KEARNEY – More than 60 high school seniors will begin their studies at the University of Nebraska at Kearney this fall as members of a prestigious health science program.

Representing communities across the state, the students selected for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/health_sciences/scholarshipprograms.php">Kearney Health Opportunities Program</a>&nbsp;(KHOP) demonstrate both academic excellence and a commitment to serving rural areas as future health care professionals.

“Improving access to health care in rural Nebraska starts with investing in the next generation of providers. Through the KHOP program, we are equipping passionate and dedicated students with the education and support they need to make an impact in the communities that need them the most,” said Peggy Abels, director of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/health_sciences/index.php">UNK Health Sciences</a>.

According to a report from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, more than 80% of the state’s health diagnosing and treating practitioners are based in metropolitan areas, creating an accessibility issue for many rural residents.

The KHOP program was created to help even the playing field.

Launched in 2010, it’s designed to grow the state’s health care workforce by recruiting and training students from rural Nebraska who are committed to practicing in these communities as professionals. The program offers financial assistance, academic support and professional development opportunities, with many participants receiving full-tuition scholarships to attend UNK and guaranteed admission to UNMC.

KHOP members can study in the fields of dental hygiene, dentistry, medical laboratory science, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant and radiography.

Participants also receive a $3,000 room waiver through the KHOP Learning Community. A requirement for freshmen, the one-year residential learning community gives students a chance to explore various health care careers while receiving support and guidance as they transition to college. KHOP members meet with health care providers and tour medical facilities throughout the region, better preparing them for professional school and beyond.

More than 160 students are currently part of KHOP, and the 62 high school seniors accepted for fall 2025 represent the second-largest class in program history. A record-breaking 72 students were admitted last year.

“By growing our own health care workforce, we’re taking an important step toward addressing the provider shortage and strengthening rural health care for years to come,” Abels said. “It’s very encouraging to see such an outstanding group of students who are committed to rural health and making a real difference in their hometowns.”

For more information on the KHOP program, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://unk.edu/khop">unk.edu/khop</a>, call 308-865-8260 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:abelsp@unk.edu">abelsp@unk.edu</a>.

&nbsp; The following students, listed by hometown, will start the Kearney Health Opportunities Program this fall:

Central City – Madison Chrisman, physician assistant

Columbus – Katelyn Pensick, physician assistant

Columbus – Raya Kluever, physician assistant

Dalton – Katherine Eckhardt, radiography

Daykin – McKenzie Hofstetter, occupational therapy

Elkhorn – Jackson Windeknecht, physician assistant

Gothenburg – Madison Bryant, dental hygiene

Gothenburg – Claire Vincent, physical therapy

Grand Island – Alyssa Cornelius, medicine

Grand Island – Maggie Herbek, dental hygiene

Grand Island – Addysen Waind, dentistry

Gretna – Addison Schuka, occupational therapy

Gurley – Lila McLaughlin, dental hygiene

Hildreth – Cara Bunger, physical therapy

Hordville – Elizabeth Rutherford, physical therapy

Kearney – Alex Teichmeier, physician assistant

Kearney – Maya Moxley, physician assistant

Kenesaw – Caden Jameson, physical therapy

Norfolk – Kali Preister, physician assistant

North Platte – Jaycee Lehr, radiography

Stromsburg – Wyatt Hengelfelt, medicine

Stuart – Makenna Schaaf, physical therapy

Wahoo – William Sassaman, physician assistant

Yutan – Amelia Dieckman, occupational therapy&nbsp;&nbsp;

UNK welcomes 62 future health care professionals through KHOP program

The spring semester is here and People's Health is once again making their way over to NPCC for this semester STD and Tacos. The event is for college students only and runs from 11:00am - 1:00pm in the NPCC Health Building room #25. 

Students can get tested for STD's, learn educational facts about sexual activity and more. West Central District Health Department will be on location to provide vaccines.

POST news director Canon Rath chatted with Elizabeth Thayer about the upcoming event. To learn more, check out the podcast below.

(Audio) People's Health STD and Taco event for NPCC students on Wednesday

POST news director had the chance to talk with North Platte native and Saturday's main even Jayson Scott about this weekends fights. The pair discuss training preparation, Scott's background and more. To learn more check out the podcast below.

(Audio) MCF 28 St. Paddy's Beatdown XIII - Jayson Scott

North Platte, Neb. - It's the time of the year when the Sandhill Cranes migration journey begins with plenty of them stopping in North Platte, Lincoln County and you can venture out to see the Sandhill Crane Migration. This year, Dusty Trails is offering tours with different parts of the day to check out this yearly migration. During the tour, you will learn about the birds and so much more. <a href="https://www.dustytrails.biz/sandhill-crane-tours">To sign up for a tour click here</a>. You can also check out the Prairie Chickens during this time and tours are available as well.&nbsp;

Nominations are now open for the North Platte Area Excellence in Tourism Awards but not a whole lot of time is left to get your nominations in. You can nominate someone in the following categories:&nbsp;

If you would like to nominate someone,<a href="https://form.jotform.com/250224323569151"> click here.</a>&nbsp;

POST news director Canon Rath chatted with Lisa Burke, the Executive Director of Visit North Platte about the Sandhill Cranes, Prairie Chickens, Excellence in Tourism awards and more! To learn more, check out the podcast below.&nbsp;

(Audio) Sandhill Cranes migration coming to the area, prairie chickens and nominations for Excellence in Tourism Awards!

