Sarpy County Guide & News

03/03/2025

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03/03/2025

Congrats to the Fergusons from Platteview High

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has announced the winners of the 28th annual Nebraska Young Artist Awards.

The awards recognize 11th-grade students from Nebraska for their talents in visual art, dance, music, theater and film, and emerging media arts.

Sixty students from more than 30 high schools across the state have been selected as award winners and will be invited to a day of activities on campus April 2.

“The faculty always look forward to this event,” said Chris Watson, director of recruitment for the college and coordinator of the awards. “They love meeting enthusiastic young artists, working with them and celebrating their talent.”

Students applied for the recognition and submitted an example of their work. Applications were received from 79 students. Hixson-Lied College faculty chose the winners.

Award winners were also asked to nominate the teacher who provided them with the greatest amount of mentoring and support in the development of their special talents.

Students will receive a certificate and an original piece of artwork commissioned for the event and created by a School of Art, Art History and Design printmaking student.

Following is a list of award winners by hometown, with their high school and specialty area(s).

Aurora:
Kendal Wineteer, Aurora, visual arts

Cedar Rapids:
Cielo Rios Ortiz, Riverside Public, visual arts

Cozad:
Camryn Yilk, Cozad, dance

Fullerton:
Elena Reimer, Fullerton, music

Grand Island:
Annalise Hauser, Heartland Lutheran, visual arts

Hastings:
Hannah Javins, St. Cecilia, music and theater
Mylee Mick, Hastings, music

Kearney:
Addison Jezbera, Kearney, visual arts
Muddz Lindstrom, Kearney, visual arts

Lincoln:
Sebastian Aracena, Lincoln High, music
Paxton Beery, Lincoln Southwest, dance
Oliver Brassil, Lincoln High, music
Brielle Braunsroth, home school, visual arts
Leah Byelick, Lincoln Southwest, music
Lucy Christensen, Lincoln Southwest, dance
Jordan Dutton, Lincoln Southwest, dance
Grace Fry, Lincoln East, dance
Macy Gonderinger, Lincoln Southwest, music
Teyla Herrold, Lincoln Southwest, dance
Lily Huynh, Lincoln Southwest, visual arts
Lillian Jurgens, Lincoln East, dance
Hadley Kerner, Lincoln North Star, dance
Kate Morrison, Lincoln Southwest, dance
Claire Neth, Lincoln Southwest, dance
Bella Nuncio, Lincoln Northeast, dance
Jeffrey Ogbonnaya, Lincoln Southeast, music
Ryan Ostrander, Lincoln High, music
Paige Schamber, Lincoln East, dance
Joshua Schulte, Lincoln East, music
Jeff Shen, Lincoln East, music
Sidney Stephan, Lincoln North Star, dance
Evangeline Swartz, home school, music
Hailey Taylor, Lincoln Southeast, dance
Allie Works, Lincoln High, music and theater

Mitchell:
Mattie Taylor, Mitchell, music

Norfolk:
Kenzie Arens, Norfolk Catholic, dance
Madison Pick, Norfolk Catholic, dance

Omaha:
Meruni Are, Millard North, dance
Nora Barth, Duchesne Academy, music
Madeline Bean, Duchesne Academy, music
Eva Cohen, Brownell Talbot, music
Vivian Dauner, Omaha Central, dance
Jinyee Huang, Elkhorn South, music
Rhana Kang, Elkhorn South, music
Lucille Liu, Millard North, music
Alexis Ochsner, Duchesne Academy, dance
Matthew Oloff, Platteview, music
Tessa Priesman, Omaha Central, music
Sophia Quarles, Millard North, music
Adeline Roland, Duchesne Academy, dance
Anyah Samuels, Duchesne Academy, music
Emma Schlick, Millard North, music
Winston Schneider, home school, music
BingYi Wang, Westside, music
Kaela Waskiewicz, Millard West, music
Izzy Worden, Omaha Central, music

Spalding:
Tamara Dominguez, Riverside Public, film and emerging media arts

Springfield:
Maren Ferguson, Platteview, theater
Marlee Ferguson, Platteview, theater

Sutton:
Shae Eggers, Sutton, theater

03/03/2025

Good news over at the Bellevue Little Theatre

Letter from the President

Dear Patrons and Friends of Bellevue Little Theatre,

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to you—our dedicated patrons—for your continued support. Your commitment to the arts and to Bellevue Little Theatre is the heartbeat of our community, and it is because of you that we continue to thrive year after year.

I am especially thrilled to celebrate the outstanding success of our recent 2023-24 production, The Prom, which was honored with the award for Outstanding Musical. This recognition is a testament to the immense talent, passion, and hard work of our incredible cast, crew, and staff. To each and every one of you who brought The Prom to life—thank you for your dedication and for sharing your artistry with our community.

