By&nbsp;AP Video journalist Shelby Lum and AP Science Writer Maddie Burakoff&nbsp;

AP -&nbsp;U.S. agriculture officials on Friday proposed new nutrition standards for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-lunch-menu-farm-table-c8578122bf8d40351cc4eb99c94d9dbb">school meals</a>, including the first limits on added sugars, with a focus on sweetened foods such as cereals, yogurt, flavored milk and breakfast pastries.

The plan announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also seeks to significantly decrease sodium in the meals served to the nation’s schoolkids by 2029, while making the rules for foods made with whole grains more flexible.

The goal is to improve nutrition and align with U.S. dietary guidelines in the program that serves breakfast to more than 15 million children and lunch to nearly 30 million children every day, Vilsack said.

“School meals happen to be the meals with the highest nutritional value of any meal that children can get outside the home,” Vilsack said in an interview.

The first limits on added sugars would be required in the 2025-2026 school year, starting with high-sugar foods such as sweetened cereals, yogurts and flavored milks.

Under the plan, for instance, an 8-ounce container of chocolate milk could contain no more than 10 grams of sugar. Some popular flavored milks now contain twice that amount. The plan also limits sugary grain desserts, such as muffins or doughnuts, to no more than twice a week at breakfast.

By the fall of 2027, added sugars in school meals would be limited to less than 10% of the total calories per week for breakfasts and lunches.

The proposal also would reduce sodium in school meals by 30% by the fall of 2029. They would gradually be reduced to align with federal guidelines, which recommend Americans aged 14 and older limit sodium to about 2,300 milligrams a day, with less for younger children.

Levels would drop, for instance, from an average of about 1,280 milligrams of sodium allowed now per lunch for kids in grades 9 to 12 to about 935 milligrams. For comparison, a typical turkey sandwich with mustard and cheese might contain 1,500 milligrams of sodium.

Health experts say cutting back on sugar and salt can help decrease the risk of disease in kids, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other problems that often continue into adulthood.

The plan, detailed in a 280-page document, drew mixed reactions. Katie Wilson, executive director of the Urban School Food Alliance, said the changes are “necessary to help America’s children lead healthier lives.”

But Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokeswoman for the School Nutrition Association, a trade group, said school meals are already healthier than they were a decade ago and that increased regulations are a burden, especially for small and rural school districts.

“School meal programs are at a breaking point,” she said. “These programs are simply not equipped to meet additional rules.”

Vilsack emphasized that the plan phases changes in over the next six years to allow schools and food manufacturers time to adjust to the new standards.

“Our hope is that many school districts and food providers accelerate the timeline on their own,” he said.

Courtney Gaines, president of the Sugar Association, said the proposal ignores the “many functional roles” sugar plays in food beyond sweetness and encourages the use of sugar substitutes, which have not been fully studied in children. Sugar substitutes are allowed under the new standards, Vilsack said.

As part of the plan, agriculture officials are seeking feedback about a proposal that would continue to require that 80% of all grains offered in a week must be whole grains. But it would allow schools to serve non-whole grain foods, such as white-flour tortillas, one day a week to vary their menus.

Another option suggests serving unflavored nonfat and lowfat milk to the youngest children and reserving chocolate and other flavored milks for high school kids.

A 60-day public comment period on the plan opens Feb. 7.

Shiriki Kumanyika, a community health expert at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health said if they’re done right some of the changes will be hard for kids to notice: “They’ll see things that they like to eat, but those foods will be healthier,” she said.

By&nbsp;AP Video journalist Shelby Lum and AP Science Writer Maddie Burakoff&nbsp;AP -&nbsp;U.S. agriculture officials on Friday proposed new nutrition standards for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-lunch-menu-farm-table-c8578122bf8d40351cc4eb99c94d9dbb">school meals</a>, including the first limits on added sugars, with a focus on sweetened foods such as cereals, yogurt, flavored milk and breakfast pastries.The plan announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also seeks to significantly decrease sodium in the meals served to the nation’s schoolkids by 2029, while making the rules for foods made with whole grains more flexible.The goal is to improve nutrition and align with U.S. dietary guidelines in the program that serves breakfast to more than 15 million children and lunch to nearly 30 million children every day, Vilsack said.“School meals happen to be the meals with the highest nutritional value of any meal that children can get outside the home,” Vilsack said in an interview.The first limits on added sugars would be required in the 2025-2026 school year, starting with high-sugar foods such as sweetened cereals, yogurts and flavored milks.Under the plan, for instance, an 8-ounce container of chocolate milk could contain no more than 10 grams of sugar. Some popular flavored milks now contain twice that amount. The plan also limits sugary grain desserts, such as muffins or doughnuts, to no more than twice a week at breakfast.By the fall of 2027, added sugars in school meals would be limited to less than 10% of the total calories per week for breakfasts and lunches.The proposal also would reduce sodium in school meals by 30% by the fall of 2029. They would gradually be reduced to align with federal guidelines, which recommend Americans aged 14 and older limit sodium to about 2,300 milligrams a day, with less for younger children.Levels would drop, for instance, from an average of about 1,280 milligrams of sodium allowed now per lunch for kids in grades 9 to 12 to about 935 milligrams. For comparison, a typical turkey sandwich with mustard and cheese might contain 1,500 milligrams of sodium.Health experts say cutting back on sugar and salt can help decrease the risk of disease in kids, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other problems that often continue into adulthood.The plan, detailed in a 280-page document, drew mixed reactions. Katie Wilson, executive director of the Urban School Food Alliance, said the changes are “necessary to help America’s children lead healthier lives.”But Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokeswoman for the School Nutrition Association, a trade group, said school meals are already healthier than they were a decade ago and that increased regulations are a burden, especially for small and rural school districts.“School meal programs are at a breaking point,” she said. “These programs are simply not equipped to meet additional rules.”Vilsack emphasized that the plan phases changes in over the next six years to allow schools and food manufacturers time to adjust to the new standards.“Our hope is that many school districts and food providers accelerate the timeline on their own,” he said.Courtney Gaines, president of the Sugar Association, said the proposal ignores the “many functional roles” sugar plays in food beyond sweetness and encourages the use of sugar substitutes, which have not been fully studied in children. Sugar substitutes are allowed under the new standards, Vilsack said.As part of the plan, agriculture officials are seeking feedback about a proposal that would continue to require that 80% of all grains offered in a week must be whole grains. But it would allow schools to serve non-whole grain foods, such as white-flour tortillas, one day a week to vary their menus.Another option suggests serving unflavored nonfat and lowfat milk to the youngest children and reserving chocolate and other flavored milks for high school kids.A 60-day public comment period on the plan opens Feb. 7.Shiriki Kumanyika, a community health expert at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health said if they’re done right some of the changes will be hard for kids to notice: “They’ll see things that they like to eat, but those foods will be healthier,” she said.

New rules would limit sugar in school meals for first time

Nebraska Game and Parks, in collaboration with the Platte Basin Timelapse project, released expanded wetlands educational content on World Wetlands Day, Feb. 2.

These new resources offer the opportunity to learn about Nebraska's five diverse wetland types, as well as grow one's understanding of their importance to the state, its people and its wildlife.

Find all of these resources and more at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MTE3NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL291dGRvb3JuZWJyYXNrYS5nb3YvbmVicmFza2F3ZXRsYW5kcy8ifQ.Ds_rK24HReJVTaPieSFyFmyT2OJkRGUMQWJAJgEJoeM/s/497221906/br/153920938504-l" target="_blank">NebraskaWetlands.com</a>.

This project was led by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Other project partners included the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Nebraska and Ducks Unlimited.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on Feb. 2 to raise awareness about wetlands. In Nebraska, our wetlands provide important habitat for 50% of our birds and plants, 100% of our amphibians and fish, a third of our mammals and reptiles, and 70% of threatened or endangered species.

In addition to these benefits, they also improve water quality, recharge groundwater, protect us from flooding and provide places to recreate.

“In many places, Nebraska’s wetlands have suffered losses and face ongoing threats putting their benefits at risk,” said Ted LaGrange, Game and Parks’ wetlands program manager, who led the project. “We hope sharing these stories about Nebraska’s wetlands will help to improve the conservation of these important areas.”

By Nebraska Game and Parks<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675444533754.jpeg" alt="Riverine wetlands, such as this one along the North Platte River, are biodiversity hotspots. These wetlands can be found all across Nebraska along rivers and river floodplains. Grant Reiner/Platte Basin Timelapse" />
 <figcaption>Riverine wetlands, such as this one along the North Platte River, are biodiversity hotspots. These wetlands can be found all across Nebraska along rivers and river floodplains. Grant Reiner/Platte Basin Timelapse</figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska Game and Parks, in collaboration with the Platte Basin Timelapse project, released expanded wetlands educational content on World Wetlands Day, Feb. 2.These new resources offer the opportunity to learn about Nebraska's five diverse wetland types, as well as grow one's understanding of their importance to the state, its people and its wildlife.Expanded content includes:<ul>
 <li>Five documentary films about Nebraska’s wetlands and the wildlife and people who depend on them. These films, created by Platte Basin Timelapse at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, highlight Nebraska’s sandhills, playas, saline, riverine and urban wetlands. Viewers take a journey across the state, meet people working to conserve these spaces, and see landscapes and wildlife few get to experience;</li><li>An updated “Guide to Nebraska’s Wetlands and their Conservation Needs,” available in print and PDF form. The full-color publication covers in-depth 14 Nebraska wetland systems;</li><li>A new booklet, “Wetlandology,” a child-friendly, activity-filled publication on Nebraska’s wetlands and the plants and animals that love them;</li><li>Five digital stories from PBT producers Mariah Lundgren, Ethan Freese, Grant Reiner, Dakota Altman and Brooke Talbott. These ESRI StoryMaps integrate maps, text, photos and video to generate an interactive learning experience; and</li><li>An educator guide to the products and two educational videos with paired lesson plans, which are nearing completion and will be shared soon.</li>
 </ul>Find all of these resources and more at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MTE3NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL291dGRvb3JuZWJyYXNrYS5nb3YvbmVicmFza2F3ZXRsYW5kcy8ifQ.Ds_rK24HReJVTaPieSFyFmyT2OJkRGUMQWJAJgEJoeM/s/497221906/br/153920938504-l" target="_blank">NebraskaWetlands.com</a>.This project was led by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Other project partners included the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Nebraska and Ducks Unlimited.World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on Feb. 2 to raise awareness about wetlands. In Nebraska, our wetlands provide important habitat for 50% of our birds and plants, 100% of our amphibians and fish, a third of our mammals and reptiles, and 70% of threatened or endangered species.In addition to these benefits, they also improve water quality, recharge groundwater, protect us from flooding and provide places to recreate.“In many places, Nebraska’s wetlands have suffered losses and face ongoing threats putting their benefits at risk,” said Ted LaGrange, Game and Parks’ wetlands program manager, who led the project. “We hope sharing these stories about Nebraska’s wetlands will help to improve the conservation of these important areas.”

