• About our Village of Murray

    About our Village of Murray

    Murray is a village in Cass County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 481 at the 2000 census. As of the census of 2000, there were 481 people, 188 households, and 140 families residing in the village. Read More
  • Conestoga Elementary School

    Conestoga Elementary School

    "Our school and school district are dedicated to providing all students with the educational foundation necessary to succeed in school and in life. To ensure your child’s success, we set high standards that are reflected in what is taught in our classrooms." Read More
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What's New

Murray Newsletter - June 24, 2009

county_fair

The CASS COUNTY FAIR....

The Fair will be here, before you know it! On their website,
you can get all the details, rules, schedules, etc.

More updates are being added as Fair time approaches,
so be sure to check it out often at www.CassFair.com.

___________________________________________________


The 'State' of Nebraska....
Nebraska Leads in Clean Energy Jobs, according to a Pew Charitable
Trusts’ recently released study.
Nebraska is second in states experiencing the largest clean energy job
growth during the 10 year period. Clean energy jobs grew by 9.1%
compared to national average job growth in all industries of 3.7% from
1998 to 2007. Solar and wind-power companies, energy-efficient light
bulb makers, environmental engineering firms and others expanded
their work force, according to Pew.
Lori Grange, Pew's interim deputy director, said that while green
industries will certainly benefit from the influx of billions in stimulus
dollars, the report shows that the clean energy sector has proven
itself sustainable.  For its study, Pew used private jobs data that
included information about employers, and Pew researchers spent
nearly a year determining which ones could be considered part of
the clean energy economy. But the report showed that the fastest
growing areas include companies that make hybrid diesel buses,
traffic monitoring software, liquid biofuels, and jobs related to solar
and wind energy.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Nebraska Ranked No. 12 in Employment Growth Rate

State Chamber Releases 2009 Competitiveness Redbook

Nebraska experienced the nation’s 12th best non-agricultural
employment growth rate from May 2007 to May 2008, reflecting
Nebraska’s increasingly diverse economy.  The ranking is based
on data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics in the State
Chamber’s 2009 Competitiveness Redbook that ranks the 50 states
according to 50 key economic indicators. The study indicated
that Nebraska added 10,600 jobs, which represented a growth rate of 1.1%.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Register by July 28 for CDBG

Certified Grant Administrators Training


Local government staff who will be working with newly awarded Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), and individuals who want to become “Certified CDBG Grant Administrators” are encouraged to take part in upcoming training workshops at Southeast Community College Continuing Education Center, 301 S. 68th St. Place, in Lincoln, August 4, and August 5-7.

August 4 will be devoted to an overview of CDBG program requirements and local governments’ roles in meeting those requirements. Information will highlight contractual requirements, the environmental review process, requesting funds, and reporting requirements. Registration check in will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the workshop will begin at 10 a.m.


CDBG Certified Administrators training will be held August 5-7 for individuals who expressly want to become certified CDBG grant administrators. All municipalities and counties that have been awarded CDBG awards must hire and/or employ certified administrators to oversee the projects. Check in will begin at 8 a.m., and training will start at 8:30 a.m.


The registration deadline for both is July 28.


Contact Christina Bartels at 800-426-6505, 402-471-3172,


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Serving Steaks Becomes Nebraska’s “Signature”

at this Year’s International Biotechnology Conference in Atlanta.


Partnering with BioNebraska Life Sciences Association, DED, OPPD, UNMC and UNL joined three Nebraska companies to showcase Nebraska’s bioscience industry and research organizations. 
“When the steaks started cooking, it didn’t take long before the attending bio-scientists and biotech industry leaders started to gather at Nebraska’s booth,” said Marsha Morien of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. 
Nebraska’s newest bioscience company, Vireo Resources, which recently located in Plattsmouth, was joined in the booth at the event by Transgenomic Inc., and JN-International Inc., both of Omaha. 
“This event not only showcases Nebraska’s bioscience industry and the extensive biotech related research going on in our state, but also serves as a catalyst for bringing bioscience players together from Nebraska and around the world,” said Richard Baier, DED Director.  “It’s turning out to be a very good investment for the state.”
http://www.bionebraska.org/


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


More Than 2,500 Firms Participate in
Next Generation Manufacturing Study

National Study Finds Critical Threats to U.S. Manufacturing
A national study was released by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition  (ASMC) identifying critical threats to the ability of U.S. manufacturers to compete and win in a fast-changing 21st century global economy.

