June 12, 2012 is a date that is hard to forget for most Alliance residents.

The day began like any other, but just before 9:00am Andres Gonzalez walked into Thiele Pharmacy and Gifts.  Police were soon called to the store in response to reports of a robbery.  Upon their arrival Gonzalez shot and wounded Alliance Police Department officer Kirk Felker.  At 10:30am, Gonzalez again traded gunfire with officers, wounding Nebraska state trooper Tim Flick and APD officer Matt Shannon.

At approxmately 4:30pm, after hours of being held hostage by Gonzalez, Thiele Pharmacy owner Charles Lierk, then 62, made his escape from the pharmacy.  Lierk was shot in the back and arm as he ran to safety.  Gonzalez died later that day following a gun battle inside the pharmacy with Nebraska State Patrol SWAT team members.  On that same day officers discovered the body of Gonzalez' father, 62-year-old Larry Gonzalez, in the family's home.

Then KCOW Radio News Director Kevin Horn spent the morning of the 12th downtown, phoning in live reports for broadcast on KCOW.  Also downtown behind locked doors were local business owners stunned at the scene unfolding.  Kelly Crawford of Just Shoot Me Photographics captured the sights of the day in the photographs used in this article.

In the ten years since June 12, 2012 the face of downtown Alliance has changed in some big ways.  Workforce Development, with offices adjacent to Thieles, eventually re-opened their doors.  Years later, Workforce Development would relocate to the lower level of the Alliance Learning Center, and eventually merge with Workforce Development's Scottsbluff operation.

Following the events of June 12, 2012, the Lierks briefly relocated their pharmacy business to a storefront near Box Butte General Hospital.  Later that year, the Lierks executed their plans to sell the pharmacy business to Safeway--plans that were in the early stages before the standoff.  The downtown location reopened as "Thiele Gifts and More".  In 2016, the Lierks announced their retirement and with it, the closure of their business.  It brought to an end over a century of a Thiele storefront in downtown Alliance.

The events of April 12, 2012 are unforgettable to any Alliance resident who was here when it happened.  Perhaps that's because an incident like this is so exceedingly rare in small towns like Alliance, Nebraska.  The day was won by the bravery and skill of both Alliance Police Department officers and those from the Nebraska State Patrol.  They went forward into an incredibly dangerous situation and preserved the peace of our town and its people.

Original reporting from Panhandle Post and KCOWRadio.com; additional reporting from wire source.

June 12, 2012 is a date that is hard to forget for most Alliance residents.The day began like any other, but just before 9:00am Andres Gonzalez walked into Thiele Pharmacy and Gifts. Police were soon called to the store in response to reports of a robbery. Upon their arrival Gonzalez shot and wounded Alliance Police Department officer Kirk Felker. At 10:30am, Gonzalez again traded gunfire with officers, wounding Nebraska state trooper Tim Flick and APD officer Matt Shannon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655138400590.jpeg" alt="Officers from Alliance Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol on scene." />
 <figcaption>Officers from Alliance Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol on scene.</figcaption>
 </figure>At approxmately 4:30pm, after hours of being held hostage by Gonzalez, Thiele Pharmacy owner Charles Lierk, then 62, made his escape from the pharmacy. Lierk was shot in the back and arm as he ran to safety. Gonzalez died later that day following a gun battle inside the pharmacy with Nebraska State Patrol SWAT team members. On that same day officers discovered the body of Gonzalez' father, 62-year-old Larry Gonzalez, in the family's home.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655138466645.jpeg" alt="" />
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655138485710.jpeg" alt="Former Workforce Development offices." />
 <figcaption>Former Workforce Development offices.</figcaption>
 </figure>Then KCOW Radio News Director Kevin Horn spent the morning of the 12th downtown, phoning in live reports for broadcast on KCOW. Also downtown behind locked doors were local business owners stunned at the scene unfolding. Kelly Crawford of Just Shoot Me Photographics captured the sights of the day in the photographs used in this article.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655138625390.jpeg" alt="The historic Thiele storefront.&nbsp; The "Thiele" sign has joined other historic Alliance treasures at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center." />
 <figcaption>The historic Thiele storefront.&nbsp; The "Thiele" sign has joined other historic Alliance treasures at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center.</figcaption>
 </figure>In the ten years since June 12, 2012 the face of downtown Alliance has changed in some big ways. Workforce Development, with offices adjacent to Thieles, eventually re-opened their doors. Years later, Workforce Development would relocate to the lower level of the Alliance Learning Center, and eventually merge with Workforce Development's Scottsbluff operation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655138768822.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following the events of June 12, 2012, the Lierks briefly relocated their pharmacy business to a storefront near Box Butte General Hospital. Later that year, the Lierks executed their plans to sell the pharmacy business to Safeway--plans that were in the early stages before the standoff. The downtown location reopened as "Thiele Gifts and More". In 2016, the Lierks announced their retirement and with it, the closure of their business. It brought to an end over a century of a Thiele storefront in downtown Alliance.The events of April 12, 2012 are unforgettable to any Alliance resident who was here when it happened. Perhaps that's because an incident like this is so exceedingly rare in small towns like Alliance, Nebraska. The day was won by the bravery and skill of both Alliance Police Department officers and those from the Nebraska State Patrol. They went forward into an incredibly dangerous situation and preserved the peace of our town and its people.Photographs by Kelly Crawford.Original reporting from Panhandle Post and KCOWRadio.com; additional reporting from wire source.

The Thiele Pharmacy Standoff: Ten Years Later

By: MIKE GLESINGER&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Panhandle Post

Another round of severe weather hit Western Nebraska Sunday afternoon.&nbsp; Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for Scottsbluff and Sioux counties along with Goshen county,&nbsp; Wyoming around 3:45 pm MT.&nbsp; The storms moved east/northeast around 30- 40 mph.&nbsp; &nbsp;A tornado warning was issued for Scottsbluff and Sioux county&nbsp; around 5:20 pm MT with radar indicated rotation.&nbsp; No reports of any funnel clouds.

 Thunderstorm warnings were also issued for Morrill, Kimball, Cheyenne, Garden and Sheridan counties.&nbsp; Very little rainfall has been reported, but strong gusty winds toppled center pivots and some power outages were reported in Box Butte County.&nbsp;

Wind gusts near 50 mph were reported at the Chadron Airport.&nbsp; The Alliance Airport reported a trace of rain and wind gusts up to 40 mph. The severe weather had moved out of the Panhandle by 8 pm MT.&nbsp; The forcast for the rest of the week calls for hot conditions Monday with possible record high&nbsp; temps in the upper 90's.&nbsp; The next chance of rain in the region is Tuesday night.&nbsp;

By: MIKE GLESINGER&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Panhandle PostAnother round of severe weather hit Western Nebraska Sunday afternoon.&nbsp; Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for Scottsbluff and Sioux counties along with Goshen county,&nbsp; Wyoming around 3:45 pm MT.&nbsp; The storms moved east/northeast around 30- 40 mph.&nbsp; &nbsp;A tornado warning was issued for Scottsbluff and Sioux county&nbsp; around 5:20 pm MT with radar indicated rotation.&nbsp; No reports of any funnel clouds. Thunderstorm warnings were also issued for Morrill, Kimball, Cheyenne, Garden and Sheridan counties.&nbsp; Very little rainfall has been reported, but strong gusty winds toppled center pivots and some power outages were reported in Box Butte County.&nbsp;<figure>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655129418212.jpeg" alt="Photo taken by Josh Payne near Hemingford" />
 <figcaption>Photo taken by Josh Payne near Hemingford</figcaption>
 </figure>Wind gusts near 50 mph were reported at the Chadron Airport.&nbsp; The Alliance Airport reported a trace of rain and wind gusts up to 40 mph. The severe weather had moved out of the Panhandle by 8 pm MT.&nbsp; The forcast for the rest of the week calls for hot conditions Monday with possible record high&nbsp; temps in the upper 90's.&nbsp; The next chance of rain in the region is Tuesday night.&nbsp;

Severe Weather hits the Panhandle Sunday

From the National Weather Service-North Platte

Record Heat and Fire Weather concerns today. A heat advisory is in effect this afternoon and early evening  across much of the area. Critical fire weather concerns across southwest Nebraska this afternoon and early evening.

