Lancaster County, NE

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Couple grows business in Bennet with home and garden store



BENNET, Neb. (KOLN) - Tailored Life 360 is a hub for gifts in the garden and in the home. The people who created this home in Bennet are a husband and wife who studied horticulture together in college. Now their talents are bringing their business to life. “I transferred in (to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln), so I was an old freshman,” said Jake Sittner, founder of Tailored Landscaping. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I couldn’t see myself wearing a suit and a tie to work every day.” Jake, who is from Lincoln, met his wife on East Campus when they were both taking the same classes. Kristi, who is from Grand Island, had interests that leaned more toward the plant genetics, but she preferred interacting with people over labwork.

Jake had so much experience working for other landscaping companies that his friend suggested he start his own. “I was sitting at the kitchen table with my mom trying to come up with names,” Jake chuckled. “Tailored Landscaping is what we came up with because I wanted to tailor things to people’s needs and do a lot of custom work.” His landscaping business began in 2003, and the couple bought 20 acres outside of Bennet in 2008. That’s where they grow plants, build custom light fixtures and store landscaping materials. The space allows them to order in materials from other states and ship light fixtures across the country. They added another business to Tailored Landscaping and called it Tailored Lights. “And then it kind of snowballed into, ‘What if we do a retail, and it becomes a place where people come and hang out?’” said Kristi Sittner. “And we could draw people in and bring people together.”

[Coyote]

Naturally Nebraska
The Enchanted Forest 2024



MoPac Trail East

Overview
The MoPac Trail East follows the former Missouri Pacific Railroad's Omaha Belt Line (hence "MoPac"). The trail offers a rural experience, heading east from the outskirts of Lincoln through the small communities of Walton, Eagle, Elmwood, and Wabash. Spanning nearly 22 miles, the crushed-stone pathway traverses prairie, woodland, and farmland.

About the Route
The Mopac Trail East has a western endpoint on the outskirts of Lincoln, but as it heads east, becomes increasingly more rural as it leaves the suburbs and moves into a sparsely populated farm country. The trail is rural in aspects, as it travels through farmlands and rolling hills along a crushed-stone pathway that can be rough in some sections. Most of the route is sheltered in some sections surrounded by the trees that line the old railroad corridor. Along the route, trail users will pass the towns of Eagle and Elmwood, both of which have modest dining and retail options.

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Bennet bar owner lives out his dream with family at Big Ten Tavern



BENNET, Neb. (KOLN) - Wing Night keeps the Kontor family on their toes at the Big Ten Tavern, but this atmosphere is what the owner, Kurt Kontor, has always dreamed about. “Ever since we first got married,” said Kurt, standing beside his wife Kris. “But it was always no because we had kids, and it’s not a place to raise kids and it takes a lot of time and a lot of effort. " Kurt didn’t start living out this dream until he wasn’t sure how much time he had left. In 2012, a mysterious illness put him in a coma for 18 days, and it kept him in the hospital for 40 days. “The day I checked out, they couldn’t tell me what was wrong,” Kurt said. “And when I was 50 - I didn’t even tell my wife that we were going to do it. I just did it.”

Kurt and Kris’s sons play a huge role in feeding this bedroom community next to Lincoln. “It’s rewarding to feed the community,” said Broc Kontor, kitchen manager. “It’s always been something that I’ve enjoyed. I enjoy standing out here after everybody’s gotten fed and just knowing everybody’s had some good food.” The Kontors are always on the clock, especially with Kurt still working as a contractor full time. But he’s just grateful to be spending time with family and friends at the Big Ten Tavern. “Somebody still wanted me on earth for some reason,” Kurt said. “Maybe this is it. I don’t know.” For that small-town bar experience, you can come to the Big Ten Tavern at 625 Monroe St. in Bennet. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday, and you can view their hours on the Big Ten Tavern Facebook page. Orders can be called in to 402-782-1059.

