WCB in Blair was littered with pig signs by the Blair FFA Booster Club as part of a fundraising effort.

Blair FFA uses 'litter' as fundraiser

This will be the third Washington County Fair appearance for The Traynr Band, which calls Valley home.

Washington County Fair has something for everyone

A full gallery was on hand Tuesday night as officials with Metonic Real Estate Solutions make a presentation to the Blair City Council regarding plans for a $27 million apartment project called Blair Crossing.

Blair City Council approves incentives for $27M apartment project

Harper and Peyton Greve look at jewelry while mom Lacy in background browses a clothes rack at Bra-Ta Boutique during last Saturday's Blair Sidewalk Sale.

Sales on the Sidewalk

Rev. Dr. Doug Griger started his role as the new pastor at Blair First United Methodist Church earlier this month.

Blair First UMC gets new pastor

Local News

Incentives sought to build 132 apartment units in Blair

The Blair City Council is scheduled Tuesday night to consider incentives being requested by the developer of a proposed 132-unit apartment complex that would be located immediately south of the …

United Way holds fundraiser for Imagination Library

[HEAD]United Way holds fundraiser for Imagination Library By JUSTIN DIEP EMG Summer Intern Imagination Library, a program started by singer-songwriter Dolly …

Cargill gets funding started for new Ag Pavilion at the Fair

The Washington County Fair won't start until this Friday, but news has already been made. During the recent Washington County Fair appreciation dinner, members of the Cargill Cares Council …

Blair’s Housing Advisory Committee finishes its work

At its final scheduled meeting, Blair’s Housing Advisory Committee agreed to a series of financial and nonfinancial incentives that it will be asking the Blair City Council to approve next …

Living History participants and guests at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park cool off in the shade with cups of ice cream earlier this month.

History lives on!

The first weekend of every month, from May through October, reenactors gather at Fort Atkinson to help bring history alive. July’s reenactment is always special, and this year even more …

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Weekly poll

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This week's E-Edition

2024

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Athlete of the Week: Ethan Baessler (May 22, 2024)

Athlete of the Week: Greta Galbraith (May 15, 2024)

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Leah Chance of Blair, middle, races home Monday during the Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Game at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln. The umpire pictured, Jessica Schenck, is a Blair graduate as well.

Local sports

2 Bears, a coach and the ump

Husker softball's diamond was filled with Washington County representation Monday during the first inning of the Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Game. Blair High School graduate Kalli Ulven …

Brecken O'Connor, right, nabs a touchdown pass despite tight coverage from Grady Nelson on Tuesday at Fort Calhoun High School. About 100 kids took part during the Pioneers' youth camp this week.

About 100 attend Fort Calhoun Youth Football Camp

Fort Calhoun High School football coach Zach Byrd stood on the midfield logo and delegated coaching duties to his teenage Pioneers on Tuesday during their program's Youth Camp. The second-year head …

Blair High School graduate Sam Lueders competed in a triathlon event during the the 2024 Cornhusker State Games, securing a silver medal in his age group.

County athletes compete at Cornhusker State Games

The 2024 edition of the Cornhusker State Games started with a July 6 shoot at the Turpin Outdoor Education Center and ended Sunday with several events in Lincoln, Omaha and more. Washington County …

Blair High School golfers pose for a photo with the PGA professionals who instructed them last week.

Zam Driver Turned Writer: BHS Bears golf with pros

I was there when PGA REACH Nebraska presented new clubs and push carts to coach Rachel Brown and the Blair High School girls golf program April 10. Coach invited me out last week, too, as PGA Reach's …

Blair Seniors improve to 31-5

The Blair Senior Legion baseball team will enter postseason play with a 31-5 overall record. The Post 154 Bears established that mark Monday and Tuesday, topping Wayne 5-0 first before a 9-1 victory …

Fort Calhoun Seniors close regular season 17-23

The Fort Calhoun Senior Legion baseball team's 1-3 run through a Springfield tournament concluded Monday with its third-straight loss. The hosts, Post 143, overcame a 1-0 deficit and won the game 6-1 …

Drivers John Hines and Melvin Christ stand off to the side of the track in 1955 after their cars locked wheels and rammed into the guard rail in Arlington.

