By Allison Peck | North Platte Post

Lincoln County, Neb. - The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, Dec. 8, at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Room at the Lincoln County Courthouse. A meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Equalization will follow at 9:15 a.m.

Commissioners will open with routine business, including approval of last week’s meeting minutes, a public comment period, and action on claims, treasurer’s receipts, and fee reports filed by the Clerk of the District Court and Register of Deeds.

As part of Monday’s agenda, the board is set to consider two items tied to juvenile services: the FY 2027 Community-based Juvenile Services Aid Application through the Nebraska Crime Commission, and the annual Alternative to Detention form.

Planning Director Judy Clark is slated to provide an update on the county’s ongoing comprehensive plan and zoning regulations.

Commissioners will also review an application from Randy and Sharalyn Ayers for the Ayers First Subdivision on South Buffalo Road, located within an R-2 Urban Estates District in southeastern Lincoln County.

Additional items include action on a year-end certification for the County Highway Superintendent, consideration of purchasing two motor graders for the County Roads Department, and the appointment of members to an interlocal agreement committee.

The board is also expected to receive a study concerning Vieyra Avenue and consider a resolution that would set a public hearing on the potential vacation of the roadway.

The agenda notes the board may enter closed session if needed for matters involving litigation strategy, real estate discussions, security, or personnel evaluations. The meeting will conclude with updates from officials and commissioner committee reports.

The meeting will be livestreamed on the county’s YouTube channel.

Commissioners to Review Juvenile Services Applications, Planning Update, Road Equipment Purchases Monday

The North Platte High School IronDawgs made the&nbsp;four-hour trek to Creighton Prep on Saturday for the annual Early Bird meet. Twenty North Platte lifters participated in the squat, bench press, and deadlift against more than 150 other lifters. The IronDawgs came home with thirteen medalists, including two champions.&nbsp;

Coach Arttie Parker praised his team's efforts, from top to bottom of the roster. 

"We knew coming into this meet that we would be without two of our returning Nationals lifters, as Myah Porter and Aadyn Smith are both recovering from injuries. This is always a fun, competitive meet, as it gives the new athletes a taste of what a full gym of strong athletes feels like, and it gives the seasoned kids a chance to square off against kids they will be facing at the state tournament&nbsp;and USAPL events. I'm very proud of how these kids came in, challenged themselves, pushed their limits, and competed," he said.

On the girls' side, medalists were led by Grace Wilke, who left Creighton as the champion in her weight division. Other medalists were Abbie Hankla and Katie Titus, who both finished second, Gabby Gartner, Karly Knapp, Jayden McBeain, and Adyson Stroud, who each took home third-place medals, and Carlie Berliner, who placed fifth.&nbsp;For the boys, Charlie Fonseca took home the gold at 198 pounds, while teammates Bode Kroon (2nd), Cole Tomlinson (3rd), Mason Stine (4th), and Zane Gilbert (5th) also medaled.&nbsp;A handful of lifters will be lifting in two weeks in Lexington at a USAPL meet, as they attempt to punch their ticket to the Nationals tournament, which will be held in Killeen, Texas, in March. 

The team will be off for the holidays before returning to competition at the State USAPL tournament in Lincoln in January.&nbsp;&nbsp;

IronDawgs Bring Home 13 Medals, Two Champions From Creighton Prep Early Bird Meet

North Platte, Neb. — The Lincoln County Republican Party invites all members, guests, and community supporters to attend its December Monthly Meeting, featuring a festive blend of holiday fun and important organizational business.

*Eagles Club, 620 North Chestnut, North Platte

*6:00 pm Snacks / 6:30 pm Business Meeting &amp; Festivities

The meeting will include a lively Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest, Presidential Trivia, and a 50/50 raffle. Attendees are encouraged to bring snacks or appetizers to share as part of the seasonal fellowship.

In addition to the holiday activities, the business portion of the meeting will include a scheduled vote on a proposed change to the Party’s constitution. The amendment focuses on updating the process for interested individuals to sign up as delegates, an essential element of local and state party participation and upcoming election-year activities.

“December is always a special time for our organization,” said Dave Beran, the new Lincoln County GOP Chair. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate together while also ensuring our party is prepared, strong, and engaged heading into the new year.”

Lincoln County Nebraska Republican Party Chair

ABOUT LINCOLN COUNTY NEBRASKA REPUBLICAN PARTY

The Lincoln County Nebraska Republicans desire to bring Republicans from across the county together for encouragement and education, and to share opportunities to promote the values of the conservative Republican Party Leadership.

