The Post Podcast

Hope Esperanza to Host 3rd Annual Cinco De Mayo Celebration in Downtown North Platte May 3rd

North Platte Kubota Podcast with Eagle's Derek Beck, speaking with Hope Esperanza's Maria Rodriguez & Community Connection's Angela Hipp

(Full Story)

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Downtown North Platte will come alive with music, dancing and family-friendly fun this Saturday, May 3, as Hope Esperanza hosts its 3rd Annual Cinco De Mayo Celebration.

The event will run from 1 to 6 p.m. on the bricks between 5th Street and Dewey and is free to attend.

“There’s gonna be a lot of things for families,” said Maria Rodriguez of Hope Esperanza. “We will have piñatas every 30 minutes—16 in total—and a DJ will be there keeping the energy up all afternoon.”

A folk dance group from Hastings will perform during the festivities, and children can enjoy games, face painting and more. Crowd favorites like the chili eating contest and the pan walk are set to return, with Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer among the brave contestants taking on the hot chili challenge.

Food will also be available, with Alicia’s Pupusas providing authentic eats for guests throughout the event.

In addition to the celebration, attendees can support Hope Esperanza by purchasing raffle tickets, which are being sold at Fresh Foods on East 4th Street. Tickets will be available Friday, April 25  from 3 to 5 p.m. and again on Saturday, April 26 from 1 to 3 p.m.

“They’re $5 for one or five tickets for $20,” Rodriguez said. “We have some amazing prizes this year.”

Raffle items include donations from Noel’s Food, San Pedro’s, Wild Bill’s, and Sustainable Beef, as well as gift cards to Margaritas, movie tickets from Golden Cinema, a donation from Ashley’s Home Store, and even a set of tires.

Rodriguez encourages families to come out and celebrate. “It’ll just be a fun night for the family to come out,” she said.

For more information, visit Hope Esperanza’s Facebook page.

Lake Mac Report for Weekend of April 25th, 2025

Th Spahn Marine Lake Mac Report — your go-to source for the latest news, water conditions, and fishing action from Nebraska’s largest lake, Lake McConaughy.

First things first: If you’re having boat motor trouble, help is just down the road. Spahn Marine in Big Springs is a Mercury Marine Premier Dealer with Mercury-certified technicians who are ready to get you back on the water fast. Give them a call at 308-889-3531.

Now for the fishing: Did you know that of the 125 Master Angler walleye caught across Nebraska last year, a whopping 90 came from Lake McConaughy? And that’s not all — the lake claimed top honors with both the heaviest (15 lbs 2 oz) and longest (32") walleye. So far this year, three more 32-inchers have been caught, and just this week there were multiple reports of 10+ pound walleye being reeled in. The spring bite is on!

Water Conditions:

• Current lake elevation: 3,239.4 ft (61.6% capacity)

• Water temperature at the dam: 47°F

Boat & Shore Fishing Update:
Anglers trolling large crankbaits along the face of Kingsley Dam are finding success, while bank anglers are doing well with jigs and crankbaits. Thanks to Jake Fahrenbruch for the latest report from the water.

Docks are now in at Divers Bay, Martin Bay (low water), Lemoyne, Cedar View, and both the north and south ramps at Lake Ogallala.

Boater Reminder:
From sunset to sunrise through April 30, boats within 30 yards of Kingsley Dam must travel counter-clockwise (south-to-north) due to spawning regulations. All boats must stay at least 200 feet away from the dam's outlet and morning glory structures.

Coming Up:
Don’t miss the Catfish Classic Tournament next Saturday, May 3 at Lake McConaughy. For more details, contact Chad Vogl at (308) 355-2321.

That wraps up this week’s Spahn Marine Lake Mac Report. Catch more updates at SandhillsPost.com. This report is brought to you by Spahn Marine in Big Springs and our friends at Buzz’s Marine in Kearney.

Remember...Tight lines and safe boating!

Ogallala Goodall YMCA Spotlight (April 24, 2025)

Derek Beck spoke with Melissa Ewert with the Ogallala Goodall YMCA

Ogallala Wild West Soap Box Derby will run Double/Double this Saturday

In this POST Podcast, Derek Beck spoke with Wild West Soap Box Derby's Bob Collins who is the Rally Director about this Saturday kick off races in Ogallala.

 

OGALLALA, Neb.  — April 24, 2025 — Soap box derby season is set to roll out this Saturday in Ogallala, where young racers from across the country will gather at the Wild West Soap Box Derby Track for a day of head-to-head competition.

