City of Wakefield

Wakefield is governed by a Mayor-Council form of government.  Mr. Tom Henderson is currently the Mayor of Wakefield. City Council members of Ward 1 are:  Mike Mogus and Terry Nicholson.  The Council representatives for Ward II are:  Mike Loofe, Council President and Paul Eaton.   The City of Wakefield provides electrical services, sewer services, street repair, water services, and waste management which include the operation of a recycling center.

The voter registration division in Wakefield is 5th Street.  Everything north of 5th Street is Ward I.  Everything south of 5th Street is Ward II.

For more information, please contact the City of Wakefield at 405 Main Street, P.O. Box 178, Wakefield, NE 68784. Telephone:  402-287-2080.

Churches

Organizations

American Legion Anton Bokemper Post 81 - American Legion Post 81 welcomes you to become a member of our Post.  Please call or email Ken Petit, Adjutant at (402) 287-2362 or kpetit@huntel.net to find out how you can be a member in Wakefield, Nebraska.  Come to Wakefield and see our beautiful Veterans Park.  We need you!

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization.  A community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 millions members - men and women - in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide.  These Posts are organized into 55 Departments - one each for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 81 - To participate in and to contribute to the accomplishments of the aims and purposes of the American Legion.  Contact Liz Ekberg at (402) 287-2653 for further information.

Boy Scouts of USA - All levels of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are active in Wakefield.  Contact Scoutmaster Cheryl Roberts for more information.

Corinthian Lodge #83 - An organization of men which are on the level and equal.  Known for its charity.  For further information, contact Bob Jones or Alvin Sundell.

Gardner Senior Citizen's Center - Gardner Senior Citizen's Center offers noon meals (M-F) with reservations needed to be phoned in by 9:00 am.  The Center is located at 3rd and Johnson Streets.  For more information, contact (402) 287-2149.

Girl Scouts of USA - "Brownies" (Grades 1-3) and "Junior" (Grades 4-6) troops are organized.  Cookie sales occur in January with delivery in March.  Contact Val Bard at (402) 287-2839 for more information.

Golden Rod Chapter #166, Order of the Eastern Star - Order of the Eastern Star is a charitable and fraternal organization.  For further information, contact Nancy Kinney at (402) 375-1976.

Sons of the American Legion Squadron

Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Unit 5765 -To participate in and to contribute to the accomplishments of the aims and purposes of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

VFW Allen Keagle Post 5765 - VFW is a patriotic historical and educational organization to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members.

Wakefield Advance - An energetic group of people promoting the high quality of life and business in the best of Rural Communities in Nebraska, which we proudly call home.

Wakefield Community Club - The Wakefield Community Club is a voluntary organization of individuals and businesses working together to advance the general welfare and prosperity of the Wakefield Community.  The Club meets every first Thursday of the month at 9 am at the Gardner Senior Center.

Wakefield Firefighter Auxiliary - Be of service to the firefighters.

Wakefield Health Care Center - The purpose of the Wakefield Health care center is to care for the elderly.  With our new apartments, the health care center provides the best living arrangement possible for all the residents.  For further information, contact (402) 287-2247.

Wakefield Lions Club - Meets 2nd Wednesday of each month except during summer.

Gardner Public Library

The Gardner Public Library contains 11,156 volumes and has an average annual circulation of 24,500.  Library activities include a summer reading program and Halloween and Christmas programs. 

Graves Library Museum

Philo Graves built and donated the first building used for a school.  He also donated money and assisted with the building of local churches.  He provided land for the cemetary, established the Graves Public Library as a memorial to his son, and created Graves Park, still existing today, with scores of walnut trees.  A subdivision of the city is the Graves Addition.

The Graves Public Library has been a sharp public figure in the Wakefield community since 1915.  Built in memory for Jay Philo Graves, this library has been serving Wakefield for over 9 decades.  The original structure held a portico entrance standing six feet tall, above a 13 step exterior staircase.  The building is a great honor for the Grave's family and served the community proudly.

