LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A series of prescribed burns are being planned at wildlife areas across the state to promote habitat for animals and improve the grasslands.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission plans to set the fires at an assortment of wildlife management areas when weather permits.
The fires help remove invasive trees and bushes while stimulating the growth of desired grasses. They also help reduce the risk of wildfire because fuel is reduced.
Burns are being planned in the following counties: Antelope, Buffalo, Cass, Custer, Dawson, Dixon, Dodge, Fillmore, Gosper, Howard, Jefferson, Johnson, Keith, Knox, Lancaster, Lincoln, Madison, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Pierce, Richardson, Scotts Bluff, Seward, Sherman, Stanton and Thayer.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s one-house Legislature was created with the promise of greater transparency in state government, but that promise falls short when it comes to some of the records legislators keep.
Lawmakers have exempted themselves from the state’s public records law, allowing them to withhold correspondence, memoranda and records of telephone calls that other state agencies and local governments have to disclose. Such documents give the public insight into who is trying to influence elected officials on important policy decisions.
Senators say the law allows constituents to contact them without fear of having their name published, but open-government advocates say the public should be able to know who is trying to influence elected officials.
Sunday marks the beginning of Sunshine Week, a national initiative to promote government transparency and freedom of information.
Lincoln Elementary, Cody and Jefferson Elementary and Maxwell children may be qualified for free tutoring hours.
This school year North Platte Public Schools received a grant from the Nebraska Department of Education for the Supplemental Education Services or SES. Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, students who qualify for free and reduced lunches attending one of these Title One Schools, were eligible to receive the SES grant dollars.
The program will allow approximately 200 children in Cody, Lincoln, Jefferson and Maxwell 19 hours of free tutoring for each child that qualifies.
The term “supplemental educational services” refers to free extra academic help, such as tutoring or remedial help, that is provided to students in subjects such as reading, language arts, and math.
Sylvan Learning in North Platte is the only local business to partner with North Platte Public Schools and to offer the education services to students.
“This will allow students to improve their learning, testing and in the end, improve schools overall scores,” said Sylvan owner Debra Smith.
But, time is running out for families to take advantage of these free tutoring services because they must be used by the end of July.
“We’d hate to know that families are unaware of the program and the hours go unused because it’s really about helping children improve their education and scores. Especially for those who may not otherwise be able to attain outside tutoring, and the best part is that it’s free to families who qualify,” Smith says.
Tutoring hours are based on each child’s learning level and schedule.
SES Forms are available at Sylvan Learning or McKinley Education Center.
Contact Sylvan Learning for more information 532-4441
When North Platte middle school administrators talked about creating monies for a scholarship, they had no idea what it would turn into.
“We knew that we wanted to raise money for a scholarship. We wanted to find a fun and creative way to do that. Ultimately we wanted to create an event that the community could come together for,” said Madison assistant principal Brett Joneson.
In less than two weeks, that is exactly what will happen. On March 18th, the first annual North Platte Dancing With the Stars competition will begin. The show will happen at the Performing Arts Center at North Platte high school. The red carpet walk will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the show begins at 7:00.
Twelve community members have been matched up in teams and assigned a choreographer.
Big Rob Mitchell (USPS) and Olivia Nicholson (NPHS student)
Choreographer – Becky Wagner (Dance Factory)
Scott Steele (owner of Steele Construction) and Jan Wright (HR Staff Developer for Great Plains Health)
Choreographer – Janna Ryan (The Stage)
Brice Kesler (Sports Director for KOOQ) and Linda Carlson (retired teacher/coach
Choreographer Ciera Carlson (Adams Middle School student)
Bernie Madison (NPHS teacher/football coach) and Jane Wilkinson (community volunteer)
Choreographer – Danielle Aman (physical therapist for NPPSD)
Matt Welch (supervisor for UPRR) and Carrie Lienemann (Kids Klub Director)
Choreographer – Sara Ryan (The Stage)
Job Vigil (Editor for North Platte Telegraph) and Laura Beranek (sports reporter for KNOP
Choreographer – June Robinson (Coldwell Banker)
Teams have been practicing for almost two months now in preparation for this event. “You know, that stage brings a lot of accountability. It is a really competitive group and everyone wants to win so they have been working extremely hard,” said Joneson. Voting for the competition will be done by the audience through text message voting.
Tickets are on sale at Adams Middle School. Reserved seats are $7.00.
“We thought it was important to make this a community event. We didn’t want to charge a ton of money to a few people. We wanted to charge a ton of people a small amount,” said Madison principal Danny McMurtry.
Any tickets that remain will be sold at the door. All proceeds from the event will go toward a scholarship for North Platte students.
“It’s going to be a great time. It’s not often in North Platte that we have a don’t miss event. This is one of them,” added McMurtry.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island will be adding some new attractions this year.
The new attractions include a tree house and fort structure for children on the outdoor section of the main pavilion at the Nebraska Building.
Nebraska State Fair 1868 Foundation director Lindsey Koepke says the foundation has raised more than 60 percent of the more than $900,000 needed for the new open air horse arena. The fully renovated 60,000-square-foot outdoor arena will replace the current outdoor arena just west of Thompson Arena. It will feature quality holding pens and professional bucking and roping chutes for use in rodeos and horse shows.
This year’s State Fair is scheduled to run from Aug. 26 through Sept. 5.
KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Kearney school district officials are mulling the fate of the current Kearney High School, set to be replaced in the fall by a new high school.
Kearney Public Schools officials are working on a plan to sell the current high school.
KPS Interim Superintendent Virginia Moon says the district may use a real estate agent to help sell the property, or it may issue requests for proposals.
The price tag also is a matter that hasn’t been determined because of the different valuations of the property with and without the KHS building on it.
Moon said there has been community interest in saving the two gymnasiums at the current KHS, but the costs of maintenance and upkeep have kept purchasers at bay.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — It’s time to spring forward again, as the country makes the switch to daylight-saving time.
Like those in almost all other states, Nebraskans and Iowans will trade an hour of sleep starting Sunday morning for an extra hour of sunlight in the evening.
The government expanded daylight-saving time in 2007 in an effort to save energy. It now begins on the second Sunday in March and continues until the first Sunday in November.
The official change occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday, local time, although people often change their clocks before going to bed Saturday night.
Eagle Radio General Manager Lewys Carlini and Sales Manager Olivia Brown present a check to NPPSF President Laura Troshynski. The funds were raised during the “Community Day the Seuss Way,” which was held last weekend.
Mix 97 One, Q country 107.3, ESPN Radio 1410AM and the North Platte Post had a Community Day the Dr. Seuss Way event this past weekend, a fundraiser for the North Platte Public School Foundation.
On Saturday, March 5th the Saturday after Read Across America week was celebrated in the North Platte Public Schools Eagle Radio celebrated as a community to encourage reading and fun for families.
“We had multiple sponsor booths, Nebraskaland National Bank was grilling hotdogs for a free will donation, a Dr. Seuss movie was provided along with popcorn from H&R Block and the Pop Corner, and reading was provided by Bible Supplies,” says Olivia Brown, sales manager at Eagle Radio.
“It’s important to support our community that we live in and host fun events for families,” Brown added.
The Day was a huge success with almost 400 kids in attendance and plenty of money raised for the public school foundation.
After the event, the funds were gathered from our sponsors, as well as from donation jars set up around the McKinley Education Center and a check was presented Thursday afternoon at the McKinley Education center.
“We were so happy to be able to provide the foundation with a check for $1,555.00 to help with programs under the foundation,” said Brown.
The check was presented to Board President, Laura Troshynski as well as other board members present.
Sunny, with a high near 73. South southwest wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 35. South southeast wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. South southeast wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Saturday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southeast wind 6 to 13 mph becoming south southwest after midnight.
Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 72. South southwest wind 6 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Monday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Tuesday
A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Breezy.
North Platte, NE — On Saturday, March 26, 2016, NebraskaLand National Bank, the VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary will host the 57th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Cody Park.
The search for prizes and decorated eggs will begin at 2:00 p.m. Children up to ten years old are invited to join us and celebrate Easter with a one of a kind Easter Egg Hunt. The park will be divided into six areas with special needs children on the tennis courts.
Prior to the egg hunt on Thursday, March 24, the VFW will be coloring over 12,000 Easter Eggs. The community is invited to help.
The Post VFW is located at 2100 East 4th Street. The coloring will start at 7:00 pm.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A series of prescribed burns are being planned at wildlife areas across the state to promote habitat for animals and improve the grasslands.
