A North Platte couple has purchased Starz Gymnastics.

In a news release Thursday, Janna Ryan announced that she and her husband, Matt, have purchased Starz Gymnastics, 413 North Dewey.

The Ryans have owned The Stage Dance Studio, 608 North Walnut, for the last ten years.

According to Ryan, the current owners of Starz, Dave and Bette Thalken, are ready to retire to Texas this summer and have been looking for a buyer for their beloved business.  The Thalkens have owned Starz for ten years.

“They were looking for buyers to take over the gymnastics studio they worked so hard on so it would not just close and leave their gymnasts with nowhere to practice,” Ryan said.  “Matt and I were looking for a way to expand our dance studio without straying too far from what we know best.”

“Dance and gymnastics are known to be very complementary businesses, and the fit was right for both couples,” Ryan added.

The Ryans are currently learning the “ins-and-outs” of their new business, and plan to take over in May.

Both businesses will continue to operate from their current locations.

Plans are in place to expand both businesses, according to Ryan, with the stage continuing to offer classes in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Technique and Basic/Core, in addition to special workshops.

Starz will continue to offer gymnastics training, with all current faculty remaining in place.

For more information, visit The Stage at www.behindthestage.com and Starz Gymnastics at www.starz-gym.com.

A 15-year-old North Platte High School student has been charged with a felony after she was found to be in possession of prescription pills following an overdose at school.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, at around 12:45 p.m. on February 27, an officer on duty at NPHS learned that a female student had taken too many prescription pills and was sick in the nurse’s office.

The officer investigated and found the student was in possession of six Clonazepam pills, commonly known a Klonopin, in addition to the ten she admitted to taking.

The girl was taken to the Emergency Room at Great Plains Regional Medical Center for treatment by her grandmother.

Officers continued to investigate the incident and, as a result of the investigation, determined there was probable cause to cite the girl for possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, a Class IIIA felony.

On March 5, the girl was processed and released from the Lincoln County Detention Center on the felony charge.

The Post is choosing not to name the juvenile pending the filing of formal charges by the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office.

(AP) — A consultant is recommending that Nebraska expand its prison facilities to accommodate overcrowding.

The report to Nebraska lawmakers suggests a 300-bed expansion to Omaha corrections facilities, a 200-bed addition to the Community Corrections Center in Lincoln and 340 additional beds for elderly and mentally ill inmates at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln.

The report by Dewberry Architects also recommends additional space for food service, corrections programs and dining facilities. It was produced as part of the Department of Correctional Services’ efforts to develop a long-term plan.

Nebraska’s correctional facilities held 4,918 inmates as of Jan. 31. That’s nearly 155 percent of their design capacity.

A department spokeswoman says the review is taking place along with a legislative prison-reform study. She says cost estimates aren’t yet known.

(AP) — Nebraska is joining a lawsuit that seeks to strike down a California law regulating the living conditions of chickens.

Gov. Dave Heineman and Attorney General Jon Bruning announced Wednesday that they will help Missouri with its legal challenge in federal court. The lawsuit pits California’s new animal rights protections against the economic interests of Midwestern farmers.

The law set to take effect in 2015 would prohibit the sale of eggs that come from hens raised in cages that don’t comply with California’s new size and space requirements.

Heineman says the law will hamper interstate trade because it effectively imposes California’s requirements on out-of-state farmers. He says it also could set a precedent for beef, swine and dairy producers.

Missouri’s lawsuit was filed on Feb. 3 in U.S. District Court.

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. South southwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. South southwest wind 5 to 13 mph becoming north northwest after midnight.
• Friday: A chance of rain after 7am, mixing with snow after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 39. North wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 7pm, then a slight chance of snow between 7pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. North northeast wind 5 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.

(AP) — Nebraska’s 3rd District congressman has announced a contest for high school students in the state’s vast, rural district to create a new software application for smartphone, tablet or computer devices.

Republican Rep. Adrian Smith says the deadline for submissions for the first House Student App Challenge is March 30.

The competition is designed to promote innovation and engagement in science, technology, engineering and math among high school students. Students may participate individually or in teams of up to four. Those entering the competition must provide a YouTube or VIMEO video explaining their app and what they learned through the competition process.

The winning app in each participating congressional district will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website and will be on display in a U.S. Capitol exhibit.

(AP) — The State Board of Education has approved Nebraska’s first fine arts standards in music, visual, performing and media arts.

The standards set expectations for what schools should teach in each of the areas.

The Nebraska Arts Council provided a $46,000 grant to the state Department of Education to develop the standards.

The standards set out broad concepts for each area and include specific requirements in grade units: kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade, ninth through 12th grade.

The fine arts standards have not been made a part of Rule 10, which state-accredited schools must follow. Math, reading, social studies and science are part of Rule 10.

A 33-year-old North Platte woman is facing two felony charges after she was allegedly driving drunk and packing pills without a prescription.

At around 11:30 p.m., on March 4, an officer with the North Platte Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a gold Nissan Sentra in the 1000 block of North Madison for having expired tags.

After making contact with the driver, Elizabeth Lucas, the officer suspected that she had been drinking.

The officer conducted a DUI investigation, and determined there was probable cause to arrest Lucas for driving under the influence of liquor (3rd)-over .15, a Class IV felony.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, the officer then conducted a search on Lucas’ person which revealed the prescription drug Clonazepam.

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine used to treat seizure disorders or panic disorder, according to WebMD.com.

The officer determined that Lucas did not have a prescription for the drug and, as a result, she was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, a Class IV felony.

Lucas was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

A 42-year old Brady man has been arrested after allegedly drove drunk and failed to stop for North Platte Police.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, an officer was patrolling the area of Jessie Road and Rodeo Road at around 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday, when they observed a red Ford F-350 pickup traveling west on Rodeo Road in excess of the posted 35 mph speed limit.

Another officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle.  Brown said as the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver was swerving between lanes and failed to stop.

The vehicle, driven by Jeffrey Kottwitz, eventually came to a stop in the Casey’s parking lot, 2421 Rodeo Road.

Officers made contact with Kottwitz, who officers believed was under the influence of alcohol.

Following a DUI investigation, officers determined there was probable cause to arrest Kottwitz.

He’s been charged with 3rd offense DUI-over .15 (Class IIA Felony), flight to avoid arrest (Class I Misdemeanor), driving under suspension (Class III Misdemeanor), open alcohol container in vehicle (Class III Misdemeanor) and no proof of insurance (Infraction).

Kottwitz was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

A North Platte woman is in jail on felony drug charges after lab tests confirmed the presence of methamphetamine in a glass pipe.

On September 4, 2013, an officer with the North Platte Platte Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a Chevy pickup that had no license plates displayed.

The officer learned that the driver, 26-year-old Latosha Ryan, was operating the vehicle under a suspended license and had two active Lincoln County warrants.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, a subsequent search of Ryan’s person revealed a glass pipe with white powder residue.

Later test results from the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab indicated the presence of meth.

On March 4, 2014, an officer contacted Ryan during another traffic stop and placed her under arrest for possession of methamphetamine.

Ryan was transported and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.