(KLKN) – A man is facing a felony charge after leaving his 2-year-old child in a car at the Grand Island Casino on Friday The Grand Island Police Department said officers received a report of the child left unattended in the car at the casino around 3:25 p.m An investigation revealed that Amilcar Landaverde Roque left his son in the car without any supervision GIPD said Roque was inside the casino playing games He was arrested on suspicion of child abuse Grand Island Senior High has found its new boys basketball coach and girls golf coach D'Cean Bryant will be the new man on the sideline Grand Island Public Schools announced in a news release Bryant was most recently the head coach at Sage Hill School in Newport Coast Bryant won four of six California Southern Section titles Bryant is also the father of Carter Bryant who was a freshman basketball player at the University of Arizona and has entered his name in the 2025 NBA Draft Shane Campbell will be the new girls golf coach He currently serves as a counselor at Walnut Middle School Campbell played college golf at Southeast Community College in Beatrice “I would like to welcome Coach Campbell and Coach Bryant to our GISH coaching staff They have a vision that will continue to build our programs The Islander Way,” GISH activities director Chris Ladwig said in a statement leadership and passion for developing student-athletes will be a great asset to our programs We look forward to the positive impact they will have with their respective sport.” Campbell and Bryant take over for Jeremiah Slough who served as both the girls golf coach and boys basketball coach activities director and boys basketball coach at the new Grand Island Lutheran High School This week’s Grand Island Independent athlete of the week is Northwest’s Kyra Ray The Viking senior was named the outstanding girls athlete of… Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page — A Grand Island man charged with sexually assaulting multiple children has taken a plea deal According to Hall County District Court records pleaded no contest to three charges including first-degree sexual assault Court records say between January 2018 and June 2024 Lamberson allegedly sexually assaulted four children between the ages of six and 16 10% of which he would need to post to be released from jail Read through the obituaries published today in Grand Island Independent — Grand Island is charting a course towards a more sustainable energy future by expanding its use of renewable resources while maintaining its coal plant operations and may now invest in expanded natural gas operations The city has invested in solar and wind energy projects aiming to balance these with existing coal generation "Platte Generating Station has served Grand Island well for 40 plus years and it's been a real asset to the city and it's our intent to keep it as long as economically viable and regulation feasible," said Utilities Director Ryan Schmitz The city's strategy includes diversification to mitigate shifting political priorities "We want to stay diversified is the key Regulation ebbs and flows by administrations and if you can keep your eggs spread out rather than in one basket than you can minimize risk on regulation side," Schmitz added And while Grand Island has added solar farms the utilities director is considering new natural gas generation at a site with existing infrastructure “We can man those units without adding a whole new staff we can use existing employees which helps us sustain jobs and bring down our costs on all our units,” he said Schmitz highlighted the city's proactive approach to future growth noting the importance of expanding capacity "Growth is a great thing and Grand Island is one of fastest growing in the nation and to stay ahead of that want to build out capacity in advance," Schmitz said Schmitz emphasized the urgency of decision-making "We're in an area where we need to strike again to move forward." Schmitz is presenting two options to the city council: one that would add 22 megawatts with virtually no rate change and another that would add 37 megawatts with an approximate 3 percent increase We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Maggie Steele, 78, of Grand Island, formerly of Norfolk passed away at home on Friday, April 11, 2025. Memorial services will be held on April 22, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Third City Christian Church, visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Pastor Chris... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Maggie Steele created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Sign up for our daily email affirmations by entering your information below Neb — Grand Island writes a bold new chapter in the storied history of Fonner Park with the grand opening of the $185 million casino resort and a promise made possible by Nebraska voters who approved casino gambling at horse tracks I voted and voted for gambling forever," Ellie Bennett said The history of Fonner Park dates back to the ‘50s "I'm proud to say my father was part of the group that made that created this horse racing operation,” Doyle Hulme recalled But horse fans were worried if that legacy could survive Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak said ,"Horses are number one and it was looking very dim 15 years ago about what it was going to be and the casino has been the savior no doubt about it." "It's a lifesaver for Fonner and we're glad to have it here,” said Matt Maser a businessman and member of the Fonner casino board The voters’ decision to allow casinos at horse tracks opened new opportunities one Kotulak said would be wasted on one of the big name operators "I didn't want them here,” he said bluntly Instead he partnered with an Iowa based company with Midwest charm No one had to tell the Kehl family how to put on a good show It's upscale and that sets it apart but more than anything it's a destination they didn't build a roof with slot machine sit's a destination whether they want to gamble or not,” Kotulak said and Nebraska’s only live poker room plus a 162 bed hotel Already millions have poured into horse purses and the casino has a staff of 425 on a vibrant campus "How is this gaming venue going to tie into Fonner racing livestock shows that happen here and find synergy,” Tourism Director Brad Mellema said "I can't believe this is Grand Island This is fabulous " Ellie Bennett said Man who saw the campus rise from nothing to now home of the State Fair and casino has a final word "It's not done yet” Doyle Hulme said 71 years after the start of live racing and 17 years after Gov Dave Heineman selected Grand Island to host the fair this is seen as the start of Fonner’s third age and seen as a testament to the community’s forward thinking and hard work “Grand Island is a city on the rise,” Mayor Roger Steele said - More than 100 local non-profits from several Central Nebraska cities are coming together to help strengthen their communities "Go Big Give" is in its 12th year uniting the Greater Grand Island area in a 24-hour giving event supporting non-profits across Hall and Merrick counties.Spearheaded by the Heartland United Way and Greater Grand Island Community Foundation the initiative helps 167 local non-profits raise funds in order to support programs ranging from food security to housing to animal rescue and more.That's the most participants the event has ever had."That growth in our community we have solutions or we have ways to make our community stronger so that growth in itself is awesome," said Heartland United Way Director of Development Karly Behrendt The event not only boosts financial support but also increases awareness for volunteer engagement for both new and established organizations alike.Go Big officials say this year's goal is to raise over $1.5 million with sponsors helping make the funds go even further than usual."That's the fun part of participating as an organization is you may have just made a random donation and it's going to grow because of the sponsors that have helped us with prizes and those match pool funds And so when you see those things come around I was able to give even added money thanks to the sponsors," said Behrendt.  organizers say the annual event is about building a stronger How do you prepare for the chapter after high school For a crew of Grand Island Senior High seniors you prepare to stretch beyond your comfort zones and engage in college life More than 50 GISH seniors took a proactive step toward their post-graduation futures in April by participating in the “Next Wave College Transition Camp.” The free one-day camp was a collaborative effort between the GISH GearUp chapter and Central Community College Aiming to equip soon-to-be graduates with skills and insights for a successful transition to college life GearUp felt the spring before graduation would help seniors feel supported “Next Wave is focused on what it takes to move to the next steps and be prepared so that we can persist after high school,” said Amber High “We want them to have a plan for when they leave us and they venture out on their own It’s about knowing how they’re going to make that plan happen Helping students understand what it’s going to take what kind of financial stability or understanding of finances that they’re going to have to have; it’s all encompassing and we are preparing them the best we could and now it’s having all those things in place so that they can follow that plan that they want to move on to.” “Next Wave” was hosted at the Central Community College Grand Island campus offering students an opportunity to feel like college students for the day Facilitating the day of conversation and connection was Juan Cangas from CoolSpeak Juan Cangas shares with GISH seniors about the importance of making connections in college CoolSpeak: A Youth Engagement Company visits schools across the country to empower students educators and families to pursue bold goals Cangas shared his experiences as a Grand Island student explored life lessons from college and adulthood and provided a stabilizing voice through the lens of change His focus was to share with the aspiring graduates the importance of embracing both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead especially for first generation college-goers “I think as a first generation college student one of the most difficult things is trying to navigate a space where you can’t get a lot of advice from your parents or from people that you trust And some of those questions you need to ask are scary questions and you only ask them of people that you really trust.” Cangas said “(Next Wave) is all about helping them get geared up to make a smooth transition into college And so we want to help them try to anticipate what some of the barriers are going to be but are proactive in finding solutions to them.” participating Islander seniors explored numerous “college prep” topics through experiential activities Whether it was a small group exercise in which students learned how to start conversations with classmates to better connect or hearing stories about the importance of building a budget or crafting pipe cleaner artwork that symbolized their future ambitions or mapping out time management schedules for homework and activities — all of it was positively charged to help the soon-to-be college students become confident problem-solvers GISH seniors make connections at “Next Wave” day camp While heading off to college feels exciting and daunting at the same time the commitment to GISH students remains the same — part of being “college and community ready” means leaning into the learning process if he could share one message with all graduating seniors “Even in the moments in college where it feels like they’re going backwards or things aren’t working the way they want them to — that’s part of the process.” Cangas said be moving forward every single day towards it.’ And the reality is especially to try to find the career that they want even if they have an idea now it’s going to be a path … don’t be too discouraged through the failures and through the setbacks because they’re actually part of the journey … We’re not just directing them to college but improving the quality of life.” Hosting the “Next Wave” day camp confirmed a primary focus: connection GISH seniors hearing from Juan Cangas about the importance of connecting with others and having a plan Connection surfaces as a common theme for graduating seniors as they seek to build both confidence and self-sufficiency connection to the right college or community connection to friends — making the next step is easier through connection And for “college and career readiness,” providing intentional opportunities for students to learn and prepare is what it’s all about Seeing the seniors articulating their ambitions and visions for the future High found herself reflecting on the bigger picture “We’re preparing our students to be fulfilling citizens and hopefully come back to our community someday to enrich it even more “We are here for them; we want what’s best for them in whatever their future is.” The 48th Year of Wheels Day at First Presbyterian Preschool took place on Wednesday Kids got to learn bike safety from the GIPD and rides their bikes and scooters to enjoy the day The event is part of the Go Big Give campaign from the Heartland United Way Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox Grand Island Central Catholic students picked up trash on U.S 281 from Old Potash to Capital Avenue on Wednesday morning The University of Nebraska-Lincoln said it was aware of a video depicting a grad student insulting Muslim students following an on-campus event GISH says the annual state competition is a source of pride both for educators and students Elementary school results during the past six years using one curriculum haven't kept up with peer schools' improvements McCain Foods USA is making an investment of more than $30 million into its Grand Island facility is joined by some of the plant’s employees Wednesday afternoon McCain Foods USA is planning a $30 million expansion this summer McCain Foods USA plans a $30 million expansion this summer in what the company calls a “landmark investment” in its Grand Island facility will expand the plant’s onion ring production capabilities with a state-of-the-art production line and upgraded equipment,” McCain said in a news release “Representing the largest capital project in the history of McCain’s Appetizer Division the investment highlights the company’s unwavering commitment to its employees and the local community.” underscores McCain Foods USA’s commitment to the long-term future of the Grand Island facility “The improvements aim to position the site for growth and ensure it remains a cornerstone of the regional economy for generations to come,” the company said “The summer shutdown will mark a milestone in McCain’s operations with more dollars allocated than any previous investment in the Appetizer Division the project will provide a significant economic boost to the local community driving job creation and increased activity across the region,” the company said the upgrades will prioritize sustainability and innovation,” according to the release “The enhanced facility will feature energy-efficient systems and advanced production processes aligning with McCain’s global commitment to environmental responsibility.” “This is a defining moment for our team and the Grand Island community,” April Garski plant manager of the Grand Island facility “This investment not only strengthens our operations but also reaffirms our dedication to our people We’re excited to continue building a legacy of excellence here in Grand Island.” “This investment is a testament to our belief in the Grand Island community and our dedication to delivering top-quality products to our customers,” said Eric Durand senior director of manufacturing for McCain Foods USA “By expanding our onion ring capabilities and modernizing our equipment we’re not only driving operational excellence but also solidifying McCain Foods USA as the employer of choice in the region.” The Grand Island facility has 515 employees Garski said that number will not change after the expansion “McCain Foods USA has a proud history in Grand Island and this investment reaffirms the company’s dedication to sustainable growth community partnership and creating a supportive workplace for its employees,” the news release said McCain Foods USA is the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products and supplies french fries appetizers and desserts to retail and food service customers around the globe McCain is the international leader in the frozen food industry employing over 21,000 people and operating 52 production facilities on six continents Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly Email notifications are only sent once a day — A Grand Island man faces charges after police say he impregnated a teen girl Tomas Ortiz-Juarez is charged in Hall County Court with first-degree sexual assault