Falls City Journal/January 7, 2010

Agriculture is far and away Richardson County’s No. 1 industry.  And many farmers will tell you that 2009 was one of the best, if not the best, year they have ever had.

…Sharing the headlines with the ag scene was the dedication of the new state-of-the-art Community Medical Center on the north edge of Falls City on Nov. 22.  It was a cold day, but the large tent which had been erected for the dedication was filled to overflowing by persons hailing the accomplishment.  The Med Center was open to patients the following day.

…In January, the Nebraska Highway Commission, on which Falls City Mayor Rod Vandeberg serves, unanimously approved the construction of a new highway bridge over the Missouri River at Rulo.  In March, the paved Fiedler Trail around Stanton Lake was dedicated and during the summer and fall many people had taken advantage of it.  In June, a big crowd attended the ribbon cutting of the Grand Weaver Hotel at which Gov. Dave Heineman spoke.  The future wind energy project in southwest Richardson County was more or less assured in July when OPPD approved the renewable purchase for a 60-megawatt facility.  At the Nebraska State Fair in late August, the Ben and Paula Steffen family of rural Humboldt was honored as the “Ag Family of the Year”.  In September, Gov. Heineman presented the “2009 Community of the Year Award” to Falls City Mayor Rod Vandeberg.  …Ground was broken for the new $1 million Vision Inn at 26th and Harlan Streets.