Heartland Elks Association – Nebraska is proud to announce that we have continued our ritual tradition with another All American at this year's National Ritual Competition!

Congratulations to Mark Lowe of Falls City Lodge #963 on being named 2026 All American – Western Division, Esteemed Loyal Knight.

Thank you, Mark, for your dedication and for doing an outstanding job representing Falls City Lodge and the State of Nebraska. We are proud of you!

Nemaha Central Thunder Students Natalie Stech and Emma Niehues proudly represented #NemahaCentral at the National FBLA Convention in San Antonio earlier this week.

Emma competed in Intro to Business Communication, while Natalie showcased her skills in Impromptu Speaking.

Congratulations to both students on this outstanding accomplishment! We are proud of the way you represented Nemaha Central. Keep up the great work!

For the last 24 years, Alisha Sutton, Director of Choirs/Piano/Theater at Falls City Middle & High Schools, has had the opportunity to take students to New York City for various choir trips. 

On June 6, 2026, Kaytlin Nelson, Tripp Lippold, Harley Sutton, Brandon Feighner, Madalynn Hawley, Levi Lendermon, Burke Wissman, Catherine Carter, Arryn Chandler, Kili Savago, Audrey Scrivens, & Kaylee Songer performed Schubert’s “Mass in G”, directed by Jed Ragsdale, on the Ronald Perelman Stage in the famous Carnegie Hall building in New York City. 

Performers had 5 hour rehearsals on both Thursday & Friday and a dress rehearsal on Saturday prior to the performance Saturday night. 

The students, accompanied by Asheigh Eickhoff, Sarah Feighner, Cody Hawley, Laura Young & Mrs. Sutton, got to take in many sites while being in the city for 5 short days. 

Sites included: Koreatown, Empire State Building, 911 Memorial & Museum, The “Survivor Tree”, St. Paul’s Chaple (The little Chaple that stood), Trinity Church, Hamilton’s Grave, “The Outsiders”, “The Great Gatsby”, “Hadestown”, The Ghostbusters building, outside Madison Square Garden (after the Nicks won), Times Square, Ellen’s Stardust Diner, Rockefeller Plaza, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The New York Public Library, FAO Schwarz, Shopping in So-Ho, Little Italy, Chinatown, Columbus Park, The Museum of Broadway, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, Grand Central Terminal, Various subway stations, Central Park, Chelsea Pier, and a Cruise on the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty. 

Not too many performers can say that they performed on the Ronald Perelman Stage in Carnegie Hall, but now these students can add it to their resume of performance halls. 

This trip is the 10th choir trip (under Sutton) that members of FCHS Concert Choir have taken-5 of those ending with a performance at Carnegie Hall!

A heartfelt thank you to the team members from Falls City American National Bank who visited Falls City Care Center on Monday and brought along a fun and festive Independence Day craft for our residents!

Residents and staff enjoyed spending time with these wonderful volunteers as they worked together to create patriotic decorations for the dining room. The activity was filled with laughter, creativity, and meaningful conversation, making it a memorable afternoon for everyone involved.

The beautiful finished decorations added the perfect patriotic touch to the dining room, helping create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for residents to enjoy throughout the holiday.

We are grateful to Falls City American National Bank for sharing their time, talents, and community spirit. Thank you for making our residents smile and helping us celebrate Independence Day in such a special way!

The Hiawatha City Commission welcomed representatives from the Hiawatha Dolphins Swim Team and Rainbow Communications during its meeting Monday evening, highlighted by a $10,000 donation from Rainbow Communications to support improvements at Paul Rockey Field.

Rainbow Communications presented the commission with a ceremonial check to help fund the purchase of a new baseball scoreboard at Paul Rockey Field, located at Noble Park. The donation is part of a community partnership to replace the aging scoreboard, which has become increasingly difficult to maintain and is challenging for spectators to read because of its current location.

The new scoreboard will feature a modern design with a built-in pitch count display and will be relocated to left-center field to improve visibility for players, coaches and fans.

The scoreboard project is estimated to cost approximately $25,445. In addition to Rainbow Communications' $10,000 contribution, Amberwell Hiawatha has also committed $10,000 toward the project, with the City of Hiawatha funding the remaining balance.

The commission expressed its appreciation for the generous support from Rainbow Communications and Amberwell Hiawatha, noting that the partnership demonstrates the community's continued investment in local parks and youth athletics.

Representatives of the Hiawatha Dolphins Swim Team also attended Monday's meeting to provide an update on the organization's activities and ongoing support of youth swimming programs in the community.

Construction and installation of the new scoreboard are expected to take place following the city's approval of the project.

Sabetha Elementary School is grateful for the generous donation from Iron Order MC to help support students by reducing outstanding school lunch fees.

This thoughtful gift will make a meaningful difference for many families in our school community, ensuring that students can focus on learning and growing each day. Acts of kindness like this remind us of the strength of our community and the positive impact we can make when we work together.

We sincerely appreciate Iron Order MC for investing in our students and helping meet an important need. Your generosity and commitment to supporting local children are truly valued.

Thank you, Iron Order MC, for making a difference in the lives of our Sabetha Elementary students!

Valley Falls Trapshooting Team – Introducing your Kansas High School Clay Target League State Tournament Varsity High Lady Champion! Taygen, a Valley Falls student, delivered an outstanding performance at the state tournament, shooting an incredible 99/100 to earn the championship title. Her hard work, dedication, focus, and determination were on full display, and this achievement is a testament to the countless hours she has put into her sport. She represented the Valley Falls Trapshooting Team with excellence and made her teammates, coaches, school, and community incredibly proud. Congratulations, Taygen, on this well-deserved accomplishment! We are so proud of you and can't wait to see what you achieve next.

Summer STEAM Camp at Horton Elementary was filled with dazzling discoveries as our young astronauts explored the wonders of galaxies, stars, constellations, and light!

Campers stepped into the roles of space engineers and astronomers as they designed and built their own telescopes, created colorful "galaxies in a jar," and used their imaginations to create and name their own unique constellations.

We were also thrilled to welcome another NASA Solar System Ambassador, who challenged students with an exciting Moon Lander Challenge that encouraged critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving.

A huge thank you to Greg Strahm and Livie Strahm of Grimm's Gardens for sharing their gardening expertise with us during today's Picnic in the Park!

Our young gardeners had a wonderful time learning about flowers, soil, and the basics of planting before getting their hands dirty by planting flowers around the shelter house. Each child proudly placed their name next to their flower, giving them a special reason to visit the park throughout the summer and watch their blooms grow.

Be sure to stop by the park and check out their beautiful work the next time you're visiting. We can't wait to see these flowers—and our young gardeners—continue to grow!

(KNZA)--A longtime Brown County educator will be inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame.

Darlene Rake, of rural Horton, is among eight educators selected for induction during a ceremony Saturday, June 6th, in Dodge City. Rake was the only nominee from northeast Kansas chosen for this year's Hall of Fame class.

Rake spent 30 years in education--including 28 years teaching in the Hiawatha Public Schools of USD 415.   She also directed several school plays and later worked as a substitute teacher at Horton High School.

To be eligible for nomination, candidates must have been certified K-through-12 teachers in Kansas for at least 25 years. Rake was nominated in March by members of the Brown County Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel.

She was selected for the honor in recognition of her lifelong commitment to student achievement and her contributions to education and the community.

The Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame, established in 1977, was the first state-level hall of fame in the nation dedicated to the teaching profession. More than 450 educators have been inducted over the years.

 

Photo Credit: KS Teachers Hall of Fame

Barbara K. Vitt has been a devoted educator and counselor, serving Nemaha County with distinction for decades. Reflecting on her career, Vitt describes each of her teaching and counseling roles as a “little piece of paradise.” She credits the experience to the respectful, hard-working students, supportive parents, and the dedicated colleagues, administrators, and school boards with whom she worked. Given the opportunity, she says she would happily do it all again.

In recognition of her exceptional service and lifelong commitment to education, a generous anonymous donor established the annual Barbara K. Vitt Scholarships. Each year, three Nemaha County students are awarded $1,500 scholarships in recognition of their achievements and potential.

The 2026 recipients of the Barbara K. Vitt Scholarship are:

• Chloe Detweiler, Sabetha High School Daughter of Kurt and Melissa Detweiler Plans to attend Kansas State University, majoring in Nursing
• Alivia Lang, Sabetha High School Daughter of Jason and Sidney Lang Plans to attend Kansas State University, majoring in Kinesiology
• Ellie Hermesch, Nemaha Central High School Daughter of Tisha Hermesch Plans to Iowa Western Community College, majoring in Dental Hygiene

These scholarships honor Vitt’s legacy by supporting students who reflect the values she championed throughout her career, dedication, compassion, and a commitment to learning.

 

The Nemaha County STEP Foundation is pleased to announce Brooklyn Uphaus as the 2026 recipient of the United 4 Youth Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a student who actively participates in SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and exemplifies a commitment to making positive, healthy life choices.

United 4 Youth is a program focused on equipping Nemaha County youth with prevention tools that encourage sound decision-making and support both physical and mental well-being.

Brooklyn is the daughter of Briana Uphaus and plans to attend Kanas State University to pursue a degree in Nursing.

Congratulations to Brooklyn for her leadership and dedication to living a healthy, responsible lifestyle.

The Nemaha County STEP Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the Leroy “Roy” Heiman Memorial Scholarship. Established in partnership with the Heiman family, this scholarship honors Roy’s legacy by supporting the educational goals of local students living in the old B&B school district.

The 2026 Roy Heiman Memorial Scholarship recipients are:

• Laura Deters
  Daughter of John and Pamela Deters
  Plans to attend Kansas State University, majoring in the College of Art Sciences
• Kamden Schmitz
  Son of Justin and Janelle Schmitz
  Plans to attend Kansas State University, majoring in Agriculture
• Brooklyn Uphaus
  Daughter of Briana Uphaus
  Plans to attend Kansas State University, majoring in Healthcare

The Nemaha County STEP Foundation is honored to assist in awarding these scholarships. STEP remains committed to helping caring citizens create meaningful opportunities for others and leave a lasting legacy within the community.

 

This national designation recognizes Seneca’s exceptional commitment to downtown revitalization, historic preservation, and community-driven economic development.

SENECA, Kan. — Seneca Area Chamber and Downtown Impact has been designated as a 2026 Accredited Main Street America program, the highest level of recognition awarded by Main Street America for exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.

Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of nationally designated programs in recognition of their work creating meaningful improvements in downtown districts through the Main Street Approach™. Seneca Area Chamber and Downtown Impact is one of 838 programs across the nation to receive Accredited status in 2026.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from Main Street America,” said Kylee Bergstrom, Executive Director of Seneca Area Chamber and Downtown Impact. “This designation reflects the dedication of our volunteers, businesses, property owners, community partners, and residents who continue working together to strengthen downtown Seneca while preserving the character and history that make our community special.”

Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation: Accredited and Affiliate. These designations serve as a badge of excellence, recognizing programs that demonstrate a strong commitment to comprehensive commercial district revitalization and community impact. Accredited status is Main Street America’s highest designation tier.

Programs receiving Accredited status must demonstrate exceptional performance in areas including broad-based community engagement, inclusive leadership, sustainable operations, strategy-driven programming, preservation-based economic development, and measurable impact and results. The designation process includes assessments conducted in partnership with Kansas Main Street and Main Street America.

Over the past year, Seneca Area Chamber and Downtown Impact has continued building momentum through downtown revitalization projects, tourism initiatives, business support programs, community events, and regional collaborations designed to strengthen the local economy and attract visitors to Northeast Kansas. Recent efforts have included expansion of destination-focused tourism experiences, promotion of downtown businesses, and continued investment in preserving and enhancing the historic character of downtown Seneca.

Main Street America programs collectively generated $9.4 billion in local reinvestment in 2025 while supporting new businesses, job creation, historic rehabilitation projects, and volunteer engagement across the country.

ABOUT SENECA AREA CHAMBER AND DOWNTOWN IMPACT The Seneca Area Chamber and Downtown Impact is dedicated to promoting, encouraging, and improving the business, civic, historical, and cultural vitality of the Seneca area while fostering a vibrant and economically strong community. Through community partnerships, events, tourism, business support, and downtown revitalization initiatives, the organization works to strengthen Seneca as a destination for residents, visitors, and businesses alike. Learn more at www.ComeSeeSeneca.com.

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Today, the network includes more than 1,600 communities across the country working to build stronger places through preservation-based economic development. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.

Hiawatha Public Schools student Mackenzie Shefferd earned an Artistic Excellence Award at Highland Community College’s Annual Art Day Competition. Mackenzie was recognized for outstanding creativity, talent, and artistic achievement among students from across the region. The award highlights both her dedication to the arts and the strength of Hiawatha Public Schools’ art program.

The Nemaha Central KidWind team proudly earned the Middle School Champion Award at KidWind Worlds in Madison, Wisconsin! Competing against nearly 50 middle school teams from 24 U.S. states, Taiwan, and Estonia, they finished among the top five overall teams in the world competition.

The team excelled across multiple wind tunnel events, including efficiency, slow speed, high speed, and yawing challenges. They also demonstrated outstanding teamwork and problem-solving in the instant challenges, scored well on the knowledge quiz, and impressed judges with their presentation.

Their combined efforts and dedication earned this incredible recognition. We are so proud of the way they represented our school, community, and state on the world stage!

The Nemaha County STEP Foundation is pleased to announce the 2026 recipient of the August Bergman, M.D., Scholarship. This $1,000 award is designated for students residing within the former B&B school district.

Dr. August Bergman has been a steadfast supporter of the STEP Foundation and local students for many years. His generosity has made possible multiple scholarship opportunities, including the Elizabeth Bergman Memorial Scholarship and the B&B Legacy (Challenge) Scholarship.

The 2026 scholarship recipient is Kamden Schmitz, son of Justin and Janelle Schmitz. Kamden plans to attend Kansas State University, where he will major in Agricultural Economics.

The STEP Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Bergman for his continued commitment to encouraging local students and investing in the future of our community.

Cora Thompson/submitted

 

The Centralia Community Church Scholarship Fund was created to uplift and encourage the Christian community in Centralia, Kansas. Each year, the fund honors local students who demonstrate strong values, commitment to their faith, and dedication to their education.

The 2026 scholarship recipient is Cora Thompson, who has been awarded a $500 scholarship. Cora, the daughter of Dustin and Manda Thompson, plans to attend Kansas State University, where she intends to major in Chemistry or Biology.

Congratulations to Cora on this welldeserved recognition. We wish her continued growth and success as she pursues her academic goals and deepens her spiritual journey.

The Oskaloosa CNA Class of 2026 took their state exam on Thursday and we are so proud to launch this group of great kids into the medical field! 

Thank you to our school, FW Huston, Highland Community College and our community for their continued support of this amazing opportunity. 

The medical field is so lucky to have each one of you!

Congratulations to Maur Hill-Mount Academy Ravens Coach Roger Purdy on earning his 150th career victory last week against ACCHS!

Coach Purdy’s accomplishments include:
• 150 career wins
• 4 state tournament appearances
• Two 3rd-place finishes
• Named Coach of the Year in 2015

A tremendous achievement and a testament to years of dedication and leadership. Congratulations, Coach Purdy!

Congratulations to Mrs. Sheila Chalfant on being selected as the 2026 Rotary Teacher of the Year!

Mrs. Chalfant has dedicated 35 years of service to the students of USD 377 and has contributed in countless supplemental roles throughout her career. Her passion, leadership, and commitment to education have made a lasting impact on generations of students and staff.

Mrs. Chalfant was honored at a special lunch reception hosted by the Rotary Club of Atchison. We are incredibly proud of this well-deserved recognition and grateful for all she has done for our schools and community!

Kentucky Derby Day came to life Thursday at Jonesbrook Estates Assisted Living in Falls City with a fun-filled afternoon of stick-horse racing, cheering residents, and plenty of smiles.

MSC Radio’s John Nixon added a unique accomplishment to his broadcasting career by serving as the official announcer for the races, bringing excitement and energy to the event.

The jockeys for the day were first grade students from Sacred Heart School, led by teacher Sue Ebel. The students raced their “wild herd” of stick horses around a specially prepared track while residents gathered outside on a sunny, windy afternoon to cheer them on.

After the races, residents helped present medals to the young riders, making the event especially memorable for the students.

Sherry Aitken and the staff at Jonesbrook Estates organized Derby Day festivities and received praise for creating the race track and grandstand area that brought the Kentucky Derby spirit to Falls City.

The Oskaloosa CNA Class of 2026 completed their state exam on Thursday, and we couldn't be more proud of these outstanding students as they begin their journey into the healthcare field!

A heartfelt thank you to our school, FW Huston, Highland Community College, and our community for their continued support in making this incredible opportunity possible.

The future of healthcare is bright, and we know each of these students will make a positive difference in the lives of others. Congratulations, Class of 2026—we can't wait to see all that you accomplish!

We are proud to recognize exceptional teachers and students across Atchison whose dedication, leadership, and service make a lasting impact on our schools and community.

Outstanding Seniors Students Recognized as Rotary Students of the Year are:

- Ashton Neill — Atchison County Community Junior Senior High School

- Finnian Patterson — Atchison High School

- Malori Hall — Central School

- Clare Trotter — Maur Hill – Mount Academy

Thank you to these remarkable individuals for representing the very best of education, leadership, and service. Your commitment inspires us all, and Rotary is honored to celebrate you!

On Saturday, Horton Veterans Museum hosted a "Visit With A

Veteran", Steven Thompson. Steven served 3 tours in Iraq during "Operation Iraqi Freedom". HSC Member, Linda Bodenhausen, volunteered along with Cora Compton, Laylah Jelks, Abby Compton, and Avaylia Jelks. Thank you , Steven, for your service to our Country.