Celebrate World Wetlands Day with new Nebraska wetland resources

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — A former “Dances With Wolves” actor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-south-dakota-law-enforcement-sexual-assault-sd-state-wire-805c2bd29d303c32cb1fab164dfb69cc">accused of sexually abusing Indigenous girls</a>&nbsp;and leading a cult must remain held without bail until his next court hearing, a judge ordered Thursday morning.

Nathan Chasing Horse, 46, faces charges of sex trafficking, sexual assault against a child younger than 16, and child abuse. He has been in custody&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dances-with-wolves-actor-arrested-1bc3119c6308a0221b7ce1ec18d6d97e">since his arrest Tuesday afternoon</a>&nbsp;near the North Las Vegas home that he shares with his five wives.

He appeared briefly in court Thursday for the first time since he was taken into custody but did not speak before North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Belinda Harris scheduled a bail hearing for Monday. Chasing Horse has not been formally charged.

A different judge is expected to address Chasing Horse's custody status Monday and could set bail after hearing from lawyers and investigators, as well as victims and the defendant's relatives if they choose to speak.

Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jessica Walsh told Harris that she expected Las Vegas police detectives, FBI special agents and victims to speak at the hearing.

Gesturing Thursday to the first row in the courtroom gallery where Chasing Horse's family members were seated, public defender Michael Wilfong said the defendant has a “great deal of support." His relatives declined to comment as they left the courthouse, as did Wilfong.

Known for his role as young Sioux tribe member Smiles a Lot in the Oscar-winning Kevin Costner film, Chasing Horse gained a reputation among tribes across the United States and in Canada as a so-called medicine man who performed healing ceremonies.

He is believed to be the leader of a cult known as The Circle whose followers believed he could communicate with higher powers, according to an arrest warrant released Wednesday. Police said he abused his position, physically and sexually assaulted Indigenous girls and took underage wives over two decades.

Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, which is home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation.

A 50-page search warrant obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press said Chasing Horse trained his wives to use firearms, instructing them to “shoot it out” with police officers if they tried to “break their family apart.” If that failed, he told his wives to take “suicide pills.”

SWAT officers and detectives took Chasing Horse into custody and cleared the family's home without incident.

Detectives who searched the property and Chasing Horse's vehicles found firearms, 41 pounds (18.5 kilograms) of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, and a memory card with multiple videos of sexual assaults, according to Chasing Horse's arrest report released Wednesday.

Additional charges could be filed related to the videos, the report said.

Las Vegas police said in the search warrant that investigators have identified at least six sexual assault victims, including one who was 13 when she says she was abused. Police also traced sexual allegations against Chasing Horse to the early 2000s in Canada and in multiple states, including South Dakota, Montana and Nevada, where he has lived for about a decade.

One of Chasing Horse’s wives was offered to him as a “gift” when she was 15, according to police, while another became a wife after turning 16. He also is accused of recording sexual assaults and arranging sex between victims and other men who paid him.

His arrest comes nearly a decade after he was banished from the Fort Peck Reservation in Poplar, Montana, amid allegations of human trafficking.

Fort Peck tribal leaders voted 7-0 to ban Chasing Horse in 2015 from stepping foot again on the reservation, citing the alleged trafficking and accusations of drug dealing, spiritual abuse and intimidation of tribal members, Indian Country Today&nbsp;<a href="https://ictnews.org/archive/actor-medicine-man-chasing-horse-banished-from-fort-peck">reported</a>.

Angeline Cheek, an activist and community organizer who has lived on the Fort Peck Reservation most of her life, said she clearly remembers the tensions that arose inside the tribal council chambers when Chasing Horse was banished.

“Some of Nathan's supporters told the members that something bad was going to happen to them,” Cheek told the AP. “They made threats to our elders sitting in the council chambers.”

Cheek said she remembered Chasing Horse visiting the reservation frequently when she was growing up, especially during her high school years in the early 2000s when she would see him talking with her classmates.

Cheek, now 34, said she hopes Chasing Horse's arrest will inspire more Indigenous girls and women to report crimes and push lawmakers and elected officials across the U.S. to prioritize addressing violence against Native people.

But she said she also hopes the cultural significance of medicine men doesn't get lost in the news of the crimes.

“There are good medicine men and medicine women among our people who are not trying to commercialize the sacred ways of our ancestors," Cheek said. “They're supposed to heal people, not harm."

By Associated PressNORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — A former “Dances With Wolves” actor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-south-dakota-law-enforcement-sexual-assault-sd-state-wire-805c2bd29d303c32cb1fab164dfb69cc">accused of sexually abusing Indigenous girls</a>&nbsp;and leading a cult must remain held without bail until his next court hearing, a judge ordered Thursday morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675440702798.jpeg" alt="Photo by Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Nathan Chasing Horse, 46, faces charges of sex trafficking, sexual assault against a child younger than 16, and child abuse. He has been in custody&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dances-with-wolves-actor-arrested-1bc3119c6308a0221b7ce1ec18d6d97e">since his arrest Tuesday afternoon</a>&nbsp;near the North Las Vegas home that he shares with his five wives.He appeared briefly in court Thursday for the first time since he was taken into custody but did not speak before North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Belinda Harris scheduled a bail hearing for Monday. Chasing Horse has not been formally charged.A different judge is expected to address Chasing Horse's custody status Monday and could set bail after hearing from lawyers and investigators, as well as victims and the defendant's relatives if they choose to speak.Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jessica Walsh told Harris that she expected Las Vegas police detectives, FBI special agents and victims to speak at the hearing.Gesturing Thursday to the first row in the courtroom gallery where Chasing Horse's family members were seated, public defender Michael Wilfong said the defendant has a “great deal of support." His relatives declined to comment as they left the courthouse, as did Wilfong.Known for his role as young Sioux tribe member Smiles a Lot in the Oscar-winning Kevin Costner film, Chasing Horse gained a reputation among tribes across the United States and in Canada as a so-called medicine man who performed healing ceremonies.He is believed to be the leader of a cult known as The Circle whose followers believed he could communicate with higher powers, according to an arrest warrant released Wednesday. Police said he abused his position, physically and sexually assaulted Indigenous girls and took underage wives over two decades.Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, which is home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation.A 50-page search warrant obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press said Chasing Horse trained his wives to use firearms, instructing them to “shoot it out” with police officers if they tried to “break their family apart.” If that failed, he told his wives to take “suicide pills.”SWAT officers and detectives took Chasing Horse into custody and cleared the family's home without incident.Detectives who searched the property and Chasing Horse's vehicles found firearms, 41 pounds (18.5 kilograms) of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, and a memory card with multiple videos of sexual assaults, according to Chasing Horse's arrest report released Wednesday.Additional charges could be filed related to the videos, the report said.Las Vegas police said in the search warrant that investigators have identified at least six sexual assault victims, including one who was 13 when she says she was abused. Police also traced sexual allegations against Chasing Horse to the early 2000s in Canada and in multiple states, including South Dakota, Montana and Nevada, where he has lived for about a decade.One of Chasing Horse’s wives was offered to him as a “gift” when she was 15, according to police, while another became a wife after turning 16. He also is accused of recording sexual assaults and arranging sex between victims and other men who paid him.His arrest comes nearly a decade after he was banished from the Fort Peck Reservation in Poplar, Montana, amid allegations of human trafficking.Fort Peck tribal leaders voted 7-0 to ban Chasing Horse in 2015 from stepping foot again on the reservation, citing the alleged trafficking and accusations of drug dealing, spiritual abuse and intimidation of tribal members, Indian Country Today&nbsp;<a href="https://ictnews.org/archive/actor-medicine-man-chasing-horse-banished-from-fort-peck">reported</a>.Angeline Cheek, an activist and community organizer who has lived on the Fort Peck Reservation most of her life, said she clearly remembers the tensions that arose inside the tribal council chambers when Chasing Horse was banished.“Some of Nathan's supporters told the members that something bad was going to happen to them,” Cheek told the AP. “They made threats to our elders sitting in the council chambers.”Cheek said she remembered Chasing Horse visiting the reservation frequently when she was growing up, especially during her high school years in the early 2000s when she would see him talking with her classmates.Cheek, now 34, said she hopes Chasing Horse's arrest will inspire more Indigenous girls and women to report crimes and push lawmakers and elected officials across the U.S. to prioritize addressing violence against Native people.But she said she also hopes the cultural significance of medicine men doesn't get lost in the news of the crimes.“There are good medicine men and medicine women among our people who are not trying to commercialize the sacred ways of our ancestors," Cheek said. “They're supposed to heal people, not harm."

'Dances With Wolves' actor remains jailed in sex abuse case

The annual On-Farm Research Results Meeting for this year has been scheduled in Alliance at the Knight Museum, 908 Yellowstone Ave, Alliance. The meeting will be on Wednesday February 15th, 2023. There will be results from six local studies including a direct harvest pinto variety trial, two dry bean N rate studies, a Pod Ceal dry bean study, a corn N rate study and a corn N stabilizer study. Nevin Lawrence will be a guest speaker talking about weed management in our cropping systems and Jeff Bradshaw will be speaking on Wheat Stem Sawfly and other insect related topics on dry beans and sunflowers. Gary Stone will be talking about ET Gauge use and application in our Ag systems. All speakers will present in person at the meeting this year.

