Countdown: 15 days until Christmas. If you're looking for the perfect gift, remember that many Seward shops are open late on Thursdays throughout the holiday season, and several are open Sundays, too. Keep it local!
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in their house on the Seward courthouse square from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, and Thursday, Dec. 13, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16, and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19 and Thursday, Dec. 20. Bring your Christmas wish and a camera to make a memory with these jolly, happy folks.
Seward Memorial Library will host a holiday craft program on Monday, Dec. 10, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and again on Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Come and design a chalkboard that can be used to count down the days until Christmas or to display your favorite holiday quotes. The library will provide ribbon, but if you have a specific kind that you prefer to use on this project, bring it along. Registration is required and may done online at www.sewardlibrary.org/craft. Children in fourth grade and older are welcome to attend if accompanied by an adult.
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program distribution clinics will be held in York at 3401 North Lincoln Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 11. A distribution clinic will also be held in David City at 416 E Street—alley entrance—on Thursday, Dec. 13. An appointment is suggested for anyone interested in signing up.
CSFP will deliver commodities to Milford on Thursday, Dec. 13. An appointment is required. Applicants must be pre-enrolled and food must be pre-ordered for those receiving food packages that day. To apply for enrollment into the program, or to preorder food for those already enrolled, call DeAnn or Patti at (402) 729-2278.
To schedule an appointment or obtain information on how to qualify for CSFP, call Blue Valley Community Action at (402) 729-2278 or contact the local Blue Valley Community Action office.
Milford Police Chief Forrest Siebken announced Dec. 4 that current Seward County Sheriff Joe Yocum will join the Milford police force.
Yocum has been Seward County Sheriff for the past 20 years but was defeated by Sgt. Mike Vance for the new term that will begin in January. Yocum worked for the Milford Police Department prior to his time with the sheriff’s office.
MPD also has hired James Palenski, who previously served as a corrections officer at the Seward County Jail.
The first flu-related deaths this season have been reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Both people were over age 65. One was from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department area and the other was from the North Central District Health Department area which covers Antelope, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Holt, Keya Paha, Knox, Pierce and Rock counties.
Certain people are at greater risk for serious complications, and it’s extremely important they receive a vaccine:
Vaccination can reduce flu-related illnesses, visits to the doctor, missed work and school and flu-related hospitalizations.
Flu vaccine is safe, effective and rigorously tested. The most common reaction people may experience from a flu shot is soreness and redness at the injection site. After vaccination, it takes about two weeks for the body to build immunity.
For more flu information, visit the DHHS website at www.dhhs.ne.gov/flu or the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu.
The Nebraska Tourism Commission is accepting applications for businesses that want to be a part of the Nebraska Passport program for 2019. The application deadline is Dec. 31. More information may be found on the Nebraska Passport website at nebraskapassport.com.
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Boys' basketball: Milford 77, Fairbury 41 (Friday)
Malcolm 41, Cross County 38 (Saturday)
Lincoln Lutheran 62, Milford 54
Seward 54, Northwest 32
Tri County 49, Centennial 39
Girls' basketball: Fairbury 52, Milford 46 (Friday)
Centennial 47, Tri County 18 (Saturday)
Malcolm 52, Cross County 16
Milford 50, Lincoln Lutheran 46 (OT)
Seward 53, Northwest 52
Wrestling: At the Crete Invitational Saturday, Seward was sixth and Milford was eighth in the team standings.
Concordia: Stars Grace Barry and Philly Lammers dictated the terms of the contest while leading the Bulldogs to a 99-68 home victory over Mount Marty Dec. 8. The Lancers turned the ball over 43 times.
Despite more shooting struggles Dec. 8, the Concordia University men’s basketball team needed just one more stop to secure a victory. Stunned silence filled Walz Arena when Colby Johnson’s buzzer-beating trey found the bottom of the net and lifted Mount Marty to a 70-69 victory.
Fresh off Friday’s 51-6 defeat of Benedictine College (Kan.) in dual action, the Concordia University wrestling team entered 14 competitors into Dec. 8’s Doane Open in Crete. One of four Bulldogs to reach at least the quarterfinals of their respective brackets, junior Deandre Chery claimed second place at 174 pounds.
