The Grand Island Independent from Grand Island, Nebraska • A2

A2 Friday, May 12, 2023 THE GRAND ISLAND INDEPENDENT The other honorees; Bri- anda Erives of Heartland Health Center, Britney Da- vis of AseraCare, Rita Gal- lagher of Fonner Park, Joan Jakubowski and Lindsay Edwards of CHI Health St. Francis and Andrea Lentz and Holly Boshart of Grand Island Regional Medical Center were given awards for their dedication. Angie Friesen, chief nursing officer at the Grand Island Regional Medical Center, spoke at the event, emphasizing the impor- tance of nurses. expectations for nurses is that you are a drug pusher, you are a cocktail waiter or said Friesen. also a counselor, a friend, an absent family member holding a hand at times of sorrow, an educator, an expert in your field, you are the eyes, ears and nose for the physician do- ing an assessment, which could potentially save a Nurses From A1 JOSH SALMON, THE INDEPENDENT a judge has ruled aMC theater must vacate its Grand island Conestoga Mall location.

GRACIE SMITH PHOTOS, THE INDEPENDENT From left, Brianda Ervies, Britney davis, Holly Boshart, Joan Jakubowski, andrea Lentz, rita Gallagher and Lindsay Edwards pose for a picture at the Nurses 2023 event at the Chocolate Bar, 116 W. 3rd on Thursday, May 11. There were a total of 10 honorees, but only seven were able to attend the event. PAGE TWO LOTTERIES Nebraska 2 by 2 red: 4-24 White: 23-35 Jackpot: $22,000 Pick 5 4-5-21-24-28 Lucky for Life 10-16-34-40-47 LB: 5 Pick 3 8-8-4 My Day 3-8-89 Mega Millions Jackpot: $99M Powerball Jackpot: $125M GRAIN PRICES Grand Cash grains at close, provided by aurora Co-op: Corn $6.32 Soybeans Milo The Grand Island EST. IN 1870 422 First St.

Grand island, NE 68801 Phone: 308-382-1000 Fax: 308-381-9431 theindependent.com Office Hours 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Monday-Friday Service Hours 308-381-9476 or 1-800-658-3160 7 a.m. 5 p.m. Monday-Friday Mike Brownlee Managing Editor 402-515-3426 John Lily director of Operations 308-381-9440 john.lily@theindependent.com Bryanne Swerczek Prepress Graphics director 308-381-9444 bryanne.swerczek@theindependent.com Naomi Jakubowski Circulation director 308-381-9430 naomi.jakubowski@theindependent.com ike Brownlee Managing Editor John Lilly Director of Operations 308-381-9440 ent.com Bryanne Swerczek re-press Graphics Director Naomi Jakubowski Circulation naomi.jakubowski@theindependent.com HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Call 1-800-658-3160 to subscribe to The Grand Island Independent.

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The last time movies were shown at AMC Classic Grand Island 7 was Monday, May 1. The theater had 21 em- ployees, including man- agement. Three of those employees were full-time. A fourth worked full-time hours depending on the week. AMC paid the Grand Is- land staff through Thurs- day, May 11.

Supervisors and managers will be paid through May 18, and the general manager will be paid until June 1. The theater employee expressed doubt that the theater would reopen, at least in its current config- uration. According to ren- derings seen, the Nos. 6 and 7 theaters are going to be reconfigured into sort of he said. Theater From A1 their ears and inboxes.

Nebraska State Education Association president Jenni Benson spoke to the group. She told the teachers: in a divisive environment, and you guys are pulled and you are attacked you are Following the event, GIEA president Michelle Carter said the organization has been active in the legisla- ture, but indicated school funding is highest on their priority list. has been kind of wrapped in something else she said. need to be informed. When you really look at it, public dollars are going to not be going to public sphere.

And it would devastate public schools to lose Benson told the reception hall full of educators that despite the roadblocks and pushbacks teachers are fac- ing, educators need to keep in mind how important they are. want you to know that NSEA needs you edu- cators need she said. most of all, your stu- dents need you. Your kids need you. And my 10 crazy grandchildren need While the main event was the group of Grand Island Public Schools retirees, other honors were bestowed.

Eleven educators received scholarships to continue their own educations. Carter said have peo- ple who are committed to doing best for stu- dents and keeping that al- ways at the forefront of our conversations, making sure doing best for students and staff. your not happy, not going to be able to serve the students in a way that we want them to Carter added. A sizable group of edu- cators received recognition for 25 years of experience. Bess Sheeks, a kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Elemen- tary, was honored for 30 years.

