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July 23, 2015 Leave a comment
Lane Peterson donated a new windmill that was recently placed by the 4-H kitchen at the Burt County Fairgrounds. Many people came to help place the windmill in its’ new home. All photos credit of Denise Gilliland/Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
July 23, 2015 Leave a comment
4-H Kitchen Photography Theme
If you’ve ever taken a photo you could qualify as a “4-H Blooper” search through your camera, your computer or your phone to find it! This is the photography theme the 4-H Council decided on this year to display in the 4-H Kitchen. Make a print of your photo, a 5”x7” size is easier to see and add any information that explains or makes the blooper funnier. Bring it to the Extension Office before the county fair, or just bring it to the fair and put it up along the food line wall in the 4-H Kitchen. Of course you may add who the photographer is, unless you’re safer if they don’t know!
Pie Day II:
If you missed helping make 101 apple and strawberry-rhubarb pies last week, you are in luck! Pie Day II is this Saturday, July 25 at the Vet’s Building in Oakland. We will start at 8:00 a.m. to make cherry, peach and apricot pies. If you like one of those types of pies, please come on over to Oakland and help. All volunteers are welcome and 4-H members and families are vital to make this big project happen. Hopefully we will be done about 2:00 p.m. (4-H Council will provide lunch for the pie makers) and we will move to the 4-H Kitchen to make the frozen fruit cups for the fair. If you are available for either or both of these pre-fair projects we would appreciate it very much. Hope to see you there!
Bicycle Rodeo:
The 4-H Bicycle Rodeo will be held this Thursday evening, July 23 at the Lutheran Church parking lot in Oakland beginning at 6:30 p.m. Spectators are always welcome, just bring your own lawn chair. The event is comprised of a safety quiz and four riding events. 4-H Clover Kids ages 5-7 are encouraged to take part as well. Bicycle helmets are encouraged for this activity to help emphasize the safety element of bicycle riding. Riders are encouraged to call the Nebraska Extension Office in Burt County at 402-374-2929 by noon the day of the contest so we know how many plan to attend.
Rocket Launch Results
The Burt County 4-H Rocket Launch was held both Tuesday and Thursday evenings, July 14 & 16 at Rogers Sod Farm south of Decatur. Because I printed both dates in previous newsletters, and our judge, George Weiland only lived a short distance away and was available, we decided to offer it both nights. It may have been a good decision as we had eleven young rocketeers participate!
We had varying degrees of success from perfect launches, to an aerobic jog retrieving a rocket, to an arced launch that ended up looking like a lawn dart toss as it plunged into the sod, then “burped” as the parachute recovery system activated. The
4-H rocket launch contest is never boring!
Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons will be awarded during the awards presentation after the fashion show, Friday, August 7th. Results of the contest are as follows:
Brent Miller, Lyons Purple – Champion
Brayden Anderson, Lyons Purple – Reserve Champion
Caleb Schlichting, Lyons Purple
Michael Bracht, West Point Purple
Colten Miller, Lyons Blue
Elise Anderson, Lyons Blue
Andrew Schlichting, Lyons Blue
Layne Miller, Lyons Blue
Clover Kids:
Linden Anderson, Lyons Clover Kid
Eli Schlichting, Lyons Clover Kid
Gavin Johnson, Oakland Clover Kid
Mary Loftis,
Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929
Fax: (402) 374-2930
Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu
Gavin Johnson of Oakland gets a little help from 4-H Rocket Leader Steve Schlichting, and his Dad, Larry (hidden) on his first rocket launch. Also pictured, Eli and Andrew Schlichting. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis.
4-H Rocket Launch Day One group: Elise Anderson, Brayden Anderson, Linden Anderson and Colten Miller all of Lyons. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis.
Brent Miller with his Champion 4-H Rocket Launch, Thursday July 16.
Photo Credit/Mary Loftis.
July 23, 2015 Leave a comment
Isaac Ruwe of Craig uses his muscles with the apple slicer at 4-H Pie Day #1 last week. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis.
