January
Weather had caused some delays in getting the COVID-19 vaccine to the Polk County Health Department but on Wednesday, December 30 they had 50 vaccine doses to administer to local first responders from Polk County.
As mayors, we are problem-solvers. Serving the front lines of government, we have no other choice. We’re asking for the Legislature’s help and partnership in solving a problem that has become an undue burden on our communities: Nebraska’s highway infrastructure is outdated, underdeveloped, and dangerous. A set of Nebraska mayors and chairs of village boards signed this essay.
The Osceola American Legion Auxiliary awarded Youth Hero Awards to four youth for their actions taken during a 4-wheeler accident this fall injuring Chase Bartling Receiving the award were Kane Benson, Carter Girard, Kaden Carlson, and Cash Valish.
Veterans being honored with Quilts of Valor were (l to r) Merlin Simpson, Wayne Beatty, Darrell Windhorst, Darwin Carlson and Vernon Behr.
Stars, Stripes, and Stitches Quilts of Valor group awarded a Quilt of Valor to Polk County Sheriff Dwaine Ladwig for his service in the United States Navy. He served from 1970-76 with the Security Police and as the Confidential Material Officer of the Base.
Markus Zusak once said, “a snowball to the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship.” I’m not exactly sure how many of us who grew up in the Midwest would agree with this statement, but we all got a snowball to the face early this week. Weather forecasters had been warning of a significant snow event coming on Monday - and this time they got it right. The snow began to fall early Monday morning and lasted into the evening. The totals came in from 6 to 15 inches and broke records for a single day event in several areas. All of the area schools have cancelled classes and postponed events due to weather. Lincoln received a total of 14.5 inches which is the second highest for a single day. The record highest snowfall total was set on February 11, 1965 with 19 inches.
Last week Mrs. Wilgocki’s “Service Project” group (1/3rd of the senior class) took a couple hours of their time to head over to Central City to work at Mission Heart for a while. Mission Heart is a non-profit which helps the poor in many places worldwide and was started by a former teacher from High Plains, Miss Ellie Sizer.
February
Annie Jeffrey Health Center welcomed the first baby of the year when Kade Raymond Watts entered the world on January 26, 2021 at 12:23 p.m. weighing 7 pounds 1.7 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. His parents are Logan and Brandi Watts of Osceola and he is welcomed home by his sister, Kendall. Grandparents include Kent and Renee Johansen and Toby and Evette Watts of Osceola. Great-grandparents are Gerald and Janet Johansen, Gene and Joyce Bartak, Raymond and Sharon Watts all of Osceola and Juanita and the late Lonnie Ackerman of Stromsburg.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office now has the dispatching being handled out of the Joint Communication Center in Columbus. When you call the 402-737-2231 number the Communication Center will handle all your calls.
The Cross County/Osceola wrestling team competed in the CRC Tournament last week and brought home the Championship Trophy. Members of the team are: back row (l to r) Bryce Reed, Tyler Shoup, Jakob Hogan, Owen Powell, Ty Racek, Andrew Dubas, Dalton Noble, Conner Jones, Ethan Brehm, Terrance Heyes. Front row: Channer Marsden, Cameron Graham, Colton Kirby, Kyle Sterup, Leighton Nuttelman, st. mgr. Mackenzie Nuttelman. Coaches Matt Carroll and Jason Nuttelman.
The Cross County Lady Cougars are the 2021 Crossroads Conference Champions two years in a row. Team members include black row (l to r) Coach Kip Allison, Coach Johanna Nielsen, Shyanne Anderson, Grace Yungdahl, Cortlyn Schaefer, Erica Stratman, Chloe Sandell, Lilly Peterson, Haileigh Moutray, Ema Dickey SM, Head Coach Mitch Boshart. Front row (l to r) Addie Linn, Taylor Lindburg, Jayden Fellows, Jacy Mentink, Josi Noble, Bren Lemburg, Kylee Krol, Faith Elgin, Kelsey Brehm SM, Olive Peterson SM, Edie Peterson SM.
The Osceola Bulldogs are the 2021 Crossroads Conference Champions. Team members include back row (l to r) Head Coach Jason Zelasney, Carter Girard, Caleb Peterson, Creighton Sterup, Carson Watts, Kale Gustafson, Wyatt Urban, Alexx Winkelman, Coach Brett Webster. Middle Row (l to r) Coach Bob Zelasney, Matt DeMers, Kolton Neujahr, Thad Rathjen, Isaiah Zelasney, Kane Benson, Xavier Blackburn. Front Row (left to right) Jackson Winslow, Jeter Zelasney, Miles Webster, Hudson Prososki, Ian Novak, and Kelby Neujahr.
The Shelby/Rising City school district recently hired Tucker Tejkl to be the new Superintendent to start at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.
Kyle Sterup, of Osceola has been chosen to play on the South Shrine Bowl team. Kyle, a 220 lb. senior played tight end and defensive end for the Osceola Bulldogs. According to Maxpreps online football statistics, Kyle finished the 2020 football season with 133 total tackles. He had eight tackles for a loss. Kyle also finished with a total of 142 yards receiving when playing tight end on offense.
Local students are getting a free education in how to manage their money. Pinnacle Bank stepped up to make partial or full remote learning in the wake of COVID-19 easier. Thanks to their sponsorship at their Shelby branch, over 350 students and teachers at Shelby-Rising City High, Cross County High and High Plains High will have free access to Banzai.
Polk County Spelling Bee winners in the 5th and 6th grade were (l to r) 1st, Steven Lowther, 2nd Lily Crane, 3rd Atlee Schweitzer and 4th Urijah Grant.
Polk County Spelling Bee winners in the 7th and 8th grade were (l to r) 1st Celeste Isordia, 2nd Trinity Scott, 3rd Tylee Truska, 4th Colton Duncan.
Osceola’s Industrial Arts program received a generous donation to their program last week when BD Construction presented them with new woodworking tools. Students, faculty and BD Construction representatives on hand for the presentation.
Cross County/Osceola took five wrestlers to State and came home with one 1st place and one 2nd place medal. Cameron Graham (152) wrestled through some tough matches and came out on top with a pin. Senior Kyle Sterup finished the State Meet as runnerup in the 195 lb bracket.
March
Shelby-Rising City competed at the Crossroad Conference Speech meet in Hampton on Wednesday, February 24 and was named the Crossroad North Champions.
2020-21 Class D2-8 District Champions. The Osceola Bulldogs are the Class D2-8 District Champions. Team members in clude front row (l to r) Jackson Winslow SM, Hudson Prososki, Jeter Zelasney SM, Miles Webster SM. Middle row (l to r) Coach Bob Zelasney, Matt De-Mers, Carson Watts, Thad Rathjen, Isaiah Zelasney, Ian Novak, Kelby Neujahr, Hayden Lavaley, Coach Matt Gillespie. Back row (l to r) Jason Zelasney, Caleb Peterson, Carter Girard, Kale Gustafson, Wyatt Urban, Kane Benson, Creighton Sterup, Xavier Blackburn, Alexx Winkelman, Coach Brett Webster.
Graduating from Cross County School in 2016, Hannah Miller pursued her dream of having a career in animal science at Kansas State University. With a love for Ag and science and firm foundation formed from 4-H and FFA, she anticipated a career that focused on large animals, which led her to a summer internship with swine production.
Pastor Neil Kloppenborg has been called to shepherd the United Methodist Churches in Stromsburg, Benedict and Polk.
The resurfacing project that began last August on Highway 92 is back into full swing and will continue until the end of June. The project originally called for the rebuilding of two bridges in Osceola, concrete pavement repair, asphalt milling and overlay, grading, culverts, guardrail and seeding. The $7,045,561 project is being done by Vontz Paving from Hastings.
The Stromsburg American Legion Post 132 met March 8, 2021 and honored two of their members for their service to the Legion. Sterling Anderson received his 70 year pin and Tom Nyffeler received his 50 year pin. The Sons of the Legion were also present for this special event.
COVID vaccinations have begun in the Polk County schools. Educators at Shelby Rising City had the opportunity to be vaccinated on Friday, March 5. Four Corners Health Department was at the school and vaccinated 61 Shelby-Rising City School employees.
Once again this week in Nebraska the weather showed us how it can go from one extreme to the other. From record low temperatures to above normal temperatures, from drought to record setting rainfall. This past week was a challenging one as the area received any where between 5.5 to 6.5 inches of rain that were accompanied by high winds.
