On October 2, 2023, the Staff Development Department from ESU 11 organized a fall conference for schools in the ESU 11 area. This conference was entitled “Laughing and Learning” and provided teachers with the opportunity to learn more about the field of education. The day began and ended with a keynote presentation from nationally renowned speaker, Dave Weber. Teachers were also able to attend a variety of breakout sessions to enhance their teaching skills. Session topics focused on technology integration, special education, coaching, media, art, music, reading, math, science, social studies, and career education. Commissioner of Education, Dr. Brian Maher, also addressed the group. Approximately 650 educators from the ESU 11 area were in attendance from Alma, Axtell, Arapahoe, Bertrand, Cambridge, Elwood, Eustis-Farnam, Franklin, Holdrege, Loomis, Minden, Southern Valley, Wilcox-Hildreth Public Schools. All Saints Catholic and Legacy Christian School also attended.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Gov.

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) recommends getting regularly scheduled cancer screenings to raise the chances of early detection and make treatments easier and less expensive. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer, and a good time to discuss screening with your doctor.

Anew is participating in Nebraska’s annual Fuel the Cure Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign brought to you by Fueled by Nebraska partners: Nebraska Ethanol Board; Nebraska Corn Board and Renewable Fuels Nebraska. Fuel the Cure educates Nebraskans about healthier fuel options and raises money for cancer research.

A large crane was stationed at the Evangelical Free Church in Oxford Monday morning, October 9. Workers were busy removing the steeple from the church. They were finished with the removal before noon. The church made the difficult decision to remove the steeple after years of problems with water leaks at the site. There have been problems with leaks since about the time the steeple was put up.

Medicine Valley crowns homecoming court.

Southern Valley celebrated their 2023 homecoming with the theme Retro Homecoming. The students and staff celebrated all week with dress up days including why is this in my closet, rhyme without reason, Barbie vs Ken, decade day, and spirit day. There was also a hall decorating contest won by the junior class, gorilla volleyball won by the senior class, and powder puff football won by the volleyball team.

ELWOOD - More meaningful things than education are happening in the walls of Elwood Public Schools. Elwood has four students who each have extremely rare genetic diseases: Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome, Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, Hurler Syndrome, and Congenital Erosive and Vesicular Dermatosis.

opened a traveling pumpkin patch for an FFA project. His small business, 427 Farms, earned him $13,000 last year and took him to National FFA.

October 2, 2023 October!! How can it be October already?? Even the lilacs are confused. I’ve seen several in the last few days that are blooming.