North Platte High School announces new softball coach

North Platte, Ne - The North Platte Plainsmen are getting ready to embark on their second season of summer collegiate baseball bat historic Bill Wood Field. Chuck and Mayra were in the Post studio last week and visited with Derek Beck about some of the big game days for 2023 and also host families for the summer.&nbsp; If you are interested in becoming a Host Family or wish to learn more about hosting a player, please email&nbsp;mayra<a href="mailto:info@northplatteplainsmen.com" target="_blank">@northplatteplainsmen.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Enjoy the Post Podcast brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.npkubota.com/" target="_blank">North Platte Kubota</a>.

Plainsmen getting ready for second season in North Platte

The Grocery Grab is returning on May 6 at Gary's Super Foods on East 4th Street in North Platte. Tickets are $10 to register, and there will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd places awarded to go grocery shopping for free. Purchase tickets at Gary's or contact Misty Robertson at 308-530-8544. North Platte Post visited with Misty and Patrick Jacobson about the upcoming event.

🎙️ Grocery Grab from North Platte noon rotary coming back to Gary's Super Foods in May

Jace Williams and Caitlyn Jacobson talk with Eagle's Derek Beck about upcoming 4H Performing Arts Contest this week.

Logan County 4H’r get’s ready for speech contest

&nbsp; North Platte, Ne - Desiree Aragon was in the North Platte Post studio on Friday, March 24 to talk with Derek Beck about the grand openinng and ribbon cutting that will take place next Wednesday for Coaching Empowered Kids. Enjoy the conversation and visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/coachingempoweredkids">Facebook page here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Coaching Empowered Kids grand opening set for March 29

North Platte, Ne -&nbsp; &nbsp;Trevor Sewald with North Platte's Ducks Unlimited stopped into the Eagle studio's this week to talk about the banquet on Friday night at the D &amp; N Event Center, online ticket sales are over, but you can get them at the door. Doors open at 5pm. Sewald spoke with the North Platte Post's Derek Beck about oppourtunities inside the Ducks Unlimited organization, and how DU gives back locally. Enjoy the conversation brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">North Platte Kubota</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙️ North Platte Ducks Unlimited banquet Friday night at D & N Event Center

Ian Munsick, Megan Moroney, &amp; Black Stone Cherry to headline the Chase County Fair in Imperial this August.

Black Stone Cherry and The Read Southall Band will play the Chase County Fair &amp; Expo on Friday August 18 for a night of great southern rock music.

Kicking the door open into 2023, BLACK STONE CHERRY have revealed a brandnew song, "Out of Pocket." The song isout now via Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group and is available on all streaming platforms. The song drops in time for fans to get pumped up for their show in Imperial, NE. Black Stone Cherry have 2023 firmly in their sights and are taking it, lock, stock and barrel. Now it's time to rock the house at Chase County Fair and Expo!

READ SOUTHALL BAND captures vigorous, rock ‘n’ roll energy with elements of country and southern rock."There is a ton of excitement building around Read Southall Band at the moment." Riff Magazine notes, "Read Southall Band combines the heavy guitars of the late- and post-grunge era with southern rock vocals and a country music sensibility to create a sound outside the expectations of any of those genres by themselves." Southall is from Colby, Kansas.

Jacob Burke interview with North Platte Post's Derek Beck/<a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Kubota Podcast</a>

IAN MUNSICK WITH SPECIAL GUEST MEGAN MORONEY SATURDAY AUGUST 19th, 2023

Breathing fresh Rocky Mountain air into the Nashville music scene, Ian Munsick is pioneering a new brand of country. The Wyoming-born singer / songwriter’s upbringing was a mix of working the ranch and working crowds. Under the tutelage of their fiddleplaying father, Munsick and his two older brothers grew up playing everything from bluegrass to The Beatles.&nbsp;

Captivated by traditional lyrical truth and the modern soundscape, Munsick followed his ear to Music City. Ian signed a major label record deal with Warner Music Nashville in 2020. Since then, he has accumulated more than 300 million global streams as well as accolades from Spotify (“Hot Country Artist to Watch”), MusicRow magazine (“Next Big Thing”) and more. “Long Haul” earned his second iHeartRadio Rocky Mountain Country Music Award for Song of the

Year. The recent releases of “Long Live Cowgirls” (with Cody Johnson), “More Than Me,” and “Horses &amp; Weed” are ushering in the next chapter of his musical saga... Fans are finding that, with Ian Munsick, western country is reborn.. 

Born and raised in Georgia, Megan Moroney was heavily influenced in classic country, southern rock, and americana. Megan is known for her distinctive voice and honest,conversational lyrics. 2022 brought the singer a breakout year with the release of her debut EP, Pistol Made of Roses,followed by her single “Tennessee Orange,” which put Megan on the map as Nashville’s most compelling new artist. The colossal buzz surrounding the track prompted her to perform it on ESPN’s College GameDay, while racking up an average of 5 million streams a week and over 70 million global streams to date. Currently, “Tennessee Orange” is the #1 weekly streamed song by a solo female country artist. 

