ORLANDO, Fla. — A recent North Platte St. Patrick’s graduate is taking the stage this week at the Miss America’s Teen Competition in Orlando, Florida.

Gabriella Swift, a 2025 graduate, is representing Nebraska at the national event, held at the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

The competition is part of the larger 2026 Miss America and Miss America’s Teen events. Preliminary shows for the teen division began Tuesday, with additional talent preliminaries scheduled for Thursday at 4 p.m. CT. The finals will take place Saturday at 6 p.m. CT.

Miss Nebraska, Makinzie Gregory from Gering is also in Orlando this week competing for the Miss America crown.

The events are being live-streamed on PageantVision.com.

North Platte graduate competes at Miss America’s Teen Competition

OMAHA, Neb. (Sept. 1, 2025) — The Nebraska State Patrol is reminding Husker fans that safety should be part of their gameday plan.

Colonel Bryan Waugh, of NSP, will announce the effort during a media event at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the NSP Troop A office, 4411 S. 108th St. in Omaha. The campaign will feature troopers from across the state, who will take part in events leading up to the delivery of the Huskers’ game ball to Memorial Stadium ahead of Saturday’s home opener against Akron.

The effort is designed to encourage safe travel to and from Lincoln on game days, with reminders for fans to drive sober, buckle up and stay alert on crowded roadways. 

This is also a good reminder that safety extends beyond the stadium and in Lincoln. Whether traveling to the game, gathering with friends or attending a large watch party, state patrol leaders say fans safety should be forefront. 

Nebraska enters the game following a 20-17 victory over Cincinnati in its season opener Aug. 28 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. 

The game ball handoff is expected to highlight both statewide teamwork among troopers and the importance of planning ahead so fans can enjoy the game safely. 

Troopers to Hand Off Husker Game Ball in Campaign for Gameday Safety

The Hot Sheets: September 2, 2025

The Hot Sheets: September 1, 2025

The Hot Sheets: August 31, 2025

LEWELLEN, Neb. — Riders will saddle up at Ash Hollow State Historical Park on Sept. 6 for the Velvet Spurs’ annual horseback poker run, a fundraiser for the Friends of Ash Hollow.

The family-friendly event begins at 10 a.m. Mountain Time, with registration at the park’s main entrance. Riders will travel trails through the historic landmark, stopping at stations to collect poker cards. Prizes will be awarded for the top three hands, along with the worst hand.

“It’s very family-friendly. There’s no time event on it, so you don’t have to speed,” said Velvet Spurs President Jean Tobiasson. “You can take your time, enjoy looking at the wildlife and the history up there, and just bring the whole family.”

The event, now in its third year, will feature some newly mapped trails, including a lookout point offering views of Lake McConaughy. The ride is $10 per participant, with entry available the day of the event.

Following the ride, participants are invited to a potluck dinner. The Velvet Spurs will provide sloppy joes and tableware, and riders are asked to bring a salad or dessert.

If inclement weather forces a postponement, the event will be rescheduled for Sept. 20.

Ash Hollow, located at the west end of Lake McConaughy, holds deep historical significance as a Native American buffalo jump site and features preserved cultural landmarks.

For more information, riders may contact Tobiasson or register on-site the morning of the ride.

Velvet Spurs set Sept. 6 horseback poker run at Ash Hollow (Podcast)

The Hot Sheets: August 30, 2025

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Battle of the Badges returns for the 16th annual event Sept. 10 at Venue 304 in North Platte.&nbsp;

The annual blood drive will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. &nbsp;

Donors will cast a vote for Team Red (fire and EMS) or Team Blue (law enforcement). The agency with the most votes will claim bragging rights for the year and be added to a traveling plaque.&nbsp;

The event was first organized in Lincoln County to honor first responders killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Since then, it has grown into a community tradition. In the past 15 years, more than 1,300 units of blood have been donated.&nbsp;

“This is about honoring service while also meeting a real community need,” the Red Cross said. “Every pint of blood donated can help save up to three lives.”&nbsp;

This year's donors will receive a commemorative Battle of the Badges T-shirt or a limited-edition Red Cross PEANUTS mystery T-shirt, along with a meal.&nbsp;

The Red Cross said all blood types are needed to ensure a stable supply for patients. Donors must be at least 17 years old in most states (16 with parental consent, depending on state law), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in generally good health. High school students and other donors age 18 and younger must also meet certain height and weight requirements.&nbsp;

