Alliance, NE – Beginning Monday, May 6, 2023, all offices within the City Municipal Building located at 324 Laramie Avenue will be operating under their summer hours of Monday-Thursday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm, Friday 7:00 am – 11:00 am. This includes the City Manager, City Clerk, Community Development, Finance, Utilities, and Human Resources.

Also beginning Monday, May 6th the Electric Department and Public Works Facilities will be operating under their summer hours of Monday-Thursday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm, Friday 7:00 am – 11:00 am.

The Knight Museum and Sandhills Center and will also be operating under their summer hours beginning Monday, May 6th Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm. Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

The Sallows Military Museum will continue operating Monday through Saturday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Beginning Sunday, June 2nd they will be open on Sundays from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

The Alliance Public Library will also be operating under their summer hours beginning Monday, May 6th Monday-Thursday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm. Friday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

All summer hours are subject to change at the discretion of the City Manager.

For more information, please call the City Administration Office at (308) 762-5400.

The Sallows Military Museum will continue operating Monday through Saturday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Beginning Sunday, June 2nd&nbsp;they will be open on Sundays from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

By City of AllianceAlliance, NE – Beginning Monday, May 6, 2023, all offices within the City Municipal Building located at 324 Laramie Avenue will be operating under their summer hours of Monday-Thursday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm, Friday 7:00 am – 11:00 am. This includes the City Manager, City Clerk, Community Development, Finance, Utilities, and Human Resources.Also beginning Monday, May 6th the Electric Department and Public Works Facilities will be operating under their summer hours of Monday-Thursday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm, Friday 7:00 am – 11:00 am.The Knight Museum and Sandhills Center and will also be operating under their summer hours beginning Monday, May 6th Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm. Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.The Sallows Military Museum will continue operating Monday through Saturday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Beginning Sunday, June 2nd they will be open on Sundays from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.The Alliance Public Library will also be operating under their summer hours beginning Monday, May 6th Monday-Thursday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm. Friday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday.All summer hours are subject to change at the discretion of the City Manager.For more information, please call the City Administration Office at (308) 762-5400.The Sallows Military Museum will continue operating Monday through Saturday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Beginning Sunday, June 2nd&nbsp;they will be open on Sundays from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

City of Alliance announces summer hours starting in May

Judging is complete, and Carnegie is excited to announce the award winners for the 31st&nbsp;Anniversary Show! A total of 66 pieces were divided into seven media categories. As always, there was an incredible amount of talent, and the competition was fierce. We are so proud of all our entrants for the courage it takes to put their hearts on display to the public. 

There was no specific theme or imagery required. Artists could enter whatever work they wanted as long as it fit into one of our seven media categories which included Painting, Three-Dimensional, Drawing, Mixed Media, Textile, Photography, and Youth. The exhibit was judged by Stephanie Coley from West Nebraska Arts Center.

Best of Show went to Gretchen Peters with “Sunset Wheat.” In the Painting category First Place went to Rick Yusten for “Old Home Place” and Second Place went to Stephanie Berve for “Unfetter.” In the Three-Dimensional category First Place went to Mark Van Housen for “Wood Vase” and Second Place went to Becci Thomas for “Nature’s Bits and Pieces.” 

In the Drawing category First Place went to Gretchen Peters for “Sunset Wheat” and Second Place went to Dennis Laughlin for “Jonny.” In the Mixed Media category First Place went to Becci Thomas for “Serendipity Totem” and Second Place went to Danika Rowe for “Winter Light.” In the Textile category First Place went to Diana Eaglin for “Hortense” and Second Place went to Dennis Laughlin for “Red Cloud Tribute.” In the Photography Category First Place went to Garald Horst for “Midas Touch” and Second Place went to Garald Horst for “While Time Passes.” In the Youth category First Place went to Ayvrie Waldron for “Looking into History” and Second Place went to Olive Radice for “Are You There God? It’s Me.”

Each Category also had two Honorable Mentions. Painting Honorable Mentions went to “Water Dreams” by Bob Peltz and “Fiery Chariot” by Yelena Khanevskya. Honorable Mention in Three-Dimensional went to “Small Emerging Vase” by Mark Van Housen and “Emerging Vase” by Mark Van Housen.&nbsp; 

In the Drawing category, Honorable Mention went to “Nebraska Bowl of Cherries” by Ann Darling, and “Gunnera, The Poor Man’s Umbrella” by Ann Darling. Honorable Mentions for Mixed-Media went to “The Wheel &amp; Center Stage” by Mary Ellen Neff and “Light” by Tristan Stephenson. In the Textile Category Honorable Mentions went to “Doodle Stitches” by Susan Hisel and “Creative People” by Diana Eaglin.

 For Photography, Honorable Mentions went to “Tilly” by Audrey Powles and “My Take on Stephen Wilkes” by Brian Stephenson. Last but not least, in the Youth category, Honorable Mentions went to “Lilac Haze” by Carver Hauptman and “Running Free” by Riley Bixby.

We want to invite the public to come and meet the artists, enjoy food, and drink the night of April 27th&nbsp;from 5-7pm at the Carnegie Arts Center. The night is free to the public and the whole family is welcome to attend. During the reception we will be handing out our sponsored First Place and Best of Show cash award winners.

None of what we do would be possible without the support of generous community members and businesses! Thank you to our April business sponsors Western Potato, FNIC Trusted Insurance, and Dietrich and Sautter CPAS. We also want to thank our generous grantors who provide operational funding, the Nebraska Arts Council and Nebraska Cultural Endowment. 

Last but certainly not least, we want to thank our grantors that make free and reduced cost art classes available through educational grant support. Thank you, DF Dillon Foundation, Snow Redfern Foundation, Mission Store, CA Story Foundation, Kimmel Foundation, and St. John’s Lutheran Church.

