Celebrating what’s right in Grant
Dear Editor,
Over the past few weeks, I’ve written about important concerns regarding transparency and local government accountability. But today, I want to pause and highlight something undeniably positive: the incredible Fourth of July celebration held at Grant City Park.
From early morning until the final burst of fireworks, the park was filled with energy, laughter, and connection. It was clear that a great deal of planning and community effort went into making the celebration one to remember—for all ages.
The day began with an inspiring opening ceremony and a patriotic fun run. Families gathered for breakfast provided by the Perkins County School Foundation, and kids lined up for caricatures, sidewalk chalk art contests, and bounce houses hosted by Grant E-Free Church. Youth Challenge and Camp Machasay led games of 9 Square and Gaga Ball, while the Perkins County FFA offered slushies and hosted a lively corn hole tournament.
The park stayed buzzing with action—sand volleyball matches, a classic car show, and a watermelon feed that hit the spot on a hot summer day. Lunch was served by Youth Challenge Bible Quizzing, and the BBQ Rib Cookoff samples drew crowds eager to taste some local BBQ talent. Throughout the park, families tested their knowledge with Tree Trivia and enjoyed music and live announcements thanks to Matthew Chandler-Smith and Orpheus Music & Sound.
The City of Grant opened the pool for free swimming, and the day concluded in true July 4th fashion with a spectacular fireworks show at the fairgrounds, courtesy of the Grant Volunteer Fire Department and funded by the Perkins County Chamber and community donors.
Although I wasn’t able to partake in every event—sometimes work gets in the way of fun—it was evident from the turnout, the smiles, and the stories shared that the celebration was a resounding success. In fact, it’s been spoken of highly by people in surrounding communities, many of which don’t host anything close to this level of activity or hometown pride.
To every organizer, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter—THANK YOU. These events don’t happen without dedication, coordination, and genuine love for this community. You gave Grant a day to be proud of. And if I’ve accidentally left someone out in this letter, please know it wasn’t intentional—your efforts are appreciated just the same.
Lately, some have suggested that I only focus on the negative. That’s a narrative I’ll gladly challenge. The truth is, holding leadership accountable and celebrating community spirit are not opposites—they’re two sides of the same coin. Both come from a place of caring deeply about Grant and wanting to see it thrive.
More and more people are coming forward—asking questions, sharing their own experiences, and wanting to better understand what’s going on. I was stopped on the street recently by people who genuinely wanted to hear my perspective. I welcome those conversations. If you have questions, concerns, or just want to talk about what’s working and what’s not—I’m always open to listening.
So today, I’ll leave the politics aside and just say this: last week, GRANT SHOWED UP. And that’s something we can all be proud of.
Sincerely,
Marlin Wendell
Grant, Nebraska