Sign in will be at 8:30 with sessions beginning at 9:00 AM. Lunch will be included with the meeting which will end by 2 PM. Please RSVP by calling the Box Butte County Extension Office at (308) 762-5616 to be included in the lunch. See the site below for the general statewide flyer.

<a href="https://onfarmresearch.unl.edu/nebraska-farm-research-network-resultsupdate-meetings-2023">https://onfarmresearch.unl.edu/nebraska-farm-research-network-resultsupdate-meetings-2023</a>

The annual On-Farm Research Results Meeting for this year has been scheduled in Alliance at the Knight Museum, 908 Yellowstone Ave, Alliance. The meeting will be on Wednesday February 15th, 2023. There will be results from six local studies including a direct harvest pinto variety trial, two dry bean N rate studies, a Pod Ceal dry bean study, a corn N rate study and a corn N stabilizer study. Nevin Lawrence will be a guest speaker talking about weed management in our cropping systems and Jeff Bradshaw will be speaking on Wheat Stem Sawfly and other insect related topics on dry beans and sunflowers. Gary Stone will be talking about ET Gauge use and application in our Ag systems. All speakers will present in person at the meeting this year.Sign in will be at 8:30 with sessions beginning at 9:00 AM. Lunch will be included with the meeting which will end by 2 PM. Please RSVP by calling the Box Butte County Extension Office at (308) 762-5616 to be included in the lunch. See the site below for the general statewide flyer.<a href="https://onfarmresearch.unl.edu/nebraska-farm-research-network-resultsupdate-meetings-2023">https://onfarmresearch.unl.edu/nebraska-farm-research-network-resultsupdate-meetings-2023</a>

On-Farm Research Results meeting to be held in Alliance at Knight Museum 

By Joe Reagan,&nbsp;Director of Military and Veterans Outreach at Wreaths Across America

At the entrance to the U.S. Army Infantry Museum, located in Ft. Moore, GA, (formerly&nbsp;Ft. Benning),&nbsp;visitors begin their journey by walking up a 100-yard ramp that shows the history of the U.S. Army Infantry. It is a symbolic representation of what is ingrained in every infantry soldier – you can have all the tanks, artillery, planes, trucks, and anything else in the world, but in battle the last 100 yards requires a soldier with a gun – the last 100 yards will always belong to the Infantry.

This mindset inspires great pride in Infantry Soldiers, and inspires the admiration of historians, filmmakers, and civilians alike – often lost is the story of those troops who comprise supply lines that often begin in the U.S. and extend thousands of miles to ensure that the infantry has everything it needs to fight their way across that last 100 yards. By some estimates standing behind each infantry soldier are six support soldiers – they are the lifeline and unsung heroes whose efforts are often overlooked. This was especially true in World War II.

World War II saw an increased level of mechanization – no longer did an army run solely on its stomach, fuel and spare parts were needed to keep the machines of war moving and that meant a supply chain extending back to industrial hubs in the United States. When comparing the success of campaigns like D-Day to failures like the German invasion of Russian in 1941 – it was logistics that determined success or failure – even the most tactically proficient army can’t win if it doesn’t have supplies. This required support soldiers to be better trained, and the U.S. Army needed more of them.

Nearly one million black men served in WWII, over 80 percent of them were assigned to logistics and service units, in fact by 1944 almost all black soldiers were assigned to these units. They were responsible for building bridges, roads, and runways, they moved beans, bullets, fuel, and the fallen – their efforts were critical to the allied success and were the embodiment of the modern military saying, “armatures study tactics, professionals study logistics.” To be historically accurate, all black units such as the 92nd and 93rd infantry divisions, the 861 Tank Battalion, and the Tuskegee Airman have impressive and well documented success in combat – the story of black quartermasters is important because it not only embodies the courage and valor of these Americans but demonstrates their ingenuity and how their service led to success on the battlefield and when they came home.

In Europe, allied preparations for the D-Day invasion required a massive movement of supplies, ships would have to be quickly unloaded to make room for the next load – this job fell to the quartermaster corps whose dockhands were primarily black GI’s. In prior conflicts much of this unloading would have been done by hand – a menial task – given the size of the loads, often exceeding 30 tons, it required skilled crane operators who worked non-stop during the 18-month build up to D-Day. In the final hours before the invasion these skilled operators would transfer loads directly from the supply ships to the invasion crafts.

Once the foothold was established in Normandy, the quartermasters were in a race to ensure the front-line troops they needed to continue to push the Nazi’s back. By July of 1944, allied troops were moving east at a rate of nearly 80 miles a week. With sea and rail infrastructure badly damaged – Normandy remained the sole point of entry for supplies entering the European theatre. Allied commanders were determined to prevent a lack of supplies from stopping the advances on the front lines, so they devised an ambitious plan that became known as the Red Ball Express. Nearly 75 percent of the drivers who made up this critical and constantly expanding supply line were black and not all of them were trained to drive trucks, never mind drive trucks filled with ammunition, at night, without headlights working in teams of two to complete the 54-hour round-trip journey. They succeeded in delivering roughly 12,000 tons of supplies per day – for 82 consecutive days.

The quartermasters played a huge role in the Pacific as well. While we typically think about the island-hopping campaign in the Pacific, crucial to the success of these missions was the work of our Chinese allies under Chiang Kai-shek. The Ledo Road, like the Red Ball Express, was a critical supply route connecting U.S. bases in India with allied forces in China – without these supplies Chinese forces likely would have been defeated allowing Japan to focus all its efforts on the Pacific. The building and maintenance of the Ledo Road was overseen primarily by these units. The roughly 1,000-mile road cut through many obstacles including Japanese snipers, dense jungles and of course the southern Himalayan Mountains. Running the route was treacherous, challenging even experienced drivers. Keeping the road open was an equally daunting task that fell on engineering units who would operate bulldozers and other specialized equipment in torrential rain to clear blocked portions of the road or reconstruct parts that washed out.

The legacy of black quartermasters in World War II is one of&nbsp;Service&nbsp;and Success. GI’s who quickly learned how to become skilled crane operators working non-stop to ensure the D-Day invasion had all the supplies needed to succeed. They became expert truck drivers and tirelessly kept the flow of supplies moving to the front during the Red Ball Express. They were engineers and drivers who crossed the Himalayan Mountains to ensure allied forces could keep pressure on the Japanese to allow U.S. forces to succeed in the Pacific. These quartermasters answered the call to serve, while in uniform they succeeded in quickly learning new skills, adapting to challenges, and committing themselves to mission success. After the war their service left an enduring legacy on our military. An after-action review of the war found that the contributions of black soldiers was instrumental to the success of the war effort. The report went on to recommend creating a desegregated force that was fully reflective of American society.

After the war these quartermasters continued to serve and succeed. Men like Medgar Evers, who was a driver on the Red Ball Express, saw what could happen when Americans worked together during the war. He returned home and became a highly influential part of the Civil Rights movement. Others like Harry Bellefonte who dropped out of high school to enlist in the Navy, while not part of the quartermaster corps he served as a crane operator loading and unloading ships. After the war Bellefonte used his GI bill to pay for acting classes in New York. He would find tremendous success on stage. Charity Adams, one of the first black female officers in the military who served in the Quartermaster Corps, continued to serve using her GI bill to earn a degree in psychology and then working at the Veterans Administration. This year the home of the Quartermaster Corps in southern Virginia will be renamed Ft. Gregg-Adams a fitting tribute to the legacy of service and success of the black soldiers who served in World War II.

