It could be said that no one, aside from their parents, affects a young person’s life more than their teachers.  Teachers educate their students on lifelong necessities like reading, writing, math and more; but they also act as a good example, a mentor, and an introduction to the possibilities awaiting future graduates in a variety of careers and areas of study.

To honor the men and women who are gearing up for another year in the classroom, Eagle Radio stations KCOW, Double Q Country and B94.7 (along with Panhandle Post) are announcing a Teacher Of The Month promotion.  Each month, one teacher in Box Butte County or the surrounding area (sponsored by Total Reflections salon) and one in Dawes County or the surrounding area (sponsored by the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District) will be named Teacher Of The Month.  They will receive a gift basket and their classroom will enjoy treats.  Our Box Butte County and surrounding area treat sponsor is Great Western Bank, and in Dawes County and the surrounding area treats will be provided courtesy of Ta-Da Quilt Shop and Art Studio.

Students and parents are encouraged to write letters nominating the teacher they believe worthy of the title of Teacher Of The Month.  These letters should include:

-why your teacher (or your child’s teacher) deserves the honor
-your name
-your teacher’s name
-the grade or subject they teach, and at which school they teach

You can email your nomination letter to kcowradio@gmail.com, or drop it off at these sponsor locations:

In Alliance:
Total Reflections Salon
American Family Insurance
Sauced
Hometown Heroes Pizza and Subs
Sweet Bre’s Floral and Gifts

In Chadron:
Upper Niobrara White NRD
Arrow Building Center
Nebraska Tire
Horizon West Dental

Stay tuned to the Post and our Eagle radio stations for more details on our Teacher of the Month promotion!

On Saturday the Soroptimist Club of Alliance held a fundraising event that put a new spin on the traditional home tour.  This time, five unique “man caves” were opened for exploration.  The families who opened their man caves were Dr. Cork and Pat Taylor; Chad and Wren Wilcox; Bart and Starla Endsley; Don and Julie Sheldon; and Richard and Eileen Spencer.

Following the tour period, ticketholders converged at Skyview Golf Course for a steak dinner and live entertainment.  KCOW “Wakeup Show” host Jason Wentworth acted as master of ceremonies, and singer-songwriter Ed Harvey performed unique songs about Nebraska and the midwest.

Proceeds from tour ticket sales, as well as a raffle drawing which will be completed in September, benefit Soroptimist International, a global volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

Below are photos of the man caves, and from the dinner at Skyview Golf Course.

Dr. Cork Taylor’s mancave garage featured
Husker decor and mementos from his
years in dentistry.

The Chad and Wren Wilcox mancave included
a bar, two flatscreen TVs, and a playroom
“kids cave.”

The Bart and Starla Endsley mancave
featured a hunting lodge motif, with
a variety of animal pelts adoring the walls
and floor.

Bart, like all the man cave-dwellers,
proudly showed off his cave and posed
for our Panhandle Post camera.

The Don and Julie Sheldon man cave
included an indoor shooting range.  Here,
Don shows us a cannon project in the final
stages of completion.

Richard and Eileen Spencer’s man cave
was a massive model railroad display.
A variety of miniatures combined with
the trains to create a miniature city.

One small section of their setup.

A large crowd on hand for dinner, music
and door prize drawings at Skyview.

Music from Ed Harvey brought the day’s
fun to a close.  His performance included
audience sing-along and a song about
Antioch, NE “potash rush” days.

IX Design Builders owner Ryan Reynolds, who also serves on the Keep Alliance Beautiful Board of Directors, operated a fireworks store at his business in the weeks leading up the the July 4th holiday.  A portion of fireworks sales revenue totalling $4,000 was donated to KAB.

Keep Alliance Beautiful has been earning additional funds this Heritage Days week with their mini-donut booth near Box Butte Central.  Keep Alliance Beautiful President Kathy Worley says the donut machine will be used to raise funds at a variety of events in the coming months.

 BBGH News Release:

Box Butte General Hospital CEO, Dan Griess, FACHE, will be leaving the organization at the end of July after 24½ years, 13 years in the role of CEO. He has accepted the position of Executive Vice President of Facility Systems & Clinical Services at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln and the new hospital that opens this fall in Omaha, Nebraska, beginning in August 2016. The BBGH Board of Directors will announce their plans for the future on the July 25th Board meeting.

Mr. Griess said, “I kind of feel like a child actor growing up in front of the audience of Box Butte County. Everyone has seen my growth, development, promotion and recent gray hair over the years. In fact, I was kind of skinny when I started at BBGH. It is difficult to put into words how hard it is to leave Alliance. I have spent nearly half of my entire lifetime in this wonderful community and working for Box Butte General Hospital. The staff at BBGH are second to none! Together, we have created a healthcare organization that has a great reputation for quality care and fabulous patient experience. Even though I am a Morrill hometown kid, Alliance will always remain my favorite place to call home!”

Mr. Griess started his career at Box Butte General Hospital in 1992 as the Laboratory Manager. In 1996, he was promoted to Vice President of Clinical/Support Services, and in 2003, he officially took the reins as CEO of the hospital. Mr. Griess has a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota. In serving as CEO, Mr. Griess oversaw the management of Box Butte General Hospital, including administrative responsibilities of Executive Team, Foundation and Marketing.

David Briggs, Box Butte General Hospital’s Board of Trustees Chairman, said, “Thirteen years ago the Board selected Dan to lead the hospital and we’ve been very happy with his leadership. Together with Dan at the helm, we have been successful in adding services for the good of the citizens of Box Butte County. We wish him well on his new endeavors and we look forward to continue serving the community with the staff that Dan has brought together.”

Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

For the last few nights, hundreds of Box Butte County residents–railroad employees and their families, and other invited guests–have enjoyed the rare experience of riding on a passenger train.  BNSF’s “All Aboard!” program has also brought with it a series of donations to local charities from the BNSF Foundation.

On Tuesday night’s run, BNSF Public Affairs Director Andy Williams presented a check for $2,000 to Harold Roller of Box Butte County’s Habit For Humanity chapter.  Eagle Radio’s Jason Wentworth conducted a brief interview with Roller and shares some photos of the evening’s train ride.

BNSF’s Andy Williams (left) presents the donation check to Harold Roller.

This weekend, “The Addams Family” opened in the Post Playhouse at Fort Robinson state park.  The musical, based on the cartoons of Charles Addams (and inspired by later TV and film adaptations) features family patriarch Gomez, his wife Morticia, and their two children Pugsley and Wednesday.  Uncle Fester, Grandmama, Lurch The Butler, Thing and Cousin Itt are also on hand.

The story centers around Wednesday, who in most incarnations is depicted as a child.  However, in the musical Wednesday is all grown up–and ready to tie the knot!  To the family’s chagrin, her boyfriend shows no signs of being creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky or altogether ooky.  And Gomez has a tricky situation on his hands when Wednesday asks him to keep the details of her engagement from his lovely bride.

Lots of laughs, impressive dance routines, special effects and other surprises make the show a real treat.  Performances of “The Addams Family” continue through August, along with this year’s other shows.

Panhandle Post’s Jason Wentworth recorded this interview with Post Playhouse Artistic Director Tom Ossowski.  Below the video: a photo gallery of Fort Robinson and the Playhouse.