The Post Podcast

On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, Paxton sat down with Jeff Thurman, Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Women's Basketball team, to talk about the team's offseason and his approach to this new season. Thurman also discussed how the start of the season has been just 2 games in, with games against #15 Frank Phillips and York University JV.

Visitors spent $124 million in Lincoln County in 2025, a 6.7% increase over the previous year, according to tourism figures shared by Visit North Platte Executive Director Lisa Burke.

During her interview Burke discussed the numbers, recent tourism grant awards and upcoming events during an interview with North 

Visit North Platte recently awarded funding to several events and projects expected to bring visitors to the area. Among the recipients was Midwest Championship Fighting, which received $3,000 for its St. Paddy’s Day Beatdown scheduled for March 2027.

North Platte High School also received $14,000 to help host the Nebraska High School State Video Competition in April. The competition is expected to bring approximately 1,000 students to North Platte.

Other grant recipients included Miss Rodeo Nebraska and the city of North Platte. The city plans to use its funding to create brochures highlighting the Cody Park Railroad Museum and local parks.

Burke said tourism numbers for 2026 are also showing continued growth, currently tracking approximately 9% ahead of last year.

She pointed to lodging tax collections in August as another indicator of tourism activity in the area. Lincoln County collected $185,000 in lodging tax revenue that month, compared with $170,000 in Buffalo County and $155,000 in Hall County.

More information about upcoming events, visitor attractions and travel opportunities in the area is available at VisitNorthPlatte.com.

The North Platte City Council approved several property and development-related items during its meeting Tuesday, including an agreement with Midwest Land Development for a proposed housing project.

Kelliher discussed the agreement, which involves approximately 66 acres of city-owned property near Devco Street and the proposed extension of Francis Street.

Kelliher also said the developer plans to turn most of the area into housing, with some light industrial lots. As part of the project, the developer will pay for approximately 3,100 feet of Francis Street, an estimated cost of more than $2 million.

The council also approved the sale of a small piece of city-owned property to nearby property owners, reduced the Library Advisory Board from 12 members to eight and approved the first reading of an ordinance addressing the board's responsibilities.

Other actions included approving the appointment of Tammy Timmerman-Lashley to the Planning Commission, renewing the city's human resources agreement with Zell, and awarding Weathercraft Companies a contract of up to $59,221 to replace the roof at Fire Station No. 1.

North Platte Head Volleyball Coach Shelby Welsh joins Sports Director Hayden Coker to discuss this past season with her Lady Bulldogs, the flow of coaching each individual, and how she got into coaching. 

Vince Wolfram with Field of 68 and the College Sports Co. joins Sports Director Hayden Coker to discuss the 2026 Huskers Men's Basketball schedule. Vince broke down his path into sports media, what he expects from the Huskers, and his time speaking with Cale Jacobsen, Braden Frager, and Coach Fred Hoiberg. 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — As October draws to a close, the North Platte Post recognizes Whitney Petska, a 4th grade teacher at Cody Elementary, as our October Community Hero for Kids recipient.

Petska has been teaching fourth grade for more than 15 years and has always enjoyed working with children.

Petska said her interest in teaching began in high school when she interned with her former kindergarten teacher. She said she knew from that moment on she wanted a career helping children learn, grow, and succeed.

"I love children. I knew growing up I wanted to do something with children." Petska described, "I had maybe thought about counseling, but then I decided to go the education teaching route. I love kids, I love helping, and I love encouraging them and helping them learn."

Petska and her 4th grade class

With 15 years of experience, Petska had some words of advice for any young student who has aspirations about following their dreams of becoming a teacher.

"I would say work hard, keep your focus, work hard, and try your best." Petska stated, "And when you see someone maybe struggling, jump up, lend a hand, and see what you can do to help them."

Each month the North Platte Post recognizes one member of the community that makes a difference in the life of kids. If you have someone you want to nominate, head to the North Platte Post webpage and click on the contest tab to nominate someone in the community today.

Pheasants Forever is bringing back its annual Pheasant Tail Feather Contest, encouraging hunters across the state to participate in a friendly competition during pheasant season.

Addie Pernicky, a biologist with Pheasants Forever and coordinator of the Nebraska Community Access Partnership (NCAP) outlined the contest ahead of the pheasant hunting season.

The contest begins this weekend and runs through Jan. 31, 2027. Hunters who harvest a pheasant on public-access land enrolled in the Nebraska Open Fields and Waters Program can submit a photo of their bird’s tail feather measured against a yardstick.

Official NCAP yardsticks will be available at Lured In, The Watering Hole, Lake McConaughy's Visitor Center, Pronto in Grand, and in Sidney which has yet to be determined.

Pernicky said NCAP has enrolled approximately 64,000 acres over the past two and a half years across the southern Panhandle, including Keith, Arthur, Deuel, Garden and Perkins counties, expanding public hunting opportunities.

Hunters can contact Pernicky at 308-737-0944 for more information about the contests and public-access opportunities.

Operation Manager Paxton Gordon is joined by Mike Honerman with the North Platte Rotary to talk about their upcoming event, Pints for Polio, this Wednesday from 4-7 at Ape Ship Brewery and Double Dips Ice Cream. This is the biggest Rotary fundraiser of the year for the North Platte Rotary, and it's a $20 donation to either get a pint of your favorite drink at Ape Ship or a pint of ice cream at Double Dips.

 

With the November 3rd Election approaching Operations Manager Paxton Gordon was able to sit down and talk with Jim Riewe who is running for the open City Council Ward 3 Chair that was vacated by Brian Flanders. Rewey, who has lived in North Platte with his wife for 17 years, discussed economic development, housing, property taxes and tax increment financing, or TIF. Riewe has over 45 years of business leadership experience with the last 11 years being with Wilkinson Companies as the president of travel centers and is looking to use his experience to help the city continue to grow in the right ways.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — North Platte Mayor Brandon Kelliher discussed several city projects, including housing development, street improvements and the sale of city-owned property, during his weekly visit with Operations Manager Paxton Gordon.

The City Council approved naming the trail at Iron Horse Park the Milton Berger Mile in honor of the North Platte native and World War II general. The trail is being renovated and will provide visitors with a route measuring approximately one mile long.

Kelliher also discussed ongoing housing development along East Philipps Street, where apartments and row houses are nearing completion. The council addressed changes to redevelopment agreements and paving assessments associated with Francis Street, including costs for road, sidewalk and storm sewer improvements estimated at approximately $2 million.

The council also approved plans to install stop signs at several intersections along Francis Street to improve traffic safety as the road opens and traffic patterns change.

Another topic involved the potential sale of city-owned property near Walker Road and Victoria Lane. Kelliher said the city is reviewing how to handle unused parcels and may establish a process to auction properties to interested buyers. The city is also preparing to sell properties acquired through a state grant program that funded the demolition of dilapidated homes.

Listen to the full interview for a full breakdown yesterdays City Council meeting under the news tab.