FREEDOM FESTIVAL EXPLODES OVER MURRAY!
It takes at least a year's worth of planning to host a large event. Last fall, the Murray Freedom Festival Board and volunteers formed the nonprofit group dedicated to seeing that the decades-old 4th of July celebration in Murray thrives.
Something for everyone and a bit cooler temps added to the enjoyment of the Festival in Murray this year. MVFD served, what they believe to have been, a record number of hungry appetites. Eighty runners vied for first place in the 5K Run and soon after, twenty-nine oozeball teams were slipping and sliding for championship bragging rights.
The Freedom Festival's grand marshal, (unanimously chosen, by everyone in attendance at the last meeting), was the late Dale Nickels, a lifelong Murray resident. The announcement was made suring the car Show and Shine, by last year's grand marshal, Chris Spangler. Dale's honor was represented by his entire family in the parade.
Camille 'Cami' Larson received her 'Miss Murray' sash and a bouquet of flowers from last year's royalty, Ellen Rice.
Our first car show drew approximately 18 entries of classic cars, an old school bus and about 6 vintage tractors. A large group of Bingo participants found afternoon fun in the cool and comfort of Conestoga Elementary School and some lucky winners walked away with great prizes.
Murray Christian Church and Conestoga Booster Club served tasty treats throughout the day and evening. Candy, popsicles and other items were tossed from around 40+ parade entries to folks lining Young Street from Railroad Avenue all the way to Young Memorial Park.
People unfolded lawn chairs and spread blankets on the lawn, staying for an evening of live music provided by Lucas Minor, who was followed by Life Boy Scout, Zeke Rouse, with his Eagle Scout project, a patriotic flag retirement ceremony.
Thomas D Thomas Shows,( just last week), offered to set-up some of their carnival rides for the crowd's enjoyment, too. The carnival rides were a last-minute additon, which is why it wasn't noted on the schedule of events. Many took their turn throughout the day at smashing an old car with a sledgehammer, then, when nothing was left except fireworks, the raffle ticket winner, Joyce Johnson, got to push the detonator plunger starting the huge, 20-minute, show provided by NightVisions.
Roger and Linda Behrns of Louisville delivered and picked up recycling containers that were generously supplied by Keep Cass County Beautiful. These bins helped to keep much of the litter out of our parks and streets and can be borrowed for any other local events.
Murray's Freedom Festival was an enormous success, only made possible by of the support and dedication of all who selflessly contribute their time, money, supplies and equipment to see it through. Both businesses and private individual contributions, from in and surrounding the Murray area, combined to make this an event to be proud of.
We want to improve our event for next year! We are interested in hearing your comments and suggestions, so send them to: MURRAY FREEDOM FESTIVAL, P.O. BOX 244, MURRAY, NE 68409.
The MURRAY FREEDOM FESTIVAL BOARD of TRUSTEES and FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE wishes to thank EVERYONE who helped to make this wonderful event one that you will look forward to enjoying for years to come! THANK YOU!!
A few highlights are below:
MFF 5K RESULTS
(1st place) Owen Sovereign (winner 6-18) time 21:09
(2nd place) Richard McKeever (guy winner 18-55) time 21:39
(3rd place) Andrea DeSimone (girl winner 18-55) time 22:02
(4th place) Josh Sovereign time 22:25
Jacqueline Parriott (girl winner 6-18) time 26:18
Ray Valek (guy winner 56 and older) time 29:00
(left) Ray Valek, Josh Sovereign, Andrea DeSimone, Jacqueline Parriott, Owen Sovereign, Richard McKeever
One of Plattsmouth's big rig firetrucks always thrills the kids!
Singer/songwriter,Lucas Minor, entertained the crowd after the parade.
Brian Rouse, Zeke's father, (left), and Ricky King
Just a small sample of the terrific fireworks display!
Murray Freedom Festival was funded in part by Cass County Tourism visitcasscounty.com
PLEASE SEND FESTIVAL PHOTOS to EDITOR@MURRAYNEBRASKA.COM, before NOON on Monday.
They'll be posted in the next week's Newsletter!
State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Team to Kicks Off
2016 Outreach Season
The Unclaimed Property Division of the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office has kicked off its 2016 outreach season.
“We are looking forward to helping visitors search and file claims for property being held in their names at our first outreach event of the year,” State Treasurer Don Stenberg said. “One in five Nebraskans has unclaimed property, so we encourage visitors to the John C. Fremont Days to search not only for property belonging to themselves, but also for property belonging to family members, friends, businesses, and community organizations.”
Stenberg reminded Nebraskans that they can search for unclaimed property anytime at treasurer.nebraska.gov. In instances in which property is $500 or less, owners can file claims online through the Treasurer’s website.
