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by Vicki Schmitt, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener - Want some pizazz in your yard? Ornamental Grasses can add color, texture, and height to your landscape without much maintenance. Consider your space and read tags carefully. Most ornamental grasses prefer full sun, but some can handle part shade. Be sure to check height predictions to find the best fit for your site. Ornamental grasses can provide interest through the winter, just cut off in early spring.

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy eating plan. Local grocery stores and farmers markets carry an amazing variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that are both nutritious and delicious. Harmful bacteria that may be in the soil or water where produce grows, may come in contact with the fruits and vegetables and contaminate them. Or fresh produce may become contaminated after it is harvested, during preparation or storage. Here are some important tips to help protect yourself and your family from illness: Buying Fresh Produce

Each year, the American Legion Auxiliary sponsors the Little Miss Poppy program to encourage young people to be involved with promoting the various poppy and Veteran programs. Any youth applying must be between the ages of 6-12 and qualify for/join as a Junior Member of the Auxiliary (if they are not already a member). The first year, they will serve as “Little Miss Poppy in Waiting” and assist the current Miss Poppy. The following year, they will assume full Miss Poppy duties. Miss Poppy typically has a role in the following events and should be available for as many as possible: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence, Veterans Day, Wreaths Across America, December 17, and 1884 Days at the end of April. For an application, contact Tiffany Swanson at tiffany. swanson81@yahoo.com or call 308430-1643 or Michelle Garwood at 402-389-1655. This year’s applications are due on May 23.

Rylee Ward is the May Artist of the Month for the Sand Painters Art Club. “I’ve always been drawn to art. I’ve always been drawn to the beauty of life in general. I create art because I use it to express my views and feelings. I create with a variety of mediums, depending solely on what I’m trying to express. My artwork acts as a way for me to express how I’m thinking through more than words.” -Rylee’s Artist Statement. She is a freshman at Valentine High School. Rylee is the daughter of Justin and Ashlee Ward. Her art is on display at Bank of the West, Security First Bank, Viearo, Sandhills Bank, and Union Bank all in Valentine.

Jean Burge The area received rain this past week – about one inch, which is just what pastures needed right now. Let’s hope the pattern continues! Dwight and Marvanne Logterman delivered bulls to Anselmo this past week.

by Andrew Ellsworth, MD Like a car racing along the interstate, exiting onto a highway, and finally reaching the family farm along a dusty gravel road, our blood circulates inside our bodies. There are the major blood vessels, such as the aorta running out of the heart, and there are the tiny capillaries allowing blood cells one at a time to carry oxygen and nutrients to all the cells in our bodies. The network of capillaries is so complex it is estimated there are over 40 billion in one person, and if stretched out in a single line they would cover over 100,000 miles.

Lincoln-High School baseball teams from across the state will converge at the University of Nebraska- Omaha to play for state titles. For the first time, Nebraska Public Media will provide live coverage of championship games played at Tal Anderson Field.

(SFMNP) provides low-income senior citizens with coupons to purchase fresh produce or honey (pure only) at Nebraska farmers markets and roadside stands. The purposes of the program are to provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey to low-income seniors and increase the consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the development of new farmers markets and roadside stands. Nebraska’s SFMNP State Plan of Operations was officially approved early in the year, allowing the state to continue the operation of this program for 2022.

ACTIVITIES Cards daily at 1:00 p.m. Men’s coffee group daily at 9:30 a.m.

Spring is finally here in the Northern Plains and summer feels just around the corner. As all we Northerners know, as soon as the temperatures hit even a mild degree on the thermometer most of us shed the jackets and long pants, and our skin is front-and-center.