of a child Francis after a teen girl reported she was sexually assaulted by Ortiz-Juarez court records say the victim reported she had been sexually assaulted by Ortiz-Juarez since April 2024 Ortiz-Juarez was arrested and booked into the Hall County Jail — The Grand Island Public Library is gearing up for a vibrant summer with its 2025 programming for kids and teens themed "Color Our World." The library invites families to partake in a variety of free activities throughout June and July with no library card required for participation some programs have limited capacity and require pre-registration The library's summer reading challenge encourages readers of all ages to log their minutes on the Beanstack website and app from June 1 to August 9 Paper logs are available for children up to 11 years old The library aims to surpass last year's 1.1 million minutes by setting a community reading goal of 1.5 million minutes including free books and virtual drawing tickets for a grand prize The summer kicks off with events for different age groups The Kids’ Kickoff on May 31 features food and activities for children 11 and under while the Teen Kickoff on June 2 promises a water fight for those aged 12-18 Artistic youth aged 5-18 can showcase their creativity in the library's juried art show with submissions accepted from May 22 to June 8 The exhibit will be displayed throughout July Weekly programs include a Summer Reading Camp for grades 1-5 and Mega Mondays featuring various activities for all ages Special programs like the "You Are More than Your Screen" workshop and "Color My World with Song" offer unique learning experiences For more information on the library’s summer programs visit the library’s website or contact Youth & Family Services Librarian Laura Fentress or Teen & Technology Librarian Erica Rogers at (308) 385-5333 The Grand Island Public Library serves residents of Grand Island and Hall County offering free library cards to those who live or own property in the area Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Grand Island Independent My mother and I were the first Vietnamese refugees to arrive in Grand Island and I fled Vietnam during “Operation New Life.” We boarded a packed U.S leaving behind family members — including my older half-brother and my younger sister we watched Saigon’s fall on TV — my mother weeping for the family she feared she might never see again Our early years in Grand Island were difficult carrying the secret pain of the two children left behind It wasn’t until I returned to Vietnam with her in 1995 that I fully understood her sacrifices my mother passed away before she could reunite with Rose Rose was miraculously reconnected with our family after 44 years My mother’s sacrifice — fleeing Vietnam with a young child while leaving loved ones behind — was just one of countless stories among Grand Island’s growing Vietnamese community resilience and hope as they rebuilt their lives from the ashes of war What once felt like a tragic ending for so many Vietnamese families has become a testament to triumph: a generation that found new beginnings created opportunity and wove their dreams into the fabric of America The family of LeAnn Joyce Stubbs created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories The family of Bobbie Gonzales created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Neb — The long awaited Grand Island Casino Resort is open as the $185 million investment opens at Fonner Park Check out the photo gallery to see the gaming floor and other features of the casino resort Our country fortunately has turned around and seen the errors in its ways and has decided that we always need to honor our veterans of any war and not forget that their service mattered," said Hall County Warriors Memorial member and veteran John Larson."We weren't ready for the way we were going to be treated when we came home Protestors all over America were protesting the war I made three trips to Vietnam and each time I came home the protestors seemed to know when we were coming,"  said Vietnam war veteran Jim Seims.Seims spoke on his experiences during the war including how he remained silent for decades afterwards because of the criticism.His anecdotes left many onlookers in tears as he said nothing could prepare a person for war.The event concluded with Hall county board member Gary Quandt descending from the courthouse after spending 50 hours atop the building.Quandt's tribute is also a fundraising effort for the Hall County Warriors Memorial which is a monument project that honors those who have served from 1975 and beyond."The Hall County Warriors Memorial Committee is working on building a new memorial to honor the Vietnam-era veterans.It will be in the same park where we built our last memorial which was the globe to honor the soldiers of the last 50 years and that will be at the Hall County Veterans Park," said LarsonFifty years after the fall of Saigon both the ceremony and fundraising efforts are continuing Hall County's mission to ensure that the legacies of Vietnam veterans are never forgotten Neb — Grand Island Parks and Rec has invested in ball fields and playground now they turn their attention a skate park that has been in need of attention Power tools replace skateboards for the only grinds on the equipment at the skate park these days The feature at Pier Park is getting replaced after about 25 years Skaters have complained about metal heating up in the summer while wood needed to be replaced “It was metal and wood so wood rots and metal rusts so it was due,” said Parks and Rec Director Todd McCoy The city hired a firm that specializes in skate parks that’s going to tear everything out and