|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fire damages Cozad's antique garage 2013-05-20 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Early Sunday morning, an electrical short in a light fixture and the resulting fire caused extensive damage to Tom and Donna Cozad’s historic Ford Garage in Gering. Cozad said the fire started in the main display of the garage, where several antique cars were housed. The ceiling caught on fire and spread to the room above, where a vast collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia was on display. “There was pretty extensive damage to three of the Model A’s that were in there,” Cozad said. “There was heat and smoke damage to the Coke display on the second floor. It was contained to that main part of the building, other than smoke and water damage throughout the rest of it.” The Cozads, who live in the north half of the building, were awakened about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. Two people who were driving by on 7th St. saw the fire and called 911. The Gering Police Department was the first on the scene and awakened the Cozads. The Scottsbluff Fire Department’s Tower 1 unit evacuated them from their second floor apartment. Donna Cozad said they were lucky to be alive, as the room was filled with smoke when they awoke. For several years, Cozad’s Garage has served as the finish line for the final day of the Sugar Valley Rally. “The Sugar Valley Rally will still finish here on June 2,” he said. “Part of the building will be open for people to tour, but the area of the fire will be closed off. It’s going to take a lot of time to reconstruct that section of the building.” The Scottsbluff Fire Department, as well as Scottsbluff Rural Fire Department, provided mutual aid assistance for the Gering Fire Department. |
| Officers remember fallen comrades 2013-05-16 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| By On Monday, law enforcement agencies from around the county gathered at the Scotts Bluff County Courthouse in memory of their fallen comrades. Sergeant Philip Eckerberg of the Scottsbluff Police Department said the event is scheduled annually during May as part of National Police Officers Memorial Week. “We want to remember those who were killed in the line of duty,” Eckerberg said. “We need to honor their memory for their sacrifice.” Participating agencies included Troop E of the Nebraska State Patrol, which has lost 11 officers over the years; Gering and Scottsbluff Police Departments, who have each lost one officer; and the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff, which hasn’t had an officer die in the line of duty. The event also honored retired officers who have died in the past year, including Nancy Paetow of the Scottsbluff Police Department and Deputy Sheriff Mike McCoy. “This is also a time for the public to remember the importance of law enforcement in their communities,” Eckerberg said. “Officers work at all hours and on holidays. Because of them, our towns are a safe place to live.” |
| Bentley honored with tourism award 2013-05-16 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| During the tourism luncheon last week at the Gering Civic Center, longtime Gering resident Darrell Bentley was presented with the Tourism Volunteer Buddy Award. Initiated six years ago by the Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau, the award honors those who actively volunteer their time and talent to promote the area to visitors. Bentley recently stepped down from 10 years as media coordinator for Sugar Valley Rally, which is celebrating its 25th year this June. He also serves as chairman of Gering’s Keno committee, that awards funding to numerous projects for community betterment. Bentley said a friend had to result to some deception to get him to attend, and he was surprised he was the honoree. He praised the countless volunteers who also help in promoting the community. Karla Niedan-Streeks, executive director of the Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau, also thanks all the volunteers who help promote the community. She mentioned the front line workers, who go out of their way to help travelers with directions, and so many other services. She also unveiled two of the 15 signs that will direct travelers to specific sites around the community. The signs should be installed by Oregon Trail Days. Previous winners of the Tourism Buddy Award include Tom Cozad, Rick Myers, Rick and Judy Keller, Ken Mabery and Barb Netherland. |
