Here we are at Halloween time. And Thanksgiving is close behind. As is Christmas! Where has this year gone? It’s not only us old folks that are asking that question this year but the younger generations too.

10 years ago The Elwood High School Pep Band entertained Pirates fans during Thursday night’s game against Kenesaw Blue Devils. The Elwood Pirates advance to state playoffs this Thursday against Loomis in Elwood.

10 years ago Last week the Nebraska Hospital Association board presented The Caring Kind award to Dr. Shiuvaun Jaeger in Lincoln at the Cornhusker Hotel.

20 years ago Burton Burton was the only Southwest Cross Country member competing at the Kearney Country Club and he was 28th out of 98. 30 years ago The Mrs.

10 years ago A check presentation was held last Thursday by Congregational Thrivent Advocate Ida Soncksen to Landon Walz for the recent benefit for his son Marcus Walz. Over $11,000 was raised at the lasagna benefit hosted by Mitzi Urbom at Cunningham’s Feed in Arapahoe.

BARTLEY - Needing a win to qualify for the postseason, the Southwest football team turned to its defense for a dominant 31-6 win Thursday. The Roughriders’ victory secured a spot in the 16-team Class D6 playoffs as the team finished the regular season 5-3.

Medicine Valley, Maywood- Hayes Center, Cambridge, and Hi-Line athletes qualified for and competed at the 2024 State Cross Country Meet in Kearney last Friday. Kael Garrett represented Medicine Valley in the men's race.

BARTLEY - With a straight-sets victory over Cambridge (21-10), the Southwest volleyball team clinched the Subdistrict D1-10 Title Tuesday while moving to 32-0 on the year. The Roughriders will advance to Saturday’s district final, likely against Potter-Dix (18-14).

ARAPAHOE - During the final moments of sunshine prior to dusk Friday night, the Arapahoe football team jumped out to a 14-0 lead in its Class D1 Playoffs opener against visiting Sutton. But as the sun set, the darkness of adversity crept into the game for the Warriors.

A few years ago, the Nebraska Legislature debated on how to help families access a school that best fit their needs no matter the zip code where they reside. On the floor sat a bill aimed at creating tax credit scholarships to pay for low-income students to have the choice to attend a private school. Both sides of the aisle agreed that not every family felt their needs were met, there was more work to be done, and while committed to doing so understood that struggling education systems don’t get cleaned up overnight.