Broken Bow Public Library celebrates new patio space
BROKEN BOW, Neb.— Library staff, board members, and the public gathered in front of the Broken Bow Public Library to celebrate a new patio space in front of the building’s front doors.
The space, complete with fresh concrete, features benches, a picnic table, and musical instruments that are shaped like flowers. An additional handicap parking stall was also a result of the project.
Library Director Megan Svoboda thanked several who had a part in making the space possible including AARP, the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, the Broken Bow Library Foundation, the Broken Bow Police Department, The Garden Center, the Broken Bow Water Department, the City of Broken Bow, and Palmer Monument.
Svoboda said future plans include additional seating, a statue in the middle of the space, more instruments, potted plants, and a shade over the top of it all.
Ricketts, Smith, Spellerberg make Broken Bow stop on ‘Defend the Good Life’ tour
U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts, Congressman Adrian Smith, Nebraska State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg and former state senator Julie Slama stopped in Broken Bow Thursday as part of their “Defend the Good Life” tour, sharing their campaign messages and discussing issues they say are important heading into the November 3 election.
The group spoke inside a hangar at the Broken Bow Airport beginning at 3 PM Thursday. Their remarks touched on several ballot initiatives, the economy, taxes, agriculture and the importance of voting in the upcoming election, with each speaker encouraging voters to support Republican candidates and their positions on the issues.
Listen to each speaker’s full comments in the clips at the end of this story
Slama, who served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2019 to 2025, focused on Initiative 442, the Fairness for Girls ballot measure. She encouraged voters to support the initiative, which she said would protect opportunities for girls and women in sports. Slama also discussed the campaign’s collection of more than 211,000 signatures and a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling that allowed the measure to proceed to voters.
Spellerberg discussed his work as state treasurer, including efforts to return unclaimed property, promote education savings accounts and establish first-time homebuyer savings accounts. He also urged voters to oppose Initiatives 440 and 441, which concern the legalization of online sports betting in Nebraska. Spellerberg argued the projected property tax relief would be relatively small compared with the amount Nebraskans would have to lose through betting, while raising concerns about gambling addiction, young people and college athletes.
Smith highlighted federal tax legislation passed in 2025, permitting reform and efforts to address rising costs for agricultural producers. He also discussed the importance of year round E15 fuel sales, pointing to the potential for expanded access to ethanol blends to help consumers and Nebraska’s agricultural economy.
Ricketts focused much of his speech on the upcoming U.S. Senate election, urging voters to support Republican candidates and arguing that control of the Senate could determine whether policies passed under President Donald Trump remain in place. He criticized the Democratic party’s positions on taxes, immigration, abortion and other issues while also questioning his opponent Dan Osborn’s claims of independence, his positions on immigration and taxes, and accusing him of taking positions that conflict with the interests and values of Nebraska voters.
During a media question and answer session following the speeches, the four were asked how they would respond to Nebraskans who don’t believe they’re seeing enough evidence that cost of living and economic pressures are being tackled.
Smith pointed to rising input costs for agricultural producers, noting that those increases have been an issue for years and were exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He identified expanded year round E15 sales as one potential way to provide relief at the pump and support domestic agriculture.
Ricketts said the cost of living is the number one issue people raise with him and quickly criticized the previous administration.
“The cost of living is definitely the number one thing people talk to me about as I travel around the state. We saw 40 year high inflation under Joe Biden, and the grocery prices went up 20%. Gas prices went up, gas prices came down, and now they’re back up again with the conflict in the Middle East. So we’ve got to do more. There’s more work to be done,” said Ricketts, who then outlined steps he said could help lower costs for Nebraska families (Working families tax cut, no tax on tips/overtime, 21st Century ROAD to Housing act).
Full comments from Julie Slama:
Full comments from Joey Spellerberg:
Full comments from Adrian Smith:
Full comments from Pete Ricketts:
Murphy Enters Not Guilty Pleas to Six Counts
Several felony cases were heard in Custer County District Court on Thursday, October 29th.