By Joe Reagan,&nbsp;Director of Military and Veterans Outreach at Wreaths Across America<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675446566206.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>At the entrance to the U.S. Army Infantry Museum, located in Ft. Moore, GA, (formerly&nbsp;Ft. Benning),&nbsp;visitors begin their journey by walking up a 100-yard ramp that shows the history of the U.S. Army Infantry. It is a symbolic representation of what is ingrained in every infantry soldier – you can have all the tanks, artillery, planes, trucks, and anything else in the world, but in battle the last 100 yards requires a soldier with a gun – the last 100 yards will always belong to the Infantry.This mindset inspires great pride in Infantry Soldiers, and inspires the admiration of historians, filmmakers, and civilians alike – often lost is the story of those troops who comprise supply lines that often begin in the U.S. and extend thousands of miles to ensure that the infantry has everything it needs to fight their way across that last 100 yards. By some estimates standing behind each infantry soldier are six support soldiers – they are the lifeline and unsung heroes whose efforts are often overlooked. This was especially true in World War II.World War II saw an increased level of mechanization – no longer did an army run solely on its stomach, fuel and spare parts were needed to keep the machines of war moving and that meant a supply chain extending back to industrial hubs in the United States. When comparing the success of campaigns like D-Day to failures like the German invasion of Russian in 1941 – it was logistics that determined success or failure – even the most tactically proficient army can’t win if it doesn’t have supplies. This required support soldiers to be better trained, and the U.S. Army needed more of them.Nearly one million black men served in WWII, over 80 percent of them were assigned to logistics and service units, in fact by 1944 almost all black soldiers were assigned to these units. They were responsible for building bridges, roads, and runways, they moved beans, bullets, fuel, and the fallen – their efforts were critical to the allied success and were the embodiment of the modern military saying, “armatures study tactics, professionals study logistics.” To be historically accurate, all black units such as the 92nd and 93rd infantry divisions, the 861 Tank Battalion, and the Tuskegee Airman have impressive and well documented success in combat – the story of black quartermasters is important because it not only embodies the courage and valor of these Americans but demonstrates their ingenuity and how their service led to success on the battlefield and when they came home.In Europe, allied preparations for the D-Day invasion required a massive movement of supplies, ships would have to be quickly unloaded to make room for the next load – this job fell to the quartermaster corps whose dockhands were primarily black GI’s. In prior conflicts much of this unloading would have been done by hand – a menial task – given the size of the loads, often exceeding 30 tons, it required skilled crane operators who worked non-stop during the 18-month build up to D-Day. In the final hours before the invasion these skilled operators would transfer loads directly from the supply ships to the invasion crafts.Once the foothold was established in Normandy, the quartermasters were in a race to ensure the front-line troops they needed to continue to push the Nazi’s back. By July of 1944, allied troops were moving east at a rate of nearly 80 miles a week. With sea and rail infrastructure badly damaged – Normandy remained the sole point of entry for supplies entering the European theatre. Allied commanders were determined to prevent a lack of supplies from stopping the advances on the front lines, so they devised an ambitious plan that became known as the Red Ball Express. Nearly 75 percent of the drivers who made up this critical and constantly expanding supply line were black and not all of them were trained to drive trucks, never mind drive trucks filled with ammunition, at night, without headlights working in teams of two to complete the 54-hour round-trip journey. They succeeded in delivering roughly 12,000 tons of supplies per day – for 82 consecutive days.The quartermasters played a huge role in the Pacific as well. While we typically think about the island-hopping campaign in the Pacific, crucial to the success of these missions was the work of our Chinese allies under Chiang Kai-shek. The Ledo Road, like the Red Ball Express, was a critical supply route connecting U.S. bases in India with allied forces in China – without these supplies Chinese forces likely would have been defeated allowing Japan to focus all its efforts on the Pacific. The building and maintenance of the Ledo Road was overseen primarily by these units. The roughly 1,000-mile road cut through many obstacles including Japanese snipers, dense jungles and of course the southern Himalayan Mountains. Running the route was treacherous, challenging even experienced drivers. Keeping the road open was an equally daunting task that fell on engineering units who would operate bulldozers and other specialized equipment in torrential rain to clear blocked portions of the road or reconstruct parts that washed out.The legacy of black quartermasters in World War II is one of&nbsp;Service&nbsp;and Success. GI’s who quickly learned how to become skilled crane operators working non-stop to ensure the D-Day invasion had all the supplies needed to succeed. They became expert truck drivers and tirelessly kept the flow of supplies moving to the front during the Red Ball Express. They were engineers and drivers who crossed the Himalayan Mountains to ensure allied forces could keep pressure on the Japanese to allow U.S. forces to succeed in the Pacific. These quartermasters answered the call to serve, while in uniform they succeeded in quickly learning new skills, adapting to challenges, and committing themselves to mission success. After the war their service left an enduring legacy on our military. An after-action review of the war found that the contributions of black soldiers was instrumental to the success of the war effort. The report went on to recommend creating a desegregated force that was fully reflective of American society.After the war these quartermasters continued to serve and succeed. Men like Medgar Evers, who was a driver on the Red Ball Express, saw what could happen when Americans worked together during the war. He returned home and became a highly influential part of the Civil Rights movement. Others like Harry Bellefonte who dropped out of high school to enlist in the Navy, while not part of the quartermaster corps he served as a crane operator loading and unloading ships. After the war Bellefonte used his GI bill to pay for acting classes in New York. He would find tremendous success on stage. Charity Adams, one of the first black female officers in the military who served in the Quartermaster Corps, continued to serve using her GI bill to earn a degree in psychology and then working at the Veterans Administration. This year the home of the Quartermaster Corps in southern Virginia will be renamed Ft. Gregg-Adams a fitting tribute to the legacy of service and success of the black soldiers who served in World War II.

Serve and Succeed: The story of Black Quartermasters in WWII

By&nbsp;United States Attorney Steven Russell

United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Rudy Ortega Raymundo, 35, of Lexington, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal&nbsp;court in Lincoln, Nebraska.&nbsp; United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Raymundo to 108 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 50 grams or more actual methamphetamine.&nbsp; After serving his sentence, Raymundo will be placed on supervised release for 2 years.&nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.

On October 3, 2021, law enforcement in Frontier County, Nebraska received information that a vehicle on Old Highway 23 was failing to maintain speed.&nbsp; A Frontier County Sheriff’s Office deputy saw the vehicle and followed it to a nearby gas station.&nbsp;&nbsp;The officer contacted the driver, later identified as Raymundo, and his vehicle at a gas pump regarding traffic violations.&nbsp; Raymundo failed to comply with the deputy’s requests, and he was arrested.&nbsp; Law enforcement searched Raymundo’s vehicle and found a black trash bag in the back seat containing four bags of methamphetamine.&nbsp; The deputies also found a methamphetamine pipe with residue and a scale in the center console.&nbsp;&nbsp;In total, about three and a half pounds of lab confirmed methamphetamine were seized from Raymundo’s vehicle.&nbsp; Some of that methamphetamine was tested for purity and determined to be at least 98% pure.&nbsp;

This case was investigated by the Cooperation Operation for Drug Enforcement (CODE) Task Force, Nebraska State Patrol, and the Frontier County Sheriff’s Office.

By&nbsp;United States Attorney Steven RussellUnited States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Rudy Ortega Raymundo, 35, of Lexington, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal&nbsp;court in Lincoln, Nebraska.&nbsp; United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Raymundo to 108 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 50 grams or more actual methamphetamine.&nbsp; After serving his sentence, Raymundo will be placed on supervised release for 2 years.&nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.On October 3, 2021, law enforcement in Frontier County, Nebraska received information that a vehicle on Old Highway 23 was failing to maintain speed.&nbsp; A Frontier County Sheriff’s Office deputy saw the vehicle and followed it to a nearby gas station.&nbsp;&nbsp;The officer contacted the driver, later identified as Raymundo, and his vehicle at a gas pump regarding traffic violations.&nbsp; Raymundo failed to comply with the deputy’s requests, and he was arrested.&nbsp; Law enforcement searched Raymundo’s vehicle and found a black trash bag in the back seat containing four bags of methamphetamine.&nbsp; The deputies also found a methamphetamine pipe with residue and a scale in the center console.&nbsp;&nbsp;In total, about three and a half pounds of lab confirmed methamphetamine were seized from Raymundo’s vehicle.&nbsp; Some of that methamphetamine was tested for purity and determined to be at least 98% pure.&nbsp;This case was investigated by the Cooperation Operation for Drug Enforcement (CODE) Task Force, Nebraska State Patrol, and the Frontier County Sheriff’s Office.

Lexington man sentenced 9 years for meth distribution 

Alliance – Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day with Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska to promote kindness throughout the world, at the Alliance Public Library in the Community Room, Saturday, February 11th from 10:30 to 11:45 am. This event is for girls in kindergarten through third grade, a caregiver must attend with their child. We will read the book “Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids” by Carol McCloud, decorate our own buckets, make warm fuzzies to share with our communities, sing songs, earn a patch and more!

For more information, contact the Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska Panhandle Membership Coordinator at 308-765-2571 or Cynthia Horn, Children’s and Youth Services Librarian at Alliance Public Library, 762-1387

By City of AllianceAlliance – Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day with Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska to promote kindness throughout the world, at the Alliance Public Library in the Community Room, Saturday, February 11th from 10:30 to 11:45 am. This event is for girls in kindergarten through third grade, a caregiver must attend with their child. We will read the book “Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids” by Carol McCloud, decorate our own buckets, make warm fuzzies to share with our communities, sing songs, earn a patch and more!For more information, contact the Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska Panhandle Membership Coordinator at 308-765-2571 or Cynthia Horn, Children’s and Youth Services Librarian at Alliance Public Library, 762-1387

Acts of Kindness Day to be held at Alliance Public Library

The new Panhandle Post Post app for iOS and Android devices is now available FREE for your mobile device.

<a href="https://panhandlepost.com/download">CLICK HERE to download from the App Store and Google Play.&nbsp;</a>

The new Panhandle Post Post app for iOS and Android devices is now available FREE for your mobile device.<a href="https://panhandlepost.com/download">CLICK HERE to download from the App Store and Google Play.&nbsp;</a>

Panhandle Post app now available 

Alliance – A Valentine search for Sherbet the unicorn for preschool through second grade starts tomorrow, February 1st until February 14th during library hours, with one prize per child.

For more information, please contact Cynthia Horn, Children’s and Youth Services Librarian at 762-1387.

By City of AllianceAlliance – A Valentine search for Sherbet the unicorn for preschool through second grade starts tomorrow, February 1st until February 14th during library hours, with one prize per child.For more information, please contact Cynthia Horn, Children’s and Youth Services Librarian at 762-1387.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675383192266.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

'Valentine search for Sherbet the unicorn' continues at Alliance library 

By CSC COLLEGE RELATIONS CHADRON – The Chadron State College Galaxy Series will host the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at Memorial Hall Auditorium Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Celebrating two decades of keeping American traditional circus alive, the family show brings a diverse roster of sideshow, vaudeville, and variety talent. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.csc.edu/conferencing/galaxy-series/" target="_blank">www.csc.edu/conferencing/galaxy-series/</a>.

Since 1995, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus co-founders Stephanie Monseu and Keith Nelson have traveled the world with the show that includes a combination of jugglers, contortionists, plate spinning, sword swallowing, brain twisters, and other risk-taking feats set to live music.

According to its website, the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus harkens back to the day of the traditional American Circus touring the country by caravan while offering its own artistic twist. It is earthy and gritty in an engaging and participatory way.

The New York Times said the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Cabaret is, “old-fashioned variety entertainment of the sort Ed Sullivan so astutely scooped up, but with twists.” TIME OUT NY said, “this troupe of circus artists will remind your family what the circus is really about.”&nbsp;

Bindlestiff performed and taught the variety arts on stages and festivals around the world including Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer Hall, Burning Man, and in the United Kingdom and the Caribbean Seas.

The program is supported, in part, by funding from the New York State Council on the Arts.

