In its inaugural year, approximately 215 students were selected to participate in the All-State Middle Level Chorus which is sponsored by the Nebraska Music Education Association. Gail Carpenter-Johnson, Director of Middle Level/Junior High Affairs for the Nebraska Music Education Association, is pleased to announce that Tirzah Goshert, Cydney Carlson, Alaina Leising, and Zachary Einspahr will be among the 215 students selected to be a part of the 2022 All-State Middle Level Chorus. Guest conductor for the group will be Maria A. Ellis, Director of The Sheldon’s City of Music All-Star Chorus and Choral Instructor at Sumner High School in St. Louis, Missouri. The chorus will rehearse Wednesday, November 16th on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, the host site of the 2022 NMEA Conference/ Clinic. A final public concert will be held Wednesday, November 16th, 4:00 p.m. at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.

AAA has long been an advocate for “Move Over” laws, requiring drivers to slow down and move over for emergency responders on the roadside, yet there continues to be an alarming number of fatalities. Nearly 350 people are struck and killed outside a disabled vehicle each year, and roughly a quarter of motorists don’t know that Slow Down, Move Over laws exist in their state. AAA Nebraska hopes to broaden the law and educational efforts with its new “Move Over for Me” campaign that asks drivers to move over for all motorists stuck on the roadside as well as first responders.

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BARTLEY - The Southwest Board of Education met Monday to approve the hire of a new school superintendent as well as to discuss and approve a wage hike for classifi ed employees. After accepting the resignation of Superintendent Todd Porter as of June 30, 2023 - a formality as Porter had announced his intent to retire - the Board approved the contract and hire of Drew Billeter from Loomis as the school’s next superintendent.

Nebraska Pride Sweet Adelines International once again presents the annual show, “Music, the Spice of Life”. Under the direction of Connie Witt from Kearney, the chorus will bring the best of barbershop style a cappella harmony to the stage. Nebraska Pride Chorus represents central Nebraska with members all the way from McCook and North Platte in the west to Hastings in the east and eight communities in between. The chorus meets weekly in Lexington and perform throughout the year for different organizations and churches. The mission of Sweet Adelines is to promote harmonious singing through education and performance.

ELWOOD - During the regular meeting on October 10, 2022, the Elwood School Board approved an Early Retirement Incentive Program (ERIP) for this year. To qualify, teachers have to be 55 years or older and have taught in the district for at least ten years. The incentive program provides $10,000 annually for three years. According to Supt. Daren Hatch, three teachers qualify at this time for the optional early retirement program.

About 15 members of the Catholic and Lutheran churches of Cambridge and Arapahoe joined the National Life Chain Sunday afternoon at the intersection of Highways 6/34 and 283 in Arapahoe, NE. Millions of Americans throughout the U.S. stood on highways for one hour on Sunday in peaceful and prayerful witness to their commitment to the sanctity of all human life and an abortion-free society. This was the 35th Annual National Life Chain in America.

Donated blood is a lifesaving gift most healthy people can give. The community is encouraged to donate blood on Oct. 17, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, to help those who have been seriously injured and need blood products to help them recover. It’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives.

Legendary Nebraska outdoorsman Dick Turpin loved connecting people to the outdoors. Since his passing earlier this year, his family, along with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, have established a way to keep that spirit going. The Dick Turpin Outdoor Education Memorial Fund has been created to support hunter education and outdoor education programs across Nebraska. Its goal is to inspire a love for the outdoors and time-honored traditions.