You answered.

A total of 186 people completed our reader survey, including current subscribers and people who do not presently subscribe. We also held focus groups where everyone was encouraged to speak candidly about the newspaper, what they appreciate, what they skip and what they hope to see in the future.

We listened carefully. Now we are preparing to act.

The Journal will be making several changes in the coming months, including expanded youth coverage, a more active digital presence, more local features and changes designed to make better use of the limited space in each printed edition.

However, before we explain where we are going, we need to be honest about what it takes to produce this newspaper every week so you understand some of our changes.

A single copy of the Falls City Journal currently sells for $1.50.  It costs us approximately $3 per copy to produce, print and distribute the newspaper.

That cost includes far more than paper and ink. It includes printing, postage and mailing expenses. It includes software, service subscriptions, graphic resources and other essential tools required to design, produce and distribute a modern newspaper. Those expenses come before all your other basic office expenses, leases, staff pay and “tech.” 

A print subscription presently costs $55 a year, which works out to approximately $1.05 per week, or about 15 cents per day. 

That price no longer reflects the actual cost of producing the newspaper.

Unfortunately, subscription prices will be increasing. We have not made that decision lightly and we know every household and business is watching its expenses. However, the current pricing structure is not sustainable if Falls City is to continue having a locally owned, locally staffed newspaper.

Our survey showed that readers understand the seriousness of the situation. Seventy-four percent of respondents said they would pay more if they knew the newspaper was struggling. Among current subscribers, 79% said they would pay more, and two-thirds of non-subscribers who responded indicated they would be willing to help. The survey also found that 80% of respondents were willing to pay at least $2 per issue. 

We do not share those figures to pressure anyone. We share them because transparency matters. Readers deserve to know what it costs to produce the newspaper and why changes are necessary.

As of July 2026: A 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola was listed at $2.49 at Hy-Vee.  A specialty coffee can typically cost $6.00 or more. 

A bottle of pop may be gone in 20 minutes. A cup of coffee while completely necessary may last through the morning. For $1.50, the Journal provides a week’s record of local government, schools, businesses, achievements, deaths, celebrations and community life.

At $2 per issue, the Falls City Journal would still cost less than many bottled drinks, specialty coffees and snacks. Two dollars buys one week of locally reported and verified news.

A $75 annual subscription would be $1.44 per weekly issue; $6.25 per month and 20.5 cents per day.

It costs the Journal nearly $3 to produce, print and distribute each copy, yet we currently charge only $1.50. Three dollars may purchase a drink or a snack. At the Journal, $3 nearly pays for the production and distribution of an entire newspaper containing the permanent record of one week in our community.

The clearest message from the survey and focus groups was that readers want more local people, local stories and local connections.

The five subjects receiving the greatest interest were obituaries and announcements (baby/wedding), feature stories, local government, local activities and school stories. Readers also expressed strong interest in historical photographs, human-interest stories, youth writing and more coverage of local businesses and community members. 

Feature stories received particularly strong support. Readers want to learn more about the people, businesses, traditions, organizations and histories that make Richardson County distinctive.

We agree.

You will see more locally focused features in the newspaper. Some may be historical. Others may introduce readers to an interesting neighbor, a longtime employee, a volunteer, a business owner, a student, an artist, an athlete or someone making a difference.

Readers can help us find those stories.

We cannot know every person, project or idea worth covering. Readers are encouraged to email us, stop by the office or leave a note when we are away. A good feature idea does not have to involve a major award or a dramatic event. Often, the best stories begin with an ordinary person doing something extraordinary or simply something interesting.

But, this is a partnership. We would ask that events that we cover with stories be advertised.

This is your newspaper and we want the people of this community reflected throughout its pages.

One of the changes we are most excited about is a proposed page focused on local youth.

We hope to work with area schools, teachers, parents, organizations and students to feature photographs, classroom projects, achievements, artwork, writing and other activities involving young people. We hope the schools will be as excited to participate and work with us as we are to feature our local students.

Children deserve to see themselves and their accomplishments recognized in their hometown newspaper. Parents and grandparents also deserve a newspaper that preserves those moments in a permanent, printed record.

Adding new material means making difficult decisions about how we use space.

