Thanks to:&nbsp; Tena Cook,&nbsp; CSC&nbsp;Marketing Coordinator

&nbsp;Chadron State College will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to impending winter weather.&nbsp; The residence halls and dining services will remain open.

According to the National Weather Service, Chadron is in a blizzard warning beginning at 5 p.m. today (12/12)&nbsp; and extending to 11 p.m. Wednesday (12/14).&nbsp; Blizzard conditions are expected and total snow accumulations could be 12 to 16 inches.

Although this is finals week, faculty are working with students to complete their exams online or remotely.

Winter Commencement is still scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. in the Chicoine Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645489171239.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Thanks to:&nbsp; Tena Cook,&nbsp; CSC&nbsp;Marketing Coordinator&nbsp;Chadron State College will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to impending winter weather.&nbsp; The residence halls and dining services will remain open.According to the National Weather Service, Chadron is in a blizzard warning beginning at 5 p.m. today (12/12)&nbsp; and extending to 11 p.m. Wednesday (12/14).&nbsp; Blizzard conditions are expected and total snow accumulations could be 12 to 16 inches.Although this is finals week, faculty are working with students to complete their exams online or remotely.Winter Commencement is still scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. in the Chicoine Center.

CSC Campus Closed Tuesday and Wednesday 

Panhandle Communities Hemingford and Crawford have declared Snow Emergencies based on potential blizzard conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Village of Hemingford Snow Emergency will go into effect at 5 pm MT, Monday December 12 through 11 pm Wednesday Dec. 14.

Hemingford residents are reminded there is to be no parking of vehicles on Emergency Snow Routes between the hours of 2 am and 6 am on the day of initial snow fall and the day following the end of snow fall.&nbsp; Residents are encouraged to park vehicles and trailers that are on the side streets, in their driveways .&nbsp; &nbsp;When a Snow Emergency is declared all vehicles vehicles on all streets should be removed to allow snow removal.&nbsp;

Hemingford Emeregency Snow Routes are...Niobrara Ave, Box Butte Ave and Donald Ave.&nbsp; Snow removal and sanding on these streets will take precedence over removal on all other streets and alleys.&nbsp; As conditions allow,&nbsp; all other side streets and alleys will be cleared.

The City of Crawford has declared a Snow Emergency from 8:00 p.m. Monday evening (Dec. 12th) until 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning (Dec. 15th).

In reference to City Ordinances, a snow emergency means that motor vehicles, boats, trailers etc.&nbsp; CANNOT be parked on the street during the indicated time period along the posted emergency snow routes. 

Vehicles, trailers or obstructions remaining on the routes may be ticketed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Efforts will be made to not tow vehicles during normal business hours, unless the predominate weather dictates such actions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a>More information about Crawford’s snow emergency routes and rules are available on the Crawford website found at crawfordnebraska.net.</a>&nbsp; Thank you for your cooperation!&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668451116733.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Panhandle PostPanhandle Communities Hemingford and Crawford have declared Snow Emergencies based on potential blizzard conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Village of Hemingford Snow Emergency will go into effect at 5 pm MT, Monday December 12 through 11 pm Wednesday Dec. 14. Hemingford residents are reminded there is to be no parking of vehicles on Emergency Snow Routes between the hours of 2 am and 6 am on the day of initial snow fall and the day following the end of snow fall.&nbsp; Residents are encouraged to park vehicles and trailers that are on the side streets, in their driveways .&nbsp; &nbsp;When a Snow Emergency is declared all vehicles vehicles on all streets should be removed to allow snow removal.&nbsp;Hemingford Emeregency Snow Routes are...Niobrara Ave, Box Butte Ave and Donald Ave.&nbsp; Snow removal and sanding on these streets will take precedence over removal on all other streets and alleys.&nbsp; As conditions allow,&nbsp; all other side streets and alleys will be cleared. The City of Crawford has declared a Snow Emergency from 8:00 p.m. Monday evening (Dec. 12th) until 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning (Dec. 15th). In reference to City Ordinances, a snow emergency means that motor vehicles, boats, trailers etc.&nbsp; CANNOT be parked on the street during the indicated time period along the posted emergency snow routes. Vehicles, trailers or obstructions remaining on the routes may be ticketed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Efforts will be made to not tow vehicles during normal business hours, unless the predominate weather dictates such actions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a>More information about Crawford’s snow emergency routes and rules are available on the Crawford website found at crawfordnebraska.net.</a>&nbsp; Thank you for your cooperation!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Snow Emergency declared in Hemingford and Crawford

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 12/12/22

Amity Palmer discusses exhibits and events at the Carnegie for December 2022.

<div><iframe title="POST PODCAST: Carnegie Arts Center" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=7axct-1337b13-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=2&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=5"></iframe></div>Amity Palmer discusses exhibits and events at the Carnegie for December 2022.

POST PODCAST: Carnegie Arts Center

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY, Mont. (AP) — Native species such as swift foxes and black-footed ferrets disappeared from the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation generations ago, wiped out by poisoning campaigns, disease and farm plows that turned open prairie where nomadic tribes once roamed into cropland and cattle pastures.

Now with guidance from elders and outside wildlife groups, students and interns from the tribal college are helping reintroduce the small predators to the northern Montana reservation sprawling across more than 1,000 square miles (2,600 square kilometers) near the U.S.-Canada border.

Sakura Main, a 24-year-old Aaniiih woman who is entering Fort Belknap's Aaniiih Nakoda College in January, is helping to locate, trap and vaccinate the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1st-cloned-endagered-species-ferret-23cde3908e496692648dc28d4b8121ee">severely endangered ferrets</a>&nbsp;against deadly plague in a program overseen by the tribal fish and game department.

The nocturnal animals live among the mounded burrows of prairie dog colonies, where ferrets stalk the rodents almost as big as they are, wrapping themselves around their prey to strangle and kill it.

On a recent clear night, the Nakoda sacred site Snake Butte looming on the horizon, Main shined a flashlight into a long, skinny, wire trap atop a prairie dog burrow. Inside was the second ferret that she'd caught that night with fellow wildlife worker C.J. Werk, daughter of the former tribal president.

“We got one in there!" Main quietly exclaimed.

“Wow, really another one?" replied Werk, who was engaged in a friendly competition with another worker, her cousin, to catch the most ferrets. “I'm going to rub it in.”

Hurried back to the “hospital trailer,” the animal was sedated and vaccinated against sylvatic plague carried by their favorite prey, work done in partnership with World Wildlife Fund. It had a microchip inserted beneath its skin for future tracking, before being released back into the prairie dog colony to a soft cheer from Main and Werk.

As extinctions of animals and plants accelerate around the globe, Native American tribes with limited funding are trying to re-establish imperiled species and restore their habitat — measures that parallel growing calls to “rewild” places by reviving degraded natural systems.

But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-travel-health-canada-5a7f69c50b4df6a70cf6dbdc40a932b2">direct relationship</a>&nbsp;that Native Americans perceive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-religion-oklahoma-bison-108ca2d24547ab478b1e5ca891b1a9fa">between people and wildlife</a>&nbsp;differentiates their approach from western conservationists, who often emphasize “management” of habitat and wildlife that humans have dominion over, said Julie Thorstenson, executive director of the Native American Fish &amp; Wildlife Society.

“Western science looks at humans as kind of external managers of the land and of the ecosystem,” she said. “Indigenous people see themselves as part of it.”

The Nakoda and Aaniiih people have struggled to restore their land to a wilder state. Plague periodically wipes out ferret populations, and half the foxes released so far may have died or fled.

But tribal members say they’re committed to rebuilding native species with deep cultural significance to restore balance between humans and the natural world. Tribal elders speak nostalgically of the long-gone Swift Fox Society, which prized the secretive, rarely seen animals and used their pelts and tails to adorn hair braids and costumes. They call the foxes and ferrets their “relatives.”

“It’s like having your family back,” said Mike Fox, former director of the Fort Belknap wildlife program. “We have a pretty darn good spot on the Northern Plains to bring these animals back and just about complete the circle of animals that were originally here.”

Prior to European settlement as many as one million ferrets occupied an estimated 156,000 square miles (400,000 square kilometers) from Canada to Mexico — wherever prairie dogs were found. By the 1960s, conversion of grasslands to crops, plague and poisoning campaigns reduced prairie dogs to 2,200 square miles (5,700 square kilometers). Ferrets were presumed extinct then rediscovered in 1981 on a ranch in Meeteetse, Wyoming.

