And We Have A Winner!

Shirley Fiene

Shirley Fiene

This year, on March 1, the state of Nebraska celebrated its 150th birthday. The Nebraska literary community chose to use this time to highlight some of the best literature produced by authors in our state. Nebraskans were challenged to read 42 books by various Nebraska authors. The chosen books highlighted varied cultures, historical time periods and locations and included books of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, young adult and picture books.

Shirley Fiene read 13 of the selected books which made her eligible for the silver and gold prizes.  Fourteen winners of the silver prize, from across the state, were announced recently.  Shirley was chosen as one of the recipients. In the picture she is shown with her prize package and certificate. Congratulations Shirley!

Free Computer Classes and a Chance to Win a Free Chromebook

Nebraska Central Telephone Company and the Sargent Library are sponsoring free computer classes for Sargent and the surrounding area.

The first class will be on March 28th  – Broadband Basics –  If you are new to going online or maybe have been dabbling for some time, but don’t feel comfortable doing so, then this is the class for you. Some of the topics covered will be Basic terminology, passwords, email, computer basics, Chrome apps, Google maps, and The Weather Channel.

The second free class will be on March 30th – Broadband Memories & Crafts–  Learn how to create videos, edit pictures, and buy & sell online.  Some of the sites that the class will cover are Pixlr, Shutterfly, and Animoto.  This will be an excellent class to learn about how to buy and sell your crafts online. You will also earn how to edit pictures and then use them to create video clips, video slideshows, or a photo memory book

Both of these classes will be held at the Sargent Community Center starting at 6:30 p.m., and they will last for approximately two hours.  You don’t need to bring anything; the Chromebooks will be provided.

As an added incentive, NCTC will have a drawing for all of the people who took their classes (classes are also being offered in other communities.) Nine lucky people will win their own Chromebook to keep.  If you take both classes, you will have two chances to win.

Each class will consist of nine students and three teachers, so you will receive lots of individual attention. Come into the library to sign up, or call 308-527-4241. (If the library is closed, you can leave a message.)

It’s Coming!

In less than a year, on Monday, August 21, 2017, at around 12:57 p.m., a total solar eclipse is coming to Sargent, Nebraska. It will be the first total eclipse of the sun on American soil since 1991, the first on the mainland since 1979 and the first to sweep the entire country since 1918. It will be a once in a lifetime experience. You can go to this link to see an interactive map to determine what areas the full eclipse will take place. If you live outside of this area, why not make plans to come to Sargent for the weekend and stay for the eclipse on Monday? Invite your friends and make it a big celebration. If you come to the Sargent Library, we will have viewing glasses available.

We Love Donations!

Nebraska State Bank in Broken Bow recently presented the Sargent Library with a check for $357.00. Every week the bank has “Jean Fridays” where employees are allowed to wear jeans if they make a donation.  This last month, their donations all went to the Sargent Library. This was a great surprise and very much appreciated. Jana Coons is shown presenting the check to Gayle Mattox and Jessica Decker.

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Life Was Dangerous Without Electricity

We take so much for granted today with our instant lights and other convenient appliances.  Looking at the Sargent Leader in the summer of 1913, I noticed two articles about accidents that occurred. One accident was because of a little boy drinking kerosene.  A week later, a woman was badly burned and died from filling a heated gasoline iron that ignited into flames.

Sargent Leader June 5, 1913

Sargent Leader June 5, 1913

 

Sargent Leader June 12, 1913

Sargent Leader June 12, 1913

Remember, the Sargent Leader Newspaper archives are searchable and available online.

A Piece of Sargent’s History is Gone

A few weeks ago, the library board was made aware of a diseased tree on our property line.  From our side, it looked perfectly healthy.  It was beautiful, huge, and provided much shade.

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However, looking on the other side, it was obvious that the trunk was hollow inside. That was scary!

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This big, humongous tree could fall at any time and do major damage to property or even kill someone.  We hired Joe Schneider to come take it down. This was not an easy task because the tree hung over many different obstacles.

 

 

 

All that’s left is the stump now, but Joe did a fantastic job. (He even saved a family of birds.) If only trees could talk. Just think of how many Sargent events – happy and sad – that tree would have witnessed.

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