FEBRUARY 14, 2019 (GRAND ISLAND, NEB.)  — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) have arrested several people and seized 100 pounds of marijuana during five traffic stops this week on Interstate 80. All five stops happened between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

At approximately 1:55 p.m. MT Tuesday, trooper located more than two pounds of marijuana after stopping an eastbound Toyota Yaris for speeding at mile marker 18 near Kimball. The driver, Jessica Reyna, 25, of Sacramento, California, and passenger, Chase Sinclair, 29, of Charlotte, North Carolina, were both arrested and lodged in Kimball County Jail.

Troopers then found 85 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop at approximately 3:45 p.m. CT Tuesday. A trooper had stopped a Chevrolet Tahoe parked in a no-parking area on the shoulder of the on-ramp at exit 324 near Giltner. The driver, Franklin Schillfarth, 55, of Maryland, was arrested and was lodged in Hamilton County Jail.

On Wednesday at approximately 7:20 a.m. CT, another trooper stopped an eastbound Kia Rio for speeding at 114 miles per hour on I-80 near North Platte at mile marker 176. Marijuana containers were plainly visible in the vehicle and the trooper found approximately two pounds of marijuana during a search. The driver, Brianna Glover, 23, and passenger, Rashawn Hampton, 23, both of Michigan were arrested and lodged in Lincoln County Jail.

At approximately 9:00 a.m. CT Wednesday, a trooper stopped a Chevy pickup pulling a trailer for failing to stay in its lane near Kearney at mile marker 280. The trooper could smell the odor of marijuana in the vehicle and conducted a search. The search revealed personal use marijuana and a handgun. Additionally three pounds of marijuana was located hidden inside a large, older television. An investigation revealed that the driver was unaware of the marijuana inside the television. The driver, Ryan Taylor, 35, of Florida, was arrested and cited for a concealed handgun violation and personal use marijuana. He was lodged in Buffalo County Jail.

Finally, at approximately 10:45 a.m. MT, a trooper discovered seven pounds of marijuana after stopping an eastbound Hyundai Sonata for speeding near Kimball at mile marker 18. The driver, Christopher Seligman, 35, of Maryland, was arrested and lodged in Kimball County Jail.

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NOVEMBER 26, 2018 (LINCOLN, NEB.)  — Nebraska State Troopers removed 16 impaired drivers from the road, issued more than 500 speeding citations, and assisted hundreds of motorists during a special Click It or Ticket enforcement surrounding the Thanksgiving weekend.

The enforcement, which was part of a national effort, including many other law enforcement agencies in Nebraska, was made possible thanks in part to a grant for $20,000 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation - Highway Safety Office.

“A projected record numbers of travelers, along with a winter storm that blanketed much of the state on Sunday, made for an eventful weekend for our troopers,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “I’m incredibly proud of the effort by our troopers and dispatchers this weekend, and thankful that many drivers planned ahead and were able to stay off the roads on Sunday.”

During the enforcement, which ran from Wednesday, November 21 through Sunday, November 25, troopers arrested 15 people for driving under the influence of alcohol and 1 for driving under the influence of drugs. In addition to those arrests, troopers issued citations for speeding (506), driving under suspension (35), no proof of insurance (33), minor in possession (5), open container (7), no seat belt (30), and improper child restraint (4).

Troopers also assisted 267 motorists in need of help, arrested 47 people for possession of drugs, and apprehended 9 fugitives.

The enforcement included vehicle checks, high visibility and saturation patrols, as well as regular enforcement efforts.

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Monday, February 25 th : Cheyenne County KS (St. Francis) St. Francis Emergency Building, 125 W Hwy 36

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DECEMBER 17, 2018 (NORTH PLATTE, NEB.)  — During the evening hours of Friday, December 14, Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) conducted alcohol inspections in Furnas County. The inspections were held at restaurants, liquor stores, bars, grocery stores, bowling alleys, and convenience stores.

A total of 17 businesses were inspected. Five of those businesses sold alcohol to a minor for a non-compliance rate of 29 percent. All of the businesses checked the minor’s ID.

The businesses which failed the inspections are:

Eagle Convenience Store #14 – Arapahoe

Stanley’s Spirits – Beaver City

Anew Travel Center - Cambridge

Casey’s General Store #2709 – Cambridge

Ho Jo’s Hideaway – Holbrook

Businesses that sell alcohol to a minor are referred to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Clerks who sell alcohol to a minor to cited for procuring alcohol for a minor.

This operation was made possible thanks in part to a grant from Region 3 Behavioral Health Services. NSP performs these inspections in an effort to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors.

