Today is Labor Day, a national holiday. There is no mail delivery and government offices, financial institutions and schools, including Chadron State College, are closed.
The Chadron Public Library is also closed and the Chadron Town Council meeting that is normally held on the first Monday of every month will be tomorrow.
In his latest Labor Day address, Nebraska’s term-limited Governor Pete Ricketts praised what he calls the state’s “great work ethic” and its residents’ commitment to volunteering.
Ricketts said, “Nebraskans are known for working hard and the data confirms our state’s great work ethic. For every 100 adults, we have nearly 70 working, the most of any state in the nation.”
The governor noted that more Nebraskans are working now than ever before and that the WalletHub website recently ranked Nebraskans 3dr America’s hardest working state.
Ricketts praised Nebraskans for generously giving time to their communities through volunteer work, noting that the state ranks fifth in annual volunteer hours per resident, saying “thank you to the countless Nebraskans whose hard work , both on the clock and in volunteering, has grown.” our state last year.”
Ricketts added that he and his family wish everyone an enjoyable Labor Day, but with a reminder to stay safe on the water or behind the wheel by buckling up, not driving when drinking and wearing a life jacket on the lake so everyone get home. No danger.
Law enforcement agencies across the country are active for the final day of the final installment of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over anti-drunk driving campaign.
The Chadron Police Department is one of dozens of Nebraska law enforcement agencies that received a grant from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Office of Highway Safety to help cover the overtime costs of posting more officers on the road during it.
The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City by the local Central Labor Union on Tuesday, September 5, 1882.
Two years later, the “workers’ festival” was moved to the first Monday in September and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.
Oregon was the first state to make it a legal holiday in 1887…followed that same year by New York, New Jersey, Colorado and Massachusetts.
Nebraska, Connecticut and Pennsylvania had followed in 1890 and 23 other states had acted in 1894 when Congress made it a legal holiday in the territories and the District of Columbia.
Despite its historical ties to the labor movement, Labor Day is now best known for marking the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of fall.
Most tourist activities in state parks end their seasons today, and most tourist attractions, including national parks, start tomorrow in the fall or out of season.
Today is also the last day of the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island and the South Dakota State Fair in Huron.
Today’s entertainment at the Nebraska State Fair has high school rodeo action in the morning and the Nebraska State Championship Demolition Derby at 2:00 while the South Dakota State Fair offers the ATV Big Air Tour at 1:00.