News

Here is the latest data from the Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Service, as of Oct. 6: This past week, there were 3.2 days suitable for fieldwork.

CORN

Only 74 percent of corn is mature, well behind last year’s 91 percent and the five-year average of 85 percent. So far, 12 percent of fields have been harvested, behind last year’s 22 percent and the five-year average of 17 percent. Corn condition rates at 73 percent good to excellent, 20 percent fair, and 7 percent poor.

SOYBEANS

Progress is gaining, with 86 percent of soybeans having dropped leaves, behind last year’s 95 percent and the fiveyear average of 93 percent. So far, 14 percent of fields have been harvested, well behind last year’s 35 percent and the five-year average of 30 percent. Bean conditions rate at 74 percent good to excellent, 21 percent fair, and 5 percent poor.

PASTURE

The annual St. Joseph soup supper will be held Nov. 3. Be sure and come, there will be delicious soups and be sure to buy a raffle ticket. Diane Uken went on the Junk Jaunt with her brother. They started at St. Paul. Robee Bigelow spent 10 days in Arizona visiting friends. Sympathy to the Anna Wehnes family. Sympathy to the Marge Etherson family.

Harvard’s Clef Club is hosting a haunted house from 8 p.m.-midnight, Oct. 25 and 26, at the school.

This is the ultimate haunted house experience, featuring a number of scary rooms with a different theme. Cost is $8 per person (cash only), and there is a recommended age of 12 and up. Younger students should be accompanied by an adult.

The rooms include: IT is Alive—A room filled with balloons and creepy clowns making for a real nightmare; Classroom Crazies—Being trapped in a haunted classroom with a crazy teacher calls for a way to escape; Spooky Science—A mad scientist is also possessed and experimenting in his disgusting science lab; Dare to Die— A mortician that’s behind on his job only means the bodies are piling up and being hidden everywhere; Run For Your Life—Think it’s over? Not a chance.

Proceeds from this event will go to benefit the performing arts students throughout the district.

Daylight saving time comes to an end each fall, at a time when the hours of available sunlight already are beginning to decline.

Some people are more accustomed to darkness than others. Norwegians, Swedes and people living in Alaska and the upper reaches of Canada, near or above the Arctic Circle, may go through a period when winters can be especially dark. Fairbanks, AK, gets just three hours and 42 minutes of sunlight on the winter solstice. Those in Barrow, AK, will endure a period of 67 days of darkness, according to Alaska.org. Residents of Seattle, which is even further north than cities such as Fargo, ND, or Portland, ME, deal with more darkness than those living outside the city may know.

Kevin and Heidi Cheng of Central City gave a concert at the Fairfield Community Church on Oct. 6. With Kevin on piano and Heidi on violin, the couple performed a variety of popular songs in a wide range of genres from gospel and bluegrass to patriotic classics and John Denver hits.

Argonne Unit #61 American Legion Auxiliary held their regular monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 23. President Rose Bauder called the meeting to order.

Darlene Moore opened with prayer. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was led by Bauder.

August minutes were read by Carol Griess, secretary, with no additions or corrections made.

Treasurer report was given by Donna Hill and placed on file.

A bill was presented by Carol Griess for $36.90 for postage to send two boxes to deployed servicemen. Motion made to pay this bill by Marge Finley and second by Linda Bruns.

District 10 fall rally was at Roseland Sept. 28. On Sept. 29, the Clay County Convention was at Fairfield at 2 p.m. Members were encouraged to attend.

A get well card was sent to Beth Van Kirk.

There was a motion made by Leota Snell to send $100 for the Veterans Dollar Days and second by Darlene Moore.

The Daughters of the American Revolution, Niobrara Butler-Johnson Chapter, held their monthly meeting at First St. Paul's Lutheran Church Youth Complex. Fellowship with dessert provided by Cyndee Fintel.

A program on “Teammates” was given by Fintel, a program for our youth and college age students with mentors to be their guiding light.

The opening prayer was offered by Chapter Regent Connie Plettner. The DAR Ritual, Pledge of Allegiance, America's Creed and the Preamble of the Constitution were recited.

Regent Plettner called roll with nine members, one associate and two prospective members present.

The President General Message, National Defense Minute, Conservation, Flag Minute, Indian Minute, Service to America Hours and Women's Health Minute were given

John and Suzanne (Brooner) Schlater of Sutton would like to announce the birth of their second child, Emmaline Thea. Emmaline was born Sept. 17, 2019, 6:15 p.m. at Henderson Healthcare in Henderson. She weighed 9 lbs, 8.5 oz and was 21 inches long.

Emmaline has a big brother, John, who is 16 months old.

Grandparents are Jeffery and Linda Brooner, Gina Schlater, Ryan Neal, and Tim Kinman.

Great-grandparents are Richard and Carol Behrens, Mike Schlater, Jody Schlater.

RAMBLES

The Think F1rst: Know Your Five Freedoms was launched in 2018 for Media of Nebraska.

It focuses on the five freedoms of the First Ammendment—religion, speech, press, petition, and assemble. Oct. 6-12 is designated as National Newspaper Week; this year’s theme is the five freedoms.

It’s common to hear about “fake news” and the battle between journalists and anyone who doesn’t share the title.

You read about attacks on journalists—the one that sticks out in my mind the most is a year ago when five newspaper persons were gunned down by a man who didn’t like the newspaper’s coverage of an event involving him.

There are journalists with agendas, but a majority, I would think, are reporting on, photographing, and covering those unpleasant scenarios because they want the truth out.

Brook Svoboda, son of Joe and Lana Svoboda of Deweese, left, was named the Midland University 2019 Homecoming King. He is a Business Management and Marketing Major, a Senior Admissions Ambassador, and a Residential Assistant for the Freshman Men’s Hall on campus. Standing with Svoboda is the homecoming queen Baylee Snyder of Council Bluffs, IA.