Enjoy The Holiday, Family & Freedom

Good morning Banner County, friends near and far! As we all are aware, our weather situation has been pretty violent with destructive rain, wind hail and tornadoes. Several times all at once.

According to the weather forecast as of right now (Monday, June 26) we are clear until tonight and Friday. Time will tell, right?

(Editor's note: As it turned out, parts of this area endured a tornado watch and hail Monday night.)

There are a lot of things in the works for Thursday, June 29th, so lets hope for good weather!

Some of those include "Two Drums of the World" hosted by the Gering Library at the Gering Civic Plaza. There will be a performance at 1 p.m. basically for adults and another one at 3 p.m. for children.

The Summer Morrill Bash at the pool will be between 1-7 p.m. with Free swimming, games, giveaways, and a dunk tank! And food, plus more.

In Gering, the Gering City Band will be providing entertainment at the legion park beginning at 7:30 p.m., and at the 18th Street Plaza in Scottsbluff musical entertainment by Avid Discord and Kris Lager will be between 6 and 9 p.m. as part of the Bands on Broadway summer series. You need lawn chairs or blankets for either of these last two events.

Theater West will perform "The Odd Couple Female Version" at 7:30 p.m. at the WNCC theater, and the 1:30 p.m. Free children's matinee at the Midwest Theater will be "The Amazing Maurice," while "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" will play at the SkyView Drive-In at 9:10 p.m. on the 29th, 30th and July 1st & 2nd.

On Friday, June 30th, the Gering Public Library will host a Summer Reading Pool Party at the Gering pool between 8 and 10 p.m., and there will be a fireworks display in Minatare with activities beginning at 6 p.m.

The 18th Street Market will be open on July 1st from 8-11 a.m. and there will be a Fairy Garden Workshop at 102 E. Overland between 3-5 p.m. Tickets for that event are available at elodiesoddities.com/fairy-garden-workshop.

Later at the Hiway 92 Raceway track, the minions, warriors, farm trucks and super stock vehicles will take it away beginning at 4 p.m. Fireworks are on tap for that evening also. More information is available at 720-937-9001.

Just a side note here. I grew up in a railroad family and after awhile my husband worked for the same railroad for almost 30 years. The Union Pacific, of course!

I have traveled by train and actually wish the old regular trains were still an option for travel. One of my favorite trains is the Big Boy 4014, an histroic steam locomotive, which I have chased down for pictures on one occasion and seen several times.

Well, if you have never had this experience, the Big Boy will be making a "Whistle Stop" in Kimball on July 3rd, Monday, at 9:15 a.m. The location is East 1st and Walnut streets, which I am assuming is the old depot, where the current U.P. shop is located.

And that brings is up to celebrations for the 4th of July.

The annual Camp Clarke Stampede will be at the Bridgeport fairgrounds on the 3rd & 4th with rodeo and fireworks on both nights, beginning at 7:30. They will also have a dance on the 3rd after the rodeo with the Jim Rice Band providing the music.

The 27th annual Allred Brothers Fireworks Show will be at the Gering junior high football field on the 3rd also and will begin at 9:15 p.m.

A little closer to home, the folks in LaGrange will have their annual fireworks display on the 3rd with ice cream and cake served by the firemen at the fire hall. Fireworks start at dark and the eats are prior to that.

Well, as you know, the 4th falls on a Tuesday this year and many people have the 4th off – and all federal and most if not all city offices are closed on the 4th.

So enjoy the holiday, family and freedom. Be safe and take care until next time. Barb Cross at 436-7152.