Custer County Chief

08/25/2025

Tuesday, Aug. 26, is National Dog Day. Share your pride in your dog by submitting its photo to the Custer County Chief. Photos submitted by end of day today (Monday, Aug. 25) may appear in the Aug. 28 issue of the Custer County Chief! Submit photo at this link: https://www.custercountychief.com/site/forms/dogday/dog_day/

08/20/2025

AUG. 20, 2025 - BROKEN BOW, NEB. –The new ambulance for the Broken Bow Ambulance Service arrived in town about 5 p.m. this evening. It carries white, red and black colors.

The press release from the Broken Bow Ambulance Service follows:

AUG. 20, 2025 - Broken Bow Ambulance Service is proud to announce the addition of a brand-new ambulance, expanding the service to three fully Advanced Life Support (ALS) equipped units. This milestone reflects steady growth and a continued commitment to providing exceptional emergency medical care for our community.

Since 2021, Broken Bow Ambulance Service has experienced a 10–20% increase in call volume year over year. Alongside 911 responses, the service provides interfacility transports, helping local hospitals transfer patients to higher-level care facilities. Over the past year, additional advanced medical equipment has been added, including a ventilator, allowing for safe transport of critically ill patients.

“With three ALS equipped ambulances, we will be better positioned to respond when our community needs us most,” Chief David Baltz said. “Every ambulance carries advanced equipment, ensuring that as long as an ALS provider is available, each ambulance is capable of delivering the highest level of emergency care. Additionally, we have a quick response unit with ALS medications and equipment to respond for things like an ALS intercept with a surrounding BLS service when they request our assistance.”

Broken Bow Ambulance Service currently includes:

• 9 ALS providers (Paramedics, AEMTs, and RNs)
• 19 EMTs
• 5 CPR-trained drivers

Many members are advancing their training, with several moving from driver to EMT or from EMT to AEMT/Paramedic and even AEMT to Paramedic.

Broken Bow Ambulance Service extends its appreciation to the City of Broken Bow, City Council, the Mayor, City Administrator, and the community for their continued support, which made this new ambulance possible. Individuals interested in joining the service are encouraged to stop by the station for an application and to learn more.

08/12/2025

AUG. 12, 2025 - BROKEN BOW, NEB. - Custer County Clerk Constance Gracey submitted her letter of resignation, effective Sept. 1, 2025, to the Board of Supervisors at today's meeting. She has served as county clerk for 22 years. She recommended that Deputy Clerk Kelly Jacobsen step into the position. County Attorney Steve Bowers said that by state statute, Jacobsen fills the position. As a formality, the board can appoint and approve. In a conversation with Gracey on Monday, she simply stated to the Chief, that "It's time." Read more about the Supervisor's meeting in this week's Chief.

08/07/2025

AUG. 7, 2025 - BROKEN BOW, NEB. - Turning lanes are being created for the intersections of Hwy 2/Ryno Rd and Hwy 2/Memorial Drive-Callaway Rd on the west side of Broken Bow. According to Nebraska Department of Transportation, Highway Project Manager for District 6, Dan Lewandowski, Hwy 2 is being widened so that the turn lanes can be created.

As for the majority of the work on Hwy 2 through Broken Bow, Lewandowski said it is nearly complete. There are still sidewalk ramps that need updated, painting to be done and three drains to be completed near the Hwy 2/Memorial Drive intersection east of town. “We’re trying to get painting done this week,” Lewandowski said.

Motorists who are driving Hwy 2 through Broken Bow will no doubt notice a great improvement. “We made a huge transformation and it takes time,” Lewandowski said. “If you compare the condition of what it was (four months ago), it’s completely reversed. Those places were in bad shape. The only way to get it done is to stop traffic and use flaggers.” Lewandowki added that the upgrades should last for 20 years. “It’s a nice addition. A new road into town always adds to (the town)."

Read more on local road construction projects in the Aug. 14 Custer County Chief.

PHOTOS: One photo is looking east along Hwy 2 from the intersection of Ryno Rd (towards Broken Bow) and the other is looking west.

08/03/2025

Wish Doris a Happy Birthday!