Charles M. Murphy, age 48 of Mason City, appeared with his defense attorney, Matt Furrow, and with Matt McDonald, an attorney with the Nebraska Commission of Public Advocacy. Murphy was arraigned on six counts that allegedly occurred in June of 2023 and he pleaded not guilty to all charges. The defendant is charged with one count of 1st degree sexual assault of a child who is at least 12 years of age but under 16, a Class I felony; two counts of incest of a child under 18, both Class IIA felonies; one count of 3rd degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 14, a Class IIIA felony; and two counts of child abuse, both Class IIIA felonies. A jury trial was set for February 8, 2027, with a pretrial conference scheduled for January 21, 2027. Judge Karin Noakes also heard and sustained the defense’s motion for depositions. A bond of $250,000 with 10% privilege was continued and Murphy was remanded back to the custody of the Custer County Sheriff.
Also appearing for an arraignment was Joseph A. Pittman, age 37 of Cozad. Pittman is charged with theft of stolen property with a value of over $5,000 by unlawful taking, a Class IIA felony, and with flight to avoid arrest, a Class IV felony. Pittman is also charged with DUI-1st offense and refusal to submit to a chemical test, both Class W misdemeanors, as well as willful reckless driving, a Class III misdemeanor. The charges are from an arrest on September 17th. Pittman pleaded not guilty to all charges and a jury trial will be held on February 8, 2027. Bond was continued and the defendant was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff.
Ashley E. Menter, age 33 of Broken Bow, was arraigned for two counts stemming from an alleged incident in August. Menter is charged with possession of a controlled substance–amphetamine, and possession of a controlled substance—oxycodone, both Class IV felonies. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and will appear on February 8, 2027 for a jury trial.
A plea agreement was reached in the case of the State v. Evan G. Brandt, age 44 of Seward. Brandt entered a guilty plea to the charge of theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $5,000 or more, a Class IIA felony. The defendant has been accepted into the North Central Problem Solving Court and Judge Noakes deferred sentencing until completion or termination of his problem solving program.
Appearing for sentencing was Brian V. Haumont II, age 34 of Hershey. In September of this year, Haumont entered into a plea agreement and was found guilty of 2nd degree forgery of over $1,500 but less than $5,000, a Class IV felony. Upon review of the presentence investigation and comments from the State and defense attorney, Judge Noakes sentenced Haumont to 18 months probation. Bond wad released and applied to costs.
Gateway Motors owner Thomas McCaslin named Nebraska’s TIME Dealer of the Year Nominee
Thomas McCaslin’s path to leading Gateway Motors in Broken Bow began with a pickup trade and an unexpected opportunity. Now, more than two decades later, he’s been selected to represent Nebraska in the national TIME Dealer of the Year competition.
McCaslin is one of 48 dealers from across the country nominated for the award, which recognizes automotive industry success alongside a commitment to community service. He will be honored at the National Automobile Dealers Association Show in Orlando, Florida, in February 2027, where the national winner will be selected.
McCaslin joined Gateway Motors in October 2005, initially working in vehicle sales. While he was still working at Custer County Implement, he approached the dealership about trading pickups. That conversation with longtime dealer Butch Brunken turned into an opportunity to buy into the business. McCaslin acquired a 15% ownership stake and became dealer principal in March 2006.
The early years brought challenges, including a difficult period for the dealership’s Chevrolet franchise following the automotive industry’s struggles in 2008 and 2009. With support from the community and local economic development efforts, Gateway Motors regained its Chevrolet franchise in 2009 without going through arbitration.
McCaslin said the dealership has since continued to grow, crediting the people around him for helping make that possible.
A major step came in 2017, when McCaslin brought Todd Anderson into the business as a partner and Gateway Motors acquired a second dealership in Arnold. That operation was eventually relocated to Broken Bow, with a new facility constructed in 2021. McCaslin now owns 75% of the business, with Anderson holding the remaining 25%.
