Kierstan Hans, a ninth-grade student at Wynot Public School, was selected through a statewide art contest sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment. The annual contest encourages students to create artwork promoting waste reduction, recycling and litter cleanup.

Hans was recognized during a ceremony Wednesday, July 29, at the Nebraska State Capitol, where Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly and Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment Director Jesse Bradley honored this year’s winners.

Another area student receiving the statewide honor was Dayton Cunningham, a fifth-grade student at Wausa Public Schools.

Each year, the contest selects 13 student artists from across Nebraska. One piece is featured on the calendar cover, while the remaining 12 winning entries are showcased throughout the calendar’s monthly pages.

The 2027 calendar cover features artwork by Bhavyasri Bhooma, a fourthgrade student at Swanson Elementary School in Omaha.

Other students whose artwork will appear in the calendar include August Ortmeier of Dodge, Haley Dane and Eliza Golden of Gordon, Grace Schmidt of Grand Island, Alexa Gonzalez-Silos and Abel Popish of Nebraska City, Camila Hernandez of Albion, Lizzie Peretti of Omaha, Liliana Grimstad of Syracuse and Heston Fehringer of Beatrice.

The Nebraska: Don’t Waste It! calendar is produced annually to encourage environmental stewardship and educate Nebraskans about recycling, waste reduction and litter prevention through student-created artwork.

Holy Trinity Elementary will host a back-to-school night at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11. The first day of classes will be Thursday, Aug. 13, and the school's annual Fly-In Breakfast is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16.

At East and West Catholic Elementary, preschool and students in grades one through six will begin classes Thursday, Aug. 13. Kindergarten students will report for their first day Friday, Aug. 14.

Cedar Catholic High School will begin classes Thursday, Aug. 13. The Booster Club kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21.

Hartington-Newcastle Public Schools will also begin classes Thursday, Aug. 13. A preK-12 open house is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, and the Booster Club Tailgate at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21.

Wynot Public School will welcome students back Thursday, Aug. 13, with preschool beginning Tuesday, Aug. 18. The annual Breakfast for Champions is planned for Sunday, Aug. 23. Volleyball and football Gatorade scrimmages will be held Friday, Aug. 21, at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.

All fall sports practices will begin Monday, Aug. 10, as mandated by NSAA.

Most of the board’s action centered on revisions recommended by the Nebraska Association of School Boards to ensure district policies remain aligned with changes in state statute and federal regulations.

Among the updates was a new policy governing staff use of artificial intelligence. Superintendent A.J. Johnson said employees will be required to obtain administrative approval before entering student information into AI tools to ensure appropriate security measures are in place.

The board also approved a companion policy addressing student use of artificial intelligence.

The revised policy includes an explicit list of prohibited uses, including creating deepfakes, generating harassing content, creating nonconsensual images and entering classmates’ personal information into AI programs.

Board members also adopted Policy 6046 regarding access to school library materials in response to Legislative Bill 390, which takes effect this fall.

Johnson said parents already have online access to the district’s library catalog.

The new policy allows parents to receive notifications whenever their child checks out a library book, a feature supported by the district’s library system.

The board approved revisions to several additional policies, including meeting notices to reflect updated state publication requirements while continuing the district’s practice of publishing monthly meeting notices, bidding and procurement policies to reflect updated state and federal purchasing thresholds, communicable disease procedures to align with Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services guidance and a new ACH originator policy governing electronic fund transfers.

Other policies included attendance and absenteeism procedures, admission requirements for part-time and homeschooled students participating in activities, student discipline procedures reflecting updated state law allowing suspension of prekindergarten through second-grade students for violent behavior capable of causing physical harm and grade placement procedures for transfer students.

The board also approved an employment contract for industrial technology instructor William Hayes Miller, who received a three-year career teaching certificate from the Nebraska Department of Education based on his work experience. Johnson said Miller will work toward earning his teaching degree while the district identifies a mentor to support him.

In other business, board members approved a proposed one-year agreement allowing the Village of Newcastle to use the former Newcastle school building. The agreement will take effect once approved by both parties.

Johnson thanked district employees for their work preparing for the new school year.

