Adams County Court records say 23-year-old Tyler Hedlund is charged with intentional child abuse. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
The records say Hedlund had sex with the girl several times at his Hastings home and that he gave her alcohol there and bought alcoholic beverages for her and three of her friends.
Hedlund has been teaching and coaching football at Hastings St. Cecilia. He’s no longer listed on the school’s Facebook page.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska motorists could show their support for military troops, wildlife or prostate cancer awareness by 2021 under two bills passed by lawmakers.
Lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a bill that would create a “Support Our Troops” license plate to raise money for state programs that help recruit and retain military veterans. The plates would come in different styles for different military branches and those who served in certain wars.
Another measure would create new license plates featuring a Sandhill crane, a bighorn sheep and an ornate box turtle. Each would generate revenue for wildlife conservation.
It also would create a prostate cancer awareness plate to raise money for prostate cancer research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) — The Air Force is raising its cost estimate to $420 million to repair and replace structures damaged at Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base following severe flooding that inundated buildings with water.
Air Force official John Henderson tells the Omaha World-Herald that about 60 structures must be demolished after Missouri River flooding overwhelmed the air base in March. The buildings were destroyed by floodwaters up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) high, as well as a toxic sludge left behind when the waters receded.
The latest estimate is $70 million more than the initial estimate issued last month as part of a $4.9 billion federal funding request for disaster relief.
Henderson says $300 million would be designated to design and build new structures, while $120 million will go toward cleanup and repairs.
By Heather Johnson-MPCC
The Keenan family, of North Platte, has been selected to receive the 2019 President’s Award from North Platte Community College. The Keenans will be recognized during NPCC’s Commencement Ceremony at 3 p.m. May 10.
“The Keenan family has supported numerous projects at NPCC, including generous gifts to the Health and Science Center and the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium renovation,” said Bonnie Kruse, the college’s director of institutional advancement. “Both gifts were significant in helping the NPCC Foundation reach its fundraising goals. Those gifts are just two of the many examples of the Keenan family’s extraordinary support of students, faculty and the academic mission of North Platte Community College.”
Kevin O’Connor, head coach for the NPCC men’s basketball team, said the Keenans were already supporting the team’s booster club when he became coach more than four decades ago.
“Their involvement goes back way before I was ever here,” O’Connor said. “Pat and Dan’s father, Jim Keenan, owned Coca-Cola Bottling Company at that time, and he was a Knights Cage Club donor. I have known Pat and Dan since we attended grade school together at St. Pat’s. They have been loyal supporters of the Cage Club for over 40 years. Just this spring, they continued the family tradition by donating $5,000 to the Cage Club as part of a Dunkin’ Donuts promotion.”
North Platte remains close to Dan’s heart even though he now lives in Florida. That’s part of why it’s so important to him to help support the college.
“I care a lot about North Platte, and the community college system is absolutely the best hope for the town to grow,” Dan said. “Even for North Platte to maintain itself, it needs a strong community college.”
The Keenans are behind two scholarships that support NPCC students. In 2008, the Keenan Family Scholarship was established to provide tuition assistance to NPCC students in nursing and other medical programs.
Most recently, the John and Mary Hunter Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of longtime Keenan family friends, John and Mary Hunter. The scholarship provides assistance to students in the NPCC building trades programs and students attending high school in North Platte who enroll in the NPCC Building Construction Career Academy.
“I really think that as a country and as a society we need more people with hands-on technical skills,” said Pat Keenan of why his family provides the latter scholarship. “I think that our four-year colleges do great things, but they are not the right fit for everyone. For every STEM graduate, we also need someone who can build the building or laboratory that houses the STEM jobs.”
He believes full potential cannot be achieved unless workers are trained for both the blue-collar and white-collar sectors.
