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7/6/2024 24-3101 7:05 ASSIST THE PUBLIC - 305

7/6/2024 24-3107 10:32 THEFT FROM VEHICLE

7/6/2024 24-3108 14:04 THEFT FROM VEHICLE

Date Reported Dispatch Number Dispatch Type Time Received Disposition

7/6/2024 24-3110 15:24 THEFT FROM VEHICLE

7/6/2024 24-3112 15:36 THEFT FROM VEHICLE

7/6/2024 24-3113 15:49 DISTURBANCE-FIREWORKS

7/6/2024 24-3118 21:37 DISTURBANCE-FIREWORKS

By Chadron Police Department7/6/2024 24-3101 7:05 ASSIST THE PUBLIC - 305CHADRON, NE 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:&nbsp;755 MICROTEL DRNO REPORT316 BORDEAUX ST7/6/2024 24-3102 7:56 THEFT FROM VEHICLECHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:WRITTEN REPORT300 BLK BORDEAUX ST7/6/2024 24-3103 8:25 PROPERTY / FOUNDCHADRON,Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORT358 BORDEAUX ST7/6/2024 24-3104 8:47 THEFT FROM VEHICLECHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:WRITTEN REPORT345 MAIN ST7/6/2024 24-3105 8:51 THEFT FROM VEHICLECHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:WRITTEN REPORT901 E 3RD ST7/6/2024 24-3106 9:44 AOA-FIRE/RESCUECHADRON, NE 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORT845 BORDEAUX ST7/6/2024 24-3107 10:32 THEFT FROM VEHICLECHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:WRITTEN REPORT302 E 5TH ST7/6/2024 24-3108 14:04 THEFT FROM VEHICLECHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:WRITTEN REPORTDate Reported Dispatch Number Dispatch Type Time Received Disposition7/6/2024 24-3109 15:19 ANIMAL AT LARGEAgency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTNO REPORTLocation:&nbsp;740 PINE ST945 MAIN ST7/6/2024 24-3110 15:24 THEFT FROM VEHICLECHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:WRITTEN REPORT451 MAIN ST7/6/2024 24-3111 15:34 ANIMAL NUISANCECHADRON, NE 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORT350 BORDEAUX7/6/2024 24-3112 15:36 THEFT FROM VEHICLECHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:WRITTEN REPORT423 BORDEAUX7/6/2024 24-3113 15:49 DISTURBANCE-FIREWORKSCHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORT507 BORDEAUX ST7/6/2024 24-3115 19:06 PROPERTY / FOUNDCHADRON, NE 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORTSTOCKADE RD7/6/2024 24-3116 20:14 D.U.I. ADULTCHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:WRITTEN REPORT125 MAIN ST7/6/2024 24-3117 20:51 ANIMAL AT LARGECHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORTW NIOBRARA AVE7/6/2024 24-3118 21:37 DISTURBANCE-FIREWORKSCHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:&nbsp;1ST&amp;PINE STNO REPORTDate Reported Dispatch Number Dispatch Type Time Received Disposition7/6/2024 24-3119 21:51 DISTURBANCE-FIREWORKSAgency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTNO REPORTLocation:841 MAPLE ST7/6/2024 24-3120 22:33 SUSPICIOUSCIRCUMSTANCECHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORT710 MOREHEAD ST7/6/2024 24-3121 22:53 THEFT BY UNLAWFULTAKINGCHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:WRITTEN REPORT100 BLK PINE ST7/7/2024 24-3122 1:20 D.U.I. ADULTCHADRON, NB 69337Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:WRITTEN REPORTDISTRICT 47/7/2024 24-3123 3:23 BUILDING CHECKSCHADRON,Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORTDISTRICT 37/7/2024 24-3124 3:23 BUILDING CHECKSCHADRON,Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORTDISTRICT 27/7/2024 24-3125 4:06 BUILDING CHECKSCHADRON,Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORTDISTRICT 57/7/2024 24-3126 4:24 BUILDING CHECKSCHADRON,Agency: CHADRON POLICE DEPARTMENTLocation:NO REPORT

Chadron Police Department: The media report 

P202400357 09:54 TRESPASS : TRESPASS Officers responded to 2423 HWY 2 in reference to a reported trespass violation. One suspect was apprehended charges recommended. Closed - Charges Recommended

P202400358 15:21 BITE : ANIMAL BITE Officers responded to BBGH in reference to a reported animal bite. Closed - Resolved

P202400359 13:26 10-44 : MVA NON INJURYOfficers responded to the 600 block of Sweetwater in reference to a reported motor vehicle accident. Closed - Resolved

P202400360 13:38 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF : Called to the old Good Sam building at 1016 East 6th Street for damage to the building. Upon arrival was shown several broken windows and broken mirrors inside the building. This in Open - Under Investigation

P202400362 18:35 JUV : JUVENILE Inactive - Case Suspended

P202400361 20:44 WARRANT : ARREST officers went to the 900 block Big Horn Avenue in reference to an arrest warrant/ officers made contact with one male/ Warrant was confirmed and male was transported to Box Butte County jail. Closed - Resolved

P202400363 19:08 10-44 : MVA NON INJURY Closed - Charges Recommended

P202400365 20:05 10-44 : MVA NON INJURY Closed - Resolved

P202400366 23:02 DUI : DUI Received driving complaints on a green GMC pickup. Stopped the vehicle with the bumper falling off. Kade Weber was arrested for DUI 2nd offense and refusal of chemical tests Closed - Charges Recommended

P202400367 00:14 10-44 : MVA NON INJURY Closed - Resolved

P202400368 03:46 10-44 : MVA NON INJURY Closed - Resolved

P202400370 07:58 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF : Officers dispatched to 600 block of Newberry reference a broken window. Investigation revealed a firework had struck and broke the window. Did not appear to be intentional. Inactive - Case Suspended

P202400369 07:58 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF : Officers dispatched to 600 block of Newberry reference graffiti. Investigation conducted on scene, no suspects at this time. Inactive - Case Suspended

P202400371 10:22 WARRANT : ARREST Investigation into a male who was actively running from parole as well as having a felony warrant. Male was located and placed under arrest near 3rd and Flack Ave. Closed - Charges Recommended

P202400372 14:06 JUV : JUVENILE Report of juvenile runaway. Report taken, charges recommended. Closed - Charges Recommended

P202400373 15:16 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF : Report of broken windshield on vehicle, report taken, charges recommended. Closed - Charges Recommended

P202400374 19:22 SUICIDAL : SUICIDAL Closed - Charges Recommended

P202400375 20:53 THEFT : THEFT Inactive - Case Suspended

P202400376 15:13 10-45 : MVA INJURY MVA involving two vehicles on Highway 385 involving two vehicles. Minor injuries. No one was transported to BBGH. Closed - Charges Recommended

P202400377 16:01 10-44 : MVA NON INJURYOfficers responded to 103 E 1st in reference to a reported motor vehicle accident. No injuries reported. Closed - Resolved