Based on reader feedback, the weekly church-information section has been removed from the printed newspaper and placed online.  The printed church information occupies a significant amount of space that can be used for youth coverage, feature stories, photographs and other material readers requested. 

This does not mean church news is unimportant. Churches remain a vital part of the community. The information will remain available, but it will be delivered in a format that allows us to use the printed newspaper more effectively.

The public-record page has also be tightened and better organized. Our editorial and opinion pages have been condensed so more space can be devoted to locally produced material.

We have also found  a new crossword puzzle host who offers us movie reviews, entertainment stories, games and comics. 

Not every change will happen immediately. Some require new partnerships, new technology or additional revenue. However, the work has begun as we are sure you have noticed in the new format of the paper. 

One of the most promising ideas under consideration is an additional e-edition for digital subscribers.

This edition would give us space to publish material we cannot always fit into the printed paper, including additional photographs from community events, recipes and other items that may not have enough advertising support or available space for print.

A printed newspaper has physical limits. Every additional page increases printing and mailing costs. A second digital edition would allow us to provide more content without removing material from the weekly newspaper.

We have also met with a service that is going to change how the e-edition is delivered. Our goal is to make it possible for subscribers to receive the newspaper directly in their email inbox rather than requiring them to remember to visit a website and log in. We believe easier delivery is an important step toward making the Journal more accessible. If you are a current e-edition subscriber please keep an eye out for more information as this moves forward this month.

Readers also made it clear they want to hear from us more often between printed editions.

Seventy-four percent of survey respondents said they would like to see more newspaper content posted on social media. The Journal presently has approximately 5,600 Facebook followers and 336 Instagram followers, giving us an opportunity to reach readers throughout the week. 

We are working to become more active on Facebook and Instagram with additional photographs, short videos, HS sports interviews and previews of stories appearing in the newspaper. Most stories may be available exclusively to subscribers. Our goal is not to replace the printed newspaper with social media. It is to use each platform for what it does best.

The newspaper will remain the complete, permanent record of the week. Social media can help us deliver timely information, introduce readers to upcoming stories and keep the community connected between editions.

Subscriptions are essential, but subscriptions alone cannot support a community newspaper. Local advertising makes local reporting possible. When a business purchases an advertisement, it is not simply buying space on a page. It is helping pay for coverage of city government, schools, sports, public records, local organizations, community events, elections and the people who call this area home.

The company who is going to change the way we deliver our E-edition will also be taking over our website to streamline the sign-up process, get articles online  and on social media quicker. We are so excited about this change and hope you will be too. This month you will see changes and updates to our website. We will keep you updated on the process.

Our focus groups also told us that businesses are interested in more modern advertising choices. We are exploring options and attending classes that help us understand social-media advertising, sponsored videos, digital advertising, sponsorships and Facebook photo sponsorships.  We want to give local businesses more ways to reach customers while continuing to offer professionally designed print advertising. When local businesses support the Journal, they support a newspaper that reports on their customers, employees, schools.

We are still learning, listening and looking for better ways to serve this community. We know we need to make a greater effort to hear from teenagers, young adults, parents and younger families as we plan the Journal’s future.  We want the Falls City Journal to be a newspaper for people of every age not only those who have read it for decades, but also those who may be discovering community journalism for the first time.

If younger readers have ideas for stories, videos, social-media content, school coverage, community projects, youth columns or other ways to make local news more engaging, we are ready to listen. We also welcome suggestions from teachers, parents, students, young professionals and community organizations about how we can encourage more people to read, participate and become invested in what is happening locally.

Community journalism works best when the community takes part in it. That might mean suggesting a feature story, submitting a photograph, writing a guest column or “Say Your Piece,” helping us connect with students or simply telling us what would make the newspaper more useful to you.

We strongly encourage you to use the pages of our paper to “Say Your Piece.” Facebook can be great for a lot of things, but we found from our focus groups and surveys that the community does read the paper. It’s an excellent way to get information and ideas to the public. Take advantage of an excellent resource you have right here. 

We will not get every change exactly right on the first try. We will continue to evaluate what works, make adjustments and evolve as our readers and community change.

The Journal has served generations of local families, but preserving that legacy requires us to reach the generations who will carry it forward. We are open to new ideas, ready to experiment and committed to building a newspaper that remains relevant, welcoming and valuable to everyone.