“In our family’s hotel and Coca-Cola businesses, we appreciate and rely on people who can build and maintain things,” Pat said. “There are very good, unfilled jobs out there for people with hands-on technical skills, and the ability to excel in a career is just as good as many of the white collar opportunities. Our family is interested in getting kids into the applied technology fields earlier. Our society is hurting for those kinds of workers, and NPCC is in the position to provide them.”
The commencement ceremony is open to the public. It will be in the McDonald-Belton Building on NPCC’s South Campus.
Governor Pete Ricketts was joined at the State Capitol by representatives from Nebraska’s beef industry to proclaim May as Beef Month. Nebraskans celebrate Beef Month every May to highlight the importance of the cattle industry to the state. The Governor hosted a press conference to sign an official proclamation and to provide an update on Nebraska’s growing beef industry.
“Nebraska’s beef producers are the best in the business. Thanks to their excellent work, Nebraska tops all states in commercial red meat production and cattle on feed,” said Governor Ricketts. “Nebraska beef has earned a worldwide reputation for its premium quality, and we’re now exporting more of it than ever before.”
Governor Ricketts has been an active proponent of Nebraska’s beef industry. He has led trade missions to Japan, China, and Mexico to encourage the growth of Nebraska’s beef exports. He has also promoted Nebraska beef domestically in places such as New York City.
In 2018, Nebraska led the nation in beef exports with a total export value of $1.44 billion. Nebraska’s beef exports increased by 14 percent from 2017 to 2018. Total beef exports have exceeded $1 billion each year since 2014. In 2018, Nebraska’s top beef export markets were:
Nebraska is first in the nation in rankings for beef exports, commercial cattle slaughter, and cattle on feed.
Governor Ricketts was joined at the press conference by Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Steve Wellman, Nebraska Cattlemen President Mike Drinnin, and Nebraska Beef Council Chairman Buck Wehrbein.
“Nebraska is a national leader in all aspects of the beef industry including production, exports, and cattle on feed, so we’re pleased that Governor Ricketts proclaimed May as Beef Month,” said NDA Director Steve Wellman. “The continued growth of the beef industry in Nebraska and the top rankings we’ve achieved show our support of agriculture as a whole and confirms what we already know: that delicious Nebraska beef is being enjoyed by consumers here at home and around the world.”
“There are a lot of unsung heroes who put their heart and soul into producing the best beef in the world raised right here in Nebraska,” said Mike Drinnin, President of the Nebraska Cattlemen. “Whether you’re fixing fence on a ranch, delivering feed to the cattle, or hauling the beef to restaurants, everyone’s important to showcasing Nebraska beef!”
“Exports are a tremendous value to beef producers and we are proud to work with NDA to promote beef from Nebraska in places like Hong Kong, the European Union, and other parts of the globe,” said Buck Wehrbein, Chairman of the Nebraska Beef Council. “International trade missions are a strategic way of investing the beef checkoff to support our beef community.”
A 28-year-old North Platte man is facing criminal charges after a domestic disturbance early Wednesday morning.
At around 3:10 a.m., on May 1, officers responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of West Ninth Street.
Officers met with James Mosbarger and a female.
The female alleged that she and Mosbarger had become involved in an argument and, at one point during the argument, Mosbarger held a knife to her face, causing minor injuries.
She told officers that Mosbarger eventually put the knife down and they became engaged in a physical altercation. She said that during the scuffle, furniture was broken and she sustained further injuries. He then allegedly held her against her will and prevented her from leaving until police arrived.
Following an investigation, officers determined that there was probable cause to arrest Mosbarger and charge him with 2nd-degree domestic assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony, 1st-degree false imprisonment and terroristic threats.
Mosbarger was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center. Police did not say if the victim’s injuries required medical treatment.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — U.S. wildlife officials say an endangered carnivorous beetle is making a comeback and should be downlisted to threatened.
The American burying beetle was once found in 35 states and three Canadian provinces. When it was listed as endangered in 1989, it was only in eastern Oklahoma and Block Island off the cost of Rhode Island.