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After four scrimmages, the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team is ready to open the season on Friday and Saturday when they compete in the Reiver Invite in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The pre-season fourth-ranked Cougars open the season on Friday at 2 p.m. against Indian Hills Community College and then face No. 3 Iowa Western Community College at 6 p.m. WNCC will wrap up the Reiver Invite on Saturday against Jefferson College and Barton Community College.

WNCC head coach Binny Canales said his team is ready to compete.

“I hope we are ready to go,” Canales said. “We are playing well, doing a lot of good things, and we just have to make sure we can do it against other good teams. We play Indian Hills and Iowa Western and they are both strong teams. We just have to take care of things on our end of the court and if we do that it increases our chances to be successful.”

Friday’s opponents will be good tests. Indian Hills sports a team of 15 players, 14 of which are international including 12 from Brazil. A year ago, the Warriors went 37-5. Iowa Western, who finished in the top 8 at nationals last year, have 15 players on the team including eight sophomores. 

Canales said he really doesn’t know too much about either team.

“Indian Hills is prominently international and I don’t know a whole lot about those kids,” Canales said. “Right now it is what we can do. If we can stay in system and be on the attack, I think we will be fine.”

That is the key early on, too. It is not so much as what your opponent does, it is what the Cougar team does. So far, Canales likes what he has seen from his team.

“We can maintain a good amount of energy for a good amount of time and we are working on it to be longer,” he said. “Our ball control is solid, we have very good setters, and we can attack. We can attack the ball in-system and out-of-system and that helps us.”

A big key for the Cougars success is the two returning setters, Jayme Commins of Ogallala and Enna Masaki of Hawaii. Both setters saw plenty of time last year and they have showed plenty of leadership on the court in the four scrimmages the team had this month.

“It is great to have two returning setters because they have been in the system for a year and they know exactly what I want them to do,” Canales said. “A lot of time they are finishing sentences for me. It is a blessing to have returning setters that know your system.”

Commins and Masaki are only two key returners. The Cougars also have four other returners back from a 33-8 team a year ago. The other returning starters include Sarena Bartley of Ridgefield, Washington, and Kaile Tuisamatatele of Kapolei, Hawaii. Bartley is a rightside hitter while Tuisamatatele is a middle hitter. Also returning are Aloni Jordan of St. Louis, Missouri, and Logan Belford of Loveland, Colorado.

A big boost to the Cougars is a freshmen class that has plenty of depth on defense and attacking. The Cougars defense will be led by Adia Sherbeyn of Torrington, Wyoming, Ana Costas of Gurabo, Puerto Rico, and Terri Takita-Robins of Miliani, Hawaii.

The freshman hitters include Gabriela Canavati of Laredo, Texas, Camille Esselin of Thionville, France, Amryi-Grace Paris of Nanakuli, Hawaii, Santana Monroe of Greenwood Village, Colorado, and Leslie Lagafuaina of Tacoma, Washington.

WNCC has been practicing since Aug. 2 and have played four scrimmage games, going 3-1. The Cougars only defeat was to the University of Nebraska-Kearney in Ogallala back on Aug. 11. WNCC did defeated NCAA Division II Metro State in Ogallala before earning 5-0 wins over Eastern Wyoming College and the WNCC Alumni.

After this weekend, the Cougars will not have an easy time the following week. WNCC hosts No. 12 Laramie County Community College on Wednesday, before heading to the Crystal Inn Invite in Salt Lake City, where they will face No. 2 College of Southern Idaho and No. 15 Salt Lake Community College.

Canales said he loves playing the national powers because it makes his team better.

“We like to play the tough games to know where we are,” he said. “This type of schedule helps us. We are continuously getting better. This tournament will expose some things that we need to work on and that is a plus.”

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   With 19 players on the roster this season, the Western Nebraska Community College softball team is looking for exciting things when they open the season Tuesday, Feb., 5 at Frank Phillips College.

                Practices leading up to the season-opener have seen nothing but positives with a team that features five returners from a year ago and 14 new faces.

                “Personally, I am very excited to watch this team play ball,” head coach Katelyn Groves said. “I am excited that I have the opportunity to coach alongside two former players [Kelsey Bernhardt and Courtney Medina] and a young lady [Abbey Martin] that truly loves the game of softball and our program. Our players have worked extremely hard since they first stepped foot on campus in August. They have bought into our team mantra of ‘Strong Alone, Unstoppable Together’ and I can't wait to see what they do together on and off the field this spring.”

                The Cougars will spend a week in Texas playing games. After the games with Frank Phillips on Tuesday, the Cougars will face No. 11 Howard College on Feb. 6-7 before taking on Western Texas College Feb. 8-9.

                The players are looking forward to the road trip to play some competition.

