Winning photographs have been chosen in the Lower Loup Natural Resource District’s (LLNRD) 2023 Photo Contest. In the competition, which ran from November 2022 through May 15, 2023, twenty-seven photographers from the LLNRD, from across Nebraska, and even from out of state submitted a total of 175 images. Subjects photographed included wildlife, landscapes, events, sports, weather phenomena, wildflowers, recreation, architecture, and agriculture. The following photographers are recognized:

308.968.3348 Last Monday evening, Julie Spilinek attended the T-ball game in Elba. Coleen Ingerle went to Kearney on Tuesday, where she met with Randy and Deb Mewis for lunch and then business.

Mick and Loretta McDowell, owners of Miletta Vista Winery, located north of St. Paul, have spent most of the past year rebuilding their winery after it was destroyed in a fire on June 23, 2012…The fire is believed to have been started by an ember from an ash fire earlier in the day…Six fire departments had battled the blaze, and when the smoke cleared, there was just the skeleton of the building left. The McDowells were left with a daunting task and hundreds of decisions. The fire didn’t take everything. They still had their grape crop, the expansive view of the Loup River Valley, and their dream of a winery… They rebuilt the winery bigger and better than ever. The 3,000 square foot production area expanded to 4,700 square feet. The retail area went from 3,000 square feet to 4,050…There are still a few finishing touches that remain, but it is now business as usual…Loretta said there is one other change that they have made that will make her sleep better. “We have added a fire alarm!”

As of Sunday morning, the South Loup River was flowing 265 cfs, down quite a bit from last week, and the Middle Loup River by St. Paul was at 1,400 cfs, compared to 1,890 cfs last Sunday. Shawn saw a baby fawn this week, it was having a very hard time keeping up with its mom. I’ve also seen a lot of mulberries ready to be picked. Max, our black lab (one year old), has been bringing us interesting things this week. He brought back a blue gill, a mole, and part of a sprinkler head. He really didn’t want to give up the fish.

The St. Paul School Board met in regular session on June 12, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The following board members were in attendance: Curt Dubas: Present, Jason Meinecke: Present, Janelle Morgan: Present, Marty Mrkvicka: Present, Dan Scheer: Present, and Philip Thede: Present.

The regular meeting of the Village of Cotesfield Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Board members present were Chairman Randy Faaborg trustees Chad Donscheski, Leona Leth, and Terry Anderson, and Cotesfield Village Clerk Chrystal Essman.

Thursday, June 22nd Lunch Bunch, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.