The board also accepted the resignations of Tammy Howitt Covalt and Michael Berry, effective at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. In a separate vote, members approved an elementary teaching contract for Rayleigh Franklin for the 2026-2027 school year.

Mrs. Reynolds provided an update on end-of-year testing. The ACT has been completed, and NSCAS General and Alternate testing is currently underway. A make-up testing window is scheduled for April 20 through May 1.

It was announced that the district has successfully met its Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement for the 2024-2025 school year.

Mr. Blanco updated the board on spring activities. The boys track and golf seasons are underway, and the Esports team has qualified for the state tournament.The team will depart on Friday for the state competition at Doane University.

Mr. Simmons reminded the board and community that Kindergarten Roundup is scheduled for Friday, April 24.

The date of the Spring Play has been changed to Thursday, April 30.

Mr. Schlothauer gave a recap of the recent CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) classes offered to students.Ten students completed the theory portion and then traveled to Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) for a day of simulator practice and an introduction to the diesel technology program.

The district’s white charter bus is currently in Denver for repairs. The necessary fixes were less extensive than initially anticipated, and the bus should be ready for pickup in the near future.

Preschool registration was held on April 1. Letters notifying families of placement will be mailed on Tuesday.

The Bridgeport track and field teams competed against stiff competition during the Mitchell Invitational held last Thursday in Mitchell. A number of Class B teams... B1

The Bridgeport Mayor and City Council held its regular meeting April 9, 2026, at the Prairie Winds Community Center, where members approved key ordinances, park... B2

The Leyton boys’ team delivered several standout performances on home turf Tuesday placing third with a score of 82. Senior Alec Watchorn dominated... B1

Turkey hunters will take to the woods for Nebraska’s spring shotgun season April 18.They can expect a season consistent with the past five years, according to Carlie Gizel... B3

Morrill County 4-H Council is excited to announce the winners of the annual 4-H Month Contests. The coloring contest was open to all kindergarten through second grade... B2

As spring and summer mark peak tick activity in Nebraska, the

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services urges all residents to remain vigilant and take simple... 44

AMPRIDE

April

16 Golf, at home, 9:00 a.m.; JH/HSWTC track meet, at Morrill, 9:00 a.m.; Tornado siren test, 10:00 a.m.; Food Pantry, 10:00-noon; K-5th Grade Maker Club,

library, 3:35-4:15 p.m.;

Community Night of Prayer, for community healing after fires, PWCC, 6:00 p.m.

17 City of Bridgeport alley pickup, for those unable to haul items, 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.;

Storytime, library, 10:00 a.m.; Table games for everyone,

community room, Broadwater city hall, 2:00 p.m.; TweenTime, sticker workshop for grades 5-7, library, 3:30 4:30 p.m.; Celebrate Recovery, Cornerstone Church, 434 1st Ave., Bayard, 6:00 p.m.

18 City of Bridgeport Spring Clean-up Day,

405W. 5th Street, 8:00 a.m.-noon, restrictions apply; JH/HSWTC track meet, at Bayard, 9:00 a.m.; RWMC Empowered Caregiver Conference, 4021 Ave. B in Scottsbluff, advanced registration required, check-in at 9:30 a.m.; AnnualWine Tasting fundraiser,

Western NE Arts Center in Scottsbluff, 7:00 10:00 p.m.

20 UNL-Stem visit, 1:00 p.m.

21 NE Bank Bulldog Branch deposit hour, elementary, 7:30-8:30 a.m.; Junior ACT; Golf, at Morrill, 9:00 a.m.; Fiction Book Club, “The Chaperone,” library, 5:00 p.m.; Friends of the Library meeting, 6:00 p.m.

22 Day of Service, at BPS; Table games for everyone, PWCC, 1:00 p.m.

23 District Music, at WNCC; Tornado siren test, 10:00 a.m.; K-5th Grade Maker Club, library, 3:35-4:15 p.m.; Public Open House, city’s Safe Streets and Roads for All plan, school commons area, 5:00-8:00 p.m.; Food Pantry, 5:30-6:30 p.m.; FFA Banquet, 5:30 p.m. 24 Library closed, for Arbor Day; Golf, at Alliance, 9:00 a.m.; HS track, at Mitchell, 9:00 a.m.; Table games for everyone, community room, Broadwater city hall, 2:00 p.m.;

Celebrate Recovery,

Cornerstone Church, 434 1st Ave., Bayard, 6:00 p.m.

What I say is backed by Village Board minutes and/or provable in a court of law by texts and witness testimony.

