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 May 2008
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-Highway 14 meeting
(10:00AM - 2:00PM) 
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-1st Annual Hot Rods and Harley Festiv...
(8:00AM - 11:00PM) 
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-Victorian Festival
(5:30PM - 7:00PM) 
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-Victorian Festival 'All Aboard'
(7:00AM - 9:00PM) 
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-Victorian Festival
(8:30AM - 9:00PM) 
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Clay Center Senior Center Shares
Success at Highway 14 Meeting

Bob Bennett, representative of the Clay Center Senior Center, was guest speaker for the Highway 14 Association meeting held April 3, 2008 with 14 members attending.

He shared some of the history of the senior center and how it was started.

In 1997, letters were written and sent to Clay Center residents who were 55 years old or older, inviting them to a meeting. About 100 persons attended the meeting, and it was decided to pursue the plan for a senior center. The First Bank and Trust of Clay Center leased the south part of their building to the group for $1 per year for 20 years. The center used volunteers to do the renovations. It was decided to borrow $25,000 to get the building ready. After 3,000 volunteer hours plus $5,000 in cash and item donations, along with the bank loan, the center was finished. After four years and many fund-raisers, the building renovations loan has been paid off.

Clay Center Senior Center does not have any government subsidies, but they do work with many groups that furnish programs for the senior age group. They pay their own utilities and insurance.

Also, the senior center is very active in the community. Their recent collaborative efforts have included a restroom at the park, concrete for the runway at the school track, and a speaker’s stand at the school football field. Seniors sing at the nursing home and participate in the July 4th parade, where they have won numerous awards. They also take part in Relay for Life, Red Cross, Wing Ding (local celebration), Christmas Giving Tree, Old Trusty Days and Historical Society events. As a group, they also donate funds for Post Prom, Clay Center High School scholarships, Clay Center Booster Club and Paw Print school newspaper.

The high school students came and taught the seniors how to operate computers, and the seniors reciprocate by participating in the school reading program. Seniors are admitted to many of the school’s activities free of charge.

Clay Center Senior Center patrons also made blankets for soldiers in Iraq, sponsor the Prairieland/Clay County food program, and attend athletic, academic, speech, arts and music events at the high school.
Participants at the senior center also hold several fundraisers, including serving food at sales, serving the Bull Sale at Hastings, garage sales, bake sales, calendars and cookbook sales. They also hold pancake feeds, soup suppers, potato bars, salad suppers and luncheons for the community. Their center also is used for community or family events on a freewill basis.

Last Sunday, the Clay Center Senior Center held an open house for the community, which included entertainment and refreshments.

In closing, Bennett added: "The key to a longer life is to keep busy."

Highway 14 Association focuses on leadership, presents awards at annual meeting

Highway 14 Association members focused on leadership during their annual meeting last Tuesday evening, Jan. 8, in Fullerton, with about 50 people attending.

Guest speaker Barry Carlson of Central City talked about leadership, its qualities and the need for it in modern life.

In Carlson’s view, the best word to summarize leadership is "inflluence.""

You may not have a title or supervise a lot of people, but if you have influence over someone, then you are a leader," Carlson said.

He urged members of the Highway 14 Association, and the cosponsoring Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, to lead by example.


RECOGNIZED AT ANNUAL MEETING -- Highway 14 Association members and contributing organizations recognized with awards included (l. to r.) Shirley Petsche of Petersburg, Hank Thieman of Petersburg (on behalf of Boone County Development Agency), Bud Daniels of Geneva and Pam Maynard of Edgar.

"Be Exhibit A in your home or workplace," he said. "The best leaders are those who lead by pulling people up rather than pushing from behind."

Enthusiasm is also a characteristic of strong leaders, Carlson said. Enthusiasm is contageous and a signal that a person is self-motivated.

Attitude is another important factor in good leaders. Carlson said each person can choose to have a positive attitude and create a positive atmosphere.

Another characteristic of good leaders, he noted, is determination and drive to achieve the goals set forth.
Other special guest speakers who discussed state and national issues were Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, State Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton; Phil Johansen, an aide to U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, and Tom Tabor, Central Region representative from the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism.

Sheehy and Dubas spoke briefly about the need to resolve the present shortage of highway construction funds, which has resulted from reduced fuel use and lower fuel tax collections. Johansen presented information about the federal Energy Bill, its emphasis on biofuels and the resulting positive impact on Nebraska’s economy.




Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy Speaks at Annual Meeting, Jan. 8th, 2008


A special Vision Award was presented to Bud Daniels of Geneva, retiring Highway 14 Association president, by Al Mittan of Madison, coordinator of PrairieLand RC&D, presented the award in recognition of Daniels’ work in establishing the new RC&D several years ago.
Guest speaker Barry Carlson of Central City talked about leadership, its qualities and the need for it in modern life at the annual meeting in Fullerton on Jan. 8th, 2008.

Highway 14 Association Projects

The Highway 14 Association has undertaken and completed several projects that have promoted and increased traffic along Nebraska State Highway 14.

These Projects include:

1. Brochure Development and Distribution
— Update and print 50,000 copies of the Highway 14 brochure with a $5,000 grant in 2009 from the State of Nebr. Travel & Tourism Department,
— Extensive distribution of this brochure by members of the Highway 14 Association.
2. Trade Show Exhibits/Displays
— Purchase of trade show resources and displays with a portion of an $8,000 grant received in 2004 from the State of Nebr. Travel & Tourism Department,
— Promotion of the Highway 14 "delights" at various local, regional and national trade shows.
3. Advertising
— Placed magazine ads in the 2005 publications of the Nebraska Traveler. AAA Home & Away. and the American Cowboy with a portion of the 2004 $8,000 grant.
4. Website Enhancements
— Enhanced and expanded the existing Highway 14 website www.highwayl4.org.
5. POP-IN (Products on Parade In Nebraska)
— Promoted locally produced products by organizing the zoo Mile Main Street Shopping Extravaganza on Highway 14 known as POP-IN (Products on Parade in Nebraska) during a •week-end in Oct. and a week-end in April.
6. Infrastructure of Highway 14
— Encouraged building the Chief Standing Bear Bridge over the Missouri River;
— Encouraged the installation of street lights at Sandy Creek School, a rural school on Highway 14*
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  Paid for in part by a grant from the Nebraska Division of Travel & Tourism
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