Amy Leuders is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ southwest regional director. She said Wednesday that conservation efforts over the past 30 years have helped the beetle recover. Leuders says populations now can also be found in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, and on Nantucket Island off the coast of Massachusetts.
The large, nocturnal beetle eats decaying animals. It’s active only in the summer and lays its eggs beside small carcasses that it buries.
Weather permitting, work will resume May 6, on US-30 from Sutherland to Hershey, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Knife River Midwest, LLC, of Sioux City, Iowa has the $8,110,000 contract. Work includes bridge work, concrete pavement, earth shoulder construction, seeding, permanent pavement marking, median surfacing, sidewalks and rumble strips. Traffic will be maintained with flaggers and/or temporary traffic signals.
Anticipated completion is August 2019.
Motorists are reminded to be cautious near highway work zones and to expect delays.
The event will begin at 3 p.m. in the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium on NPCC’s South Campus, 601 W. State Farm Rd. A livestream will be available on the college’s Facebook page and at: https://npccknights.com/sports/2014/1/5/KnightsVideo.aspx?tab=knightsvideo.
The following students will be recognized (NPCC).
Associate of Arts Degree
Gothenburg – Keisha Blake
Hershey – Joshua Connell
Imperial – Jessyca Briggs, Taylin McNair
Maxwell – Seth Woracek
North Platte – Nicholas Bussard, Maria Dancer, Craig Freeburg, Tatum Goodell, Jonathan Hastings, Alexandria Hatch, Elizabeth Heskett, Ashley Husemoller , Megan Johnson, Tacie Lucas, Robert Markley, Kathleen McIntyre, Caelea Ostergard, Karissa Parker, Mindy Schmadeke, Melinda McCuiston, Seth Smith, Jonathan Spradlin, Wendi Stover, Devin Wolcott
Ogallala – Jared Austin
Papillion – Emily Marsden
Sutherland – Ashley Hanneman, Alyssa Weber
Colorado
Fleming – Shaylee Johnson
Texas
Overton – Hailey Wilkins
Utah
Salt Lake City – Mikayla Gibson
Associate of Fine Arts Degree
North Platte – Chelsea Leal, Maximus Wohler
Ogallala – Devin Brixius
Associate of General Studies Degree
Brady – Case Axthelm
Grant – Mitchell Sestak
Hershey – Amanda Reiber
Juniata – Tracee Hinton
North Platte – Brandon Dancer, Alessandra Haddan, Jayden Miles
Sutherland – Alexandra Baker
Arkansas
Benton – Richard Henry
Hawaii
Ewa Beach – Annastasia Casida
Poland
Jakub Karwowski
Maputo
Nelo Nducuia
Associate of Science Degree
Broken Bow – Christina Buskey
Cozad – Ashley Linke
Dunning – April Smith
Gering – Kaylee Bohnsack
Gothenburg – Dillon Higgins, Jacob Myers
Grant – Crystal Jones
Imperial – Mikaela O’Brien, Rogelio Vargas
Lincoln – Mandi Martinez
North Platte – McKinzee Ambrose, Nathaniel Baxter, Kari Bell, Phoenix Clemmons, Evan DeKok, Taitiana Ditch, Kayla Douglas, Kelsey Epp, Leslie Flory, Joshua Golden, Christine Grauerholz, Jonathan Hastings, Kameron Hope, Lindsey Jensen, Megan Johnson, Abby Jones, Cole Kleinow, Dasia Lively, Robert Markley, Brian Mixer, Hallei Morales, Kendal Naranjo, Lindsi Orr, Madelyn Peters, Philip Pleiss, Joseph Pucket, Amber Rathbun, Aubri Rose, Bailey Shurigar, Jordynn Simpson, Jessica Slattery, Christopher Smith, Seth Smith, Nathan Snider, Karly Stahl, Patricia Tofilau, Emma Young