Megan is set to kick off her sold out headlining PISTOL MADE OF ROSES tour this spring,then heading to Imperial, NE this summer. Pulling inspiration from artists such as Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves, the “musical risktaker with powerhouse pipes” (CMT) and “2023 Artist to Watch” (Spotify, Pandora, Holler, The Nash News) is slated to become a household name in the years to come. Megan’s new album “Lucky” is set to release May 5th!

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 23 2023 at 10:00 CST

*** For more event information and tickets visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chasecountyfair.com/">www.chascecountyfair.com </a>

Chase County Fair in Imperial announces summer concert lineup

🎙️ North Platte Post Outdoor Report with Julie Geiser (March 22, 2023)

At its meeting Tuesday, the North Platte City Council advanced the effort to remodel the Recreation Center and Cody Pool by choosing an architect to lead the project.

Omaha-based RDG Planning &amp; Design was chosen to lead the remodeling and expansion projects.

"RDG brings a wealth of expertise to the project, boasting 30 years of experience in the planning and design of sports and recreational facilities across the region, including facilities in Kearney and Omaha&lt;' the city said in a release Wednesday. "RDG recognizes the integral part that local architects and contractors&nbsp;play, and&nbsp;has assembled a project team with numerous North Platte businesses and connections."

“As the city reviewed the outstanding candidates that proposed to undertake this project, we were committed to making a decision that focused on three criteria,” said Mayor Brandon Kelliher. “First, we wanted to make the wisest use of funds. Next, we wanted to work with a firm who is a leader in sports and recreational facilities. Lastly, we wanted to ensure that our outstanding local businesses were utilized during the design and construction process. RDG has demonstrated that their vision and priorities for the execution of this project align with these criteria.”&nbsp;

RDG is partnering with local architects and contractors on the project team. North Platte Architects, Steele’s Roofing &amp; Construction, T.C. Engineering Inc., and Wayne&nbsp;Dowhower Construction Inc., are all on the project team, in addition to:

• Sampson Construction for cost estimating • Engineering Technologies Inc. for mechanical and electrical engineering • Performance Engineering for structural engineering •Aquatic Design Consultants Inc. for swimming pool consulting

Two of ETI’s engineers assigned to the project are North Platte natives.&nbsp;

The design process will continue through early 2024, with anticipated construction set to begin early in the second quarter of 2024.&nbsp;

The process of accepting bids for the project began in January of 2023, after North Platte voters approved a temporary half-cent sales tax increase in November of 2022. The additional sales tax will go into effect this&nbsp;spring and will help raise $52.5 million to make improvements at the Recreation Center and Cody Pool, as well as relocate the Skate Park.&nbsp;

🎙️ Architect for rec center, pool revamp chosen by North Platte council

North Platte Mayor Brandon Kelliher Recaps March 21 City Council Meeting. Among the talking points he spoke about with North Platte Post's Derek Beck were new tree board members, contracts for city health insurance plans, which saw no increase this year. They also spoke about North Platte Police Department overtime campaings, ordinance 4116 about electric construction costs, the promotion of Lyle Minshull to Parks and Recreation Director, along with Steve Mentzer to Public Service Director, and finally Kelliher spoke about the RDG planning for the new North Platte Rec Center.&nbsp;

🎙️ North Platte Mayor recap of Tuesday night's City Council meeting

The North Platte Post Outdoor Report with Julie Geiser, for March 16, 2023. Julie is a Public Information Officer and NEBRASKAland Regional Editor based out of North Platte, where she was born and still happily resides. Geiser worked for the commission previously for over 10 years as an outdoor education instructor – teaching people of all ages about Nebraska’s outdoor offerings. She also coordinates the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program for Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC). She loves spending time outdoors with her family and getting others involved in her passions of hunting, fishing, camping, boating, hiking and enjoying Nebraska’s great outdoors.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Podcast brought to you by North Platte Kubota</a>

🎙️ North Platte Post Outdoor Report with Julie Geiser (March 16, 2023)

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A<a href="https://www.hy-vee.com/corporate/news-events/news-press-releases/hyvee-voluntarily-recalls-skillet-hamburger-meal-due-to--presence-of-allergens-not-listed-on-packaging/?_ga=2.217803921.620379462.1680012333-2049875303.1680012333"> company announced</a> Tuesday that it is recalling a packaged pasta dish sold in HyVee grocery stores in eight Midwestern states.

Chester, Illinois-based Gilster-Mary Lee Corp. said it was recalling HyVee Hamburger Chili Macaroni Skillet Meals produced at a plant in Steeleville, Illinois, because of undeclared milk in the product. The milk could be dangerous to people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk.

<a href="https://www.hy-vee.com/corporate/news-events/news-press-releases/hyvee-voluntarily-recalls-skillet-hamburger-meal-due-to--presence-of-allergens-not-listed-on-packaging/?_ga=2.217803921.620379462.1680012333-2049875303.1680012333">The recall is for lots packaged</a> in 5.2 ounce cartons that have a best by date of Feb. 8, 2024. The food was sold at HyVee and Dollar Fresh Market stores in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

People can return packages to HyVee stores for a refund or can discard it.

Hy-Vee is based in West Des Moines, Iowa.

