What's New

 

 

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Put more trust in nobility of character, than in an oath.

Solon (c. 640 – c. 560 BCE)
Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet

 

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HOW DID MY REPRESENTATIVE VOTE?

Your congressmen and senators are called 'representatives', because they're supposed to represent the people, (you), who voted for them.

You should be interested in how they've voted on certain issues and you can find out by going to one or more of the sites below.

Don't fill out your ballot until you're informed.

 

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes#_

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/votes_new.htm

https://www.congress.gov/

https://library.bu.edu/legis

https://clerk.house.gov/Votes

https://ballotpedia.org/voting_records

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LET'S GET a HANDLE on THIS THING!
(Editorial by Pat Zeigler)

Okay, People, just as all of you, I'm tired of all the covid stuff. I really want to see, and hug, my family and friends again. My one and only aunt, the only one of my parents' generation left, lives less than an hour away. Can't see her. A cross- country move is bringing one of our kids closer, within 6 hours of us, but we haven't felt safe enough to make that far of a trip yet to see him and his family. Stops along the way, at places where no social-distancing or masks are required, let alone enforced, is a scary scenario.  Many different occasions have been put on hold till a new, less scary, better day arrives.

Anyone who has a child has experienced this: your child goes to daycare or school and soon thereafter tummy aches, colds, and a variety of illnesses seem to infest our homes for months. What causes that?

Toddlers are taught to cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze to teach them good hygiene practices.  As an adult, should you need to re-learn that?  When some other countries, and some of our own states, mandated masks, their covid rates declined rapidly. Why is that?

A few weeks ago, we required the service of professionals to do some work at the house. When I mentioned that we required them to wear a mask while inside doing the estimates, we were told, (by two different companies), that they never wear a mask, and refused. Why is that? Would they have refused to take off their muddy shoes, also? Or, if they smoke, insisted to smoke inside our home, too? (And if they weren't smokers, I wonder if it's because they're concerned for their own health.)  I just want to know where have manners and respect for others have gone?  Do they even matter anymore?

Last Monday, I read in the Cassgram that Cass County's covid rates are still going up, from 323 on Friday, to 330, only 3 days later. Supposedly the death rates are declining, which is good, but the rates of infection are going up all over the country, which is horrible. Many people, after covid 'recovery', continue to have long-term, devastating problems. Why is that? When that happens, can you even call it a recovery? At what point are you considered fully recovered? Will it then become a 'pre-existing condition' for the ‘recovered’ person?

So until the health scientists get this virus figured out, would you just practice some patience, get a handle on yourself, and put on a mask whenever you leave the house?   Why? Because it's the simple, caring, respectful thing to do, that can save lives - in more ways than one.  Oh, and the rest of us want to enjoy our lives, too.

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Celebrate Nebraska’s 2020 Book Award Winners at Week Long Virtual Celebration

Celebrate Nebraska’s 2020 Book Award winners with author readings and an awards presentation ceremony at the Nebraska Center for the Book’s week long virtual Celebration of Nebraska Books starting October 19th. Winners of the 2020 Nebraska Book Awards will be honored and the celebration will include readings by some of the winning authors, designers and illustrators of books with a Nebraska connection published in 2019. And the winners are:

Children’s Picture Book: Your Bridge to History by Portia Love & Preston Love, Jr. Illustrated by Regina Jeanpierre. Publisher: Preston Publishing

Children’s Picture Book Honor: Major: A Soldier Dog by Trevor Jones. Illustrated by Ming Hai. Publisher: Six Foot Press

Cover/Design/Illustration: The Spirit of Nebraska: A History of Husker Game Day Traditions - the Tunnel Walk, Mascots, Cheer, and More by Debra Kleve White. Design by Concierge Marketing and Publishing Services. Publisher: Cheerful Books

Fiction: See Willy See by Faith Colburn. Publisher: Prairie Wind Press

Fiction Honor Series: The Line Between: A Thriller and A Single Light: A Thriller by Tosca Lee. Publisher: Howard Books

Nonfiction Investigative Journalism: Zoo Nebraska: Dismantling of an American Dream by Carson Vaughan. Publisher: Little A

Nonfiction Nature Reference: Great Plains Birds: Discover the Great Plains by Larkin Powell. Publisher: Bison Books

Nonfiction Immigration Story: Citizen Akoy: Basketball and the Making of a South Sudanese American by Steve Marantz. Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Nonfiction Nebraska Perseverance: Nebraska During the New Deal: The Federal Writers’ Project in the Cornhusker State by Marilyn Irvin Holt. Publisher: Bison Books

Nonfiction Native American History: Lakota America: A New History of Indigenous Power by Pekka Hämäläinen. Publisher: Yale University Press

Poetry: This Bright Darkness by Sarah McKinstry-Brown. Publisher: Black Lawrence Press

Poetry Honor: In a Good Time by Mark Sanders. Publisher: WSC Press

The virtual Celebration of Nebraska Books will also honor winners of the 2020 Jane Geske and Mildred Bennett awards. The Mildred Bennett Award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to fostering the literary tradition in Nebraska, reminding us of the literary and intellectual heritage that enriches our lives and molds our world. The Jane Geske Award is presented to a Nebraska organization for exceptional contribution to literacy, books, reading, libraries, or literature in Nebraska. It commemorates Geske’s passion for books, and was established in recognition of her contributions to the well-being of the libraries of Nebraska.

