UPDATE:
According to family members, both Amanda Stoner and Greg Howell have returned home safely.  The Post wants to thank our readers for being vigilant, and assisting us in spreading the word on Amanda and Greg.

To the families, we are so thankful that your loved ones are safe and sound!

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Two weeks ago today, two Ogallala teens, Amanda Stoner, 17, and Greg Howell, 17, were reported as missing. The community is working together to keep their faces in the public eye so that if they are seen, they may be brought back home to their families.

Very little is known about the two teens, suspected of running away. According to Stoners mother, Leanne Heble, the two teens are dating, Amanda took $500 from her bank account and no extra clothes before her disappearance. The two teens attended a party on January 18th. The party was the location where the two teens made contact with the police officers and tickets were written, Amanda being one who received a ticket.

Heble said, “Mostly I want her to know that her whole family is here and we love her and we miss her and we just want her home,” continuing,  we need to know if she is safe, that is the main thing, because right now were not even sure of that, and that is the scariest thing not knowing if your kid is OK.”

Please call the Ogallala Police Department if you discover any information regarding the location of the two teenagers.

Ogallala PD: 308-284-2024, 308-284-2011

 

On January 31, a North Platte man who was legally armed, held a burglar at bay while authorities responded to the scene.

Deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a call at around 8:02 PM about someone breaking into a home on Old Highway 83 Road, south of North Platte. The caller advised her son was there at the residence.

The 21-year-old son was legally armed and according to the LCSO, he had a couple of handguns which he used to hold the burglar in place.  Cops say it appeared the suspect had consumed food in the residence

The suspect, 34-year-old Scott Hulse allegedly had keys to a vehicle in his pocket which belonged to a resident of the home, clothes which belonged to the home owner were worn by the suspect as well.

Hulse claimed he owned the house when questioned. Hulse was arrested and booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center.

A North Platte Elementary principal has resigned.

Shane Alexander, principal of Washington Elementary, submitted his resignation, which was accepted by the North Platte Public Schools School Board on Tuesday.

Alexander was placed on paid administrative leave on Jan. 14 for undisclosed reasons.

Alexander had been at the helm at Washington Elementary since the fall of 2011.  He had previously been the principal at Eisenhower Elementary where he served for three years.

North Platte Public School officials declined to comment on both the resignation and the ongoing investigation, stating that the situation was a confidential employment matter.

 

One of Active Rock’s hottest bands and a trio from Down Under will headline this year’s US Cellular Summer Jam Saturday night finale. Grammy nominee Halestorm and the Sick Puppies will play on June 22nd.
“We’re thrilled to get a couple of bands of this quality lined up,” says concert chairman Hans Julius. “To be able to get a band up for a Grammy this week along with a veteran act like the Puppies, this is going to be a great way to close the Celebration out.

After scoring two top 10 singles (“I Get Off” and “It’s Not You”) from their self-titled debut and touring steadily for two years with acts as diverse as Shinedown, Stone Sour, Disturbed, Megadeth, Papa Roach, Godsmack and countless others, Pennsylvania quartet Halestorm are back with their second full-length, The Strange Case of…. Musically diverse and emotionally revealing, the album resonates with a newfound poignancy that takes Halestorm to a new level of creative achievement. The album has produced multiple top 10 hits, including the track Love Bites, which earned the band a 2013 Grammy nomination for “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance.”

Australian trio the Sick Puppies are in the studio now recording their fourth studio album, due out later this year. Their 2009 release , Tri-Polar, produced 4 top 15 singles. While they finish up their record, the band is busy lining up a full summer of touring, including their stop in North Platte.
Tickets for the show will go on sale on Monday, February 4th at 9am. Our Early Bird General Admission price is $19, with Grandstand seating

Nebraska lawmakers are set to hear a bill that would let counties establish the fees charged by local sheriffs.

Sheriffs are asking lawmakers for legislation that would give county boards the power to set those fees after holding a public hearing. The Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee will consider the bill on Wednesday.

The bill would apply to a host of fees for court-ordered services, such as reclaiming property for a bank or evicting tenants who haven’t paid their rent. Some sheriffs have complained that the current fees don’t cover the expense of delivering services, which forces counties to make up the difference with general-fund tax dollars.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Ken Schilz, of Ogallala.

The Nebraska Panhandle city of Alliance is getting ready to celebrate its 125th birthday this year.

The celebration got off to a good start last weekend when the BNSF railroad donated $10,000 to the city.

Railroad spokesman Andy Williams says BNSF has deep ties to Alliance, and BNSF is glad to support the celebration.

The kick-off event for the birthday celebration ended with a ceremonial train whistle at midnight to mark when the railroad reached Alliance on Jan. 27, 1888.

Alliance officials are planning events throughout the year to mark the city’s birthday.

Nebraska Public Power District has scheduled four public meetings to discuss its plans for the district’s mix of power resources.

NPPD will be discussing its draft Integrated Resource Plan, which it says is an analysis of the types of energy resources NPPD may use to meet future power needs.

The plan is updated in five-year intervals and serves as an economic planning tool.

NPPD officials say public comment is welcome at the meetings.

Meetings are scheduled to be held on Feb. 5 at the Gering Civic Center in Gering, Feb. 7 at the Quality Inn & Suites Convention Center in North Platte, Feb. 18 at the Divots Conference Center in Norfolk and Feb. 19 at the Holiday Inn in York.

A Wyoming man has been convicted of trying to rob a bank in western Nebraska’s Lincoln County.

Reporting media says, 53-year-old Tracy Black pleaded no contest on Monday in Lincoln County District Court.

Prosecutors agreed to seek a prison term of 18 to 36 months for Black in exchange for his plea. His sentencing is scheduled for March 25.

Authorities say Black and 20-year old Drew Steier tried to rob the Farmers State Bank in Wallace in August. Investigators say Steier walked into the bank wearing a ski mask and wielding a BB gun. He fled without any money. Black was driving the getaway car.

Steier has pleaded not guilty.

Both men are from Evanston, Wyo.