By Alliance Police DepartmentP202400357 09:54 TRESPASS : TRESPASS Officers responded to 2423 HWY 2 in reference to a reported trespass violation. One suspect was apprehended charges recommended. Closed - Charges RecommendedP202400358 15:21 BITE : ANIMAL BITE Officers responded to BBGH in reference to a reported animal bite. Closed - Resolved06/30/24 Total: 2 07/01/24P202400359 13:26 10-44 : MVA NON INJURYOfficers responded to the 600 block of Sweetwater in reference to a reported motor vehicle accident. Closed - ResolvedP202400360 13:38 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF : Called to the old Good Sam building at 1016 East 6th Street for damage to the building. Upon arrival was shown several broken windows and broken mirrors inside the building. This in Open - Under InvestigationP202400362 18:35 JUV : JUVENILE Inactive - Case SuspendedP202400361 20:44 WARRANT : ARREST officers went to the 900 block Big Horn Avenue in reference to an arrest warrant/ officers made contact with one male/ Warrant was confirmed and male was transported to Box Butte County jail. Closed - Resolved07/01/24 Total: 4 07/02/24P202400363 19:08 10-44 : MVA NON INJURY Closed - Charges Recommended07/02/24 Total: 1 07/03/24P202400365 20:05 10-44 : MVA NON INJURY Closed - Resolved07/03/24 Total: 107/04/24P202400366 23:02 DUI : DUI Received driving complaints on a green GMC pickup. Stopped the vehicle with the bumper falling off. Kade Weber was arrested for DUI 2nd offense and refusal of chemical tests Closed - Charges Recommended07/04/24 Total: 1 07/05/24P202400367 00:14 10-44 : MVA NON INJURY Closed - ResolvedP202400368 03:46 10-44 : MVA NON INJURY Closed - ResolvedP202400370 07:58 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF : Officers dispatched to 600 block of Newberry reference a broken window. Investigation revealed a firework had struck and broke the window. Did not appear to be intentional. Inactive - Case SuspendedP202400369 07:58 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF : Officers dispatched to 600 block of Newberry reference graffiti. Investigation conducted on scene, no suspects at this time. Inactive - Case SuspendedP202400371 10:22 WARRANT : ARREST Investigation into a male who was actively running from parole as well as having a felony warrant. Male was located and placed under arrest near 3rd and Flack Ave. Closed - Charges RecommendedP202400372 14:06 JUV : JUVENILE Report of juvenile runaway. Report taken, charges recommended. Closed - Charges RecommendedP202400373 15:16 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF : Report of broken windshield on vehicle, report taken, charges recommended. Closed - Charges RecommendedP202400374 19:22 SUICIDAL : SUICIDAL Closed - Charges RecommendedP202400375 20:53 THEFT : THEFT Inactive - Case Suspended07/05/24 Total: 9 07/06/24P202400376 15:13 10-45 : MVA INJURY MVA involving two vehicles on Highway 385 involving two vehicles. Minor injuries. No one was transported to BBGH. Closed - Charges RecommendedP202400377 16:01 10-44 : MVA NON INJURYOfficers responded to 103 E 1st in reference to a reported motor vehicle accident. No injuries reported. Closed - Resolved

Alliance Police Department: The media report 

NW. Nebraska — Northwest Nebraska Region Local Board #5656-00 expects to be awarded federal funds in the amount of $11,500 Phase 41 under the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the counties of Box Butte, Cherry, Dawes, Sheridan and Sioux. The funding is provided by a national Board that is chaired by the US Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consist of representative from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide. This local board will determine how the funds awarded will be distributed.

Qualified agencies are urged to apply. Under the terms of the award, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter program, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.

Applications can be obtained on NCAP’s website at www.ncap.info , on the news and event tab or by calling 308-432-3393.

The deadline for applications is 10:00 am Wednesday, July 24, 2024 the applications can be emailed to sbrodrick@ncap.info or mailed or delivered to Northwest Community Action Partnership, 270 Pine St., Chadron, NE 69337, or via fax (308) 432-5799. Late applications will not be considered. Agencies submitting applications will be required to present their application request to the Local Board during a meeting on Wednesday July 24 th , 2024 at 1:00 pm at Northwest Community Action Partnership, 270 Pine St., Chadron, NE 69337.

For more information, please contact Bonnie Beckstrom at (308) 432-3393

By NCAPNW. Nebraska — Northwest Nebraska Region Local Board #5656-00 expects to be awarded federal funds in the amount of $11,500 Phase 41 under the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the counties of Box Butte, Cherry, Dawes, Sheridan and Sioux. The funding is provided by a national Board that is chaired by the US Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consist of representative from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide. This local board will determine how the funds awarded will be distributed.Qualified agencies are urged to apply. Under the terms of the award, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter program, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.Applications can be obtained on NCAP’s website at www.ncap.info , on the news and event tab or by calling 308-432-3393.The deadline for applications is 10:00 am Wednesday, July 24, 2024 the applications can be emailed to sbrodrick@ncap.info or mailed or delivered to Northwest Community Action Partnership, 270 Pine St., Chadron, NE 69337, or via fax (308) 432-5799. Late applications will not be considered. Agencies submitting applications will be required to present their application request to the Local Board during a meeting on Wednesday July 24 th , 2024 at 1:00 pm at Northwest Community Action Partnership, 270 Pine St., Chadron, NE 69337.For more information, please contact Bonnie Beckstrom at (308) 432-3393

NCAP: Emergency food, shelter funds available to region 

An Alliance man is facing felony counts of Motor Vehicle
Homicide, Manslaughter; and Driving Under the Influence of alcohol for the
fifth time following a two-vehicle accident last October 4 at the intersection
of 10th Street and Flack Avenue.

According to a Nebraska State Patrol reconstruction
investigation, a southbound vehicle driven by 35-year-old Jacob Stone was
traveling at approximately 82 mph in a 35-mph zone. &nbsp;He collided with another vehicle that was
traveling northbound and attempting to turn left onto 10th
Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A state patrol reconstruction
specialist believes that Stone would not have collided with the northbound
vehicle had Stone been obeying the speed limit. &nbsp;&nbsp;No one in the vehicle Stone collided with
sustained injuries.&nbsp; 

Dagan Pierce, a passenger in Stone's vehicle, suffered
serious injuries.&nbsp; Pierce was transferred
to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.&nbsp;&nbsp; He was declared dead on October 22, 2023,
with what doctors labeled a nonsurvivable brain injury.

Alliance Police Officer Tyler Sherlock reported seeing
several empty Fireball whiskey bottles of various sizes in Stone’s vehicle and
noted an odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from Stone, as well as bloodshot
eyes.&nbsp; Stone's blood alcohol level was later
found to be over .15.

