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One flower noticed the most in the cemeteries this time of the year is the beautiful peony. The peonies are blooming in all their glory, showing off their colorful and fragrant blooms in cemeteries, yards, and even in vacant yards and landscapes. In this “neck of the woods” peony bushes are popular and showy. Memorial Day, everyone who visits the cemeteries look forward to seeing the blooming peony bushes that decorate grave sites. Have you ever asked yourself why there are so many peony bushes planted at the grave sites? Not only do they hav...
It was nip and tuck Friday at The Express as we rushed to complete jobs promised to be ready before the Vestey Festival. One of those projects was an update of the Superior History booklet we originally printed for Beverly Beavers in 2002. The update wasn’t finished until mid-morning Friday. As a Superior elementary school teacher, Mrs. Beavers used the booklets each year when she taught a unit on local history. Though she has retired from teaching, she continues to be interested in local history. The updated booklets are available for p...
Having been born May 31, 1940, I grew up with war being a prominent part of my early life. During World War II, Time and Life magazines were full of battlefield scenes and stories. Fox Movietone News, shown as a “short” before every feature at the Lyric Theatre, also had military themes. Gasoline and food rationing were daily topics at our house. Like many young boys I developed a healthy interest in military things and this included toy soldiers, tanks and airplanes. I noticed that some of the toy soldiers I bought at Hested’s store were...
Q: Does circumcision in the Bible ever refer to something besides the ritual itself? A: Yes it does! The ritual of circumcision, like most rituals in the Bible, was given to the nation of Israel to model deeper, universal spiritual truths (Romans 4:11). The outward removal of corrupted flesh reflects the need for believers to cut corrupt behavior and attitudes out of our lives (Colossians 2:11), no matter how painful that process might be. The Old Testament Prophets frequently reminded the Israelites of this deeper significance to the ritual...
Memorial Day . . . Started as an effort to recognize and honor those who died in the American Civil War, Memorial Day has grown to become one of the favorite holidays of the year. It still is primarily intended to honor those who died in the service of their country. However, over the years, all military veterans have been included in the ceremonies of the day. The day has also become a day for all citizens to recognize family and loved ones who have passed with the decoration of their graves and grave sites. Our family has traveled on a number...
This weekend was a busy one. Jackson graduated from high school, which means we got one left! Let me tell you, I’ll take a small-town graduation over a city graduation any day. Six hundred students, give or take, plus add in parents, siblings, grandparents, family and friends, and holy cow, that was a full stadium. Their caps and gowns were red, and the thought that kept running through my mind as I was looking for Jackson was, “Where’s Waldo?” It was a nice ceremony, and actually fairly short. That is if you don’t count the passing of the di...
Those who attended the Victorian Tea, Saturday afternoon at the Vestey Center were exposed to a delectable taste of Victorian culture and history. Nancy (Headrick) Brandt headed the committee which planned the event. She was assisted by Jan Boyles, Beverly Beavers, Vicki Williams, Sara Elizabeth Jane, Sandy (Wehrman) Jones, Elizabeth Headrick Ginther and Sidney (Price) Rokusek. During the introduction, Brandt answered a series of questions she frequently fields. She and her husband, Darrell,...
Jeff Barnes, the Nebraska Humanities speaker who spoke at the Nuckolls County Museum Saturday afternoon, neither confirmed not disproved Lew Hunter’s story which tells of the possible visit of the James Gang to the Bostwick area home of his mother’s family. Extra chairs had to be set up and some people were standing in the museum’s Pioneer Room as Barnes talked about the life of the infamous outlaw and his possible ties to Nebraska. The picture used to illustrate the program was taken in Nebraska City but not circulated until after his death fr...
Summer’s here. Superior’s big swimming pool opened for the 2023 season as scheduled on Tuesday. Admission was free and, as expected, the pool was a popular place for the community’s youngsters. For many years the Superior Chamber of Commerce advertised the pool as the state’s seventh largest public pool. While such records are no longer maintained, no one has challenged the claim. Unfortunately, the wading pool was not ready for Tuesday’s opening but special activities were planned....
