After conducting a public hearing to review its 2026-2027 fiscal year budget on Sept. 15, the Seward City Council has scheduled its final vote on the budget for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 is $70.5 million, but of that amount, only $2.3 million is being requested from property tax assessments. Read more in the Sept. 23 Independent.
The United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 4 voted 164-1 to endorse a new world map that depicts the size of some continents and countries more accurately instead of the commonly used Mercator world map. Only the United States voted against the endorsement, though six other countries abstained.
While CU Professor Joel Helmer is pleased to see the world offered a map that more accurately depicts the size and scale of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Africa and other locations, the vote may be mostly symbolic and may not change which maps are used. Find out more in the Sept. 23 SCI.
At approximately 10:45 p.m. Sept. 22, a trooper saw a Lincoln Town Car traveling westbound on Interstate 80 at nearly 100 miles per hour, near Lincoln. The trooper attempted a traffic stop near mile marker 405. The driver briefly pulled over. As the trooper contacted the driver, the driver fled westbound on I-80 causing a pursuit to ensue.
Additional troopers successfully deployed stop sticks at mile marker 401, causing one tire to deflate, but the vehicle continued to flee westbound, reaching speeds as high as 105 miles per hour. During the pursuit, troopers saw a person throw a bag out of the passenger side of the vehicle. This bag was recovered near mile marker 386 between the Milford and Pleasant Dale exits. It contained 1.5 ounces of marijuana.
As the suspect vehicle reached York County, a trooper performed a tactical vehicle intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop. The driver and passenger were then taken into custody without further incident.
The driver, Alex Ignowski, 23, of Omaha, was arrested for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, driving during revocation, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was lodged in Lancaster County Jail. The passenger, Harley Huckeby, 25, of Omaha, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was lodged in Seward County Jail.
NSP was assisted in the pursuit by Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln Police Department, Seward County Sheriff’s Office, and York County Sheriff’s Office.
Melissa Hayes-Connolly, Ph.D., will talk at the Milford Senior Center Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 12:30 p.m. She will present on how continued learning can play a powerful role in supporting cognitive health, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life as we age.
Experience downtown Seward one course at a time with a progressive dinner Sept. 24. For a fee, guests walk through the heart of downtown to enjoy a multi-course meal, local drinks, and music across multiple participating local venues. Registration information is available at cultivatesewardcounty.com.
The Flatwater Film Festival will be Sept. 25-27 at the Rivoli Theatre in Seward. The festival is an annual event committed to bringing together established and first-time filmmakers from across Nebraska to celebrate their art.
The funeral mass for Mary Meyer will be Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, followed by a graveside service at the Seward Cemetery.
Centennial 3, Wilber-Clatonia 1 (17-25, 25-15, 26-24, 25-21)
Malcolm 3, York 0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-15)
Milford 3, Raymond Central 0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-17)
Crete 8, Milford 0
Polk County 9, Centennial 0
Bishop Neumann 5, Seward 2
Nebraska City 12, Malcolm 10
The Milford girls finished second at the Bob Hoyer Invitational at Branched Oak Lake Sept. 22. Macie Carter was the meet champion in 19:41.1. Centennial's Stella Steele was second in 20:19.0. Sarah Rogers led the Malcolm girls in 65th place.
Milford finished fifth in the boys' team standings, led by Easton Sample in 19th place and 18:08.0. Carter Fritz of Centennial placed eighth in 17:16.7. Peyton Jones led Malcolm in 36th place and 18:52.5.
The Seward girls won the Mount Michael Benedictine Invite, with Haylen Holliday in second (18:27.0), Lily Philips fifth and Jordyn Samuels seventh. The boys' team was second, one point behind Norris. Austin Koch finished third in 16:29, wiht Cale Greisen fourth, and Mason Vest 10th.
