Due to staffing shortages at the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Howard County and several surrounding counties will be without drivers licensing services until further notice. Services regarding the attainment or renewal of driver’s licenses, learner’s permits, commercial driver’s licenses (CDL), or identification cards that are usually on offer on Wednesdays at the Howard County Courthouse will not be available for at least the remainder of the month. Residents may still receive services pertaining to vehicle titles, registration, vehicle permits, and license plates at the office of the Howard County treasurer. Also affected by the staffing shortage are Nance, Polk, Merrick, Greeley, and Wheeler counties. Driver’s licensing services are still available daily at the Hall County courthouse in Grand Island, on Tuesdays at the Hamilton County courthouse in Aurora, on Thursdays and Fridays at the York County Courthouse in York, and on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at the Platte County courthouse in Columbus. Due to ongoing state-wide examiner shortages, individuals are asked to call ahead before travelling to one of these locations. Many driver’s licensing services are also available online through the Nebraska DMV’s website, dmv.nebraska. gov.

The 2023 Christmas Cheer Fund drive for Howard County is now underway. The program is sponsored by the United Methodist Church of St. Paul and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Families in need of a Christmas Cheer package will be able to pick up an application after October 19, 2023 at the Methodist church, 1320 Baxter Street, St. Paul; Citizens Bank and Trust, 721 7th Street; or the chamber of commerce office, 619 Howard Avenue, in St. Paul. The Methodist church hours are 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. To be considered a recipient, all completed applications must be returned by Friday, November 17, 2023 to the United Methodist Church. Again this year, gift cards to Hometown Market will be distributed. Beginning the first week in December, there will be mitten/stocking cap/sock trees at both the Methodist church and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. If you’d like to purchase a gift for a child or family (twenty-five-to-thirty dollars limit per gift), gift tags may be picked up at either location. Wrapped items should be returned to the same location from which you selected a gift tag no later than December 15th. Anyone wanting to make a financial donation may do so at the Citizens Bank and Trust. The Christmas Cheer packages will be distributed Friday, December 22, 2023 between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the Methodist church. For more information, please call the Methodist church at (308) 754-4247 during their business hours.

The Kearney Catholic Stars came into last week’s game against Centura as the sixthranked team in Class C-2, and that meant that the Centurions entered the contest aiming for the upset. On a frigid night at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Centura’s defense proved to be a formidable force.

The South Loup River was at 223 cfs late Saturday night, but had dropped to 181 cfs by Sunday afternoon. The Middle Loup River was at its highest level on Friday evening, with a reading of 3,200 cfs. By Sunday afternoon, the Middle Loup River was down to 1,050 cfs. That’s quite a drop. The rainwater passed by quickly.

Harriet Steenson was a Wednesday afternoon guest of Marilyn Leslie at Spalding. Mr.