Allison McElroy (center) leads a cheer with residents of the Utica Community Care Center on Oct. 23. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln cheer squad and Lil’ Red visited the care center for the first time that day, according to Activities Director Coleen Colson, who also said residents were excited for the event.
Gretchen Peetz, a Private First Class in the U.S. Army, embraces her sisters, Izzie and Hannah, during a surprise visit at their school on Oct. 11. Peetz had not been able to come home to visit since Dec. 19, 2017, when she left for Hawaii, where she is currently stationed at Schofield Barracks. Peetz’s parents, Monique and Brad Peetz, said they found it hard to keep their daughter’s homecoming a secret from her sisters for two months.
This picture of Harry Oxley was printed in the Nov. 11, 1987, Seward County Independent.
The Tamora Volunteer Fire Department hosted a practice house burn Nov. 3. About 50 firefighters from Tamora, Bee, Seward, Utica, Goehner, Staplehurst and Garland, as well as a few from York County, used the house for interior search and rescue training before practicing controlling the flames.
The Utica Care Center hosted Lil' Red and the Husker cheer squad recently. Residents clapped and cheered along with the squad, and staff had photo opportunities with the inflatable Lil' Red mascot.
Gretchen Peetz from Seward, who is serving in the Army, recently dropped by unannounced to surprise her two sisters at school. The heartwarming moment came about a month before the nation will honor its military veterans.
It was 100 years ago on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month that the guns of World War I were silenced and the carnage of battle in Europe ceased - 11 November 1918.
The conflict touched almost every family in Seward County and each household in different ways. Henry and Lizzie Oxley of Pleasant Dale sent two sons, Harry and John, to serve.
Providing a comfortable household, Henry owned an implement store but by the time the war broke out had switched to selling real estate. Their oldest son, Harry, was born in Nebraska in 1887. John, the second son, followed in 1892.
Read more of their story HERE.
Local Veterans Day observances will begin today, Nov. 8, and run through next week. Veterans Day is Sunday, Nov. 11. Area schools and organizations are hosting programs in honor of local veterans. All programs are open to the public.
Thursday, Nov. 8
Malcolm Public Schools will host a veterans program at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8. If you are a veteran, the school would like to honor your service during this program. Call the elementary office at (402) 796-2151 to be added to the list.
St. John Lutheran School in Seward will hold its Veterans Day Revue at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, in the St. John Lutheran Church sanctuary.
Friday, Nov. 9
Centennial Public Schools will begin its Veterans Day observance with cookies and coffee for Legion and Legion Auxiliary members at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 9. Following the social, the school will hold its Veterans Day program from 10 to 11 a.m.
Watch tomorrow's update for additional event information.
Tamora and other fire departments from two counties participated in a practice burn on an old home just north of Goehner last Saturday.
(click name for service information)
