Here at the Panhandle Post, our reporters and editors have seen and heard about a variety of ways innocent victims fall prey to identity theft and robbery via telephone.

Box Butte County Sheriff Tammy Mowry reports the latest phone scam impacting Alliance residents.  It starts as a phone call from a panicked, crying grandchild.  They were in a traffic accident, they explain, and now they’re in jail.

The victims of the scam, which targets the elderly, are asked to post bail via telephone.  This part of the scam happens via a second phone call from an alleged attorney named Steve Harper, calling from a Des Moines, Iowa phone number– but this may vary.  It is the “attorney” who arranges to collect bail money for the phony accident.  The goal, as with most of these telephone scams, is to obtain the victim’s bank account number and other personal information to withdraw funds.

Sheriff Mowry tells the Post that this scam fools people for a number of reasons: the immediacy of the “emergency”, the use of believable terminology such as a “jail case number”, and the desire to help a relative.  However, citizens are advised not to get roped in.  Simply hang up–and if you’re the least bit uncertain, call and check in on your loved ones.

One last note: Sheriff Mowry also tells us there is a phone scam involving a free Wal-Mart gift card if you’ll only pay shipping and handling.  Again, the golden rule: Don’t give out financial information over the phone, unless you have initiated contact with a business you know and trust.  (And remember, if something seems too good to be true…it probably is!)

In over 40 years on television, the game show “Hollywood Squares” went through four hosts, three regular “center squares” and thousands of celebrity guests.

In Alliance, the Historic Main Street Hollywood Squares event has progressed through the 70s (2014) and 80s (2015), and now it’s time for the 1990’s to shine.  This year’s event is tonight at 6:00pm at Newberry’s in downtown Alliance, with doors opening at 5.  Single seats are $3.00 each at the door.  Nachos and beverages will be available at the bar.

As with previous years, notable Alliance citizens will portray iconic celebrities and fictional characters.  The 90’s lineup includes shrimp magnate Forrest Gump, supernanny Mrs. Doubtfire, coffeehouse troubador Phoebe Bouffay (of “Friends” fame) and six other stars from the worlds of movies, TV, music and professional wrestling.

Besides being a fun-filled flashback, the event serves as a fundraiser for a variety of causes represented by the contestants.  The rules are simple: the contestants must decide if a star is giving a correct answer to a question or just “bluffing” as they attempt to make tic-tac-toe.

“Hollywood Squares” is an evening of adult entertainment open to guests 18 and up.

Alliance and Hemingford brought a combined 14 wrestlers to state competition at the Century Link Center in Omaha Thursday-Saturday February 18-20.  Below is a list of Box Butte County wrestlers and their match results.  Audio of medal matches has been included.

ALLIANCE

106 – Evan Steggs
MATCH 1 loses to Walker Moore, Blair – PIN @2:29.  Moves into 1st Round Consolations.
MATCH 2 loses to Rodrigo Carvajal, Schulyer – PIN@ 1:45.  Eliminated.  Finishes season 27-20.

126 – Jorgen Johnson
MATCH 1 loses to Riley Berg, West Point Beemer – 7-2 decision.  Moves into 1st Round Consolations.
MATCH 2 defeats Mario Venzor, Schulyer – 4-2 decision.  Moves into 2nd Round Consolations.
MATCH 3 defeats Dawson Grell, Ashland-Greenwood – 4-0 decision.  Moves into 3rd Round Consolations.
MATCH 4 defeats Mason Brandenburg, Columbus Scotus – 4-2 decision in OT.  Moves into Consolation Semis.
MATCH 5 loses to Riley Berg, West Point Beemer – 12-3 decision.  Will wrestle for 5th/6th place.
MATCH 6 loses to Brice Larson, Gothenburg – 4-2 decision in OT. Receives 6th Place Medal.

Audio of Jorgen Johnson Medal Match:

 

138 – Lane Applegarth
MATCH 1  loses to Bailey Vanderpool, Omaha Skutt Catholic – 9-0 decision.  Moves into 1st Round Consolations.
MATCH 2  loses to Jacob Ramaekers, Mount Michael Benedictine – 4-2 decision.  Eliminated.

145 – Rey Valdez
MATCH 1 defeats Anthony Moyer, Fairbury – 6-5 decision.  Moves into Quarterfinals.
MATCH 2 loses to Zach Prall, Plattsmouth – 3-1 decision.  Moves into 2nd Rd. Consolations.
MATCH 3 defeats Dalton Lewis, Blair – 3-1 decision.  Moves into 3rd Round Consolations.
MATCH 4 loses to Tomas Margritz, Lexington – 3-2 decision.  Eliminated.  Finishes season 36-14.

152 – Dany Vallejo
MATCH 1 defeats Trevor Nelson, Elkhorn – 6-2 decision.  Moves into Quarterfinals.
MATCH 2 loses to Justin Franklin, Fairbury – 5-4 decision.  Moves into 2nd Rd. Consolations.
MATCH 3 defeats Jean-Marie Djidjoho, Mount Michael – PIN@ 2:32.  Moves into 3rd Round Consolations.
MATCH 4 loses to Jayden Miller, Gothenburg – 7-5 decision.  Eliminated.

160 – Emmanuel Cabello
MATCH 1 defeats Jacob Olson, Gretna – PIN @5:42.  Moves into Quarterfinals.
MATCH 2 loses to Marcus Dodson, Columbus-Scotus – 3-1 decision.  Moves into 2nd Rd. Consolations.
MATCH 3 defeats Joseph Seiler, Nebraska City – 3-2 decision.  Moves into 3rd Round Consolations.
MATCH 4 loses to August Yoder, Bennington – PIN@ 2:24.  Eliminated.

170 – Bryant Wilson
MATCH 1 defeats Preston Dibbern, Aurora – PIN@ 3:28.  Moves into Quarterfinals
MATCH 2 loses to Darin Sorenson, Nebraska City – 11-5 decision.  Moves into 2nd Rd. Consolations.
MATCH 3 defeats Ethan Sherman, Crete – PIN@ 3:26.  Moves into 3rd Round Consolations.
MATCH 4 defeats Cody Ybarra, Gering – PIN @ 3:08.  Moves into Consolation Semis.
MATCH 5 defeats Gerald Kenkel, Ogallala – 8-5 decision.  Will wrestle for 3rd/4th place.
MATCH 6 defeats Jacob Johnson, Fairbury – PIN@ 2:40.  Wins 3rd Place Medal.  Finishes season  46-9.

Audio of Bryant Wilson Medal Match

 

285 – Nathan Lauder
MATCH 1 loses to Ben Stille, Ashland-Greenwood – PIN@ 2:09.  Moves into 1st Round Consolations.
MATCH 2 loses to Hender Mendoza Ortega, Omaha Roncalli – 7-1 decision.  Eliminated.  Finishes season 23-24.

 

HEMINGFORD

106 – Cooper Weber 
MATCH 1 defeats Coy Gideon, Burwell – 7-1 decision.  Moves into Quarterfinals.
MATCH 2 Tayten Eggleston South Loup wins 8-2 decision. Moves into Semifinals
MATCH 3 loses to Ignacio Rivera, Sutton – PIN@5:02.  Moves into Consolation Semis.
MATCH 4 loses to Joshua Ibach, Central Valley – 11-0 decision.  Will wrestle for 5th/6th place.
MATCH 5 defeats Ryan Patrick, Sutherland – 4-2 decision.  Wins 5th Place Medal.  Finishes season 43-10.

Audio of Cooper Weber Medal Match:

 

120 – Justin Davis
MATCH 1 defeats Jacob Johnson, Archbishop-Bergen – 7-3 decision.  Moves into Quarterfinals.
MATCH 2 Kaden Guerrero SouthWest defeated by a pin in overtime.
MATCH 3 loses to Darrin Stewart, Elkhorn Valley – 14-3 decision.  Eliminated.

160 – Lee Jesperson 
MATCH 1 defeats Gage Kraeger, Weeping Water – 10-0 decision.  Moves into Quarterfinals.
MATCH 2 Kalin Klingelhoefer Amherst, Jesperson loses by a pin at 2:35 in second period.
MATCH 3 loses to Miles Kulhanek, Howells-Dodge – 10-0 decision.  Eliminated.  Finishes season 30-19.

182 – Tarin Jesperson
MATCH 1 loses to Tori Huffman, Burwell – PIN@ 5:11.  Moves into 1st Round Consolations.
MATCH 2 loses to Brandon Rezak, East Butler – forfeit.  Eliminated.

195 – Kage Jesperson
MATCH 1 loses to Alex Olivan, Clearwater/Orchard – 6-3 decision.  Moves into 1st Round Consolations.
MATCH 2 defeats Chase Miller, Anselmo-Merna – 7-0 decision.  Moves into 2nd Round Consolations.
MATCH 3 defeats Grady Stunkel, Ansley-Litchfield – 1-0 decision.  Moves into 3rd Round Consolations.
MATCH 4 loses to Nolan Casey, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge – 2-1 decision.  Eliminated.  Finishes season 17-6.

220 – Troy Isom 
MATCH 1 loses to Polo Ramirez, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller – PIN @ :24
MATCH 2 loses to Seth Wentworth, West Holt – forfeit.  Eliminated.

The first-ever Dobby’s Kids Art Show was held Saturday at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center.  Members of the group, which volunteers its time to maintain and improve the buildings and grounds at Dobby’s Frontier Town in Alliance, submitted entries.  The rules for entry required an original photograph, presented in a unique, homemade frame.  A large group was on hand to see the unique artwork, and KCOW morning show Jason Wentworth judged the entries.

The photos and frames will be on display at the Knight Museum through February 19th.  Below: a photo gallery of the event, including the winning entries.

The trophies are in place!

Dobby’s Kids member Ian Erickson presents
a Valentines Day gift to club advisor (and
self-described “big Kid”) Tami Swearingen.

This collage of three original photos
won Third Prize for Dobby’s Kids
member Shauna Banks.

This photograph of a “tree of books”, framed
by a book and other elements, won 1st prize
for Dobby’s Kids member Corbin Johnson.

This photo of a cat, framed in a dinner bowl and
accented by a cat toy won 2nd Place for
Dobby’s Kids member Kaelin Johnson.

Guests examine the artwork and enjoy
refreshments.

The members of Dobby’s Kids.

 

This afternoon Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts arrived at Alliance Municipal Airport for a stop on his “State Of The State” tour, one of five such stops the Governor was scheduled to make today.  A capacity crowd welcomed the Governor to the airport’s conference room.

In prepared remarks, Governor Ricketts echoed points made in his State Of The State Address, including a pledge to prioritize property tax relief.  The Governor also discussed planned improvements to the State Board of Corrections; outlined a plan to assist county and city governments in infrastructure repairs; and control spending in state government.

A question and answer session following the speech touched on a variety of subjects including the blocking of Syrian refugees from the U.S. and the possibility of additional support to local governments where essential services, such as health care for prisoners, are concerned.

Photos from the event:

The Governor’s plane arrives.

 

 

The Governor greets Alliance residents.

 

Governor Ricketts and Eagle Radio
News Director Kalin Krohe.

The Governor delivers his prepared remarks.

https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1/gov-pete-ricketts-at-the-alliance-state-fly-in-11516