Visit the Verdigre Library Saturday, Feb. 16 at 11:00 a.m. for a free screening of the brand new episodes of Pinkalicious and Peterrific. It is the perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day with friends.
Boys and girls of all ages will explore arts and creativity with the hit PBS KIDS show based on the bestselling book series by Victoria Kann. It was a hectic night in the Yankton emergency room on January 26. With a life-threatening situation in another room, the Verdigre EMTs sensed the crisis. Even though Avera Sacred Heart had already officially received the patient, Verdigre Rescue Captain Mitch Mastlair chose to stay and care for their patient. That willingness to go the extra mile struck a chord with Avera RN Celeste Elwood. “I will always remember their familiar faces and warm, caring smiles and their willingness to stay,” she said. “They gave up an extra hour of their Saturday and I could sense their dedication and applaud all they do as life-saving EMTs.” Mastlair was proud to hear Elwood’s compliment about his team. But at the same time, it did not surprise him because of the effort he continuously sees from the local EMTs. “In this business, it’s far in between thank yous, so it means a lot to hear that,” he said. EMTs are not required to stay once the patient has been transferred to the hospital, but Mastlair said his team always stays to make sure the patient is cared for and nurses have taken control. “Most of our patients are local residents, people we know, so we always stay,” he explained. Elwood agreed with him. “They often offer to call family for them or do something they need done at home, and the patients are so grateful that they're not only in good hands, but familiar hands,” she said. Mastlair said the EMTs understand many hospitals can be short staffed, so it’s important to stick around and make sure the patient is cared for. The rescue captain credits his crew’s experience for knowing to stay with their patient in Yankton on January 26. He has been an EMT for 40 years and has been the captain for most of that time. Mastlair said in years past, the crew had about 30 members but has now dwindled to 19. “It is hard to find volunteers, but right now we have a good crew. They are veterans and know what they are doing,” he said. “I feel very proud of this squad. Even though our numbers are down I am glad I have who I have.” Dwindling EMT numbers is a obstacle many rural communities are battling. Although it may seem a thankless job at times, Elwood said the first responders are vital to their communities and added that she sees lots of grateful patients and families. “The patients thank the squad, calling them all by name,” she said. “You can see and feel their gratitude and families that then arrive express the same appreciation.” Elwood said she hopes that the EMTs know the emergency room nurses appreciate them just as much as the patients and their families. “Over the years, I've developed an increasing respect for those who respond to the scene in whatever conditions they might have to face: freezing cold, fog, tragedy, danger, wreckage, any age group, any illness,” she said. Elwood said it takes a team in emergency situations, especially those responding to the scene first. “What the local volunteers do is nothing short of courageous,” she said. Rachel Dather, outdoor education major from Verdigre, Neb., is one of this year’s recipients of the Make a Difference Scholarship at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D.
Rachel received a $3,000 scholarship from the James Hess endowment fund along with $2,000 to plan and implement a community project. “My project for the Make a Difference Initiative was to create a sustainable hunting club at BHSU called Prairie to Plate. We take people hunting if they’ve never hunted before and are able to provide resources to those with hunting experience who haven’t had the means to hunt recently,” Rachel says. Read more: http://www.bhsu.edu/About-BHSU/News-Events/bhsu-student-earns-scholarship-and-community-service-funds-for-a-sustainable-hunting-club
There are many events going on at the Verdigre Public Library this holiday season.
On 11-05-2018 at about 9:42 a.m., the Knox County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the Alpine Village Care Center in Verdigre, NE about a resident at the care center receiving a threat. The Alpine Village stated that as a precaution the facility was placed on lock down. The Knox County Dispatch notified Verdigre Police, Verdigre Fire and Rescue as well as the Verdigre Public Schools.
Upon the Knox County Sheriff’s Office investigating the threat, it was discovered that a resident had received numerous phone calls from the same number over the weekend. The suspect again called three times on Monday (11-05-2018) morning. The first time the Alpine Village resident answered. The resident then asked an employee to block the number as she did not want anymore calls from the suspect. The second time the suspect called an employee answered and asked that the number be placed on a do not call list. The suspect hung up and then immediately called back. The employee answered the third call and was asked by the suspect if she watches the news, at which she replied yes. The suspect then stated that he was going to bomb the residence. A Knox County Deputy called the suspects number at which the suspect admitted to making the threatening statements. The suspect also asked the deputy not to call his number anymore or he would send the deputy a bomb as well. The suspect is not from the area and it is believed to be a scammer trying to get information to scam the victim out of money. A report will be sent to the FBI for further investigation. Governor Pete Ricketts stopped at the Verdigre Library on Tuesday to celebrate an innovative collaboration between public schools and public libraries.