| Railroad art exhibit a delight 2013-05-16 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| The West Nebraska Arts Center (WNAC) in Scottsbluff is hosting a unique touring art display that celebrates the history of the railroad in America. The gallery is offering the public a chance to visit the “Railroads and the Making of Modern America” free of charge from May 7 to June 5. “There is a big variety of art on display,” WNAC executive director Mason Burbach said at the opening reception. “This exhibit presents a lot of different ideas of how the railroad modernized America. It features how the railroad helped to grow industry, travel and tourism.” Many people attended the opening last Thursday afternoon, enjoying the many paintings, prints and photographs at the arts center. “A lot of print making techniques are featured with this display,” Burbach added. “We have woodcuts, lithographs, and serigraph prints along with original paintings, photographs and other mediums.” Burbach said the exhibition will be up for the rest of the month before it is moved to Chadron State College as part of an eight city tour of Nebraska. The exhibit will be open and free to the public every Tuesday to Friday from 9 a m to 5 p.m., and 1 to 5 p.m on weekends. “We are closed on Monday,” he said, “but we can offer a tour by appointment.” Burbach also said the arts center was happy to be part of the Nebraska State Tourism Passport Program this year. “We are one of 80 destinations in the state that will offer a special passport stamp to visitors. We have passports available here to help people get started.” The art on display is mostly Mid Twentieth Century work featuring some famous American artists such as Mabel Dwight, Clarence Kerr Chatterton, Thomas Hart Benton, Dan Rico, and Roy Ahlgren. A few European woodcuts of the German and French metro systems are also included. According to the pamphlet from Sheldon Statewide between 1840 and 1900, the railroad network in the United States expanded from a total length of about 5,000 miles to almost 200,000. Railroads touched nearly every aspect of modern society well into the twentieth century, and the disruption they seemed to cause was widely discussed and felt. Railroads brought changes in the fundamental elements of energy and production where for generations there had been nothing but continuity. The new technology seemed to indicate that people could control and direct much more than anyone had ever anticipated, shaping cultures, economies, and landscapes in new and complex ways. Art gallery visitor Velma Vance, of Gering, said, “This all sort of brings me back to my childhood. Years ago in South Dakota my mother had produce that she shipped to Chicago. The trains ran right by our home at that time. We lived near Burke, South Dakota. The tracks are all gone now, but I've always been fascinated by trains. My son kept a model train set in our basement. It is enjoyable to look at all these different pictures and different perspectives.” “Railroads and the Making of Modern America” is a project of Sheldon Statewide, an education and exhibition outreach program of the Sheldon Museum of Art, Sheldon Art Association, and University of Nebraska – Lincoln. It is made possible by the generous support of Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Nebraska, the Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, Sheldon Art Association, and James and Rhonda Seacrest. |
| Council hears concerns about landfill 2013-05-16 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Gering resident David Lashley, who lives near the Gering landfill, came before the council Monday evening to express his concerns the landfill’s height and construction. Lashley said he built his house about two years ago on Westridge Drive, across the street from the landfill. “At the time we had a full view of the monument. We felt that added to the value of our home.” Lashley said that over the past few years, cell 5the landfill has been increasing in height due to the increased volume of trash Gering has been collecting from both Scottsbluff and Mitchell. “I guess there was some confusion, or we were misinformed with be built,” he said. “We were told the city had agreed to not to above grade when building up the landfill. But the cells to the south went above grade.” Lashley said the cells are filling up at a faster rate than first predicted. Cell 6, the last remaining cell, is still under construction and Lashley said it might not be open until June. Consequently, the previous cell 5 got another layer of trash over the winter. That, Lashley claims, reduced his view of the monument by about half. And another layer being laid down will reduce the view even more. “I think this is affecting the value of my home,” Lashley told council members. We can only build to 15 feet in height because of the view of the monument.” His question was that if home builders are restricted in height, why different rules should apply for the landfill. “We chose the lot we did with the understanding the new landfill cell wouldn’t go above the height of the previous one,” he said. “It’s already higher than that.” He added his property taxes will probably go up again next year, although the value of his property is going