Kiya Stack of Chadron was crowned Miss Alliance and Chrissy Townsend of Omaha Miss Panhandle Saturday night in Alliance. The titles advance both women to the Miss Nebraska Pagent this June in North Platte for a shot at becoming Miss America.

1st-Runner-Up for the Miss Alliance title was Alliance High School senior Megan Gould, while Katrina Poppert…a 3-time Miss Nebraska contestant from Lincoln…was 1st-Runner-Up to Miss Panhandle.

Stack claimed the talent and interview competitions and tied for top honors in evening wear en route to winning the title of Miss Alliance for the second time.

The first time was in 2010 when she competed at Miss Nebraska with eventual Miss America Teresa Scanlan of Gering and won a scholarship at Miss Nebraska as the outstanding non-finalist in talent. Stack was also a 2-time Miss Nebraska Outstanding Teen contestant.

Four of this year’s Miss Alliance/Miss Panhandle contestants were past Miss Nebraska competitors: Stack, Townsend…the 2009 National American Miss Nebraska Teen…Poppert, and Kate Duncan of Morrill.

The pageant theme was “Patriotic Party in the USA,” and two of the 4 co-hosts were members of the military: Alliance native and 1st Lt Erin Hanson of the Nebraska Army National Guard and Senior Airman Jennifer Jensen of the Wyoming Air Guard.

The other co-hosts were veteran pageant MC Jon Marquez and reigning Miss Nebraska Mariah Cook. Cook had a full day, making a previously scheduled engagement in Grand Island before driving to Alliance and arriving just before intermission, then performing on the piano later in evening.

 

The Sheridan County Players open their latest production…And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson…Friday night (Jan 18) at the Plains Theater in Rushville. Curtain times are 7:30 Friday and Saturday nights this week and next, and 2 pm on Sundays the 20th and 27th. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

The play…which tells the story of Elizabeth Willow, a young girl struggling with being cripple at birth and confined to a wheelchair…may hit too close to home for some in the audience because in many ways it’s the real-life story of the actress portraying her.

22-year old Courtney Milburn has been confined to a wheelchair herself with no fine motor skills for the past 17 months, the result of a car accident as she was preparing for her senior year at Chadron State in August 2011.

A passenger, Milburn suffered a burst cervical vertebrae and bruised spinal cord that required delicate surgery in Denver. Four days after arriving in the hospital and while in an induced coma to help her recovery from the surgery, she suffered a pulmonary embolism…a blockage of the main artery of the lung that left her life in the balance for 45-minutes.

She remained in Denver hospitals for treatment and rehabilitation for 5 months before returning home, but her recovery since then has been very slow and limited. She admits to being in a period of depression until her younger sister Lindsey…now a student at Wayne State…kept reminding her of the stubborness they shared and how she would never give up when faced with challenges in the past.

Milburn says she decided she wasn’t going to let her injuries keep her from the things she loves, such as acting…which had seen her perform at Gordon-Rushville High School and with the Sheridan County Players in such shows at Jesus Christ, Superstar.

It was that connection that led Dance Real Slow director Candie Johnson…who had directed Milburn in past shows…to immediately think of her after reading the script for the first time.

Johnson liked the emotion Milburn could bring to the part because of the wheelchair, and liked the fact it would “get her out of the house and give her something to look forward to.”

Milburn jumped at the idea as soon as she read the script, calling the play “really powerful” with a different perspective on those with disabilities. She says the production has also given her a way to reconnect with others and let everyone know that she’s still fighting and still the person she was before the accident.

Milburn has continued to delay her final year at Chadron State while her recovery continues, but she’s helping research an anti-bullying program for grade school and middle school students…not that far removed from her studies to become a drug and alcohol counselor.

As for whether the wheelchair will be part of her life from now on, she doesn’t know because doctors tell her it’s hard to predict recovery from a bruised spinal cord. What she does know is that she plans to remain positive, continue her physical therapy, and move forward with her life…whatever directions it takes.

Several people have voice an interest in starting a Box Butte County Cancer Support Group for all of Box Butte County, and an initial meeting will be held on Thursday, January 24 at 7:00 pm in the Sandhills Room of Box Butte General Hospital.

This new group is seeking individuals who have cancer, are in remission, have a friend or family member with the disease, or anyone wanting to be a part of the organization to come to the introductory meeting.

