Thursday's here! Bazinga. It's Friday.

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Testimony begins in Trail trial

The mother of Sydney Loofe, Susan Loofe, testified in Saline County Court yesterday, June 20, on behalf of the prosecution in the murder trial for Aubrey Trail. The prosecution called 10 witnesses to provide testimony, beginning with Susan Loofe.

Loofe recounted the week before her daughter went missing for prosecutors and the last time she spoke with her. She was asked about her daughter's employment and living situation in an apartment in northeast Lincoln during the week of Nov. 13, which is the last day she saw Sydney.

Prosecutors then called Leah Shaw, who worked with Sydney at Menards at the time of her disappearance. Shaw was asked about the layout of the store, located on North 27th Street in Lincoln, and was shown security camera images showing Loofe during her shift on Nov. 14.

Shaw said when Loofe didn't show up for work on Nov. 16, she grew concerned. "It was very out of character," Shaw said.

Two more of Loofe's friends and four Lincoln Police Officers also were called to the stand.

Testimony will resume today, June 21, in Saline County Court. Read more HERE.

Food resources available for those who need it

Food is one of the most fundamental parts of life, yet 11.1% of people living in Seward County don’t always have food to eat.

“1,890 people living in Seward County are food insecure,” said Michaella Kumke, communications director for the Food Bank of Lincoln.

The food bank is trying to do something about it by holding a free food distribution each month in Seward and a free produce mobile once a month in Milford, but Mary Arter, the food bank relations coordinator for the Food Bank of Lincoln, said the number of people utilizing those distributions is well below the statistical need.

“We feel like there’s a need in Seward, and we feel like we’re not reaching those people in the county,” she said.

Read more HERE.

County tables decision on salary study; told committee violated Open Meetings Act

The Seward County Board of Commissioners tabled a decision during its regular meeting June 11 regarding the county’s salary study because it received notice that the salary study committee had allegedly been in violation of the Open Meetings Act.

Deputy County Attorney Barb Armstead read a statement on behalf of the County Attorney’s office saying that all of the salary study committee meetings, which started in February and ended May 31, were in violation of the Open Meetings Act, and therefore the board could not take action based on the information gathered or discussed during those meetings.

Armstead said she and County Attorney Wendy Elston had been previously communicating with Board Chair John Culver via email.

“We have provided him with this legal opinion. Therefore, you are on notice that taking action in violation of the Open Meetings Act not only voids the action, but is a criminal violation and you may be subject to criminal penalties,” she said.

Today:

Friends of senior center plan meeting: The Milford Friends of the Senior Center will hold its annual meeting Friday, June 21, at 12:30 p.m. at the Milford Senior Center. Lunch will be served before the meeting.

Speaker to present in Utica: Amy Theis of Aging Partners will present a program Friday, June 21, at 1 p.m. at the Utica Senior Center.

Public transit plans trip to Saltdogs: Seward County Public Transit will go to the Lincoln Saltdogs baseball game Friday, June 21. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., with fireworks after the game. The cost is $10 to ride the bus, plus the ticket for the game. Call (402) 643-4067 for more information or to reserve a seat.

Tomorrow:

Put flower garden tour on calendar: Liberty House Bed and Breakfast in Seward will sponsor the second annual Seward County summer flower garden tour Saturday, June 22. Tickets are $15. A portion of the funds raised will go to help purchase a summer pool pass for a Seward family. The gardens will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The itinerary and goody bags will be available at Liberty House. 

Staplehurst plans dance, dinner: The Staplehurst Volunteer Fire Department will host a street dance and barbecue Saturday, June 22, from 8 p.m. to midnight. The Sherman County Stringband will provide the music.

Buddy Check focuses on veterans: A Buddy Check for military veterans will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on the 22nd of each month at Bottle Rocket Brewing Co. in Seward, located at 230 S. Fifth St. in Seward. Buddy Check is an effort by local volunteers to help prevent suicide by giving veterans a chance to talk to other veterans over pizza. Events will be held at the same time and location each month and are open to veterans of all branches, times of service and ages. For more information, contact Seward County Veterans Service Officer Jeff Baker at (402) 643-4105.