down because of the loss of view. “I’m asking you to be good neighbors,” he told council members. “At this time, I’m not seeing that. When I asked three different officials about it, I got the same response that the city has a permit. But having a permit doesn’t make it right. Now you’re doing to me what you asked me not to do.” The council took Lashley’s concerns under advisement and the Public Works Committee will consider the matter. The council also allowed for a number of zoning exceptions for business growth. One exception allows for storage sheds on the property of the new Nemnich Automotive just south of the river on 10th St. Erik Nemnich agreed to several landscaping requests so the area would remain attractive as Gering’s northern gateway. Council also approved an LB 840 grant of up to $25,000 and a $16,000 loan for equipment at the new facility. Council approved exceptions to modify parking restrictions along 10th St. to allow for the new construction of Platte Valley Bank and Family Dollar. An exception will allow for the reopening of the shooting range at 1448 10th St. in downtown Gering was also approved. Rich Schank told council members the range would be used for education, such as getting people qualified for concealed carry and other permits. The range will also be open for law enforcement use. The council also rezoned the block where the McKinley school will soon be taken down. The original 12 lots were reduced to 10 to allow for residential homes to be built on the property. Gering resident David Carter had an objection to that. He said that if the McKinley building is removed, officials should consider another school to replace it. Council member Larry Gibbs said the school board has shown no interest in another school, and the current McKinley building is derelict and not useful for 21st century technology. LB 840 grant funding of up to $20,000 was also extended to Kozy Keno Bar and Grill, the former Pond, which will reopen soon in Terrytown. Gibbs said he would vote to approve the funding. However, he said the City of Terrytown needs to hold an election to implement its own LB 840 funding mechanism for future development projects. |
| Gering journalists claim Class B title 2013-05-16 By |
| The Nebraska School Activities Association’s State Journalism Championships were held on May 13 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The top-12 places from the preliminary judging, event champions in Classes A1, A2, B, C, and D, and alternates were invited to compete in the State Contest. The one-day championship event is sponsored by the Nebraska School Activities Association, the Nebraska High School Press Association and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In team results, Gering topped Class B with 86 total points. Scottsbluff took second place in Class A2 with 28 points. Local winners included: Katie O’Boyle of Gering in News/Feature Photography; Tanner Baird of Gering in Column Writing; Spencer Lake of Scottsbluff in Editorial Cartooning; Alexa Anderson of Gering in Editorial Writing; Kaela Heinz of Scottsbluff in Headline Writing; Sarah Hall, Rachel Madden and Shalee Roseberry of Scottsbluff for In-Depth Coverage; Sarah Mercer-Smith and Katelyn Myers of Scottsbluff form Newspaper Feature Writing; Kendall Uhrich of Gering for News Writing; Michael Marsh of Gering for Photo Illustration; Holly Grote of Gering for Sports News Coverage; Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski of Gering for Yearbook Layout; Kendall Uhrich of Gering for Yearbook Sports Feature Writing; Lucas Parsley, Allison Stricker and Logan Williams of Scottsbluff for Yearbook Theme Development. |
| Hotel market study could be ready by June 2013-05-16 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| By Plans for a project that would build a multi-story, mid-scale hotel near the Gering Civic Center appear to be moving forward. About 30 people attended a meeting on May 7 with representatives from Wisconsin-based Cobblestone Hotels. The meeting was to gauge whether there was support for a new hotel in Gering. “There appears there’s some interest in moving forward,” said Rawnda Pierce, executive director of Twin Cities Development. “The next step is to see whether the project is feasible.” Cobblestone will conduct a marketing analysis of the area, which would look at all aspects of the community and its potential draw for a customer base. The analysis will provide needed information on how large a facility can be supported, what will be the project’s budget and other factors. “The study will enable us to sit down with potential investors and give them an idea of what to expect as the project moves forward,” Pierce said. During the initial meeting, Cobblestone said it is considering property north of Civic Center, the site of the former Health and Human Services building, which is now owned by the