They're one of the most endangered mammals in North America, with only about 300 in the wild, including fewer than 40 on Fort Belknap. Populations are propped up with a captive breeding program to counter periodic decimations by plague.

Prairie dogs are still considered a nuisance among ranchers, including on Fort Belknap, because they eat grass. Prairie dog shooting tournaments once were held annually to raise money for the tribal fish and game department, Fox said. The tournaments are gone on Fort Belknap, and prairie dogs — squirrel-sized rodents common across the U.S. Plains — are now recognized as vital to ferrets.

Parts of Fort Belknap also are being repopulated with bison, a species that sustained Native Americans for centuries before white settlers killed them off. Bison are being restored by dozens of tribes across the U.S., which is similar to efforts in the Pacific Northwest to sustain wild salmon populations, another keystone species that provides food for tribes.

The work to reestablish black-footed ferrets and swift foxes is different. Unlike bison and salmon, foxes and ferrets aren't food sources. They live in the shadows, hunting mostly at night, and are rarely seen.

Ferrets have been reintroduced to seven reservations on the Northern Plains and two tribal sites in the Southwest, while swift foxes have been returned to four reservations, said Shaun Grassel, a former biologist for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.

Less than 100 yards (91 meters) from a small pen holding three swift foxes about to be released at Fort Belknap, tribal elders Buster Moore and John Allen sat among cactuses and scrubby grasses and passed a pipe around a circle of men, while women sat nearby, watching and listening.

After the ceremony, Moore — whose Nakoda name is Buffalo Bull Horn — rubbed his hands on the hard earth, explaining that they prayed for the foxes, the tribes, the land itself.

“It sustains itself, it helps Mother Earth, everything sustain balance,” Moore said of the restoration work celebrated that day. “Prairie dogs, wolves, swift fox, red fox, black-footed ferrets.”

Once abundant on the plains, swift foxes now occupy about 40% of their original habitat. Since 2020, the tribes and college have worked with scientists from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to capture about 100 foxes from healthy populations in Wyoming and Colorado and relocate them to Fort Belknap.

As Moore spoke, the reservation's fish and wildlife biologist Tim Vosburgh and two assistants cautiously approached a few foxes in a pen. They used wire cutters to cut through the chain link and pulled it open.

When they moved about 50 yards (46 meters) away, a fox poked its head out of a prairie dog burrow inside the pen. It soon darted out the opening, followed within minutes by two others.

They disappeared across the rolling landscape and into the glaring sun behind the Bearpaw Mountains to the west.

“What they need is a little luck,” said Allen the elder. "They need to survive the winter and then they won't have to worry about it, you know, because they've got all the skills. So we call on our relatives to protect them."

By Associated PressFORT BELKNAP AGENCY, Mont. (AP) — Native species such as swift foxes and black-footed ferrets disappeared from the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation generations ago, wiped out by poisoning campaigns, disease and farm plows that turned open prairie where nomadic tribes once roamed into cropland and cattle pastures.Now with guidance from elders and outside wildlife groups, students and interns from the tribal college are helping reintroduce the small predators to the northern Montana reservation sprawling across more than 1,000 square miles (2,600 square kilometers) near the U.S.-Canada border.Sakura Main, a 24-year-old Aaniiih woman who is entering Fort Belknap's Aaniiih Nakoda College in January, is helping to locate, trap and vaccinate the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1st-cloned-endagered-species-ferret-23cde3908e496692648dc28d4b8121ee">severely endangered ferrets</a>&nbsp;against deadly plague in a program overseen by the tribal fish and game department.The nocturnal animals live among the mounded burrows of prairie dog colonies, where ferrets stalk the rodents almost as big as they are, wrapping themselves around their prey to strangle and kill it.On a recent clear night, the Nakoda sacred site Snake Butte looming on the horizon, Main shined a flashlight into a long, skinny, wire trap atop a prairie dog burrow. Inside was the second ferret that she'd caught that night with fellow wildlife worker C.J. Werk, daughter of the former tribal president.“We got one in there!" Main quietly exclaimed.“Wow, really another one?" replied Werk, who was engaged in a friendly competition with another worker, her cousin, to catch the most ferrets. “I'm going to rub it in.”Hurried back to the “hospital trailer,” the animal was sedated and vaccinated against sylvatic plague carried by their favorite prey, work done in partnership with World Wildlife Fund. It had a microchip inserted beneath its skin for future tracking, before being released back into the prairie dog colony to a soft cheer from Main and Werk.As extinctions of animals and plants accelerate around the globe, Native American tribes with limited funding are trying to re-establish imperiled species and restore their habitat — measures that parallel growing calls to “rewild” places by reviving degraded natural systems.But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-travel-health-canada-5a7f69c50b4df6a70cf6dbdc40a932b2">direct relationship</a>&nbsp;that Native Americans perceive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-religion-oklahoma-bison-108ca2d24547ab478b1e5ca891b1a9fa">between people and wildlife</a>&nbsp;differentiates their approach from western conservationists, who often emphasize “management” of habitat and wildlife that humans have dominion over, said Julie Thorstenson, executive director of the Native American Fish &amp; Wildlife Society.“Western science looks at humans as kind of external managers of the land and of the ecosystem,” she said. “Indigenous people see themselves as part of it.”The Nakoda and Aaniiih people have struggled to restore their land to a wilder state. Plague periodically wipes out ferret populations, and half the foxes released so far may have died or fled.But tribal members say they’re committed to rebuilding native species with deep cultural significance to restore balance between humans and the natural world. Tribal elders speak nostalgically of the long-gone Swift Fox Society, which prized the secretive, rarely seen animals and used their pelts and tails to adorn hair braids and costumes. They call the foxes and ferrets their “relatives.”“It’s like having your family back,” said Mike Fox, former director of the Fort Belknap wildlife program. “We have a pretty darn good spot on the Northern Plains to bring these animals back and just about complete the circle of animals that were originally here.”Prior to European settlement as many as one million ferrets occupied an estimated 156,000 square miles (400,000 square kilometers) from Canada to Mexico — wherever prairie dogs were found. By the 1960s, conversion of grasslands to crops, plague and poisoning campaigns reduced prairie dogs to 2,200 square miles (5,700 square kilometers). Ferrets were presumed extinct then rediscovered in 1981 on a ranch in Meeteetse, Wyoming.They're one of the most endangered mammals in North America, with only about 300 in the wild, including fewer than 40 on Fort Belknap. Populations are propped up with a captive breeding program to counter periodic decimations by plague.Prairie dogs are still considered a nuisance among ranchers, including on Fort Belknap, because they eat grass. Prairie dog shooting tournaments once were held annually to raise money for the tribal fish and game department, Fox said. The tournaments are gone on Fort Belknap, and prairie dogs — squirrel-sized rodents common across the U.S. Plains — are now recognized as vital to ferrets.Parts of Fort Belknap also are being repopulated with bison, a species that sustained Native Americans for centuries before white settlers killed them off. Bison are being restored by dozens of tribes across the U.S., which is similar to efforts in the Pacific Northwest to sustain wild salmon populations, another keystone species that provides food for tribes.The work to reestablish black-footed ferrets and swift foxes is different. Unlike bison and salmon, foxes and ferrets aren't food sources. They live in the shadows, hunting mostly at night, and are rarely seen.Ferrets have been reintroduced to seven reservations on the Northern Plains and two tribal sites in the Southwest, while swift foxes have been returned to four reservations, said Shaun Grassel, a former biologist for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.Less than 100 yards (91 meters) from a small pen holding three swift foxes about to be released at Fort Belknap, tribal elders Buster Moore and John Allen sat among cactuses and scrubby grasses and passed a pipe around a circle of men, while women sat nearby, watching and listening.After the ceremony, Moore — whose Nakoda name is Buffalo Bull Horn — rubbed his hands on the hard earth, explaining that they prayed for the foxes, the tribes, the land itself.“It sustains itself, it helps Mother Earth, everything sustain balance,” Moore said of the restoration work celebrated that day. “Prairie dogs, wolves, swift fox, red fox, black-footed ferrets.”Once abundant on the plains, swift foxes now occupy about 40% of their original habitat. Since 2020, the tribes and college have worked with scientists from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to capture about 100 foxes from healthy populations in Wyoming and Colorado and relocate them to Fort Belknap.As Moore spoke, the reservation's fish and wildlife biologist Tim Vosburgh and two assistants cautiously approached a few foxes in a pen. They used wire cutters to cut through the chain link and pulled it open.When they moved about 50 yards (46 meters) away, a fox poked its head out of a prairie dog burrow inside the pen. It soon darted out the opening, followed within minutes by two others.They disappeared across the rolling landscape and into the glaring sun behind the Bearpaw Mountains to the west.“What they need is a little luck,” said Allen the elder. "They need to survive the winter and then they won't have to worry about it, you know, because they've got all the skills. So we call on our relatives to protect them."

