News
Top Story Spotlight
TYSON CLOSURE
Lexington overwhelmed by tidal wave of need after Tyson closure
People seeking assistance after the Tyson closure wait their turn in the lobby of the Dawson County Opportunity Center on Jan. 26. The local unemployment office estimated that staff helped 500 people in just two days.
LEXINGTON — At 2 a.m. on a 16-degree mid-January Monday, Magdalena Barrios got in line. Only 10 people stood in front of her outside the Dawson County Opportunity Center.
By 5:30 a.m., the line wrapped halfway around the side of the former Walmart. The doors wouldn’t open until 9 a.m.
For years prior, the roughly 200 people in that line worked at Tyson Foods directly across the street. Their jobs were now casualties in that plant’s closure, and they were seeking help to pay for things like rent and groceries. The shutdown yanked 3,200 jobs from their community of about 10,000 people.
Seven hours after she got in line, Barrios finally got to the front. She walked away with a ticket, paperwork and the promise of a phone call from a nonprofit that could help with her utilities.
A week later, no one had called. She went to the fairgrounds, where organizers had moved operations to a spacious, heated building. The organizations helping with aid faced mounting backlogs, staff on-site explained. In just one day, the nonprofit handling utilities was getting requests from three times the number of people it usually helped in a month.
Regardless of the delay, Barrios was grateful that people were coming together to get her and others help.
“... There’s a lot of us,” Barrios said in Spanish through a translator. “I can’t say, you know, ‘You have to help me now,’ because I realize there’s a lot of people.”
After Tyson’s shutdown announcement, individuals and organizations rallied to raise about $300,000 to support laid-off workers. But within two weeks of starting to hand out aid, Lexington nonprofits were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of need. Money started running low. By the end of January, the relief fund stopped accepting new requests for aid.
Organizers expect a couple of big donations to come through soon, said Beth Roberts, executive director of the Lexington Community Foundation.
“We knew that the need was going to be great,” Roberts said. “We also know from talking to a lot of other communities who had dealt with similar closures or who had dealt with natural disasters that we had to be realistic and know that we can’t serve everyone.”
****
By 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 20, the day Tyson planned to wind down operations, another line formed outside the Opportunity Center that houses offices for services like unemployment, health and human services and the community college.
Many people in line wanted help applying for unemployment benefits, said Brent LeClair, regional reemployment services manager for the Nebraska Department of Labor.
It’s a daunting process that requires some tech know-how and a resume, and there’s a language barrier for some of the workers who were laid off.
LeClair estimated that his office helped 500 people over the first two days. They had tripled the number of employees available to help. Some laid-off Tyson workers still waited up to three hours. Department of Labor employees are also calling workers to offer help, according to a spokesperson, and more than 150 employers have been part of its job fairs and outreach efforts.
State data show that the number of initial unemployment claims filed statewide the week Tyson closed was 178% higher than the same week last year, and more than triple the number filed the week prior. Of that week’s 3,042 initial claims in Nebraska’s 93 counties, nearly half — some 1,419 — came from Dawson County.
“It’s pretty unprecedented,” LeClair said.
Other organizations have helped people with their unemployment claims, too, including at the public library. Rocio Casanova, a youth and family services librarian, said people came there with questions as soon as Tyson told its workers about the closure in November.
“They wanted to know: What’s going to happen after they close? Are they going to have other job opportunities available for me? What am I going to do with my 401(k)? What is going to happen with my house?” Casanova said.
She created a survey to understand their biggest concerns. Community leaders held a meeting and talked through needs. Some drafted a letter asking the area’s state senator, Sen. Teresa Ibach, to pass a state law governing mass layoffs. She has since introduced a similar bill.
Lutheran Family Services had lawyers give a presentation about workers’ rights. The library organized informational sessions about finances, saving money on energy bills, Medicaid and prescription costs.
