🌱 How one Grand Island business just boosted Santa Cop to record levels

Good morning Grand Island! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How one Grand Island business just boosted Santa Cop to record levels
• How a $1.25 million gift could reshape housing help in Grand Island
• How a Grand Island educator reshaped Nebraska’s sheep and goat industry

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Cloudy, with a high of 61 and low of 29 degrees.
• Friday: Cloudy; breezy, much colder, temps: high: 34, low: 17. ⛄️ Brr!
• Saturday: Colder with low clouds, with a high of 24 and low of 7 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Grand Island business raises record amount for Santa Cop program (ksnblocal4.com) — A Grand Island pest control company has raised a record $7,000 for the Grand Island Police Department’s Santa Cop program, helping eight local families in need. Through auctions, donations, and toy drives at its Christmas party, MDM Pest & Termite Control rallied employees and supporters and says it plans to keep backing the program for years to come.
   

2. Grand Island housing project gets $1.25 million from Amazon founder (nebraskapublicmedia.org) — Grand Island’s Hope Harbor has secured a $1.25 million grant from Jeff Bezos’ Day 1 Families Fund to support the 20-unit Lighthouse Apartments, central Nebraska’s first permanent supportive housing project. The funding, combined with earlier state support, will help families experiencing homelessness build rental and credit history while continuing to receive case management, budgeting help, and mental health services.
   

3. Tom Drudik honored with the 2025 Ted and Alice Doane Service Award (thefencepost.com) — Grand Island resident and longtime Hall County Extension educator Tom Drudik has been honored with the 2025 Ted and Alice Doane Service Award for his decades of work in Nebraska’s sheep and goat industry. From raising sheep south of Grand Island to launching a key producer website and helping start major state fair shows, his efforts have shaped youth programs and modern flock management statewide.
   

4. Undercover investigation leads to conviction for Aurora man (1011now.com) — An undercover investigation based in Grand Island led to the conviction of a 24-year-old Aurora man on child enticement and first-degree sexual assault charges, with sentencing set for Jan. 28. Investigators say he believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old online and was later found inside a home with a 16-year-old, leading to multiple charges and a plea deal.
   

5. Here are some of the top boys high school wrestlers to watch this season (omaha.com) — Grand Island wrestling fans will see several Islanders highlighted among Nebraska’s top boys wrestlers to watch this season, including standouts like Gavin Pedersen, Alex Gates, Hudson Oliver and Ryan Boehle. The piece recaps their state semifinal appearances in Omaha and places them alongside other elite competitors from across the state as the new season gets underway.
   

📸 Around Grand Island

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Grand Island

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 13

• Free Food Distribution at College Park | Loaves & Fishes
  Trinity United Methodist Church, 511 N Elm St, Grand Island
  9:30 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 12

• MS Wrestling @ Lexington
  Lexington Grand Island, NE 68803
  4:00 pm
• MS Boys Wrestling Triangular @ Lexington HS
  Lexington HS Grand Island, NE 68803
  4:00 pm
• PTO Movie Night
  Dodge Elementary School Grand Island, NE 68801
  5:30 pm
• Band Concert
  Westridge Middle School Grand Island, NE 68803
  6:30 pm

Saturday December 13

• Boys Wrestling @ Boone Central
  Boone Central Grand Island, NE 68803
  8:00 am

Monday December 15

• Ms Girls Basketball Game @GICC
  GICC Grand Island, NE 68803
  4:15 pm
• Pizza Hut Dine to Donate (PTA)
  Pizza Hut Both Locations
  5:00 pm

📣 Grand Island Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 11

• GBB at Hasting MS
  Hasting MS Saint Libory, NE 68872
  4:15 pm

Friday December 12

• WR at Lexington
  Lexington Saint Libory, NE 68872
  4:00 pm
• Shelton Bulldogs vs Kenesaw Blue Devils
  Shelton High School , 210 9th St , Shelton
  6:00 pm

Saturday December 13

• Breakfast With Santa
  Grand Island Public Library - Nebraska , 1124 W 2nd St , Grand Island
  9:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Standard Iron posted a job opening for Manufacturing Production Paint Supervisor in Grand Island. Apply here.
• The Home Depot, Inc. posted a job opening for Lot Associate in Grand Island. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Grand Island here.

Ok Grand Island! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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