To schedule an appointment, donors can use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit <a href="http://redcrossblood.org/" target="_blank">RedCrossBlood.org</a> or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Donors are asked to enter sponsor code “NPbattleofbadges” to register for the event. RapidPass, an online tool available at <a href="http://redcrossblood.org/RapidPass" target="_blank">RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass</a>, can also be used to complete pre-donation reading and health history questions to save time on donation day.&nbsp;

The Battle of the Badges is one of several community blood drives held each year in Nebraska. The Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood and relies on volunteers and donors to help maintain hospital inventories.&nbsp;

16th annual Battle of the Badges set for Sept. 10

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. &nbsp;— Midwest Modern Bridal Expo hopes to connect couples and local vendors to help make wedding planning easy next month in North Platte. &nbsp;

The free event scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 21, from noon to 4 p.m. at Venue 304. It is co-hosted by Venue 304 and RA Productions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The event is a one-stop shop for couples looking to simplify wedding planning and support local businesses. Explore vendor services including photography, floral arrangements, catering, décor, music and attire.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Participating businesses include Hello Beautiful Bridal, Jo Lyn &amp; Co, Pitchin’ Tents, NP Party Bus, Harbor Lights, Hirschfeld’s, Homestead Pumpkin Patch, The Farmhouse, Rachel Hanson Photography, Capturing the Little Things, Fly Over Photography, Night Sounds Entertainment, Beauty by Brisa, Clubhouse on 18th, DJ Projekt 3D, The Flower Market, Emily Esthetics, Cakes by Millie, Lisa Cay Cakes, Style by Shelby and Oles.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“This event is a celebration of collaboration and the creativity that makes our local wedding community so special,” said Venue 304's Bailee Guethlein. “When we work together, we can turn visions into reality.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

RA Productions’ Emily Garrick added that the expo is about more than booking services. “Weddings are stories,” Garrick said. “Every vendor here plays a part in creating once-in-a-lifetime memories, and we want couples to leave with a vision of their wedding story coming to life.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Along with vendor exhibits, attendees will have a chance get entered for chance at a bar credit with Venue 304 and a video album book from RA Productions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The event is open to all engaged couples, or anyone interested in wedding planning. Get more information by contacting Venue 304 at <a href="mailto:hello@venue304.com" target="_blank">hello@venue304.com</a> or RA Productions at <a href="mailto:thatsrap.pro@gmail.com" target="_blank">thatsrap.pro@gmail.com</a>.&nbsp;

Your Dream Wedding Starts Local: Midwest Modern Bridal Expo Coming to North Platte 

The Hot Sheets: August 29, 2025

NORTH PLATTE, Neb - The public can bid on surplus equipment from North Platte Community College until Sept. 10, 2025.

Vehicles, tools, a trailer, office furniture, HVAC units, a grand piano, welders, kayaks and shelving are among the many items that will be sold via online auction.

Items can be viewed on the Isabell Auction Service website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.isabellauction.com/auctions/10263-npcc-online-surplus-auction">isabellauction.com</a>&nbsp;or in person from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 9 at the NPCC North Campus,1101 Halligan Drive, North Platte. Lots will begin closing at 1:00 p.m. Sept. 10. Any schedule changes will also be posted on the Isabell website.

Purchased items can be picked up between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sept. 11 at the NPCC North Campus. Signs will be posted on campus to direct buyers to the appropriate location.

More information is available through Isabell’s at 308-532-6944.&nbsp;

NPCC to auction surplus equipment

HERSHEY, Neb. (Aug. 19, 2025) — The Hershey Lions Club is gearing up for a full day of small-town tradition and big-time entertainment Saturday as the Hershey Fall Festival returns, capped off by a concert featuring Texas country artist Casey Donahew.

The festival kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with a parade along Main Street, winding down to the park where events continue throughout the day. Highlights include a prime rib lunch, car show, tractor display, local vendors, and the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department’s popular water fight. Other crowd favorites are set to return as well, including Cow Pie Bingo and the Beer Olympics at Kathy’s Place.

“This festival really brings everyone together all day,” said Lions Club member Justin Petska. “There’s something for everyone, from families at the park to folks who just want to come out and enjoy the concert at night.”

The evening festivities open at 5 p.m. with a beer garden and food vendors, followed by live music. Drew Phillips will open the show before Donahew takes the stage downtown against the backdrop of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks — a setting organizers say makes the event unique.

