

Scottsbluff (Neb.) It’s that time of year…We’re freezin’ for a reason! The local committee to benefit Special Olympics Nebraska will be holding its 8th annual Panhandle Polar Plunge Saturday, February 23, 2019 at Riverside Park in Scottsbluff.
Those brave enough to run into the icy waters of the river are invited to join the committee and Special Olympics athletes to raise money for Special Olympics by collecting pledges and coming out to plunge. Plungers are encouraged to form teams and dress in costumes. Prizes will be awarded for raising pledges and creativity.
Registration begins at 9:30, and the Polar Plunge begins at 10:45 a.m. at the pathway parking area in Riverside Park. There will be a post-plunge party immediately following the event at the YMCA camp.
We encourage individual and team participation. Each plunger is asked to raise at least $50 in donations. Incentives begin with $75 in donations. Individuals and teams can register at the Firstgiving page,https://www.firstgiving.com/sone.
There is a link to Polar Plunge information, registration forms and contact information on Scotts Bluff County’s homepage atwww.scottsbluffcounty.org. The same information is available at the Special Olympics Nebraska website, www.sone.org.
Scottsbluff, Nebraska -1/19/19- West Nebraska Arts Center (WNAC) has been awarded a grant of $4,000.00 by the Oregon Trail Community Foundation (OTCF) to purchase new sound systems for both of our galleries, the Main gallery and our Bronson gallery.
West Nebraska Arts Center Executive Director, Michele Denon, said, “We are thrilled to be supported by such a wonderful organization. OTCF and their financial leadership are an important part of the upkeep, as well as the progress, at WNAC, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the support.” The sound systems have already helped to round out the beautiful environment we have here at the West Nebraska Arts Center. Music is an integral part of the atmosphere in the galleries and sets the tone for viewing and enjoying the artwork. Our wine tasting fundraiser last weekend was enhanced by the opportunity to play 60’s music to go along with our Creative Juices theme. The sound systems we had previously were very outdated, the one from the Bronson gallery had and 8 track in it.
“The West Nebraska Arts Center building sits on the site of the old Campbellite Church. The land was sold to the City Library in 1921 by St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. The Scottsbluff Carnegie Library was constructed with a grant from the Carnegie Corporation. The building, a representation of the neo-classical revival style, has a unique personality, charm, and special features that make it a treasure in our community. We feel strongly that it is our responsibility to care for her. This grant will help us in further enhance the overall experience of our Art Shows as well as Art Classes and the Fundraisers we hold. We are appreciative of organizations such as The Oregon Trail Community Foundation, who share our vision of ensuring that WNAC is a place our community can continue to enjoy for many years to come,” Denton said.
Located on the corner of 18th Street and 1st Avenue just one block from downtown Scottsbluff, WNAC is a beautiful space with two galleries that now have 18 exhibits each year featuring local, national, and international artists representing a wide variety of visual art. Each exhibit has an opening reception providing visitors with the opportunity to meet the artist(s), see the show, and enjoy music, food and refreshments. Gallery exhibits and receptions are always FREE and open to everyone.
Scottsbluff High School is proud to announce that two Air Force Junior ROTC cadets have been selected to the AFJROTC Chief of Staff Flight Academy Private Pilot Scholarship Program. SHS AFJROTC Cadets Brooke DeSha and Paul Esparza-Garcia have received a scholarship to attend an accredited aviation university participating in a private pilot license training program in the summer of 2019. DeSha is currently a Senior at Scottsbluff High School and Esparza-Garcia is a Sophomore.
The cadets are two of 150 Air Force Junior ROTC cadets around the world to receive the scholarship from Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama. More than 1,560 cadets applied for one of the 150 scholarships. There are more than 120,000 high school students enrolled in Air Force Junior ROTC at almost 900 high schools in the U.S and overseas. The scholarship covers transportation, room and board, academics and flight hours required to potentially earn a private pilot license. The scholarship is valued at approximately $20,000.
The Flight Academy Scholarship Program is Air Force-level initiative in collaboration with the commercial aviation industry to address the national civilian and military pilot shortage. Those who participate in the program do not incur a military commitment to the Air Force or other branch of service, nor does completing the program guarantee acceptance into one of the military’s commissioning programs.
The mission of Air Force Junior ROTC is to develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community, while instilling values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility and sense of accomplishment. Air Force Junior ROTC is in its first year at Scottsbluff High School.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials say an online site can provide winter travelers with information about Nebraska road conditions from the perspective of snowplow drivers. The Nebraska Transportation Department said in a news release Tuesday that the online Plow Tracker interactive map shows state plow trucks on highways. At the click of a mouse, site users can see what the snowplow drivers are seeing, thanks to forward-facing dashboard cameras. Plow Tracker automatically refreshes information every minute. Department operations manager Tom Sands says the weather conditions can often be worse than they appear on the dash cameras, which show only a portion of a roadway.



