The Grand Island Independent du lieu suivant : Grand Island, Nebraska • A1

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IN 1870 theindependent.comFriday, May 12, 2023 AMC theater closed State park planned GIEA celebrates its members City nurses are honored for efforts JEFF BAHR jeff.bahr@theindependent.com Employees of AMC Classic Grand Island 7 were told to remove their belongings from the theater on Wednesday, the same day the movie theater was served with an eviction notice. On Wednesday morning, a Hall County deputy posted a writ of execution on the entrance to the theater. That writ is also known as an eviction notice. Woodsonia Real Estate, which owns the mall, told theater employees they had to be out by 5 p.m. Wednesday, a theater employee said.

On May 1, Hall County Court Judge Alfred Corey ruled in favor of the mall owners in a civil action brought against own- ers. Woodsonia had filed the action April 7 against American Multi-Cinema in care of Corporate Creations Network of Omaha. American Multi-Cinema is also known as AMC. Corey ruled that the premises should be surrendered to Woodsonia, which is redevel- oping the mall. AMC still hopes to reopen the Grand Island theater and is trying to appeal the ruling, the theater employee said.

But much of the equipment is being re- moved from the theater. In the words of the Eviction notice served Wednesday GRACIE SMITH gracie.smith@theindependent.com Friends and families gathered at the Choc- olate Bar on Thursday to appreciate the hard-working nurses in Grand Island, hosted by The Independent. During Nurse Appreciation Week, the cer- emony honored nurses who have gone above and beyond in their careers, to help in any way they can for the people of the commu- nity. Out of a dozen nurses, 10 were chosen as honorees. Three honorees, Cheryl Sims of Grand Island Regional Medical Center, Kim Long of Emerald Nursing and Rehab Lakev- iew and Stacie Swanson of Howard County Medical Center were unable to attend the event.

GRACIE SMITH, THE INDEPENDENT Fonner Park Nurse Rita Gallagher, right, receives her award at the Nurses 2023 event at the Chocolate Bar, 116 W. 3rd on Thursday. JEFF BAHR jeff.bahr@theindependent.com Mayor Roger Steele has big plans for Mormon Island State Recreation Area and the nearby Camp Augustine. He would like to turn them into a state park. Steele shared his plans at a Wednesday event at the Grand Island Tourism Of- fice, held as part of National Travel and Tourism Week.

Steele has twin goals relating to the area near Interstate 80. First, he would like to extend the hike and bike trail along South Locust Street to the Mormon Island State Rec- reation Area. The second goal is bigger. The city has the opportunity to pur- chase Camp Augustine from the Boys Scouts. going to ask the City Council to purchase Camp Augustine so that it is secured for public use and public access in the Steele said.

The goal of having Camp Augustine would be to add it to Mormon Island State Recreation Steele said. had several discussions with the folks from Nebraska Game and he said. enthusiastic about the idea of expanding Mormon Island into a larger state recreation area, up to 500 But Game and Parks officials said every Nebraska city asks and Parks to do something in their community. not Steel said. What really helps Game and Parks of- ficials they go to their bosses at the Nebraska is they can Mayor shares vision for Mormon Island and Camp Augustine GRACIE SMITH, THE INDEPENDENT Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele spoke Wednesday at the Grand Island Tourism office.

The open house was part of National Travel and Tourism Week. COURTESY GRAND ISLAND TOURISM A map of land from Camp Augustine. Grand Island Tourism Executive Director Brad Mellema said the 40 acres of federal land is not exact, but an estimate. JESSICA VOTIPKA jessica.votipka@theindependent.com More than 660 years of combined teaching experience were celebrated Wednesday night at Balz Reception Hall, where the Grand Island Education Asso- ciation celebrated its members. According to organizers, between the retirees celebrated that evening and the service years of other honorees, 663 years of teaching experience were gath- ered in the reception hall.

That does not count the additional educators who came to the celebration. While honoring retirees was the main event, the evening was also an oppor- tunity for GIEA educators to celebrate a school year coming to a close, albeit a tumultuous one. Issues like censorship, curriculum de- cisions and state education funding have been on many minds and in Retirees with plenty of experience were recognized JESSICA VOTIPKA, THE INDEPENDENT Karma Lewandowski (right), member of the Grand Island Education Association communication committee, presents retiring teacher Christine Kier (center) a retirement gift while GIEA president Michelle Carter (far left) emcees. Kier is retiring from her post as dramatics teacher at Grand Island Senior High School. Please see PARK, Page A2 Please see GIEA, Page A2 Please see NURSES, Page A2 Please see THEATER, Page A2.