“I’d just like to thank the custodians, secretaries and office staff for working on getting everything done,” Johnson said.

He said custodians have completed most summer maintenance projects, including classroom work, painting and preparations for annual gym floor maintenance, while office staff have finished ordering supplies and preparing back-toschool packets.

NDE is partnering with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on the initiative funded by a five-year grant from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The program aims to improve the health and academic outcomes of students in rural Nebraska through enhanced school nutrition programs.

As part of the program, DHHS will partner with the NDE to lead objectives directly benefiting school food service operations across the state.

“Research consistently shows that nutrition is fundamental to a student’s physical and mental well-being,” said Commissioner of Education Dr. Brian Maher. “When students have reliable access to nutritious meals, they are better focused, have more energy and are more likely to attend school regularly. This program is a vital step in reducing chronic absenteeism and accelerating student achievement across our rural communities.”

The Nebraska Rural Health Transformation Program will provide direct support to schools participating in the USDA National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs through several key initiatives: Infrastructure Grants: Rural schools or districts can apply for grants of up to $100, 000 per year to modernize food preparation and storage infrastructure. This funding will help schools transition toward scratch and semi-scratch cooking.

Local Procurement Support: The NDE will provide technical assistance to help schools navigate the procurement and acquisition of locally produced and grown food items.

Healthy Kitchen-Ready Products: Grants will be available for food infrastructure equipment designed to develop products that reduce the preparation burden on school kitchen staff.

Professional Development: The NDE will implement the Nebraska School Nutrition Training Institute, offering school food service staff continuing education and experiential learning focused on scratch-cooking techniques and chronic-diseaseprevention menu design.

By removing barriers to healthy meals, the program aligns with the NDE Strategic Plan to improve student achievement and reduce chronic absenteeism by supporting the holistic well-being of Nebraska’s students.

Applications will be accepted through Aug. 31, 2026, unless all available funds are committed prior to that date and can be found online at https://dhhs. ne.gov/Pages/Grant-Opportunities. aspx#docaccess-6f7aa0f-812cd8d4652ae95e8291646c0.

Supt. A.J. Johnson spoke on behalf of the special committee dedicated to the Newcastle site during Monday's School Board meeting.

Johnson said the committee recently met with the Village of Newcastle and had a productive discussion.

Information has now been sent to the school's attorneys so a draft agreement can be prepared. Johnson said the hope is to vote on the agreement with the Village of Newcastle at the July meeting.

The agreement would be a lease agreement, with the Village of Newcastle essentially taking over the cost of the building, Johnson said.

Also Monday, Johnson announced Hartington-Newcastle Public Schools received a $15,000 grant through the Nielsen Foundation for the purchase of musical instruments.

"I'd like to thank the music teachers, Mrs. Hahne and Mrs. Collier, especially Mrs. Hahne," Johnson said. "In the time that Mrs. Hahne was here, I know it was at least over $100,000 that she wrote grants for." Johnson said those grants have helped create opportunities for students to participate in band by expanding access to instruments that families otherwise would have had to purchase.

"The Nielsen Foundation is very generous, so hopefully we will continue to be able to get grants through them and work with Mrs. Collier and a new band teacher to get those done," Johnson said,."But I truly want to thank Mrs. Hahne for getting that done in her years here." The Board also voted Monday to approve an increase in school meal prices for the 2026-27 school year.

Student and adult lunch prices will increase by 10 cents, while student and adult breakfast prices will increase by 15 cents.

The price of milk will also increase by 5 cents to cover the 4.5-cent increase in Hiland Dairy Products' bid this year. The Board also approved the Hiland Dairy bid Monday.

Lunch prices for the 2025-26 school year were $3.35 for elementary students, $3.65 for high school students and $5 for adults.

Student breakfast was $2.05, adult breakfast was $3 and extra milk was 55 cents.

Johnson said rising costs are the reason for the price increases.

The School Board also approved summer school contracts for Susan Anderson, Ladonna Kneifl and Julie Steen for 17 days.

The Hartington-Newcastle School Board will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m., July 15. Meetings are held in the school's consumer science room.

