Fighting Fire Was A Team Effort in Banner County

Good morning, Banner County! Wow, what a week. As you are aware many acres in the northeastern part of the county were on fire this past weekend.

The fire south of Terry Brown and way too close to Floyd Hein burned about 4,000 acres at least. The fire is still under investigation.

Many, many thanks to the local Banner County Fire Department volunteers who responded and to every other fire department that also came to help. There were many. Also thanks to the National Guard and the planes, which helped tremendously in those hard to reach places.

Meanwhile, the Banner County School students enjoyed a trip to the zoo last week to round out the second week of school and this week they will have some sports events here at home. September 3, today, will be the first high school football game of the Wildcat season. The game will begin at 7 p.m. and the opponent is Minatare.

On Friday there will be NO School. However, there will be a cross country meet at Gering. There is also No School on Monday, September 7, in honor of Labor Day.

Some of us will labor anyway, some of us will consider this the last summer weekend and celebrate accordingly. You know what I think is the best part of going to work? Coming home at the end of the day. Yep, not sad to be retired.

September 10, Wednesday the girls junior high volleyball team will take on the Potter-Dix Coyotes here at home at 2 p.m. Good luck to all of you Wildcats and safe travel.

I was in Dix and had a nice visit with a gal I went to school with when there was no 'P' in the P-D school. Lots of memories from that little ole town.

Speaking of the 'P,' lots of memories there also. They were our arch enemy sports wise way back then, and not to be bragging, but we held our own. I remember one season when the Panthers did not lose one football game. Not one.

OK, so back to Potter. The 89th annual Potter Days celebration will take place on Sept. 5 & 6. For Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. there will be a 5k color run, followed by co-ed sand volleyball, hamburgers, a powersports show-n-shine, carnival games, live music, bowling, mini rodeo and more. Then on Sunday from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. there will be off road racing and golf. Nice, busy weekend.

Years ago they had spike driving contests,and my dad won more then one. He was strong and fast due to lots of practice.

Mentioning racing, I am sure you are aware of the filming going on in the valley involving the car races. My sister and brother-in-law live maybe 2 miles from where they have the road blocked off. They say the lights are bright but the noise is super loud and goes from around 10:30 p.m. - 4:30 a.m. And I thought coyotes were bad. There will be another GroBigRed Virtual Learning via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The topic is tree care from the Nebraska Extension.

The Van Pelt reunion will be held on the Banner County Museum grounds at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, and you are asked to bring a covered dish, your family and friends! The Harrisburg Community Church will be having a pot luck dinner immediately following services Sunday, September 5th. Everyone is invited and welcome to attend.Happy Happy Birthday this week to Ann Brown, Vicki Grubbs, Addison Knaub, Sherry Gifford, Rod Cross, Kelsey Adrain, Torrye Lynne Smith, Bill Griffiths, Marlene Jones, Kelsey Loutzenhiser, Steve Mount, Ashley Kisner and Carter Parsons. Anniversary congratulations go out to Mr. & Mrs. James Cross, JB Bohnsack and Josh Stauffer.

Well, have a great week everyone, and take care until the next time.

Barb Cross is at 436-7152.