HyVee recalls pasta dish sold at grocery chain

Listen to Z93.5 Country today for a chance to win $100. Listen at 2pm and 5pm Central time to hear a codeword. Enter Codeword at&nbsp;<a href="https://z935country.com/#//">Z935Country.com</a>&nbsp;when you hear it for a chance to win. Z 93.5 Country will be doing this contest for the next 5 weeks. Keep listening to win. The contest is sponsosored by Bruce Furniture, Papa Murphy's of North Platte, Family 1st Productions and Premier Toyota.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Win $100 two more times today with CA$HVILLE from Z93.5 Country

LINCOLN — On Tuesday,&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen,&nbsp;in&nbsp;accordance with a request from&nbsp;the&nbsp;White House, announced that all U.S. and Nebraska&nbsp;flags&nbsp;are&nbsp;to&nbsp;be flown&nbsp;at&nbsp;half staff&nbsp;immediately,&nbsp;to&nbsp;honor&nbsp;the&nbsp;victims&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;deadly shooting&nbsp;in&nbsp;Nashville, Tenn.

Flags&nbsp;are&nbsp;to&nbsp;be flown&nbsp;at&nbsp;half-staff&nbsp;until sunset on Friday. &nbsp;

Pillen: Flags at half-staff to honor Nashville shooting victims

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-entities-share-14-million-in-housing-grants-with-another-4-million-left-unclaimed/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska economic 
development officials on Monday announced $14 million in housing-related
 grants headed to various communities across the state that have been 
set back by the pandemic.

The state fell short, however, of 
awarding another nearly $4 million set aside for housing — because not 
enough qualified applicants from rural areas requested the money, a 
spokesperson said.

The spokesperson for the Department of Economic Development said the state will open a<a target="_blank" href="https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/pandemic-relief-housing-program/"> second application cycle</a> to try to distribute the remainder.

The funds are from the federal 
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and were earmarked last year under 
Legislative Bill 1014 to respond to negative effects of COVID-19 by 
increasing housing stability.

In this wave of grants, the 
department was dealing with two funding pots: $10 million for one 
program and $8 million for another.

All of the $10 million was snapped up
 by rural cities. That amount was to go to eligible municipalities that 
develop and renovate affordable housing to increase long-term stability.

Of 27 applications totaling $19 million in requests, 12 winners are to receive the total $10 million via the state’s “<a target="_blank" href="https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/rural-workforce-housing-land-development-program/">Rural Workforce Housing</a> Land Development Program.”

Of the other $8 million fund, only 
about $4 million was distributed among five nonprofits. A state official
 said that at least half of the total is supposed to go to rural 
Nebraska and that an insufficient show of eligible applications left the
 money unclaimed, so far.

State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who 
has championed measures to devote more state funds toward affordable 
housing development, said the need across the state for additional 
housing “of all categories is indisputable.”

Numerous nonprofits and housing 
groups testified during various legislative hearings about the need for 
more housing, especially at affordable prices, to attract more workers 
and economic development to both urban and rural Nebraska.&nbsp;

“I am surprised more of these dollars
 were not accessed,” Briese said. “Perhaps there was an element of lack 
of awareness of the program parameters.”

Funds for that program were aimed at 
nonprofits serving low-income households, including refugee and 
immigrants, in disproportionately affected census tracts.

Five nonprofits that received chunks of the $8 million pot were:

Project: New construction of 16 units
 of three- and four-bedroom rowhouse-style rental housing units serving 
refugees and immigrants exclusively.&nbsp;

Project: Production of five 
affordable housing units for sale using a mix of rehabilitated homes and
 new construction units serving refugees and immigrants exclusively.

Project: Create quality, safe 
affordable housing through a home repair program serving refugee and 
immigrant homeowners exclusively.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Project: Down payment assistance program serving 12 refugee and immigrant households exclusively.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Project: New construction of four two-bedroom and four three-bedroom duplexes to serve refugees and immigrants exclusively.

North Platte receives $1M in ARPA funds for housing

Keeping good records is crucial for ensuring that you file an accurate tax return and take advantage of all the deductions and credits you're entitled to. Accurate records can also help you avoid an audit or other penalties from the IRS. Here are some tips for keeping good records:

First, keep all your tax-related documents organized and in one place. This includes receipts, bank and credit card statements, W-2s and 1099s, and any other documents related to your income and expenses.

Second, make sure you track all your income and expenses throughout the year. This includes any income from self-employment or side jobs, as well as any expenses related to those jobs. It's also important to track any deductible expenses, such as charitable contributions or medical expenses.

Third, consider using tax software or a professional tax preparer to help you organize your records and file your tax return. This can help you avoid mistakes and ensure that you're taking advantage of all available deductions and credits.

Overall, keeping good records can be time-consuming, but it's well worth the effort. By taking the time to organize your documents and track your income and expenses, you can save yourself a lot of stress and potentially save money on your tax bill.

Office hours Monday through Friday 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday by appointment

🎙️ H&R Block of North Platte and Ogallala Tax Tip (Week of Mar.28th)

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/category/arrests">Click here to see past Hot Sheets</a>

This information is not a criminal history. Criminal charges are often dropped or reduced. All individuals included in this post are presumed innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. The North Platte Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. Any person who believes information provided is not accurate may submit a complaint&nbsp;toadmin@northplattepost.com.

The Hot Sheets (March 28, 2023)

Produced nationally and internationally, Little Women has been praised 
by critics for its ambition in adapting such a well-known story for the 
stage. This timeless, captivating story is brought to life in this 
glorious musical filled with personal discovery, heartache, hope and 
everlasting love. The original production starred the unparalleled 
Sutton Foster, who received Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk 
nominations for her performance. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, 
Little Women follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy 
March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the 
publishers are not interested – her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her 
that she has to do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly 
taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and 
their experience growing up in Civil War America. Little Women 
embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled
 with laughter, tears and a lifting of the spirit. Little Women features
 plenty of great opportunities for female actors and singers ranging in 
age from teenage to 60 years old. The show also has a flexible cast size
 that can include as few as ten or as many as 42 people! The powerful 
score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope – 
the sounds of a young America finding its voice.

Friday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 24 at 2 p.m. Friday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m. Adults:&nbsp; $18 in advance or $20 at the door Students:&nbsp; $10 in advance or $12 at the door

Tickets will go on sale beginning Monday, April 17 from 12-5 p.m. (<a href="https://northplattecommunityplayhouse.com/">online</a> and at the Playhouse).

'Little Women' set to take the stage at North Platte Playhouse

University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension

Many cow/calf 
producers are short on hay and hoping for an early spring. This in 
person seminar will discuss some options for getting lactating cows fed 
until pasture is ready. With the drought of 2022, many
 pastures ended up being quite heavily grazed.&nbsp; There is always some 
uncertainty as to what the 2023 spring and summer weather will be like.&nbsp;
 This seminar will discuss this summer’s pasture management, nutrition, 
reproduction management and animal wellbeing
 due to limited feed resources.&nbsp; 

Recent weather maps 
show a continuation of the drought but some improvement this year.&nbsp; What
 options and plans do you have if we have another dry year?&nbsp; This 
program will help you plan and give options for
 this summer’s grazing season.

Speakers for the 
seminar are Jerry Volesky, UNL Range &amp; Forage Specialist, Karla 
Wilke, Beef Extension Nutrition Specialist, Rick Funston UNL Beef 
Reproduction Specialist and Ruth Woiwode, UNL Beef Animal
 Behavior Extension Specialist.

Register by email to: <a href="mailto:rsaner2@unl.edu" target="_blank">rsaner2@unl.edu</a>
 or call the Lincoln Logan McPherson Extension Office at: 308-532-2683.&nbsp;
 The seminar will be held at the West Central Research Extension &amp; 
Education Center Auditorium
 located at 402 W State Farm Road North Platte.&nbsp; The program will be 
held Monday, April 3 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.&nbsp; The program is sponsored by 
Farm Credit Services of America and Nebraska Extension.

Extension's beef producers meeting is April 3 in North Platte

United States Attorney 
Steven Russell announced that William H. White, 55, and Sarah A. White, 
40, husband and wife, formerly of Roca were sentenced on 
March 21 by the Senior United States District
 Judge John M. Gerrard for Failure to Pay Over Employment Tax that had 
been withheld from employees’ paychecks.&nbsp; William White was sentenced to
 one year and one day imprisonment, to be followed by three years of 
supervised release.&nbsp; Sarah White was sentenced
 to three years of probation and a fine of $10,000.&nbsp; Each was ordered to
 pay $426,047.75 restitution but was credited for payments they had made
 previously totaling that same amount.&nbsp;


William and Sarah White
 owned two businesses that operated in tandem -- B&amp;B Midwest 
Trucking (B&amp;B) and 419, LLC (419).&nbsp; During portions of 2015 to 2018,
 B&amp;B and 419 withheld
federal income taxes and FICA taxes (Social Security and 
Medicare) from employees’ paychecks but failed to account for those 
taxes on time and to pay them over to the Internal Revenue Service.&nbsp; The
 withheld employee payroll taxes totaled $144,220.31
 for B&amp;B, and $281,827.44 for 419.&nbsp; Each business had sufficient 
funds available to pay the payroll taxes when due.&nbsp; William and Sarah 
White were aware of the obligation to account for and pay the payroll 
taxes and were responsible to pay them, but instead
 used the funds withheld from employees’ paychecks to pay other business
 creditors and to pay for personal expenses.&nbsp;&nbsp; The businesses had 
further failed to pay over the employer’s share of payroll taxes to the 
IRS, but the Whites paid those amounts as well
 prior to sentencing. 

“Business owners have a significant duty to collect
 and turn over all IRS withholding taxes,” said Thomas F. Murdock, 
Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, St. Louis Field 
Office. “Those who fail to do so gain an unfair competitive
 advantage.&nbsp; The failure to abide by IRS laws will not be tolerated, and
 those criminals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service.

Couple sentenced for failure to pay withheld payroll taxes

Due to predicted inclement weather, the North Platte High School track meet has been moved from Friday to Thursday, March 30, at 12:30 p.m.