Advance tickets are $20 and available at Hershey State Bank locations in North Platte and Hershey, as well as online at outhousetickets.com. Tickets will also be available at the gate for $25. Drinks will be sold on a ticket system, with beer and seltzers available for $5 each.

Petska said the festival has become the Lions Club’s biggest fundraiser, helping to support community projects throughout the year. He credited sponsors and local support for making the event possible.

“When you see a thousand people packed into Main Street in Hershey, it’s pretty special,” Petska said. “We couldn’t put on a weekend like this without the help of our sponsors and the community.

<a href="https://outhousetickets.com/events/hershey-fall-festival-2025">GET TICKETS HERE</a>

Casey Donahew to Headline Hershey Fall Festival on Saturday (Podcast)

(Audio) Dianne Morales with PAWS-itive Partners Humane Society stops by to talk Woofstock 2025

LAKE MAC REPORT for August 15, 2025 — brought to you by Spahn Marine in Big Springs, Nebraska — where the boats are shiny, the service is friendly, and the fish stories are always free!

If you’re a trout chaser, Lake Ogallala is still the place to be. The river and canal below the lake are giving up plenty of fish, and some bigger trout are starting to show up right in the lake itself.

Prefer whiskers over fins? Catfish at Lake Mac are on the prowl this month, biting best from dusk to dawn pretty much anywhere you drop a line. Just remember — the later it gets, the taller your stories get.

During the day, smallmouth bass are still hitting hard along the rocky points on the south side and the face of the dam. Walleye hunters are finding some action too — 25 to 30 feet down with crankbaits is the magic recipe.

Available docks: Divers Bay, Martin Bay low water, both docks at Lake Ogallala, and the fishing dock in the northwest corner.

Lake McConaughy’s water temperature is about 77 degrees, elevation 3,225.3 feet. Inflows from the North Platte River are running around 650 cubic feet per second, with outflows at about 2,500. For the full water-level breakdown, check the CNPPID site once they update their numbers.

It’s still camping season, so grab your spot at outdoornebraska.gov or call 844-637-2757. Campfires are allowed, but keep ’em in a pit under 3 feet and don’t turn your hot dogs into torches.

Big thanks to Patrick Schnell from Nebraska Game and Parks for the fishing intel — and remember, this Outdoor Report is powered by Spahn Marine in Big Springs… because the only thing better than catching a fish is showing up in style to do it.

Lake Mac Report (August 15, 2025)

Celebrate creativity at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrairieArtsCenter?__cft__[0]=AZV8STkjtnrCZQE9hhoPpMsZZAfbah04AophBeiZ4ikH8aGkJgMtLNeDNx2YrVEv684uwL5K_xxQoDemarguHZ9RgVPXqRmQnnHlnj2MSTvXrvFj26wWVSJwTtC8qWf0GRPPDLuzf3gVxq5VfTrv5Y5DrTEb0T1KykQ7YqJ9rQD3ng&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Prairie Arts Center</a> on August 9th from 11 AM – 3 PM with FREE admission!

 Free Art Classes &amp; Open Studio Ceramics (11 AM – 2 PM)From origami to watercolor minis, Q-tip painting to wooden pumpkins — try something new in 30-minute quick classes! (First come, first serve.)

 Artist Market &amp; Live Demos (11 AM – 2 PM)Shop from talented local artists, enjoy woodcarving, clay wheel throwing, painting &amp; drawing demos.

 Bob Ross Costume Contest (11 AM – 2 PM)Dress like everyone’s favorite happy little painter for a chance to win a prize!

 Amateur Hour Painting Competition (2 PM – 3 PM)Watch locals show off their painting skills — for free!

 Plus: face painting, raffles, downtown sculpture walk tours, art &amp; food vendors, and so much more.

(Audio) Tara and Traeli from the Prairie Arts Center discusses the upcoming Art Affair

&nbsp;Paxton Gordon sat down with Paul from Pal’s Brewing Company to preview an action-packed weekend of events. This Friday, Pal’s hosts its 7th Annual Craft Beer Festival, featuring a wide selection of regional breweries, live music, and a lively atmosphere perfect for beer lovers. Then on Saturday, it's the return of the 2nd Annual Boots 'N Beef Music Festival, celebrating Nebraska’s best beef with great food, country music, and cold brews. Paul shared all the details, inviting everyone out for a weekend full of flavor and fun at Pal’s.

Pal’s Brewing gears up for Craft Beer Festival and Boots & Beef Weekend

By Derek Beck North Platte Post| August 1, 2025 | North Platte, Neb.