Northern Plains tribes bring back their wild 'relatives'

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 12/9/22

A Christmas Cookie Walk will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alliance on Dec. 10.&nbsp;

Proceeds will be donated to a local charity, the food pantry at one of the seminaries and LWML missions.

By Panhandle Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670605552456.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A Christmas Cookie Walk will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alliance on Dec. 10.&nbsp;Proceeds will be donated to a local charity, the food pantry at one of the seminaries and LWML missions.

Christmas Cookie Walk to be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alliance

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Kidney donor and Hays Middle School assistant principal Shauna Zweifel.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oruRTdNgg2U" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Kidney donor and Hays Middle School assistant principal Shauna Zweifel.

🎤 Forward Ever: Kidney donor, Hays assistant principal Shauna Zweifel

Alliance – Join the Alliance Public Library in honoring Charles M. Schulz, a great legacy of over 100 years and his Peanuts characters. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be featured during the Holiday Movie Matinee on Wednesday, December 28th from 2-4 pm in the Community Room, plus other holiday classics. 

Preschool through grade 12 can attend, and families are welcome. Refreshments will be provided by the Alliance Public Library Foundation.

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

By City of AllianceAlliance – Join the Alliance Public Library in honoring Charles M. Schulz, a great legacy of over 100 years and his Peanuts characters. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be featured during the Holiday Movie Matinee on Wednesday, December 28th from 2-4 pm in the Community Room, plus other holiday classics. Preschool through grade 12 can attend, and families are welcome. Refreshments will be provided by the Alliance Public Library Foundation.For more information, contact Cynthia Horn, Children’s and Youth Services Librarian at 762-1387.

'A Charlie Brown Christmas' movie to be held at Alliance library 

Nebraska’s bighorn sheep hunting season ended Dec. 6 when a hunter from the eastern end of the state punched his tag, one of the two permits issued for the season.

Todd Nordeen, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission big game and disease research manager who supervises the hunting program, said each of the two rams harvested this year was a mature adult with full-curl horns. Both were harvested in the Wildcat Hills of the Panhandle.

Jerry Fischer of Denton bagged his ram on a 6-mile trek Dec. 6, his second day of hunting. He won his permit from a drawing 3,904 applicants.

The other hunter, Kevin Small, harvested his ram on his fourth day of pursuit, Dec. 2. He won his permit by auction in February during the annual banquet for the Iowa Chapter of the Foundation of North American Wild Sheep.

The sheep mark the 31st and 32nd harvested in Nebraska since the Game and Parks’ hunting program began in 1998.

The number of Nebraska bighorn sheep permits available each year is based on the state’s population of the species, especially mature rams, as determined during monitoring by Game and Parks staff. To date, permits have been limited to one or two hunters in most years, with several years not permitting any harvests.

Nebraska has developed a reputation for producing trophy-caliber rams for those fortunate to win a permit. Not only do the hunts provide a rare experience and uncommon table fare, they have been vital to bighorn sheep conservation in Nebraska. About $2 million has been raised through the lottery applications and auctions to fund research and reintroduction efforts of the species.

Permit winners are assisted by Game and Parks staff and treated to meals and lodging at Fort Robinson State Park.

Nebraska’s reintroduction efforts for bighorn sheep began in the 1980s, an attempt to remedy the unregulated hunting, habitat loss and disease that led to their extirpation from the state in the late 1800s. Nebraska’s population of bighorns stands at approximately more than 300 rams, ewes and lambs in both the Wildcat Hills and Pine Ridge.

More information about the hunting program and how to apply for the permit lottery may be found at Outdoornebraska.org/bighornsheeplottery.

By Nebraska Game and Parks&nbsp;Nebraska’s bighorn sheep hunting season ended Dec. 6 when a hunter from the eastern end of the state punched his tag, one of the two permits issued for the season.Todd Nordeen, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission big game and disease research manager who supervises the hunting program, said each of the two rams harvested this year was a mature adult with full-curl horns. Both were harvested in the Wildcat Hills of the Panhandle.Jerry Fischer of Denton bagged his ram on a 6-mile trek Dec. 6, his second day of hunting. He won his permit from a drawing 3,904 applicants.The other hunter, Kevin Small, harvested his ram on his fourth day of pursuit, Dec. 2. He won his permit by auction in February during the annual banquet for the Iowa Chapter of the Foundation of North American Wild Sheep.The sheep mark the 31st and 32nd harvested in Nebraska since the Game and Parks’ hunting program began in 1998.The number of Nebraska bighorn sheep permits available each year is based on the state’s population of the species, especially mature rams, as determined during monitoring by Game and Parks staff. To date, permits have been limited to one or two hunters in most years, with several years not permitting any harvests.Nebraska has developed a reputation for producing trophy-caliber rams for those fortunate to win a permit. Not only do the hunts provide a rare experience and uncommon table fare, they have been vital to bighorn sheep conservation in Nebraska. About $2 million has been raised through the lottery applications and auctions to fund research and reintroduction efforts of the species.Permit winners are assisted by Game and Parks staff and treated to meals and lodging at Fort Robinson State Park.Nebraska’s reintroduction efforts for bighorn sheep began in the 1980s, an attempt to remedy the unregulated hunting, habitat loss and disease that led to their extirpation from the state in the late 1800s. Nebraska’s population of bighorns stands at approximately more than 300 rams, ewes and lambs in both the Wildcat Hills and Pine Ridge.More information about the hunting program and how to apply for the permit lottery may be found at Outdoornebraska.org/bighornsheeplottery.

Hunters successful in Nebraska bighorn harvest

Scotts Bluff Police Department’s K9 Duke has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Duke’s vest was sponsored by a fundraiser hosted by Lea Park of Choke Aloha LLC and was embroidered with the sentiment “In honor of Seattle, WA K9 Jedi, EOW 1-5-22”.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and NIJ certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 4,845 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations.

The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $960 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1,744-$2,283, weighs an average of 4-5 lb., and comes with a five-year warranty. For more information, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or you may mail your contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.

By Scottsbluff Police DepartmentScotts Bluff Police Department’s K9 Duke has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Duke’s vest was sponsored by a fundraiser hosted by Lea Park of Choke Aloha LLC and was embroidered with the sentiment “In honor of Seattle, WA K9 Jedi, EOW 1-5-22”.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670547848261.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and NIJ certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 4,845 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations.The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $960 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1,744-$2,283, weighs an average of 4-5 lb., and comes with a five-year warranty. For more information, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or you may mail your contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.

Scotts Bluff Police Department’s K9 Duke receives body armor donation 

By TENA L. COOK, MARKETING COORDINATOR

CHADRON – Chadron State College’s Winter Commencement Speaker is Karen Pope, the Director of Alumni and Development for the Chadron State Foundation. Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement will be combined in the Chicoine Center at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16. Seventy-one graduate candidates and 108 undergraduate candidates will be honored in the ceremony, which also includes summer graduates.

Pope, who will retire from the Foundation in January 2023, grew up in Bridgeport, Nebraska, and graduated from Chadron State College in 1980 with a degree in Social Sciences.

Pope’s career in the Alumni Office started in 1995 as&nbsp;an Office Assistant. She&nbsp;helped organize events, handled the office publications, and assisted with the Fall Fund Drive, involving&nbsp;CSC employees and community members soliciting pledges for scholarships. She also helped with the annual phonathon, which utilizes student callers to reach out to alumni for news to share and donations for scholarships.

“One of the top priorities in our office was greeting and welcoming alumni to campus. The many alumni I've met during my career have been the best part of my job,” she said. “I never tire of hearing alumni stories about how Chadron State made a difference in their lives.”

Pope also learned graphic design so she could prepare the Annual Report, the Alumni Magazine, and other materials to be printed.