Lincoln County Republican Party Announces December Monthly Meeting with Holiday

The Hot Sheets: December 8, 2025

The Hot Sheets: December 7, 2025

Samuel David Larsen, 31, Wilbur, Washington &amp; Anezca X'Ta Bannink, 22, North Platte

Christopher Paul Block, 32, Gothenburg &amp; Lillian Rose Fletcher, 21,  Dunning 

Trey Allyn Bahler, 26, North Platte &amp; Ruby Valle Machado, 25, North Platte

Lincoln County Marriage Licenses (Week of December 1)

The Hot Sheets: December 6, 2025

By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post

North Platte, Neb. — Families packed the Mid Plains Community College South Campus Thursday evening for Santa’s Workshop, an indoor–outdoor holiday celebration complete with outdoor heaters, warm drinks, and Christmas excitement. Children lined up early for hot chocolate, popcorn, and a visit with Santa, while parents snapped photos and helped little ones drop letters into the special North Pole mailbox.

The event also featured a short holiday performance by the three- and four-year-old classes from Trucks N’ Tiaras Academy of Discovery and Enrichment, whose new location on campus helped make the collaboration seamless. But for most of the night, the spotlight stayed on the experience families came to enjoy.

Mid Plains’ Sydney Purdy said the turnout exceeded expectations. “I’ve seen a lot of people, a lot of smiling kids. They were super excited to see Santa,” she said. She added that the children’s performance was “a little program, a little Christmas concert, and that was super cute,” and noted “hands full of hot chocolate and popcorn and some letters to the big guy himself.”

Purdy said she hopes to get those letters sent out soon. “Yes, yes, yes. I’m hopeful to get them shipped off and hopefully, hopefully the big man writes off.”

While Trucks N’ Tiaras contributed the holiday program, Director and Owner Holly Hill said the event is part of a larger effort to blend the college and childcare communities. “When we started with the partnership with Mid Plains, we kind of decided that we would do something every month,” she said. “Just to do a partnership and include the kids from the college and our staff and families and children.”

Purdy said the college is eager to continue building connections. “Holly recently reached out and we’ve just been talking about some ideas,” she said, explaining the Christmas concert was organized “in a short month.” She hopes future activities will bring more MPCC students into the mix, whether to “play some basketball in the gym… or go over and just read a few stories or, maybe some recess time or something like that.”

Both say the goal is to create more moments like Thursday night — events that bring families onto campus, strengthen community ties, and give children a sense of belonging. Hill added, “We’re so thankful that the college gave us this opportunity to be able to have a partnership with them and also be able to have college kids, have the relationship with our younger kids.”

Despite earlier worries about the weather, Purdy said the strong turnout showed how much the community values events like Santa’s Workshop. “When you feel a little bit overwhelmed and a little bit, like, whoa, there’s a lot of people here. That’s a good thing,” she said. “People showed up and I’m super excited. I’m thankful for our community that like to come out here and support us.”

She also credited the many people who helped make the evening possible. “I’m thankful, thankful for all the volunteers that helped and it takes a village to put all this into work.”

Santa’s Workshop continued until 7:30 p.m., offering families a festive holiday evening at Mid Plains South Campus.

Santa’s Workshop Draws Big Crowds to Mid Plains South Campus Indoors and Out

The North Platte Police Department will be participating in the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” impaired driving campaign from December 12th through the New Year. 

Additional officers from the North Platte Police Department will be on the streets looking to remove impaired drivers from the roads. In the combined Decembers of 2019-2023, almost 5,000 road users were killed in traffic crashes involving impaired drivers. 

Lets make this holiday season safe for everyone on the roads. If you plan on celebrating the Christmas season with drugs or alcohol, plan on a sober ride home.

North Platte Police Department Will Participate in National Drive Sober, Get Pulled Over Campaign Dec. 12 - New Year

By Lt.j.g. Melvin Fatimehin | Chief of Naval Air Training

The “Boomers” of Training Squadron (VT) 27, held a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, Texas, in which Cmdr. Colin Johnson-Giammalvo relieved Cmdr. Tom Younghans as commanding officer of VT-27, Nov. 13. During the airborne change of command, Johnson-Giammalvo assumed all duties and responsibilities as the VT-27 commanding officer from Younghans.

Training Air Wing FOUR (TW-4) commodore, Capt. Christopher Penn, presided over the event and presented Younghans with the Meritorious Service Medal for his exceptionally meritorious conduct while serving as commanding officer of VT-27.

“Tom led the Boomers through an exceptionally demanding two years while sustaining a culture of safety, teamwork, and instructional precision,” said Penn. “His leadership ensured the fleet received the high-caliber aviators it needs and I am beyond confident that Colin will continue to lead the squadron forward in the Boomer tradition of producing disciplined, resilient, and combat-ready naval aviators.”

Younghans, a native of Hershey, Nebraska, is a 2006 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and earned his designation as a Naval Aviator in 2008. He has served as commanding officer of VT-27 since August 2024. Under his leadership, VT-27 flew more than 22,100 flight hours, executed 12,985 sorties and graduated more than 297 Student Naval Aviators.

Prior to arriving at VT-27, he served as the Chief of Naval Air Training Program Manager for Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR). His operational tours include assignments with VT-35, Patrol Squadron Special Projects, VT-31, and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron VQ-1. Younghans has accumulated more than 5,050 flight hours across multiple naval aircraft, including 380 hours in the T-6B Texan II. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2), Air Medal (8), Navy Commendation Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), and numerous service and campaign ribbons.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served as commanding officer of VT-27,” said Younghans. “This has been truly humbling for me to be here in a role I shouldn’t have been blessed with and to be part of an organization where the people so joyfully embrace their work.”

“They know they’re trusted to be the experts that make choices about mitigating risk at the lowest level so they can return at the end of a long day to the family that supports them to the core. Execution of that mindset and watching people grow and achieve their fullest capability has been the most rewarding aspect of command and for that I will be eternally grateful to the VT-27 Boomers.”

Johnson-Giammalvo, a native of Millbury, Massachusetts, assumes command following his tour as the executive officer of VT-27. Before reporting to VT-27, he served as the CH/MH-53E Military Class Desk at NAVAIR, PMA-261. Johnson-Giammalvo has accumulated more than 2,700 military flight hours in the MH-53E Sea Dragon, and T-6B Texan II aircraft. His awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (5), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and numerous service and campaign ribbons.

“I am humbled to take command of this remarkable squadron,” said Johnson-Giammalvo. “VT-27’s mission is foundational to naval aviation and the work we do here prepares the next generation of fleet aviators to compete and win. I am beyond honored to serve alongside the men and women of the Boomer family.”VT-27, headquartered in Corpus Christi, shapes the future of naval aviation, producing the finest student naval aviators, prepared to excel in follow-on training and operational service in the fleet.

Hershey Native Recognized for Service During VT-27 Change of Command Ceremony

The Hot Sheets: December 5, 2025

By Game and Parks Commission&nbsp;

Ash Hollow State Historical Park near Lewellen has reopened after minor flooding over the weekend.

Visitors should continue to use caution when entering park areas during or after rain events, as Ash Hollow is a natural water pathway for water runoff and drainage.

Questions can be directed to the Park Superintendent Tamara Cooper at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tamara.cooper@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">tamara.cooper@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;or 308-778-7708.

Ash Hollow State Historical Park near Lewellen reopens

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LINCOLN —
 The Nebraska State Patrol is alerting the public of a scam going around
 Nebraska this week. Over the last few days, NSP has received multiple 
reports of scammers spoofing Nebraska State
 Patrol phone numbers, attempting to scam victims. 

“Scammers
 will use any method they think may work to try to steal your money or 
personal information,” said Colonel John
 Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Scammers often 
attempt to pose as a trusted entity, such as law enforcement. In this 
case, they are posing as Nebraska State Patrol representatives.”

NSP
 has received reports from two different areas of the state regarding 
members of the public receiving phone calls that
 appeared to come from NSP offices in Grand Island or Lincoln. These 
phone calls are referred to as spoofing, an act of mimicking a phone 
number when in reality it is a scammer on the line. The scammer then 
tries to steal personal information by telling the
 victim they have active warrants or need to pay a fine. The call 
recipient has not fallen for the scam in any of the reported occurrences
 in the last few days.


“The Nebraska State Patrol never calls members of the public regarding payment of fines or active warrants,” Bolduc said. “We urge the public to be vigilant with any such phone call and never give out personal information in such cases.”

NSP
 provides the following guidance regarding suspicious or potentially 
scam phone calls: Do not provide personal or financial
 information unless you initiated the phone call or are absolutely sure 
you are talking to the intended group. Any reputable organization will 
allow you to hang up and call back so you can ensure you are speaking to
 the correct entity and aren’t being scammed.