“This is something that the

citizens of Hartington voted for over 20 years ago," Johnson said. "The citizens of Hartington knew the best way to get it done 20 some years ago was jointly and for the city to do it and for the schools to help contrib- ute. And I think that relationship needs to continue." Board President Jason Dendinger said he was on the board when the city originally approached the district about the complex. He said the city wanted guaranteed users for the facility.

"If they were going to go forward with this, then that is what they wanted," Dendinger said. "They were asking us if we would be that customer along with the other school." Dendinger said he views the two schools as equal users of the cityowned facility.

"So in my mind, we're equal customers to the city," he said.

Both schools currently pay $8,000 a year to rent the facility.

Board member Jason Heikes also questioned the mayor's posi- tion.

"It's a bold statement from one person to overrule the whole city that voted for this 20 years ago," Heikes said.

Dendinger said the city had

previous opportunities to set money aside for future track repairs.

"They were talking about increasing that user fee. That's fine. We understand that. Put it to the side," Dendinger said. "So then when the time comes to redo the track, there's funds there." Johnson said he would like to see the three entities sit down and discuss a long-term plan for the complex.

"My message to the mayor would be and my request to you guys would be like, okay, let's get together and talk," Johnson said, "but any solution has to involve all three entities and not just the Hartington-Newcastle school."

They are the twins of Eric and Crystal Hames. They received a medal, a certificate, their final prize and a FREE book from the Hartington Public Library.

Mya and Reid will be entering Kindergarten at Holy Trinity Grade School in the fall of 2026.

Maya and Reid love coming to the library with their brothers and sister to play with the kitchen and playhouse and also like to attend craft day. They like to read books about Barbie (MYA), Paw Patrol and Dinosaurs (REID). They like it when Miss Kim brings the Old Lady to the mom's daycare to read. Awesome job to mom and dad for instilling the love of the library and books at such a young age.

This program was launched to get children ready for school, and to encourage more parent/child library visits. Books are logged and prizes are awarded along the way. One of the best ways to encourage pre-reading skills is to spend time sharing books each and every day. Reading provides a solid foundation, a key to school and learning success.

Interested in learning more about this reading adventure for your child? Stop by or call the Hartington Public Library, 402-254-6245.

Steen, a senior at Cedar Catholic High School in Hartington, was selected to receive a $2,500 STAR Scholarship from the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was recommended by P.E.O. Chapter HZ of Hartington.

The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship was established in 2009 to provide scholarships for exceptional high school senior women in their final year of high school to attend an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the U.S. or Canada in the next academic year. The competitive STAR Scholarship is for women who exhibit excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, community service and potential for future success. Steen is involved in National Honor Society, Yearbook, EMHC, Volleyball, Cross Country, Student Council, Campus Ministry, One Act, Choir, Swing Choir, Lector, Speech, C-Club, FFA Secretary and 4-H Council Secretary. Steen plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Kearney and major in Communications Disorders. Breah is the daughter of Brad and Jackie Steen of Hartington.

Chapter HZ has been a part of the Hartington community since it was organized in 1982.

P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) has been motivating, educating and celebrating women for more than 155 years. Since its inception in 1869, the nonprofit organization has helped more than 129,000* women pursue educational goals by providing approximately $462 million* in grants, scholarships, awards and loans. The Sisterhood is also the primary support for Cottey College.

Through membership, the P.E.O.

Sisterhood has brought together more than half a million women in the United States and Canada who are passionate about helping women advance through education while supporting and motivating them. In addition to the educational philanthropies, the P.E.O. Sisterhood provides a framework of support and community for all members.

What started with a bond of friendship among seven women in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, is now one of the oldest women's organizations in North America with over 5,400 chapters. To learn more about P.E.O., its powerful educational philanthropies and see stories of women who have benefited from the programs, visit peointernational.org. You can also find more information at: facebook.com/ peointernationalPEOInternational on Instagram linkedin.com/company/peo- international

To earn dean’s list distinctions in SDSU’s colleges, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits and must have earned at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Overall, 4,147 students from 40 states and 31 foreign nations are on the list. Congratulations to these distinguished scholars on earning this academic achievement.

Students on the list include: Lane Heimes of Hartington, a student in SDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

Dylan Heine of Hartington, a student in SDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

Sarah Karnes of Hartington, a student in SDSU’s College of Nursing.

Benjamin Kleinschmit of Hartington, a student in SDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

Paul Kleinschmit of Hartington, a student in SDSU’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering.

Melayna McGregor of Hartington, a student in SDSU’s College of Natural Sciences.

Meredith McGregor of Hartington, a student in SDSU’s College of Education and Human Sciences.

Madalynn Graham of Laurel, a student in SDSU’s College of Natural Sciences.

Abigail Lipp of Laurel, a student in SDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

Bradyn Urwiler of Laurel, a student in SDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

Brayden Shearer of Randolph, a student in SDSU’s College of Education and Human Sciencess.

Jordan will be entering Pre-school the fall of 2026.

Jordan and his pet, Dino the dinosaur, love to visit the library to get fresh books. His favorite books are about puppies. He likes playing with the magnet tiles and the floor puzzles.

This program was launched to get children ready for school, and to encourage more parent/child library visits. Books are logged and prizes are awarded along the way. One of the best ways to encourage pre-reading skills is to spend time sharing books each and every day! Reading provides a solid foundation, a key to school and learning success.

Interested in learning more about this reading adventure for your child? Please stop by or call the Hartington Public Library at 402-254-6245.

Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts recognize students from kindergarten to twelfth grade, who competed in the annual "Home is Where the Habit is" Conservation Poster Contest. Students winning in the state competition included K-1: Sawyer Suckstorf, Norfolk, Nebraska (Lower Elkhorn NRD); 2-3: Gemma Mueller, Norfolk, Nebraska (Lower Elkhorn NRD); 4-6: Clara Steen, Fordyce, Nebraska (Lewis & Clark NRD); 7-9: Kiersten Hans, Wynot, Nebraska (Lewis & Clark NRD); and 10-12: Ember Chavez, Purdum, Nebraska (Upper Loup NRD) Each NRD selects a winner from their district contest to compete in the state competition. The state winners take home a $25 prize and will go on to compete in the National Association of Conserva tion Districts (NACD) poster contest for a chance to win $200. National winners are selected at the NACD annual conference in February.

For more information on the poster contest, visit the NARD website or contact Megan Grimes at mgrimes@nrdnet.org.

He was 82.

Long before he became one of Nebraska’s most respected com munity bankers, Richard E. "Rick" Adkins, Jr. was just a young man learning the ropes at a small-town bank in Geneva. It was 1971, and banking was still done face-to-face across a counter, with a handshake often sealing the deal more firmly than a signature.

For Adkins, those early years at Geneva State Bank became the foundation for a career devoted to serving rural communities — places where he believed strong banks and strong people were inseparable. That belief would guide him for more than five decades in the banking industry.

After two years in Geneva, Adkins moved north to Laurel, joining what was then Security National Bank as a loan o$cer.

It didn’t take very long for the Osmond native to become a trust ed name across Cedar County. Whether a farmer needed to restructure a loan after a tough harvest or a young couple was ready to take on their first mortgage, Adkins quickly earned a reputation for listening first and deciding second - a quality that would define the rest of his professional life.

In 1980, at a time when the agricultural economy was heading into some of the most challenging years rural America had ever seen, Adkins was elected President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Security Bank. It was a daunting role for any banker, but he stepped into it with the combination of steadiness and empathy that people would come to expect from him.

Under his leadership, Security Bank weathered the storms of the 1980s farm crisis and emerged stronger, expanding its reach and investing in new communities across northeast Nebraska. Branches in places like Osmond, Hartington, Allen, and Coleridge grew under his watch, reflect- ing his belief that rural banking wasn't just about financial transactions - it was about keeping small towns strong and vital.

That hometown philosophy led to statewide recognition. In 1999, Adkins was elected President of the Nebraska Bankers Association. From that position, he helped guide banks across the state through shifting regula tions, technological change, and the evolving role of rural financial institutions. On a national level, he served on several key American Bankers Association committees, lending a Nebraska voice to discussions on agriculture, community banking, and government relations.

But the work that mattered most to Adkins rarely made head lines. It happened in the quiet corners of community life — the places where he always felt most at home.

He served on the Laurel Cham ber of Commerce, the Cedar County Fair Board, the County Extension Service, and the 4-H Council.

He volunteered at his church and supported youth activities. He took the same steady approach to community service that he did to banking: listen, help where you can, and never forget who you're doing the work for.

Outside the bank, Adkins found another lifelong passion - American Quarter Horses.

He spent years exhibiting and promoting the breed, eventually serving as a National Director of the American Quarter Horse As sociation, representing Nebraska.

He also served as president of the Nebraska Quarter Horse Associa tion, continuing the same kind of relationship-driven leadership he was known for in banking.

Adkins and his wife, Joan, raised four children in Laurel, all graduates of Laurel–Concord High School. Their family story is interwoven with the community - a reflection of the deep bond he cultivated not just as a banker, but as a neighbor.

Today, Adkins is recognized not only for his long tenure at Security Bank, but for his decades of dedication to rural Nebraska. His legacy is measured not just in bank growth or committee titles, but in the trust of the people he served - thousands of small-town customers who knew that when they walked into the bank, they'd be greeted by someone who understood their lives.

In an era of consolidations, mergers, and online transactions, Adkins remained a reminder of what community banking was always meant to be - personal, local, and grounded in the land and the people who work it. A complete obituary can be found inside this week's issue of the Cedar County News.

In an 11-page letter Monday to Steve Corsi, chief executive of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Foley's team alleged "ongoing financial abuse" in the personal assistance services (PAS) program that helps Medicaideligible Nebraskans with mobility, hygiene and housekeeping.

“Numerous PAS caregivers con tinue to milk the program with false, inflated and duplicate billings," Foley said, adding that the alarm to DHHS was his o$ce's third since February 2024.

Information uncovered by the audit team was forwarded to law enforcement for review of possible legal violations.

In one case, the auditors said, a caregiver had been authorized to de liver 66 hours of personal assistance services a week despite holding down a full-time job as a school bus driver. Auditors identified 28 days during which the caregiver billed DHHS for performing client services at the exact times she was documented to have been driving students. In another example, Foley described a personal caregiver who billed DHHS for 70 days of client services while working full-time for a family counseling business. He said that created an “impossible scenario” of the caregiver working more than 24 hours in each of 45 days during a three-month period reviewed.

“Some of these caregivers claim to be performing work schedules that would make the Energizer Bunny look like a slacker," said Foley.

That caregiver had tapped into other public programs as well, including the larger personal care services (PCS) budget and foster care. Particularly troubling to the auditor was that the caregiver in that case provided help to two adult clients who lived in her home. And one, a relative, was on the sex oender registry for having been convicted of felony sex tra$cking of children in 2014. Living in the home as well, said Foley, was a 14-year-old girl in the state foster care system.

He said the caregiver appeared to have been purposefully deceitful in failing to disclose to foster care agencies that the past oender lived in the house. In seeking personal care aid, the provider reportedly claimed the relative lived in a back yard "cabin," for which cleaning was authorized.

"When the audit team reported this bizarre and unsafe domestic ar rangement, DHHS removed the foster child from the home," Foley said.

The findings surfaced during the ongoing statewide annual audit and were reported to Corsi early due to "urgent need for corrective action," the letter said.

For fiscal year 2025, PAS expenses totaled $10.5 million, of which the federal government covers 60% of costs and the state pays 40%.

4-H Achievement Award during the annual Cedar 4-H awards banquet this weekend.

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Broadway Lanes Burnell’s Foodtown Carhart Lumber Cedar County News Northeast Nebraska News Cedar County Veterinary Services Cedar Knox Public Power District Cedar Security Bank Cedar Title & Escrow LLC Central Valley Ag Christensen Well & Irrigation, Inc.

Creamer Auction Company LLC City of Hartington D&J Variety Deano’s Mini Mart Don Miller Land Co. Inc.

D&K Trailer Inc. - Coleridge Don Peterson Associates Real Estate Family 1st Dental Farm & Ranch Co. - Tim Kuchta Fay’s Furniture & Floor Covering Feilmeier Electric Fischer Feed & Supply First Chiropractic Center-Hartington Floral Designs Folkers Bros. Garage, Inc.