“Coworkers were so helpful to me in those early months. I had never done design or layout. They tutored me and helped me get my first newsletter to the printer about three weeks after I started,” she said.

For years, Pope and her colleagues in the office manually prepared each mailing. She recalls the sorted bundles of the newsletter, printed three times a year, filled an entire hallway in the now-demolished Kline Center.

In 2001, Pope was promoted to the Director of Alumni and Development. In the new position, she assumed responsibility for all alumni events and requests. She traveled to visit with alumni about making gifts to support scholarships, and managed the Fall Fund Drive and phonathon.

“The Alumni and Foundation Office strives to be a lifelong connection to Chadron State College. We have a unique role since we not only work with administration, faculty, and staff on campus, but also with the community and alumni across the nation,” Pope said.

Pope has played an integral part in the Alumni and Foundation’s support of more than $80 million of campus construction since 2008 and she’s played an important role in two campaigns. Her responsibilities changed with the launch of the first comprehensive campaign, Vision 2011. She and former Chadron State Foundation CEO, Connie Rasmussen, traveled frequently on fundraising missions for initiatives for the Rangeland Complex, the Chicoine Center, and endowment growth. The campaign culminated with the college’s centennial celebration in 2011.

The Next Horizon comprehensive campaign started in 2014 with goals to raise funds for the Athletic Complex and the Math Science Center of Innovative Learning, as well as scholarships and endowments.

In addition to fundraising, Pope’s responsibilities included coordinating alumni gatherings and reunions in multiple states, assisting with the Don Beebe Classic Golf Tournament, and accompanying alumni on group trips abroad.

Before Pope joined the Alumni Office, she volunteered with Boy Scouts and the Chadron Public Library. She worked for State Farm Insurance and vividly recalls the historic 1986 hailstorm in Chadron that resulted in record property damage and claims. She also served on the board of directors when the Chadron TeamMates organization launched in the 1990s. Over the ensuing years, she remained involved with Boy Scouts until her sons were finished with it and she continued as mentor for middle school and college students. Pope has also been an active member of Rotary for 20 years and volunteers in the community.

Pope and her husband, Andy, who retired as Chadron High School’s Activities Director in the spring, have three sons, Mitch, Will, and Drew. Mitch teaches English as a Second Language and Spanish in Las Vegas, while Will teaches social science and is the head boys’ basketball coach at Papillion-La Vista. Drew is an attorney in Chadron, and his wife, Kate, is a Project Coordinator in Liberal Arts. The couple has two children, Julian and Hollis.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670546246779.jpeg" alt="Chadron State College’s Winter 2022 Commencement Speaker is Karen Pope, the Director of Alumni and Development for the Chadron State Foundation. Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement will be combined in the Chicoine Center at 2 p.m. Dec. 16, 2022. Seventy-one graduate candidates and 108 undergraduate candidates will be honored in the ceremony, which also includes summer graduates. (Photo by Daniel Binkard/Chadron State College)" />
 <figcaption>Chadron State College’s Winter 2022 Commencement Speaker is Karen Pope, the Director of Alumni and Development for the Chadron State Foundation. Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement will be combined in the Chicoine Center at 2 p.m. Dec. 16, 2022. Seventy-one graduate candidates and 108 undergraduate candidates will be honored in the ceremony, which also includes summer graduates. (Photo by Daniel Binkard/Chadron State College)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TENA L. COOK, MARKETING COORDINATORCHADRON – Chadron State College’s Winter Commencement Speaker is Karen Pope, the Director of Alumni and Development for the Chadron State Foundation. Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement will be combined in the Chicoine Center at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16. Seventy-one graduate candidates and 108 undergraduate candidates will be honored in the ceremony, which also includes summer graduates.Pope, who will retire from the Foundation in January 2023, grew up in Bridgeport, Nebraska, and graduated from Chadron State College in 1980 with a degree in Social Sciences.Pope’s career in the Alumni Office started in 1995 as&nbsp;an Office Assistant. She&nbsp;helped organize events, handled the office publications, and assisted with the Fall Fund Drive, involving&nbsp;CSC employees and community members soliciting pledges for scholarships. She also helped with the annual phonathon, which utilizes student callers to reach out to alumni for news to share and donations for scholarships.“One of the top priorities in our office was greeting and welcoming alumni to campus. The many alumni I've met during my career have been the best part of my job,” she said. “I never tire of hearing alumni stories about how Chadron State made a difference in their lives.”Pope also learned graphic design so she could prepare the Annual Report, the Alumni Magazine, and other materials to be printed.“Coworkers were so helpful to me in those early months. I had never done design or layout. They tutored me and helped me get my first newsletter to the printer about three weeks after I started,” she said.For years, Pope and her colleagues in the office manually prepared each mailing. She recalls the sorted bundles of the newsletter, printed three times a year, filled an entire hallway in the now-demolished Kline Center.In 2001, Pope was promoted to the Director of Alumni and Development. In the new position, she assumed responsibility for all alumni events and requests. She traveled to visit with alumni about making gifts to support scholarships, and managed the Fall Fund Drive and phonathon.“The Alumni and Foundation Office strives to be a lifelong connection to Chadron State College. We have a unique role since we not only work with administration, faculty, and staff on campus, but also with the community and alumni across the nation,” Pope said.Pope has played an integral part in the Alumni and Foundation’s support of more than $80 million of campus construction since 2008 and she’s played an important role in two campaigns. Her responsibilities changed with the launch of the first comprehensive campaign, Vision 2011. She and former Chadron State Foundation CEO, Connie Rasmussen, traveled frequently on fundraising missions for initiatives for the Rangeland Complex, the Chicoine Center, and endowment growth. The campaign culminated with the college’s centennial celebration in 2011.The Next Horizon comprehensive campaign started in 2014 with goals to raise funds for the Athletic Complex and the Math Science Center of Innovative Learning, as well as scholarships and endowments.In addition to fundraising, Pope’s responsibilities included coordinating alumni gatherings and reunions in multiple states, assisting with the Don Beebe Classic Golf Tournament, and accompanying alumni on group trips abroad.Before Pope joined the Alumni Office, she volunteered with Boy Scouts and the Chadron Public Library. She worked for State Farm Insurance and vividly recalls the historic 1986 hailstorm in Chadron that resulted in record property damage and claims. She also served on the board of directors when the Chadron TeamMates organization launched in the 1990s. Over the ensuing years, she remained involved with Boy Scouts until her sons were finished with it and she continued as mentor for middle school and college students. Pope has also been an active member of Rotary for 20 years and volunteers in the community.Pope and her husband, Andy, who retired as Chadron High School’s Activities Director in the spring, have three sons, Mitch, Will, and Drew. Mitch teaches English as a Second Language and Spanish in Las Vegas, while Will teaches social science and is the head boys’ basketball coach at Papillion-La Vista. Drew is an attorney in Chadron, and his wife, Kate, is a Project Coordinator in Liberal Arts. The couple has two children, Julian and Hollis.

Pope of Chadron selected as Commencement Speaker

Today we'll take you to the Dec. 6 Alliance City Council meeting where there was a reorganization of new council members including Mara Andersen, Tearza Mashburn and Mike Dafney. 

Dafney was reelected Mayor and Brian Mischnick  as Vice Mayor. ​

The council approved on second reading the Alliance Heartland Flats Enhanced Employment Area tax approval, Budget Software purchase approval and more.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Alliance City Council meeting, Dec. 6" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=wv2ti-1333bfa-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=2&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=5&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670530218324.jpeg" alt="From left to right: Tearza Mashburn, Mayor Mike Dafney, Vice Mayor Brian Mischnick, Mara Andersen, John&nbsp;McGhehey" />
 <figcaption>From left to right: Tearza Mashburn, Mayor Mike Dafney, Vice Mayor Brian Mischnick, Mara Andersen, John&nbsp;McGhehey</figcaption>
 </figure>Today we'll take you to the Dec. 6 Alliance City Council meeting where there was a reorganization of new council members including Mara Andersen, Tearza Mashburn and Mike Dafney. Dafney was reelected Mayor and Brian Mischnick as Vice Mayor. ​The council approved on second reading the Alliance Heartland Flats Enhanced Employment Area tax approval, Budget Software purchase approval and more.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670530302934.jpeg" alt="Mike Dafney&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Mike Dafney&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670530312070.jpeg" alt="Tearza Mashburn&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Tearza Mashburn&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670530325101.jpeg" alt="Mara Andersen&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Mara Andersen&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>

Post Podcast: Alliance City Council meeting, Dec. 6

Alliance – The City of Alliance has declared a snow emergency starting today at 12:00 p.m. until Friday, December 9th at 5:00 pm. 