Everything said in the March 26, 2026 letters to Editor to support recalling Dick Wagoner are lies to hopefully gain back positions lost due to sustained illegal actions.

Board members are oath bound to uphold statutes and ordinances for the good of the village rather than to ignoring those laws to the detriment of the community. In Nebraska anyone for any reason can petition for a recall. That is why Maribeth Conrad’s petition cannot and does not State any malfeasance or misfeasance of office. She just says she thinks Dick Wagoner is trying to run things and doesn’t have the best interests of the village at heart.

This from someone who is costing the village thousands of dollars for a bogus recall.

In the past two years alone, Dick Wagner has donated thousands of dollars in getting things done, plus done work for the village and ask for nothing.

The 2024 elections two new board members were sworn in. A majority of the board voted to leave officers as they were and other boards pretty much the same.

A few months later Maribeth Conrad of the health board complained to the board, “ How come we get two new board members and now we have to start doing something about all the health and safety issues?”

After that the health board began holding secret meeting violating the open meetings act plus the public records act (state statues 84-1407 to 841414, 84-712, 17-208) and took illegal actions in the name of the village board creating a potential legal liability and legal costs for the village.

At that time the health board consisted of Levi Leeling, Chairman, Mike Francis, and Maribeth Conrad APRNGNP-PMHNP as medical officer.

I and a village board member, time and again, tried to get them to comply with state statutes.They claimed to be only a subcommittee.

Dick Wagoner was never disruptive or bullying. He always just said what he felt and ended, “that’s all I have to say.” I saw more loud and bullying behavior by other board members and the village attorney towards myself and other citizens trying to raise lawful concerns.

The Sheriff said he was called in to meetings to advise our board how Bridgeport and his office deals with similar issues. It was thanks to the Sheriff that the village has an Ordinance Officer to clear the streets of illegally parked semis, trailers, dump trucks, and commercial vehicles lining the streets in residential and b5 business zones.

It was the Sheriff, after I asked him who issues the misdemeanor citations for refusing to obey the open meetings act, who told the health board that the state law applied to them.

James Kulacz, no longer outvoted by four board members of the previous board, believes in the betterment of the village and enforcing state law and ordinances. Especially when some board members are the main offenders and derelict of duties. That is why there is a new street superintendent and chairman of the village board.

Two sidelined board members went around with Maribeth Conrad spreading lies to gain signatures to support their recall petition of Dick Wagoner!

NO, people who signed the petition, Dick is not coming after ordinance allowed chickens! If anyone comes after illegal and junk vehicles and other health and safety issues it will be the Ordinance Officer or Health Board as per law. Any concerned citizens could have filed recall petitions against the illegal acting board members but we didn’t want to cost the village that much money. Especially with reelection coming up this year for two main outlaws.

Like him or not, vote NO to recalling Dick Wagoner. He is at least honest and the only agenda he has is to help Broadwater look proud of itself instead of a growing junkyard and health hazard for young and old on and off the streets.

Tatanka SapaNajin 402 N Main St Broadwater

April 14, 2021—Andrew Plummer presented a dividend check for $29,989.78 from Employers Mutual Company to the city of Bridgeport.

Deputy Clerk for the city Jamie Schneider accepted the check…Pictured on the front page is Shawn Weibert flipping pancakes at the Morrill County Veteran’s Services pancake feed held Tuesday. Over 150 people were served and a total of $1,000 was generated for the organization…Over 100 Bridgeport High School alumni participated in the Alumni Basketball Tournament held last weekend at the high school gyms.The Old Dogs won the women’s title and the Gorillas won the men’s title…Obituaries: Robert E. Lindsay, 89; Robert D. Foster, 91…

Thank you!

successful pancake feed is in the books! The Veterans Office thanks the community shout out to the following donors contributions!

10Years Ago

Blade Bridgeport Bayard American Legion Auxiliary Unit 200-Mary Beth Mau and Jeanie Tyree Sienna “Toodles” Rosentrater Diana Weibert Shanna Muhr American Legion Post 29 and, as always, Susan Kelly April 13, 2016—Lydia Cantu and Isaias Mancias were named queen and king of Bridgeport High School’s prom held on Saturday.The theme of the event was Midsummer Night’s Dream…The Bridgeport Lions Club announced this year’s theme for Camp Clarke Days as Bridge to our Heritage.The parade will be held on June 4 beginning at 11 a.m…The Bridgeport girls and boys track and field teams placed first at the Creek Valley Invitational held Monday in Chappell. Kaitlyn Nein won both sprint events and Erica Swires swept the hurdles events. Andrew Nelson won the 800-meter run for the Bulldog boys…Obituaries: Mary G.