Times Gone By: 4 records fall at 1955 auto races in Arlington

Editor's Note: “A Look at Times Gone By” is an in-depth look at weekly Times Gone By entries compiled since 2015. These articles represent the history of Washington County sports. …

Obituaries

Blair Christine Gilbert, 52

Blair was born January 9,1972, in Norwalk CT. and passed away peacefully in Omaha. She is survived by her parents, Brent Gilbert (Patricia Morrissey) and Jane Hansen Gilbert; sister, Amanda Smith (Derek); brother, Jamie (Kelley); nieces, nephew and extended family and friends.

Gerald D. Fagerquist, 90

Gerald D. Fagerquist 90 of Fremont, Neb., passed away Monday July 22, 2024, at Pathfinder Place in Fremont. He was born July 2, 1934, in Valley, Neb., to Ray and Mirte (Toft) Fagerquist.

Elizabeth “Beth” Ann Burge, 91

Elizabeth “Beth” Ann Burge, age 91 of Blair, passed away July 15, 2024 at Nye Legacy in Fremont, NE.

Neil D. Plugge, 50

Neil D. Plugge, age 50, of Arlington, NE, passed away Friday, July 12, 2024, at Methodist Fremont Health.

Kiefer James Nelson

Kiefer James Nelson Hull Technician First Class (SW/AW), USN Age 30 of Fort Calhoun, NE. Born: April 18, 1994, Omaha, NE. Died: June 28, 2024, Guam.

Ross Alexander Kessler, 37

Ross Alexander Kessler, age 37, of Mondamin, Iowa, passed away July 9, 2024. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Blair, Nebraska. Military graveside honors will follow in the Herman Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, July 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair.

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Letters

Letter to the editor

Imagine you are a parent struggling to make ends meet, to pay for housing, clothing and food for your family. We all know, first hand, how expensive groceries are these days. Putting food on the …

Letter to the editor

My letter is not written to address politics over the war between Israel and Palestine. This letter addresses gun ownership and the dangers of government gun control and gun confiscation. Prior to …

Letter to the editor

Gov. Pillen/Sen. Linehan pushed LB 753 through this spring — it provides tax credits to wealthy donors who give to private schools. While this sounds good, what the public needs to realize is …

Letter to the editor

Thank you so much for your story on the Cook Family and their legacy of service. My maiden name is Cook, so the story caught my eye. I did a little research on Family Search.org and found that …

Letter to the editor

I want to thank the Enterprise Media Group for the wonderful coverage of the Washington County Museum, located in Fort Calhoun, Neb. The museum, a part of the Washington County Historical …

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Columnists

He stills the storms

America has been rocked by an extraordinary number of devastating tornadoes and storms with hurricane-force wind gusts. This spring produced the second-most tornadoes to date since records began in …

All about peat bogs

Peat bogs are found mainly in the boreal and temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. They are especially found in Europe, Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia and Russia where there is a regular …

Appreciate Dad for showing up

A few years ago on the TV show "Modern Family," a stepfather did something unexpected but kind in order to save the reputation of his stepson's biological father. Cancelling his own plans, he …

The history of toilet paper

There have been at least two times in human history when toilet paper might have been a big topic of conversation at coffee gatherings. The first might have been when toilet paper first appeared …

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Editorials

- Editorial: Sad day for Blair following rejection of sales-tax increase
  
  Gateway Development Corp. tried to tie together the fate of the two ballot questions facing Blair voters in Tuesday’s statewide primary …
- Editorial: Washington County’s recovery ultimately will come down to neighbors helping neighbors
  
  In the days to come, more and more data related to last Friday’s tornado outbreak will become available. But consider these numbers for …
- Editorial: Post-prom parties alive and well in Washington County
  
  In some parts of the country, the high school rite of passage known as the post-prom party is no more. A victim of the COVID closure culture and …
- Editorial: Park supporters can’t lose focus before Blair’s crown jewel is finished
  
  The recreational opportunities soon to be available in the city of Blair took a big step forward last week when the Blair City Council …
- Editorial: Eppley Airfield project is important for Wash. Co.
  
  So Eppley Airfield is getting a $950 million renovation. That’s Omaha. Why should we care? For starters, most of us fly. And many of …

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