Stone is scheduled to appear in Box Butte County Court on
Tuesday, July 9.&nbsp; 

An Alliance man is facing felony counts of Motor Vehicle
Homicide, Manslaughter; and Driving Under the Influence of alcohol for the
fifth time following a two-vehicle accident last October 4 at the intersection
of 10th Street and Flack Avenue.According to a Nebraska State Patrol reconstruction
investigation, a southbound vehicle driven by 35-year-old Jacob Stone was
traveling at approximately 82 mph in a 35-mph zone. &nbsp;He collided with another vehicle that was
traveling northbound and attempting to turn left onto 10th
Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A state patrol reconstruction
specialist believes that Stone would not have collided with the northbound
vehicle had Stone been obeying the speed limit. &nbsp;&nbsp;No one in the vehicle Stone collided with
sustained injuries.&nbsp; Dagan Pierce, a passenger in Stone's vehicle, suffered
serious injuries.&nbsp; Pierce was transferred
to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.&nbsp;&nbsp; He was declared dead on October 22, 2023,
with what doctors labeled a nonsurvivable brain injury.Alliance Police Officer Tyler Sherlock reported seeing
several empty Fireball whiskey bottles of various sizes in Stone’s vehicle and
noted an odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from Stone, as well as bloodshot
eyes.&nbsp; Stone's blood alcohol level was later
found to be over .15.Stone is scheduled to appear in Box Butte County Court on
Tuesday, July 9.&nbsp;

Alliance Man Facing Multiple Felony Counts in Auto Accident

An Alliance man remains in custody in the Box Butte County Jail after being
charged with Sexual Assault of a Child and Incest.&nbsp; 

50-year-old Terry Grant was arrested on May 22 following a complaint filed
with the Alliance Police Department from the child’s family members.

District Court records state that during a police interrogation, Grant
confessed to the sexual assault of the female child, who is under 16 years of
age.

Grant appeared in Box Butte County District Court June 24th and entered a
plea of Not Guilty.&nbsp; 

District Judge Travis O'Gorman set a status hearing for August 14th.

An Alliance man remains in custody in the Box Butte County Jail after being
charged with Sexual Assault of a Child and Incest.&nbsp; 50-year-old Terry Grant was arrested on May 22 following a complaint filed
with the Alliance Police Department from the child’s family members.District Court records state that during a police interrogation, Grant
confessed to the sexual assault of the female child, who is under 16 years of
age.Grant appeared in Box Butte County District Court June 24th and entered a
plea of Not Guilty.&nbsp; District Judge Travis O'Gorman set a status hearing for August 14th.

Alliance Man Charged With Child Sexual Assault

The Alliance Police Department responded to a significant disturbance and barricade situation earlier today at approximately 7:22 PM. The incident occurred at 518 W 2nd St, at a residence and involved a dispute between neighbors.

Officers were dispatched to a disturbance call involving Dylan Kaiser and a neighbor. The initial reports indicated a physical altercation between the individuals, with witnesses stating that Dylan Kaiser was involved in pushing and hitting the neighbor. Upon arrival, officers attempted to take Dylan Kaiser into custody. However, Kaiser fled the scene on foot and barricaded himself inside the nearby Old Kaiser Tire Shop located at 604 W 2nd St. He was possibly armed with a firearm and made several alarming threats, including threats to kill neighbors, burn down the building, and commit suicide.

The situation quickly escalated, and additional units were summoned from the Nebraska Highway Patrol, Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the WING Task Force. With the assistance of NSP negotiators, officers were able to de-escalate the situation through direct communication with Kaiser over a two-hour period. After extended dialogue, Dylan Kaiser agreed to surrender peacefully.

At approximately 9:04 PM, Kaiser was taken into custody without incident. The Alliance Police Department, in conjunction with assisting agencies, utilizing effective communication and coordination, managed to resolve the situation safely.

Dylan Kaiser was transported to Box Butte County Hospital for evaluation and is facing pending charges under Nebraska State Statute 28-311.01 for Terroristic Threats and Nebraska State Statute 28-904(3) for Resisting Arrest. These charges stem from his threats against neighbors, barricading himself, and resisting arrest.

Alliance Police Chief David Leavitt said, "I would like to commend all officers involved in handling this response. This was a highly volatile situation, and I am proud of our officers' professionalism and ability to de-escalate the situation through effective communication. I am also thankful for our partnership with the Nebraska Highway Patrol, Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office and WING who provided invaluable resources. Ensuring the safety of our community and all involved is our top priority."

The Alliance Police Department responded to a significant disturbance and barricade situation earlier today at approximately 7:22 PM. The incident occurred at 518 W 2nd St, at a residence and involved a dispute between neighbors.Officers were dispatched to a disturbance call involving Dylan Kaiser and a neighbor. The initial reports indicated a physical altercation between the individuals, with witnesses stating that Dylan Kaiser was involved in pushing and hitting the neighbor. Upon arrival, officers attempted to take Dylan Kaiser into custody. However, Kaiser fled the scene on foot and barricaded himself inside the nearby Old Kaiser Tire Shop located at 604 W 2nd St. He was possibly armed with a firearm and made several alarming threats, including threats to kill neighbors, burn down the building, and commit suicide.The situation quickly escalated, and additional units were summoned from the Nebraska Highway Patrol, Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the WING Task Force. With the assistance of NSP negotiators, officers were able to de-escalate the situation through direct communication with Kaiser over a two-hour period. After extended dialogue, Dylan Kaiser agreed to surrender peacefully.At approximately 9:04 PM, Kaiser was taken into custody without incident. The Alliance Police Department, in conjunction with assisting agencies, utilizing effective communication and coordination, managed to resolve the situation safely.Dylan Kaiser was transported to Box Butte County Hospital for evaluation and is facing pending charges under Nebraska State Statute 28-311.01 for Terroristic Threats and Nebraska State Statute 28-904(3) for Resisting Arrest. These charges stem from his threats against neighbors, barricading himself, and resisting arrest.Alliance Police Chief David Leavitt said, "I would like to commend all officers involved in handling this response. This was a highly volatile situation, and I am proud of our officers' professionalism and ability to de-escalate the situation through effective communication. I am also thankful for our partnership with the Nebraska Highway Patrol, Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office and WING who provided invaluable resources. Ensuring the safety of our community and all involved is our top priority."

Alliance Police Department Responds to Barricaded Suspect

Alliance Police Dept. Press Release

Earlier this morning, Alliance Police Sergeant LaDuke received a notification from the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office that Monty Shepard, a convicted felon, was enroute to Alliance to avoid apprehension for a felony warrant. 

Intelligence gathered indicated that Mr. Shepard intended to travel to Scottsbluff Airport and leave the state to elude capture. Mr. Shepard has a lengthy criminal history including robbery and weapons charges and was considered armed and dangerous. 

After receiving information that the suspect was on a Panhandle Trails bus, officers were able to make contact with the bus driver. A stop was planned for 3rd and Flack where officers intercepted the bus. The driver and passengers were able to exit the bus safely, and at 11:05am the suspect was taken into custody without incident. Upon searching the suspect’s backpack, a loaded handgun was located. 

Thanks to excellent inter-agency coordination and a swift, efficient response another armed and dangerous felon is off the streets and no longer able to victimize our communities.

Alliance Police Dept. Press ReleaseEarlier this morning, Alliance Police Sergeant LaDuke received a notification from the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office that Monty Shepard, a convicted felon, was enroute to Alliance to avoid apprehension for a felony warrant. Intelligence gathered indicated that Mr. Shepard intended to travel to Scottsbluff Airport and leave the state to elude capture. Mr. Shepard has a lengthy criminal history including robbery and weapons charges and was considered armed and dangerous. After receiving information that the suspect was on a Panhandle Trails bus, officers were able to make contact with the bus driver. A stop was planned for 3rd and Flack where officers intercepted the bus. The driver and passengers were able to exit the bus safely, and at 11:05am the suspect was taken into custody without incident. Upon searching the suspect’s backpack, a loaded handgun was located. Thanks to excellent inter-agency coordination and a swift, efficient response another armed and dangerous felon is off the streets and no longer able to victimize our communities.