(Treantos) Chikos, 100…

20Years Ago

April 19, 2006—The Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department’s Easter Egg Hunt had a great turnout on Saturday at the Morrill County Fairgrounds. First-place winners included Natalie Vergil, Alex Sims,Troy Janicek, Alyssa Kepler, and Valerie Kesterson…Bridgeport High School’s spring play titled “Our Town” will be performed Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Mrs. Fiegen will be directing…The Bridgeport boys golf team placed second at its home tournament on Thursday.The Bulldogs shot a team score of 329.Thomas Jacobson tied for third place and Richard Estrada tied for eighth…Obituaries: Martha “Marti” (Haun) Sanders, 85; Nancy Lee Pappas, 75; Darlene M. (Roach) Nuss, 64…

30Years Ago

April 19, 2006—The Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department’s Easter Egg Hunt had a great turnout on Saturday at the Morrill County Fairgrounds. First-place winners included Natalie Vergil, Alex Sims,Troy Janicek, Alyssa Kepler, and Valerie Kesterson…Bridgeport High School’s spring play titled “Our Town” will be performed Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Mrs. Fiegen will be directing…The Bridgeport boys golf team placed second at its home tournament on Thursday.The Bulldogs shot a team score of 329.Thomas Jacobson tied for third place and Richard Estrada tied for eighth…Obituaries: Martha “Marti” (Haun) Sanders, 85; Nancy Lee Pappas, 75; Darlene M. (Roach) Nuss, 64…

40Years Ago

April 17, 1986—Jim Haden will represent Area #12 Cowbelles at the State Beef Cookoff to be held in June in North Platte. Jim was the winner of the local contest that was held last week. Dean Haden was a second place winner… Shannon Woznick and Stephanie Stewart have been selected as Bridgeport’s Girls Staters. Both are juniors at Bridgeport High School.The competition will be held in Lincoln in June…The Bridgeport boys golf team won the championship of its home invitational held Tuesday.The Bulldogs shot a winning score of 330. Brad Jacobsen shot a 78 to finish second, Chad Karcher had an 80 to place third, and Russ Frickey shot an 85 to finish ninth…The Bridgeport journalism staff for the 1986—87 school year has been chosen.The staff consists of Dawn Landrigan, Libbie Steffen, Glen Lussetto, Joanne Pohl, Doug Miller, Ginger Pohl,Tammie Britton, Steve Stull,Tami Nunn, Colleen Brandt, Holly Nelson, Kim Gusman, Michelle Taylor, Christina Anest, Craig Krentz, David Randolph, Melissa Kurt, Brett Schluterbusch, Jeff Franklin, and Dustin Miller…

50Years Ago

pril 15, 1976—Sugar beets in the area are being planted. Great Western Sugar Co., and the Marketing Association have reached a tentative agreement. Governor Exon stated that the contract is similar to the 1975 contract… Jeremy Spencer of Bridgeport won second in American Government at the 16th annual Inter-High School Scholastic Contest at Chadron State College last Friday…Bridgeport will host a track meet Thursday with field events beginning at 8 a.m. and running events starting at 9.The favorites in the boys division is Morrill and for the girls the favorite is Harrisburg. Top individuals competing from Bridgeport will be Monte Dean in the hurdles and the Bulldog girls’ mile relay team consisting of Teri and Kim Wallesen, Shelli Alworth and Shermaine Sterkel…

60Years Ago

April 14, 1966—Winning first place at the Morrill County Spelling Contest were Ethel Treantos, Billie Pullen and Cindy Tyrrell…Arnold Lopez, 5-year old son of Mr. And Mrs. Alex Lopez of Bridgeport, received minor injuries about 4:15 p.m. Saturday when he ran into the front of a car driven by Fred Childs of Bridgeport.The accident occurred at 11th and Main Streets.The youth received a bruise above his left eye and a bruised left shoulder… The Bridgeport State Bank and Bun’s Rexall Drugs will sponsor a free Easter show and treats for children of the local community.The show, Bugs Bunny cartoons, will be held at the Trail Theatre on Saturday starting at 2 p.m… Lt. Larry Middleton, son of Mr. And Mrs. John Middleton of Bridgeport, was recently decorated with two Air Force medals for duty in Southeast Asia…

70Years Ago

April 19, 1956—R.B.