More than $11.8 million was returned to owners in 2015, and a total of 15,368 claims were approved. So far in 2016, more than $8.4 million of unclaimed property has been returned, representing a total of 10,691 claims approved.
“Outreach events provide ideal opportunities for our Unclaimed Property team to meet Nebraskans and help them search for money being held by the state in their names or in the names of their businesses or family members,” Stenberg said. “Outreach events also provide an opportunity for our team to explain how the unclaimed property program works and how properties come to be turned over to the state.”
The state is holding more than $170 million in unclaimed property for more than 350,000 Nebraskans and their heirs. Common forms of unclaimed property are uncashed paychecks, unused gift cards, refunds, rental deposits, utility deposits, stocks, dividends, insurance payments, savings bonds, matured CDs, and lost IRAs.
The complete outreach schedule includes the following locations:
Hastings, July 20-24, Adams County Fair
North Platte, July 20-24, Lincoln County Fair
Springfield, Aug. 3-7, Sarpy County Fair
York, Aug. 4-7, York County Fair
Grand Island, Aug. 26-Sept. 5, Nebraska State Fair
Grand Island, Sept. 13-15, Husker Harvest Days
Nebraska City, Sept. 17-18, Applejack Festival
Kearney, Nov. 16-17, Gateway Farm Expo
Norfolk, Jan. 11-12, 2017, Northeast Nebraska Farm & Equipment Show
Additional ways to search for unclaimed property and file claims include the following:
Check the Nebraska State Treasurer’s website at treasurer.nebraska.gov. Type a name in the box on the home page or click on the Unclaimed Property tab at the top of the page.
For an amount less than $500, an owner may file a claim online through the website. The owner must include required documentation.
For an amount greater than $500, an owner may complete the claim form found on the website and mail to the State Treasurer’s Office, Unclaimed Property Division, 809 P St., Lincoln, NE 68508-1390. The form must be notarized.
Call the Unclaimed Property Division at 1-877-572-9688 toll free outside of Lincoln or 402-471-8497 in Lincoln. Phone calls are taken between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., CT, weekdays.
Visit the Unclaimed Property office at 809 P Street in Lincoln or in the Treasurer’s Office in Suite 2005 of the State Capitol. Hours at both locations are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. An owner should bring a driver’s license and Social Security card. If filing on behalf of a business or a deceased family member, the owner should bring documentation to establish legal authority to file the claim.
CASA RECRUITMENT BEGINS
Cass Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is currently recruiting CASA advocates to speak up for the best interest of abused and neglected children in Cass County.
The next training session is scheduled to begin July 24 and will run for five weeks. The training consists of 15 hours of online training and 15 hours of in-person training.
We are also seeking male volunteers for this class as over 60% of our CASA children are males.
If you are interested, please contact Debbie Green at (402) 296-9521; email dgreen@casscasa.org.
To learn more information about our program, please visit www.casscasa.org
JOB OPPORTUNITY
St. John the Baptist School is an elementary Catholic school in Plattsmouth, NE.
Immediate openings are now available for both an After-School Care DirectorFor required qualifications, please refer to holyspiritplattsmouth.com
OR call Principal, Linda Monahan, at 402-296-6230.
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY EVENTS:
“76 Trombones” and 53 Actors Star in Meredith Willson’s
“The Music Man”
on Lofte Stage!
The Lofte Community Theatre near Manley announces it will be showcasing the Meredith Willson’s classic, “The Music Man,” starting on July 22. Winner of five Tonys in 1958 including Best Musical and best Actor and Actress, “The Music Man” is the tale of smooth-talking Harold Hill. He arrives in River City, Iowa to pull-off his tried-and-true scheme of cheating the community with a scam to equip and train a boys’ marching band. However, things go awry when he falls for the town’s lovely librarian and inadvertently enriches the town with a love of music.
The Lofte last visited “The Music Man” in 1978. At that time the Born-in-a-Barn players were working out of a renovated barn with no air conditioning and outdoor bathrooms. Now 38 years later, audiences and the fifty-three member cast have the luxury of a climate controlled theater space that seats over three hundred!
Playing the sly Harold Hill is Lofte newcomer, Chris Berger of Louisville. The lovely Marian the librarian is played by Catherine Bobst of Lincoln. Matthew Hansen of Papillion plays Harold’s old friend Marcellus. Greg Leger of Omaha and Brenda Jones of Louisville play the River City Mayor and his wife. Little Winthrop (Marian’s cute little brother) is played by newcomer Jude Glaser of Papillion. Artistic Director Kevin Colbert has selected a group of the region’s best acting and vocal talent from far and wide to round-out the cast.
Production dates for the show are July 22-24, 28-31 and August 5-7. Thursday through Saturday curtain times are at 7:30pm. All Sunday performances are 2pm matinees. All seats are reserved and cost $19 each. The Lofte Theatre is offering special discounts to groups of 25 or more. Tickets are available online at Lofte.org or by calling the box office at 402.234.2553.
