It was a fascinating week in Plattsmouth! Most notably, the Cass County King Corn Carnival was going on! From the 6th to the 9th, the main street we all know and love was closed for the festivities. It included a multitude of events, which were listed in the previous newsletter. Ray Althouse was crowned king, and Kelli Dee Petereit was crowned queen of the prestigious event! There were many smiling faces all around, and the event was an incredible success! For those of you who were there for each day, or even for only one event, I would love to hear your stories from the event so that I can post them up here for everyone to enjoy. Send them in to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Also, we have a new city administer, Ervin Portis, who comes to us from Jackson, Michigan. He will begin officially on October 1st, if not earlier than that. I hope he feels welcome in the city, and that we will all benefit from the new relationship!
In addition to the events that passed in the amazing festival of fun, I would like to make note of a more somber anniversary. 6 years ago on September 11th, the World Trade Center towers fell in a devestating attack, which took 2,974 lives (and the 19 hijackers in addition) while shattering the feeling of security that the world's only superpower had come to feel in what is arguably the most powerful country in the world. America was moved to action in many ways, and felt a deep sense of mourning.
On that note, I'd like to give a small account of my day on September 11th, 2001. I was in junior high, and had a first period study hall. It was in a massive cafeteria in La Vista, NE where the day seemed to be one like any other. A small TV was more or less muttering the happenings of the day attached to a ceiling in a corner of the room, and students were buisily working (read: sleeping/goofing around) at their tasks. That's when the live coverage began. One of the trade towers was smoking, and its grey cloud was swarming over New York like a desolate spectre of foreboding. And throughout the remainder of the day, the news was passed back and forth between the halls even amongst the normally passive and nonchalant masses of junior high students.One tower was down for certain around third period, and the second one was still holding. Then by the end of the day, it was certain that we had a crisis of unknown proportion on our hand, and the twin towers had both been reduced to rubble.
When I left school that day with my father to go pick up my sister, we both observed in the distance a plane that was in the skies. This was unusual, because the air space had been all but entirely cleared. I remember thinking to myself, "That is one ugly plane!" Then my father told me what plane it was: Air Force One, with the president aboard leaving Nebraska. It was at this point that the reality of the situation became most tangible, and suddenly it became an undeniable reality present right in our state.
So in addition to the fun that was had by all, it is important to remember those who survived, those who passed, and those who stood tall during the crisis, and in its aftermath. I'd like to remind the citizens of Plattsmouth, Nebraska that they live in a free and wonderful nation, one that would give someone like me a job as an editor of a fine community page for those people. Everyone out there, take care.