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February 6, 2014 Leave a comment
The Oakland City Council will meet Mon., Feb. 10th at 7:00 at the city auditorium.
The Oakland-Craig Board of Education will meet Mon., Feb. 10th at 8:00 p.m. at the old school.
The Burt County Board of Supervisors will meet Tues., Feb. 11th at 9:00 a.m. at the Burt County Courthouse.
All meetings are open to the public.
February 6, 2014 1 Comment
Valentine’s Day Trivia: What fruit is also known as the “love apple?”
Post Your Answers Here! Also, don’t forget to send in pictures and, if you wish, a write up, about your sweetheart!
February 6, 2014 Leave a comment
First of all, I would like to thank all of our wonderful volunteers at Logan Valley Manor. You mean the world to the residents. They look forward to seeing your happy faces. The work you do is priceless.
Logan Valley Manor would like to welcome Heather Gies to our facility. She is the administrator. She has been a Director of Nursing in a nursing home in Plattsmouth, NE for the past seven years. She lives in Tekamah. Please stop in and say hi and help make her feel welcome.
We have one resident with a February birthday. Vicky Longwell’s is February 10th, 2014.
The residents and the public enjoy the entertainment we have at the manor. Please feel free to stop in and participate. We have some great performers.
It is time to start voting for Valentine Royalty at the manor. Voting began Mon., Feb. 3rd and will end on Fri., Feb. 7th. Families of the royalty will be notified prior to the crowning on Feb. 14tth. On the 14th we will crown a king and queen, prince and princess at approximately 2:00 p.m. in the lobby. We will be serving snacks in the dining room following the crowning.
If you have any special talent and would like to share it with the residents, please give the activity department a call at 687-2636.
The residents will be doing some baking this month and having some craft time, which they enjoy very much.
Happy February! Stay warm!
The Activity Department
February 6, 2014 Leave a comment
Mayor Andy Fuston
Last week we visited about two important events that would have major implications for Lyons in 2014. The first was the local elections and the second was the potential school merger. I have given both a good deal of thought over the past several weeks. I feel now is as good a time as any to share my heart with you on each subject.
The one keeping me awake the most lately is whether or not to run for a third term as mayor of this wonderful community. I have really enjoyed the past seven years serving as mayor. I actually can’t believe we are nearing the end of my second term already. With that being said, I have struggled with the decision of running again because life just seems to be getting busier and busier. I wanted to make sure I was able to devote enough time and energy to help the community continue moving forward. I believe I can. Therefore I have decided to put my hat in the ring one more time. The council has done some amazing things and I feel I have more to contribute to the cause as mayor. If I’m blessed to be elected for another term, I will give all that I can to Lyons and support initiatives to best position us for the future.
Now, on to the one taking a great deal of space in my mind and heart–the school consolidation talks. First, I think it is important to acknowledge that our school board does a wonderful, amazing job. Their jobs are hard enough, but when you throw in possible consolidation talks it becomes even harder. It’s a courageous thing they are doing by opening up a conversation about what the future could possibly look like for Lyons Decatur Northeast. I have to also say as a school board, their jobs are to direct the district to do what they feel is best for the district and the children of that district. I believe their hearts are paved with nothing but good intentions and applaud them for caring enough to look at these hard choices.
As mayor, I believe my job is to advocate for Lyons and its future. I believe that I would not be doing my job if I sat quietly on the sidelines while this issue ran its course. That being said, I have grave concerns about what the loss of our high school would mean for the future of Lyons. I believe a loss of this magnitude would have a devastating effect on our ability to attract new families to our community, would have a negative impact on our economy and would threaten even our ability to maintain and keep an elementary school in town. We all have seen the effects our neighboring communities have experienced with the loss of their schools. Lyons, as a small, rural community, strives every day to maintain what it has built. The loss of our high school would make what is a challenge today a struggle to survive tomorrow. I believe we have worked too hard, sacrificed too much and reinvested in ourselves too greatly to not work to keep our school district intact. I understand our enrollment numbers present the district with a real challenge. But I believe we can take other steps to shore up our school district rather than eliminate it altogether. This issue is not just a school district issue–it is a community issue. The school is a major piece of the fabric of our community. Without it, even part of it, a hole so large will be created that I’m not sure we could ever repair it. I, as mayor, see no upside to this possible consolidation for the community of Lyons.
That being said, we as community members have an obligation and responsibility to help maintain a vibrant school system. We have to put energy and resources into creating a community that is attractive to new families with children. A two-million dollar investment in a new community pool tells me this community understands that. It is willing to commit to the future of this community. There are people in this community dreaming big about housing opportunities, business expansions and new businesses opportunities. The people of Lyons are committed to our future and the future of Lyons-Decatur Northeast. I believe the school board is, too. But we will struggle even more to turn those dreams into realities without a local K-12 school system. We as community members must continue to work together to strengthen our community so our school district can stay strong as well.
Finally, I understand my views on the consolidation talks could have a direct impact on my chances to be re-elected in November. I can live with that. I’m falling on the side of keeping our district intact and doing baby steps, if needed, (co-opting sports, teacher sharing, administration sharing, on-line classes, etc.) to keep it viable instead of taking the full plunge into consolidation. I know there will be roadblocks along the way but this board is very capable to maneuver through them. I see it being what is best for the community as a whole. In the end, I understand the pebble is important but it is the ripples it causes in the water that have lasting effects. We have to be very aware of the ripples a consolidated school system will have on the future of this town. I, for one, am not seeing ripples as much as I’m seeing a possible tsunami. Enough for now. Thanks for listening and for your understanding. Take care and talk to you soon.
February 6, 2014 Leave a comment
ANTIA JEAN BALDWIN, 57, years, of Oakland, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2014, at her home in Oakland.
FUNERAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services Oakland
February 5, 2014 2 Comments
Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
It is cold outside.
I should be a reporter. Oh wait, I am!
I am feeling the way others in the Midwest are right now. It isn’t the snow, or even the cold.
It is those making it into the drama it is not.
I have lived in Nebraska for the majority of my life. Snow, ice, wind, rain, cold, severe summer storms and possible tornadoes are what I call home.
I have been amused by those that are portraying the most recent snow as much larger than it is. I laughed at those standing outside during a newscast stating how awful the roads were as vehicles drove speedily by.
All the while I wondered, where are these people from, Florida?
This is by far not the worst winter I have ever seen. I am hoping it won’t be either. I want to live long enough to have more “terrible” winters to talk about to my grandkids.
There are 43 days until spring. Is someone going to complain then about the rain, the heat coming too early, or any other issue with the weather?
Just remember, it is ours to enjoy each day.
Why dislike it? It is what it is and I wouldn’t change one moment!
——————————————-Kats’ Korner————————————————-
I have learned many things on my “new” adventure.
First of all, I adore what I do. I love writing articles. I am always in search of an interesting focus. I also enjoy the humorous ones as well as human-interest stories. I don’t worry about how I write as I study each day on more writing concepts. I believe in learning beyond the college education I am blessed to have. I intend to learn every day of my life. I am not being graded as I was in school/college. I am, however, being graded by myself.
I am learning more and more each day about taking pictures as well. I have been doing a great deal of research on the subject. Photography is amazing to me, and a constant pursuit in my life.
I am considering taking additional classes to broaden my horizons.
As long as I am living, I intend to learn.
—————————————Kats’ Korner———————————————-
What are your hobbies? I have many. Finding time for them is quite a challenge.
I have been putting some time aside each day to enjoy a hobby of choice.
This time of year, hobbies mostly include inside activities.
I love to crochet. I am on my fifth scarf. I made three from one pattern, a ruffle pattern. I made one infinity scarf and now I am working on a wrap. I also have four orders for the ruffle pattern.
I will make those next, then I am going to find something new.
I also love to read. Or, have someone read to me. I check out audiobooks from the Oakland Public Library. I enjoy a walk, listening to a book. With it being cold outside, I listen to the book and crochet. It is wonderful to enjoy to hobbies at one time!
I have many other hobbies. I had a professor ask me if I had ever considered writing a book. I haven’t. I know I am not that good of a writer. He encouraged me to pick a topic and work on it.
What he didn’t know was, I had started writing about my life as a child. It won’t be a book, but it may be a short story, or something for my eyes only.
Regardless, I enjoy writing.
Above all, I enjoy all of you. Let me know if I can be of any service to you. Thank you for sharing your lives with mine.
Until next time, enjoy each and every day!
God Bless!
February 5, 2014 Leave a comment
Who is the special someone in your life? With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Kat Country Hub would be pleased to share pictures of the love birds out there, and if you want to share a bit of your love story, please do. Send you pictures to katcountryhub@gmail.com or message them to me on Facebook. I can’t wait to hear from you!!!
February 5, 2014 Leave a comment
More beautiful days and nights in pictures. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
February 5, 2014 Leave a comment
Beautiful January 2014 day in rural Cuming/Burt County, NE. All Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
February 5, 2014 Leave a comment
By Clare Wiltse
Sports Contributor
Being the smallest school in a sixteen team conference has its problems like trying to get respect from the big schools. When the brackets are drawn up for the annual EHC basketball tournament, L-D’s wins over small schools does not rate too high. They ended up with a 12th and 14th seed.
The two teams showed that they can play with the top teams as it took four quarters to decide the winners in the East Husker tournament. The girls lost to third seeded Howells-Dodge 44-35. The boys’ game went to the last minute before fifth seed, Twin River, assured themselves a 59-53 win.
Dodge-Howells got off to a great start on their home court. After Haley Bacon opened the scoring the Jaguars made three of their next four shots. The Cougar hung in their with Darcey Simonsen and Vanessa Peterson scoring. An 8-2 run made for a 16 to 8 lead for H-D at the quarter.