Weather forces change to high school track meet schedule

By ERIC OLSON Associated Press

Making TikTok videos for fun evolved into a serious moneymaking venture for Nebraska track athlete Jess Gardner, who is among the many social media stars in college sports.

A comical video of her teaching a football player how to pole vault has been viewed nearly 4 million times, though the majority of her self-described “girly girl” content features her lip-syncing or performing skits while dressed in her track uniform, sweat clothes or stylish outfits. Pretty common stuff for social media influencers.

The number of Gardner's TikTok followers has climbed to nearly 210,000 over the past four months — in addition to her 115,000 on Instagram — and with that has come something else: Gardner has become mindful of staying safe because of the possibility of an overzealous fan becoming menacing; she said eight of every 10 of her followers are male.

As has been the case with other female athletes who are monetizing their social media followings, it's typical for her looks to be the subject of comments on her videos, comments that can range from genuinely complimentary to inappropriate — or worse.

“As a woman, thinking in the future, if I had a son and they were commenting those kinds of things on a young girl’s video, I would be ashamed of my son,” Gardner said. "Not all the comments are like that. Don’t get me wrong. There are a lot of very nice people who follow me, a lot of very nice comments.

“But some of the ones that are more alarming, like I just think, what is going on in your life? I can’t take it personal," she said. "I have to understand their perception of me is a reflection of their experiences and their life and that type of stuff. What happened or what’s going on that you see a video of me in a winter coat and that’s where your mind is going?”

LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, who has 11 million TikTok and Instagram followers, was in the headlines earlier this year when a swarm of boys and young men showed up at a meet in Utah. They&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/samanthapeszek/status/1611929895839453184?s=20">at one point formed a gauntlet</a>&nbsp;outside the arena. Dunne later asked her fans to show respect for her and her teammates, and the incident prompted LSU to assign security personnel to travel with the team.

John Muffler of Florida-based Aequitas Global Security said athletes who have experienced sudden popularity as influencers must understand they are at risk of attracting followers with nefarious intentions. Muffler, a retired U.S. Marshals Service chief inspector, specializes in risk mitigation and threat assessment and has written about problems influencers can encounter.

As with all influencers, Muffler said, college athletes with rising public profiles need to be aware of their surroundings and never post anything that would offer a clue about their location.

Muffler discourages sending direct messages to followers the influencer does not know and urges caution in general replies to comments. Something as innocent as a smiley face emoji could trigger what's known as a parasocial relationship, meaning the follower imagines he or she knows or is friends with the influencer.

“Most people are going to be fine and normal about following you,” Muffler said, “but it can be perceived as an invitation to others — and those are the ones you need to worry about. They’re the ones that show up in your lab class or outside your dorm.”

Hanna Cavinder, who along with sister and fellow Miami basketball player Haley are among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-cavinder-twins-miami-0752da493e58c2ebca3eae494915e8b3">the top college athlete influencers by any measure,</a>&nbsp;said she lives a more private life than most would assume given the twins' prolific and lucrative use of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thecavindertwins/?hl=en">social media.</a>

“People will always question, ‘Well, why don’t you post your teammates more on TikTok? Or why aren’t you posting your sisters more or your family and stuff?’” she added. “And this is why — I don’t want them to deal with stuff that we’ve had to learn and grow and adapt to, like hate comments and stuff like that. That took a while to get used to, people just talking down on you for no reason.”

Gardner said she started making TikToks last year with her roommate and they were surprised at how many views they generated. With college athletes now able to cash in on their celebrity, Gardner began looking for ways to monetize them and now partners with about 15 brands, most of them catering to women.

Her potential annual earnings from the effort are projected to be $111,000, which ranks No. 3 among Division I female track athletes, according to On3.com.

Gardner said she has received handwritten letters signed by men — one contained jokers from a deck of cards — and thrown them away. She had heard about the Dunne situation in Utah but didn't give it much thought until a teammate told her a group of males was looking for her during an indoor meet in Lincoln.

“That kind of stuff ... is definitely scary,” she said during an interview in Nebraska's indoor track facility. “As you can see in this building, we’re a little less separated than the basketball or football or volleyball team would be at a game. The stands are right there. That was definitely unsettling.”

Gardner said she spoke with her coaches and people in the athletic department who said they were aware of her large social media following and assured her security measures were in place to keep her safe.

University spokeswoman Leslie Reed said campus police have not seen an increase in athlete security concerns directly attributable to social media prominence.

“We have always had high-profile athletes on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus and we address issues as they arise,” Reed said in a statement.

The scary side of being a college athlete & influencer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The NFL's veteran wide receiver market is a 
little thinner after Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton declared neither 
Jerry Jeudy nor Courtland Sutton are on the trade block.

Payton 
made the comments while speaking to the NFL Network on Sunday, the first
 day of the league's spring owners meetings in Arizona.

“We're not
 trading those two players,” Payton said, acknowledging the Broncos have
 received inquiries about the availability of the wide receivers who 
combined for 1,801 yards receiving and eight TD receptions in 2022.

“We've
 received calls, you bet. Those are two good football players,” Payton 
said. “But we're in the business of gathering talent right now. Why do 
people call? Because they know we're void of draft picks and that we 
might, because there was some discussions a year ago, I think, regarding
 Courtland. But we like the current group that we're working with.”

The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-nfl-free-agency-953cf94ee06b3e83562601317214a77b">Broncos have just five picks</a>
 in the NFL draft next month and they own no selections until the third 
round after parting with premium picks to acquire quarterback Russell 
Wilson from Seattle last year and Payton from the Saints this winter.

Wilson
 cost them first- and second-round picks last year and this year and 
they had to send a first-rounder they acquired from Miami in the Bradley
 Chubb trade to New Orleans in order to hire Payton.

Jeudy has 
never lived up to his status as a 2020 first-round pick, mostly because 
of injuries, although he came on strong at the end of last season, 
posting big numbers after he was moved to the flanker position.

Sutton,
 a second-round selection in 2019, hasn't been the same since tearing an
 ACL in 2020. He has caught just two touchdown passes in each of the 
last two seasons.

Also, the Broncos' depth at the position took a 
hit last week when speedster K.J. Hamler, another receiver whose career 
has been marked by injuries, tore a chest muscle while working out. He's
 expected to be out up to six months.

Tim Patrick, the Broncos' most productive receiver, is returning from a torn ACL that cost him all of the 2022 season.

Following
 Hamler's latest injury, the Broncos signed free agent wide receiver 
Marquez Callaway, a fourth-year pro who played for Payton in New 
Orleans.

It was also revealed last week that Wilson underwent 
arthroscopic knee surgery after the season, but is on track to 
participate in the team's offseason program next month.

Broncos' Payton says Jeudy, Sutton aren't on the trade block

The North Platte Community College softball team will play Northeast Community College Tuesday in North Platte.

The doubleheader, which was rescheduled from February, will begin at 1 p.m. at the Dowhower Softball Complex.

The most up-to-date information about NPCC athletics, including schedules, rosters and statistics, can be found on the Knights Facebook and Twitter accounts and online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/">npccknights.com</a>.

Knights reschedule game against Northeast for Tuesday at home

The Tri-City Storm completed a three-game weekend sweep over the Fargo Force Sunday evening at the Viaero Center in a 3-2 victory. Dane Dowiak netted the game-tying goal, and the game-winning goal in the matchup. Shaun McEwen also scored in the win for Tri-City. Patriks Bērziņš backstopped the Storm to victory by making 24 saves in the game. The Storm won this year’s season series against the Force with a final head-to-head record of 4-3-1-0. Tri-City improved to 29-17-3-3 overall with the victory.

Shaun McEwen netted his second goal of the season at 14:39 of Sunday’s opening period to give the Storm a 1-0 lead in the battle. Daimon Gardner and Trevor Connelly each recorded an assist on the scoring play. Tri-City carried a one-goal lead into Sunday’s 2nd&nbsp;period, despite being outshot 11-6 in the 1st&nbsp;period.

Zam Plante scored his eleventh goal of the year at 4:20 of the 2nd&nbsp;period to bring the game to a 1-1 tie. Plante’s goal for the Force netted on the powerplay, and was assisted by Mac Swanson, and Owen Mehlenbacher. Kevin Scott gave Fargo a one-goal lead in the matchup minutes later with his fourth scoring play of the season. The goal was netted at 10:05 of the middle period, and was assisted by Anthony Menghini. Dane Dowiak tied the game for Tri-City at 16:55 of the 2nd&nbsp;period with his thirteenth scoring play of the season. The goal was assisted by Cam O’Neill, and Shaun McEwen. Fargo outshot Tri-City 10-5 in the 2nd&nbsp;period, and the final period began with the two teams tied 2-2.

The only goal of Sunday’s 3rd&nbsp;period was scored with less than five minutes to play by Dane Dowiak. The scoring play was his second of the game, and fourteenth of the season. Evan Werner and Daimon Gardner each recorded an assist on the game-winning goal. The scoring play was the final of Sunday’s game, and the Storm skated away with a 3-2 victory, and a three-game weekend sweep over the league-leading Force. Tri-City outshot Fargo 12-5 in the 3rd&nbsp;period, but was outshot by an overall margin of 26-23 for the game.

Patriks Bērziņš turned away 24 of Fargo’s 26 shots on goal to record the win, and improve to 9-2-1-0 on the season in goal for Tri-City. The Force’s Anton Castro recorded the loss after making 20 saves on 23 shots.

Tri-City hits the ice again on Wednesday, March 29th, in a road game against the Lincoln Stars. Puck drop is scheduled for 11:00am CT. Skate to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stormhockey.com/" target="_blank">www.StormHockey.com</a>&nbsp;for individual game tickets and more information regarding the Tri-City Storm organization.&nbsp;#StormAhead

Storm completes weekend sweep of Force

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer

LAS VEGAS — March has gone from madness to unprecedented.

With Miami's win over Houston and San Diego State's takedown of Alabama on Friday night, the men's NCAA Tournament will not have a No. 1 seed in the Elite Eight for the first time since seeding began in 1979.

"There's not a lot of difference between the best team in the country and the worst team in the country," San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said. "You're seeing that on this stage."

Purdue, Kansas, Houston and Alabama are all gone, ensuring the Final Four will not have a No. 1 team for the first time since 2011 and the third overall. The four teams deemed by the NCAA to be the best in the country combined to win five tournament games this year, the fewest by three among No. 1 seeds since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

Texas is the lone No. 2 seed remaining after bouncing Xavier out of the bracket 83-71 Friday night under interim coach Rodney Terry. The fewest combined No. 1-2 seeds in the Elite Eight before this year was two (three times).

How crazy has it been? The national title game is guaranteed to have at least one of these teams: San Diego State, Creighton, Florida Atlantic or Kansas State. The Aztecs, Bluejays and Owls have never been to the Elite Eight. The Wildcats were picked to finish last in the Big 12.

It's also a lock the winning coach will be a first-time champion.

"It's a lot of really good programs in the country that have lost — I mean, we could go down the list of them," Alabama coach Nate Oats said. "That's what makes the NCAA Tournament the NCAA Tournament. They're all good teams."

The madness started in the opening round of the East Region, when fairytale Fairleigh Dickinson wrecked brackets around the world by becoming the second No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1.

Arkansas was the next giant killer, taking down reigning national champion and West Region No. 1 seed Kansas in the second round.

The Sweet 16 turned sour on Friday for Alabama, the bracket's No. 1 overall seed. The Crimson Tide were no match for Dutcher's ball-and-body-hawking San Diego State Aztecs in a 71-64 South Region loss in Louisville, Kentucky. San Diego State is the first Mountain West Conference school to reach the Elite Eight.

Miami capped the No. 1 carnage in the Midwest Region by taking apart one of the nation's stingiest defenses in a 89-75 win over Houston in Kansas City, Missouri that had Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga dancing in the locker room.

"Unfortunately, one off-night and you go home in this tournament," Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson said.

AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.

Crazy Eight: No top seeds among last 8 in March Madness

Story by NPCC Athletic Communications

The North Platte Community College softball team fought hard on the second day of competition against Highland Community College but fell just short in an 11-9 loss at home Wednesday afternoon.

“We had them on their toes,” said Janelle Higgins, NPCC head softball coach, of the Scotties. “They had to go through five pitchers in today’s game, and that shows we are right there. We adjusted well, played okay defense, and if a ball is fair, it’s a different outcome.”

The Scotties took the lead early on – scoring two runs in the first inning then five more in the second. By the third inning, the Knights were down by eight.

North Platte rallied – scoring seven runs in the attempted comeback. The offensive firepower was led by Gwen Anderson, Nancy Martinez, Juliana Ortiz and April Grace, all of whom drove in runs in the frame.

Taelyn Dakamas scored on a sacrifice bunt by Angelina Lockhart in the fifth inning then followed that up with a home run in the sixth.

Dakamas also pitched for an inning, allowing three hits and six runs while striking out two.&nbsp; Lockhart threw six innings in relief out of the bullpen.

Highland currently has a season record of 14-5.

“The girls fought hard today - had a few hiccups, but to come back as fired up and ready today in the cold after two losses yesterday shows this team has grit and wants it,” said Higgins. “Highland is a very good program. They were nationally ranked last year, and we had them. We’ve played some very tough and ranked teams so far this season, and it is only going to make the rest of the year a fun ride.”

Next up, the Knights will travel to Sterling, Colo. They will take on Northeastern Junior College in doubleheaders beginning at 3 p.m. (CDT) Thursday and 1 p.m. (CDT) Friday.

Knights edged out by Scotties

Laramie County (Wyo.) Community College

GILLETTE, Wyo. — The Laramie County Community College rodeo team hit 
the ground running on the men's side in their first competition of the 
spring, erupting for 680 team points on their way to their first team 
title of the 2022-23 season. The win is also the first win for the 
Golden Eagle men since Head Rodeo Coach Seth Glause has been involved 
with the program.

"Everything fell our way and we really capitalized on Sunday which is
 always good and helps on the team points some," Glause praised. "I was 
proud of our students. They all competed well and competed with a 
purpose and did a really great job."

The effort was led by senior <a href="https://golccc.com/sports/rodeo/2022-23/bios/girard_bernard_oh5d">Bernard Girard</a>&nbsp;— of Alliance — who took home the All-Around title along with a championship in Tie-Down roping.

Girard was also able to garner a third-place finish in Steer 
Wrestling on the way to tallying 255 points for the Golden Eagles team 
effort. He said the team has been using a variety of ways to get ready 
for the opening rodeo and it kept them all on their toes.

"The last three weeks, everyone has been getting ready to go," he 
said. "We had a steer wrestling jackpot Thursday night before we left to
 go to Gillette and got everybody in the zone to go. I went to a jackpot
 the weekend before and just having that good of a start was awesome and
 made me want to keep the ball rolling."

Girard was joined by a pair of other Golden Eagles who took home titles in their first goes of the spring.

