North Platte, Neb. - The Mid-Plains United Way were one of over 80 local non-profits to sign up for this year's North Platte Giving Day. For people who donated to Mid-Plains United Way will be entered to win a pair of tickets to Parker McCollum for this year's NebraskaLand Day concert. 

The united way is preparing for an event this June and nearing the end of their 2023-2024 campaign and are making one last push towards their goal.&nbsp;

Earlier in the week, Post News Director Canon Rath chatted with Haven Smith, Mid-Plains United Way Executive Director about giving day and more. To learn more, check out the podcast below.&nbsp;(Audio) Mid-Pains United Way North Platte Giving Day recap, events and more

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655346441244.png" alt="<a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a>" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a></figcaption>
 </figure>North Platte Post&nbsp;North Platte, Neb. - The Mid-Plains United Way were one of over 80 local non-profits to sign up for this year's North Platte Giving Day. For people who donated to Mid-Plains United Way will be entered to win a pair of tickets to Parker McCollum for this year's NebraskaLand Day concert. The united way is preparing for an event this June and nearing the end of their 2023-2024 campaign and are making one last push towards their goal.&nbsp;Earlier in the week, Post News Director Canon Rath chatted with Haven Smith, Mid-Plains United Way Executive Director about giving day and more. To learn more, check out the podcast below.&nbsp;(Audio) Mid-Pains United Way North Platte Giving Day recap, events and more<div><iframe title="(Audio) Mid-Pains United Way North Platte Giving Day recap, events and more" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ipffd-160bf1b-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

(Audio) Mid-Pains United Way North Platte Giving Day recap, events and more

North Platte, Neb. - On May 14, 2024, Paws on the Platte will debut at Prairie Arts Center.  This marks the third time Paws-itive Partners Humane Society has brought community art to North Platte in the form of life-size dog statues.

Twenty-six businesses and individuals donated the unfinished fiberglass dog statues for area artists to paint.  "Each statue is turned into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece," said Jo Mayber, Paws-itive Partners president.  "The dogs are painted in themes from cartoon to realistic to abstract to surreal and each dog has a story behind it," Mayber said.  The wide variety of dogs is diverse and entertaining.  Some are painted in pastels and others in neon colors.  Some are embellished with butterflies, gems, mushrooms, rocks and feathers.

Paws on the Platte's debut is family friendly and open to the public at Prairie Arts Center.  The hours Tuesday are 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and that evening from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.  The dog statues will be displayed at Sue Perez's color pencil art exhibit.  Perez is a three time Paws on the Platte artist.  

After their time at Prairie Arts Center, Paws on the Platte dogs will move to Great Plains Health and can be viewed in the lobby beginning May 25. The pack can be viewed at different locations up to their July 26 finale art auction.  The auction is scheduled at Pals Brewing Company and the public is invited to attend.  Music, beverages and Cartright's BBQ begins at 5:00 pm.  The live auction begins at 6:30 pm.  Dog statues will be sold to the highest bidders.  The auction proceeds go to Paws-itive Partners.

Paws-itive Partners, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization helping animals in the North Platte and Lincoln County area.  They provide financial assistance to spay and neuter hundreds of cats and dogs every year.  Paws-itive Partners helps with emergency veterinary needs, cares for pets whose owners are suddenly impacted by an out-of-home medical crisis, help pets in foster/adopt situations and more.        

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715369894687.jpeg" alt="(Courtesy of Paws-itive Partners)" />
 <figcaption>(Courtesy of Paws-itive Partners)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paws-itive PartnersNorth Platte, Neb. - On May 14, 2024, Paws on the Platte will debut at Prairie Arts Center. This marks the third time Paws-itive Partners Humane Society has brought community art to North Platte in the form of life-size dog statues.Twenty-six businesses and individuals donated the unfinished fiberglass dog statues for area artists to paint. "Each statue is turned into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece," said Jo Mayber, Paws-itive Partners president. "The dogs are painted in themes from cartoon to realistic to abstract to surreal and each dog has a story behind it," Mayber said. The wide variety of dogs is diverse and entertaining. Some are painted in pastels and others in neon colors. Some are embellished with butterflies, gems, mushrooms, rocks and feathers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715369930202.jpeg" alt="&nbsp; (Courtesy of Paws-itive Partners)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; (Courtesy of Paws-itive Partners)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paws on the Platte's debut is family friendly and open to the public at Prairie Arts Center. The hours Tuesday are 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and that evening from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. The dog statues will be displayed at Sue Perez's color pencil art exhibit. Perez is a three time Paws on the Platte artist. After their time at Prairie Arts Center, Paws on the Platte dogs will move to Great Plains Health and can be viewed in the lobby beginning May 25. The pack can be viewed at different locations up to their July 26 finale art auction. The auction is scheduled at Pals Brewing Company and the public is invited to attend. Music, beverages and Cartright's BBQ begins at 5:00 pm. The live auction begins at 6:30 pm. Dog statues will be sold to the highest bidders. The auction proceeds go to Paws-itive Partners.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715369951765.jpeg" alt="(Courtesy of Paws-itive Partners)" />
 <figcaption>(Courtesy of Paws-itive Partners)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paws-itive Partners, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization helping animals in the North Platte and Lincoln County area. They provide financial assistance to spay and neuter hundreds of cats and dogs every year. Paws-itive Partners helps with emergency veterinary needs, cares for pets whose owners are suddenly impacted by an out-of-home medical crisis, help pets in foster/adopt situations and more. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715369965107.jpeg" alt="(Courtesy of Paws-itive Partners)" />
 <figcaption>(Courtesy of Paws-itive Partners)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Paws on the Platte will debut at Prairie Arts Center next week

North Platte, Neb.- On Thursday,&nbsp;Lincoln Federal Savings Bank donated to Lincoln County 4-H because of their “casual for a cause” campaign.&nbsp;

Lincoln Federal Savings Bank offers an opportunity for employees to purchase a privilege to wear jeans or other pants that are not usually approved for Friday's corporate/casual days. Lincoln Federal agreed to donate the money to that was received to charities in the communities. Employees get to decided which charity the money is donated too.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715351468307.jpeg" alt="(Courtesy of Caitlyn Jacobson)" />
 <figcaption>(Courtesy of Caitlyn Jacobson)</figcaption>
 </figure>North Platte, Neb.- On Thursday,&nbsp;Lincoln Federal Savings Bank donated to Lincoln County 4-H because of their “casual for a cause” campaign.&nbsp;Lincoln Federal Savings Bank offers an opportunity for employees to purchase a privilege to wear jeans or other pants that are not usually approved for Friday's corporate/casual days. Lincoln Federal agreed to donate the money to that was received to charities in the communities. Employees get to decided which charity the money is donated too.

Lincoln County 4-H receives donation from Lincoln Federal Savings Bank

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (NSA) will host the following events in western Nebraska in celebration of Nebraska Wildflower Week (June 1-9), a statewide initiative that focuses on shining the spotlight on Nebraska’s unique and diverse native wildflower species. All events are free and open to the public.

Thursday, June 6Plant Talk and Guided Wildflower Hike at Cedar Point Biological Station10 a.m. - 12 noon170 Cedar Point Dr., OgallalaThe Plant Talk will be held in Lubber Lab at Cedar Point Biological Station beginning at 10 a.m. with NSA Horticulture Program Coordinator Bob Henrickson, who will talk about native wildflower species, particularly those prevalent in western Nebraska.

A guided wildflower hike (approximately 45 minutes) with Henrickson and Cedar Point Biological Station staff will follow the Plant Talk. Snacks and water will be provided. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk over uneven terrain. No registration required.

Tri Trails Park Affiliate Site Celebration1:30-2:30 p.m.Road West 80 and Lawrence Road, OgallalaAll are welcome to attend a tree planting and celebration of Tri Trails Park becoming an NSA Landscape Steward Affiliate Site. Refreshments will be served. No registration required.

NSA Members &amp; Friends Gathering at Papa Moon Vineyards &amp; Winery6:30-9 p.m.230975 County Road J, ScottsbluffAll are welcome to join NSA staff members for trivia, cider and wine, snacks and great conversation. NSA members (or those who become members at the event) will receive a complimentary glass of wine or cider. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Visit plantnebraska.org/wildflower-week to register.

Friday, June 7Volunteer Planting at Riverside Discovery Center10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.1600 S. Beltline Hwy. W, ScottsbluffMeet outside the zoo entrance and then join NSA staff to help beautify the zoo grounds with native plants. After the planting, volunteers are free to explore the zoo on their own. Email Chrissy Land at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:chrissyland@unl.edu">chrissyland@unl.edu</a>&nbsp;to register for the volunteer planting.

Plant Talk &amp; Guided Sunset Wildflower Hike at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area6:30-8:30 p.m.210615 NE-71, GeringMeet at the Nature Center for a Plant Talk with Steve Rolfsmeier, director of the High Plains Herbarium at Chadron State College. A guided sunset wildflower hike will follow (approximately 45 minutes) with Rolfsmeier and NSA Horticulture Program Coordinator Bob Henrickson. Snacks and water will be provided. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk over uneven terrain. A park permit is required for entry into Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area. No registration required.

