Holiday Cheer

Events and activities, News and Feature

The Blair Area Community Band and the Blair Community Choir performed their annual holiday concert  for an appreciative audience in the Lela Neve Auditorium at Blair High school.

The Blair Community Choir under the direction of Kay Dickinson performed five numbers during the annual Community Band Holiday concert.
The Blair Community Choir under the direction of Kay Dickinson performed five numbers during the annual Community Band Holiday concert.
Blair Area Community Band in the holiday concert in the Lela Neve Auditorium at Blair High School
Blair Area Community Band in the holiday concert in the Lela Neve Auditorium at Blair High School
Blair Area Community Band in the holiday concert in the Lela Neve Auditorium at Blair High School
Alyssa Beasley performs with the Blair Area Community Band in the holiday concert in the Lela Neve Auditorium at Blair High School

Christmas for the Coat

Events and activities, News and Feature
The yearly fundraiser for Joseph’s Coat and the Washington County Food Pantry netted around $34,000.  The Washington County Food Pantry serves 143 families, 366 individual and 12 new families in an average month.
Andy Byrne with mother Sarah and brother Tyler with breakfast plates at Christmas for the Coat.
Stangl Family Singers perform Christmas music at Christmas for the Coat.
Randy Gilson hands Sawyer Schmidt a plate filled with bacon and egg casserole at Christmas for the Coat.
Sarah Dein with twins Jacob and Jackson and Amelia Jacobitz holding daughter Vera and with son Graham meet Santa.

Clearing the shelves to support Blair Bakery owners

News and Feature
The Blair Bakery is usually busy on Saturday morning, but nothing like November 23, when cars began arriving before 4:30 and customers lining the sidewalks waiting for Connie Custard to open up so they could buy out the donuts and cookies to allow  Connie to spend time with her husband Jim.
Jim, a Marine veteran has faced numerous health issues and is in need of constant care.  Many who waited in line and crowded overpaid, asked for no change, or just filled the tip jar.
Connie reaches in display case.
Connie Custard reaches for one of the few remaining filled rolls in her showcase Saturday morning
“This is a good community. I love Blair, Connie told Enterprise Media managing editor Leeanna Ellis, “I’ve been here all my life and it’s one of the best.  It doesn’t matter, when somebody needs it, they’re out to help.”
A constant stream of customers filled Jim and Connie’s Bakery throughout the morning Saturday.
Customers waited in line at Jim and Connie’s Blair Bakery throughout the morning Saturday.
Customers began lining up before 5 a.m. Saturday at Ji and Connies Blair Bakery.
Customers began lining up before 5 a.m. Saturday at Ji and Connies Blair Bakery.
Connie Custard and Deb Knapp fill customer orders while Roger Andreasen helps out folding boxes.
Deb Rapp fills a box with tasty rolls and donuts.

Annual Blair Sugar Plum Festival

Events and activities, News and Feature
Families again filled the sidewalks along Washington Street to take part in the 18th annual sugar Plum Festival in downtown Blair last week.  Highlights included photos with Santa, hayrack rides pulled by horse and tractors, lots of free treats and other goodies, and seasonal music music by local bands and carolers.
Matthew Brandl with Ivy Brandl and Alex Legrand and Jeremy Brandl drops money in the Salvation Arrny bucket.
Salvation Army volunteer Paul Kolb smiles as Ivy Brandl, Alex Le Grand and Matthew Brandl put money in the bucket.
Frosty, Rudolf and elves stop by the South Fire Station for a warm up and bowl of soup.
Sara Crawford drops money in the Salvation Army bucket as Salvation Army volunteer Paul Kolb rings his bell.
Paul Kolb greets passers-by along Washington street.
Horses and tractor pulling hayracks transported families along Washington Street.
Horses and tractor pulling hayracks transported families along Washington Street.
Horses and tractor pulling hayracks transported families along Washington Street.
Mallory Stirek sprinkles fairy dust on Lilly May Knutson
Mallory Stirek sprinkles fairy dust on Kaydence Knutson
Downtown Brass plays seasonal music at the Washington Street Pre-School
Joey and Beth Taylor with mom Sarah receive goody bags bags from Sarah Lambrecht at Country Gardens.
Country Bible Church offered warm fire and marshmallows to roast and make into s’mores.
Country Bible carolers ad friends sing carols
Blair Area Community Band plays at the soup supper at the South Fire Station
Mindy Rump and Brad Anderson distribute bracelets and candy to celebrate 150 year anniversary.
Families fill the sidwalks along Washington Street
Rudolph, Frosty and elves warm hand and hoofs at a fire along Washington street. From left ae Abby Hartvingsen, Lydia Hartvigsen, Zac Boswell, and Lillian Knudtson.