Freshman <a href="https://golccc.com/sports/rodeo/2022-23/bios/tattrie_dixon_ij70">Dixon Tattrie</a>
 brought home the top spot in bull riding for his third rodeo win of the
 year going back to the fall and he continues to lead the Central Rocky 
Mountain Region (CRMR) standings with 360 points.

"I've started to ride really good this spring at practice and I feel 
more confident in what I was doing and how I was riding," Tattrie said 
about getting a good lead. "You try not to watch the standings as much 
as you can. The more you watch it the more pressure you put on yourself.
 If you take an eye off it and just go and ride bulls every weekend, 
it's a lot easier to do that than say 'I have to ride this bull so I 
stay here in the standings.'"

Tattrie also added a runner up in the first go of Saddle Bronc riding
 and finished fifth in the average to bring 80 more points for the team 
total there.

Fellow freshman <a href="https://golccc.com/sports/rodeo/2022-23/bios/pokorny_dane_zmt2">Dane Pokorny</a>&nbsp;of Thedford was another standout for LCCC, bringing home a tie for the title in 
Steer Wrestling after winning the first go with a time of 4.4 and adding
 a 4.7 in the short go to bring 140 more points to the team tally.

"We've got nine guys that can win any weekend (in steer wrestling) 
and they back into the box and they know they have an opportunity. We 
just missed having seven guys (in the short go)," Glause said. "I think 
they were 11th, 12th, and 14th so they bulldogged very well."

The win also moved Pokorny into a tie for second in the CRMR with 
Girard and putting both into position to qualify for the College 
National Finals Rodeo in June.

Other quality performances for the Golden Eagles included <a href="https://golccc.com/sports/rodeo/2022-23/bios/derner_chance_x0qt">Chance Derner</a> taking the top spot in the first go in Tie-Down, although the South Dakota junior failed to record a time on his second head.

Freshman Bull Rider Griffin Koester picked up a round win on his 
second ride with a score of 67 to add to his CRMR total and move into 
second place behind Tattrie.

"Dixon is in a good spot, he kind of separated himself from the field
 this weekend," Glause said. "They both just need to continue to ride 
with confidence and continue to give themselves opportunities to win and
 they both have the opportunity to go to Casper."

The Golden Eagles packed in a few more individuals in Steer Wrestling with freshman <a href="https://golccc.com/sports/rodeo/2022-23/bios/ravenscroft_tucker_26c5">Tucker Ravenscroft</a>&nbsp;oif Nenzel and senior <a href="https://golccc.com/sports/rodeo/2022-23/bios/pokorny_cauy_zssw">Cauy Pokorny</a>&nbsp;of Thedford both making the short go, and both put down times to finish fifth and sixth respectively in the average.

On the women's side, it wasn't a flashy rodeo for Laramie County. The
 team only had one make it to the short go in Wheatland freshman <a href="https://golccc.com/sports/rodeo/2022-23/bios/grant_rayne_fgpk">Rayne Grant</a>
 who picked up a sixth-place tie in the first go in breakaway and was 
able to make the top ten in barrels. Unfortunately, her rides in the 
short go were not enough to bring any points in to the team.&nbsp;

The Golden Eagle men remained in third place in the team standings, 
but picked up almost 300 points on region leading University of Wyoming 
and 465 points on second place Casper College. The team now sits just 
275 points out of second place with four rodeos' remaining.

"We need to keep the pressure on and continue to perform at a high 
level so that we have a opportunity come Laramie to go and compete in 
Casper as a team," Glause said.

The LCCC women remain in third place also, trailing the University of
 Wyoming by 580 points for the second spot in the team standings while 
Gillette College continues to dominate the region with wins in four of 
the six rodeos' so far.&nbsp;

Next week, the teams will be closer to home for action when they 
travel to Torrington, Wyoming for the EWC Lancer Rodeo at the Goshen 
County Fairgrounds March 24th through the 26th.

Details on the next rodeo can be found at <a href="http://www.golccc.com">www.golccc.com</a>.

Western Nebraskans get Wyo. CC rodeo team off to a clean start

Story by NPCC Athletic Communications&nbsp;

North Platte Community College has announced the dates for its 2023 youth volleyball and basketball summer camps.&nbsp;

The Knights volleyball team will host high school team camps June 19-20 and July 10-11. Three divisions will be available to pick from: varsity, junior varsity and reserve/freshman. The cost is $45 per player. High school coaches can contact NPCC Head Volleyball Coach Alexa McCall at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mccalla@mpcc.edu" target="_blank">mccalla@mpcc.edu</a>for more information or to register their teams.

The Knights volleyball team will also join forces with the women’s basketball team to offer junior sports camps June 21-23 for girls entering third through fifth grades and July 12-14 for girls entering sixth through eighth grades. The camps will consist of a combination of volleyball and basketball instruction. The volleyball portion will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day, and basketball will be from 1:30-4 p.m. each day. The fee is $70 per sport or $90 for both. The cost includes a t-shirt. Questions about the camps can be directed to McCall. Registration forms are available under the “summer camp registration” tab in the women’s volleyball section of the NPCC athletics website:<a href="https://form.jotform.com/230675192259159" target="_blank">https://form.jotform.com/230675192259159</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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