POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 10/27/22

As the days become colder, food insecurity rates are continuing to rise across Western Nebraska, with more than 18% of Nebraska Children living in food insecure homes.   

To help tackle the growing epidemic, local PepsiCo Beverages North America Western Nebraska bottler LinPepCo, partnered with United Way of Western Nebraska to host a meal packing event in Alliance, NE.  Volunteers will pack more than 1,000 meals to reach families facing food insecurity through school meal backpack programs across Alliance, Chadron, Hemingford, Scottsbluff, Gering and Sidney.  

On Wednesday October 26 volunteers from PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), LinPepCo, United Way of Western Nebraska and Cooperative Ministries teamed up to pack 1,000 meals to reach families through school meal backpack programs in Alliance, Chadron, Hemingford, Scottsbluff, Gering and Sidney. These meals are made possible through PepsiCo’s Food for Good program to help advance food security in communities across the US and around the world. The 1,000 meals packed at LinPepCo’s Alliance location meet or exceed USDA nutritional standards and contain: 2 apple sauces, 2 pouches chili/beans, 2 6 oz juice boxes, 2 shelf stable milk, 2 1 oz packs of cereal. 

In celebration of the partnership between PBNA and its franchise business partner LinPepCo, together they will donate $14,000 to support the continuation of United Way of Western Nebraska and Cooperative Ministries’ services to neighbors, organizations that LinPepCo have supported for more than 10 years.   

Backpack program donations can be made online at www.uwwn.org/backpack.  

Press ReleaseAs the days become colder, food insecurity rates are continuing to rise across Western Nebraska, with more than 18% of Nebraska Children living in food insecure homes. To help tackle the growing epidemic, local PepsiCo Beverages North America Western Nebraska bottler LinPepCo, partnered with United Way of Western Nebraska to host a meal packing event in Alliance, NE. Volunteers will pack more than 1,000 meals to reach families facing food insecurity through school meal backpack programs across Alliance, Chadron, Hemingford, Scottsbluff, Gering and Sidney. On Wednesday October 26 volunteers from PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), LinPepCo, United Way of Western Nebraska and Cooperative Ministries teamed up to pack 1,000 meals to reach families through school meal backpack programs in Alliance, Chadron, Hemingford, Scottsbluff, Gering and Sidney. These meals are made possible through PepsiCo’s Food for Good program to help advance food security in communities across the US and around the world. The 1,000 meals packed at LinPepCo’s Alliance location meet or exceed USDA nutritional standards and contain: 2 apple sauces, 2 pouches chili/beans, 2 6 oz juice boxes, 2 shelf stable milk, 2 1 oz packs of cereal. In celebration of the partnership between PBNA and its franchise business partner LinPepCo, together they will donate $14,000 to support the continuation of United Way of Western Nebraska and Cooperative Ministries’ services to neighbors, organizations that LinPepCo have supported for more than 10 years. Backpack program donations can be made online at www.uwwn.org/backpack.

LinPepCo and United Way of Western Nebraska Support Local Backpack Programs

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A second railroad union rejected its deal with the major U.S. freight railroads on Wednesday, reflecting workers’ increasing frustration with the lack of paid sick time in the industry and adding to concerns about the possibility of a strike next month that could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-strike-impact-5eb6747b3e4b4e39d764644d6377121d">cripple the economy</a>.

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen said nearly 61% of the workers who voted opposed the five-year contract even though it included 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses. It is the second rail union to reject a deal this month.

Union President Michael Baldwin said the “lack of good-faith bargaining” by the railroads and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-strikes-a83dffef79d38e36dc25588b19bf54b4">recommendations</a>&nbsp;of a board of arbitrators that President Joe Biden appointed this summer denied workers the “basic right of paid time off for illness.”

The unions say the railroads, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/csx-corp-florida-business-earnings-99976c3154d2939f544c2bdfecc77330">a couple</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-omaha-economy-business-483f55c699a94c29f579883e6b87fa85">reported more</a>&nbsp;than $1 billion profit in the third quarter, can easily afford to offer paid sick time. The negotiations included CSX, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, BNSF and Kansas City Southern railroads.

The railroads maintain that the unions have agreed during decades of negotiations to forego paid sick leave in favor of higher wages and more generous short-term disability benefits that kick in after four days of absences and continue up to a year. They have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-business-strikes-940da8fc519f8c526ca614e201d01216">rejected all demands</a>&nbsp;for paid sick time although they did offer the unions that represent engineers and conductors three days of unpaid leave to tend to medical appointments as long as workers give 30 days notice.

The railroads have refused to offer workers much more than what the Presidential Emergency Board of arbitrators recommended, and they say that board rejected unions' requests for paid sick time in favor of recommending the largest wage increases in more than four decades.

Workers have been fighting in these negotiations for ways to improve their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">quality of life</a>&nbsp;and demanding that railroads ease the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-5123fda3d039543700b23d939e0bdda2">strict attendance policies</a>&nbsp;that keep some of them on call 24-7.

Six smaller unions have approved their deals with the railroads, but earlier this month the large Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union that represents track maintenance workers also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-0744cffe919f0d48fcc02d16c8a298b3">rejected</a>&nbsp;its proposed contract because workers were concerned about the lack of paid sick time. And the two biggest unions that represent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-government-and-politics-6172442e20ccf3295b39c2f3184e03cf">conductors and engineers</a>, who are most affected by the railroads' demanding schedules, won't release their votes until mid November.

All 12 rail unions that together represent 115,000 workers nationwide have to approve contracts with the railroads to prevent a strike although there is no immediate threat of a walkout because the unions that rejected their deals agreed to return to the bargaining table and continue talks at least through Nov. 19.

If both sides can't agree on new contracts, Congress may step in to block a strike and impose terms on workers.

<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/2022/10/1666818491559.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A second railroad union rejected its deal with the major U.S. freight railroads on Wednesday, reflecting workers’ increasing frustration with the lack of paid sick time in the industry and adding to concerns about the possibility of a strike next month that could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-strike-impact-5eb6747b3e4b4e39d764644d6377121d">cripple the economy</a>.The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen said nearly 61% of the workers who voted opposed the five-year contract even though it included 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses. It is the second rail union to reject a deal this month.Union President Michael Baldwin said the “lack of good-faith bargaining” by the railroads and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-strikes-a83dffef79d38e36dc25588b19bf54b4">recommendations</a>&nbsp;of a board of arbitrators that President Joe Biden appointed this summer denied workers the “basic right of paid time off for illness.”The unions say the railroads, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/csx-corp-florida-business-earnings-99976c3154d2939f544c2bdfecc77330">a couple</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-omaha-economy-business-483f55c699a94c29f579883e6b87fa85">reported more</a>&nbsp;than $1 billion profit in the third quarter, can easily afford to offer paid sick time. The negotiations included CSX, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, BNSF and Kansas City Southern railroads.The railroads maintain that the unions have agreed during decades of negotiations to forego paid sick leave in favor of higher wages and more generous short-term disability benefits that kick in after four days of absences and continue up to a year. They have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-business-strikes-940da8fc519f8c526ca614e201d01216">rejected all demands</a>&nbsp;for paid sick time although they did offer the unions that represent engineers and conductors three days of unpaid leave to tend to medical appointments as long as workers give 30 days notice.The railroads have refused to offer workers much more than what the Presidential Emergency Board of arbitrators recommended, and they say that board rejected unions' requests for paid sick time in favor of recommending the largest wage increases in more than four decades.Workers have been fighting in these negotiations for ways to improve their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">quality of life</a>&nbsp;and demanding that railroads ease the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-5123fda3d039543700b23d939e0bdda2">strict attendance policies</a>&nbsp;that keep some of them on call 24-7.Six smaller unions have approved their deals with the railroads, but earlier this month the large Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union that represents track maintenance workers also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-0744cffe919f0d48fcc02d16c8a298b3">rejected</a>&nbsp;its proposed contract because workers were concerned about the lack of paid sick time. And the two biggest unions that represent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-government-and-politics-6172442e20ccf3295b39c2f3184e03cf">conductors and engineers</a>, who are most affected by the railroads' demanding schedules, won't release their votes until mid November.All 12 rail unions that together represent 115,000 workers nationwide have to approve contracts with the railroads to prevent a strike although there is no immediate threat of a walkout because the unions that rejected their deals agreed to return to the bargaining table and continue talks at least through Nov. 19.If both sides can't agree on new contracts, Congress may step in to block a strike and impose terms on workers.<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://lh4.googleusercontent.com/BPzusTmSO4RDisvu5tUIPpTrdeJQUq4gEs9ICBCRiZ1_63VP2BUPOCL_98yXkhFFxICPVTvLL0lNLYcZYE4BWXTJA1OjDrrkPV0mxd8F_K-YrVXwe6uatpNURsO5zEPga4x-zAHVFvf3_tx8Ve7oXH6N0fgO7Qixnd9px84DUZe6zug6E8dpTQqN" alt="" />
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Second railroad union rejects deal, adding to strike worries

By: Mike Glesinger&nbsp; Panhandle Post

The Alliance Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the Annual Trick/Trunk or Treat on&nbsp; Monday October 31,&nbsp; in downtown Alliance.&nbsp; Children are welcome to come trick or treating in the 200, 300, 400 and 500 Blocks of Box Butte Avenue and also some side streets,&nbsp; from 3:30 to 5 pm Halloween Day.