Saturday, June 8NSA Plant Sale at Community Ever Green House8:30 – 11 a.m.1210 Overland Trails Rd., GeringNSA will have a wide variety of native and well-adapted flowers, herbs and plants for sun and shade for sale. All proceeds support NSA’s programs, which create sustainable landscapes, gardens and green spaces across Nebraska.&nbsp;

Nebraska Statewide ArboretumLINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (NSA) will host the following events in western Nebraska in celebration of Nebraska Wildflower Week (June 1-9), a statewide initiative that focuses on shining the spotlight on Nebraska’s unique and diverse native wildflower species. All events are free and open to the public.Thursday, June 6Plant Talk and Guided Wildflower Hike at Cedar Point Biological Station10 a.m. - 12 noon170 Cedar Point Dr., OgallalaThe Plant Talk will be held in Lubber Lab at Cedar Point Biological Station beginning at 10 a.m. with NSA Horticulture Program Coordinator Bob Henrickson, who will talk about native wildflower species, particularly those prevalent in western Nebraska.A guided wildflower hike (approximately 45 minutes) with Henrickson and Cedar Point Biological Station staff will follow the Plant Talk. Snacks and water will be provided. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk over uneven terrain. No registration required.Tri Trails Park Affiliate Site Celebration1:30-2:30 p.m.Road West 80 and Lawrence Road, OgallalaAll are welcome to attend a tree planting and celebration of Tri Trails Park becoming an NSA Landscape Steward Affiliate Site. Refreshments will be served. No registration required.NSA Members &amp; Friends Gathering at Papa Moon Vineyards &amp; Winery6:30-9 p.m.230975 County Road J, ScottsbluffAll are welcome to join NSA staff members for trivia, cider and wine, snacks and great conversation. NSA members (or those who become members at the event) will receive a complimentary glass of wine or cider. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Visit plantnebraska.org/wildflower-week to register.Friday, June 7Volunteer Planting at Riverside Discovery Center10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.1600 S. Beltline Hwy. W, ScottsbluffMeet outside the zoo entrance and then join NSA staff to help beautify the zoo grounds with native plants. After the planting, volunteers are free to explore the zoo on their own. Email Chrissy Land at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:chrissyland@unl.edu">chrissyland@unl.edu</a>&nbsp;to register for the volunteer planting.Plant Talk &amp; Guided Sunset Wildflower Hike at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area6:30-8:30 p.m.210615 NE-71, GeringMeet at the Nature Center for a Plant Talk with Steve Rolfsmeier, director of the High Plains Herbarium at Chadron State College. A guided sunset wildflower hike will follow (approximately 45 minutes) with Rolfsmeier and NSA Horticulture Program Coordinator Bob Henrickson. Snacks and water will be provided. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk over uneven terrain. A park permit is required for entry into Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area. No registration required.Saturday, June 8NSA Plant Sale at Community Ever Green House8:30 – 11 a.m.1210 Overland Trails Rd., GeringNSA will have a wide variety of native and well-adapted flowers, herbs and plants for sun and shade for sale. All proceeds support NSA’s programs, which create sustainable landscapes, gardens and green spaces across Nebraska.&nbsp;

 NEBRASKA STATEWIDE ARBORETUM TO HOST FREE WILDFLOWER WEEK EVENTS IN WESTERN NEBRASKA

Ogallala, Ne - Brassfire, honoring the trumpet through the music of Louis Armstrong, Herb Alpert and Doc Severinsen will perform on Monday, May 13 at the Ogallala Performing Arts Center.&nbsp; Brassfire is a virtuosic trio of Trumpet with piano, bass and track, led by world-renowned trumpeter Jens Lindemann, who is not only a superb Juilliard-trained musician, but a wonderful entertainer. Jens will lead you along a delightful path of joy and wonder at the ensemble’s choice of music and dazzling playing. Jens is a former member of the famed Canadian Brass, and has soloed with many of the world’s great orchestras.

Derek Beck spoke with Barb Jeffries and Mary Jensen with the Ogallala Regional Arts Council about the concert. (Podcast Below sponsored by <a href="http://www.npkubota.com">North Platte Kubota</a>)

The Brassfire concert is Monday, May 13, 2024Ogallala High School Performing Arts Center602 East G St., Ogallala 7:00 PM

This show and other Arts Council events are supported in part by the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.The majority of our financial support comes from your memberships and ticket sales.THANK YOU for supporting the arts in Ogallala!Members will be admitted with their membership cards. Non-members may purchase tickets at the door ($15 for adults and $7 for students).Cookies and coffee will be served after the performance.For more information, please call 308-284-9804 or email OgallalaArts@gmail.com&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ogallala, Ne - Brassfire, honoring the trumpet through the music of Louis Armstrong, Herb Alpert and Doc Severinsen will perform on Monday, May 13 at the Ogallala Performing Arts Center.&nbsp; Brassfire is a virtuosic trio of Trumpet with piano, bass and track, led by world-renowned trumpeter Jens Lindemann, who is not only a superb Juilliard-trained musician, but a wonderful entertainer. Jens will lead you along a delightful path of joy and wonder at the ensemble’s choice of music and dazzling playing. Jens is a former member of the famed Canadian Brass, and has soloed with many of the world’s great orchestras.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715349414231.jpeg" alt="Jens Lendemann, Trumpet player with Brassfire" />
 <figcaption>Jens Lendemann, Trumpet player with Brassfire</figcaption>
 </figure>Derek Beck spoke with Barb Jeffries and Mary Jensen with the Ogallala Regional Arts Council about the concert. (Podcast Below sponsored by <a href="http://www.npkubota.com">North Platte Kubota</a>)<div><iframe title="Brassfire Trumpet Trio to perform in Ogallala Monday" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=2uqsv-160b79e-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655346441244.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Brassfire concert is Monday, May 13, 2024Ogallala High School Performing Arts Center602 East G St., Ogallala 7:00 PMThis show and other Arts Council events are supported in part by the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.The majority of our financial support comes from your memberships and ticket sales.THANK YOU for supporting the arts in Ogallala!Members will be admitted with their membership cards. Non-members may purchase tickets at the door ($15 for adults and $7 for students).Cookies and coffee will be served after the performance.For more information, please call 308-284-9804 or email OgallalaArts@gmail.com&nbsp;&nbsp;

(Podcast) Brassfire to perform in Ogallala Monday (Trumpet virtuosic trio)

Kimball, Neb. - On 05/08/2024 at approximately 1900 hours, Officers of the Kimball Police Department, and Deputies of the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the 1500 block of East 5th street, reference a suspicious vehicle.

Officers quickly arrived on scene and upon further investigation, it was discovered that the suspicious vehicle was reported stolen from Rapid City South Dakota. 

Tinkuy Chalampuente (30) was arrested by the Kimball Police Department for being in possession of a stolen vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715286546703.jpeg" alt="Tinkuy Chalampuente (Courtesy of Kimball Police Department)" />
 <figcaption>Tinkuy Chalampuente (Courtesy of Kimball Police Department)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kimball Police DepartmentKimball, Neb. - On 05/08/2024 at approximately 1900 hours, Officers of the Kimball Police Department, and Deputies of the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the 1500 block of East 5th street, reference a suspicious vehicle.Officers quickly arrived on scene and upon further investigation, it was discovered that the suspicious vehicle was reported stolen from Rapid City South Dakota. Tinkuy Chalampuente (30) was arrested by the Kimball Police Department for being in possession of a stolen vehicle.

Stolen vehicle discovered in Kimball leads to the arrest of a 30-year-old

Omaha, Neb. - The Board of Directors of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.30 per share on the company’s common stock, payable Jun. 28, 2024, to shareholders of record May 31, 2024.

Union Pacific has paid dividends on its common stock for 125 consecutive years.

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.up.com/">www.up.com</a>.

Union Pacific Investor Contact:&nbsp;Brad Stock at 402-544-4227 or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.up.com/messages?address=bkstock">bkstock@up.com</a>

Union PacificOmaha, Neb. - The Board of Directors of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.30 per share on the company’s common stock, payable Jun. 28, 2024, to shareholders of record May 31, 2024.Union Pacific has paid dividends on its common stock for 125 consecutive years.<h2>About Union Pacific</h2>Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.up.com/">www.up.com</a>.Union Pacific Investor Contact:&nbsp;Brad Stock at 402-544-4227 or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.up.com/messages?address=bkstock">bkstock@up.com</a><ul>
 <li><a href="http://www.up.com/">www.up.com</a></li><li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/unionpacific">www.facebook.com/unionpacific</a></li><li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/unionpacific">www.twitter.com/unionpacific</a></li>
 </ul>

	 Union Pacific Corporation Declares Second Quarter 2024 Dividend

Office of U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts

WASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) was one of 26 U.S. Senators who called on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to pause planned changes to its processing and delivery network that could slow down mail delivery until the potential impacts are further studied by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) and addressed by the Postal Service.&nbsp;

The letter comes following this week’s news that USPS intends to transfer operations of the North Platte, NE Mail Processing and Distribution Center (P&amp;DC) to Denver, CO and convert the North Platte facility to a Local Processing Center. Ricketts has repeatedly engaged with USPS fighting to preserve the facility. In March 2024, Ricketts&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USPS-North-Platte-PDC-Ricketts-Smith-Letter-.pdf">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;with Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE-3) requesting more information about the plans for the P&amp;DC. Ricketts staff also attended the public input meeting on March 28th.

“We call on USPS to pause all changes, pending a full study of this plan by its regulator,”&nbsp;the senators wrote.&nbsp;“While USPS claims these changes overall will improve service while reducing costs, there is evidence to the contrary in locations where USPS has implemented changes so far. USPS must stop implementation, restore service in those areas where changes were implemented, and fully understand the nationwide effects of its plan on service and communities.”

&nbsp;“The Postal Service’s primary responsibility is to provide timely and reliable delivery to every community across the nation,”&nbsp;the senators continued. “While USPS must continue adapting as an agency to remain stable and serve the public’s current needs, it must proceed with caution and understand the implications of its plans in order to protect mail delivery for all communities.”&nbsp;

The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Susan Collins (R-ME), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Barrasso (R-WY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Kyrsten Sinema, (I-AZ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Angus King (I-ME), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jon Tester (D-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and John Cornyn (R-TX).

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy and U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors:

We call on you to pause planned changes to the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) processing and delivery network under the “Delivering for America” plan, until you request and receive a comprehensive Advisory Opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission to fully study the potential impacts of these changes.&nbsp;

USPS is moving forward swiftly with plans to consolidate and alter its facilities across the country, making irrevocable changes to its processing and delivery network which links all communities. This plan includes moving mail processing further away from local communities, by transferring operations out of local facilities (“Local Processing Centers” and Delivery Units) and into more distant hubs (“Regional Processing and Distribution Centers” and “Sorting and Delivery Centers”). The plan also includes “local transportation optimization,” an initiative that cuts the number of truck trips and mail collections at USPS facilities, causing mail to sit overnight in local offices. USPS has begun to implement this change without notifying the public, causing critical delays for mail that requires overnight delivery.

We are concerned about the impacts these changes have had so far, and the potential impacts that further changes could have. In regions where USPS has implemented significant changes, on-time mail delivery has declined. In addition, it is not clear these changes will improve efficiency or costs. Despite these concerns, USPS has moved forward with announcing and approving additional facility changes across the country. The nature of these changes creates concerns that local and rural service could be degraded. For example, USPS proposals to remove all outbound mail operations from local processing facilities seem to particularly harm local mail – since mail sent to a nearby locality would first have to go through a far-away processing facility, often in another state. “Local transportation optimization” has also caused disproportionate impacts on rural areas. In some rural communities, it has eliminated the possibility of overnight delivery for critical mail like medications and laboratory tests. Taken together, these changes have a nationwide scope and would affect service across the country.

We call on USPS to pause all changes, pending a full study of this plan by its regulator. While USPS claims these changes overall will improve service while reducing costs, there is evidence to the contrary in locations where USPS has implemented changes so far. USPS must stop implementation, restore service in those areas where changes were implemented, and fully understand the nationwide effects of its plan on service and communities.&nbsp;

In particular, we urge the Postal Service to request a comprehensive Advisory Opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), which would provide a robust and public process to study the impacts of these changes. The request and analysis must include the full scope of network changes, including the intersecting changes to facilities across the nation (conversions to Regional Processing and Distribution Centers, Sorting and Delivery Centers, and Local Processing Centers) and local transportation optimization. During a hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Postmaster General DeJoy stated that USPS would consider requesting an Advisory Opinion – and suggested that USPS may slow down “mail move” changes in 2024. Disappointingly, the Postmaster General did not commit to the scope of an Advisory Opinion, or to meaningfully stopping changes until further study is complete.

