As we ring in another new year, the Courier wanted to take a moment to remind you of some of the stories that made our headlines in 2022. Callaway is a very progressive community, with plenty of things going on. Looking back on the year is always a good reminder of that, so we hope you enjoy reflecting on the last 12 months of community happenings.

JANUARY:

As of Jan. 1, 2022, the Village of Callaway will be requiring all dog owners within the village limits to license their dogs. The cost of each license will be $11.25 (Per Dog). If you have more than three dogs a kennel license is required and requires board approval.

The Board of Education of Callaway Public School met for the first time in 2022 on Jan. 13, with the first order of business being the election of officers for 2022. The board unanimously agreed to keep the offices the same as last year, with officers being as follows: president Liana Hrupek, vice-president - Michael Reiff, secretary - Rhonda Pandorf, and treasurer - Jim Phelps.

FEBRUARY:

The Callaway Fire Department was one of many departments from across the region called in for mutual aid in battling a large grass fire in Custer County over the weekend. Callaway Fire Chief Dan Trumbull said his department deployed their tanker truck and two grass rigs, along with six firefighters to assist with the blaze. The Callaway department was dispatched for eight hours.

At the age of 20, Lucy Kimball started her own vineyard in her hometown of Callaway. She wasn’t legally allowed to drink yet, but that didn’t stop her entrepreneurial journey. Kimball’s 3-acre vineyard is on the corner of her family’s alfalfa field a mile from town. She planted multiple varieties of vines two years ago and hopes she can start to see grape production in the next year or two.

MARCH:

On Friday, March 11 Callaway bid farewell to a longtime business. For nearly three decades, The Corner Stop has greeted travelers passing through town, as well as locals needing some fuel or minor car repairs, and a morning coffee crew. That chapter in the life of business owner Robert Pitkin is now closed.

Dry conditions and high winds during the past week have resulted in multiple fires in the area, including a pasture fire that broke out on Thursday evening, March 24 and spread along Callaway Road. According to Callaway Fire Chief Dan Trumbull, at approximately 5 p.m. fire crews were dispatched to multiple grass fires northeast of Callaway along the Callaway Road. Trumbull stated numerous homes were threatened including a Thomas Livestock hog barn, but nothing was damaged nor destroyed. There were also no injuries reported. Approximately 120 acres were burned.

APRIL:

A large crowd gathered at the Callaway Community Center on Sunday, April 3 to enjoy some great food and mingle with their neighbors. The evening culminated with the presentation of the Citizen of the Year Award by Chamber of Commerce President Ken Pitkin. The 2022 recipient was Roy Callahan.

The Village of Callaway has received a $15,000 Nebraska Department of Economic Development Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) Grant with the assistance of Central Nebraska Economic Development District. These grant funds will be matched by the Village to fund a pool planning study to develop a plan,