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Summit Pork opened its 6,250-head swine finishing operation in Gage County's Hanover Township in 2023. Summit Pork’s owner, Bruce Rastetter, gave $50,000 to Gov. Jim Pillen’s 2022 gubernatorial campaign, according to state campaign finance records. Photo by Eric Gregory for the Flatwater Free Press

Pillen, livestock groups shape legislation

At a February legislative hearing, a seemingly mundane bill reforming county zoning procedures drew testimony from a big name: Gov. Jim Pillen. For those seeking to build projects such as livestock operations, Pillen said, applying for a permit from...

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Medaling for St. Francis at the Osceola Invite April 2 are, left to right, Jacob Keller, Carson Wessel, Matthew Brockhaus and Andrew Kosch. Courtesy photo

Flyers medal at Osceola

The St. Francis golf team participated in its first meet of the season at the Osceola Invite April 2. The format was a 2-person scramble as each school could bring up to 3 2-person teams. The conditions were very difficult with strong north winds...

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Kayla Baker

Health Center Chatter: Alcohol awareness month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. As a mental health provider and alcohol and drug counselor, I ask but one thing: we do just this: gain awareness. And NO, I am not necessarily talking about facts and statistics about how many youths are drinking...

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A groundbreaking ceremony was held March 26 at Lindsay Corporation for its $50 million expansion project. Turning the dirt to symbolize kicing off the project are, left to right, Duane Shemek, shipper, Lindsay Corporation’s longest tenured employee; Gary Stokes, Director of Operations in Lindsay; Amber Klassen, president Lindsay Area Development; Rich Harold, Senior VP of Global Operations, Lindsay; Scott Marion, President, Infrastructure, Lindsay; Randy Wood, President & CEO, Lindsay; Gov. Jim Pillen; Brian Ketcham, Senior VP & Chief Financial Officer, Lindsay; Gustavo Oberto, President, Global Irrigation, Lindsay; Kelly Staup, Senior VP, Human Resources, Lindsay; Andrew Butterfield, Director, Global Manufacturing & Capital Projects, Lindsay; and John Bierman, Project Manager, Bierman Contracting. Democrat photos

The future is now

The future of Lindsay Corporation’s plant where it all began was unveiled March 26 at a groundbreaking ceremony. Gov. Jim Pillen, Lindsay Corporation officials and local leaders were on hand to celebrate “The beginning of a $50 million journey, one...

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An early Saturday morning fire destroyed Mark’s Custom Woodworking in Creston. Fire and rescue units from many area towns responded to the blaze. Democrat photo

Fire destroys Mark’s Custom Woodworking

“Forty-years of life gone, just look at this,” Mark Korth said. said. The owner of Mark’s Custom Woodworking, which marks its 45th year in May, was lost to fire early Saturday morning. The Creston business was destroyed despite the efforts of...

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Cornhusker Public Power District and Loup Power District line technicians repair damage on a three-mile stretch southwest of Lindsay March 27. Cornhusker Public Power photo

Lineman work to restore power after ice, wind storm

A March ice and windstorm traveled through Cornhusker Public Power District’s service area March 25, causing approximately 2,800 meters to be without power, many for two days. The storm started the morning of March 25 and did not let up until the...

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Make yourself at home at The Wild Plum Beyong Bed & Breakfast. Belinda and Dave Macken operate the B&B, located east of Platte Center off of Highway 81.

Home away from home

Wed, 02/06/2019 - 5:00am

Wild Plum Bed & Breakfast hidden gem near Platte Center

The house, once abandoned for fear of having to fill it with children, has seen several children grow up in it, and is now home to any traveler ready to be pampered.

The Wild Plum Beyond Bed & Breakfast, owned by Dave and Belinda Macken, is located east of Platte Center off of Highway 81 at 30429 257 Ave.

While the Mackens have called it home since 1975, it has been remodeled into a bed and breakfast and host site for special occasions.

The house has a unique beginning — one that never really began.

“The house was built in 1912 by a gentleman, who built it for his fiancée. It was a Sears house. He ordered it, and it cost $8,000 to build. It was a great, big square house, and he brought her to show it to her, and the story goes she left him because she didn’t want to fill it with kids, it was too big.

“He never did move into it, so he rented it out, and then Dave’s folks (Jerome and Odelia Macken) bought it in the 1940s, and she always told me they sold a cow and a pig to make the down payment,” Belinda said.

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