News

Rain doesn’t stop 60th annual Popcorn Day celebration

Popcorn Day organizers didn’t let a little rain get in the way of all the fun during the 60th annual event in downtown Hamburg on Saturday, Sept. 10. The weather forecast forced the musical performers who were to appear in the City Park to relocate to the Colonial Theatre, and the fireworks had to be cancelled, but many of the planned events took place as usual, including the coronation of the Popcorn Queen and Little Miss Popcorn, the presentation of the Community Service Awards, the announcement of the Grand Marshal, and the Kiddie and Grand Parades down Main Street. Popcorn Day royalty Gracee Thompson, the daughter of Chad and Alisha Thompson, was crowned the 2022 Popcorn Queen. She has been involved in volleyball, basketball, golf, track, softball, and cheerleading.

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Peru State hosts freshwater fun at Duck Creek

On Wednesday, Sept. 7, Peru State College held its annual kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, and outdoor education event at Duck Creek. This event was organized by: Dr. Frank Lynott, Dr. Darolyn Seay, Dr. Kelly Kingsley, Dr. Robert Ingram, Dr. Sara Westerlin, Nebraska Game and Parks, Student Activities, School of Education, Methods professors and college 101 professors. The Lincoln Paddle Company provided kayaking and paddle boards for the second year in a row.

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Yard and Garden: Chrysanthemums provide sure sign of fall

One sure sign that fall is here is when the garden centers and greenhouses fill up with beautiful fall mums. Mums offer gardeners a wide range of colors and flower forms and only require moderate levels of maintenance. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offer tips on growing and caring so you can get the most enjoyment out of fall mums.

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Second AppleJack weekend to focus on food

The second and final weekend of the 2022 Apple-Jack Festival is all about apples this weekend with a food truck street fair, the 12th annual Ulbrick’s dinner, the Taste of AppleJack “All Things Apple” recipe contest, and the return of the Taste of Nebraska City progressive dinner in addition to fall fun at the orchards. The third annual Food Truck Street Fair will take place at the corner of 6th Street and Central Avenue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.

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Grassley’s office seeks service academy nomination applicants

Every year, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) nominates 10 young Iowans to each of the U.S. service academies, including the Military Academy at West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy. Grassley encourages Iowa students to consider applying to all five of the U.S. service academies, since each one has different qualifications. Students who may be ineligible for one academy may be eligible for another.

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Dollar General Literacy Foundation Awards $35,000 to Iowa

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) announced the award of $35,000 in youth literacy grants to Iowa nonprofit organizations, libraries and schools. The funds are part of more than $3 million recently awarded across the country and aim to narrow the gap between learners’ needs and programs’ financial resources by providing books, technology, equipment or materials to youth education programs.

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