We are also proud to celebrate the achievements of several BLT staff members who were honored for their exceptional work. Joe Mokrycki received the award for Outstanding Sound Design and Debbie Massey-Schneweis was recognized as Outstanding Choreographer, both for their brilliant contributions to White Christmas. Additionally, Todd Uhrmacher was awarded Outstanding Director for a Musical for his incredible vision and leadership in The Prom. We are grateful for their dedication and the artistry they bring to our stage.

At Bellevue Little Theatre, we strive to present productions that entertain, inspire and provoke thought. We are committed to bringing shows to our stage that not only tell compelling stories but also touch on real-life issues, fostering connection and understanding within our audience. Through the power of theatre, we aim to spark conversations, evoke emotions and continue to be a place where stories that matter are told.

As we look ahead, we are excited about the journey to come and the stories yet to be shared. Thank you once again for being a part of our BLT family. Your unwavering support makes everything we do possible.

We can’t wait to see you at the theatre!

With gratitude,

Joey Lorincz

President/Treasurer

Bellevue Little Theatre

01/03/2025

Congrats to all the honorees!

2025 NSWCA HOF Inductees

The Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association is honored to announce the Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The HOF Banquet will be held Friday June 13 at Boulder Flatts in Grand Island

Coach
Matt Bruggeman, Gretna
Shane Allison, Valentine
Roger Smith, Gordon (deceased)
Robert (Bob) Oliver, Meridian (deceased)
Les Painter, Pierce

Competitor
Bradley Cooper, Ogallala
Blake Fruchtl, GINW (deceased)
Elaine Gossman, Ft, Calhoun
Brittney Taylor - Roberts, Omaha North
Rick Hasenpflug, Creighton

Contributor
Terry Wragge, Pierce
Mark Koch, Twin River
Jim Garfield, Central City, Aurora
Jackie Brown, Papillion LaVista South
Official
Steve Faber, Gibbon

12/14/2024

Update (6/14/24 - 6am): I-80 is currently open

⛔️Closure Alert ⛔️

I-80 is closed eastbound at the Gretna exit and westbound at the Hwy 370 exit. Avoid travel to allow NDOT crews to apply treatment to the road surface.

Check 511.nebraska.gov for the latest travel conditions and updates.

12/12/2024

Damage Controlman 2nd Class Tanner Shere, a native of Bellevue, Nebraska, uses a radio to communicate with central control station while testing the improved point detection system (IPDS) in the pilot house aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64), Dec. 6. Gettysburg, assigned to the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG), is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations supporting U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa to defend U.S., Allied and partner interests.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaitlin Young)

06/05/2024

06/05/2024

Bellevue native serves with U.S. Navy

By Megan Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach

MAYPORT, FLA. - Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Vinson, a native of Bellevue, Nebraska, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Station Mayport.

Vinson graduated from Bellevue East High School in 2007.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Bellevue.

“I learned in my hometown that setting your mind to a task can you a long way in accomplishing a goal,” said Vinson. “I also learned that hard work pays off. This job is not always easy, so it is important to be diligent to succeed.”

Vinson joined the Navy 13 years ago. Today, Vinson serves as a mass communication specialist.

“I joined the Navy because all the jobs I applied to after college needed you to have experience,” said Vinson. “I stumbled across this job and it matched my degree perfectly. Now here I am 13 years later.”

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.

"We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day," said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations. "Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs."

Vinson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is earning my master's degree and meeting my wife,” said Vinson. “I am proud of earning my degree because it is something I never thought I would be able to do, so the fact that I did it while on active duty, is a big accomplishment. I am proud of meeting my wife because we are dual military and met on a tiny island in one of the most remote places. We are still together after 12 years.”

Vinson serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.

“Serving in the Navy means an opportunity to better myself and better my family while building a solid foundation for my future,” said Vinson.

Vinson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I want to thank my wife, Margie, because, without her, I wouldn’t have accomplished many of the things I have done in the service,” added Vinson. “I also want to thank my mom, Sabrina and my sister, Sally, for always supporting and encouraging me in anything I do. Lastly, I want to thank my son, Liam, for being strong on this journey because it is definitely not easy.”

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class
Josiah Trombley

05/30/2024

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is seeking the public’s assistance in locating missing teen, Hayley Pelley.

Hayley, 17, went missing from her home in Bellevue, Nebraska on May 4, 2024. Hayley is described as 5'0" and weighs 90 lbs. She has blue eyes and brown hair but may currently have dyed blonde hair. Authorities believe that Hayley may be in Omaha, Nebraska or travel to Council Bluffs, Iowa.

If you have any information about Hayley or her disappearance, please contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Bellevue Police Department (Nebraska) at 1-402-593-4111.

05/21/2024

Cornerstone Christian's Erin Nordby competes at No. 1 singles during the Class B State Tennis Tournament at Woods Tennis Center. She ended up losing 8-4 to Blair's Abigail Lundberg.

