom of the canal to enhance fish habitat and increase angler success.

This $1.1 million project was completed with Nebraska Game and Parks Aquatic Habitat Funds in partnership with the Nebraska Public Power District who provided the engineering design and rip rap for erosion control and rock shoal construction.

At the outlet, shoreline cleanup of trees, filling in holes, and waterfront restoration is almost complete. This project is funded by park cash funds.

Adding electrical camping sites on the outlet side is in the planning phase.

Swanson SRA -&nbsp;Park guests at Swanson SRA will enjoy 24 new, basic camping sites along the waterfront that have direct access to the beach. A new 1.5-mile hiking trail across from the day-use shelter on Trail 4 was built. These projects were completed in March 2025.

Beach and shoreline cleanup to remove overgrowth of a mile of Russian Olive and cottonwood trees along with thick buckbrush on Trails 3 and 7 are almost complete; more cleanup will continue throughout the year. The projects at Swanson SRA are funded by park cash funds.

Red Willow SRA –&nbsp;This park has an electric campsite upgrade in the planning stage. This project will boost all electric sites to 50 amps for all types of campers and RV use.

Medicine Creek SRA –&nbsp;This park has three rental cabins that received floor upgrades in April 2025. A shower house restoration included sealing and painting of walls and floors. Shower walls were made taller, providing more room for guests. New shower heads and curtains were installed.

The day-use and beach areas were expanded by removing Russian Olive trees and thick areas of buckbrush, which opened the beach area, giving park visitors more space to recreate on the water’s edge. These projects were funded by park cash.

To provide fish habitat, spawning habitat and shoreline protection, 42 rock shoals are slated to be built this fall if water levels are low enough. The project will be funded by a Bureau of Reclamation grant along with Aquatic Habitat Funds.

Rock Creek SRA –&nbsp;People visiting this park have a new vault toilet with ADA-compliant parking and a walkway to use. The upgrade was added in April 2025 with a cost of $24,000 with Land and Water Conservation Funds and Capital Maintenance Funding to complete.

The projects funded by Capital Maintenance and Land and Water Conservation Funds improve safety and accessibility,&nbsp;protect natural habitats, boost local economies, and ensure long-term sustainability. These investments create more welcoming parks for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.

By Nebraska Game and ParksVisitors to state park areas in&nbsp;southwestern&nbsp;Nebraska will find enhanced day-use and camping amenities. Projects in the works or completed will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects:Ash Hollow&nbsp;State Historical Park&nbsp;– Visitors will find upgraded lights in the interpretive center built over the entrance of Ash Hollow Cave to protect it while allowing visitors to experience its unique features. The museum in the visitor center also received upgraded lighting where park guests can view displays of pioneer history, Native American history, as well as geologic and palaeontologic history. The lighting project was completed in March 2025 with park cash funds of $1,000.Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area –Concrete voids were repaired at the Martin Bay boat ramp and boat ramp repairs were made at Cedar View in October 2024. The $30,900 in repairs was funded by the boating access program.Martin Bay is slated to build a new, full-service, 37-pad campground with 50-amp electric soon.Upgrades to the Martin Bay dump station will give the existing basic campground and the proposed new campground ample room for use.At the public archery range, the archery shelter was reroofed and painted last October. The $2,500 project was funded by Park Cash and Big Mac Sports Club.Buffalo Bill Ranch SRA –&nbsp;Three new waterfront basic camping sites were built in 2024 using Park Cash funds of $3,500.Lake Maloney SRA –&nbsp;The project at Kansas Point has increased access along the shoreline at the inlet for anglers to be able to fish closer to the water’s edge.An approximately 340-foot walking trail was constructed from the fish-cleaning station and parking area and leads to a new wooden fishing pier overlooking the spillway at the inlet. An Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant paved angler access walkway was included in the project and provides about 450-feet of accessible fishing along the shoreline. The walkway contains block walls with built-in lighting, benches, along with ADA parking and ramp. Additional lighting was added to help make the area more user friendly for night anglers. Tree removal along the inlet also was completed, which opened access to the shoreline, providing room for bank fishing or wading.Five rock shoals were installed perpendicularly along the paved walkway to create habitat diversity for fish. The shoals contain four cubic yards of concrete rip rap and are marked with fish stamps along the walkway. Three gravel spawning beds were placed on the sandy bottom of the canal to enhance fish habitat and increase angler success.This $1.1 million project was completed with Nebraska Game and Parks Aquatic Habitat Funds in partnership with the Nebraska Public Power District who provided the engineering design and rip rap for erosion control and rock shoal construction.At the outlet, shoreline cleanup of trees, filling in holes, and waterfront restoration is almost complete. This project is funded by park cash funds.Adding electrical camping sites on the outlet side is in the planning phase.Swanson SRA -&nbsp;Park guests at Swanson SRA will enjoy 24 new, basic camping sites along the waterfront that have direct access to the beach. A new 1.5-mile hiking trail across from the day-use shelter on Trail 4 was built. These projects were completed in March 2025.Beach and shoreline cleanup to remove overgrowth of a mile of Russian Olive and cottonwood trees along with thick buckbrush on Trails 3 and 7 are almost complete; more cleanup will continue throughout the year. The projects at Swanson SRA are funded by park cash funds.Red Willow SRA –&nbsp;This park has an electric campsite upgrade in the planning stage. This project will boost all electric sites to 50 amps for all types of campers and RV use.Medicine Creek SRA –&nbsp;This park has three rental cabins that received floor upgrades in April 2025. A shower house restoration included sealing and painting of walls and floors. Shower walls were made taller, providing more room for guests. New shower heads and curtains were installed.The day-use and beach areas were expanded by removing Russian Olive trees and thick areas of buckbrush, which opened the beach area, giving park visitors more space to recreate on the water’s edge. These projects were funded by park cash.To provide fish habitat, spawning habitat and shoreline protection, 42 rock shoals are slated to be built this fall if water levels are low enough. The project will be funded by a Bureau of Reclamation grant along with Aquatic Habitat Funds.Rock Creek SRA –&nbsp;People visiting this park have a new vault toilet with ADA-compliant parking and a walkway to use. The upgrade was added in April 2025 with a cost of $24,000 with Land and Water Conservation Funds and Capital Maintenance Funding to complete.The projects funded by Capital Maintenance and Land and Water Conservation Funds improve safety and accessibility,&nbsp;protect natural habitats, boost local economies, and ensure long-term sustainability. These investments create more welcoming parks for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.