By CSC COLLEGE RELATIONS CHADRON – The Chadron State College Galaxy Series will host the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at Memorial Hall Auditorium Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Celebrating two decades of keeping American traditional circus alive, the family show brings a diverse roster of sideshow, vaudeville, and variety talent. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.csc.edu/conferencing/galaxy-series/" target="_blank">www.csc.edu/conferencing/galaxy-series/</a>.Since 1995, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus co-founders Stephanie Monseu and Keith Nelson have traveled the world with the show that includes a combination of jugglers, contortionists, plate spinning, sword swallowing, brain twisters, and other risk-taking feats set to live music.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675382665213.jpeg" alt="&nbsp; The Chadron State College Galaxy Series will host the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at Memorial Hall Auditorium Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Celebrating two decades of keeping American traditional circus alive, the family show brings a diverse roster of sideshow, vaudeville, and variety talent. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.csc.edu/conferencing/galaxy-series/">http://www.csc.edu/conferencing/galaxy-series/</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; The Chadron State College Galaxy Series will host the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at Memorial Hall Auditorium Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Celebrating two decades of keeping American traditional circus alive, the family show brings a diverse roster of sideshow, vaudeville, and variety talent. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.csc.edu/conferencing/galaxy-series/">http://www.csc.edu/conferencing/galaxy-series/</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>According to its website, the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus harkens back to the day of the traditional American Circus touring the country by caravan while offering its own artistic twist. It is earthy and gritty in an engaging and participatory way.The New York Times said the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Cabaret is, “old-fashioned variety entertainment of the sort Ed Sullivan so astutely scooped up, but with twists.” TIME OUT NY said, “this troupe of circus artists will remind your family what the circus is really about.”&nbsp;Bindlestiff performed and taught the variety arts on stages and festivals around the world including Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer Hall, Burning Man, and in the United Kingdom and the Caribbean Seas.The program is supported, in part, by funding from the New York State Council on the Arts.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675382727627.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

CSC to host the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Feb. 21

Nebraskans receiving an income tax refund this year have an opportunity to support wildlife and habitat conservation.

On Line 46 of the Nebraska state income tax form, 1040N, individuals may donate $1 or more of their tax refund to the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund, which is used to help several hundred species in Nebraska that are rare, endangered or threatened.

Tax refund donations have benefited native wildlife, fish, and plants over the years, including the Blanding’s turtle, swift fox, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, songbirds, blowout penstemon and at-risk pollinators like monarch butterflies and bumble bees. Donations are used to monitor, maintain and improve habitat for these and many other fish and wildlife species, as well as to provide wildlife viewing and other educational opportunities for Nebraskans. Additional information is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MTE3NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lk5lYnJhc2thV2lsZGxpZmVGdW5kLm9yZyJ9.qnJ2CBVxpPMOw8ABWcyy3qIBa6-adM81cIudsxWfTMg/s/1372948182/br/153920939930-l" target="_blank">NebraskaWildlifeFund.com</a>.

For taxpayers not entitled to a state tax refund, contributions can be made at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MTE3NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lk5lYnJhc2thV2lsZGxpZmVGdW5kLm9yZyJ9.5hRP6Aa59J4-HdfgTA-kCsB53lBaPBB698bGQA65xBA/s/1372948182/br/153920939930-l" target="_blank">NebraskaWildlifeFund.com</a>&nbsp;or by mail to: Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, P.O. Box 30370, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, NE 68503.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675423879239.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKSNebraskans receiving an income tax refund this year have an opportunity to support wildlife and habitat conservation.On Line 46 of the Nebraska state income tax form, 1040N, individuals may donate $1 or more of their tax refund to the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund, which is used to help several hundred species in Nebraska that are rare, endangered or threatened.Tax refund donations have benefited native wildlife, fish, and plants over the years, including the Blanding’s turtle, swift fox, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, songbirds, blowout penstemon and at-risk pollinators like monarch butterflies and bumble bees. Donations are used to monitor, maintain and improve habitat for these and many other fish and wildlife species, as well as to provide wildlife viewing and other educational opportunities for Nebraskans. Additional information is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MTE3NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lk5lYnJhc2thV2lsZGxpZmVGdW5kLm9yZyJ9.qnJ2CBVxpPMOw8ABWcyy3qIBa6-adM81cIudsxWfTMg/s/1372948182/br/153920939930-l" target="_blank">NebraskaWildlifeFund.com</a>.For taxpayers not entitled to a state tax refund, contributions can be made at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAyMDIuNzA5MTE3NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lk5lYnJhc2thV2lsZGxpZmVGdW5kLm9yZyJ9.5hRP6Aa59J4-HdfgTA-kCsB53lBaPBB698bGQA65xBA/s/1372948182/br/153920939930-l" target="_blank">NebraskaWildlifeFund.com</a>&nbsp;or by mail to: Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, P.O. Box 30370, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, NE 68503.

Tax season provides opportunity to support Nebraska wildlife conservation

Click <a href="https://panhandlepost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a> to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Panhandle Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.panhandlepost.com/recent-obituaries/kcowradio@gmail.com">kcowradio@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or call (308) 762-1400

Click <a href="https://panhandlepost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a> to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.&nbsp;&nbsp; Panhandle Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.panhandlepost.com/recent-obituaries/kcowradio@gmail.com">kcowradio@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or call (308) 762-1400<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1561995642681.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Recent obituaries and service times

We want to express our gratitude to the members of our community for your continued support and cooperation. Your trust in our department is greatly appreciated, and we are honored to serve and protect you. Together, we are making our streets safer and our community stronger.

Since the launch of our new community-survey initiative last year, we’ve received an outpouring of feedback on our officer-citizen interactions. With a 90% positive rating, we’re proud of the work our department is doing each and every day.

Thank you for your partnership and commitment. Together, we are building the best hometown in America.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Alliance Police DepartmentWe want to express our gratitude to the members of our community for your continued support and cooperation. Your trust in our department is greatly appreciated, and we are honored to serve and protect you. Together, we are making our streets safer and our community stronger.Since the launch of our new community-survey initiative last year, we’ve received an outpouring of feedback on our officer-citizen interactions. With a 90% positive rating, we’re proud of the work our department is doing each and every day.Thank you for your partnership and commitment. Together, we are building the best hometown in America.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675358246682.jpeg" alt="Photo by Alliance Police Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Alliance Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>

Alliance Police Department express gratitude to community 

<div>  <script src="https://embed-964964.secondstreetapp.com/Scripts/dist/embed.js" data-ss-embed="promotion" data-opguid="be0459d8-09d1-4cda-86aa-908dd51d92d2" data-routing="hash">/**/</script></div>

Share the Love Photo Contest

Security First Bank and Security First Insurance of Chadron are holding the "Feeding Heart Food Drive" through Feb. 14.&nbsp;

By Panhandle Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675353774530.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Security First Bank and Security First Insurance of Chadron are holding the "Feeding Heart Food Drive" through Feb. 14.&nbsp;

Security First Bank, Insurance to hold 'Feeding Hearts Food Drive' in Chadron

By Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating Opportunity

Now that January has ended, we should have all the forms we need to file our federal and state income taxes. One of the biggest changes in our federal 2022 taxes is the Child Tax Credit, which is claimed by tens of millions of Americans every year.

As a response to the economic problems created by COVID, for 2021 Congress changed the child tax credit so it was higher and fully refundable. Their goal was to reduce child poverty in the United States.

And it worked! Combined with other relief efforts, the expansion helped lower child poverty by more than 40 percent between 2020 and 2021, from 9.7% to a record low of 5.2%, according to the Census Bureau. This meant 3.7 million children were lifted out of poverty in 2021.

What were the changes? The amount of the credit was $3,000 per child, $3,600 if they were under age 6. 17-year-olds were included. For July through December, the credit was paid out monthly: $250 per month for each qualifying child age 6 to 17, $300 per month for each qualifying child under age 6. This enabled families to budget and spend the money as it was needed.

Those changes all ended in December, 2021, for taxes filed by April, 2022.

The rules reverted back to those that were in place for filing 2020 returns. The amount of the credit is $2,000 per child through age 16. There were no early payments last year.

According to the IRS, you can claim the 2022 Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child, meaning

· Be under age 17 at the end of the year

· Be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or a descendant of one of these (grandchild, niece or nephew)

· Provide no more than half of their own financial support during the year

· Have lived with you for more than half the year

· Be properly claimed as your dependent on your tax return

· Have been a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien

You qualify for the full amount of the 2022 Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child if you meet all eligibility factors and your annual income is not more than $200,000 ($400,000 if filing a joint return). Parents and guardians with higher incomes may be eligible to claim a partial credit.

Last year households could claim the credit even if they hadn't earned income from a job or didn't owe any income taxes. Instead, only up to $1,500 of the Child Tax Credit is refundable for some lower-income individuals with children. You must have at least $2,500 of earned income to even qualify for this partial refund.

You have to file a tax return to get any of the Child Tax Credit refund. You must file Schedule 8812 to figure the amount of the credit.

Families who qualify for the Child Tax Credit might also qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, Adoption Credit, or Education credits.

The IRS asks that, if possible, people file electronically rather than mailing in paper forms. The library has public computers that anyone can use. Log in using your library card number. If you aren’t a patron of the library, you can use a guest pass if you provide a current photo ID. You can print from the computer for 25¢ a page.

The library will print blank tax forms for patrons at no cost at their request. This does not include the tax instruction booklets, just the blank tax forms.

The IRS is generally promising refunds within 21 days of filing of electronic returns. This would be true for people who file online, make no errors on their return, and request that their refund be directly deposited into their bank account.

If you qualify for tax credits and are getting a refund, file your income taxes soon!

By Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating OpportunityNow that January has ended, we should have all the forms we need to file our federal and state income taxes. One of the biggest changes in our federal 2022 taxes is the Child Tax Credit, which is claimed by tens of millions of Americans every year.As a response to the economic problems created by COVID, for 2021 Congress changed the child tax credit so it was higher and fully refundable. Their goal was to reduce child poverty in the United States.And it worked! Combined with other relief efforts, the expansion helped lower child poverty by more than 40 percent between 2020 and 2021, from 9.7% to a record low of 5.2%, according to the Census Bureau. This meant 3.7 million children were lifted out of poverty in 2021.What were the changes? The amount of the credit was $3,000 per child, $3,600 if they were under age 6. 17-year-olds were included. For July through December, the credit was paid out monthly: $250 per month for each qualifying child age 6 to 17, $300 per month for each qualifying child under age 6. This enabled families to budget and spend the money as it was needed.Those changes all ended in December, 2021, for taxes filed by April, 2022.The rules reverted back to those that were in place for filing 2020 returns. The amount of the credit is $2,000 per child through age 16. There were no early payments last year.According to the IRS, you can claim the 2022 Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child, meaningyour dependent must:· Be under age 17 at the end of the year· Be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or a descendant of one of these (grandchild, niece or nephew)· Provide no more than half of their own financial support during the year· Have lived with you for more than half the year· Be properly claimed as your dependent on your tax return· Have been a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien· Have a valid Social Security NumberYou qualify for the full amount of the 2022 Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child if you meet all eligibility factors and your annual income is not more than $200,000 ($400,000 if filing a joint return). Parents and guardians with higher incomes may be eligible to claim a partial credit.Last year households could claim the credit even if they hadn't earned income from a job or didn't owe any income taxes. Instead, only up to $1,500 of the Child Tax Credit is refundable for some lower-income individuals with children. You must have at least $2,500 of earned income to even qualify for this partial refund.You have to file a tax return to get any of the Child Tax Credit refund. You must file Schedule 8812 to figure the amount of the credit.Families who qualify for the Child Tax Credit might also qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, Adoption Credit, or Education credits.The IRS asks that, if possible, people file electronically rather than mailing in paper forms. The library has public computers that anyone can use. Log in using your library card number. If you aren’t a patron of the library, you can use a guest pass if you provide a current photo ID. You can print from the computer for 25¢ a page.The library will print blank tax forms for patrons at no cost at their request. This does not include the tax instruction booklets, just the blank tax forms.The IRS is generally promising refunds within 21 days of filing of electronic returns. This would be true for people who file online, make no errors on their return, and request that their refund be directly deposited into their bank account.If you qualify for tax credits and are getting a refund, file your income taxes soon!