[Coyote]

Calm Hike Around A Local Favorite Hiking Trail:
Holmes Lake!



Hello everyone! The weather is cooperating and we are back at our local hiking spot-Holmes Lake! Holmes Lake has a loop trail of about 3miles and very easy to do. Families from all over our hometown of Lincoln spend time here whenever the weather allows for it. Enjoy the day with us!

Holmes Lake Park

[Coyote]

Naturally Nebraska:
Shoemaker Marsh Sunrise



Frank Shoemaker Marsh

[Coyote]

Genealogists help tell veterans’ stories in Malcolm, Pleasant Dale



MALCOLM and PLEASANT DALE, Neb. (KOLN) - The Lincoln Lancaster County Genealogical Society helped arrange the life stories of heroes who are buried in Malcolm and Pleasant Dale. On Memorial Day, the two communities gathered in both cemeteries to hear the biographies of deceased heroes from their area. “As a veteran, we are not good about telling our own stories, so it’s left up to people like Sheila Spath, and the researchers at the Lincoln Lancaster County Genealogy Society,” said Teresa Shane, co-vice president for programs and education. “Some of the veterans will have very detailed information. You may be able to find the entire compiled service record of your veteran, and that may be all there is, but some of these stories have been repeated within the community.” Spath is a member of the Malcolm Cemetery Association who partnered with the Lincoln Lancaster Genealogy Society. At this year’s Memorial Day Services, the genealogists and an American Legion member read the stories of a Garza Revolution soldier, WWI veterans and WWII veterans. This tradition began last year, when Spath organized Civil War soldier poems and life stories, instead of traditional Memorial Day speeches. The positive response from the community kept this tradition going.

“My dad’s name is Wesley F. Brooks Senior,” said Debbie Brooks Berg, daughter of the Malcolm veteran. “He spent 30 years serving the country, and it’s nice to see him get some recognition and appreciation.” After the Memorial Day service at Malcolm Cemetery, community members could walk past the gravestones and read yellow signs with more details about the deceased servicemen. Then the American Legion Post #354 took the presentation to the Pleasant Dale Cemetery. The Malcolm and Milford bands played music throughout the service, and two young community members presented the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language for deaf attendees. “Hearing their names being said and then going through their stories - it’s really important to remember and honor them as people too,” said Haley Brhel, a Pleasant Dale Auxiliary member. The Lincoln Lancaster County Genealogical Society has a library with over 8,000 materials at 2900 O St. in Lincoln. The nonprofit provides classes, resources and programs for anyone with an interest in history. You can visit their website to learn more about their services or donate.

[Coyote]

The Bean Box upgrades from coffee trailer to new shop in Bennet



BENNET, Neb. (KOLN) - About 5,000 cars pass through Bennet every day, and if you’re on your way to Lincoln, there’s a little place where you can get a boost of energy. It’s called The Bean Box Coffee Co. The owner, Lynn Shulz, jumped back into the coffee business after raising her kids. “Twenty plus years ago, I was a barista at the Cornhusker Hotel for 10 years, and I loved it,” Lynn said. In the beginning, she thought outside of the box by making coffee inside of a coffee trailer.

“I looked it up and Googled it and got on Pinterest,” Lynn said. “It was actually a thing.” The Bean Box Coffee Trailer started in 2019, and the business on wheels kept rolling, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. “So it was kind of neat to watch people just be able to talk to each other and enjoy each other’s company outdoors and feel safe,” Lynn said. The mobile business parked at neighborhood events, corporate events, graduation parties and other celebrations.

“It was really cool to see the regulars come up and like they would track us down at any location we were at,” said Taylor Shulz, Lynn’s daughter who is also a barista. “They really, really love my mom’s coffee.” Eventually, Lynn wanted a more permanent place to park. She opened a brick and mortar in 2023. “I chose Bennet. We had looked around Lincoln for multiple locations,” Lynn said. “And it’s a little saturated with coffee shops, and the rent was high.”

The Bean Box Coffee