The Superior Express -

$5,923 . . .

Short of $500,000 that is.

If you’ve been watching the Community Sign on Main Street in Lawrence for the past year, you may have noticed the information about the Community Building Fund showed approximately $435,000 plus the firm American Legion pledge of $35,000 since July 2021.

The Building Committee Fund Raising efforts have not been put on hold, but the COVID-19 Pandemic put a pretty severe damper on their efforts for most of the past two years. However, with the end of the year, new, current information has been updated on the Sign.

As of the end of the year, the amount of money in place with the Nuckolls County Foundation is $459,077.

The American Legion has pledge a $35,000 donation to the fund as well, making the total donated or committed $494,077. That is $5,923 short of that figure of $500,000.

There is nothing magic about the $500,000 figure, except it seems to excite people and is a figure most can remember easily.

It should also be remembered that the American Legion has secured ownership of all the land needed for the proposed building and that will also be donated for the cause.

During the last six months of 2021, the Committee received donations of $20,905. They included:

$5,000 from CPI

$5,000 from Land O Lakes

$7,405 from Memorials from six different area families.

$3,500 anonymous donations.

The Committee continues planning for raising the balance of funds needed for the building and operation expenses after it is in use. With the pandemic restrictions easing, they hope more can be done towards this end. The Committee re-stated its commitment to continue raising funds and is working with others in the community to continue plans for the building.

Some folks ask about the State Tax Credit program. Those funds which totaled $75,000 have been used by contributors and it seems any effort to receive more Tax Credits will not succeed.

Anyone wishing more information or someone to talk to about possible donations can feel free to talk to any of the following: Joe Theer, Paul Dale, Carla Kohmetscher, Larry Mazour, Mary Schutte, Lisa Peterson, Selena Laughlin, Melissa Cox, Melvin Haba, Kris Kotinek, Lyle Kohmetscher or Allen Ostdiek.