replace with new concrete elements a little quieter and I think users will really appreciate it,” McCoy said The city reached out to skateboarders and many said it was time for an upgrade Grand Island has multiple ball fields and swimming pools but this has been the only place to skate “A community of 50,000 we have a lot of interest and a lot of interests groups and we found out there was a lot of support for it We had meetings last summer and over 60 people showed up and gave us their ideas in what they’d like to see in a skate park and that’s what this design was built around.” The total cost is $892,000 and construction should wrap up around the end of summer And to the delight of many skaters – they’ve removed the fence that surrounded the park Many felt it made the space feel off-limits especially for younger kids with an interest in taking up the sport Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInGRAND ISLAND (KSNB) - There’s a new business announced for the Conestoga Marketplace in Grand Island Chief Construction announced Friday that Jersey Mike’s is the first tenant announced in a new strip mall being built The structure can be seen facing Highway 281 just to the south of Best Buy Chief Construction Marketing Manager Tana Williams said this strip mall will house three tenants with Jersey Mike’s one of them When asked if one of the tenants would be the much-anticipated Chick-fil-A Williams said that will be a stand-alone structure to the north of this mall which will feature a drive-thru She said both of these buildings will face out toward Highway 281 Click here to subscribe to our KSNB Local4 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox is facing multiple charges after allegedly attempting to entice an undercover police officer he believed to be a 14-year-old girl Jensen is charged in Hall County Court with labor/sex trafficking of a minor child enticement by electronic communication device with a prior conviction Jensen began messaging the undercover officer on February 10 Jensen allegedly continued to make sexual comments and requested to meet her at a park The affidavit states he also sent sexual videos and requested nude photos from the supposed teen Jensen allegedly instructed her to claim she was his cousin if they were seen in public Grand Island Police Department officers say they responded to a residence on Vine Street after Jensen was contacted by a resident about potentially having sexual relations with a minor Jensen fled the scene but was later apprehended near Oklahoma Avenue and Oak Street Officers said they had to use knee strikes to subdue him during an interview at the Law Enforcement Center when deputies say Jensen assaulted his cellmate biting him on the head and causing injuries A Hall County Sheriff's deputy says they observed a red mark on the victim's neck Court records indicate Jensen refused to attend court hearings on Monday He was given a bond of $250,000 for the labor/sex trafficking and enticement charges He is ordered to return to court on April 29 No bond amount is listed for the assault charge — The Grand Island Fire Department responded to a late-night apartment fire early Saturday morning which resulted in significant damage and displaced several residents at a three-story building with four apartment units near West Koenig and Walnut according to the Grand Island Fire Department The building sustained a heavy amount of fire on the street side prompting all four Grand Island stations to respond with approximately 19 personnel assisting at the scene One resident was transported to a hospital in Omaha with smoke-related injuries First responders remained on the scene for four hours The Grand Island Fire Department estimated the damage at around $180,000 and the building is likely to be demolished The cause of the fire is still under investigation South Locust Street will soon be under construction marking a significant step in the city's ongoing efforts to modernize a corridor whose issues date back to the aftermath of the 1980 tornadoes "The existing roadway will be completely torn out and replaced with concrete curb and gutter," said Tim Golka The transformation from asphalt to concrete is welcomed by local residents He's preparing for two years of construction "It won't be any different than driving on the interstate to Lincoln," Espinoza joked He acknowledged the impact on his home and business "It'll affect our home because we have a retaining wall look a little different and the business is going to be different because they're going to knock down one of our driveways but people will find a way to the pawn shop." which spans from Fonner Park Road to Koenig Street will be executed in phases to maintain access to the numerous businesses and homes in the area A significant component of the project is the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Locust with Anna and Bismark "It will be converted to a roundabout and the traffic signal will go away," Golka said He has worked on several roundabouts including on Old Potash and at Five Points At first he was skeptical one would work on Locust "It's worked everywhere else so why wouldn't it work here," Golka said explaining that the city acquired a car lot to create the necessary space for the roundabout Golka emphasized the historical significance of the project "It's kind of like a continuation of everything that's been done on Locust from the interstate up to Fonner Park Road That corner was just devastated and this is the last piece that needs to be done to get downtown." The "Night of the Twisters" in June of 1980 resulted in significant damage to the South Locust area The new interchange for South Locust on