The Mankato VFW Auxiliary read the following on the Jewell County Courthouse lawn during the Memorial Day Service. We gather today to pay tribute and honor to those who gave their lives for their country. The following lists are taken from the Department of Veterans Affairs "America's Wars," as of May 2021. American Revolution (1775-1783) Battle Deaths 4,435; last Veteran, Daniel F. Bakeman, died April 15, 1869, age 109. Civil War (1861-1865) Battle Deaths (Union and Confederate) 498, 332; last...
Many observe Memorial Day. Businesses close, families gather, reunions are held, graves are decorated and cemeteries are visited. Though all are important and meaningful activities, those are not the real reason for Memorial Day. Memorial Day is set aside to recognize, honor and pay tribute to those who gave their lives in the service of their country. Jewell Countians such as Omar Headrick, Aubrey Varney, Lee Keeler, Duane Murray, Robert Standerwick and at least 62 others paid the ultimate sacr...
It was a perfect sunny morning at the Burr Oak Cemetery to hold the annual Memorial Day Service and to view the 131 American Flags that make up the Avenue of Flags in honor of the deceased local veterans. The Emory Clemons Unit 263, American Legion served as the guards, and marched in presenting the colors, near the cemetery's Memorial Monument, at the west side of the cemetery. Members of the Emory Clemons Unit 263 Auxiliary stood near the Memorial Monument. Six of the Auxiliary Junior...
Mankato VFW and VFW Auxiliary 7830, joined with some of the Mankato Eager Beaver’s 4-H club on Thursday afternoon to place flags in Mount Hope Cemetery. This tradition, which began in 1868, places flags on veterans who have lost their lives. Each flag holder has a significant meaning that helps one to understand what war that veteran served in. Wars included are the American Revolution War of 1812, The Mexican American War, the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan a...
The 63rd annual Jewell Alumni Banquet was held Saturday at the Jewell Community Center. Nearly 90 alumni and guests were on hand to partake of the meal prepared and served by the Trinity Methodist Women of Grace. Mary Eilert DeBey, president, Class of 1972, presided over the business meeting where the following officers were elected for 2024: Elaine Vetter Peters, president, Class of 1974; Debby McMillan Scott, vice-president, Class of 1973; and Pat Oplinger Zentz, secretary treasurer, Class of 1959. Debby McMillan Scott responded for the...
On Monday, May 15, Kenny Mizner, president, called the regular meeting of the Board of Education for USD No. 107 to order Those present were Kenny Mizner, Marc Grout, Brandon Hollerich, Justin Angleton, Brenden Wirth, Rex Boley, Sam Meyers, Cassi Bozarth, and Janet Higer. Guests present were Jeff Sells and Libby Duffy. The building and transportation reports were presented. Johnson Controls worked on smoke detectors at the high school. Mankato Plumbing installed the new heater in the bus barn. Mahaney Roofing will inspect the rooftops of the...
Lawrence American Legion member, Robert Kotinek, salutes the grave site of Lawrence native, Chester Kohmetscher, a Korean Was veteran, during Memorial Day Ceremonies Monday at the Sacred Heart cemetery east of Lawrence. The Lawrence American Legion, the Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion cooperate in providing Services at five area cemeteries. Helping provide the ceremony this year were: Commander, Paul Dale; Chaplain, Walter Buescher; acting Adjutant Robert Kotinek; Legion...
This holiday weekend, we attended our son Jackson’s high school graduation in Omaha. As with many ceremonies, they recognized our veterans and enlisted service members. In a crowd of more than 1,000, less than 10 stood. This surprised me so much, and I remembered the speech given at Jacobs USMC graduation ceremony and how the speaker had said that we were now a part of the 1 percent. Growing up in Nuckolls County I never realized just how small that group of men and women is. When enlisted and veterans are asked to stand, at least ten out of on...