A local chapter of the Widows Sons motorcycle organization presented a $6,000 donation to Homestead Refuge on Friday morning, offering a significant boost to the nonprofit’s mission of supporting victims of sex trafficking in rural Nebraska.

The presentation took place during a live radio interview at Eagle Media in North Platte, where representatives from both groups spoke about their shared commitment to helping vulnerable individuals rebuild their lives.

Road Runner, Guardian of Membership for District 13 and a representative of the Widows Sons’ Western Travelers Chapter, said the funds were raised during the group’s annual state rally held in June. The Widows Sons, a fraternal motorcycle group made up of Master Masons, selected Homestead Refuge as the charitable beneficiary for this year’s event.

“We’re a charitable riding organization that focuses on helping widows, orphans, and anyone in need, especially those affected by abuse or hardship,” Road Runner said. “We’re proud of what we were able to raise with the help of our brothers from across the country.”

The Western Travelers Chapter includes nine fully patched members and two journeymen currently working toward full membership. The funds were raised through raffles, auctions, and other rally activities.

Accepting the donation on behalf of Homestead Refuge was Betty Remus, a volunteer who has been instrumental in the organization’s development.

Located in rural Lincoln County, Homestead Refuge offers a safe haven for survivors of sex trafficking, providing peace, privacy, and healing in a country setting. The home features animals and quiet outdoor spaces to aid in recovery.

“We’re a place where survivors can escape the chaos and begin the long process of healing,” Remus said. “This donation means the world to us, especially as we work to sustain and grow our program with limited staff and funding.”

Homestead Refuge currently employs one paid staff member, thanks to a private donor, with the remainder of operations handled by volunteers. The organization began about four years ago, when Remus and others repurposed an old family home into a shelter after feeling called to address the growing trafficking issue in the area.

For more information or to support Heartland Refuge, visit <a href="https://www.homesteadrefuge.org/">HomesteadRefuge.org</a>

Widows Sons Donate $6,000 to Homestead Refuge for Victims of Trafficking

North Platte 80s Head Coach Todd Everleth joined host Paxton Gordon on the show to preview the team’s upcoming playoff showdown against the Blackwell Flycatchers. Everleth broke down the team’s approach heading into the high-stakes matchup. He also reflected on the excitement surrounding Trevor Pochop Night, honoring the fan-favorite’s impact on and off the field.

North Platte 80s Manager Todd Everleth joins to talk about the Pecos Playoffs and Trevor Pochop Night

Listen To Interview with Gene Russel here

OGALLALA, Neb. (July 30, 2025) — As the calendar turns to August, the energy is building at Ogallala Public Schools ahead of the first day of school on Wednesday, August 14. Superintendent Gene Russel says the district is eager to welcome students back with new programs, facility upgrades, and a strong emphasis on community support and student readiness.

Among the key initiatives this year is the “Kick Start to Kindergarten” program. Designed to help incoming kindergarteners ease into their new environment, the program gives students a chance to meet their teachers and experience a mock school day before the official first day of class.

“This helps take away the tears and anxiety for both kids and parents,” Russell said. “It’s a smooth transition that sets the tone for the year.”

Russel says students and families will notice major updates across the district, especially at Prairie View School, where modernization efforts include new record boards, upgraded trophy cases, a freshly painted gym, and a new video scoreboard. At the high school, renovations include remodeled restrooms and custom murals by local artist Brianna Benton, helping create a more engaging and modern atmosphere.

“We’ve worked hard to save over the last four or five years so we could reinvest in the student experience,” said Russel. “We believe our kids deserve to walk into a building that feels exciting and inspiring.”

One of the most significant proposals on the horizon is a possible expansion of the district’s preschool offerings. Ogallala Public Schools is exploring the addition of new preschool classrooms, potentially at the National Guard Armory, to help address a critical early education gap.

According to district data, about 60% of incoming kindergarten students have little to no formal preschool experience.

“We’re seeing too many kids show up not ready—socially, emotionally, or academically,” Russel said. “This expansion could help close that gap and offer free, accessible education to the students who need it most.”

The proposal is still under discussion and will be a topic at upcoming school board meetings in August and September, as the board finalizes its budget and levy.

Russel encourages community members to share their input early: “This is the time to get involved. We want to hear your thoughts before decisions are made.”

