There’s no doubt about it, road construction season is in full-swing in North Platte.  And, of course, it’s just in time for the 50th Anniversary of the state’s official celebration, NEBRASKAland Days.

Organizers are encouraging visitors to use alternate routes when coming into the city for events:

• From the East, visitors can use Exit 179 (Newberry Access), and continue to Buffalo Bill.
• Visitors from the South can turn west on State Farm Road, to Buffalo Bill , then proceed north to the arena.
• Visitors from the West can exit at Sutherland and continue to Buffalo Bill, via Highway 30.

The Nebraska Department of Roads will utilize electronic message centers at key locations to help improve the flow of traffic.

“What we’re hoping to avoid is a bottleneck at exit 177,” said Executive Director David Fudge.  “That could force westbound traffic to back up down I-80, and we want to avoid that at all costs.

In addition to using alternate routes, Fudge also urges attendees to give themselves extra time.

“Give yourself an extra half hour,” Fudge said.  “The arena opens at 6 p.m., two hours before the shows begin, so we’ll be there with plenty to see and do.”

The celebration kicks off Wednesday, June 18.  For a full schedule of events, check out our NEBRASKAland Days Calendar of Events.

 

A North Platte woman was jailed Tuesday night after she allegedly kicked to North Platte police officers following a disturbance.

At around 9:21 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of South Willow.

Upon arrival, an officer witnessed Kim Heinis lunging at a male, while another person attempted to hold her back.

The officer was able to separate the group and determined that the argument had been strictly verbal, and no crimes had been committed.

Heinis indicated that she wanted to walk to a location down the street.  The officer agreed, however, Heinis refused to leave and continued to argue with the male subject.

Heinis was advised by a second officer, that had arrived on the scene, that she would be arrested if she didn’t leave. But it fell on deaf ears, and Heinis continued to cause a scene.  She told the officer she was concerned about a vehicle being towed, despite reassurance from the officer that it was legally parked and would not be towed.

According to Investigator John Deal, Heinis continued yelling and refused to listen to reason.

As the officers attempted to place Heinis under arrest for disturbing the peace, she allegedly kicked one of the officers in the leg, causing a minor injury.

Eventually, Heinis was placed in handcuffs.

As the officers placed her in the cruiser, Deal said Heinis kicked another officer in the leg.

In the end, Heinis was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center on charges of disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a police officer.

Deal said officers believe Heinis was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

 

 

 

• Today: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 7 to 13 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
• Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 6 to 10 mph.
• Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. East northeast wind 7 to 9 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Breezy, with a south wind 13 to 18 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.
• Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Breezy.