DELTA is sponsored by NNDC…the Nebraska Northwest Development Corporation…and executive director Deb Cottier says planting trees was seen by the 8 students…all from local businesses or organizations…as a way to give something back to the Chadron Community.

The Greener Nebraska Towns program is supplying the trees and other materials for the project as part of a continuing partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and Nebraska State Forest Service.  The public is welcome to come by and see the work being done.

DELTA class members participate in monthly day-long sessions and complete a class project each year. A picnic with family and employers wraps up the year.

The 2012-13 participants are Misty Hickstein, Wahlstrom Ford; Don Churchill, First National Bank of North Platte; Jen Brown, FALCO; Kimzi Zuver, City of Chadron; John Griesinger, US Forest Service; Casey Fosher (formerly of First National Bank of Chadron) and Susan Hucke, Keep Chadron Beautiful.

Also participating is Polina Kanuika, a recent graduate of the Chadron State College Masters program from the Ukraine.

CLASS C GIRLS PLACERS
Pole Vault   5T-Megan Stuart  11  Bayard         9-06.00
Long Jump   7-Kelsy Wood    12  Hemingford  16-06.50

QUALIFIERS
100 HH       Kelsy Wood   12  Hemingford      1st/14.99
100 Dash     Kelsy Wood   12  Hemingford      1st/12.82
300 LH        Kelsy Wood   12  Hemingford      1st/46.601

CLASS C GIRLS TEAM SCORES after 5 events:
1-Fillmore Central                 22.000
2-Superior                            21.000
3-Aquinas Catholic               19.000
4-Crofton                             18.000
5-North Bend Central          15.000
6T-Kearney Catholic – Southern  14.000
8-Hershey                          10.000
9-Ainsworth                         9.000
10-Sutton                            8.000
16T-Bayard – Creighton       3.500
21-Hemingford                        2.000

CLASS C BOYS PLACERS
Boys 3200     1 Cody Franklin   12 Bridgeport    9:43.463  STATE CHAMPION

QUALIFIERS – NONE

CLASS C BOYS TEAM SCORES after 5 events:
1-Ord                                     24.000
2T-St. Paul – Howells-Dodge 13.000
4-Thayer Central                    12.000
5T-Bridgeport – Freeman – Wisner-Pilger 10.000
8T-Centennial – Southern        8.000
10T-Logan View – Southern Valley  7.000

CLASS D GIRLS PLACERS
Girls Discus    6 Kassandra Harris             11 Leyton                               113-09.00     3

QUALIFIERS – NONE

CLASS D GIRLS TEAM SCORES after 4 events:
1-St. Mary’s                       31.000
2-Bertrand                         20.000
3T-Sterling – Humphrey     10.000
5T-Cambridge – Exeter/Milligan  9.000
7T-Anselmo-Merna  – Hartington  8.000
9T-Friend  -  Sumner-Eddyville-Miller  – Lindsay Holy Family    6.000
12-Wausa                             5.000
13-Guardian Angels Central Cathol    4.000
14T-Leyton – South Loup  -  Cody-Kilgore – Giltner  3.000

CLASS D BOYS PLACERS
Boys Pole Vault   5 Steven Knigge                11 Potter-Dix                            13-00.00     4

QUALIFIERS – NONE

CLASS D BOYS TEAM SCORES after 6 events:
1-Paxton                           22.500
2-Pawnee City                  17.500
3-South Loup                   16.000
4-Kenesaw                      15.000
5-Hartington                     14.000
6-Twin Loup                    13.000
7-SMC                            11.500
8-Amherst                        10.000
9T-Exeter/Milligan – Loup City – Sterling  8.000
20T-Potter-Dix  – Falls City Sacred Heart – Cody-Kilgore – Randolph – Giltner  – Guardian Angels Central Catholic    4.000

CLASS B GIRLS PLACERS
3200 relay  4-Chadron     9:54.527
Jayden Garrett, 9, Hannah Andersen, 11, Briley Hannaford, 12, Nicky Applegarth, 12, #43
3200 Relay    8-Gering        10:03.195
Lauren Shaul, 9, Dakota Gellner, 12, Kali Rimington, 10, Rachel Huffman, 12,
3200          4 -Taylor Muncie      10 Scottsbluff         11:43.910

QUALIFIERS
100 HH                Chesney Walker   9 Scottsbluff    3rd/15.532
300 LH        Chesney Walker   9 Scottsbluff     1st/46.576
300 LH        Karissa Segelke  12  Sidney         3rd/47.110

CLASS B GIRLS TEAM SCORES after 5 events:
1-Columbus Scotus                    18.000
2-Auburn                                   16.000
3T-Holdrege – Seward               15.000
5T-Northwest – Elkhorn South   12.000
7-Beatrice                                  11.000
8-York                                      10.000
9-Gothenburg                              9.000
10T-McCook – Syracuse – Fairbury   8.000
16T- Scottsbluff  – Chadron – Aurora – Crete  5.000
26T- Gering – Norris                   1.000