From the National Weather Service-North PlatteRecord Heat and Fire Weather concerns today. A heat advisory is in effect this afternoon and early evening across much of the area. Critical fire weather concerns across southwest Nebraska this afternoon and early evening.<figure>
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Record heat, dangerous fire conditions for southwest, eastern Neb. Monday

By:&nbsp; MIKE GLESINGER&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Panhandle Post

Morrill County law enforcement and the Nebraska State Patrol are continuing to investigate a 2 car crash that claimed the life of a Sidney man Saturday.&nbsp; 

According to Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas,&nbsp; the accident ocurred at approximately 4:20 pm MT Saturday&nbsp; just west of Bridgeport .&nbsp; A Dodge Caravan, driven by&nbsp; 65 year old Dusty Trembly of Sidney,&nbsp; was attempting to turn east on Highway 26 from a historical marker pull off near Bridgeport,&nbsp; when the van collided with a westbound Dodge Dakota pickup.&nbsp; Trembly was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the pickup as transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; A passenger in the van was also transported with minor injuries.&nbsp; The crash remains under investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1559737258290.png" alt="fatal crash" />
 <figcaption>fatal crash</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp; MIKE GLESINGER&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Panhandle PostMorrill County law enforcement and the Nebraska State Patrol are continuing to investigate a 2 car crash that claimed the life of a Sidney man Saturday.&nbsp; According to Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas,&nbsp; the accident ocurred at approximately 4:20 pm MT Saturday&nbsp; just west of Bridgeport .&nbsp; A Dodge Caravan, driven by&nbsp; 65 year old Dusty Trembly of Sidney,&nbsp; was attempting to turn east on Highway 26 from a historical marker pull off near Bridgeport,&nbsp; when the van collided with a westbound Dodge Dakota pickup.&nbsp; Trembly was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the pickup as transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; A passenger in the van was also transported with minor injuries.&nbsp; The crash remains under investigation.&nbsp;

Sidney Man dies in Morrill County Crash Saturday

News Release University of Nebraska Medical Center

UNMC&nbsp;has long been at the forefront of research and development of ultra-long acting antiviral therapy (ART) designed as vaccine mimetics for pre-exposure prophylaxis (medicine taken to prevent HIV), extended viral suppression and to facilitate in the elimination of HIV-1 infection.&nbsp;Now, the UNMC scientific team has extended their know-how by developing libraries of ultra-long acting medicines.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This effort has taken a major step forward with the publication of new data today. The data shows that a daily, effective oral treatment used by patients living with HIV worldwide can be, in animal models, transformed into a single, annual injectable.&nbsp;

Clinical trials may start as early as 2023, researchers said.&nbsp;

Physiochemical and pharmacokinetic (PK) formulation properties of an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) prodrug nanocrystal facilitates slow drug release. The identified macrophage storage "depot" at the muscle injection site permits drug dissemination through the body at sites where the virus replicates throughout the year.&nbsp;

These research findings for the INSTI prodrug were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30902-7" target="_blank">published today in Nature Communications in an article titled "Transformation of dolutegravir from daily oral to ultra-long-acting parenteral injectable."</a>&nbsp;

"It is the ultra-long extended duration of action of this new investigative UNMC prodrug (XVIR-120) that is the game-changer," said Benson Edagwa, PhD, associate professor in the UNMC Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience (PEN), who designed the prodrugs and formulations. "Currently, daily regimen adherence to oral antivirals effectively suppresses and prevents HIV -- if you don’t forget to take your pills."&nbsp;

But anyone who has had to stick to even a temporary 10-day prescription knows how easy it is to miss a day.&nbsp;

"Poor adherence to treatment is one of the major impediments to improving the quality of care around the world, whether it is the treatment for chronic illnesses or the prevention of infection," said&nbsp;Paul Domanico, PhD, senior director of global health sciences at the Clinton Health Access Initiative. "The University of Nebraska Medical Center team stands out as a catalyst for introducing novel products to address this head-on. Specifically, the future for antiviral therapy rests in long-acting medicines."&nbsp;

Trading daily pills for a single, annual shot addresses not just forgetfulness and access to re-fills but also, for many, the stigma of taking anti-HIV medication.&nbsp;

Primary investigator Howard Gendelman, MD, Larson Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at UNMC and a driver for this effort for the past two decades, said turning a trusted, existing antiretroviral drug into a long-acting compound was a substantive UNMC victory.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Dolutegravir is an important medicine for HIV-1 seropositive patients, with over 17 million people worldwide on daily oral therapy today," said Siddappa Byrareddy, PhD, a professor in the PEN department and study collaborator. "We are looking forward to leveraging this INSTI’s existing safety and validation."&nbsp;

"We are working to swiftly move our own proprietary ultra-long acting prodrug formulations to the clinic," said Dr. Gendelman.&nbsp;

They hope to do so by taking their science from the laboratory to the finish line by partnering with industry -- including their own company,&nbsp;Exavir Therapeutics, a spinoff co-founded by Drs. Gendelman, Edagwa, and Alborz Yazi, the company president.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The pharmaceutical industry’s excitement in UNMC’s findings is reflected in its interest in Exavir, Yazdi said. The company recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/05/23/2448266/0/en/Exavir-Therapeutics-Completes-4M-Seed-Financing-from-Key-Investors.html" target="_blank">closed on a $4 million "seed financing"</a>&nbsp;led by AlleyCorp with participation from Gilead Sciences.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If successful, the technology also could become applicable in the fight against hepatitis, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, and&nbsp;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35658545/" target="_blank">that work is just beginning</a>.&nbsp;

"Nebraska scientists are leading this international effort in creating not one ultra-long-lasting antiviral, but now multiple medicines," Dr. Edagwa said.&nbsp;

The compounds are created on the UNMC campus at the Nebraska Nanomedicine Production Plant.&nbsp;

Benson Edagwa, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, chemist, designed the prodrugs and formulations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Brady Sillman, PhD, instructor, and Suyash Deodhar, senior graduate student, performed the laboratory and animal experiments, meticulously analyzed the data.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Siddappa Byrareddy, PhD, professor of pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, an expert in host-virus dynamics, drug testing and toxicology.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sean Avedissian, PharmD, and Anthony Podany, PharmD, assistant and associate professor of pharmacy practice and science, conducted pharmacokinetic simulations.&nbsp;

