On January 28th, Casie Helms, Arapahoe-Holbrook Public School Backpack Program Director, accepts a $1,984 donation, from Paige Hyke, Laura Frink, Jared Shafer, Justin Stagemeyer, and Mark Stagemeyer (not pictured) of MNB Insurance Services, Inc., to go towards the school’s Backpack Program. Children signed up for the Backpack Program are provided with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food and snacks when other resources may not be available, such as weekends and school vacations. This is the 9th year MNB Insurance and their employees of Arapahoe have given to the Backpack program for a grand total exceeding over $11,000 through the years.”

On Thursday night, at approximately 10:44 p.m., the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls generated by an automated crash alert system reporting a possible motor vehicle accident in the area of Road 425 near Drive 724.

After taking time away from real estate for the past three years, LeahAnn Brell of Brell Realty & Auction is back in business. Brell initially stepped away from real estate to help manage the family farm and ranch.

With the filing deadline for incumbent candidates for May’s Primary Election less than two weeks away, almost all county officials in the coverage area have filed for re-election. In local legislative races, four new candidates have filed for Legislative District 38.

Southern Valley 5th and 6th graders celebrated the 100th day of school with a snack mix, special “glasses” and telling everyone what we say or hear 100 times a day. Most often reported was “clean your room” from a parent.

HAYS, Kan. (January 27, 2026) - Fort Hays State University has named 2,066 students to the Dean’s Honor Roll for the fall 2025 semester. The Dean’s Honor Roll includes undergraduate students only. To be eligible, students must have completed 12 or more credit hours and earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.60 for the semester.

The Village of Stockville Board of Trustees met in regular session on January 26, 2026 in the Village Office, Stockville, Nebraska. Advanced notice of the meeting, time and place was given to each board member and was posted in three public places in accordance with law. All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open to the attendance of the public. Present were Board Members: Steve Walther, Dale Woodring, Nicola Buker, Jeromy Baker and Brad Wood. The meeting was called to order at 7:04 P.M. Walther moved to approve the Agenda, Baker seconded. Roll call vote- Buker, Aye; Wood, Aye; Baker, Aye; Walther, Aye; Woodring, Aye. Woodring moved to approve the minutes from the January 26, 2026 meeting; Baker seconded. Roll call vote- Buker, Aye; Wood, Aye; Baker, Aye; Walther, Aye; Woodring, Aye. Buker moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report; Walther seconded. Roll call vote- Woodring, Aye; Walther, Aye; Buker, Aye; Baker, Aye; Wood, Aye. Walther moved to appoint Highway Superintendent Chris A. Miller, Class A License Number S-1091 for the year 2026.

Weather! Well, we did get enough of the white stuff to cover the ground. But a wheat crop, that won’t make.