Cedar Creek Newsletter - October 8, 2025

From the desk of The Village Clerk

home must dos

6 Home Maintenance Must-Dos for First-Time Nebraska Homebuyers

Buying your first home in Nebraska is an exciting milestone—but after the closing papers are signed, the real work begins. Owning a home brings responsibility, and proper maintenance is the key to preserving your investment and avoiding costly surprises down the line. The Nebraska climate—with its strong winds, snowy winters, and hot summers—only adds to the urgency of keeping everything in working order. Whether you're moving into a craftsman in Omaha or a ranch-style home outside Lincoln, knowing what to prioritize in your first year is essential. Maintenance isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about preventing disasters before they start.

Clean and Check Your Gutters

Clogged gutters might seem like a minor annoyance, but in Nebraska, where snowmelt and spring rains are no joke, ignoring them can lead to basement leaks or foundation damage. Leaves, twigs, and debris can block proper drainage, pushing water where it doesn't belong. It’s worth climbing a ladder—or hiring someone who will—to inspect the gutters every few months. Look for sagging sections or standing water, both signs something’s off. Also, check your downspouts to make sure water is being directed at least five feet from your foundation.

Schedule a Furnace and HVAC Inspection

Don’t wait for the first frost to discover your heating system isn’t working. Have your furnace and HVAC system inspected in the fall, before temperatures plummet. An annual check-up ensures your system runs efficiently, safely, and can help catch issues that might otherwise shut you down mid-winter. This is especially critical in Nebraska’s climate swings, where furnaces pull long hours through frigid months. Make sure your technician checks for carbon monoxide leaks, cracked heat exchangers, and worn-out blower parts. Regular servicing doesn’t just add years to your unit—it can slash your monthly energy bills too.

Inspect Plumbing Fixtures and Lines

Leaks hide in plain sight. That slight drip from under your kitchen sink or the inconsistent water pressure in your upstairs bathroom might seem harmless—but they can hint at bigger issues. As a first-time homeowner, take the time to check exposed pipes, under-sink fittings, and outdoor spigots for signs of corrosion, moisture, or mineral buildup. Replacing worn parts now can save you hundreds later. Check this out: instead of hunting down items at a crowded hardware store, online suppliers make it easy.

Seal Cracks Around Windows and Doors

Drafty homes aren’t just uncomfortable—they’re expensive to heat. If you can feel a breeze near your window frames or notice daylight peeking through your door jambs, it’s time to get serious about weather sealing. Nebraska’s wide seasonal shifts make energy loss more pronounced, and sealing early pays off year-round. Use caulk for stationary joints (like around window frames) and weatherstripping for moving parts like doors. Even if you’re not handy, this is a job that takes an afternoon and a $15 tube of sealant.

Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

This one’s simple, and possibly life-saving. Every month, press the test button on your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Listen for a loud beep or chirp. No sound? Replace the batteries immediately. If your home has multiple levels, each floor should have both types of detectors—preferably interconnected so that one alarm triggers them all. Don’t rely on guesswork or the date printed on a sticker. Fire departments in Nebraska often recommend replacing smoke detectors every 10 years and CO detectors every 5–7.

Clean Out the Dryer Vent (Not Just the Lint Trap)

Each year, dryer fires cause thousands of home fires across the U.S., and a clogged dryer vent is often to blame. Emptying your lint trap is a daily habit—but cleaning the dryer vent hose (the one that goes through your wall to the outside) is something most new homeowners overlook. Depending on your setup, you might be able to DIY with a vent brush and a shop vac, or you might need a professional if the vent run is long or complicated. Do it at least once a year—twice if you do laundry frequently.

Owning your first home in Nebraska is more than a financial investment—it’s a commitment to care, maintenance, and attention to detail. A little vigilance now can prevent thousands in repair bills later.

------------

rumors dinner

rumors

fall specials

-------------

GY parking lot party

GY winter event

-------------

enrolling now

Manley academy

--------------

25 calendar

------------------

SOTW091725

SOTW 2

--------------

CCMT

COME ON OVER!

This is the way country music started out, with acoustic instruments, before electricity. People sat out on the lawn, on the porch, or in a friend’s house and played their instruments together.

Enjoy the originality of music which is still present in many circles of friends.

211 Main Street
Louisville, NE

Come on over and take a spin on our dance floor!
This is a family-friendly venue, so bring the kids, too! Relax in nice air-conditoned comfort and support our concession stand - fresh, popped popcorn, candy bars, soft drinks and bottled water.

JAM SESSIONS:

Second Sundays – Electric Jam Session (1:00 – 4:00 PM)

Fourth Sundays – Acoustic-Only Jam Session (1:00 – 4:00 PM)

Bring your instruments and enjoy an afternoon of great music and good company!

***

For updates, watch the theater's website or FB page.

Bring your instruments, bring your voices or just sit in and listen!
Let's get together and have a good time!

* * * * *

Email for more information:
cornhuskercountrymusic@gmail.com or call Larry, 1-402-949-0668.

---------------

copple trunk or treat

---------------

Check out new website at www.happypawsplattsmouth.org
And download foster application!

Happy Paws Plattsmouth is a volunteer-powered 501(c)(3) charitable organization serving Cass, Sarpy, and Douglas Counties
with one mission: to transform the lives of animals in need while enriching the families who welcome them home.

---------------

Elm rescue fall fundraiser

---------------

Louisville Food Bank 2025 Open Times

We’re open the 2nd and 4th Thursdays monthly. Nov and Dec we’re open 1st and 3rd thursdays to work around the holidays.

Open 6:00-7:00pm
213 Main Street (inside Hope’s Closet)

Oct 9
Oct 23

Nov 6
Nov 20

Dec 4
Dec 18

Updates can be found here >>

-----------------

------------------

View auction inventory >>

Fleming foundation ad

----------------

YOU CAN FIND A BLOOD DRIVE NEAR YOUR WORKPLACE or HOME HERE.

JUST ENTER YOUR ZIP CODE.

Make this contribution and you'll sleep well knowing that you've given

of yourself to improve, or perhaps even save, another person's life.

Confirm days and times and learn more HERE or call 1-800-733-2767.

* * * * *

Monday, October 6, 2025
VFW Post 2543 Plattsmouth
510 1st Avenue
Plattsmouth, NE 68048
11:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Friday, October 24, 2025
Conestoga High School
8404 42nd St
Murray, NE 68409
9:AM - 2:PM

Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Louisville High School
202 West 3rd Street
Louisville, NE 68037
10:AM - 4:PM

--------------------

---------------------

2024 01 10 ELM FOOD BANK

Pumpkin composting 2025

White with Christmas Lights Vector Christmas Letterhead

Reading4

----------------------------

HelpEditor2