Thompson recently opened O.K. Rubber Welders in Bridgeport located east on highway 19-26.The business will offer a complete tire service to Bridgeport and territory.Thompson plans a formal opening of the business about May 1…A Bridgeport town baseball team meeting will be held Friday at 8 p.m. at the firemen’s hall. Discussion will be held about having a town team this season to compete against other towns in the valley…Movies playing this week at the Trail Theatre in Bridgeport are Revenge of the Creature, Land of Fury, Tennessee’s Partner, and the Shepherd of the Hills…

80Years Ago

April 18, 1946—The Bridgeport high school track team will compete in the annual North Platte Valley meet at Bayard tomorrow. Other schools entered are Gering, Mitchell, Lyman, Morrill, Minatare, Kimball and Bayard. Coach Jack Somny has hopes of making a good showing at this meet.The Bulldogs have been hampered this season by short practice period and bad weather…The Bridgeport high school music department is presenting an Operetta titled “Oh Doctor” on Tuesday of next week at 8 p.m. in the school auditorium. This is the first operetta to be presented here in many years…Obituaries: Clifford Lee Osborn, 3 months…

90Years Ago

April 9, 1936—The Courthouse Rock Chapter of the National Honor Society held its annual meeting Tuesday and seven new members were chosen.The senior class was represented by Alberta Dutton, Maude Mount, James Bassett, and Dwayne Mount.Three juniors chosen were Mary McVay, Nancy Mae Zimmerman and Robert Jones…The annual Easter Egg Hunt for the youngsters of this and the surrounding communities will again be sponsored by the Roy Johnson Post of the American Legion. It will again be held at the Morrill County fairgrounds beginning at 2 o’clock Sunday.

A large number of eggs will be hidden and there will be many prizes…Many excellent pictures have been shown at the Trail Theatre during the past few weeks.The management has been showing very late releases here, in many cases far earlier than much larger cities, a fact which is much appreciated by local movie fans…Obituaries: Vylma Straka, 38; Dora Belle Dixon, 73…

100Years Ago

April 15, 1926—Bridgeport will have a chick hatchery. A 5,000 egg incubator has been purchased and it is expected to have it here ready to set up in quarters leased from the K.L. Carman company by the last of the week. J.V. Myers is in charge of the plan. He is an experienced hatchery man and under his guidance Bridgeport should soon have an industry rated with the best of its kind in the country… Ground was broken Monday morning for the erection of the new Beyers filling station to be built on the lots purchased by that company sometime ago on the northwest corner of ninth street and Main. Mr.

Beyers announces that their plans call for one of the most modern filling stations in this part of the state. It’s expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by June 15…

110Years Ago

April 14, 1916—Sheriff Dyson’s wife and daughter returned to Bridgeport the latter part of last week from Junction City, Kans., where the daughter underwent a serious operation not long ago.We are sorry to learn she is not regaining her health as rapidly as could be wished and it is hoped that her condition will change for the better soon…The Commercial club banquet, which was given last Tuesday night in Essig’s hall in honor of the delegates who represented the different commercial clubs in western Nebraska, was a rousing affair and over 200 plates were taken for the occasion.

The program and menu were excellent throughout and the straight from the shoulder speeches to our people from the delegates will have a lasting effect as long as we continue to boost for Bridgeport…

120Years Ago

April 13, 1906—With the coming of spring renewed interest is manifested in railroad construction.The Union Pacific forces have moved up the river and now two grading camps are within sight of Bridgeport. It is now only a question of time when trains will be running up the river from North Platte…Mrs. Augusta Johnson will serve a turkey dinner on Easter Sunday.

These special dinners given by Mrs. Johnson are growing in popularity…

April 18—JH/HSWTC track, at Bayard, 9:00 a.m. April 20—UNL-Stem visit, 1:00 p.m. April 21—Junior ACT; Golf, at Morrill, 9:00 a.m. April 22—Day of Service; Choir, at Skyview, 1:00 p.m. April 23—District music, at WNCC; JH track, at Kimball, 9:00 a.m.; FFA Banquet, 5:30 p.m. April 24—Golf, at Alliance, 9:00 a.m.; HS track, at Mitchell, 9:00 a.m.

April 25—All School Spring Play

April 24—Track, at Mitchell, 8:30 a.m.; 4th grade Wax Museum, Gurley gym, students 8:15-9:20, parents/ community 9:30-10:50

April 25—PROM

In the 4x100 Relay, Leyton’s A team of Henry Mc-Laughlin, Alec Watchorn, Colt VanAnne, and Austin Beutler took 1st place with a solid time of 47.09.