city. Once a marketing analysis is completed, it will be sent to a design architect to see what size and type of hotel would best fit community needs and lot size. “Once those two items are in place, we can begin serious discussions about financing the project,” Pierce said. Cobblestone estimated the project would run in the $5 million range and indicated a need for about $2 million in local financing. Obviously, that would mean getting some of the local banks on board. The City of Gering has also indicated it could help out with tax increment financing to help cover infrastructure requirements. Financing from the city’s LB 840 fund might also be available for the project. Cobblestone will handle all the work of ordering the market analysis and an initial architectural design. “If we have a commitment from the city, Cobblestone could have something for us as early as Memorial weekend,” Pierce said. “We’re looking at May or June to have the information compiled and ready.” Cobblestone Hotels, which works with smaller cities, had properties in Fairbury, Seward and Wayne, Nebraska. Two other hotels are under construction in Nebraska, in Hartington and Broken Bow. Pierce also announced that TCD has been working with Bomgaars Supply. The company, with 60 stores in Nebraska and Iowa, is moving a distribution center into a building in Gering’s Industrial Park on Rundell Road. The center would be for distribution of its animal feed products to its 14 area retail stores. |
| News Briefs ... 2013-05-16 By |
| Riverside Discovery Center seeks craft & food vendors for May 25th Season Kick-off Event Scottsbluff – Riverside Discovery Center would like to extend an invitation to craft and food vendors to exhibit and sell items at the zoo season kick-off event on Saturday, May 25, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event will be well-attended as a kick-off for the summer season and the RDC would like to enhance the activities the public can participate in. Vendors need to provide their own tables, chairs & small tents. The fee registration fee to exhibit at the event is just $25 per vendor, payable in advance . Applications are available at the Riverside Discovery Center or by calling 630-6236. Applications must be submitted no later than May 20. The Historic Midwest Theater announces the 2013 Midwest Summer Matinee Madness film line up. Midwest Theater is once again hosting the Midwest Summer Matinee Madness. New for 2013 is a 9:00am showtime in addition to our afternoon showing at 1:30pm. The coupon books can be pre-purchased for $10.00 starting on Monday, April 22nd 2013. Prices at the door will be: Kids 12 & Under $3.00, Adults $5.00. Kid packs (popcorn, candy, and a juice drink) will be available for $3.00. Our normal concessions will be available for purchase at all showings. Doors open at 8:30am for the 9:00am showing & 12:45pm for the 1:30 pm showing. 2013 Midwest Summer Matinee Madness Movie List - dates and titles (subject to change): June 6, June 13, June 20, June 27, July 11, July 18. Coupon Books are on Sale till June 5th at (or until supply runs out) Platte Valley Bank (Coop, Centennial, and Main Branches), Valley Bank & Trust Gering Branch, Scottsbluff & Gering Libraries, Midwest Theater & online at www.MidwestTheater.com Buy early as supply is limited. All proceeds go to the Friends of Midwest Theater. Friends of the Midwest Theater is a 501C3 non-profit organization. The movies that will play are: “Ice Age; Continental Drift” PG 88 min; “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” PG 93 min; “Black Beauty” (1971) G 106min; “Rise of the Guardians” PG 97 min; “ParaNorman” PG 92 min; “Alvin & the Chipmunks-ChipWrecked” G 87 min. Groundbreaking News!-Gering Public Library Summer Reading Program 2013 Adults in the community, get ready to join us for a summer of Groundbreaking Reads! Read what you want for a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD. Read from the list of “groundbreaking” titles for a chance to win a set of garden tools. Other prizes include but are not limited to, coupons for free items at local restaurants and businesses such as a free pizza from Dominos, & a free buffet and drink from Pizza Hut, also free movie tickets, and a free oil change. Teens have their chance to get buried in a good book Beneath the Surface to win a $50 gift card to Walmart as well as other weekly prizes. And children can Dig Into Reading for a chance to win a child’s garden tool set, or a giant ant farm as well as other fun weekly prizes. Along with prizes, all three age groups will have several fun programs to attend throughout the summer. Adults can rock out to The Beatles: Groundbreakers of Rock & Roll funded and provided by Humanities Nebraska, and broaden their local knowledge with a presentation by the Legacy of the Plains. Teens can chill out at the Beneath the Surface party with worm races and yummy “underground” treats and get their “middle earth” on at the Hobbit party with a showing of the movie and “hobbit” treats. Kids have lots of chances for fun activities too with programs on Gnomes, Burrowers, Big Machines, Fossils, and Rocks & Gems. The fun breaks ground on Sign-up Day, May 29th from 10-5 at the Gering Public Library Community Room and the program will run through July 20. Anyone who signs up on May 29th will get a special sign-up prize. Sign-ups will continue to be accepted after May 29th as well. The whole family can toil in the soil with GPL for the first program of the summer on June 1st at the Ever Green House in Gering for the Can You Dig It! Family Gardening Event. Come to the library on May 29th for all the details! We can’t wait to see you unearth a good book or worm your way into reading this summer at the Gering Public Library! Dr. Will Baily to offer private piano lessons Dr. Will Baily has purchased the “Music and More” building at 1814 Broadway. The building will be remodeled creating an exciting atmosphere for group and private piano lessons. “Now Playing Piano” is the name of the new learning center. Renovation will be completed in July. Will and his daughter, Stephanie, are currently facilitating Recreational Piano Classes for kids, teens and adults at this location. With the new, renovated space they will have openings for new students of all ages. Along with Recreational Piano students, Dr. Baily will be accepting private piano students and composition students. Recreational Music Making (RMM) is a movement that encourages music making for sheer enjoyment. Everyone is welcome to participate; no talent required. Students learn to read music, play by chord, play by ear and improvise in a relaxed atmosphere. The curriculum Will has coauthored with Debra Perez for RMM adults, teens and kids is recognized internationally and the RMM program here in Scottsbluff is one of the largest RMM programs in the U.S. Baily also operates a website, www.WillBailyPianoTunes.com that provides sheet music, sound files and tutorials. “Now Playing Piano” is accepting registrations for beginning adult classes, week-long piano camps for beginning kids and teens and Saturday seminars, where teens will learn to play Praise and Worship music. If you are interested in learning to play the piano in a fun, stress-free environment call Will at (308) 225-2257. Full Services Now Available at Campgrounds on Pine Ridge Ranger District CHADRON - All campgrounds on the Pine Ridge Ranger District are open for public use. Camping fees take effect beginning May 11 at Soldier Creek, Roberts, Red Cloud, and Toadstool Park Campgrounds. Fees range from $5 to $8 per night. Toadstool Park has a $3 day-use fee. Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center does not open until Memorial Day weekend. Most of the motorized trails that were open before last year’s fire have been cleared. Forest Service trail crews will be working throughout the summer clearing and marking trails affected by the fire. The Motor Vehicle use Map (MVUM) is free and available at the Forest Service offices. This map designates roads and trails open to motorized vehicles. “Our crews are working hard to gear up for a busy recreation season and get the sites ready,” said Mike Watts, Recreation Specialist for the Pine Ridge Ranger District. “All hiking trails are open for public use. We want to remind folks to use caution in areas burned during the 2012 wildland fires, and some trails are unmarked because the signs burned. ” Camping and picnic areas near Chadron include the Cliffs and Red Cloud; sites near Crawford include Toadstool and Soldier Creek; between Chadron and Crawford are Robert’s Tract and West Ash. For more information on these and all camping areas on the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands, visit our website at fs.fed.us/r2/nebraska. |
| Keno winner at Log Cabin 2013-05-16 By Doug Harris |
| Retired Army recruiter John Meyer (right) of Gering had a pleasant surprise while playing keno that the Log Cabin Restaurant on May 3. Meyer said he was eating dinner and decided to play a way-ticket and selected nine numbers. “As I was eating I sort of casually noticed that I was getting a fair amount of the numbers I picked,” Meyer said. “I took the ticket to Ryan (Keller) (left) and said I think I've won some money. Ryan punched it into the computer and looked at it again. Ryan's eyes got real big and he said 'Yes, you won over $20,000.'” Meyer hit all nine of the numbers he picked for a total payout of $20,900. Meyer said he paid $1.75 for the ticket. “I used some of the money to pay off some bills and bought a used pop-up camper that we plan to take out to Lake Minatare.” Keller said it was the biggest keno win they'd ever had at the Log Cabin. |
