Ainsworth Community Schools Senior Dakota Stutzman shared what Fine Arts Means to her with this essay: “When I reflect back on my time in high school, some of my best memories come from Fine Art activities. From long bus rides to hotel sleepovers, there seemed to never be a dull moment. Throughout the years, I have been involved in mock trial, speech, oneacts, Thespians and journalism.

Ainsworth High Schools Fine Arts Award Night was held on Tuesday, May 2nd. Teachers and sponsors of the various fine arts areas presented the awards recognizing their top students.

Western Engineering of Harlin, IA started work on resurfacing Meadville Avenue north of Ainsworth on Monday, May 1st. Crews started by patching soft spots in the roadway on Monday and by Thursday afternoon, May 4th they had covered five miles. One inch of the old surface was milled off and then two inches of asphalt was put back on the milled surface. Miller & Associates of Kearney is overseeing the project for Brown County. A representative on site said Western Engineering is making good time. Two inches of asphalt will be laid over the old surface after grinding off one inch and then they will go back and put an additional two inches of asphalt to complete the project with a total of four inches of new asphalt. Crews are hauling the asphalt from a plant north of Bassett. Drivers are urged to use caution when using Meadville Avenue. A pilot car is in use and there will be some delays for motorists. Brown County has contracted with Western Engineering to resurface approximately eight miles of Meadville Avenue with four inches of new asphalt. The project’s cost came in at 2.55 million dollars.

Residents hoping for rain got their wish and more this past Saturday, May 6th. An early evening storm swept from west to east pounding Ainsworth and Long Pine with up to inch size hail. Following the storm, creative youngsters took initiative to make a “hail” man out of the hail stones. The picture below right is of the dry fertilizer storage building at the Madison Great Western facility west of Ainsworth. Strong winds drove the hail stones into the vinyl siding destroying it. The dark spots in the white siding is the wood underneath the siding. The rain gauge below even had hail stones in it adding to the precipitation total. It was reported that Long Pine suffered worse than Ainsworth from the hail storm with many vehicles damaged with dents and broken windows along with damage to buildings. Weather Observer Jim Baker reported a total of 1.27 inches of moisture from Thursday, May 4th through Saturday May 6th.

As much of rural Nebraska is facing, Brown County is struggling with a critical shortage of child care providers to serve the needs of the working or would-be working parents. A 2020 survey indicates that 72% of respondents said it was difficult to find childcare locally.

Summarized - All Cases Include $ 50.00 Court Cost Ryan Crane: Domestic Assault - 3rd Degree, 270 Days in Jail with Credit for One Day Served; Brown County Sheriff - Deputy Zach Welch. William K.