Ogallala – Jade Max, Skylar Vak
Overton – Andrea Vargas
Papillion – Emily Marsden
Stapleton – Kaylie Beierman, Ashley Houser
Sutherland – Alexandra Baker , Maggie Morris, Scott Taylor
Valentine – Annie Brickner, Jeffrey Moore, Brittany Stone
Arizona
Chinle – Nahatabaa Nacona
Colorado
Fleming – Shaylee Johnson
Nucla – Carlie Wytulka
Texas
Houston – Madisyn Francis
Utah
Salt Lake City – Mikayla Gibson
Kiev
Ilya Tyrtyshnik
Associate Degree of Nursing
Brady – Jenna Cunningham
Culbertson – Kelsey Graham, Brittany Wiseman
Gothenburg – Elizabeth Ostendorf
Grant – Logan Cunningham
Lewellen – Jenna Ross
Lexington – Glorisel Alcantar , Magali Ruiz-Martinez
Lisco – Misty Ross
Merna – Cassidy Goodman
North Platte – Hannah Anderson, Courtney Blake, Ashleigh Cardwell, Rebecca Daniel, Jami Lynn Davis, Sarah Dillenburg, Tiffany Gies, Micaelia Hernandez, Dezarae Herrick, Haylee Medich, Samantha Miller, Natasha Nutt, Amber Rathbun, Ashley Sandoval, Jeanie Sutherland
Ogallala – Jamie Rivas, Skylar Vak
Thedford – Ronda Haumann
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Auto Body Technology:
North Platte – Larry Allen, Joseph Pafford
Automotive Technology:
Lexington – Ricardo Gaeta
North Platte – Alex Lawson, Jade Osborn
Valentine – Chism Miller
Building Construction Technology:
Broken Bow – Preston Sanchez
Imperial – Diana Benitez Aguilar
Lexington – Luis Gomez
Maywood – Dayne Littell, Devon Littell
Walton – Austin Jensen
Business:
Ansley – Jodi Dethlefs
Bennington – Sarah Jones
Broken Bow – Ina Bradley, Lezlee Griffiths
Curtis – Rylie Brown
Gothenburg – Jim Thayer
Grant – Whitney Spencer
Hershey – Kelsey Sides
North Platte – Brittanya Allen, Kayla Douglas, Bowen Land, Sarah Ryan
Sargent – April Hansen
Valentine – Michelle Witt-Moore, Kyle Osnes
Wyoming
Cheyenne – Jeannette Carmel
Business Office Technology:
Lewellen – Ramona Steward
North Platte – Lora Kreiling, Jamie Lauderdale
Omaha – Ashley Ellingson
Sutherland – Shelly Compton
Dental Assisting:
Indianola – Kayela Parker
Lexington – Bianca Gomez
Colorado
Littleton – Ashlynn Krueger
Diesel Technology:
Albion – Branden Roberg
Arnold – Dayne Kulp
Callaway – Chase Ell
Paxton – Justin Neilsen
Electrical Technology:
Bartley – Kaleb Sughroue
Brady – Jerry Mull
Callaway – Grady Lashley
Hershey – Konner Sonneman
Maxwell – Jeremy Ochsner
North Platte – John Diaz, Jed Dizmang, Tyler Floro, Taylor Hills, Parker Zakrzewski-Aten
Colorado
Haxtun – Christopher Kelley
Wyoming
Laramie – Luke James
Fire Science Technology:
North Platte – Angelica Diones
Graphic Design/Visual Communications:
Brady – Jared Most
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology:
North Platte – Jordan Christner, Eric Travis
Information Technology:
North Platte – Taylor Pantenburg
South Dakota
Aberdeen – Karley Downham
Medical Laboratory Technician:
Cozad – Adriana Buss
North Platte – Elizabeth Honeywell, Tanis Sack
Paxton – Ashley Lugar
Welding Technology:
Hershey – William Schillinger
Memphis – Cody Horton
North Platte – Troy Dye
Diplomas
Automotive Technology:
Grant – Kaitlynn Heinemann
North Platte – Frank Griffiths, Shawn Simpson, Brandon Tolle, Ryan Weekly
Smithfield – Samuel Siekman
Stratton – David White
Building Construction:
Colleen Werve Mortensen
Dental Assisting:
Culbertson – Rylie Adams
Curtis – Payton Kahler
Lexington – Katy Esquivel
North Platte – Emily Bagley
Diesel Technology:
McCook – Kyle Van Pelt
North Platte – Matthew Pickering
Ogallala – Tyler Schroeder
Sargent – Lance Collins
Stapleton – Brady Baumgartner, John Main
Electrical Technology:
McCook – Zachary Burkey, Ian Shepherd
Emergency Medical Services:
Morrill – Tina Lara
Graphic Design/Visual Communications:
Brady – Jared Most
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology:
McCook – Jerimeiah Jaramillo, Jacob Roberts,
North Platte – Taime Hill, Lyndell St. Clair
Sutherland – Bradley Whitworth
Valentine – Luke Hockenbary
Wallace – Shane Anders
Kansas
Oberlin – Benjamin Glading
Practical Nursing:
Bassett – Jessica Hollenbeck, Jurnee Saner
Cozad – Elisha Keim
Hershey – Cindy Glos, Yvonne Witt
Maxwell – Angelia Smith
North Platte – Anna Junker, Karisa Rodriguez, Cortney Scott, Mindy Schmadeke, Courtney Viter
South Dakota
Kadoka – Robyn Jones
Certificates
Accounting:
North Platte – Jonathan Spradlin
Agribusiness:
Sargent – April Hansen
Business Administration:
North Platte – Jayden Miles
Customization and Restoration:
Iowa
Hubbard – Ricks Polk
Entrepreneurship:
North Platte – Jayden Miles
Leadership:
Ansley – Jodi Dethlefs
Logistics:
North Platte – Joseph Pucket
Medical Billing and Coding:
Lewellen – Ramona Steward
Madrid – Daina Markussen
North Platte – Angie Bringewatt, Christine Grauerholz
Omaha – Ashley Ellingson
Medical Transcriptionist:
Lewellen – Katlin Dikeman, Ramona Steward
North Platte – Jamie Lauderdale, Erin White
Omaha – Ashley Ellingson
Multimedia Design:
Maxwell – Seth Woracek
Nonprofit Management:
North Platte – Robin Schneider
McCook Community College
The 2019 McCook Community College Spring Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 10 in the Graff Events Center. The ceremony is open to the public and will be livestreamed at: https://evideo.mpcc.edu/Watch/MCCSports.
The following students will be recognized.
Associate of Arts Degree
Culbertson – Courtney Searcey
Indianola – Alec May
McCook – William Brown, Taye Collicott, Allison Johnson, Lindi Johnson, Taylor Patterson, Madison Riemenschneider, Brandon Smith
Oconto – Seth Pearson
Paxton – William Babbitt
Arkansas
Bella Vista – Hailey Tiles
Colorado
Denver – Amadou Dieye
Parachute – Samantha Hinkle
New York
New York – Ronald Rice III
Virginia
Fort Belvoir – Preston Parry
Associate of Fine Arts Degree
Bartley – Erin Greenlee
Holdrege – Tatiana Young
McCook – Mary Kain, Elizabeth Schutz
Associate of General Studies Degree
Cambridge – Hunter Mowry
McCook – Steven Keenportz, Jessi Keslin, Brigham Larington, Helen Reiners
Wallace – Abbey Rohde
Wauneta – Cheyenne Cavanaugh
Hawaii
Makawao – Maysen Medeiros
Florida
Hialeah – Ricardo Jimenez
Texas
Austin – Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli
Associate of Science Degree
Arcadia – Clay Bauer
Bartley – Erin Greenlee
Blair – Mark Starks
Culbertson – Taylor Ford
Indianola – Drew Hofman, Genna Vogel
McCook – Abby Kalinski, Allison Johnson, Brantleigh Morgan, Casey Quagliano, David Brewster, Easton Gillen, Emmerie Roth, Jenifer Carbajal, Kyle Geisler, Lindi Johnson, Mary Kain, Nicholas Bingham