Howard Elementary teacher Amy Anderson was recognized with the Golden Apple award for her 35 years of service to the district. Anderson is a fourth grade teacher, doing the that make big differ- ences, fellow members said. The Golden Apple Award is provided by Scott Rabourn of Horace Mann Insurance. Grand Island Public Schools interim superin- tendent Matt Fisher spoke to the group, as well as for- mer GIPS teacher Guy Rog- gencamp. Roggencamp is a member of the Platte Valley Retired Education Associa- tion.

Carter, alluding to the recent dramatic changes at GIPS, along with dealing with teaching post-pan- demic, seemed optimistic. feel really good about some of the things that got going in Grand she said. just trying to make sure that we can do the best with what got to help our students be suc- Jessica Votipka is the education reporter at the Grand island independent. She can be reached at 308-381-5420. GIEA From A1 show that commu- nity buy-in for the Steele said.

So Steele is going to need community support as he asks the City Council to authorize the purchase of Camp Augustine, that ultimately we can transfer to Nebraska Game and Parks and the recreation area could be increased in size. Expanding the state rec- reation area may take a while because Nebraska Game and Parks has to obtain funding from the Legislature. it will happen. It will be Steele said. Although it may take a few years, ultimate goal is to see Mormon Is- land State Recreation Area become a Nebraska state he said.

a big undertaking, in Nebraska most state parks are full he said. have cabins, they have a lodge, they have eating venues. So all that has to be Grand Island the only city in the picture. Game and Parks us they have been looking to expand their presence in the central Platte area, and they were looking at land near Kearney, although they close the deal on the Steele said. to give you some in- centive to support this goal, we want our great friends from Kearney to beat us to the punch.

I want to see this happen in Grand Island. want to see Grand Is- land people line up behind Steele said. I bring this to the City Coun- cil, like to see your faces there in support of me, Park From A1 Grand island regional Medical Center Nurse Holly Boshart poses with her award at the Nurses 2023 event at the Chocolate Bar, 116 W. 3rd on Thursday, May 11. Boshart is an emergency department nurse and is currently working on her Master of Science in Nursing degree.

Grand island regional Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer angie Friesen gives a speech at the Nurses 2023 event at the Chocolate Bar, 116 W. 3rd on Thursday, May 11. Friesen gave a speech about the history and importance of nurses. CHi Health St. Francis Nurse Joan Jakubowski poses with her award at the Nurses 2023 event at the Chocolate Bar, 116 W.

3rd on Thursday, May 11. Jakubowski has been working in cardiac and pulmonary rehab for over 30 years. GIEA honorees Grand island Education association celebrated its retir- ing teachers, teachers reaching service milestones and GiEa scholarship winners at an event Wednesday night. Among the Grand Island Public Schools retirees hon- ored were: Linda dunham (first grade, Howard Elementary); Jessica raun (bilingual teacher, Howard Elementary); Kelly Usrey (second grade, Engleman Elementary). Tamara Williams (special education, Barr Middle School).

Mark Edge (social studies teacher, Grand island Senior High); Christine Kier (dramatics, GiSH); Terri rech (math teacher, GiSH). Catherine Schock (social emotional cognitive learning coach Engleman, Knickrehm, Newell, Seedling Mile, Shoemaker and Stolley Park elementary schools). Receiving recognition for years of service were: 25 years deborah Glover, Melanie Hansen, ryan Hansen, regina Harpham, rhonda Hillman, Tina Kro- likowski, Scott Miller, Kyle Nabity, Joni Pritchard, Julie Sackscewsky, Kristin Schultz, Stacy Sybrandts, Stacy Vogel, Mindy Weaver, Josa Wilkinson. 30 years Bess Sheeks. 35 years (Golden apple Winner) amey anderson.

The following educators received scholarships from GIEA: Claire Carpenter, irene Cuellar, renee Ekhoff, Tim- ber Hunh, Kelsey Jasnoch, Vincent Jodoin, Jenny Nelson, Breanna Salinas, Tonia Schmall, Shannon Strand and Sarah Wolf. because I need to get this done. This is a project that will benefit Grand Island for Nebraska, Steele said, is a great state, but about of the land is privately owned. not that much access to public land, where people can go out and enjoy Steele said. He wants to give Grand Islanders access to more public land, where they can enjoy nature, camping and recreation..