Scammers spoofing Nebraska State Patrol phone numbers

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conservation officers and the Gering Police Department responded to the occurrence of a mountain lion on a security video twice recently.

A mountain lion was recorded on a video in south Gering on March 9, then in a different part of town at 3 a.m. Sunday. It is not known if the animal seen on both videos is the same.

Gering police officers and Game and Parks officers searched the area of Sunday’s incident but could not locate the mountain lion.

According to Game and Parks’ Mountain Lion Response Plan, a mountain lion that is within the limits of a municipality will be killed if it can safely be done, to ensure public safety.

Anyone who observes a mountain lion in person or on video should contact the local police department or Game and Parks immediately.

Game and Parks reminds people that mountain lion attacks are rare. Find more information about Nebraska mountain lions, including the response plan, at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAzMjAuNzM2ODEzNjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lk91dGRvb3JOZWJyYXNrYS5nb3YifQ.-zLbox399ui1wMEL0GjolHwGsdtzwcr7_bLuwtzQ1jM/s/497221906/br/156448152617-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>.

Game and Parks, Gering PD, respond to mountain lion on video

By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/willa-cathers-150-years-to-be-celebrated-throughout-2023/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Acclaimed Nebraska novelist
 Willa Cather, who would have marked her 150th birthday in 2023, will be
 celebrated throughout the year with a series of events.

The National Willa Cather Center will
 host events locally and nationally for Cather’s 150th birthday and also
 the 100th anniversaries of her Pulitzer Prize for “One of Ours” and the
 publishing of “A Lost Lady” and “April Twilights and Other Poems.”

Cather is celebrated, the center 
explains, for her discovery and use of a “distinctive American language”
 that included authentic immigrant experiences. Novels such as “O 
Pioneers!” and “My Antonia” (published in 1913 and 1918) marked the 
“wellspring” of Cather’s youth in Nebraska.

After winning her Pulitzer Prize, Cather continued to have a successful and prolific career.

Ashley Olson, executive director of 
the Willa Cather Foundation, said it’s important to read and know about 
Cather, especially for Nebraskans, because her work elevated the state.&nbsp;

Cather’s body of work is known 
nationally and internationally, Olson explained, and people identify 
Nebraska and Cather’s hometown of Red Cloud with the author.

“I think it’s important that as 
residents of the state we know our own history and culture, and Cather 
is one voice that can help us learn and study those topics,” Olson said.

One event this year will be the 
unveiling of a statue in Cather’s likeness in the National Statuary Hall
 collection of the U.S. Capitol. Cather will join Chief Standing Bear as
 Nebraska’s two honorees in Statuary Hall. Cather’s statue and replace 
that of J. Sterling Morton in the hall. Fewer than a dozen women are 
represented in the collection.

Littleton Alston of Omaha, who 
created the statue, will also be the first African American artist with 
work represented in the collection.

“As much as it is a celebration of 
Willa Cather and her incredible legacy, it’s a wonderful connection that
 a Nebraska artist has done incredible work to represent her in the 
collection,” Olson said, adding she is confident the statue will be 
unveiled this year.

A significant restoration of Cather’s
 childhood home in Red Cloud, where she lived between the ages of 10 and
 16, is also underway.

According to the Cather center, this 
National Historic Landmark is notable for its preserved vernacular style
 and original wallpaper in Cather’s attic bedroom and will reopen to 
visitors in the latter half of 2023.

A complete list of updated events is available <a target="_blank" href="https://www.willacather.org/150">here</a>.