Oconto – Seth Pearson
Ord – Ashley Carson, Chance Williams, Wyatt Williams
Palisade – Emilee McCurdy
Paxton – William Babbitt
Wauneta – Cheyenne Cavanaugh, Zachary Thompson
Colorado
Aurora – Makayla Jones
Breckenridge – Graham Gaspard
Centennial – Jesse Bloom
Evans – Ryan Maddera
Greeley – Beau Hawley, Sieara Price, Spencer Wilcox
Haxtun – Collyn Heinz
Littleton – Haley Jacobsen
Loveland – Jason Cox
Lakewood – Chanel Siebenthal
Peyton – Tony Goodman
Kansas
Belvue – Reed Murray
Oberlin – Cerys Davies
Topeka – Onyessah Rocha
Kentucky
Louisville – Junathean Cunningham
Massachusetts
Wareham – Andrew White
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City – Richard Gray Jr.
South Dakota
Oelrichs – Mykelsi Schnose
Texas
Conroe – Tiyanna Johnson
Utah
Ogden – Brooklyn Evans
Roy – Isabel Serna
Tremonton – Jerusha Miner
Australia
Willetton – Emma McLean
Canada
Richmond, British Columbia – Kayla Harrison
Summerville, New Brunswick – Shaun Hickey
Victoria, British Columbia – Emily Charchuk
Great Britain
London – Ronnie Quick
Serbia
Pancevo – Antonije Petrovic
Spain
Barcelona – Laura Mata Garcia
Reus – Anna Clavaguera
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Business:
Beaver City – Jordan Taylor
Imperial – Adolfo Ramirez
McCook – McKenzie Mason, Bradley Ackermann, Christina Seybold
Wallace – Abbey Rohde
Arizona
Tucson – Darla Chessmore
Colorado
Yoder – Kylia Johnson
Iowa
Hamburg – Masen Maher
South Dakota
Sioux Falls – Sawyer Strand
Electrical Technology:
McCook – Owen Wais
Emergency Medical Services:
Burwell – Matthew Graves
Chadron – Matthew Lordino
Indiana
Bargersville – Brendon Wright
Oregon
Harrisburg – Nathan Walter
Information Technology:
Imperial – Jennifer Huff
Welding Technology:
Benkelman – Brady Wonderly
Indianola – Sean Anderson
McCook – James Jankovits, Holt Larson, Ryan Lukas
Diplomas
Early Childhood Education:
Indianola – Jacy Ahlemeyer
Emergency Medical Services:
California
San Diego – Guillermo Gutierrez
Kentucky
Richmond – Candice Biltz
Utah
Moab – Adrianna Duehrssen
Practical Nursing:
Culbertson – Bryce Jones
Imperial – Kaycee Tucker
McCook – Amanda Bennett, Ashley Walkington, Baylie Simmonds, Cailee Zwickle, Melissa Mason
Welding:
Hawaii
Makawao – Tyler Masada
Certificates
Agribusiness:
Oconto – Seth Pearson
Early Childhood Education:
Indianola – Bailee Springer
Leadership:
Blair – Mark Starks
Logistics:
South Dakota
Sioux Falls – Sawyer Strand
Multimedia Design:
Virginia
Fort Belvoir -Preston Parry
Print Design:
Virginia
Fort Belvoir -Preston Parry
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new report says an April survey of business supply managers suggests there will be solid economic growth over the next three to six months in nine Midwest and Plains states.
The report issued Wednesday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped to 55.9 last month from 58.2 in March. The February figure was 57.9.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says finding and hiring qualified workers remained the chief threat to the manufacturing economy for the region.
The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline.
The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
