Voters in Howard County had the chance to weigh in on a pair of local races during Tuesday’s Nebraska Primary Election.

Yet, despite there being races of local note on the ballot, voters still shied away from the polls.

The Ag Demonstration team consisting of Garrett Didier, Natalie Poss, Gracyn Rubesh, and Sam Wells received third place overall. In Ag Communications, Sam Wells was a top ten individual. The Environmental and Natural Resources team consisting of Emerson Hancock, Layne Baker, Gracie Ackles, and Isaac Hagen received first place, with Isaac Hagen also being a top ten individual. Matti Stepanek also was a top ten individual in Veterinary Science. The Agronomy team of Matthew Kramer, Kamden Sack, Sam Wells, and Gracyn Rubesh received state runner-up, with Matthew, Sam, and Gracyn all receiving top ten individual honors. The Leadership Development Event did just as well with the Conduct of Chapter meeting teams of freshmen FFA members, led by their Chairmen/ women, Keislyn Poss and Caisen Powell, both received silvers and the Senior Parliamentary Team led by Chairman Isaac Hagen also received a silver. In Cooperative Speaking, Audrey Anderson received a silver, and in Natural Resources Speaking Gracie Ackles received a gold.

After a year experiencing high school in rural America, Kian Weiskircher will be returning home to Germany this month. The sixteen- year-old had joined St. Paul Public Schools as a sophomore this academic year, where he received the opportunity to experience a different culture and education system and to try his hand at new sports, like American football and American wrestling.

Elba held commencement exercises for their five-member Class of 2014 at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday in the school gymnasium. Brady Spilinek, son of Russ and Missy Spilinek of Elba, was the valedictorian and Chris Lewis, son of Mel and Gloria Lewis of Cotesfield, was salutatorian.