Many people from the Elba area participated in the Junk Jaunt over the weekend. The Thesaurean Writers Club hosted a special event on Tuesday at noon at the Methodist church in Burwell for invited guests. The speaker was Paula Warner of Ord. She spoke of her recently published children’s book “Introducing Sandy Crane” about sandhill cranes. Julie Spilinek and about twenty-four other members and guests were in attendance. Wednesday supper guests of Pam Dankert were her friend Darcy, Taya Kolar, and friend, Chase, of Grand Island, Todd Johnson, Adam Woitalewicz, Shelly Wolinski, and Kerry Kolar. Tami Stenka and Julie Spilinek went to Hastings on Thursday, where they met Julie’s cousins to celebrate October birthdays. They ate at a local restaurant. There were twelve total attending from Hastings, Minden, Campbell, Kearney, and Elba. Coleen Ingerle and AnnaMae Julesgard attended Bible study on Wednesday morning at the Elba United Methodist Church. There were seven total attending, including Peg Jensen as a guest. The group also enjoyed lunch at a local eatery. Alan and Anne Koperski spent from Thursday until Sunday visiting their grandson, Dillon Duester, his mom, Amy Koperski, and her friend, Chris, at Papillion. Anne also had the pleasure of reading to Dillon and his classmates at his school. Marvin and Betty Poss were Sunday dinner guests of Curt and Meagan Dubas and family of rural St. Paul to help Levi celebrate his eighth birthday. Several other family members were also guests. On Sunday afternoon, Gary and Charlotte Rasmussen attended the fiftieth wedding anniversary reception at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul, which honored Gale and Linda Lemburg of St. Edward. Jeanie Julesgard of rural St. Paul took her mom, AnnaMae Julesgard, to Grand Island on Wednesday afternoon for her medical appointment.

Dave and Barbara Tuma enjoyed dinner in Kearney on Tuesday with Rob and Sandy Rucilez of Kearney. Dave and Barbara Tuma went to Ord on Friday afternoon and briefly visited Rose Jonak and then attended the cross country meet/invite at the golf course to watch Reagan Skibinski of Loup City compete. Then, David and Kayann Skibinski and Reagan of rural Loup City accompanied Dave and Barbara to Ericson, where they enjoyed supper with Ryan and Denise Kucera, Willa and Waylon of Ravenna to celebrate Dave’s birthday. Ron and Carol Jensen attended the fiftieth wedding anniversary reception at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul on Sunday afternoon that honored Gale and Linda Lemburg of St. Edward. Dave and Barbara Tuma enjoyed supper in Boelus on Saturday evening with Marge Krings of Columbus and Don and Kathy Gorecki and Andrew of rural Farwell to celebrate Dave’s birthday. Vicki Keep was a brief Friday afternoon visitor of Jamie Keep, Miles and Riley at Scotia. Dave and Barbara Tuma attended the firemen’s barbecue at Loup City on Sunday afternoon. Later, they visited Adeline Jonak in St. Paul.

I officially failed as a Junk Jaunter. Last week, in my neck of the woods, there was bumper-to-bumper traffic on roads that may normally only see a car or two a day. Farm sheds and garages were converted into makeshift flea markets, and a patch of grass that is home to the county fair carnival suddenly became inundated with booths and stalls selling all manners of wares. While people come from across the country to participate in Junk Jaunt, I learned long ago that, for many of the locals, Nebraska’s biggest rummage sale is considered to be a burr under their saddles.

Ten Years Ago, 2012 Following the football game on Friday night at Elba, Elba High School crowned their king and queen for 2012. Thomas Safarik, son of Rick and Elaine Safarik of Farwell, was crowned king; crowned queen was Taylor Nealon, daughter of Gordon and Thereasa Nealon of Farwell.