2019 Quack Off in the Books! 

January 26, 2019

 

Photos courtesy of Nadine Kreifels

The Quack Off is an annual event held on the last Saturday of January. Thousands of people gather in Avoca from all over Nebraska, surrounding states, and even nation wide to race a live duck!  The Quack Off is the primary fundraiser for the Avoca Volunteer Fire Department. It is a family event with fun for everyone!

Check out this link to see Quack Off 2018!

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Let's Shake these Winter Blues and Warm Up our Senses!

 

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Red Cross issues emergency call for blood donors
Fewer drives, busy holiday schedules lead to blood shortage

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (Jan. 14, 2019) — A donation shortfall over the winter holidays is prompting the

American Red Cross to issue an emergency call for blood donors to give now to prevent a blood
shortage from continuing throughout winter and affecting patient care.
The Red Cross collected more than 27,000 fewer blood and platelet donations the weeks of
Christmas and New Year’s than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply. During this period,
about 1,350 fewer blood drives were hosted by volunteer sponsor groups than required to meet
patient needs as busy holiday schedules kept many donors away.
“Many people may not realize that blood products are perishable, and the only source of
lifesaving blood for patients is volunteer blood donors,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president,
Red Cross Biomedical Services. “When donations decline – as they did around the holidays and
may further decline if severe winter weather and flu season pick up – lifesaving medical
treatments could be delayed.”
Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types on hand, well
below the ideal five-day supply needed to respond to emergencies and daily hospital needs.
Blood products are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in.
“We hope people can resolve to save lives now – when there is an emergency need – as well
as throughout the year,” added Numark.
All eligible donors, especially blood donors with type O blood, are urged to make an
appointment to give in the coming days to help restock the shelves for hospital patients.
Eligible donors can find a blood donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate
by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS
(1-800-733-2767). Volunteer blood drive hosts are also critically needed to prevent the
shortage from worsening this winter.
Winter weather poses risk to blood supply
With several weeks of winter ahead, severe winter weather poses an additional threat to an
already low blood supply. Snow, ice and extreme temperatures last January and February
forced hundreds of blood drive cancellations, causing about 23,000 blood and platelet donations
to go uncollected. In December, winter weather resulted in nearly twice the number of
uncollected blood and platelet donations as December 2017.
Who blood donations help
In May 2018, 4-year-old Branson Gibby was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare type of
childhood cancer that affects certain types of nerve tissue after complaining of pain in his arms
and legs and running a fever. After many tests, his mother, Erica Austin, was given the news
that no mother ever wants to hear: her son had cancer.

2019-APL-00024
Branson’s 18-month treatment plan includes many rounds of grueling chemotherapy, surgery to
remove the tumor near his kidney and spinal cord, stem cell transplants, and possibly radiation.
He has already endured several lengthy hospital stays and began receiving the first of his stem
cell transplants this fall.
Since his diagnosis, Branson has received 12 blood and 11 platelet transfusions. Of the
transfusions, Austin said, “They have been so important to keep him as healthy, active and
battle-ready, as possible. This is the hardest thing our family has ever faced. However, there is
hope in the generosity of strangers who are helping to heal my brave boy. Blood and platelet
donations truly are the gift of life.”

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Thank you form Nehawka Fire and Rescue

We had our soup supper Last Saturday Night. It did go over well and we would like to thank everyone that showed up.

We would like to thank everyone for all your support!! Thank you for coming out Saturday evening. During the fundraiser members received years of service awards.

15 Years of Service:
Shane Adams
Leann Adams

10 Years of Service:
Ryan Adams
Ann Fischer

5 Years of Service:
Dan Knabe
Michael McIntire
Bob Sorenson
Teara Adams

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Media Release:

Gov. Ricketts Announces Matt Mason as New State Poet

 

 

Gov. Ricketts has named Matt Mason as Nebraska’s next State Poet. 

LINCOLN – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced that Matt Mason of Omaha has been designated as Nebraska’s next State Poet.  The selection process was led by the Nebraska Arts Council, Humanities Nebraska, and the Nebraska Library Commission, a group of state agencies and organizations that together presented finalists to the Governor for consideration.  Mason will be installed as Nebraska State Poet 2019-2023 during a ceremony that will be announced at a later date.

“From Willa Cather to Ted Kooser, Nebraska has been home to many talented authors, artists, and poets,” said Governor Ricketts.  “As our next State Poet, Matt will help celebrate Nebraska and bring our state together around our shared love of the Good Life.”

The Nebraska State Poet is selected based on artistic excellence and exemplary professionalism demonstrated by significant publications and special honors, an established history of community service in the advancement of poetry in Nebraska, and the ability to present poetry and interact effectively with a public audience.

Mason is executive director of the Nebraska Writers Collective, through which he has run the Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains youth poetry festival each year since 2011.  He is a former board president of the Nebraska Center for the Book and has served as the Nebraska State Coordinator for Poetry Out Loud, a Poetry Foundation/National Education Association program.  He also edits PoetryMenu.com, a listing of every poetry event in the state of Nebraska.

Additionally, Mason has won a Pushcart Prize and two Nebraska Book Awards (for Poetry in 2007 and Anthology in 2006) for his own work.  He represented Nebraska as a member of six teams at the National Poetry Slam, and he represented the United States as an organizer of the U.S. Department of State poetry programing in Romania, Nepal, Botswana, and Belarus.

“Poetry and poetry advocacy have been my life's real project, so being honored like this is amazing and humbling,” Mason said.  “I hope to get into communities around the state to do readings with authors there.  I want to get to the different counties, to the Air Force Base, to different crowds and bring entertaining poetry as well as remind everyone of the poets already there in their communities.”

As Nebraska State Poet, Mason will serve a five-year renewable term as an advocate for poetry, literacy, and literature in Nebraska.  His duties will include giving public presentations and readings, leading workshops and discussions, and providing other outreach in schools, libraries, literary festivals, and various venues in rural and urban communities throughout the state.

The position of Nebraska Poet Laureate was established in 1921 when John G. Neihardt, whose most famous work includes “Black Elk Speaks” and “Cycle of the West,” was appointed by the Legislature.  In 1982, William Kloefkorn was appointed as Nebraska State Poet by Governor Charles Thone.  Kloefkorn served as State Poet for 29 years until his death in May 2011.  Twyla M. Hansen, winner of two Nebraska Book Awards and co-director of the website, “Poetry from the Plains: A Nebraska Perspective,” served from 2013-2018.

To learn more about Matt Mason, visit his website at matt.midverse.com or his official page at the Humanities Nebraska website by clicking here.  For information about hosting the state poet with the Nebraska Arts Council’s “Presenting the State Poet” grants, visit artscouncil.nebraska.gov or contact the office at (402) 595-2122.

 

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 New thrift/consignment store

Fairweather Finds

106 S. Nevada St.,

South Bend Ne.

Open Thursday - Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sunday, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Phone # 402-417-3971

We have vintage items, some antiques, lots of glass things plus books,  toys and furniture.