The Lexington Community Foundation began collecting donations, creating a relief fund that has served as the main source of financial aid. As of Wednesday, the foundation had raised a total of $300,755, Roberts said. Split among Tyson’s 3,200 workers, that’s just under $95 per person.
The fund started doling out aid on Jan. 12. Once former Tyson workers made it through the line, volunteers at the Lexington Welcome Center asked questions to figure out which organizations were best suited to help meet their needs.
The Community Foundation allotted money to local organizations that could provide help directly: the local hospital for medical expenses, the nonprofit Micah’s House for housing costs and the nonprofit Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska for help with utility bills. Volunteers also offered laid-off workers $20 grocery vouchers to the locally owned Plum Creek Market Place — one per person in the house.
“All four of those pieces were already things that were happening. We’re just funneling people to them,” said Riley Gruntorad, CEO of YMCA of the Prairie.
He was one of the people coordinating intake appointments when the lines for aid were longest.
“It was heartbreaking,” Gruntorad said. “It was emotional. I mean, I’ve … grown up here my whole life. That’s why we’re doing what we can.”
Volunteers started issuing appointment tickets a couple days in instead of having people wait hours. They planned for 15 to 20 appointments an hour, Roberts said.
But the number of people in need quickly outpaced the capacity of the aid organizations.
The Community Action Partnership’s Lexington office, tasked with handling utilities help, employs just one person. That’s usually enough to distribute a small amount of funding each month and run a food pantry, said Tammy Jeffs, community services director.
Jeffs, who is based in Kearney and supervises eight of the organization’s offices, said she and another staff member have been traveling to Lexington on alternating days to help.
The office also connected with the hospital’s translation service to help people create profiles to apply for unemployment, she said, and recruited bank employees to coach people on options to keep their homes.
Community Action Partnership’s lone employee in the area typically helps about 20 people a month with their utilities or other services and gives out 100 boxes of food, Jeffs said.
With the Tyson closure, intake volunteers were processing 60 applications for utility assistance a day, telling people that Community Action Partnership would call them.
“There is absolutely no way,” Jeffs said. “And we’ve complained about this. We said, ‘There’s absolutely no way (our employee) can call 60 people. You’re bottlenecking us.’”
People started lining up outside their building in the mornings. They got hundreds of phone messages. They kept running the food pantry, buying food in bulk through Plum Creek Market Place and giving out about 400 boxes of food in two weeks. They asked the Welcome Center to stop sending people, but the requests for aid kept coming as a waitlist formed.
Community Action Partnership has started referring people to a state-run program for utilities aid as they shift focus to just the food pantry, Jeffs said. If more money comes in through the relief fund, they’ll use it to help people who are already on their utilities waitlist.
There was a similar backlog at the nonprofit directing housing payment help, Roberts of the Community Foundation said.
No local agency could possibly have had the capacity to handle the onslaught, Jeffs said.
The one place set up to communicate with the thousands of employees speaking multiple languages — Tyson itself — has offered little help. The company could have helped people understand what to do with their retirement accounts, how to continue their insurance or helped them access pay stubs for unemployment applications, she said.
The company has offered support, a spokesperson said in an email, including by helping people apply for open positions at other Tyson locations and offering relocation benefits.
“Dawson and Buffalo County had those floods a couple years ago, and … it's very similar,” Jeffs said. “All you see is … all these people who need something, and they're looking to you to do it.”
****
On Jan. 26, two weeks into distributing aid, the process felt well-oiled. People were now waiting in a heated building, with plenty of folding chairs to take a seat.
Magda Franco, who worked at Tyson for 15 years, showed up without an appointment ticket and waited only 40 minutes for help.
“If they’re able to give me half of the cost of my rent and my (utility) bills … I’m very thankful,” she said in Spanish through a translator.
At Plum Creek Market Place, store manager Carl Hays said about 75% of the grocery vouchers they had handed out had been cashed in.
People were coming and using them “almost immediately,” he said.
The community’s resources can’t match the magnitude of the jobs lost, he said.
“We're just putting a Band-Aid on a problem for now. But if it feeds families and kids for a couple of weeks, that at least gives them some time to figure something out,” he said.
By Jan. 27, the Community Foundation announced it was pausing intake appointments for people seeking help. After two weeks, the relief fund had only $77,928 left to work with, and a long waitlist.
“We really wanted to give all the entities that were involved time to catch up to be able to meet the needs of those that had already requested assistance,” Roberts said. They wanted to make sure that they weren’t wasting people’s time or “overextending.”
As of Wednesday, the Community Foundation had doled out $293,495 since Jan. 12 with the help of 23 volunteers. It had processed aid applications for 4,816 people, including both workers and everyone in their households, Roberts said.
A couple foundations that have chosen to remain anonymous have confirmed that donations are coming soon, Roberts said. She hopes that upcoming gifts will help them work through remaining intakes before shifting focus to just food and utilities help.
“It's shown a lot of hope-building in what we could do, but there's … there's a lot of healing that really needs to take place in our community right now,” Roberts said. “And sometimes that healing … doesn't always come with a dollar sign.”
The same people mobilizing to help have faced upheaval in their own jobs and lives as a result of the shutdown. Gruntorad said he has been fundraising for years to build an addition to the YMCA, and now that’s on hold. Hays said the grocery store has stopped hiring.
“We don't know what our world's gonna look like,” he said.
The last several weeks, librarian Casanova said, have brought an array of emotions: hope, anguish, gratitude.
Now, she’s noticing that the reality is setting in: People are deciding whether to stay or go.
“People have been doing the best they could to provide the resources, but at the same time — it’s a lot. It’s a lot of people,” Casanova said. “It’s 3,200 employees … It is complicated when the rent and the utility bills, especially being winter, and the cost of groceries are so high. You know, $300,000 is not going to go very far for 3,000 people and their families.”
The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.
News
Top Story Spotlight
Nebraska lawmakers approve bill to scale back minimum wage increases
Nebraska lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a bill scaling back future increases to the state's minimum wage that won broad support among voters in 2022.
After falling one vote short on final reading a year ago, the bill (LB258) from Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould will now head to the desk of Gov. Jim Pillen for his signature.
After falling one vote short on final reading a year ago, a bill to scale back minimum wage increases from Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould will now head to the desk of Gov. Jim Pillen for his signature.
Raybould, a registered Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, and 32 Republican senators voted to change Initiative 433, meeting the threshold required by the constitution.
Once signed, Nebraska's $15 per hour minimum wage will increase annually by 1.75% under Raybould's bill, rather than by a rate equal to inflation — an approach supported by 58% of voters nearly four years ago.
Employers will be allowed to pay workers older than 16 a "training wage" of $13.50 per hour — potentially less than the $15 rate that they currently earn — which will increase by 1.5% annually.
And the minimum wage for workers between the ages of 14 and 16 will be reduced to $13.50 per hour, which will increase by 1.5% annually until 2030, when the wage will increase by 1.5% every five years.
Raybould said lawmakers have fielded concerns from businesses large and small across Nebraska about how voter-led changes to the minimum wage and paid sick leave laws would affect operations.
Instead of tying increases to inflation, which has grown roughly 2.4% on average for the past 25 years, but by as much as 8% in recent years, Raybould said her bill gave businesses room to better plan for the future.
She also said differentiating between adult and youth employees would create a more meaningful path into the workforce for younger workers as they learn new skills and make themselves more marketable.
Purchasing power has fallen
But opponents of the measure, mostly progressives, said LB258 — the first bill passed by the Legislature in 2026 — effectively cut pay for those workers amid an "affordability crisis" that had taken hold in Nebraska and elsewhere.
Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh said the purchasing power of minimum wage workers in 2026 had fallen well behind that of their counterparts in 1980.