We can’t begin to express to you, our readers how important this newspaper is to us and how much we want to get this right for you. 

Thirty-six percent of the people who completed our survey were not current subscribers. Their participation tells us that even people who do not presently receive the Journal consistently care about whether this community has a newspaper. 

The Journal cannot survive on concern and good wishes alone. 

It needs subscribers. 

It needs people who purchase single copies.

It needs businesses and organizations that advertise.

It needs schools, clubs, churches and community members who send us information and photographs.

It needs readers who tell us when we are doing something well and when we need to improve.

We know asking people to pay more is difficult. We also know that disappearing quietly, reducing coverage or allowing the newspaper to become less useful would be worse.

We are choosing to invest in the future. We are choosing more local stories, more young people, more photographs, more digital access and more communication with readers.

We are choosing to change with the times while protecting what makes a community newspaper irreplaceable: locally verified information, public accountability and a permanent record of life in Richardson County.

You spoke, and we listened. Now we are asking you to move forward with us.

Subscribe. Purchase a newspaper. Advertise your business. Send us your story ideas. Share our work. Encourage your school, organization or employer to participate.

The Falls City Journal is your newspaper. With your support, it can remain that way for generations to come.

The post You spoke. We listened. – How the Falls City Journal will be moving forward. appeared first on THE FALLS CITY JOURNAL.

The Postal Service is conducting a discontinuance feasibility study of the Rulo Main Office. The study is part of the formal process used to determine whether an office should be permanently closed. No final determination has been announced.

Postal services have not been offered at the Rulo office since it was placed under emergency suspension Dec. 31, 2018. According to a July 31 notice sent to customers, the suspension followed the termination of the Postal Service’s lease by the property owner. The Postal Service said no suitable alternative location was available in Rulo.

Since the suspension, Rulo customers have received postal products and services through the Falls City Main Office at 1520 Harlan St., 9.27 miles from Rulo.

Other nearby offices include the White Cloud, Kansas, office at 214 Main St., 8.56 miles away and the Craig, Missouri, office at 103 S. Main St., 10.12 miles away.

The Postal Service said permanently closing the Rulo office would not change the services currently offered through the Falls City office. Rulo post office box customers would continue receiving their mail in Falls City.

If the Rulo office is permanently closed, the Postal Service said the status of affected customers would change from temporary to permanent in its system. Customers’ post office box numbers and the Rulo ZIP code, 68431, would remain the same.

The Postal Service had scheduled a virtual community meeting July 31 to provide information, answer questions and receive comments. 

“We value your opinions during this review process,” Shane McLaughlin, manager of Post Office Operations, wrote in the notice.

Responses must be received by Aug. 14 to be included in the feasibility study and considered before a final decision is made.

Written comments may be hand delivered to the Falls City Main Office or mailed to:

Manager Customer Relations

Dawn Cook

7900 Hickman Road

Des Moines, IA 50324

The Postal Service said comments will become part of a publicly available record. Names and contact information will be removed, but the comments may be available for public review.

Federal regulations require the Postal Service to consider several factors before closing or consolidating a post office. Those factors include the effect on the community, the effect on postal employees, the Postal Service’s obligation to provide effective and regular service to rural communities and small towns, potential economic savings and other factors the Postal Service considers necessary.

Community members who want the Rulo office preserved may use their comments to provide specific information about local postal needs, the effect of traveling to another community for service and any suitable locations that could be considered for a Rulo facility.

After the questionnaire responses and community input are collected, the Postal Service said a proposal will be posted in the retail lobby of the Falls City Main Office.

If the Postal Service decides to proceed, federal regulations require public notice of the proposal and a public comment period lasting 60 days. Any final determination must be issued in writing after those comments are considered.

People regularly served by the Rulo post office would have 30 days after a final determination is posted to appeal the decision to the Postal Regulatory Commission. A permanent discontinuance could not take effect sooner than 60 days after the final determination is posted.

The post Rulo residents have until Aug. 14 to oppose permanent post office closure appeared first on THE FALLS CITY JOURNAL.

She married Gene Ebel on September 13, 1969 at Falls City. He passed away July 23, 2004.