                “We are super excited to start the season with such a talented team,” freshman Jaila Johnson of Firestone, Colorado, said. “We get to show off our hard work and finally put it all together for real this time. I’m also super excited to start my first ever college season as a Cougar.”

                There is plenty of depth on this year’s squad and that will be a key factor this season.

                “We have the availability to see two to four different players in any position this season,” Groves said. “Our team is extremely athletic and I believe you will see that in our ability to more around our lineup.”

                The depth all starts with the pitching core. WNCC has four pitchers ready to throw from the circle. Returning pitchers include Emma McMillan of Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Reagan Solomon of Farmington, Utah.

                McMillan went 14-19 a year ago from the circle with 188 innings pitched with 131 strikeouts. McMillan had an ERA of 6.10. Solomon was 7-13 in the circle with 139 innings pitched and 66 strikeouts. She finished with an ERA of 6.58.

                Joining McMillan and Solomon in the circle are freshman Emma Glawson of Victoria, British Columbia, and Mickie Mills of Spanish Fork, Utah.

                “We are 1/2 and 1/2 on freshmen and sophomores. Our returners saw a lot of action last year and will bring a ton of experience with them,” Groves said. “Our newcomers are hungry and eager to show teams what they can do. We are excited to watch this group of pitchers as they off set each other in a variety of ways from speed to best pitches.”

                The other returners on the team are infielder Michaela Kelly of Castle Rock, Colorado, catcher Gabby Loya of Denver; and outfielder Abriana Ramirez of Arvada, Colorado. Kelly batted .383 a year ago with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs, while Loya hit .308 with six home runs and 41 RBIs.

                The freshman class has plenty of talents. Infielders to make an impact are Lindsey Allie of Tooele, Utah; Devon Rees of Victoria, British Columbia; Madi Simons of Santaguin, Utah; Hannah Baesler of Thornton, Colorado, and Sam Davis of American Fork, Utah.

                The outfield group includes Jaila Johnson of Firestone, Colorado, and Tylar Davis of American Fork, Utah. Her twin sister is Sam.

                Utility players on the squad include Emma Flynn of Longmont, Colorado, and Sidney Hogan of South Jordan, Utah.

                Catcher prospects include Kendall Glasgow of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Hayley Gordon of Victoria, British Columbia, and Bri George of Hooper, Utah. Also Simons and Tylar Davis could also see time at catcher.

                “Our team is looking pretty solid all-around,” Groves said. “We have a team that has 19 key players. We have players that will embrace their roles in whatever aspect they might be asked to do and do it with max effort. We are excited to watch our team compete for each other and all those that helped them here.”

                Goals for this season is to win a regional title. Last season, the Cougars finished third at the regionals tournament, topping top-seed Lamar Community College 6-4 in eight innings, before falling to Otero 8-6 and then to Trinidad State 10-2.

                WNCC will have games every weekend through February. WNCC will begin Region IX play March 2-3 when they travel to Trinidad State Junior College. The first home game is slated for Wednesday, March 6 at Volunteer Field.

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CASPER, Wyo. – Enna Masaki recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs in her first match back in two weeks to lead the Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team to a 25-17, 25-14, 25-13 sweep over Casper College Tuesday at Casper, Wyoming.

Masaki, who sat out the last two weekends with an injury, stepped up big in helping the Cougars to their 17^th win.

Masaki, though, was just one of several players that stepped up as the Cougars were healthy for the first time since the first match of the season.

WNCC captured the first set 25-17 and then led from start to finish in the second set, winning 25-14.

The third set saw WNCC receive strong service runs by Kaile Tuisamatatele and Jayme Commins to open an 8-3 lead to 18-7. Tuisamatatele had two service pointsand Commins had five to lead the team. WNCC won the set on a Gaby Canavati kill.

WNCC finished the match with 43 kills and seven solo blocks in the win. After Masaki’s 13 kills, Tuisamatatele and Sarena Bartley each had nine kills. Tuisamatatele also had five points, while Bartley added three digs.

Amryi-Grace Paris finished with six kills, four solo blocks, and five digs, while Leslie Mamai Laguaina had five kills and four solo blocks.

Also for the Cougars, Ana Costas had a double-double with 20 digs and 11 points; Commins had 32 set assists, eight digs, and five points; Adia Sherbeyn had three digs and four points; and Cami Esselin had seven points and three aces.

WNCC, 17-7 on the season, will return to action on Friday when they travel to Sterling, Colorado, to face No. 19 Northeastern Junior College in a Region IX South match. NJC comes in with a 16-4 record and 2-1 in conference play, while WNCC is 3-1 in conference play. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.

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