Portraits

Grand Island Central Catholic junior Ryan Earl stands in the server room in the IT Pathway area at the Career Pathways Institute in Grand Island. (Independent/Barrett Stinson)

Grand Island Central Catholic's Turner Fahey is the 2011 All-Heartland Boys Basketball Honorary Captain. (Independent/Barrett Stinson)

Hastings College student Vanessa Cox listens to instructions while standing outside the farmstead Wednesday morning as Hastings College "Adventure Art" class participants live as pioneers during the second of two full days at Stuhr museum in Grand Island. The students stayed at the museum, sleeping in the Road Ranche Log Cabin Settlement, for the two days before walking to Hastings College with their belongings in a Morman-style handcart and camping along the way. (Independent/Barrett Stinson)

The Fonz, played by Michael Hollman, looks down at his broken motorcycle Thursday during a matinee performance of Heartland Lutheran High's production of "Happy Days," which is the school's first musical. (Independent/Barrett Stinson)

Mike Reiners, an associate pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island, plans to hit the county seats in all of Nebraska's 93 counties as part of a fundraising effort for the Make-A Wish Foundation of Nebraska. Reiners plans to leave on June 1, and return to Grand Island on June 30. (Independent/Barrett Stinson)

Grand Island Veterans Home member Barry Schuelke has a hat for every day, and often sits by the entrance to the home's World War II building. Today was obviously sombrero day for Schuelke. (The Independent/Barrett Stinson)

With the Emerald City behind him, the Harvest of Harmony Parade's "man behind the curtain" would have to be longtime Chairman J.J. Green, who is sitting on a "Wizard of Oz" themed float being entered by Grand Island Express. This float and the other float entries are prepared and stored in the Big Red Barn at Fonner Park before being judged. (Independent/Barrett Stinson)

Grand Island Central Catholic's Katie Brand is the honorary captain of The Independent's 2011 All-Heartland volleyball team. (Independent/Barrett Stinson)

CR.UNINC#1.0819.BS

CR.UNINC#1.0819.BS - S. WHITTIER, "Little TJ": Rigo Americano, 10, (L), and Paul Lopez, 11, (R), stand near the entrance to "Little TJ," in Sunshine Acres, a small section of unincorporated S. Whittier where they live. The night before, two local men who were shot nearby collapsed next to the red car behind the boys, (upper right), and were taken away by paramedics. According to neighbors, this area is a hotbed for wild parties and trouble-makers; especially during the weekend. When neighbors complain during these parties, whose epicenter is at the end of this long driveway, even the police prefer to stay safely out on the street. Mandatory Credit: Barrett Stinson/The LA Times

Grand Island volleyball players (from left) Michaela Schimmer of Grand Island Northwest, Katie Brand of Grand Island Central Catholic and Christina Silver of Grand Island Senior High all hope to be playing with their teams at the Heartland Events Center on Saturday during state volleyball in Grand Island. The state tournament starts today at four locations in Grand Island and two in Hastings. (Independent photo-illustration/Barrett Stinson)

Just like any other child, Angelica Lemburg, 6, likes to play and ride her scooter. However, Angelica is one of about 30,000 adults and children in the United States who were born with cystic fibrosis. The challenges she has faced as a result have left her with eyes older than her age, but hasn’t diminished her desire to play, laugh and have fun.

Independent/Barrett Stinson

As other seniors play bingo around her during Wednesday’s Community Unity Senior Expo, Norma Janko remembers playing music with her husband, George Janko, who still plays in the Lyle Hulinsky Band. the band played during the expo at the Platt-Duetsche in Grand Island.

Jerry Seitz, the new Central Catholic High superintendent smiles while standing in one of the school’s hallways in Grand Island, Nebraska. “I’ve been work since mid-July,” he said. “One of the things that has impressed me the most is the level of parental involvement and commitment to the school.”

A NE GRI101 CRAFTING VIOLINS

Pictured with one of his creations on July 8, 1998, Jerry Posey of Phillips, Nebraska works in a shop attached to his home. "I thought I wasted half my life not making violins, " said Posey, "but then I realized the life experiences I'd had help me make better violins." (AP Photo/The Grand Island Independent/Barrett Stinson)

The Independent/Barrett Stinson Checking in and getting their numbers, cowboys surround Bennie Beutler's sister Vickie Shireman, 46, (center) who has been the secretary at the Burwell Rodeo for the last 27 years.

Independent/Barrett Stinson Since coming to the United States in 1923 at age 19, Rosario Soto has seen her family grow to 183 members and counting.