On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, we sat down with Jacob Brandl, the Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Men's Basketball team, to discuss last week's end-of-season games against Otero and Trinidad State while getting you prepared for Postseason Basketball.

(Audio) Knight's Weekly #10 featuring North Platte Community College Men's Basketball Coach Jacob Brandl

North Platte, Neb. -&nbsp;POST Derek Beck sat down with Holly Carlini from the Prairie Arts Center to chat about the Carousel Horses Project Carlini has been working on. To learn more, check out the podcast below.

(Audio) Carousel Horses Project with Holly Carlini

North Platte, Neb. - Brave the icy cold water by taking a plunge in this year's 2025 Polar Plunge at Iron Horse Park in North Platte to benefit the Special Olympics Nebraska. The event is Saturday March 8th with registration beginning at 10:00am and the plunge begins at 11:00am. &nbsp;

A minimum of $50 is needed per person before plunging in the water but you can raise more money to earn more cool swag. You can also do the plunge in teams and even wear costumes! You can register at the event, but you can also register online by <a href="https://www.classy.org/campaign/north-platte-polar-plunge-2025/c648957">clicking here.</a>&nbsp;

POST news director Canon Rath chatted with Nathan Veal about the upcoming Polar Plunge. To learn more, check out the podcast below.&nbsp;

(Audio) Registration now open for the 2025 Polar Plunge!

Ogallala, Ne - Grant Jones, owner of Chundy Land &amp; Cattle south of Imperial came on Sandhills Spotlight on February 27 and spoke with Derek Beck about the Jones' SimAngus Bull sale that is coming up on March 15 at Ogallala Livestock. <a href="https://www.chundylandandcattle.com/2025-sale">CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON SALE</a>

Grant, along with his parents Shawn and Julie formed Chundy Land &amp; Cattle in 2016. This was also the year that the family purchased Bob and Randy Martin’s cow/calf pairs. The following year we had our first production sale in February at Imperial Auction Market. <a href="http://www.npkubota.com">(POST PODCAST sponsored by North Platte Kubota)</a>

Today, the operation consists of Stan and Phyllis Jones, Shawn and Julie Jones and Grant Jones, the sixth generation. Together, they work to maintain and grow this beautiful ranch we call home. The ranch is situated along the Chase and Dundy County lines (Chundy) in southwest Nebraska. They raise corn, soybeans and hay along with their commercial and registered cows. They also operate a small backgrounding lot and finish cattle at yards in Nebraska and Kansas. &nbsp;

Chundy Land & Cattle Company moves 9th Annual Bull sale to Ogallala on March 15

Ogallala, Ne - The Ogallala City Council held their regular meeting last night, amongst the conversation, the council talked about future plans for the reconstruction of Highway 30 through Ogallala.

Ogallala City Manager, Kevin Wilkins said "The State, in order to move forward with a level of confidence to incur costs in the work and in the final design and getting ready to go out for bids; they (State) want some assurances from the local government. We have that agreement to move forward with this project." &nbsp;

Wilkins said the construction and reconstruction of highway 30 would be from one end to the other. The city is looking at a bid in 2026 and highway construction in 2027 or early 2028. &nbsp;

He says the reconstruction of 30 would primarily be around highway 61 and highway 30 junction, with resurfacing being the largest focus on the rest of highway 30 through Ogallala.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.npkubota.com">(LISTEN TO PODCAST sponsored by North Platte Kubota)</a>

The Council also discussed and voted in favor of the "Request for Qualification" for the City of Ogallala Flood Protection for City of Ogallala and Surrounding Areas. Wilkins said, this request had to happen for the City to be able to apply for an EPA Grant that potentially would give the City more funds to work on flood infrastructure when the highway 30 projects begin. The EPA Grant application is due in April of this year.&nbsp;

&nbsp;According to Wilkins, "we're looking at early estimates of eight million bucks to fix the drainage issues. &nbsp;We had a meeting with the Department of Roads a week ago and I think there's some synergy that we can gain as they tear up the highway. They've got a certain amount of drainage infrastructure that they need to replace if they tore it up anyway without oversizing it. We may be able to negotiate something where you (Department of Roads) pick up what it would cost to have just replaced it, and we (City of Ogallala) pay for the oversight.&nbsp;

They don't want to build a brand-new road and then two years later we get the money and then we go in and tear it out to put the flood infrastructure in. We're trying to time the two projects to happen at the same time."&nbsp;