By Carnegie Arts CenterJudging is complete, and Carnegie is excited to announce the award winners for the 31st&nbsp;Anniversary Show! A total of 66 pieces were divided into seven media categories. As always, there was an incredible amount of talent, and the competition was fierce. We are so proud of all our entrants for the courage it takes to put their hearts on display to the public. There was no specific theme or imagery required. Artists could enter whatever work they wanted as long as it fit into one of our seven media categories which included Painting, Three-Dimensional, Drawing, Mixed Media, Textile, Photography, and Youth. The exhibit was judged by Stephanie Coley from West Nebraska Arts Center.Best of Show went to Gretchen Peters with “Sunset Wheat.” In the Painting category First Place went to Rick Yusten for “Old Home Place” and Second Place went to Stephanie Berve for “Unfetter.” In the Three-Dimensional category First Place went to Mark Van Housen for “Wood Vase” and Second Place went to Becci Thomas for “Nature’s Bits and Pieces.” In the Drawing category First Place went to Gretchen Peters for “Sunset Wheat” and Second Place went to Dennis Laughlin for “Jonny.” In the Mixed Media category First Place went to Becci Thomas for “Serendipity Totem” and Second Place went to Danika Rowe for “Winter Light.” In the Textile category First Place went to Diana Eaglin for “Hortense” and Second Place went to Dennis Laughlin for “Red Cloud Tribute.” In the Photography Category First Place went to Garald Horst for “Midas Touch” and Second Place went to Garald Horst for “While Time Passes.” In the Youth category First Place went to Ayvrie Waldron for “Looking into History” and Second Place went to Olive Radice for “Are You There God? It’s Me.”Each Category also had two Honorable Mentions. Painting Honorable Mentions went to “Water Dreams” by Bob Peltz and “Fiery Chariot” by Yelena Khanevskya. Honorable Mention in Three-Dimensional went to “Small Emerging Vase” by Mark Van Housen and “Emerging Vase” by Mark Van Housen.&nbsp; In the Drawing category, Honorable Mention went to “Nebraska Bowl of Cherries” by Ann Darling, and “Gunnera, The Poor Man’s Umbrella” by Ann Darling. Honorable Mentions for Mixed-Media went to “The Wheel &amp; Center Stage” by Mary Ellen Neff and “Light” by Tristan Stephenson. In the Textile Category Honorable Mentions went to “Doodle Stitches” by Susan Hisel and “Creative People” by Diana Eaglin. For Photography, Honorable Mentions went to “Tilly” by Audrey Powles and “My Take on Stephen Wilkes” by Brian Stephenson. Last but not least, in the Youth category, Honorable Mentions went to “Lilac Haze” by Carver Hauptman and “Running Free” by Riley Bixby.We want to invite the public to come and meet the artists, enjoy food, and drink the night of April 27th&nbsp;from 5-7pm at the Carnegie Arts Center. The night is free to the public and the whole family is welcome to attend. During the reception we will be handing out our sponsored First Place and Best of Show cash award winners.None of what we do would be possible without the support of generous community members and businesses! Thank you to our April business sponsors Western Potato, FNIC Trusted Insurance, and Dietrich and Sautter CPAS. We also want to thank our generous grantors who provide operational funding, the Nebraska Arts Council and Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Last but certainly not least, we want to thank our grantors that make free and reduced cost art classes available through educational grant support. Thank you, DF Dillon Foundation, Snow Redfern Foundation, Mission Store, CA Story Foundation, Kimmel Foundation, and St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Carnegie Arts center announces winners for Anniversary Show

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle Post

On Tuesday evening at the Alliance City Council meeting, The Council appointed Monty J. Weisgerber to fill the vacant seat on the City Council.&nbsp;

Weisgerber takes over for Mara Anderson, former Alliance Recreation Center Executive&nbsp; Director. Alliance City Administrator Seth Sorensen explains the process of appointing a new councilmember.&nbsp;

"Two of the Councilmembers had some one-on-one interviews with the candidates, we reviewed the applications and decided amongst the council," Sorensen said.

Weisgerber begins his term immediately and will run until the November election.

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle PostOn Tuesday evening at the Alliance City Council meeting, The Council appointed Monty J. Weisgerber to fill the vacant seat on the City Council.&nbsp;Weisgerber takes over for Mara Anderson, former Alliance Recreation Center Executive&nbsp; Director. Alliance City Administrator Seth Sorensen explains the process of appointing a new councilmember.&nbsp;"Two of the Councilmembers had some one-on-one interviews with the candidates, we reviewed the applications and decided amongst the council," Sorensen said.Weisgerber begins his term immediately and will run until the November election.

Weisgerber appointed to Alliance City Council

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/02/steps-to-mitigate-deluge-of-sand-into-remote-trout-stream-doesnt-include-fine/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A Sandhills rancher and Cherry County won’t be fined for unleashing a deluge of sand into a remote trout stream, but they will have to take several steps to prevent further damage.

In April 2020, as heavy rains flooded pastures in Cherry County, rancher Dick Minor with the help of county crews dug a 2½-mile-long drainage ditch to the Snake River south of Merriman.

Rains followed, carving a chasm into the fragile soil and washing an estimated 1.6 million tons of sand and debris into the Snake, in violation of the Clean Water Act.

It turned a narrow, deep stream that sustained trout into a flat, sandy waterway similar to the Platte River 3 miles downstream.

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a work plan submitted by Minor and the county to avoid further damage.

The EPA said that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/06/epa-violation-filed-over-slow-response-to-mitigate-damage-to-sandhills-stream/">Minor and Cherry County had “multiple delays”</a>&nbsp;in submitting a work plan after agreeing to submit one in June 2021, shortly after the damage was done. The plan was finalized on Feb. 22.

The work, which is expected to take a year, includes:

No fines were assessed, according to a spokesman for the EPA’s Kansas City district office.

Allowing ‘natural forces’ to restore stream

Ben Washburn, the spokesman, said no mitigation work is being planned on the river itself after it was determined that letting “natural forces” restore the stream would prevent further damage.

“The Snake River has already started recovering through the formation of low flow channels through the deposited material,” Washburn said in response to questions from the Examiner.

“Massive excavation of the fill would cause substantial disturbance, additional local and downstream impacts, and set back the recovery period by several years,” he added. “It is expected that the river will continue its recovery over time.”

The Snake River is a 126-mile-long tributary of the Niobrara River, which flows through the Sandhills from Sheridan County to where it is dammed to form Merritt Reservoir southwest of Valentine.

The Snake is one of the few trout streams in the state and is a challenging river for kayaks and canoes.

The stretch of the Snake below Merritt Reservoir is considered the best trout water in Nebraska, though access is all via private land. The state’s largest waterfall by volume, Snake River Falls, is also in that stretch.

Washburn said that aquatic life in the river was undoubtedly damaged by the sand erosion, but it was hard to quantify because data was not collected prior to the damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712153768019.jpeg" alt=" More than a million tons of sand washed into Nebraska’s Snake River (running left to right in the foreground) when a rancher, without authorization, dug a channel (center) to drain a flooded pasture. (Courtesy of John Sidle)" />
 <figcaption> More than a million tons of sand washed into Nebraska’s Snake River (running left to right in the foreground) when a rancher, without authorization, dug a channel (center) to drain a flooded pasture. (Courtesy of John Sidle)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/02/steps-to-mitigate-deluge-of-sand-into-remote-trout-stream-doesnt-include-fine/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A Sandhills rancher and Cherry County won’t be fined for unleashing a deluge of sand into a remote trout stream, but they will have to take several steps to prevent further damage.In April 2020, as heavy rains flooded pastures in Cherry County, rancher Dick Minor with the help of county crews dug a 2½-mile-long drainage ditch to the Snake River south of Merriman.Rains followed, carving a chasm into the fragile soil and washing an estimated 1.6 million tons of sand and debris into the Snake, in violation of the Clean Water Act.It turned a narrow, deep stream that sustained trout into a flat, sandy waterway similar to the Platte River 3 miles downstream.Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a work plan submitted by Minor and the county to avoid further damage.The EPA said that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/06/epa-violation-filed-over-slow-response-to-mitigate-damage-to-sandhills-stream/">Minor and Cherry County had “multiple delays”</a>&nbsp;in submitting a work plan after agreeing to submit one in June 2021, shortly after the damage was done. The plan was finalized on Feb. 22.The work, which is expected to take a year, includes:<ul>
 <li>Place downed trees and woody debris to construct sediment traps along the ditch.</li><li>Build earthen berms to prevent excessive flow of water and sediment down the ditch.</li><li>Place a series of woody debris fences and log structures along the ditch to trap sediment and create wildlife habitat.</li><li>Install a riparian corridor, consisting of native species, along sections of the Snake River.</li>
 </ul>No fines were assessed, according to a spokesman for the EPA’s Kansas City district office.<h2>Allowing ‘natural forces’ to restore stream</h2>Ben Washburn, the spokesman, said no mitigation work is being planned on the river itself after it was determined that letting “natural forces” restore the stream would prevent further damage.“The Snake River has already started recovering through the formation of low flow channels through the deposited material,” Washburn said in response to questions from the Examiner.“Massive excavation of the fill would cause substantial disturbance, additional local and downstream impacts, and set back the recovery period by several years,” he added. “It is expected that the river will continue its recovery over time.”<h2>One of state’s few trout streams</h2>The Snake River is a 126-mile-long tributary of the Niobrara River, which flows through the Sandhills from Sheridan County to where it is dammed to form Merritt Reservoir southwest of Valentine.The Snake is one of the few trout streams in the state and is a challenging river for kayaks and canoes.The stretch of the Snake below Merritt Reservoir is considered the best trout water in Nebraska, though access is all via private land. The state’s largest waterfall by volume, Snake River Falls, is also in that stretch.Washburn said that aquatic life in the river was undoubtedly damaged by the sand erosion, but it was hard to quantify because data was not collected prior to the damage.

Steps to mitigate deluge of sand into remote trout stream doesn’t include fine

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk: Powerball Possibilities

POST PODCAST: Alliance City Manager Discusses City Council Changes

Thomas County Sheriff's Department

Thedford, Neb. - A collision between a vehicle and semi-truck over the weekend near Thedford left two dead and two injured according to officials.&nbsp;

Around 12:40 PM Saturday, March 30th, a Jeep Cherokee occupied by two adults and two minors was traveling east on Highway 2 near mile marker 211 east of Thedford, NE when it collided head on with a westbound tractor trailer.

Front seat occupants Justin Sprague, age 42 of Thedford, and Amy Mckillip, age 42 of Beatrice were pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident. One minor passenger was transported by ground with serious life-threatening injuries to Great Plains Health in North Platte and then UNMC. 

The other minor passenger was transported by ground with serious but non-life threatening injuries to Great Plains Health and then Children's Hospital.&nbsp; The driver of the tractor trailer was assessed by EMS personnel and released at the scene.&nbsp;The extent of injuries is unknown at this time.

The accident remains under investigation by the Thomas County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol.

Accident response was a multi-agency effort consisting of Thedford Fire &amp; Rescue, Mullen Rescue, the Hooker County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska State Patrol, and the Thomas County Sheriff's Office.

Thomas County Sheriff's DepartmentThedford, Neb. - A collision between a vehicle and semi-truck over the weekend near Thedford left two dead and two injured according to officials.&nbsp;Around 12:40 PM Saturday, March 30th, a Jeep Cherokee occupied by two adults and two minors was traveling east on Highway 2 near mile marker 211 east of Thedford, NE when it collided head on with a westbound tractor trailer.Front seat occupants Justin Sprague, age 42 of Thedford, and Amy Mckillip, age 42 of Beatrice were pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident. One minor passenger was transported by ground with serious life-threatening injuries to Great Plains Health in North Platte and then UNMC. The other minor passenger was transported by ground with serious but non-life threatening injuries to Great Plains Health and then Children's Hospital.&nbsp; The driver of the tractor trailer was assessed by EMS personnel and released at the scene.&nbsp;The extent of injuries is unknown at this time.The accident remains under investigation by the Thomas County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol.Accident response was a multi-agency effort consisting of Thedford Fire &amp; Rescue, Mullen Rescue, the Hooker County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska State Patrol, and the Thomas County Sheriff's Office.

Fatal accident over the weekend near Thedford according to officials

Major freight railroads will have to maintain two-person crews on most routes under a new federal rule that was finalized Tuesday in a milestone in organized labor’s long fight to preserve the practice.

The Transportation Department's Federal Railroad Administration released the details of the rule Tuesday morning after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/588d6f7829c4836b9d2feff5c21a5097">working on</a>&nbsp;it for two years. Out of more than 13,000 comments on the rule, about 60 opposed it.

There has been intense focus on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-territories-ohio-canada-business-accidents-d57651e17b2f9e0163c50298106950a3">railroad safety</a>&nbsp;since a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">fiery February 2023 derailment</a>&nbsp;in Ohio, but few significant changes have been made apart from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailment-east-palestine-norfolk-southern-bef9b47b5200f033d2f045c850745e94">steps the railroads</a>&nbsp;pledged to take themselves and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/labor-unions-kansas-city-southern-strikes-business-6e66b66a99415e12c2c1fa642d6a842f">agreements</a>&nbsp;they made to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-paid-sick-time-negotiations-norfolk-southern-70327831f881dcf86a43e05d22a5bdd5">paid sick time</a>&nbsp;to nearly all workers. Such changes include adding hundreds more trackside detectors and tweaking how to respond to alerts from them. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">railroad safety bill</a>&nbsp;proposed in response to the derailment has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/east-palestine-train-derailment-safety-regulations-railroad-4db52c68daf68da05425b5b70363fb0a">stalled in Congress</a>.

Rail unions have long opposed one-person crews because of safety and job concerns. Labor agreements requiring two-person crews have been in place for roughly 30 years at major railroads, although many short-line railroads already operate with one-person crews without problems. The unions say that conductors are crucial in helping operate the train and keeping engineers alert, and that they serve as a first responder.

“As trains — many carrying hazardous material — have grown longer, crews should not be getting smaller,” said Eddie Hall, the president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union. He praised the FRA for taking the step President Joe Biden promised. Hall said keeping two people in the cab of a locomotive is crucial now that railroads rely on longer trains that routinely stretch for miles.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that America shouldn't accept the current average of nearly three derailments a day, and that regulators will keep fighting to improve that record over the objections of railroad lobbyists.

“When good safety rules have been put in place over the years, especially after high-profile incidents, we see derailments come down on mainline tracks. But as attention faded on those incidents, the railroad industry lobby was consistently able to weaken or delay important safety provisions,” Buttigieg said at a news conference.

Railroads have a history of resisting new regulations as they sought the discretion to operate trains with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d6ca21953111e4d7b457bac02e5b6813">only one person</a>&nbsp;and move conductors to ground-based jobs in places with automatic braking systems. Conductors in a truck would respond to train problems and derailments in a certain territory. It has been a key issue in contract talks for years, though the railroads abandoned the proposal just as the 2022 negotiations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">approached a strike.</a>

The railroads argue that the size of train crews should be determined by contract talks, not regulators or lawmakers, because they maintain there isn't enough data to show that two-person crews are safer. The norm on major railroads is two-person crews, so current safety statistics reflect that reality. The industry pointed out that the FRA abandoned a similar rule during the administration of former President Donald Trump, with the agency saying in 2019 that there wasn't enough evidence to support it.

“FRA is doubling down on an unfounded and unnecessary regulation that has no proven connection to rail safety,” said Ian Jefferies, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads trade group.

The East Palestine, Ohio, derailment put a national spotlight on rail safety because of the consequences of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">hazardous chemicals</a>&nbsp;that spilled and caught fire, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate and causing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">lingering health concerns.</a>

Investigators haven't suggested the crew on that train did anything wrong. It actually included three people because there was a trainee aboard. The National Transportation Safety Board has said the derailment was likely caused by an overheating wheel bearing that wasn't caught in time by sensors.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, said it’s still important to pass a rail safety bill he cosponsored along with several Republicans because it would ensure future administrations couldn’t drop the crew-size rule and would make other meaningful improvements, including standards for trackside detectors and railcar inspections. Brown said he wants to ensure “no community ever has to suffer like East Palestine did.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a1244f2e17ba4a61b4a128ca92df0f15">worst railroad disaster</a>&nbsp;in recent history involved a one-man crew. In 2013, the brakes failed on a train parked in the hills above the Canadian town of Lac-Megantic. The train rolled downhill and derailed, killing 47 people and causing millions of dollars in damage.