New Staff, Fall Sports and Community Spirit

Teachers officially report back to school on Friday, August 8, with returning staff beginning in-service training on Monday, August 11. Russell says the district is welcoming several new staff members this fall and is focused on getting everyone ready for a strong start.

And it wouldn’t be back-to-school season without fall sports. Volleyball, football, cross country, and girls golf all kick off the first week, and the district is rolling out some fun new additions to its concession stands—including soft-serve ice cream and a refreshed menu aimed at making game night the place to be in town.

“It’s going to be fun,” Russel said. “We’re working hard to enhance the experience for students, families, and fans.”

With energy high and plenty of excitement in the air, Ogallala Public Schools is set for a fresh start filled with community, commitment, and continued growth.

For more information or to get involved with district initiatives, residents are encouraged to contact the superintendent’s office.

Ogallala Public Schools Ready to Kick Off New Year with Exciting Updates and Community Focus (PODCAST)

Evan and Bruce get together to talk about all the latest action in the Pecos League, playoff implications and more. And keeping with the catchphrase, "Anything can happen in the Pecos League" we talk about impromptu laundry service and chess boards, too. All of that, and North Platte RF/PH/jack of all trades Ryan Lutinski joins Evan for this week's interview. Don't miss it!&nbsp;

Wild Card Fever, Chess Championships, Super Sub Ryan Lutinski and more. Another fun week in the Pecos League!

Chase County sheriff called fed immigration officials amid fears of trap that hurt attendance

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/natalia-alamdari/">Natalia Alamdari</a>&nbsp;- Flatwater Free Press

IMPERIAL, Nebraska — In a dusty show barn, kids march out their prize-winning swine as an auctioneer sings out competing bids.

Outside, shrieks pierce this hot August night as families spin in loops on lit-up carnival rides. Vendors sell giant chocolate ice creams and funnel cakes, corn dogs and lemonades.

Every year, the Chase County Fair &amp; Expo draws 10,000 people to this county of 3,764. They come for the classic small-town rite of summer. And they come for the fair’s annual concerts.

This year, the county fair did something new. For the first time, fair organizers hired a Mexican band to perform, figuring that made practical sense in a community whose Latino population has grown sixfold since 2000. The announcement brought buzz and excitement on social media.

But in the hours leading up to the Thursday night concert, only 300 tickets had sold, low for the grandstand that can hold 3,500. Many local Latino residents had decided to stay home, afraid of what could happen.

“The rumor was that this was bait,” Imperial resident Cynthia Almanza said while waiting for the concert to start. “That ICE was going to show up.”

The local rumor mill also alleged that the county sheriff had been the one to make that call.

Versions of this story burned through Imperial and surrounding towns this summer, Almanza and other residents told the Flatwater Free Press.

The Chase County sheriff was upset the fair had booked a Mexican band, residents said. He had called the feds, they said. They even said the fair had planned the concert as a trap. The suspicion grew so strong that one Imperial police officer went so far as to ask Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Did the sheriff contact you?

Chase County Sheriff Kevin Mueller said in an emailed statement it was a “false and harmful rumor” that he “made a racist comment” during a fair board meeting discussing security needs for the concert.

But it was true that he called ICE, he said in an email Thursday evening.

“I did place a call to ICE,” Mueller wrote. “About a week later, someone returned my call … by that time, I had already determined that we had sufficient security in place through the Fair Board and the State Patrol.”

The idea that ICE agents could show up at the fair took root in people’s minds. Almanza had friends who skipped the show. “It terrified lots of people,” she said.

“It made me question if I should even be here,” said Judith Beltran, another concertgoer, who heard the story of the potential ICE raid shortly after arriving for the concert from Denver. “Just because of the chaos … I don’t want to be in the middle of it.”

In the eight months of immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration, fear of ICE raids has penetrated many aspects of immigrant life in Nebraska. Rumors of raids and government vehicle sightings flood Facebook groups and WhatsApp chats.

Some families are retreating from public life, including some who have legal status, advocates say. It’s keeping kids from attending school, they say, and parents from going to work.

In Imperial, it left some wondering: Is the county fair safe?

The Chase County Fair Board approached Rodolfo Aragon in April with a question: Would he join the committee to help book a Latino band? The board was trying to make the annual event more inclusive, Aragon said, and wanted “to thank people for being a part of the community.”

Aragon moved to the area 21 years ago to work for the feedlot Imperial Beef. He encouraged his brother to join him. They’re one of the many families from Chihuahua, Mexico, that found a home here, drawn by feedlot jobs or farm work at the potato grower Frenchman Valley Produce.

In 2000, only 5% of Imperial’s residents were Latino, according to census data. Now, nearly a third of the city’s residents are.

“The whole community has really shifted in the last two to three decades,” said Tyler Pribbeno, an Imperial native and the city administrator. “Imperial has sustained its population … we would have been much smaller, probably the size of Grant, if we didn’t have all these people coming in and choosing to live and work and play here.”

The fair board first suggested a smaller act to draw this ever-growing Latino crowd, maybe a show that didn’t play at the main grandstand, maybe a local band.

But the newly recruited Aragon and the concert committee wanted to go bigger. After all, Johnny Cash played the Chase County Fair. So did Alice Cooper.

“We didn’t want the Hispanic pick to be any different,” Aragon said. “Let’s pick someone from Chihuahua, everyone’s going to be drawn to that.”

In May, they hit what they thought was the Mexican music jackpot, hiring La Fiera de Ojinaga, an accordion-driven norteño band from northern Mexico with more than 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify and hundreds of millions of streams.

Then, Aragon started hearing a rumor. White residents were telling their Latino friends: You might not want to be at that concert. People in the country legally worried about attending, scared that they could get detained because of the color of their skin, Aragon said.

The most out-there version of the rumor he heard: That the fair board had planned the concert as a trap.

“We can’t control fear. We can only control what we can control,” said Ryan Stromberger, president of the fair board. “It’s unfortunate that they felt that way, I don’t know how we can control that, though … Obviously we had no ill intentions, otherwise we wouldn’t have booked it.”

Much of this fear appeared to stem from the May fair board meeting, when the board convened weeks before fair leaders planned to announce the last-minute concert addition.

City police and the Sheriff’s Office attended to discuss concert security. They appeared to single out the Mexican concert as a specific worry.

The law enforcement officers “voiced concerns about disturbances during Thursday’s night concert,” meeting minutes read. “They want to know about security precautions for concert nights.”

The discussion lasted about 20 minutes, according to meeting minutes. There is no audio recording of that meeting. Fair board members deferred questions to Stromberger, who said discussion focused mostly on whether law enforcement agencies had the budget and manpower to accommodate an extra concert night.

But that discussion continued among law enforcement officers outside the meeting room, said Chris Bustillos, the Imperial police sergeant. After that meeting, the rumors started to spiral, several Imperial residents said in interviews.

Mueller, the county sheriff, said in an email that any rumors that he “made a racist comment during a fair board meeting” were false.

“We had concerns that an extra night would place additional strain on our resources,” he wrote. “Apparently, one member took offense to my comments and began spreading a false and harmful rumor about me … this allegation is baseless, damaging, and driven by personal agendas — not facts.”

Bustillos said he decided to fact-check the rumors himself.

“I believe our sheriff for Chase County contacted someone either in your office or on the hotline about a Hispanic concert we will be having for our Chase County Expo Fair,” he wrote to the North Platte ICE office in an email obtained by the Flatwater Free Press through a records request. “I was just hoping to find out if that is something you or anyone in the ICE office will be attending? Again, I was just informed our sheriff contacted you. I have no idea if he really did or if that’s something you do.”

Replying via email, a Department of Homeland Security agent replied that the office had “received a call regarding the concerts.”

Bustillos said he and the DHS agent then spoke by phone. The agent told him that yes, the Sheriff’s Office had contacted the ICE office, Bustillos said in an interview. No, the ICE agents weren’t planning to come to the fair.

Mueller didn’t return a phone call Thursday seeking additional comment. Instead, he had a Sheriff’s Office employee send the Flatwater Free Press his emailed statement. He had previously not returned two other phone calls and an email seeking comment, instead communicating via another emailed statement.

Calling ICE had “nothing to do with the false allegation that I made racist comments,” Mueller wrote. “My focus throughout has been solely on ensuring the safety and security of the fair, nothing more.”

An ICE spokesperson declined to discuss any interaction with the sheriff.

“Pushing something out about ICE speaking to a sheriff or other law enforcement officers, with whom we partner with on a daily basis, will do nothing but fear monger,” spokesperson Tanya Roman wrote in an email. “There is no reason why anyone not breaking the law should have any concerns about one law enforcement agency speaking to another.”

On a Sunday afternoon two weeks before the fair, about 20 people gathered in an Imperial United Methodist Church sanctuary. The day’s lecture: Knowing your rights if stopped by ICE.