Residents who live on designated snow routes are asked to please have all vehicles removed from the street to ensure accessibility for the City crews and emergency personnel. Due to the predicted snow totals, crews will be plowing snow on these routes multiple times. Per the City of Alliance Municipal Code Ordinance No. 2883, Sec.24-27, please note that it is the duty of the owner of every lot or parcel adjacent to a permanent sidewalk to clean off and remove all snow within 24 hours after snow accumulation, however, snow shall not be moved from lots, driveways, or adjacent sidewalks into the city streets, alley or neighboring lots. Such an offense shall be considered a misdemeanor and is punishable by a $100.00 fine. The Alliance Police Department will attempt to make contact with owners of any vehicles left parked on designated snow routes. Any vehicles not moved will be towed.

The following streets or highways are designated as emergency snow streets:&nbsp;

(1) U.S. Highway Nos. 385, 87 and 2 within the corporate limits

(2)Cody Avenue from Third Street to Kansas Street

(3) Emerson Avenue from the northern corporate limits to Third Street

(4) Box Butte Avenue from 25th Street to First Street

(5) Mississippi Avenue from Tenth Street to Third Street

(6) Potash Avenue from Third Street to Kansas Street

(7) Third Street from Flack Avenue east to the corporate limits

(8) All of Tenth Street included within the corporate limits

(9) Sixteenth Street from Buchfinck Avenue to Box Butte Avenue

(10) Twenty-fifth Street from Emerson Avenue to Sweetwater Avenue

(11) Kansas Street from Highway 2 to Highway 385

(12) Buchfinck Avenue from Tenth Street to Sixteenth Street

(13) Black Hills Avenue from Third Street to Tenth Street

(14) Sixth Street from Mississippi Avenue to Grand Avenue

(15) Grand Avenue from Sixth Street to Seventh Street

(16) Seventh Street from Grand Avenue to Mississippi Avenue

(17) Eighth Street from Dakota Avenue to Mississippi Avenue

For more information, contact Ross Grant at 762-1907 or rgrant@cityofalliance.net.

By City of AllianceAlliance – The City of Alliance has declared a snow emergency starting today at 12:00 p.m. until Friday, December 9th at 5:00 pm. Residents who live on designated snow routes are asked to please have all vehicles removed from the street to ensure accessibility for the City crews and emergency personnel. Due to the predicted snow totals, crews will be plowing snow on these routes multiple times. Per the City of Alliance Municipal Code Ordinance No. 2883, Sec.24-27, please note that it is the duty of the owner of every lot or parcel adjacent to a permanent sidewalk to clean off and remove all snow within 24 hours after snow accumulation, however, snow shall not be moved from lots, driveways, or adjacent sidewalks into the city streets, alley or neighboring lots. Such an offense shall be considered a misdemeanor and is punishable by a $100.00 fine. The Alliance Police Department will attempt to make contact with owners of any vehicles left parked on designated snow routes. Any vehicles not moved will be towed.The following streets or highways are designated as emergency snow streets:&nbsp;(1) U.S. Highway Nos. 385, 87 and 2 within the corporate limits(2)Cody Avenue from Third Street to Kansas Street(3) Emerson Avenue from the northern corporate limits to Third Street(4) Box Butte Avenue from 25th Street to First Street(5) Mississippi Avenue from Tenth Street to Third Street(6) Potash Avenue from Third Street to Kansas Street(7) Third Street from Flack Avenue east to the corporate limits(8) All of Tenth Street included within the corporate limits(9) Sixteenth Street from Buchfinck Avenue to Box Butte Avenue(10) Twenty-fifth Street from Emerson Avenue to Sweetwater Avenue(11) Kansas Street from Highway 2 to Highway 385(12) Buchfinck Avenue from Tenth Street to Sixteenth Street(13) Black Hills Avenue from Third Street to Tenth Street(14) Sixth Street from Mississippi Avenue to Grand Avenue(15) Grand Avenue from Sixth Street to Seventh Street(16) Seventh Street from Grand Avenue to Mississippi Avenue(17) Eighth Street from Dakota Avenue to Mississippi AvenueFor more information, contact Ross Grant at 762-1907 or rgrant@cityofalliance.net.

City of Alliance declares snow emergency 

By Box Butte General Hospital&nbsp;

&nbsp;The GNMSS-Hyannis clinic will be closing at noon today due to weather.

 Please call GNMSS-Alliance for needs- 308-762-7244. 

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. 

For medical emergencies dial 911 or go to the emergency room.

By Box Butte General Hospital&nbsp;&nbsp;The GNMSS-Hyannis clinic will be closing at noon today due to weather. Please call GNMSS-Alliance for needs- 308-762-7244. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. For medical emergencies dial 911 or go to the emergency room.

GNMSS Hyannis clinic closing today due to weather

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/12/07/water-users-file-lawsuit-and-protest-against-proposed-merger-of-power-districts/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A group of central Nebraska irrigators, upset over the proposed merger of two public power and irrigation districts, have now taken legal steps to block it.

A lawsuit filed Friday by a group called “Citizens Opposed to the Merger” maintains that public meeting laws were violated when the governing boards of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and Dawson Public Power&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/irrigation-power-districts-in-central-nebraska-vote-to-merge/">voted in October</a>&nbsp;to move ahead with the merger.

The Citizens group, as well as two couples identified as Phelps County irrigators, filed a formal protest to the merger Monday with the Nebraska Power Review Board, which is scheduled to consider approving the merger at its Dec. 16 meeting.

Proponents of the merger have said it would save millions of dollars in electrical costs and makes sense because it would combine Central, which provides irrigation water and generates hydropower at Lake McConaughy and elsewhere, with Dawson, a major retail provider of power.

But Gary Robison of Bertrand, the chairman of the Citizens Opposed to the Merger, said that&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/10/24/irrigators-upset-over-proposed-merger-of-central-nebraska-irrigation-power-districts/">more and more concerns</a>&nbsp;have arisen with his group of irrigators as more details of the merger have come out.

The protest, filed by the Omaha law firm Kutak Rock, spells out those concerns. The merger, it states:

Robison said the irrigators are worried that the merged district might sell off some of its water, which would hurt existing water users, or cease to use funds generated by production of electricity to offset costs of delivering water through Central’s system of canals.

&nbsp;“In our opinion, it looks like ‘sign this agreement and trust us,’ ” he said. “No. We want a better agreement or leave like it like it is.”

Jeff Buettner, a spokesman for&nbsp;Central Nebraska, said Wednesday that he could not comment on pending litigation. A consultant has previously said $12 million in electric purchases could be saved over seven years via the merger.

The lawsuit was filed by an attorney with the Lincoln law firm of former Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning.

Tim Texel of the Nebraska Power Review Board said the Citizens group, as well as&nbsp;Greg and Linda Heiden and&nbsp;Richard and Susan Waller, signed the protest filed Monday.

He said the board, which oversees the state’s public power districts, must first consider whether the Citizens group and the two couples have “standing” to protest the merger. If they do, Texel said it’s possible a public hearing on the protest of the proposed merger could be delayed until the Power Review Board’s Jan. 27 meeting.&nbsp;

Central, based in Holdrege, serves 900 irrigators on the south side of the Platte River via its canal system. It also operates Kingsley Dam on Lake McConaughy. Dawson, based in Lexington, is one of the state’s largest rural electric providers.

