News

The knock came on a lazy Friday afternoon. “I see blight on your cypress trees. We can take care of that for $$$.” Our cypress trees, over 20 years old and curving around the rear of our corner lot, still provided some shade and privacy. We hadn’t planned on this project. But we knew he was right when he said, “They could fall down.” Our neighbor’s tree had fallen into the street without warning. “They won’t get healthy again.” We bargained a better price. They said they’d arrive sometime next week.

It was the annual Christmas Cookie Day at our local Security First Bank in Merriman. Loretta Fish went all out in making some magnificent chicken noodle soup and many delightful-tasting decorated cookies. My son, Brock, and I took advantage of this great opportunity as a perfect day to renew our notes and lines of credit with our loan officer, Brian Kirk.

LINCOLN – Governor Pete Ricketts recognized September as Suicide Prevention Month during a press conference at the State Capitol. He emphasized the need to be vigilant for signs of mental illness, especially given the rising rates of depression/anxiety occasioned by the pandemic. Gov. Ricketts also commended the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for the agency’s ongoing efforts to promote mental health.

It’s not every day the local radio station gets to shout out Blackhawk helicopter crews. The 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, the aviation brigade for the 29th Infantry Division, a major aviation command of the Maryland Army National Guard, were at 5,500 feet flying through northern Nebraska when they found 940 AM KVSH Radio using their aircraft navigational radio which is also an AM radio receiver.

Jamie and Prairey Brennan and family spent the weekend visiting her parents, Vern and Marlys Walkling and other family members. Our sympathy to Clyde Brewer as his sister, LaVaun Teegarden of Idaho passed away September 20.

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

The Sandhills Prairie Refuge Association will be hosting memorial dedications for board members Mary Young and Janet Grabher. Donations were used from families, memorials, and members to purchase viewing scopes that are located at both Fort Niobrara and Valentine National Wildlife Refuges. Janet and Mary were long time board members who greatly contributed to the organization and the refuges.

Here Comes the bride! Actually, we should say brides - four of them supposedly, to marry a quartet of love-starved citizens. The husbands-to-be include two bachelors, lumberjack (and hero) Forrest Green, and saloon owner Lucky Betts, and two widowers, grizzled prospector Grubby Shurtz and respectable banker C.D. Nichols.