Howard Gendelman, MD, Larson Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, virologist and immunologist, developed the experimental schemes needed for pharmacological testing and development.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1561900937732.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release University of Nebraska Medical CenterUNMC&nbsp;has long been at the forefront of research and development of ultra-long acting antiviral therapy (ART) designed as vaccine mimetics for pre-exposure prophylaxis (medicine taken to prevent HIV), extended viral suppression and to facilitate in the elimination of HIV-1 infection.&nbsp;Now, the UNMC scientific team has extended their know-how by developing libraries of ultra-long acting medicines.&nbsp;&nbsp;This effort has taken a major step forward with the publication of new data today. The data shows that a daily, effective oral treatment used by patients living with HIV worldwide can be, in animal models, transformed into a single, annual injectable.&nbsp;Clinical trials may start as early as 2023, researchers said.&nbsp;Physiochemical and pharmacokinetic (PK) formulation properties of an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) prodrug nanocrystal facilitates slow drug release. The identified macrophage storage "depot" at the muscle injection site permits drug dissemination through the body at sites where the virus replicates throughout the year.&nbsp;These research findings for the INSTI prodrug were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30902-7" target="_blank">published today in Nature Communications in an article titled "Transformation of dolutegravir from daily oral to ultra-long-acting parenteral injectable."</a>&nbsp;"It is the ultra-long extended duration of action of this new investigative UNMC prodrug (XVIR-120) that is the game-changer," said Benson Edagwa, PhD, associate professor in the UNMC Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience (PEN), who designed the prodrugs and formulations. "Currently, daily regimen adherence to oral antivirals effectively suppresses and prevents HIV -- if you don’t forget to take your pills."&nbsp;But anyone who has had to stick to even a temporary 10-day prescription knows how easy it is to miss a day.&nbsp;"Poor adherence to treatment is one of the major impediments to improving the quality of care around the world, whether it is the treatment for chronic illnesses or the prevention of infection," said&nbsp;Paul Domanico, PhD, senior director of global health sciences at the Clinton Health Access Initiative. "The University of Nebraska Medical Center team stands out as a catalyst for introducing novel products to address this head-on. Specifically, the future for antiviral therapy rests in long-acting medicines."&nbsp;Trading daily pills for a single, annual shot addresses not just forgetfulness and access to re-fills but also, for many, the stigma of taking anti-HIV medication.&nbsp;Primary investigator Howard Gendelman, MD, Larson Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at UNMC and a driver for this effort for the past two decades, said turning a trusted, existing antiretroviral drug into a long-acting compound was a substantive UNMC victory.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Dolutegravir is an important medicine for HIV-1 seropositive patients, with over 17 million people worldwide on daily oral therapy today," said Siddappa Byrareddy, PhD, a professor in the PEN department and study collaborator. "We are looking forward to leveraging this INSTI’s existing safety and validation."&nbsp;"We are working to swiftly move our own proprietary ultra-long acting prodrug formulations to the clinic," said Dr. Gendelman.&nbsp;They hope to do so by taking their science from the laboratory to the finish line by partnering with industry -- including their own company,&nbsp;Exavir Therapeutics, a spinoff co-founded by Drs. Gendelman, Edagwa, and Alborz Yazi, the company president.&nbsp;&nbsp;The pharmaceutical industry’s excitement in UNMC’s findings is reflected in its interest in Exavir, Yazdi said. The company recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/05/23/2448266/0/en/Exavir-Therapeutics-Completes-4M-Seed-Financing-from-Key-Investors.html" target="_blank">closed on a $4 million "seed financing"</a>&nbsp;led by AlleyCorp with participation from Gilead Sciences.&nbsp;&nbsp;If successful, the technology also could become applicable in the fight against hepatitis, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, and&nbsp;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35658545/" target="_blank">that work is just beginning</a>.&nbsp;"Nebraska scientists are leading this international effort in creating not one ultra-long-lasting antiviral, but now multiple medicines," Dr. Edagwa said.&nbsp;The compounds are created on the UNMC campus at the Nebraska Nanomedicine Production Plant.&nbsp;The UNMC team&nbsp;Benson Edagwa, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, chemist, designed the prodrugs and formulations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Brady Sillman, PhD, instructor, and Suyash Deodhar, senior graduate student, performed the laboratory and animal experiments, meticulously analyzed the data.&nbsp;&nbsp;Siddappa Byrareddy, PhD, professor of pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, an expert in host-virus dynamics, drug testing and toxicology.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sean Avedissian, PharmD, and Anthony Podany, PharmD, assistant and associate professor of pharmacy practice and science, conducted pharmacokinetic simulations.&nbsp;Howard Gendelman, MD, Larson Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, virologist and immunologist, developed the experimental schemes needed for pharmacological testing and development.&nbsp;

UNMC sees continued success in ultra-long acting HIV medicines 

By SCOTT CARLSON North Platte Post

COZAD, Neb.-A Kearney man has died after a collision with a semi near Cozad.

The Nebraska State Patrol said at around 12:05 p.m. on Friday, troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash near mile marker 221 on Interstate 80, about a mile west of Cozad.

Authorities said a preliminary investigation shows a Chevrolet Cruze was eastbound when the driver lost control, crossed the median and entered the westbound lanes.

The driver of the Cruze, John Paul, 63, was life-flighted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, where he was pronounced dead.

The driver and passenger in the semi were not injured.

The crash closed westbound I-80 for about four hours.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1559617385052.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By SCOTT CARLSON North Platte PostCOZAD, Neb.-A Kearney man has died after a collision with a semi near Cozad.The Nebraska State Patrol said at around 12:05 p.m. on Friday, troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash near mile marker 221 on Interstate 80, about a mile west of Cozad.Authorities said a preliminary investigation shows a Chevrolet Cruze was eastbound when the driver lost control, crossed the median and entered the westbound lanes.The Cruze then collided with a semi.The driver of the Cruze, John Paul, 63, was life-flighted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, where he was pronounced dead.The driver and passenger in the semi were not injured.The crash closed westbound I-80 for about four hours.The crash remains under investigation.

Kearney man killed in crash near Cozad

Severe thunderstorms are possible this evening before very hot temperatures arrive on Monday. A Heat Advisory has been issued for portions of southwest and north-central Nebraska for Monday afternoon and early evening.&nbsp;

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 </figure>From the National Weather Service-North PlatteSevere thunderstorms are possible this evening before very hot temperatures arrive on Monday. A Heat Advisory has been issued for portions of southwest and north-central Nebraska for Monday afternoon and early evening.&nbsp;<figure>
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Severe weather chances for Greater Neb. Sunday, record heat on Monday

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-A North Platte teen was crowned as Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen on Friday night.

The Teen competition was held in conjunction with the second night of preliminary competition for the Miss Nebraska contestants at the North Platte High School Performing Arts Center.

Thompson, 14, graced the stage with a vocal rendition of "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston for her talent portion of the competition.

Thompson received a $2,000 scholarship and numerous gifts and perks. She also received funding for wardrobe and traveling expenses when she competes in Miss America's Outstanding Teen, which will be held in Dallas on August 10-12.

Thompson will be a Freshman at North Platte High School next year.

1st Runner-Up: Miss Douglas County's Outstanding Teen Clara Johnson

2nd Runner-Up: Miss Chadron's Outstanding Teen Olivia Terwey

3rd Runner-Up: Miss Scotts Bluff County Outstanding Teen Brooke Margheim

Teen People’s Choice: Miss Douglas County OT Clara Johnson

Non-finalist Talent: Miss Lincoln County OT Ally Pierce

Non-Finalist Interview: Miss Lincoln County OT Ally Pierce

Miss Congeniality: Miss Douglas County OT Clara Johnson 

Community service: Miss Omaha OT Addilyn Wilson

Finals Night for the Miss Nebraska Competition is tonight beginning at 6:30 at the North Platte High School Performing Arts Center.