The Verdigre Library is one of only six libraries across Nebraska participating in the "Sparks Grant: NE Schools & Libraries Break the Ice and Ignite Internet Relationships.” The collaboration also includes the Nebraska Library Commission, Institute of Museums and Library Services and the state’s Chief Information Office. The goal of the grant is to provide better internet access in libraries with a particular emphasis on providing better access for students to complete homework. The Verdigre Library was packed with students and adults alike. Governor Ricketts explained the importance of a great relationship between schools and libraries. He also congratulated Verdigre on their Sparks Grant. For the Sparks Grant in Verdigre, the Nebraska Unified District #1 shares its wifi with the public library 4 p.m. until 8 a.m. Patrons are invited to see if they can tell a difference from daytime library speeds (20 mbps) to evening school speeds (70 mbps). Other towns participating in the Sparks grant are Genoa, Bancroft, Wymore, Imperial and Bayard. After congratulating Verdigre on their grant, the crowd used the opportunity to ask Ricketts questions on a variety of topics, including his goals as governor. “The vision for our administration is to grow Nebraska,” he said. The governor pointed out that a major goal is to find jobs right here in Nebraska. Jobs the students listening to him would someday get. “We want to keep our kids, our grandkids, and attract people from other states as well,” he explained. According to Ricketts, it is important to make sure everyone knows Nebraska is a great place for jobs and education. In Nebraska, he said there are many jobs in manufacturing, logistics, computer coding, construction and agriculture. The governor went on to explain how many programs are in place to help Nebraskans find good paying jobs suited to them. Governor Ricketts then switched to discussing the budget. He said Nebraska works hard to balance the budget without raising taxes. “Here in Nebraska, we don’t spend money we don’t have,” the governor said. He said predicting the exact budget can be hard, but a team will “forecast” the budget, trying to estimate how much money will be coming in each year. The last two years, the income actually was below the forecasted amount, leading to cuts. The governor said the ultimate goal of balancing the budget is to control spending. Once this happens, he hopes to put money into property tax. “The number one issue people have been talking about is property tax,” Ricketts said. According to the governor, ag land evaluations have gone up 252 percent over the last 10 years and the taxes paid on them have gone up 162 percent. He explained that the property tax relief fund is one of the ways they are trying to fix this problem. He also explained how other states like South Dakota, Iowa, and Kansas have income potential value evaluation for ag land. This would evaluate ag land based upon what the farmers can earn off of it rather that what market sales are set at. Ricketts expressed the importance of marketing Nebraska. He has gone to Japan, the European Union, Canada and more to sell Nebraska, to show them what a great place it is. Trips like these helped increase Nebraska’s beef exports to Japan by 26 percent. Not only does it help exports, but it also helps bring companies here, the governor said. He has also reached out to companies in New York and the Silicon Valley. Kawasaki, a company from Japan, has created the first ever aero station in Nebraska. Facebook will be making their sixth data center here as well. This, in turn, creates more jobs for Nebraskans, he said. “Nebraska has won the Governor’s Cup two years in a row now for most economic development per capita,” Ricketts said. According to him, Nebraska has had more projects with companies investing in the state than North Dakota, South Dakota and Kansas combined. Governor Pete Ricketts is coming to Verdigre. He will be at the Verdigre Public Library on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. The occasion is an Open House celebrating an innovative collaboration between public schools and public libraries. Verdigre library is one of only six libraries across Nebraska participating in the "Sparks Grant: NE Schools & Libraries Break the Ice and Ignite Internet Relationships". The collaboration also includes NE Library Commission, IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) and State of NE Office of the CIO. What the Sparks grant looks like in Verdigre is from 4 p.m. until 8 a.m. the NE Unified District #1 shares its wifi with the public library, so those of you using wireless devices are invited to see if you can tell a difference from daytime library speeds (20 mbps) to evening school speeds (70 mbps). Other towns participating in the Sparks grant are Genoa, Bancroft, Wymore, Imperial and Bayard. Everyone is invited to meet and greet Governor Ricketts in Verdigre. The Library Open House with light refreshments will be 2:00-4:00 p.m. Bring your camera and a friend. After Monday night's junior varsity football game Verdigre and Niobrara held their Coronations. Blake Bartling and Morgan Hrbek were announced 2018 homecoming king and queen for Verdigre.
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