Greetings from Historic Red Cloud: Great Stories Grow Here!
Set amid brick-lined streets, charming homes, historic buildings, and the immense beauty of the prairie, Red Cloud offers a glimpse into a storied American past while maintaining a progressive vision for the future. Great stories start in Red Cloud--add your own chapter today!
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Donald G. Stratton (RCHS 1940), Pearl Harbor Attack Survivor and Webster County Native, to be honored in Red Cloud on Feb. 29th and March 2nd
We continue to be inspired by all of the outreach, interest, and support we've received in connection with Donald Stratton's passing. As a community, we are humbled and honored to be the final resting place for such an amazing man. Stratton's memoir, All the Gallant Men, was the first memoir written by a Pearl Harbor Survivor. It also happens to be this year's One Book One Nebraska selection. We strongly encourage you to read this work.
A military escort will accompany the transport of Stratton from his memorial service in Colorado Springs on Saturday, Feb. 29th to the Williams Funeral Home in Red Cloud. They will get to town around 9pm and the public is encouraged to show their support. The burial service will be at the Red Cloud Cemetery on Monday, March 2nd at 11am.
We are interested in hearing ideas about how to honor Stratton's memory. To learn more about Stratton's story, please watch the segment that aired on CBS This Morning back in 2016 (below), or read this article from the Omaha World-Herald, or this column by fellow Red Cloud native Matthew Hansen.
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70th Annual Farmers & Merchants Community Banquet to be held March 6th in the Red Cloud Community Center
Come celebrate the business community at the annual Farmers & Merchants Banquet, hosted by Red Cloud Tourism & Commerce. This year's celebration will feature a musical performance from Modern Kowboy as well as awards honoring new businesses, grant recipients, and the Outstanding Business of the Year for 2019. Your $20 ticket ($10 for Chamber members) gets you a Prime Rib Dinner. Those keeping Lent have a smoked salmon option. Social hour will begin at 5:30pm in the Community Center.
Raffle Prizes include: A Traeger Pro Series Wood Pellet Grill from Kohmetscher's Feed Service, 65 lbs of hamburger from Gottsch Livestock Feeders, and $250 gift certificates from Hometown Market, Kenny's Lumber, and Red Cloud Animal Health. There will also be smaller prizes available. Money raised during the Farmers & Merchants Banquet allows Red Cloud Tourism & Commerce to put on events like Street Car Days and the Easter Egg Hunt and also allows them to give out utility rebates and storefront improvement grants as well as sponsor events such as the upcoming Anansi the Spider and Other Tales Puppet Show. The more money RC Tourism & Commerce raises, the more that can be accomplished--which means bigger and better events for everyone.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at Heritage Bank, The National Willa Cather Center, On the Brix, South Central State Bank, and from Chamber officers. If you'd like become a member of simply give a donation please write to visitredcloudne@gmail.com or send it via mail at PO Box 327, Red Cloud, NE 68970.
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Preliminary Stabilization Work Begins on Potter Block Hotel Project
Underpinning and excavation work began on the Potter Block Hotel Project on Feb. 10th, with TR Construction out of Omaha performing the work alongside the project's general contractor Steve Powell (RCHS '93) of Tru-Built Construction in Lincoln.
Pending the finalization of legal documents, the project will soon enter the Design Development phase and solicitation of investors will begin. The project is also one part of the Willa Cather Foundation's Campaign for the Future, with the goal of raising $2 million in donations for an equity investment in the project by WCF. When finalized, the project will result in a 27 room boutique hotel in the heart of historic downtown Red Cloud.
If you're interested in learning more about the project contact Jarrod McCartney or Ashley Olson at 402-746-2653 or write them at jmccartney@redcloudnebraska.com or aolson@willacather.org.
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The Corner Nook to open Red Cloud location
Exciting news percolated from the Facebook feed of Blue Hill based The Corner Nook on Feb. 24th. Owners Nicole Mackin and Cassandra Himmelberg announced that plans are underway for a Red Cloud store, which will be located at 345 N. Webster in the former Taylor Drugstore building. The Corner Nook features coffee, smoothies, gifts, clothing, and much more. While they work on getting their Red Cloud location ready, we strongly encourage you to visit them in Blue Hill at 560 W. Gage Street.
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$16,500 in Tourism Grants Awarded to Red Cloud Projects
The Nebraska Tourism Commission announced its marketing grant awards in early February. The Willa Cather Foundation and Red Cloud Tourism & Commerce are among the recipients. Each organization received $8,250 for advertising in the 2021 Nebraska Travel Guide and for targeted social media blitzes during key events. These grants are just one part of a much larger marketing effort geared towards enhancing Red Cloud's reputation as a tourist destination.
Please go to visitredcloud.com if you're interested in learning about all the great sites to visit and to look at available lodging. Cranes have begun to arrive along the Platte River 1 hour to the north--so now is the perfect time for a Nebraska getaway! Visit the Cranes and then have a great night's rest at the Red Cloud B&B at the Kaley House, the Villa Willa Loft Apartment, the M Guest House, the Cather Second Home, the George Cather House or the Green Acres Motel & RV Park.
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Great Office/Retail Space Available for Rent Downtown
Located at 122 W. 4th, this space is just off the intersection of US Hwy 281 and US Hwy 136. Most recently the site has been used for an insurance office and is an ideal location for someone needing office space or as a satellite office location of a larger organization. New windows were recently installed. Signage will be visible from street and from much of the proposed hotel site. Please write or call using the contact information below if you would like more information.
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March 20, 2020
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