Murray Newsletter - February 22, 2012

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Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

COUGAR SPORTS

(Home games in BOLD print.)

COUGAR WRESTLING

JR. HIGH

February:

25 @ Weeping Water Tourney, 9 a.m.

27 @ Palmyra Tri, 4:30

March:

2 @ Fort Calhoun Tournament, 4:30

6 @ Platteview Quad, 4:15

8 @ Louisville Tri, 4:30

13 @ Auburn Quad, 4:00

COUGAR BASKETBALL

GIRLS' VARSITY

February:

24 District Finals, TBA

March:

1-3 State Tournament, TBA

GIRLS' JR. HIGH

February:

25 @ Elmwood-Murdock, 10 a.m.

BOYS' VARSITY

February:

20-21, 23 Sub-Districts, TBA/TBA

27 District Finals, TBA/TBA

March:

8-10 @ STATE TOURNAMENT, TBA

THE CORRECT TIME for the

TACOS and NACHOS

SHOULD READ

2 - 8 P.M.

2012 MURRAY_BASEBALL_TACO__NACHOS

red-cross

Support the American Red Cross during Red Cross Month

Across the country, the American Red Cross is reminding communities that March is Red Cross Month, a time to commemorate Red Cross involvement. Every two seconds, someone in the Unites States needs blood. By making an appointment to donate blood this month, you can help the Red Cross meet the needs of patients in your community and across the nation.

Thanks to the generous everyday support of blood and platelet donors, the Red Cross can help ensure every patient has the blood products they need, no matter when or where they are needed.

Red Cross Month was first proclaimed in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since that time, every president, including President Barack Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years.

How to Donate Blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

Governed by volunteers and supported by giving individuals and communities, the American Red Cross is the single largest supplier of blood products to hospitals throughout the United States. While local hospital needs are always met first, the Red Cross also helps ensure no patient goes without blood no matter where or when they need it. In addition to providing nearly half of the nation’s blood supply, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.

Blood Donation Opportunities

CASS COUNTY

3/14/2012, 9:00 am- 2:00 pm, Conestoga High School, PO Box 40, Murray

3/15/2012, 2:30 pm- 7:00 pm, Elmwood-Murdock High School, 300 Wyoming, Murdock

CROCK-POT COOK-OFF!

Conestoga Ambassadors of Europe

hosting a

Crock-Pot Cook Off!

Saturday, March 31st

Conestoga High School

Time: 11:30am-12pm Participant Set Up

12-1pm is tasting and judging/voting by the community

1-2pm is tallying up votes and awards

Each participant can enter in one to three categories.

Category 1:

Soups

Stews

Chili

Category 2:

Dessert

Category 3:

Misc

Winners are presented with prizes and get to hold bragging rights.

Entrance fee $20 regardless of number of entries.

You supply the ingredients, crockpots, utensils for serving and extension cords for your crockpots. You may bring decorations or signs to display in your area. Please supply a recipe with every entry and a sign stating ingredients for the public to view for allergy warnings.

Plates, bowls and silverware will be supplied.

Bottled water will be supplied and bread or crackers to clear taste buds.

All proceeds benefit Conestoga Ambassadors of Europe for their 2012 Italy/Switzerland Trip.

Please Contact Heather Larson at heatherdlarson@windstream.net

or text (402)306-8996

for sign-up or questions.

Entry fees and registrations due by Friday, March 2nd, 2012.

Thank you for your support!

Senator Lambert's Bills for the 2012 Legislative Session

February 17, 2012, Lincoln— My column continues this week with legislation I’ve introduced in the current session. LB 1121 was introduced on behalf of elected officials in District 2. They want to change the law that directs signature validation for recall petitions aimed at Sanitary Improvement District (SID) trustee positions for which multiple voting is allowed. There are 346 SIDs in 21 counties and 44 legislative districts in Nebraska. If there is concern about this issue in our district, the same concern may exist throughout the state.

I introduced LB 1121 to clarify that the rights of a particular category of SID property owners are the same when they sign petitions to recall a member of the board of trustees as they are when they vote to elect the trustee. SIDs are governed by five-member boards of trustees. Trustees are elected by the property owners in the SID. Trustee positions are divided into two categories. For one category property owners are allowed one vote for each piece of property they own. This means a person who owns more than one piece of property is allowed more than one vote. LB 1121 would make it clear that the property owner, who would be allowed more than one vote, would have his or her signature assigned a value on a recall petition equal to his or her vote(s) in an election. This clarification would be based on the way the election official counts signatures on a recall petition.

I introduced LB 1005 on behalf of the many volunteer emergency responders we have in our district and throughout the state. The bill would extend job protections for emergency responders to any actively deployed member of a state emergency team.

