Following hearings during the regular meeting of the Ainsworth City Council on June 14th, the council voted to declare a 436-acre section of Ainsworth as blighted and substandard and adopted a general redevelopment plan.

The first official day of summer is almost here. June 20th marks the start of the summer season. This means a good time for cookouts, picnics, swimming, and grub control. Not exactly what you had in mind for summer fun? Knowing the pest and its habits can help keep you from spending all your summer fun time dealing with grubs.

Each year the American Legion Auxiliary goes around Ainsworth selling poppies. Joe McBride (left) donated to Poppy Day and received a poppy from Brynn Pierce (center) and Gracyn Peterson (right). Led by the American Legion Auxiliary, each year members of The American Legion family distribute poppies with a request that the person receiving the flower make a donation to support the future of veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families with medical and financial needs. The red poppy is a nationally recognized symbol of sacrifice worn by Americans since World War I to honor those who served and died for our country in all wars. It reminds Americans of the sacrifices made by our veterans while protecting our freedoms. On September 27, 1920, the poppy became the official flower of the American Legion Family to memorialize the soldiers who fought and died during the war. In 1924, the distribution of poppies became a national program of The American Legion.

Farmers and Ranchers are invited to attend a free clinic on Thursday, June 29th in Valentine. The clinic provides information on legal and financial issues.

Each year American Legion Post #79 conducts an Unserviceable Flag Ceremony on Flag Day. The ceremony was held at the Legion Post in Ainsworth on Wednesday, June 14th.

Emily Whipple, the Agricultural Education Instructor at Ainsworth Community Schools, was awarded the Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award by the Nebraska Agricultural Educators Association (NAEA) at the NAEA Awards Ceremony held on June 7th at the Nebraska Career Education Conference. Award winners are nominated and selected by their peers.