Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Nebraska City News Press · Nebraska City, NE
Nearby: Nebraska City, NEStory and photo by Julie [email protected] Gina Odom was growing up in Nebraska City, she enjoyed playing in the parks, hanging out at the pool,… Login to continue reading Login Sign up for complimentary access Sign Up Now Close
Falls City Journal · Sidney, IA
Nearby: Sidney, IAThe Sacred Heart Irish Junior High football squad finished the 2026 campaign with a perfect 6-0 record. The Irish defeated JCC 36-16, St. Joseph Academy 52-20, Lourdes Central 28-6, Southern 48-22, Johnson-Brock 38-16 and Sidney, Iowa 42-12. The 8th graders on the squad wrapped up their middle school career with a 12-0 mark. Overall, the Irish junior high team has won 15 consecutive contests for Coach Luke Santo.
Falls City Journal · Verdon, NE
Nearby: Verdon, NECaptain Ethan Fritz will be the honored guest speaker for the combined FCHS/FCSH Veterans Day Assembly at Falls City High School on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 11:00 am in the FCHS gym. Fritz will also be in the parade and speaking at the Veterans Day dinner at 6:00 pm at the Legion Club. Ethan Fritz was born and raised on a farm in Verdon, Nebraska. After graduating from Falls City Public High School, he enrolled in the class of 2015 at Texas A&M University where he began his military career in ROTC. Fritz attended Texas A&M University as a Cadet from 2011 through 2015 where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Field Artillery. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas A&M University. Upon commissioning, CPT Fritz attended the Field Artillery (FA) Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) at Fort Sill, OK.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEFalls City Hy-Vee hosted a Kids Club event on Saturday, November 7, in the store’s parking lot. The “Card for Heroes” event featured representatives from the Falls City Volunteer Ambulance Squad, the Verdon Volunteer Fire Department, the Hiawatha National Guard, the Richardson County Sheriff’s Department, and the Falls City Police Department. The event allowed Kids Club members and area youth to thank local heroes. Cards were available for coloring and filling out to thank veterans and all who serve the community. Store Manager Clint Sailors said the collected cards will be on display Wednesday, November 11, at the Veterans Day breakfast at the Falls City Elks Lodge and for the rest of the month in the store. The breakfast is free to all veterans and active military personnel from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Sailors said he previously collected cards from North and South School and from Sacred Heart.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEStory by Jennifer Roy, public affairs specialist, Dallas Regional Office of Public Affairs; photos courtesy of Tulsa Vet Center. (Editor’s note: Terry is originally from Falls City) When some people reach their 70s, they might slow down and enjoy retirement life. But Army Veteran Terry Kelley decided it was a great time to go back to school—with some encouragement and support from staff and fellow Veterans at the Tulsa Vet Center. Kelley served 10 years in the Army and 14 years in the National Guard. He joined when he was 17 years old without a high school diploma. Now, Kelley has a doctorate in pastoral ministry. While stationed in Germany, Kelley was called into his commander’s office and was told he was going to the Education Center in Homburg, Germany. That’s where his educational journey began. Within six months, Kelley earned his high school diploma. He continued to take classes, and his college hours added up.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEThe Falls City Council met at City Hall on Monday, November 2, for a regularly scheduled meeting. All council members were present for the roll call. City Administrator Gary Jorn asked the Council to consider suspending the first and second reading of Ordinance 2026-103 so that it could be submitted immediately to the state. He also asked the Board to contemplate tabling agenda item No. 8 regarding the purchase of a Grasshopper mower for the Parks Department for $30,538.70. Jorn asked that it be brought back to the Council in a few weeks, after he had time to look at ways to cut the unit cost. Chief Jamie Baker reported touching base with a ride carrier. Baker said he intends to sign an MOU with the company. He stated it is funded through the Nebraska Rural Health Transformation, through the Department of Health and Human Services. “It assists us in transporting people in mental health crisis to Lincoln,” said Baker.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEKillingsworth and Nolte retain victories; Ferguson waives Ward 1 recount and concedes. Recounts left the results unchanged in the Falls City mayor’s race and Ward 2 City Council race following closely contested elections November 3. Kenny Killingsworth received 714 votes to Kevin Malone’s 708 in the mayor’s race, with 7 write-in votes recorded. In Ward 2, Sean Nolte received 197 votes to Robert D. Olberding’s 195. The Clerk’s office informed the Journal that the recounts did not change those counts. In Ward 1, Mark Lowe received 198 votes to Don Ferguson’s 197. Ferguson waived his right to a recount and conceded the election to Lowe in a written statement dated November 5, 2026. The Richardson County Clerk’s Office received the statement that same day. Nebraska Revised Statute § 32-1119 provides for automatic recounts when official results fall within specified margins.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEIn the Falls City parade of Nov. 11, 1919, Civil War veterans walked in a place of honor. Soldiers of the recent World War were there, too. Around them marched schoolchildren carrying small American flags. The procession brought generations together on the streets of a Nebraska town, one year after the armistice that stopped the fighting between the Allies and Germany. Men who had served their country marched with children too young to have known the earlier war. Their service belonged to different chapters of history. On that day, their community honored them together. At 11 a.m., whistles and bells sounded across Falls City for five minutes. Flags flew from homes and businesses. That afternoon, the parade stretched half a mile. The holiday was called Armistice Day. Long before it became Veterans Day, Falls City’s newspapers recorded the town who recognized their heroes in its streets and its theater for having served. On Nov.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEOfficial results from Richardson County’s Nov. 3 general election show narrow margins in three Falls City races, with recounts scheduled for Friday morning, Nov. 6. The county announced recounts for Falls City mayor and the Ward 1 and Ward 2 City Council seats. In the mayoral race, Kenny Killingsworth received 714 votes to Kevin Malone’s 708, a six-vote difference. Seven write-in votes were also recorded. The Ward 1 council race was separated by one vote, with Mark Lowe receiving 198 votes and Don Ferguson receiving 197. In Ward 2, Sean Nolte received 197 votes to Robert D. Olberding’s 195, a two-vote margin. Those totals remain subject to the scheduled recounts. Countywide, 3,129 ballots were cast out of 5,158 registered voters, for a turnout of 60.66%. The totals included 2,601 Election Day ballots, 515 early-voting ballots and 13 provisional ballots. In the other Falls City council races, John Nixon received 307 votes in Ward 3, with four write-in votes recorded.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEA 61-year-old Falls City man suffered serious injuries in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday, Nov. 3, on U.S. Highway 159, two miles east of Big Lake in Holt County, Missouri. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at 2:06 p.m. when the man, driving a 2018 Ford Fusion, crossed the center of the roadway. The patrol reported that the driver stated he had been looking at his phone. Both drivers swerved to avoid each other, but the vehicles’ front passenger-side bumpers collided. Both vehicles rotated clockwise and left the roadway. The Falls City man was transported by private vehicle to Community Medical Center in Falls City. The other driver, a 71-year-old woman from Country Club, Missouri, suffered moderate injuries. Her passenger, a 72-year-old man, also from Country Club, suffered serious injuries. Both were transported by Atchison-Holt Ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. The woman and her passenger were wearing safety devices, according to the report.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEDevelopment of Falls City’s 17-acre North Commercial Corridor, electrical infrastructure planning and housing improvements were among the activities detailed in EDGE’s third-quarter report and newsletter. The updates from Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise, Inc., cover July, August and September 2026. Falls City Area Properties, a wholly owned EDGE subsidiary, is developing the North Commercial Corridor along Highway 73. Initial work is focused on the northern six acres, while highway frontage is being preserved for potential retail, hospitality, fuel service and other commercial development. According to the newsletter, Falls City Area Properties is pursuing a line of credit with local banks to finance electric, natural gas, water and sewer infrastructure, with the goal of keeping those project costs off utility ratepayers. Rulo Transportation LLC is completing grading work to meet Nebraska Department of Transportation drainage requirements.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEWith their backs against the wall on Monday night, the Lady Titan volleyball team played some of its best ball in a come-from-behind win over Pawnee City, 3-2, in Class D1-1 subdistrict action in Falls City. HTRS stormed out to a 25-17 win in the first set, but the Indians took sets two and three 25-19 and 25-23. With the season on the line, HTRS tied the match with a 25-19 win in set four. HTRS then pulled off the improbable, earning a 19-17 fifth-set win to move on to the next round t at Sacred Heart High School. With elimination staring the Titans in the face, HTRS stormed to a 6-1 lead in set four. A kill by Makenna Dunlap pushed the Titan lead to 8-2 early, but the Indians battled back to cut it to 10-9. Each time Pawnee City seemed to gain momentum, HTRS found a way to stay in front. An ace serve ended the set, sending the match to a fifth and deciding set. In the fifth set, an early kill by Dunlap increased the Titans’ advantage to 6-3.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEThe Irish volleyball team swept through the competition on Monday and Tuesday nights in the Class D1-1 subdistrict at the Roh Activity Center in Falls City. The Lady Irish won all six sets at home, sweeping HTRS and Lourdes Central Catholic. The win set up a District Final match against the No. 2 seed Amherst. The Broncos, 23-5, lost in the subdistrict final against No. 1-rated Central Valley. The No. 15-seeded Irish played on Saturday, October 31, defending D-1 champs at Amherst High School. The Irish cruised in action Monday night, taking down the HTRS Titans 25-18, 25-4, and 25-18. As a team, SH hit .189, finishing with 27 kills on 74 attempts and 13 errors. Hallie Jones led the charge with 12 kills, while Ryann Westengaard finished with seven. Sacred Heart was extremely proficient on serve, finishing the match with 17 aces. Dorothy Crouse led the Irish with six aces, and Isabelle Nussbaum added four.
Falls City Journal · Falls City, NE
Nearby: Falls City, NEThe Falls City Area Jingle Bell Ride returned Nov. 1, continuing a tradition of collecting Christmas toys for children in Richardson County. Alisa Wickham said the ride’s been held for 29 years. This year, 44 pickup stops had been planned, with a few cancellations coming before the ride. Fifteen people had already donated before participants headed out. The event began at the Hy-Vee parking lot in Falls City, with registration at noon and the ride scheduled for 1 p.m. Activities included hayrack and horse rides, face painting and pictures with Santa, along with lunch and refreshments available for a freewill donation. Wickham said the group would also help the sheriff’s department collect gifts through its cruiser-stuffing effort. The group plans to participate in the department’s Dec. 5 event, with hopes of bringing two horses if weather permits. Donations can still be arranged after the Jingle Bell Ride.