Alliance Police Apprehend Armed Dangerous Felon

Bushnell, Neb. - First responders respond to a residential fire call which leads to the arrest of a man in Bushnell.&nbsp;

According to the Kimball County Sheriff's Office (KCSO), dispatched received a call of a residential fire in Bushnell. As first responders responded to the scene, they encountered 48-year-old Travis McDonald. KCSO says in a post that McDonald was tazed and arrested for interfering with a firearm. No further information was given.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The KCSO was assisted by the&nbsp;Laramie County Fire Department, Bushnell Fire Department, Kimball EMS, Kimball Fire Department and Kimball Police Department.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720186000542.jpeg" alt="Residential fire in Bushnell. (Photo from Kimball County Sheriff's Office)" />
 <figcaption>Residential fire in Bushnell. (Photo from Kimball County Sheriff's Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Panhandle Post&nbsp;Bushnell, Neb. - First responders respond to a residential fire call which leads to the arrest of a man in Bushnell.&nbsp;According to the Kimball County Sheriff's Office (KCSO), dispatched received a call of a residential fire in Bushnell. As first responders responded to the scene, they encountered 48-year-old Travis McDonald. KCSO says in a post that McDonald was tazed and arrested for interfering with a firearm. No further information was given.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720186154533.jpeg" alt="Travis McDonald (Courtesy of Kimball County Sheriff's Office)" />
 <figcaption>Travis McDonald (Courtesy of Kimball County Sheriff's Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>The KCSO was assisted by the&nbsp;Laramie County Fire Department, Bushnell Fire Department, Kimball EMS, Kimball Fire Department and Kimball Police Department.&nbsp;

First Responders respond to a fire call in Bushnell that leads to an arrest

Box Butte County District Court Judge Travis O’Gorman has found an Alliance
woman guilty of four criminal charges stemming from a stabbing incident last
summer.

Following a bench trial held July 1st in Box Butte County District Court,
Rebbeca Ashing, 30, was convicted for stabbing of her husband, Cody Duel in the
neck and chest, inflicting life-threatening injuries.

The incident occurred on July 13, 2023, in the 400 block of Potash Avenue.

Two witnesses offered their testimony as to the possibility of an insanity
defense.&nbsp; Klaus Hartmann M.D., testifying
for the defense, stated that the defendant was suffering from a psychosis or
dissociative disorder at the time of the stabbing.&nbsp; Dr. Hartmann stated that the defendant was
insane at the time of the alleged crime.

The State called Rosanna M. Jones-Thurman, PH.D, who opined that the
defendant's psychological issues may have been fabricated or exaggerated. &nbsp;Dr. Jones-Thurman believed the defendant was
competent to stand trial, and sane at the time of the stabbing.

The Court found the defendant guilty on four counts: Attempted First Degree
Murder; Use of A Deadly Weapon To Commit A Felony; 1st Degree Domestic Assault;
and 2nd Degree Assault.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 28, 2024.

Box Butte County District Court Judge Travis O’Gorman has found an Alliance
woman guilty of four criminal charges stemming from a stabbing incident last
summer.Following a bench trial held July 1st in Box Butte County District Court,
Rebbeca Ashing, 30, was convicted for stabbing of her husband, Cody Duel in the
neck and chest, inflicting life-threatening injuries.The incident occurred on July 13, 2023, in the 400 block of Potash Avenue.Two witnesses offered their testimony as to the possibility of an insanity
defense.&nbsp; Klaus Hartmann M.D., testifying
for the defense, stated that the defendant was suffering from a psychosis or
dissociative disorder at the time of the stabbing.&nbsp; Dr. Hartmann stated that the defendant was
insane at the time of the alleged crime.The State called Rosanna M. Jones-Thurman, PH.D, who opined that the
defendant's psychological issues may have been fabricated or exaggerated. &nbsp;Dr. Jones-Thurman believed the defendant was
competent to stand trial, and sane at the time of the stabbing.The Court found the defendant guilty on four counts: Attempted First Degree
Murder; Use of A Deadly Weapon To Commit A Felony; 1st Degree Domestic Assault;
and 2nd Degree Assault.Sentencing is scheduled for August 28, 2024.

Alliance Woman Found Guilty In Stabbing

The National Weather Service in Cheyenne has issued a

  Central Cheyenne County in the Panhandle of Nebraska...

* At 146 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado

  was located 8 miles west of Gurley, or 13 miles northwest of

  HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without

           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.

           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest

floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a

mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter

The National Weather Service in Cheyenne has issued a* Tornado Warning for... Central Cheyenne County in the Panhandle of Nebraska...* Until 215 PM MDT.* At 146 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 8 miles west of Gurley, or 13 miles northwest of Sidney, moving southeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.* This dangerous storm will be near... Sidney around 210 PM MDT.Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm includeCheyenne County Fairgrounds.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowestfloor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in amobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter

Tornado Warning issued for Cheyenne County 

A Panhandle mosquito trap site has recently collected mosquitoes positive for West Nile virus. These are the first confirmed positives for the season in the Panhandle. These positive mosquitoes give Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD), along with other health departments, an indicator of the location of the virus and where people may encounter mosquitoes carrying the virus.

Multiple locations across Nebraska are routinely monitoring sites to trap and test mosquitoes over the summer months. Human cases of West Nile are also used for surveillance. At this time, there have been no cases of human West Nile reported in Nebraska.

West Nile virus is contracted through the bite of a mosquito. It begins with flu-like symptoms that can include a slight fever and headaches, though 8 out of 10 people never develop symptoms. Severe symptoms of West Nile can lead to encephalitis which can cause inflammation of the brain, disorientation, convulsions and paralysis. People with compromised immune systems are especially susceptible to this disease.

Prevention is the best to avoid getting diseases from mosquitoes. All Nebraska residents are encouraged to:

 Use insect repellent that has DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

 Be careful at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

 Wear long sleeve shirts and pants, especially when out hiking and camping.

 Mosquitoes can breed in small pools of water, so frequently check your property for standing water and drain items such as kid wagons, bird baths, flowerpots, gutters, and tires.

 Even with the sudden change in weather, it is still advised to be cautious outdoors until there are consistently low overnight temperatures.

Dead birds are also a sign that West Nile virus is present in the area. Panhandle residents can now report dead birds online during the WNV season. Visit: https://tinyurl.com/ycudv3tc to report birds found on your property.

If you have any questions about West Nile virus, please call Melissa Haas at 308-487-3600 extension 108 or e-mail at mhaas@pphd.ne.gov. Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle.&nbsp; Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community.

