Erin Schwager | SAM

Smart community • The village of Clearwater receives Smart Rural Community designation, Friday, from Melissa Lanzourakis, marketing manager for Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company. Accepting on behalf of village are (front row, l-r): Angie Hupp, village clerk; Steve Hankla, village chairman; Lauren Sheridan-Simonsen, economic development director; (back row, l-r): Bill Kester, Cornerstone Bank; Kelly Kerkman and Cody Kester, village trustees and Rod Schlecht, economic development board member.