News

A single email sent in early March disrupted the lives of 116 Lincoln-area families. The Dimensions child care center at First-Plymouth Church will close for good May 23, the email said.

The initial response to that announcement: panic. Parents scrambled for alternative care. The center’s 27 teachers feared for their jobs.

“That instant shock was hardest,” Dimensions Foundation CEO Tara Schroder said.

The center’s closure is notable because it marks the end of a child care center that has operated for 55 years. It’s also notable because the news is distressingly familiar.

At least two other Lincoln-area centers have closed since November, according to Lincoln Littles, a network advocating for early childhood care and education. And nine Nebraska counties didn’t have a single licensed child care facility as of January, according to the nonprofit First Five Nebraska.

Development plans for the renovation and expansion of the Sutton Community Home are on track, with completion of plans expected in early summer. Regular meetings between members of the home’s board, foundation, key staff, architect firm arCuretecture, and construction manager Hampton Construction ensure progress is steady so construction can commence once the plans are complete.

Recently, the architect completed the Design Development phase, marking the transition to the final phase known as Construction Documents. During this final phase, detailed drawings are being finalized to confirm the project’s total cost, acquire construction permits, and prepare for construction.

It is anticipated that the drawings will be ready by the end of June.

Mother Nature must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed, Saturday, March 23, as Easter Egg hunts in both Edgar and Sutton had to deal wilh cold and blustery weather for their annual events. Above, a group of boys taking part in the Edgar hunt ready themselves amid huge snowflakes, with hoodies and stocking hats giving the boys some warmth. In the photo at the left, Brittney Hultman joins her daughters Sloane and Saige during the Sutton Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Easter Egg hunt, also held Saturday, March 23, at the Sutton City Park.

The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) have partnered together for the 2024 Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week because everyone deserves to go home from work each day. The goal is to raise awareness among farmers and agricultural workers about the importance of safety when working in and around grain bins. This initiative also emphasizes the significance of overall safety practices on the farm.

As Nebraska farmers strive for innovation and higher yields, there has been a notable increase in on-farm storage. According to the USDA NASS report in 2023, there were over 890 million bushels of corn stored on Nebraska farms, an increase of 31 percent from 2022. Nebraska soybeans also saw a 39 percent increase over 2022 with 87 million bushels of soybeans stored on Nebraska farms.

Harvard Food Pantry continues to grow and give to those in need. Every first and third Saturday morning of the month, the Harvard Food Pantry provides various food and hygiene items to around 30-45 families by way of a drive-through at the Harvard Methodist Church.

“This group is so important because we help fill the void of families financial and social needs,” volunteer Cindy Reutzel said.

Around 30 people volunteer at the Harvard Food Pantry, but out of the 30, there are about 12 volunteers who devote their time to help out with the food pantry on dayto- day operations. Various churches, town groups, and school staff members also support the Harvard Food Pantry.

“It’s a humbling experience to volunteer, and it warms my heart to help those in need,” volunteer Elaine Almond said.

Volunteering at the Harvard Food Pantry consists of unloading trucks, sorting foods, loading food boxes, and distributing the food.

The Manna Resort soup feed and silent auction fundraising event, Sunday, March 17, brought over 150 guests that supported the resort, held in the Fairfield Auditorium. Here, at the left is Deb Koehler serving soup to Brett Lahndorf as Lahndorf led his family through the service line as Rex Bailey looks on, to the right of Koehler.