
Swim Team registrations due May 7
Registration is now open for Crete Recreation Swim Team until Friday, May 7. The Crete Riptide Swim Team offers kids ages 5-19 (if still in high school) a chance to participate in a competitive swim league . . .

T-Ball, Micro T-Ball registration open until May 7
Registration is now open for Crete Recreation T-Ball and Micro T-Ball programs. Registrations for both are due on Friday, May 7. Micro T-Ball: Micro T-Ball introduces the game of baseball kids ages 3 & 4. Teams will play . . .
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Library hosting open house April 9-10
Library Story Walk celebrates National Poetry Month
In honor of National Library Week (April 4-10) Crete Public Library will hold an open house on Friday, April 9 from 10 am - 5 pm and Saturday, April 10, 10 am - Noon. The theme this year is ‘Welcome back to your . . .

City Spring Cleanup activities May 1-8
Transfer Station coupon available; schedule appliance pickups by May 6
The City of Crete will hold the annual Spring Cleanup May 1-8, with Transfer Station specials on three days, major appliance pick-up, downtown cleanup day, and a community shred event. (Click photo galleries for more images.) . . .

Downtown street cleanup set for Sunday, May 2
Vehicles should be moved from Main Street, 9th-14th, by 6:30 a.m.
As part of the City of Crete's Spring Cleanup, members of the Crete Volunteer Fire Department will wash down Main Ave. on Sunday morning, May 2 , kicking off a downtown cleanup day. Vehicles along Main, from 9th to 14th . . .

SENDD begins work on regional Economic Development plan
Online survey available to residents of 15-county region
News Release Courtesy of SENDD The Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) is now in the process of preparing the 2021 – 2026 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the 15 counties in . . .

City Hall open to walk-in access
Face coverings required by visitors
City Hall is once again open to the public for walk-in access. Face coverings are required for visitors and social distancing guidelines remain in place. Face coverings and hand sanitizer are available at all building entrances: south . . .
Increased services, visitors at Crete Public Library starting March 24
Meeting and study rooms also open for reservations
Beginning Wednesday, March 24, Crete Public Library will be offering more services as city buildings open up to more in-person visitors with existing health and safety precautions in place. Existing library COVID protocols will be . . .

Hydrant flushing April 20-22
City Water Department employees will flush fire hydrants and water mains on the dates and at locations below from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. Tuesday, April 20: The portion of Crete south of the Burlington tracks and . . .
Public vote to decide final book for 'Crete Reads'
Library planning events surrounding community-wide reading experience
Crete Public Library is pleased to announce a community-wide read for 2021. A committee of nine community members have met and determined the parameters of Crete Reads as well as the short-list of books. It was determined that the . . .

Community Garden applications available
Garden plots assigned on first come, first serve basis until June 1
Applications are now available for Crete residents to rent a plot for the upcoming growing season at the Crete Community Garden, located at 10th and Thornwood Ave. Cost to rent one plot is $25 with a $20 deposit. Plots, typically . . .

All recycling collection will be on Thursdays starting April 1
Beginning April 1, 2021, the City of Crete's two recycling routes (Monday and Thursday) will consolidate to Thursdays after the City Council approved a requested change from The Garbage Company at the regular meeting on March 2. . . .

Downtown Revitalization Program
Two application cycles for new set of downtown projects
The City of Crete was one of five Nebraska communities awarded Downtown Revitalization (DTR) funds from Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED) in 2020. The award of $445,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds builds . . .
Crete Welcoming Circle community survey
This survey is being conducted by the Crete Strategic Welcoming Committee, a sub-committee of the Crete Welcoming Circle , a group of community volunteers who's mission is to support and foster a welcoming city for everyone . . .

Avoid scams by knowing these important utility account details
The following is important information to know about City of Crete utility accounts in order to avoid potential scams. a utility disconnect date is noted on every bill and a courtesy notice is mailed from the city on bills which . . .

