News

The Nebraska State Legislature recently mandated that schools need to adopt a policy regarding cell phone usage within the building during the school day. That prompted the Callaway Board of Education to address the issue, which included an opportunity for parents to participate in the discussion or give feedback regarding the policy. That opportunity was given during the board’s regular meeting on July 14, with no one offering input to the board.

Custer County Sheriff Dan Osmond reports the following individuals were incarcerated in the Custer County Jail as of July 21, 2025. Anthony Paul Elder – booked May 5, charged with possesion of controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.

The Nigel Sprouse Memorial Library drew many youngsters to its annual summer reading program. This year's theme was 'Catch a Dragon Tale.' Pictured are, l-r: Front - Emily Kimball, Jack Rush, Lucy Kimball, Isaac Dodge, Natalie Trumbull, Brittany Trumbull, Hannah Pearson, unidentified; Back - Hayley Stryker, Stephanie Ellison, Jordan Rush, Jenna Hoesel, Sandy Oliver, Seth Pearson and Charles Brucker.

On Thursday, July 17, Governor Jim Pillen was joined by Senator Barry DeKay and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton at Shamrock Locker in O’Neill to ceremonially sign LB246. The new law bans the manufacture, distribution and sale of lab-grown or cultivated meat in Nebraska. Passage of the measure during the most recent legislative session builds on the Governor’s executive order from last year which prohibits agencies from purchasing lab-grown meat and requires state contractors to certify they will not discriminate against natural-meat producers in favor of lab or cultivated meat producers.

Callaway Chamber July Yard of the Month

Cornhusker State Reps Recognized

It has been a busy summer for many of the Callaway High School students, and for the members of the CHS FCCLA Chapter, it has been a very exciting one as well. The chapter returned to Callaway from the national competition with two silver medals and a National Championship! Dawson Mason, Jozi Edgington, Angel Johnson, Aubrie Birkel, Chenney Dishman, Kaygan Witthuhn, Tiersa Johnson, Amelia Pandorf, Lauren Reiff and Gracie Brennan, all members of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Chapter at Callaway High School, competed at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference (NLC) held in Orlando, Florida, from July 5-9.

Callaway District Hospital is hosting a Community Health Fair on Tuesday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This week, I want to highlight Nebraska’s leadership in defending agriculture from foreign threats. On July 7, Governor Jim Pillen joined top officials from President Trump’s administration, members of Congress, and fellow governors in Washington, D.C., for the rollout of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Farm Security Action Plan. This initiative is designed to safeguard American agriculture by restricting land purchases by foreign adversaries, enhancing biosecurity, and closing disclosure loopholes. Governor Pillen’s participation reinforces Nebraska’s strong stance on protecting our food supply and rural economy. As he emphasized, farm security is national security—and Nebraska is not on the sidelines. We are leading the charge to prevent strategic control by foreign entities, including efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to acquire U.S. farmland.

Alexis Sabin and Thomas Freeman of Gothenburg announce the birth of a son on June 26, 2025, at Gothenburg Health. Blaze Joseph Sabin was born at 2:02 p.m., weighing 6 pounds 2.5 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches in length. Grandparents are Brandy Freeman of Cozad, Tyler Sabin and Timari Devine of Gothenburg, and Sarah Masters of Hastings. Great-grandparents are Chuck Sabin of Cozad, and Tim Devine and Roxie Ritz of Gothenburg.