History...

The first Nebraska Panhandle Czech Day was held in Lodgepole, Nebraska, at the Legion Hall in December, 1970. The purpose was to revive and preserve the traditions of the Czech people. A covered dish dinner and supper was held with many ethnic dishes served. The remainder of the day was spent dancing to polka music, waltzes and visiting. This has grown through the years until today we have several states represented.

In loving memory of Don Lafler

The first Nebraska Panhandle Czech Day was held in
The Nebraska Czechs are a state organization, and they urged us to become a chapter of their organization. So in 1980, we became the Czechs of the Nebraska Panhandle and were the ninth chapter to be awarded a charter. The charter was presented to the President, Lorraine Hornicek Lafler at Czech Day by Jim Sabata of Lincoln, representing Nebraska Czechs.

Our chapter includes a large area of the Panhandle from Grant and Ogallala to Wyoming and north to Hemingford and Alliance. We would meet twice a year in the Panhandle. Hemingford in June and Lodgepole in September. The first officers were:
-President--              Lorraine Hornicek Lafler, Sidney
-Vice-President--     Jerry Sejkora, Grant
-Secretary--              Marge Bohac, Kimball
-Treasurer--             Thelma Hornicek Michelman, Lodgepole

Novotny's Polka Band was our chapter band for many years and played at all our functions, until they disbanded in 1989. In 1980, Joe Fairfield composed a song for our club titled, "The Lodgepole Polka."

In 1989, Lorraine Hornicek Lafler, who organized the club and along with her family chaired the Lodgepole Czech Day for twenty years, retired and turned the reins over to Melvin and Margaret Kokes and their family.

In 2011, we decided to hold a silent auction and received donations from local businesses and personal donations. This was very successful and people seemed to enjoy doing this so we plan to hold them until it is no longer deemed a success.