Beutler added a victory in the Long Jump with a leap of 20’ 1” and placed 3rd in the 400m. Riley Benish had a strong middle-distance showing, finishing 3rd in the 800m at 2:17.60 and 9th in the 400m in 1:00.16 (season best).

Other Leyton boys contributions included:VanAnne): 4th in 100m prelims (12.14) Connor Rieken: 9th in 100m prelims (12.78) Chase Moore: Competed in 200m prelims, shot put (19th, 21’ 8”), and discus Charles Applegate: 14th in 800m and 19th in long jump (14’ 8”) Henry McLaughlin: 10th in high jump (4’ 6”) On the girls’ side, Macey Roelle led the way with a 2nd-place finish in the 400m (1:07.71 — season best) and 5th in the 200m (30.45). She also placed 15th in shot put (21’ 7.5”). Auvi Cranmore took 3rd in the 800m, while Kennedy Roelle competed in the long jump (12th, 11’ 2.75”).

Leyton will compete this afternoon in Burns,WY

Through the program, the ACE board of directors may vote to return revenue to its member communities. The board approvedthe distribution at its January board meeting. Since forming in 1998, ACE has returned more than $4.7 million to its Nebraskamember communities, including more than $89,000 to Bridgeport. The funds are used in various ways to benefit each ACE membercommunity, including helping fund community recreational projects, community swimming pools and park improvements.

ACE was formed in 1998 by Nebraska communities to provide competition in the Nebraska Choice Gas program while retaininglocal control and striving to keep revenue in Nebraska’s ACE member communities. ACE also serves as an advocate for ChoiceGas customers.

The 2026 Nebraska Choice Gas program selection period will run from April 2 through April 22.

During this period, customers can choose a competitive natural gas commodity price and pricing option online atwww. ACEenergy.org or by calling ACE at (800) 454-4759. Selection forms will be mailed out to all eligible customers prior to thestart of the selection period.

Learn more about ACE, its support of Nebraska communities, and role in the Nebraska Choice Gas program atwww.ACEenergy.org.

I am concerned that a registered nurse would speak about someone else’s medical issues in a way (to make) that person is personally identifiable. It seems she should be more circumspect on speaking about other people’s medical conditions, whether they were her patient or not.

Mr.Wagoner did not “get the only active committee, the Health and Safety Committe dismantled without cause, other than his own agenda.”

He could not do that on his own, and the Health Board has an upcoming public meeting. The Library Board and Park Committee are also active.

As for her claims about me being afraid of Mr.Wagoner, claiming I “hang my head” and am “soft-spoken” when voting in a board meeting: The first is simply untrue (unless she means “reading written material in front of me”), and I have never been accused of being “soft-spoken” before. (I’ll have to tell my mother about that. She’ll get a good laugh.)

The Wagoners have been kind to us ever since we moved here in 2011. Over last summer when my wife was recovering from a broken shoulder, they frequently visited and brought foodstuff to us to help us out.

If Ms. Conrad cannot hear me when I vote, she could ask me to speak up.

On the nomination to the health board which was withdrawn over a felony, the man himself said he was happy that someone on the village board checked up on his qualifications. That saves everyone trouble later.

I agree with her that people should come to village board meetings if they are able. My wife and I have been attending them ever since we moved here in 2011.

I also encourage anyone who asks that they should run for office here. It does not pay, but allows you to propose things which can benefit the village (what she called “having an agenda”). If Ms.

Conrad wishes, the candidate filing date has not yet passed.

I also encourage a “NO” vote on the recall for Mr.Wagoner on Tuesday, May 12.

James A. Kulacz Chairman,Village Board of Broadwater, Nebraska 302 N Wehn St Broadwater, NE 69125-0753

Communist China has pursued a policy of strategically buying ag land. Between 2010 and 2021, Chinese ownership of American agricultural land grew nearly 30 times larger. As of 2023, Communist China owned more than 277,000 acres of farmland. But it’s not just about the number of acres that they own. They have targeted sensitive sites surrounding army bases and airfields. They exploited our legal process to purchase land surrounding Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota and Fort Bragg in North Carolina. This is a national security risk. We cannot let them use American ag land to weaken U.S. national security.

We can’t let Communist China spy on American military bases from our cornfields. That’s why I introduced the PLOT Act.

The Property Location Oversight and Transparency, or PLOT, Act combats foreign adversaries’ efforts to buy American ag land. It does this by strengthening and increasing transparency in USDA’s AFIDA reporting system. The hardworking Americans that feed us should benefit from land ownership in the U.S. Communist China should not.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for overseeing the foreign purchase of ag land. This authority comes from the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, or AFIDA.

