Weeping Water’s Annual Limestone Day celebration was a huge success, as usual.  Young and old had a great time taking part in all the events offered throughout the day.  The kids’ fishing contest started out the day, the parade was a crowd pleaser, the food was delicious, and there were lots of “oohs” and “aahs” when the fireworks started. 

The Limestone Day Committee did a great job organizing the events.  Please be sure to thank them for all their hard work!!
I have a lot of pictures from Limestone Day—too many for one newsletter article, so I will put some of them in this week’s article and some in next week’s article. 

ENJOY!

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The Lofte Community Theatre near Manley is excited to announce the continuation of its thirty-third season with the energetic Musical Comedy, "Crazy For You" opening on July 17th.  "Crazy For You" is often referred to as "The new Gershwin Musical Comedy."  Debuting on Broadway in 1992, it later won the Tony Award for Best Musical that year.  The show relies entirely upon the  music of George Gershwin who died in 1937.  "Crazy" has all of the traditional elements of a classic Broadway show of the early 20th century; toe-tapping tunes, boy-gets-girl storyline and a comic ensemble cast.
 
 Written by Ken Ludwig, the story is set during the theater scene of the 1930s.  Bobby Child is a wealthy banker's son and socialite playboy whose real dream in life is to dance.  Bobby is sent to a rundown theater in Nevada by his domineering mother for the purpose of foreclosing on the dilapidated venue.  Instead, Bobby falls in love with a girl, the theater and decides to put on a show to pay off the mortgage.  Singing cowboys, spunky heroines and an unwanted fiancee round out the cast of colorful characters.
 
Starring in his first leading role as Bobby Child is Adam Kovar of Lincoln.  The plucky Polly Baker is played by Elizabeth Monzingo of Papillion.  Other members of the cast include Jeff Johnston, Ross Mumford and Wade Mumford of Elmwood; Anne Riha of Louisville;  Melinda Mead of Plattsmouth; Mimi Ostmann of Eagle; Lucy Myrtue of Murray; Samantha Colbert of Weeping Water; Ronnie Hurlbut, Marikita Payne, Olivia Herr, Sydney Timmons, Megan Kovar, Margaret Anne White, Mark Kranz, Alex White, Zack Schafer and Mick Kovar of Lincoln; and Derek Kowal, Anna Cashero and Levi Stroebel all of Omaha.
 
Performance Dates for "Crazy For You" are July 17-19, 23-26, 30, 31 and August 1, 2.  Showtimes are 7:30pm Thursday-Saturday.  All Sunday dates have two performances; 2pm and 7:30pm. General admission tickets can be purchased either on-line or by contacting the box office at (402) 234-2553. Please note that some performances are nearly sold-out and advance reservations are highly suggested.   

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We’re excited about the Weeping Water Community Vacation Bible School to be held July 27-31.  This year’s program is Kingdom of the Son, a week of safari adventure!
    Children will embark on a prayer safari into the Kingdom of the Son.  Through their adventures, children will discover that “God Listens,” “God Provides,” “God Forgives,” “God Protects” and “God Rules!”  We will have a great time with lively songs, hilarious skits, creative crafts, exciting games, Bible stories and tasty snacks—all of the things that make Vacation Bible School so much fun for children.  On top of that, we will be helping children learn to know God through prayers.
    Kingdom of the Son can be an inspirational and educational expedition for your entire family.  Classes for children begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 12:00.  The opening, closing, and all classes will be held at the Faith Missionary Church in Weeping Water.  Parents and other family members are invited to attend the end of the week lunch with their children.  This lunch will also be held at the church and is free to everyone. 
    For more information, please call Dawn or Pastor Sandy at 267-4865 or you can contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 
    Registration forms will be available soon!  Please join us for an exciting week of learning about God and making wonderful memories.

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The Old Avoca (Nebraska) Schoolhouse will be hosting a Jamming Workshop on Saturday, July 25, from 1 PM - 3 PM.   Championship fiddler and fiddle book author, Deborah Greenblatt will share some hints to help you play in a jam session with minimum stress, and maximum music.

