North Platte – Great Plains Regional Medical Center’s advertising campaign for the cardiology department won a bronze award for excellence from Healthcare Marketing Report this spring.

The print and radio advertising campaign, titled, “Follow Your Heart,” featured the photos and voices of several patients and a statement about how the care they received enabled them to enjoy favorite activities again, like ranching and hunting.

“This campaign was a creative way to highlight our physicians and staff and the exceptional care they provide at Great Plains,” said Marcia Baumann, vice president of growth and development. “Our people make a difference in the lives of patients and families everyday, and awards like this reinforce the tremendous resource GPRMC is for the North Platte community.”

Healthcare Marketing Report is a national newspaper for healthcare marketing, and the publication received nearly 4,000 entries this year. A national panel of judges granted awards to those entries that exemplify exceptional quality, creativity and message effectiveness.

From Deb Collins / Nebraska State Patrol: (Lincoln, Neb.)- Sworn members of the Nebraska State Patrol were honored during the 13^th annual Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Outstanding Law Enforcement Awards & Recognition ceremony.

The awards ceremony held Tuesday, May 22, in Lincoln, recognized law enforcement officers who work daily to ensure Nebraska roadways are kept safe from drinking and drugged drivers.

“By removing impaired drivers from our roadways these troopers are helping to reduce the potential for serious injury or fatality crashes,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “We join MADD in congratulating them on their dedication to saving lives.”

The Troopers listed below were honored by MADD for their commitment to keeping Nebraska communities and roads safe.

(Lincoln, Neb.)- In an effort to reduce the number of serious injury and fatality crashes during the heavily traveled summer months, the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) will kick-off its “100 Days of Summer” initiative starting with the Memorial Day Holiday weekend.

In its fifth year, the “100 Days of Summer” initiative provides motorists an opportunity to view planned NSP enforcement activities. Each day, beginning with the Memorial Day weekend and continuing through Labor Day, the NSP Field Services Division will work to hold at least one traffic safety enforcement operation somewhere in the state.

“It’s all about voluntary compliance with motor vehicle laws,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Through this initiative we are encouraging motorists to partner with us in saving lives by obeying the rules of the road which are designed to keep them safe.”

Motorists are reminded to wear their seat belts, obey the posted speed limit and to never drive impaired or distracted.

Travelers can visit the Nebraska State Patrol website at www.statepatrol.nebraska.gov and click on “NSP Enforcement Activities” in the Quick Links box on the upper right hand side of the home page. The link will display monthly calendars, with each day listing the type and location of the planned special enforcement efforts.

On May 17, officers from the North Platte Police Deparment responded to the Great Plains Regional Medical Center on the report of a sexual assault. The victim claimed to have been sexually assaulted by David Ely Sr. in the 1400 block of Rodeo Road. After the investigation was complete and a search warrant conducted, Ely was placed under arrest for 1st Degree Sexual Assault, a Class II Felony; Possession of a Pharmacy Drug, a class III misdemeanor; Possession of Marijuana (less than one ounce) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Nebraska state Senator and Republican candidate for US Senate Deb Fischer made a brief campaign stop in North Platte today to thank Nebraskans for her primary election victory on Tuesday. Speaking at the Quality Inn and Suites, Fischer said she eagerly awaits the challenge of campaigning against Democratic candidate Bob Kerry. She thanked voters for taking a chance on her candidacy, and identified limiting government spending and helping small business growth as her primary goals should she be voted into office.