| Zombie fever takes over the YMCA 2013-05-16 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Over 200 reanimated corpses came to life Thursday afternoon, to kick off Children’s Mental Health Awareness month. To help reduce, stigma and raise awareness the Nebraska Federation of Families in partnership with CAPWN created the first ever Zombie Walk at the YMCA Pavilion. May 9 marked National Children’s Mental Health Awareness day. Every year the federation comes up with unique ideas to help the community gets involved. Around 30 children from the Chadron Native American Center, Project Ever Last, CAPWN and 4-H helped put the event together. “Locally, it became about ‘how can young people coordinate an event to raise awareness and reduce stigma for other young people?’, “said Sara Nicholson, of the Nebraska Federation of Families. The event served as a service learning project for its young members. It provides them a new skill set, and provides them with a sense of self worth and self esteem. Brain Nickodemus was an active participant in gathering young people to get behind the event. “For me personally, it was a way to raise awareness and give back to the community,” said Nickodemus. For Nickodemus and his team it was up to them in deciding what would go into the event. “ It’s really rewarding to see these kids that have struggled with behavioral health, some of them have been involved in behavioral systems, welfare systems, and see that they have come out to the other side,” said Nicholson. The event was met with beautiful weather, as walkers transformed themselves into the undead. Two zombie response team vehicles were there to provide back-up. Members from the WNCC Monument Rock Combo helped set the setting as community members embraced all things zombie. |
| Death penalty bill dies 2013-05-16 By Joseph Moore - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN -- Senators supporting a bill to repeal the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole failed to muster enough votes to overcome a filibuster Tuesday. A vote to cease debate on LB543, introduced by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, and bring it to a final vote failed with 28 in favor and and 20 opposed, five votes shy of the 33 needed. The result means that the bill to repeal the death penalty in Nebraska is essentially dead. Chambers vowed to come back next session with another repeal bill, as he has done each of the 37 years he has been in the Legislature. “Whatever happens today, it will not be the end of this issue,” he said. Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha, in a last minute bid to reach 33 votes, introduced an amendment to the bill that would have prevented the repeal from being retroactively applied. Several senators had expressed concern in previous debate that the bill would repeal the sentences of the 11 inmates currently on death row in the state. “I implore this body to keep this bill alive,” Ashford said. Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha said the filibuster would prevent this important issue from coming to a final vote. “There’s enough votes on this floor to repeal the death penalty,” he said. Opponents of the repeal contested the claim that the bill would pass if brought to a vote. Sen Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha said even though 26 senators voted against postponing the bill until the end of the session, essentially killing it, two of those votes came from senators who do not support the underlying bill. The bill’s supporters maintained that the death penalty is not applied uniformly, and open to racial and socioeconomic bias. “When does this happen and when doesn’t it happen?” Lathrop asked, referring to a death sentence. Chambers read from a list of homicide cases in Nebraska in which he says prosecutors did not seek the death penalty despite their ability to do so. “Practically all these cases I’m reading to you were white people,” he said. Senators opposed to repeal insisted that some crimes are too heinous not to impose death as a punishment, and that any problems in the system could be addressed through legislation. Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial said he would introduce a bill next session that would only allow a death sentence in cases where there is incontrovertible DNA or video evidence. He said this would eliminate any social biases in the system. Lautenbaugh said it doesn’t make sense to compare homicide cases where the death penalty was sought with those where it was not because those decisions depend on the available evidence and witnesses. “Every case is different,” he said. He said the advancement of technology and forensic science make it less likely that an innocent person could be sentenced to death. “We have less reason to doubt the fairness of the death penalty today.” |
| Preparedness for 2013 Western Wildfire Season 2013-05-16 By |
