Since my last two submissions for this column were swallowed up by a news gremlin somewhere, I shall try again. Third times a charm they say (whoever “they” is!)

The Niobrara Hospital Auxiliary met March 14, in the conference room of the Senior Center, to plan their annual salad luncheon. They plan to have a wide variety of salads, which will again include fruit, meat, pasta, etc. with rolls and homemade cookies for dessert. The luncheon is always scheduled for the third Thursday in April (20 in 2023) and is held in a favorite watering hole, the dining room of the main building at the Niobrara Fairgrounds.  Funds raised support the local hospital in many ways, including the popular soft serve ice cream machine for visitors as well as patients and long-term care. Other areas that benefit include wheelchairs, activity boards, towel warmer, TV’s for Activity room, acute care rooms, and staff development room, ice maker, supplies, wheelchair scale and a bariatric wheel chair.

The Ferdinand Brandstetter American Legion Post #1 and Auxiliary Unit #1 met Saturday afternoon after a sandwich luncheon in the Town Hall at Van Tassell. They began their meetings together with the Pledge to the Flag, Preamble and the Chaplain’s prayer before discussing plans for the upcoming 2023 State Convention, which will be hosted by Legion Post #! with meetings and relative activities held in Lusk. The Auxiliary finalized plans for a fund raiser for the 2023 Girls State delegate, a purse auction which is to be held April 29 at the Senior Center. Posters and boxes to collect purses will be placed in several businesses downtown. This would be a good year to join the historic organizations, based on military service and/or relationship to family who have been in the service or are currently serving our country.

A delicious light meal was served to the movie buffs, who gathered in the lower level of the Niobrara County Library on March 27, Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. The classic western “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” featured Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne and Lee Marvin  It was a well-told mystery, with a hero, a villain and another heroic figure and other character actors.  Movie DVD’s can be watched at home, but it is much more fun to be in the company of other movie fans, thanks to the Library staff with Deb Sturman as Librarian. The week before, in the lower level of the Library, Leslie Stewart shared her recent and amazing trip to Egypt and disclosed many interesting bits of knowledge about that historic culture and the present day country, using presentation videos, postcards, etc.