Book clubs and teachers nationwide can explore discussion questions and <a target="_blank" href="https://click.agilitypr.delivery/ls/click?upn=HxoKtOXE-2BaCzLDOMPEWQyZN7DCc-2Fkh8YrPwiR7m1lxk-2B1HA47UgC6Tg57EP-2Bi2UWX-2FGJRyHJbQ-2BN4ayPU0fR-2BFmxsJGwvDcB2DCpFnZKib4-3DJhCm_Fw8jvoyj-2FQa0TO06mdJjmV5I4JWVEqNLaPgiFKrNOgo-2Fw7laavis4XnLUF741x-2BA7yICHmRS1DpCAKNXT1Cq5QuYvuZFaN0artyQQ-2FKtWpJRkcmkcGpe3Sz5yK0lc8taeMy31i61Zk1R4d3D498O-2FgwEcyaXaDf9KBnxAIisEg7BUvJTkiFIPE0pNE4uNW7AfbEnVypgEIZz835-2B0SJqtj83KzUcGB1vwDxsBqe6FmvXwDuENgOf1Wn9wJxrUibLI3LSww7yrCP8SoN4-2BrgfhIs2rZNxIS5EBA0SKzHs9-2Fozs-2Bs8FSLwfU610kuEnb4O7DC0UAQm7sgI7r-2FjFkHHVz7aLy-2FMKcXE8Sw8dcN5bwmuukb7XMTmVLnF6-2FLFvj8y6Wp0VPPHGIcIYql9YICFz3QEC4kmduryyZxNbOAk0UTcI7Wb9CvqRG82eYnfeQLD9u-2BDn5mwCg5BHjLV3zHPRA-3D-3D">curriculum support resources</a> or download the <a target="_blank" href="https://click.agilitypr.delivery/ls/click?upn=HxoKtOXE-2BaCzLDOMPEWQySlgKA7UownyjmKRohZaAEkd1Nib1JiJJJvTXh4qqbPavU8w_Fw8jvoyj-2FQa0TO06mdJjmV5I4JWVEqNLaPgiFKrNOgo-2Fw7laavis4XnLUF741x-2BA7yICHmRS1DpCAKNXT1Cq5QuYvuZFaN0artyQQ-2FKtWpJRkcmkcGpe3Sz5yK0lc8taeMy31i61Zk1R4d3D498O-2FgwEcyaXaDf9KBnxAIisEg7BUvJTkiFIPE0pNE4uNW7AfbEnVypgEIZz835-2B0SJqtj83KzUcGB1vwDxsBqe6FmvXwDuENgOf1Wn9wJxrUibLI3LSww7yrCP8SoN4-2BrgfhIs2rZNxIS5EBA0SKzHs9-2FrIWJSnHaOQk-2FZmwoJZbKoa3TUPiO2k2tdLW1-2FSuSgLgB7uFe4QM0iEXO8xj-2BvzOUifsDWH2gaT6698vYerrtewsSkqggeGeq-2BvBrde7Rd2a-2BvZ4Ad9kQuLO-2FfdirbaVupm1gel7WfFdy9yYXxs5dE9y2X6McOQH0sMxmpQqfdIVVedZn3TGglw9sgTDtuXsfE-3D">National Willa Cather Center app</a> for virtual tours.&nbsp;

The center is also available to help communities organize speakers or events.

Willa Cather’s 150 years to be celebrated throughout 2023

Chadron's Museum of the Fur Trade made a famous TV appearance on Feb. 7.&nbsp;

Many local Dawes County residents went to Facebook to show support of the museum being on the Jeopardy game show.&nbsp;

The TV screen read, "Chadron, Nebraska's museum of this trade has artifacts of the age when beavers were the rodent to wealth."

You can learn more about the Museum of the Fur Trade on a previous story on Panhandle Post by clicking <a href="https://panhandlepost.com/posts/a1789a5f-2d28-49ff-8f96-4878962e3b1d">HERE</a>.&nbsp;

Chadron's Museum of the Fur Trade featured on television show 

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The Chadron Police Department is beginning their Turkeys for Tickets program again this year for 2022. This program allows the police officers to opt to issue a turkey to a motorist instead of a ticket for minor traffic violations. The program focuses on traffic safety, but also provides an officer with a different option of enforcement and the motorist with something that may help them out during the holiday season. The turkey can be used by the recipient or the turkey can be paid forward by the motorist to the next traffic stop by the officer.

Traditionally, the Thanksgiving holiday marks the beginning of the busy holiday driving period, and continues through the New Year. The Chadron Police are urging the motoring public to adhere to the rules of the road, particularly when drinking and driving are involved. Motorists who consume alcohol should consider an alternative means of transportation. Additionally, remember;

· Do not drink and drive, designate a sober driver

· Buckle up and make sure that all vehicle occupants are properly restrained

· Pay attention to the weather and road conditions

· Slow down and obey posted speed limits

· Avoid distractions such as cell phone use

From all of us at the Chadron Police Department we wish you a very happy, healthy and safe holiday season.

Thank you to the Chadron Walmart and other anonymous sponsors of this program.

Chadron police 'Turkeys for Tickets' begins this week 

To make a donation in support of the effort text "IAN" to 90999 or click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.redcross.org/donate/cm/eagleradioschmidt-pub.html/">HERE</a>&nbsp;or the image above to donate online.

The Robert E. And Patricia Schmidt Foundation recently donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross to help support recovery efforts following Hurricane Ian.

