by Kathy Long As a relatively new member of the book club at Butler Memorial Library, I have enjoyed reading a variety of books and then discussing them at our monthly meetings. However, our latest book, titled ‘Once Upon A Town’ caught me by surprise. The book tells the story of the North Platte Canteen during World War II.

Come help us celebrate the retirement of Rhonda Schutz on Friday, November 7th. We will be offering an open house with cake and refreshments from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. We will be celebrating in the East Lobby of the school. Everyone is welcome to join us.

(Right)Dancing to the Hits was the theme for this year’s Sweet Adelines Nebraska Pride Chorus show held in Arapahoe on October 18th at the Arapahoe High School. They performed songs from the 1950s through the 1980s. Guest performer (Below left) was Rascal Martinez, blending country, rockabilly and Latin sounds. (Below right) Elvis made an appearance during one of the Sweet Adeline songs. Other songs they perfored were At the Hop, Heartbreak Hotel, Rock Around the Clock, The Locomotio, Beach Boys Medley, In My Life, I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing, Stayin’ Alive, Bridge Over Troubled Water, That’s What Friends Are For and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,

Oct. 16, 2025, RAPID CITY, S.D.

(Kearney, NE; October 2025) — Jacobsen, Orr, Lindstrom & Holbrook, P.C., L.L.O., of Kearney, Nebraska, is proud to announce the addition of Attorney Baylee M. Hadwiger.

Myrna Haag October 20, 2025 Oh my! It’s been busy here on The Hill. That’s my excuse for missing one of my columns.

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) is joining partners across the country to recognize National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 19th to 25th, by raising awareness about the dangers of lead exposure and how families can take simple steps to keep children safe.

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) saw a spike of COVID cases during late summer and fall this year, and now influenza is just beginning to appear. As cold weather approaches, we spend more time indoors with friends and family. With close contact and cold dry air, we are more likely to encounter viruses that cause respiratory illnesses. Knowing the difference can help us figure out what is making us sick and what treatments may help.

The Environmental Science class has spent the last month working with the Nebraska Forest Service identifying, recording, and importing tree data across Arapahoe. The information the class collects gets put into a database that the Nebraska Forest Service uses to better protect local communities and restore Nebraska’s tree resources.

On October 14 and 15, 2025, 240 sophomore students from across the ESU 11 region took part in Connecting the Dots, an engaging, hands-on career exploration workshop aimed at helping students link their current education to future career paths. Hosted in partnership with Nebraska Extension, the program provided an interactive simulation designed to guide students through the process of identifying career interests and understanding how high school coursework, postsecondary education, and long-term goals all interconnect. The event was coordinated by Nebraska Extension Educator, Calvin DeVries, and sponsored by Educational Service Unit 11. Through a variety of stations and activities, students explored career clusters, examined potential career paths, and gained insight into the real-world applications of their education. Participating districts included Arapahoe, Axtell, Alma, Bertrand, Elwood, Franklin, Loomis, Minden, Southern Valley and Wilcox-Hildreth.