Groups or individuals are asked to decorate the back of their car,&nbsp; trunk or pickup to hand out candy and are encouraged to dress in costumes.&nbsp; Those wishing to take part need to sign up at the Chamber Office at 305 Box Butte or email&nbsp; to&nbsp; chamber@alliancechamber.com&nbsp; &nbsp;Set up time will begin at 2:30 pm and the street will be blocked to allow children to Trick or Treat.&nbsp;

<figure>
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 </figure>By: Mike Glesinger&nbsp; Panhandle PostThe Alliance Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the Annual Trick/Trunk or Treat on&nbsp; Monday October 31,&nbsp; in downtown Alliance.&nbsp; Children are welcome to come trick or treating in the 200, 300, 400 and 500 Blocks of Box Butte Avenue and also some side streets,&nbsp; from 3:30 to 5 pm Halloween Day.Groups or individuals are asked to decorate the back of their car,&nbsp; trunk or pickup to hand out candy and are encouraged to dress in costumes.&nbsp; Those wishing to take part need to sign up at the Chamber Office at 305 Box Butte or email&nbsp; to&nbsp; chamber@alliancechamber.com&nbsp; &nbsp;Set up time will begin at 2:30 pm and the street will be blocked to allow children to Trick or Treat.&nbsp;<figure>
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Trick, Trunk or Treat in Downtown Alliance Oct. 31

By: Mike Glesinger&nbsp; Panhandle Post

Saturday, October 29, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, sponsored by the&nbsp; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).&nbsp; The DEA will have 4000 local drop off sites for people to safely dispose of old, unused unneeded&nbsp; or expired medications.&nbsp; The DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs.  Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs.&nbsp; &nbsp;Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container.&nbsp; The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.  The event will also continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges provided lithium batteries are removed.

Local residents may being their items to the Regional Law Enforcement Center at 512 Niobrara Ave in Alliance, Saturday October 29, from 10 am to 2 pm,&nbsp; for safe disposal.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666814392126.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Mike Glesinger&nbsp; Panhandle PostSaturday, October 29, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, sponsored by the&nbsp; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).&nbsp; The DEA will have 4000 local drop off sites for people to safely dispose of old, unused unneeded&nbsp; or expired medications.&nbsp; The DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs. Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs.&nbsp; &nbsp;Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container.&nbsp; The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage. The event will also continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges provided lithium batteries are removed.Local residents may being their items to the Regional Law Enforcement Center at 512 Niobrara Ave in Alliance, Saturday October 29, from 10 am to 2 pm,&nbsp; for safe disposal.&nbsp;&nbsp;

DEA National Drug Take Back Day Oct. 29

By: Mike Glesinger&nbsp; Panhandle Post

Alliance American Legion Post #7 along with the Box Butte County Veteran's Service Office will sponsor a Veteran's Day Parade Saturday, November 5 in Alliance.&nbsp; The parade will begin at&nbsp; 11 am,&nbsp; at 14th and Box Butte Avenue,&nbsp; near Alliance High School and proceed south along Box Butte Ave.&nbsp; to 4th Street.&nbsp;

All veteran's are encouraged to walk or ride in the parade and any local businesses, groups, organizations or individuals are welcome to show their support for our vteran's , by entering the parade.&nbsp; Entries should be in by November 1, but will be taken up to 9 am the day of the parade.&nbsp; To enter contact the Box Butte County Veteran Service Office&nbsp; at 524 Box Butte Ave. or call 308-762-4154.&nbsp; &nbsp;No candy may be thrown from floats, but may be handed out.&nbsp; 

Citizens are welcome to line both sides of Box Butte Ave.&nbsp; A public address announcer will be located near the Veteran's Memorial at the courthouse.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
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 </figure>By: Mike Glesinger&nbsp; Panhandle PostAlliance American Legion Post #7 along with the Box Butte County Veteran's Service Office will sponsor a Veteran's Day Parade Saturday, November 5 in Alliance.&nbsp; The parade will begin at&nbsp; 11 am,&nbsp; at 14th and Box Butte Avenue,&nbsp; near Alliance High School and proceed south along Box Butte Ave.&nbsp; to 4th Street.&nbsp;All veteran's are encouraged to walk or ride in the parade and any local businesses, groups, organizations or individuals are welcome to show their support for our vteran's , by entering the parade.&nbsp; Entries should be in by November 1, but will be taken up to 9 am the day of the parade.&nbsp; To enter contact the Box Butte County Veteran Service Office&nbsp; at 524 Box Butte Ave. or call 308-762-4154.&nbsp; &nbsp;No candy may be thrown from floats, but may be handed out.&nbsp; Citizens are welcome to line both sides of Box Butte Ave.&nbsp; A public address announcer will be located near the Veteran's Memorial at the courthouse.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573487929788.jpeg" alt="" />
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Alliance Veteran's Day Parade set for November 5

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 10/26/22

by Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating Opportunity

The United States Department of Education is currently offering Federal Student Loan Debt Relief. The program provides eligible borrowers with full or partial discharge of loans up to $20,000 to Federal Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 to non-Pell Grant recipients. Pell Grants are offered to low-income students based on their FAFSA.

Applications can be filled out at studentaid.gov/debt-relief. The application takes about five minutes to complete. This is one-time debt relief. Applications opened earlier in October and will close December 31, 2023. You do not need to provide any documents when you apply, but the Department of Education may contact you for more information.

Not everyone qualifies for the student loan forgiveness. First, there is an income limit. An individual must have made less than $125,000 in 2021 or 2022, from your IRS Form 1040. For families, the maximum income limit is $250,000 in 2021 or 2020.

Private loans (from financial institutions and not the federal government) are not eligible for debt relief.

The debt relief applies only to loan balances you had before June 30, 2022. This includes Direct Loans (William D. Ford), FFEL loans (Federal Family Education Loans), Perkins loans, and parent or graduate PLUS loans. The loans could be subsidized or unsubsidized by the government.

Any new loans disbursed (when loan funds were received) on or after July 1, 2022, aren’t eligible for debt relief.

Federal loans in default (behind in payments) are also eligible.

Consolidation loans are a little more complicated. This means multiple loans have been combined, so a person only has to make one monthly payment. Federal student loan consolidation combines multiple federal loans into a single federal loan through the Department of Education. These loans are eligible for the debt relief program.

Private lenders offer private student loan consolidation, also called student loan refinancing. It is a good idea to consolidate private loans into one of these programs to reduce interest rates and to switch to one monthly payment. These loans are NOT eligible for the debt relief program.

Private loans cannot be transferred to the federal government, but federal and private loans can be consolidated with a private lender. If you did this, you lost the ability to get debt relief on the federal loan. The Department of Education is still negotiating with private lenders to see if this can be changed, so people who have this type of consolidated loan should pay attention to whether this gets resolved.

Another complication relates to the fact that there was a payment pause during the COVID pandemic. From March 13, 2020, to December 31, 2022, borrowers did not have to make student loan payments. If you made payments on your federal student loans during this time, the government will refund what you paid and cancel your loan up to the maximum debt relief amount.

StudentAid.gov can provide help filling out the form online or answering questions related to a specific borrower situation. Reach out to the agency at 1-833-932-3439.

The Department of Education has issued several warnings about scams from companies offering to help you deal with your loans or application for a fee. You NEVER have to pay for help with your federal student aid. As is true with all scams, you would be asked for personal information and passwords. DON'T! If the government is trying to contact a borrower, they'll send an email from noreply@studentaid.gov, noreply@debtrelief.studentaid.gov, or ed.gov@public.govdelivery.com.

by Patricia Jones, Alliance Community Task Force: Creating OpportunityThe United States Department of Education is currently offering Federal Student Loan Debt Relief. The program provides eligible borrowers with full or partial discharge of loans up to $20,000 to Federal Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 to non-Pell Grant recipients. Pell Grants are offered to low-income students based on their FAFSA.Applications can be filled out at studentaid.gov/debt-relief. The application takes about five minutes to complete. This is one-time debt relief. Applications opened earlier in October and will close December 31, 2023. You do not need to provide any documents when you apply, but the Department of Education may contact you for more information.Not everyone qualifies for the student loan forgiveness. First, there is an income limit. An individual must have made less than $125,000 in 2021 or 2022, from your IRS Form 1040. For families, the maximum income limit is $250,000 in 2021 or 2020.Private loans (from financial institutions and not the federal government) are not eligible for debt relief.The debt relief applies only to loan balances you had before June 30, 2022. This includes Direct Loans (William D. Ford), FFEL loans (Federal Family Education Loans), Perkins loans, and parent or graduate PLUS loans. The loans could be subsidized or unsubsidized by the government.Any new loans disbursed (when loan funds were received) on or after July 1, 2022, aren’t eligible for debt relief.Federal loans in default (behind in payments) are also eligible.Consolidation loans are a little more complicated. This means multiple loans have been combined, so a person only has to make one monthly payment. Federal student loan consolidation combines multiple federal loans into a single federal loan through the Department of Education. These loans are eligible for the debt relief program.Private lenders offer private student loan consolidation, also called student loan refinancing. It is a good idea to consolidate private loans into one of these programs to reduce interest rates and to switch to one monthly payment. These loans are NOT eligible for the debt relief program.Private loans cannot be transferred to the federal government, but federal and private loans can be consolidated with a private lender. If you did this, you lost the ability to get debt relief on the federal loan. The Department of Education is still negotiating with private lenders to see if this can be changed, so people who have this type of consolidated loan should pay attention to whether this gets resolved.Another complication relates to the fact that there was a payment pause during the COVID pandemic. From March 13, 2020, to December 31, 2022, borrowers did not have to make student loan payments. If you made payments on your federal student loans during this time, the government will refund what you paid and cancel your loan up to the maximum debt relief amount.StudentAid.gov can provide help filling out the form online or answering questions related to a specific borrower situation. Reach out to the agency at 1-833-932-3439.The Department of Education has issued several warnings about scams from companies offering to help you deal with your loans or application for a fee. You NEVER have to pay for help with your federal student aid. As is true with all scams, you would be asked for personal information and passwords. DON'T! If the government is trying to contact a borrower, they'll send an email from noreply@studentaid.gov, noreply@debtrelief.studentaid.gov, or ed.gov@public.govdelivery.com.