Gateway Motors represents Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram. The dealership employs 22 people and serves customers well beyond the Broken Bow area, with vehicle sales and deliveries reaching neighboring states and locations as far away as Pennsylvania.
During an interview with KCNI/KBBN, McCaslin emphasized that the dealership’s success has been a team effort, involving employees, business partners and community support.
He also remains involved in the automotive industry beyond Gateway Motors, serving as secretary of the Nebraska New Car and Truck Dealers Association and on its executive council. He has served on the Nebraska Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board since 2019.
The national award process will narrow the 48 nominees to regional finalists before selecting a national winner. Ally, the award’s sponsor, will also contribute $1,000 to a charity chosen by each nominee.
For McCaslin, the nomination recognizes a journey that began with selling vehicles and taking a chance on an opportunity in his hometown. He said he’s proud of what the dealership has built, while making clear that he still sees room for growth.
As he put it during the interview, “I’m not done yet.”
The full press release about McCaslin’s nomination can be found here.
Watch the full interview from the Get Up & Go Breakfast Show below:
Kristy Bartak receives statewide Trailblazer Award for Women in Banking
Kristy Bartak, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Nebraska State Bank & Trust Company in Broken Bow, Callaway, and Merna, has been recognized for her leadership in banking and her contributions to the local community.
Bartak received the 2026 Alice Dittman Trailblazer Award for Women in Banking from the Nebraska Bankers Association during its Women in Banking Conference. The award recognizes a female banker for professional achievement, leadership and community service.
In addition to her work helping guide Nebraska State Bank through financial planning, regulatory changes and other challenges facing the industry, Bartak has taken an active role in supporting the communities she serves. She sits on the boards of the Custer Economic Development Corporation and the Anselmo-Merna Foundation and volunteers with the TeamMates Mentoring Program.
As part of the award, Bartak will direct a $1,000 donation to the Anselmo-Merna Foundation.
Bartak said she never initially expected to pursue a career in banking. After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a business administration degree, she began her career examining national banks with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency before eventually joining Nebraska State Bank.
Over time, she said, she gained a greater appreciation for the role community banks play in supporting local residents and businesses.
“The vast majority” of the bank’s loans are local, Bartak explained during an interview on the Get Up and Go Breakfast Show, meaning deposits from area customers help provide financing for people and businesses in the surrounding communities.
“We take those funds and loan it out to people who need loans,” Bartak said. “So if we didn’t have local deposits, it would be a lot harder to loan out those funds.”
Bartak also serves on the Nebraska Bankers Association Board of Directors and was a member of the association’s 2018 Leadership Class. She is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado.
In reflecting on her career and the opportunity to speak at the conference following the award presentation, Bartak shared a message about the pressure people can feel while balancing leadership, work and family responsibilities. Even with years of experience, she said, there are still times when she questions whether she is doing enough as a professional, supervisor and parent.
Her advice is to give yourself some grace while continuing to learn and grow.
The award honors Alice Dittman, a pioneering Nebraska banking leader who began her career at Cornhusker Bank in Lincoln in 1948 and eventually served as the bank’s president, CEO and board chair. Dittman also became the first woman to chair the Nebraska Bankers Association.
The Nebraska Bankers Association says the award recognizes women who are making a difference in their banks and communities, carrying forward the leadership and mentorship that defined Dittman’s career.
The full press release announcing Bartak’s award is available here.
View the full interview from the Breakfast Show with Bartak below.
21st annual Comstock Cowboy Poetry Gathering set for Saturday
The 21st Annual Comstock Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering returns Saturday, October 31, bringing an afternoon and evening of Western poetry, music, storytelling and a pie auction to the Wescott Baptist Church in Comstock.
The event starts at 1 PM with rotating sessions that will feature a variety of cowboy poets and musicians throughout the afternoon. The gathering will include both familiar performers and newcomers, with a different group on the stage each hour.
R.P. Smith, who has helped with the gathering for many years, said one of the things that makes it so special is its connection to the area.