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670512746949.png" alt="Pipe irrigation using water provided by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. (Courtesy of Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District)" />
 <figcaption>Pipe irrigation using water provided by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. (Courtesy of Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/12/07/water-users-file-lawsuit-and-protest-against-proposed-merger-of-power-districts/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A group of central Nebraska irrigators, upset over the proposed merger of two public power and irrigation districts, have now taken legal steps to block it.A lawsuit filed Friday by a group called “Citizens Opposed to the Merger” maintains that public meeting laws were violated when the governing boards of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and Dawson Public Power&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/irrigation-power-districts-in-central-nebraska-vote-to-merge/">voted in October</a>&nbsp;to move ahead with the merger.The Citizens group, as well as two couples identified as Phelps County irrigators, filed a formal protest to the merger Monday with the Nebraska Power Review Board, which is scheduled to consider approving the merger at its Dec. 16 meeting.<h2>Could save millions</h2>Proponents of the merger have said it would save millions of dollars in electrical costs and makes sense because it would combine Central, which provides irrigation water and generates hydropower at Lake McConaughy and elsewhere, with Dawson, a major retail provider of power.But Gary Robison of Bertrand, the chairman of the Citizens Opposed to the Merger, said that&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/10/24/irrigators-upset-over-proposed-merger-of-central-nebraska-irrigation-power-districts/">more and more concerns</a>&nbsp;have arisen with his group of irrigators as more details of the merger have come out.The protest, filed by the Omaha law firm Kutak Rock, spells out those concerns. The merger, it states:<ul>
 <li>Would “prejudice” rural water users of Central by diluting the membership from the major irrigation areas on the merged board.</li><li>Would “unfairly obligate” existing customers of Central to pay off debts of the Dawson district.</li><li>Was not valid because Central failed to fill a vacancy on its board, thus nullifying the board’s October vote to move forward.</li><li>Fails to reduce duplication and “serve the public convenience and welfare,” as required in state law.</li>
 </ul>Robison said the irrigators are worried that the merged district might sell off some of its water, which would hurt existing water users, or cease to use funds generated by production of electricity to offset costs of delivering water through Central’s system of canals.&nbsp;“In our opinion, it looks like ‘sign this agreement and trust us,’ ” he said. “No. We want a better agreement or leave like it like it is.”Jeff Buettner, a spokesman for&nbsp;Central Nebraska, said Wednesday that he could not comment on pending litigation. A consultant has previously said $12 million in electric purchases could be saved over seven years via the merger.The lawsuit was filed by an attorney with the Lincoln law firm of former Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning.<h2>Hearing might be held in January</h2>Tim Texel of the Nebraska Power Review Board said the Citizens group, as well as&nbsp;Greg and Linda Heiden and&nbsp;Richard and Susan Waller, signed the protest filed Monday.He said the board, which oversees the state’s public power districts, must first consider whether the Citizens group and the two couples have “standing” to protest the merger. If they do, Texel said it’s possible a public hearing on the protest of the proposed merger could be delayed until the Power Review Board’s Jan. 27 meeting.&nbsp;Central, based in Holdrege, serves 900 irrigators on the south side of the Platte River via its canal system. It also operates Kingsley Dam on Lake McConaughy. Dawson, based in Lexington, is one of the state’s largest rural electric providers.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2zrBCvLc_tK_m24DTDqNN1GkJdbcOLHdxeQvdkUdzmJH31MRgSQZYw2Lba-cMNtc5LjWys1tcYR9Xwe2Zg0jly7ufH6_jbvFZl1tbtBmUk-HB9eRR4CUi7uzEo2X3pLIkZ3fLW5_0PLMXAuZ8PDT2GGqJIogW_mw_MdsDelIXJWcF3pFUFXCx3Kk7S0k" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Neb. water users file lawsuit, protest against proposed merger of power districts

Scottsbluff-The Scottsbluff Police Department has completed the Nebraska Buckle Up Mobilization. Scottsbluff Police Officers conducted saturation patrols over the Thanksgiving weekend in the cities of Scottsbluff and Terrytown using overtime funded by the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office with the following results:

46 citations issued including 9 seatbelt violations and one child safety seat violations

By Scottsbluff Police DepartmentScottsbluff-The Scottsbluff Police Department has completed the Nebraska Buckle Up Mobilization. Scottsbluff Police Officers conducted saturation patrols over the Thanksgiving weekend in the cities of Scottsbluff and Terrytown using overtime funded by the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office with the following results:46 citations issued including 9 seatbelt violations and one child safety seat violations3 Speeding citations2 Driving Under the Influence arrests6 felony arrests6 arrest warrants served1 Open Container of Alcohol28 No Valid Registration1 Traffic Signal violation6 No Operator’s License3 No Lights6 No Insurance2 drug paraphernalia1 Driving Under Suspension1 Left of Center2 Refusal of Chemical Test1 Fictitious License PlatesThere were also 70 warnings issued.

Scottsbluff Police completes seat belt enforcement grant

Scottsbluff– Gifts to United Way of Western Nebraska (UWWN) impact the community far beyond the holiday season. When you give to United Way, your gift becomes part of a collective effort toward more holistic and sustainable outcomes affecting the entire community.

With just one gift, you can help ensure families, individuals and youth have access to food, provide mental health counseling for children that have been abused, remove barriers to employment and sustainability for working families.

Your gift to United Way supports all the nonprofit partners in the community and stays in the community you live to support local community members in the areas of health, education and financial stability. United Way is currently supporting 27 nonprofits in Western Nebraska, including CAPstone Child Advocacy Center, The DOVES Program, East Point Horspice, Lifespan Respite, Community Table and the Scottsbluff/Gering Soup Kitchen.

United Way funding for CAPstone Child Advocacy Center’s mission is to reduce trauma and promote healing for child abuse victims and their families in a safe, child friendly environment where children can be heard and supports. UWWN funding to CAPstone Child Advocacy Center provides mental health counselling for children and their nonoffending caregivers. Lifespan Respite is a new United Way funded partner agency for 2022-23 providing activities for families caring for individuals with special needs.

Give the gift of United Way online at uwwn.org/donate or mail your donation to United Way 1517 Broadway Suite 106 Scottsbluff, NE 69361 or P.O. Box 617 Alliance, NE 69301. United Way works in the local community to Give, Advocate and Volunteer. To learn more about United Way, please call the United Way office at 308-763-8031 or visit uwwn.org.

By United Way of Western NebraskaScottsbluff– Gifts to United Way of Western Nebraska (UWWN) impact the community far beyond the holiday season. When you give to United Way, your gift becomes part of a collective effort toward more holistic and sustainable outcomes affecting the entire community.With just one gift, you can help ensure families, individuals and youth have access to food, provide mental health counseling for children that have been abused, remove barriers to employment and sustainability for working families.Your gift to United Way supports all the nonprofit partners in the community and stays in the community you live to support local community members in the areas of health, education and financial stability. United Way is currently supporting 27 nonprofits in Western Nebraska, including CAPstone Child Advocacy Center, The DOVES Program, East Point Horspice, Lifespan Respite, Community Table and the Scottsbluff/Gering Soup Kitchen.United Way funding for CAPstone Child Advocacy Center’s mission is to reduce trauma and promote healing for child abuse victims and their families in a safe, child friendly environment where children can be heard and supports. UWWN funding to CAPstone Child Advocacy Center provides mental health counselling for children and their nonoffending caregivers. Lifespan Respite is a new United Way funded partner agency for 2022-23 providing activities for families caring for individuals with special needs.Give the gift of United Way online at uwwn.org/donate or mail your donation to United Way 1517 Broadway Suite 106 Scottsbluff, NE 69361 or P.O. Box 617 Alliance, NE 69301. United Way works in the local community to Give, Advocate and Volunteer. To learn more about United Way, please call the United Way office at 308-763-8031 or visit uwwn.org.

Give the gift of United Way to help Panhandle communities 

For any last minute gifts being received this year, use our Holiday Season Present Protection Program and help the community cut back on stolen packages.

During the Holiday Season, send your package to us and pick it up after it is delivered. Don't let it be left unattended on your porch&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Alliance Police Department<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670445481293.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For any last minute gifts being received this year, use our Holiday Season Present Protection Program and help the community cut back on stolen packages. During the Holiday Season, send your package to us and pick it up after it is delivered. Don't let it be left unattended on your porch&nbsp;&nbsp;

Alliance police encourage 'Holiday Present Protection Program'

LINCOLN, Neb.-Governor Pete Ricketts issued the following statement for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is observed on December 7, 2022.

“Eighty-one years ago, Americans united in response to Imperial Japan’s surprise attack at our naval station in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii,” said Gov. Ricketts.&nbsp; “Motivated by the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans of all backgrounds came together to defend our homeland and the freedoms we hold dear. &nbsp;Those who died serving our country on December 7, 1941, will never be forgotten.”