After hearing the fair rumors, Jo Leyland felt moved to act. The retired city administrator started calling nonprofits, hoping to get a pamphlet she could hand out to people about immigration rights. Instead, staff members from Nebraska Appleseed, a nonprofit that advocates for immigrant rights, offered to make the nearly four-hour drive from Lincoln to Imperial.

“I wanted to educate people, both with brown and white faces, about what could be done if the worst thing happened and ICE did show up,” Leyland said.

After the presentation at the church, Leyland took Know Your Rights cards from an Appleseed rep to pass out at the fair. The city took pamphlets to keep at the library and city offices. By the end of the session, all the paper handouts had been taken.

Appleseed has held worker’s rights safety trainings for years, said Ruby Méndez López, a community organizer with the nonprofit. But since January, the nonprofit has held about 20 Know Your Rights meetings across the state, educating immigrants and Americans on what they can and can’t do during a crackdown.

People are desperate for this information, Méndez López said, and grateful to get it. But getting people to attend Know Your Rights sessions can be a challenge.

“If we publicly post Know Your Rights information, people get really nervous about showing up,” Méndez López said. “People start to think it’s a trap put on by whoever is planning it.”

At the Imperial meeting, most of the attendees were white. Méndez López tried to set up a smaller Know Your Rights session with migrant workers in town. People were too scared to come, she said. The fear of going out in public has come and gone in waves through 2025, Méndez López said.

It was strong at the start of the year, when President Donald Trump took office. It peaked again after the immigration raid at Glenn Valley in Omaha, when ICE detained about 75 people. In the aftermath, rumors of potential ICE raids in towns like Lexington and Grand Island flooded social media. No other large raid has yet happened.

“People were just not showing up to work,” Méndez López said. “When there’s rumors that are unverified, it disrupts people’s lives entirely … it’s hard to know what to believe.”

On Thursday night at the fair, excitement over the concert mixed with unease and uncertainty. At a large booth on the midway, young members of the Lions Club shouted out bingo numbers — in English and Spanish.

Further down the midway, a cutout of Donald and Melania Trump advertised a booth selling MAGA hats and T-shirts, thermoses proclaiming “Don’t Tread on Me” and “I voted for the felon.”

No immigration authorities showed up that night. And fewer concertgoers than usual showed up, too — roughly 500 people ended up buying tickets to see La Fiera de Ojinaga, Stromberger said, far fewer than the combined 6,000 attendees at the Friday and Saturday country acts.

But the hundreds of mostly Latino fans who did attend came dressed in their best cowboy hats, jeans and boots. Some, like Almanza, never thought they would see a day when one of their favorite Mexican bands played their small-town American fair.

As the band played, couples paired off and whirled their way around the empty back half of the venue, stepping in time with the band’s bouncy drumbeat in the glowing light of the stage. The notes of an accordion and saxophone rang out into the crowd.And when the band shouted out their home state of Chihuahua, whoops and cheers erupted from the crowd.

Behind the crowd, a lit-up Ferris wheel looped kids into the sky. Vendors handed out cotton candy and fried Oreos. For a moment, it felt like another night at the fair.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/spinning-rides-swirling-rumors-talk-of-ice-raid-mars-county-fairs-attempt-to-showcase-mexican-band/" target="_blank">Flatwater Free Press</a>&nbsp;is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

Talk of possible ICE raid mars county fair’s push to feature Mexican band

The billion-dollar Powerball® jackpot is still on the rise! The prize has surged to an estimated $1.30 billion for the next drawing on Wednesday night,&nbsp;according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $589.0 million.

Wednesday’s jackpot ranks as the fifth largest in the Powerball game and the ninth largest among U.S. lottery jackpot games.

The Powerball jackpot climbed higher after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn last night – white balls 8, 23, 25, 40, 53 and red Powerball 5. The Power Play® multiplier was 3.

Despite there being no jackpot winner, U.S. lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets carefully, as prizes are awarded for matching the red Powerball or a portion of the winning numbers.

Nationwide, ten tickets matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes. The $1 million-winning tickets were sold in California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey (2), New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.&nbsp;Note: In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.

Two tickets matched all five white balls and increased their winnings to $2 million, by including the Power Play® option for $1 more at purchase. The $2 million-winning tickets were sold in Montana and North Carolina.

There were also 124 tickets that won $50,000 prizes (Match 4 + PB) and 25 tickets that won $150,000 prizes (Match 4 + PB + Power Play).