The Postal Service must promptly request a comprehensive Advisory Opinion to study the impacts of its full plan. USPS should pause all changes, including administrative approvals and on-the-ground changes, until the PRC completes this study and USPS incorporates the results. USPS must improve service immediately in areas where changes have been implemented, and restore status quo operations as much as practicable.&nbsp;

The Postal Service’s primary responsibility is to provide timely and reliable delivery to every community across the nation. While USPS must continue adapting as an agency to remain stable and serve the public’s current needs, it must proceed with caution and understand the implications of its plans in order to protect mail delivery for all communities.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702931483123.jpeg" alt="Pete Ricketts (Courtesy)" />
 <figcaption>Pete Ricketts (Courtesy)</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of U.S. Senator Pete RickettsWASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) was one of 26 U.S. Senators who called on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to pause planned changes to its processing and delivery network that could slow down mail delivery until the potential impacts are further studied by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) and addressed by the Postal Service.&nbsp;The letter comes following this week’s news that USPS intends to transfer operations of the North Platte, NE Mail Processing and Distribution Center (P&amp;DC) to Denver, CO and convert the North Platte facility to a Local Processing Center. Ricketts has repeatedly engaged with USPS fighting to preserve the facility. In March 2024, Ricketts&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USPS-North-Platte-PDC-Ricketts-Smith-Letter-.pdf">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;with Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE-3) requesting more information about the plans for the P&amp;DC. Ricketts staff also attended the public input meeting on March 28th.“We call on USPS to pause all changes, pending a full study of this plan by its regulator,”&nbsp;the senators wrote.&nbsp;“While USPS claims these changes overall will improve service while reducing costs, there is evidence to the contrary in locations where USPS has implemented changes so far. USPS must stop implementation, restore service in those areas where changes were implemented, and fully understand the nationwide effects of its plan on service and communities.”&nbsp;“The Postal Service’s primary responsibility is to provide timely and reliable delivery to every community across the nation,”&nbsp;the senators continued. “While USPS must continue adapting as an agency to remain stable and serve the public’s current needs, it must proceed with caution and understand the implications of its plans in order to protect mail delivery for all communities.”&nbsp;The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Susan Collins (R-ME), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Barrasso (R-WY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Kyrsten Sinema, (I-AZ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Angus King (I-ME), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jon Tester (D-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and John Cornyn (R-TX).Read the full letter below:Dear Postmaster General DeJoy and U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors:We call on you to pause planned changes to the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) processing and delivery network under the “Delivering for America” plan, until you request and receive a comprehensive Advisory Opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission to fully study the potential impacts of these changes.&nbsp;USPS is moving forward swiftly with plans to consolidate and alter its facilities across the country, making irrevocable changes to its processing and delivery network which links all communities. This plan includes moving mail processing further away from local communities, by transferring operations out of local facilities (“Local Processing Centers” and Delivery Units) and into more distant hubs (“Regional Processing and Distribution Centers” and “Sorting and Delivery Centers”). The plan also includes “local transportation optimization,” an initiative that cuts the number of truck trips and mail collections at USPS facilities, causing mail to sit overnight in local offices. USPS has begun to implement this change without notifying the public, causing critical delays for mail that requires overnight delivery.We are concerned about the impacts these changes have had so far, and the potential impacts that further changes could have. In regions where USPS has implemented significant changes, on-time mail delivery has declined. In addition, it is not clear these changes will improve efficiency or costs. Despite these concerns, USPS has moved forward with announcing and approving additional facility changes across the country. The nature of these changes creates concerns that local and rural service could be degraded. For example, USPS proposals to remove all outbound mail operations from local processing facilities seem to particularly harm local mail – since mail sent to a nearby locality would first have to go through a far-away processing facility, often in another state. “Local transportation optimization” has also caused disproportionate impacts on rural areas. In some rural communities, it has eliminated the possibility of overnight delivery for critical mail like medications and laboratory tests. Taken together, these changes have a nationwide scope and would affect service across the country.We call on USPS to pause all changes, pending a full study of this plan by its regulator. While USPS claims these changes overall will improve service while reducing costs, there is evidence to the contrary in locations where USPS has implemented changes so far. USPS must stop implementation, restore service in those areas where changes were implemented, and fully understand the nationwide effects of its plan on service and communities.&nbsp;In particular, we urge the Postal Service to request a comprehensive Advisory Opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), which would provide a robust and public process to study the impacts of these changes. The request and analysis must include the full scope of network changes, including the intersecting changes to facilities across the nation (conversions to Regional Processing and Distribution Centers, Sorting and Delivery Centers, and Local Processing Centers) and local transportation optimization. During a hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Postmaster General DeJoy stated that USPS would consider requesting an Advisory Opinion – and suggested that USPS may slow down “mail move” changes in 2024. Disappointingly, the Postmaster General did not commit to the scope of an Advisory Opinion, or to meaningfully stopping changes until further study is complete.The Postal Service must promptly request a comprehensive Advisory Opinion to study the impacts of its full plan. USPS should pause all changes, including administrative approvals and on-the-ground changes, until the PRC completes this study and USPS incorporates the results. USPS must improve service immediately in areas where changes have been implemented, and restore status quo operations as much as practicable.&nbsp;The Postal Service’s primary responsibility is to provide timely and reliable delivery to every community across the nation. While USPS must continue adapting as an agency to remain stable and serve the public’s current needs, it must proceed with caution and understand the implications of its plans in order to protect mail delivery for all communities.Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Ricketts Calls on Postal Service to Pause Planned Changes Following Announcement Regarding North Platte Facility

Imperial, Neb. - An Imperial man who shot and killed a 19-year-old in 2022 was sentenced on Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

21-year-old Tristan Ferguson was sentenced to 8 to 14 years in prison for manslaughter and attempted possession of a firearm while committing a felony.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

On November 25, 2022, the Imperial Police Department and Chase County Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting in Imperial that occurred at a residence near east 12 street. When law enforcement arrived on scene, 19-year-old Jesse Krausnick was found with a gunshot wound. He was transported to Chase County Community Hospital where he passed away.&nbsp;

Alcohol was involved when Ferguson, who was 19, pointed the shotgun at Krausnick and pulled the trigger, striking the 19-year-old. Ferguson thought the gun was unloaded.&nbsp;

Krausnick was a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.&nbsp;

Sandhills Post&nbsp;&nbsp;Imperial, Neb. - An Imperial man who shot and killed a 19-year-old in 2022 was sentenced on Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;21-year-old Tristan Ferguson was sentenced to 8 to 14 years in prison for manslaughter and attempted possession of a firearm while committing a felony.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On November 25, 2022, the Imperial Police Department and Chase County Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting in Imperial that occurred at a residence near east 12 street. When law enforcement arrived on scene, 19-year-old Jesse Krausnick was found with a gunshot wound. He was transported to Chase County Community Hospital where he passed away.&nbsp;Alcohol was involved when Ferguson, who was 19, pointed the shotgun at Krausnick and pulled the trigger, striking the 19-year-old. Ferguson thought the gun was unloaded.&nbsp;Krausnick was a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.&nbsp;

21-year-old Imperial man sentenced for the 2022 shooting that killed a 19-year-old

Lincoln, Neb. May 9, 2024 —&nbsp;The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program, along with the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program, will host the fourth annual Herd That! Conference on June 10-11, in North Platte. The event will be held at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center, 402 W. State Farm Road.

“We are thrilled to be bringing back the Herd That! Conference for women who raise livestock or work in the livestock sector,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of Nebraska Women in Agriculture. “Livestock production is vital to our state. This event will focus on giving women the knowledge, tools, and skills they need to be successful in this facet of the agricultural industry. More importantly, it will provide participants the opportunity to expand their network.”

This year’s event will kick off on June 10 with a tour of T/D Angus. Trey and Dayna Wasserburger operate this innovative and progressive seedstock operation in North Platte, selling 500 Angus bulls a year to over 30 states. They also sell and ship semen and embryos globally.

The tour will be followed by dinner and keynote speaker Terryn Drieling, who&nbsp;grew up on a small feed yard in northeast Nebraska. She now lives and works on a large ranch in the Sandhills with her husband and their three children. When she’s not ranching, Drieling helps fellow farmers and ranchers step out of self-told lies with grace and compassion to draw good movement in conversations, relationships and life in rural America through her Good Movement Trainings and coaching.

Sessions on June 11 will feature industry experts as well as Nebraska Extension professionals in several hands-on workshop opportunities that will focus on beef cattle reproduction. Topics will include safely handling hormones, bull selection, culling cows and more. During lunch, participants will have the opportunity to hear from Trust in Food to learn about the future of sustainability for livestock producers.

“The way we handle our animals is more important than ever to our industry. As caregivers, we need to be sure we are handling our animals in the lowest-stress environment possible,” said Jesse Fulton, director of Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance. “I hope every producer tries to join us for this exceptional opportunity.”

Registration for the event is open on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website,&nbsp;<a href="https://wia.unl.edu/" target="_blank">https://wia.unl.edu</a>. The cost for a two-day registration is $125 for participants who register on or before May 31. The two-day registration fee increases to $150 on June 1. One-day registrations are also available.

The conference will be offering continuing education credits for veterinary medicine professionals. This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34694&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715271230103.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jennifer HillLincoln, Neb. May 9, 2024 —&nbsp;The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program, along with the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program, will host the fourth annual Herd That! Conference on June 10-11, in North Platte. The event will be held at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center, 402 W. State Farm Road.“We are thrilled to be bringing back the Herd That! Conference for women who raise livestock or work in the livestock sector,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of Nebraska Women in Agriculture. “Livestock production is vital to our state. This event will focus on giving women the knowledge, tools, and skills they need to be successful in this facet of the agricultural industry. More importantly, it will provide participants the opportunity to expand their network.”This year’s event will kick off on June 10 with a tour of T/D Angus. Trey and Dayna Wasserburger operate this innovative and progressive seedstock operation in North Platte, selling 500 Angus bulls a year to over 30 states. They also sell and ship semen and embryos globally.The tour will be followed by dinner and keynote speaker Terryn Drieling, who&nbsp;grew up on a small feed yard in northeast Nebraska. She now lives and works on a large ranch in the Sandhills with her husband and their three children. When she’s not ranching, Drieling helps fellow farmers and ranchers step out of self-told lies with grace and compassion to draw good movement in conversations, relationships and life in rural America through her Good Movement Trainings and coaching.Sessions on June 11 will feature industry experts as well as Nebraska Extension professionals in several hands-on workshop opportunities that will focus on beef cattle reproduction. Topics will include safely handling hormones, bull selection, culling cows and more. During lunch, participants will have the opportunity to hear from Trust in Food to learn about the future of sustainability for livestock producers.“The way we handle our animals is more important than ever to our industry. As caregivers, we need to be sure we are handling our animals in the lowest-stress environment possible,” said Jesse Fulton, director of Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance. “I hope every producer tries to join us for this exceptional opportunity.”Registration for the event is open on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website,&nbsp;<a href="https://wia.unl.edu/" target="_blank">https://wia.unl.edu</a>. The cost for a two-day registration is $125 for participants who register on or before May 31. The two-day registration fee increases to $150 on June 1. One-day registrations are also available.The conference will be offering continuing education credits for veterinary medicine professionals. This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34694&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nebraska Extension’s ‘Herd That!’ conference in North Platte to focus on beef cattle reproduction

&nbsp;(SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested a Kimball man following an investigation into a reported sexual assault of a child.