Another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/707da58c97b742369022db304099d78c">fiery derailment</a>&nbsp;outside Casselton, North Dakota, in 2013 demonstrated some of the benefit of having a conductor aboard the train. The conductor helped separate undamaged tank cars filled with crude oil from the rest of the train so they could be pulled away from the fire.

At least 11 states have already approved rules requiring two-person crews.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroads-freight-safety-derailment-state-laws-42fa5ddae7486e44c7383def082d31a3">States frustrated</a>&nbsp;with the federal government’s reluctance to pass new regulations on railroads have also tried to pass restrictions on train length and blocked crossings.

The industry&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-safety-ohio-crew-size-derailment-lawsuit-429df55468cc112d7057d4dd1dcf5322">often challenges</a>&nbsp;the state rules in court, though with this new federal rule it’s not clear whether the railroads will resort to that tactic. The railroads generally argue in their state lawsuits that the federal government should be the only one to regulate the industry to ensure a uniform set of rules, and they wouldn’t be able to make that argument in a challenge to the federal rule.

Josh FunkAssociated PressMajor freight railroads will have to maintain two-person crews on most routes under a new federal rule that was finalized Tuesday in a milestone in organized labor’s long fight to preserve the practice.The Transportation Department's Federal Railroad Administration released the details of the rule Tuesday morning after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/588d6f7829c4836b9d2feff5c21a5097">working on</a>&nbsp;it for two years. Out of more than 13,000 comments on the rule, about 60 opposed it.There has been intense focus on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-territories-ohio-canada-business-accidents-d57651e17b2f9e0163c50298106950a3">railroad safety</a>&nbsp;since a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">fiery February 2023 derailment</a>&nbsp;in Ohio, but few significant changes have been made apart from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailment-east-palestine-norfolk-southern-bef9b47b5200f033d2f045c850745e94">steps the railroads</a>&nbsp;pledged to take themselves and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/labor-unions-kansas-city-southern-strikes-business-6e66b66a99415e12c2c1fa642d6a842f">agreements</a>&nbsp;they made to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-paid-sick-time-negotiations-norfolk-southern-70327831f881dcf86a43e05d22a5bdd5">paid sick time</a>&nbsp;to nearly all workers. Such changes include adding hundreds more trackside detectors and tweaking how to respond to alerts from them. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">railroad safety bill</a>&nbsp;proposed in response to the derailment has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/east-palestine-train-derailment-safety-regulations-railroad-4db52c68daf68da05425b5b70363fb0a">stalled in Congress</a>.Rail unions have long opposed one-person crews because of safety and job concerns. Labor agreements requiring two-person crews have been in place for roughly 30 years at major railroads, although many short-line railroads already operate with one-person crews without problems. The unions say that conductors are crucial in helping operate the train and keeping engineers alert, and that they serve as a first responder.“As trains — many carrying hazardous material — have grown longer, crews should not be getting smaller,” said Eddie Hall, the president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union. He praised the FRA for taking the step President Joe Biden promised. Hall said keeping two people in the cab of a locomotive is crucial now that railroads rely on longer trains that routinely stretch for miles.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that America shouldn't accept the current average of nearly three derailments a day, and that regulators will keep fighting to improve that record over the objections of railroad lobbyists.“When good safety rules have been put in place over the years, especially after high-profile incidents, we see derailments come down on mainline tracks. But as attention faded on those incidents, the railroad industry lobby was consistently able to weaken or delay important safety provisions,” Buttigieg said at a news conference.Railroads have a history of resisting new regulations as they sought the discretion to operate trains with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/d6ca21953111e4d7b457bac02e5b6813">only one person</a>&nbsp;and move conductors to ground-based jobs in places with automatic braking systems. Conductors in a truck would respond to train problems and derailments in a certain territory. It has been a key issue in contract talks for years, though the railroads abandoned the proposal just as the 2022 negotiations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">approached a strike.</a>The railroads argue that the size of train crews should be determined by contract talks, not regulators or lawmakers, because they maintain there isn't enough data to show that two-person crews are safer. The norm on major railroads is two-person crews, so current safety statistics reflect that reality. The industry pointed out that the FRA abandoned a similar rule during the administration of former President Donald Trump, with the agency saying in 2019 that there wasn't enough evidence to support it.“FRA is doubling down on an unfounded and unnecessary regulation that has no proven connection to rail safety,” said Ian Jefferies, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads trade group.The East Palestine, Ohio, derailment put a national spotlight on rail safety because of the consequences of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">hazardous chemicals</a>&nbsp;that spilled and caught fire, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate and causing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">lingering health concerns.</a>Investigators haven't suggested the crew on that train did anything wrong. It actually included three people because there was a trainee aboard. The National Transportation Safety Board has said the derailment was likely caused by an overheating wheel bearing that wasn't caught in time by sensors.U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, said it’s still important to pass a rail safety bill he cosponsored along with several Republicans because it would ensure future administrations couldn’t drop the crew-size rule and would make other meaningful improvements, including standards for trackside detectors and railcar inspections. Brown said he wants to ensure “no community ever has to suffer like East Palestine did.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a1244f2e17ba4a61b4a128ca92df0f15">worst railroad disaster</a>&nbsp;in recent history involved a one-man crew. In 2013, the brakes failed on a train parked in the hills above the Canadian town of Lac-Megantic. The train rolled downhill and derailed, killing 47 people and causing millions of dollars in damage.Another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/707da58c97b742369022db304099d78c">fiery derailment</a>&nbsp;outside Casselton, North Dakota, in 2013 demonstrated some of the benefit of having a conductor aboard the train. The conductor helped separate undamaged tank cars filled with crude oil from the rest of the train so they could be pulled away from the fire.At least 11 states have already approved rules requiring two-person crews.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroads-freight-safety-derailment-state-laws-42fa5ddae7486e44c7383def082d31a3">States frustrated</a>&nbsp;with the federal government’s reluctance to pass new regulations on railroads have also tried to pass restrictions on train length and blocked crossings.The industry&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-safety-ohio-crew-size-derailment-lawsuit-429df55468cc112d7057d4dd1dcf5322">often challenges</a>&nbsp;the state rules in court, though with this new federal rule it’s not clear whether the railroads will resort to that tactic. The railroads generally argue in their state lawsuits that the federal government should be the only one to regulate the industry to ensure a uniform set of rules, and they wouldn’t be able to make that argument in a challenge to the federal rule.

Freight railroads must keep 2-person crews, according to new federal rule 2 years in the making

BNSF confirmed to Panhandle Post on Tuesday that there was a train derailment Tuesday morning near Sidney, NE.

BNSF Spokeswoman Kendall Sloan says that at approximately 3:24 a.m, two rail cars derailed between Dalton and Huntsman. BNSF reports that there were no injuries to the crews, and as of Tuesday afternoon crews were still working to clear the incident.

BNSF says the cause is under investigation.