Located at 1502 North Spruce Street, the event will begin early with pit crews arriving at 7:30 a.m. for registration, vehicle inspections, and weigh-ins. The first race is expected to start around 9:30 a.m., according to Rally Director Bob Collins, a longtime organizer who’s been with the Wild West Soap Box Derby for more than 25 years.

“We’ll try to get all the cars weighed in, get everybody registered, and get their wheels checked — they can’t run their own wheels, they run ours,” Collins said. “Then we’ll get the cars scaled and the first race hopefully around 9:30. It should be a pretty full day.”

Organizers anticipate between 30 and 40 cars will compete, with participants traveling from states including Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and occasionally from as far away as California, Nevada, and Florida.

Racing is free for spectators, and attendees are encouraged to support the on-site concession stand. This weekend's event is billed as a "Double/Double," meaning racers will compete in back-to-back heats across all three divisions: Stock, Super Stock, and Masters.

Collins expressed gratitude to sponsors who make the event possible, including the Ogallala Optimist Club, Pinnacle Bank, Adams Bank & Trust, Kent’s Towing, NB Properties, and All Tech Electric. He added that the derby is actively seeking additional sponsors. Interested businesses can contact Collins at 308-289-6050 or Local Director Dave Barrett at 308-289-1464.

Ogallala City Council Appoints Historic Preservation Commission, Eyes Landmark District (City Council Recap, April 23 2025)

Ogallala City Manager Kevin Wilkins spot with Sandhills Post Wednesday morning, April 23 to recap the City Council Meeting on Tuesday Night

 

OGALLALA, Neb. — The Ogallala City Council appointed five residents to serve on the city’s newly created Historic Preservation Commission during its regular meeting Tuesday evening.

Kody Quint, Barb Jeffres, Molly Jeffres, Sheila Mitchell and Tomas Enland were named to the commission, which will play a key role in Ogallala’s efforts to designate a Historic District that includes the former Ogallala Middle School and Auditorium. City Manager Kevin Wilkins told the POST that forming the commission is the first step toward revitalizing the properties for future use as apartments.

“The Historic Preservation Commission is a new commission the city created about a month ago,” Wilkins said. “Basically, it engages properties in historic preservation so the city can join the Nebraska State Historical Society as a Certified Local Government, or CLG. With the CLG, we have the provision to create a landmark historical preservation district.”

The commission’s first meeting is scheduled for May 5, when members will organize, establish rules and procedures, and begin planning the proposed district. The proposed designation, which covers two parcels—the former middle school and auditorium—will then be presented to the Planning Commission on May 6, with final consideration by the City Council expected at its May 13 meeting.

In other business, the council heard from PeopleService Inc., Ogallala’s contracted water and wastewater services provider. The company reported an issue near C and D streets on the city’s east side, where a sewer line crosses over a water line. To correct the elevation conflict, PeopleService plans to install pipe elbows on both sides of the water line to maintain even flow in the sewer system.

The Ogallala Tree Board also provided an update, reminding residents of a rebate program offering up to $150 for planting new trees within city limits. Applications are available at Ogallala City Hall or from any Tree Board member.

Additionally, Ogallala’s Community Cleanup Week continues through Friday, April 25. Wilkins noted that Western Resources Group had already filled seven roll-off containers with recyclable materials as of last Friday. Residents can continue to drop off items through the end of the week at Western Resources Group, located at 3305 W H Street.

The next Ogallala City Council meeting is scheduled for May 13.

Community Connections Mentoring Program gears up for busy summer, plus they have the Mentor of the Year locally

Derek Beck was joined on the Kubota podcast this week by Community Connections Co-Cordinators Angela Hipp and Ted Pucylowski to talk about their mentoring program. They have a busy summer planned, and recently had North Platte mentor Steve Heinzle named Mentor of The Year for the State Mentoring Program. Enjoy the conversation.

Backyard Poultry Seminar Set for May 3 in North Platte

North Platte Kubota Podcast with UNL Extension Educator Randy Saner

 

North Platte, Neb. — Backyard poultry producers and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of flock health, nutrition, housing, and economics during a two-day seminar hosted by Nebraska Extension.

The seminar will be held May 2 in Kearney at the Buffalo County Extension Office, 1400 E. 34th Street, and May 3 in North Platte at the West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center, 402 West State Farm Road. Both events run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the North Platte seminar will also be available online via webinar.