“Anyone interested can attend to offer ideas of what is wanted for this type of group,” said Lori Mazanec, Jane’s Closet Representative. Jane’s Closet has offered to be a sponsor for the group and is willing to help with funding.

The first meeting will start by establishing goals for the group that meets the needs of the people of the community. Other questions such as: how often the group should meet, at what time, and where, will all be discussed on the January 24 meeting. “This is an opportunity for people to meet others in similar circumstances,” said Ms. Mazanec.

For more information, please contact Lori Rowley at 308-760-0676 or Ms. Mazanec at 308-762-4357, ext. 3428.

Jane’s Closet helps those diagnosed with cancer and their families in a variety of ways. Area residents who may know of a family meeting that criterion can contact Ms. Mazanec.

Five attorneys…four of them from the Panhandle…have applied for the vacant county judgeship created by the retirement more than a year ago of Charles Plantz of Rushville.

Two have been unsuccessful applicants for judgeships in the past. Dawes County Public Defender Paul Wess of Chadron tried in 2011 for the district judgeship now held by Travis O’Gorman while Stacy Nossaman-Petitt was an applicant a year earlier for the county judgeship now held by Kris Mickey.

The other three applicants for Plantz’s position…which will be based in Alliance…are Larry Miller of Alliance, Audrey Elliot of Gering, and Mark Raffety of Omaha.

The Judicial Nominating Commission for the 12th Judicial District will hold a public hearing at the Box Butte County Courthouse in Alliance February 1st at 10:00 a-m where the applicants can make their cases for appointment to the bench. Members of the public will also be able to testify for or against any of the five.

The Nominating Commission…made up of 4 attorneys and 4 non-attorneys from across the 12 counties in the 12th Judicial District…will then send at least two names on to Governor Dave Heineman, who will make the final decision.

A listing of the members of the Judicial Nominating Commission can be found on the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/2606/twelfth-district-county-district-court.

After Plantz retired at the end of 2011, the state Judicial Resources Commission considered a proposal to move Sheridan and Grant counties from the 12th District to the 8th District and to move the judgeship to the juvenile court system in Omaha.

As a test run, County Judge Steven Orr of Valentine spent about 4 months driving weekly from Valentine to Rushville to conduct court…with County Judge Russ Harford of Chadron adding Plantz’s former duties in Alliance to his own.

The Commission was told in December by virtually everyone connected to the test that it was an abject failure, leaving both judge tired, overworked, and behind. The panel then officially declared a vacancy, starting the process to fill it.

 

Ashtyn Shrewsbury _ FFA to Haiti

As we told you on KCOW Radio news earlier this week, Alliance High School FFA President Ashtyn Shrewsbury has been selected to be part of the FFA to Haiti Mission Trip this summer.

 Three years ago, Haiti receive massive destruction by an earthquake that destroyed 300 thousand buildings, and Shrewsbury will help in rebuilding homes and assisting the Haitians with meal deliveries, and teaching the Haiti citizens about how they can utilize what little agricultural resources they have. 

Shrewsbury, who is the reigning Box Butte County Fair Queen, says she believes the trip will cost about $2,000, and the first fundraiser on her behalf will be held Thursday night in conjunction with the Chadron vs. Alliance girls and boys basketball games at Alliance High School.

 Sloppy Joe, chips, beans, cookie and a drink for a $5 donation.

 Serving will take place in the upper level of the commons area from 5 o’clock until after halftime of the boys game (around 8 p.m.)

 Whether you are going to the Alliance basketball games or attending the Velocity concert in the performing arts center, you are invited to support Ashtyn.  

Shrewsbury says any money she raises above her $2,000 goal will be donated to help build a Haitian home or for meals for the residents of Haiti.

 Shrewsbury is encouraging you to enjoy her Sloppy Jo fundraiser and then visit the Velocity girls choir bake sale fundraiser and concert that begins at 7 p.m., as well as basketball — as it will be a night of food, music, and basketball excitement at Alliance High School.  If you can’t make it to her fundraisers but would like to assist, send you donation to Ashten Shrewsbury at 605 Cheyenne Avenue, Alliance, NE  69301.

Shrewsbury is also a member of the AHS Band, the state champion one act play team, and golf team.