Crofton Community Schools custodial staff had a busy morning Wednesday, April 29. Left to Right Larry Tramp, Jeff Burbach, Ryan Mueller, and Roger Yates work to move the fence around the playground at Crofton Elementary School to make way for equipment delivery for the construction to start when school dismisses May 11.
The Crofton Community Foundation Fund (CCFF) and Main Street Treasures (MST) partnered to provide the necessary funds to purchase a new convection oven for the Crofton Senior Citizens Center (CSSC) last fall when their old oven stopped working during “chicken night!” Pictured are representatives of the organizations involved: Tyler Wulf and Terry Mueller (CCFF), Dorothy Schoenberner (MST and CSCC), Mary Sawatzke and Jason Tomsu (CSCC), Larry Cooper and Bryce Rossman (CCFF).
Weather permitting, work will begin April 27 on Nebraska Highway 12 (N-12), from Newcastle to Ponca (reference post 211.5 to reference post 223.7), according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Knife River Midwest, of Sioux City, Iowa, is the contractor for this project. Work includes underground utility work, culverts, bridge repair and asphalt paving. Traffic will be maintained using temporary traffic signals and flaggers. Dixon County Road 586 will be closed during the bridge repair work. Anticipated completion is fall 2026.
Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and put phones down.
Knife River Midwest, of Sioux City, Iowa, is the contractor for this project. Work includes underground utility work, culverts, bridge repair and asphalt paving. Traffic will be maintained using temporary traffic signals and flaggers. Dixon County Road 586 will be closed during the bridge repair work. Anticipated completion is fall 2026.
Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and put phones down.
Incumbent Marty O'Connor addresses a crowd of around 30 citizens at the candidate forum he scheduled for Knox County Board of Supervisors District 1 Representative. Candidate Shane Wieseler had previously stated he was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
Crofton High School held the National Honor Society induction ceremony on Friday, April 10 at 7 p.m. They inducted three new officers and welcomed 21 new members.
Community service is a piece of importance when it comes to being in a 4-H club.
Crofton’s club, the Lucky Livewires, had their annual roadside cleanup on April 6th, 2026. The cleanup covers three miles of 550th Ave outside of Crofton. The club had 16 kids and 12 adults attend the cleanup.
“Roadside cleanup is a form of community service that teaches kids the values of teamwork and responsibility,” said 4-H leader Crystal Steffen. “They learn the impact of littering on our environment and also gain a sense of accomplishment by improving their community.”
The club has been doing the cleanup for over 25 years according to Steffen, with the event normally occurring on Easter Monday per recent history.
Crofton’s club, the Lucky Livewires, had their annual roadside cleanup on April 6th, 2026. The cleanup covers three miles of 550th Ave outside of Crofton. The club had 16 kids and 12 adults attend the cleanup.
“Roadside cleanup is a form of community service that teaches kids the values of teamwork and responsibility,” said 4-H leader Crystal Steffen. “They learn the impact of littering on our environment and also gain a sense of accomplishment by improving their community.”
The club has been doing the cleanup for over 25 years according to Steffen, with the event normally occurring on Easter Monday per recent history.
Brooklyn Guenther, Crofton, coordinated a volunteer project on March 27, 2026, to benefit the Pediatric patients at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D.
Guenther and four fellow volunteers completed her project, “Blessings in a Basket,” using items donated by family and friends via her request through her Crofton FCCLA chapter and items purchased using grant funds.
As a Modern Woodmen member, Guenther applied for and received Modern Woodmen of America’s Do-Good Grant®, a fraternal member benefit that provides $200 and planning resources for members to hold a volunteer event with friends and family members in their hometowns. The benefit is one of many ways Modern Woodmen, a fraternal financial services organization, enriches member communities.
“I wanted to complete a project that would bring joy to others this Easter season,” said Guenther. “Seeing the smiles on the nurses faces, I can only image the joy and excitement my gift will bring to the kids.”
Guenther and four fellow volunteers completed her project, “Blessings in a Basket,” using items donated by family and friends via her request through her Crofton FCCLA chapter and items purchased using grant funds.
As a Modern Woodmen member, Guenther applied for and received Modern Woodmen of America’s Do-Good Grant®, a fraternal member benefit that provides $200 and planning resources for members to hold a volunteer event with friends and family members in their hometowns. The benefit is one of many ways Modern Woodmen, a fraternal financial services organization, enriches member communities.