Getting Ahead: Student Loan Debt Relief

By RON FIELDS <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>

As <a href="https://nextlinkinternet.com/">Nextlink Internet</a> prepares to expand its network across Kansas and Nebraska, legacy broadband companies are questioning the Dallas-based company's strategy to deploy mostly fixed wireless connectivity to rural residents.

On Aug. 31, Nextlink was awarded almost a half-billion dollars from the Federal Communications Commission to expand its service. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/90364494-09e3-468a-8103-8425c695fa4b">In both Kansas and Nebraska, more than $25 million</a> was dedicated to deploying a mix of fiber and fixed wireless connections to about 40,000 customers deemed to have substandard connectivity. The funding is part of the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund —&nbsp;RDOF.

Jimmy Todd, CEO of Lenora, Kan.-based <a href="https://www.nex-tech.com/">Nex-Tech</a>, contends the fixed wireless solution — which pipes a signal to customers via an access point on a tower or other high point —&nbsp;is not the solution.

"Fixed wireless is by no means the best option for them," he said. "The pandemic has taught us more than anything else how important it is to be connected. They're not going to get the same kind of service if those funds had gone to fiber providers."

Nextlink, which began a decade ago serving communities around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, also was awarded $281 million&nbsp;in 2018 as part of the FCC's Connect America Fund Phase II —&nbsp;CAF II —&nbsp;which fueled its expansion into five additional states. In the RDOF grant, Nextlink proposed expanding that footprint to 11 states.

The latest grant, Todd said, was a "quick reaction to an outgoing FCC leadership. With CAF II, before there was never any proof of whether or not that was good or not, they rolled out the first round of RDOF."

Both grant programs have percentage-completion milestones that must be met. Todd said several of those milestones were "punted during the pandemic."

Nextlink's Chief Strategy Officer Claude Aiken said the CAF II builds are ahead of the FCC's schedule — but Todd claimed in the more rural parts of Kansas, that is not the case.

"The completion percentages likely are based on population centers further east," he said. "When you're looking at numbers, it's easier to show a higher number of people connected versus a less densely populated area. Out where we're at, we haven't seen a lot of activity."

Aiken said recently the company actually is ahead of its 2022 milestone of 40 percent completion in Kansas, with that state's CAF II work actually 60 percent completed.

Todd admitted Nex-Tech saw strategic areas to expand its network, which currently serves over 30,000 customers and has in recent years expanded into Salina, Great Bend and Moundridge. At least some future fiber expansions could be off the table with Nextlink's plans.

"We'd hoped that we've have the opportunity to build fiber in these rural areas. (Nextlink) hasn't even built out to their CAF II obligations," he said. "Will customers even, four years from now, have any kind of coverage?

"Their arrival keeps you from being able to take fiber to those customers," he added. "The operational costs are so much less. It costs more to deploy, but the operational cost is going to be less."

Todd said, depending upon terrain, population density and other factors, fibers costs between $20,000 and $40,000 per mile to deploy. That's in addition to the approximately $3,000 per customer installation costs. 

Daniel Friesen, co-founder and chief innovation officer of Buhler, Kan.-based <a href="https://ideatek.com/">Ideatek</a>, also said fiber is the best long-term solution.

"While IdeaTek also operates a fixed-wireless network to provide internet to remote, rural areas, fiber is the only real future-proof solution for Kansas," he said. "Investing more in fiber means there would be less state or federal spending on technology that has the tendency to become quickly outdated. Fiber is the only technology proven to serve the state's needs for decades to come."

Kansas and Nebraska have their own pools of dollars to help connect the unconnected — more than 80,000 in both Kansas and Nebraska lack broadband speeds of 25MB download/3MB upload.

"Nextlink does already offer service in parts of Nebraska, so any expansion of its services at least improves options for people, and in many cases, might be an option for service that was never available before," said Deb Collins, public information officer with the Nebraska Public Service Commission.

Nextlink's Aiken said the Kansas pool of money to fund broadband projects is "significantly oversubscribed."

"There are way more applications for funding than money to go around," he said. "Is the contention we should be double-funding these areas to do the same thing? ... This is going to enable people who might have otherwise not have had service to receive it."

But the fixed wireless technology — and the promise it can deliver reliable 100MB-by-20MB speeds at minimum — leaves Todd dubious, especially when it comes to the radio spectrum the wireless signals travel on from tower to home.

"They just don't have the licensed spectrum to do it. They own some, but they're not going to get to gigabit speeds through that. It's subject to too much noise," he said. 

And distance from the source signal makes a difference, he said, noting the similarities to a stronger signal while being near a home router.

"The radios are going to have to be in such close proximity. (You can) use higher spectrum radio signals ... but the higher the spectrum, the shorter the distance it travels," Todd said. "Technology has come a long way to improve this, but only to a point."

Aiken said the company is doing a trial run of speed tests for submission to the FCC, noting Nextlink has thousands of customers already using fixed wireless — and getting promised high-speed rates.

"Our chief technology officer has the next-generation gear that we've been deploying in areas that offer up to 500-by-100," Aiken said. "I would certainly hope if our chief technology officer is getting higher than 100-by-20 at his residence, we can certainly do that for other folks."

While Friesen said he disagreed with Nextlink's reliance upon fixed wireless, he said the ambitious deployment plan is well-intentioned.

"How can you not be impressed by the enormous plans companies like NextLink have? They've made a huge commitment to underserved Kansans," he said. "Their wireless plans are highly ambitious, something not yet seen at scale in the market, but we respect any innovation and creativity in the broadband space if it accomplishes the mission of serving the underserved.

"We can support any mission that serves underserved Kansans, even if we disagree on the technological path forward."

Aiken is confident Nextlink's plan of a mix of fiber and fixed wireless will provide the promised high-speed connectivity.

"We do our best to educate the rest of the world on what we can do, regardless of the technology," he said. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662136805159.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON FIELDS <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>As <a href="https://nextlinkinternet.com/">Nextlink Internet</a> prepares to expand its network across Kansas and Nebraska, legacy broadband companies are questioning the Dallas-based company's strategy to deploy mostly fixed wireless connectivity to rural residents.On Aug. 31, Nextlink was awarded almost a half-billion dollars from the Federal Communications Commission to expand its service. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/90364494-09e3-468a-8103-8425c695fa4b">In both Kansas and Nebraska, more than $25 million</a> was dedicated to deploying a mix of fiber and fixed wireless connections to about 40,000 customers deemed to have substandard connectivity. The funding is part of the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund —&nbsp;RDOF.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iBphp1RILuA"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jimmy Todd, CEO of Lenora, Kan.-based <a href="https://www.nex-tech.com/">Nex-Tech</a>, contends the fixed wireless solution — which pipes a signal to customers via an access point on a tower or other high point —&nbsp;is not the solution."Fixed wireless is by no means the best option for them," he said. "The pandemic has taught us more than anything else how important it is to be connected. They're not going to get the same kind of service if those funds had gone to fiber providers."Nextlink, which began a decade ago serving communities around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, also was awarded $281 million&nbsp;in 2018 as part of the FCC's Connect America Fund Phase II —&nbsp;CAF II —&nbsp;which fueled its expansion into five additional states. In the RDOF grant, Nextlink proposed expanding that footprint to 11 states.The latest grant, Todd said, was a "quick reaction to an outgoing FCC leadership. With CAF II, before there was never any proof of whether or not that was good or not, they rolled out the first round of RDOF."Both grant programs have percentage-completion milestones that must be met. Todd said several of those milestones were "punted during the pandemic."Nextlink's Chief Strategy Officer Claude Aiken said the CAF II builds are ahead of the FCC's schedule — but Todd claimed in the more rural parts of Kansas, that is not the case."The completion percentages likely are based on population centers further east," he said. "When you're looking at numbers, it's easier to show a higher number of people connected versus a less densely populated area. Out where we're at, we haven't seen a lot of activity."Aiken said recently the company actually is ahead of its 2022 milestone of 40 percent completion in Kansas, with that state's CAF II work actually 60 percent completed.Todd admitted Nex-Tech saw strategic areas to expand its network, which currently serves over 30,000 customers and has in recent years expanded into Salina, Great Bend and Moundridge. At least some future fiber expansions could be off the table with Nextlink's plans."We'd hoped that we've have the opportunity to build fiber in these rural areas. (Nextlink) hasn't even built out to their CAF II obligations," he said. "Will customers even, four years from now, have any kind of coverage?"Their arrival keeps you from being able to take fiber to those customers," he added. "The operational costs are so much less. It costs more to deploy, but the operational cost is going to be less."Todd said, depending upon terrain, population density and other factors, fibers costs between $20,000 and $40,000 per mile to deploy. That's in addition to the approximately $3,000 per customer installation costs. Daniel Friesen, co-founder and chief innovation officer of Buhler, Kan.-based <a href="https://ideatek.com/">Ideatek</a>, also said fiber is the best long-term solution."While IdeaTek also operates a fixed-wireless network to provide internet to remote, rural areas, fiber is the only real future-proof solution for Kansas," he said. "Investing more in fiber means there would be less state or federal spending on technology that has the tendency to become quickly outdated. Fiber is the only technology proven to serve the state's needs for decades to come."Kansas and Nebraska have their own pools of dollars to help connect the unconnected — more than 80,000 in both Kansas and Nebraska lack broadband speeds of 25MB download/3MB upload."Nextlink does already offer service in parts of Nebraska, so any expansion of its services at least improves options for people, and in many cases, might be an option for service that was never available before," said Deb Collins, public information officer with the Nebraska Public Service Commission.Nextlink's Aiken said the Kansas pool of money to fund broadband projects is "significantly oversubscribed.""There are way more applications for funding than money to go around," he said. "Is the contention we should be double-funding these areas to do the same thing? ... This is going to enable people who might have otherwise not have had service to receive it."But the fixed wireless technology — and the promise it can deliver reliable 100MB-by-20MB speeds at minimum — leaves Todd dubious, especially when it comes to the radio spectrum the wireless signals travel on from tower to home."They just don't have the licensed spectrum to do it. They own some, but they're not going to get to gigabit speeds through that. It's subject to too much noise," he said. And distance from the source signal makes a difference, he said, noting the similarities to a stronger signal while being near a home router."The radios are going to have to be in such close proximity. (You can) use higher spectrum radio signals ... but the higher the spectrum, the shorter the distance it travels," Todd said. "Technology has come a long way to improve this, but only to a point."Aiken said the company is doing a trial run of speed tests for submission to the FCC, noting Nextlink has thousands of customers already using fixed wireless — and getting promised high-speed rates."Our chief technology officer has the next-generation gear that we've been deploying in areas that offer up to 500-by-100," Aiken said. "I would certainly hope if our chief technology officer is getting higher than 100-by-20 at his residence, we can certainly do that for other folks."While Friesen said he disagreed with Nextlink's reliance upon fixed wireless, he said the ambitious deployment plan is well-intentioned."How can you not be impressed by the enormous plans companies like NextLink have? They've made a huge commitment to underserved Kansans," he said. "Their wireless plans are highly ambitious, something not yet seen at scale in the market, but we respect any innovation and creativity in the broadband space if it accomplishes the mission of serving the underserved."We can support any mission that serves underserved Kansans, even if we disagree on the technological path forward."Aiken is confident Nextlink's plan of a mix of fiber and fixed wireless will provide the promised high-speed connectivity."We do our best to educate the rest of the world on what we can do, regardless of the technology," he said. Cover image courtesy Pixabay