The Volunteer Emergency Responders Job Protection Act was enacted in 2008 to give job protection to volunteer emergency responders, such as a volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member. The Act provides that an employer cannot terminate or discipline an employee who is absent from work or reports late to work, because he or she is responding to an emergency. The volunteer emergency responder is required to give notice and provide written statements to the employer prior to seeking the protection. LB 1005 would extend the same protections to an individual who is actively deployed in response to a state emergency.

I introduced LB 1029 so that when a property is in foreclosure, it would require city and village officials to have contact information so the property can be adequately maintained. One of the problems with vacant property in foreclosure is that maintenance may be neglected. It is often difficult for a city or village to identify who to contact to maintain the property. Under LB 1029 a party filing a complaint for the foreclosure of a mortgage, or a party requesting a sale of property under a deed of trust would be required to include a contact name and an address, at which the party will accept a maintenance notice. The availability of the address will streamline communication about the need for vacant property to be maintained.

We have reached the mid-point in the legislative session. To date the days have been divided between floor debate in the morning and public hearings for new bills before legislative committees in the afternoon. Committee hearings will end this week, and all-day floor debate will begin as February draws to a close. Senator, committee and speaker priority bills will become a primary focus from this point forward. I will update you regularly on key issues as the session continues.

I am always interested in hearing your comments by mail, phone or email.

Senator Paul Lambert

State Capitol, PO Box 94604

Lincoln, NE 68509

(402) 471-2613

plambert@leg.ne.gov

The CASS COUNTY GOING GREEN recycle trailer will be located on these dates in the following towns:

Now - Feb - 24, Beaver Lake

Feb 18 - 29, Nehawka

March 3 - 9, Murray

March 20 - 16, Beaver Lake

March 17 - 30, Nehawka

March 24 - 30, Murray

(Murray will also continue to have the recycle bin located behind Town Hall every day for Murray residents' use only.)

Lofte Theatre To Honor Volunteers

The Lofte Community Theatre will be holding its annual meeting and volunteer recognition night on Saturday, February 25th at 6pm.

The evening will begin with a social hour complete with food and beverages. Presentations from the Lofte Board of Directors will include financial position and plans for the future. Artistic Director, Kevin Colbert will highlight his fond memories of the 2011 productions and announce his play selections for 2013.

The Lofte will also recognize three outstanding volunteers for their contributions to the Lofte. The Dale Crosby Awards are given in the categories of "Parker/Usher," "Behind the Scenes," and "Overall." The award is named in honor of long-time Board President, Dale Crosby whose selfless dedication to the Lofte was an inspiration to others.

You do not need to have been in a show this past year to attend. We welcome all of our Lofte friends and family to attend.

Pictured: The Lofte's 2011 Board of Directors invites all volunteers to attend the annual meeting on Saturday, February 25.

2012newtomedicare

IRISH MUSIC CONCERT

Greenblatt & Seay's Schoolhouse Performance Series features a concert of Irish music on Sunday, March 11, at 2:30 PM. Greenblatt & Seay & Friends will be singing and playing a variety of instruments, including fiddle, pennywhistle, guitar, hammered dulcimer, and banjo. Traditional Irish tunes will be featured, along with some Greenblatt & Seay originals inspired by the great Irish traditions.

Greenblatt & Seay have been playing and singing together since the night they met, decades ago. Their performance on March 11 will include the championship fiddling styles of Deborah Greenblatt, and the fancy whistle-playing of David Seay.

The concert will be followed by light refreshments, and a chance to chat and even jam with the performers. Avoca is in southern Cass County, Nebraska, on the 13 C Spur, one mile south of Highway 34. Admission is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students & seniors, and $1.00 for children. For more information, call 402-275-3221, log on to www.greenblattandseay.com, or e-mail debby@greenblattandseay.com

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

"Schoolhouse Irish Fiddling Camp"

The Old Avoca Schoolhouse in Avoca, Nebraska will be hosting a special

"Schoolhouse Irish Fiddling Camp",

for fiddlers, violists, guitarists, and ukulele players. The sessions will be led by championship fiddler and author, Deborah Greenblatt.

The camp will be on Monday, March 12 - Friday, March 16, from 9 AM to 1 PM. You can sign up for 1 day, or 2 days, or 3 days, or 4 days, or all 5 days.

On Monday & Tuesday, participants will be mostly reading tunes, using sheet music in standard notation. We'll be learning melodies, harmonies, and chords. You will be improving your sight reading, and experiencing fiddling fun.

On Wednesday & Thursday, we will be mostly playing tunes by ear, so feel free to bring your recording gadgets. Sheet music versions of the tunes will be provided for you by the end of camp, just in case your ears need the help.