Interstate 80 opened in 2004 and the city and state have invested along that stretch of road from the interstate to Fonner Park The $13 million project is funded by Grand Island's half-cent sales tax. The project also includes the replacement of a century-old water main and aging sewer lines with a focus on making the area more pedestrian-friendly Golka asked for patience from the community while Espinoza expressed optimism about the outcome "I think it's going to be a good thing." Neb — With more funding sources uncertain for local nonprofits everyone has a chance to keep vital services and projects in Hall and Merrick Counties going through the 12th Annual Go Big GIVE 167 nonprofits have signed up to Set Sail for Giving during one of central Nebraska’s biggest days of giving donors don’t have to wait to contribute at GoBigGIVE.org Throughout Pre-Give there are opportunities to support animals health care resources and more during Dine Out events and Trivia Nights Hy-Vee in Grand Island will also allow customers to round up their purchase to the next dollar through May 1 These ways to give will support all Go Big GIVE nonprofits Trivia will make it easy to donate to Go Big GIVE during three Grand Island events from 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Match-pool funds and incentive prizes allow donations to grow thanks to generous sponsors including: Greater Grand Island Community Foundation "Bud" and Gloria Wolbach Foundation Go Big GIVE has raised more than $10.6 million and supported over 200 nonprofits the effort raised an incredible $1.5 million when Go Big GIVE will once again inspire donors to make waves of generosity let’s Set Sail for Giving and make the 12th year of Go Big GIVE one for the record books The family of Mary Ellen "Mel" Burchess created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories (KSNB) - A section of street in Grand Island will close as the county takes its next steps in bringing an addition to the Hall County Courthouse Pine Street from First to Court will be permanently closed as demolition begins for two buildings over in that area “We’re in the phase of doing the demolition work and we’re closing down so nobody comes through the street to interrupt demolition,” said Loren Humphrey This is all a part of the plans to bring a $40 million addition to the courthouse to address space and security needs Building and Grounds Director for Hall County said renovation was the route chosen because it was cheaper than new construction a standalone building was quite a bit more money and this is what the county felt like,” Humphrey said “The county board felt like they could afford to do reasonably said this move has been a long time coming “We’ve been working on this for a couple years actually we knew that there was a need and last year we were assigned in an additional county judge which we had no place to put him,” Peterson said we’ve put him in a temporary courtroom in the annex building it’s separated from the courthouse and it’s not really adequate for what they wanna do Peterson told Local4 News security was one of the motivations for this move one of the big things is that we will be able to isolate the defendants coming in from the jail that won’t have to walk through the public areas,” Peterson said they are intermingled and it really creates a security issue there’s been a lot of security breaches in courtrooms across the country.” The demolition will be for the old Health and Human Services building and the old jail which will be turned into parking for court staff (KSNB) - Star Nails and Paradise Donuts sustained an estimated $100,000 in damages from a Wednesday night fire in Grand Island Grand Island Fire responded to a smoke investigation at 1725 West Second Street leading to the discovery of a structure fire at the nail salon When crews arrived the saw heavy smoke inside the Star Nails business which shares the same building as Paradise Donuts and Subway nobody was inside the building at the time Crews worked to gain entry into the building breaching the front door where firefighters were able to extinguish the fire GIFD said no fire spread to Paradise Donuts or Subway Battalion Chief Scott Kuehl told Local4 that the heaviest damage was in Star Nails where the fire originated He did add that Paradise Donuts sustained smoke and water damage The cause of the fire is determined to be electrical in nature but the investigation is ongoing Crews did cut gas and electricity to Star nails for safety during the incident and also shut off water service lines due to melted supply lines Grand Island Fire said that the building didn’t have an automatic sprinkler system but it’s still code-compliant for a building less than 5,000 square feet (KSNB) - A homeless shelter in the Tri-Cities is changing its pantry policy due to a critical shortage of food pantry supplies and a limited budget Hope Harbor will now give a food box every three months compared to its previous plan of giving it once a month The nonprofit organization is looking to go back to the original plan as soon as they receive more donations The shelter said they are operating at or near capacity due to the ongoing lack of safe and affordable housing The staff are working with their budgets and the community to continue to provide three meals a day to residents in the shelter Hope Harbor said the budget for the food pantry has already been all used up just three months into the year In 2024 they distributed an average of 23 food boxes daily to households Hope Harbor is asking for the community to help restock the pantries by donating non-expired and unopened food items like: Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday