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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...