More than 2,500 manufacturing firms across the nation participated in the Next Generation Manufacturing Study, a research effort coordinated by ASMC and member Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers. The study is the first step in a long-term effort to help U.S. manufacturers survive the recession and renew America’s manufacturing leadership over the next decade.

Next Generation Manufacturing refers to a framework of six strategies essential for global competitiveness today and in the future. The strategies are customer-focused innovation, systemic continuous improvement, advanced talent management, global engagement, extended enterprise management and sustainable products and processes.
The study included a 61-question web-based survey that asked manufacturers to rank their progress in these areas.

“The results are a wakeup call,” said Michael Klonsinski, ASMC board chair and executive director of the Wisconsin MEP.  “The consequences of inaction could trigger even more job losses in manufacturing and ultimately a lower standard of living for all Americans.”
Among the key findings:
A serious gap exists between the strategies U.S. manufacturers believe are critical to their future success and their actual progress in implementing those strategies.
More than a quarter of American manufacturers – representing more than 90,000 firms – are at risk because they are not at or near world-class performance levels in any of the next generation strategies.
Small and midsize manufacturers are less likely than larger firms to be at or near world-class status in each of the next generation strategies.
One third of respondents with less than $10 million in annual revenue are not at or near world-class in any strategy, in contrast to 14% of respondents with more than $100 million in revenue.
In a country where 282,000 small and midsize firms comprise the backbone of the industry, this is a significant threat to U.S. competitiveness and the viability of these companies.

Green/Sustainability ranks low among the strategic priorities of U.S. manufacturers despite increasing government regulation, growing consumer demand and new requirements from large manufacturers in their supply chains.
Only 16% of respondents rank green/ sustainability as highly important to their success over the next five years.
Another 16% said it was not important.
Only 28% of respondents believe global engagement is highly important despite a near-term future in which markets, talent, competitors and partner opportunities are growing faster outside the U.S. than within its borders.
Leadership loss represents a significant threat – or opportunity.
One quarter of respondents say a planned leadership succession will occur within the next five years – potentially impacting 80,000 U.S. manufacturing firms.
Another 29% think a succession may occur. This transition represents an opportunity to inject new ideas, energy and skill sets into these firms, but also represents a significant risk where a succession plan is not place.
Measurement systems are inadequately deployed. Even in one of the most fundamental and easiest-to-measure areas – process improvement – 46% of the respondents had no or only ad hoc measurement systems.
Effective partnerships with employees, suppliers and regional support organizations are the exception rather than the norm.
For example, the majority of respondents engage less than half of their employees in improvement initiatives, falling short of industry best practices that require company-wide participation.
“Manufacturers that focus on achieving world-class status in Next Generation Manufacturing strategies are leaving their competitors behind,” said John Brandt, CEO of the Ohio-based Manufacturing Performance Institute (MPI), a global research firm that conducted the study.  “They manage differently, implement best practices at far higher rates and outperform their non-world-class peers on a wide array of operational and financial metrics.”

To download more information on the study and findings, visit: http://www.smallmanufacturers.org/.
Contact Linda Abbott at 608-826-6215 or abbott@chorus.net, or Carrie Hines at 202-341-7066 or carrie.hines@smallmanufacturers.org.christina.bartels@nebraska.gov, or online at: www.neded.org/content/view/117/243/.
*****

THE NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
www.neded.org | 800-426-6505 | patty.wood@nebraska.gov
301 Centennial Mall South | P.O. Box 94666 | Lincoln, NE 68509-4666

Our Mission: To develop economic opportunities by keeping Nebraska businesses,
communities and people competitive.

If appropriately credited, material in this newsletter may be reproduced without permission. It is the policy of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development not to discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, age or national or ethnic origin.

 

 

happy-4th-of-july-2

 

Cass County 4th of July Celebration

Murray, Nebraska

Fireworks Rain Date: Sunday, July 5th, 2009

SCHEDULE of EVENTS


CONCESSION STAND: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

OOZEBALL CONTEST – 9:00  a.m.  (8:30  - Registration)
YOUNG MEMORIAL PARK
SHOES REQUIRED!!
$5.00 per person   
6 to 8 person teams     
Age groups – 8th grade and under/High School/Adult  
Parent or Guardian Signature required if younger than 18 yr. old    
Single Elimination
Awards 1st place
Sponsored by Wiles Brothers


