Praying Mantis in Garden
August 28, 2014 Leave a comment
We discovered this brown praying mantis in our garden on a pepper. Photo credit for both/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
New Dala Horse Signs in Oakland
August 28, 2014 Leave a comment
City of Oakland employee Bryan Johnson is putting up new Swedish signs in Oakland. Mike Francis (not visible) another city employee, is guiding and driving the vehicle. The signs were the result of a FOOF grant (Friends of Oakland Foundations) and were made at CBS Signs Inc. out of Lincoln. Former Oaklander, Don Denton, is the manager of CBS Signs and delivered them to Oakland. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Keep Looking Up
August 27, 2014 Leave a comment
“Monster in the Middle of the Milky Way”
By Pastor Gary Fugman
We look into the evening sky in late summer and see the marvelous Milky Way Galaxy that we live in arcing overhead. Even with the unaided eye, here in eastern Nebraska we can tell that our galaxy is a combination of stars, bright material and dark material. What do we know about the structure of our home galaxy? What do we know about what holds our home galaxy together? And, what about the evidence of a monstrous black hole residing in the middle of our Milky Way?
This Friday, August 29 at 8pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, August 30 at 8pm at the Decatur Sears Center, Pastor Gary Fugman will lead a discussion on the galaxy we call home. Images of giant stars zooming around the center of the galaxy indicating the presence of a monstrous black hole will also be seen. Star charts will be given and the August-September night sky will be displayed. We offer to those who desire to officially join Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) and the Astronomical League with observing programs, newsletters and book discount benefits, the opportunity to bring a check made out to the Astronomical League for $12.50 annual dues.
Then, weather permitting, Friday 3 miles south of Lyons at the Cory and Tracie Martin residence and Saturday on the south side of Decatur at Fugman Observatory, we will observe deep sky objects that define the center on our Milky Way Galaxy. You are encouraged to bring your binoculars or telescope to observe this fascinating part of the sky as well.
For more information on this and future NENAC meetings, google “nenacstars” or call 349-1953, and Keep Looking Up!
Happenings at Oakland Heights
August 27, 2014 Leave a comment
Oakland Heights News
By Nancy Silvey Activity Director
This week there is one change to the calendar of events on Thursday August 28th we will be having the general store from 1:30 to 3:30 for the resident to come and do some shopping. On Saturday August 30th is the first Nebraska game at 2:30 pm we will be showing it in the front Lobby for residents to watch. We also start a new month next week starting on Monday September 1stwhich is also Labor Day, on Wednesday September 3rd is Sandy Frances 30 year Anniversary Party at 2:30 pm it will be celebrated in the Assisted Living Dinning room. We would like to wish a Happy Birthday to Dorothy Brader who celebrates a birthday on September 3rd. Then on Saturday September 6th Nebraska takes on McNeese State at 11:00 am.
Church Service for Sunday August 21st at 2:30 pm will be given by the United Methodist Church with refreshments served afterwards.
Activities for the week of Sept. 1st to Sept 6th , are as follows, Sing a Long, Game Day, Bingo w/WOW, Crafts, Bible Fellowship, Word Games, Let’s Play Ball, Crafty Cooking, Friday Bingo, Saturday morning movie, and Lawrence Welk.
Volunteers signing in last week were; Judy Nelson, Betty Hanna, Mary Donovan, Seth Anderson, Dani Moseman, Marge Maller, Anne Anderson, Pat Anderson, Bonnie Fleischman, Nadine Anderson, Di Ruwe, Mary Alice Pearson, and Sly Rouse.
Guest signing in last week was: Mary Plageman to see Dorothy Larson, Dolarce Johnson to see Iona Long and Bonnie Ling to see Yvonne Stromquist.
Activity Memorial Fund
A memorial was given in memory of Esther Moeller by her Family.
Hassebrook: “It Was Just a Matter of Time”
August 27, 2014 Leave a comment
“It has started. Pete Ricketts’ misleading ad says more about who he is than about who I am. First, Pete’s father gave him a job in corporate America and now he is trying to buy him a new job as Governor. But it won’t work, because Nebraskans’ votes aren’t for sale,” said Hassebrook.
The ad from the RGA falsely claims that Hassebrook supported cutting Medicare. In fact, Ricketts funded an organization that worked to end Medicare as we know it and replace it with an unpredictable voucher system that would cover a shrinking portion of medical costs for Nebraska’s seniors.
