LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is standing by a new state license plate that was widely mocked as boring and sexually suggestive.

Ricketts said Tuesday that the plate incorporates “very positive imagery” of the state’s agricultural heritage and fulfils its purpose as a form of identification for law enforcement.

The plate features the iconic “Sower” statue that tops the state Capitol in Lincoln. Since it was unveiled last week, social media commenters have called it uninspired. Some have argued that the image of the Sower holding a grain satchel in front of his pelvis looks inappropriate.

Comedian Chris Hardwick made fun of the plate on the Comedy Central show @midnight.

Ricketts says he knew license plate redesigns are controversial, but he did not expect the image to make national comedy news.

MINATARE, Neb. (AP) — Construction is expected to be finished before Christmas on a storm shelter being built at a Nebraska Panhandle school.

The shelter at Minatare Junior/Senior High School will provide a safe place for people during tornadoes and other violent storms and provide extra space for sports and other school events.

The shelter addition will be made out of concrete blocks that will be fully grouted and reinforced. The ceilings will consist of pre-cast concrete slabs. District Superintendent Tim Cody says it will protect up to 500 people inside against wind speeds of up to 250 mph.

The addition will include a generator room, storage/concessions area, men’s and women’s bathrooms and a small gym. The total cost of the project will be $850,000.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — New proposed regulations for Nebraska’s oil and gas industry are awaiting action from Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Ricketts has until Wednesday to sign or veto the bills passed by lawmakers last week, and a spokesman says the governor will use his full allotted time.

The measure by Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala would require periodic sampling and reporting of fracking waste fluids and monitoring of produced water transporters. It also reduces the “promotional” duties of the Nebraska Oil and Gas Commission and refocuses the agency’s purpose on promoting health, safety and protection of natural resources.

Schilz has said he introduced the bill in response to public input last year during a series of hearings focused on the state oil and gas industry.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man has been injured in a fall while working on roofing project at a prison in Lincoln.

The Nebraska Correctional Services Department says the accident occurred around 9 a.m. Monday at the Lincoln Correctional Center. Prison staff members tended to the man until medics arrived and he was taken to a Lincoln hospital.

The department says the man worked for White Castle Roofing in Lincoln. Kiley Eaton is director of advertising for the company, and she declined to provide the man’s name or other information about his employment. Eaton says she can’t provide any information about how far the man fell or what he was doing before the fall. She says his injuries are considered non-life-threatening.

Eaton says the company is investigating what caused the fall.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Federal officials are touting a new Nebraska Medicaid proposal as a way to boost the state economy while increasing access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a report on the proposal Monday, one day before Nebraska lawmakers are scheduled to debate it. The report says 21,000 uninsured people with a mental illness or substance abuse disorder could qualify for coverage if the measure passes.

The bill faces an uphill battle in the Legislature, despite a coalition of doctors, hospitals, local governments and uninsured residents who support it. Conservative groups and members of Gov. Pete Ricketts’ administration say the proposal is unsustainable.

Supporters of the proposal are planning to rally outside the Capitol on Tuesday wearing all black.

The North Platte Community College Theater Department will present “Baby with the Bathwater” April 6-9 at 8 p.m. each night.

“Baby with the Bathwater” is a bitingly satiric comedy by one of theatre’s most provocative and inventive writers, Christopher Durang.

The author’s target is parenthood, which he skewers with savagely gleeful wit and characteristically outrageous humor.

As the play begins, Helen and John gaze proudly at their new offspring. They are a bit disappointed that the baby doesn’t speak English and are too polite to check its sex.

They decide to name the baby Daisy, which leads to all kinds of emotional and personality problems for the child.

The saga of Daisy’s struggle to establish an identity continues throughout a series of brilliantly theatrical and wildly hilarious scenes, despite the growing obliviousness of Daisy’s parents.

Early on, there is a zany nanny and a deranged homeless woman who are as inept with dealing with the baby as Daisy’s parents are.