The rhubarb cutting crew concentrate on their job. Helping cut rhubarb were: Alex Davis, Molly Trotter, Parke Loftis (hidden) Hayley Niewohner, watching and Avry and Brennan Trotter. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis
July 23, 2015 Leave a comment
The Macy Farmers Market kicks off its second year of operation on Friday, July 24 from 4-7 in the evening at Macy. The market will continue every other week in Macy, until early October. Market organizers plan to eventually host the market in Walthill on Thursdays, alternating between the two communities weekly.
Along with fresh, locally grown produce, much more will be available. Shoppers will find fresh baked goods, other prepared foods, canned and dried food, jams and jellies, eggs, poultry, flowers, and arts and crafts.
“Not only is the Garden Market an opportunity for gardeners to sell extra produce, but we also welcome beaders, arts & crafts, bakers, and other community members to sell homemade and handmade items,” said Dave Farley, Food Access Specialist with the Center for Rural Affairs. Farley said he sees the market as an element of economic development and as a way to promote art and artisans. “There are so many arts and crafts people who don’t get the exposure they deserve,” Farley added. “ This is a new avenue for them. This is promoting economic development.”
WHAT: Uzhi Uthiwi (Garden Market) Macy Outdoor Market 2015
WHERE: Main Street in Macy, NE
WHEN: Friday, July 24 at 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Setup time starts at 3:30 p.m. Tables and awnings are limited and available on a first come first serve basis. Vendors are encouraged to bring their own chairs and tables.
“The Macy Garden to Market project is in it’s second year,” continued Farley. “Initial efforts helped get backyard gardens established on the Omaha Reservation. This year we provided tilling and starter plants to over 20 gardens in Macy, Walthill and Rosalie and homesites in between.”
The Macy Garden to Market Project, a partnership between the Center for Rural Affairs, and the Nebraska Indian Community College, started in 2013 and since then has held a series of workshops. The workshops focus on three areas; first assisting and training gardening techniques from planning to planting to maintaining to harvesting; second cooking demonstrations serving food prepared with items available from the gardens; and thirdly assisting growers in preserving their produce for use later or for sale.
According to Farley, “Canning, freezing and drying are ways people can make their gardens pay off well into the winter. Canning workshops were popular last year and we plan on a series of these starting in August. The capstone event is our Christmas bazaar. Last year we had the first annual Macy Christmas Bazaar and hope to have another successful event in early December.”
All vendors are welcome, especially those from surrounding communities. Sign up for free booth space. Contact Lola Kearnes at (402) 922-1703 or Dave Farley at davef@cfra.org.
For more information visit www.cfra.org
July 23, 2015 Leave a comment
By Rosa Schmidt
Over the years, I have seen the popularity of many Amish series, most written by highly respected authors, such as Beverly Lewis, Cindy Woodsmall, Wanda Brunstetter, and Suzanne Woods Fisher, to name a few. Linda Castillo however, has brought something totally new and different to the “Amish” novel. Rather than a sweet romance, hers is a highly suspenseful mystery!
The newly published, “After the Storm” happens to be Castillo’s seventh Kate Burkholder novel. The series began in 2009 with “Sworn to Silence” where we were introduced to our main character, Police Chief Kate Burkholder. Working in a small town with a large Amish population, Kate herself was raised Amish and left the fold at eighteen; she now works in the same community in which she grew up.
This series offers well-written characters, with just the right amount of mystery, personal detail, and tension to keep these stories interesting. “After the Storm” has been described as an “electrifying thriller” in which Kate Burkholder must uncover a family’s long-hidden past to solve a brutal murder. Tension builds quickly with a tornado on the ground headed Kate’s way and in its wake, the discovery of long-hidden human remains.
The Kate Burkholder novels are definitely not the “Amish” stories many readers are used to, but if you are looking for a new mystery series, this may be it. Each story can be read on its own, however after reading “After the Storm”, you may find yourself wanting to go back to the beginning and read all the way through the series to follow the continuing storyline of Kate’s personal life.
And, as always, you can find this entire series on your library’s shelves. Visit your library today and pick up something new to read!
Rosa Schmidt, Oakland Public Library Director. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
July 22, 2015 Leave a comment
Mary Ann Rose (Cerny) Petersen was born on September 4, 1924 to Frank and Marie (Studnicka) Cerny in rural Dodge, Nebraska. She passed away on July 22, 2015, at the age of 90 years, at Oakland Mercy Hospital in Oakland, Nebraska after a brief illness.
Mary Ann attended a rural school northeast of Dodge. In the 1930s the family moved northeast of Scribner, Nebraska, where she graduated from Scribner High School with the class of 1942. During World War II, Mary Ann was employed by the Rogers Tent and Awning Company in Fremont, Nebraska, making army tents for soldiers. After the war, she was employed at Fremont Guide and Tribune, and later worked as a receptionist for Drs. Van Metre and Hill in Fremont.
Mary Ann married Leeby R. Petersen of Lyons, Nebraska on January 28, 1948. He was the son of Hans and Christine (Koch) Petersen. They made the Lyons area their home, farming in the Liberty area, west of town.
Later in 1968, Mary Ann worked in Lyons at the Logan Valley Manor as an LPN, until she retired in 1981. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, UMW and VFW Auxiliaries, Liberty Club, Westside Aid and the Even Dozen Extension Club. Mary Ann enjoyed painting, gardening, crocheting, embroidery and collecting poems. One of the greatest enjoyments, later in life, was playing dominos with family and friends, and she usually won.
Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Leeby (1985); sister, Evelyn Legband; brothers, Alvin and Marvin Cerny; seven brothers-in-law; eight sisters-in-law.
She is survived by her three children, Mary (Robert) Leifert of West Richland, WA, Jean (Craig) Novak of Loveland, CO, Richard (Lana) Petersen of Lyons; 12 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, a host of very close friends and relatives.
Mary Ann enjoyed life fully to the end. She will be remembered for her loving and kind-hearted ways with all people that she came in contact with. Mary Ann will be remembered for her love of life.
FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, July 24, 2015 10:30 a.m. at Memorial United Methodist Church in Lyons.
VISITATION: Thursday 5:30-8 p.m., with family receiving friends at Pelan Funeral Services Lyons. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to services at the church.
BURIAL: Lyons Cemetery, Lyons, Nebraska
MEMORIALS: Memorial United Methodist Church in Lyons
Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.
pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com
Mary Ann Petersen
July 22, 2015 Leave a comment
July 22, 2015 Leave a comment
Oakland Heights News
By Nancy Silvey Activity Director
This week we have our monthly Waffle Supper on Thursday July 23rd, serving from 5:30 to 6:00 pm. Next week is the monthly Resident Council Meeting on Monday July 27th at 2:30 pm. On Tuesday July 28th we will be serving Bomb pops on the patio at 2:30 pm. Thursday we will be having the General Store open for the residents from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm., then on Friday July 31st we will be having a salad Luncheon for the Residents at 11:30 pm. We also have two residents with birthdays next week Lavern Johnson on July 27th and Joan Price on July 31st Happy Birthday to both.
Church Service for July 26th at 2:30 pm will be given by First Lutheran Church with a luncheon served afterwards. On Tuesday July 28th at 9:30 am is Catholic Mass by Father Paul.
Activities for the week of July 27th to August 1st , are as followed, Reading with Marilyn, Manicures, Sing a Long, Bingo w/VFW Aux., Bible Fellowship, Reading the Local Paper, Friday Bingo, Let’s Play Ball, Crafty Cooking, Saturday morning movie and Lawrence Welk.
Volunteers signing in last week were; Judy Nelson, Betty Hanna, Mary Donavon, Patty Miller, Marge Maller, Anne Anderson, Dani Moseman, Bonnie Fleischman, Di Ruwe, Pat Anderson, Nadine Anderson, and Sly Rouse.
Guest signing in last week was: Phil Simpson, Sam and Linda Harmer to see Virginia Simpson. Rolly and Denise Church to see Muriel Rabe.
Activity Memorial Fund
A memorial was given in memory of Louis Svoboda by Frelon Danielson.
