The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies are investigating a string of break-ins in Southwest Nebraska.

On September 27, 2015, at 11:21 p.m., Deputies were advised of a break in alarm at the Pelster Agriculture LLC Building located at 230 East Highway 23 in Wallace, NE.

Deputies arrived and, with the assistance of the Nebraska State Patrol, searched the building and found there had been a break in. Authorities say it was clear, after looking at the video footage, that responding law enforcement missed the suspects by mere minutes.

Other businesses in Southwest Nebraska were also burglarized including; Grainton, Madrid, Elsie and Paxton, NE.

Video footage shows two suspects driving a white Dodge Durango with no front license plate at the Wallace Burglary.

In a related burglary, a White 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 St Dually Pickup with Nebraska License Plates 74-734 was stolen from Hi-Line Coop in Elsie. The vehicle has Hi-Line Coop stickers on it. Associated with this Burglary was a dark blue or black Chevrolet Impala.

Just learning about the Sunday College option at Mid-Plains Community College? There’s still time to enroll.

Registrations are now being accepted for the second eight-week session of SundayCollege, which begins Oct. 25. The classes offered are: MATH 1150: College Algebra and ENGL 1020: Expository Writing II.

Students enrolled in Sunday College attend classes on Sunday afternoons and early evenings. They complete coursework online on their own time the rest of the week.

The classes are available at all of MPCC’s six campus locations, McCook, North Platte, Broken Bow, Imperial, Ogallala and Valentine.

Sunday College students take two classes the first half of a semester then two more classes the second half. They also take a class during the winterim, the short period between terms.

The program has proved extremely popular so far.

“Our first eight-week session was very successful with strong enrollments,” said Dr. Jody Tomanek, area vice-president of academic affairs and North Platte Community College. “We are hoping to see those same trends continue during the second eight-week session and into the spring term.”

A student enrolled in Sunday College might be closer to degree completion than the 24-month schedule. MPCC’s Sunday College allows students to transfer previous successfully completed coursework into their new degree program.

If the college is accredited, and the completed class fits into the Sunday College degree requirements, it doesn’t matter when or where the class was taken. A certified transcript from the former institution is all that is required to transfer in completed coursework.

The total cost of earning an associate degree through the Sunday College option is approximately $8,000. That takes into account tuition, fees and books.

Because students registered in the new program are considered full-time, scholarships, tuition waivers, federal financial aid and grant opportunities may be applied, reducing the cost.

Registration is limited. Openings are still available at each of MPCC’s campus locations.

Those interested in learning more about Sunday College, or wanting to register for the program, can visit the college’s website at: www.mpcc.edu/sunday-college/.

They can also contact Heather Pucket, MPCC area student advisor, at 535-3710 orpucketh@mpcc.edu for more information.

Statistics from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS) show seat belt usage reduces the odds of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash by up to 45%.

During a special month and a -half- long special enforcement (Oct. 1-Nov. 15), in and around Scotts Bluff County, troopers will place special emphasis on seat belt usage in an effort to prevent serious injury and fatality crashes.

“From harvest to hunting fall is a busy time on our roadways,” said Captain Mike Gaudreault, Commander Troop E- Scottsbluff. “While our emphasis will be on seat belt usage, we hope increasing trooper presence will reduce the potential for crashes through voluntary compliance with all traffic safety laws.”

Over the past two years there have been 10 fatality crashes on roads in Scotts Bluff County. Of these fatal crashes 60% have occurred on county roadways. Eight of the people killed were unrestrained motor vehicle drivers or passengers; one was a pedestrian and one a motorcyclist.  Five of the crashes involved alcohol and two crashes involved drivers under the age of 21. Six of the crashes occurred on the weekend (Friday–Sunday).

The special enforcement will include high visibility patrols on county roads in and around Scotts Bluff County during the early afternoon and evening hours. A $3,300 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway safety will help fund the special enforcement effort.

Captain Gaudreault said, “We need motorists to put the odds in their favor and always buckle up.”