Finally, Wilkins wanted to remind the public to fill out the Community Vision Survey. <a href="https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=rQHb_YNJbkOrNRrwQ7gYyUCfq-WcVPZPo1PiBHIkXCpUMVlBSEw1TDQ1VlNUUTE5VjVQTjZaSE1IUC4u&amp;route=shorturl&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawIsSXRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRjzbc-ID0NhfE4S5fvf4iNVl-jewe0ZSR2YLUrRZAH6c3zxnWMN62v5SQ_aem_GUtcWm2-EeCyRYFfKPAiBQ">CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY</a>

The city is planning a public open house meeting on April 6 to share and discuss the feedback from this survey.&nbsp;

The City of Ogallala is embarking on an update to its Comprehensive Plan to guide future growth and development. &nbsp;

All residents and stakeholders are encouraged to participate in this public open house meeting.&nbsp;

Ogallala City Council Agrees to Move Forward with Highway 30 Reconstruction in Future; Community Vision Plan

On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, we sat down with Jacob Brandl, the Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Men's Basketball team, to discuss last week's split between Western Nebraska and Northeastern. We also dabbled into the emotional side of basketball and how to keep a team composed with pressure mounting as we draw closer to playoff time.&nbsp;

(Audio) Knight's Weekly #9 featuring North Platte Community College Men's Basketball Coach Jacob Brandl

North Platte, Ne - The Nebraska Sparklers, is the Nebraska chapter of the Miss America’s Little Sisters Mentoring Program. The program began as a goodwill gesture between girls in the local community and the visiting delegates. Miss Nebraska Organization's Megan Doughty says Sparklers is for little girls 6-12 years old, "they are paired with one of the Miss or Teen delegate during the Miss Nebraska and Miss Nebraska's Teen cometition in June for the entirety of the week. The girls get to dance with the delgates on stage, are introduced to the pageant crowd and more".&nbsp;

The POST spoke in depth about Miss Nebraska Organization's events over the winter and Nebraska Sparklers. <a href="http://www.npkubota.com">Enjoy the conversation below, sponsored by North Platte Kubota.</a>

The entry deadline is at the end of February,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missnebraska.org/little-sister-form" target="_blank">CLICK HERE to apply</a>.&nbsp;

Application deadline nears for Miss Nebraska "Sparklers" (PODCAST)

<a>March 14, 2024 (Lincoln, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>—&nbsp; Don’t push your luck this St. Patrick’s Day by not planning for a sober driver.&nbsp;Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) will be on patrol for impaired driving this weekend as part of a nationwide enforcement effort for St. Patrick’s Day.

“Impaired driving is dangerous for everyone on the road,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “The last thing we want is for this fun weekend to turn tragic. If you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with alcohol, plan for a sober driver.”

Troopers will be working overtime across the state this weekend to ensure that everyone gets to and from their festivities safely. If you see an impaired or dangerous driver, report it to the NSP Highway Helpline by calling *55.

Troopers will be performing high-visibility patrols throughout the state from Saturday, March 15, through Monday, March 17, as part of this operation. This effort is made possible thanks in part to a grant for $20,172 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

Troopers Encourage Sober Driving During St. Patrick’s Day Festivities

North Platte - Families 1st Partnership and UNL Extension are partnering to bring the Poverty Simulation&nbsp; exercise to Lincoln County. The event will take place on April 14, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00&nbsp; PM at the West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center. This free event is open to&nbsp; anyone interested in gaining insight into the challenges faced by individuals and families living&nbsp; in poverty.&nbsp;

During the interactive exercise, participants will be assigned to family units, each facing a&nbsp; unique life scenario that reflects real-world challenges encountered by low-income families.&nbsp; These scenarios highlight the difficult choices families must make in managing limited financial&nbsp; resources.&nbsp;

The simulation’s interactive component involves visiting various “agency” tables, where&nbsp; participants can access assistance, gather information, or attempt to resolve issues related to&nbsp; their assigned scenario. Local volunteers, many of whom already work with these agencies, will&nbsp; staff the tables, helping participants experience the barriers families often face when trying to&nbsp; improve their circumstances.&nbsp;

Past participants have found the simulation to be an invaluable and eye-opening experience. It&nbsp; is widely regarded as a highly sought-after training opportunity.&nbsp;

To register for this event, visit: Poverty Simulation Registration.&nbsp;

Families 1st Partnership receives grant funding from Nebraska Children and Families Foundation., the NE&nbsp; Child Abuse Prevention Fund Board, DHHS, and private donors. Since it became a 501c3 organization in&nbsp; November 2018, financial assistance to residents has resulted in $774,456 paid to local landlords, utility&nbsp; companies, childcares, mechanics, and other businesses. $52,358 has been used to support Trainings&nbsp;&nbsp;

and Collaborative Outreach in promoting services of local organizations. There has been $363,567 for&nbsp; contracts that provide direct and indirect services to local families and at-risk youth. 

Families 1st Partnership and UNL Extension to Host Poverty Simulation in Lincoln 

KEARNEY – Hannah Reeve grew up in the small town of Potter in the Nebraska Panhandle, where she saw firsthand the challenges created by the state’s mental and behavioral health workforce shortage.

“I know a lot of people who struggle with their mental health, and there really weren’t any resources available for them in the Panhandle,” Reeve said, specifically recalling a high school classmate who traveled two hours into neighboring Wyoming for therapy services.

“That’s something that has always interested me, closing that gap in support for people who live in my area,” she added. “I want to lead by example to expand access to those resources and hopefully encourage others to do the same.”

Now a senior at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Reeve is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/sociology/index.php">studying sociology</a>&nbsp;with plans to return to western Nebraska to work in social services after graduating in December.

She’s also among the nearly 200 students currently pursuing a&nbsp;<a href="https://catalog.unk.edu/undergraduate/departments-programs/sociology/behavioral-mental-health-minor/">minor in behavioral and mental health</a>&nbsp;at UNK.

Launched in fall 2020, that program was created with a primary goal of increasing the number of behavioral and mental health professionals in the state.

“In central and western Nebraska, there’s a real need for people working in the behavioral and mental health professions. Not only do they support individuals in crisis but they also strengthen families, workplaces and entire communities,” said Suzanne Maughan Spencer, an associate professor and chair of the UNK Department of Sociology. “As the need for these professionals continues to grow, investing in their education and development is critical to ensure everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Suzanne Maughan Spencer is an associate professor and chair of the UNK Department of Sociology, which houses the behavioral and mental health minor. “Most people work with people, so we need to understand how to best serve each other,” she says.

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, Nebraska has less than half of the behavioral health workforce needed to adequately meet the state’s needs. All but five of the 93 counties are designated as mental health professions shortage areas, and 23 counties don’t have any behavioral health providers at all.

The behavioral and mental health minor uses an interdisciplinary approach to help prepare students for these careers. Housed in the Department of Sociology, it also includes courses from counseling and school psychology, family science, psychology and social work.

“It’s a very hands-on program,” said Reeve, who currently works as a registered behavior technician at The Spectrum Center for Autism in Kearney. “Every course that you take is completely different, so you’re learning a variety of skills that you really wouldn’t get anywhere else.”

There are two emphasis areas to choose from – behavioral and mental health or alcohol and drug counseling – with both options comprised of classes across multiple disciplines. All of the courses for the alcohol and drug counseling emphasis are pre-approved by the Department of Health and Human Services, so they count toward provisional licensure as an alcohol and drug counselor in Nebraska.

UNK offers graduate programs in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/csp/clinical-mental-health-counseling.php">clinical mental health counseling</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/csp/school_psychology.php">school psychology</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/csp/school-counseling.php">school counseling</a>, as well as an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/csp/graduate-certificate-alcohol--drug-counseling.php">alcohol and drug counseling certificate program</a>.

The behavioral and mental health minor is perfect for students interested in those programs because it offers valuable insight and experiences at the undergraduate level, Maughan Spencer said.

It also equips students with knowledge and skills that can enhance other majors and careers, such as nursing, occupational therapy, social work, public health, human resources, criminal justice and Spanish translation and interpretation.

“Most people work with people, so we need to understand how to best serve each other,” Maughan Spencer said. “We’re not all the same – in times of stress we may respond differently. It’s important to recognize that and know when people should be guided to behavioral and mental health resources.”

UNK senior Jordan Soto-Stopak is studying psychology with minors in criminal justice and behavioral and mental health. She wants to work in federal law enforcement.

Jordan Soto-Stopak, a UNK senior from Albion, added the behavioral and mental health minor during her first year on campus, when she was still undecided about her future plans.

“It really allowed me to customize my learning experience,” she said. “I was able to try a little bit of everything from different disciplines, and that helped me gain a better perspective of the human services field and what it all entails.”

Soto-Stopak is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/psychology/index.php">studying psychology</a>, and she recently picked up another minor in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/cj/index.php">criminal justice</a>. She wants to work in federal law enforcement, but isn’t ruling out the possibility of pursuing a master’s degree and becoming a mental health counselor later in life.

The behavioral and mental health minor is beneficial for both careers.

“I just think it’s a really unique opportunity to take different classes that are geared toward your own specific interests,” Soto-Stopak said. “You really can’t go wrong with it.”

Closing the Gap: UNK’s behavioral health minor prepares students for impactful careers

The Hot Sheets: March 14th, 2025

North Platte, NE&nbsp; – Community Connections Substance Abuse Prevention System&nbsp; (SAPS) is excited to participate in National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) 2025, running&nbsp; from March 17-23. This initiative, organized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), aims to&nbsp; raise awareness and provide accurate, science-based information about drug and alcohol use.&nbsp;

“National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is a critical opportunity to challenge misconceptions and&nbsp; empower young people with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about substance&nbsp; use,” said Erin Bone, Substance Abuse Prevention System Coordinator at Community&nbsp; Connections. “This week-long initiative allows us to engage directly with students, parents, and&nbsp; community leaders, offering them the tools and resources to combat substance abuse and create&nbsp; healthier, safer environments.”&nbsp;

SAPS kicked off NDAFW early with a March 3rd event hosted by Community Connections Mentoring&nbsp; program, featuring an interactive escape room activity focused on healthy choices.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Throughout NDAFW, SAPS and partners will share daily facts and resources about substance&nbsp; abuse on social media. The campaign is supported by West Central District Health Department (WCDHD), Region II Human Services, School Community Intervention &amp; Prevention (SCIP), and&nbsp; Hope Esperanza.&nbsp;

Community Connections is collaborating with local organizations to provide free educational&nbsp; materials, including brochures, posters, and interactive content, to ensure that accurate&nbsp; information reaches as many people as possible.&nbsp;

Connect People, Enhance Lives. We build connections between community agencies, businesses,&nbsp; neighborhoods, schools, families and individuals to coordinate activities, services, and programs&nbsp; that enhance the quality of life in Lincoln County. We create change and inspire others to work&nbsp; together toward a better tomorrow for youth and families.&nbsp;

About West Central District Health Department (WCDHD):&nbsp;

The West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) is a public agency working to support&nbsp; health, safety, and well-being in the Nebraska counties of Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Thomas,&nbsp; Hooker, and Arthur. We aim to educate, promote, and improve the overall health of our&nbsp; communities and each resident; allowing all who live, work, and play within to thrive.&nbsp;

Region II Human Services is the Behavioral Health Authority for 17 counties in West Central&nbsp; Nebraska. We are a direct provider of services and we contract with private agencies for mental&nbsp; health and substance use disorder services. Counties we serve include: Arthur, Chase, Dawson,&nbsp; Dundy, Frontier, Gosper, Grant, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson,&nbsp; Perkins, Red Willow, and Thomas.&nbsp;

About School Community Intervention &amp; Prevention (SCIP):&nbsp;

Provide effective prevention education for schools, families and communities, equipping schools&nbsp; with early intervention tools for students with behavioral health concerns so they may achieve&nbsp; healthy, productive lives.&nbsp;

To empower minority and underserved youth and families. To enhance health, overcome hardship,&nbsp; and promote an overall sense of belonging and well-being. To facilitate a welcoming and inclusive&nbsp; community that appreciates and values human difference and creates a sense of belonging where&nbsp; everyone feels respected and valued for their uniqueness. To build a community that is welcoming,&nbsp; culturally aware and competent as Lincoln County diversifies.

Community Connections Substance Abuse Prevention System Announces National Drug and  Alcohol Facts Week 2025

The Hot Sheets: March 13th, 2025

The Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health, in collaboration with Nebraska Extension, has announced the dates for its annual tractor and equipment safety training courses. These sessions will take place at eight locations across Nebraska during May and June.

“Young farmers and ranchers are more apt to experience injuries and fatalities due to factors that can be attributed to their inexperience, physical limitations, and environmental risks,” said Ellen Duysen, associate research professor and CS-CASH outreach specialist. “By completing this training, these young workers gain awareness of the many hazards associated with agricultural work and develop skills through hands-on training.”

Federal law restricts youth under the age of 16 from operating certain farm equipment unless the farm is owned by their parents or legal guardians. However, certification through the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) provides an exemption, allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to drive tractors and operate specific mechanized equipment.

In Nebraska, CS-CASH and Nebraska Extension work together to offer NSTMOP certification. This certification is earned by completing a two-day course that includes both a written test and a driving exam. Youth who complete the training are certified to operate tractors and certain mechanized equipment on farms and ranches and can also obtain a husbandry permit.

The cost for the two-day course is $60, which covers educational materials, online learning access (if applicable), supplies, and lunch and snacks for in-person training sessions.

Youth under the age of 14 can attend Day One if accompanied by an adult, but they are not eligible to drive equipment, participate in Day Two or receive certification. Students under 14 must register, but they will not be charged a fee. Adults who want to increase their knowledge about safe farm practices are also urged to attend.

To register, visit:&nbsp;<a href="http://go.unmc.edu/tractor-safety-training" target="_blank">go.unmc.edu/tractor-safety-training</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Contact Kelsey Irvine at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kepalm@unmc.edu" target="_blank">kepalm@unmc.edu</a>&nbsp;or 402-321-4236 with questions.&nbsp;

Annual Tractor and Equipment Safety Training Dates Announced for May and June

Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts

LINCOLN, Nebraska&nbsp;– Between Jan. 30 and March 11, Nebraska high school students competed around the state during regional Envirothon competitions demonstrating natural resources knowledge by identifying trees and animal tracks, calculating the number of steers on rangeland, and determining soil structure.

The winning teams from each Envirothon region as well as eight wildcards – selected based on their competition scores – qualify to compete at the Nebraska State Envirothon. Out of the 70 teams that competed, this year’s state qualifiers include:

Traditionally, Nebraska’s six regional Envirothon competitions are hosted in conjunction with district agriculture education contests. High school students compete on five-member teams in seven environmental areas including: soils, aquatics, forestry, wildlife, range, policy and a current environmental issue.

Qualifying teams will compete at the State Envirothon April 30, at Chalco Hills Recreation Area in Omaha, Nebraska. During the state competition, teams compete in hands-on environmental testing stations as well as prepare and deliver an oral problem-solving presentation focusing on “Roots &amp; Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change.”

The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Foundation awards cash prizes to the top three teams at the state competition:

Envirothon Competition Qualifies 14 Teams for State

Nebraska's Natural Resources District

LINCOLN, Nebraska&nbsp;– The voting members of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Board of Directors elected new officers during their board meeting March 10, 2025.

The NARD Board consists of representatives from each of Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs). The board meets five times throughout the year and helps guide the association and NRDs in decision making that protects lives, property and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. The NARD Risk Pool Board governs the health insurance program for NRD employees.

Marty Graff, NARD President (Ainsworth, Nebraska)&nbsp;Marty Graff of the Middle Niobrara NRD was elected president of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. Graff has served on the Middle Niobrara NRD Board 30 years and on the NARD boards since 2018. He farms with his wife, Brenda, and sons near Ainsworth. Off the farm, Graff serves on the East Woodlawn Cemetery Board (Johnstown, Nebraska) and is active in the Elks Club helping with youth baseball and wrestling.

Ryan Reuter, NARD Vice President (Minatare, Nebraska)&nbsp;Ryan Reuter of the North Platte NRD was elected vice president of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. Reuter, a sales manager with Betaseed and ACH Seeds, has served on the North Platte NRD and NARD boards since 2018. Reuter and his wife Amie have two daughters, Avery and Addison.

Mason Hoffman, NARD Secretary-Treasurer (Juniata, Nebraska)&nbsp;Mason Hoffman of the Little Blue NRD was elected secretary-treasurer of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. He farms outside of Hastings and has served on the Little Blue NRD Board since 2016 and on the NARD boards since 2021. Hoffman and his wife Michelle have three children, Mara, Natalie and Theodore (Tate).

Dr. Orval Gigstad, NARD Past President (Syracuse, Nebraska)&nbsp;Dr. Orval Gigstad from the Nemaha NRD serves as past president of the NARD Board and NARD Risk Pool Board. He served as president from 2022-2024 and has been on the boards since 1996. Gigstad has served on the Nemaha NRD Board since 1993 and serves as vice chair with the National Association of Conservation Districts Northern Plains Region. A practicing veterinarian for more than 45 years, he operates the Arbor Valley Animal Clinic in Syracuse. Gigstad and his wife Carolyn have two children, Grady and Amber, and grandchildren, Quincy and Amelia.

In addition to the president, vice president, secretary-treasurer and past president, the NARD Board executive committee includes Terry Martin, Legislative Committee chair representing the Upper Republican NRD, and Bob Hilger, Information and Education Committee chair representing the Lower Platte North NRD.

Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts Managers Committee&nbsp;On March 5, the NRD managers elected Wade Ellwanger, general manager of the Lower Niobrara NRD, as chair of the Managers Committee; and Kyle Hauschild, general manager of the Nemaha NRD, as vice-chair of the Managers Committee.

Wade Ellwanger, Lower Niobrara NRD&nbsp;Wade Ellwanger was promoted to general manager of the Lower Niobrara NRD in March 2023. Prior to his promotion, he served the district for six years as a water resources coordinator and assistant manager. He also has more than 20 years of production management experience in the ag industry. Ellwanger earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a Class IX graduate of the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy.&nbsp;He is a native of Butte, Nebraska, and has six children and six grandchildren.

Kyle Hauschild, Nemaha NRD&nbsp;Kyle Hauschild became the general manager of the Nemaha NRD in January 2021. He previously served as general manager of the Little Blue NRD (2018-2020) and stormwater/floodplain specialist at Lower Platte South NRD (2014-2018). Hauschild lives in Gretna with his wife Kelli and daughters Keira and Kaya.

The Managers Committee includes managers from all 23 Natural Resources Districts. The committee meets five times a year to coordinate NRD activities with state and federal agencies, conservation partners and other parties to protect Nebraska’s natural resources.

The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), the trade association for Nebraska's 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRD), works with individual districts to protect lives, property and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. NRDs are unique to Nebraska, and act as local government entities with broad responsibilities to protect Nebraska’s natural resources. Major Nebraska river basins form the boundaries of the 23 NRDs, enabling districts to respond to local conservation and resource management needs. Learn more about Nebraska’s NRDs at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nrdnet.org/" target="_blank">www.nrdnet.org</a>.

NARD Elects 2025 Officers

The Hot Sheets: March 12th, 2025

Story by NU Athletic Communication

Former Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez has been named a finalist for the AAU Sullivan Award. Voting opens March 13 and will run through March 20, and fans can vote once per day. <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://bit.ly/95thAAUSullivanFinalist_Rodriguez__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!E__XaaDPOPmQM-kxee5uHL79U1og1v5Bye4LWafWMTBVNGyiAnUyq5N57PgT4WmN5kfCfoR3G1SPr2Aq6A$">Click here to vote for Lexi Rodriguez</a>.&nbsp;

Six athletes, each at the top of their respective sports, have been chosen as finalists for the 95th AAU James E. Sullivan Award. Since 1930, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been presented to the most exceptional athlete at the collegiate, Olympic, or other similarly elite level in the United States. As well as honoring athletic excellence, the AAU Sullivan award also recognizes the chosen athlete’s character and honors their quality of leadership, citizenship and sportsmanship.

Rodriguez advanced from a group of 39 semifinalists and will be present for the 95th AAU Sullivan Award ceremony on April 15 at the New York Athletic Club. The other five finalists are: Trey Augustine (Ice Hockey, Michigan State), Cooper Flagg (Basketball, Duke), Ashton Jeanty (Football, Boise State), Lee Kiefer (Fencing, USA Fencing) and Ilia Malinin (Figure Skating, U.S. Figure Skating).&nbsp;

The winner will join a renowned list of recipients. Last year, Caitlin Clark became the first two-time winner of the award. Other prior winners include Michael Phelps, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michelle Kwan, Peyton Manning, Simone Biles, Carl Lewis and Carissa Moore.

Rodriguez finished her Husker career in December as a four-time AVCA All-American, a four-time All-Big Ten selection, and a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. She was an AVCA National Player of the Year finalist and a Honda Sport Award for Volleyball finalist in 2024, and she became the first-ever libero to be named AVCA Region Player of the Year. Rodriguez is Nebraska's all-time career leader in digs with 1,897. She is also a three-time Academic All-American, including two first-team accolades.&nbsp;

Rodriguez joins four other former Huskers who have been AAU Sullivan Award finalists: Kelsey Robinson (2014-15), Mikaela Foecke (2016-17 and 2018-19), Kelly Hunter (2017-18) and Annika Albrecht (2017-18).&nbsp;

Rodriguez named finalist for AAU Sullivan Award

After a seven-dual home stand, the Nebraska women’s tennis team is hitting the road this weekend for conference matches against Northwestern and Illinois. The #58 Huskers (10-3, 0-2 Big Ten) start the trip in Evanston, Ill., to face the #38 Wildcats (8-6, 1-1 Big Ten) on Friday, March 14, at 4:30 p.m. (CT). Big Ten action will continue on Sunday, March 16, at noon (CT) against the #46 Fighting Illini (6-7, 1-1 Big Ten).

Head coach German Dalmagro seeks to notch his 25th dual win at Nebraska this weekend, as well as the team’s first conference victory of the season. Husker sophomore Maria Taranova currently leads the Big Red in spring singles wins, with her 10-1 record. On the doubles court, sophomores Emma Rizzetto and Tiziana Rossini have notched five spring victories, helping the Huskers to win their nine doubles points.

History: 11-2 Northwestern leads. Most recently, the Huskers fell to the Wildcats 4-3 in Lincoln.

Northwestern boasts a top-40 team ranking despite having no ranked Wildcats. NU has wins over DePaul, Eastern Illinois, Georgia Tech, UIC, Milwaukee, #30 Kansas and #60 Minnesota. The Wildcats have six underclassmen on their roster, led by 26th-year head coach Claire Pollard.

History: 7-5 Illinois leads. In their last matchup, the Fighting Illini defeated the Big Red 4-1 in Lincoln.

Illinois has one ranked singles player, No. 114 Violeta Martinez. Although the Illini currently have a losing record, the team has notable wins over Northwestern, Colorado, Iowa State and Minnesota. Most recently, the Illini opened their Big Ten play with a 4-3 win at #60 Minnesota and lost 4-1 to #17 Wisconsin on the road.

The Huskers are coming off the fall individual season in which the team tallied 34 single wins. Sophomore Maria Taranova led the Big Red in fall singles wins with seven, and had a stellar freshman season in which she earned a 23-8 record, the most wins by a freshman since 2010.&nbsp;

In the 2023-24 season, led by head coach German Dalmagro in his first year at NU, the Huskers went 14-11. The team accomplished two Big Ten Tournament wins for the first time in program history and senior Raphaelle Lacasse was named an All-Big Ten First Team honoree.

Matches will have a live stream available and linked on huskers.com. For match and spring season updates and content, follow @HuskerWTennis on Instagram and X, or Nebraska Women’s Tennis on Facebook.

Huskers head to ranked Northwestern, Illinois

Story by NU Athletic Communications

The Nebraska beach volleyball team recorded two more sweeps at Hunakai Park in Honolulu, Hawaii on Thursday to extend their win streak to 11 straight matches.&nbsp;

The Huskers swept Chaminade and Hawaii Pacific and now stand at 11-3 on the season. Four of the 10 duals on the day went to a third set with the Huskers prevailing in all four.

NU wraps up play in Hawaii on Friday with a 2 p.m. (CT) match against Hawaii Pacific at Hunakai Park.

