Nebraska City High School was once again one of several sites of the annual birthday party celebrating Nebraska’s statehood. Around 3,000 students were expected to attend nine Nebraska statehood birthday parties throughout the state from Feb. 23-27. Secretary of State John Gale, the NEBRASKAland Foundation and the Nebraska Humanities Council sponsor the free parties, which are geared for fourth- and fifth-grade students.
Attending the Nebraska City party Feb. 24 were students from Hayward Elementary and Lourdes Elementary, as well as area schools including Johnson-Brock and Weeping Water.
The party included musical entertainment, sing-a-longs and Nebraska trivia. Gale attends each party.
“The parties are designed to provide fun in an educational setting,” he said. “The parties are part of my civics education mission to encourage students to become good citizens.”
Besides reading Gov. Heineman’s Statehood Day proclamation, Gale praised small communities and noted that 400 of Nebraska’s 500 communities have populations of less than 500.
For the eighth year, Gale appeared as the character “Cactus Jack,” and entertainers Chris Sayre and David Seay portrayed “Sodbuster Sam” and “Deadwood Dave,” respectively. This year’s parties were also attended by Miss Rodeo Nebraska 2009, who is from Chadron.
Local dignitaries attending the party in Nebraska City included Mayor Jack Hobbie, Superintendent Jeff Edwards and school board member Paul Davis.
This year’s parties observe the 142nd anniversary of Nebraska becoming a state on March 1, 1867.
Other host sites include Hastings, Kearney, Seward, Fremont, Norfolk, Omaha, Boys Town and Columbus.