Flags are to be flown at half-staff from midnight December 7 to midnight December 8, in accordance with a proclamation from the White House. &nbsp;Citizens are also encouraged to observe appropriate ceremonies and activities in appreciation of the sacrifices of those who served in World War II.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670438182034.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By GOVERNOR PETE RICKETTSLINCOLN, Neb.-Governor Pete Ricketts issued the following statement for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is observed on December 7, 2022.“Eighty-one years ago, Americans united in response to Imperial Japan’s surprise attack at our naval station in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii,” said Gov. Ricketts.&nbsp; “Motivated by the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans of all backgrounds came together to defend our homeland and the freedoms we hold dear. &nbsp;Those who died serving our country on December 7, 1941, will never be forgotten.”Flags are to be flown at half-staff from midnight December 7 to midnight December 8, in accordance with a proclamation from the White House. &nbsp;Citizens are also encouraged to observe appropriate ceremonies and activities in appreciation of the sacrifices of those who served in World War II.

Gov. Ricketts' Pearl Harbor Day statement

Seth Sorenson discusses items on the agenda of the 12/6/22 Alliance City Council meeting.

<div><iframe title="POST PODCAST: Alliance City Manager Seth Sorenson" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=axmir-1332290-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=2&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=5"></iframe></div>Seth Sorenson discusses items on the agenda of the 12/6/22 Alliance City Council meeting.

POST PODCAST: Alliance City Manager Seth Sorenson

By Patricia Jones, Alliance Poverty Task Force

It’s December, the month for giving. Our mail is full of requests for donations to several national and international organizations. Many people use these donations for tax deductions, so they need to be made by year end.

Please remember that there are several local charities who are serving the people in need in our area. Where can you give in Box Butte County so your funds are serving our neighbors and your dollars are being spent in our community?

Santa’s Helpers – A tree is set up at Bomgaars. Pick a tag, buy and wrap a new $15-20 toy, attach the tag, and return it to Bomgaars by December 10. Invitations have been sent out to qualifying families, who must return postcards so gifts are set aside for their family. Families drive through the Eagles parking lot between 5:00-6:00 pm on Sunday, December 11. Help is needed to wrap gifts on December 11 beginning at 9:00 am at the Eagles. In addition to the tree at Bomgaars, new toys can be dropped off at Highland Park Care Center. Monetary donations can be mailed to Santa's Helpers, PO Box 121, Alliance NE 69301. Call Karen, 308-762-8545, for more information.

Tree of Love – Not only do our children need gifts from Santa, so do the residents of our nursing homes. Tags suggesting gifts for people at Highland Park can be found on trees at Carter’s. Gifts should be returned by December 18. The Tree of Love for people at the Hemingford Care Center is at Valor General Store. Gifts should be returned to the Hemingford Care Center by December 19.

Holiday Food Baskets – United Way coordinates the Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Basket Program. Donations may be made through your church, via the Santa Bucks program at Safeway, or mailed to United Way, P.O. Box 617, Alliance, NE 69301. Please note food baskets in the memo line. Donations of non-perishable, non-expired food items are welcome; contact your local church or United Way for more information. The Alliance Senior Center will be holding a pop-up food drive December 6-10 to collect items for the food baskets. Monetary donations will be used for any additional items needed, or to give gift certificates for perishables like meat and dairy products. Sign up to receive a food basket at www.uwwn.org/food2021.

St John’s Tree of Warmth – St John’s Lutheran Church at 2090 Emerson Avenue hands out mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, and socks for all ages when the people pick up their Holiday Food Baskets. Call 762-1883 to inquire about donating items for the Tree of Warmth.

Salvation Army – Drop your donations in the red kettles at Raben’s Market, Bomgaars, Grocery Kart, Carter’s, J&amp;J Pitstop, or Git ‘n Split. Red kettle donations help people through grocery, prescription, utility, motel, and medical gas voucher assistance, as well as emergency services and stranded motorist assistance. These funds serve residents of Box Butte County and are distributed by Northwest Community Action Partnership (NCAP) and the Alliance Police Department. You can also drop off donations at First National Bank (FNBO) or give online at registertoring.com.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors– The City of Alliance has a utility assistance program for their customers who have delinquent bills subject to disconnect. City utility customers may donate to Neighbors Helping Neighbors by adding a one-time and/or recurring donation to their monthly utility bill. Those who elect to participate should complete the form on the City’s website, www.cityofalliance.net/419/Neighbors-Helping-Neighbors, and return it to the City. Funds are distributed by NCAP.

Heat Share - Black Hills Energy works with NCAP and the Salvation Army to provide emergency heating assistance to those unable to pay their company’s natural gas bill through a program called HeatShare. HeatShare is funded by the charitable giving arm of Black Hills Energy, its employees, and their customers.

Backpack Program – Half of the children in Box Butte County qualify for free/reduced lunch. They also qualify for the Backpack Program, allowing them to take home food for the weekend. Backpacks are distributed to the Alliance Public Schools, Hemingford Public Schools, and Head Start. To donate, send your check, payable to Backpack Program, to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 430, Alliance NE 69301. The Head Start Backpack Program is handled by St. John’s Lutheran Church, PO Box 70, Alliance NE 69301; checks payable to St. John’s with Head Start Backpacks in the memo line.

Community Table – People can eat free of charge at the Masonic Center, 123 W 3rd (use the Laramie Street door) Monday through Thursday, with a sack lunch for Friday. Donations for this program may be sent to Community Table, PO Box 5, Alliance, NE 69301, or to 1st Interstate Bank, 423 W 3rd, Alliance, NE 69301. Be sure to put Community Table on the memo line.

Northwest Community Action Partnership Extra Helpings Food Pantry or Hemingford Ministerial Association Food Pantry welcome donations. Monetary donations are used to purchase food at a discount from the Food Bank of the Heartland.

Many other organizations in Box Butte County would love to receive your donations. These include 501c3 nonprofits, foundations, and area churches. It is the season to be sharing, to be giving.

By Patricia Jones, Alliance Poverty Task ForceIt’s December, the month for giving. Our mail is full of requests for donations to several national and international organizations. Many people use these donations for tax deductions, so they need to be made by year end.Please remember that there are several local charities who are serving the people in need in our area. Where can you give in Box Butte County so your funds are serving our neighbors and your dollars are being spent in our community?Santa’s Helpers – A tree is set up at Bomgaars. Pick a tag, buy and wrap a new $15-20 toy, attach the tag, and return it to Bomgaars by December 10. Invitations have been sent out to qualifying families, who must return postcards so gifts are set aside for their family. Families drive through the Eagles parking lot between 5:00-6:00 pm on Sunday, December 11. Help is needed to wrap gifts on December 11 beginning at 9:00 am at the Eagles. In addition to the tree at Bomgaars, new toys can be dropped off at Highland Park Care Center. Monetary donations can be mailed to Santa's Helpers, PO Box 121, Alliance NE 69301. Call Karen, 308-762-8545, for more information.Tree of Love – Not only do our children need gifts from Santa, so do the residents of our nursing homes. Tags suggesting gifts for people at Highland Park can be found on trees at Carter’s. Gifts should be returned by December 18. The Tree of Love for people at the Hemingford Care Center is at Valor General Store. Gifts should be returned to the Hemingford Care Center by December 19.Holiday Food Baskets – United Way coordinates the Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Basket Program. Donations may be made through your church, via the Santa Bucks program at Safeway, or mailed to United Way, P.O. Box 617, Alliance, NE 69301. Please note food baskets in the memo line. Donations of non-perishable, non-expired food items are welcome; contact your local church or United Way for more information. The Alliance Senior Center will be holding a pop-up food drive December 6-10 to collect items for the food baskets. Monetary donations will be used for any additional items needed, or to give gift certificates for perishables like meat and dairy products. Sign up to receive a food basket at www.uwwn.org/food2021.St John’s Tree of Warmth – St John’s Lutheran Church at 2090 Emerson Avenue hands out mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, and socks for all ages when the people pick up their Holiday Food Baskets. Call 762-1883 to inquire about donating items for the Tree of Warmth.Salvation Army – Drop your donations in the red kettles at Raben’s Market, Bomgaars, Grocery Kart, Carter’s, J&amp;J Pitstop, or Git ‘n Split. Red kettle donations help people through grocery, prescription, utility, motel, and medical gas voucher assistance, as well as emergency services and stranded motorist assistance. These funds serve residents of Box Butte County and are distributed by Northwest Community Action Partnership (NCAP) and the Alliance Police Department. You can also drop off donations at First National Bank (FNBO) or give online at registertoring.com.Neighbors Helping Neighbors– The City of Alliance has a utility assistance program for their customers who have delinquent bills subject to disconnect. City utility customers may donate to Neighbors Helping Neighbors by adding a one-time and/or recurring donation to their monthly utility bill. Those who elect to participate should complete the form on the City’s website, www.cityofalliance.net/419/Neighbors-Helping-Neighbors, and return it to the City. Funds are distributed by NCAP.Heat Share - Black Hills Energy works with NCAP and the Salvation Army to provide emergency heating assistance to those unable to pay their company’s natural gas bill through a program called HeatShare. HeatShare is funded by the charitable giving arm of Black Hills Energy, its employees, and their customers.Backpack Program – Half of the children in Box Butte County qualify for free/reduced lunch. They also qualify for the Backpack Program, allowing them to take home food for the weekend. Backpacks are distributed to the Alliance Public Schools, Hemingford Public Schools, and Head Start. To donate, send your check, payable to Backpack Program, to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 430, Alliance NE 69301. The Head Start Backpack Program is handled by St. John’s Lutheran Church, PO Box 70, Alliance NE 69301; checks payable to St. John’s with Head Start Backpacks in the memo line.Community Table – People can eat free of charge at the Masonic Center, 123 W 3rd (use the Laramie Street door) Monday through Thursday, with a sack lunch for Friday. Donations for this program may be sent to Community Table, PO Box 5, Alliance, NE 69301, or to 1st Interstate Bank, 423 W 3rd, Alliance, NE 69301. Be sure to put Community Table on the memo line.Northwest Community Action Partnership Extra Helpings Food Pantry or Hemingford Ministerial Association Food Pantry welcome donations. Monetary donations are used to purchase food at a discount from the Food Bank of the Heartland.Many other organizations in Box Butte County would love to receive your donations. These include 501c3 nonprofits, foundations, and area churches. It is the season to be sharing, to be giving.

