News

On Sunday, June 22, a crowd of nearly 150 future detasselers and their parents gathered under the South Park gazebo in Central City for the annual Outfield Detasseling training meeting. The event served as both an orientation and safety briefing for the upcoming season, offering a first look into the unique world of agricultural labor.

Three of Central City’s governing bodies—Merrick County Board of Supervisors, Central City City Council, and the Central City Public Schools Board of Education—each held recent meetings that brought decisions, discussions, and direction for the months ahead. From budget allocations to property nuisances, long-term planning to student recognition, here’s a roundup of what your elected officials are working on behind the scenes.

Monday, June 16 saw the Merrick County Sheriff’s Department bring their knowledge and expertise to the Litzenberg Long Term Care facility in Central City, Nebraska. The deputies were met with numerous curious and eager residents residing at the facility right outside the main doors, which is where the main presentation took place that day. Sheriff’s deputy and canine handler Dan Parker along with his canine partner Vedo were the stars of the show that day, with the pair giving a demonstration of a dog attack along with narcotic detection.

Central City’s annual Lone Tree Days are coming up in just a few weeks. The annual celebration falls during a milestone, as 2025 marks the one hundred and fiftieth year since the town of Lone Tree was renamed Central City. The special plans for this momentous year include the same parade as any other, along with a handful of businesses offering special deals and food during the 4-day excursion. For starters, the Merrick Medical Center along with Pinnacle bank will be hosting a family fun night to kick off the festivities on July 2 before the event formally begins.

Thursday, June 12 was a day for children and adults to kick back and listen to a thing or two about how children’s books were illustrated and created. Bruce Arant, an illustrator from Omaha, Nebraska, brought his knowledge and expertise to the Central City Library. Bruce worked with two age groups of children during his time at the library.

Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2025 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2025.

Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) members from across the state traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with Nebraska’s congressional delegation, key federal agencies, and White House officials to advocate on behalf of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. During their visit, Farm Bureau leaders urged policymakers to expand international markets, protect essential tax provisions, defend the science behind crop protection products, and strengthen key elements of the Farm Bill.