Zita was raised at Falls City and graduated from Falls City High School in 1969. When married the couple established their home in Falls City and later moved to a farm west of Reserve, KS. She was a homemaker and farm wife. She worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for various places in and around Falls City, including the farm and G and Z Trucking. She retired in 2012. She moved to Lincoln in 2023 and has lived there since. She was an active member of St Paul’s Lutheran Church at 20th and Towle St. in Falls City and DOES Drove of Falls City.

Zita is survived by her children, Gena Vang and her husband Chris of Elkhorn, NE, Karen Soward and her husband Levi and Marissa Ebel both of Lincoln, Chip and his wife Sara of Falls City, brothers, Joe Schawang and his wife Cheryl of Olathe, KS, Mike Schawang and his wife Janet of Omaha, sister, Lisa Moormeier and her husband Kiven of Roca, NE, grandchildren, Connor and Camden Soward, Isaiah and Noah Vang. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Her funeral will be held Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 20th and Towle St. with Elysia McGill officiating. Interment will be in Steele Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Monday from 7-8:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home.

The post Zita Ebel appeared first on THE FALLS CITY JOURNAL.

He married Patricia Kaster in 1988 and they divorced in 1991, in 1993 he married Lori Bradley and they divorced in 1996. He married Darla Adams in 2006. She passed away in 2018.

Gene worked as a welder for many years until his health forced him to retire. He had a great love for Tinkering with anything he could do in the garage. One of his joys was taking his children fishing and spending time with his grandchildren doing various fun activies. He encouraged others to stop by and chat as that was what he loved to do. His love for fireworks and the 4th of July and love for homemade fireworks took him to the ER to come home with a finger missing for a great conversation piece. The Nebraska Cornhuskers was one of his favorite things to watch on TV.

Gene is survived by his children, children Corey and his wife Molly Ballue of Beatrice, Cameron and his wife Beth of Nehawka, Ashley Gibson and her wife Megan of Beatrice, Adam Gibson and fiancé Brittney of Beatrice, 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents Cecil and Helen Miller, Uncle Norman Miller, Aunt Evelyn Hoak, and wife Darla.

Gene’s memorial service will be held Monday August 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Maple Cemetery in Salem Nebraska.

There will be no viewing or visitation. You may sign the registry or leave condolences at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home during regular business hours.

The post William “Gene” Ballue appeared first on THE FALLS CITY JOURNAL.

Marlene was raised on the family farm south of Rulo. At the age of four she started first grade at District 91 better known as the “Y” school. She was proud of the fact that she recited the poem word for word “The Night Before Christmas” at the school Christmas program even before she started school. Marlene graduated Falls City High School in 1950.

One of thirteen children she helped her two older sisters hand milk the cows before and after school each day.  She was strong willed even as a child and found herself at the top of a tree where she could get away from her mother when she was in trouble and her mom would remind her she had to come down sometime. Mom had many stories she shared of her younger years.

Marlene worked at various businesses over the years including Fleskoski’s Food Basket, The Falls City Creamery, as a bookkeeper at Sur Gro Fertilizer, Falls City Pet Foods, Fortescue Elevator, and Novak Realty.

She was a member of Riverside Fellowship church in Rulo and through the years had taught Sunday school and church youth groups.  She was a Blue Bird – Campfire girl’s leader, served on the school PTA committees, was a softball coach for teenage girls, and was active in the American Legion and VFW auxiliaries, American Heart Association, Red Cross Blood Mobile and the Census. For several years she was the crew foreman for the girls detasseling corn crews bussed over into Missouri. Marlene was a lifetime member of the Falls City BPO DOES organization serving for seventy years in various offices locally as well as the Nebraska District and the Iowa Minnesota Nebraska East District. But of all her “jobs” her most important and dear to her heart was being mom and grandmother.

She is survived by her children Linda (Mark) Jilek of rural Rulo, Cathy O’Grady, Jerry (Nancy) McKim, and Karey Weaver all of Falls City and Nancy (John) Fischer of Hiawatha,  twenty-four grandchildren, fifty-one great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, siblings Louise Pfankuche, Kansas City, Mo, Marjorie Surman, Rulo, Ruth Lieneman, Robinson, Ben (Sandy) Bachman, Falls City, Wauneta (Jim) Catlett, Kansas City, MO, Bob Bachman, Rulo, Gary (Cindy) Bachman, Falls City and Rita (Steve) Johansen, Rulo, numerous nieces and nephews survive her. 

