City/area digest

Warning sirens test Saturday

COLUMBUS -- The monthly Platte County test of the outdoor warning sirens in will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday.

A test of the Columbus general fire siren will be conducted at the same time. In the event of severe weather in the area the test will be canceled.

The outdoor warning sirens are tested at 11 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month from April through October.

The public is asked to report a malfunctioning siren to the Columbus Police Department at 564-3201 or to Columbus/Platte County Emergency Management at 564-1206.

Adult CPR, first aid class set

COLUMBUS -- Prairie Valley Red Cross will offer an adult CPR/AED and first aid class from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday at the Red Cross building, 2905 23rd St.

This class meets OSHA requirements, and is designed to teach participants how to recognize and care for breathing, choking and cardiac emergencies as well as the use of an automated external defibrillator. The First Aid portion of the class teaches basic care for injuries or sudden illnesses until advanced medical care arrives. Pre-registration is encouraged.

Cost for the full-day workshop is $48; CPR/AED only is $35; First Aid only is $25. Register on-line at www.pvredcross.org or contact the Red Cross at 564-8314 or toll-free at (866) 564-8314.

Gem and mineral club meeting set

COLUMBUS -- The Loup Valley Gem and Mineral Club will hold a monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Mural room of the Loup Public Power Building.

Ben Vrana will give a program about his experiences as a volunteer at Ashfall Fossil Bed State Park near Orchard, Nebraska. Meeting is open to the public.

For more information contact Ben at (402) 352-5531 or bbv5531@intergate.com.

Safety and health council to meet

COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Safety and Health Council will have a meeting from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. July 10 at Dusters.

Lunch cost is $9, all inclusive. Presentation will be on NFPA 70E-Arc Flash, with speaker Roger Zieg. RSVP to Tammy Orender before Tuesday.

For more information or to RSVP, call 563-8850 or e-mail torender@columbus.

camacollc.com.

St. Bon’s garden tour Wednesday

COLUMBUS -- The St. Bonaventure Church Garden Tour is scheduled for 4:30-8 p.m. Wednesday.

Tickets are $5, available at Tooley Drug, Barbara Jean’s, Hy-Vee, St. Bonaventure’s Parish Rectory.

Participants will see six local gardens, with $2 pontoon rides available around Christopher’s Cove. No children allowed on tour due to water hazards that will be present.

For more information, call Jody Bargen at 563-1088.

Nominations for ‘One Book’ needed

COLUMBUS -- The Friends of the Columbus Public Library will be accepting nominations from the community for the “One Book, One Columbus” program for 2009.

“One Book, One Columbus” is a program designed to get the community involved in reading and discussing literature.

The nominated book can be a classic, fiction, non-fiction, or just a favorite. Nominations can be e-mailed to cplfriends@neb.rr.com or brought to the library.

All nominations need to be received by July 10. The Friends of the Columbus Public Library will choose five finalists from which the community will then vote for the 2009 selection.

Paws ‘N Claws fundraiser set

COLUMBUS -- The Erna Badstieber Paws ‘N Claws Adoption Center is gearing up for its 2009 Furry Friends Calendar fundraising event.

Entry fee is $15 for a 4x6 or 5x7 horizontal photo of animal only, with a deadline of July 11. Entry forms are available at local groomers, the Adoption Center, and local veterinary clinics.

Voting on the entries will take place from July 14 through Sept. 5 at various locations.

Knights to present colors at SCC games

COLUMBUS -- Fourth degree members of the Knights of Columbus are planning to present and raise the colors as an honor guard at Scotus Central Catholic home football games during the 2008 season.

All fourth degree Knights who are members of one of the three city councils -- St. Bonaventure Council 938, St. Anthony Council 9264 or St. Isidore Council 12086 -- along with members of the John F. Kennedy Assembly 0605 who are parents of Scotus students, are welcome to participate.

Scotus’ four home football games in 2008 are Aug. 29 vs. Lakeview, Sept. 5 vs. Aquinas, Oct. 3 vs. Centennial and Oct. 23 vs. Boone Central.

Fourth degree Knights interested in participating should contact Don Strecker by phone at 562-8515 or 563-7540 or by e-mail at don_strecker@yahoo.com.

CPR, first aid class for providers set

COLUMBUS -- The Red Cross is offering a one-day CPR and first aid class for child care providers from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. July 12 at the Red Cross, 2905 23rd St.

This class meets the requirements set by the Nebraska Department of Social Services for child care providers, and is open to the public. Pre-registration is encouraged. Cost is $53.

For more information or to register, contact the Red Cross at 564-8314, toll-free at (866) 564-8314, or e-mail cpr@pvredcross.org.

Reception set for art gallery

COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Art Gallery is presenting an opening reception for three artists from 2-4:30 p.m. July 13.

Featured artists include Phyllis Blaser, pastels; Dottie Seymour, masks and vessels; and Sue Olson-Handler, watercolors. Their artwork will be exhibited in the gallery through Aug. 4.

For more information, call 563-1016, visit www.artscolumbusne.org, or e-mail gallery@megavision.com.

Nebraska Life program July 13

COLUMBUS -- The Platte County Historical Society (PCHS) is presenting a program about “Nebraska Life Magazine” at 2 p.m. July 13 at the museum.

Chris Amundson, publisher, will be on-hand to share his stories from the 12 year history of the magazine. Amundson, originally from Norfolk, is a graduate of Wayne State College.

Free admission to PCHS members and $3 for non-members.