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle PostBNSF confirmed to Panhandle Post on Tuesday that there was a train derailment Tuesday morning near Sidney, NE.BNSF Spokeswoman Kendall Sloan says that at approximately 3:24 a.m, two rail cars derailed between Dalton and Huntsman. BNSF reports that there were no injuries to the crews, and as of Tuesday afternoon crews were still working to clear the incident.BNSF says the cause is under investigation.

BNSF confirms train derailment near Sidney

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska Hospital Association Political Action Committee (NHAPAC) issued a statement of support for Senator Deb Fischer’s reelection:

“The NHAPAC supports reelecting Deb Fischer to the U.S. Senate,” said Jeremy Nordquist, President of the Nebraska Hospital Association. “She has been a strong advocate for health care in our state, especially in our rural communities. We also greatly appreciate the time she and her staff spend learning about our complex health care issues and visiting our hospitals across Nebraska. Sen. Fischer’s years of public service combined with a strong track record of accomplishment is invaluable. We need to keep her in the U.S. Senate working for Nebraska.”

By Nebraska Hospital AssociationLincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska Hospital Association Political Action Committee (NHAPAC) issued a statement of support for Senator Deb Fischer’s reelection:“The NHAPAC supports reelecting Deb Fischer to the U.S. Senate,” said Jeremy Nordquist, President of the Nebraska Hospital Association. “She has been a strong advocate for health care in our state, especially in our rural communities. We also greatly appreciate the time she and her staff spend learning about our complex health care issues and visiting our hospitals across Nebraska. Sen. Fischer’s years of public service combined with a strong track record of accomplishment is invaluable. We need to keep her in the U.S. Senate working for Nebraska.”

 NHAPAC Issues Statement of Support for  Sen. Deb Fischer

By UNL Panhandle Research Extension Center

Due to unforeseen circumstances Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, visit to the UNL Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center has been postponed. A visit will be rescheduled and announced at a later date.

On March 20, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents named Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., the priority candidate for the NU system’s ninth president.

By UNL Panhandle Research Extension CenterDue to unforeseen circumstances Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, visit to the UNL Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center has been postponed. A visit will be rescheduled and announced at a later date.On March 20, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents named Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., the priority candidate for the NU system’s ninth president.

Visit to Scottsbluff for NU Presidential Candidate postponed

A South Dakota man was arrested Monday in connection to gun shots fired at a liquor store in Chadron on Wednesday, March 27.

The original incident was first reported to Chadron Police at 5:29 p.m. Wed, when they were called to City's Liquors at Beech Street.

When officers arrived, they began an investigation where they found two bullet holes on the west side of the building.&nbsp;

Authorities determined that the shots were fired at around 4:30 p.m. and they found video surveillance of a white 4-door sedan with South Dakota license plates that looked suspicious.

The vehicle was heading west on Highway 20 and after investigating the incident and developing a suspect, they made an arrest on Monday April 1. at 4:35 p.m.

After being interviewed, Authorities arrested 44-year-old Brandon Afraid Bear of Oglala, South Dakota.

Requested charges request for Afraid of Bear are for violation of Nebraska State Statutes 28-1212.04, Discharge of Firearm in Certain Cities and Counties, a class IC Felony; 28-1212.02, 

Unlawful Discharge of Firearm, a class ID Felony; 28-308, Attempt of a Class II Felony, a class IIA Felony; and 28-519, Criminal Mischief $0-500, a class III Misdemeanor. Bond has been set at 10% of $150,000. 

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle PostA South Dakota man was arrested Monday in connection to gun shots fired at a liquor store in Chadron on Wednesday, March 27.The original incident was first reported to Chadron Police at 5:29 p.m. Wed, when they were called to City's Liquors at Beech Street.When officers arrived, they began an investigation where they found two bullet holes on the west side of the building.&nbsp;Authorities determined that the shots were fired at around 4:30 p.m. and they found video surveillance of a white 4-door sedan with South Dakota license plates that looked suspicious.The vehicle was heading west on Highway 20 and after investigating the incident and developing a suspect, they made an arrest on Monday April 1. at 4:35 p.m.After being interviewed, Authorities arrested 44-year-old Brandon Afraid Bear of Oglala, South Dakota.Requested charges request for Afraid of Bear are for violation of Nebraska State Statutes 28-1212.04, Discharge of Firearm in Certain Cities and Counties, a class IC Felony; 28-1212.02, Unlawful Discharge of Firearm, a class ID Felony; 28-308, Attempt of a Class II Felony, a class IIA Felony; and 28-519, Criminal Mischief $0-500, a class III Misdemeanor. Bond has been set at 10% of $150,000.

South Dakota man arrested in connection to shots fired at Chadron store

By Alex Benzegala&nbsp; Panhandle Post

The Scottsbluff Police Department issued a statement on Tuesday that they have received a grant from the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office to participate in the " U Drive. U Text. U pay." Enforcement campaign.

"The goal of this grant is to reduce fatal and serious distracted driving related injury crashes in Nebraska," Operations Captain with SPD Lance Kite said. 

&nbsp;SPD said in a press release that Scottsbluff Police Officers will be working overtime this week from Monday April 1st&nbsp;through Monday April 8th, 2024.

By Alex Benzegala&nbsp; Panhandle PostThe Scottsbluff Police Department issued a statement on Tuesday that they have received a grant from the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office to participate in the " U Drive. U Text. U pay." Enforcement campaign."The goal of this grant is to reduce fatal and serious distracted driving related injury crashes in Nebraska," Operations Captain with SPD Lance Kite said. &nbsp;SPD said in a press release that Scottsbluff Police Officers will be working overtime this week from Monday April 1st&nbsp;through Monday April 8th, 2024.

Scottsbluff Police participates in drivers safety campaign

POST PODCAST: ARC Make More Possible Update

On Wednesday, March 20th, The NSAA State Speech Championships were held in Kearney, where Alliance High School had a strong showing.

Kalli Bridge, a Senior for AHS had a 4th place finish in one of her competitions, to medal for the Bulldogs.

She sat down with KCOW and Panhandle Post News Director Alex Benzegala about her speech season and career, plus much more on this edition of the Post Podcast.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712075889093.jpeg" alt="Kalli Bridge with her State Medal from State Speech" />
 <figcaption>Kalli Bridge with her State Medal from State Speech</figcaption>
 </figure>By Panhandle PostOn Wednesday, March 20th, The NSAA State Speech Championships were held in Kearney, where Alliance High School had a strong showing.Kalli Bridge, a Senior for AHS had a 4th place finish in one of her competitions, to medal for the Bulldogs.She sat down with KCOW and Panhandle Post News Director Alex Benzegala about her speech season and career, plus much more on this edition of the Post Podcast.<div><iframe title="Kallie Bridge talks State Speech for Alliance High" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=mipud-15cd77f-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=2&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=5&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

Kalli Bridge reflects on State Speech for Alliance High

Alliance's new police chief talked to KCOW Morning Show host Jason Wentworth about safety, community and recruiting new police men.&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="POST PODCAST: Alliance Police Chief David Leavitt" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=rpu5z-15cd732-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=2&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=5" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Alliance's new police chief talked to KCOW Morning Show host Jason Wentworth about safety, community and recruiting new police men.&nbsp;

POST PODCAST: Alliance Police Chief David Leavitt

 Coffee Talk: Womens Basketball more popular than ever

By Ryan Benjamin, Nebraska Extension Educator-Beef Systems

As we come into early April, it is important to take time to think about rangeland and pasture conditions and make sure grazing plans are ready for the growing season in 2024. Much of the state has seen close to normal precipitation since October 1 (current water year). However, parts of the state, especially counties in the south and east of the state, that experienced drought last summer are still experiencing drier than normal conditions.&nbsp;

Pasture and native rangeland forage production fluctuates as the growing season progresses and is influenced by precipitation, temperature, range health, the previous year's precipitation and management, and soil nutrients. The amount and timing of spring and early summer precipitation are important factors in determining annual forage production. Using trigger dates can help producers adjust stocking rates if precipitation and the resulting forage production are expected to be below average. Trigger dates will vary depending on the dominant forage.