USDA is working to combat foreign land ownership from adversaries. However, Communist China keeps working to bend our rules.

The USDA knows food security is national security.

That’s why they’ve implemented tougher regulations.

Secretary Rollins established the National Farm Security Action Plan. The administration and I are working to help combat Communist China’s farmland purchasing in Nebraska and the country.

The PLOT Act increases USDA’s oversight of foreign purchases of American farmland. Currently, reporting requirements are triggered when a foreigner holds at least a 10% ownership interest or when a domestic entity is at least 50% owned or controlled by a foreigner. The PLOT Act would lower this to 5% and 10%, respectively. Lowering reporting thresholds captures smaller foreign ownership stakes that currently go unreported.

The PLOT Act also requires foreign purchasers to provide detailed digital maps of purchased ag land. These maps would be available to USDA, local governments, and the public. That way, every Nebraskan knows where foreign adversaries are purchasing farmland. Nebraska farmers and ranchers should know this information.

The PLOT Act is just one way I’m fighting for more transparency and stricter requirements in the AFIDA reporting process. Last year, I introduced the bipartisan AFIDA Improvements Act. It also strengthens the foreign ag land reporting process. It increases transparency and information sharing. It would also require an online reporting portal for USDA. These provisions were included in the House Ag Committee’s Farm Bill. I am fighting for them in the Senate.

Nebraska ag land is passed down generation to generation. Nebraska farmers and ranchers are proud of their land and the crops that grow from it. We can’t let foreign adversaries like Communist China get away with purchasing our land. That’s why I’m introducing the PLOT Act..

My team and I are here to serve you. Contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224.

You can also view my website at http://www.ricketts.senate. gov/contact.

The Bridgeport track and field teams earned runner-up finishes competing at the Morrill Early Bird on Saturday in Morrill.

Both the Bulldog girls and boys finished second... B1

The Leyton High School boys and girls track and field teams opened their 2026 outdoor season with several standout performances at the John Ganser Invite on... B1

A large number of Bridgeport High School athletes earned Western Trails Conference honors as a result of their impressive performances during the winter sports season... B1

Nebraska is heading into the 2026 growing season with limited precipitation and groundwater resources. Growers are also facing rising input costs and declining commodity... B3

The City of Bridgeport and Waste Connections are pleased to announce that the spring free City clean-up day will be held on Saturday, April 18th... A4

Nebraska’s spring turkey archery season opened on March 25.The spring youth shotgun season opens on April 11 (for those under age 16), and the spring shotgun seasond... B3

2 Maundy Thursday; HSTrack, at Bayard C/D, 9:00 a.m.; Tornado siren test, 10:00 a.m.; Food Pantry, 10:00 a.m.-noon

3 Good Friday; NO SCHOOL; Storytime, library, 10:00

a.m.; 3D printer workshop, grades 7-12, library, pizza & drinks provided, 2:00-5:00 p.m.

4 Broadwater VFD Easter Egg Hunt, Weborg’s pasture, ¼ mile west of Broadwater, 5:00 p.m.

5 Easter Sunday; Easter Brunch, CH&JR clubhouse, reservations required, 11:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.

6 NO SCHOOL; Northport Irrigation District meeting, office, 1:00 p.m.; Bridgeport Cemetery board meeting, commissioners room in courthouse, 3:30 p.m.; Bridgeport Board of Education special meeting, media center, 6:00 p.m.

7 NE Bank Bulldog Branch deposit hour,

elementary, 7:30-8:30 a.m.; Planning Commission public hearing, City of Bridgeport, PWCC, noon; Food Pantry, 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Library board meeting, 5:30 p.m.

8 County Government Day;WNCC Career Fair, Cougar Palace, 9:00 a.m.-noon;

Table games for everyone, PWCC, 1:00 p.m.; Browns Creek Equalization meeting, Broadwater library, 1:00 p.m.; TAG meeting, library, 3:30 p.m.; Morrill County Democratic Party Convention, PWCC, 5:30 p.m.; Bridgeport RFD meeting, rural fire hall, 7:30 p.m.

9 HS track, at Mitchell, 9:00 a.m.; Tornado siren test, 10:00 a.m.; K-5th Grade Maker Club, library, 3:35 4:15 p.m.; Food Pantry, 5:30-6:30 p.m.;

Public hearing, City of Bridgeport, PWCC, 6:00 p.m.; Morrill County Fair board meeting, extension office, 6:00 p.m.; Morrill County Republican Party Convention, district courtroom in county courthouse (2nd floor), 7:00 p.m.