Crete Police participate in Click It or Ticket campaign
The Crete Police Department conducted a high-visibility enforcement campaign in conjunction with the national Click It or Ticket event through the Thanksgiving holiday. From November 16-29, Crete Officers wrote a total of 54 . . .
City to sell surplus items through online auctions
The City of Crete will begin selling all of its surplus equipment, vehicles, and miscellaneous items through online auctions on a site called Public Surplus. Auctions will be on a rolling basis as items become available. The first items . . .

Tuxedo Road to close for bridge replacement starting Sept. 21
Back entrance on Idaho Road is open
Update : See the video in this article for progress photos from the bridge replacement project, October - December 2020. Tuxedo Park Road will be closed and barricaded for the bridge replacement project starting on Monday, Sept. 21 . . .

New residents reminded to set up utility accounts at City Hall
New residents to Crete, including university students in off-campus rental housing need to set up a utility account with the Public Works Office at City Hall , 243 East 13th Street. A ground floor entrance and parking are on the south side . . .

New letter-size utility bills; Xpress Bill Pay used for online utility payments
Changes effective August 2020
The City of Crete is utilizing a new software system for utility billing, which includes a change in the format of bills customers will receive each month. Letter-size utility bills will be mailed in envelopes and the online payment . . .

Update: Status of city services & information links
(Information current as of March 24, 2021) For the general public: The City of Crete will continue to share relevant and timely information and recommendations from public health services - State of Nebraska and the . . .
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City staff recognized for years of service
Each year, City of Crete employees are presented awards for their years of loyal service to the citizens of Crete. This year five employees received service awards at an Employee Appreciation event on Thursday, Aug. 27. . . .

Public Works receives national commendation for electric restoration efforts in Shickely
The City of Crete Public Works Department received a national commendation from the American Public Power Association for its support in electric power restoration efforts in Shickley, Neb. On July 9, 2020, the Crete Public Works . . .

Police warn of phone scam involving station number
The Crete Police Department has received a few scam reports in the past hour (Wednesday, July 29) using the Crete PD phone number. The caller is requesting personal identifying information such as social security info, bank accounting . . .

City of Crete offers energy efficiency programs for 2020-21
Attic Insulation Program offers cash incentives
The City of Crete Department of Public Works , in partnership with its wholesale electric power supplier, the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska , is continuing to provide four energy efficiency programs to assist in lowering . . .
Storm, substation transformer cause power outages
The City of Crete saw two major power outages in two days last week, the first caused by a transformer failure, the second by severe weather. Both were handled quickly by the electric department crew with assistance from other departments. . . .

New Crete Public Library is open
The Crete Public Library and community room occupies a total of 20,000 square feet of space on the block which formerly housed the city’s first modern hospital. The new library's entrance plaza is located off the new . . .

Updated: New Crete Public Library opens Jan. 30
Ceremonial book brigade on Jan. 13 starts move to new building
(Updated on Jan. 17: The opening date for the library has been changed due to updated information.) Sixteen months after an official groundbreaking, Crete Public Library staff will close the old library on East 13th . . .

Book Brigade on Jan. 13 starts move to new library
Community invited to participate as two books pass from old to new buildings
Update : See the video of community volunteers participating in the Jan. 13 Book Brigade. In a symbolic gesture to commemorate moving from the old library to the new facility, the community will participate in a Book . . .

Crete Youth in Governance team recognizes city staff
The Crete Youth in Governance team recognized a number of City of Crete staff and first responders at the regular council meeting on Tuesday for their response during March flooding . When rising river levels impacted streets, . . .
City officials considering garbage/recycling contract renewal
City officials are considering a renewal of services with the The Garbage Company, or pursuing other options for garbage and recycling collection in Crete. The Garbage Company has been the city's contracted garbage hauler for about . . .