The Bishop Casey Assembly of the 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus held their quarterly meeting last week Monday in Superior, Nebraska. This Assembly covers a large section of south central Nebraska, including Nuckolls, Webster and Thayer counties among others. One primary item acted on at the meeting was the election of officers for the coming two years. The new officers include: Rob Unruh: Faithful Navigator Dave Wiedel: Faithful Comptroller Arnold Miller: Faithful Scribe Kenneth Else: Faithful Admiral Arnold Schendt: Faithful Captain...
Hastings College published the Dean’s List for its spring 2023 semester. For the semester, 361 students from 20 states and 11 countries were named to the Dean’s List. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, students must achieve a grade point average of 3.7 to 4.0 scale and be registered for full-time coursework. Students with an asterisk by their name earned a 4.0 grade point average for the semester. Area students on the Hastings College Dean’s List are: Breanna Brennfoerder, Edgar; Tia Gonzales-Hunter*, Guide Rock; Lily Gomez* and Lane Heikkin...
Every year the Nelson American Legion, Sons and Auxiliary members volunteer their time to place flags in the Nelson Cemetery, Courthouse Yard, and Memorial Plaza and organize and deliver the Memorial Day services at the Nora and Nelson cemeteries, and in Memorial Plaza in Downtown Nelson. In years past, the flags at the cemetery were not able to be placed because of rain, but this year every flag was flying high and a glorious site to behold....
Berneta Agnes (née Lemke) Miller was born to Herman and Amanda (née Schnakenberg) Lemke during harvest in 1931, on a July day so hot that her father would later say you could fry an egg on a bedsheet. Upon returning to the house and learning his mother was in labor, Berneta's brother, Alvin, unhitched the team and raced back to fetch their dad cutting wheat in the field. She was delivered on the 10th by Dr. Mountford, who Herman would call "pretty young for a doctor" and who would later d...
Gretchen (Pohlmeier) Peterson obituary Gretchen Kay Peterson, 81, of Lincoln died May 23, 2023. Born Nov. 17, 1941, in Lawrence, Nebraska, to Ralph and Eleanor (Yilk) Pohlmeier. She attended college for nursing at Dus- chesne University in Omaha and finished in Grand Island at St. Francis Nursing School. Gretchen was introduced to Jim Hoarty in 1962. After a courtship of friends and dancing they were married in 1963. Gretchen and Jim had two children, Raymond in 1964, and Peggy in 1967. After Jim died in an accident in late 1966, Gretchen...
Elgin Leroy Saunders was born on May 23, 1944, in White Rock, Kansas, to Paul and Vera (Carpenter) Saunders. He died on May 24, 2023, at the North Central Kansas Medical Center, Concordia, at the age of 79 years and 1 day. He was the oldest of three children. He grew up on a farm near White Rock, Kansas, and then moved to the farm north of Courtland. He graduated from Courtland High School in 1963. In high school he participated in football, basketball and track. On May 23, 1975, Elgin was united in marriage to Linda Youngblood. To this union t...
Wilmer Garland Bouray, the son of John and Mae (Hobson) Bouray, was born on Sept. 20, 1933, on the family farm near Republic County, Kansas. He died on May 26, 2023, at Brodstone Healthcare at Superior, Nebraska at the age of 89 years, 8 months, 6 days. Wilmer attended Star Grade School in Jewell County, and was a Hardy High School graduate. He was united in marriage to B. Kaye Leece on Nov. 27, 1955, at her home. Four sons were born to this union. Wilmer was engaged in farming before being...
Harlan George Schnakenberg, 88, of Deshler, the son of George and Edna (Getz) Schnakenberg was born Oct. 26, 1934 in Carleton. He died May 21, at Thayer County Health Services in Hebron. Harlan grew up in Sedan, Nebraska, attending country school and then graduated from Davenport High School with the Class of 1952. He later attended the University of Nebraska –Lincoln, where he focused on ag business. Harlan first started farming in the Sedan-Edgar area along with his father, George, also during that time. He enlisted in the United States A...