1. Bergen Reilly/Teraya Sigler (NEB) def. Grace Talpash/Leilani Ama (CHAM) 19-21, 21-13, 15-8

2. Rebekah Allick/Olivia Mauch (NEB) def. Letizia Cammillucci/Anna Stucchi (CHAM) 21-14, 21-12

3. Andi Jackson/Harper Murray (NEB) def. Mahala Ka'apuni/Nanna Inoue (CHAM) 21-16, 21-19

4. Laney Choboy/Skyler Pierce (NEB) def. Brooklyn Poling/Sina Bauer (CHAM) 19-21, 21-17, 15-11

5. Campbell Flynn/Keri Leimbach (NEB) def. Kendall Rios/Kanoelehua Misipeka (CHAM) 21-11, 19-21, 15-9

1. Bergen Reilly/Teraya Sigler (NEB) def. Kate Allan/Dana Nyugen (HPU) 21-10, 21-11

2. Andi Jackson/Harper Murray (NEB) def. Ella Schoene/Lauren Harris (HPU) 21-16, 19-21, 15-9

3. Laney Choboy/Skyler Pierce (NEB) def. Riley Komo/Lindsey Tapp (HPU) 21-14, 21-8

4. Campbell Flynn/Keri Leimbach (NEB) def. Teiva Miller/Jordyn McCutcheon (HPU) 21-16, 21-19

5. Maisie Boesiger/Taylor Landfair (NEB) def. Rosie Larkin/Katherine Michelbook (HPU) 21-17, 21-15

Huskers sweep Chaminade, Hawaii Pacific

Story by Omaha Supernovas Communication

Fishers, IND. —&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://db9xbvgbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001GuZ8BZKrfvHaPUeSEcCJEHg0oYMafPfgpJaWuf0RjjEPV1y90RZpTOWDcuqfQjfuIBcdF0S8PflX-AdRVx6NOvesPWKf8dIBsI0C0Fv8gqZnEHEgH8NX8gkI3xV-9GUJixM44IEsNxF77WHWihwLk6Y_rUIFnXpyaTcJx8jRyxszZnftv9te3j3XwYrhqR75&amp;c=Lm4JQsjdy79NwozWi4H4Z_W6jYUuyzR-AnZlgljsK4wHY_lfFOsN7A==&amp;ch=f0x0we0Fgrmtgl-gP0RH0JH1GX2VSQt4XJYTV1MHEGCIdFKFaZmemA==">Omaha Supernovas</a>, Nebraska professional volleyball team and first pro volleyball champions, pulled off their second reverse sweep in franchise history Thursday night at the Fishers Event Center, defeating the Indy Ignite (8-8) in a thrilling five-set battle 21-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-13.

The wins marks the seventh in the last eight matches for the Supernovas (11-4) who move into sole first place in the PVF standings after the Orlando Valkyries (11-5) lost to the San Diego Mojo in another five-set thriller. After starting the season 2-2, Omaha has taken victory in nine of its last 11 matches with the only losses being to Orlando — who they face on Saturday.&nbsp;

Superstar outside hitter&nbsp;Brooke Nuneviller&nbsp;finished with a team-high 17 kills with nine digs, two blocks and the team’s lone ace for 20 points. However, it was the effort from rookie outside hitter Ally Batenhorst who helped fuel the comeback, pouring in a professional career high 16 kills on a .282 clip in four sets. The Houston native — who hadn’t appeared in a match since February 16 — also added eight digs and one assist. Opposite&nbsp;Kelsie Payne&nbsp;also made a major impact off the bench with eight kills on a .421 hitting percentage. Reigning PVF Player of the Week&nbsp;Emily Londot&nbsp;contributed eight kills on the night before being replaced by Payne.&nbsp;

Both Supernovas middle blockers had excellent nights as&nbsp;Kayla Caffey&nbsp;put in her best performance of the season with eight kills (.400) and a match-high five blocks.&nbsp;Kaitlyn Hord&nbsp;ended with six kills (.385) and four blocks to extend her league-leading total to 52 on the season.&nbsp;

Setter&nbsp;Mac Podraza&nbsp;sparked the offense in her first extended action of the season when she came in for&nbsp;Natalia Valentín-Anderson&nbsp;in the second set. Podraza dished out 37 assists and four digs with her performance highlighted by the offense hitting to a tune of .455 in the decisive fifth game. Libero&nbsp;Camila Gómez&nbsp;added 15 digs and five assists.&nbsp;

Omaha hit .262 for the match while having 13 blocks with 12 of those coming in the final four sets. The Supernovas also finished with one ace.&nbsp;

Indy recorded a .240 hitting percentage with nine blocks and three aces. All-Star opposite Azhani Tealer had a historic evening for the Ignite with 31 kills (.350), nine digs and three blocks. It’s the most for a Supernovas opponent in franchise history. Two other Ignite players reached double figure kills in rookies Anna DeBeer (12) and Nina Čajić (10).

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