In early April, the Nebraska State Patrol was made aware of a reported assault of a young child that had occurred in Kimball County in 2019. The initial report came to the Keith County Sheriff’s Office, which referred the case to NSP because of the location of the assault.

Upon investigation, NSP investigators obtained an arrest warrant for the subject, identified as Chris Wilson, 46, of Kimball. Investigators located and arrested Wilson on Thursday, May 2. He was lodged in Kimball County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715260292152.jpeg" alt="Chris Wilson (Courtesy of Kimball County Jail)" />
 <figcaption>Chris Wilson (Courtesy of Kimball County Jail)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cody ThomasNebraska State Patrol&nbsp;(SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested a Kimball man following an investigation into a reported sexual assault of a child.In early April, the Nebraska State Patrol was made aware of a reported assault of a young child that had occurred in Kimball County in 2019. The initial report came to the Keith County Sheriff’s Office, which referred the case to NSP because of the location of the assault.Upon investigation, NSP investigators obtained an arrest warrant for the subject, identified as Chris Wilson, 46, of Kimball. Investigators located and arrested Wilson on Thursday, May 2. He was lodged in Kimball County Jail.

Kimball Man Arrested for 2019 Sexual Assault of a Child

EAGLE Media is giving away more money today, $1,000 in One Hundred Dollar Bills in fact! We’re giving 10 $100 Bills away today, listen to our radio stations at 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am, Noon, 1pm, 2pm 3pm, 4pm &amp; 5pm CDT at the Top of Each Hour for the secret codeword! Just listen to your favorite EAGLE Station to enter/ each time you play you’re also entered into second drawing to win $1,000!

&nbsp;Listen &amp; Playby clicking on station webpages (below)

<a href="https://z935country.com/#//">Z 93.5 country </a>| <a href="https://mix97one.com/#//">Mix 97One</a> | <a href="https://flatrock1007.com/#//">Flatrock 100.7</a> | <a href="https://knpqcountry.com/#//">Q Country Classics 107.3 </a>| <a href="https://kooqfm981.com/#//">FM 98.1/AM 1410</a>

Sponsored by Bruce Furniture, Papa Murphy's Take N Bake Pizza in North Platte &amp; Premier Toyota.&nbsp;

EAGLE Media is giving away more money today, $1,000 in One Hundred Dollar Bills in fact! We’re giving 10 $100 Bills away today, listen to our radio stations at 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am, Noon, 1pm, 2pm 3pm, 4pm &amp; 5pm CDT at the Top of Each Hour for the secret codeword! Just listen to your favorite EAGLE Station to enter/ each time you play you’re also entered into second drawing to win $1,000!&nbsp;Listen &amp; Playby clicking on station webpages (below)<a href="https://z935country.com/#//">Z 93.5 country </a>| <a href="https://mix97one.com/#//">Mix 97One</a> | <a href="https://flatrock1007.com/#//">Flatrock 100.7</a> | <a href="https://knpqcountry.com/#//">Q Country Classics 107.3 </a>| <a href="https://kooqfm981.com/#//">FM 98.1/AM 1410</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712509557715.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sponsored by Bruce Furniture, Papa Murphy's Take N Bake Pizza in North Platte &amp; Premier Toyota.&nbsp;

It's $1,000 Thursday; Eagle giving away $1,000 dollars today, Listen To our radio stations to win

(North Platte, Nebraska, May 8, 2024) – Visit North Platte hosted the 5th annual Excellence in Tourism Awards Luncheon on May 8th at Venue304. Forty-one nominations were submitted from the public for the seven award categories. The ‘Excellence in Tourism’ awards recognize outstanding customer service at hotels or other lodging establishments, restaurants or other food service establishments, events, attractions, and retail as well as Volunteer of the Year and Hero of Tourism. The nominees can either be individuals or businesses.&nbsp;

The Visit North Platte Board of Directors selected the award winners from the nominees based on the nominations submitted and the awards were presented to:&nbsp;

Excellent Service at an Attraction – Tyler Sexon, NPIce&nbsp;

Tyler has gone above and beyond to work hard and dedicate his time and financial support to&nbsp; get NPIce up and running. He has worked tirelessly to establish this rink so North Platte and all&nbsp; surrounding communities can come and enjoy something to do in the colder months of the year.&nbsp; Tyler is one of the most generous and supportive people North Platte could have!&nbsp;

Excellent Service at an Event – Dusty Barner, Dusty Trails Spring Birding Tours&nbsp;

Dusty Trails is a premier destination for all your outdoor adventures in North Platte. He provides&nbsp; a number of fulfilling outdoor experiences ranging from horseback riding through Buffalo Bill's&nbsp; original ranch, to floating down the iconic North Platte River in a tank, tube, canoe, or kayak.&nbsp; Just a few years ago Dusty took a leap into offering an experience that was outside his expertise,&nbsp; spring birding tours. For 3 weeks each spring Dusty offers a variety of Sandhill Crane tours and a&nbsp; morning Prairie Chicken Tour to visitors from all over the country, and beyond. He quickly&nbsp; became an expert on these birds and their behavior to give every guest an experience they&nbsp; won't forget. Beyond that, when he provides these tours, he talks about all the other great&nbsp; things visitors can do and see while in North Platte. He gives them a reason to come and then&nbsp; gives them more reasons to stay. He is a true gem to the community and should be recognized&nbsp; for it.&nbsp;

Excellent Service within a Hotel – Craig Warneke, Best Western Plus&nbsp;

Craig has been with Best Western Plus for the past 3 years. Within this time, Craig continuously&nbsp; gives his all into not only his position, but for the whole building, staff, and guests. Always willing&nbsp; to step up and help where needed to make sure the property maintains guest satisfaction. Craig&nbsp; shows his passion in everything he does by making sure things are done right the first time. Even&nbsp; when called in late at night or on his scheduled days off. And when you get the pleasure of&nbsp;

crossing paths with this guy, you can always count on him to have a joke lined up for a good&nbsp; laugh.&nbsp;

Excellent Service within a Restaurant – Chris Lane, Boss' Pizza and Chicken&nbsp;

Chris has come to North Platte and taken over this establishment and has made it a great place&nbsp; to get away, have a good meal, and a few beers. Chris is friendly, outgoing, and wants to be a&nbsp; part of the community. He has made a huge difference here! It's also a great spot to watch any&nbsp; sport, but especially local Nebraska games. He always puts the customer first and provides&nbsp; excellent service.&nbsp;

Excellent Service within a Retail Establishment – Michelle Wilson, Kwik Stop&nbsp;

Michelle goes above and beyond with every customer. She will run out to a pump to assist&nbsp; someone struggling. She doesn’t direct customers where items are; she will walk out and assist&nbsp; them. She treats every customer with the same level of respect no matter their status or&nbsp; appearance. Her performance inspires me to continue to provide excellent customer service.&nbsp;

Volunteer of the Year – Cheri and Al Erickson, Wava Best, Betty Sones, &amp; Judy Thompson, Prairie Arts&nbsp; Center&nbsp;

Cheri, Al, Wava, Betty, and Judy have spent the last 16 years dedicating their time, blood, sweat,&nbsp; and tears to the Prairie Arts Center. This group of people have not only helped create the arts&nbsp; center as a staple in downtown North Platte, they have spent the last 16 years volunteering&nbsp; their time to refurbish and restore the beautiful 1913 building, working the front desk, helping&nbsp; with fundraisers, working classes, bartending, making food and fostering a love of the arts in this&nbsp; community. Not only have they worked tirelessly for the last 16 years, without a complaint, but&nbsp; pure vibrancy for the arts...they continue to be a part of this great facility and the arts today.&nbsp; Their passion has created a home for the arts in Western Nebraska, but also a home where&nbsp; people can gather, create, and communicate. Without this group, the arts would not be as alive&nbsp; and vibrant as it is today.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hero of Tourism – Nebraska State Senator, Mike Jacobson&nbsp;

In his sophomore year at the Nebraska Legislature, Senator Mike Jacobson, representing the&nbsp; 42nd District, had to dive into the deep end to protect tourism, not only for North Platte, but for&nbsp; tourism across the entire state. Working with local tourism professionals and the Nebraska&nbsp; Travel Association he helped amend four damaging bills. On the Governors demand that the&nbsp; Nebraska Legislature reduce property tax by 40% this year, senators were looking for dollars&nbsp; everywhere and tourism tax dollars were a target. LB 1067 was introduced to eliminate the&nbsp; Nebraska Inheritance Tax over the next five years and proposed using Lodging Tax funds to&nbsp; replace the loss of income for the Counties. Senator Jacobson understood the devastating&nbsp; effect of allowing the counties to sweep tourism funds for non-tourism purposes. He worked&nbsp; with the introducer of the bill to amend it to strike the use of Lodging Tax. He showed his strong&nbsp; leadership and persuasive skills on the floor debate to secure the vote to approve the&nbsp; amendment. A bill that moved forward from last year’s session LB624 proposing to put the&nbsp; Nebraska Tourism Commission back under the Department of Economic Development also&nbsp; made it to the floor for debate. An amendment was proposed by the introducing Senator to add&nbsp; two seats to the Nebraska Tourism Commission, one for DED and one for the Nebraska State&nbsp; Chamber and remove the language to put NTC back under DED. Sen. Jacobson was very vocal&nbsp; on the floor debate about NOT moving NTC back under DED impressing the importance of&nbsp; keeping the entities separate. He led debate to educate the legislative body on the importance&nbsp;

of keeping the Commission intact and led them to maintaining the amendment. The&nbsp; Appropriations Committee released its mid-biennium budget, LB1413 recommended a $5&nbsp; million dollar sweep from the State Visitors Promotion Fund (NEBRASKA Tourism Commission&nbsp; Budget). LB1412 suggested moving that money to the Department of Economic Development&nbsp; “for a statewide marketing campaign”. Sen. Jacobson (North Platte) filed an amendment to&nbsp; strike the provision of the Committee Amendment that sweeps the tourism funds and&nbsp; successfully stopped the sweep. Senator was quoted “I introduced a floor amendment to stop&nbsp; the transfer, which was ultimately successful. These funds are very important to attract more in state and out-of-state travelers to visit attractions throughout Nebraska. Many of these&nbsp; attractions are located in District 42: Nebraskaland Days, the U.S. Highway 2 Scenic Byway, and&nbsp; the Nebraska Passport Program, to name a few.” District 42 is lucky to have a representative&nbsp; who can see the whole picture and is fighting for tourism as hard as he is. This is why Senator&nbsp; Mike Jacobson is a pure Hero of Tourism!&nbsp;