Getting Ahead: Child tax credit 2022

Alliance – Box Butte County RSVP will be hosting a mobile food pantry in conjunction with Northwest Community Action Partnership and Food bank for the Heartland on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. 

This is a free program which distributes food to families in Alliance, serving one distribution per car.

To ensure safe access to the Senior Center located at 212 Yellowstone Avenue, the Alliance Police Department are asking patrons to begin at the northeast corner of East 2nd Street and Yellowstone Avenue. Traffic will line up down East 2nd to Potash Avenue on the north side of the street. Please make sure to leave intersections open. Any overflow traffic will continue on Potash Avenue to East 3rd Street parking along the south curb on East 3rd Street. Please stay in your vehicle at time of delivery.

If you are homebound, and unable to drive thru to pick up your food, please call Angie Flesner at (308) 762-1293 to make your delivery arrangements by 2pm on Tuesday, February 7th. Delivery services are only available to homebound individuals.

For more information about the food drive, please contact Angie Flesner at (308) 762-1293.

By City of AllianceAlliance – Box Butte County RSVP will be hosting a mobile food pantry in conjunction with Northwest Community Action Partnership and Food bank for the Heartland on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. This is a free program which distributes food to families in Alliance, serving one distribution per car.To ensure safe access to the Senior Center located at 212 Yellowstone Avenue, the Alliance Police Department are asking patrons to begin at the northeast corner of East 2nd Street and Yellowstone Avenue. Traffic will line up down East 2nd to Potash Avenue on the north side of the street. Please make sure to leave intersections open. Any overflow traffic will continue on Potash Avenue to East 3rd Street parking along the south curb on East 3rd Street. Please stay in your vehicle at time of delivery.If you are homebound, and unable to drive thru to pick up your food, please call Angie Flesner at (308) 762-1293 to make your delivery arrangements by 2pm on Tuesday, February 7th. Delivery services are only available to homebound individuals.For more information about the food drive, please contact Angie Flesner at (308) 762-1293.

Box Butte Co. RSVP, NCAP to hold mobile food pantry

By United States Attorney Steven Russell

United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Brandon Goodsell, 36, of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 210 months’ imprisonment following his convictions for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. After he completes his prison sentence, Goodsell will also serve four years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On August 2, 2020, Goodsell was on a motorcycle when he fled from Nebraska State Patrolmen at high speeds throughout York and Hamilton counties. He crashed in a ditch in Hamilton County and was arrested. He was wearing a backpack which was searched. Investigators found a loaded pistol, more than 200 grams of methamphetamine in five different bags, marijuana, hash oil, a scale, baggies and several items of drug paraphernalia. A forensic scientist at the Crime Lab confirmed the presence of methamphetamine and marijuana.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol, the York County Sheriff’s Office, and the Trident Task Force which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

By United States Attorney Steven RussellUnited States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Brandon Goodsell, 36, of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 210 months’ imprisonment following his convictions for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. After he completes his prison sentence, Goodsell will also serve four years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.On August 2, 2020, Goodsell was on a motorcycle when he fled from Nebraska State Patrolmen at high speeds throughout York and Hamilton counties. He crashed in a ditch in Hamilton County and was arrested. He was wearing a backpack which was searched. Investigators found a loaded pistol, more than 200 grams of methamphetamine in five different bags, marijuana, hash oil, a scale, baggies and several items of drug paraphernalia. A forensic scientist at the Crime Lab confirmed the presence of methamphetamine and marijuana.This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol, the York County Sheriff’s Office, and the Trident Task Force which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Kearney man sentenced for possessing methamphetamine, firearm   

By MARGERY A. BECK Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee took nearly eight hours of testimony Wednesday before adjourning without a vote on whether to advance a bill that would outlaw abortion at a point before many women know they're pregnant.

Hundreds of people crowded the halls of the state Capitol for a committee hearing on a so-called heartbeat bill.

The bill would ban abortions once cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo, which is generally around the sixth week of pregnancy.

The committee took testimony from around 100 people before adjourning. A decision about whether to advance the bill will come at a later date.

"This bill is about one thing: protecting babies with beating hearts from elective abortion," Republican Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston told the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee to kick off testimony on her bill Wednesday, which brought scores of ban supporters and hundreds of opponents into the Capitol.

Lawmakers opposed to the ban have already attempted to throw up roadblocks to thwart the measure. Several attended a protest in the rotunda just before Wednesday's hearing that drew around 300 people opposed to the ban, including medical professionals and clergy.

Democratic Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, who has been an outspoken opponent of restricting abortion rights, urged the crowd to continue showing up for each phase of the bill.

"We need constant, prolonged, righteous outrage. They need to feel your energy," Hunt said, drawing a shout of, "We'll never stop!" from someone in the crowd, followed by a roaring chant of "No more bans!"

Hunt also led a push to move the bill out of the conservative-leaning HHS committee, where it is almost certain to be advanced, and into the more politically balanced Judiciary Committee. She and other lawmakers argued that because the proposal would criminalize most abortions, it should be heard by the Judiciary Committee.

But that effort failed in a vote on the legislative floor last week, with backers of the ban countering that the bill does not include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions or doctors who perform them. They said it would subject doctors who perform outlawed abortions to professional discipline, which could include losing their medical licenses.

While the bill doesn't list criminal penalties, it would make doctors vulnerable to criminal charges under existing state law, several lawmakers said. The law makes it a felony to perform an abortion not allowed under state law.

"I think a prosecutor and potentially a jury could find that if you've performed an abortion that's not in compliance with medical practice — enough so to lose your license — then you're also in violation of that criminal law ," said Democratic Sen. John Cavanaugh, an attorney from Omaha.

He pointed to an open case in Norfolk in which prosecutors charged a 41-year-old woman with a felony for helping her 17-year-old daughter end her pregnancy at 24 weeks by supplying her with pills to induce an abortion.

"They will look at the statute and find ways to prosecute," Cavanaugh said.

Among those warily watching the latest attempt to effectively ban abortion in the red state is Kacie Ware, 35, of Omaha, who detailed a day before the hearing how she sought an abortion after becoming pregnant at 16 by a man twice her age who had raped her repeatedly starting when she was 15.

Ware would not have been able to get an abortion under the current proposed ban because she didn't discover she was pregnant until well after six weeks of gestation, she said.

"I would have done almost anything to end that pregnancy," Ware said, even endangering her life to do so. "I could have died. What I know is, an abortion ban won't end abortions. It's only going to end safe abortions."

The hearing Wednesday ended with a heated exchange between Albrecht, the bill's main sponsor, and Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, who strongly opposes the ban.

Cavanaugh grilled Albrecht on how medical providers, under threat of losing their medical licenses, would be able to prove any abortions they provide were for women who were raped or to save the woman's life.

Albrecht insisted the way Nebraska doctors handle abortions won't change under the bill, repeating several times, "It's going to be done however it's done today," even though women currently have 20 weeks to terminate a pregnancy and don't have to report rape or incest to get an abortion.

At one point, the senators yelled over each other, with Cavanaugh asking, "You're okay with women dying if this bill is passed?"

"I'm not going to do this theater," Albrecht shot back. "I'm not going to answer that."

If enacted, Nebraska would join several other states that have passed similar cardiac activity abortion bans, including Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee. Nebraska, which in 2010 became the first state to ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, recently has struggled to enact tighter abortion restrictions.

Anti-abortion lawmakers last year sought to pass a so-called trigger bill that would have automatically banned nearly all abortions, even those resulting from rape and incest, as soon as the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed the right to abortion nationwide for nearly five decades. The effort fell two votes short of the 33 needed to overcome a filibuster.