July 22, 2015 Leave a comment
By Governor Pete Ricketts
One of the core duties of state government is to protect society’s most vulnerable citizens and to provide a safety net for those who truly need a hand up, while ensuring that your hard earned tax dollars are spent wisely. Upon taking office, I promised to make state government more effective and efficient, and that our agencies would take a customer-focused approach to serving the citizens of our state. This is the same mindset our state’s small businesses and companies are utilizing every day to improve their products and services so that they can grow and adapt to new consumer demands. If businesses in the private sector fail to adapt, their competitors put them out of business. To thrive, they have to look for efficiencies, stay ahead of the competition, and strive to put their customers first. While no one will put government out of business, building that culture of continuous improvement in state government will help foster an environment that grows Nebraska.
Some have described state government as a monopoly because it provides services to our citizens without any other competitor for the same customers or market. In many ways, this lack of competition has discouraged improving the quality of services the state can offer or held leadership back from looking for better ways to utilize taxpayer dollars. We can and we will do better. Already we are making improvements to ACCESSNebraska. The Department of Corrections is developing new prison sentence calculation software so that inmates are no longer let out early. The Department of Labor launched a new reemployment program to connect jobseekers with some of the over 50,000 job openings across our state.
Running state government like a business may be new to Nebraska, but it is critical to building an environment that encourages job growth and attracts young people who are looking for a place to live, work, and raise their family. One of my first focuses as governor was making sure we had the right team in place to lead the state and tasking them with reviewing existing management practices and processes. Even with the right vision, having the right business-minded team in place is essential to carrying out the vision and applying these principles.
Recruiting and hiring business-minded leadership has allowed my administration to implement fresh management practices that are already changing the way state government works. We are applying commonsense management practices that are standard in private sector businesses. In the early days of my administration, I conducted a high-level review of cabinet-level management and human resource practices. Following the review, we decided to develop job descriptions and performance metrics for cabinet-level positions. These are fundamental practices in the jobs Nebraskans work every day. For the State of Nebraska, job descriptions have helped us recruit the right talent with the right skill sets for the cabinet. To measure the performance of agencies and directors, my office will also conduct annual reviews for each agency-level cabinet position.
To help implement these management practices and to assist with this mission, I also made changes in my own office by hiring a Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). While many businesses have long employed a COO and CHRO, these positions are new to state government. In my office, the COO focused on developing a sustainable approach that will make government more customer focused, efficient, and effective. These initiatives will improve the performance of state agencies and the delivery of services across state government. The CHRO worked with directors to recruit, retain, and develop the best talent to lead state agencies.
Good leadership practices will take time to take root – change will happen incrementally. These initial reforms are important, however, we need to build a culture of continuous improvement. Reform is not something that is one and done. It is a process that involves continual review and fresh tactics. If you have ideas of your own, please call or email my office at 402-471-2244 or pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov. I look forward to hearing your ideas on how we can run government more like a business!
Governor Pete Ricketts
July 22, 2015 Leave a comment
Janis Joyce Zvacek, 68, of Sioux City, Iowa passed away Monday, July 20, 2015 at her home in Sioux City, Iowa. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2015 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender, NE, with Pastor Miles Ruch officiating. Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 23, 2015 at Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender, NE, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Pender, NE. In Lieu, of flowers memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender, NE.
Janis was born January 13, 1947 in West Point, NE to Lambert and Dorothea (Lorenzen) Zvacek. She attended and graduated from Pender High School in 1965, and attended college at Wayne State College. Janis worked for Postal Finance for many years, Central United and most recently before retiring in December 2013 for Kramer Ernest and Swedean CPA in Sioux City. Janis enjoyed cross stitching and belonged to The Embroiderers’ Guild of America – Sioux City Chapter and the American Needlepoint Guild. She was also a member of the Pender VFW Auxiliary. Most of all, Janis loved spending time with her family especially her nieces and nephews.
Janis is survived by her sister, Frances (Dale) Anderson of Bancroft, NE; brother, Dennis (Nancy) Zvacek of Pender, NE; nieces, Sherry (Ryan) Roeber of Bancroft, NE, Aimee (Chris) Ibsen of Roca, NE, Tami (Mark) Nelson of Bancroft, NE, Andrea (Dustin) Holtz of Beemer, NE; nephews, Collin Zvacek and friend Amber of Pender, NE, Todd Anderson of Bancroft, NE, Rodney Zvacek of Pender, NE and many other great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Janis is preceded in death by her parents, and an infant nephew Scott Alan Anderson.
Kat Country Hub 
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