This year also included the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award presented to David Fudge, the&nbsp; outgoing Executive Director of NEBRASKAland DAYS.&nbsp;

David has been with NEBRASKAland DAYS since 2005. After his term as a board member, he was&nbsp; hired as the Executive Director. David has helped grow the celebration tremendously with&nbsp; bringing in huge-name Acts. David has volunteered for many different organizations including&nbsp; the North Platte Planning Commission, Ambassadors, Quality Growth Fund review committee,&nbsp; North Platte Public School Foundation, and is also very active in his church. The list could go on&nbsp; and on.&nbsp;

Visit North Platte would like to thank all their incredible tourism partners in Lincoln County that help&nbsp; make tourism successful each year, as well as all of the nominees and winners for their incredible&nbsp; contributions to our community!&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715193658969.jpeg" alt="David Fudge (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)" />
 <figcaption>David Fudge (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)</figcaption>
 </figure>Visit North Platte&nbsp;(North Platte, Nebraska, May 8, 2024) – Visit North Platte hosted the 5th annual Excellence in Tourism Awards Luncheon on May 8th at Venue304. Forty-one nominations were submitted from the public for the seven award categories. The ‘Excellence in Tourism’ awards recognize outstanding customer service at hotels or other lodging establishments, restaurants or other food service establishments, events, attractions, and retail as well as Volunteer of the Year and Hero of Tourism. The nominees can either be individuals or businesses.&nbsp;The Visit North Platte Board of Directors selected the award winners from the nominees based on the nominations submitted and the awards were presented to:&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715193725216.jpeg" alt="Tyler Sexon (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)" />
 <figcaption>Tyler Sexon (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)</figcaption>
 </figure>Excellent Service at an Attraction – Tyler Sexon, NPIce&nbsp;Tyler has gone above and beyond to work hard and dedicate his time and financial support to&nbsp; get NPIce up and running. He has worked tirelessly to establish this rink so North Platte and all&nbsp; surrounding communities can come and enjoy something to do in the colder months of the year.&nbsp; Tyler is one of the most generous and supportive people North Platte could have!&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715193763918.jpeg" alt="Dusty Barner (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)" />
 <figcaption>Dusty Barner (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)</figcaption>
 </figure>Excellent Service at an Event – Dusty Barner, Dusty Trails Spring Birding Tours&nbsp;Dusty Trails is a premier destination for all your outdoor adventures in North Platte. He provides&nbsp; a number of fulfilling outdoor experiences ranging from horseback riding through Buffalo Bill's&nbsp; original ranch, to floating down the iconic North Platte River in a tank, tube, canoe, or kayak.&nbsp; Just a few years ago Dusty took a leap into offering an experience that was outside his expertise,&nbsp; spring birding tours. For 3 weeks each spring Dusty offers a variety of Sandhill Crane tours and a&nbsp; morning Prairie Chicken Tour to visitors from all over the country, and beyond. He quickly&nbsp; became an expert on these birds and their behavior to give every guest an experience they&nbsp; won't forget. Beyond that, when he provides these tours, he talks about all the other great&nbsp; things visitors can do and see while in North Platte. He gives them a reason to come and then&nbsp; gives them more reasons to stay. He is a true gem to the community and should be recognized&nbsp; for it.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715193889900.jpeg" alt="Beth Hoskins on behalf of Craig Warneke (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)" />
 <figcaption>Beth Hoskins on behalf of Craig Warneke (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)</figcaption>
 </figure>Excellent Service within a Hotel – Craig Warneke, Best Western Plus&nbsp;Craig has been with Best Western Plus for the past 3 years. Within this time, Craig continuously&nbsp; gives his all into not only his position, but for the whole building, staff, and guests. Always willing&nbsp; to step up and help where needed to make sure the property maintains guest satisfaction. Craig&nbsp; shows his passion in everything he does by making sure things are done right the first time. Even&nbsp; when called in late at night or on his scheduled days off. And when you get the pleasure of&nbsp;crossing paths with this guy, you can always count on him to have a joke lined up for a good&nbsp; laugh.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715193815164.jpeg" alt="Chris Lane (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)" />
 <figcaption>Chris Lane (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)</figcaption>
 </figure>Excellent Service within a Restaurant – Chris Lane, Boss' Pizza and Chicken&nbsp;Chris has come to North Platte and taken over this establishment and has made it a great place&nbsp; to get away, have a good meal, and a few beers. Chris is friendly, outgoing, and wants to be a&nbsp; part of the community. He has made a huge difference here! It's also a great spot to watch any&nbsp; sport, but especially local Nebraska games. He always puts the customer first and provides&nbsp; excellent service.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715193847066.jpeg" alt="Michelle Wilson (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Wilson (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)</figcaption>
 </figure>Excellent Service within a Retail Establishment – Michelle Wilson, Kwik Stop&nbsp;Michelle goes above and beyond with every customer. She will run out to a pump to assist&nbsp; someone struggling. She doesn’t direct customers where items are; she will walk out and assist&nbsp; them. She treats every customer with the same level of respect no matter their status or&nbsp; appearance. Her performance inspires me to continue to provide excellent customer service.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715193947640.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Visit North Platte" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Visit North Platte</figcaption>
 </figure>Volunteer of the Year – Cheri and Al Erickson, Wava Best, Betty Sones, &amp; Judy Thompson, Prairie Arts&nbsp; Center&nbsp;Cheri, Al, Wava, Betty, and Judy have spent the last 16 years dedicating their time, blood, sweat,&nbsp; and tears to the Prairie Arts Center. This group of people have not only helped create the arts&nbsp; center as a staple in downtown North Platte, they have spent the last 16 years volunteering&nbsp; their time to refurbish and restore the beautiful 1913 building, working the front desk, helping&nbsp; with fundraisers, working classes, bartending, making food and fostering a love of the arts in this&nbsp; community. Not only have they worked tirelessly for the last 16 years, without a complaint, but&nbsp; pure vibrancy for the arts...they continue to be a part of this great facility and the arts today.&nbsp; Their passion has created a home for the arts in Western Nebraska, but also a home where&nbsp; people can gather, create, and communicate. Without this group, the arts would not be as alive&nbsp; and vibrant as it is today.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715193985927.jpeg" alt="Nebraska State Senator Mike Jacobson (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska State Senator Mike Jacobson (Courtesy of Visit North Platte)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hero of Tourism – Nebraska State Senator, Mike Jacobson&nbsp;In his sophomore year at the Nebraska Legislature, Senator Mike Jacobson, representing the&nbsp; 42nd District, had to dive into the deep end to protect tourism, not only for North Platte, but for&nbsp; tourism across the entire state. Working with local tourism professionals and the Nebraska&nbsp; Travel Association he helped amend four damaging bills. On the Governors demand that the&nbsp; Nebraska Legislature reduce property tax by 40% this year, senators were looking for dollars&nbsp; everywhere and tourism tax dollars were a target. LB 1067 was introduced to eliminate the&nbsp; Nebraska Inheritance Tax over the next five years and proposed using Lodging Tax funds to&nbsp; replace the loss of income for the Counties. Senator Jacobson understood the devastating&nbsp; effect of allowing the counties to sweep tourism funds for non-tourism purposes. He worked&nbsp; with the introducer of the bill to amend it to strike the use of Lodging Tax. He showed his strong&nbsp; leadership and persuasive skills on the floor debate to secure the vote to approve the&nbsp; amendment. A bill that moved forward from last year’s session LB624 proposing to put the&nbsp; Nebraska Tourism Commission back under the Department of Economic Development also&nbsp; made it to the floor for debate. An amendment was proposed by the introducing Senator to add&nbsp; two seats to the Nebraska Tourism Commission, one for DED and one for the Nebraska State&nbsp; Chamber and remove the language to put NTC back under DED. Sen. Jacobson was very vocal&nbsp; on the floor debate about NOT moving NTC back under DED impressing the importance of&nbsp; keeping the entities separate. He led debate to educate the legislative body on the importance&nbsp;of keeping the Commission intact and led them to maintaining the amendment. The&nbsp; Appropriations Committee released its mid-biennium budget, LB1413 recommended a $5&nbsp; million dollar sweep from the State Visitors Promotion Fund (NEBRASKA Tourism Commission&nbsp; Budget). LB1412 suggested moving that money to the Department of Economic Development&nbsp; “for a statewide marketing campaign”. Sen. Jacobson (North Platte) filed an amendment to&nbsp; strike the provision of the Committee Amendment that sweeps the tourism funds and&nbsp; successfully stopped the sweep. Senator was quoted “I introduced a floor amendment to stop&nbsp; the transfer, which was ultimately successful. These funds are very important to attract more in state and out-of-state travelers to visit attractions throughout Nebraska. Many of these&nbsp; attractions are located in District 42: Nebraskaland Days, the U.S. Highway 2 Scenic Byway, and&nbsp; the Nebraska Passport Program, to name a few.” District 42 is lucky to have a representative&nbsp; who can see the whole picture and is fighting for tourism as hard as he is. This is why Senator&nbsp; Mike Jacobson is a pure Hero of Tourism!&nbsp;This year also included the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award presented to David Fudge, the&nbsp; outgoing Executive Director of NEBRASKAland DAYS.&nbsp;David has been with NEBRASKAland DAYS since 2005. After his term as a board member, he was&nbsp; hired as the Executive Director. David has helped grow the celebration tremendously with&nbsp; bringing in huge-name Acts. David has volunteered for many different organizations including&nbsp; the North Platte Planning Commission, Ambassadors, Quality Growth Fund review committee,&nbsp; North Platte Public School Foundation, and is also very active in his church. The list could go on&nbsp; and on.&nbsp;Visit North Platte would like to thank all their incredible tourism partners in Lincoln County that help&nbsp; make tourism successful each year, as well as all of the nominees and winners for their incredible&nbsp; contributions to our community!&nbsp;

Vist North Platte announces 5th annual Excellence Tourism Awards winners

&nbsp; Lincoln, Neb. May 8, 2024 — After several days of thunderstorms, it was blue skies and sunshine on Thursday, May 2, for the grand opening of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s (NSA) new production greenhouse. More than 65 NSA donors and members, community leaders and university staff gathered outside of the greenhouse on UNL’s East Campus for the ribbon cutting ceremony and then stayed to shop at the plant sale that followed.