Available soil moisture is a major driver of plant growth. Cool- and warm-season grass species have rapid-growth windows when optimum air temperature, day length, and soil moisture are present for plants to fully express their growth potential. Once that window of opportunity has passed for a particular grass species, it is too late to get significant growth, even if it does rain. For example, cool-season grasses produce most of their growth in late spring and again in the fall, whereas warm-season grass growth occurs during the middle part of the growing season.

Precipitation during May, June, and July are strongly correlated with total forage production of warm-season species and total forage production in the Nebraska Sandhills. In the Nebraska Panhandle, many range sites are dominated by cool-season grass plants and forage production is influenced by April, May, and June precipitation. This same timeframe also applies to pastures dominated by smooth bromegrass; a cool-season grass common in Eastern Nebraska. However, smooth bromegrass is a sod-forming grass and can be very drought-tolerant. Many smooth bromegrass pastures will grow again in the late summer and early fall when day length shortens and cooler nights return.

Areas affected by drought during the previous growing season will likely experience lower forage production even if adequate moisture is available this year. It is important to give range and pasture plants the chance to recover from drought and rebuild energy reserves. To accomplish this, maintain a lower stocking rate post-drought.

Trigger dates for an operation will depend on the grass species present and available grazing resources. Here are some key trigger dates to consider for Nebraska cool- and warm- season dominated range sites.

For more information or to discuss your pastures and ranges, contact Benjamin at 402-376-1850.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712072565493.jpeg" alt="drought soils.jpg" />
 <figcaption>drought soils.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By Ryan Benjamin, Nebraska Extension Educator-Beef SystemsAs we come into early April, it is important to take time to think about rangeland and pasture conditions and make sure grazing plans are ready for the growing season in 2024. Much of the state has seen close to normal precipitation since October 1 (current water year). However, parts of the state, especially counties in the south and east of the state, that experienced drought last summer are still experiencing drier than normal conditions.&nbsp;Pasture and native rangeland forage production fluctuates as the growing season progresses and is influenced by precipitation, temperature, range health, the previous year's precipitation and management, and soil nutrients. The amount and timing of spring and early summer precipitation are important factors in determining annual forage production. Using trigger dates can help producers adjust stocking rates if precipitation and the resulting forage production are expected to be below average. Trigger dates will vary depending on the dominant forage.Available soil moisture is a major driver of plant growth. Cool- and warm-season grass species have rapid-growth windows when optimum air temperature, day length, and soil moisture are present for plants to fully express their growth potential. Once that window of opportunity has passed for a particular grass species, it is too late to get significant growth, even if it does rain. For example, cool-season grasses produce most of their growth in late spring and again in the fall, whereas warm-season grass growth occurs during the middle part of the growing season.Precipitation during May, June, and July are strongly correlated with total forage production of warm-season species and total forage production in the Nebraska Sandhills. In the Nebraska Panhandle, many range sites are dominated by cool-season grass plants and forage production is influenced by April, May, and June precipitation. This same timeframe also applies to pastures dominated by smooth bromegrass; a cool-season grass common in Eastern Nebraska. However, smooth bromegrass is a sod-forming grass and can be very drought-tolerant. Many smooth bromegrass pastures will grow again in the late summer and early fall when day length shortens and cooler nights return.Areas affected by drought during the previous growing season will likely experience lower forage production even if adequate moisture is available this year. It is important to give range and pasture plants the chance to recover from drought and rebuild energy reserves. To accomplish this, maintain a lower stocking rate post-drought.Suggested trigger datesTrigger dates for an operation will depend on the grass species present and available grazing resources. Here are some key trigger dates to consider for Nebraska cool- and warm- season dominated range sites.<ul>
 <li>April 1. Look at previous growing season precipitation and dormant season precipitation from October through March. Dig some post holes to see how much moisture is in the soil profile.&nbsp; A lack of soil moisture in early April will impact growth from cool-season grass species such as Threadleaf sedge (blackroot) and Needlegrasses. Exceptionally dry conditions at this time can indicate the need to reduce stocking rates 10-20 percent on cool-season-dominated rangeland.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>April 15 to May 10. By this time, 30–45-day precipitation forecasts can have a moderate level of reliability. If above-average temperatures with average to below-average precipitation is predicted, plan additional reductions in stocking rates. In smooth bromegrass pastures with below-average precipitation, annual production may be reduced by 25-50 percent.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>May 20 to June 10. Needlegrasses will be completing their forage production and western wheatgrass is in its rapid growth window. If March-May precipitation was 50-75 percent of the long-term average, reduce stocking rates 30-40 percent or more depending upon grass species and plant health. Warm-season grasses such as prairie sandreed and little bluestem are just starting to grow.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>June 15 to June 30. Approximately 75 to 90 percent of grass growth on cool-season dominated range sites and 50 percent of grass growth on warm-season dominated range sites will have occurred.&nbsp; Rainfall after late June usually has limited benefit for cool-season grass production but could still benefit warm-season grasses.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>June 15 to July 15. Precipitation and available soil moisture is critical for warm-season grass growth.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>July 15. Precipitation after this date will have limited benefit to warm-season tallgrass production. However, it can still result in some forage growth from shortgrass warm-season species such as buffalograss and blue grama.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>September 1 to September 15. Smooth bromegrass or other cool-season-dominated pastures need adequate precipitation by these dates for enough fall forage growth to be grazed.</li>
 </ul>For more information or to discuss your pastures and ranges, contact Benjamin at 402-376-1850.

Engaging Agriculture: Rangeland and pasture update for spring and summer

By Panhandle Public Health District

It's been an exciting last year for Hemingford, and we hope you join us for some fun, to cast your important vote, and a thrilling Masquerade Murder Mystery! Join us on April 6 @ 8pm @ The Body Shop.

Masquerade attire is encouraged! The event is for 21+ only, adult beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/47wst75y or at Mobius, Hemingford Credit Union, or at the door. Table ($100 - 7 tickets included), Couples ticket ($30), Single ticket ($15).

Everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to vote on what they want to see the Foundation invest some of their important funds in for a community project. There are currently two projects’ people will get to hear more about and they’ll also have the option to write in another option too. See you there!

The Foundation is also excited to offer three mini grants to Hemingford Organizations, Associations, Clubs, or Projects in the amount of $500. These are available to align with the Foundation’s mission of supporting the people, organizations, and projects that make Hemingford a great place to live, learn, work, and play.

Those interested in a mini-grant can complete an online application here: https://forms.gle/QytqPSRw2VXPZoxTA or download the application here: https://tinyurl.com/5n8usbj9 and drop off at Mobius Communications or Panhandle Public Health District. The application opens April 1, 2024, and grants must be submitted by April 15, 2024.