The Red Cross has dispatched multiple vehicles, which will most likely be deployed for weeks, and the foundation's gift will help support the volunteers manning the vehicles and help restock supplies.

"Our hearts go out to those effected by this devastating storm," said Schmidt Foundation Chairman Gary Shorman, "and we offer our sincere thanks to the Red Cross for offering much-needed assistance during this recovery.

"The mission of the Red Cross is an admirable one, and we'd urge our communities to do what they can to help by donating."

To make a donation in support of the effort text "IAN" to 90999 or click <a href="https://www.redcross.org/donate/cm/eagleradioschmidt-pub.html/">HERE</a> to donate online.

Schmidt Foundation gift will aid Ian recovery efforts

EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER FUNDS AVAILABLE TO REGION

By Northwest Community Action Partnership&nbsp;

Local Board 5656-00 has announced that Emergency Food and Shelter funds are available to public or private voluntary agencies to expand capacity of food and shelter programs in Dawes, Box Butte, Cherry Sheridan, and Sioux Counties.

For more information and an applications can be obtained at: <a href="https://bit.ly/3d1J9Mh">https://bit.ly/3d1J9Mh</a>

Applications are due Wednesday, August 17th at 4:00 pm. 

Applications must be emailed to kbenzel@uwwn.org by the deadline.

NCAP: Emergency food, shelter funds available in Panhandle 

🎥President Trump details the $12B aid package for farmers

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/25-332">Click here for a replay</a> of the Supreme Court oral argument

🎧 Highlights: Supreme Court on expanding presidential powers

Estefanía Pinto Ruiz | States Newsroom-Nebraska Examiner

As farmers face historic headwinds and market hardships, calls to the national Farm Aid hotline and the Iowa Concern hotline — where farmers can get support in times of mental health crisis or need — are increasing.

This fall, the Iowa Concern hotline saw four to five times the number of calls it had in the same months last year, said Tammy Jacobs, the hotline’s manager.

The Farm Aid hotline is also seeing a change in the urgency of calls.

“We’re seeing more established farmers calling in — people who know how to play the game and how to access programs. They’re calling more often now, because even with all that institutional knowledge, they’re still running into issues for the first time that are more complex and difficult to solve,” said Lori Mercer, a Farm Aid hotline operator. “The system that’s in place is simply letting them down. There’s just no further safety net.”&nbsp;

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37449301/" target="_blank">Research shows farmers die by suicide at least twice as often as people in the general population</a>, so there’s urgency to address the uptick in need.&nbsp;

“It’s a huge issue. I mean, we’ve known at least three families this year whose loved ones died by suicide,” said Emma Yerkey, who’s part of the Ag Chapter of Gray Matters, a monthly meetup for ag producers around the Quad-Cities to talk about their struggles.

Farmers experience a lot of stressors and uncertainty that they can’t control — isolation, weather changes, and financial pressures — along with low access to mental health care in rural areas and stigma that may make them keep their pain to themselves. Market conditions made worse by a trade war and inflation are adding to the stress. Mental health professionals are thinking outside the box to get producers care.&nbsp;

Yerkey’s family farms corn, soybeans, and hay in Geneseo, Illinois, on land they’ve owned since the Civil War. The farm is filled with memories, especially of her dad, Tim Yerkey.&nbsp;

She played baseball with him in their driveway, the family ate meals together in the home, and, one year, her father helped her raise a ribbon-winning calf.&nbsp;

“That was a really good memory that I have with him,” Yerkey said.

But the farm could be stressful, too. Tim Yerkey worked the land with his family, but at times had to take outside jobs to make ends meet. In 2011, he’d been struggling for about a year when spring floods left fields underwater. He’d reached out to friends and visited the emergency room seeking help, only to be told there were no beds, Yerkey said. He died by suicide in June 2011.&nbsp;

“I miss my dad, and I don’t want anybody else — or any other family — to go through that,” Yerkey said.

But many farming families experience similar pain. Between 2003 and 2017, more than 1600 farmers died by suicide, the majority older white men.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Experts say factors that contribute to stress and higher suicide rates among farmers include isolation, easy access to guns, a cultural expectation of toughness, stigma around seeking mental health care, worries about who will take over the farm, and a lack of recognition for their hard work.