The next two quarter saw the Cougars outscore the Jaguars 21-16. Lexie Bacon’s five points in the second quarter made it as four point game, 15-19. After her sister, Haley, made a free throw it was down to three points. Howells-Dodge rallied with eight points to take a 27-20 half time lead.
The Cougars outscored H-D by 7 to 2 when the second half resumed. Darcey Simonsen ‘and Vanessa Peterson scored goals before a trey by Tessie Collins pulled the Cougars to within two points with three minutes left in the quarter. Vanessa Peterson added two free shots with 40 second left in the quarter. A late free shot gave the Jaguars a 32-29 lead.
H-D created some breathing room early in the fourth quarter. They made only two of ten shots, but used their height advantage to grab four offensive boards with two going for put backs. Northeast struggled to put up points as six turnovers hampered their offense. Darcey Simonsen got them going with six points, but the Jaguars relied on six free throws to claim a nine point win.
Darcey Simonsen and Vanessa Peterson led the Cougars with ten points each. The Jags were led by Faith Molacek with 12 and Leah Grovijohn with 9.
“You cannot find any fault with the effort tonight,” said Coach Cronin. The girls played their hearts out.”
L-D 8 12 9 6 -35
H-D 16 11 5 12 -44
2pt 3pt FT Rb F TP
Madie R 0 0 0/0 1 4 0
Darcey S 5 0 0/0 8 4 10
Haley B 3 0 1/3 4 2 7
Tessie C 0 1 0/0 2 1 3
Lexie B 0 1 2/2 0 1 5
Vanessa P 4 0 2/2 9 3 10
Abby P 0 0 0/0 3 0 0
Team 12 2 5/7 27 15 35
H-D 17 0 10/23 035 12 44
With four senior starters back from the Tournament Runner-up team of 2013, Twin Rivers was a very creditable opponent with a 14-4 record.
The Titans opened in a zone defense as they tried to neutralize the offense of Cougar post man Dakota Riecken. They succeeded in slowing Riecken, but the Cougar guards made them change their minds. Simpson and Henneman found openings to launch threes while Alex Brehmer and Marcus Hegy slashed the lane for deuces. Twins River made 9 of 12 shots and led 19-17 at the end of one period.
Twin River went to man-to-man defense in the second quarter. Brehmer tied the score with his patented floater from the lane. Riecken used his spin move to answer a Titan score and keep L-D and TR even at 21.
Twin River used a 6-0 run to put a clamp on the lead. Scores by Riecken, Hegy and Brehmer could not match the Titan’s output as the half ended with the Cougars trailing
34-26.
Northeast found themselves down by twelve points early in the half. After an opening basket by Riecken the Titans ran off six straight. Dakota scored two more times to bring the lead down to eight, 40-32. Brehmer’s leaner with 4:15 completed a 6-0 run as the Cougars were back to a six point deficit. Another 6-0 run by Twin river was ended by a Taylor Fuston put back. The Cougars trailed by ten with a quarter to play.
Northeast’s never say die attitude kept the Titans on edge during the fourth period. An opening score on a put back by TR’s Crowell would be the Titans last basket. Brehmer had two scores from the lane and Simpson found his mark from outside the arc. Free throws kept Twin River alive as they made 5 of 8 to lead by ten. The Cougars made their charge in the last four minutes as Hegy and Riecken were perfect from the line and Chevy Henneman hit the trifecta to make it a 54-50 game.
Forced to foul, the Cougars gave back four points before Henneman connected again with 18.2 to play. A quick foul and two misses gave the Cougars life, but there was no more magic as Northeast could not connect on two three pointers and Twin River escaped with a 59-53 win.
Northeast had three in double figures. Dakota Riecken had 14, while Chevy Henneman and Alex Brehmer had 12.
“We re playing really well right now,” Said Coach Lahm “Twin River has a nice team and we gave it our all; we just came up a little bit short. Lahm said he is looking forward to playing Scribner who has won only 2 of 9 games since Christmas.
L-D 17 9 10 17 -53
TR 19 15 12 13 -59
2pt 3pt FT Rb F TP
Chevy H 0 4 0/0 2 5 12
Alex B 6 0 0/0 2 0 12
Bobby S 0 2 0/0 1 3 6
Taylor F 1 0 0/0 4 4 2
Dakota R 6 0 2/2 9 4 14
Marcus H 2 0 3/4 5 4 7
David B 0 0 0/0 1 1 0
Team 15/31 6/16 5/6 29 18 53
Twin River 20/39 1/3 18/24 21 11 59
The Cougars will be playing consolation games this week. The Ladies will be matched against Clarkson/Leigh in a 6:00 p.m. game on Thursday at Clarkson. The Men get another shot at Scribner-Snyder on Friday. They have a 7:45 p.m. game at Humphrey.
Kat Country Hub 
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