Wednesday’s Powerball drawing will be the 41st drawing since the jackpot was last won in California on May 31, 2025. To date, the longest Powerball jackpot run has been 42 consecutive drawings, which was set on April 6, 2024, with a $1.326 billion jackpot winner in Oregon.

If a player wins Wednesday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $1.30 billion or a lump sum payment estimated at $589.0 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.

Powerball® tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $36 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.

Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Fla. Powerball drawings are also live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>.

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Powerball jackpot rises to an estimated $1.3 billion

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two members of the 2nd&nbsp;American Militia were sentenced last week in federal court for their roles in a 2022 conspiracy to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents and, related to their shooting at FBI agents during the execution of a search warrant, of attempting to murder federal agents, according to the United State's Attorney.

Bryan C. Perry, 39, of Clarksville, Tenn., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 15 consecutive life terms in federal prison without parole for his convictions for one count of conspiracy to murder a federal officer and fourteen counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The court also sentenced Perry to concurrent terms of imprisonment of 20 years for his convictions for seven counts of attempted murder of a federal officer, seven counts of assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and one count of assault of a federal officer that inflicts bodily injury. Perry further received concurrent sentences of varying terms of imprisonment for his convictions for conspiracy to assault a federal officer, conspiracy to injure an officer, assault of a federal officer that involves physical contact, depredation of government property, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of body armor by a violent felon, and communicating a threat to injure. The court also sentenced Perry to five years of supervised release following his incarceration and a restitution amount of $3,717.98.

Jonathan S. O’Dell, 35, of Warsaw, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 165 years in federal prison without parole for one count each of conspiracy to murder a federal officer, conspiracy to assault a federal officer, conspiracy to injure an officer, assault of a federal officer that inflicts bodily injury, depredation of government property, possession of a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, communicating a threat to injure, making a false statement, escape from custody, two counts of assault of a federal officer involving physical contact, seven counts each of attempted murder of a federal officer and assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and 14 counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The Court also sentenced O’Dell to five years of supervised release following his incarceration and a restitution amount of $19,234.63.

On Nov. 7, 2024, Perry and O’Dell were found guilty after a 9-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo. The jury deliberated for about two hours and 23 minutes before returning guilty verdicts, ending a trial that began on Oct. 28, 2024. On the morning of the first day of trial, O’Dell pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, one count of making a false statement to a federal agent, and one count of escaping from custody.

Evidence introduced during the trial showed that, throughout the summer, and fall of 2022, Perry and O’Dell recruited and attempted to recruit other individuals to join the 2nd&nbsp;American Militia, a group they co-founded, and join in their plan to travel to the United States-Mexico border to go to war with U.S. Border Patrol. Perry posted several videos on TikTok in an attempt to recruit other members into their conspiracy and they advertised a recruitment event in Warsaw.

On Sept. 5, 2022, Perry, bringing at least two stolen firearms, body armor, and gas masks with him, traveled from Tennessee to Warsaw to live with O’Dell. They used O’Dell’s residence as a staging site as they prepared for their trip to the border and collected firearms, paramilitary gear, ammunition, and other supplies.

On Sept. 12, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he discussed illegal immigrants coming into the United States from Mexico. Perry stated that the U.S. Border Patrol was committing treason by allowing these illegal immigrants to enter the United States, and that the penalty for treason was death. Perry posted another video on TikTok the next day in which he stated that he was “ready to go to war against this government.”

On Sept. 22, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we’re out to shoot to kill” and that “our group is gonna go protect this country.” On Oct. 3, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we were going out huntin’,” that his group was taking their “full kits,” and that they were leaving for the United States – Mexico border on Oct. 8, 2022.

O’Dell and Perry continued to conduct preparatory steps to further their conspiracy, including continuing to recruit others, attempting to acquire other gear, and practicing shooting at targets with firearms.

On Oct. 7, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at O’Dell’s residence. Federal agents approached the property at about 6 a.m. in vehicles with red and blue lights activated. As the FBI approached, an agent utilized a loudspeaker in the lead armored vehicle, the “Bearcat,” to announce they were with the FBI and that they had a search warrant for the residence. Seven agents were inside or behind the Bearcat. The FBI agent began to repeat the announcement, again stating that they were with the FBI, when gunshots were fired from a front window at the lead FBI vehicle. Perry fired 11 shots from his Voodoo Innovations multi-caliber rifle with an AM-15 lower receiver. Several rounds hit the lead FBI vehicle.

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