The ballot measure, which said wages would be adjusted annually after Jan. 1, 2026, "to account for increases in the cost of living" meant to address that fact, Cavanaugh said.
Under Raybould's bill, the youth wage would not return to $15 per hour until 2065, he added.
Lincoln Sen. George Dungan, echoing Cavanaugh, said nearly 6 in 10 Nebraskans supported Initiative 433 because it was "both forward-thinking and was supportive of their day-to-day needs."
"My concern is that LB258 walks back that vote and it says to people of Nebraska that we are going to lower your wages and we're going to make it harder for you to make ends meet," he said.
And Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt said that, in addition to creating a "special exploitation wage" for younger workers despite their cost of living increasing at the same rate as adult workers, LB258 would undermine Nebraskans' trust in state government.
"Democracy depends on a basic premise that if you show up, if you participate, if you cast a vote, if you work to get something done, your voice will matter," Hunt said. "And when that promise is broken, people stop believing that the system works for them.
"Moments like this are exactly how this cynicism takes root," she added.
Initiative process called 'flawed'
Supporters of Raybould's bill, including Sen. Tony Sorrentino of Elkhorn, who missed the final vote on LB258 last year, said the idea of the Legislature overturning the will of the people was overblown.
"We beat that horse to death a lot last year," Sorrentino said.
Unlike the legislative process, which involves public hearings, discussions among senators at the committee level, amendments and debates on the floor, Sorrentino said the initiative process relied upon asking petition signers and voters a simple yes or no question.
"The initiative process, which I've said more than once, is flawed," he said. "It's an opinion poll. We don't make laws on opinion polls in Nebraska. At least I hope we don't."
Conservative senators, including Sen. Bob Andersen of La Vista and Sen. Jared Storm of David City, both of whom had bills in committee on Wednesday that would change how the petition process worked in Nebraska, also pointed to the need to change how those campaigns operate.
Andersen said ballot committees that have run successful initiatives or referenda were funded through non-Nebraskan entities, including a Swiss billionaire who is currently being sued by Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers.
Storm, meanwhile, said there are few requirements petition circulators must follow in order to get a measure before voters, including the minimum wage increase, which he called "essentially a tax on small businesses."
"Just as we talked about having election security, we should have ballot initiative security in our state," Storm said.
Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad defended the petition process, which is the first right reserved to Nebraskans in the state constitution, and said voters understood what they had supported at the ballot box.
Conrad said Nebraskans had supported increases to the minimum wage twice over the past 12 years or so after lawmakers had failed to act, and voters decided to tie future increases "to actual economic conditions."
Other backers of Raybould's bill said increases to the minimum wage often had the opposite effect intended by backers.
Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair said hiking the minimum wage led to more low-skilled, young and minority workers leaving the workforce because those jobs were eliminated, while Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte called LB258 "a job protection bill."
"This allows employers to hire people at a lower wage so that they can actually have a job," he said. "They have a job that they may not have otherwise."
Lawmakers debated LB258 for nearly two hours on Thursday before Raybould moved to shut off debate.
The cloture motion and vote to pass LB258 were both successful largely along party lines. Raybould joined Republicans while Sen. Dave Wordekemper of Fremont, a Republican, joined Democrats in opposing the bill.
Following the vote, Nebraska Appleseed, one of a coalition of nonprofits that supported the Raise the Wage campaign, said the Legislature undermined voters in sending the bill to Pillen's desk for a signature.
"Every Nebraskan should receive fair pay, regardless of their age," said Ken Smith, economic justice program director at Nebraska Appleseed. "LB258 directly undermines changes that were overwhelmingly approved by Nebraska voters, and it will prevent thousands of Nebraskans from being able to access the good life.”
The Legislature sent five other bills to the governor's desk on Thursday:
LOTTERY TICKET SALES: The Legislature gave final approval to a bill (LB60) from Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island allowing lottery tickets to be sold in vending machines or other dispensing devices in a 41-8 vote.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES: A bill (LB207) from Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn implementing a $150 registration fee for alternative fuel vehicles received final approval in an unanimous vote.
TOBACCO TAX: The Legislature unanimously gave final approval to a bill (LB212) from Wordekemper requiring online tobacco product retailers selling in Nebraska to collect and renew the same sales tax as brick-and-mortar stores.
"PINK POSTCARD" HEARINGS: In a unanimous vote, the Legislature passed a bill (LB384) from Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman requiring the county assessor and one voting member of a governing body to attend a joint public hearing if the public entity they belong to is requesting a tax increase above a set growth cap.
Taxing entities — such as cities, counties and school districts — that plan to collect increased property tax revenues by more than 2% are already required to send out "pink postcard" mailers informing constituents of a joint public hearing under the "Truth in Taxation" law passed in 2022.
CORRECTIONAL REPORT: A bill (LB518) from Omaha Sen. Margo Juarez changing requirements for a Department of Correctional Services and Board of Parole report received final approval in a unanimous vote.
The E-edition is available to you every morning, and is updated throughout the day
Here are the Nebraska state senators making laws during the 109th legislative session.
Journal Star reporter Anna Kleiber contributed to this report.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com.
On Bluesky @chrisdunker.bsky.social
Around Town
The Around Town section of the Clipper-Herald is to notify the public of upcoming events and to publicize pertinent information from individuals, groups or service organizations.
LEXINGTON HAPPENINGS
Informational workshop with Nebraska Commission on Latino-Americans Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 12:30 p.m. for community leaders and 3 p.m. for community members at the Lexington Public Library.
P.S. We Love You! Family Fun Night at the Lexington Public Library Thursday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m.
Hide and Seek for Teens Friday, Feb. 13 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Lexington Public Library.
Know Your Heart event at the Dawson County Children's Museum Saturday, Feb. 14 from 10-11 a.m.
Lexington Area Christian Women's Connection presents Sweetheart of a Deal Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 11:30 a.m. at Kirk's. $10 per person. Speaker Cristy Ludemann of Springview.
Lexington City Council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Lunch and Learn: Immigration, naturalization and civics presented by DAR member Sandy Mittelstaedt at the Lexington Public Library Thursday, Feb. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
GriefShare beings every Thursday through April 30 at 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church.
Meal Planning and Preparation hosted by Nebraska Extension Thursday, Feb. 26 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Extension office (1002 Plum Creek Parkway). Free to everyone. For questions call 308-324-5501.
Night Amongst the Stars Valentine's Day Dance Saturday, Feb. 14 at the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles from 7-9 p.m. $10 per person or $15 per couple. The theme is 60s and 70s.
Daddy-Daughter dinner and dance at the Lexington High School sponsored by the YMCA Friday, Feb. 13 from 6-7:30 p.m. $20 per person.
Mother-Son Nerf Night Friday, Feb. 13 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the YMCA gym. Theme is camo. $10 per person.
Dawson Area College and Career Fair at Lexington High School on Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 9-11 a.m.
Lexington Regional Health Center's CEO Jason Douglas will be speaking at the hospital's ladies Auxiliary group Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Rehab building.
Cropping at the Museum: Rescuing the Past April 10-13 at the Dawson County Historical Museum. All proceeds benefit the museum.
Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District will open its winter eagle viewing at the J-2 Hydroplant south of Lexington until Feb. 22. Open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
Parkview Baptist Church holds a food pantry every third Saturday of the month at the Refuge Building (1105 Park St.) in Lexington.
The Dawson County History Museum is hosting “Coffee with Carol” the first Wednesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Lexington Lions Club meets at 6:30 p.m. every fourth Monday of the month at the Lexington Grand Generation Center.
Lexington Rotary Club meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at Dawson County Annex Building at noon. For more information or to join call 308-325-7006.
The Dawson County Democrats meet at 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at the Los Jalapeños Restaurant.
American Legion in Lexington meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles.
WIC Clinic Sites, Dawson County: Lexington – Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska Building, 931 W. Seventh St., Tuesday through Thursday the first 4 full weeks for each month.
RYDE Transit — Public Transportation is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule a ride in Dawson County or Lexington call 308-324-3670. Public Transportation is easy to ride and open to everyone.
COZAD HAPPENINGS
Cozad Community Foundation is accepting items, services or an experience for their upcoming Red Day fundraiser auction. Red Day will be held Saturday, March 21 at 7 p.m. at Cozad Elks Club. Contact Robyn Geiser at 308-325-2450 or by email at ccf@cozadtel.net.
The Wilson Public Library is hosting their Writing Society on Tuesday Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. at the library.
Crafternoon: Love Bugs at the Wilson Public Library Thursday, Feb. 12 from 3-5 p.m. for age 10 and up.
Storytime with Sauce, certified therapy dog, Friday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. at the Wilson Public Library.
Movie Matinee at the library Thursday, Feb. 19 at 2:30 p.m.
Bill Clemente will present Feathers and Verses on Friday, Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Wilson Public Library.
Free Groceries Drive Thru Thursday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. at the Cozad Grand Generation Center.
Post Office Storytime Friday, Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. for children ages 3-6 with an adult at the Wilson Public Library.
Story and Craft Time for moms and kids Thursday, Feb. 12 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Wilson Public Library.
Tax Clinics at the Wilson Public Library on Friday Feb. 20 and Friday March 6 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cozad Grand Generation Center Valentine's Day Flower Fundraiser with free delivery in Cozad. Pre-order by Feb. 6 with every purchase supporting the Grand Generation Center. Call 308-784-2747 for orders.
Cake and Silent Auction Thursday, Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. at the Cozad Elks Club.
Community Chat: TeamMates Mentoring with guest speaker Jennifer Walls on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at noon at the Wilson Public Library.
Dine In or Drive Thru Turkey Dinner Thursday, Feb. 12 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Cozad Grand Generation Center.
Join the Wilson Public Library for felted wool dryer balls crafts Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. Register by Friday, Feb. 13 for ages 15 and up.
Landscape Design with Extension Educator Elizabeth Exstrom Saturday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. at the Wilson Public Library.
Armchair Travels: Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. with Mary Jane Shala at the Wilson Public Library.
Bands, Brews and BBQs will be held Saturday, July 11 with the Lemon Fresh Day band headlining the night and opener by Heather Wellman. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. More information on ticket sales will be provided at a later date.
Blood Pressure Clinic at the Cozad Grand Generation Center the third Tuesday of every month at 11 a.m.
The Cozad Grand Generation Center has Home Delivered Meals to the Community Monday — Friday. If you would like to receive Home Delivered Meals or would like to pick up a Curbside Meal at 410 W. Ninth St. from 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m., please call us at 308-784-2747 by 9:30 a.m. that morning, so we can arrange everything for your convenience.
The Cozad Grand Generation Center Bus is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule a ride in Cozad call 308-784-2747.
GOTHENBURG HAPPENINGS
Save the Date: Dancing With the Stars Saturday, March 21.
ON THE BIG SCREEN
LEXINGTON
Majestic Theatre, 615 N. Washington St.
Ticket Pricing: Adult $5, Students/Senior Citizens/Child $4
SHOWTIMES:
"Hamnet" (PG-13) - Feb. 11; Wednesday at 7 p.m.
"Solo Mio" (PG) - Feb. 13-15, 18; Friday/Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m. and special showing Feb. 18 at 2 p.m.
"Mercy" (PG-13) - Feb. 20-22, 25; Friday/Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m.
"Goat" (PG) - Feb. 27-28, March 1 and 4: Friday/Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m.
COZAD
Fox Theater, 100 E. Eighth St.
Ticket Pricing: Adult $9, Student/Seniors/Military $8, 5 and under $6.50, Matinee (all ages) $6.50
SHOWTIMES:
"Buffalo Kids" (PG) - Feb. 10-12; Tuesday-Thursday at 7:20 p.m.