🎥 Legacy providers: Fiber, not fixed wireless, the broadband solution

By: Tena Cook,&nbsp; CSC&nbsp;Marketing Coordinator

Dr. Josh Calkin will be featured in an Oct. 28 tuba recital at 7 p.m. in the Mari Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium.

The program will include a sonata about Hades and a piece entitled Apocalyptic Voices.&nbsp; The music will journey into the sound world of low brass.

This music event is free and open to the public.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666723829011.jpeg" alt="courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By: Tena Cook,&nbsp; CSC&nbsp;Marketing CoordinatorDr. Josh Calkin will be featured in an Oct. 28 tuba recital at 7 p.m. in the Mari Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium.The program will include a sonata about Hades and a piece entitled Apocalyptic Voices.&nbsp; The music will journey into the sound world of low brass.This music event is free and open to the public.

Music Event Friday at CSC

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. – Firefighters from several agencies assisted Wind Cave National Park with a 1,037-acre prescribed fire the week of October 16. The fire bordered the park’s headquarters, including the Elk Mountain Campground, and was conducted Sunday and Monday, October 16 and 17, with mop-up operations Tuesday. Firefighters will continue to patrol the fire until it is declared out.&nbsp;

“We are very appreciative of the assistance we received from outside agencies to conduct this fire,” said Park Superintendent Leigh Welling. “The fire reduced the fuel load, and the chance of a catastrophic wildfire, in a critical area adjacent to our developed area." &nbsp;

Efforts Sunday to initiate the fire were hampered by fog and high humidity levels in the grass and forested areas. A warmer and sunnier Monday dried out the fuels leading to a productive fire. Fire Ecologists will monitor preestablished plots to judge the effectiveness of the fire in the coming years, but signs point to the fire achieving many of the project objectives.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Assisting with fire operations were National Park Service employees from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, and Buffalo National River in Arkansas. Firefighters from the Bureau of Indian Affairs out of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from Crescent Lake, Nebraska, the Black Hills National Forest, and an engine out of Oelrichs, South Dakota, helped with the fire.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Objectives for the fire included reducing the fuel load, restoring the balance between forested areas and prairie, and allowing more moisture to seep into the cave, which was located under parts of the burn.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

There is still some smoke in the area and motorist are urged to use caution when driving through the park. &nbsp;

For more information, visit:&nbsp;[www.nps.gov/wica]www.nps.gov/wica&nbsp;and click on Management.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666722386387.jpeg" alt="HQ Fire Photo." />
 <figcaption>HQ Fire Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By: Thomas FarrellWIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. – Firefighters from several agencies assisted Wind Cave National Park with a 1,037-acre prescribed fire the week of October 16. The fire bordered the park’s headquarters, including the Elk Mountain Campground, and was conducted Sunday and Monday, October 16 and 17, with mop-up operations Tuesday. Firefighters will continue to patrol the fire until it is declared out.&nbsp;“We are very appreciative of the assistance we received from outside agencies to conduct this fire,” said Park Superintendent Leigh Welling. “The fire reduced the fuel load, and the chance of a catastrophic wildfire, in a critical area adjacent to our developed area." &nbsp;Efforts Sunday to initiate the fire were hampered by fog and high humidity levels in the grass and forested areas. A warmer and sunnier Monday dried out the fuels leading to a productive fire. Fire Ecologists will monitor preestablished plots to judge the effectiveness of the fire in the coming years, but signs point to the fire achieving many of the project objectives.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Assisting with fire operations were National Park Service employees from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, and Buffalo National River in Arkansas. Firefighters from the Bureau of Indian Affairs out of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from Crescent Lake, Nebraska, the Black Hills National Forest, and an engine out of Oelrichs, South Dakota, helped with the fire.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Objectives for the fire included reducing the fuel load, restoring the balance between forested areas and prairie, and allowing more moisture to seep into the cave, which was located under parts of the burn.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is still some smoke in the area and motorist are urged to use caution when driving through the park. &nbsp;For more information, visit:&nbsp;[www.nps.gov/wica]www.nps.gov/wica&nbsp;and click on Management.&nbsp;

Prescribed Fire at Wind Cave National Park

By: Justin Haag,&nbsp;&nbsp;Public Information Officer

Fort Robinson State Park’s historical Christmas dinner is roaring back with a theme from the Roaring ’20s. The dinner is set to return Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. after a two-year hiatus because of COVID concerns.

The event’s theme is that of 100 years prior: 1922, not long after the fort transformed from its original role as a cavalry post for military training to that of a remount depot. In the latter role, which lasted from 1919 into the mid-1940s, the fort prepared horses and mules for the U.S. Army, with upwards to 12,000 of the animals at the base at any given time.

The dinner’s program, annually enhanced by many attendees who dress in period attire to match the theme, includes live music and historical commentary. This will be the 26th&nbsp;year of the event.

Tickets, which usually sell out in short time, become available for in-person purchases at 8 a.m. Nov. 7. They will be sold for $30 each at the park’s headquarters, D&amp;S Market at 195 Main St. in Harrison, and the Visitors Center-Chamber of Commerce at 706 West Third St. in Chadron. There is a limit of four tickets per household.

The meal includes turkey, pork roast, dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and much more.

The event’s festive atmosphere will be complemented once again by Christmas lights installed on park buildings with help from businesses and community members. The lights will turn on at 5 p.m. the night of the dinner and will shine each evening through December.

Groups interested in decorating a building at the park may contact the office at 308-665-2900 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ngpc.fort.robinson@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">ngpc.fort.robinson@nebraska.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1572881120812.jpeg" alt="Fort Robinson Christmas Dinner" />
 <figcaption>Fort Robinson Christmas Dinner</figcaption>
 </figure>By: Justin Haag,&nbsp;&nbsp;Public Information OfficerFort Robinson State Park’s historical Christmas dinner is roaring back with a theme from the Roaring ’20s. The dinner is set to return Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. after a two-year hiatus because of COVID concerns.The event’s theme is that of 100 years prior: 1922, not long after the fort transformed from its original role as a cavalry post for military training to that of a remount depot. In the latter role, which lasted from 1919 into the mid-1940s, the fort prepared horses and mules for the U.S. Army, with upwards to 12,000 of the animals at the base at any given time.The dinner’s program, annually enhanced by many attendees who dress in period attire to match the theme, includes live music and historical commentary. This will be the 26th&nbsp;year of the event.Tickets, which usually sell out in short time, become available for in-person purchases at 8 a.m. Nov. 7. They will be sold for $30 each at the park’s headquarters, D&amp;S Market at 195 Main St. in Harrison, and the Visitors Center-Chamber of Commerce at 706 West Third St. in Chadron. There is a limit of four tickets per household.The meal includes turkey, pork roast, dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and much more.The event’s festive atmosphere will be complemented once again by Christmas lights installed on park buildings with help from businesses and community members. The lights will turn on at 5 p.m. the night of the dinner and will shine each evening through December.Groups interested in decorating a building at the park may contact the office at 308-665-2900 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ngpc.fort.robinson@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">ngpc.fort.robinson@nebraska.gov</a>.

