Fontenelle Raptor Recovery volunteer Doug Finch releases an immature bald eagle into the wild at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in January.
Joe Burns
Wearing protective gear and carrying carrying an ice rescue board, a rescuer comes to the aid of "victim" Grant Nixon during ice rescue training hosted by Fort Calhoun Fire and Rescue at Lake Arrowhead in February..
Joe Burns
Pastor Shawn Linnell conducts the 10:30 church service from the back of a pick up truck in the parking lot of Trinity Lutheran Church in March Congregants took part in the service from the safety and comfort of their vehicles due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Joe Burns
As fatigue began to set in due to the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of people participated in the first Blair Cruise Night in May. Long lines of trucks and cars of every make and model cruised up and down Washington street.
Joe Burns
A 2020 sign featuring the coronavirus adorns the football field during Blair High School graduation, which was delayed until August.
Leeanna Ellis
Don Johnson laughs while a caravan of vehicles parade past the entrance to Fort Calhoun High School in July to recognize and thank the retiring superintendent for his years of service. In the background are retired teachers Barb Triplett and Liz Pemberton waving from the sunroof of Marti Leishman
Joe Burns
Dr. Tuck Smith speaks during a public hearing on a proposed ordinance for a mask mandate by the Blair City Council on in December at the Blair Public Library and Technology Center. The council voted against the ordinance.
Joe Burns
Elsie Echtenkamp stands in front of a temperature check monitor before heading to class at Deerfield Primary School in Blair in August.
Joe Burns
Douglas County sheriff's deputies and Nebraska State Patrol directs traffic and OPPD lifts traffic signals in June as a barn travels east on State Street and onto Blair High Road. The barn was transported to Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch just south of Blair.
Joe Burns
Fort Calhoun, Kennard, Blair, Bennington and Irvington firefighters battled a house fire on Valley View Drive in the Lakeland subdivision south of Blair in June. The house was a total loss.
Leeanna Ellis
Small town fun at the Herman Fire and Rescue annual Food and Fireworks in July.
Joe Burns
The Washington County Fair was held in July, though with scaled back events. Dylan Bloom Band entertained crowds with the opening concert.
Elizabeth A. Elliott
The Andersen family waves to dad, grandpa and great-grandpa Don during a parade at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair in May. The parade gave families the opportunity to see their loved ones who had been isolated to the facility during the pandemic.
JOE BURNS
Retired 1st Sgt. Daniel Falcon salutes as Emma Chada sings the national anthem during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Blair Cemetery in May. More than 100 people attended the socially-distanced event.
Joe Burns
Graduates wave to well wishers watching the parent-sponsored graduation parade following Fort Calhoun graduation in May.
Joe Burns
Siyea Whitlock somersaults from the diving board on opening day at the Blair Municipal Pool in June. The opening of the pool was delayed due to the pandemic.
Joe Burns
The Johnk Family gets their picture taken by Kelsi Wacker who traveled through the Deerfield neighborhood taking photos of families for a donation to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital in April.
Elizabeth A. Elliott
Blair Fire and Rescue personnel salute the casket bearing veteran firefighter Clair McKinnis following the service at Country Bible Church in March. McKinnis was the longest-serving member of the department.
Joe Burns
Blair police chaplains Mark Degner and Amy Krejcarek lead a dedication ceremony in January for a bench placed at the corner 19th and Washington streets in honor of Jaycoby Estrada, who was killed in an accident Aug. 23, 2019.
Joe Burns
A maximum security jail cell pod is placed into the new Washington County Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Center by crane in February.
Joe Burns
Ovation show choir performs a Frankenstein-themed show during the show choir workshop at Blair High School in January. Due to the cold and high winds, all but the Blair Schools were forced to cancel.
Joe Burns
Voters lined up at First Lutheran Church in November to cast their ballots on Election Day..
Joe Burns
Hallie Lewis and Nathan Hiykel were crowned Blair High School homecoming queen and king during a pep rally at Krantz Field in October.
Leeanna Ellis
Carl Lorenzen, chairman of the Washington County Veterans Tribute Plaza Memorial, leads a Veterans Day ceremony in November as its recorded to be shown at schools and nursing homes on Veterans Day.
Joe Burns
Octupi fly during
Joe Burns
Ellen Murphy smiles for a photo with the 100 roses given to her by her son-in-law and granddaughter in honor of her 100th birthday in September. Murphy died Dec. 2.
Joe Burns
Brayden Mostek talks with Santa from the back seat of mom
And while 2020 is a year some would rather forget, there was plenty that happened besides the coronavirus pandemic.
In this edition of the Pilot-Tribune, we take a look at 2020 through the camera lens of our reporters and photographers. See what they captured in this unprecedented year.