Democrats in Nebraska's officially nonpartisan, one-house legislature hold 17 of the body's 49 seats, which would again leave abortion ban backers short of a supermajority. But abortion rights proponents have acknowledged the alliance behind last year's filibuster may no longer hold that the ban includes exceptions for rape and incest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675344627220.jpeg" alt="Hundreds of people crowded the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Lincoln. Neb., to protest a so-called heartbeat bill that would outlaw abortion at a point before many women even know they're pregnant. The bill, which was before the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, would ban abortions once cardiac activity can be detected in a embryo, which is generally around the sixth week of pregnancy. (AP Photo/Margery A. Beck)" />
 <figcaption>Hundreds of people crowded the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Lincoln. Neb., to protest a so-called heartbeat bill that would outlaw abortion at a point before many women even know they're pregnant. The bill, which was before the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, would ban abortions once cardiac activity can be detected in a embryo, which is generally around the sixth week of pregnancy. (AP Photo/Margery A. Beck)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARGERY A. BECK Associated PressLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee took nearly eight hours of testimony Wednesday before adjourning without a vote on whether to advance a bill that would outlaw abortion at a point before many women know they're pregnant.Hundreds of people crowded the halls of the state Capitol for a committee hearing on a so-called heartbeat bill.The bill would ban abortions once cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo, which is generally around the sixth week of pregnancy.The committee took testimony from around 100 people before adjourning. A decision about whether to advance the bill will come at a later date."This bill is about one thing: protecting babies with beating hearts from elective abortion," Republican Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston told the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee to kick off testimony on her bill Wednesday, which brought scores of ban supporters and hundreds of opponents into the Capitol.Lawmakers opposed to the ban have already attempted to throw up roadblocks to thwart the measure. Several attended a protest in the rotunda just before Wednesday's hearing that drew around 300 people opposed to the ban, including medical professionals and clergy.Democratic Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, who has been an outspoken opponent of restricting abortion rights, urged the crowd to continue showing up for each phase of the bill."We need constant, prolonged, righteous outrage. They need to feel your energy," Hunt said, drawing a shout of, "We'll never stop!" from someone in the crowd, followed by a roaring chant of "No more bans!"Hunt also led a push to move the bill out of the conservative-leaning HHS committee, where it is almost certain to be advanced, and into the more politically balanced Judiciary Committee. She and other lawmakers argued that because the proposal would criminalize most abortions, it should be heard by the Judiciary Committee.But that effort failed in a vote on the legislative floor last week, with backers of the ban countering that the bill does not include criminal penalties for women who receive abortions or doctors who perform them. They said it would subject doctors who perform outlawed abortions to professional discipline, which could include losing their medical licenses.While the bill doesn't list criminal penalties, it would make doctors vulnerable to criminal charges under existing state law, several lawmakers said. The law makes it a felony to perform an abortion not allowed under state law."I think a prosecutor and potentially a jury could find that if you've performed an abortion that's not in compliance with medical practice — enough so to lose your license — then you're also in violation of that criminal law ," said Democratic Sen. John Cavanaugh, an attorney from Omaha.He pointed to an open case in Norfolk in which prosecutors charged a 41-year-old woman with a felony for helping her 17-year-old daughter end her pregnancy at 24 weeks by supplying her with pills to induce an abortion."They will look at the statute and find ways to prosecute," Cavanaugh said.Among those warily watching the latest attempt to effectively ban abortion in the red state is Kacie Ware, 35, of Omaha, who detailed a day before the hearing how she sought an abortion after becoming pregnant at 16 by a man twice her age who had raped her repeatedly starting when she was 15.Ware would not have been able to get an abortion under the current proposed ban because she didn't discover she was pregnant until well after six weeks of gestation, she said."I would have done almost anything to end that pregnancy," Ware said, even endangering her life to do so. "I could have died. What I know is, an abortion ban won't end abortions. It's only going to end safe abortions."The hearing Wednesday ended with a heated exchange between Albrecht, the bill's main sponsor, and Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, who strongly opposes the ban.Cavanaugh grilled Albrecht on how medical providers, under threat of losing their medical licenses, would be able to prove any abortions they provide were for women who were raped or to save the woman's life.Albrecht insisted the way Nebraska doctors handle abortions won't change under the bill, repeating several times, "It's going to be done however it's done today," even though women currently have 20 weeks to terminate a pregnancy and don't have to report rape or incest to get an abortion.At one point, the senators yelled over each other, with Cavanaugh asking, "You're okay with women dying if this bill is passed?""I'm not going to do this theater," Albrecht shot back. "I'm not going to answer that."If enacted, Nebraska would join several other states that have passed similar cardiac activity abortion bans, including Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee. Nebraska, which in 2010 became the first state to ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, recently has struggled to enact tighter abortion restrictions.Anti-abortion lawmakers last year sought to pass a so-called trigger bill that would have automatically banned nearly all abortions, even those resulting from rape and incest, as soon as the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed the right to abortion nationwide for nearly five decades. The effort fell two votes short of the 33 needed to overcome a filibuster.Democrats in Nebraska's officially nonpartisan, one-house legislature hold 17 of the body's 49 seats, which would again leave abortion ban backers short of a supermajority. But abortion rights proponents have acknowledged the alliance behind last year's filibuster may no longer hold that the ban includes exceptions for rape and incest.