Getting Ahead: Donate locally 

By&nbsp;Daniel Bowen, Friends of the Chadron Public Library&nbsp;President

The Chadron Public Library, along with the Friends of the Library, will be holding our Christmas Party on Friday, December 9, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.&nbsp; 

There will be holiday treats for everyone, the kids can see Santa, and older folks can listen to the music or make holiday crafts in Library maker space, all for free. At the same time,&nbsp;the Friends of Chadron Public Library will be having our Book Sale at the Annex building right next door to the Library.&nbsp; You can have one free book, and you also can get free gift wrapping with a purchase.

By&nbsp;Daniel Bowen, Friends of the Chadron Public Library&nbsp;PresidentThe Chadron Public Library, along with the Friends of the Library, will be holding our Christmas Party on Friday, December 9, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.&nbsp; There will be holiday treats for everyone, the kids can see Santa, and older folks can listen to the music or make holiday crafts in Library maker space, all for free. At the same time,&nbsp;the Friends of Chadron Public Library will be having our Book Sale at the Annex building right next door to the Library.&nbsp; You can have one free book, and you also can get free gift wrapping with a purchase.

Chadron library to hold Christmas party with Santa, book sale 

In Nebraska, the crops we grow, livestock we raise, goods we manufacture, and innovations we develop make an impact far beyond our borders.&nbsp; Nebraskans have long known that.&nbsp; Increasingly, the world does too.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Growing Nebraska’s international presence has been a pillar of my administration.&nbsp; Since I took office, we’ve made trade missions to eleven different countries to forge new partnerships and increase investments in the Good Life.&nbsp; As a result of these missions, our state has become its own global brand.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just last week, I led a delegation of Nebraska agriculture businesses, state agricultural organizations, the Department of Agriculture (NDA), and the Department of Economic Development (DED) to Japan.&nbsp; While there, we thanked existing partners for their continued investments in our state and discussed ways to increase our agriculture and ethanol exports.&nbsp; This was our fourth and final trade mission to Japan during my administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;

These trade missions have solidified Japan as one of our most valued trade partners.&nbsp; For example, they are our second largest market for agriculture exports.&nbsp; They are our largest international market for pork.&nbsp; In 2021, 56% of Nebraska’s pork exports went to Japan.&nbsp; And they represent the second largest international market for beef.&nbsp; Since 2015, annual beef exports to Japan have increased by $215 million annually.&nbsp; That’s an 88% increase.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Gov. Pete RickettsIn Nebraska, the crops we grow, livestock we raise, goods we manufacture, and innovations we develop make an impact far beyond our borders.&nbsp; Nebraskans have long known that.&nbsp; Increasingly, the world does too.&nbsp;&nbsp;Growing Nebraska’s international presence has been a pillar of my administration.&nbsp; Since I took office, we’ve made trade missions to eleven different countries to forge new partnerships and increase investments in the Good Life.&nbsp; As a result of these missions, our state has become its own global brand.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just last week, I led a delegation of Nebraska agriculture businesses, state agricultural organizations, the Department of Agriculture (NDA), and the Department of Economic Development (DED) to Japan.&nbsp; While there, we thanked existing partners for their continued investments in our state and discussed ways to increase our agriculture and ethanol exports.&nbsp; This was our fourth and final trade mission to Japan during my administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;These trade missions have solidified Japan as one of our most valued trade partners.&nbsp; For example, they are our second largest market for agriculture exports.&nbsp; They are our largest international market for pork.&nbsp; In 2021, 56% of Nebraska’s pork exports went to Japan.&nbsp; And they represent the second largest international market for beef.&nbsp; Since 2015, annual beef exports to Japan have increased by $215 million annually.&nbsp; That’s an 88% increase.&nbsp;&nbsp;Last week, we explored opportunities to grow Nebraska’s agriculture exports even more.&nbsp; Right now, there is a unique opportunity to increase beef sales after the Japanese legislature approved new beef tariff trigger levels.&nbsp; The new safeguard mechanism will make it less likely that U.S. beef exports will trigger higher tariffs, which means our state can do even more to meet Japan’s growing demand for quality beef.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, we are positioning Nebraska as Japan’s go-to source for ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF.&nbsp; As part of their country’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint, Japanese officials are looking to increase the country’s ethanol blending requirement for all gasoline, including jet fuel.&nbsp; This will increase demand for biofuels. &nbsp;And Nebraska can easily help meet that need, since our state has 24 ethanol production facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 2.6 billion gallons of ethanol a year.&nbsp;&nbsp;In many ways, investing in and trading with Nebraska is an easy sell:&nbsp; Our central location and abundant natural resources make Nebraska a reliable partner for a variety of goods.&nbsp; Our strong work ethic, high labor force participation rate (#1 in the nation at 69.8%), and investments to develop our talent pipeline make us a secure place to invest and grow.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, our best asset is our people.&nbsp; This is why we make sure our farmers, ranchers, and industry leaders are a part of the delegation when we engage in trade missions.&nbsp; They are the best ambassadors of Nebraska.&nbsp; They tell their story better than anyone.In a market that places a high premium on the quality of their food, that story gives us a major advantage.&nbsp; With 95% of Nebraska’s farms being family owned, we have abundant examples of the adaptations our farm families make to ensure that our beef, pork, corn, and other crops remain best-in-the-nation.&nbsp; People are often surprised to learn that Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists—but there’s never a doubt that what they import from us is the best there is to offer.On trade missions, our export partners hear it straight from our producers.&nbsp; The delegation to Japan included Nebraska cattle ranchers and hog, corn, and wheat farmers, which gave them the chance to tell the story of their multi-generational operations and the great work they’re doing to care for their land and animals.&nbsp; For instance, our agriculture delegation shared the success of the U.S. cattle industry producing 66% more beef while reducing its carbon footprint by 40% since the 1960s.&nbsp; They also highlighted that U.S. beef production has some of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions in the world—10-50 times lower than in many other parts of the globe.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The willingness of&nbsp;Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers to meet foreign consumers, businesses, and officials is invaluable as we work to strengthen partnerships and increase trade.&nbsp; So, to everyone who has gone on State trade missions during my time as Governor: thank you.&nbsp; We have succeeded in growing Nebraska globally because of your involvement.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am confident that in the coming years, the State will continue building on the relationships we’ve forged and will further the Nebraska brand worldwide.&nbsp; If you would like to learn more about our trade strategy and initiatives, please email me at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;or call 402-471-2244.&nbsp;

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