July 4 Essay Winners Honored by Seward Rotary Club

Sewards Fourth of July royalty love to live in Seward. Each year, the Seward Rotary Club sponsors an essay contest for the Fourth of July. Elementary students write an essay about why they like to live in Seward. The essays are judged by a panel of Rotary Club members. This year, Phil Bangert was the essay contest chair and senior judge. Winners are named Miss Independence and Mr. Firecracker and their runners-up. They will attend luncheons, ride in the Fourth of July parade, read their essays at the bandshell and win a trophy and bag of fireworks.

Miss Independence 2011 is Kenna Piskorski. Kenna is the daughter of Pat and Stacey Piskorski. She was a third grader at Seward Elementary.

Miss Independence Runner-Up is Hannah Helmer. Hannah is the daughter of Joel and Holly Helmer. She was a second grader at St. John Lutheran School.

Mr. Firecracker 2011 is Theo Hughes. Theo is the son of Ted and Lynda Hughes. He was a fourth grader at St. John Lutheran School.

Mr. Firecracker Runner-up is Alec Sackschewsky.   Alec is the son of Tim and Linda Sackschewsky. He was a fourth grader at Seward Elementary.

Kenna Piskorski, Miss Independence 2011
    I want to tell you why Seward is an awesome place to live. One of the reasons is there is so much to do. There is an amazing pool, cool parks, shopping areas and a movie theater.
    Some other unique activities are the fair and the Fourth of July. The fair is special to me because I like the food, animals and the rides! The Fourth of July is also cool to me because of the candy at the parade and the fireworks.
    I like to live in Seward because there are really nice people here. It is a really peaceful town. Seward is full of great schools and teachers that care about the kids. They are even building a new middle school, and my grade is going to be the first class to go all the way through.
    That is why I like living in Seward!
   

Hannah Helmer Miss Independence runner-up 2011
    Why I like to live in Seward because its fun. I used to live in Oklahoma. That was awesome but now it is more awesome because I live in Seward.
    You can find your best friend in Seward.
    Even if it gets below 0, it is still fun because you can go sledding or you can have a snowball fight. You can even go ice fishing.
    The other thing about Seward its the 4th of July city. Fourth of July is fun, so that makes Seward fun with all the fireworks and lights and parades.
    Also theres barely any traffic, so you dont have to wait. It gets hot, too, and Seward has the best pool ever.
    Thats why I like to live in Seward.


Theo Hughes Mr. Firecracker 2011
    I like Seward because it is a great community, because it is my home.
    I like Seward because of its great cornfields, because of its sweet breeze in the wind. I like the rec sports in Seward. I like the schools in Seward especially St. John. I like the beautiful houses in Seward.
    In the fall, my favorite part about Seward is the fair. In the winter, I like the beautiful snow. In the spring, I like the green grass and flowers blooming. In the summer, my favorite part about Seward is the great Fourth of July parade and the awesome firework show.
    The best part about Seward is the people of Seward, because without the people who live in Seward, Seward would not be as great as it is now. One of the things I really enjoy in Seward are the beautiful churches because without them Seward would not be what it is.
    I like Seward because of the beautiful trees in Seward. I like the great courthouse in Seward. I like Seward because of the great services there are. I also like the great banks in Seward.
   

Alec Sackschewsky Mr. Firecracker runner-up 2011
    Why do I like to live in Seward? I like to live in Seward because Seward
has everything from A to Z.
    A  Amigos has tasty food.
    B  The Bakery is the best place to get doughnuts.
    C  There are lots of churches to learn about and worship God.
    D  I like to get ice cream at Dairy Queen.
    E  Et Cetera is a good place to donate clothes and toys.
    F  The Flower Mill has colorful flowers.
    G  Godfathers Pizza is really good.
    H  H&S Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning is where my dad works.
    I  I like to ride my bike on the bike trails.
    J  In the summer, I can jump into the Seward Dowding Swimming Pool.
    K  The kite flying contest is fun.
    L  The Seward Library has lots of good books to read.
    M  You can buy trees at Merles Garden Center.
    N  My neighbors are awesome.
    O  Orscheln Farm and Home sometimes has baby chicks in their store.
    P  I like playing sports at Plum Creek Park.
    Q  Quilts are on display at the Seward County Fair.
    R  The Rivoli Theater has good popcorn and movies.
    S  Schools in Seward are a fun place to learn, and I will get to go to
the new middle school.
    T  The Fourth of July celebration in Seward has lots of fun things to
do.
    U  I got to take a tour of the U.S. Post Office.
    V  The VFW has good hamburgers and fries.
    W  Walmart has toys I like to buy and play with.
    X  When Im hurt, I can have an x-ray taken at the Seward Family
Medical Center.
    Y  Yes, I like to watch the Seward Bluejays play sports.
    Z  I can zoom into Lincoln because its just a short drive from Seward.
    I feel lucky to live in Seward.
 

The First Miss Independence and Mr. Firecracker Essays of Seward’s July 4 Celebration

"My Town"
Pam Jeary, Miss Independence 1968

Seward’s not too big or not too small,
Therefore it’s just right for all.
We have many churches and nice ones too,
With Sunday Schools for all ‘from three on thru.
There are two schools of the very best,
And a college too that will meet the test.
If has pretty trees and a pool to swim,
And friendly people with always a grin.
Around the square there’s a business street,
Where clerks wear a smile, when you they greet.
To live near Seward is happiness for me.
I will always sing its praises, where ever I may be!

Pam Jeary, Age 8, Seward Public Schools

"Why I Like Seward"
Mark Schulz, Mr. Firecracker 1968

Ask someone what he thinks the fine points in life are?  He will probably name such things as fine recreation, good job, good education, no worries, and being connected with what is happening.

Well, let’s talk about them and what they have to do with what I like about Seward.  First of all fine recreation: enjoyment might be another name for it or maybe just keeping busy.

In Seward you may fish, swim, go hunting, play tennis, baseball, basketball, or football for your enjoyment and keeping busy.  There are plenty of jobs available in Seward and if you are too young to work, Seward has many programs for you to join that are on every subject you can think of.

As for good jobs, Seward has many good paying and suitable jobs for anyone that would like a job.

Good education is found in Seward everywhere you look.  Especially in the summer, when you don’t know what to do.  You’d never ask that question if you join one of Seward’s summer programs.  You would have fun and learning at the same time.   The schools in Seward teach you and give you experience in the job that you want. They give you advice and help you achieve the goal you are aiming for.

No worries?  Impossible, but Seward sure does help you to not worry too much because of the fine police force and fire department, the criminal is stopped before he can do any harm and the accident is prevented as best as possible. 

But when you are worried, you can always forget about your worries and by enjoying yourself at any of Seward’s fine means of recreation. 

Being connected with what is happening in Seward itself, you can join programs of all kinds, because Seward loves its people and the people love Seward.

You can see that these things are connected to each.  If you have a good job, you will enjoy yourself, thus having no worries and having recreation by enjoying yourself.  And, with a good education, you will be connected with what is happening in Seward.

Seward is patriotic because the people of Seward are loyal to their country and love their Creator.   We love God because he loves us and provides for us.  We are loyal to our country because of what it has done for us.  Seward is a City of Golden Opportunity and it opens its doors to all. Seward is the People’s City and it pays them by helping them prosper.

That is why I like to live in Seward!

Mark Schulz Age 12 St. John Lutheran School