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654950992357.png" alt="Alexandra Thompson of North Platte was crowned Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen on Friday night." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Thompson of North Platte was crowned Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen on Friday night.</figcaption>
 </figure>By SCOTT CARLSON North Platte PostNORTH PLATTE, Neb.-A North Platte teen was crowned as Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen on Friday night.The title went to Alexandra Thompson.The Teen competition was held in conjunction with the second night of preliminary competition for the Miss Nebraska contestants at the North Platte High School Performing Arts Center.Thompson, 14, graced the stage with a vocal rendition of "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston for her talent portion of the competition.Thompson received a $2,000 scholarship and numerous gifts and perks. She also received funding for wardrobe and traveling expenses when she competes in Miss America's Outstanding Teen, which will be held in Dallas on August 10-12.Thompson will be a Freshman at North Platte High School next year.Other results:1st Runner-Up: Miss Douglas County's Outstanding Teen Clara Johnson2nd Runner-Up: Miss Chadron's Outstanding Teen Olivia Terwey3rd Runner-Up: Miss Scotts Bluff County Outstanding Teen Brooke MargheimTeen People’s Choice: Miss Douglas County OT Clara JohnsonNon-finalist Talent: Miss Lincoln County OT Ally PierceNon-Finalist Interview: Miss Lincoln County OT Ally PierceMiss Congeniality: Miss Douglas County OT Clara Johnson Community service: Miss Omaha OT Addilyn WilsonFinals Night for the Miss Nebraska Competition is tonight beginning at 6:30 at the North Platte High School Performing Arts Center.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
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North Platte teen crowned Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen

News Release Mid-Plains Community College

The Mid-Plains Community College Ogallala Campus will host a free informational meeting for anyone interested in starting an in-home child care business. The meeting will be 6-8 p.m. June 21 at the Perkins County Senior Center, 420 Central Ave., in Grant.

According to the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, Nebraska loses $745 million annually because parents drop out of the workforce, miss work, turn down a promotion or move because of a lack of child care.

More than 75 percent of children under age 6 live in homes where all adults work. Yet, 91 percent of counties in Nebraska with child care facilities do not have enough available slots to meet current demand.

The MPCC Ogallala Campus is trying to address the need with its meeting.

Cheryl Roche, coordinator for the High Plains Early Learning Connection, will explain what family home child care is, why quality child care matters and the ideal qualities of a provider. She will also address steps to start a business and licensing requirements as well as contracts and communication tips.

The meeting is worth three clock hours of continuing education credit.

Those interested in registering can contact the MPCC Ogallala Campus at (308) 284-9830 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Ogallala@mpcc.edu" target="_blank">Ogallala@mpcc.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654950154575.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>News Release Mid-Plains Community CollegeThe Mid-Plains Community College Ogallala Campus will host a free informational meeting for anyone interested in starting an in-home child care business. The meeting will be 6-8 p.m. June 21 at the Perkins County Senior Center, 420 Central Ave., in Grant.According to the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, Nebraska loses $745 million annually because parents drop out of the workforce, miss work, turn down a promotion or move because of a lack of child care.More than 75 percent of children under age 6 live in homes where all adults work. Yet, 91 percent of counties in Nebraska with child care facilities do not have enough available slots to meet current demand.The MPCC Ogallala Campus is trying to address the need with its meeting.Cheryl Roche, coordinator for the High Plains Early Learning Connection, will explain what family home child care is, why quality child care matters and the ideal qualities of a provider. She will also address steps to start a business and licensing requirements as well as contracts and communication tips.The meeting is worth three clock hours of continuing education credit.Those interested in registering can contact the MPCC Ogallala Campus at (308) 284-9830 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Ogallala@mpcc.edu" target="_blank">Ogallala@mpcc.edu</a>.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Rl_HrHnoJPHQVu2KpseEVBXAeYRCSmiOIYF0ibSex_Qy6OksRKdSSenal5arIkygJ9PaAwsoBdpb6i_QtLfgQ4r26xzfYVX5JZ1yMT8sli77LfcongmQsgbQgivZpi6f6GcHg81tf9Tom462aA" alt="" />
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MPCC Ogallala to host free meeting on starting in-home child care business

KC Dale Knaub, 21, North Platte and Talyah Laticia Linstrom, 22, North Platte

John Ray Steele, 53, North Platte and Sharon DeAnne Struss, 52, North Platte

Rodney Gale Yost, 62, North Platte and Jennifer Lyn Cotton, 51, North Platte

Brian Ulysses Dobbins, 36, North Platte and Nancy Adriana Fernandez, 30, North Platte

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560642114767.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>From the Lincoln County ClerkKC Dale Knaub, 21, North Platte and Talyah Laticia Linstrom, 22, North PlatteJohn Ray Steele, 53, North Platte and Sharon DeAnne Struss, 52, North PlatteRodney Gale Yost, 62, North Platte and Jennifer Lyn Cotton, 51, North PlatteBrian Ulysses Dobbins, 36, North Platte and Nancy Adriana Fernandez, 30, North Platte<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Rl_HrHnoJPHQVu2KpseEVBXAeYRCSmiOIYF0ibSex_Qy6OksRKdSSenal5arIkygJ9PaAwsoBdpb6i_QtLfgQ4r26xzfYVX5JZ1yMT8sli77LfcongmQsgbQgivZpi6f6GcHg81tf9Tom462aA" alt="" />
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Lincoln County Marriage Licenses

LINCOLN, Neb.-Roger Houser of Elwood is the fourth winner of a 2022 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 Crew Cab Flex Fuel truck in the 27th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game.

Houser purchased his winning Truck$ &amp; Buck$ ticket at The Red Barn at 107 N Smith Ave. in Elwood.

He bought his winning ticket after the Nebraska Lottery’s Lincoln offices had closed for the weekend, so he had to wait to see if he was reading it right.

“When I scratched it off I really didn’t do anything until Monday when I called and verified,” Houser said. “Wanted to make sure before I got too excited.”

Winning a new truck is great, Houser said, but the win could have come a little sooner. About a month ago he purchased a new SUV, so now he’s got two vehicles with that new car smell.

“It’s wild,” he said. “I’ve entered a gun raffle for 17, 18 years and I never won. Here, I just bought five tickets and won. It’s wild.”

The 27th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s popular $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game features the 2022 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew Flex Fuel truck as its top prize. Players have the opportunity to win one of eight Ford F-150 trucks as well as cash and Ethanol-enriched fuel prizes. The truck prize is valued at $58,900, which includes $1,162 for costs associated with ownership and state and federal withholding paid by the Nebraska Lottery of $2,945 and $14,136, respectively. The odds of winning the top prize in Truck$ &amp; Buck$ are 1 in 336,000, while the overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.69.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $868 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654949394411.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>News Release Nebraska LotteryLINCOLN, Neb.-Roger Houser of Elwood is the fourth winner of a 2022 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 Crew Cab Flex Fuel truck in the 27th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game.Houser purchased his winning Truck$ &amp; Buck$ ticket at The Red Barn at 107 N Smith Ave. in Elwood.He bought his winning ticket after the Nebraska Lottery’s Lincoln offices had closed for the weekend, so he had to wait to see if he was reading it right.“When I scratched it off I really didn’t do anything until Monday when I called and verified,” Houser said. “Wanted to make sure before I got too excited.”Winning a new truck is great, Houser said, but the win could have come a little sooner. About a month ago he purchased a new SUV, so now he’s got two vehicles with that new car smell.“It’s wild,” he said. “I’ve entered a gun raffle for 17, 18 years and I never won. Here, I just bought five tickets and won. It’s wild.”The 27th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s popular $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game features the 2022 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew Flex Fuel truck as its top prize. Players have the opportunity to win one of eight Ford F-150 trucks as well as cash and Ethanol-enriched fuel prizes. The truck prize is valued at $58,900, which includes $1,162 for costs associated with ownership and state and federal withholding paid by the Nebraska Lottery of $2,945 and $14,136, respectively. The odds of winning the top prize in Truck$ &amp; Buck$ are 1 in 336,000, while the overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.69.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $868 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Rl_HrHnoJPHQVu2KpseEVBXAeYRCSmiOIYF0ibSex_Qy6OksRKdSSenal5arIkygJ9PaAwsoBdpb6i_QtLfgQ4r26xzfYVX5JZ1yMT8sli77LfcongmQsgbQgivZpi6f6GcHg81tf9Tom462aA" alt="" />
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Elwood man claims 4th Neb. Lottery Truck$ & Buck$ truck

