The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has announced the first two winners in its yearlong byways picture contest. The winning pictures taken near the state's scenic highways were selected through online balloting.

Bruce Hoye's image of a Nebraska sunset over the Platte River just off the Lincoln Highway Scenic and Historic Byway southeast of Kearney was selected as the winner.

Verdigre resident Ross Sukup's landscape image from the Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway near Niobrara State Park also was selected as a winner.

They will be among four finalists for the grand prize: a laptop computer valued at $1,000.

To enter images into the Nebraska's Byways geopicting contest, visit www.VisitNebraska.gov.