As a toddler, Daisy likes to run in front of buses. Daisy also experiences bizarre problems in school, and eventually, seeks counseling.

The play comes full circles as Daisy becomes a parent—forgiving of the past, but determined not to repeat mistakes.

“This play takes a deep, satirical look at parenthood,” said Ritch Galvan, NPCC theater instructor and play director. “It shines light on the worst choices parents could make, but ends with a hope and optimism that anyone can overcome the damage caused by one’s parents.”

The play contains strong language and adult situations. It will be presented in the McDonald-Belton Theater on NPCC’s South Campus.

Tickets can be purchased at the door. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

The North Platte Public Schools Foundation is pleased to announce their 2016 “Teacher of the Year,” “Staff Member of the Year,” and “Administrator of the Year” award winners.  These exemplary district employees will be honored at our upcoming “Education After Hours” event on April 8^th.

There are two “Teacher of the Year” award winners.

The 2016 sixth-12^th grade “Teacher of the Year” award will be presented posthumously to Dick Deutschman, former 6^th grade Science teacher at Adams Middle School. 

Named after the DICK AND JANE classic reading series by Scott Foresman, Deutschman seemed destined to become a teacher.  He grew up in North Platte and graduated from North Platte High School in 1976.  Deutschman earned his degree in Education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1980 and his Master’s of Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1984.  He started his career as a 4th-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary.  During his career, he also taught at Adams Middle School, Lincoln Elementary, and was a half-time principal half-time teacher at Osgood Elementary.  This would have been Dick’s 36th year of teaching with the North Platte Public School system.  Dick loved teaching and working with students.  He had a passion for science and math, genuine care for the growth of his students, and he brought enthusiasm for learning to the classroom. Dick’s wife, Robin, also teaches for the North Platte Public School system.  They have three children: Benjamin (Toni), Andrew, and Makenzie.

The 2016 elementary “Teacher of the Year” award will be presented to Tom Allberry, a Physical Education Teacher at Cody Elementary. 

Allberry has taught Physical Education for NPPSD since 1995 at the NPHS, Cody, McDonald, Washington, and Osgood Schools.  He is an Assistant Freshman Football Coach at NPHS, Adams Middle School Girls & Boys Basketball Coach, and Assistant Track Coach at NPHS.  Incredibly, he has coached three sports all 32 seasons of his educational career.  Allberry is also an NSAA football and basketball official and an American Legion Baseball Umpire in the summer.  A 1979 North Platte St. Patrick’s graduate, he taught and coached for the Norfolk Public Schools before coming to North Platte.  Allberry’s wife is a former paraprofessional at Madison.  All 4 of his children are NPHS graduates, and 3 of them are elementary teachers.

The 2016 “Staff Member of the Year” will be presented to Deb Monroe, paraprofessional at Jefferson Elementary.

Monroe started as Site Coordinator for KIDS Klub Afterschool Program in 2002 at McDonald Elementary and then at Jefferson Elementary in 2003. In 2008, she also became the Behavioral Para at Jefferson Elementary. In 2014, she took the position as Jefferson Elementary’s Health Para. In total, she has worked at Jefferson Elementary for 13 years. Monroe’s favorite quote is “It is better to build a child than to repair an adult.”

Monroe and her husband, Dave, have lived in North Platte for 37 years. They have two children and five grandchildren.

The 2016 “Administrator of the Year” will be presented to Danny McMurtry, principal at Madison Middle School.

McMurtry’s atypical path toward educational administration began as a collegiate student-athlete after graduating from North Platte High School in 1998.  He attended Howard Community College in Big Spring, TX, where he played baseball, was selected for the Texas-New Mexico Junior College All-Star game, and was named the Howard College “Most Distinguished Student-Athlete.”

From there he signed a letter of intent to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  During his tenure in Louisiana, Danny was twice selected for the First Team Sunbelt Conference All-Academic team.  He was also awarded the University of Louisiana at Lafayette “Graduate of the Year” award in 2003 when he graduated in Education.

Danny pursued a career in coaching at the college level.  He spent the next six years as a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at various universities including Monmouth, Northwest Florida State, and Mercer University.  In 2009, he resigned his position after making the decision that he wanted to help kids at an earlier age.

In 2009, he took a job at Vermilion Catholic High School in Abbeville, LA.  There he taught geometry and was named the head baseball coach.  After two years of teaching, Danny was asked to assume the duties of Dean of Students.  He carried this title for two years.  In 2013, he received his Master’s in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State.  That year he was offered the principal job at Madison Middle School, and he and his wife Cassie moved to North Platte.  This is Danny’s third year in that position.

Nominations for these outstanding staff members were made by students, parents, community members and employees from the North Platte Public School District.

These awards recognize and encourage superior professional effort to improve instruction and to cultivate the continuation of education excellence in our schools.

Teacher and Staff Member Award Winners will receive a plaque and a $250 cash award.  Administrators will receive a plaque and $1,000 extra budget authority for their building/administrative area. A permanent award will be displayed at McKinley Education Center.

Awards will be presented at North Platte Public Schools Foundation’s “Education After Hours” event on April 8^th from 5:30pm-7:30 pm at Harbor Lights.  Tickets are $25 each ($20 for NPPSD staff) and available online at nppsf.org or at the Foundation office.  Please call 696-3325 in advance to schedule pick up.

Weather permitting, the 1st – 6th Streets North Platte project on US-83, locally known as Jeffers Street, will resume April 4.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane northbound to complete the work on sidewalks, ADA ramps, red imprinted concrete and barrier curbs.

Once this work is completed on the east side of Jeffers Street, traffic will be switched to the northbound lanes and work will begin on the southbound lanes and the west intersections.

This includes completing the storm sewer, sanitary sewer and water services as well as the concrete pavement, sidewalks, lighting and traffic signal work.

During the construction, there will be a 12′ maximum width restriction through the project. Due to turning radius being difficult for semi-truck traffic, they are encouraged to use an alternate route.

All work is anticipated to be completed late summer of 2016. Motorist are reminded to be extra careful in and near highway work zones, and to buckle up, every trip.

Connie Kramer, a 911 telecommunicator in the North Platte 911 Center, is among a select group of national finalists in the Smart Telecommunicator Awards, a program which recognizes and rewards 911 telecommunicators for their contributions to their 9-1-1 agency and community.

Over the past several weeks, colleagues and citizens have nominated 9-1-1 call-takers and dispatchers (telecommunicators) across the United States. The annual awards program, now in its’ 5^th year, has received hundreds of nominations nationwide, and today finalists were announced to kick off an online public vote to determine winners.

Connie has 26 years of service with the North Platte Police Department, serving 12 years as a Clerk/Dispatcher and 14 years as a Clerk/Dispatcher II.  Connie was past president of the Nebraska Emergency Services Communications Association (NESCA).  In 2011, Connie received the NESCA Jud Reed Memorial Award recognizing her outstanding service to others through training, good judgment and devotion to the communications field.  Connie has been appointed to the NESCA Training Committee for several years, developing a training curriculum for public safety communicators.  She is also a guest instructor at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center twice each year for the basic dispatcher and emergency medical dispatcher training courses.  Connie serves as a Communications Training Officer for the North Platte Police Department, training new employees and keeping the program up-to-date.

Connie helps foster a good working environment.  She has a positive attitude and is very supportive of her employees and coworkers.  Connie leads by example and is insistent that she gets involved in the day-to-day activities of a dispatcher while fulfilling her supervisory responsibilities.  She takes pride in her work and the operation of the 911 Center.   Connie sets a good example and should be an inspiration to her co-workers.

The public can now review the finalist submissions and vote online at www.smart911.com/sta through April 1, 2016, at 5:00 pm EDT.