&nbsp; Scotty was joined on Good Morning North Platte (FM 98.1) by Chrissy and Kim from the North Platte Chamber Hostesses to talk about the annual Cake Bake coming up in conjunction with Nebraskaland Days on June 16. Listen and visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nebraskalanddays.com/">www.nebraskalanddays.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654883264615.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; Scotty was joined on Good Morning North Platte (FM 98.1) by Chrissy and Kim from the North Platte Chamber Hostesses to talk about the annual Cake Bake coming up in conjunction with Nebraskaland Days on June 16. Listen and visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nebraskalanddays.com/">www.nebraskalanddays.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: North Platte Chamber Hostesses prepare for Nebraskaland Days Cake Bake" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=v9brn-124984b-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00"></iframe></div>

Post Podcast: North Platte Chamber Hostesses prepare for Nebraskaland Days Cake Bake

Scotty was joined on Good Morning North Platte (FM 98.1) by Holly Carlini from the Prairie Arts Center to talk about the Nebraskaland Days Competitive Art Show and some fun classes being offered at PAC. Listen and visit www.prairieartscenter.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654883104969.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Scotty was joined on Good Morning North Platte (FM 98.1) by Holly Carlini from the Prairie Arts Center to talk about the Nebraskaland Days Competitive Art Show and some fun classes being offered at PAC. Listen and visit www.prairieartscenter.org.<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: The Nebraskaland Days Art Show and fun classes offered at Prairie Arts Center" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=jvabp-1249858-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00"></iframe></div>

Post Podcast: The Nebraskaland Days Art Show and fun classes offered at Prairie Arts Center

<figure>
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654883118037.png" alt="Scotty was joined on Good Morning North Platte (FM 98.1) by Yoko Lawing from Lunar Organics who is hosting a Body, Mind and Soul Festival at Pals Brewing in North Platte June 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Listen and check out Lunar Organics on Facebook." />
 <figcaption>Scotty was joined on Good Morning North Platte (FM 98.1) by Yoko Lawing from Lunar Organics who is hosting a Body, Mind and Soul Festival at Pals Brewing in North Platte June 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Listen and check out Lunar Organics on Facebook.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Heal your Body, Mind and Soul at Pals Brewing Saturday" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=xwt77-124985d-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00"></iframe></div>

Post Podcast: Heal your Body, Mind and Soul at Pals Brewing Saturday

By HEATHER JOHNSON North Platte Community College

Meghan Manary doesn’t believe she would be where she is today without Mid-Plains Community College.

“Mid-Plains was fantastic,” Manary said. “I’m the school’s biggest advocate. Mid-Plains prepared me for life.”

The North Platte native is the Southwest regional naturalist and outdoor educator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The job allows her to live out her passion – sharing her knowledge and experience of nature with those around her.

Although she has a clear path in front of her now, that wasn’t always the case. It took a while for her to figure out what she wanted to do and where she wanted to be.

“I didn’t love high school and tried really hard to graduate early because of that,” Manary said. “I ended up going through The Learning Center at North Platte High School, which allowed me to finish my classes in November of 2014 and start college early.”

She began classes at MPCC in the spring of 2015 despite not officially receiving her high school diploma until several months later.

“I always thought I wanted to go to a university, but at that time, I was a little too young,” Manary said. “I didn’t feel like I was ready to move away from home at 17, and I wasn’t in a rush. I decided to stay in town and feel things out. I had always heard great things about Mid-Plains, so I decided to give it a shot.”

It didn’t take her long to fall in love with all the opportunities Mid-Plains has to offer.

“I wanted to do everything,” Manary said. “Almost every class I took – I considered making it my major. It started with sociology, but then I changed my mind. I’ve always been interested in STEM, so I began working toward an associate of science. I was also interested in art and thought about doing that as a major as well. Then came psychology and biology. MPCC was a great option for me because it allowed me to explore my many different interests while still earning transferable credits and not wasting money.”

Manary relied heavily on her advisor and instructors for assistance in narrowing down the possibilities.

“My instructors were so caring,” Manary said. “They spent a lot of extra hours making sure their students understood the information presented. They helped in any way they could and were constantly reaching out to make sure I was OK. That attention and the small class sizes spoiled me. Mid-Plains was the perfect way to go through college.”

Manary made the President’s List on multiple occasions before graduating from MPCC in 2017 with an Associate of Science degree. She transferred to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln armed with a newfound confidence and a sense of direction and purpose.

“My advisor at Mid-Plains was great,” Manary said. “I was difficult at that time because I had a goal of studying marine biology and not staying in Nebraska. My advisor was trying to help me find a school in Texas or Florida, and in the end, we ended up selecting UNL as a starting point, thinking the biology credits would transfer somewhere else.”

Sitting in a lecture hall with 200 students in Lincoln, left Manary overwhelmed and homesick for MPCC. She might have left Mid-Plains, but its impact was still very much a part of her.

“I had to take Chem II to graduate from UNL,” Manary said. “I’d had straight ‘A’s my whole life but failed my first test at UNL, and it wrecked my mental health. I didn’t know how to handle the university setting. I reached out to my chemistry instructor from Mid-Plains who set up a Chem II class just for me, allowing me to earn the credits that I needed.”

Manary eventually switched her major to fisheries and wildlife management. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 2019 and soon found herself drawing from her time at Mid-Plains again.

“While I was attending MPCC, Dr. Carla Long had put me in touch with Julie Geiser at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission,” Manary said. “When it came time to look for a job, I used that connection to reach out to Julie to see if she knew of anything.”

Geiser suggested a position in the parks division, and that summer, Manary accepted a job as a park naturalist for the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park and State Recreation Area.

Then, thinking she wanted to do more with fisheries, Manary left Game and Parks in March of 2021 to become a fisheries research technician for the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

“I interviewed anglers, monitored fishing conditions, measured fish and assessed habitat at Sutherland Reservoir among other things,” Manary said. “I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. I missed the educational aspect of the naturalist position with Game and Parks.”

Six months into the job, the Game and Parks department reached out to her.

“They said they were going to make a new position for me and that they wanted me to quit my other job and come back to work for them,” Manary said. “I did, and I’m now the Southwest regional naturalist and outdoor educator.”

In her spare time, she’s also continuing her education. Manary is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental education through Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