“This is about as far east as you will see a cowboy poetry gathering, and to get to some of the bigger ones, you gotta go about a thousand miles a different direction, either south or west. This is a neat opportunity for organic locally raised stuff,” said Smith.
Following the afternoon sessions, the church youth will serve a donation priced supper at 5:45 PM. Evening performances start at 7 PM, featuring the Ramblin’ Rangers from Hot Springs, South Dakota, Susie Knight of Conifer, Colorado, and Jan Schiferl of Fordyce, Nebraska. Other returning performers include Smith, Marty Blocker, Bill Potter, Jacque Trumbull, Dan Stehlik, Caleb Smith and cowboy historian Fred Christensen.
The day will conclude with the popular pie auction, which raises money for the church’s Samaritan’s Purse Christmas shoebox project. The church has supported the ministry for more than 15 years, which fills shoeboxes with gifts for children around the world.
Don Schauda said the auction has become a highlight for attendees while supporting a meaningful cause.
“I had one guy say ‘I’m out of pie’. I said ‘well, come a biddin” because you could buy a pie for about twelve hundred dollars,” said Schauda.
The weekend will continue on Sunday, November 1, with Cowboy Church at 10:30 AM. Several poets and singers from the previous day will take part.
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Custer County mock election in preparation for November election a success
BROKEN BOW, Neb.- Custer County’s ballot counting machine performed as expected during a mock election Tuesday, with 543 test ballots processed as election officials prepare for the November 3 general election.
The test is required ahead of statewide elections and is designed to verify that the equipment and procedures used to count ballots are working correctly.
Custer County Clerk Kelly Jacobsen, Deputy Clerk Nissa Shelby and Dawn Raber-Goodwin participated in Tuesday’s test. The process began with a “zero report,” which is run and documented to clear existing numbers from the machine and verify a clean slate for the current election.
The ballots were then run through the machine, which separates those it counts normally from ballots containing write-in votes and those that trigger an error for additional review.
All 543 test ballots were processed as expected. Some ballots triggered errors and had to be run through the machine again to clear those errors, a normal part of the testing process. Officials noted that the machine does not always provide a clear reason for setting a ballot aside rather than counting it.
The machine receives annual servicing ahead of the primary election, and the mock election provides another opportunity to verify that it is functioning properly ahead of next month’s election.
Write-in votes follow a separate process. Rather than stopping the count every time a ballot contains a write-in, the machine places those ballots in a separate stack. Staff then takes them to a computer that captures an image of the write-in area on each ballot. A person reviews the image, determines which candidate the vote is intended for and adds it to that candidate’s total.
Jacobsen and Shelby said they wanted voters to understand the requirements for write-in candidates. The deadline for candidates to file the necessary paperwork passed last week, and write-in votes for candidates who did not complete that process will not count.
For voters writing in an eligible candidate, the last name is the most important piece of information. A first name alone will not count as a valid vote. The spelling does not have to be exact, but it must be clear enough to identify the intended candidate.
Following the mock election, the test ballots are sealed and locked in the county vault. They are retained for 22 months before being discarded.
The election night process will follow the same procedures used in previous elections. After polls close, poll workers bring ballots to the county election office, where officials run them through the machine and compile the results.
Results are transferred using flash drives from the machine to a computer that is not connected to the internet. From there, the totals are compiled for reporting, with results initially considered unofficial until the required certification process is completed.
With Tuesday’s test completed successfully, the county’s ballot counting equipment and procedures have been checked ahead of the November 3 election.
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Watch SandhillsExpress.com and listen to KCNI and KBBN radio for election results
PILOT Program Fees Waived through 2029 in Brief Council Meeting
The Broken Bow City Council met in regular session Tuesday evening, October 27 with all Council members present. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers of the Broken Bow Municipal Building.
After quickly completing approval of the Consent Agenda, including minutes from the prior meeting and the month’s bills and Treasurer’s Report, the Council dove into the only formal item of business on the Agenda.
Camryn Hall of the Broken Bow Housing Authority presented a mea culpa regarding fees due to the City through the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program. The local Housing Authority program has until recently been managed from the Hall County Housing Authority, and during that time, neither payment nor the commonly-applied waiver had been addressed.
