The Centura speech team returned from the LouPlatte Conference speech competition in Ravenna on Wednesday, February 18th as conference champions— for the fourth time. What started as a single victory in 2023 has become a streak, one that Centura Speech Coach Kris Simon said last week serves as a mark of the program’s consistency and the effort of its members.

Taken from the files of The Wolbach Messenger Ten Years Ago, 2016 The Grand Island Heartland Lutheran Red Hornets ended the season for Central Valley boys as they defeated the Cougars 48-41 last Tuesday at Grand Island Central Catholic…Central Valley was led by the Nekoliczak brothers, Nate and Noah, with eleven points each. Rusty Hermsmeyer added ten, Ryan Gorecki five, while Daltyn Rother and Cade Grossart scored two points each.

Last fall, the City of St. Paul and Howard County created the Middle Loup River Stabilization Agency via an interlocal agreement aimed at bank stabilization along the Middle Loup River. High flows along the Middle Loup River caused damage to about thirty feet of railroad track bed along the river in late June 2025.

Sunday afternoon, the South Loup River was flowing less than last week’s reading of 301 cubic-feet-per-second (cfs), down to 244 cfs. The Middle Loup River is up 370 cfs.

Volunteer firefighters are essential to the safety and resilience of rural communities. For the second consecutive year, the Black Hills Corporation Foundation is proud to honor and support these vital community members.

The Howard Greeley County Food Pantry and Foodbank for the Heartland will be sponsoring a Mobile Food Pantry in St. Paul on Saturday, March 14th, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. or until all the food is gone, whichever is sooner. Income guidelines must be met. Families from any county may be served.

Eight members of the St. Paul Country Quilters met on February 16th at the Sts.