“Life has kind of circled around for me,” Manary said. “Dr. Long put me in contact with Julie, and Julie is the reason I found a job at Game and Parks. It’s all because of that initial networking at Mid-Plains. MPCC prepared me for more than I could have ever imagined. I will be forever grateful for the education I got, the connections I made and the instructors’ passion that led me to where I am today.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654881002210.jpeg" alt="Meghan Manary prepares to give a presentation to middle school students at the Expanding Your Horizons Conference at North Platte Community College in March. Manary is an alum of the college." />
 <figcaption>Meghan Manary prepares to give a presentation to middle school students at the Expanding Your Horizons Conference at North Platte Community College in March. Manary is an alum of the college.</figcaption>
 </figure>By HEATHER JOHNSON North Platte Community CollegeMeghan Manary doesn’t believe she would be where she is today without Mid-Plains Community College.“Mid-Plains was fantastic,” Manary said. “I’m the school’s biggest advocate. Mid-Plains prepared me for life.”The North Platte native is the Southwest regional naturalist and outdoor educator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The job allows her to live out her passion – sharing her knowledge and experience of nature with those around her.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654881048661.jpeg" alt="Meghan Manary holds up a catch while working as a fisheries research technician for the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit." />
 <figcaption>Meghan Manary holds up a catch while working as a fisheries research technician for the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.</figcaption>
 </figure>Although she has a clear path in front of her now, that wasn’t always the case. It took a while for her to figure out what she wanted to do and where she wanted to be.“I didn’t love high school and tried really hard to graduate early because of that,” Manary said. “I ended up going through The Learning Center at North Platte High School, which allowed me to finish my classes in November of 2014 and start college early.”She began classes at MPCC in the spring of 2015 despite not officially receiving her high school diploma until several months later.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654881085033.jpeg" alt="Meghan Manary holds up snakes as the Southwest regional naturalist and outdoor educator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission." />
 <figcaption>Meghan Manary holds up snakes as the Southwest regional naturalist and outdoor educator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.</figcaption>
 </figure>“I always thought I wanted to go to a university, but at that time, I was a little too young,” Manary said. “I didn’t feel like I was ready to move away from home at 17, and I wasn’t in a rush. I decided to stay in town and feel things out. I had always heard great things about Mid-Plains, so I decided to give it a shot.”It didn’t take her long to fall in love with all the opportunities Mid-Plains has to offer.“I wanted to do everything,” Manary said. “Almost every class I took – I considered making it my major. It started with sociology, but then I changed my mind. I’ve always been interested in STEM, so I began working toward an associate of science. I was also interested in art and thought about doing that as a major as well. Then came psychology and biology. MPCC was a great option for me because it allowed me to explore my many different interests while still earning transferable credits and not wasting money.”Manary relied heavily on her advisor and instructors for assistance in narrowing down the possibilities.“My instructors were so caring,” Manary said. “They spent a lot of extra hours making sure their students understood the information presented. They helped in any way they could and were constantly reaching out to make sure I was OK. That attention and the small class sizes spoiled me. Mid-Plains was the perfect way to go through college.”Manary made the President’s List on multiple occasions before graduating from MPCC in 2017 with an Associate of Science degree. She transferred to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln armed with a newfound confidence and a sense of direction and purpose.“My advisor at Mid-Plains was great,” Manary said. “I was difficult at that time because I had a goal of studying marine biology and not staying in Nebraska. My advisor was trying to help me find a school in Texas or Florida, and in the end, we ended up selecting UNL as a starting point, thinking the biology credits would transfer somewhere else.”Sitting in a lecture hall with 200 students in Lincoln, left Manary overwhelmed and homesick for MPCC. She might have left Mid-Plains, but its impact was still very much a part of her.“I had to take Chem II to graduate from UNL,” Manary said. “I’d had straight ‘A’s my whole life but failed my first test at UNL, and it wrecked my mental health. I didn’t know how to handle the university setting. I reached out to my chemistry instructor from Mid-Plains who set up a Chem II class just for me, allowing me to earn the credits that I needed.”Manary eventually switched her major to fisheries and wildlife management. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 2019 and soon found herself drawing from her time at Mid-Plains again.“While I was attending MPCC, Dr. Carla Long had put me in touch with Julie Geiser at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission,” Manary said. “When it came time to look for a job, I used that connection to reach out to Julie to see if she knew of anything.”Geiser suggested a position in the parks division, and that summer, Manary accepted a job as a park naturalist for the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park and State Recreation Area.Then, thinking she wanted to do more with fisheries, Manary left Game and Parks in March of 2021 to become a fisheries research technician for the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.“I interviewed anglers, monitored fishing conditions, measured fish and assessed habitat at Sutherland Reservoir among other things,” Manary said. “I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. I missed the educational aspect of the naturalist position with Game and Parks.”Six months into the job, the Game and Parks department reached out to her.“They said they were going to make a new position for me and that they wanted me to quit my other job and come back to work for them,” Manary said. “I did, and I’m now the Southwest regional naturalist and outdoor educator.”In her spare time, she’s also continuing her education. Manary is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental education through Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.“Life has kind of circled around for me,” Manary said. “Dr. Long put me in contact with Julie, and Julie is the reason I found a job at Game and Parks. It’s all because of that initial networking at Mid-Plains. MPCC prepared me for more than I could have ever imagined. I will be forever grateful for the education I got, the connections I made and the instructors’ passion that led me to where I am today.”<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Rl_HrHnoJPHQVu2KpseEVBXAeYRCSmiOIYF0ibSex_Qy6OksRKdSSenal5arIkygJ9PaAwsoBdpb6i_QtLfgQ4r26xzfYVX5JZ1yMT8sli77LfcongmQsgbQgivZpi6f6GcHg81tf9Tom462aA" alt="" />
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Game and Parks educator credits MPCC for success in life

News Release Nebraska Main Street Network

The Nebraska Main Street Network recently announced their 2022 Inspiring Excellence Award winners, recognizing outstanding businesses, individuals, projects and activities that contribute to the economic and social vibrancy of downtown business districts in communities throughout the state.

“The hard work and steadfast dedication to downtown revitalization shown by Nebraska’s designated Main Street and Network Member communities is important for us to celebrate because it has had a huge positive impact on the state but is often overshadowed by larger projects,” said Jeff Ray, President of the Nebraska Main Street Network Board of Directors.  “These communities are not only supporting small businesses but are helping property owners re-utilize historic buildings for new uses while building strong downtown management organizations and promoting what their districts have to offer. That’s a lot to work with!”

The Nebraska Main Street Network provides opportunities and exclusive programming to support its member communities statewide. Communities in the Network have made a commitment to revitalization and downtown management using a comprehensive economic development strategy that has been used nationwide for more than 40-years. “It’s not about a single developer coming to town to rehab a building or a city initiative being led from the top down to improve a streetscape or build a plaza. Main Street is very much a community directed, community driven approach” said Elizabeth Chase, Executive Director of the Network. “Successful downtown revitalization is not easy work nor is the success achieved overnight, so we feel very strongly as an organization that the leaders in these communities be recognized for their efforts. They are some of the most hard-working, dedicated people I know and very deserving of this pat-on-the-back.” 

In addition to the community awards, the Nebraska Main Street Network recognizes Amber Holle of Falls City for 5-years of leadership directing the Falls City Chamber and Main Street, and Randy Chick, recipient of the 2022 Nebraska Main Street Network President’s Award for leading the downtown redevelopment and revitalization efforts in Hastings while selflessly sharing his knowledge and experience with countless Nebraska communities for many years.

Adaptive Reuse Project: (tie) Vintage Venue, Beatrice, NE and 40 North Tap + Grille, Grand Island, NE

New Construction Project: Beatrice Fire Hall, Beatrice, NE

Interior Improvement Residential: 210 Main Street, Wayne, NE

Interior Improvement Commercial: (tie) Clean Slate Soap, Beatrice, NE and Pinnacle Bank, Neligh, NE

Façade Improvement Project: (tie) Mercantile Building, Beatrice, NE and Neligh Family Dentistry, Neligh, NE

Public Partner Award: Give Big Gage, Beatrice, NE

Streetscape/Public Improvement Project: (4-way tie) Beatrice Murals, Beatrice, NE, Canteen District, North Platte, NE, Wayne Art Walk, Wayne, NE and Gazebo Park Restoration, Weeping Water, NE

Dana Hydo, Main Street Beatrice, Beatrice, NE

Jamie Anderson, Revitalize Wayne, Wayne, NE

Honorable mentions are being awarded to Studio Sheets and The Tipsy Pig in Tekamah for their interior improvement projects. Awards will be presented throughout the summer in each award-winning community.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654876515761.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News Release Nebraska Main Street NetworkThe Nebraska Main Street Network recently announced their 2022 Inspiring Excellence Award winners, recognizing outstanding businesses, individuals, projects and activities that contribute to the economic and social vibrancy of downtown business districts in communities throughout the state.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654876704531.jpeg" alt="Condon Signs installs the Canteen District signage." />
 <figcaption>Condon Signs installs the Canteen District signage.</figcaption>
 </figure>“The hard work and steadfast dedication to downtown revitalization shown by Nebraska’s designated Main Street and Network Member communities is important for us to celebrate because it has had a huge positive impact on the state but is often overshadowed by larger projects,” said Jeff Ray, President of the Nebraska Main Street Network Board of Directors. “These communities are not only supporting small businesses but are helping property owners re-utilize historic buildings for new uses while building strong downtown management organizations and promoting what their districts have to offer. That’s a lot to work with!”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654876758042.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>The Nebraska Main Street Network provides opportunities and exclusive programming to support its member communities statewide. Communities in the Network have made a commitment to revitalization and downtown management using a comprehensive economic development strategy that has been used nationwide for more than 40-years. “It’s not about a single developer coming to town to rehab a building or a city initiative being led from the top down to improve a streetscape or build a plaza. Main Street is very much a community directed, community driven approach” said Elizabeth Chase, Executive Director of the Network. “Successful downtown revitalization is not easy work nor is the success achieved overnight, so we feel very strongly as an organization that the leaders in these communities be recognized for their efforts. They are some of the most hard-working, dedicated people I know and very deserving of this pat-on-the-back.” In addition to the community awards, the Nebraska Main Street Network recognizes Amber Holle of Falls City for 5-years of leadership directing the Falls City Chamber and Main Street, and Randy Chick, recipient of the 2022 Nebraska Main Street Network President’s Award for leading the downtown redevelopment and revitalization efforts in Hastings while selflessly sharing his knowledge and experience with countless Nebraska communities for many years.The 2022 award recipients are:Adaptive Reuse Project: (tie) Vintage Venue, Beatrice, NE and 40 North Tap + Grille, Grand Island, NENew Construction Project: Beatrice Fire Hall, Beatrice, NEInterior Improvement Residential: 210 Main Street, Wayne, NEInterior Improvement Commercial: (tie) Clean Slate Soap, Beatrice, NE and Pinnacle Bank, Neligh, NEFaçade Improvement Project: (tie) Mercantile Building, Beatrice, NE and Neligh Family Dentistry, Neligh, NEPublic Partner Award: Give Big Gage, Beatrice, NEStreetscape/Public Improvement Project: (4-way tie) Beatrice Murals, Beatrice, NE, Canteen District, North Platte, NE, Wayne Art Walk, Wayne, NE and Gazebo Park Restoration, Weeping Water, NEVolunteer of the Year: Dana Hydo, Main Street Beatrice, Beatrice, NEJamie Anderson, Revitalize Wayne, Wayne, NEBusiness of the Year: Quilt Stitches, Beatrice, NEPinnacle Bank, Neligh, NETekamah Drug, Tekamah, NEVel’s Bakery, Wayne, NEHonorable mentions are being awarded to Studio Sheets and The Tipsy Pig in Tekamah for their interior improvement projects. Awards will be presented throughout the summer in each award-winning community.

North Platte's Canteen District earns award for Best Streetscape/Public Improvement project

EDWARDS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Thursday in Edwards County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Honda CRV driven by Nicholas Warren Tepper, 25, Stow, Massachusetts, was northbound on 70th Avenue at U.S. 50. The driver&nbsp; failed to yield to a westbound train.

The train struck the Honda and rolled it into the ditch on the north side of the railroad tracks.&nbsp;

EMS transported&nbsp;Tepper to Wesley Medical Center. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP

EDWARDS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Thursday in Edwards County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Honda CRV driven by Nicholas Warren Tepper, 25, Stow, Massachusetts, was northbound on 70th Avenue at U.S. 50. The driver&nbsp; failed to yield to a westbound train.The train struck the Honda and rolled it into the ditch on the north side of the railroad tracks.&nbsp;EMS transported&nbsp;Tepper to Wesley Medical Center. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP

Driver hospitalized after train strikes SUV

McCOOK, Neb.-A McCook woman has died after her vehicle collided with a truck.

McCook police said at around 8:59 a.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to an injury accident in the 800 block of W. Q St.&nbsp;

Officers arrived and learned that a 2004 Chevy Impala, driven by Ketra Vlasin, 26, had collided with a 2006 Freightliner truck owned by the Nebraska Public Power District.&nbsp;

Police said the truck was stopped on the east side of the roadway and unoccupied at the time of the collision. Police said the NPPD truck had its emergency equipment activated as they performed maintenance on the electrical infrastructure.

Vlasin and an infant passenger in her vehicle were transported to McCook Community Hospital, where Vlasin later died from her injuries. The infant was treated for minor injuries and released to family members.

Police said the cause of the crash is still under investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654811166162.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By SCOTT CARLSON North Platte PostMcCOOK, Neb.-A McCook woman has died after her vehicle collided with a truck.McCook police said at around 8:59 a.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to an injury accident in the 800 block of W. Q St.&nbsp;Officers arrived and learned that a 2004 Chevy Impala, driven by Ketra Vlasin, 26, had collided with a 2006 Freightliner truck owned by the Nebraska Public Power District.&nbsp;Police said the truck was stopped on the east side of the roadway and unoccupied at the time of the collision. Police said the NPPD truck had its emergency equipment activated as they performed maintenance on the electrical infrastructure.Vlasin and an infant passenger in her vehicle were transported to McCook Community Hospital, where Vlasin later died from her injuries. The infant was treated for minor injuries and released to family members.Police said the cause of the crash is still under investigation.&nbsp;

McCook woman killed in crash with NPPD truck

The Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating a shooting in Rushville, which led to the arrest of a South Dakota man Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday, at approximately 5:25 p.m. MT, the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol in response to a shooting at the Rushville Sale Barn. The incident occurred following an argument between two people. After a preliminary investigation, investigators believe that following the verbal altercation, the suspect, identified as Gilbert Grooms, 44, of Oglala, South Dakota, retrieved a shotgun from his vehicle. He then fired in the direction of the victim, identified as Charles Winters, 35, of Martin, South Dakota.

Winters then retreated to his vehicle. Grooms fired at the vehicle multiple times, leading to the victim fleeing around a trailer. Grooms then fired again, striking Winters in the midsection. Winters was flown to Regional West Hospital in Scottsbluff with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.

Grooms was arrested by the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office and was lodged in Sheridan County Jail for attempted first degree murder, first degree assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony, and terroristic threats. The investigation remains ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654795602966.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By NEBRASKA STATE PATROLThe Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating a shooting in Rushville, which led to the arrest of a South Dakota man Wednesday afternoon.Wednesday, at approximately 5:25 p.m. MT, the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol in response to a shooting at the Rushville Sale Barn. The incident occurred following an argument between two people. After a preliminary investigation, investigators believe that following the verbal altercation, the suspect, identified as Gilbert Grooms, 44, of Oglala, South Dakota, retrieved a shotgun from his vehicle. He then fired in the direction of the victim, identified as Charles Winters, 35, of Martin, South Dakota.Winters then retreated to his vehicle. Grooms fired at the vehicle multiple times, leading to the victim fleeing around a trailer. Grooms then fired again, striking Winters in the midsection. Winters was flown to Regional West Hospital in Scottsbluff with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.Grooms was arrested by the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office and was lodged in Sheridan County Jail for attempted first degree murder, first degree assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony, and terroristic threats. The investigation remains ongoing.

Suspect arrested in Rushville shooting

&nbsp; Scotty was joined on Good Morning North Platte (FM 98.1) by Amanda and Crystal from the North Platte Chamber Hostesses to talk about Lunch with the Wild Bunch on June 17, part of the Nebraskaland Days Celebration. Listen for more and visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nebraskalanddays.com/">www.nebraskalanddays.com</a>&nbsp;for tickets and information.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654795377885.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>&nbsp; Scotty was joined on Good Morning North Platte (FM 98.1) by Amanda and Crystal from the North Platte Chamber Hostesses to talk about Lunch with the Wild Bunch on June 17, part of the Nebraskaland Days Celebration. Listen for more and visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nebraskalanddays.com/">www.nebraskalanddays.com</a>&nbsp;for tickets and information.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Don’t miss Lunch with the Wild Bunch on June 17" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=7vubg-1247a2f-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00"></iframe></div>

Post Podcast: Don’t miss Lunch with the Wild Bunch June 17

It’s never too late to go back to school.