'LITTLE  MR. & MISS  4TH OF JULY' - 10:00 A.M.  (9:30 Registration)
Young Park Pavilion
Ages 5 to 7
$5.00 Per Entry
Trophies furnished by Murray State Bank


BEAUTIFUL BABY CONTEST  - 11:00 a.m.  (10:45 Registration)
Young Park Pavilion
$2.00 Per Entry
Trophies furnished by Murray State Bank

CONESTOGA CHEERLEADERS DUNK TANK - 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Young Park near Oozeball area

CONESTOGA DANCE TEAM KIDDIE CAMP - 11:30 a.m.  – 1:30 p.m
(Sign-up, 11:00 a.m.)
Kindergarden thru 7th grade
Murray Elementary School


MURRAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - Noon - 5 p.m.
105 W. Main St.
Homemade Ice Cream,  Pulled Pork Sandwiches, etc.


MURRAY CHRISTIAN CHURCH - Noon  - 5:00 p.m.
304 West Young St.
Homemade Ice Cream, Pie, etc.


HORSE SHOE CONTEST - NOON   (Sign-up, 11:45)
All ages welcome!
Near Young Park oozeball area
Single Elim./$5 per person
Double Elim. /$10 for coed Team
Failure to play at designated time is forfeiture of game!

ANTIQUE & GARDEN TRACTOR PULL - NOON  (Sign-up 10:00 AM)
Young Memorial Park 
$10.00 Hook Fee
Questions?  Call Keith Felthousen, 235-2850
Sponsored by Woodworkers Unlimited, Barry Jose Optometry, Henry Motors, Murray Building & Supply


BINGO - Noon - 3 p.m
English Rose Restaurant
N. Davis Ave

PARADE - 6 p.m. (Line-up 5:30 p.m.)
In front of Conestoga Elementary School
Parade route is on Young Street from the east going west, ending at Young Park.
Trophies provided by Wiles Brothers

MISS MURRAY CORONATION  -  9:00 P.M.

GRAND MARSHAL   Approx.  9:15 P.M.

RAFFLE DRAWING    Approx.  9:30 P.M.   Tickets sold in Young Park area

CONESTOGA DANCE TEAM   Approx.  9:45 P.M.

NATIONAL ANTHEM   Approx. 9:55 P.M.
Sung by Linda Grunewald

FIREWORKS DISPLAY Approx. 10:00 P.M.
Fireworks Rain Date: Sunday July 5th, 2009

For Information Call  Jerry Blasig  235-2203 or Keith Felthousen 235-2850


The Cass County 4th of July Association is NOT responsible for any Accident or Injury.

***************

Sharing some photos of years' past celebrations: 

07-04-07_Colors_passing

07-04-08_Raymond__Ruby_Lancaster

07-04-07_Scouts_float

07-04-08_Oozeball_5

07-04-08_Oozeball_16

 

 


1st ANNUAL TYLER EGGERT MEMORIAL

BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Opening Games at 9:00 a.m. and games proceed throughout the day!


Elmwood and Murdock Baseball Fields


Pony League Teams Participating:

Ashland
Eagle
Elmwood Murdock North
Elmwood Murdock South
Louisville
Murray
Springfield
Valparaiso


Come Enjoy a Great Day of Baseball!


Full Concessions Available
(hot dogs, brats, hamburgers, nachos, etc.)

Memorial T-shirts will also be for sale!

All proceeds will be donated to the Tyler Eggert Memorial Fund!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Please contact:

Cindy Backemeyer 402-994-4205/cbackemeyer@esu3.org

Tammy Lockman 402-867-2193/tlockman@windstream.net

Corn Growers State Bank to Sponsor Murdock Website!


The principal sponsor for the Murdock, Nebraska website is now Corn Growers State Bank.

Planning has begun for the redesign and interactive upgrades to www.MurdockNebraska.com


Accepting the Certificate on behalf of the Bank is Jeremy McHugh, below,  representing the 3rd generation.

Jeremy_McHugh

Murdock_Certificate


Thank you Corn Growers State Bank for taking this leadership position.

Jamming Workshop


The Old Avoca (Nebraska) Schoolhouse will be hosting a Jamming Workshop on Saturday, July 25, from 1 PM - 3 PM.   Championship fiddler and fiddle book author, Deborah Greenblatt will share some hints to help you play in a jam session with minimum stress, and maximum music.  Pre-registration is required, and enrollment is limited.  For more information, call 402-275-3221, or send an e-mail to debby@greenblattandseay.com.