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State Farm Insurance - David Bassing Steffen Drug Steffen Hay Grinding Subway T&R Butcher Block - JT Allen, Fordyce Textures Hair Salon Top Crop Whitmire & Associates Realty & Property Management Whole Hog Genetics Wiebelhaus Service/Farmers Union Wiechelman Repair, Inc.

Wieseler Crop Insurance Wintz Funeral Home Wynot Oil LLC X-Pert Lawn & Landscaping

Broadway Lanes Burnell’s Foodtown Carhart Lumber Cedar County News Northeast Nebraska News Cedar County Veterinary Services Cedar Knox Public Power District Cedar Security Bank Cedar Title & Escrow LLC Central Valley Ag Christensen Well & Irrigation, Inc.

Creamer Auction Company LLC City of Hartington D&J Variety Deano’s Mini Mart Don Miller Land Co. Inc.

D&K Trailer Inc. - Coleridge Don Peterson Associates Real Estate Family 1st Dental Farm & Ranch Co. - Tim Kuchta Fay’s Furniture & Floor Covering Feilmeier Electric Fischer Feed & Supply First Chiropractic Center-Hartington Floral Designs Folkers Bros. Garage, Inc.

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Nebraska Land Tiling, LLC Nebraska Realty Deb Addison, Realtor Northeast Ag Consulting/Pioneer Northeast Pipe & Panel NP Mart Pinkelman Sales Inc.

Premier Lawn & Landscaping & Snow Removal RaDec Construction Co., Inc.

REPS – Russell & Karen Flamig Rodeo’s Bar and Grill Security Bank Shiftr, Joan Steffen SKCI Inc.

State Farm Insurance - David Bassing Steffen Drug Steffen Hay Grinding Subway T&R Butcher Block - JT Allen, Fordyce Textures Hair Salon Top Crop Whitmire & Associates Realty & Property Management

Whole Hog Genetics Wiebelhaus Service/Farmers Union Wiechelman Repair, Inc.

Wieseler Crop Insurance Wintz Funeral Home Wynot Oil LLC X-Pert Lawn & Landscaping

www.skcicrop.com

cvacoop.com

The following is the information currently available.

FIRST QUARTER HIGH HONOR ROLL (3.5+ GPA) SENIORS:

McKenzie Bruning, Carmen Buschkamp, Emilie Claussen, Aaralynn Collier, Cole Heimes***, Kiara McCray, Cohen Paden, Alejandra Reyes, Abi Rice***, Cole Rosener, Jack Steffen***, Maddie Steffen

 JUNIORS:

Jade Ford, Dane Gotch, Kora Kneifl, Mason Krause, Brayden Lammers, Ellie Lammers, Wendy Reyes, Isaac Santiago***, Dolcie Sudbeck, Katelyn Wubben, Trynity Zach 

SOPHOMORES:

Aidan Anderson***, Landon Clark, Emily Clmer, Ali Ford, Lincoln Grutsch, Jason Heimes, Sophia Johnson, Tansey Kneifl, Anna Lammers, Maximus McCray, Adeline Pinkelman, Ashlynn Pinkelman, Gabe Reyes***, Austin Sudbeck 

FRESHMEN:

Ella Eickhoff, Kloe Fischer, Natalee Hart***, Allison Huesers, Vayda Lippert, Jaden Opfer***, Ziva Stratman***, Katelyn Uldrich***, Alyk Zach 

EIGHTH GRADE:

Ashlynn Dailey, Cody Edwards, Henry Folkers, Dylan Heikes, Nathan Heimes*** Ella Kelly, Nora Lange, Olivia Olsen, Jacob Pinkelman, Gabe Sovereign***, Axel Sudbeck

SEVENTH GRADE:

Nathan Brummels, Lucas Davies, Brooklyn Fischer, Celia Gall, Lily Heikes, Caleb Heimes, Abrie Humphries, Haleigh Lammers, Rylan Lammers, Rex Lippert*** Quinn Stratman, Lauren Uldrich***, Kate Wiedenfeld *** Denotes All A’s 

HONOR ROLL (3.0-3.499 GPA) SENIORS:

Logan Opfer, Alex Reineke, Ayden Rosener 

JUNIORS:

Kassydi Anderson, Keatyn Arens, Kaylee Christensen, Hazel hochstein, Carter Kelly, Lainey Morten, Ashton Wakely, 

SOPHOMORES:

Karissa Bruning, Colton Cavanaugh, Davey Folkers, Cris Kneifl, Cell Martell, Ty Opfer 

FRESHMEN:

Autumn Anderson, Kyptin Collier, Hayden Eickhoff, Tyler Johnson 

EIGHTH GRADE:

Colter Feilmeier, Hadley Grutsch, Scout Heimes, Gage Jacobs, Elena Reyes, Jocelyn Reyes, Wyatt Rice 

SEVENTH GRADE:

Kyler Anderson, Camryn Bruning, Cayce Cameron, Brody Dickes, Harper Folkers, Merrick Folkers, Waylan Grutsch,Evan Hart, Ella Hoeppner, Emma Hoeppner, Randall Huesers, Jerze Hunt, Brooke Kalin, Rylan Lammers, Londynn Morten,Willa Sage, Stella Sudbeck, Anthony Thoene, Logan Thoene, Harrison Winkelbauer

LINCOLN — “Every Moment” was the theme this year for the 97th Nebraska FFA State Convention, with 32 members of the Hartington- Newcastle FFA Chapter among the 7,800 blue jackets that invaded downtown Lincoln last week. Students have put in long hours in order to prepare for the state competition that took place over three days. Students from both Cedar Catholic and Hartington Newcastle took to the challenge to compete and represent the community in ten contests, the state choir, delegates, and receiving top awards.

The first day of the contest was focusing on Leadership Development Events. Breah Steffen and Karissa Bruning competed in Agricultural Demonstration. They showed their skills of Goat Showmanship, and answered questions from the judges, they received a bronze award at the state competition.

Sr. Public Speaking was a pre-written competition, Ava Stewart took to the challenge of writing a speech entitled “The Effect of CRISPR/Cas9 Technology on Genetic Diversity in Beef Cattle.” She presented and made her way into the Finals which was top six. She was on stage on Friday to receive her award of second place individual. We had three members of our group selected to be a part of the State FFA Choir, Aaralynn Collier is a four year member of the choir and she received a solo this year, Kyptin Collier, and Jayden Lordemann sang their hearts out at all the major sessions.

The Agricultural Proficiency awards honor FFA members who, through their Supervised Agricultural Experience, have developed specialized skills they can apply toward their future careers. Five students sent on their proficiency applications to the state competition. Ava Noecker and Ava Stewart were chosen to be State Finalists, where they had to interview in order to be awarded for first, second or third place.

Ava Noecker’s proficiency was in Dairy Production, she took first place and will have her application sent on to the National Competition this fall. Ava Stewart’s proficiency was on Swine Production, and she took second place.

Career Development events focused on more hands-on contests, Floriculture was the first contest to happen. The team placed 58th, with top individual was Maddie Steffen at 101st. Other teammates included Mckenzie Bruning, Kora Kneifl, and Katelyn Wubben.

Agronomy had an early morning but they rose to the challenge by team placing 45th, top individual members were Graham Potts 97th, Jason Heimes, Cole Heimes and Gabe Reyes. Livestock Management is a team-based competition with individual knowledge based components on six different species- bases. The team placed 19th and members consisted of Ava Noecker, Ava Stewart, Gus Lammers, Breah Steffen, Karissa Bruning and Adeline Pinkelman.

The Welding competition is designed to promote and create an interest in welding. The HNS team placed 56th. The top individuals were Ty Opfer in arc welding 30th, Josiah Christensen in tig welding 32nd, Cris Kneifl in oa welding 54th, and Castin Pinkleman in mig welding 57th.

The Agriscience team placed 100th. Calley Stewart was top individual on the team at 127th. Other members included Marek Heimes, Elsie Haahr and Gus Lammers.

Livestock Judging was early to start there Friday but students identify, evaluate the difference in breeding and market livestock. The team placed 54th, with top individuals Ava Noecker 76th individual, Breah Steffen placed 118th, other teammates included Quinn Hochstein and Ashton Wakeley.

