Hometown boy returns to serve and protect Grand Island The opportunity to serve the community in a city that supports its police attracted Payton Kinne back to his hometown of Grand Island. Payton joined the Grand Island Police Department in March 2021 after earning a degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He graduated from the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center…

Officer Brooks found a better opportunity for himself and his family in the middle of Nebraska. See why he moved halfway across the US and is now proud to call Grand Island home. View Law Enforcement Opportunities

Lynda Conner relocated to Grand Island from across the country with her husband, and wouldn’t run her business or raise her family anywhere else.

Rose finds chance to learn specialties in Grand Island Police Department Officer Alexis Rose chose the Grand Island Police Department for a chance to get out of her comfort zone and learn something new. Rose joined the department in August 2021 after earning a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She graduated from the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training…

A friendship forged over state science standards played a role in a couple of educators moving to Grand Island. Josue Covarrubias grew up in South Sioux City, earned his Bachelor of Science in secondary education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, then returned home to teach world languages at South Sioux City High School. That’s where he met his future wife, Anya, who grew up in Cope, CO, and…

Sierra Thyfault returned to her home of Grand Island after a time in a larger metro area to open Helium Salon in the Railside district.

Work brought Brent and Beth Frerichs to Grand Island, but the small-town atmosphere and big-city amenities are two of the reasons they stay. Brent grew up in Axtell and Beth in West Point, but they both attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “After college, I was offered a position at Chief Buildings as a project designer,” Brent said. He moved to Grand Island in 2005 but returned to Lincoln…

Michael Rivera came home to Grand Island from a larger city to manage his business and raise a family.

After attending college out of state, Megan Roach could have looked for a job almost anywhere, but she knew where she wanted to be. “I kind of always wanted to come back to Grand Island,” said Megan, whose maiden name is Billington. “My family was here. They all grew up here.” A true hometown girl, Megan was born and raised in Grand Island and attended Newell Elementary School and Westridge Middle…

Sonephet Manivong left Grand Island for New York, then came back and started a successful food truck.