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Fifth-grade students from Hayward Elementary and Lourdes Central Catholic visited the Otoe County Courthouse on Thursday, May 1, for Law Day 2025. This year’s theme was “Advancement of Civics Education” and featured presentations from Otoe County Sheriff Colin Caudill, Lori Broady of the Nebraska Bar Association Foundation, Otoe County Public Defender Michael Ziskey, Otoe County Attorney Jenniffer Panko-Rahe, District 2 County Judge David J. Partsch, Probation Officer Katie Clapper, Otoe County Clerk of the District Court Janis Riege, and retired District Court Randall Rehmeier, who coordinated this year’s event. Students had the opportunity to take part in a mock trial to determine whether Superman was guilty of trespassing and criminal mischief in Metropolis (final determination: Man of Steel 2, State of Nebraska 0) and also see a drug-search demonstration by Otoe County Sheriff Sergeant Dan Lionberger and K9 Officer LEO.

This year’s Arbor Day Parade down Central Avenue occurred on Saturday, April 26 and featured the Color Guard, the Nebraska City Fire Department, Nebraska City Mayor Bryan Bequette, a creative eye glass themed entry by Nebraska City’s Lifetime Vision Center, the Nebraska City middle school and high school bands, an entry by Kregel Windmill, the Syracuse GermanFest Royals, Loretta’s Donut Wagon, DARE students, and Carly the Cardinal, just to name a few.

Lourdes Central Catholic high school students will perform the “Newsies” as this year’s Spring Musical. Performances will take place May 2-4 in the Wirth Theatre on the LCC Main Campus. The musical is directed by Ms. Lesley Gould. Performance Dates will be Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, May 4, at 2 p.m. Tickets are now on sale at www.tix.com. To learn more about the spring musical, visit https://www.lourdescentralcatholic.org/musical.html.

In October 2023, when Josh and Lydia Banderas purchased the 60-acre property that is now The Acreage event venue in Palmyra, they hoped to book 30 weddings before construction concluded. They booked 120.