The seminar will feature presentations from poultry and agricultural experts:

• Common Poultry Diseases/Keeping Poultry Healthy – Dr. Don Reynolds, Professor and Extension Poultry Specialist

• Nutrition Management/Grading & Selling Eggs – Shelia Purdum, Extension Poultry Specialist

• Housing/Feeding Your Backyard Flock – Brett Kreifels, Urban Program Coordinator and 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator

• Budgeting & Pricing: The Economics of Egg Production – Shannon Sand, Agricultural Economics Extension Educator

• Maintaining Backyard Flock/Mitigating Disease – Barb Batie, poultry producer from Lexington, Neb.

The goal of the seminar is to equip attendees with knowledge and tools to improve disease management and sustainable practices for backyard poultry operations.

Registration is required by April 28.

• To attend the Kearney seminar, call 308-236-1235.

• To attend the North Platte seminar or webinar, call the Lincoln Logan McPherson Extension Office at 308-532-2683.

The $25 registration fee includes a meal for in-person attendees and access for webinar participants.

North Platte City Council Recap with Mayor Brandon Kelliher (April 16, 2025)

Podcast with Derek Beck, sponsored by North Platte Kubota.

 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — The North Platte City Council approved several infrastructure improvements during its regular meeting Tuesday night, including the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to pave an expanded portion of West 15th Street.

Mayor Brandon Kelliher said the city was able to stretch its grant dollars further than anticipated after initial bids came in under budget.

“When the original bid came in, it was about $90,000 lower than the actual grant amount,” Kelliher said. “So, we went back to the state and asked if we could pave one more block with the extra funds, and they approved it.”

The council approved a $402,228 contract with Level, LLC of North Platte to pave West 15th Street from North Hayes Avenue to North Custer Avenue. Kelliher said the additional paving will eliminate remaining gravel patches and help modernize the north side of the city, although future improvements will depend on further grant funding.

“In areas where you’re putting in water, sewer and pavement, the cost is approaching $1,000 a foot,” he said.

The council also approved a second bid with Level, LLC for paving sidewalks and parking areas at Cody Park in the amount of $124,864.75. The improvements are part of ongoing renovations at the park, including new tennis and pickleball courts.

Kelliher announced the courts will be temporarily closed for approximately three weeks starting at the end of April for painting and finishing work.

“The company is coming back to finish the tennis and pickleball courts. It’s a very precise and time-consuming process,” he said. “It will cost about $130,000 to paint the courts, so we need people to stay off them while the work is done.”

The mayor added the courts will be locked and clearly marked as closed, and the city plans to host grand opening events once the project is complete.

In other business, the council held first readings and took action on three ordinances related to paving projects on Francis Street. Ordinances No. 4204, 4205 and 4206 would create paving districts extending from Tabor Avenue to Newberry Access.

The council also approved second readings to annex the Otter First and Second Subdivisions, Majors 3 Brothers Administrative Subdivisions, and Glennfields 3rd Subdivision into city limits. Kelliher said construction on the Francis Street paving could begin as early as this summer, supporting further development in the area.

Lake Mac Report | April 11, 2025

Ogallala, NE - This report is sponsored by Sphans Marine in Big Springs & Buzz Marine in Kearney.

Inflows to Lake McConaughy are at 851 cubic meter feet per second, that’s down about 70 from last week and down almost 200 cubic meter feet per second from a year ago this week. DOCKS are in at Divers Bay, Martin Bay low water, and Lake Ogallala north and south ramps. Lemoyne is expected to go in soon. (Note: if the wind is forecasted to be greater than 20 mph, docks will be pulled half to all the way out, depending on wind direction.) 

WATER LEVEL is at 1,062,600ac-ft (61% capacity) 

Water temperatures earlier this week near Kingsley Damm in the morning were around 44 degrees... Daytime anglers continue to have some pre-spawn success at Lake McConaughy. The walleye spawn is just around the corner.  

Upcoming events, Try your luck at the Catfish Classic fishing tournament Saturday, May 3 at Lake Mac. Call Chad Vogl at (308) 355-2321 for more information. 

(Audio) Prairie Arts Center announces upcoming fundraisers, raffle ticket prizes, upcoming classes and more!

North Platte Post

North Platte, Neb. - The Prairie Arts Center in North Platte has announced that their will be some fun upcoming fundraisers the PAC will be hosting. Also raffle tickets will be sold for some painted chairs with cool designs. More and more classes are being added to the website and if you have a youth, you still have time to sign up for summer classes.

POST news director Canon Rath chatted with Holly Carlini from the PAC about all the news things going on. The Prairie Arts Center is open Tuesday - Saturday from 11am - 4pm. To view the PAC website, click here. to learn more, check out the podcast below.