"Send Help" (R) - Feb. 10-12; Tuesday-Thursday at 7 p.m.
"Solo Mio" (PG) - Feb. 10-19; Tuesday-Friday at 7:10 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m., Sunday at 4:10 and 7:10 p.m. and Monday-Thursday at 7:10 p.m.
"I Can Only Imagine 2" (PG) - Saturday, Feb. 14 at 5 and 7:40 p.m.
"Wuthering Heights" (R) - Feb. 13-19; Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 3:15 and 7:20 p.m., Sunday at 4 and 7 p.m. and Monday-Thursday at 7 p.m.
"Goat" (PG) - Feb. 13-19; Friday at 7:20 p.m., Saturday at 3, 5:15 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 4:20 and 7:20 p.m. and Monday-Thursday at 7:20 p.m.
GOTHENBURG
Sun Theatre, 404 10th St.
Ticket Pricing: Adult $5, Child (12 and under) $3, Senior Citizen $4
SHOWTIMES:
"Mercy" (PG-13) - Feb. 13-15; Friday/Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.
"Buffalo Kids" (PG) - Feb. 20-22; Friday/Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.
"Crime 101" (R) - Feb. 27-28 and March 1; Friday/Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The Lexington Public Library hours are: Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. — 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. — 5 p.m., Sunday: Closed. Watch for lots of fun programs and activities this summer. Also, we are continuing curbside services; call the library at 308-324-2151 for information.
Novel Stitchers meets on Tuesdays from 3-5 p.m. in the Board Room of the Library.
Storytime meets at the Library on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
The Wilson Public Library normal hours are: Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m. — 7 p.m., Friday: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. and Saturday: 10 a.m. — 1 p.m. Public and private meetings have resumed, with 24-hour notice appreciated. Limits to how many attendees based upon room need, what equipment is available and other restrictions can be found by calling us at 308-784-2019 or stopping at the front desk. Normal policies about room rental can be found under Policies at wilsonpubliclibrary.org.
LEXINGTON GRAND GENERATION CENTER
The exercise room is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
MONDAY
10 a.m. - Frog
12:45 p.m. - I've Got It
TUESDAY
10:30 a.m. - I've Got It
11 a.m. - Christian Women
12:45 p.m. - Pool
1 p.m. - Bunco
2:30 p.m. - Hot Cookies
WEDNESDAY
12:45 p.m. - Cards
1 p.m. - Frog
THURSDAY
12:45 p.m. - Farkle
12:45 p.m. - Pool
FRIDAY
Noon - Birthday presenter
12:45 p.m. - Cards
1 p.m. - Frog
LEXINGTON GRAND GENERATION CENTER MENU
Homemade bread every day. Choice of skim, 2% or chocolate milk. No reservations are needed except for large groups. Serving time: 11:30 a.m. Please call 308-324-2498 by 10 a.m. for delivery or carryout meals.
MONDAY
Polish Dog on bun, Fries, Sauerkraut, Tropical Fruit
TUESDAY
Cook's Choice Casserole, Diced Potatoes, Peas and Carrots, Apple Slices
WEDNESDAY
Chuck Wagon Steak with Gravy, Boiled Potatoes, Stewed Tomatoes, Peaches
THURSDAY
Italian Chicken, Potato Casserole, Buttered Cabbage, Mandarin Oranges
FRIDAY
Beef Roast, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Green Beans, Fresh Fruit, Dinner Roll, Dessert
COZAD GRAND GENERATION CENTER
When Cozad schools are closed due to inclement weather, the center will also be closed. Check KRVN or the TV for weather related closings.
