Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) has moved the COVID-19 Community Risk Dial for the week of December 14th to orange, meaning residents of southwest Nebraska are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. The risk dial was lowered from red to orange thanks in part to many people in the health district making an extra effort to follow the steps that decrease the spread of COVID-19. SWNPHD congratulates those efforts and encourages everyone to continue to be vigilant through the holiday season to keep our area at a safer risk level and ease the burden on our hospitals and clinics.

An important page was added to the annals of Beaver City history during the regular meeting of the Volunteer Fire Department on Wednesday evening, December 2, 2020. Since its inception in 1908, the roster of the Beaver City Fire Department has consisted of all male volunteers.

After years of discussion but the timing wasn’t quite right, in September 2020, the Evangelical Free (E-free) church in McCook expanded to open a satellite location at the Community Building in Cambridge. Given the current situation with Covid and the fact that families were already making adjustments to their church attendance, leadership decided the time was right. After the initial trial basis of three months, the church has decided to continue services into 2021.

Santa will be making a few stops in Cambridge on December 12, where you can drop off your letter for him directly. He’ll be at the football field from 11-11:3o a.m. and at the empty lot south of Tri Valley Health System from 11:30-noon. He’ll wrap up his visit at Anew from noon-12:30. His visit to Cambridge is brought to you by the Cambridge Volunteer Fire Department and Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce.

(Holdrege, NE) - G. Reed Philips has been appointed to represent subdistrict one on the Tri-Basin Natural Resources District’s board of directors. Philips will serve the remaining two years of the four-year term of Phyllis Johnson also of rural Bertrand. Johnson resigned from the board after serving over 25 years.

On December 1st Elwood Public School held the first of two Christmas Concerts in the school gym. Participating in this concert were Pre-k thru 4th grade students. Only parents of these students were in attendance at the concert.

Arapahoe students and faculty had fun with their Reading and Scholastic Book Fair promotion last week. They had crazy sock day and favorite book character dress up day. Here are a few photos from students and staff taking part in the fun.

Lincoln — If you’re older than 6 months and haven’t yet received a flu shot, it’s not too late — and never, due to the pandemic, has it been more important. Since COVID-19 and flu could spread simultaneously this winter, flu vaccines will be an important aid in preserving hospital capacity until COVID-19 vaccines are widely available. Get your flu shot until you can get your COVID-19 vaccine.

The Golden Generation Center will host a pick -up and delivery holiday meal on December 16, 2020 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Tickets for the multi course meals are $10.00 per ticket. You can purchase a ticket at the Center from 8 am to 2 pm monday through Friday. Tickets are also being sold by board members, Nate Stineman, Margaret Mclnturf, Tina Hutchens, Jean Lisec, and Jan Anderson. Please support our local Center and join us in the holiday meal.