NSA Executive Director Hanna Pinneo thanked the many donors who helped NSA raise the funds needed to construct the new greenhouse. "Some gave five dollars, some gave more. We are grateful for every dollar donated that helped us reach this goal," she said.

Prior to the construction of the new greenhouse, NSA Horticulture Program Coordinator Bob Henrickson and a cadre of volunteers drove to Mead several days each week from mid-February through April, where they sowed seeds and germinated thousands of plants in borrowed greenhouse space. Going forward, the new greenhouse will make plant production much more efficient.

"When your mission is to ‘plant Nebraska,’ you need to plan, grow and nurture lots of plants," said NSA Board President Julie Zahn. "This task just became immensely more efficient today."

"The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum links Nebraskans to the University, to the Institute of Natural Resources and to the natural world," said Cara Pesek, IANR communications director, at the ceremony. "The plants grown in this greenhouse will help further the Statewide Arboretum’s work all across Nebraska."

The additional space will also enable NSA to sell more trees, shrubs and perennials that are native and well-adapted to the climate and ecology of the Great Plains."

Native plants are important to homeowners and communities that are trying to create more biodiverse and climate-resilient landscapes," said Pinneo. "If we can get more native plants into these landscapes, we are going to see improvements in climate resiliency.

"Lincoln resident and NSA member Karna Cronn attended the plant sale following the ribbon cutting. Cronn, a Master Garden who volunteers at Sheridan Elementary’s outdoor classroom and garden, was looking for native plants that will attract pollinators to the school garden.

"I was so pleased to see all the variety of native plants," said Cronn. "I’m really happy that our school's garden will be the lucky recipient of these little green treasures!"

NSA will hold several more plant sales at its East Campus greenhouses and in Omaha, Bellevue, Gretna and Gering this spring. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://plantnebraska.org/plantsales" target="_blank">plantnebraska.org/plantsales</a>&nbsp;for a list of dates and locations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715190679645.jpeg" alt="NSA will hold several more plant sales at its East Campus greenhouses and in Omaha, Bellevue, Gretna and Gering this spring. Visit plantnebraska.org/plantsales for a list of dates and locations." />
 <figcaption>NSA will hold several more plant sales at its East Campus greenhouses and in Omaha, Bellevue, Gretna and Gering this spring. Visit plantnebraska.org/plantsales for a list of dates and locations.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; Lincoln, Neb. May 8, 2024 — After several days of thunderstorms, it was blue skies and sunshine on Thursday, May 2, for the grand opening of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s (NSA) new production greenhouse. More than 65 NSA donors and members, community leaders and university staff gathered outside of the greenhouse on UNL’s East Campus for the ribbon cutting ceremony and then stayed to shop at the plant sale that followed.NSA Executive Director Hanna Pinneo thanked the many donors who helped NSA raise the funds needed to construct the new greenhouse. "Some gave five dollars, some gave more. We are grateful for every dollar donated that helped us reach this goal," she said.Prior to the construction of the new greenhouse, NSA Horticulture Program Coordinator Bob Henrickson and a cadre of volunteers drove to Mead several days each week from mid-February through April, where they sowed seeds and germinated thousands of plants in borrowed greenhouse space. Going forward, the new greenhouse will make plant production much more efficient."When your mission is to ‘plant Nebraska,’ you need to plan, grow and nurture lots of plants," said NSA Board President Julie Zahn. "This task just became immensely more efficient today.""The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum links Nebraskans to the University, to the Institute of Natural Resources and to the natural world," said Cara Pesek, IANR communications director, at the ceremony. "The plants grown in this greenhouse will help further the Statewide Arboretum’s work all across Nebraska."The additional space will also enable NSA to sell more trees, shrubs and perennials that are native and well-adapted to the climate and ecology of the Great Plains."Native plants are important to homeowners and communities that are trying to create more biodiverse and climate-resilient landscapes," said Pinneo. "If we can get more native plants into these landscapes, we are going to see improvements in climate resiliency."Lincoln resident and NSA member Karna Cronn attended the plant sale following the ribbon cutting. Cronn, a Master Garden who volunteers at Sheridan Elementary’s outdoor classroom and garden, was looking for native plants that will attract pollinators to the school garden."I was so pleased to see all the variety of native plants," said Cronn. "I’m really happy that our school's garden will be the lucky recipient of these little green treasures!"NSA will hold several more plant sales at its East Campus greenhouses and in Omaha, Bellevue, Gretna and Gering this spring. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://plantnebraska.org/plantsales" target="_blank">plantnebraska.org/plantsales</a>&nbsp;for a list of dates and locations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Celebrates Grand Opening of New Production Greenhouse on East Campus

Manager Strategic Communications, United States Post Service

To save the Postal Service, or not save it. That’s the crisis – and the question – the Postal Service faced that led to the creation of its 10-year Delivering for America plan in March of 2021. In the three years since, our organization has been working to recover from operational and financial catastrophe. In the summer of 2020, we had incurred $137 billion in losses and our organization was going to run out of cash in 60 days. 

We had 30-year-old vehicles and had deferred over $20 billion in maintenance for our infrastructure, which led to shameful workplaces. Even more shocking, there was no plan to deal with this dire situation and that would create a self-sustaining, reliable Postal Service that could effectively serve Americans for years to come.&nbsp;&nbsp;

That is why our organization launched the Delivering for America plan – a $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and enhance the Postal Service’s processing, distribution, and transportation network. As a part of this plan, we are proposing significant updates to our facility here in North Platte. As the Postal Service continues to review its local operations, I want to lay out the facts of what we are doing:&nbsp;&nbsp;

First, we are not closing the North Platte Processing and Distribution Center (P&amp;DC). We will convert it into a Local Processing Center (LPC) and the Postal Service intends on investing between $4 million and $6 million into it. These investments include $2.4 million for a brand-new sorting machine that will help improve delivery services and $2 million for modernization efforts and deferred maintenance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Second, the Postal Services will not be laying off any career employees as a part of this review. Our efforts will improve the workplace by providing our employees with new amenities – like updated lighting, renovated bathrooms, and breakrooms. We are also providing more opportunities for non-career employees to become career employees – and in the last three years – more than 165,000 pre career employees have converted to career. If any changes ultimately affect our pre-career workforce in the facility, that is the very nature of a flexible workforce category. In addition, as part of its strategy, the Postal Service is enhancing package processing and shipping capacity, which may result in increased plant activity and the need for additional support in the future.&nbsp;

Third and finally, our modernization efforts will have no effect on services here in North Platte. Our initial review found that converting the North Platte facility into an LPC would allow mail and packages to move more seamlessly through our network thereby enhancing services to residents and businesses. Under this plan, local mail would not be affected. The vast majority of local mail travels out of state, and local-to-local mail will stay within the current 2–3-day delivery standard. It is also important to note that Business mail entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be unaffected because of this review.&nbsp;

The Postal Service remains committed to the transparency we have applied throughout the network modernization process. If you are interested in reading more about the investments we are making in our North Platte facility, click <a href="https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/mpfr/documents/initial-findings-north-platte-ne-03-19-2024.rtf" target="_blank">https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/mpfr/documents/initial-findings-north-platte-ne-03-19-2024.rtf</a>&nbsp;

By Mark InglettManager Strategic Communications, United States Post ServiceTo save the Postal Service, or not save it. That’s the crisis – and the question – the Postal Service faced that led to the creation of its 10-year Delivering for America plan in March of 2021. In the three years since, our organization has been working to recover from operational and financial catastrophe. In the summer of 2020, we had incurred $137 billion in losses and our organization was going to run out of cash in 60 days. We had 30-year-old vehicles and had deferred over $20 billion in maintenance for our infrastructure, which led to shameful workplaces. Even more shocking, there was no plan to deal with this dire situation and that would create a self-sustaining, reliable Postal Service that could effectively serve Americans for years to come.&nbsp;&nbsp;That is why our organization launched the Delivering for America plan – a $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and enhance the Postal Service’s processing, distribution, and transportation network. As a part of this plan, we are proposing significant updates to our facility here in North Platte. As the Postal Service continues to review its local operations, I want to lay out the facts of what we are doing:&nbsp;&nbsp;First, we are not closing the North Platte Processing and Distribution Center (P&amp;DC). We will convert it into a Local Processing Center (LPC) and the Postal Service intends on investing between $4 million and $6 million into it. These investments include $2.4 million for a brand-new sorting machine that will help improve delivery services and $2 million for modernization efforts and deferred maintenance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Second, the Postal Services will not be laying off any career employees as a part of this review. Our efforts will improve the workplace by providing our employees with new amenities – like updated lighting, renovated bathrooms, and breakrooms. We are also providing more opportunities for non-career employees to become career employees – and in the last three years – more than 165,000 pre career employees have converted to career. If any changes ultimately affect our pre-career workforce in the facility, that is the very nature of a flexible workforce category. In addition, as part of its strategy, the Postal Service is enhancing package processing and shipping capacity, which may result in increased plant activity and the need for additional support in the future.&nbsp;Third and finally, our modernization efforts will have no effect on services here in North Platte. Our initial review found that converting the North Platte facility into an LPC would allow mail and packages to move more seamlessly through our network thereby enhancing services to residents and businesses. Under this plan, local mail would not be affected. The vast majority of local mail travels out of state, and local-to-local mail will stay within the current 2–3-day delivery standard. It is also important to note that Business mail entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be unaffected because of this review.&nbsp;The Postal Service remains committed to the transparency we have applied throughout the network modernization process. If you are interested in reading more about the investments we are making in our North Platte facility, click <a href="https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/mpfr/documents/initial-findings-north-platte-ne-03-19-2024.rtf" target="_blank">https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/mpfr/documents/initial-findings-north-platte-ne-03-19-2024.rtf</a>&nbsp;

Statement from United States Postal Service on North Platte location

NORTH PLATTE, NE —This morning local United States Postal Service employees were sent the following email below:

As part of a $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and improve the Postal processing, transportation, and delivery networks, the United States Postal Service announced its plan to modernize mail operations at its North Platte P&amp;DC in North Platte, NE.

