As temperatures begin to warm up, I notice many fields covered with purple henbit flowers in Southeast Nebraska. Henbit is one of the most common winter annual weeds in the region, along with weeds like downy brome, field pennycress, marestail, tansy mustard, and prickly lettuce.

April 22, 2024 (Lincoln, Neb.) — NDOT is joining the Nebraska Department of Transportation in taking a stand against speeding. Agencies and organizations across the state are asking motorists to watch their speed by joining their voices together in a public education campaign to emphasize how following posted speed limits is critical to driver, passenger, pedestrian and cyclist safety.

As of April 15, 2024, there were 71 traffic fatalities for the year in Nebraska, a 29% increase over the same period in 2023. The causes are not surprising – speeding, drunk driving, lack of seatbelt use, and distracted driving were some of the reasons for the fatal accidents. You can take steps to increase your chance of avoiding or surviving a vehicle accident.

The weather is finally warming up more and we can get out into our landscapes again. As we get outside more, we will find one plant that is having a great year, Henbit. This purple blooming weed shows its ugly face very early in the spring. This is the weed that will cover fields with large expanses of purple blossoms. It is also quite prevalent in our lawns and gardens.

Pawnee County Court officials, including Judge Rick Smith, Clerk Magistrate LaRita Weber and Assistant Clerk Julie Kuhl, hosted Law Day for fifth-grade students from Pawnee City, Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer (HTRS) and Lewiston Schools on Friday, April 19, 2024. The team was supported by Attorney Diane Merwin, Sheriff Braden Lang, Pawnee County Attorney Emily Sisco, St. Andrew Catholic School student Orson Sisco and HTRS students Elli Bstandig and Shayfer Cumro.

Thank you to our donors for taking the time to attend our blood drive on Thursday, April 4th. We appreciate it so much. Your effort shows your generosity, selflessness and dedication to helping others. Those are remarkable traits. With your generosity, we were able to collect 26 pints.

10 Years Ago – April 17, 2014 The Pawnee City FFA Chapter had a very successful state convention, with two state Career Development Event teams winning state championships, one runner-up team, two scholarship winners, several individual awards and three State FFA Degrees. Pawnee City’s FFA will be sending its two State Champion teams to compete at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, this fall.

Don’t you just love a good story? Better yet, one set in Pawnee County. Sharla Sitzman of Table Rock collects stories from yesteryear and yesterday.