Cowboy Action Shooting event planned Sunday

The Platte Valley Gunslingers will be conducting this season's first Cowboy Action Shooting at Heartland Public Shooting Park on Sunday.

Participants, dressed in cowboy attire, begin registration at 8:30 a.m. and start shooting at 10 a.m. The match fee is $10, for juniors it is $5.

Heartland Public Shooting Park is located 2.5 miles west of Highway 30 on Husker Highway and the public is welcome to attend. Monthly Cowboy Action Shootings are scheduled at the park through October.

An Eagle Scout fundraising project will be providing lunch for this event.

Additional information can be obtained from Dirk White at 380-9511 or Web site, www.heartlandpublicshootingpark.com and e-mail, plattevalleygunslingers@yahoo.com.

The food pantry looking to Stock the Pantry

The Grand Island Community Food Pantry at the Salvation Army is having a "Stock the Pantry" food drive from Monday through April 12.

Donations can be dropped off at 818 W. Third on the north side of the building at Door No. 2.

Needed items include canned food such as coffee, milk, meat, vegetables, ravioli, spaghetti O's, and spaghetti sauce; boxed food such as potatoes and cereal; and dried food such as beans, spaghetti, assorted noodles, peanut butter and jelly.

"With the price of gas and winter utilities, people have relied on the pantry more. I have less stock than this time last year," said Mark Merritt, social services director. "This is an off-season food drive. About 90 percent of donations come in winter and holiday months. During the summer months is when the pantry is neglected."

In addition, the food pantry also accepts donations of toiletry items such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, as well was cleaning supplies and diapers.

LETC graduation scheduled for April 10

The Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center will hold graduation at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Ceremonies will be at the center, 3600 N. Academy Road, with a reception to follow.

The speaker will be Lincoln police Sgt. Robert Ziemer.

This is the 170th basic session. Forty-four students have completed the certification requirements, which includes a curriculum of more than 600 training hours in 14 weeks.

Staff instructor Dave Anderson will be recognized for his 38 years of service to law enforcement in the state. He will retire after this class. He has trained more than 10,000 students in the areas of drug recognition, accident reconstruction, vehicle law, radar, standardized filed sobriety testing, driving, firearms, patrol procedures, community relations and physical fitness.

A reception for Anderson will be held following the graduation. The public is welcome to attend both the graduation and the receptions.

Dance Company fundraiser Saturday evening

The Dance Company Competition Teams are raising money for costumes and travel expenses at 7 p.m. Saturday with a Dessert Showcase performance at Grand Island Senior High Auditorium.

The evening is titled "Dancing Under a Magical Moon." The Senior and Petite Teams will showcase the numbers they are competing with for the 2008 season. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door. Desserts will be served following the show.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and showtime is at 7 p.m.

Nysted Cemetery cleanup scheduled April 12

The Nysted Cemetery board is asking for families and friends to help with cleaning in the cemetery starting at 10 a.m. April 12.

Trees need to be cleaned from fences and some stones need to be straightened. In case of rain, the work day will be postponed to April 19. Bring a sack lunch and any tools needed for the jobs. Drinks will be furnished. All help will be appreciated.

For more information, call Betty Schuessler at 384-0436 or Marilyn Nelson (308) 996-4349.

Man sentenced to federal prison in drug conspiracy

A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

Miguel Ontiveros-Murrillo, also known as Luis Alberto Erenas-Luna, was also sentenced for possession of meth with the intent to distribute.

On Aug. 30, 2007, a federal jury in Omaha found Ontiveros-Murrillo of Phoenix guilty of conspiracy to distribute at least 1.5 kilograms of meth in Nebraska. Ontiveros-Murrillo conspired with others to distribute the drugs between April 1, 2002, and July 22, 2003, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney Joe Stecher's office.

The release also gave the following information:

Trial testimony revealed that Ontiveros-Murrillo transported multiple pounds of meth from Arizona to Nebraska. He then distributed the meth to other dealers in Grand Island, Lincoln and Bellevue.

The federal judge found that Ontiveros-Murrillo was responsible for distributing between 11 and 33 pounds of meth during this conspiracy.

In addition to his prison sentence, Ontiveros-Murrillo must serve five years of supervised release following his prison term and $100 special assessment.

He will be deported upon completion of his federal sentence.