Library offers kids programs for spring break

Kids who are out of school on spring break next week can still find something to do at the Grand Island Public Library.

The library's children's department will have crafts and movies for children, preschool through fifth grade, during spring break, March 17 through 21.

Movies will be shown on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Crafts will be available on Tuesday and Thursday. All sessions will start at 10 a.m. and last about an hour or as designated on a handout available at the library.

All programs are free. Call Merry at the library, 385-5333, for additional information.

Central Plains Chapter bloodmobile results

Seventy-six people were present to donate blood at the Red Cross bloodmobile the week of Feb. 25.

Mary Del Roy and L.G. Eastman were first-time donors. Timothy Powell reached the two-gallon level. Rose Kosmicki reached the three-gallon level. Robert Fickes reached the six-gallon level, and Gary Baird reached the seven-gallon level.

The Central Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross hosts a bloodmobile Mondays through Fridays at 404 E. Third St. Call 382-3790 to schedule an appointment.

GISH students raise funds to fight leukemia and lymphoma

Grand Island Senior High School students raised $721.54 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Nebraska through a three-week coin drive.

The top four fundraising classes were students in classes taught by Kathrine Zeleski, Brian Grupe, Mary Gregoski and Nancy Cowgill. Their classes raised $217.95, and each class won a doughnut party awarded by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Walnut students raise funds for ill student

Walnut Middle School students and staff raised just more than $1,000 for a student who is fighting cancer.

Halee Melgoza, a seventh-grader at Walnut, has been fighting cancer for three years, said Brooke Iverson, a Walnut teacher.

The school's seventh-grade basketball teams and a staff team competed against each other on Feb. 29 as part of the fundraiser.

Walnut's seventh-grade boys basketball "A" team defeated Walnut's seventh-grade girls "A" team. Then a team of Walnut staff members defeated the seventh-grade boys team 24-18.

* lincoln

Nebraska Wildlife Federation sponsoring poster contest

The Nebraska Wildlife Federation is sponsoring its annual poster contest on the theme "Create Habitat for Butterflies, Bees, Birds and Other Pollinators."

The contest is held in correspondence with National Wildlife Week April 20-26.

Teachers and students in grades fourth, fifth and sixth grades, as well as home-schoolers, are invited to create posters that show pollinators in suitable habitats.

For contest information, activities and rules, visit www.nebraskawildlife.org. Directions and resources to plant a garden for pollinators is also available at the Web site.

Deadline for receiving posters is April 14. Posters should be sent to NEWF at PO Box 81437, Lincoln, Neb. 68501.

Awards will be given to poster contest winners at the Nebraska Wildlife Federation's annual gathering Mary 3 at Pioneers Park Nature Center west of Lincoln.

* loup city

Loup City awarded Safe Routes funds

The City of Loup City and Loup City public schools have been awarded $249,777 by the Nebraska Department of Roads' Safe Routes Nebraska program.

The program provides schools and community groups with funding they need to build safer walking and biking routes to school.

The city and school district are planning the construction of 16 blocks of main school routes where most of the town's school-age children live.

The project also includes construction of 61 handicap ramps, making intersections handicapped-accessible and easy to use for bicyclists. Two digital speed readers will also be installed near the school.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.saferoutesne.org or e-mail Superintendent Caroline Winchester at cwinches@esu10.org or Mayor Alicia Toczek at atoczek@kdsi.net.