LINCOLN – On Friday Governor Pete Ricketts issued a statement in observance of the New Year which is celebrated on January 1, 2018.

“As we reflect on 2017, and look forward to 2018, we have a lot to be thankful for here in Nebraska.

“In 2017, Nebraska hit exciting growth benchmarks.  We saw record jobs numbers, our population reached a new high, and we experienced the lowest unemployment rate in two decades.  We also celebrated our 150^th anniversary of statehood throughout the year.  While we have much to be grateful for, we know there will be more opportunities for growth in the coming year.  Your team at the State of Nebraska will continue to work together to grow the Good Life, so that our state remains the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family.  We look forward to serving the people of Nebraska in 2018!

“Susanne, the kids, and I wish everyone a happy and joyous New Year.  If you’re traveling for the New Year holiday, please remember to buckle up, travel safely, and never drink and drive.”

The Governor planned to celebrate the New Year with his extended family.

Alliance, NE  – During the early morning hours of January 1, 2018 Alliance Police Department (APD) officers responded to a residence on the 400 block of Emerson Avenue regarding a report of an assault in progress.  The victim and witness of the assault provided information that Darik Lujan, a 27 year old male of Alliance, broke into the female victim’s home and choked her.  Information was also provided about Lujan possessing a firearm during the incident.  Lujan fled the area prior to officers arriving on scene.

Later in the morning of January 1, APD officers contacted McKenzie Pfeiffer, a 21 year old female of Alliance, at 300 South Potash #19.  Pfeiffer denied knowing the location of Lujan.  Officers on scene heard noises inside the apartment consistent with someone attempting to conceal themselves.  Officers located Lujan who was hiding within an attic crawl space inside the apartment, and placed Lujan under arrest.

Lujan was booked into the Box Butte County Jail for suspicion of committing burglary, strangulation, terroristic threats, criminal mischief, use of a firearm to commit a felony, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, and resisting arrest.  

 

Pfeiffer was booked into the Box Butte County Jail for suspicion of being an accessory to a felony.

 

A new year means a busy season of fundraising for the United Way of Western Nebraska serving Box Butte and Dawes Counties.  The United Way’s Karen Benzel tells Panhandle Post that nearly $70,000 has been raised toward the $88,000 annual goal.  Many funds are raised  through payroll deduction programs, grants, and individual donations; Benzel can be reached at 763-8031 for more info on these programs.

Below is audio of Benzel’s interview aired Tuesday on the KCOW WorkDay Show with Jason Wentworth, which in addition to fundraising also discusses the process of applying to become a United Way partner agency:

The following release was provided to Panhandle Post by the City of Chadron Police Department:

Our snow was a little late this year, but it seems it is beginning to make itself known.  As a reminder to all businesses and residents in Chadron, the sidewalks and walkways adjoining businesses and residential dwellings need to be kept clear of snow ice and other hazardous substances to ensure a clean, safe environment for the citizens of Chadron in accordance with Chadron City Ordinance §13-209 Public Walks Kept Clean; Snow, Ice and Mud.

With the warmer weather appearing after storms and cold weather it is tempting to just let the snow and ice melt; the additional hazards of melting and freezing temperatures can make a dangerous condition and we urge you to help us keep Chadron safe.

If you have any questions about the Public Walks Kept Clean; Snow, Ice and Mud ordinance or would like to make a complaint, please feel free to call the Chadron Police Department at 308-432-0510.

13-209. PUBLIC WALKS KEPT CLEAN; SNOW, ICE AND MUD.  It shall be unlawful for the occupancy of any lot or lots, or the owner of any vacant lot of lots within the corporate limits of the City to allow snow, sleet, mud, ice, or other substance to accumulate on the sidewalk contiguous thereto, or to permit any compacted snow, sleet, ice, mud, or other substance to remain upon the sidewalk; but the sidewalk shall be cleaned within five hours after the cessation of the storm, unless the storm or fall of snow shall have taken place in the nighttime, in which case the sidewalk shall be cleaned before 8:30 a.m. the following day.

 

On Saturday the Alliance Chamber of Commerce ushered in the holiday season with the annual Christmas parade down Box Butte Avenue.  This year’s parade was held during the day, a change from recent years.

Creativity and fun were on display in floats, costumes and decorations reflecting the parade theme “Reindeer Games.”

Chamber Director Susan Unzicker reports the following award winners.  The winning entity in each category receives $50.00 in Chamber Bucks.

YOUTH GROUP: Spirit of Nebraska Girl Scouts

COMMERCIAL: Gary’s Cleaning and Restoration

NON-COMMERCIAL: Alliance Fire Department

Eagle Communications, parent company of Panhandle Post and radio stations KCOW, Double Q Country and B94.7 is proud to be a sponsor of this year’s parade.

After an exciting first day of district competition, the Alliance Lady Bulldog softball team will have a day to recharge.

Rain in McCook has led to a postponement of the remaining games in the tournament.  Alliance now faces a rematch with Cozad Saturday morning at 11:00am.  The Lady Bulldogs could play as many as four games tomorrow, but they are just one loss away from elimination.

AM 1400 KCOW will follow the Lady Bulldogs in their progress tomorrow, and carry all games the team plays.  This may result in a partial pre-emption of the Nebraska/Wisconsin football game; if so, Husker score updates will be provided on KCOW in-between innings.

Mike Glesinger will provide play-by-play from McCook.

A severe thunderstorm Thursday night caused a variety of damage to trees, property and more in the City of Alliance.  This photo gallery represents a sample of the photos we received from our KCOW Facebook friends over the course of the evening.  Special thanks to Rae Zochol, Becky Standage, Nate Stull, Kelsey Gomez, Emma Brownlow, Michelle Rasmussen, Regina Red Bear, Kathy Brock, Cheri Mozes,  Katie Danar and all those who sent photos our way.

If you have photos of damage from the Thursday night storm–taken in Alliance, Chadron, or anywhere in the panhandle–email them to panhandlepostnews@gmail.com for potential use in an update to this story.

The Main Street Players, Alliance’s community theater group, is planning two very exciting (and very different) productions.  The group will be performing a country comedy revue titled “The Chicken Coop–Live From Dalton, NE!” on Saturday September 16th (time to be announced) in Dalton.  Then, on Friday and Saturday October 20th & 21st, the Players will present the classic stage comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” by Joseph Kesselring in Alliance.

Open auditions for both productions will be held Thursday August 3rd at 5:00pm in the Gallery 3 building at 316 Box Butte.

According to Main Street Players Creative Director Elaine Connelly Bleisch, “For both of these shows we are looking for adult male and female performers–age 16 and up.  With regard to ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’, we are seeking eight adult men of varying ages, two older females and one younger female 15 or older.

“We encourage anyone who has ever considered trying their hand at acting, or perhaps performed in high school or college productions and is looking to get back into the world of live theater, to join us at Gallery 3 for auditions.  We can also use help in every aspect of these productions–sets, props, ticket sales, etc.”

Bleisch added that auditioners need not bring a monologue or scene, as scripts will be available.

The group continues its busy 2017 season following its production of a special play for the Nebraska 150 celebration and a comedy/variety show performed last month.  More information on Main Street Players can be found at https://www.facebook.com/MainStreetPlayersAlliance/

 

The Main Street Players, Alliance’s community theater group, will be presenting “The Best of Main Street Players” at Newberry’s Tuesday June 20th.  A social hour with cash bar and finger food begins at 7:00pm, with the performance starting at 8:00pm.

Main Street Players Creative Director Elaine Bleisch tells the Post, “We decided to do a variety show with scenes from past productions as an introduction to our group, for those who have never attended one of our performances.  This also gives us a chance to say farewell to three of our cast members who are moving on: Bill Graham and Angela O’Leary, who are moving later this summer; and Elora Bleisch, who is starting college in the Fall.”

Bleisch says the fast-paced variety show will include sketches and musical numbers from previous Main Street Players productions including “Annie”, “The Odd Couple”, “A Christmas Carol”, “Dracula”, “It’s All In The Timing”, “A Salute To Carol Burnett” and more.  The show will also include newly written sketches based on previous performances: “We wrote a Family Feud sketch that pits the crew of The Love Boat against the Gilligan’s Island castaways, as a flashback to plays we did based on those TV shows.  We are also doing a ‘Golden Girls’ sketch–several years ago we staged an evening of TV spoofs and the hit of the night was the Golden Girls, as performed as one girl and three guys!”

According to Bleisch, “This show features just some of the many and varied productions our group has staged in the last 15 years or so.  We’ve done serious productions like ‘Bus Stop’ and Shakespeare In The Park, and we’re doing ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ this Fall.  But most of our shows tend to be comedies–we enjoy doing them and they tend to be popular with audiences.”

Appearing in the show along with Graham, O’Leary and Elora Bleisch are Chris Obershaw, Caitlin Obershaw, David Kuskie, Elaine Bleisch, Kent Bleisch, Tristan Bleisch, Linnea Bleisch, Jason Hager, and Jason Wentworth.

Tickets for the “Best of Main Street Players” show are $10 at the door.