Sidney Schools send three to UNO honor band and choir event
Three Sidney Band and Choir students attended the UNO Band, Orchestra, and Choir Honor (BOCH) Festival on Jan. 27-28, held on the University of Nebraska-Omaha campus.
February 2023
Read MoreSidney Schools send three to UNO honor band and choir event
Plano animal shelter announces canine influenza outbreak
Valentine’s Day sparks one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year. Though it might not inspire the masses quite like Black Friday, Valentine’s Day compels millions of people to find gifts for that special someone in their lives each February. In fact, the National Retail Federation’s Annual 2022 Valentine’s Day Spending Survey found that the average person expected to devote $175 to Valentine’s Day spending in 2022.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Awards $9.8 Million in Local Park Grants
AUSTIN— The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $9.8 million in local park grants to help create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities. The competitive grants are allocated to local government entities on a 50/50 reimbursement match basis.
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Older adults hoping to retire this year may have a new factor to consider. Aspiring retirees may have to play it very smart to ensure they can maximize their savings for the long haul. It’s a one-two punch caused by continuously rising costs of everyday items and a bearish market for bonds - one of the most common hedges retirement plans use to offset stock declines. Bonds have been suffering historic losses, according to data from Barclays Aggregate Bond Index. The typical rule of thumb used to be to spend no more than 4 percent of a portfolio’s original value each year to plan for retirement. With no gains or losses, that money would last around 25 years. However, experts at The American College of Financial Services say that, in today’s economy, 4 percent and even 3 percent may be too aggressive. According to Nora Dowd Eisenhower, executive director at the Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on Aging, higher food prices, longer life expectancies and higher rents/housing costs often lead to financial challenges for people in retirement. Data from the U.S. Current Population Survey shows a trend in the number of people no longer in retirement. In September 2022, the unretirement rate was 2.6 percent, up from 2.4 percent in August. Wealth advisors indicate retirees need to look long and hard at their spending habits, even spending less than their wealth could support. This can help them ride out the ups and downs of the market that affect prices on goods and services. Working with a good financial advisor also can help retirees manage their savings to maximize their money for the years to come.
Third Monday
Third Monday: Hamburg Community School District board meeting, Marnie Simons Elementary, 309 S St., 5 p.m. (712) 382-2017. Wednesdays: Fremont County Board of Supervisors meeting, Fremont County Courthouse boardroom, 506 Fillmore St., Sidney. 9 a.m. (712) 374-2031. Tuesday, Feb. 7: Adult coloring at the Hamburg Public Library, 1301 Main St., 2 to 4 p.m. 712-3821395. Thursday, Feb. 16: “Lincoln and Hoover: Comparisons and Contrasts,” Hamburg Public Library, 1301 Main St., 6 p.m. 712-382-1395. Monday, Feb. 27: Fremont County Extension Council Meeting, 610 Clay St., Sidney. 712-374-2851. Tuesday, Feb. 28: “Focus on Nature” with Mike Harvey of Shenandoah, Hamburg Public Library, 1301 Main St., 6 p.m. 712-382-1395.
Rising egg prices leads to increased interest in backyard chickens
As recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza continue to cause an increase in egg prices, consumers may consider starting a backyard poultry flock this spring. A recent article in Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Acreage Living Newsletter highlights best practices for raising a backyard flock.
Q&A: Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO recruits alumni as mentors
USDA Food and Nutrition Service today announced $50 million in grants to 47 states and tribes to modernize and expand the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program at farmers markets, roadside stands and community supported agriculture programs. These grants will allow states to reach more eligible seniors by funding the $50 maximum benefit for up to 250,000 more eligible seniors, while expanding geographic areas served and transitioning to online training and electronic benefits transfer in some states.
ISU survey asks Iowans about wine quality
A wine specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is interested in knowing more about how Iowans handle red and white wines from purchase to consumption. Aude Watrelot, assistant professor of enology in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State, is surveying Iowa consumers to learn more about their habits and preferences – from the time they purchase wines to the time of consumption.