North Platte, NE

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Watch now: North Platte City Council to see glimpse of proposed upgrades to Recreation Center at nonvoting work session

Nothing much has changed for the North Platte Recreation Complex, city officials say, except that it’s three years older. The once state-of-the-art 1976 facility still faces the overcrowding, maintenance issues and tight city budgets it did in 2019, when The Telegraph highlighted them during its “Flatrock Fix-Its” series. But an updated facility study the City Council authorized that year has yielded a new vision for the Rec Center, which a citizens committee unveiled in May and will present in more detail Monday night.

The council will use a 5 p.m. nonvoting work session to more fully review the North Platte Area Recreation & Wellness Committee’s $52.5 million proposal to renovate and expand the Rec Center, update the 1951 Cody Park Pool and relocate the Rec Center’s skate park. Council members likely will be asked in late July to put a temporary half-cent sales tax increase dedicated to the project on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, Mayor Brandon Kelliher said.

Watch now: Video of rendering for proposed upgrades to North Platte Recreation Center

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North Platte Pow Wow returns for third year

Char Swalberg’s conviction for honoring American veterans led to the North Platte Pow Wow, which will celebrate its third year starting on Friday. Swalberg started the nonprofit Operation Christmas, aiming to send care packages to service members deployed around the world during the holidays. “I was out at Scout’s Rest Ranch decorating one of the barn stalls for Christmas,” Swalberg said. “I got to talking with one of the volunteers and for whatever reason, we ended up talking about powwows.” Swalberg told the volunteer that she could organize a powwow, and had participated as a volunteer at a powwow at North Platte Community College in the early 2000s.

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Nebraska governor declares disaster as wildfire near North Platte causes evacuations



NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Nebraska governor Jim Pillen declared a state disaster as volunteer firefighters worked to keep wildfire away from homes north of North Platte Monday. Custer and Lincoln counties declared emergencies, prompting the governor to issue the order. It frees up disaster funding from the Governor's Emergency Fund.

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Central Nebraska wildfire spreads to more than 71,000 acres of land in just 24 hours



NORTH PLATTE, Neb. —In just 24 hours, a wildfire in central Nebraska has spread to more than 71,000 acres of land, according to officials. Authorities believe someone mowing sparked the fire near the Custer and Lincoln county line Monday.

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A mower sparked a Nebraska wildfire
that has burned an area roughly the size of Omaha, officials say

By midday Tuesday, the Betty's Way fire — fueled by winds topping 40 mph (64 kph) — had burned about 110 square miles (285 square kilometers) in Lincoln and Custer counties, Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Brandon Myers said. About 15 volunteer fire departments in the area initially fought unsuccessfully to keep the fire from spreading.

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Firefighters battle wind-blown blaze northeast of North Platte

LINCOLN — At least 15 volunteer fire departments and state emergency responders were fighting a wind-blown wildfire northeast of North Platte that had consumed 71,000 acres of land by midday Tuesday. No injuries had been reported, but two primary residences and numerous outbuildings have been destroyed in what’s being called the Betty’s Way Fire. Evacuations were ordered ahead of the fire, which is being propelled eastward by 40 mph winds. The Nebraska State Fire Marshal has determined that the fire was human-caused, officials said, resulting from mowing operations. The Betty’s Way Fire was reported at 10:32 a.m. Monday, approximately 8.6 miles northeast of North Platte in rural Lincoln County. It has since spread into Custer County.

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Reaching consumers from the farm to the table



NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KOLN) - Birdwood Beef is a retail beef business in North Platte, and the meat offered at the store is sourced from a family-owned cattle company located not far from town. We caught up with Kayla Star to learn more about Birdwood Beef. She is one of several co-owners of the business. “Birdwood beef is a family business, where we’ve taken the cattle that we raise at our farm and ranch operation called Star Cattle Company, and we’ve brought it directly to the consumer,” Star said. “Our main feedlot is located between North Platte and Hershey. We have pasture ground throughout Lincoln county.” Birdwood Beef is definitely an example of a farm to table business. “The only process that we don’t take part in is the processing of the meat,” Star said. “The cattle are our animals from start to finish. There are seven co-owners and we all work together. We share responsibilities, which makes things great, because we all have small children, and that allows us to pick up for the other person when needed.”

The storefront is located at 1102 North Jeffers in North Platte. “When you come into the store, you can purchase anything from one pound of ground beef to bulk orders,” Star said. “We have a on-line website where we ship nationwide. We ship every Tuesday, so put your order in on Sunday, we ship on Tuesday, and it’s two to three days for shipping. We have a number of cuts available here in the store. We have a majority of the steak cuts. We have roasts, chuck roasts, tri-tip roasts, and sirloin tip roasts. We have brisket, beef bacon and hot dogs. We also have a rack of jerky, and we also offer summer sausage and snack sticks. We have some of those value-added products as well.”

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Naturally Nebraska:
Sutherland Area



Sutherland Reservoir

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Brady's Old Depot Vineyard and Winery
to be featured on America's Best Restaurants



The Old Depot Vineyard and Winery will appear on America’s Best Restaurants in July.

Old Depot Vineyard and Winery 33651 E Banner Rd, Brady NE