Fort Robinson Christmas Dinner will return in 2022

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Republicans are expected to dominate as usual at the polls in November and retain control of the officially nonpartisan Legislature. They face a far tougher challenge flipping enough seats to push through a statewide abortion ban.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;overturning the constitutional right to abortion has injected a degree of uncertainty into elections, even in some of the nation's most reliably red states. Abortion opponents in Nebraska are hoping to avoid a repeat of what happened this summer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">in neighboring Kansas</a>, where voters overwhelming rejected a ballot measure that would have paved the way for an abortion ban there.

“Whether we like it or not, Nebraska is now a destination state for abortion,” said David Zebolsky, chairman of Nebraskans Embracing Life. “We’re supporting strong pro-life legislative candidates in the November election to change that.”

Even with Republicans considered a lock to maintain control of Nebraska's unique one-chamber Legislature, they need to gain at least two seats to end the state's status as the nation's most unlikely harborage for abortion services. Under legislative rules, some measures — including an abortion ban — can be blocked by the minority if supporters don't get at least 33 votes in the 49-member Senate.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;enabled other conservative states to quickly outlaw most abortions, but the Nebraska ban received only 31 votes —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-us-supreme-court-health-nebraska-legislature-0b8e1e93be48c9e3fd7264c94da7b786">two short of the number needed to avoid a filibuster.</a>

Nebraska Republicans' hopes to outlaw abortions were thwarted again weeks later, when Gov. Pete Ricketts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-legislature-nebraska-omaha-pete-ricketts-8e4be716151ac772c608ea2ad80e3130">opted not to call a special session</a>&nbsp;to enact a ban because backers were, at that time, three votes short.

Such setbacks are odd given Nebraska’s history as a leader in abortion restrictions. It enacted the country’s first law banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on the disputed theory that a fetus at that point can feel pain.

The upcoming election could give supporters the votes they need for a ban, or it could leave Nebraska as a rare state where Republicans control nearly all aspects of government but allow abortions to continue.

Nebraska’s tug-of-war over abortion comes at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-us-supreme-court-health-constitutions-bf26bfca47ceedc09f63adf8e31a6a82">the issue has roiled politics across the country</a>. Besides Kansas, voters in Kentucky will decide next month the fate of a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate the right to abortion in the state. The red state of Montana will have a “born alive” measure on the ballot there, requiring health care providers to take “all medically appropriate and reasonable actions to preserve the life” of an infant born alive, including after an attempted abortion. Doctors have warned that the measure would force them to prolong the suffering of infants born with fatal deformities.

And in Georgia, which could decide control of the U.S. Senate, abortion has taken an outsized role in the neck-and-neck race between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger, former football star Herschel Walker. Walker, a staunch anti-abortion proponent,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-entertainment-florida-campaigns-94e4496d4f3d40acaca0895018bab909">has been plagued by recent claims</a>&nbsp;that he paid for a woman’s 2009 abortion and later fathered a child with her.

Republicans who have historically championed anti-abortion causes appeared to be caught flat-footed in the the wake of the judicial branch overturning Roe, a move that was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-nancy-pelosi-womens-rights-government-and-politics-c410dbe9a8321b35a4e779b2fb226de5">unpopular with a majority of Americans according to polls</a>&nbsp;taken ahead of the decision. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/more-americans-disapprove-than-approve-of-the-supreme-courts-decision-to-overturn-roe-v-wade/">poll conducted after the ruling</a>&nbsp;revealed a majority of Americans want Congress to pass a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide.

That polling has led Republican candidates who would normally tout their anti-abortion credentials to back away from the issue this election cycle. In Nebraska, some Republican candidates in and around Omaha and Lincoln, which are less conservative than the state’s more rural reaches, are tailoring their messages on abortion with that in mind. Conversely, Democrats who would normally avoid the issue of abortion so as not to rile voters in a conservative state are now putting the issue front-and-center of their campaigns.

President Joe Biden promised during a speech last week in Washington to push&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-biden-health-congress-f3ffadd1d55625a4af7b87f6b691fbbc">a bill that codifies Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;if Democrats control enough seats in Congress to pass it.

Omaha state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, one of the most vocal opponents of a failed “trigger bill” backed by Republicans last session that would have outlawed nearly all abortions, has placed her support for abortion access at the top of her campaign website. She cited an ACLU-commissioned poll in March that showed Nebraskans opposed to a total abortion ban by a 20-point margin.

Her opponent, Christian Mirch, had until recently been just as vocal about his support for banning abortion. He has attended anti-abortion rallies and stated in the Nebraska Catholic Voter Guide his support for an abortion ban “from the moment of conception.” But he seems to have backpedaled on that stance in the wake of blowback from the the overturning of Roe.

“We’ve gotten away from that representative form of government in recent years,” he said. “We can’t be constituencies of one.”

Asked about polling that shows most Americans opposing the overturning of Roe, Mirch countered that “we haven’t done that polling in this district.”

Cavanaugh said Mirch has been knocking on doors in the district and telling some voters that he and Cavanaugh have essentially the same views on abortion. Mirch said he simply has assured voters that he would not do anything that would endanger invitro fertilization treatments.

“You don’t lie about your position unless you know it’s going to cost you votes," she said.

Of the 15 Nebraska lawmakers who voted to block the abortion ban bill, eight are facing reelection challenges or not running.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln political science professor John Hibbing said he expects Nebraska Republicans will pick up the seats they need to ban abortions, but he notes the Supreme Court ruling “has put pressure on Republicans that they haven't felt before.”

Since the ruling, Planned Parenthood clinics in Lincoln and Omaha — two of the three in Nebraska that provide abortion services — have seen an increase in the number of people from outside the state seeking them. Andi Curry Grubb, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, said many of the women the clinics are seeing have few resources to allow them to travel hundreds of miles from their homes.

“I know we had one patient who drove a U-Haul from Texas to Nebraska to get to one of our clinics, because it was the only vehicle they could rent within a reasonable price range,” Grubb said. “You get that sense that the burden in on people who need access to care the most.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666717756113.jpeg" alt="The office of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, one of Nebraska's few abortion clinics, is seen in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Josh Funk)" />
 <figcaption>The office of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, one of Nebraska's few abortion clinics, is seen in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Josh Funk)</figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Republicans are expected to dominate as usual at the polls in November and retain control of the officially nonpartisan Legislature. They face a far tougher challenge flipping enough seats to push through a statewide abortion ban.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;overturning the constitutional right to abortion has injected a degree of uncertainty into elections, even in some of the nation's most reliably red states. Abortion opponents in Nebraska are hoping to avoid a repeat of what happened this summer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">in neighboring Kansas</a>, where voters overwhelming rejected a ballot measure that would have paved the way for an abortion ban there.“Whether we like it or not, Nebraska is now a destination state for abortion,” said David Zebolsky, chairman of Nebraskans Embracing Life. “We’re supporting strong pro-life legislative candidates in the November election to change that.”Even with Republicans considered a lock to maintain control of Nebraska's unique one-chamber Legislature, they need to gain at least two seats to end the state's status as the nation's most unlikely harborage for abortion services. Under legislative rules, some measures — including an abortion ban — can be blocked by the minority if supporters don't get at least 33 votes in the 49-member Senate.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;enabled other conservative states to quickly outlaw most abortions, but the Nebraska ban received only 31 votes —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-us-supreme-court-health-nebraska-legislature-0b8e1e93be48c9e3fd7264c94da7b786">two short of the number needed to avoid a filibuster.</a>Nebraska Republicans' hopes to outlaw abortions were thwarted again weeks later, when Gov. Pete Ricketts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-legislature-nebraska-omaha-pete-ricketts-8e4be716151ac772c608ea2ad80e3130">opted not to call a special session</a>&nbsp;to enact a ban because backers were, at that time, three votes short.Such setbacks are odd given Nebraska’s history as a leader in abortion restrictions. It enacted the country’s first law banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on the disputed theory that a fetus at that point can feel pain.The upcoming election could give supporters the votes they need for a ban, or it could leave Nebraska as a rare state where Republicans control nearly all aspects of government but allow abortions to continue.Nebraska’s tug-of-war over abortion comes at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-us-supreme-court-health-constitutions-bf26bfca47ceedc09f63adf8e31a6a82">the issue has roiled politics across the country</a>. Besides Kansas, voters in Kentucky will decide next month the fate of a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate the right to abortion in the state. The red state of Montana will have a “born alive” measure on the ballot there, requiring health care providers to take “all medically appropriate and reasonable actions to preserve the life” of an infant born alive, including after an attempted abortion. Doctors have warned that the measure would force them to prolong the suffering of infants born with fatal deformities.And in Georgia, which could decide control of the U.S. Senate, abortion has taken an outsized role in the neck-and-neck race between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger, former football star Herschel Walker. Walker, a staunch anti-abortion proponent,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-entertainment-florida-campaigns-94e4496d4f3d40acaca0895018bab909">has been plagued by recent claims</a>&nbsp;that he paid for a woman’s 2009 abortion and later fathered a child with her.Republicans who have historically championed anti-abortion causes appeared to be caught flat-footed in the the wake of the judicial branch overturning Roe, a move that was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-nancy-pelosi-womens-rights-government-and-politics-c410dbe9a8321b35a4e779b2fb226de5">unpopular with a majority of Americans according to polls</a>&nbsp;taken ahead of the decision. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/more-americans-disapprove-than-approve-of-the-supreme-courts-decision-to-overturn-roe-v-wade/">poll conducted after the ruling</a>&nbsp;revealed a majority of Americans want Congress to pass a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide.That polling has led Republican candidates who would normally tout their anti-abortion credentials to back away from the issue this election cycle. In Nebraska, some Republican candidates in and around Omaha and Lincoln, which are less conservative than the state’s more rural reaches, are tailoring their messages on abortion with that in mind. Conversely, Democrats who would normally avoid the issue of abortion so as not to rile voters in a conservative state are now putting the issue front-and-center of their campaigns.President Joe Biden promised during a speech last week in Washington to push&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-biden-health-congress-f3ffadd1d55625a4af7b87f6b691fbbc">a bill that codifies Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;if Democrats control enough seats in Congress to pass it.Omaha state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, one of the most vocal opponents of a failed “trigger bill” backed by Republicans last session that would have outlawed nearly all abortions, has placed her support for abortion access at the top of her campaign website. She cited an ACLU-commissioned poll in March that showed Nebraskans opposed to a total abortion ban by a 20-point margin.Her opponent, Christian Mirch, had until recently been just as vocal about his support for banning abortion. He has attended anti-abortion rallies and stated in the Nebraska Catholic Voter Guide his support for an abortion ban “from the moment of conception.” But he seems to have backpedaled on that stance in the wake of blowback from the the overturning of Roe.“We’ve gotten away from that representative form of government in recent years,” he said. “We can’t be constituencies of one.”Asked about polling that shows most Americans opposing the overturning of Roe, Mirch countered that “we haven’t done that polling in this district.”Cavanaugh said Mirch has been knocking on doors in the district and telling some voters that he and Cavanaugh have essentially the same views on abortion. Mirch said he simply has assured voters that he would not do anything that would endanger invitro fertilization treatments.Cavanaugh isn’t buying it.“You don’t lie about your position unless you know it’s going to cost you votes," she said.Of the 15 Nebraska lawmakers who voted to block the abortion ban bill, eight are facing reelection challenges or not running.University of Nebraska-Lincoln political science professor John Hibbing said he expects Nebraska Republicans will pick up the seats they need to ban abortions, but he notes the Supreme Court ruling “has put pressure on Republicans that they haven't felt before.”Since the ruling, Planned Parenthood clinics in Lincoln and Omaha — two of the three in Nebraska that provide abortion services — have seen an increase in the number of people from outside the state seeking them. Andi Curry Grubb, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, said many of the women the clinics are seeing have few resources to allow them to travel hundreds of miles from their homes.“I know we had one patient who drove a U-Haul from Texas to Nebraska to get to one of our clinics, because it was the only vehicle they could rent within a reasonable price range,” Grubb said. “You get that sense that the burden in on people who need access to care the most.”<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
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Nebraska struggling to OK ban despite anti-abortion history