20th ANNUAL SHCOOLHOUSE FIDDLING
Sunday, October 9, 2:30 PM, 20th A BEEnnual Schoolhouse Fiddling Bee
Greenblatt & Seay proudly announce the 20th ANNUAL SCHOOLHOUSE FIDDLING BEE. This historical, hysterical event will take place on Sunday, October 9, at 2:30 PM, downstairs in the Old Avoca, Nebraska Schoolhouse. In the Open Division, fiddlers will play a hoedown, a waltz, and a tune of choice. There will also be other divisions of competition available for the adventurous fiddlers, including a Singing Fiddler's Contest, a Twin Fiddler's Contest, a Fee-Fi-Faux Fiddler's Contest (fiddle tunes played on any instrument other than a fiddle), and a Hocus-Pocus Contest (cross-tuning, sound effects, dancing, etc.), which will give fiddlers an opportunity to play tunes that are usually not allowed in any other contest.
For more information, and to register on line, log on to:http://www.greenblattandseay.com/schoolhouse_fiddling_bee.shtml.
Admission is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students, and $1.00 for children. Fiddlers and their back-ups are admitted for free. The contest will be followed by a light snack and an acoustic jam session with Greenblatt & Seay.
For more information, call 402-275-3221, log on to www.greenblattandseay.com, or e-maildebby@greenblattandseay.com.
Weeping Water City Pool
311 W. River St.
Weeping Water, NE
Hours of Operation:
Everyday 1-6 PM
Tuesday & Thursday (fitness swim 6-7 for 18 and older)
Prices: Family Pass - $140
Single Pass - $90
10 card Punch - $35
Single Pass - $4
Family Pass is for immediate family members. Pass includes 2 parents and up to 5 children under 18 years of age living at home. Additional family members $20 per child.
Nanny Pass can be added onto a family pass for $40 (this only be usable when coming with paying family)
ONGOING EVENTS...
Cass County Veterans Service Office's
three mobile locations:
1st Friday of the month, Eagle community center, 1-5pm
2nd Friday of the month, Weeping Water library, 1-5pm
3rd Friday of the month, Greenwood library, 1-5pm
Please call our office, 402-296-9368, to schedule an appointment.
ARE YOU 55+
and
LOOKING FOR PART-TIME WORK?
The following is an employment opportunity available to older adults in Cass County.
Experience Works is a national, non-profit organization funded by the US Dept of Labor to administer the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which assists people 55 and older in getting updated training to assist in returning to the workforce. This is a federally funded program and offers a no-cost employment service to older adults who qualify. Once accepted into the program, individuals are placed in a training site in or near their community, where they gain on the job experience while working 20-21 hours/week at $8/hour. We also help with skill assessments, computer training, resumes, cover letters, job search, etc. The goal is that through the training and job search assistance we gain help older adults gain good jobs in or around their communities.
Stephanie Mahony
Employment and Training Coordinator
Experience Works, Inc.
1111 "O" Street Ste 205--American Job Center
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: 402-441-1654
Fax: 402-441-6038
stephanie_mahony@experienceworks.org
Nebraska Tollfree Number: 1-877-314-7526
www.KeepCassCountyBeautiful.org
Community Sustaining Sponsors 2016
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
2016 Community Sustaining Sponsor
HOW TO SUBMIT ARTICLES TO THIS NEWSLETTER...
Below is a list of categories that we are happy to post, (at NO COST to you!), in the weekly Murray online newsletter:
Weddings
Engagements
Anniversary
Births
Letters to the Editor
Birthday Greeting
Upcoming Events
Cards of Thanks
Lost and Found
Obituaries
Recipes
Photos
and So Much More!
That's right! These are all items that can appear FREE of CHARGE in each Wednesday's Murray Newsletter and/or Calendar! All YOU have to do is send the information to us - it's that simple!
DEADLINE for submissions to each week's Wednesday Newsletter is NO LATER THAN NOON on the preceding MONDAY.
There are 3 ways you can submit your articles:
1) You may call your information to 402-235-2926 and leave a voice mail with your name and phone number.
2) Email your story with your name, contact info and story, (in plain text) to: Editor@MurrayNebraska.com.
Send photos ONLY in .jpg format, no larger than 450 pixels wide to the e-address above with your story in plain text.
3) Send items via the U.S. postal service to: Editor, MurrayNebraska.com, 201 N How Ave, Murray, NE, 68409-8403. (When mailing items you'd like to get back, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.)
Remember to include 'who, what, when, where and why', along with any other helpful details, such as a contact person and phone.
DO NOT SEND 'ZIP' FILES!
Again, you must have your name and contact information included with the information.
Thanks for helping to keep YOUR Murray Newsletter fresh and up-to-date!
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