She was preceded in death by sisters Bernice Adams and Alice Crouch, brother Ronald Bachman, grandson, Aaron O’Grady, sons-in-law, Neal Frost and John O’Grady, grandson Kevin Driggers.

Her funeral services will be held on Monday, August 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home with Pastor David Showalter and Wauneta Catlett officiating. Interment will be in Rulo Cemetery.

The family will receive friends, Sunday, August 2, 2026 from 6-7:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home. Viewing will begin in the afternoon of August 1, 2026 at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home.

The family requests memorials be made to Family Choice in lieu of flowers.

The post Leona Marlene McKim appeared first on THE FALLS CITY JOURNAL.

Rusty entered the Nebraska National Guard in 1978 and served in Falls City with Company B until 1983.

He married Tanya Windle February 28, 1986 at Salem.

Rusty was raised in Falls City and graduated from Falls City High School with the class of 1978. Following graduation, in addition to his service in the National Guard, he worked in various slaughter houses, Mickelberry’s, did logging and had a saw mill and drove a semi. He retired in 2020. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking. He was a member of the Falls City Elks.

Rusty is survived by his wife, Tanya of Salem, children, Felicia Martin and her husband John of Salem, Orrin of Salem, father, Robert of Falls City, sister, Vickie Zeigler of Falls City, brother, Ryan of Lincoln and five grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his mother and a granddaughter, Brynn Martin.

Rusty has been cremated and a graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Steele Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Friday, from 6-7:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home.

The family requests memorials be made to family choice in lieu of flowers.

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Gary was born on May 2, 1943 in Falls City, NE to Paul and Venice Mick. He was a 1961 graduate of Falls City Senior High. After high school, Gary met the love of his life, Dorothy Pierce. The couple were married in Lincoln, NE on July 2, 1966. In 1971, Gary earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Gary worked as a civil engineer for the US Forest Service for 17 years. While in Alamogordo, New Mexico, he designed and built a family home for himself, Dottie and their two children, John born in 1970 and Sallie, born in 1975.

In 1988 Gary left the Forest Service for Lockheed Martin to work on the Space Shuttle program. He helped design an alternate landing site for the Space Shuttle program, located at the White Sands Missile Range. In 1995, after Lockheed lost the NASA contract, Gary and Dottie moved to Wisconsin where he worked as Director of Environmental Services for Milwaukee County.

Gary retired from Milwaukee County in 2007. They moved to Loveland, CO to be closer to their son John and his family. Gary and Dottie enjoyed travel in their retirement taking trips to Ireland, Spain, Russia and more. Motorcycles were a huge part of Gary’s life. Over the course of his life he rode, bought, sold and repaired too many motorcycles to count. He loved them!

Gary is survived by his wife, Dottie and their children, John (Jeanne) Mick of Fort Collins, CO; and Sallie (Matthew) Wild of Milwaukee, WI. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Paul and Ben Mick and Madeline Wild. And his sister Judith Nye of Florida.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Paul in 1987 and Venice in 2011; and his sister Linda Mick-O’Hara in 2006.

The post Gary Allen Mick appeared first on THE FALLS CITY JOURNAL.

“The Conservation Reserve Program continues to demonstrate the strength of voluntary, producer-led conservation across the country,” said Hilary Maricle, FSA State Executive Director in Nebraska. “The success of the 2026 enrollment period reflects USDA’s Farmers First commitment and the dedication of America’s farmers and ranchers to protecting our natural resources.”

Accepted acres include participation through General CRP, Grassland CRP, and Continuous CRP initiatives that support soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and long-term conservation on working lands.

Of the 71,980 acres set to expire on Sept. 30, producers submitted re-enrollment offers for approximately 48,000 acres. Additionally, producers submitted offers to enroll 351,676 acres of new land in Nebraska. Nebraska had the highest number of accepted CRP acres in the nation. Counties with the highest accepted acreage include Sheridan, Sioux and Grant counties.

USDA’s CRP is one of the nation’s largest voluntary conservation programs, helping agricultural producers protect sensitive land while strengthening rural communities and supporting long-term sustainability.

More Information  

Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. Originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production, the program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits to farmers, ranchers, and landowners across the country.

