The Archway, in Kearney, has announced its 2014 attendance at 50,457.

This is a 1% increase over 2013 numbers despite a two month closure at the beginning of 2014. It’s also the highest yearly attendance since 2011.

“It’s been a phenomenal year for The Archway,” said Marketing Coordinator Jace Robinson.  “And the thing that isn’t represented in our attendance number is the thousands of local people that have attended one of the many community events throughout the year.”

The Archway hosted several community events in 2014 including the Compass Superhero Dash, the Concrete Cares annual fundraiser as well as Crane River Theater’s inaugural Zombies Attack: A Run for Your Life.

Robinson also said Archway staff is excited for 2015. This year the 1.5 millionth visitor is expected to tour the exhibit as well as a celebration to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the opening of The Archway will take place. Additionally, The Archway Society is in the planning stages of a bi-annual fundraiser that is expected to occur sometime during spring of this year.

Robinson said, “Over the past 15 years, millions of memories have been created at The Archway. We’ve taken great strides in 2014 to not only improve the guest and community experience, but we’re also working diligently to ensure the longevity of the facility itself so we can continue making memories far into the future.”

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested 71 impaired drivers during the two-week long “You Drink & Drive You Lose” national enforcement campaign Dec. 12-Jan. 1, 2015.

In addition to the 71 impaired driving arrests, troopers issued 1,761 Speeding citations, 103 Driving Under Suspension (DUS), and 70 No Proof of Insurance citations. Troopers also wrote 374 Seat Belt citations & warnings, as well as 46 Child Restraint citations & warnings. Motorist assistance was provided to 851 travelers.

Troopers and communication specialists put in overtime hours during the special enforcement thanks in part to a $23,565 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).

The following statistics are a reflection of statewide activity by the Nebraska State Patrol during the “You Drink & Drive, You Lose” enforcement.

• Stanley Alan Raetz, 57, Lincoln NE and Wendi Kay Hegarty, 49, Lincoln NE

• Timothy Shawn Boyle, 43, Maxwell NE and Billie Jo Schrad, 49, Maxwell NE

A North Platte man is facing charges following a New Year’s Day traffic stop.

At around 10:31 p.m., on January 1, an officer observed Christopher Perez riding as a passenger in a vehicle.  The officer had knowledge that Perez had an active warrant, and conducted a traffic stop.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, the officer noticed that the driver, later identified as 26-year-old Marcus Condon, appeared to be trying to hide something.

The officer conducted a search of the vehicle, and located a cigarette pack, which contained 15 pills, in the area where Condon had been reaching.  The pills were identified as hydrocodone and oxycodone, both controlled substances for which Condon did not have a prescription.

As a result, Condon was placed under arrest and charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Perez was placed under arrest for the warrant, and both were transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

A 40-year-old North Platte man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend in the presence of children.

On December 12, North Platte police responded to the report of a disturbance in the 2200 block of West 2nd Street.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, evidence indicated that Louis Olona had assaulted his girlfriend.

Through their investigation, the officers learned that the victim had a valid protection order against Olona, issued by a court in Colorado.

Brown said Olona had fled the scene prior to the officers’ arrival, but they determined that probable cause existed to arrest him for 3rd degree domestic assault, violation of a protection order and child abuse.

On January 1, at around 4:03 a.m., the victim again called police to report that Olona was in a home she was at in the 2800 block of West 3rd Street.  The victim stated that Olona had made threats against her and responding police officers.

When officers arrived, Olona was still inside the home.  He was placed under arrest for the charges stemming from the December 12 incident, as well as an additional charge of violation of a protection order.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

A 37-year-old man is facing felony drug charges after he was busted with meth at the North Platte homeless shelter.

At around 11:06 a.m., on December 30, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to the report of two residents smoking marijuana at The Connection Homeless Shelter, 414 East 6th Street.

Officers arrived and made contact with the residents in question.  They conducted a search of two rooms and located two used syringes.

A field test was conducted on the contents of one syringe, and it tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

Following further investigation, officers arrested Jason Vanhofwegen, and charged him with felony possession of methamphetamine.

Vanhofwegen was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed.