The Annual Baileyville Benefit includes Wetmore recipient – Cole Strathman.

The annual Baileyville Benefit is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25-26, at Nemaha Central Schools in Seneca.

This annual benefit raises money for local recipients, or recipients with local ties, who have a medical need. Cole Strathman — a Wetmore High School graduate — is one of this year’s recipients. Other recipients include Shea Mueting, Teagan Lueger and Chuck Kling.

This event marks the 41st year this event has been held and in the past years, the benefit has grown in leaps and bounds to where they are today. What began in Baileyville in one gym is now held in Seneca at the Nemaha Central High School, and the Nemaha Central Grade School is keeping three gyms busy for two days.

Volleyball and basketball teams will open up the benefit first thing Saturday morning and after a full day of competition will continue play again first thing Sunday morning. The championship volleyball game will take place at 2 p.m., and the basketball championship will be played at 3 p.m.

There will be a live, silent and online auction. The online auction began at noon Saturday, Feb. 18, and ends at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25.

There will be a corn hole tournament on Sunday. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and throwing begins at 11 a.m. The entry fee is $25 per person.

Beneficiaries

Cole Strathman: Cole was in an accident on Sept. 18, 2022. He was driving a semi when a car pulled in front of him. He swerved to miss the vehicle and hit a cement bridge support, destroying the cab of his truck. He suffered many injuries including a severed leg. Efforts were made to save the leg, but it was unsuccessful. Cole has had several surgeries and is home recovering. He has home health and occupational and physical therapies three times a week. He will have ongoing medical expenses and will need a prosthetic leg, which has to be replaced every five years. Cole graduated from Wetmore High School and Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Neb. He is a diehard Case IH man and driving a truck was his life.

Shea Mueting: Shea is the three-year old daughter of Kyle and Jill Mueting. She was born with Rhett Syndrome, which is a neurological disorder that causes lifelong issues with hand function, walking, speaking, eating and breathing. Shea has many doctor appointments with various specialists and receives speech and occupational therapies several times a week. She is mentally doing well but is unable to walk or talk. Shea is currently learning to communicate with a special computer that the family had to pay for out of pocket. Shea’s treatments and doctor visits will be a lifelong expense for the family.

Teagan Lueger: Teagan is the 14-year old daughter of Matt and Julie Lueger. On Jan. 29, 2022, she collapsed while playing basketball and suffered a stroke. Teagan had an extended hospital stay with lots of speech, physical and occupational therapies. She will continue therapy and a specialized stroke rehabilitation for several years. She has also suffered a silent second stroke. The cause of the stroke was vasculitis of the blood vessels in her brain caused by an auto immune disease. She receives a monthly Cytoxan infusion in an attempt to cure the vasculitis.

Chuck Kling: Chuck has masses on his kidneys and lungs. His doctors referred him to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. After two trips to Mayo Clinic with lung and bilateral kidney biopsies, it has been determined he has renal cell carcinoma. The doctors are hopeful the treatments they have planned will prevent him from losing one or both of his kidneys. Chuck is at the beginning of his medical battle, so there are still many unknowns. He has worked for Eisenbarth plumbing for many years and is also an umpire for youth summer ball in Seneca.