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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a women teachers’ honorary, met on March 11 at a McCook restaurant. President Dianna Radcliffe conducted the business meeting. The chapter will be offering scholarships again this year to female college sophomores who are enrolled in a course student leading to a bachelor’s degree in education. To be eligible for consideration, the girl must have graduated from a high school in the 7-county area of Southwest Nebraska that represents Chi Chapter, which is Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, and Red Willow Counties.

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department would like to take this opportunity to encourage all horse owners to vaccinate their horses against West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus (WNV) is transmitted to horses though the bite of an infected mosquito.

Farmers National Company, the nation’s leading farm and ranch management company, is pleased to announce that Lori Harding of Cambridge, Nebraska has joined the company as a professional licensed real estate salesperson. As a licensed real estate salesperson, Lori sells homes, commercial properties, and farms in Nebraska. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chadron State College and has extensive work experience in the field of marketing. She joins farm manager Kaleb Huxoll and Area Sales Manager Cole Nickerson, both also of Cambridge, to serve the real estate and farm management needs of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas.