July 4 Essay Winners Honored by Seward Rotary Club

The Seward Rotary Club annually sponsors the Miss Independence and Mr. Firecracker Essay Contest on the topic “Why I Like to Live in Seward.”  The contest is open to area students in grades Kindergarten through Grade 4.  Four students are honored and will be honored at the Governor’s Reception, ride in the Grand Parade, read their essay at the Bandshell and win a trophy and fireworks.  Rotarian Phil Bangert chaired the essay contest, judged by a group of local members of the Seward Rotary Club.

Each winner was honored at the Seward Fourth of July Kick-Off Luncheon and a Seward Rotary Club meeting and read their essays to each group.

Miss Independence 2010 is Lena Hughes, the daughter of John and Jana Hughes.  She was in the fourth grade at St. John Lutheran School and her teacher was Scott Wilcox.  She is 10 years old. 

Miss Independence Runner-Up is Gretchen Moll and was in the third grade at St. John Lutheran School.  Her parents are Sara and Tim Moll and her teacher was Linda Brettmann. 

Mr. Firecracker 2010 is Jaden Volzke, who was in the fourth grade at St. John Lutheran School.  His parents are Kirsten and Jeff Volzke and his teacher was Mr. Scott Wilcox.  He is 10 years old. 

Mr. Firecracker Runner-up is Angelo Wignall, who was also a fourth grader at St. John Lutheran School in Seward.  He is 10 and his parents are Steve and Cathy Wignall. His teacher was also Mr. Scott Wilcox.

“Why I Like to Live in Seward”
by Jaden Volzke - Mr. Firecracker - 2010
I have lived in Seward my whole life and I like living here!  There are many reasons why I like Seward.  One reason is that Seward has the most awesome swimming pool!  I like to jump off the towers and go down the waterslide.  I go swimming a lot in the summer.

I also like the Walmart in Seward.  When I go there with my parents I always to  the toy aisle and look around.  I’ve been to other Walmarts but I think ours is the best.

The Bakery in Seward is also one of my favorite places to go because their donuts are so good.  Sometimes my dad takes us there before school as a special treat.  When I know we’re going to The Bakery, I jump right out of bed!
One place I like to go with my friends is Davisson’s (the old one on Hillcrest).  It’s close to my house so we can walk there.  We go there to get candy and look at the free movie posters.

The Rivoli movie theater is another fun place I like to go with my friends.  I think we are lucky to have a movie theater in Seward so we don’t have to go all the way to Lincoln to see movies.

The 4th of July is also one reason Seward is a special place to live.  It is called the 4th of July City.  Many people come to Seward on July 4th and it is very busy uptown.  When I was little, I used to do the Big Wheel Race but now I’m older, so I get to watch my little sister do it.  I also like to watch people perform at the bandshell.  I have done the apple pie eating contest before and I think I’ll do it again this year.

Another reason that I like living in Seward is that I know a lot of people and I feel safre here.  My dad grew up here, so it seems like he knows everyone.  Sometimes people call me “Little Jeffy” (Jeff is my dad’s name) which is kind of funny.  They tell me I look just like my Dad when he was my age.  My Dad works in Seward and sometime I ride my bike up to the funeral home and help him wash cars, which is fun.

These are the reasons why I think Seward is a great place to live!

“Why I Like to Live in Seward"
by Angelo Wignall - First Runner Up Mr. Firecracker

I like to live in Seward so much because I like to go down to the bike trail and ride my bike with my family or walk on the trail with my dog and my mom.  My friends and I like to ride our bikes around our houses.  We often go to Davisson’s Movie Rentals and buy candy!

Another reason I like to live in Seward is our schools with great teachers and fieldtrips, like going to the State Capital and the Governor’s Mansion, where we got to meet the First Lady, Sally Ganem, (the Governor’s wife) and her dog Snickers.

Seward is the Fourth of July City!  I love to go all around the town on the Fourth and buy fireworks.  I also like to light the fireworks.  I like to watch the air show, the parade and the great fireworks show at Plum Creek Park.

I also like to live in Seward for its library.  I like to just check out a book and sit in the library and read.

During the summer time, I think it’s great to go down to the pool and go swimming!  Another great thing is going to the movie theater and watching all the great movies that are on.

I’m thankful that I was born in Seward.  Especially, since I was supposed to be born in Lincoln.  But thanks to the great hospital, doctors, nurses and staff, I can now say I was born in “Nebraska’s Fourth of July City!”  Seward is just one great town to live in!!

“Why I Like to Live in Seward”
by Lena Hughes - Miss Independence - 2010
S  Swimming at the Seward swimming pool.  There is no better way to cool off in the summer than slipping down the slide or jumping off the tall diving boards.
E  Exercising on the Plum Creek Trail and playing at the parks.  I love to ride my bike on the trail and over the bridges.
W  Watching the fireworks and parade on the 4th of July.  We are so lucky to have such a big celebration.  People from other towns come to Seward because it is so great. 
A  Attending the Seward County Fair and seeing my 4-H projects.
R  Reading at the Seward Library.  There are so many books to choose from and I like to sit down and relax there to read.  We have a nice library.
D  Deer and turkey, other wildlife in Seward.  We live in the country and see lots of deer and other wildlife.

I’m going to live in Seward my whole, entire life!

“Why I Like to Live in Seward”
by Gretchen Moll - Miss Independence Runner-Up

I like to live in Seward, Nebraska because people are friendly.  For example, at Second Closet, they give us candy when we go to their store.  Seward is nice because it is a small town and it is not busy like Lincoln.  My neighbors are nice and my neighborhoods are too.  Our neighbor across the street let us have a lemonade stand in her yard!  I like to play with our neighbors a lot.  I roller blade with them and we play with ants.  I also had a sleep over with them, but I went home.  That’s okay because my neighbor said I could go to her next sleepover!

There are awesome teachers in Seward.  My teacher took our entire class to Dairy Queen!  The church I go to is The Rock.  I like my church.  I think it is cool.   I bet your church is cool too.

I love to go to Chapter’s Book Store.  There are so many books and I like to sit and read them.  I like to go to the Seward Public Library too!  I went there today and go a lot of Junie B. Jones books.  I like Junie B. Jones books a lot.  I love to go to the Seward Pool every summer.  It’s fun to go to the deep end and I can touch the 12 foot deep bottom with my foot.
           
I LOVE the Fourth of July in Seward, Nebraska!!  It is the best place to be on the 4th.  Last year I was even in the parade. See you all on the 4th.