CLASS B BOYS PLACERS
Shot Put       2- Jonathan Maag     12 Scottsbluff       54-01.25
Triple Jump  2 -Jason Berglund     11 Alliance            44-06.00
3200           4- Matthew Barraza   10 Scottsbluff       10:00.774
High Jump   5- Zachary Bibb         12 Gering             6-02.00
High Jump   7T- Nicholas Conger  11 Sidney             6-02.00
Shot Put      8- Logan Lewis          11 Sidney             49-02.50

QUALIFIERS
Boys 110 HH       Matthew Klein          12 Scottsbluff           1st/14.991
Boys 110 HH       Trevor Kamerzell       11 Alliance              1st/15.036
Boys 300 IH        Trevor Kamerzell       11 Alliance               1st/40.469
Boys 300 IH          Matthew Klein         12 Scottsbluff            2nd/40.668
Boys 100 Dash      Luke Worden          12 Scottsbluff             2nd/11.266

CLASS B BOYS TEAM SCORES after 5 events:
1-Scottsbluff    23.000   
2T-Boys Town – Columbus Scotus – Omaha Gross
5T- Wayne – Blair – Ogallala – David City  10.000
9-Elkhorn South   9.500
10T-Alliance - Platteview – Gretna – Milford   8.000
18T- Gering   4.000
25-Sidney       2.500    

The top five from each region in individual events and each member of a relay ranked in the region’s top three qualify for the squad. In all, a total of 1,283 student-athletes were honored.

Five of the nine Chadron State selections will compete in next week’s NCAA Division II National Championship in Pueblo, Colo. They are Alyssa Norton (shot put and discus), Sadie Waugh (discus), Cody Hunt (shot put), Karl McFarlane (110-meter hurdles) and Gavan Archibald (400-meter hurdles).

In addition to the five national qualifiers, the other CSC honorees are Charith Kapukotuwa (shot put), Phil Rivera (400 meters), Mel Herl (shot put) and Kaelie Jelden (pole vault).

Alex Helmbrecht, Sports Information Director

Alex Rivera

The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team has sent more three members of the 2012 team onto the next level.

                Kat Agson and Alex Rivera will be playing next year at the Division I level after signing letter of intents with Southern Illinois University recently. Taylor VanderWerff also inked to continue her playing days at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a Division II school.

                The latest three signings make four players from last year’s 40-3 and national tournament runner-up team that will be playing next year. Danika Youngblood is the fourth, who is currently attending Cal State Bakersfield University, a Division I school.

                Agson and Rivera are excited to be going together to Southern Illinois and are ready for the next level. Southern Illinois plays in the competitive Missouri Valley Conference.

Kat Agson

                “I am so happy to play with Kat,” Rivera said. “It was really hard when I came here [two years ago] because I didn’t know anyone. Next year won’t be as hard and it really makes me happy.”

                Agson said that the two were actually being recruited by several of the same schools, so the chances the two would be playing together for another two years was in their favor.

                “We went on our visit together so that helped in the process of choosing a school,” she said. “We actually were recruited by the same schools so either way we probably would have ended up as the same program.

                Both had outstanding careers at WNCC. Rivera leaves WNCC as one of the top five all-time dig leaders. Rivera is fourth all-time in season kills with 682 and is third all-time with 1,224 digs.  She also finished with 51 aces a year ago.

Rivera had a season high 28 digs in a win against Miami Dade College last year. She also had 27 digs against Salt Lake Community College, and 26 digs against North Idaho College. Agson played just one year at WNCC, but finished with 266 kills and earned Region IX all-tournament honors.

Taylor VanderWerff

Both agree that WNCC was beneficial in their volleyball careers.“I think coming here has helped me not only in my skills but also my mental game,” Rivera said. “My game has gotten better and I don’t regret my decision two years ago coming here and I appreciate it.”

                For Agson, her volleyball skills improved immensely.  “I think I learned the most here just because of the coaching and the great staff they have,” she said. “There were a lot of experienced players and I learned a lot from them.”

                The two know, however, that it won’t be easy at Southern Illinois and they will need to work hard for playing time.“The way they run the program is pretty much the same as Coach Gi’s, so I think we both are ready for the next level and I think we will do great things,” Rivera said.

“I am competing with two other defensive specialists, who are both freshmen. We just have to go and show our game and compete every time like we do here.”

                VanderWerff will also be reuniting with an old teammate when she attends Southwestern Oklahoma State. Alyssa Olson, who played for WNCC two years ago and was roommates with VanderWerff, is also at Southwest Oklahoma State. She is excited to meet up with her good friend.

                “I am going to Southwest Oklahoma State University and I choice to go there because the coach is really great and is a very personable,” she said. “I like the girls and there is a former player there so it will be nice to play with her again. I think it will be a great program to go into.”