The announcement comes following a&nbsp;thorough business review and solicitation of public feedback on the facility’s future.&nbsp;In addition to determining the facility will remain open and modernized as a Local Processing Center (LPC), the business case supports transferring mail processing outgoing operations to the Denver P&amp;DC in Denver, CO. Currently, a majority of mail and packages are destined outside the North Platte area to the rest of the world.

The investment in the&nbsp;North Platte&nbsp;facility is a part of the Postal Service’s 10-year Delivering for America (DFA) plan to improve organizational and operational processes and actively make the Postal Service an efficient, high-performing, world class logistics and delivery provider.

The Postal Service will invest up to $4.4 million in the North Platte LPC, which will result in expanded and streamlined package and mail processing and distribution capabilities for the facility.&nbsp;These investments include $2.0 million for modernization efforts and deferred maintenance. For example, these funds will be used for new workplace amenities for Postal Service employees such as new lighting and renovated bathrooms and breakrooms. To help improve delivery services, investments totaling $2.4 million will be made to locate a Flex Rover Sorter Dual into the facility.

The facility will feature evolving USPS self-service tools and technology to give customers added services and new choices in how they ship and receive packages, including Smart Lockers, which are a keyless, self-service delivery solution that allows package shippers and package recipients to send and receive packages direct to a Post Office Smart Locker location.

The Postal Service also announced there will be no career layoffs as part of this initiative.&nbsp;All career bargaining unit reassignments, as well as any reduction in any number of pre-career employees, will be made in accordance with respective collective bargaining agreements. As part of its strategy, the Postal Service is enhancing package processing and shipping capacity, which may result in increased plant activity and the need for additional support in the future.

Once changes are implemented, Business mail entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be enhanced. After the North Platte facility is converted to an LPC, it is anticipated that it will be able to mail and ship packages, manual letters and flats. The LPC is also anticipated to offer express services and accept bulk and permit mail.

Gary Person, President &amp; CEO North Platte Area Chamber and Development gave his comments below:

“I am thoroughly disappointed and disgusted with the lack of leadership at the highest level of the USPS.&nbsp; This is one more dagger in the heart of rural America.&nbsp; They truly do NOT care about rural and small-town citizens across America.&nbsp; The level of hypocrisy was on full display at the local public hearing when we heard about their game plan, which everyone knows the standards they talked about will never be met.&nbsp; The sad reality is that no one will hold them accountable for the obvious lies they spewed out about the improvement of service and time of mail delivery.

“Though it was obvious to many this decision was probably made months ago, I appreciate the fact local citizens still fought the good fight, and local and state leadership spoke out as well as U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and Congressman Adrian Smith.

“The brave local USPS employees kept working hard despite being short-handed with so many positions unfilled (on purpose by the USPS leadership), and those employees that spoke out.&nbsp;&nbsp; I would encourage the local USPS employees that are impacted to stay in the community and fill job openings here. &nbsp;We need you.&nbsp; Clearly the USPS leadership cannot be trusted with their futures.”

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts has been very vocal about the North Platte Processing and Distribution Center situation.

In March, Senator Ricketts and Congressman Adrian Smith sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy seeking additional information about the review process for the North Platte Processing and Distribution Center.&nbsp;

“Nebraskans depend on the Postal Service for prompt and reliable mail and package deliveries. The North Platte P&amp;DC plays an essential role to ensure efficient and dependable delivery for rural communities in our state, and is a key employer in the North Platte area…. any actions that change North Platte P&amp;DC mail processing operations should not result in potential reassignments for Nebraskans working at the center.”

In addition, Senator Ricketts had staff at the Public Input Meeting held on March 28th. The Public Comment and Input Period closed on April 12th.

NORTH PLATTE, NE —This morning local United States Postal Service employees were sent the following email below:As part of a $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and improve the Postal processing, transportation, and delivery networks, the United States Postal Service announced its plan to modernize mail operations at its North Platte P&amp;DC in North Platte, NE.The announcement comes following a&nbsp;thorough business review and solicitation of public feedback on the facility’s future.&nbsp;In addition to determining the facility will remain open and modernized as a Local Processing Center (LPC), the business case supports transferring mail processing outgoing operations to the Denver P&amp;DC in Denver, CO. Currently, a majority of mail and packages are destined outside the North Platte area to the rest of the world.The investment in the&nbsp;North Platte&nbsp;facility is a part of the Postal Service’s 10-year Delivering for America (DFA) plan to improve organizational and operational processes and actively make the Postal Service an efficient, high-performing, world class logistics and delivery provider.The Postal Service will invest up to $4.4 million in the North Platte LPC, which will result in expanded and streamlined package and mail processing and distribution capabilities for the facility.&nbsp;These investments include $2.0 million for modernization efforts and deferred maintenance. For example, these funds will be used for new workplace amenities for Postal Service employees such as new lighting and renovated bathrooms and breakrooms. To help improve delivery services, investments totaling $2.4 million will be made to locate a Flex Rover Sorter Dual into the facility.The facility will feature evolving USPS self-service tools and technology to give customers added services and new choices in how they ship and receive packages, including Smart Lockers, which are a keyless, self-service delivery solution that allows package shippers and package recipients to send and receive packages direct to a Post Office Smart Locker location.The Postal Service also announced there will be no career layoffs as part of this initiative.&nbsp;All career bargaining unit reassignments, as well as any reduction in any number of pre-career employees, will be made in accordance with respective collective bargaining agreements. As part of its strategy, the Postal Service is enhancing package processing and shipping capacity, which may result in increased plant activity and the need for additional support in the future.Once changes are implemented, Business mail entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be enhanced. After the North Platte facility is converted to an LPC, it is anticipated that it will be able to mail and ship packages, manual letters and flats. The LPC is also anticipated to offer express services and accept bulk and permit mail.Gary Person, President &amp; CEO North Platte Area Chamber and Development gave his comments below:“I am thoroughly disappointed and disgusted with the lack of leadership at the highest level of the USPS.&nbsp; This is one more dagger in the heart of rural America.&nbsp; They truly do NOT care about rural and small-town citizens across America.&nbsp; The level of hypocrisy was on full display at the local public hearing when we heard about their game plan, which everyone knows the standards they talked about will never be met.&nbsp; The sad reality is that no one will hold them accountable for the obvious lies they spewed out about the improvement of service and time of mail delivery.“Though it was obvious to many this decision was probably made months ago, I appreciate the fact local citizens still fought the good fight, and local and state leadership spoke out as well as U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and Congressman Adrian Smith.“The brave local USPS employees kept working hard despite being short-handed with so many positions unfilled (on purpose by the USPS leadership), and those employees that spoke out.&nbsp;&nbsp; I would encourage the local USPS employees that are impacted to stay in the community and fill job openings here. &nbsp;We need you.&nbsp; Clearly the USPS leadership cannot be trusted with their futures.”U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts has been very vocal about the North Platte Processing and Distribution Center situation.In March, Senator Ricketts and Congressman Adrian Smith sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy seeking additional information about the review process for the North Platte Processing and Distribution Center.&nbsp;The letter says, in part:“Nebraskans depend on the Postal Service for prompt and reliable mail and package deliveries. The North Platte P&amp;DC plays an essential role to ensure efficient and dependable delivery for rural communities in our state, and is a key employer in the North Platte area…. any actions that change North Platte P&amp;DC mail processing operations should not result in potential reassignments for Nebraskans working at the center.”In addition, Senator Ricketts had staff at the Public Input Meeting held on March 28th. The Public Comment and Input Period closed on April 12th.

United States Postal Service to Close Regional USPS in North Platte, will be modernized as a Local Processing Center

The North Platte Noon Rotary is teaming up with Gary Super Foods in North Platte where citizens might have the chance to win free groceries. Three names will be drawn for a chance at free groceries. Tickets to enter the drawing at $10 and only 500 tickets were made.

The drawing to find the winners will be May 29 at the Noon Rotary Meeting with the event scheduled on June 8th at 3:00pm at the Gary Super Foods location on East 4th Street. Proceeds benefit the North Platte Noon Rotary projects.

Post News Director Canon Rath chatted with Misty Robertson about the grocery grab event. To learn more, check out the podcast below.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655346441244.png" alt="<a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a>" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a></figcaption>
 </figure>North Platte Post&nbsp;The North Platte Noon Rotary is teaming up with Gary Super Foods in North Platte where citizens might have the chance to win free groceries. Three names will be drawn for a chance at free groceries. Tickets to enter the drawing at $10 and only 500 tickets were made.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715110767692.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The drawing to find the winners will be May 29 at the Noon Rotary Meeting with the event scheduled on June 8th at 3:00pm at the Gary Super Foods location on East 4th Street. Proceeds benefit the North Platte Noon Rotary projects.Post News Director Canon Rath chatted with Misty Robertson about the grocery grab event. To learn more, check out the podcast below.&nbsp;<div><iframe title="(Audio) Grocery Grab: North Platte Noon Rotary" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=wkypt-1607734-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

(Audio) Grocery Grab: North Platte Noon Rotary

Lexington, Neb. - I-80 eastbound is now open at Lexington according to officials. I-80 eastbound closed at Lexington just shortly after 3:00 pm due to disabled semi in the eastbound lanes. The semi has been towed from the area and all lanes are reopened.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715117023568.jpeg" alt="I-80 eastbound reopen at Lexington (NE 511)" />
 <figcaption>I-80 eastbound reopen at Lexington (NE 511)</figcaption>
 </figure>North Platte PostLexington, Neb. - I-80 eastbound is now open at Lexington according to officials. I-80 eastbound closed at Lexington just shortly after 3:00 pm due to disabled semi in the eastbound lanes. The semi has been towed from the area and all lanes are reopened.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lexington?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lexington</a> I-80 EB @ MM 237 closed. Due to law enforcement activity. Use alt route. <a href="https://t.co/ki0BsTUNc6">https://t.co/ki0BsTUNc6</a> <a href="https://t.co/88K18rHMml">pic.twitter.com/88K18rHMml</a>&mdash; Nebraska 511 (@Nebraska511) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nebraska511/status/1787937405099540911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

I-80 eastbound now open at Lexington

Lexington, Neb. - I-80 is closed eastbound at Lexington (mm 237) due to law enforcement activity. According to NE 511, the closure is from mm 237 - mm 247. US Highway 30 is an alternate route at this time. NE 511 shows that there is a disabled vehicle in the eastbound lane between mm 244- mm247.