Southwestern Nebraska state parks enjoy many improvements

Post Podcast: Kman's Concert Calendar, weekend of April 11

By&nbsp;Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network

SCOTTSBLUFF, NE — The Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network (RNHN) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Jordan Colwell as its new Executive Director. A dynamic and visionary leader with deep roots in rural healthcare, Colwell brings a wealth of experience and passion for advancing high- quality, patient-centered close to home.

By&nbsp;Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744383952885.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SCOTTSBLUFF, NE — The Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network (RNHN) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Jordan Colwell as its new Executive Director. A dynamic and visionary leader with deep roots in rural healthcare, Colwell brings a wealth of experience and passion for advancing high- quality, patient-centered close to home.Formed in 2011, RNHN was established to formally address shared challenges among rural healthcare facilities, most notably the need for modern telecommunications infrastructure. Through a groundbreaking $17 million Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rural Health Care Pilot Project, RNHN built a robust broadband fiber optic network connecting nine hospitals and 32 affiliated clinics. The initiative dramatically improved telecommunications capacity, delivering more than 600 times the bandwidth of the previous T1 lines. This broadband network now links: Regional West Medical Center (Scottsbluff) Box Butte General Hospital (Alliance) Chadron Community Hospital (Chadron) Garden County Health Services (Oshkosh) Gordon Memorial Hospital (Gordon) Kimball Health Services (Kimball) Memorial Health Center (Sidney) Morrill County Community Hospital (Bridgeport) Perkins County Health Services (Grant)Today, RNHN continues to thrive as a collaborative network guided by a board of hospital CEOs and supported by leadership teams from member facilities. The organization remains committed to improving patient safety, enhancing clinical quality, and fostering innovation throughout its member hospitals and clinics.Dr. Colwell most recently served as Chief Nursing Officer at Box Butte General Hospital, where he led the implementation of a transformative patient care model that significantly improved both staff and patient satisfaction. His previous roles include faculty member and Chair of the Health Sciences Division at Western Nebraska Community College, as well as Director of Clinical Services from 2015 to 2019, overseeing 28 specialty clinics and leading over 120 nursing staff.A U.S. Air Force Reserve Captain and former flight nurse, Colwell earned a Doctorate in Business Administration in 2019 and a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Clarkson College in 2023. He also brings a strong commitment to public service, having served eight years on the Scottsbluff City Council. He currently serves on several community boards, including the Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska, Open Sky Policy Institute, and Kids First Daycare Parent Advisory Board. He is also the Treasurer for Knights of Columbus Council 2681.

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