That’s according to Gigi Berol, of Ogallala, who returned to college after almost 30 years. In May, she earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business with an emphasis in nonprofit management from Mid-Plains Community College.

“The same timing isn’t right for everybody,” Berol said. “But, earning a degree at some point in your life is doable – especially if you have the support of your family, friends and employer like I did.”

Berol started out as a traditional student. After graduating from Columbus High School in 1986, she enrolled at Central Community College – Columbus. At that time, it was known as Platte Technical College.

“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life,” Berol said. “I took business classes thinking maybe I wanted to pursue something in business, but I also studied fashion and daycare.”

She quit school after a year and a half to take a position nannying in California, but the job didn’t pan out.

“I had the paperwork filled out then got scared and didn’t go,” Berol said of the California trip. “I also didn’t finish my last semester at Central. My parents weren’t very happy about that.”

Berol went into the workforce instead. She had a friend in Columbus whose parents owned the North Shore Lodge at Lemoyne, and they offered Berol a job there in the summer of 1992.

“I was only planning on spending that summer at the lake, but then I met my husband,” Berol said. “Steve had a similar situation. He moved from Colorado to work at North Shore for the season, and now here we are – still in Ogallala all these years later.”

The couple raised a son and a daughter during their time in the town. Gigi spent 15 years working at Ogallala Community Hospital, both in admissions and as the x-ray manager, prior to taking on her current role as outreach administrative assistant for the MPCC Ogallala Campus.

It wasn’t until 2017 that she began thinking about going back to finish what she started.

“I was at a point where my career required a college degree,” Gigi said. “Honestly, it was always one of those things that had been left undone. My mom and dad had both been educators and had wanted my siblings and I to keep going.”

She decided to take the classes online and via distance learning through MPCC because of the flexibility aspect.

“Doing so allowed me to schedule school around my job,” Gigi said. “I could study over my lunch hour or come into work early and finish assignments before the campus opened. The idea of going back to school was overwhelming at first, but the instructors and staff at MPCC were very helpful and reassuring.”

Their support proved to be a tremendous comfort to her. She soon found that everything she remembered from college – from the writing style to technology – had changed.

“I was a ‘C’ student in high school, so the thought of embarrassing myself in front of my coworkers was terrifying,” Gigi said. “Fortunately, my supervisor [Mary Pierce] was extremely supportive, as were my family and friends within the college.”

She took a couple of classes each semester, during the winterim session and in the summer. Some of her instructors also made accommodations for independent study.

“I just kept chipping away, one step at a time,” Gigi said. “I took a year off when my mom was sick and dying, but then I went back to it.”

Fortunately, she was able to transfer in 20 of her credits from Central.

“That’s the thing I think a lot of people don’t realize,” Gigi said. “Credits don’t expire.”

Once she got into the groove of taking classes again, Gigi found the college experience to be much more enriching the second time around.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654791848057.png" alt="Gigi Berol, of Ogallala, holds up the degree she earned from Mid-Plains Community College. Berol returned to school after an almost 30-year hiatus." />
 <figcaption>Gigi Berol, of Ogallala, holds up the degree she earned from Mid-Plains Community College. Berol returned to school after an almost 30-year hiatus.</figcaption>
 </figure>By HEATHER JOHNSON North Platte Community CollegeIt’s never too late to go back to school.That’s according to Gigi Berol, of Ogallala, who returned to college after almost 30 years. In May, she earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business with an emphasis in nonprofit management from Mid-Plains Community College.“The same timing isn’t right for everybody,” Berol said. “But, earning a degree at some point in your life is doable – especially if you have the support of your family, friends and employer like I did.”The early daysBerol started out as a traditional student. After graduating from Columbus High School in 1986, she enrolled at Central Community College – Columbus. At that time, it was known as Platte Technical College.“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life,” Berol said. “I took business classes thinking maybe I wanted to pursue something in business, but I also studied fashion and daycare.”She quit school after a year and a half to take a position nannying in California, but the job didn’t pan out.“I had the paperwork filled out then got scared and didn’t go,” Berol said of the California trip. “I also didn’t finish my last semester at Central. My parents weren’t very happy about that.”Berol went into the workforce instead. She had a friend in Columbus whose parents owned the North Shore Lodge at Lemoyne, and they offered Berol a job there in the summer of 1992.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654791880695.png" alt="The Berols gather for a celebration following a commencement ceremony in North Platte in May. Gigi Berol earned an associate degree from Mid-Plains Community College. Pictured left to right are her son Craig, Gigi, daughter Courtney and Gigi’s husband Steve." />
 <figcaption>The Berols gather for a celebration following a commencement ceremony in North Platte in May. Gigi Berol earned an associate degree from Mid-Plains Community College. Pictured left to right are her son Craig, Gigi, daughter Courtney and Gigi’s husband Steve.</figcaption>
 </figure>“I was only planning on spending that summer at the lake, but then I met my husband,” Berol said. “Steve had a similar situation. He moved from Colorado to work at North Shore for the season, and now here we are – still in Ogallala all these years later.”The couple raised a son and a daughter during their time in the town. Gigi spent 15 years working at Ogallala Community Hospital, both in admissions and as the x-ray manager, prior to taking on her current role as outreach administrative assistant for the MPCC Ogallala Campus.Tying up loose endsIt wasn’t until 2017 that she began thinking about going back to finish what she started.“I was at a point where my career required a college degree,” Gigi said. “Honestly, it was always one of those things that had been left undone. My mom and dad had both been educators and had wanted my siblings and I to keep going.”She decided to take the classes online and via distance learning through MPCC because of the flexibility aspect.“Doing so allowed me to schedule school around my job,” Gigi said. “I could study over my lunch hour or come into work early and finish assignments before the campus opened. The idea of going back to school was overwhelming at first, but the instructors and staff at MPCC were very helpful and reassuring.”Their support proved to be a tremendous comfort to her. She soon found that everything she remembered from college – from the writing style to technology – had changed.“I was a ‘C’ student in high school, so the thought of embarrassing myself in front of my coworkers was terrifying,” Gigi said. “Fortunately, my supervisor [Mary Pierce] was extremely supportive, as were my family and friends within the college.”She took a couple of classes each semester, during the winterim session and in the summer. Some of her instructors also made accommodations for independent study.“I just kept chipping away, one step at a time,” Gigi said. “I took a year off when my mom was sick and dying, but then I went back to it.”Fortunately, she was able to transfer in 20 of her credits from Central.“That’s the thing I think a lot of people don’t realize,” Gigi said. “Credits don’t expire.”Once she got into the groove of taking classes again, Gigi found the college experience to be much more enriching the second time around.“I appreciated education more than when I was 18,” Gigi said. “I felt more eager to learn and goal-oriented because in high school, I really didn’t care. At MPCC, I wanted to get better grades. I wanted that GPA to be good. The older you get, you realize that’s a big deal, so that was something I strived for. If I didn’t get the grade I wanted, I studied harder the next time.”Her efforts paid off – earning her a spot on the college’s Dean’s List and induction into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gigi’s biggest sense of accomplishment, however, came May 13, the day she walked across the stage at commencement and accepted her long-awaited degree.“It was incredible,” Gigi said. “Not just because I wanted it, but because a higher education was so important to my parents and because, as a parent, I wanted to set an example for my children. I wanted to show them it’s never too late. You’re never too old to keep learning. You just have to believe in yourself. You can do it. You’re worth it, and college will always be there when the timing is right.”

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