Poultry Evaluation blends practical hands-on experience with the basic knowledge of the poultry industry. This year’s team placed 23rd, teammates included Calley Stewart, Ava Stewart, Ali Ford and Jade Ford.

On Friday, ten seniors got to walk across the stage in order to receive the top award, the Nebraska State FFA Degree. Mckenzie Bruning, Nicholas Coleman, Aaralynn Collier, Cole Heimes, Benjamin Klenschmit, Matthew Loecker, Ava Noecker, Castin Pinkleman, Claire Rolfes and Maddie Steffen applied with a written application and did an in-person interview about their SAE and FFA involvement in order to receive the top honor that can be received within high school.

The HNS FFA members also recognized FFA teach/sponsor Emma Lammers upon receiving her Honorary State FFA Degree for going above and beyond for things in the classroom, school and for the chapter.

The UNL Haskell Ag Lab will be hosting Winter Fest on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Winter Fest is a winter workshop for adults and youth that will be both fun and educational.

The UNL Haskell Ag Lab is located at 57905 866 Road, Concord, NE.

Highlights of the event include winter preparedness, winter weather on landscapes, a wreath workshop, numerous youth activities involving winter weather, ornaments, games and more.

Kim Bearnes, Stanton County Extension Educator from the Nebraska EDEN Team, will lead a session in preparing your homes, vehicles, and yourselves for the winter season.

This session aims to equip participants with the knowledge and resources necessary to help you face those Nebraska winter challenges safely and confidently.

Another session will be led by Ian Peterson, Horticulture Extension Educator, on winter weather on your landscapes.

Winter weather brings about a time to see our landscape in a different light - snow-capped shrubs, rustling leaves still clinging to branches and wildlife scrounging around for seeds and nuts.

Cold temperatures, temperature swings and storms also create potential risks for our plants. Learn about conditions such as frost cracking and plant heaving; what to do when heavy snow damages a tree; and preventative steps to keep your landscape as healthy as possible through the dormant season.

The wreath workshop cost is $30 per wreath. All other activities are free. All children must have an adult on site. Snacks will be available for everyone attending.

Register for the wreath workshop by calling 402-5842261. Limited spots are available. No pre-registration is needed for the other activities.

The reading, free and open to the public, will begin at 2 p.m. in the second-floor lounge of the Humanities Building. This event will be livestreamed on the Plains Writers Series Facebook page.

Jensen is the author of “The Smoke of You: A Memoir of Love During & After Deployment,” published by MilSpeak Books in 2023.

The Fiction Slam will follow the Plains Writers Series reading. The slam will be held at 7 p.m. at the Max Bar and Grill in downtown Wayne. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. for slam participants who need to bring two original short stories and the $5 registration fee. The slam is also free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.wscpress.com. Amber Jensen completed her undergraduate studies in English and Spanish at South Dakota State University. After teaching English in Mexico for five years, she continued her studies in literature and writing, earning a graduate degree at SDSU and a master of fine arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of New Orleans.

Encouraged by mentors in both programs, Jensen began drafting essays, finding homes for some of them in “North Dakota Quarterly,” “Narrative Inquiry,” at “Oh-Dark-Thirty,” and in Red, White, & True: Stories from Military Veterans and Their Families WWII to Present. These essays are now part of her first book, “The Smoke of You: A Memoir of Love During & After Deployment,” published by MilSpeak Books.

The Plains Writers Series is held several times a year at Wayne State and has been an integral part of the college’s history since 1977. This reading series generally features Great Plains authors and artists in a one or two-day event that is free and open to the public. The Plains Writers Series brings attention to the prose and poetry of Great Plains writers through reading and interacting with area audiences.

The Plains Writers Series provides a forum for Nebraska’s contemporary writers and poets to share their work with Nebraska readers. The content of the project is literature, especially that of rural Nebraska. Literature will be the entire focus of the series throughout the day in the form of readings, questions and answer sessions, one-on-one conversations between the audience members, and the authors presenting their work. Following the readings, a poetry or fiction slam is held in downtown Wayne.

For more information about the Plains Writers Series, contact Chad Christensen, managing editor of the WSC Press and director of the Plains Writers Series, at wscpress@wsc.