The post USDA Accepts 359,695 Acres in Nebraska Through 2026 Conservation. Reserve Program Enrollment to Benefit Natural Resources, Ag Operations appeared first on THE FALLS CITY JOURNAL.

Since May 2026, Nebraska has reported 49 cases of cyclosporiasis. At this time, there have been no reported cases of cyclosporiasis in Nebraska related to the recent outbreak in the United States. DHHS is working with federal and local public health partners to investigate a number of domestically acquired cases to determine if there are shared exposures linking cases together.

“Cyclosporiasis is not a new infection. Nebraska sees a small number of seasonal cases each year between May and September, typically associated with international travel,” said Dr. Timothy Tesmer, DHHS Chief Medical Officer. “Nebraskans who develop symptoms lasting more than three days should contact a healthcare provider. Early diagnosis and treatment can help shorten the illness and reduce the risk of dehydration and other complications.”

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite, which is typically spread through contaminated food or water, most commonly fresh fruits and vegetables. Previous outbreaks have been linked to bagged salad mixes, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, raspberries, snow peas, and green onions. It is not spread from person to person. Symptoms usually develop about one week after exposure and include watery diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, stomach cramps, and nausea. Without treatment, it can last for weeks or longer, and symptoms may come and go.

Reduce Your Risk:

• Cook foods when possible. Heating food to at least 158°F (70°C) kills the Cyclospora parasite.
• Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean, running water before eating, cutting, or peeling them. Scrub firm produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush.
• Clean and sanitize your hands, cutting boards, utensils, countertops, and other food preparation surfaces before and after handling fresh produce.
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas before preparing or eating fruits and vegetables.
• Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables promptly.

Treatment

People experiencing gastrointestinal illness, such as sudden or ongoing diarrhea lasting more than three days, are encouraged to contact their health care provider. Cyclosporiasis is treated with antibiotics along with rest and drinking plenty of fluids to maintain hydration. Additionally, if you are sick with cyclosporiasis, local or state health officials may contact you to ask about what you ate in the two weeks before becoming sick.

For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/index.html.

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By Leo Adam Biga

Flatwater Free Press

When about two dozen members of Beatrice High’s Class of 1961 recently gathered for their 65th reunion, it was more than the usual redux. For many, it marked the first time in years that they had set their eyes on a cinematic time capsule — a feature-length documentary chronicling their 15-year class reunion that coincided with the U.S. bicentennial 50 years ago.

“Reunion ’61-’76” was made for and broadcast on Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (now Nebraska Public Media) then largely vanished, save for a few screenings at class reunions over the decades. 

“I think it holds up very well,” said grad and retired history professor Bob Cherny, who co-moderated a Q&A at the July 11 reunion in Beatrice.

A sharper, digitized version of the film will debut July 29 as part of the Made in Nebraska series at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center in Lincoln. Ross program manager Laurie Richards called the film “a hidden gem of the cinema verite movement that should be seen because it reflects its times in such a raw, remarkable way.”

Its maker, John Spence, was himself a member of the Beatrice Class of ’61, and in 1976, he worked in NET’s film unit. He said the concept behind the project was simple.

“Because we literally hadn’t gotten together as a group for 15 years, and a lot had happened in the meantime. I was frankly very curious to see how people turned out and if they had found a unique way of getting by.”

Spence had no script, just an idea that evolved as he met with people and events happened. Of course, he needed buy-in from his classmates. They agreed to participate “because we knew film was John’s thing so we just sort of went along with it,” said classmate Pete Genzlinger. 

“I’m not sure many people thought anybody would see it anyway besides us,” he added.

LINK TO DOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrLnXGODMzM

The group proved willing participants — and worthy subjects.

When they entered the world, World War II was still raging. Both Spence’s and Cherny’s fathers died in the conflict. When the 135 graduates received their diplomas at the municipal auditorium on May 24, 1961, John F. Kennedy was still president. The Cuban Missile Crisis had not happened. Vietnam was far from most Americans’ radar. The Beatles were years away from invading the U.S.

After their graduation, the country saw change and tragedy: the sexual revolution and rise of feminism, the fight for civil rights, Cold War dread, the assassinations of JFK, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, the Vietnam War, Watergate.

