NORFOLK - For the fourth-consecutive year, the Southern Valley journalism team has finished State Runner-Up. The Eagles finished with three individual State Championships and won 24 total medals.

EDISON - Following its purchase of the former Good Samritan Society property in Arapahoe just over a year ago, Ag Valley Coop plans to move its corporate operations there by the end of the year. The ag cooperative, which spans across Southwest Nebraska and into northwest Kansas, had held its corporate offices in Edison, but has outgrown its space there.

Spring is finally here in the Northern Plains and summer feels just around the corner. As all we Northerners know, as soon as the temperatures hit even a mild degree on the thermometer most of us shed the jackets and long pants, and our skin is frontand- center.

America currently faces the worst drug crisis in our nation’s history. In 2021, 106,000 Americans died of a drug overdose – nearly 70,000 because of fentanyl. Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-45. The precursors to fentanyl are produced in China. From there, they are shipped to Mexico where cartels manufacture them into fentanyl and smuggle it across our border. This crisis has taken lives in every state, including Nebraska.

Our nation’s government was founded on a system of checks and balances. We have three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.

More than 2,400 students in grades 6-12 are expected to compete in the 53rd Annual Cornhusker Trap Shoot April 27-29 on the home grounds of the Nebraska Trapshooting Association in Doniphan, Nebraska.

Cambridge Lions met for a spring cleaning along the highway east of Cambridge on Monday night, followed by dinner and a meeting at the Golf Course. Next up for the club is painting parking lines in downtown Cambridge. If you like to serve the community and help make Cambridge a great place to live, consider joining the Lions! They meet the 2nd and 4th Mondays at the golf course at 6 pm and would love to have you join them!

Cambridge was named a 2022 Tree City USA for the 17th year by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management. Cambridge achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: having a tree city board, having a tree care ordinance, dedicating an annual community forest budget of at least $2 per Capita, and hosting an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

The Southwest National Honor Society held a coloring contest for grades P-K through 3rd grade and an Easter basket decorating contest for grades 4 & 5 (as a class). The results are as follows: 3rd Grade - Sutton Kennedy 2nd Grade - Abby Neseth 1st Grade - Colbi Herrman Kindergarten (Teel) - Whitney Kennedy Kindergarten (Kennedy) Ashton Robinson Pre-K - 4 - Leland Anderson PreK - AM - Paisley Haag Mrs. Cindy Wilcox’s 5th Grade class won the Easter basket contest.

LINCOLN, Nebraska, April 20, 2023 – The Nebraska USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is highlighting available assistance programs to help farmers and livestock producers address the ongoing drought. Producers being impacted should contact their county FSA office to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist them.