                VanderWerff finished with a .240 hitting efficiency as a on and off starter. VanderWerff said her game has improved in the two years here, which helped her get to the next level.

                “I definitely have learned different aspects,” she said. “I have learned to become a better volleyball player, a better person, and just how to become a great team member. I contribute that to my team and my coaches.”

                VanderWerff said she is prepared for the next level because the volleyball program at WNCC is not your typical junior college program, it is run like a four-year program and that gets the players ready for the next level.

                “I think [coming here] definitely did help prepare me because we don’t run typical junior college plays,” she said. “We are held to a high standard and we are pushed to be able to be prepared for anything.”

                All three said that leaving WNCC will be hard because they have made so many friendships. Agson said the year she spent here was rewarding.

                “I was prepared to only be here for a year so I didn’t think it would be hard to leave,” she said. “But it actually is hard to leave because I created a bond with like everybody and not just the people in athletics but the community.”

OMAHA – Three Chadron State College basketball players have been named to the Omaha World-Herald’s All-Nebraska Division II Teams and four others are honorable mention.

Zac Bargen is on the men’s team, while Kattie Ranta and Dallas Shaw are on the women’s squad.

Bargen, a junior from Chadron who was named to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Conference Second Team, led the league in scoring after averaging 18.2 points. He also averaged 5.8 rebounds a game to lead the Eagles.

Ranta, a junior from Rapid City, S.D., and also an All-RMAC Second Team choice, averaged 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds to finish the regular season as the fourth leading scorer and the fifth leading rebounder in the conference. She added seven double doubles and led her team in scoring 19 games.

Shaw, a sophomore from Buffalo, Wyo., started all 26 games for the Eagles. She averaged 10.3 points per game and 5.4 rebounds. She sank 53 3-pointers to lead the team and she added 50 assists and 28 steals.

Chadron State’s honorable mention selections on the men’s team are Grant Stone, Kendrick Holliman and Kyle Vinich.

Sadie Waugh earned honorable mention on the women’s team.

The trial for the Hemingford woman charged with being an accessory to the death of former Alliance resident Josh Bullock, which was scheduled to start Monday morning in Box Butte County District Court, will NOT be held.

Friday afternoon, Judge Travis O’Gorman accepted the guilty plea of 20-year-old Rose Seifke to an amended charge of being an accessory to a felony.

The original charge filed by the Box Butte County Attorney’s office was a Class Three Felony, which carried a prison sentence of one to 20 years. The amended charge is a Class Four Felony, which, in this case, will probably carry a sentence of 20 to 60 months. Under Nebraska’s good time law, Seifke could be eligible for parole in ten months

She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1 at 3 p.m.

Seifke was originally charged last summer stemming from her association with 27-year-old Andy Gonzalez, who told law enforcement during a June 12 standoff at Thiele Pharmacy and Gifts that he had killed the 38-year-old Bullock and buried his body in rural Dawes County.

Bullock was reported missing on December 1, 2011.   His burned out pickup truck was located December 14, 2011, and his body was found in a shallow grave south of Chadron in mid-June.

The driving force in reducing the charge from a Class Three Felony to a Class Four Felony was the State having to prove Seifke was an accessory to First or Second Degree Murder, when the man believed to have actually committed the murder, Andy Gonzalez, is deceased, and never was convicted of a crime.

It’s Free Gas Friday from B94.7 and Big Bat’s and we want to say “congratulations” to this week’s gas card winners!

• Larry Bagneschi registered at Morford’s Decorating Center.
• Rich Behelyom registered at Big Bat’s in Pine Ridge.

There are plenty of more chances to win, because we’re giving away TWO Big Bat’s $25 Gas Cards every Friday until July 26th!

Register today at any of our sponsor locations:

• Big Bat’s in Chadron, Pine Ridge and Hot Springs
• The Chadron, Gordon and Pine Ridge Vision Centers
• Dakota Ridge in Crawford
• Radio Shack of Chadron
• Northwest Eye Center
• Pine Ridge Garden Center
• Morford’s Decorating Center
• The Closet in Gordon
• Christie’s Creative Scents in Hay Springs
• Cowgirl Swank
• Bauerkemper’s

Get up to $7,000 in Rebates and Dealer Incentives! Call Eagle Chevrolet Buick or stop in for all of the details. 800-272-5583.

Michael Kelsey has announced he will be stepping down as the Executive Vice President of Nebraska Cattlemen effective the end of June. 

Kelsey, who has been with the Nebraska Cattlemen for over eight years, has accepted the position of Executive Vice President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association headquartered in Oklahoma City.

Nebraska Cattlemen President Dale Spencer shared, “We wish nothing but the best for Michael and his family.  We will miss him but congratulate him on moving to his home state.”

Spencer states that the NC Executive Committee will meet on Monday, May 20, to finalize the job description and announce a formal search for a new executive vice president.