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 10/25/22

Karen Benzel discusses signups for Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets.

<div><iframe title="POST PODCAST: United Way of Western Nebraska" 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=asdv6-12f849b-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>Karen Benzel discusses signups for Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets.

POST PODCAST: United Way of Western Nebraska

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 10/24/22

&nbsp; By:&nbsp;&nbsp;Regan Anson (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp; EducationQuest Foundation has awarded 70 Nebraska schools with 8th Grade Campus Visit Grants totaling nearly $45,000. The schools will use the grants, which range from $143 to $850, to help fund college visits and related activities to get students on the path to college. EducationQuest Vice President Eric Drumheller said,&nbsp; “When younger students visit a college campus, they can see first-hand the opportunities they have by pursuing higher education.&nbsp; We want this experience to motivate them to take the necessary steps to make a college dream a reality.” The 8th Grade Campus Visit Grants are awarded annually and are one of several programs EducationQuest provides to fulfill its mission of improving access to higher education in Nebraska. EducationQuest has awarded approximately $345,000 in 8th Grade Campus Visit Grant funding to Nebraska schools since the program’s inception in 2011. Awardees are listed below.&nbsp;&nbsp; Bancroft&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bancroft-Rosalie Community Schools Bartley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Southwest Public Schools Bellevue&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mission Middle School Burwell&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Burwell Junior/Senior High School Callaway&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Callaway Public School Central City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nebraska Christian Schools Cody&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cody-Kilgore Unified School Columbus&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Columbus Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lakeview Junior/Senior High School Cook&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Johnson County Central Middle School Crawford&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Crawford Junior/Senior High School De Witt&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tri-County Schools Deshler&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Deshler Public Schools Elba&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Elba Public School Fairbury&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fairbury Junior/Senior High School Fairfield&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sandy Creek Middle School Fremont&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fremont Middle School Genoa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twin River Public Schools Gering&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gering Junior High Gibbon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gibbon Public School Giltner&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Giltner Public Schools Gordon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gordon Rushville Middle School Gothenburg&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gothenburg Public School Grand Island&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Westridge Middle School Grant&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Perkins County School Greeley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Central Valley High School Hastings&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hastings Middle School Hay Springs&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hay Springs Public School Hayes Center&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hayes Center Schools Humphrey&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Humphrey Public Schools Laurel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Lexington&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lexington Middle School Louisville&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Louisville Public Schools Madison&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Madison Middle School McCook&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; McCook Junior High Mead&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mead High School Minatare&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Minatare Junior/Senior High School Nelson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lawrence/Nelson Junior High School Niobrara&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Niobrara Public School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Santee Community School North Bend&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; North Bend Central O'Neill&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; O'Neill Public Schools Omaha&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All Saints Catholic School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Beveridge Magnet Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brownell-Talbot School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bryan Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Holy Name School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lewis and Clark Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lifegate Christian Schools &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; McMillan Magnet Center &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Morton Magnet Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Norris Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sacred Heart School Omaha &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; St. Thomas More School Potter&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Potter-Dix Public School Randolph&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Randolph Public Schools Schuyler&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Richland Elementary (Schuyler Community Schools) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Schuyler Middle School Shelton&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shelton Public School Shickley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shickley Public Schools South Sioux City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; South Sioux City Middle School Sumner&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; S-E-M High School Sutton&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sutton Public Schools Tekamah&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tekamah-Herman Schools Valentine&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Valentine Middle School Verdigre&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Verdigre Public Schools Wisner&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wisner-Pilger Junior/Senior High School Wood River&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wood River Rural High School Wymore&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Southern Public Schools York&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; York Middle School&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666622886137.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; By:&nbsp;&nbsp;Regan Anson (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp; EducationQuest Foundation has awarded 70 Nebraska schools with 8th Grade Campus Visit Grants totaling nearly $45,000. The schools will use the grants, which range from $143 to $850, to help fund college visits and related activities to get students on the path to college. EducationQuest Vice President Eric Drumheller said,&nbsp; “When younger students visit a college campus, they can see first-hand the opportunities they have by pursuing higher education.&nbsp; We want this experience to motivate them to take the necessary steps to make a college dream a reality.” The 8th Grade Campus Visit Grants are awarded annually and are one of several programs EducationQuest provides to fulfill its mission of improving access to higher education in Nebraska. EducationQuest has awarded approximately $345,000 in 8th Grade Campus Visit Grant funding to Nebraska schools since the program’s inception in 2011. Awardees are listed below.&nbsp;&nbsp; Bancroft&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bancroft-Rosalie Community Schools Bartley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Southwest Public Schools Bellevue&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mission Middle School Burwell&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Burwell Junior/Senior High School Callaway&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Callaway Public School Central City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nebraska Christian Schools Cody&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cody-Kilgore Unified School Columbus&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Columbus Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lakeview Junior/Senior High School Cook&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Johnson County Central Middle School Crawford&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Crawford Junior/Senior High School De Witt&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tri-County Schools Deshler&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Deshler Public Schools Elba&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Elba Public School Fairbury&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fairbury Junior/Senior High School Fairfield&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sandy Creek Middle School Fremont&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fremont Middle School Genoa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Twin River Public Schools Gering&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gering Junior High Gibbon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gibbon Public School Giltner&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Giltner Public Schools Gordon&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gordon Rushville Middle School Gothenburg&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gothenburg Public School Grand Island&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Westridge Middle School Grant&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Perkins County School Greeley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Central Valley High School Hastings&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hastings Middle School Hay Springs&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hay Springs Public School Hayes Center&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hayes Center Schools Humphrey&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Humphrey Public Schools Laurel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Lexington&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lexington Middle School Louisville&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Louisville Public Schools Madison&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Madison Middle School McCook&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; McCook Junior High Mead&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mead High School Minatare&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Minatare Junior/Senior High School Nelson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lawrence/Nelson Junior High School Niobrara&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Niobrara Public School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Santee Community School North Bend&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; North Bend Central O'Neill&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; O'Neill Public Schools Omaha&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All Saints Catholic School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Beveridge Magnet Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brownell-Talbot School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bryan Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Holy Name School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lewis and Clark Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lifegate Christian Schools &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; McMillan Magnet Center &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Morton Magnet Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Norris Middle School &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sacred Heart School Omaha &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; St. Thomas More School Potter&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Potter-Dix Public School Randolph&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Randolph Public Schools Schuyler&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Richland Elementary (Schuyler Community Schools) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Schuyler Middle School Shelton&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shelton Public School Shickley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shickley Public Schools South Sioux City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; South Sioux City Middle School Sumner&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; S-E-M High School Sutton&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sutton Public Schools Tekamah&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tekamah-Herman Schools Valentine&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Valentine Middle School Verdigre&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Verdigre Public Schools Wisner&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wisner-Pilger Junior/Senior High School Wood River&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wood River Rural High School Wymore&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Southern Public Schools York&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; York Middle School&nbsp;&nbsp;