By the time this cohort reunited in the bicentennial year, they were veterans of the nation’s culture wars, witnesses to a decade and a half of upheaval not unlike today’s America.

In the film, grads share what they did after high school — from serving in the military to attending college to entering professions to starting families. Some moved away, some stayed put. Some did what they set out to do, others were still searching. 

A surprising number found themselves in creative careers. Genzlinger painted and taught art. Vicki Krecek became a writer and Omaha communications professional. Jim Meyers ran his own photography studios and a pottery business. Barbara Hibben became the first research assistant for the then new Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery before heading to the East Coast. Gibb Hedges became an illustrator and ran the popular Beatrice bar Gibbs’ Place for three decades. 

And there was Spence, the filmmaker. As he came of age, his ambivalence about his hometown grew. By the time graduation came, he couldn’t wait to get away. But he didn’t get far — he has lived in Lincoln since 1962. 

“Quite frankly, the more and the further I went away, the better home looked. … Lincoln’s only about 40 miles from Beatrice, but in my heart, my mind, it’s a thousand miles away.”

The 65th reunion was a different experience for this group of now 82- to 84-year-olds reflecting on themselves from a half century ago. Whereas with earlier reunions people talked about careers and families, the focus now veers toward the bigger picture.

“The list of people that have died gets longer every year, and it’s so sad,” Krecek said. 

Hibben, who became a career U.S. foreign service officer after her art career, traveled from Pennsylvania with a daughter for the 65th reunion out of a sense of urgency. “Because I think it’s probably going to be the last time I get to see some of these people,” she said. “I miss quite a few who I remember well.” 

Meyers, who recently resettled in Beatrice, acknowledged the reality of their age. But he mused, “There’s a pretty good group of us that feel like we’re just going to keep going. Maybe we’ll have a 75th. Why not? If you don’t believe that way then you probably won’t make it.”

Watching the film again, some noted how the polarization of today reminds them of the divisions of the turbulent ’60s and ’70s. 

“Yeah, I thought about that when I watched it,” Krecek said.

The Class of ’61 has managed to avoid that same division at their reunions, going to lengths to avoid talking politics and other polarizing subjects.

“We recognize that at meals people may end up at separate tables because they may feel strongly on both sides,” Hibben said.

The doc doesn’t refer to the disproportionate number from the class who pursued creative lives or careers, but 65th participants did. Past reunions featured exhibitions of classmates’ work. Grads pointed to the town’s maverick streak and legacy of strong art teachers — like Don Hazelrigg, who Meyers said encouraged students to “explore” and make things — as contributing factors. 

Spence said “Reunion ’61-’76” is his answer to “nonfiction unfettered personal filmmaking.” Michael Farrell was the director of photography on the project and used a handheld camera to capture its intimate black-and-white images. He feels Spence made a minor classic. 

“This is a very interesting slice of American life, and I think John’s got something really important to say with this film. It’s a really important piece of work and it shouldn’t just get buried someplace.”

Classmates appreciate that their class is the rare one anywhere, anytime immortalized in a film. Class archivist Peg Quakenbush echoed others in saying, “It’s very special … for us and we’re lucky.”

Meyers was teaching art in Nelson, Nebraska, when the documentary aired. His students watched it. Years later, one of those students told him that Meyers and his classmates inspired them to stick together much the same way. ”It wasn’t me,” Meyers said, deferring the credit, “it was John (Spence) and what he did with that (film).” 

Spence is satisfied it remains an honest, unadorned looking glass into the past. “I do like the idea it could be about any small Midwestern town and the folks in it,” he said. “That’s the value of it in my mind.”

The ’61 class has gathered for past milestone reunions. When the 60th coincided with COVID, the reunion was held virtually. The 65th was not the first time the doc got screened. Seeing and hearing themselves from a half century ago elicited the usual laughs and perhaps more tears than past screenings. 

Though Bob Cherny lives on the West Coast, he has actively organized several reunions. Why? “I guess just the idea to get back in touch with people I knew and fell out of touch with.” 

Genzlinger, who has made all the reunions, said the attraction to catch up is natural.

“The first ones I attended, I was curious to see how people had changed. Some of those people I don’t know why I didn’t become closer to them in school because I realized they’re neat people and I wish I had. I wish I knew their story. Everybody has a story.” 

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