UPDATE: The Big Ten Conference announced their ten game conference schedule this morning. Nebraska will open up on September 5th at Rutgers. The Huskers first home game will be on September 12th against Illinois. In addition to playing six West division opponents the Huskers will also play Rutgers, Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State from the East. Nebraska will wrap up the season at home on November 21st against Michigan State.
UPDATE: The NSAA released Tuesday a ten page list of heath measures for fall sports. Guidelines range from extending the sideline box for football players to the 10-yard lines to no switching of benches between volleyball sets to the use of electronic whistles.
UPDATE: The American Rivers Conference is the only NCAA Division III conference in the nation going ahead with fall sports. The ARC includes Nebraska Wesleyan and eight teams from Iowa.
UPDATE: Former Husker and Hastings native Kevin Lightner is battling COVID-19 and his family is in need of help. They have set up a GoFundMe page because insurance is not covering the extended stay at a Lincoln hospital. Link up at HuskerMax.com. Lightner was an all Conference offensive linemen for Nebraska in 1987.
Mary Lanning Healthcare and the state of Nebraska have partnered to provide free COVID-19 testing to eligible residents beginning August 17 at MLH. Residents will need to take an online assessment through the TestNebraska portal to see if they are eligible for the free testing, the healthcare department said.
University of Nebraska at Kearney is accepting registrations from businesses, organizations and other exhibitors interested in booth space at the upcoming UNK Blue and Gold Showcase on August 21st from 5 to 8 pm. Blue and Gold Showcase is open to new freshmen, returning students, faculty and staff. This year’s event is not open to community members, and the chancellor’s picnic will not be hosted. Online registration is available at unk.edu/showcase.
This year’s NEBRASKAland DAYS will have a pair of reduced capacity concerts. Legendary band .38 Special will perform on Friday, August 14. Country Star Granger Smith takes the stage on Saturday, August 15th. For tickets visit nebraskalanddays.com
NEBRASKA GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE GOOD LIFE:
UPDATE: The Ivy League was the first to cancel spring sports in March and were the first to cancel its fall season in July. For Kearney High graduates, Miko Maessner (Princeton football) and Phillip Moomey (Cornell wrestling) it means no competitions or practices until at least January 1. The Ivy League is waiting before deciding what will happen in the winter and spring.
UPDATE: The National Retail Federation believes consumers may be spending record amounts for back to school. They see more parents purchasing laptops and computer accessories as remote learning will become the norm for many students. They also believe most shopping will take place online due to COVID-19 concerns.
UPDATE: The Buffalo County Community Response Team was created back in March to fill housing, food, transportation, internet and overall health needs in the area. Each week, about 1,500 Buffalo County residents are served food boxes through 35 local food pantries. The rest of the money went toward housing and mental health needs like teletherapy for those that are uninsured or underinsured. Funds also provided laptops for Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska, which are being used for their developmental disabilities services. They work with about 15 local agencies to figure out areas of need, some of which are even more prevalent during the pandemic. The Community Response Team was recently awarded a little more than $400,000 through the Cares Act.
UPDATE: Grand Island Public Schools announced Whitney Flower is now the elementary principal of the GIPS Virtual School. There are currently about 670 students signed up for Virtual School in grades K-5. With the number of students from all over the district, the position will come with challenges for parents and staff alike.
Kearney will have been around for 150 years in 2023, and the Buffalo County Historical Society needs your help. The BCHS is in the beginning phases of assembling The Buffalo County Sesquicentennia book that will feature family histories. They are in need of your submissions, descriptions short or long are welcome, along with up to two photos. You can find more information on the Sesquicentennial and guidelines on how to write your family history here.
As we approach flu season this fall, Hy-Vee officials announced that the flu vaccine will be available inside its Hy-Vee pharmacy locations without an appointment or prescription, and will also be offered via a drive-up option at Hy-Vee pharmacy locations between Aug. 17 and Oct. 31.
The Alzheimer’s Association , “Walk to end Alzheimer’s” will look different than in years past but will remain scheduled in the Fall on their specific dates and consist of three aspects which people can choose to participate in or opt out of.. A “Walk to end Alzheimer’s” app will feature information, services and a platform with videos to engage participants and people interested in the events. Hastings’ Walk is scheduled for Oct. 4, Grand Island’s for Sept. 13 and Kearney’s for Sept. 20. More information can be found on alz.org/walk.
A Veteran’s Memorial 5K will be held in Holdrege at the YMCA on Sept. 19th in conjunction with the first annual Veteran’s Memorial Fundraiser in Holdrege’s South Park. The registration deadline is September 9th. Register here. Contact the Holdrege YMCA for more.
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 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
Kearney Cinema 8 has reopened! For movie listings go to www.kearneycinema.com