The 2020 One Book One Nebraska selection, All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor's Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor by Donald Stratton with Ken Gire (William Morrow, 2016) will be featured in a keynote presentation. The introduction of the 2021 One Book One Nebraska book choice will conclude the festivities on Friday, October 23rd.

The Celebration of Nebraska Books is sponsored by Nebraska Center for the Book and the Nebraska Library Commission, with support from History Nebraska’s Nebraska History Museum. Humanities Nebraska provides support for One Book One Nebraska. The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is supported by the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Nebraska Library Commission.

As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”

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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.

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TEN YEARS AGO...

There Were Many Fall Activities Planned Such as the Conestoga Homecoming Bonfire, a Boy Scout Eagle Project, a Haunted Walk and Scarecrows in Weeping Water!

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VOTE! 

The FUTURE is in YOUR POWER!  

 

IF YOU'RE OVER 18, CLICK EITHER of the NEBRASKA ICONS BELOW to REGISTER TO VOTE!  IT'S YOUR RIGHT!

(Editorial by Patricia Zeigler, Editor, MurrayNebraska.com)

General Election: November 3, 2020

If you have any questions regarding elections, registering to
vote, filing for office, or working as an election worker,
contact the election office at:

201 Main Street
Plattsmouth, NE 68048

Call: (402) 296-9309 or email: linnm@cassne.org

Click HERE for an Election Calendar.

 

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NOW THAT YOU'VE REGISTERED, GET THE FACTS!

 

There are really NO EXCUSES for failing to vote.  You have to work that day?  No excuse.  Don't have a babysitter?  No excuse.  You don't want to go out in a crowd?  No excuse.  Do you know that any Nebraska resident who is a LEGALLY REGISTERED VOTER may request an EARLY-VOTING BALLOT APPLICATION, (also known as an 'ABSENTEE' ballot)? You don't even need to have a reason, (or an excuse), for the request! 

One excellent reason for voting by absentee, is the weather.  An ice or snow storm, heavy winds or torrential rains could possibly keep you from physically voting on the actual Election Day.  No worries about that with your mail-in vote either. 

Do you need another good reason for voting by mail? You might get sick and cannot physically go to your polling place.

The following should help you save time:   

• Cass County NE voters may print the Early Voting Ballot Application HERE.  
• OR call your local Election Office and ask for one to be mailed to you.  In Cass County NE, that's 402-296-9309.
• OR in Cass County NE, there is a box located outside the building where you can just pick one up. You may also pick one up at the Election Office inside.  The address is 201 Main Street, Plattsmouth, NE, (white building southeast of the flag pole).

Accurately, completely fill out the form.   Include your name, residence address, phone number, mailing address you want the ballot sent to and your signature.  Even if you do the automatic fill-in form online, you still need to SIGN IT after you print it.  Mail it right away or take it to the Cass County NE Election Office and drop it in the box outside on the southwest wall of the building.

 On September 28th ballots will start to be sent out and you should receive yours shortly thereafter.

So get your Early Voting Ballot Application form filled-out now, before the big rush.  The last day to request an Early Voting Bal

lot to be mailed to you is October 23rd.

Just do it now.  Election Day will be here before you know it! 

For more information: NEBRASKA SECRETARY of STATE 
https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/early-voting-0

OR

Cass County NE Voters can also check HERE.

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Next to the Cass County Election Office door you'll see two sets of forms, one on the right for Voter Registration and on the left, the Early Voting Forms.

After they're filled out and signed, you may take them inside, mail them, or drop them in the 'Ballot Box' around the corner of the building, to the right of the big Election Office sign.

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Even during the summer and amid the Covid19 crisis, the Conestoga Backpack Program continues to furnish food to local families in need. The program serves the Murray, Nehawka, Union and Beaver Lake areas in southeast Nebraska, and will not turn anyone away.

Just by adding a few of the items listed below to your shopping list and picking them up, you'll be helping someone in a big way. Keep in mind that some of the children are very young and are possibly 'preparing' their own meals, so easy-to-open containers are a good option for little hands.

Also needed are hygienic supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, cotton swabs, tissues and toilet paper.

To make a monetary donation instead, please a check made payable to CONESTOGA BACKPACK PROGRAM may be mailed or deposited at Cornerstone Bank, 102 W Main St, Murray, NE 68409. 100% of all monies collected is used for food and hygienic supplies for the families.

To have the items picked up, call Jill at 402-660-3543 to make arrangements. As another alternative, you may drop them off at Cornerstone Bank in Murray or at their Beaver Lake location.

Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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Click HERE to read the latest on COVID-19 in Sarpy and Cass counties.

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ATTENTION,  

CASS COUNTY NE RESIDENTS:

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ATTENTION MEMBERS and FRIENDS 

If you have a compromised immune system or do not feel safe going out to a public grocery store, we have 4 volunteers available to help. Please call the church office to request their services 402.235.2527.

Worship this week will be through Facebook Live.

Thank you,
Pastor Mike and the Murray Christian Church Board

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