70 Nebraska Schools to receive funding from EducationQuest 

Power has been restored to a large section of central Alliance as of 7:05 am this morning (10/24).&nbsp; According to the City Utility Office, a motor vehicle struck a power pole along West 2nd street early Monday. This caused a disruption in the underground electric lines&nbsp; that feed a large section of the City.&nbsp; &nbsp;City Electric Crews responded quickly and power was restored in approximately 1 hour.&nbsp; Anyone still having power issues should contact the City at 762-5400.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1571965688810.png" alt="City of Alliance" />
 <figcaption>City of Alliance</figcaption>
 </figure>By; Panhandle Post NewsPower has been restored to a large section of central Alliance as of 7:05 am this morning (10/24).&nbsp; According to the City Utility Office, a motor vehicle struck a power pole along West 2nd street early Monday. This caused a disruption in the underground electric lines&nbsp; that feed a large section of the City.&nbsp; &nbsp;City Electric Crews responded quickly and power was restored in approximately 1 hour.&nbsp; Anyone still having power issues should contact the City at 762-5400.

Power restored in Alliance Monday morning-Update

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Even if you missed the filing deadline for taxes this year, as long as you are due a refund, there is no penalty, and you can even still file for free, if you fit the income guidelines.

"All of the penalties that the IRS talks about are all on an unpaid balance," said Michael Devine with the IRS. "If you filed your tax return and didn't pay what you owed, then penalties and interest are going to be compounding on that. But, if you're due a refund, there's no penalty for you not filing your tax return, but there is a three year statute of limitations in order to file the return and get your money back."

There is a lot of free tax credit money that hasn't been distributed to those who qualify for it, because they have not filed their taxes at all.

"That is critically important to people who may not have filed for the past couple of years," Devine said. "We're talking about 2019 and 2020. There were a lot of credits that were increased because of COVID. The only way to get those is to file the tax return. We're talking about the Child Tax Credit, which could be $3600, the Recovery Rebate Credit, which would be $1400 per adult and child, the Earned Income Tax Credit, if you have three children, almost $7000. If you didn't file, because you're not required to, this is the time to go ahead and get that done."

The IRS is actually sending out reminder letters to those who might qualify.

"We are sending out letters to about 9 million households," Devine said. "These are people that are normally not required to file a return, because they don't make enough money to have to file, but they may be eligible to claim those credits and thousands of dollars in refunds. If you do it yourself, you can go and get the tax form on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/">IRS.gov</a>. Or, for 2019 and 2020, you can go to a registered tax professional and they can file it electronically."

For more information go to <a href="http://irs.gov">irs.gov</a> or call (800) 829-1040.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600360924825.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Even if you missed the filing deadline for taxes this year, as long as you are due a refund, there is no penalty, and you can even still file for free, if you fit the income guidelines."All of the penalties that the IRS talks about are all on an unpaid balance," said Michael Devine with the IRS. "If you filed your tax return and didn't pay what you owed, then penalties and interest are going to be compounding on that. But, if you're due a refund, there's no penalty for you not filing your tax return, but there is a three year statute of limitations in order to file the return and get your money back."There is a lot of free tax credit money that hasn't been distributed to those who qualify for it, because they have not filed their taxes at all."That is critically important to people who may not have filed for the past couple of years," Devine said. "We're talking about 2019 and 2020. There were a lot of credits that were increased because of COVID. The only way to get those is to file the tax return. We're talking about the Child Tax Credit, which could be $3600, the Recovery Rebate Credit, which would be $1400 per adult and child, the Earned Income Tax Credit, if you have three children, almost $7000. If you didn't file, because you're not required to, this is the time to go ahead and get that done."The IRS is actually sending out reminder letters to those who might qualify. "We are sending out letters to about 9 million households," Devine said. "These are people that are normally not required to file a return, because they don't make enough money to have to file, but they may be eligible to claim those credits and thousands of dollars in refunds. If you do it yourself, you can go and get the tax form on <a href="https://www.irs.gov/">IRS.gov</a>. Or, for 2019 and 2020, you can go to a registered tax professional and they can file it electronically."For more information go to <a href="http://irs.gov">irs.gov</a> or call (800) 829-1040.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;

IRS: Several million people with credits unclaimed for COVID years

Today we spoke with Pat O'Brien from Upper NIobrara White Natural Resources District about groundwater quantity and meter reading.&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Upper Niobrara White NRD groundwater quantity, meter reading." 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=yvcav-12f3d35-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>Today we spoke with Pat O'Brien from Upper NIobrara White Natural Resources District about groundwater quantity and meter reading.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666371234713.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Post Podcast: Upper Niobrara White NRD groundwater quantity, meter reading

A spark. That’s all it takes to ignite a wildfire. With the pheasant and rifle deer season openers rapidly approaching, hunters are reminded to act responsibly in the field and to do their part in the prevention of wildfires.

According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln drought monitor (<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEwMTcuNjUyNjYwMjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Ryb3VnaHRtb25pdG9yLnVubC5lZHUvIn0.eiTVauHuZVaBcx8D_iNuxy5Afadk0EQhvRyOYs1m_lM/s/497221906/br/146081980239-l" target="_blank">droughtmonitor.unl.edu/</a>), 80% of the state is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions. These prolonged conditions have increased the risk of wildfires across much of the state, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission urges hunters to take the following precautions:

Driving vehicles or parking on dry, tall grass is a primary threat. Grass can ignite within seconds of contacting a hot surface, such as a vehicle’s exhaust/catalytic converter systems.

Nebraska’s pheasant, quail and partridge seasons open Oct. 29 and run through Jan. 31, 2023. The November firearm deer season runs from Nov. 12-20, 2022.

By Nebraska Game and ParksA spark. That’s all it takes to ignite a wildfire. With the pheasant and rifle deer season openers rapidly approaching, hunters are reminded to act responsibly in the field and to do their part in the prevention of wildfires.According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln drought monitor (<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEwMTcuNjUyNjYwMjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Ryb3VnaHRtb25pdG9yLnVubC5lZHUvIn0.eiTVauHuZVaBcx8D_iNuxy5Afadk0EQhvRyOYs1m_lM/s/497221906/br/146081980239-l" target="_blank">droughtmonitor.unl.edu/</a>), 80% of the state is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions. These prolonged conditions have increased the risk of wildfires across much of the state, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission urges hunters to take the following precautions:<ul>
 <li>Restrict driving to established roads and trails.</li><li>Avoid parking vehicles in tall vegetation.</li><li>Restrict the use of campfires.</li><li>Dispose of cigarettes and other flammable objects appropriately.</li><li>Ensure your vehicle, trailers, and other equipment are well-maintained.</li><li>Make sure no chains are dragging from your vehicle.</li><li>In the morning, before driving and while the exhaust/catalytic converter system is cool, inspect it to see no debris is clinging to it.</li><li>Carry a fire extinguisher in the vehicle.</li>
 </ul>Driving vehicles or parking on dry, tall grass is a primary threat. Grass can ignite within seconds of contacting a hot surface, such as a vehicle’s exhaust/catalytic converter systems.Nebraska’s pheasant, quail and partridge seasons open Oct. 29 and run through Jan. 31, 2023. The November firearm deer season runs from Nov. 12-20, 2022.

Hunters urged to be wary of potential fire hazards due to prolonged drought conditions

Chadron Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis will hold Trunk or Treat in downtown Chadron on Oct. 28 from 5 pm. - 7 p.m.

By Panhandle Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666366686132.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Chadron Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis will hold Trunk or Treat in downtown Chadron on Oct. 28 from 5 pm. - 7 p.m.

'Trunk or Treat' to be held in Chadron 

Come out to Ash Hollow State Historical Park and celebrate Halloween in the Hollow on Oct. 22 from 2-6 p.m. Mountain time.

There will be kids’ games, s’mores, pumpkin picking and decorating, a scavenger hunt, hayrack rides and a costume contest, which begins at 4:30 p.m.

At 5 p.m., Trunk or Treat will be sponsored by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conservation officers, area emergency medical services and law enforcement, with their vehicles available to view.

Direct event questions to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tamara.cooper@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">tamara.cooper@nebraska.gov</a>.

By Nebraska Game and ParksCome out to Ash Hollow State Historical Park and celebrate Halloween in the Hollow on Oct. 22 from 2-6 p.m. Mountain time.There will be kids’ games, s’mores, pumpkin picking and decorating, a scavenger hunt, hayrack rides and a costume contest, which begins at 4:30 p.m.At 5 p.m., Trunk or Treat will be sponsored by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conservation officers, area emergency medical services and law enforcement, with their vehicles available to view.Direct event questions to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tamara.cooper@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">tamara.cooper@nebraska.gov</a>.