The PILOT program allows a Housing Authority to pay a certain amount directly to a city rather than pay taxes on the properties it owns and manages. Hall stated the Housing Authority currently manages over 80 units across Broken Bow, including the Custer Heights apartment building and numerous homes across the city. All units are rent-controlled based on income, along with a utility allowance.
The Broken Bow Housing Authority’s Camryn Hall requests Waiver of PILOT Fees (click to enlarge)
While the Authority would like to have a vacancy rate of around 5%, Hall stated they are currently seeing a rate of nearly 20% open units, contributing at least in part to some financial stress; the Authority has had to dip into its financial reserves. Paying the nearly $58,000 due from 2024 and 2025, plus the 2026 payment due soon would create additional hardship in the program, per Hall.
Sonnichsen noted that historically these fees had been waived in conjunction with regular updates presented to the Council. Sonnichsen recommended an annual program review, with a Waiver of the fees from 2024 – 2026, as well as a future Waiver for the out years of 2027 – 2029. With that resolution before the Council, the measure to waive the PILOT fees for the Broken Bow Housing Authority was unanimously approved by the council members.
Upcoming Chamber Events
In Public Comments, Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stephanie Grafel thanked the Council for its ongoing support and partnership with the community events that her organization hosts.
Coming up on Friday, October 30, the streets around the Broken Bow City Square will be closed for the annual Sidewalk Spooks celebration of kids and candy. Grafel stated the event, running from 3:00 – 5:00 PM will feature 65 local businesses and organizations this year. In case of rain, Grafel and the City agreed to allow the event to proceed in the Municipal Building Auditorium.
Grafel further noted Christmas is right around the corner. The next Chamber events after the spooky season will be the Festival of Lights on November 30, along with the second annual Holiday Lane decoration on the 10th Avenue medians.
In Council Comments, council member Paul Holland thanked the City for its work re-building Memorial Drive just east of Jennie M Melham Memorial Hospital, along with the public’s patience and attention to safety during the construction.
With no further business to conduct, Broken Bow City Council adjourned at 6:15 PM. The next meeting of the Broken Bow City Council will be Tuesday, November 10th at 6:00 PM in the Broken Bow Municipal Building.
Custer County Supervisors amend levies, approve CDBG income reports
The Custer County Board of Supervisors met for just short of an hour on Tuesday morning.
Since the recent levy allocation approval, errors were found requiring the board to amend several levies. The errors were stated to be due to items like libraries and cemeteries not being separated, or items being in budgets received by not specified in a submission.
Levy changes included the Mason City Fire District, Algernon Township Library, Ansley Township, Arnold Township, Kilfoil Township, Loup Township, Milburn Township, Triumph Township, and Broken Bow Public Schools (see picture).
2026 distress warrants were reported to have been issued yesterday, with 31 total at an amount of $26,654.99 due. They were delivered to the sheriff this morning. Receipt was acknowledged by the supervisors.
Scotti Ross with Custer Economic Development Corporation came before the board to give an update on CDBG program income reports, both housing and business. Seven loans are in deferment and two are in repayment on the housing side. Most loans sit at $25,000, with one paid down to $10,000. The CDBG program has faced pressures of pullback, putting the exploration of forgiveness for the remaining loans with a balance in the spotlight so that funds can still be held locally. The reports were approved.
The board went into executive session at 9:54 AM for personnel issues. The quarterly jail visit would take place after the session.
One new business item on Broken Bow City Council agenda for Tuesday night
Tonight’s Broken Bow City Council meeting has potential to be a short one, as just one ‘new business’ item appears on the agenda following approval of minutes, bils, and treasurer’s report.
The single item, a resolution regarding Broken Bow Housing Authority PILOT Funds, is regarding fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026. PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes, establishes and automatic waiver for the subsequent three fiscal years subject to notice.
Public, mayor, and council comments will close out tonight’s meeting ahead of adjounment.
