Initial weigh-ins are underway for the Scottsbluff Star-Herald’s 3rd-annual Wyobraska Get Fit Challenge weight-loss contest…co-sponsored by 5 area health care providers: Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance, Monument Physical Therapy in Gering, North Platte Physical Therapy in Torrington, Garden County Health Services in Oshkosh, and Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport.

The Challenge is a 12-week competition among 2-person teams with a total prize pool of over $3,000…$1,000 for the winning top team and $500, $250, $150, and $100 through 5th place. Individual male and female winners will be named, and the community with the winning team will also receive a $1,000 donation.

Box Butte General Hospital Wellness Coordinator Dan Newhoff says the Get Fit Challenge is a fun and fair competition with few rules that emphasizes the benefits of wellness for people of all ages and body types.

The first weigh-ins were held Saturday at the Get Fit Challenge Health Fair in Gering, with the others this week at the co-sponsors…including Jan. 8 in Alliance at Box Butte General from 5-7:30.

There is a $50 per team fee at weigh-in for those that didn’t pre-register. The participants in last year’s Get Fit Challenge lost 2,426 pounds

 

Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) recently expanded its public Wi-Fi coverage to better serve the needs of visiting patients, family and friends.

“Several months ago, the IT department realized the increasing need to offer public Internet for our customers,” said Tony Hindman, IT Department staff member. “We’ve all been in the situation of caring for or visiting friends and family in a hospital or clinic setting, only to find that there is no Internet available for updating CaringBridge or Facebook statuses.  At BBGH, we have addressed that need by providing wireless guest internet using a system similar to those found in hotels.” 

This wireless connection, named “Public Internet”, is on a completely separate Internet connection from the main hospital network, ensuring security for BBGH systems while allowing unfiltered Internet access for hospital guests and vendors.

“We currently have Public Internet available in the Patient Care Unit, ER, OB/OR Waiting Area, Radiology, and Medical Arts Plaza,” Mr. Hindman concluded. “We will continue to evaluate our signal coverage and will add or reposition access points in the facility to improve service.”

Two Alliance residents will stand trial for allegedly possessing methamphetamine in a home that also occupied children.

In Box Butte County District Court Wednesday morning, trial was set for 42-year-old Brian Chesson and 35-year-old Kelly Clark.

The trials will be held on separate days, with Chesson’s scheduled for February 15, and Clark’s to be held February 25.

The possession of meth charges are felonies while the child abuse charges are misdemeanors.

Clark and Chesson were arrested on September 11 after Alliance police received a report that Clark had been using marijuana in front of Clark’s children, all of whom were under the age of 13.   A search of the home resulted in the felony drug and misdemeanor child abuse charges being filed.

Both parties are free on bond.

Highway 20 about 8 miles east of Harrison was closed for around an hour New Year’s evening by a 2-vehicle accident that sent two people to different hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

The Nebraska State Patrol says 33-year old Robert Fox of Texas was eastbound in a pickup about 7:20 pm when he crossed the center line of Highway 20 and struck a westbound SUV driven by 19-year old Kaitelyn Woodrum of Harrison nearly head-on.

The patrol says the pickup went into the north ditch, then on into a field while the SUV remained on the pavement.  The highway was closed about an hour by the investigation and cleanup.

Fox, who was not using his seat belt, was taken to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. Woodrum was using her seat belt and was taken to Chadron Community Hospital. A passenger with Woodrum, who was also wearing a seat belt, refused treatment at the scene.

 

ALLIANCE, NEBRASKA — CITY COUNCIL MEETING

School Board Meeting Room — 1604 Sweetwater Avenue

 

Thursday, January 3, 2013 – 7:00 p.m.

Televised Live on Charter Cable Channel 6

AGENDA
– Call to Order
– Roll Call
– Open Meetings Act Announcement

– Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

A. Consent Calendar

B. Proclamation
TeamMates Coordinator, Julie Bottger has requested the City of Alliance to proclaim January as National Mentoring Month in Alliance.

C. Presentations
Tourism Report

D. City Manager’s Report

E. Resolution No. 13-01 – Police Alarm Monitoring Panel Bid Award
Resolution No. 13-01 will award the replacement of the Police Department alarm panel to Nebraska Safety & Fire of North Platte, NE in the amount of $22,798.00.

F. Board Vacancies
The City of Alliance continues to have vacancies on the Board of Adjustment, A-2 Downtown Improvement Board, Economic Development Plan Boards, Housing Authority, Ex-officio youth member on the Library Board, Park and Tree Board, Planning Commission, and Police Advisory Board. Anyone interested in serving on these Boards should contact the City Clerk’s Office. Information on all of the City Boards is also available at www.cityofalliance.net.

G. Recap Actions

– Adjournment