05/21/2024

Platteview's Melanie Ostrander went 1-1 at the Class B State Tennis Meet at Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln today. She lost 8-3 to Bennington's Jimena Rodriguez Munoz to end her season.

05/21/2024

02/06/2024

2024 Nebraska Shrine Bowl Rosters Announced

LINCOLN, NE — Recently, the Shrine Bowl of Nebraska Board of Directors released the rosters for the 66th Nebraska Shrine Bowl Game and introduced the teams at their annual Player Press Conference at the Sesostris Shrine Center in Roca, Nebraska.

Head Coaches together with their Associate Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches, each chose from nominated seniors in their designated regions to represent their respective high schools, as well as North or South, in the 2024 Nebraska Shrine Bowl.

SOUTH
Henry Prochazka Elkhorn South
Blake Hawkins Gretna
Isaiah Weber Gretna
Cooper Johnson Lincoln Southeast
Owen Baxter Lincoln Southeast
Kevon Newsome Omaha Central
Trent Buda Lincoln Southwest
Beau Ryan Omaha Westside
Trevor Spady Omaha Westside
Eli Holt Norris
Jax Gates Norris
Justin Witcofski Omaha Skutt
Anthony Heithoff Omaha Skutt
Seth Erickson York
Ryker Evans Hi-Line
Breckan Schluter Exeter Milligan Friend
Carson Murphy Kearney Catholic
Garrett O’Hare Kearney Catholic
Caden Rezac Ogallala
Drake Zimmerman Ashland Greenwood
Ben Harris Ashland Greenwood
Dawson Kissinger Hastings St. Cecilia
Kellen Peterson Aurora
Treshaun Beed Aurora
Beau Buchanan Kearney
Zander Rueling Kearney
Dylan Eby Plattsmouth
Orion Parker Plattsmouth
Jackson Turner Fillmore Central
Jake Ryan Minden
Dalton Amen Malcolm
Ryker Wohlers DC West
Patrick Gross McCook
Tanner Bolte BDS
Gage Wolter Beatrice
Roy Skogerboe Papillion LaVista South
Keenan Flannery Papillion LaVista South
Colby Duncan Omaha Gross
Ryan Weiss Omaha Gross
Bryor Sherman Omaha Central
Jackson Kerchal Dundy Co.
Maverick Binder Auburn
Noah Pederson Lincoln East
Cooper Finney Lincoln East
Dezmond Straatmann Platteview

COACHES
Ryan Gottula, HC Lincoln Southeast
Grant Traynowicz, AC Lincoln Southwest
Tom Van Haute, AC Omaha Gross
Clint Head, AC Hastings St. Cecilia
Clint Ardissono, AC BDS
Fred Thorne, AC Lincoln Southeast
Andy Ryan, AC Lincoln Southeast

NORTH
Trey Applet Ainsworth
Quinton Archer Bennington
Kale Kaufman Bennington
Hank Hudson Boone Central
Trent Patzel Boone Central
Brice Chaplin Broken Bow
Tanner Esch Columbus
Caden Kapels Columbus
Humberto Adame Columbus Lakeview
Cole Daubert Elkhorn North
Justyce Hosterler Grand Island
Reid Kelly Grand Island
Joseph Stein GI Northwest
Chase Wiegert GI Northwest
Dean Donaldson Lincoln Northstar
Jayden Potter Lincoln Northstar
Blake Borchers Battle Creek
Caleb Klein Millard North
Cael Peters Mitchell
Bryson Gadeken Neligh- Oakdale
Rowdy Bauer Norfolk
Sam Zazueta Norfolk
Ben Sousek Norfolk Catholic
Brecken Erickson North Platte St. Pat’s
Tucker Shabram O’Neill
JT Brands Oakland Craig
CJ Costello Omaha Creighton Prep
Deandre Harper Omaha North
Jordan Vazquez-Shaw Omaha North
Trent McCain Ord
Dallas Hamilton Papillion LaVista
Keenen Valverde Pierce
Sebastein Boyle Scottsbluff
Isak Doty Sidney
Mitchell Hupp Stanton
Avery Wieting Wahoo
Noah Maahs Waverly
Sam Edmonds Wahoo
Anania Ruba Lincoln High
Brock Marler Elkhorn North
Drew Moser Waverly
Payton Prestito Papillion LaVista
Braydon Wobken LVSS
Michael Burt Omaha Creighton Prep
Colbey Butts Archbishop Bergan

COACHES COACHES
Chris Koozer, HC Norfolk
James Thompson, AC Lincoln Northstar
Ryan Smith, AC Sidney
Chad Cattau, AC Hartington CC
Ron Beacom, AC Neligh Oakdale
Jason Jones, AC Grand Island
Matt Skiff, AC Norfolk