Online Applications Now Available for Students in all Mediacom Areas • Interested students encouraged to apply by January 31, 2024 deadline • Information for the online application is available at schools in eligible communities Mediacom Communications is offering $60,000 in scholarship support for high school seniors who plan to obtain further education. The scholarship program is in its 23rd consecutive year and Mediacom’s investment will award $1,000 World Class Scholarships to 60 high school seniors.

By Jenny Kirk Young women at MCC had the opportunity to gain valuable insight regarding potential careers in the agriculture industry at the first-ever Women in Agriculture roundtable discussion held by the Murray County Central FFA Chapter.

USDA’S CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM PAYS MORE THAN $1.77 BILLION TO AMERICA’S PRODUCERS IN SUPPORT OF CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued more than $1.77 billion this year to agricultural producers and landowners through its Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a critical piece of the Department’s efforts to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry on working lands.

Many Murray County 4-H members and volunteers were honored at the annual awards celebration held Sunday, November 19 at the Murray County 4-H Building. Murray County 4-H Ambassadors along with Badger Lake, Bondin Belfast, Fenton Friends, and Laker 4-H Clubs hosted the SPUDtacular-themed event, “Murray County 4-H is SPUDtacular” Murray County 4-H is honored to have a group of 34 youth Ambassadors helping with various events throughout the year and setting an example to our other 4-H members.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed a simplified direct loan application to provide improved customer experience for producers applying for loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The simplified direct loan application enables producers to complete a more streamlined application, reduced from 29 to 13 pages. Producers will also have the option to com-plete an electronic fillable form or prepare a traditional, paper application for submission to their local FSA farm loan office. The paper and electronic versions of the form are now available.

The Farm Loan team is already working on operating loans for spring 2024 and asks potential borrowers to submit their requests early so they can be timely processed. The farm loan team can help determine which loan programs are best for applicants.

By John Stenen Many years ago I read the story of a highschool boy playing basketball in the school gym and he took a nasty fall and severely hurt his head. He had been the picture of health and strength, but after the fall he suffered a great deal with epilepsy.

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Court Queen of Peace met Nov. 16 for Memorial Mass at 5:30 celebrated by Father Peter Schuster remembering Mary Gaul, Doris Cote and Bernadine Kremer. Following a delicious meal the meeting was called to order with prayer and flag pledge by Vice-regent Deanna Konkol. In the absence of the recording secretary no report was given. Treasurer Betty Palmer gave her report. Financial secretary Barb Minnehan reported membership at 65.Correspondence was read from Alice Knutson and seminarian Andy Reiner.

Christmas is a Coming (Remnants of a trip to Assisi) I heard it said the other day, “The cross is for the past...the resurrection is for us—not the cross.” No doubt the voice which spoke meant well, but it didn’t sit so well with me. Having recently returned from places where the saints who’ve gone before us were martyred for their faith, I saw more clearly how “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church” (Tertul-lian— an early church father).