The board is comprised of Jessica Davies, April Delsing, Joni Jespersen, Tonya Mayer, and Tabi Prochazka. They have been meeting regularly to serve the residents of Hemingford and the surrounding area by identifying and supporting the people, organizations, and projects that make Hemingford a great place to live, learn, work, and play. The Foundation is an affiliate fund of the Oregon Trail Community Foundation.

By Panhandle Public Health DistrictIt's been an exciting last year for Hemingford, and we hope you join us for some fun, to cast your important vote, and a thrilling Masquerade Murder Mystery! Join us on April 6 @ 8pm @ The Body Shop.Masquerade attire is encouraged! The event is for 21+ only, adult beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/47wst75y or at Mobius, Hemingford Credit Union, or at the door. Table ($100 - 7 tickets included), Couples ticket ($30), Single ticket ($15).Everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to vote on what they want to see the Foundation invest some of their important funds in for a community project. There are currently two projects’ people will get to hear more about and they’ll also have the option to write in another option too. See you there!The Foundation is also excited to offer three mini grants to Hemingford Organizations, Associations, Clubs, or Projects in the amount of $500. These are available to align with the Foundation’s mission of supporting the people, organizations, and projects that make Hemingford a great place to live, learn, work, and play.Those interested in a mini-grant can complete an online application here: https://forms.gle/QytqPSRw2VXPZoxTA or download the application here: https://tinyurl.com/5n8usbj9 and drop off at Mobius Communications or Panhandle Public Health District. The application opens April 1, 2024, and grants must be submitted by April 15, 2024.The board is comprised of Jessica Davies, April Delsing, Joni Jespersen, Tonya Mayer, and Tabi Prochazka. They have been meeting regularly to serve the residents of Hemingford and the surrounding area by identifying and supporting the people, organizations, and projects that make Hemingford a great place to live, learn, work, and play. The Foundation is an affiliate fund of the Oregon Trail Community Foundation.

Hemingford Community Foundation Masquerade Murder Mystery & more

Tuesday's Alliance City Council meeting will have several important action items, including the City Council nominating a candidate to fill a vacancy on the Council. The term will run until November 2024.

At the meeting, the City Clerk is slated to administer the Oath of Office to the newly elected City Council Member.

There will also be a proclamation of Public Transit Week, along with recognition of Interim Police Chief Kirk Felker, Fire Chief Troy Shoemaker and the AVFD.

Other items include the 8th St. Rehab Project award to Werner Construction for $786,250.00 and a Municipal Code amendment to School Zones.&nbsp;

The final item will be the Council considering an application from Geoff Hopkins to serve on the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center Advisory Board. The term would end May 31 2029.&nbsp;

The meeting Tuesday night is at 7 p.m. at the Alliance Learning Center at 1750 Sweetwater Ave.

By Alex Benzegala Panhandle PostTuesday's Alliance City Council meeting will have several important action items, including the City Council nominating a candidate to fill a vacancy on the Council. The term will run until November 2024.At the meeting, the City Clerk is slated to administer the Oath of Office to the newly elected City Council Member.There will also be a proclamation of Public Transit Week, along with recognition of Interim Police Chief Kirk Felker, Fire Chief Troy Shoemaker and the AVFD.Other items include the 8th St. Rehab Project award to Werner Construction for $786,250.00 and a Municipal Code amendment to School Zones.&nbsp;The final item will be the Council considering an application from Geoff Hopkins to serve on the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center Advisory Board. The term would end May 31 2029.&nbsp;The meeting Tuesday night is at 7 p.m. at the Alliance Learning Center at 1750 Sweetwater Ave.

Alliance City Council to nominate council member Tuesday

REFLECTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 25-29, 2024 by the City of Alliance and City Administrator Seth Sorensen&nbsp;

• We hosted several birthday &amp; celebration events this past week.

• We hosted an all-day workshop for city employees on Thursday.

• Staff has completed a comprehensive collection of information on the Hyannis Cemetery that joins the information that we have available on 38 local cemeteries. This collection encompasses over 18,000 area residents. These are available for all to look at and use for research.

• It is never dull here at the Knight Museum… this week someone sent a new resident to us for help, he was looking for local para-normal (ghost) stories to explore. Then a patron

wanted more information on a murder they read about in the Times-Herald “Blast from the Past” column. This tied to his family through a cattle brand that is still in use. If you enjoy the unusual tidbit, stop and check out the vast variety of information that is available in our Heritage room.

• April 5th &amp; 6th is the next Scrapbooking event. Call Becci for more information if you are interested. All are welcome.

• Continued to serve dine-in and delivery meals to area seniors. Just over 1,200 meals were served this month.

• Staff attended several training sessions offered by the City of Alliance

• RSVP coordinated to provide 14 volunteers working in the community.

• Staff prepared for and worked one funeral this week.

• Overseeded bare spots at the cemetery.

• Cleaned the tennis courts in preparation for matches and painted over graffiti as necessary.

• Replaced broken latches on tennis court gates.

• Repaired picnic tables at the swimming pool.

• Continued raising up chain link fences and installing weed block rubber barrier at the

• Removed dead bushes in landscape beds at the library.

• Removed concrete waste from the old swimming pool parking lot and several empty lots.

• Filled and leveled several spots in the parks with dirt.

• The winner for the Luck of the Irish contest will be chosen soon! We will announce the winner on Monday, April 1st. Thanks to the APL Foundation for the gift of $300 to the Tin Lizzie Resort in Deadwood! Summer reading preparations are beginning to take

shape, and the staff is working on some great displays for spring.

• Adult Services Librarian Nalani Stewart cataloged new materials, hosted the APL Book

Club, and planned future programming. She also hosted the book club at Highland Park Care Center and aided with the Spring Storytime craft.

• Technical Services Librarian Emily Nelson updated the Facebook/Instagram pages and website with upcoming events. She also processed book club kits for the APL Book

Clubs and a private book club, made weekly Bookmobile deliveries, and helped with several craft items for an upcoming fundraiser.

• Children’s Librarian Cynthia Horn hosted two “Spring Sparkle” Story Times featuring stories and handprint flower baskets with Granny B and an Easter Egg Hunt! She also did final preparations for April programming, updated displays, made contacts for the Summer Reading Program, organized the Book Mobile, performed backpack maintenance and inventory.

• Library Clerks Pam Becker and Stephanie Hamilton have been busy helping with

programming needs and processing new materials.

• The weather continues to provide nice days for play much earlier than normal.

• Membership renewals are picking up as the season progresses.

• The course is in great shape considering the time of year and crews will probably need to start mowing soon.

• Inventory continues to arrive in the shop.

• Completed the annual FTA audit for Drug and Alcohol Testing compliance. Received great feedback on the City’s current policy and practices with minor changes being implemented. HR is working with our testing site to make needed corrections while updating the Drug and Alcohol Testing policy for both FTA and FMCSA to ensure legal compliance and best practices.

• Assisted departments with interviews for open positions and are completing background&nbsp; checks and pre-employment conditions for the same.

• Enrolling eligible employees in benefits and assisting with other requests.

• Held the annual Retirement Committee Meeting to review the General, Fire, and Police Retirement Plans.

• Now accepting applications for Part-Time Transit Driver, Part-Time Meter Reader, Public Safety Dispatcher, Temp Airport Maintenance Worker, Police Officer, Part-Time Flexible Police Officer, Police Sergeant, and all Seasonal Positions.

