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NEBRASKA CITY  — A longtime Nebraska City couple has been chosen to be the 2022 Arbor Day Honorees by the Nebraska City Tourism & Commerce Arbor Day Committee.

NCTC Director Amy Allgood announced the 2022 Arbor Day honoree as Dr. Dean and Keitha Thomson.

Allgood: “They have been involved in the community for many years but do so much for others behind the scenes.”

Dr. Dean and Keitha Thomson moved to Nebraska City in 1981. Dr. Thomson worked as a family physician until his retirement in 2015; he also served in the U.S. Army Medical Reserves for more than 20 years. Keitha was the school nurse for the Nebraska City Public School system before opening The Book Clinic in downtown Nebraska City in 1999. She also founded the Nebraska City Food Pantry.

 Until COVID, the Thomson facilitated biannual mission trips to Jamaica, providing medical care and infrastructural work to impoverished areas. In 2019, they were named the Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund’s Philanthropists of the Year. In 2021, the Thomsons created the Dean & Keitha Thomson Mission Grant through the Nebraska United Methodist Foundation. They are both active in the Nebraska City First United Methodist Church and the community’s barbershop choruses.

The Arbor Day Committee also selected Arbor Day Farm as the 2022 Tree Planters of the Year, citing appreciation of their continued partnership with Nebraska City as evidenced by the recent rebuilding of the Apple House Market.

Allgood: “We are all so impressed with how Arbor Day Farm took the tragedy that was the fire at the Apple House and turned it into something amazing.”

In addition, the Arbor Day Committee noted the commitment of Arbor Day Farm to their mission of inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees through their work at the Lied Lodge, Tree Adventure, and Arbor Lodge State Park.

A Commemorative Tree Planting to recognize Dr. Dean & Keitha Thomson as the 2022 Arbor Day Honorees and the Arbor Day Farm as the 2022 Tree Planters of the Year will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 29, near the Fish Pond in Arbor Lodge.

 A third tree will be planted in honor of the Nebraska City Street Department and in memory of the late Bob Lechner.

Allgood: “We have a unique opportunity this year to praise the Nebraska City Street Department for all the work they do throughout the year and Bob’s passing makes this so bittersweet.”

Lecher, a street department employee, died in March.

Another special event will take place earlier in the day when representatives from the Nemaha Natural Resources District will plant a tree in the front lawn of the Arbor Lodge mansion in honor of the NRD’s 50th Anniversary. That tree planting will take place at noon.

 All tree plantings are open to the public. The trees are being provided by Keep Nebraska City Beautiful through a grant by Keep America Beautiful and UPS. The Friends of Arbor Lodge Foundation is hosting receptions following each tree planting.

 Details on all weekend activities scheduled throughout the community can be found at NebraskaCity.com/festival/arbor-day.