Bulldogs fans were out in force attending the Nebraska State Class D2 Basketball Tournament in Lincoln as the Osceola Bulldogs played the O’Neil St. Mary’s Cardinals on Wednesday, March 10 at Lincoln East High School in Lincoln. The Bulldogs lost to St. Mary’s 62-50 but had a good experience and are already planning a return trip to state next year.
Area schools competed in the State Speech Contest in Kearney on March 19. Bringing home medals were: Kyle Sterup - Osceola Class D1, 2nd Place – Oral Interpretation of Poetry, 5th Place – Oral Interpretation of Serious Prose; Ernie Hines - High Plains Community Class D, 3rd Place – Extemporaneous Speaking 6th Place – Entertainment Speaking; Hannah Linn and Addie Linn Cross County Class C2, 5th Place - Duet Acting
April
Two Cross County teams qualified to compete at open state tournament, Cosmos and Serial Killers. On March 18, two more Cross County teams were given wild card invitations to compete. They accepted and four robotics team went to St. Paul on Saturday, March 27 to compete in state tournament. Sixteen teams in all competed from St. Paul, Nebraska Christian, Holdrege, Heartland, Cross County and Columbus.
Brian Floyd Beckner was born at Sioux City, Iowa on November 9, 1948 and passed away on March 20, 2021 at Methodist Hospital, Omaha, NE.
The Stromsburg Public Library recently held an open house celebrating the 20th anniversary of the new library building. Visitors were able to go through scrap books, photo albums and the original blue prints of the new library which brought back many memories to those involved with the project.
If you live in Polk County in the Four Corners Public Health District and are 18 years and older, you are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Landon Everingham and his mother, Emily, check out a basket of prizes that the Easter Bunny offered the children. The event was sponsored by the ladies at the West Side Bar and Grill.
An investigation will be launched into a significant medical event that occurred following the COVID-19 vaccination of a Four Corners Health District resident. The vaccination with Moderna COVID-19 vaccine occurred mid-March, with the medical event taking place a week later. The individual is in their 40s.
Kindergarten teachers, mother Penny Rathjen (left) and her daughter Miranda Ericson, a tradition of caring and encouraging the next generation of kindergarteners.
Heather Thompson has taken the position of Shelby/Rising City School Grade School Principal. She is pictured with her family: husband Patrick, children, Alexia, Charlie, and Jaxson.
Nestled in the northeast corner of Stromsburg, Nebraska, Midwest Covenant Home is celebrating over 70 years of service and love through its Capital Campaign ‘Your Investment for the Future’. Cornerstone Bank believes in the power of community and has graciously invested $100,000.00 to the Capital Campaign, to support the completed $4.5 million dollar renovation project.
Kathy and Terry Cogdill (left and center) hand over the keys of Terry’s Drive In to new owner, Andrea Blahak. The new name of the business will be Andrea’s Family Diner.
Nebraska 4-H has selected 12 individuals, as well as one mutigenerational family, as recipients of a new statewide awards program that honors outstanding contributions of 4-H volunteers. Among those honored is Barb Mentink, Polk County.
After 34 years of dedicated service, it’s time for Lori Schott to take a permanent vacation! Lori began with the United States Postal Service as a substitute carrier in July 1987 until she began full time in November 1992. Lori’s last day with the postal service is May 7th, 2021.
May
The Shelby-Rising City girls team is the 2021 Crossroads Conference Champion. Team members are front row (l to r) Alex Larmon, Allie Neujhar, Kira Pavlik, Maddie Hopwood, Angel Barnes, Kaylei Perry, Alexa Carter. Back row (l to r) Ava Larmon, Ellie Frederick, Cristina Espinoza-Rameriz, Carissa Jasper, Aubree Siffring, Rylie Carter, Liberty Baker, Emily Augustin.
The Osceola boys track team is the 2021 Crossroads Champion. Team members are front row (l to r) Carson Watts, Kyle Sterup, Jakob Hogan, Bryce Reed, Ian Novak, Hayden Lavaley. Back row (l to r) Carter Girard, Corby Cannon. Caleb Peterson, Colvin Reed, Xavier Blackburn, Thad Rathjen, Isaiah Zelasney, Tim Tannehill, Alexx Winkelman, Kolton Neujahr. Not pictured, Kale Gustafson.