• Changed out battery backup in Well # 4

• Working on Auto reel for Vactor truck

• Completed 1” water tap at 1019 Box Butte

• 12 utility office locates. Completed 8 locate requests

• Fixed the tank filler door and hung security camera after break in

• Collected chlorine residuals and samples

• Shut down all of west well field for line crew Streets

• Picked up barricades and signs on Box Butte

• Placed patch box in truck and patched potholes

• Work continues on the solar field line build and Schiff Feedlot line extension 

• Removed roughly ½ mile of three-phase line at Schiff Feedlot to accommodate their 

• Performed maintenance on several of our trucks 

• Reviewed yearly truck di-electric and maintenance test results from testing performed&nbsp; last week by certified tester 

• On Wednesday we replaced a faulted pad-mount transformer at Sheriff’s Office/Police Department 

• 4 department personnel attended “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” training 

REFLECTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 25-29, 2024 by the City of Alliance and City Administrator Seth Sorensen&nbsp;Museum• We hosted several birthday &amp; celebration events this past week.• We hosted an all-day workshop for city employees on Thursday.• Staff has completed a comprehensive collection of information on the Hyannis Cemetery that joins the information that we have available on 38 local cemeteries. This collection encompasses over 18,000 area residents. These are available for all to look at and use for research.• It is never dull here at the Knight Museum… this week someone sent a new resident to us for help, he was looking for local para-normal (ghost) stories to explore. Then a patronwanted more information on a murder they read about in the Times-Herald “Blast from the Past” column. This tied to his family through a cattle brand that is still in use. If you enjoy the unusual tidbit, stop and check out the vast variety of information that is available in our Heritage room.• April 5th &amp; 6th is the next Scrapbooking event. Call Becci for more information if you are interested. All are welcome.RSVP &amp; Senior Center• Continued to serve dine-in and delivery meals to area seniors. Just over 1,200 meals were served this month.• Staff attended several training sessions offered by the City of Alliance• RSVP coordinated to provide 14 volunteers working in the community.Parks• Staff prepared for and worked one funeral this week.• Overseeded bare spots at the cemetery.• Cleaned the tennis courts in preparation for matches and painted over graffiti as necessary.• Replaced broken latches on tennis court gates.• Repaired picnic tables at the swimming pool.• Continued raising up chain link fences and installing weed block rubber barrier at thesoftball complex.• Removed dead bushes in landscape beds at the library.• Removed concrete waste from the old swimming pool parking lot and several empty lots.• Filled and leveled several spots in the parks with dirt.Library• The winner for the Luck of the Irish contest will be chosen soon! We will announce the winner on Monday, April 1st. Thanks to the APL Foundation for the gift of $300 to the Tin Lizzie Resort in Deadwood! Summer reading preparations are beginning to takeshape, and the staff is working on some great displays for spring.• Adult Services Librarian Nalani Stewart cataloged new materials, hosted the APL BookClub, and planned future programming. She also hosted the book club at Highland Park Care Center and aided with the Spring Storytime craft.• Technical Services Librarian Emily Nelson updated the Facebook/Instagram pages and website with upcoming events. She also processed book club kits for the APL BookClubs and a private book club, made weekly Bookmobile deliveries, and helped with several craft items for an upcoming fundraiser.• Children’s Librarian Cynthia Horn hosted two “Spring Sparkle” Story Times featuring stories and handprint flower baskets with Granny B and an Easter Egg Hunt! She also did final preparations for April programming, updated displays, made contacts for the Summer Reading Program, organized the Book Mobile, performed backpack maintenance and inventory.• Library Clerks Pam Becker and Stephanie Hamilton have been busy helping withprogramming needs and processing new materials.Golf• The weather continues to provide nice days for play much earlier than normal.• Membership renewals are picking up as the season progresses.• The course is in great shape considering the time of year and crews will probably need to start mowing soon.• Inventory continues to arrive in the shop.Human Resources• Completed the annual FTA audit for Drug and Alcohol Testing compliance. Received great feedback on the City’s current policy and practices with minor changes being implemented. HR is working with our testing site to make needed corrections while updating the Drug and Alcohol Testing policy for both FTA and FMCSA to ensure legal compliance and best practices.• Assisted departments with interviews for open positions and are completing background&nbsp; checks and pre-employment conditions for the same.• Enrolling eligible employees in benefits and assisting with other requests.• Held the annual Retirement Committee Meeting to review the General, Fire, and Police Retirement Plans.• Now accepting applications for Part-Time Transit Driver, Part-Time Meter Reader, Public Safety Dispatcher, Temp Airport Maintenance Worker, Police Officer, Part-Time Flexible Police Officer, Police Sergeant, and all Seasonal Positions.Water• Changed out battery backup in Well # 4• Working on Auto reel for Vactor truck• Replaced blown fuses at Well # 7• Completed 1” water tap at 1019 Box Butte• Fixed chlorine leaks at Burnham well• 12 utility office locates. Completed 8 locate requests• Fixed the tank filler door and hung security camera after break in• Collected chlorine residuals and samples• 240 total radios installed to date• Shut down all of west well field for line crew Streets• Picked up barricades and signs on Box Butte• Greased equipment• Cleaned all vehicles• Cleaned shop• Completed 8 locates• Placed patch box in truck and patched potholes• Completed tool inventory• Graded Sweetwater Ave.Public Transit• 746 riders this weekLandfill• 219 customers this week• 242 tons of refuse• Conducted baler repairs• Laid dirt cover• Ongoing dozer work• Ran burn box• Ran trommelElectric• Work continues on the solar field line build and Schiff Feedlot line extension • Removed roughly ½ mile of three-phase line at Schiff Feedlot to accommodate their expansion project • Performed maintenance on several of our trucks • Reviewed yearly truck di-electric and maintenance test results from testing performed&nbsp; last week by certified tester • On Wednesday we replaced a faulted pad-mount transformer at Sheriff’s Office/Police Department • 4 department personnel attended “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” training Airport: • Conducted interviews for the airport vacancy.• Submitted the capital requests for budget.• Met with two different engineering firms interested in submitting qualifications for new airport layout plan.• Wildlife Training and plan review was conducted Wednesday morning.• Preliminary work completed for a possible grant for electrical project on the airfield. The project could include all runway and taxiway lights along with guidance signs. The replacement and addition of some navigational aids for pilots would also be included.Fire:• Department-wide weekly EMS training was on Airway Management.• Work continues on upper restroom remodel.• Chief participated in the monthly NSVFA Recruitment and Retention Committee meeting.Administration: • Preparations for the upcoming Council meeting• Taught and attended “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”• Participated in the annual retirement plan review• Preparations for Chief David Leavitt first day of work on April 1, 2024• Assisted Chamber of Commerce with Easter Egg HuntCommunity Events: • April 2 - City Council Meeting at the Library, 7:00pm• April 6 – Daddy Daughter Dance at Eagles Club, 5:00pm• April 6 - Masquerade Murder Mystery at Hemingford’s Fitness Center, 8:00pm• April 9 – Perfect Blend at Open Plains Transit Depot in Alliance, 9:15am• April 16 - City Council Meeting at the Library, 7:00pm• May 7 - City Council Meeting at the Library, 7:00pm• May 14 – Perfect Bland at Valor General Store in Hemingford, 9:15am

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