Halloween in the Hollow is Oct. 22 in Ash Hollow State Historical Park 

The Chadron Bomgaars will hold on Oct. 23 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.&nbsp;

Bomgaars will be donating 5% of the evening's total sales to local cancer centers and/or hospitals in the communities they serve. In Chadron donates will go to Circle of Light and Chadron Community Hospital.&nbsp;

By Panhandle Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666366358875.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Chadron Bomgaars will hold on Oct. 23 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.&nbsp;Bomgaars will be donating 5% of the evening's total sales to local cancer centers and/or hospitals in the communities they serve. In Chadron donates will go to Circle of Light and Chadron Community Hospital.&nbsp;

Chadron Bomgaars to hold 'Ladies Night' 

By Kerri Rempp, Discover Northwest Nebraska

Nestled in the Pine Ridge near Chadron State Park and the Nebraska National Forest, thousands of kids have made summer camp memories at Camp Norwesca.

Established in 1954 by the United Methodist Great Plains Conference, Camp Norwesca has welcomed summer camp attendees since 1955, where they have learned new skills and gained confidence horseback riding, completing the challenge course or rocketing down the super slide.

But Camp Norwesca is more than a summer camp facility; it’s a year-round retreat center that’s becoming a popular site for retreats, weddings, family reunions and other group stays. Its secluded setting, surrounded by scenic Pine Ridge views, offers a beautiful backdrop and a quiet location for a variety of events.

“The groups that come here come back year after year,” said Director Brandi May.

Bordered on three sides by the Nebraska National Forest and adjacent to Chadron State Park, visitors can enjoy 40 acres in Camp Norwesca’s borders or hike the Lebo Canyon Trail to Chadron State Park. After connecting with the Norwesca Trail, visitors can go in nearly any direction to enjoy the trail system at the State Park and on Forest Service property.

This year, Camp Norwesca has hosted an estimated 1,000 visitors to date, with most of those using the facility for something other than summer camp.

“What’s becoming more popular ever since COVID is family reunions,” May said. Turkey and deer hunting groups have also made their way to Camp Norwesca, many when they walk in at Chadron State Park and find that site full. The site has also hosted a pastors retreat, two sewing retreats and six weddings in 2022. Wedding parties can choose from three flat-rate packages that make use of the A-frame chapel overlooking the Pine Ridge and can host their reception on the camp’s lawn or in the lodge.

As visitors use the camp, staff members point them to other experiences in Northwest Nebraska, such as Agate Fossil Beds, Toadstool Geologic Park or the Museum of the Fur Trade. Even families picking up their children from summer camp often add on a few days to explore the region, May said.

“This is a good central location to base your trip out of,” she noted.

May, who started at the camp as an office assistant in 2018, took over as director earlier this year. She’s focused on continuing to update the facility and raise awareness of its summer camp offerings and its availability as a year-round option for retreats, weddings and other group gatherings. Businesses can even rent the conference room, recreation room or community kitchen just for a day to host meetings, noted Kaylie Mason, the camp’s office assistant. Audio visual equipment is provided to make conferences or retreats seamless.

Camp Norwesca will celebrate 70 years in 2024. After original construction was completed, the Great Plains Conference added a craft house in 1956 and its outdoor A-frame chapel in 1961. Lodging accommodations were added to the central lodge in 1995 to complement the 10 cabins on the grounds.

The Region 23 Complex Fire in 2012 destroyed seven cabins and damaged 32 of the camp’s 40 acres. The challenge course was also destroyed. Since then, two cabins have been rebuilt and a new challenge course with three obstacles has returned. Today, the camp can house 50 in their basic cabins, open from May to October, with a central bathhouse, and another 32 in the lodge. Tent camping is also an option.

Staff members begin training for summer camp each May, and over the course of nine weeks in June and July, they host 15 camps. The camps are attended by kids from across Nebraska, and they even had a camper from Texas this summer, May said. Camps are offered based on themes ranging from Wilderness Wonders and Trail Trotters to Wacky Water Week and Camp Creation. The latter focuses on STEM and robotics offerings.

“That camp has really taken off,” May said.

Next summer, Camp Norwesca is working to bring offerings for 4-H campers impacted by the loss of the Halsey State 4-H Camp in the Bovee Fire earlier this fall.

By Kerri Rempp, Discover Northwest NebraskaNestled in the Pine Ridge near Chadron State Park and the Nebraska National Forest, thousands of kids have made summer camp memories at Camp Norwesca.Established in 1954 by the United Methodist Great Plains Conference, Camp Norwesca has welcomed summer camp attendees since 1955, where they have learned new skills and gained confidence horseback riding, completing the challenge course or rocketing down the super slide.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666380231166.jpeg" alt="The outdoor chapel at Camp Norwesca is home to worship services in the summer but is also a popular wedding venue. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska" />
 <figcaption>The outdoor chapel at Camp Norwesca is home to worship services in the summer but is also a popular wedding venue. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska</figcaption>
 </figure>But Camp Norwesca is more than a summer camp facility; it’s a year-round retreat center that’s becoming a popular site for retreats, weddings, family reunions and other group stays. Its secluded setting, surrounded by scenic Pine Ridge views, offers a beautiful backdrop and a quiet location for a variety of events.“The groups that come here come back year after year,” said Director Brandi May.Bordered on three sides by the Nebraska National Forest and adjacent to Chadron State Park, visitors can enjoy 40 acres in Camp Norwesca’s borders or hike the Lebo Canyon Trail to Chadron State Park. After connecting with the Norwesca Trail, visitors can go in nearly any direction to enjoy the trail system at the State Park and on Forest Service property.This year, Camp Norwesca has hosted an estimated 1,000 visitors to date, with most of those using the facility for something other than summer camp.“What’s becoming more popular ever since COVID is family reunions,” May said. Turkey and deer hunting groups have also made their way to Camp Norwesca, many when they walk in at Chadron State Park and find that site full. The site has also hosted a pastors retreat, two sewing retreats and six weddings in 2022. Wedding parties can choose from three flat-rate packages that make use of the A-frame chapel overlooking the Pine Ridge and can host their reception on the camp’s lawn or in the lodge.As visitors use the camp, staff members point them to other experiences in Northwest Nebraska, such as Agate Fossil Beds, Toadstool Geologic Park or the Museum of the Fur Trade. Even families picking up their children from summer camp often add on a few days to explore the region, May said.“This is a good central location to base your trip out of,” she noted.May, who started at the camp as an office assistant in 2018, took over as director earlier this year. She’s focused on continuing to update the facility and raise awareness of its summer camp offerings and its availability as a year-round option for retreats, weddings and other group gatherings. Businesses can even rent the conference room, recreation room or community kitchen just for a day to host meetings, noted Kaylie Mason, the camp’s office assistant. Audio visual equipment is provided to make conferences or retreats seamless.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666380268497.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Camp Norwesca south of Chadron serves as a popular summer camp site but is a year-round facility that can be used as a venue for weddings, family reunions, retreats or any other group gatherings. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Camp Norwesca south of Chadron serves as a popular summer camp site but is a year-round facility that can be used as a venue for weddings, family reunions, retreats or any other group gatherings. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska</figcaption>
 </figure>Camp Norwesca will celebrate 70 years in 2024. After original construction was completed, the Great Plains Conference added a craft house in 1956 and its outdoor A-frame chapel in 1961. Lodging accommodations were added to the central lodge in 1995 to complement the 10 cabins on the grounds.The Region 23 Complex Fire in 2012 destroyed seven cabins and damaged 32 of the camp’s 40 acres. The challenge course was also destroyed. Since then, two cabins have been rebuilt and a new challenge course with three obstacles has returned. Today, the camp can house 50 in their basic cabins, open from May to October, with a central bathhouse, and another 32 in the lodge. Tent camping is also an option.Staff members begin training for summer camp each May, and over the course of nine weeks in June and July, they host 15 camps. The camps are attended by kids from across Nebraska, and they even had a camper from Texas this summer, May said. Camps are offered based on themes ranging from Wilderness Wonders and Trail Trotters to Wacky Water Week and Camp Creation. The latter focuses on STEM and robotics offerings.“That camp has really taken off,” May said.Next summer, Camp Norwesca is working to bring offerings for 4-H campers impacted by the loss of the Halsey State 4-H Camp in the Bovee Fire earlier this fall.“We know the feeling to lose your site to a fire,” May said. “We want to do what we can to help.”Summer campers enjoy the super slide, gaga pit, archery, sand volleyball, basketball, arts and crafts and other activities on site. They perform short skits or music at the Phoenix amphitheater or travel to the state park for trail riding, paddleboat adventures and swimming. Camp Norwesca is an American Camp Association site, meaning all activities are run by a certified employee. Because of that, groups visiting the camp for a retreat or wedding may or may not be able to use some of the activity sites, as it is based on the time of year and staff availability, May said.Even without structured activities, there are plenty of ways to keep groups busy. The large lawn can be home to a game of catch, frisbee or soccer, and the fire pit near the chapel is a popular spot for conversation and s’mores. Hike or mountain bike the trails in the summer or enjoy sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter months. Inside, curl up in front of the fireplace or take advantage of the recreation room games and challenge each other to a rousing game of ping pong, foosball, air hockey or checkers.Catering, from continental breakfasts to wedding receptions, is available for an additional fee and features home-cooked meals.“It gives you that warm lodge feeling when you have a fire and a home-cooked meal,” May added.Since June and July are dedicated to summer camps, nearly all of the retreats, weddings and other group events take place outside those months, May said.“We’re trying to build on that.”Learn more about Camp Norwesca at www.norwesca.org.