By PPHDA Panhandle mosquito trap site has recently collected mosquitoes positive for West Nile virus. These are the first confirmed positives for the season in the Panhandle. These positive mosquitoes give Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD), along with other health departments, an indicator of the location of the virus and where people may encounter mosquitoes carrying the virus.Multiple locations across Nebraska are routinely monitoring sites to trap and test mosquitoes over the summer months. Human cases of West Nile are also used for surveillance. At this time, there have been no cases of human West Nile reported in Nebraska.West Nile virus is contracted through the bite of a mosquito. It begins with flu-like symptoms that can include a slight fever and headaches, though 8 out of 10 people never develop symptoms. Severe symptoms of West Nile can lead to encephalitis which can cause inflammation of the brain, disorientation, convulsions and paralysis. People with compromised immune systems are especially susceptible to this disease.Prevention is the best to avoid getting diseases from mosquitoes. All Nebraska residents are encouraged to: Use insect repellent that has DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Be careful at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Wear long sleeve shirts and pants, especially when out hiking and camping. Mosquitoes can breed in small pools of water, so frequently check your property for standing water and drain items such as kid wagons, bird baths, flowerpots, gutters, and tires. Even with the sudden change in weather, it is still advised to be cautious outdoors until there are consistently low overnight temperatures.Dead birds are also a sign that West Nile virus is present in the area. Panhandle residents can now report dead birds online during the WNV season. Visit: https://tinyurl.com/ycudv3tc to report birds found on your property.If you have any questions about West Nile virus, please call Melissa Haas at 308-487-3600 extension 108 or e-mail at mhaas@pphd.ne.gov. Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle.&nbsp; Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community.

Panhandle mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus

Click <a href="https://panhandlepost.com/category/kmans-concert-calendar">HERE&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;to find a list of concerts going on throughout western Nebraska this week in Crawford, Alliance and Scottsbluff.&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Kman's Concert Calendar, mid-week starting July 3" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=q36ad-165bbeb-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=2&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=5" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Click <a href="https://panhandlepost.com/category/kmans-concert-calendar">HERE&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;to find a list of concerts going on throughout western Nebraska this week in Crawford, Alliance and Scottsbluff.&nbsp;

Post Podcast: Kman's Concert Calendar, mid-week starting July 3 

Today we spoke with Alliance City Manager Seth Sorenson about the July 2 Alliance City Council meeting.&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Alliance City Manager Seth Sorenson" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=gztdx-165b28d-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=2&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=5&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Today we spoke with Alliance City Manager Seth Sorenson about the July 2 Alliance City Council meeting.&nbsp;

Post Podcast: Alliance City Manager Seth Sorenson 

A summer tradition returns to Bridgeport as the 2024 season of the Bridgeport Farmers Market begins this week at the Prairie Winds Community Center parking lot.

Bridgeport Farmers Market President Susan Griffiths tells Panhandle Post, "We have a variety of local crafts, home-baked goods, jams and jellies, and fresh produce that's more-or-less locally-grown."  Griffiths notes that additional items will include Palisades, CO peaches, home crafts and woodwork.

Griffiths says that becoming a Farmers Market vendor is easy: "We have an annual dues or they can sell per market day. They need to contact myself or Ed Harms before they can begin selling.

"We're open every Wednesday from 3:00pm to dark, weather permitting. We will be open now through the last Wednesday in September."

When asked what part of supervising the Bridgeport Farmers Market is most rewarding, Griffiths replied, "I enjoy working with the other vendors and learning from them, and also I enjoy helping customers get fresh local produce."

By Panhandle Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720016751586.jpeg" alt="Photos by&nbsp;Susan Griffiths" />
 <figcaption>Photos by&nbsp;Susan Griffiths</figcaption>
 </figure>A summer tradition returns to Bridgeport as the 2024 season of the Bridgeport Farmers Market begins this week at the Prairie Winds Community Center parking lot.Bridgeport Farmers Market President Susan Griffiths tells Panhandle Post, "We have a variety of local crafts, home-baked goods, jams and jellies, and fresh produce that's more-or-less locally-grown." Griffiths notes that additional items will include Palisades, CO peaches, home crafts and woodwork.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720016801261.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Griffiths says that becoming a Farmers Market vendor is easy: "We have an annual dues or they can sell per market day. They need to contact myself or Ed Harms before they can begin selling."We're open every Wednesday from 3:00pm to dark, weather permitting. We will be open now through the last Wednesday in September."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720016829227.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>When asked what part of supervising the Bridgeport Farmers Market is most rewarding, Griffiths replied, "I enjoy working with the other vendors and learning from them, and also I enjoy helping customers get fresh local produce."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720016854776.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720016879532.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

NSP encourages safe travel this Independence Day weekend

&nbsp; By&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/author/jturley/">Jeremy Turley</a>, Flatwater Free Press

On the hottest day of July 1948 in Norfolk, a second-page ad in the local newspaper presented readers with a flavorful way to cool off.

The recently opened Baldridge Zesto Shoppe touted its “new and different … high quality dairy product” that contained 6% butterfat but was “not ice cream.”

The product would&nbsp;<a href="https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=soft+serve&amp;year_start=1800&amp;year_end=2019&amp;corpus=en-2019&amp;smoothing=3" target="_blank">soon be widely known</a>&nbsp;by a more recognizable name: soft serve.

The Norfolk Zesto was one of the first few dozen links in a chain of ice cream joints that once stretched from California to Florida and threatened Dairy Queen’s dominion.

The upstart brand’s sweet spot came between the coasts in places like Nebraska. Over a five-year span, at least 11 shops cropped up in the state, including a location in South Omaha that would become part of College World Series lore.

But Zesto’s heyday lasted just a few years. Amid an increasingly crowded fast-food marketplace, its parent company, an Illinois ice cream machine manufacturer, ditched the retail business in the mid-1950s and left franchisees out in the cold.

Today, more than 30 surviving locations across the Midwest and the South make up a loose network of restaurants that bear the Zesto name but operate mostly independently of one another.

Now, two Nebraska-born ice cream obsessives who grew up on Zesto dream of broadening that network and bringing the brand back to the masses.

<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/meet-our-sponsors">Meet our sponsors</a>&nbsp;•&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/sponsorship">Become a sponsor</a>

“We always felt like there should be more of them to bring to the public because we were that in love with the ice cream,” said Todd Jansa, a Wahoo-area farmer who co-owns the federal trademark for Zesto with business partner Jerry Irons.

Louis A.M. Phelan was no stranger to the patent office by the time he turned his attention to ice cream. His inventions included dozens of electrical apparatuses that gave him claim to a mountain of intellectual property.

But the creation that launched Phelan’s reputation as a fast food pioneer came around 1945 when the Illinois-based Taylor Freezer Corporation rolled out the Zest-O-Mat, a hulking soft-serve ice cream and frozen custard machine.

A few years later, the company began delivering a simple pitch to newspaper readers all over the country: Buy a Zest-O-Mat machine and open a Zesto franchise in your town.

A shop opened in El Paso, Texas, in April 1947 and the chain spread like wildfire, operating in at least 32 states between 1947 and 1955, according to a Flatwater Free Press search of newspaper archives.

After Nebraska’s first shop in Norfolk, franchises emerged in Fremont, Lincoln and Alliance. All three are still in business more than seven decades later. Others in Columbus, Hastings, Scottsbluff, South Sioux City and Sidney proved more short-lived. The Norfolk Zesto eventually closed, too.

By 1953, Omaha had twin Zestos — an iconic location across from Rosenblatt Stadium in the south and a still-running shop in Florence to the north.

It’s not exactly clear why Taylor deserted the Zesto concept in the mid-1950s, but the move came as the American fast food hierarchy began to take shape, with giants like Dairy Queen (now owned by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-22-fi-45317-story.html" target="_blank">Omaha’s Berkshire Hathaway</a>) and McDonald’s at the top.

The Taylor Company, still a leading manufacturer of ice cream machines, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Without the support of its mothership, most stores struggled and eventually shuttered, but a sprinkling of Zestos survived – and even thrived – as communities like Omaha grew around the retro-looking establishments.

Ungoverned by a franchisor’s branding guidelines, the dispersed restaurants formed their own personalities and developed quirky provincial menus.

Several Atlanta Zestos offer a Big Mac-like burger called the&nbsp;<a href="http://zestoatlanta.com/east-atlanta/?showMenu=1" target="_blank">”Chubby Decker.”</a>&nbsp;A location in Columbia, South Carolina, serves a pimento cheese sandwich. A now-closed Seattle Zesto sold&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/food/article/iconic-seattle-eateries-that-are-no-longer-around-15048018.php" target="_blank">fish and chips</a>. Two of the three Omaha shops carry pickle fries.

Zesto’s demise as a national brand mirrors the stories of many other chains that tried and failed to “become the next big thing” during the postwar fast food boom, said A.S. Rogers, who authored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brokenchains.blog/" target="_blank">the “Broken Chains” blog</a>.

The Michigan-based Rogers visited and wrote about more than 200 such “broken chain” businesses, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brokenchains.blog/2019/04/contrabulous-fabtraption.html" target="_blank">two Indiana Zestos</a>.

It’s common for a few left-behind stores to find profitability in pockets of the former empire and “to take on the local identity of their surviving market,” Rogers said.

The original South Omaha Zesto took on a life of its own due to its de-facto association with Rosenblatt Stadium.

Waiting in line for a treat became elemental to the College World Series experience for locals and visiting fans alike. Tom Kelley, whose father Mike&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/12/service-of-former-douglas-county-commissioner-lobbyist-and-zesto-fan-mike-kelley-spans-decades/" target="_blank">owned the restaurant</a>&nbsp;in the 2000s, fondly remembers bringing shakes and burgers to the ESPN crews during game broadcasts.

On the other end of town, Chris and Rick Minturn grew up in the 1990s on chili footlongs and malts from the Florence Zesto. The cousins started working there as teenagers – a rite of passage for neighborhood high schoolers. Their grandma had worked there three decades prior.&nbsp;

They recall taking the older kids out to a patch of grass next to the store for collegial wrestling matches after close.

Chris later left for college, but Rick rose through the Zesto ranks to become the general manager of his local store and a northwest Omaha location that opened in the mid-2000s.

By 2012, the Minturns owned both locations. They kept the classics but added more savory food, including a hand-breaded pork tenderloin sandwich.

Regulars noticed every little change – a few older customers complained that the hot dogs were no longer red. (It’s the same meat, but the supplier stopped using red dye in production, Chris said.)

But the expansion of the hot food menu has helped the stores evolve from seasonal ice cream stands to sustainable year-round restaurants, the Minturns said.

The Zesto near Rosenblatt closed a few years after the College World Series moved downtown to TD Ameritrade (now Charles Schwab) Field in 2011.

But the late Mike Kelley made it his mission to ensure college baseball fans could still get Zesto near the new stadium, his son said. After a back-and-forth with city planners, the elder Kelley and his partners built a seasonal Zesto window anchored by year-round restaurant Blatt Beer and Table.

The 10-day College World Series are some of their busiest days of the year, said the younger Kelley, who now co-owns the business.

Minutes before the first pitch on Sunday, traveling fans dressed in Tennessee orange and Aggie maroon flocked to the window.

For A&amp;M fans Karen Tobin and Meg Foreman, snagging a cone before entering the stadium was a matter of superstition. They’d gotten Zesto twice before games earlier in the tournament, and the Aggies won both times. Plus, it’s great ice cream, Tobin said.

Carrying on the Zesto tradition at the World Series is a major responsibility, but the window near the ballpark has a winning formula, Kelley said.

“You want to put the customer first and make sure the ice cream’s cold when they get it,” Kelley said.

Jansa’s attachment to Zesto goes back long before he acquired the federal trademark – perhaps all the way to the womb.

On the day Jansa was born, his mother stopped at the Lincoln Zesto for a black raspberry malt before heading to the delivery room at Bryan Hospital, she recounted to him years later.

“She said, ‘I was feeding you umbilically,’” Jansa said. “So, I think I started (eating Zesto) pre-birth.”

Jansa and Irons, two self-identifying “car guys,” met in the mid 1980s while cruising Lincoln’s O Street. They made frequent nighttime stops at the Zesto down the road, where they each ordered two large malts.&nbsp;

Irons moved out to California, but Jansa stayed in Nebraska and still farms near Wahoo.

The friends eventually became business partners and approached Harold “Brownie” Brown in the 2000s about buying the Zesto trademark. Brown, the longtime operator of a few Missouri locations, “knew we were in love with the product” and dealt them first the Nebraska trademark and then the federal one, Jansa said.

The Nebraska high plains are home to what is likely the westernmost surviving Zesto in the country.&nbsp;

Open since 1950, Alliance’s Zesto predates nearby tourist draw Carhenge by nearly four decades.&nbsp;

Locals in the city of 8,000 look to the seasonal reopening of A-Town Zesto as the beginning of summer, and northbound bikers stop by as part of their annual pilgrimage to Sturgis, said co-owner Tearza Mashburn. On the other side of the counter, fresh-faced 14-year-olds gain their first working experience.&nbsp;

Mashburn charges a bit more than the dime-a-cone prices octogenarian customers grew up paying, but old-timers love to see that the neon-illuminated shop hasn’t changed much.&nbsp;

“I’ve had so many people come in and be like, ‘Oh my gosh, it looks about the same,” Mashburn said. “They just love having that reminiscence of that memory.”

The original Zestos are mostly grandfathered into the brand, but some locations have licensing or franchise agreements with Jansa and Irons.

The trademark holders recognize that each Zesto has a unique identity, but they hope to ensure customers can get the same rich soft serve at every location. That means prescribing the ice cream machine settings used by the newer stores, Jansa said.

Those machines are usually made by Taylor, the company that spawned Zesto. Jansa said he and Irons established a national account with the firm, which also provides ice cream machines to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/they-hacked-mcdonalds-ice-cream-makers-started-cold-war/" target="_blank">thousands of McDonald’s locations</a>.

Going forward, Jansa and Irons would like to add Zesto locations near the brand’s existing turf. They’re keen on convincing the Minturns to add a new location in the suburbs south of Omaha. The cousins are considering it.

But they’re also looking to franchise new stores in parts of Zesto’s former footprint. There’s a plan to open one on Los Angeles’ Venice Boardwalk about a year from now, Irons said.&nbsp;

Irons hopes that some of the southern fans visiting Omaha for this year’s College World Series will want to open a store in their hometowns after tasting the downtown location’s product.&nbsp;

“I think there’s a very bright future in Zesto, and we’re really excited about it,” Jansa said. “We just want the story to keep going.”

The Flatwater Free Press&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/soft-serve-survivors-how-zesto-endured-in-nebraska-after-its-ice-cream-empire-melted/">https://flatwaterfreepress.org/soft-serve-survivors-how-zesto-endured-in-nebraska-after-its-ice-cream-empire-melted/</a>,&nbsp;is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

&nbsp; By&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/author/jturley/">Jeremy Turley</a>, Flatwater Free Press<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720012023174.png" alt="Open since 1953, the Florence Zesto in Omaha is now owned by Chris and Rick Minturn, who worked at the shop growing up in the 1990s. Photo by Brock Stillmunks for the Flatwater Free Press" />
 <figcaption>Open since 1953, the Florence Zesto in Omaha is now owned by Chris and Rick Minturn, who worked at the shop growing up in the 1990s. Photo by Brock Stillmunks for the Flatwater Free Press</figcaption>
 </figure>On the hottest day of July 1948 in Norfolk, a second-page ad in the local newspaper presented readers with a flavorful way to cool off.The recently opened Baldridge Zesto Shoppe touted its “new and different … high quality dairy product” that contained 6% butterfat but was “not ice cream.”The product would&nbsp;<a href="https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=soft+serve&amp;year_start=1800&amp;year_end=2019&amp;corpus=en-2019&amp;smoothing=3" target="_blank">soon be widely known</a>&nbsp;by a more recognizable name: soft serve.The Norfolk Zesto was one of the first few dozen links in a chain of ice cream joints that once stretched from California to Florida and threatened Dairy Queen’s dominion.The upstart brand’s sweet spot came between the coasts in places like Nebraska. Over a five-year span, at least 11 shops cropped up in the state, including a location in South Omaha that would become part of College World Series lore.But Zesto’s heyday lasted just a few years. Amid an increasingly crowded fast-food marketplace, its parent company, an Illinois ice cream machine manufacturer, ditched the retail business in the mid-1950s and left franchisees out in the cold.Today, more than 30 surviving locations across the Midwest and the South make up a loose network of restaurants that bear the Zesto name but operate mostly independently of one another.Now, two Nebraska-born ice cream obsessives who grew up on Zesto dream of broadening that network and bringing the brand back to the masses.Thanks to our sponsor<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/meet-our-sponsors">Meet our sponsors</a>&nbsp;•&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/sponsorship">Become a sponsor</a>“We always felt like there should be more of them to bring to the public because we were that in love with the ice cream,” said Todd Jansa, a Wahoo-area farmer who co-owns the federal trademark for Zesto with business partner Jerry Irons.<h2>From Zest-O-Mat to Rosenblatt</h2>Louis A.M. Phelan was no stranger to the patent office by the time he turned his attention to ice cream. His inventions included dozens of electrical apparatuses that gave him claim to a mountain of intellectual property.But the creation that launched Phelan’s reputation as a fast food pioneer came around 1945 when the Illinois-based Taylor Freezer Corporation rolled out the Zest-O-Mat, a hulking soft-serve ice cream and frozen custard machine.A few years later, the company began delivering a simple pitch to newspaper readers all over the country: Buy a Zest-O-Mat machine and open a Zesto franchise in your town.A shop opened in El Paso, Texas, in April 1947 and the chain spread like wildfire, operating in at least 32 states between 1947 and 1955, according to a Flatwater Free Press search of newspaper archives.After Nebraska’s first shop in Norfolk, franchises emerged in Fremont, Lincoln and Alliance. All three are still in business more than seven decades later. Others in Columbus, Hastings, Scottsbluff, South Sioux City and Sidney proved more short-lived. The Norfolk Zesto eventually closed, too.By 1953, Omaha had twin Zestos — an iconic location across from Rosenblatt Stadium in the south and a still-running shop in Florence to the north.It’s not exactly clear why Taylor deserted the Zesto concept in the mid-1950s, but the move came as the American fast food hierarchy began to take shape, with giants like Dairy Queen (now owned by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-22-fi-45317-story.html" target="_blank">Omaha’s Berkshire Hathaway</a>) and McDonald’s at the top.The Taylor Company, still a leading manufacturer of ice cream machines, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.Without the support of its mothership, most stores struggled and eventually shuttered, but a sprinkling of Zestos survived – and even thrived – as communities like Omaha grew around the retro-looking establishments.Ungoverned by a franchisor’s branding guidelines, the dispersed restaurants formed their own personalities and developed quirky provincial menus.Several Atlanta Zestos offer a Big Mac-like burger called the&nbsp;<a href="http://zestoatlanta.com/east-atlanta/?showMenu=1" target="_blank">”Chubby Decker.”</a>&nbsp;A location in Columbia, South Carolina, serves a pimento cheese sandwich. A now-closed Seattle Zesto sold&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/food/article/iconic-seattle-eateries-that-are-no-longer-around-15048018.php" target="_blank">fish and chips</a>. Two of the three Omaha shops carry pickle fries.Zesto’s demise as a national brand mirrors the stories of many other chains that tried and failed to “become the next big thing” during the postwar fast food boom, said A.S. Rogers, who authored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brokenchains.blog/" target="_blank">the “Broken Chains” blog</a>.The Michigan-based Rogers visited and wrote about more than 200 such “broken chain” businesses, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brokenchains.blog/2019/04/contrabulous-fabtraption.html" target="_blank">two Indiana Zestos</a>.It’s common for a few left-behind stores to find profitability in pockets of the former empire and “to take on the local identity of their surviving market,” Rogers said.The original South Omaha Zesto took on a life of its own due to its de-facto association with Rosenblatt Stadium.Waiting in line for a treat became elemental to the College World Series experience for locals and visiting fans alike. Tom Kelley, whose father Mike&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/12/service-of-former-douglas-county-commissioner-lobbyist-and-zesto-fan-mike-kelley-spans-decades/" target="_blank">owned the restaurant</a>&nbsp;in the 2000s, fondly remembers bringing shakes and burgers to the ESPN crews during game broadcasts.On the other end of town, Chris and Rick Minturn grew up in the 1990s on chili footlongs and malts from the Florence Zesto. The cousins started working there as teenagers – a rite of passage for neighborhood high schoolers. Their grandma had worked there three decades prior.&nbsp;They recall taking the older kids out to a patch of grass next to the store for collegial wrestling matches after close.Chris later left for college, but Rick rose through the Zesto ranks to become the general manager of his local store and a northwest Omaha location that opened in the mid-2000s.By 2012, the Minturns owned both locations. They kept the classics but added more savory food, including a hand-breaded pork tenderloin sandwich.Regulars noticed every little change – a few older customers complained that the hot dogs were no longer red. (It’s the same meat, but the supplier stopped using red dye in production, Chris said.)But the expansion of the hot food menu has helped the stores evolve from seasonal ice cream stands to sustainable year-round restaurants, the Minturns said.The Zesto near Rosenblatt closed a few years after the College World Series moved downtown to TD Ameritrade (now Charles Schwab) Field in 2011.But the late Mike Kelley made it his mission to ensure college baseball fans could still get Zesto near the new stadium, his son said. After a back-and-forth with city planners, the elder Kelley and his partners built a seasonal Zesto window anchored by year-round restaurant Blatt Beer and Table.The 10-day College World Series are some of their busiest days of the year, said the younger Kelley, who now co-owns the business.Minutes before the first pitch on Sunday, traveling fans dressed in Tennessee orange and Aggie maroon flocked to the window.For A&amp;M fans Karen Tobin and Meg Foreman, snagging a cone before entering the stadium was a matter of superstition. They’d gotten Zesto twice before games earlier in the tournament, and the Aggies won both times. Plus, it’s great ice cream, Tobin said.Carrying on the Zesto tradition at the World Series is a major responsibility, but the window near the ballpark has a winning formula, Kelley said.“You want to put the customer first and make sure the ice cream’s cold when they get it,” Kelley said.<h2>Sweet prospects?</h2>Jansa’s attachment to Zesto goes back long before he acquired the federal trademark – perhaps all the way to the womb.On the day Jansa was born, his mother stopped at the Lincoln Zesto for a black raspberry malt before heading to the delivery room at Bryan Hospital, she recounted to him years later.“She said, ‘I was feeding you umbilically,’” Jansa said. “So, I think I started (eating Zesto) pre-birth.”Jansa and Irons, two self-identifying “car guys,” met in the mid 1980s while cruising Lincoln’s O Street. They made frequent nighttime stops at the Zesto down the road, where they each ordered two large malts.&nbsp;Irons moved out to California, but Jansa stayed in Nebraska and still farms near Wahoo.The friends eventually became business partners and approached Harold “Brownie” Brown in the 2000s about buying the Zesto trademark. Brown, the longtime operator of a few Missouri locations, “knew we were in love with the product” and dealt them first the Nebraska trademark and then the federal one, Jansa said.<h2>A-Town Zesto</h2>The Nebraska high plains are home to what is likely the westernmost surviving Zesto in the country.&nbsp;Open since 1950, Alliance’s Zesto predates nearby tourist draw Carhenge by nearly four decades.&nbsp;Locals in the city of 8,000 look to the seasonal reopening of A-Town Zesto as the beginning of summer, and northbound bikers stop by as part of their annual pilgrimage to Sturgis, said co-owner Tearza Mashburn. On the other side of the counter, fresh-faced 14-year-olds gain their first working experience.&nbsp;Mashburn charges a bit more than the dime-a-cone prices octogenarian customers grew up paying, but old-timers love to see that the neon-illuminated shop hasn’t changed much.&nbsp;“I’ve had so many people come in and be like, ‘Oh my gosh, it looks about the same,” Mashburn said. “They just love having that reminiscence of that memory.”The original Zestos are mostly grandfathered into the brand, but some locations have licensing or franchise agreements with Jansa and Irons.The trademark holders recognize that each Zesto has a unique identity, but they hope to ensure customers can get the same rich soft serve at every location. That means prescribing the ice cream machine settings used by the newer stores, Jansa said.Those machines are usually made by Taylor, the company that spawned Zesto. Jansa said he and Irons established a national account with the firm, which also provides ice cream machines to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/they-hacked-mcdonalds-ice-cream-makers-started-cold-war/" target="_blank">thousands of McDonald’s locations</a>.Going forward, Jansa and Irons would like to add Zesto locations near the brand’s existing turf. They’re keen on convincing the Minturns to add a new location in the suburbs south of Omaha. The cousins are considering it.But they’re also looking to franchise new stores in parts of Zesto’s former footprint. There’s a plan to open one on Los Angeles’ Venice Boardwalk about a year from now, Irons said.&nbsp;Irons hopes that some of the southern fans visiting Omaha for this year’s College World Series will want to open a store in their hometowns after tasting the downtown location’s product.&nbsp;“I think there’s a very bright future in Zesto, and we’re really excited about it,” Jansa said. “We just want the story to keep going.”The Flatwater Free Press&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/soft-serve-survivors-how-zesto-endured-in-nebraska-after-its-ice-cream-empire-melted/">https://flatwaterfreepress.org/soft-serve-survivors-how-zesto-endured-in-nebraska-after-its-ice-cream-empire-melted/</a>,&nbsp;is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