 Pre-registration is required, and enrollment is limited.  For more information, call 402-275-3221, or send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Old Avoca (Nebraska) Schoolhouse will also be hosting a Twin Fiddling Workshop on Saturday, August 1, for fiddlers (or violinists or violists) who want to learn to play nicely together with their fellow-fiddlers (or violinists or violists).  Fiddlers (or violinists or violists) of any age and experience level are encouraged to enroll.  Championship fiddler and fiddle book author, Deborah Greenblatt will share some tunes, hints about arranging for two fiddles, playing back-up, etc.  The Workshop takes place on Saturday, August 1, 1 PM - 3 PM, in the Old Avoca Schoolhouse, in Avoca, Nebraska.  Pre-registration is required, and enrollment is limited.  The fee is $20.00 per fiddler.  For more information, call 402-275-3221, or send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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The Scenic Weeping Water Valley Association (SWVA) core committee met Wednesday, June 24th at Fairways Restaurant at the Beaver Lake Golf Course.  Members present were Barb Slattery, Slattery Vintage Estates; Annie Behrens, Plantman Nursery; Tammy Ahrens, Tammy's Soap Shack;  Suzanne Wright, Creative Edge Design; and Teresa Lorensen, Bloom Where You're Planted Farm.
 
Tammy Ahrens was elected to be secretary of the organization.  Members volunteered to head up the various committees, which include Marketing, Grants, Education, Website Development, and Membership.  It was announced that a $5,000 grant had been received from the Midlands Community Foundation to be used for advertising, brochures and signage.  The SWVA has one year to spend these funds.  It was decided to purchase an ad in the Weeping Water Booster Club Calendar.  The group voted to have a booth in the commercial building at the Cass County Fair.  Suzanne Wright, Creative Edge Designs, will work on rack cards for the fair booth and for distribution to various other tourism sites around the county and Lincoln/Omaha areas.  New members that join by July 12th will be listed on the rack cards.  The next meeting was set for July 14th, 7:00 p.m. at the Firehouse restaurant in Murray. 
 
For more information on the SWVA, visit www.VisittheValley.org   Businesses and attractions in the area are encouraged to view the membership information on the website or contact any of the members for more information.  Honorary memberships are available for museums and non-profit attractions.  
 
The Scenic Weeping Water Valley Association (SWVA) is a 501(c)6 non-profit corporation .  The SWVA is dedicated to promoting tourism to the southern Cass County, Weeping Water Valley area, mutually benefitting the surrounding commercial, historical, and cultural destinations.    The Scenic Weeping Water Valley spreads from Elmwood to Murray, from Highway 1 to Highway 34. Towns along this valley are Union, Murray, Manley, Nehawka, Avoca, Eagle, Alvo, Wabash, Weeping Water, Elmwood, and Murdock.

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• Are you searching for funding for a tourism project?
• Are you interested in starting a tourism business?
• Do you need a business plan?
• Are you looking for information on how to create a recreational trail or develop museum exhibits?
• Do you need help with writing a successful grant?

If so, you’ll find the Nebraska Travel & Tourism Division’s Tourism Development and Marketing Resources Guide to be a valuable asset.
 
The guide provides information on:
Local, state and federal funding resources
Community and statewide foundations
Tourist oriented organizations and associations
 
An updated edition of the guide is located on the Tourism Division’s Industry page: http://www.visitnebraska.gov/pdfs/industry/DevMarRes1.pdf
 
For more information, or to suggest new resources for future editions, please contact Micheal Collins at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 877.632.7275.
 
Micheal Collins
Tel: 402.471.3795
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.VisitNebraska.gov
 

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You're Invited to Travel on the "Western Magic Bus"
 
The Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition (WNTC) is making plans to 'charter' a motor coach for members and other tourism industry partners to travel as a group to Norfolk for the 2009 Nebraska Travel Conference October 20-22, 2009. You're invited to join them in the coach to...
 
•         Save money (cost will be nominal per person) and let someone else do the driving!
•         Have some fun and network with tourism industry partners aboard a luxury motor coach!
•         Enjoy great "roadie" treats, entertainment and games along the way; commemorative "Western Magic Bus" t-shirts for everyone riding the bus!
 
Two possible routes are under consideration by WNTC; a northern route departing from Chadron or Alliance, or an I-80 route departing from Kimball, depending on where the majority of our riders are home based.
 
The Western Magic Bus will arrive in Norfolk in time for byway meetings on Tuesday evening and depart early Friday morning (8:00 am or 9:00 am) for the return trip home to Western Nebraska!
 
If you would like to join the "Western Magic Bus" to the Nebraska Travel Conference or if you would like more information, call Karla at the Gering CVB at 308.436.6886 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Please Reply With Interest by August 1, 2009.

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A BIG thank you goes out to everyone who has been sending me community news
updates! The input is always welcome and helpful. 
If you have any newsworthy items that you would like to include in the Weeping Water Newsletter, feel free to send the information to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dawn Randall