Hassebrook went on to say, “When Pete Ricketts rejected my call for a Nebraska Clean Elections Pact earlier this summer, I knew it was just a matter of time before I would be the target of millions of dollars of misleading attack ads through the third party groups that are backed by his billionaire father.
“This is just like Pete’s primary against Jon Bruning, he is bragging about running a positive campaign and using third party groups backed by his father to lie about his opponent.”
Chuck Hassebrook
Betty Jean (Ritz) Wagner, 80 of Tekamah NE
August 27, 2014 Leave a comment
BETTY JEAN (RITZ) WAGNER, 80 years, of Tekamah, Nebraska, passed away Monday, August 25, 2014, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, Nebraska.
Betty was born December 18, 1933, in Comstock, Nebraska, to Christian G. A. Ritz and Vella M. (Grim) Ritz Oxford. She graduated from Broken Bow High School.
On June 14, 1953, Betty married Kenneth L. Wagner of Merna, Nebraska. After living a few years in Broken Bow and one year in Grand Island, the couple moved to Omaha in 1961.
Betty stared her career in banking as a teller at First National Bank in Broken Bow. She worked as an Executive Secretary, Credit Card Manager and Purchasing Manager at Omaha National Bank. In 1977, she graduated from the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin and was later promoted to Bank Officer. Betty retired from banking in 1996, after the bank ultimately became U. S. Bank. During her career, Betty served in various offices of the National Association of Credit Women (NACW), including a term as President.
Throughout her life, Betty was an avid Husker football fan, enjoyed deer and antelope hunting with her husband, Ken and loved reading mysteries, thrillers and romance novels.
She moved to Tekamah to be closer to her daughter, Deb and son-in-law, Rick and assisted them until last year with the operation of their wine tasting room at Big Cottonwood Vineyards and Winery. Many customers’ memories and positive experiences with the winery are because of Betty.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth; aunts, Nola Bailey Sorenson, Dollie Garris and Goldie Pirnie; uncles, Avalo “Bus” and Jack Grimm, whom she grew up with.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Deb and Rick Barnett of Tekamah and sister-in-law, Willa Wagner of Erickson, Nebraska.
MEMORIAL GATHERING: Friday, August, 29, 2014, 11:00 a.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah.
PRIVATE FAMILY BURIAL: Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska, at a later date
MEMORIALS: Tekamah Fire and Rescue, Lied Tekamah Public Library, and Oakland Public Library.
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
Betty Wagner
John Howard Bacon, 90 of Lincoln NE originally of Lyons NE
August 27, 2014 Leave a comment
JOHN HOWARD BACON, 90 years, of Lincoln, NE, originally of Lyons, NE, peacefully at rest Thursday, August 21, 2014, after a long illness.
Howard, as most family members called him, was born on March 5, 1924, to John and Jessie (Shawver) Bacon in Lyons. He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Phyllis (Brix) Bacon, whom he married February 16, 1946, also by ten brothers and sisters.
Howard served in the US Army from 1943–1946 in World War II, primarily in Germany where he was injured and recovered in France. After the war, he moved from Lyons to Schenectady, NY, where he worked at General Electric Company for 32 years, coached Little League, and designed and built a summer home at Great Sacandaga Lake with the help of family and friends. They relocated to Daytona Beach, FL in 1979 where he was a member of the church at Colonial Colony South.
He is survived by sons, John Bacon (Kathy) of Lincoln and Bruce Bacon (Lynne) of Schenectady, NY; four grandchildren, Jonathan, Constance, Christina, and Jennifer; six great grandchildren, Josephina, Christian, Savannah, Jacoby, Riley and Aiden; sisters, Waneta Frey of Scotia, NY, Blanche Guill of Lyons; and many other relatives.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: September 3, 2014, 1:00 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Lyons.
BURIAL WITH MILITARY HONORS: Lyons Cemetery with Military Honors by Robert Klase-Rogers VFW Post No. 7998 and Harvey Lenig American Legion Post No. 83.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Autism Society of Nebraska, PO Box 83559, Lincoln, NE 68501-3559 or the charity of your choice.
Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.
John Bacon
Author Mary Connealy Speaks at Oakland Public Library
August 26, 2014 Leave a comment
“I am use to sitting at home along and writing. This is not me,” said author Mary Connealy of Decatur, NE at the beginning of her presentation at the Oakland Public Library.
