News
Scotts Bluff Co. approves tourism grant as Cattlemen’s Ball transportation sponsor
Scotts Bluff County is kicking in to the upcoming Cattlemen's Ball in a significant way with approval of a large tourism grant. The Board last week approved a grant of $14,500 making the County the transportation sponsor, with the money going toward a bus shuttle service between Scottsbluff/Gering and the…
Erdman: State Supreme Court ruling on damaged property and valuations is “a big win”
State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard is hailing a Nebraska Supreme Court decision that bolsters and clarifies an existing state law on how damaged property should be valued when it comes to taxation. In a case against the Lancaster County Board of Equalization, the state's high court held that the…
White House Issues “Product of U.S.A.” Meat Labeling Reform, American Farmers Celebrate
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new policy mandating that all meat products sold with the “Product of U.S.A.” label must be derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the U.S. This rule addresses a loophole created by the repeal of mandatory…
Scottsbluff Council Greenlights Papa Moon’s YK Liquor License Request
Papa Moon Vineyards & Winery is one step closer to being able to open their new headquarters in Scottsbluff. Last week, Katlyn and Leah Massey spoke before the city council as they sought approval for their liquor license, and also fielded questions from council members. One of the big ones…
Bridgeport announces Derrick Wells as new wrestling coach
Derrick Wells is a graduate of Doane College where he participated in football and track. Derrick has taught in Alliance since 2015 where he has coached football, wrestling, and track at the middle school. During that time he has been the head coach for the Alliance Wrestling Club, the federation…
Heartland Expressway gets funding in latest federal appropriations bills
A number of projects across the state will receive funding under the six appropriations bills approved by the Senate last week, including several in the Panhandle. According to a release from Sen. Deb Fischer, $12.8 million in transportation funds are earmarked for the Heartland Expressway expansion between Minatare and U.S.…
NACD Calls to Increase Funding for Conservation Priorities and Pass Funding Bills on Time
Washington, D.C. – On Saturday, President Biden signed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations legislation into law that provides funding for several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. NACD appreciates that the enactment of final federal spending legislation prevents…
Alliance Man Facing 20+ Years in Prison after Jury Finds Him Guilty on Drug Charges
A Scotts Bluff County District Court jury has found an Alliance man caught with 157 grams of meth guilty on all counts. 50-year-old Johnathan Bourquin was arrested in August after leaving a large amount of methamphetamine in the back of a cruiser while he was being transported to jail. Last…
Authorities investigate bagged white crystal substance found in Cheyenne Co. jail
The Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office is investigating an incident from last week in which suspected narcotic contraband was discovered inside the jail. According to public records, night jail staff located a self-seal baggie containing a white crystal substance in a laundry basket located in the jail closet shortly before 9…
Beef prices not expected to be impacted by Texas wildfires
Wildfires in the Texas Panhandle caused significant cattle losses for individual ranchers, but should not impact beef cattle markets or consumers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension economist in the Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Economics, Bryan-College Station, said it may be weeks before there…
