INDIANOLA - The Southwest Board of Education met Monday to re-organize and elect officers while also approving the annual audit and declaring a trio of buses surplus. The Board elected the same officers as the previous year, save for the election of Jason Neseth to Vice President.

Wow! There’s been a lot of water under the bridge since this pen was last on the paper. Wednesday, January 6th was like none other! Please keep our great country and its leadership in your prayers.

The Southwest National Honor Society appreciated everyone who donated money and bought gifts and food baskets for their annual Wish Tree. 15 families including 411cids benefited from your generosity!.

Over the past six weeks, Nebraskans have been rallying to bring U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM) to our state. This tremendous support for the military is common practice in our state. Nebraskans honor our servicemen and women, and our residents take great pride in hosting strategic missions that protect our nation.

It has been a long and difficult year for so many of us, but none more so than those who live in senior care facilities and nursing homes. They’ve been locked down for months on end, away from almost all of their family and friends, sometimes even away from their fellow residents. I am not complaining about the protocol, but we can all acknowledge how difficult that is.

County Court Calls 01/04/2021 James D. Baenisch of Colorado Third Degree Assault, Arraignment: 02/08/2021 @ 9:30 a.m.

The legislative on January 6th. It was nice to see colleagues that I’ve worked with before as well as getting to know session kicked off some of the new or returning mem-bers. On the first day there are some procedures we must go through, such as the swearing in of newly elected members, adopting temporary rules, electing permanent officers, and the elections for leadership positions. I am pleased to announce that I was elected to Chair of the Executive Board. It is the second highest position held in the legislature and I am excited to take on this new challenge. Most of the elections were fairly uneventful. There were 3 contested elections for standing committee chairpersons. Business and Labor was between Senator Matt Hansen and Senator Ben Hansen. Senator Matt Hansen was the previous chair but was ousted by Senator Ben Hansen by one vote. The Education Committee was another close race between Senator Mike Groene, the previous chair, and Senator Lynne Walz. After there was a tie in the first round of voting someone must have switched their vote in the second round and the new chair of the committee is now Senator Lynne Walz. The last contested race was for Chair of the Natural Resources Committee, the seat was open since I did not run again. Senator Bruce Bostelman topped Senator Tim Gragert. I look forward to working with all of the new and previous chairs.

LINCOLN - State Senator Dan Hughes is going to be a busy man for the next two years. When the 107th Legislature convened on January 6, the Venango farmer ran unopposed for the chair of the Executive Board—a position second only to the Speaker. Hughes, who has most recently chaired the Natural Resources Committee, decided to seek the position when Sen. Mike Hilgers (Dist. 21), decided to vacate his post as Exec Board chair to become Speaker of the Legislature.

As a final requirement of her Master’s Degree in Leadership Samantha Guenther will be hosting a Leadership Development Program in Arapahoe on January 20 and 27 from 5:30-7:30 pm in the Council Room of the Ella Missing Community Center (EMCC). This program is designed to provide a leadership development experience in Arapahoe that fosters intentional leadership knowledge and behaviors.

Earlier this year, Governor Pete Ricketts awarded more than $29.5 million in funding under the Remote Access Rural Broadband Grant program, administered by the CARES ACT funding from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). Of that, $512,000 was allocated to support ATC Communications in Arapahoe.