West 13th railroad crossing replaced in November
Update November: This project is now completed and the railroad crossing is open to regular traffic. Update for Nov. 4: A railroad crew started replacement work on Monday, Nov. 4. The crossing is closed to all . . .

Enforcement of downtown parking limits needed for street cleaning, clearing snow
City leases spaces in 12th & Norman parking lot to downtown residents
The City of Crete will lease parking spots in the new lot at 12th and Norman Ave. to residents who live downtown. This project has been in the works for several years in order to solve issues related to overtime parking . . .
Two council vacancies filled
Travis Sears returns to the City Council , joined by Kyle Frans , as Mayor Dave Bauer’s appointments to fill two vacancies approved by current council members at the regular meeting on Sept. 3. Sears fills a Ward I . . .

Crete to celebrate Welcoming Week with community potluck
Grab a lawn chair and your favorite picnic dish to enjoy in beautiful City Park with friends and neighbors at a community potluck on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 2-4 p.m. as The City of Crete joins with hundreds of communities to celebrate . . .

Bauer sworn in as Mayor, two council vacancies posted
The absence of two dedicated public servants in City of Crete Mayor Roger Foster and City Council Member Chuck Vyhnalek, who died July 31 and Aug. 3, respectively, is keenly felt within city departments. During this time city officials are . . .

City partners with community for National Night Out Aug. 6
People building a stronger community
The City of Crete will join communities across America celebrating National Night Out. This annual event promotes police-community partnerships and brings people together building stronger, safer, and more caring places to . . .

City staff recognized for years of service
Each year, City of Crete employees are presented awards for their years of loyal service to the citizens of Crete. This year 11 employees, with a combined 195 years of service to the City, received awards at an Employee . . .

Downtown streetscape project continues in 2019
Streetscape project with the Crete Community Foundation The City partnered with the Crete Community Foundation for a downtown beautification plan after researching and gathering examples and information from projects in . . .

Energy efficiency programs offer incentives to utility customers
Residents eligible through partnership with city's wholesale electric power supplier
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The City of Crete, in partnership with its wholesale electric power supplier, the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, is offering four energy efficiency programs with the goal of saving local utility customers . . .

USDA Rural Development Housing finance options covered at community meeting
A public meeting on USDA housing opportunities was held on Tuesday, June 18 at City Hall in Crete to learn about Rural Development Housing Programs. This meeting offered information to families interested in living in . . .
U.S. Census Surveys and 2020 Census information
The U.S. Census Bureau will conduct the Census in 2020 . Most households will not receive census materials and questionnaires until mid-March of 2020 and have the option to respond by filling out the form, responding online, or by . . .
Volunteers, officers, business owners aid in downtown street cleanup
Transfer Station has busy Saturday; cleanup activities wind down
As part of the City of Crete's Spring Cleanup, members of the Crete Volunteer Fire Department washed down Main Ave. on Sunday morning (May 5), bringing back a traditional department activity as well as kicking off a downtown . . .
Grant approved to assist theatre renovations
The City of Crete was awarded a $125,000 matching grant towards renovations for the city-owned Isis Theatre in an announcement made Monday (April 1) by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The Blue River Arts Council , . . .

Riverside Cemetery includes columbarium in northwest corner
New area provides place for funeral urns
Doane Professor Arthur Fairchild platted Riverside Cemetery in 1879 and patterned its parklike surroundings after Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass., a rural cemetery founded in 1831 with a columbarium dating to the early 1900s. . . .

Belohlavys receive Cornerstone Award
Mayor Roger Foster presented the Cornerstone Award to Janice and the late Roger Belohlvay in honor of their commitment to Crete and the business community, in which they used their entrepreneurial spirit to help create and sustain growth . . .
Sign up for Emergency Alerts
You can receive emergency alerts for Crete and the surrounding area by subscribing to Blue Rivers Basin Community Alert System (Gage, Jefferson, and Saline Counties). Link to set up Alert Sense free of charge: Sign up for . . .