Polk County experienced a very active weather event on Sunday evening, May 2. The warm, humid day resulted in multiple reports of tornadoes, hail and heavy rain in the evening. Tornado sirens sounded in the town of Stromsburg around 7:30 p.m. Reports of heavy rain and some hail stretched across Polk County from Benedict to Shelby.
One of the most coveted individual honors awarded at the Crossroads Conference each year is the Gale Arnett Trophy which goes to the top male and female athlete in the Crossroads Conference Track Meet. This year’s winners are Josi Noble of Cross County and Isaiah Zelasney of Osceola.
High Plains Community valedictorian, Aubree Quast (left) and salutatorian, Brianna Wilshusen.
Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center in Osceola, Nebraska was recently named one of the top 20 critical access hospitals (CAHs) for quality in the country.
Representing the Osceola High School class of 2021 was valedictorian Corby Cannon (left) and salutatorian Olivia Drozd.
Receiving top honors at the Cross County High School graduation were valedictorian Ruby Johansen (left) and salutatorian Shea Corwin.
Representing the top students at the Shelby-Rising City graduation ceremony on Saturday were (l to r) Summa Cum Laude - Kira Pavlik, Magna Cum Laude - Jese Gutierrez, Madelyn Hopwood, Colin Wingard, Cum Laude – Haley Hanak.
The Osceola Bulldogs are the Class D-2 District Champions qualifying in 13 events. Team members include front row (l to r) Ian Novak, Bryce Reed, Thad Rathjen, Isaiah Zelasney, Tim Tannehill, Carson Watts, Xavier Blackburn. Back row ( l to r) Alexx Winkelman, Colvin Reed, Carter Girard, Kale Gustafson, Kyle Sterup, Jakob Hogan, Caleb Peterson, Hayden Lavaley, Kolton Neujahr.
The Osceola Bulldogs have an impressive run in each of the high school boys three major sports this year. The football team made it to the state quarter finals, the basketball team qualified for the state tournament for the first time in years and the track team won the team championship at the state meet held at Omaha Burke. The common denominator in each one of these achievements has been sophomore Isaiah Zelasney. Zelasney saved the best for the last sporting event of the year by winning 4 gold medals at the state track meet. Isaiah is the first athlete to win four different events since 2005.
Jordan Eller is the newest member of the Prairie Creek Medicine medical staff. She is a Physician’s Assistant and works at the clinics in Stromsburg and Osceola. Jordan is married to Ross Eller and they have purchased a home in Stromsburg.
June
Memorial Day is a day to honor our fallen members of the military who sacrificed so much for our freedom with people attending services at cemeteries. Local restaurant, Westside Bar and Grill in Stromsburg also honored our military with the “Missing Man Table” set up just inside their front door. Everything on the table holds great meaning. A table is decorated with a white table cloth, a formal plate setting and a folded American flag. When customers walk in, they are reminded of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The 28th annual Nebraska Rod and Custom Association (NRCA) 600-mile Tour Nebraska driving event will be held on June 5th and 6th this year. This is a road TOUR of 450+ classic, antique and special interest vehicles. This unique driving event will draw considerable local interest. The Tour Route this year will go near 25 towns and villages in central Nebraska.
Kyle Sterup of Osceola and Christian Rystrom of Cross County will play in the 63rd Nebraska Shrine Bowl on Saturday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. at the University of Kearney Foster Field.
Both players will be on the South Roster, Sterup as TE/DT and Rystrom as TE/DE.
The downtown streets of Stromsburg were filled with vintage restored, classic cars and trucks early Saturday afternoon. The 28th Annual Nebraska Rod and Custom Association stopped in town for two hours.
On Tuesday, June 1, six Osceola veterans were honored with a presentation of a Quilt of Valor.
Those being honored with a quilt were Dennis Johansen, Norman Gabel, Marvin Klein, Vernon Kuhnel, Kenneth Burritt and Jim Headley.
Sharon Noyd is the 2021 Grand Marshall of the Stromsburg Swedish Midsommar Parade. Sharon and her husband, Perry, have lived west of Stromsburg since 1973.
Treyton Nienhueser is a familiar face in the Stromsburg-Polk County area. Recently Treyton has transitioned into the family business at Goldenrod Insurance.