Mary has written 32 books, spanning a career of over 20 years. She has often been asked how her writing career started. “I decided it was better than dusting,” Mary said. Her daughter Wendy at the age of 10-12 had a writing assignment for school. This was prior to Mary writing her first book. “I wanted to help her with it and she wouldn’t let me look at it,” Mary stated. She did realize then that she was interested in writing.
Her first purchase to begin her endeavor was a computer. “Without it, I wouldn’t be a published author,” Mary said. “It didn’t have internet, so I would go to mom’s (Dorothy Moore of Lyons, NE) and use her internet or go to the library.”
Her computer also didn’t have the ability to save her work so she could pick up where she left off the next day. “I had to save everything on a disc. I could only get one chapter on it, but I tried to save two on it as they were expensive,” Mary stated.
Once Mary got started writing, there was no stopping her. “I loved it. It was just fun,” Mary said.
There was a time Mary didn’t think anyone would publish her books. “I decided then to write what I want to write to entertain myself,” Mary stated.
After ten years of writing, Mary had saved 20 books to her computer. Her ideas expanded, including places she had visited and many other ideas that have developed over the years. She also has written books that develop into a three-part series. “I got one idea and they just grew,” Mary said.
Pat Anderson, one of many in attendance, asked Mary if she picks the covers of her books. “The company asks me questions, but the company chooses the cover in the end,” Mary stated.
Pat also asked if she has an agent. “Yes, I do have a literary agent in charge,” Mary said. “I signed a contract for six books (her three-book series) then about halfway through, I sign another contract for six more.”
Mary can write as many books she wants, but the company that publishes them only wants two a year. “That is not enough to keep me busy,” Mary stated. So, she has written novellas for another publishing company. “A novella is four stories, about 20,000 words each, in one book,” Mary said.
With the average book Mary writes consisting of 80,000 words, Mary has very lofty goals. “I write at least 1,000 words a day, finishing a book in three to three and a half months,” Mary stated.
When Mary turns in a book, it can take a while for it to be published. “My next book is due October 1st. I already have it done. But, it won’t be released until next September,” Mary said.
She encourages others to pursue writing, or any choice of a career. “If people are good at something, they love it. Writing is something I love,” Mary stated.
Mary had books for sale after her speech, donating the money from the sale of the books to the Oakland Public Library.
Mary Connealy hands out bookmarks, etc. to those attending to hear her speak on her writing career. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Oakland Library Director Rosa Schmidt introduces author Mary Connealy to all in attendance, eager to here about her writing career. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Author Mary Connealy Speaking at the Oakland Public Library. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Pat Anderson visits with Mary Connealy after her speech at the library. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Hotel Scam
August 26, 2014 Leave a comment
Many people routinely use hotels for business or pleasure. This is a creative new angle for a scam.
You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk.
Typically when checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for any charges to your room). You go to your room and settle in. All is good.
The hotel receives a call and the caller asks for (as an example) room 620 – which happens to be your room.
The phone rings in your room. You answer and the person on the other end says the following:
‘This is the front desk. When checking in, we came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read me your credit card numbers and verify the last 3 digits numbers at the reverse side of your charge card.’ Not thinking anything is wrong, since the call seems to come from the front desk you oblige. But actually, it is a scam by someone calling from outside the hotel. They have asked for a random room number, then ask you for your credit card and address information. They sound so professional, that you think you are talking to the front desk.
If you ever encounter this scenario on your travels, tell the caller that you will be down to the front desk to clear up any problems. Then, go to the front desk or call directly and ask if there was a problem. If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone tried to scam you of your credit card information, acting like a front desk employee.
As always, NEVER give your personal information to ANYONE calling you. If you initiate the call you have some degree of comfort the information is being taken and used for the reason you want. Always be on guard.
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
Craig/Alder Grove Parish News
August 26, 2014 Leave a comment
August 31 – Worship service in Craig Methodist Church 10:00 a.m.
September 7
Worship Service at 10:00 at Craig United Methodist Church. Marvin Neubaur, Methodist District Superintendent speaking.
Church meetings will follow immediately after the service for Craig Methodists.
All Parish Pot Luck in the Presbyterian Church basement. Meat, buns and beans provided.
After lunch Doc Wyatt will meet with the Craig Presbyterians while Marvin Neubaur will meet with Alder Grove members.
At the conclusion of these meetings, there will be a Parish Council meeting.
Sunday, September 14
Sunday School begins for the year!
9:00 a.m. (NEW TIME) in the Craig Methodist Basement for Opening. Everyone welcome!!
10:00 a.m. Worship service at Alder Grove.
Kat Country Hub 
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