“I wanted to complete a project that would bring joy to others this Easter season,” said Guenther. “Seeing the smiles on the nurses faces, I can only image the joy and excitement my gift will bring to the kids.”
A political forum for the public will be held at the Lewis & Clark Pulley Museum in downtown Crofton on April 14 for the candidates for District #1 County Supervisor race.
Candidates Shane Wieseler, and incumbent Marty O’Connor will be attending the forum, which will start at 7 p.m. and has been planned for two hours, ending at 9 p.m.
Candidates will be asked to introduce themselves, and will take questions and comments from the public, and be able to ask each other questions as well.
All are invited to the event, and to ask questions about their candidates.
Candidates Shane Wieseler, and incumbent Marty O’Connor will be attending the forum, which will start at 7 p.m. and has been planned for two hours, ending at 9 p.m.
Candidates will be asked to introduce themselves, and will take questions and comments from the public, and be able to ask each other questions as well.
All are invited to the event, and to ask questions about their candidates.
The Crofton Community School’s “Students of the Term” have been released for the third term of the 2025-26 school year.
The Students of the Term are:
High School: Addyson Ostermeyer
Junior High: Body Baker
Students are nominated by teachers for many reasons, not just grades. Some of the reasons students were nominated are helping faculty and staff, tutoring students that are struggling, coming in for extra help before and after school, or just being a good classmate. Teachers can nominate a high school student and a junior high student.
Others nominated:
High School: Gavin deShazer, Breckin Jansen, Tyson Jackson, Lella Barta, Quinn Mosher, Sophia Wortmann, Ian Foxhoven, Jacee Anthony, Luke DeRoos, Christopher Neuharth, Hudsyn Stout, Emmily Guenther, Kaydence Nielsen, Jackson Lynde, Ella LaCroix, Kaydence Jansen, Kaija Hass, Kaden Arens
Junior High: Colton Culp, Aaron Dickes, Maci Kolterman, Hadley Becker, Cairi Culiton, William Babcock, Sawyer Schendt, Gaia Vau, Santiago RivasGuerro, Dylan Gulbranson, Chesney Foxhoven
The Students of the Term are:
High School: Addyson Ostermeyer
Junior High: Body Baker
Students are nominated by teachers for many reasons, not just grades. Some of the reasons students were nominated are helping faculty and staff, tutoring students that are struggling, coming in for extra help before and after school, or just being a good classmate. Teachers can nominate a high school student and a junior high student.
Others nominated:
High School: Gavin deShazer, Breckin Jansen, Tyson Jackson, Lella Barta, Quinn Mosher, Sophia Wortmann, Ian Foxhoven, Jacee Anthony, Luke DeRoos, Christopher Neuharth, Hudsyn Stout, Emmily Guenther, Kaydence Nielsen, Jackson Lynde, Ella LaCroix, Kaydence Jansen, Kaija Hass, Kaden Arens
Junior High: Colton Culp, Aaron Dickes, Maci Kolterman, Hadley Becker, Cairi Culiton, William Babcock, Sawyer Schendt, Gaia Vau, Santiago RivasGuerro, Dylan Gulbranson, Chesney Foxhoven
The Crofton Community Club’s annual Easter Candy Run will be held on Saturday, April 4 this year, with a slight change of normal venue.
Because of work being done at the ballfields, the event has been moved to Crofton’s South City Park (across the street from the city auditorium) with a start time of 10:30 a.m.
Youth aged up to 4th grade are welcome to attend and participate in the candy run, as well as a visit from the Easter Bunny.
The vent will be held in cooperation with the Crofton FCCLA.
Because of work being done at the ballfields, the event has been moved to Crofton’s South City Park (across the street from the city auditorium) with a start time of 10:30 a.m.
Youth aged up to 4th grade are welcome to attend and participate in the candy run, as well as a visit from the Easter Bunny.
The vent will be held in cooperation with the Crofton FCCLA.
Governor Jim Pillen is issuing a statewide burn ban, to help reduce the potential for additional wildfires in Nebraska.
Dry and windy conditions have caused the spread of significant fires in the central and western parts of the state.
Gov. Pillen issued an emergency proclamation activating the deployment of state resources to help combat fires, including the use of aircraft and personnel from the Nebraska National Guard.
