Nebraska Panhandle town raises funds to help Knox County flood recovery

POTTER, NE - Nearly a year after the 2019 Floods, communities are still recovering. Knox County in northeast Nebraska - one of the hardest hit areas - is getting some help from a town about 400 miles away.

"Every community has a project that they're trying to help raise money for," Potter CarBowl Board Chair Drew Enevoldsen said. "Some hit a little bit closer to home."

Potter, a town in the Nebraska Panhandle, holds an annual festival called CarBowl. It includes events like a car show, bowling tournament and BBQ Contest. All the proceeds from the event go to help nonprofits or causes.

The funds from last year’s BBQ contest are going to help repair a baseball field in Knox County.

"It's definitely a devastating thing that happened, and we're really glad that we can help out in any way," Potter CarBowl Board Member Ed Revord said.

Enevoldsen met Stacie Miller with Knox County Economic Development at a Nebraska Tourism Conference. There, she told him the story of kids who had lost their ball field to the floods. After a Skype call with the kids, Drew knew they had to help.

"These boys weren't complaining at all," Enevoldsen said. "They just hung up their cleats, hung up their gloves and went right to work helping out all the other people in town that were less fortunate."

The BBQ competition raised $500. Triple Crown Sports out of Denver is pitching in $400. Others around the area have also donated to the cause.

"Happy to be able to donate funds to a great group of kids that, you know, what really happened after the flood was they sacrificed their summer and making memories, that all got put on hold," Potter CarBowl Board Member B.J. Juelfs said.

The funds will be sent - along with the names of all who donated - to Knox County on March 1st. Until then, they are still accepting donations.

Checks can be left at the Potter State Bank payable to the Potter Lions Club or mailed to PO Box 67 Potter, NE 69156.