Halloween fun in Blair

Events and activities, News and Feature

Crisp but pleasant evening for Halloween activities in Blair on Thursday, Nov. 31.

Kids in colorful costumes gather for the 8 to 12 year old best costume contest.
Good Shepherd resident hand out treats to Kylen and Ella Reed. In Background from left are Marcie Reed, foreign exchange student Polina Nosova, and Ashley Reed
Jamison Baker plays Skee ball at the Kiwanis Halloween Party.
Lights from a BVFR fire truck flashed and lit up an intersetion in Deerfield Wednesday as fire fighters handed out treats to trick and treaters.
Carter House residents Donna Neary and Beth Smith offer treats to Sam Geise dressed in dinosaauer costume

First snow of the year

Nature and Landscape, Weather

Photos of light snow icing on trees and playground equipment Wednesday Morning, Nov. 6 at Stemmermann Park and Lions Park Trail at Arbor Park.

Snow coats trees and playground equipment and Stemmermann Park Wednesday morning.
Snow on trees along Lions Park trail at Arbor Park.
Snow on trees along Lions Park trail at Arbor Park.
Snow coats trees and playground equipment and Stemmermann Park Wednesday morning.

 

 

Washington County Strong

Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, Washington County Fair

Floodwaters inundated the Arlington fair grounds in March, but thanks to the determination of the The Washington County Fair Board and hours and hours of hard work by more than 100 volunteers, the Washington County Fair was held as scheduled July 26-31.

Flooded Washington County Livestock buildings.

I enjoy everything about the fair, but the most memorable event for me this year was the livestock auction.  In addition to  raisng more than $68,000 for kids who participated in livestock competitions, bidders and contributors also  generously raised another $9,000 to help the grandson of longtime Arlington farm-family Terry and Betty Rasmussen who has leukemia.

Cyclists wind along County Road 15 bordered by cornfields on the annual bike ride from Bennington to the fair Sunday morning.
Flooded Wahington County Fair livestock buildings.
Tyler Thompson shows his market steer at the WCF Livestock Auction Wednesday.
Ellie Ortmeier competes in the Beef Show competition at the Washington County Fair Monday.
Luke Mathiesen shows commercial heifer in the Beef Show Monday.
Front to back: Gary Lambrecht and Matt Mathiesen take bids while Brody Wilkins shows his hog during the Wahington County Fair livestock auction Wednesday.
Brock Lauritsen competes in the Sammental division in the Beef Show Monday.
From left Jayden Henton, Bryan Camenzind, and Walker Behnken show hogs in Round Robin competition.
Following the re-sale of Charley Hoier’s market hog, Jeff Warren takes donations in hundred dollar increments.
4-H Competitors competitors await the judges evaluation during the Standard Hen competition Saturday.
Sawyer Tjardes shows his companion gecko, Radar, at the Cat and companion animal show on Tuesday. WC Fair Tuesday
Royce Kempnich and Hannah Opfer judge Clover Kids entries in the 4H competition Saturday.
Hanna Gross shows her market sheep at the WCF Livestock Auction.
Charley Hoier shows her market hog for resale as Gary Lambrecht takes bids.
Tyler Farr with guitarist Gary Jannaman perform Friday night in the Washington County Fair arena Friday night.
From left, Alexis Warner, Charile Hoier, and Kate Hoefker show their division champion hogs in the Market Hog in the final Grand Champion competition. WC Fair Tuesday
Judge Jim Gibson congratulates Laney Hoier on showing the Grand Champion Market Hog in the WC Fair Hog Show Tuesday.
Mid-March flooding inundated the Washington County Fairgrounds.
Sun flower entry awaits judging in the open competition Saturday.