On Friday, we will be mostly jamming, modulating, singing, dancing, experimenting, sharing, and playing fiddle-related instruments.

Enrollment for the "Schoolhouse Irish Fiddling Camp" is limited, so e-mail Deborah

debby@greenblattanseay.com if you are interested in participating, or if you have any questions.

2012 Elections

As many of you know, the Primary Election is just around the corner with the

Primary Election coming up on May 15, 2012.

If you need to get registered to vote, or need to update your voter registration

(CLICK HERE) (Here is the link in case it doesn't load:

http://www.cassne.org/Election/ElectionPDFs/Voter_Registration.pdf)

The Election Office, now located at 201 Main Street, is now accepting Early

Voting Applications for the upcoming Primary Election. These can be obtained

a number of ways.

1.) You could take a trip to downtown Plattsmouth, and visit the new office. While

there you can fill out your request.

2.) You could call 402-296-9309 and request a form to be mailed to you.

3.) Lastly, you can visit the Cass County Website and download a form.

(CLICK HERE) (Here is the link incase it doesn't load:

http://www.cassne.org/Election/Forms/Early-Voting-Application-2012.pdf)

There is also a filing deadline that will be here before we know it!

Non-Incumbent FIling Deadline

March 1, 2012

To see a FULL listing of up to date candidate filings, visit the Cass County Election webpage.

(CLICK HERE) Here is the link incase it doesn't load: http://www.cassne.org/Election/Election_Updates_pdf/Candidate_Filing.pdf)

Free Commercial Property

The Village of Union, a municipal corporation located within Cass County, Nebraska, is requesting

solicitations from individuals and corporations to receive free commercial property located within the Village of Union, with such property having a legal description of: South Union Lots 5, 6, 7 & East 4'6 Lot 8, Block 2, in Union, Cass County, Nebraska, with a lot size of 72' x 135'. This property is located on Main Street which is located on Highway 34 and just off the intersection of Highway 75.

To be eligible to receive this free commercial property, the individual or corporation must send a solicitation to the following address postmarked by April 1, 2012: Village of Union, Att: Village Clerk, P.O. Box 127, Union, NE 68455. To receive this free property, the person/entity must agree to do the following:

1. Remove and/or demolish the current structures on the premises or refurbish the current structure, to include the south retaining wall, no later than October 1, 2012.

2. Place a commercial structure on the property no later than September 1, 2013.

The solicitation must, at a minimum, contain the following:

1. The name, address, and phone numbers of the individual or entity submitting the solicitation, to include a description of the individual's/entity's current and past business ventures.

2. A detailed description of person's/entity's plans for such commercial property.

3. A letter of credit from a bank or lending institution that demonstrates the individual's or entity's ability to receive financing to demolish the current site structures and place a commercial structure on the property by September 1, 2013.

The Village Board of Trustees will create a committee to review the solicitations. A decision will then be made by the Village Board of Trustee by May 1, 2012 to choose which solicitations, if any, is in the best interest of the Village.

The Village will provide the individual or entity who is awarded the property the following by June 1, 2012:

1. A general conveyance deed with right of reverter to Village if commercial property is not constructed by September 1, 2013; and

2. Free sewer and water hookup.

Please contact Melissa Hansen, Village Clerk, at 402-263-3865 or villageofunion@yahoo.com

LOFTE THEATRE

Another popular touring show is coming to the Lofte on April 21st. "Rave On!" features America's premiere Buddy Holly tribute artist and Nebraska native, Billy McGuigan. In this electrifying show, audiences will experience the thrills of a Buddy Holly concert re-imagined with hits such as "Peggy Sue," "It's So Easy," and "That'll Be the Day."

RaveOn

"Rave On!" has run for sold-out crowds several times in Omaha and we're proud to bring this popular show to Cass County. Showtime is 7pm on Saturday, April 21st. All seats are reserved and cost $28. As of the end of December, there are only 200 tickets left. We strongly suggest that you make your reservations today.

The Lofte Theatre is located just east of the village of Manley. If you have any questions or wish to purchase tickets, please call the box office at (402) 234-2553.

HOW to SUBMIT ARTICLES for this NEWSLETTER...

Event announcements and advertising can be an enormous expense when you're wanting or needing to get the word out. If you've checked into regular newspaper pricing lately for such items, you'll know what I'm talking about. So why spend your hard-earned money, when you can accomplish the same thing right here - FREE - on your local news website?

Below is a list of categories that will cost you absolutely nothing, except the time to submit it, (which you'd have to do with a regular newspaper anyway):

Wedding / Engagement Announcements and Photos

Birth Announcements

Letters to the Editor

Birthday Greeting

Upcoming Events

Cards of Thanks

Lost and Found

Obituaries

Recipes

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!