The Southern Valley Board of Education met on Monday, April 10, 2023 at 7:30 pm. During the public comment time, Kamden Bose spoke to the board about his invitation to play in the Hawaii Tiki Bowl football game.

The Village of Oxford Board of Trustees approved the utility service agreement for the Oxford Community Food Pantry during their regular meeting on Monday, April 10, 2023 at 5:30 pm. The agreement states that the food pantry is responsible for the cost of installation of utility services and the Village of Oxford will pay for the water, electric, sewer and trash.

It looks like Spring has finally sprung. Most everything is showing a hint of green. But just a hint. For sure the Spring winds are plentiful. We didn’t get rain on Easter Sunday. Sure would have been nice to have the chance to see if the old adage would hold true about getting rain for seven more Sundays if it rains on Easter. I’ve heard several orders for about 4” of a nice slow rain. Polish those prayer bones. The continuing dry conditions brings another reminder from your Beaver Valley fire chiefs that there should be no outside burning. With everything so dry, the risk is just too great.

The American Legion is pleased to announce that (above photos l-r) Colton Sedlacek of McCook, Tristan Martin of Indianola, Ana-Lucia Cerenil of McCook, Avery McConville of Indianola, and Haylee Thomas of McCook were generously sponsored by the Posts and Auxiliaries 245 Bartley, 276 Danbury, 344 Indianola, and 313 Lebanon and will join nearly 230 other high school juniors from across Nebraska participating in the American Legion Cornhusker Boys’ and Girls’ State Programs, June 4-10, 2023, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln downtown campus. The annual citizenship program, sponsored by the Nebraska American Legion, is designed to provide youths with a better understanding of how city, county, and state governments operate.

Johnny Nash may have started his song with “I can see clearly now, the rain has gone,” but what about someone with cataracts. They cannot easily see “all the obstacles in their way”, and there are not “dark clouds that make you blind” like in the song, but cataracts do cause vision clouding.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – I have heard it said that higher education is a powerful engine driving economic and workforce development in Nebraska and our country. While I can embrace that image, I also ask you to imagine Nebraska’s community colleges as the wheels to get us there. It’s where the rubber hits the road in terms of recruiting and retaining youth in our service areas and educating them on the careers and quality of life advantages of small and large town living. We embrace our state’s immigrants and refugees who come to us to learn English and learn, live and work under our American system of government and become valuable members of our society.

One of the hallmarks of America is our all-volunteer military. Members of the American military have defended our freedom since before our country was established, and we are proud of their service and dedication to the homeland. Military service takes grit and commitment, and I know many Nebraskans who find a deep sense of fulfillment in serving their country. It provides community and purpose to Americans across the country, especially young people.

Last week, I spoke on the Senate floor to fight a blatant power grab by the federal government. The Senate considered a resolution attempting to block the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule from President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This rule would change the definition of navigable waters to include things like roadside ditches, puddles on construction sites, and farm ponds.

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has selected this year’s grant recipients under the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF). Eighteen communities will receive a portion of the $4.2 million available for award, representing eight Planning and ten Capital Construction Projects.

CAMBRIDGE - As part of an investigation that has gone on for about three months, the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office executed a number of search warrants Tuesday in Cambridge and Arapahoe. The searches turned up methamphetamine, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and drug distribution tools as well as weapons and landed three in custody with additional arrests still expected.