To add your activities/events to this Bulletin Board, please submit them to the News-Blade.

As recovery efforts continue across western Nebraska and communities begin rebuilding, signs of resilience are emerging. That spirit was on display at the Capitol, where students from Ogallala participated in the Nebraska Music Education Association’s Capitol Concert series.The Ogallala High School Choir performed in the Rotunda, presenting six pieces under the theme “Music Throughout Time.”

The engagement and curiosity of younger students are vital, as they represent the next generation of leaders and innovators. The students of the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program are a perfect example of this. Hearing about the goals and experiences of students from Hemingford Middle School was a pleasure, and their enthusiasm is truly inspiring.

I also met with FFA members from Hemingford, who were in Lincoln for the NE State FFA Convention, and Jenilee Woltman, founder of Sand Canyon Therapy, which serves western Nebraska, to discuss expanding rural healthcare access and innovation in the Panhandle. Our conversation underscored the importance of supporting providers meeting critical needs in rural communities.

Alongside these moments, the work of the Legislature has continued to progress. Early this week, the body advanced 10 legislative bills that were scheduled on the Speaker’s Consent Calendar.The Consent Calendar allows widely supported measures to move forward efficiently, preserving time for more in-depth debate on complex issues, which alternatively consumed the remainder of our workweek.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with concerns or for assistance.

Your involvement and participation is invaluable in shaping the future of our communities, our district and our state.

You can contact my office at (402) 471-2616 or by email at pstrommen@leg.ne.gov.

If you’re like me, you were sickened to read about the wildfires running amok across sections of Nebraska in mid March. Thousands and thousands of acres, as far as the eye could see in areas of the Sandhills, in bluffs and hills southeast of North Platte and south of Kilgore, and (once again) in areas near the Nebraska National Forest in Halsey.

As I write this, more than 800,000 acres have burned, according to the Nebraska Public Media.That’s pasture that could feed hundreds of thousands of cattle.Who knows how many miles of fencing was destroyed.

One elderly woman died trying to escape the flames near Arthur. An awful tragedy. The fires made national news – the kind of national news we don’t want to make.

But wildfires are becoming more and more common in Nebraska, according to the 2024 update of the Nebraska Climate Assessment. It’s especially problematic when conditions are as dry as they were in western and central sections of the state this winter, and when winds were gusting as high as 70 mph.

Not only are big, costly wildfires becoming more common, so are extreme winds. (The higher price of your homeowners insurance can tell you that.)

The recent wildfires quickly set a record as the worst in state history. They eclipsed 2012, when 500,000 acres of Nebraska was scorched, and 2020, when 250,000 acres were burned, including large areas of the Halsey forest.

I’ve seen close up what fires can do.

Me and some buddies used to travel to the Pine Ridge every spring to chase turkeys (we weren’t the best at actually bagging one) and to camp amid some beautiful, thick pine forests.

One year, half of the area we used to hunt was burned to ash; the next year, the other half burned.

I covered wildfires that threatened to burn into Valentine, and another that came within a half mile or so of the Chadron State College campus. Heroic firefighting, luckily, stopped the fires.

No area of the state is immune. In April of 2022, a wildfire propelled by 60 mph winds burned across 10 miles of harvested fields in eastern Nebraska near where our family farm is located. Flames outraced fire crews.Two homes were burned to the ground.

One takeaway:You don’t need forests of trees or fields of tall grasses to fuel a wildfire. The data being collected by the State Climate Office and others doesn’t lie – Nebraska’s climate has been getting hotter, and getting hotter more rapidly than normal. Precipitation events are more streaky, coming in buckets when it comes instead of showers.

Winters have less snow.

And when it doesn’t rain, things dry up more quickly due to high winds, especially in March and April, our windiest months.

“Nebraska faces rising risks from more frequent and intense extreme weather,” predicted the 2024 climate report, led by the Nebraska State Climate Office at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

That same report anticipated that, if trends continue, Nebraska’s weather would be more like Oklahoma’s by 2050.That means warmer winters, and warmer summer nights. But it also means implications for growing crops.

So what are we to do?

It’s hard to stop wildfires from happening. Burn piles can reignite (as in that fire near our farm), dry lightning can strike, a careless cigarette can smolder and a strong wind can knock down a power pole, sparking a blaze (the apparent cause of the massive Morrill Fire, which blackened more than 600,000 acres recently).