The Governor’s executive order prohibiting burning will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on March 27.
Dry and windy conditions have caused the spread of significant fires in the central and western parts of the state.
Gov. Pillen issued an emergency proclamation activating the deployment of state resources to help combat fires, including the use of aircraft and personnel from the Nebraska National Guard.
The Governor’s executive order prohibiting burning will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on March 27.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Knox County announced recently that Kevin Cook of Verdigre was elected to represent his Local Administrative Areas (LAA) during the recent county committee election.
All recently elected county committee members took office on March 2.
Every FSA office is served by a county committee made up of local farmers, ranchers, and foresters who are elected by local producers. Other members currently serving on the FSA County Committee include Brady Folck, Chairman; Taylor Hanefeldt, Kathryn Lauck, Michael Crosley and Larry Wright.
All recently elected county committee members took office on March 2.
Every FSA office is served by a county committee made up of local farmers, ranchers, and foresters who are elected by local producers. Other members currently serving on the FSA County Committee include Brady Folck, Chairman; Taylor Hanefeldt, Kathryn Lauck, Michael Crosley and Larry Wright.
Work to decommission the Spencer Hydroelectric Facility and Dam is getting underway. The Spencer Advocate sent photos to the Tribune this week.
The decommissioning will involve removing the remaining structure and material from the site and restoring the property to its natural state, including grading the land and seeding the site. Drivers should be aware of increased heavy vehicle traffic in the area, while the decommissioning work is being completed.
Nebraska Public Power District has contracted with Bradenburg Industrial services Company to complete the work, which is anticipated to be finished by year-end.
The Spencer Dam was damaged beyond repair in the 2019 flood. The dam collapsed as a result of the ice and backed water which overtook the dam taking out flood gates, the back wall of the hydroelectric facility as well as the earthen part of the dam on the early morning of March 14, 2019.
The decommissioning will involve removing the remaining structure and material from the site and restoring the property to its natural state, including grading the land and seeding the site. Drivers should be aware of increased heavy vehicle traffic in the area, while the decommissioning work is being completed.
Nebraska Public Power District has contracted with Bradenburg Industrial services Company to complete the work, which is anticipated to be finished by year-end.
The Spencer Dam was damaged beyond repair in the 2019 flood. The dam collapsed as a result of the ice and backed water which overtook the dam taking out flood gates, the back wall of the hydroelectric facility as well as the earthen part of the dam on the early morning of March 14, 2019.
The Crofton Lady Warriors saw their season come to an end in the first round of the 2026 NSAA Class C2 Girls State Basketball Tournament at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln on Wednesday, March 4.
After earning their way to the state tournament with a 52-40 win over Elmwood-Murdock in the Class C2 District Eight championship, the Lady Warriors were granted the number seven seed in the 2026 Class C2 Girls State Championship bracket, which matched them up against the number two seed, the undefeated Elkhorn Valley Lady Falcons.
With their loss in the first round of the 2026 NSAA Class C2 Girls State Basketball Tournament, the Lady Warriors finished the year with a record of 19-8. The trio of Anthony, Ostermeyer, and Janssen have all seen their high school basketball careers come to an end.
To read more about the Lady Warriors, check out this week's edition of The Crofton Journal! https://www.croftonjournal.com/o/the-crofton-journal/page/subscriptions
After earning their way to the state tournament with a 52-40 win over Elmwood-Murdock in the Class C2 District Eight championship, the Lady Warriors were granted the number seven seed in the 2026 Class C2 Girls State Championship bracket, which matched them up against the number two seed, the undefeated Elkhorn Valley Lady Falcons.
With their loss in the first round of the 2026 NSAA Class C2 Girls State Basketball Tournament, the Lady Warriors finished the year with a record of 19-8. The trio of Anthony, Ostermeyer, and Janssen have all seen their high school basketball careers come to an end.
To read more about the Lady Warriors, check out this week's edition of The Crofton Journal! https://www.croftonjournal.com/o/the-crofton-journal/page/subscriptions
By: Darin Babcock - CCS Journalism
The Crofton Speech Team placed 4th as a team with nine individual medalists at their home meet on Saturday, February 21.