In 1885, Graves moved to California where little is known of his life.  The sad ending to the story is that Philo Graves died penniless.  Wakefield friends of this man who did so much for our town took up a collection to have his body returned to the area for burial.

In the basement of the museum, is the Russ Marshall Antique Wrench Collection.  Russell Marshall wanted to purchase a building to put his wrench's in so in 2005 he purchased the Graves Public Library.  Russell has collected wrenches for 15 years.  The wrenches will be displayed at the museum for years to come.

Family Resource Center

The mission of the Family Resource Center is "To provide quality services to children and families and to have a safe, healthy learning environment.  To always enjoy ALL children working together united in a loving and giving community.  To be a respected and trusted resource center working with all appropriate agencies for the betterment of our community."

The Family Resource Center (FRC) in Wakefield provides services to meet the changing needs of our community and beyond.  Programs for children, parents and families are provided by the FRC.  In addition, forty-four percent of the FRC programs service the adult population.  The local food pantry is managed by the FRC as well.  Currently, our community has additional needs that the FRC hopes to be able to provide in the future through the building of a new facility.

Health Care

The Rescue Squad in Wakefield is comprised of 23 volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians who respond to calls with three fully equipped ambulances, one with a defibrillator.  The ambulances are owned by the Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department.

Providence Medical Center (PMC) provides the health care needs of area residents.  Fourteen specialty clinics and 52 visiting specialists are available at PMC on a regular basis.  This 34-bed, acute care facility with a 6 bed bassinet nursery provides skilled/swing-bed, intermediate and domicillary care.  PMC has an on-site CAT scan and mammography services and features an oncology respite room and birthing suite.  A mobile MRI unit visits the hospital weekly.  The hospital has coronary care units, an ancillary department which includes radiology, laboratory, physical therapy, and emergency/out-patient services.  The Providence Wellness Center offers the latest in exercise technology to its members.  PMC has developed an innovative plan which will assist individuals undergoing cardiac rehabilitation, physical therapy, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, osteoporosis prevention and treatment, and individual supervised exercise.

Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department

The Wakefield Volunteer Fire Dept is made of  26 active members. They are led by the chief, assistant chief and 2 Captains. They also have a training officer and attend various training exercises through out the year including the Nebraska State Fire School. They are known for the longevity of their members. Five of the members have over 30 years of experience, and there are several others with 20 years or more. Their equipment includes 2 pumpers and 2 tanker trucks.

Wakefield also has their own Rescue Unit with 2 ambulances. The firemen all double as rescue volunteers and 19 of them are EMTA certified.

Nursing Homes

The city-owned Wakefield Health Care Center was built in 1974 and expanded in 1977.  The 44-bed facility, providing nursing level care to residents, is state and federally approved for Medicaid and Medicare.  The Care Center enjoys active local support and involvement from the community with social, recreational, transportation, and physical therapy programs.

A six-unit assisted living apartment complex is a part of the Care Center.  An additional 17-units will be ready for occupancy in mid-2000.

Little Red Hen Theatre

In the summer of 1992 our first presentation, The Hobbit, was performed in our old nest. Volunteers had worked for months finding a space, cleaning the building, building a stage, auditioning and rehearsing. Rave reviews encourage the local thespians, and the Little Red Hen Threatre continued!

Casts have been large and small; musicals and adult dramas have been presented. Audiences have enjoyed old favorites and new styles of presentations. Sets have been simple; sets have revolved. Through the years, though, one aspect of LRHT has remained constant — the volunteers!

Volunteers helped build our sets and props, ran lights and sound, directed shows, acted and sang, seated our guests, and spiffed up our nest for company. Volunteers worked with makeup and hair. They sewed costumes and props; they organized shoes. Volunteers sold tickets and folded programs. They found just the perfect props for the plays.

Then, when the coop began to droop, volunteers emptied our old nest and stored things while the new theatre was being constructed. Without all the volunteers, we could not have moved everything back into our new nest in the spring of 2005 and presented such a wonderful opening show that summer.

Visit our website and see the future: http://www.littleredhentheatre.com.

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