Soft-serve survivors: How Zesto endured in Nebraska after its ice-cream empire melted

Memory jogs all the time some days. On others? Well, I know the feeling of turning around and forgetting where I set my water bottle 20 seconds before. Memory must have had its steps in for the day. A week or so ago, I heard again that Western Community Health Resources is seeking help in stocking their Community Essentials Pantry. That reminded me of when my son’s Cub Scout pack met this spring to clean up the lot around the Keep Alliance Beautiful recycling center and bring donations for WCHR.

According to the announcement I read: The pantry provides household cleaning products and hygiene products to those in need in the Alliance area. The continued rise in inflation is making it tough for families to afford essential items they need. Participation in the Alliance Community Essentials Pantry is steadily growing, and they are seeking additional support in order to continue to offer this service.

In addition to an office in Alliance, WCHR also maintains locations in Chadron and Gordon. A service of Chadron Community Hospital, they “collaborate with communities in the provision of quality health and human services. Our vision for the members of our communities is that they are Respected, Informed and Empowered,” their website states.

This drive and others that benefit similar causes may garner donations from individuals and families who opt to “reuse” products already in cabinets and closets. Haven’t squelched the stink with the second in a deodorant two-pack? Donate it. Just landed a deal on the jumbo five- ply 36-count TP? Let a few rolls go. You get the picture.

Also, people who “reduce” how many of these pantry essentials they buy are less likely to have a stockpile yet may have the disposable income to pick up an assortment for WCHR at the store.

A beautiful community goes beyond looks. What may be a small gesture in stocking a pantry shows love for your neighbor.

For information call WCHR at 308-762-3696 or stop by 619 Box Butte.

By JOHN E. WEARE, KABMemory jogs all the time some days. On others? Well, I know the feeling of turning around and forgetting where I set my water bottle 20 seconds before. Memory must have had its steps in for the day. A week or so ago, I heard again that Western Community Health Resources is seeking help in stocking their Community Essentials Pantry. That reminded me of when my son’s Cub Scout pack met this spring to clean up the lot around the Keep Alliance Beautiful recycling center and bring donations for WCHR.According to the announcement I read: The pantry provides household cleaning products and hygiene products to those in need in the Alliance area. The continued rise in inflation is making it tough for families to afford essential items they need. Participation in the Alliance Community Essentials Pantry is steadily growing, and they are seeking additional support in order to continue to offer this service.In addition to an office in Alliance, WCHR also maintains locations in Chadron and Gordon. A service of Chadron Community Hospital, they “collaborate with communities in the provision of quality health and human services. Our vision for the members of our communities is that they are Respected, Informed and Empowered,” their website states.This drive and others that benefit similar causes may garner donations from individuals and families who opt to “reuse” products already in cabinets and closets. Haven’t squelched the stink with the second in a deodorant two-pack? Donate it. Just landed a deal on the jumbo five- ply 36-count TP? Let a few rolls go. You get the picture.Also, people who “reduce” how many of these pantry essentials they buy are less likely to have a stockpile yet may have the disposable income to pick up an assortment for WCHR at the store.A beautiful community goes beyond looks. What may be a small gesture in stocking a pantry shows love for your neighbor.For information call WCHR at 308-762-3696 or stop by 619 Box Butte.