Rae Carbaugh and her One Act Crew won best drama, best tech, and best set. Best Overall Actress was given to Abby Swanson.
Best Niobrara Actresses went to Abby and Brooke Swanson and Summer Key along with Best Niobrara Actor to Gavin Chohon. Niobrara hosted its first ever “All About Pumpkins” fall event on Saturday, Oct. 27. This event brought downtown stores and vendors together to provide a fun day of shopping for the community.
There was more than shopping, as organizers planned it to be a passport tour. There were about 30 stores and vendors and even a book signing, meaning participants had to gather stamps from all of them to be entered to win prizes. Many of the stores and vendors donated gift baskets to give away as prizes. According to vendors, Niobrara’s business district has rarely been that crowded. The event drew a large crowd, not only from locals but from all over the county. There were even a few visitors that were staying at Niobrara State Park who participated. Vendors hope “All About Pumpkins” will become an annual event to promote not only themselves but the town as a whole. Niobrara held its annual Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 27. Children and adults both enjoyed the festivities.
Come shop and support businesses and several local vendors on Saturday, October 27 from 10 am to 2 pm. Vendors will be set up in the hall at the mall and at Moody Motors. Before shopping, stop by Billie May's, Moody Motors or Pease General Store to pick up a Passport. Get the Passport stamped at each location. Once stamps have been collected from ALL the businesses and vendors listed on the Passport, you can turn it in at Pease General Store. All completed Passports are eligible to be entered into the grand prize drawing.
So far, locations with stamps for the passport include: Billy May’s, Pease General Store, Farnik’s Market, Moody Motors, Elsie Hannah, Country Cafe, Sportsman’s, Terry’s Hair Salon, Niobrara Trading Post, Niobrara Museum, Ponca Tribe Fitness Center, Precious Things, Niobrara Tribune, Jimmy Dean’s Lounge, Bank of Hartington, Thirty-One, DoTerra, Signature HomeStyle, Scentsy, Rodan + Fields, Norwex, Viero, Susan’s Edible Creations, S & J Creations, Jamberry Nails, Country Creations, and a Book Signing by Stacy Miller. Stacy Kreycik Miller of Kreycik Elk and Buffalo Ranch near Niobrara has recently published a children’s book named Suzie Saves The Day. Miller has been part of the covered wagon tours for years on her family ranch, seeing many visitors each year. The tour takes tourists and locals out in the pastures to get an up close and personal experience with elk and buffalo. There is one special elk, named Suzie, who will quickly approach the wagon. Forget about personal space, Suzie doesn’t know the meaning. She was a special calf, she needed to be bottle fed which requires a lot of special attention. Miller’s father, Kennard Frank Kreycik, raised Suzie, making her the friendly elk she is today. “The story is based on the true story of when all the elk got out of the pasture, someone had opened the gate in the middle of the night,” she explained. Miller’s parents found the elk the next morning on top of a hill two miles away from the ranch. Kennard hollered for the elk and Suzie not only followed the sound of his voice, but led all the elk back to him. In Miller’s story, a naughty elk named Sally convinces the heard to escape from Farmer Frank’s ranch. “I added some drama, theres coyotes, they get lost, Sally leads them astray,” she said. Miller says the moral of her story is that God keeps you safe like Farmer Frank keeps his elk safe in the book. Suzie Saves the Day can also be used as a learning tool. It is filled with many facts about elk, which can be very fascinating to children who don’t know much about elk or have never had the pleasure of seeing one in person. Farmer Frank is based on and named after Miller’s father. She got a little emotional as she explained that the book is a tribute to him and Suzie. Miller had always dreamt of writing a children’s book. “I just never knew what to write about, and this story was right in front of my nose the whole time,” she said. The entire book, besides publishing, was done by locals, people right here in Nebraska. “The backgrounds of the pictures were done, originally by Madisen Randa,” Miller said. Randa graduated from Verdigre Public School a few years ago. “My cousin, Chase, drew the elk. He’s in Lincoln,” she continued. Her goal was to have everything done in Nebraska, including the publishing. But like many authors do, Miller ran into some issues. The publishers she was in contact with had told her they could not combine the drawing with the backgrounds and that she would have to pay someone to Photoshop them together. This is no cheap feat, so Miller agreed to have the publishers illustrator redo the pages. The publisher proceeded to list their workers as the illustrators of the book, which Miller had to disagree with. She ended up getting her cousin and Randa credit as creative designers. Sharon McGlynn also helped Miller with the story. McGlynn proofed the book and added her input. Miller added more detail and explained more about the elk that isn’t common knowledge to others, per McGlynns request. Miller’s goal was to have this book done in early summer in time for the elk and buffalo tours. But with the unexpected struggles, the book has come out too late. She is looking forward to selling the book on tours next season. A sequel has not been ruled out, regardless of the struggles she faced in publishing book one. “As far as sequels go, I got a few ideas,” she said. Suzie Saves the day is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and at www.covenantbooks.com/books/?book=suzie-saves-the-day. Be sure to meet the real Suzie in person next season at Kreycik Elk and Buffalo Tours.
Niobrara is going to be celebrating Halloween with their Trunk or Treat Saturday, Oct. 27 from 4-6 p.m. Instead of going door to door for trick or treating Trunk or Treat offers a safer way for children to receive candy. People may decorate their trunks with a theme and offer candy to the local children. Meet at the Lutheran Church at 2532 Apple St, Niobrara.
On Monday night, after the J.V. football game held in Verdigre, both Verdigre and Niobrara held their Coronation. Niobrara named Angel Grant and Erika Kitto this years homecoming royalty.
Santee has chosen their homecoming king and queen this year. They have crowned Mato Thomas king and Stefani Johnson queen.
The 6th annual Night Owl 5k will be held at the Niobrara State Park on Saturday, September 8 at 7 p.m. to midnight. Registration is $25 and pre-registered participants will receive a t-shirt and glow item—head lamps or flashlights are recommended. Call the park at (402) 857-3373 to learn more.
Pease General Store is having an Open house Saturday, Sept. 1 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be food, prize giveaways and sales no one can refuse.
|