UPDATE: Nebraska volleyball is delaying season ticket renewals because of pandemic-related uncertainty. The Husker schedule, which is usually finalized by late April to early May, remains on hold. Officials say it remains unclear how a home schedule will look this fall.
UPDATE Kearney High football coach Brandon Cool says the school will be among those who will be delaying the opening of their respective weight rooms until after June 1st. Cool’s comments came during a Zoom meeting of 40 Class A and B football coaches Wednesday night.
UPDATE: The Nebraska Eight Man Football Coaches Association has decided to go ahead with the Sertoma Eight Man All Star Football Classic this summer. The game has been scheduled for Thursday July 16th at Hastings College and will kickoff at 6:00pm. The game was origanally scheduled to be played June 20th.
The Nebraska Shrine Bowl football game has been scheduled for Saturday July 11th. Kickoff is scheduledd for 2:00pm that afternoon at UNK’s Ron and Carol Cope Stadium.
Minden’s largest employer, Royal Engineered Composites is now the latest to see an impact from the coronavirus as they announce triple digit layoffs. The company’s president, Dave Arnold stating the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a sudden decline of business in the commercial airspace market.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will open first-come, first-served camping on May 22 at Smith Falls State Park, 35 state recreation areas and wildlife management areas for all camping units, including tents. This decision is prompted by overwhelming demand for camping opportunities even without normal facilities, which will remain closed. Those include shower houses, designated swimming beaches, playgrounds, and park activities. A limited number of primitive restrooms will be available. Park regulations allow for up to eight people per campsite. Mormon Island State Recreation Area near Grand Island will not offer camping, as it is near communities with high COVID-19 incidence. Find out more details at outdoornebraska.gov
The entire University of Nebraska system is reducing in-state tuition for most online undergraduate courses starting this fall. The reduction amounts to about 9 percent, with most reduced-price online classes costing $259 per credit hour — a rate that will remain locked in place for two years. UNMC online programs and colleges with varied tuition rates may be exceptions to the rate reductions. NU President Ted Carter also stated in the release that the university is preparing for students to return to campus in the fall.
The Kearney Public Schools CLASS Act Board of Directors has announced that they will not be holding our traditional CLASS Act fundraising event on June 20. There will now be an online auction June 15-20. You can register for the event to place bids for auction items and receive information and announcements during the event. To register go to, https://kpsfoundation.gives/CLASS-Act/Event
NEBRASKA GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE GOOD LIFE:
UPDATE: Three former Huskers will participate in NBC’s Titan Games. Former track athlete Chantae McMillan, Former softball player Jamie Seeman, and former Pole vaulter Jessie Graff, will appear on the TV show which will air on Monday night at 7:00.
While school buildings remain closed for now, every student in Grand Island will be able to take part in summer school activities if they choose to. Every kid from first grade on has a Chromebook computer. Administrators say that’s allowed them to open up summer learning opportunities to more kids. They have a number of things planned, and are working on more. Some programs are open to kids at particular schools and others are open to all, plus some are specifically for students who may need extra help, especially after the extended absence from the classroom. Grand Island will be offering summer options for preschool through high school, taking advantage of eLearning platforms. Learn more at https://www.gips.org/summerlearning
As many thrift stores have closed, the Kearney Jubilee Center said they are staying open for their customers and for community members in need. For over 30 years Kearney Jubilee has been supporting community members in need of extra assistance but they say during the pandemic they’re seeing new faces. Kearney Jubilee offers more than just their resale shop. They also host a food pantry while providing financial assistance for rent, utilities and medications. This is why they feel its critical to keep their doors open.
While Stuhr Museum is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, listeners can learn more about the museum thanks to a new podcast titled “Stuhr Crazy”. Episodes are available on YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Apple Podcasts, the Stuhr Museum website and on its Facebook and Twitter pages. The podcast is free to download.
The Grand Island Public Library announces it will be restoring services on a phased and limited basis. The first phase starts Wednesday, May 27 with the reopening of its book drop on the north side of the building. The next phase kicks off on Wednesday, June 3 as a new curbside pickup service for reserved library materials begins on the west side of the building. Find out more on their facebook page.
Two Tri-City museums want to hear your coronavirus stories to document how the pandemic is impacting our communities. The Trails & Rails Museum in Kearney is looking for written stories from essential workers in Buffalo County, all the way from first responders and healthcare workers to truck drivers and grocery store employees. The Hastings Museum is calling for any COVID-19 related stories from anyone with ties to the Hastings area.
There’s no doubt that small businesses have felt an impact from COVID-19, but a new program in Hastings is hoping to help out. The program involves customers purchasing a gift card from the business they want and that business will get the amount of the gift card and a 100% match. If someone purchases a 20 dollar gift card, then business will get 40 dollars. Hastings Economic Development Corporation is contributing $100,000 to the program with each business having a cap of $2,000 in matching funds.
The Hastings College football team still plans to host its Annual Bronco Football Gridiron Classic on June 19 at Southern Hills Golf Course.The four man scramble is a fundraiser for the Bronco football team. For more go to Hastingsbroncos.com.
Mobile food pantries providing free food are offered in the area every two weeks by the Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska in cooperation with the Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha.
Drivers should remain in their vehicles while masked volunteers load groceries.
Food pickups, by appointment only, begin at 9:30 a.m. Call Kyla Martin at 308-440-0153 to set up a time.
The pantries rotate to serve Buffalo, Custer, Dawson, Hall, Kearney and Phelps counties.
Future dates include:
– June 12, Phelps County Fairgrounds, Holdrege;
– June 26, Community Action Partnership Food Bank, Kearney.
You can keep yourself safe in these times, show your Husker spirit, AND help Nebraska Food Banks. Husker Face Masks are on sale right now at the shop at NRG sister property huskermax.com. The masks are handmade, available in four styles, and will ship in late May. GO HERE: http://www.shophuskermax.com/houndsmax-huskers-mask