Financial losses and stress are also significant risks for depressive symptoms. And right now, times are tough for farmers.&nbsp;

Producers have endured high inflation and growing input costs on farms since at least 2020. The spread of COVID and, more recently, policy decisions like President Donald Trump’s tariffs and increases in immigration enforcement have all increased operating costs. At the same time, prices for major commodities are low — lower than the cost to grow them. Corn prices are about $0.85 below the break even point and soybeans are about $2 below.&nbsp;

This year, many states are expecting a record corn crop, but farmers aren’t celebrating.

“It’s very discouraging for farmers to think that they’ve done all the things right in their fields and have put innovations in place and made good decisions, but yet, even with strong yields, they’re gonna be facing a loss on what they’re producing,” said Aaron Lehman, president of the Iowa Farmers Union.

In 2024, the U.S. exported about 42% of its soybeans, most of it to China. With China not buying in the midst of the trade war, some farmers who usually send their crop abroad have struggled to find new markets. The U.S. in November struck a new deal with China, potentially extending a lifeline to producers still scrambling to move their harvest, but it remains to be seen what China will actually buy.

Some programs that helped connect farmers to domestic markets, like the Local Food Purchase Assistance initiative, have also been cut by the USDA.&nbsp;

“Since the beginning of the year, the farmers have just been thrown into a different level of uncertainty with policy things like losing access to some markets through tariffs, losing access to staff and programming with the government shutdown, and the funding freezes. A big one we’re hearing about is losing access to labor with the ICE raids, etcetera,” said Mercer, with Farm Aid. “I was just speaking to a farmer the other day who was basically watching his crops rot on the vines because his usual labor support was just too afraid to show up this year.”&nbsp;

In addition to all of the financial stress, farmers say they feel the work can be thankless.&nbsp;

“This work is incredibly hard, and nobody understands where their food comes from. Nobody knows that [farmers] work 20 hours a day so that they can have a strawberry,” said Anna Scheyett, a retired professor of social work who studied farmer stress and suicide at the University of Georgia.

Despite the many struggles, some families are finding hope and community in turbulent times. To honor her dad, Yerkey joined the new Ag Chapter of Gray Matters, a Quad-Cities nonprofit that provides mental health resources, education, and safe spaces.

Gray Matters hosts monthly Barn Talks, where participants can share what’s weighing on them, whether it’s stress, depression, anxiety, or other struggles, and receive support from others. The organizers hope to build a sense of community and normalize talking about mental health.&nbsp;

“Feeling comfortable and safe to say that — ‘Hey, I am stressed out, or I am really hurting right now. Maybe I am depressed, maybe I have some anxiety,’ — whatever it might be,” said Heather Gritton, one of the group leaders.

Offering spaces where farmers can meet and take some of that load off their shoulders can help break down the stigma around getting help, said Sara Kohlbeck, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin.&nbsp;

It’s key for those spaces to be easily accessible to farmers.&nbsp;

“Bringing that support to the farmers — or to the rural communities — rather than expecting those folks to come and get those resources for themselves is really important,” Kohlbeck said. “Otherwise, you know, we’ve got folks that are kind of suffering in silence because they just don’t have the time. Sometimes there’s stigma, and there’s kind of that pride issue.”&nbsp;

There are also practical barriers. Telehealth isn’t a viable option for many farmers, as cell and internet reception in rural areas are limited. Driving long distances to see a counselor can also be impractical, especially during the busy harvest season.&nbsp;

Another approach to reaching farmers has been to train people who farmers trust and regularly interact with — such as suppliers, lenders, large animal veterinarians, and spouses — to recognize when someone may be dealing with mental health challenges and teach them how to support them and direct them to resources.&nbsp;

For example, Scheyett has trained agricultural lenders to recognize warning signs of suicide ideation and taught them how to respond. She’s also trained extension agents to take a few minutes at the beginning of agricultural production meetings to talk about stress and offer resources, something she says can make a real difference for farmers.

In one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nacaa.com/file.ashx?id=84add242-bc81-45b1-b2b6-6fc8444e4ee1" target="_blank">study</a>, Scheyett and her co-authors found that farmers who were present at meetings where about 10 minutes were dedicated to talking about stress management walked away with new ideas for managing stress and a higher level of commitment to doing it.&nbsp;

Sometimes, offering practical and logistical solutions to big problems can be a part of mental health services, too.&nbsp;

“If a farmer has not really looked and done a deep dive into their farm financial system, we have a program that’s called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.extension.iastate.edu/farmanalysis/" target="_blank">farm financial associates</a>, and they’ll come out to the farm, do a big evaluation over the farming operation to see where the hard points are and is there a way to switch things around, diversify, in order to help offset some of the farming losses and costs,” Jacobs, with the Iowa Concern hotline, said.

Farmers can reach out to the&nbsp;<a href="https://988lifeline.org/" target="_blank">988 Lifeline</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.farmaid.org/our-work/resources-for-farmers/" target="_blank">1-800-FARM-AID</a>&nbsp;for help. Help is also available in Spanish.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/iowa-concern" target="_blank">Iowa Concern hotline</a>&nbsp;is available 24/7 via chat, email, call, or text at 800-447-1985.

For farmers facing grain storage challenges, Jacobs suggested partnering with other farmers as an alternative to traditional co-op arrangements.

Scheyett suggests everybody can help by thanking farmers the same way we do with the military.

“Every time I see a farmer, I say thank you — thank you for your service, because what you do keeps us healthy, fed, and clothed,” Scheyett said.

It’s all in the hopes of providing care and saving lives.

“Even if you can save one life, I mean, that’s so worth it,” Yerkey said. “I feel very passionate about it.”&nbsp;

This story is a product of the<a href="http://www.agwaterdesk.org/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Mississippi River Basin Ag &amp; Water Desk</a>, an independent reporting network based at the<a href="https://journalism.missouri.edu/2023/07/mississippi-river-basin-ag-water-desk-expands-coverage-of-local-environment-and-agriculture-news-with-new-grant/" target="_blank">&nbsp;University of Missouri</a>&nbsp;in partnership with<a href="http://www.reportforamerica.org/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Report for America</a>, with major funding from the Walton Family Foundation.

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/07/as-farmers-face-trade-wars-and-inflation-calls-to-mental-health-hotlines-rise/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Nebraska Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

As farmers face trade wars and inflation, calls to mental health hotlines rise

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha seeks action from legislative leaders

LINCOLN — A Nebraska lawmaker two times was denied entry to the controversial state-run federal immigration detention facility that federal officials dubbed the “Cornhusker Clink” —&nbsp; and now is calling on the Legislature’s Executive Board to step in.

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said Monday that she made the four-hour trip to McCook in mid-November to check out the conditions of the place where migrant detainees of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are held pending deportation.

She argues that the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services violated state law by not allowing her into the converted Work Ethic Camp, and cites a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=83-186" target="_blank">state statute</a>&nbsp;that says Nebraska legislators are entitled to visit any state correctional facility “at any time.”

When Gov. Jim Pillen and Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys announced the agreement with the federal government, Cavanaugh said, they stated that the department would manage the property and it would continue to be considered a state facility.

“The denial of physical entry to a sitting senator is not only unprecedented —&nbsp;it is the latest escalation in a broader pattern of obstruction that undermines the Legislature’s statutory and constitutional oversight obligations,” Cavanaugh said.

The Omaha senator said she routinely conducts unannounced visits to state-run 24-hour facilities “because direct oversight is not optional — it is a core responsibility of my job.”

She said she specifically wanted to visit the McCook ICE detention center, because it involved “people being held in Nebraska without criminal charges and, in many cases, without clear legal recourse.” The immigration court and deportation process is separate from state courts, and immigrants held by ICE often face civil versus criminal charges.

“When the state deprives someone of their liberty, the conditions of that confinement must be subject to full public and legislative scrutiny,” she told the Nebraska Examiner. “There is no scrutiny. There is no carve-out in Nebraska law for secrecy just because ICE is involved.”

Neither the Corrections Department nor the Governor’s Office had immediate comment.&nbsp;

Cavanaugh documented her efforts to gain entry to the former WEC in a letter to State Sen. Ben Hansen, chair of the Legislature’s&nbsp;<a href="https://news.legislature.ne.gov/exe/" target="_blank">Executive Board</a>, and Sen. Myron Dorn, chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee.&nbsp;

She also chronicled five prior legislative attempts to obtain information about the project, describing a pattern of “limited transparency and restricted information.”

Email between Cavanaugh and Jeffreys and a person she described as a warden at the McCook facility offers details of the rejected visits on Nov. 12-13.

Cavanaugh arrived at the facility around 4:20 p.m. Nov. 12, and apparently spoke to Jeffreys via the warden’s cell phone around 4:30 p.m., who told her she had failed to provide notice of her visit.&nbsp;

Said Jeffreys: “You were instructed that no person could arrive unannounced and be given immediate entry to a Nebraska correctional facility or a federal detention center.”

Cavanaugh, in an email around 10 p.m. that night of Nov. 12, emailed the warden and Jeffreys that she would be returning to the facility the next morning.

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