Controlled burns (which may have caused one of the recent fires) need to be carefully monitored, and when it’s dry, burn bans need to be heeded. More resilient power poles can be used.

Thinning forests and removing brush and dead timber can help, too. So can rain.

Let’s hope those burn areas get some moisture, so those areas can rebound and so Nebraska can stay out of the national news.

The Bridgeport boys picked up wins in three events. Placing first were Jake Sparks in the 400-meter dash, Ron Varner in the 3,200 and Logan Levick in the 300 hurdles. Sparks won the 400 with a time of 54.7 seconds.Varner placed first in the 3,200 with a time of 10 minutes, 49.07 seconds. Levick claimed the 300 hurdles in a winning time of 44.29.

The Bulldog boys also earned second-place finishes in five other events. Levick was second in the 110 hurdles in a time of 15.61,Varner was second in the 1,600 in 5:02.09, and Sebastian Quigley finished second in the 800 in 2:15.29. Finishing second in the 4x100 relay with a time of 47.26 was the team of Sparks, Jonah Conley, Jose Castellanos, and Frank Lopez. In the 4x400 relay, the team of Castellanos, Levick, Conley, and Logan Freiberger placed second with a time of 3:46.82.The 4x800 relay team of Varner, Freiberger, Quigley, and Cooper Abbott placed third with a time of 9:34.96.

Haden Rahmig added a fourth-place finish in the discus with a toss of 128 feet, 9 inches.

The Bulldog girls claimed four event wins. Taylor Bright led the charge by placing first in both the 100 and 200. She won the 100 in a time of 13.28 seconds and claimed the 200 in 28.18. Bright also ran a leg on the winning 4x100 relay that placed first with a time of 52.36. Joining Bright on the winning team were Mia Blanco, Reata Loomis, and Reina Francia.

Loomis also placed first individually in the 400. The freshman clocked a winning time of 1:01.91. Morgan Abbott was fourth in the event in 1:09.47.

Fallon DeBlois registered a pair of second-place finishes in the throwing events. She finished second in the shot put with a mark of 34-10 and was second in the discus with a distance of 106-5.

Bridgeport’s 4x400 relay team of Blanco, Bright, Abbott, and Loomis placed second with a time of 4:35.83.

Francia added a third-place finish in the 100 and a fourth in the 200. Elizabeth Higgins placed fourth in the 1,600.

The Bulldogs will return to action today at the Bayard CD Invite.

The meet featured Division I and Division II competition, giving smaller Class D programs like Leyton a chance to measure themselves against area rivals in a variety of events.

Senior Alec Watchorn led the charge for Leyton, winning the Division I 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles in a personal-best times of 15.27 and 40.73 seconds respectfully. He currently ranks among the top Class D performances statewide for the season.

In the Division I 400-meter dash, junior Austin Beutler powered to a second-place finish with a time of 56.98 seconds, adding valuable points to the Leyton cause. Beutler also took first place in the Division I long jump at 19’ 7” Junior Riley Benish placed sixth in the Division I 1,600-meter run, clocking 5:18.40 and picking up two points for the team.

In the Division II 800-meters, Charles Applegate took second with 2:43.68. He also placed fourth in the Division II long jump at 15’ 1”.

On the sprint side, freshman Connor Rieken made his mark in Division II. Rieken took fifth place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.33 seconds, and 12th place in the 100-meter dash at 12.74 seconds. Rieken placed third in the Division II long jump at 15’ 9”.

Kennedy Roelle led the Leyton girls competing in Division II events. She placed fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 3:14.28 and fourth in the long jump at 10’ 10”.

Senior Ella Schluterbusch was named the conference’s Player of theYear for girls basketball. She was joined on the all-conference team by her teammates Olivia Brown and Elizabeth Velazquez. Earning honorable mention for the Bridgeport girls were Olivia Corman and Reata Loomis. The Bulldogs won their sixth straight WTC tournament title this year.

Junior Hayes Watts was named the conference’s Player of theYear for boys basketball. Joining Watts on the all-conference team were Gage Nein, Logan Levick, and Landon Dean. Nik Weibert and Colton Carrier both earned honorable mention. The Bridgeport boys won the WTC tournament for a third straight time this year.

Earning all-conference first team honors for boys wrestling for Bridgeport were Jose Arreola, Noah Compton, Daxton Malcolm, and Ryker Norman. James Jeffords and Logan Freiberger earned all-conference second team honors. Earning honorable mention were Micah Conley, Sebastian Quigley, Blake Collins, and James Cano.