INDIANOLA - The Southwest Board of Education met briefly Monday night to undergo its annual reorganization and to discuss a couple other matters in executive session. After approval of the minutes and claims and presentation of the Treasurer's Report, the Board adjourned sine die and elected new officers for the 2022 calendar year, which will remain the same as the prior year.

BARTLEY – The village board held their regular meeting on January 11, 2022. The lion’s share of the two-hour meeting was spent discussing Ordinance 1003, the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations and Zoning Maps Plan.

Mary A. Runck, 91 years of age, of Hastings, Nebraska, formerly of rural Oxford, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at The Kensington – Assisted Living in Hastings.

Bernard "Bernie" E. Jones age 79 of Cambridge passed away at his home on January 9, 2022. In keeping with Bernie's wishes of Cremation, the family will plan a Celebration of Life at a future date. Friends may leave on-line condolences at lockenourfh. com. Lockenour-Jones Mortuary entrusted with arrangements.

Edward McInturf, 78 years of age, of rural Oxford, Nebraska, passed away on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at Harlan County Health Systems in Alma, Nebraska. Funeral Services are pending with the Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford.

A Funeral Service for Judith M. McClain will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Loomis, Nebraska with Pastor Tom Thompson officiating. Interment will follow at the Highland Cemetery at Bertrand, Nebraska.

A Funeral Service for Dorothy I. “Dottie” Paulsen was held on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Jan Gluth King officiating. A Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at the Blair Cemetery in Blair, Nebraska.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of Ellen Louise Olnhausen, 76, of Cozad, Nebraska. Ellen began her eternal life on January 8, 2022.

As many of you know, this is my 8th and final year in the Nebraska Legislature. I’m amazed by how quickly time has gone by. As I enter my final session, barring any special session, there are some things I have yet to accomplish and we will get into those a little bit later. As many of you already know, on Thursday of this week, the governor will have laid out his plan on how we will spend the $1.04 billion of ARPA money which is the America Rescue Plan Act. Not much was known previously about what the governor would like to spend that money on. There will probably be money for a new prison to replace the aging State Penitentiary in Lincoln. I think there will be some money for LB 406, the ‘Star Wars’ Committee which is looking at increasing tourism through improving water resources and recreation in the State of Nebraska. Some of that money will be spent at Lake McConaughy in Keith County. Some of it will be spent in Knox County in Northeast Nebraska and some spent somewhere between Lincoln and Omaha on the Platte River corridor to provide additional water and recreation opportunities. Those impending projects will be exciting. Beyond that, there could be some additional money for broadband expansion in Nebraska to build up that broadband in unserved and underserved areas, which would be a very wise use of these funds. I don’t know if any of the money will go to roads but there is a lot of speculation there.

Students who want to serve their country as officers in the military can apply to the U.S. Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Applicants need excellent grades, solid test scores, and with the exception of the Coast Guard Academy, a nomination from their senator or representative.