Backed by a 95-year tradition of service and stability in southwest Nebraska, Farmers State Bank is taking another step forward and opening a second branch in North Platte.

The new branch, set to open March 3rd 2014, is located on the north side of North Platte at 410 Rodeo Road, the former location of Equifax, previously known as Talx. It will serve as a convenient complement to the bank’s existing downtown location at 418 N. Dewey, and will feature some much-desired amenities, including a drive-through teller and ample parking.

“We wanted this new branch to include the features customers in North Platte are looking for – amenities that make it easy for them to take care of their banking needs quickly, so they can be on their way,” said Bob Mayber, President and CEO at Farmers State Bank. “The location is easier to get to for many of our customers, and the drive-thru and large parking lot add an extra layer of convenience.”

While the new branch will be modern and easily accessible, it won’t lose the friendly service Farmers State Bank is known for, Mayber added.

“At our core, we are, and will always be, a community bank,” he said. “Our current and future customers can expect the same level of knowledge and superior service we’ve offered for nearly a century.”

The new North Platte location will also offer a 24-hour ATM, a night depository, safety deposit boxes, and a full range of banking services.

For more information, call Farmers State Bank at 308-532-6700 or 308-387-4319.

A 9-year-old Kearney boy has died following a traffic accident in Kearney on Monday afternoon.

According to a statement from the Kearney Police Department, officers along with Good Samaritan EMS and the Kearney Fire Department, responded to a two vehicle crash at the intersection of West 17th Street and 6th Avenue at around 5:18 p.m.

KPD says an early investigation shows that one vehicle was driving south on 6th Avenue and the other vehicle was traveling east on West 17th Street.

Investigators say the vehicles collided in the middle of the intersection, which is unmarked.

A passenger from one of the vehicles, Jackson Wallace, was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he later died.

The Kearney/Buffalo County Fatality Accident Investigation Team was called to investigate the scene.

No citations have been given, and no other injuries were reported.

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 57. Windy, with a northwest wind 6 to 16 mph increasing to 20 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 11 to 16 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph.
• Wednesday Night: Rain showers likely before 9pm, then rain and snow showers likely between 9pm and midnight, then a chance of snow showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Blustery, with a south wind 13 to 21 mph becoming north in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 14 to 19 mph increasing to 23 to 28 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.

(AP) — One of the co-founders of outdoor outfitter Cabela’s has died at the age of 77.

Cabela’s says Richard Cabela died Monday at his home in Sidney, where the company is based.

The company that sells outdoor gear and sporting goods got its start humbly in 1961 when Richard Cabela bought $45 of fishing flies in Chicago.

When the flies didn’t sell quickly at the family’s furniture store, Cabela started selling them through the mail with his wife and brother, Jim.

That led to the development of the Cabela’s catalog and eventually the firm with $3.6 billion revenue and 50 retail stores across North America.

Current Cabela’s CEO Tommy Millner says Dick and Jim Cabela made it possible for people to find quality outdoor gear no matter where they lived.

The Mid-Plains Education Association (MPEA) will award two $1,000 scholarships to North Platte Community College students for the Fall 2014 term.

The scholarships, dedicated this year in memory of the late Julie Goans, will be presented at the North Platte Community College Honor’s Convocation this spring.

Throughout the year, MPEA faculty and staff volunteers raised approximately $2,500 through personal donations and 50/50 drawings at home games. After the presentation of the two $1,000 scholarships, the remaining funds will be combined with next year’s “earnings” to go towards additional scholarships.

“The MPEA has presented scholarships to students for many years,” said Dr. Aaron McLean, MPEA President. “Our desire is to raise more money for our scholarship fund and also to increase the amount of money for each scholarship.”

The application deadline for the scholarships is April 4, 2014. Those interested in applying can contact any MPEA faculty members for an application form. Completed applications should be returned to McLean (NPCC Health and Science Center, room 207).

“NPCC students who will be returning as ‘full-time students’ in the Fall 2014 semester are encouraged to apply for these two scholarships,” said McLean.

For more information, contact McLean at (308) 221-6427 or mcleana@mpcc.edu.

(AP) — Four grandparents are receiving $2,000 scholarships to help boost their grandchildren’s college funds.

First National Bank of Omaha is providing the scholarships to the grandparents who won a contest.

Nearly 500 grandparents submitted letters to the contest discussing their hopes and dreams and encouraging their grandchildren to plan for college.

The winners picked at random are: Sharon “Sue” Bentley, of Fremont, Neb.; Peggy Stark, of Lincoln, Neb.; Ron Tussing, of Sheridan, Mont.; and Lynda Ravenscroft, of Valentine, Neb.

First National manages Nebraska’s 529 college savings plans.

(AP) — The value of crops fell last year as corn and soybeans prices declined from record highs the year before.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in an annual report the value of 2013 field crops fell 9.8 percent to nearly $167 billion from $185 billion in 2012.

The 2012 drought reduced the corn and soybean harvest and drove prices to record highs which resulted in increased crop value.

Friday’s report says the average price of corn for 2012 was $6.89 per bushel and the value of the crop that year was $74.3 billion. Last year’s average price was $4.50 and the overall value fell to $62.7 billion.

Top crop producers last year were Illinois with crops valued at $16 billion, Iowa at $15.9 billion, and Nebraska at nearly $12 billion.

A North Platte man is in jail on sexual assault charges after he allegedly sexually assaulted two 15-year-old girls.

At around 6:00 pm. on February 15, North Platte Police were contacted by the parents of a 15-year-old female who reported that their daughter had been sexually assaulted.

Police launched an investigation and determined that two 15-year-old victims alleged that they had been assaulted by 21-year-old Johnathon Hernandez on the evening of February 14 and again on the afternoon of February 15.

Investigators also learned that Hernandez had an unrelated warrant for 3rd degree domestic assault out of Dawson County.

Officers made contact with Hernandez while investigating the alleged sexual assaults, and arrested him on the outstanding warrant.

It was also determined that there was probable cause to arrest him for the sexual assaults.

Hernandez was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with 1st degree sexual assault.

Police say the investigation is still in progress.

• Washington’s Birthday: Sunny, with a high near 56. West northwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Southwest wind 10 to 13 mph becoming west northwest after midnight.
• Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy, with a northwest wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.
• Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Northwest wind 9 to 14 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy, with a south wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

(AP) — A western Nebraska jail guard who was attacked by a teenage inmate has died.

Scotts Bluff County Attorney Doug Warner said Sunday he plans to charge the 15-year-old inmate suspected in the attack with first-degree murder.

Authorities say the 15-year-old strangled 24-year-old Amanda Baker at the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center early Friday. Baker died Sunday at Regional West Medical Center.

The teen suspect from Torrington, Wyo., has been held at the jail since December. He is charged with robbing a convenience store in Mitchell, Neb.

The Associated Press typically doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.