08/02/2025

AUG. 1, 2025 - BROKEN BOW, NEB. - After 45 years with the Broken Bow Police Department, Steve Scott is now retired. He joined the department in October, 1980, and retired today a few months shy of 45 years. At this evening's gathering, Scott was presented an engraved gold watch from the city. From the Police Department, he received a customized wood memory chest personalized with photos and containing the "Thin Blue Line" (the blue, white and black) flag that flew over the police department today. 911 Communications Dispatch issued a last last call for 401 (Chief Scott) to which Scott replied, "10 76" Officer off duty. Read what city officials said about Chief Scott as well as his words back to them in the Aug. 7 issue of the Custer County chief.

07/29/2025

JULY 29, 2025 - BROKEN BOW, NEB. - The Broken Bow Invitational Bull Fighting scheduled for this evening has been postponed to tomorrow, Wednesday, July 30, due to weather. Storms capable of producing gusty winds, pea size hail and heavy rain are entering the area.

07/23/2025

JULY 23, 2025 - 4:40 p.m. -The National Weather Service has issued two tornado warnings for Custer County. One is for a severe thunderstorm 4 miles northeast of Callaway or 11 miles west of Broken Bow that is capable of producing rotation. It is unofficial that rotation has been observed. The other warning is for northeast Custer County for a storm 5 miles southwest of Burwell that is nearly stationery. The Callaway storm is expected to remain over mainly rural areas. The other storm may impact Burwell, Sargent, Divide Hill, Kent Diversion Dam State Wildlife Management Area and Big Oak Canyon. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Both warnings are effective until 5 p.m.

07/14/2025

BBPS HIT WITH COSTLY INTERNET PAYMENT FRAUD. Broken Bow Public Schools announced this morning that they have been the victim of internet fraud involving payment to the contractor of the construction. Superintendent Darren Tobey and Board President Tom Osmond met with media representatives this morning to provide information. "We want to be very transparent with this," Tobey said. Earlier this year, a payment of $1.8 million was mistakenly sent to a fraudulent account. Of that, $700,000 has been recovered. The investigation includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Nebraska State Patrol and the U.S. Secret Service and is on going. See the press release (image).

07/10/2025

07/10/2025

Get to Broken Bow, GREAT savings Thursday - Friday and Saturday!

07/09/2025

July 9, 2025 - BROKEN BOW, NEB. - If all goes to plan, regular traffic signals will be restored Broken Bow sometime on Thursday, July 10. That's according to Nebraska Department of Transportation (DOT) District 6 Project Manager Dan Lewandowski. "It will be tomorrow afternoon," Lewandowski told the Chief today (Wednesday, July 9). "Unless there are complications."

The blinking yellow lights for Hwy 2 and blinking red lights for cross traffic at 9th Avenue, 8th Avenue/Hwy 21 and 1st Avenue will be replaced with normal green, yellow and red signals.

With the return of active traffic lights, it will also be the return of pedestrian crossings downtown. With Crazy Days and Broken Bow alumni activities, motorists are urged to continue to exercise both patience and caution.

Motorists have no doubt noticed traffic is moving east and west on both sides of South E/Hwy 2. In some areas, most notably the west part of town yesterday and today, traffic has been restricted to one lane controlled by temporary traffic lights and a pilot vehicles. This has been to allow the application of asphalt to the new concrete.

"There will be three layers of asphalt," Lewandowski said. "We should be done with all asphalt by next Friday (July 18)." This includes asphalt work on Hwy 21 and Hwy 70.

Permanent paint will be applied the week of July 21, according to Lewandowski, to mark lanes and other traffic directions. Crews are scheduled to remove and replace sidewalk ramps that week as well as install three inlet drains on Hwy 2 by AKRS John Deere Equipment. Lewandowski explained that the previous drains were in the islands. Now that the islands have been removed to be replaced with painted islands, new drains are needed.

"We are making good progress," he said and added, "Sometime in August, we should be really, really close to being done."

Recent rains have caused limited problems, he said, because crews are not working on sub-grade. "When it quits raining, we can go back to work," he said.

Asked about road work on Hwy 2 between Broken Bow and Merna, Lewandowski said it will be a while before work starts in earnest. "We have to finish in Broken Bow, then we have a project in Wellfleet." Motorists may notice work in the meantime as Myers Construction, a contractor, will be working on turning lanes toward the end of July.