***This is a developing story and will update when more information is available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715112689761.jpeg" alt="I-80 eastbound traffic pulling into Lexington. (NE 511)" />
 <figcaption>I-80 eastbound traffic pulling into Lexington. (NE 511)</figcaption>
 </figure>North Platte PostLexington, Neb. - I-80 is closed eastbound at Lexington (mm 237) due to law enforcement activity. According to NE 511, the closure is from mm 237 - mm 247. US Highway 30 is an alternate route at this time. NE 511 shows that there is a disabled vehicle in the eastbound lane between mm 244- mm247.***This is a developing story and will update when more information is available.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lexington?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lexington</a> I-80 EB @ MM 237 closed. Due to law enforcement activity. Use alt route. <a href="https://t.co/ki0BsTUNc6">https://t.co/ki0BsTUNc6</a> <a href="https://t.co/88K18rHMml">pic.twitter.com/88K18rHMml</a>&mdash; Nebraska 511 (@Nebraska511) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nebraska511/status/1787937405099540911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715113526050.jpeg" alt="Roadwork east of Lexington on I-80 (NE 511)" />
 <figcaption>Roadwork east of Lexington on I-80 (NE 511)</figcaption>
 </figure>

I-80 Eastbound closed at Lexington due to law enforcement activity

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) will be offering Vaccines for Children at public clinics in May.&nbsp; Anyone two months of age and older are invited to get their vaccinations. Now is the perfect opportunity to get your child up to date on shots they may need for the next school year. If you have questions about your vaccination status, call your medical provider or contact SWNPHD at 308-345-4223.

Curtis&nbsp;– Monday, May 13, 4:30-5:30 pm at Medicine Valley High School.

Hayes Center-&nbsp;Wednesday, May 15, 9:00 am - 11:00 am at the Hayes County High School Gym during Kindergarten Roundup and 7th&nbsp;grade physicals.

Trenton-&nbsp;Tuesday May 21, 3:30-4:30 pm at Hitchcock County High School Library.

Ogallala&nbsp;– by appointment only based upon the nurse availability, at 418 N Spruce (across the street from the Methodist Church).

McCook&nbsp;–&nbsp;daily Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm based upon the nurse availability, at 404 West 10th Street (one block north of Arby’s).

Other locations:&nbsp;check with your local healthcare provider.

We encourage those interested in vaccination to call to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome, but priority will be given to those with a scheduled appointment.&nbsp;

Vaccines for Children is&nbsp;funded in whole with federal and DHHS funds.&nbsp;Children with no insurance, under-insured, Medicaid, Native American or Native Alaskan qualify for state-funded vaccine. Adults who are uninsured or under-insured may also qualify for state funded vaccine. Call the office for qualifications at 308-345-4223. Both state-funded and private vaccines are available at these clinics.&nbsp; Insurance billing and cash or credit card payment options are available to those who do not qualify for the state-funded vaccine.

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Perkins, and Red Willow counties.&nbsp;&nbsp;The website swhealth.ne.gov contains many resources and additional information helpful to prevent disease, promote and protect health.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can also follow us on Facebook, TikTok, You Tube and Instagram.

Southwest Nebraska Public Health DepartmentSouthwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) will be offering Vaccines for Children at public clinics in May.&nbsp; Anyone two months of age and older are invited to get their vaccinations. Now is the perfect opportunity to get your child up to date on shots they may need for the next school year. If you have questions about your vaccination status, call your medical provider or contact SWNPHD at 308-345-4223.Locations include:Curtis&nbsp;– Monday, May 13, 4:30-5:30 pm at Medicine Valley High School.Hayes Center-&nbsp;Wednesday, May 15, 9:00 am - 11:00 am at the Hayes County High School Gym during Kindergarten Roundup and 7th&nbsp;grade physicals.Trenton-&nbsp;Tuesday May 21, 3:30-4:30 pm at Hitchcock County High School Library.Ogallala&nbsp;– by appointment only based upon the nurse availability, at 418 N Spruce (across the street from the Methodist Church).McCook&nbsp;–&nbsp;daily Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm based upon the nurse availability, at 404 West 10th Street (one block north of Arby’s).Other locations:&nbsp;check with your local healthcare provider.We encourage those interested in vaccination to call to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome, but priority will be given to those with a scheduled appointment.&nbsp;Vaccines for Children is&nbsp;funded in whole with federal and DHHS funds.&nbsp;Children with no insurance, under-insured, Medicaid, Native American or Native Alaskan qualify for state-funded vaccine. Adults who are uninsured or under-insured may also qualify for state funded vaccine. Call the office for qualifications at 308-345-4223. Both state-funded and private vaccines are available at these clinics.&nbsp; Insurance billing and cash or credit card payment options are available to those who do not qualify for the state-funded vaccine.Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Perkins, and Red Willow counties.&nbsp;&nbsp;The website swhealth.ne.gov contains many resources and additional information helpful to prevent disease, promote and protect health.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can also follow us on Facebook, TikTok, You Tube and Instagram.

Vaccines for Children Public Clinics in May

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen requested a federal major disaster declaration for Nebraska counties impacted by winter storm conditions on April 6 and 7. The request includes the following eight counties: Banner, Cheyenne, Dawes, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff and Sioux.

What began with thunderstorms and heavy rains developed into a system that produced freezing rain, snow, strong winds and blizzard conditions. The most significant damage was to power systems, including downed power lines. The five utility systems affected by the storm reported more than 2,000 power poles were broken or knocked down, in addition to damage to other system hardware. Some residents in the impacted areas were without electricity for up to a week. Other storm impacts included closed highways, downed trees, and some damage to local buildings and equipment.

A preliminary estimate puts the cost of damage exceeding $10.5 million. Federal funding approval would help cover costs to repair or replace public infrastructure.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen requested a federal major disaster declaration for Nebraska counties impacted by winter storm conditions on April 6 and 7. The request includes the following eight counties: Banner, Cheyenne, Dawes, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff and Sioux.What began with thunderstorms and heavy rains developed into a system that produced freezing rain, snow, strong winds and blizzard conditions. The most significant damage was to power systems, including downed power lines. The five utility systems affected by the storm reported more than 2,000 power poles were broken or knocked down, in addition to damage to other system hardware. Some residents in the impacted areas were without electricity for up to a week. Other storm impacts included closed highways, downed trees, and some damage to local buildings and equipment.A preliminary estimate puts the cost of damage exceeding $10.5 million. Federal funding approval would help cover costs to repair or replace public infrastructure.

Gov. Pillen Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Early April Panhandle Storm

The North Platte Police Department, with funding from the National Highway Safety Administration, will be participating in a 60-hour impaired driving enforcement effort May 9th through May 11th, 2024.  Additional officers will be on the street enforcing our traffic laws with an emphasis on impaired driving. 

 The North Platte Police Department reminds drivers to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before taking part in festivities.

North Platte PoliceThe North Platte Police Department, with funding from the National Highway Safety Administration, will be participating in a 60-hour impaired driving enforcement effort May 9th through May 11th, 2024. Additional officers will be on the street enforcing our traffic laws with an emphasis on impaired driving. The North Platte Police Department reminds drivers to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before taking part in festivities.

NPPD to participate in an impaired driving campaign May 9th - May 11th

North Platte, Neb. - North Platte natives Jack Hughes, Reece Perry and Scott Blaesi have qualified for the 2024 High School Fishing National Championships taking place in South Carolina.

Hughes, Perry and boat captain Blaesi won SAF Nebraska High School state fishing tournament on May 5th at Merritt Reservoir near Valentine. As a team, their&nbsp;total bag weighed 9.95 pounds. The trio will participate in the 2024&nbsp;High School Fishing National Championships on June 19-22 at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.

Also qualifying from Nebraska for the&nbsp;High School Fishing National Championships is&nbsp;Gage Overton &amp; Kaden Wilhelmson from McCook High School. Overton and Wilhelmson participated in last year's national championships in Wisconsin.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715024621535.jpeg" alt="L-R: Jack Hughes, Scott Blaesi and Reece Perry. (Photo courtesy of Riley Hughes)" />
 <figcaption>L-R: Jack Hughes, Scott Blaesi and Reece Perry. (Photo courtesy of Riley Hughes)</figcaption>
 </figure>North Platte PostNorth Platte, Neb. - North Platte natives Jack Hughes, Reece Perry and Scott Blaesi have qualified for the 2024 High School Fishing National Championships taking place in South Carolina.Hughes, Perry and boat captain Blaesi won SAF Nebraska High School state fishing tournament on May 5th at Merritt Reservoir near Valentine. As a team, their&nbsp;total bag weighed 9.95 pounds. The trio will participate in the 2024&nbsp;High School Fishing National Championships on June 19-22 at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715026653668.jpeg" alt="L-R: Gage Overton and Kaden Wilhelmson (Courtesy Photo)" />
 <figcaption>L-R: Gage Overton and Kaden Wilhelmson (Courtesy Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Also qualifying from Nebraska for the&nbsp;High School Fishing National Championships is&nbsp;Gage Overton &amp; Kaden Wilhelmson from McCook High School. Overton and Wilhelmson participated in last year's national championships in Wisconsin.

North Platte, McCook high school fishing teams moving on to South Carolina for the 2024 High School Fishing National Championships

Kimball, Neb. -&nbsp;On May 2, 2024, the Kimball County  Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a dog who apparently had been beat up and shot on someone’s property. Anyone with information who went onto private property and shot this dog on the porch north of Longhorn Road, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 308-235-3615. 

There is a $3,400 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrator.

Kimball County Sheriff's OfficeKimball, Neb. -&nbsp;On May 2, 2024, the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a dog who apparently had been beat up and shot on someone’s property. Anyone with information who went onto private property and shot this dog on the porch north of Longhorn Road, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 308-235-3615. There is a $3,400 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrator.

Kimball County Sheriff's Office seeking information in connection with a dog that was beaten up, shot 

Lincoln County CASA is selling raffles for a Summer Bash Wagon full of goodies and items for all ages to enjoy. Candy, a hammock and even adult beverages for adults to enjoy. The tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at the CASA office or from a CASA board member. The drawing will take place May 22nd on Eagle Radio.&nbsp;

Post News Director Canon Rath had the opportunity to chat with Janet Vath, the Executive Director for Lincoln County CASA about this upcoming raffle. The pair also discusses North Platte giving day, which is Wednesday, May 8th. To learn more, check out the podcast below.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655346441244.png" alt="<a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a>" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a></figcaption>
 </figure>North Platte Post&nbsp;Lincoln County CASA is selling raffles for a Summer Bash Wagon full of goodies and items for all ages to enjoy. Candy, a hammock and even adult beverages for adults to enjoy. The tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at the CASA office or from a CASA board member. The drawing will take place May 22nd on Eagle Radio.&nbsp;Post News Director Canon Rath had the opportunity to chat with Janet Vath, the Executive Director for Lincoln County CASA about this upcoming raffle. The pair also discusses North Platte giving day, which is Wednesday, May 8th. To learn more, check out the podcast below.&nbsp;<div><iframe title="(Audio) Lincoln County CASA hosting a Summer Bash Wagon Raffle" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=qxcr3-1602384-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>