MONDAY
10 a.m. - Free Groceries
12:45 p.m. - Board Meeting
1 p.m. - Pitch
TUESDAY
Noon - Rotary
1:15 p.m. - Foot Clinic
WEDNESDAY
10 a.m. - Free Groceries
12:30 p.m. - Pinochle
THURSDAY
5 p.m. - Drive Thru/Dine In Dinner
COZAD GRAND GENERATION CENTER MENU
Salad Bar is available daily with meals served from 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
MONDAY
Saulsbury Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, Pears, Fruit Crisp
TUESDAY
Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Hominy, Apple Snicker Salad, Ice Cream
WEDNESDAY
Baked Fish, Potato Wedges, Peas, Coleslaw, Ice Cream
THURSDAY
Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, Corn, Peaches, Ice Cream
FRIDAY
Taco Burger, Tater Tots, Baked Beans, Fruit Cocktail, Cookies
FARNAM SENIOR CENTER
When Eustis-Farnam Schools are closed due to the weather, the Senior Center will also be closed. Call ahead by 9:30 a.m. to get a meal 308-569-2359.
MONDAY
Lasagna, Harvest Beets, Cesar Salad, Apricots, Dinner Roll
TUESDAY
Sweet and Sour Chicken, Broccoli, Three Bean Salad, Pineapple, Dinner Roll
WEDNESDAY
Beef and Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, Pears, Dinner Roll
THURSDAY
Baked Pork Chop, Baked Potato, Mixed Veggies, Peaches, Dinner Roll
FRIDAY
Cheeseburger Casserole, Baby Bakers, Corn, Fruit Cocktail, Dinner Roll
GOSPER COUNTY SENIOR CENTER
All meals are served with vegetables, fruit and a sweet item. Please call before 10 a.m. for your reservation 308-785-2500. Menu is subject to change without notice.
MONDAY
Hot Beef Sandwich
TUESDAY
Pork Roast
WEDNESDAY
Stuffed Peppers
THURSDAY
Fried Catfish
FRIDAY
Soup and Sandwich
ORGANIZATIONS
Full of Grace: Meetings at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Nazarene Church at 919 H St. in Cozad.
Southview Group: Meetings at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays at 1804 Papio Lane in Cozad.
Westside Group: AA/NA: open meeting on Friday nights at 7 p.m. Meetings are held at Grace Lutheran Church, 105 E. 17th St., Lexington, use the south door.
Celebrate Recovery: Meetings at 7 p.m. on Fridays at Parkview Baptist Church’s Refuge Building (1105 Park St., Lexington) Contact: 308-324-4410.
Four Roads Group AA: meetings are held on Tuesdays at noon, Fridays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. at 1801 W. 18th St. in Lexington.
It Works Group: AA meetings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 303 E. 6th St. in Lexington.
SMART Recovery meets at St. Peter’s in the Valley Episcopal Church, 905 East 13th St., Tuesdays and Thursdays 7-8:30 p.m., Saturdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Grupo Lexington AA (Spanish Speaking): open meetings on Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m., at 114 W. 6th St. in Lexington.
Sumner AA Group: meets Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at the United Church of Sumner, 504 Main St., Sumner. For more information call 308-325-5827.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings: Meetings at 8 p.m. on Thursdays at Hope Lutheran Church, 74094 Road 436 in Smithfield. Call 308-785-3567 or 308-472-3376.
Pony Express Group AA: meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays at the Gothenburg Evangelical Free Church (515 18th St) in Gothenburg.
Thirsty Thursday by the Cemetery: Meetings held on Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church (2002 27th St.) in Gothenburg.
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group meetings are held the second Thursday each month at 2 p.m. at Lexington Regional Health Center (1201 N. Erie St., Lexington). For more information contact Dixie Menke at 308-325-5350.
Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska Immunization Clinic, first and third Mondays every month: Open 10 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. by appointment at 931 W. Seventh St., Lexington. Previous vaccination records required. Contact 308-325-3436 or 308-325-3169.
Dawson/Gosper County CASA: seeking Volunteers. CASA Volunteers are everyday people from all walks of life, who advocate through the court system in the interests of children. Contact 308-324-7364.