Medalists included: Katie Neuharth, with second place in informative, Sophia Wortmann, with second place in entertainment, Cecilia Wortmann, with a fourth place in extemp and a fourth place in POI, Claire Marsh, with a fourth place in informative, Corbin Bernt, with a fifth place in extemp, and Fred Dennis, with a sixth place in humorous prose.
Both of Crofton’s OIDs medaled. The team of Fred Dennis, Kaden Arens, Katie Neuharth, Natalee Steffen, and Sophia Wortmann, placed fifth. The team of Aven Hansen, Avery Arens, Brooklyn Guenther, Hudsyn Stout, and Kaiija Hess, placed sixth.
The Crofton Speech Team placed 4th as a team with nine individual medalists at their home meet on Saturday, February 21.
Medalists included: Katie Neuharth, with second place in informative, Sophia Wortmann, with second place in entertainment, Cecilia Wortmann, with a fourth place in extemp and a fourth place in POI, Claire Marsh, with a fourth place in informative, Corbin Bernt, with a fifth place in extemp, and Fred Dennis, with a sixth place in humorous prose.
Both of Crofton’s OIDs medaled. The team of Fred Dennis, Kaden Arens, Katie Neuharth, Natalee Steffen, and Sophia Wortmann, placed fifth. The team of Aven Hansen, Avery Arens, Brooklyn Guenther, Hudsyn Stout, and Kaiija Hess, placed sixth.
The Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District reminds all producers farming in Phase II areas that annual nitrogen management reports are due March 1.
Following the transition to Producer Connect, reports must be submitted through the new reporting system. Please ensure your information is entered accurately and submitted prior to the deadline.
Landowners remain ultimately responsible for compliance; however, renters and agronomists are encouraged to assist with reporting.
Once you have registered with Producer Connect you must contact the LNNRD office at 402-775-2343 to assign your fields.
Following the transition to Producer Connect, reports must be submitted through the new reporting system. Please ensure your information is entered accurately and submitted prior to the deadline.
Landowners remain ultimately responsible for compliance; however, renters and agronomists are encouraged to assist with reporting.
Once you have registered with Producer Connect you must contact the LNNRD office at 402-775-2343 to assign your fields.
The first Northeast Nebraska Elementary Honor Choir was held at Holy Trinity Gym in Hartington on February 23.
The choir under the direction of Mrs. Tracy Anderson, Vocal Music teacher at Wayne Community schools consisted of fifth and sixth grade students from 10 Northeast Nebraska schools.
13 students from Crofton Public School and St. Rose attended.
Crofton Public
Grace Steffen
Emerson O’Brien
Rex Lancaster
Logyn Mueller
Caleb Mauch
Cassidy Mauch
Harlow Fillips
St. Rose
Caden Luebbe
Paige Dickes
Morgan Acuff
Waylon Gobel
Adalee Babcock
Grant Marsh
The choir under the direction of Mrs. Tracy Anderson, Vocal Music teacher at Wayne Community schools consisted of fifth and sixth grade students from 10 Northeast Nebraska schools.
13 students from Crofton Public School and St. Rose attended.
Crofton Public
Grace Steffen
Emerson O’Brien
Rex Lancaster
Logyn Mueller
Caleb Mauch
Cassidy Mauch
Harlow Fillips
St. Rose
Caden Luebbe
Paige Dickes
Morgan Acuff
Waylon Gobel
Adalee Babcock
Grant Marsh
Three Crofton Lady Warrior basketball teammates were honored during their game on February 10. Addyson Ostermeyer, left, Jaisie Janssen, center, and Jacee Anthony, right, were given their senior plaques. Photo from CCS Social Media.
On Feb. 11, the Knox County Roads Dept reported damage to a bridge 1.2 miles south of Bazille Mills, on 530 Ave.
The guardrail on the west side of the bridge was damaged by a vehicle travelling south. Several pieces of the vehicle were recovered from the scene.
If anyone has information about who is responsible for the damage in this accident, notify the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
The guardrail on the west side of the bridge was damaged by a vehicle travelling south. Several pieces of the vehicle were recovered from the scene.
If anyone has information about who is responsible for the damage in this accident, notify the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
From Left to Right, Coach Jason Berry, Addyson Ostermeyer, Coach Mickey Doerr, Robyn and Johnnie Ostermeyer look on as Crofton Senior Addyson Ostermeyer signed to continue her track and field at Concordia University.
