UDPATE: The Big Ten announced Thursday it is moving to a conference-only schedule for all fall sports, including football and volleyball. The Big Ten is the first power conference to drastically change its season due to the coronavirus outbreak. For Nebraska football, that means nonconference home games against Central Michigan, South Dakota State, and Cincinnati will be canceled. This will be the first time Nebraska will have a season without nonconference games since 1921. It’s not yet clear what Nebraska’s new football schedule will look like. Athletes in fall sports can continue to go through voluntary summer workouts as they are currently doing at Nebraska.
UPDATE: Northwest Public Schools in Grand Island announced they will start classes August 13th. Other information related to the pandemic will be announced at the end of July.
The Grand Island Public School district is planning to begin classes August 15 with most students on site at elementary, middle and high school buildings. The district Wednesday unveiled three models which were designed to give the schools flexibility depending on the current severity of the pandemic.
Classes in the Kearney Public Schools are scheduled to begin August 13, but the district is planning a flexible approach so it can adjust to whatever current pandemic restrictions exist. Find more on their plans on their website.
UPDATE: Public tickets are on sale for The Shrine Bowl all-star football game, which is Saturday at 2 p.m. at UNK. Tickets are on sale at NEshrinebowl.org.
CHI Health, one of the state’s largest employer, is hosting a drive-through hiring fair on Wednesday, July 22. This unique take on the traditional hiring fair will allow for social distancing while connecting job seekers with career opportunities. Individuals seeking part- or full-time employment are encouraged to attend. 10 am-Noon CHI Health Good Samaritan, 10 East 31st Street, Kearney Parking Lot M & N, north of the hospital. Look for the blue tent 2- 4 pm CHI Health Medical Plaza*, 2116 W Faidley Avenue, Grand Island Circle drive off of W. Faidley Ave. between N. Alpha and Darr Avenues Look for the American flag and blue tent.
Due to the Coronavirus the federal government postponed the traditional April 15the tax filing deadline until July 15th. That deadline is fast approaching and there will be no more delays.
UNK Football has canceled the 11th annual Football Backers Dinner and fundraiser scheduled for July 22nd.
NebraskaLand Days in North Platte has announced that Luke Combs and Toby Keith will be back in 2021! Luke Combs will be on June 25th and Toby Keith will be on June 26th. For more go to www.nebraskalanddays.com
Kearney Cinema 8 has reopened! For movie listings go to www.kearneycinema.com
NEBRASKA GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE GOOD LIFE:
UPDATE: Rowe Sanctuary plans to reopen its main building on July 13th with new hours, a mask requirement, and a recommendation that social distancing be enforced. The new hours will be 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
UPdate: The American Red Cross is in urgent need of blood donations during this pandemic, they are also in need of volunteers in the Tri-Cities. Contact the American Red Cross fore more.
The Heartland United Way and Greater Grand Island Community Foundation hosted the 7th annual Go Big GIVE event on Tuesday, July 8th breaking their one million dollar goal by raising over $1,007,671 with 5025 donations for 137 local nonprofits in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counties!
Art in the Park will be happening in Kearney – only 40 artists, spaced farther apart, and a new two-day schedule to help with crowd control. The dates are Saturday July 11th 10-6pm and Sunday July 12th 9-5pm.
The Hastings Museum is open NOW exclusively for members. The museum will open to the general public on July 14.
Tom Dinsdale Automotive Nebraska Greats Golf Classic presented by 1st State Bank at Riverside Country Club, Grand Island is on July 24. The Nebraska Greats Foundation provides emergency medical and financial assistance to any former athletics letter winner from ANY of the 16 4-year schools in the state. These are former sports heroes from Nebraska to Chadron State who need emergency medical attention and can’t afford it. Please sign up a foursome (space is limited) to play. The donation is $325 per person which includes golf, cart, lunch, prizes, awards, dinner, special gifts at Riverside and a chance to play with a celebrity. Among the celebrities committed are former Huskers Eric Crouch, Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, Johnny Dorn, Jared Crick, Brendan Stai and Jay Moore.For non golfers, there is a limited amount of space available (to comply with social distancing) for the evening DINNER event which includes a celebration of all 16 member schools, unique auction items and a Q/A with each of the celebrity former athletes. Sign up at www.negreats.org.
UNK’s combined 2020 Spring and Summer Commencement will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 31. To support COVID-19 directed health response, it is being planned as an outdoor event on Foster Field at Cope Stadium. The event will begin at 10 a.m. In support of current safety protocol and to meet facility capacity requirements, in-person attendance will be limited to no more than three invited guests per graduate.
Drive-in movies in Kearney will continue at sundown when The World Theatre will team up with the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. The World will sell advance tickets. Gates will open at 8 p.m. and the movie will begin at sundown. Films will be shown Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights through the summer.
Enjoy an outdoor adventure with family or friends. and engage in healthy recreation — and possibly win prizes. The Great Park Pursuit is a free program encouraging participants to visit up to 20 official sites across the state, consisting of community, regional, state and federal parks. Participants register a team of up to 10 people online and then follow clues from the website or Great Park Pursuit mobile app to find a program post located somewhere within a park area. Once they find the post, the team can use the mobile app to mark their visit, or make a pencil impression of the post to prove they were there. A number of prizes are up for grabs, including Nebraska state park entry permits for 2021, an iPad and the grand prize, an outdoor recreation package valued at $1,500. Prizes and entry into drawings are based on the number of post impressions that teams collect, or the number of park visits they mark on the mobile app. For more information and to register, visit negpp.org. The Great Park Pursuit app is available at the Apple iStore and on Google Play for Android.
The Nebraska Passport for 2020 program is underway. Travelers will have through October 31 to visit attractions and receive stamps, according to Nebraska Tourism. Due to COVID-19 some stops have had to adjust their business hours so check for updates before beginning your travels. Passports are available at participating stops or can be ordered at NebraskaPassport.com.
The Archway in Kearney has will reopened to visitors. The hours will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of The Archway.
Keep yourself safe in these times, show your Husker spirit, AND help Nebraska Food Banks. Husker Face Masks are on sale right now at the shop at NRG sister property huskermax.com. The masks are handmade, available in four styles! GO HERE: http://www.shophuskermax.com/houndsmax-huskers-ma