Nebraska lawmakers put off vote on 'heartbeat' abortion ban

Nebraska Tourism announced grant awards totaling $769,334 in the Community Impact and Tourism Marketing Grant program's combined application cycle. The Commission received a total of 88 applications this grant cycle requesting $1,450,200.61 in funding. “The grant programs are designed to encourage communities in all corners of the state to market their destination or event to potential visitors. Increasingly, people are considering Nebraska as a travel destination, so it is important to demonstrate everything our state has to offer,” said John Ricks, executive director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission. “It was exciting to see some new events and places apply or try out something new this year and we are eager to see what impact it has on tourism in Nebraska." Awardees this grant cycle include: $100,000.00&nbsp; &nbsp;Omaha Equestrian Foundation for promotion of the 2023 FEI Jumping, Dressage &amp; Vaulting World Cup Finals $45,782.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Golden Spike Tower &amp; Visitor Center for promotion of North Platte Rail Days and general marketing &nbsp;$25,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Dawes County Tourism to market Northwest Nebraska &nbsp;$24,737.50 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Burwell Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for strategic marketing initiatives &nbsp;$18,858.75 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Bone Creek Art Museum for marketing promotions &nbsp;$18,345.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Grand Island Convention and Visitors Bureau for the 2023 Branding Campaign &nbsp;$18,247.50 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Visit Omaha for marketing promotions &nbsp;$15,400.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Willa Cather Foundation for marketing promotions &nbsp;$14,840.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Visit North Platte for 2023 tourism marketing &nbsp;$14,045.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kearney Visitors Bureau for marketing campaign promotions &nbsp;$14,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Prairie Arts Center for promotion of the 2023 season &nbsp;$13,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Fontenelle Forest for marketing promotions &nbsp;$12,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lincoln Children's Museum for Here We Grow marketing campaign &nbsp;$12,375.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lied Lodge &amp; Arbor Day Farm for marketing promotions &nbsp;$12,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Prairie Creek Vineyards for tourism marketing &nbsp;$12,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;YFC. Inc to promote Maha Festival 2023 &nbsp;$11,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ashland Chamber of Commerce for tourism growth project &nbsp;$11,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Beatrice/Gage County Tourism for marketing promotions &nbsp;$10,800.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association for Nebraska Wines marketing promotions &nbsp;$10,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;MECA Tri-Park Complex LLC for promotion of The RiverFront &nbsp;$10,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska City Tourism &amp; Commerce for Visit Nebraska City promotions &nbsp;$10,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hastings Museum marketing promotions &nbsp;$10,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Norfolk Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for area marketing&nbsp; &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Three Trails Classic Series Draft Horse Show for promotion of the 2023 event &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition for 2023 marketing promotions &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Gering Visitors Bureau for leisure markets campaign &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust for Wildlife Viewing Area promotion &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Freedomtainment for promotion of 2023 Omaha Freedom Festival &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Native Omaha Days Organizing Committee for promotion of 2023 Native Omaha Days &nbsp;$9,750.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Red Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce for marketing promotions &nbsp;$9,750.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Phelps County Visitors Committee to promote Get Away From it All in the Heart of it All &nbsp;$9,750.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;WNCC Foundation for promotion of the Platte Valley Companies Monument Marathon &nbsp;$9,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Platte PEER Group for marketing Bader Park and Dark Island Trail &nbsp;$9,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska Trails Foundation to promote Tour de Nebraska &nbsp;$9,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce for promotion of Lexington's brand &nbsp;$9,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Discover Northeast Nebraska for 2023 marketing promotions &nbsp;$9,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ord Area Chamber for Valley County tourism promotions &nbsp;$9,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Cherry County Tourism for marketing promotions &nbsp;$9,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild for promotion of Drink Local Nebraska &nbsp;$8,625.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Columbus Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for marketing promotions &nbsp;$8,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska Flyway for marketing promotions &nbsp;$7,988.25 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Crofton Community Club for promotion of Crofton's Dam Race &nbsp;$7,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Omaha Community Playhouse for imagery development &nbsp;$7,350.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Friends of the State Museum for promotion of Museum Monday &nbsp;$7,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Classic Car Collection for the visitor awareness campaign &nbsp;$6,937.50 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Pheasant Bonanza Hunt Club for marketing promotions &nbsp;$6,860.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Father Flanagan's Boys Home/Boys Town for group tour marketing &nbsp;$6,295.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The Archway for marketing promotions &nbsp;$6,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Museum of Nebraska Art for promotion of the Reopening Campaign &nbsp;$6,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Knox County Visitors Bureau for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Friends of Lied Center for Performing Arts for promotion of the Broadway Series &nbsp;$5,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Joslyn Castle &amp; Gardens for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Gothenburg Chamber of Commerce for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,250.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;McCook/Red Willow County for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association for promotion of the 60th Anniversary National Amateur Championship &nbsp;$5,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Stuhr Museum for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hastings PFLAG for promotion of Hastings Pride &nbsp;$4,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Custer County Agricultural Society for promotion of the rodeo &nbsp;$4,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Red Path Gallery &amp; Tasting Room for 10th Anniversary promotions &nbsp;$4,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lux Center for the Arts for promotion of the 2023 Mural Project &nbsp;$4,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The Durham Museum for marketing promotions &nbsp;$4,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska Lincoln Highway Scenic &amp; Historic Byway for website development &nbsp;$3,750.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;High Plains Historical Society for website development &nbsp;$3,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Oregon Trail Community Foundation for promotion of the Old West Balloon Fest 2023 &nbsp;$3,425.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Grounded Nebraska for promotion of A Gravel Festival &nbsp;$3,375.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project for promotion of North American Festival of Wales &nbsp;$3,310.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Omaha Sports Commission for marketing promotions &nbsp;$2,550.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Keith County Visitors Committee for marketing promotions &nbsp;$2,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lincoln Arts Council for promotion of the 2023 Lincoln Arts Festival &nbsp;$2,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Deer Springs Winery for marketing promotions &nbsp;$1,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kool-Aid Days for marketing promotions &nbsp;$1,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kearney Area Community Foundation for &nbsp;Kearney Cultural Partners Outreach to Travelers &nbsp;$437.50 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Village of Steele City for promotion of Celebrating 150 Years &nbsp;$375.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Duncan Volunteer Fire Department for promotion of 2023 Duncan Ribfest &nbsp;$125.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska for promotion of 41st Annual BRAN&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675342284375.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Nebraska TourismNebraska Tourism announced grant awards totaling $769,334 in the Community Impact and Tourism Marketing Grant program's combined application cycle. The Commission received a total of 88 applications this grant cycle requesting $1,450,200.61 in funding. “The grant programs are designed to encourage communities in all corners of the state to market their destination or event to potential visitors. Increasingly, people are considering Nebraska as a travel destination, so it is important to demonstrate everything our state has to offer,” said John Ricks, executive director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission. “It was exciting to see some new events and places apply or try out something new this year and we are eager to see what impact it has on tourism in Nebraska." Awardees this grant cycle include: $100,000.00&nbsp; &nbsp;Omaha Equestrian Foundation for promotion of the 2023 FEI Jumping, Dressage &amp; Vaulting World Cup Finals $45,782.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Golden Spike Tower &amp; Visitor Center for promotion of North Platte Rail Days and general marketing &nbsp;$25,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Dawes County Tourism to market Northwest Nebraska &nbsp;$24,737.50 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Burwell Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for strategic marketing initiatives &nbsp;$18,858.75 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Bone Creek Art Museum for marketing promotions &nbsp;$18,345.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Grand Island Convention and Visitors Bureau for the 2023 Branding Campaign &nbsp;$18,247.50 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Visit Omaha for marketing promotions &nbsp;$15,400.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Willa Cather Foundation for marketing promotions &nbsp;$14,840.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Visit North Platte for 2023 tourism marketing &nbsp;$14,045.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kearney Visitors Bureau for marketing campaign promotions &nbsp;$14,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Prairie Arts Center for promotion of the 2023 season &nbsp;$13,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Fontenelle Forest for marketing promotions &nbsp;$12,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lincoln Children's Museum for Here We Grow marketing campaign &nbsp;$12,375.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lied Lodge &amp; Arbor Day Farm for marketing promotions &nbsp;$12,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Prairie Creek Vineyards for tourism marketing &nbsp;$12,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;YFC. Inc to promote Maha Festival 2023 &nbsp;$11,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ashland Chamber of Commerce for tourism growth project &nbsp;$11,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Beatrice/Gage County Tourism for marketing promotions &nbsp;$10,800.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association for Nebraska Wines marketing promotions &nbsp;$10,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;MECA Tri-Park Complex LLC for promotion of The RiverFront &nbsp;$10,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska City Tourism &amp; Commerce for Visit Nebraska City promotions &nbsp;$10,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hastings Museum marketing promotions &nbsp;$10,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Norfolk Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for area marketing&nbsp; &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Three Trails Classic Series Draft Horse Show for promotion of the 2023 event &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition for 2023 marketing promotions &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Gering Visitors Bureau for leisure markets campaign &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust for Wildlife Viewing Area promotion &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Freedomtainment for promotion of 2023 Omaha Freedom Festival &nbsp;$10,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Native Omaha Days Organizing Committee for promotion of 2023 Native Omaha Days &nbsp;$9,750.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Red Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce for marketing promotions &nbsp;$9,750.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Phelps County Visitors Committee to promote Get Away From it All in the Heart of it All &nbsp;$9,750.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;WNCC Foundation for promotion of the Platte Valley Companies Monument Marathon &nbsp;$9,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Platte PEER Group for marketing Bader Park and Dark Island Trail &nbsp;$9,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska Trails Foundation to promote Tour de Nebraska &nbsp;$9,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce for promotion of Lexington's brand &nbsp;$9,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Discover Northeast Nebraska for 2023 marketing promotions &nbsp;$9,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Ord Area Chamber for Valley County tourism promotions &nbsp;$9,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Cherry County Tourism for marketing promotions &nbsp;$9,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild for promotion of Drink Local Nebraska &nbsp;$8,625.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Columbus Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for marketing promotions &nbsp;$8,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska Flyway for marketing promotions &nbsp;$7,988.25 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Crofton Community Club for promotion of Crofton's Dam Race &nbsp;$7,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Omaha Community Playhouse for imagery development &nbsp;$7,350.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Friends of the State Museum for promotion of Museum Monday &nbsp;$7,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Classic Car Collection for the visitor awareness campaign &nbsp;$6,937.50 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Pheasant Bonanza Hunt Club for marketing promotions &nbsp;$6,860.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Father Flanagan's Boys Home/Boys Town for group tour marketing &nbsp;$6,295.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The Archway for marketing promotions &nbsp;$6,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Museum of Nebraska Art for promotion of the Reopening Campaign &nbsp;$6,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Knox County Visitors Bureau for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Friends of Lied Center for Performing Arts for promotion of the Broadway Series &nbsp;$5,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Joslyn Castle &amp; Gardens for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Gothenburg Chamber of Commerce for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,250.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;McCook/Red Willow County for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association for promotion of the 60th Anniversary National Amateur Championship &nbsp;$5,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Stuhr Museum for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway for marketing promotions &nbsp;$5,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Hastings PFLAG for promotion of Hastings Pride &nbsp;$4,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Custer County Agricultural Society for promotion of the rodeo &nbsp;$4,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Red Path Gallery &amp; Tasting Room for 10th Anniversary promotions &nbsp;$4,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lux Center for the Arts for promotion of the 2023 Mural Project &nbsp;$4,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The Durham Museum for marketing promotions &nbsp;$4,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Nebraska Lincoln Highway Scenic &amp; Historic Byway for website development &nbsp;$3,750.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;High Plains Historical Society for website development &nbsp;$3,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Oregon Trail Community Foundation for promotion of the Old West Balloon Fest 2023 &nbsp;$3,425.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Grounded Nebraska for promotion of A Gravel Festival &nbsp;$3,375.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Great Plains Welsh Heritage Project for promotion of North American Festival of Wales &nbsp;$3,310.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Omaha Sports Commission for marketing promotions &nbsp;$2,550.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Keith County Visitors Committee for marketing promotions &nbsp;$2,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Lincoln Arts Council for promotion of the 2023 Lincoln Arts Festival &nbsp;$2,000.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Deer Springs Winery for marketing promotions &nbsp;$1,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kool-Aid Days for marketing promotions &nbsp;$1,500.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Kearney Area Community Foundation for &nbsp;Kearney Cultural Partners Outreach to Travelers &nbsp;$437.50 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Village of Steele City for promotion of Celebrating 150 Years &nbsp;$375.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Duncan Volunteer Fire Department for promotion of 2023 Duncan Ribfest &nbsp;$125.00 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska for promotion of 41st Annual BRAN&nbsp;&nbsp;

North Platte's Golden Spike Tower, Visit North Platte receive Neb. Tourism grants

HEBRON, NEB.&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol and Thayer County Sheriff’s Office have identified the source of a threat made against Thayer Central Community Schools in Hebron.

Out of an abundance of caution, the school has been closed this week during the investigation. The threat of a potential school shooting was made against the school via social media on Friday afternoon. Investigators with the NSP Tech Crimes Unit have determined the source of the threat and have identified a suspect. That suspect is located in New Mexico and NSP is now working with authorities in New Mexico on this case.

NSP and the Thayer County Sheriff’s Office have been in constant communication with the school throughout the investigation and have notified school officials that there is no threat to the school. Further information will be released when possible. The investigation remains ongoing.

By NSPHEBRON, NEB.&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol and Thayer County Sheriff’s Office have identified the source of a threat made against Thayer Central Community Schools in Hebron.Out of an abundance of caution, the school has been closed this week during the investigation. The threat of a potential school shooting was made against the school via social media on Friday afternoon. Investigators with the NSP Tech Crimes Unit have determined the source of the threat and have identified a suspect. That suspect is located in New Mexico and NSP is now working with authorities in New Mexico on this case.NSP and the Thayer County Sheriff’s Office have been in constant communication with the school throughout the investigation and have notified school officials that there is no threat to the school. Further information will be released when possible. The investigation remains ongoing.

NSP Tech Crimes determines no threat to Thayer Central Schools

This week our road trip is going to Broadwater, Nebraska. We will be visiting the Art Barn. 

Here we will find artist, and Bob Ross instructor, Rachelle Eversole.

I first attended a class of hers at the college [WNCC] in Scottsbluff. I told her I had no talent. She assured me that she would help me, and show me every step along the way. It was amazing! So, now I was hooked, next I attended a class in Broadwater at the Starr Street Diner. Another awesome class, beautiful picture, and lunch was awesome. We all had burgers that were fantastic.

Now I couldn't wait for the next class, she came to Alliance, and held a class at the Eagles club to help raise money for the Pillars. She also has classes in Scottsbluff at the Hobby Lobby store. But, to tell you the truth, I most enjoy the small classes in her Art Barn. She can take up to six people and its very cozy and fun. 

All of our pictures were just beautiful. And, Rachelle is the nicest, most fun person I have ever met. 

 If you are interested in classes private or a bunch, call her at 308-262-5960 or email at everart2003@yahoo.com

Bring out your inner artist. Even if you think you have no talent. Rachelle will&nbsp;show you that you do.&nbsp;

By Tami Cox Swearingen<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675274111493.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This week our road trip is going to Broadwater, Nebraska. We will be visiting the Art Barn. Here we will find artist, and Bob Ross instructor, Rachelle Eversole.I first attended a class of hers at the college [WNCC] in Scottsbluff. I told her I had no talent. She assured me that she would help me, and show me every step along the way. It was amazing! So, now I was hooked, next I attended a class in Broadwater at the Starr Street Diner. Another awesome class, beautiful picture, and lunch was awesome. We all had burgers that were fantastic.Now I couldn't wait for the next class, she came to Alliance, and held a class at the Eagles club to help raise money for the Pillars. She also has classes in Scottsbluff at the Hobby Lobby store. But, to tell you the truth, I most enjoy the small classes in her Art Barn. She can take up to six people and its very cozy and fun. All of our pictures were just beautiful. And, Rachelle is the nicest, most fun person I have ever met. If you are interested in classes private or a bunch, call her at 308-262-5960 or email at everart2003@yahoo.comBring out your inner artist. Even if you think you have no talent. Rachelle will&nbsp;show you that you do.&nbsp;