| Officials emphasize interagency partnership, public awareness as keys to protecting communities from wildfire BOISE, ID – – During a visit to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell outlined the Federal Government's efforts to ensure collaboration in protecting Americans from wildfire, and urged homeowners and local communities to take steps to reduce their risks during the 2013 fire season. The outlook for the fire season is severe across much of the Western United States. "The US Forest Service, Federal fire managers and crews will continue to work closely with states and communities to protect residents, property and our natural resources during what could be a challenging wildfire season," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "We are working together to preposition our firefighting teams and equipment to make the most effective use of available resources during this time of constrained budgets." "One of our greatest strengths in wildfire management is that Federal, Tribal, State, and local government agencies recognize that the challenge is too great for any one organization to tackle on its own," said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. "As regions across the country face serious risks of wildfires this season, the work ongoing at the National Interagency Fire Center is important to ensure that we're doing everything we can to protect lives, communities and our natural resources. The public also has an important role to play, and I encourage homeowners and communities to take proactive steps when it comes to preparedness, prevention and safety." "When fires burn uncontrolled in our nation's wildlands, it means the loss of our homes, businesses, personal possessions, and all too often, lives," said U.S. Fire Administrator Ernie Mitchell. "As the men and women of our nation's firefighting forces prepare for this year's wildfire season, they need your help. By taking simple fire prevention steps, you will not only protect yourself and your families, but also the firefighters who put their lives in harm's way to fight wildfires. Remember, fire is everyone's fight." This year, significant fire potential is predicted to be above normal in much of the West, including almost all of Arizona, New Mexico, California, Oregon and Idaho; and portions of Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Washington. In 2012, 9.3 million acres of private, state, and federal land, and more than 4,400 structures burned in wildfires. That was the third highest number of acres burned since at least 1960, the earliest date with reliable records. On average, Forest Service and Interior agencies respond to tens of thousands of wildfires per year, suppressing all but a small percentage during the first burning period. However, the few fires that cannot be suppressed during the initial stages run the risk of becoming much larger. Federal assets include more than 13,000 firefighters, including permanent and seasonal federal employees; more than 1,600 engines; up to 26 multiengine air tankers and two water scooper aircrafts; approximately 27 single engine air tankers; and hundreds of helicopters. At the National Interagency Fire Center, firefighting experts from multiple government agencies continuously monitor fire activity, weather and fuel conditions while strategically positioning Federal firefighters, ground equipment and aircraft to support wildfires across the country as the season shifts. During their visit, Secretaries Vilsack and Jewell urged the public to do their part to help prevent wildfires while preparing for fire season, noting that most wildfires are human-caused. They urged residents of the more than 70,000 communities at risk from wildfires to take proactive steps and improve safety by developing community wildfire protection plans. Communities and residents can access educational resources available at fireadapted.org; and through the " Firewise," and " Ready, Set, Go!" programs. More than 590 million acres of public lands are in significant need of restoration, including thinning and prescribed burning, due to the cumulative impacts of wildfire, insects and disease, and drought. More than 1,000 post-fire assessments show that these types of restoration efforts are effective in reducing wildfire severity. Forest Service and Interior continue to focus restoration treatments on high-priority areas to lessen the impacts of wildfire when it happens. |
| Racial profiling, foster care, problem gambling on agenda 2013-05-16 By Bethany Knipp - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN --- State lawmakers acted on a series of bills Friday, including legislation about racial profiling, student internships, problem gambling and foster care. LB99: Introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, this bill would extend the sunset date for reporting provisions of Nebraska’s ban on racial profiling from Jan. 1, 2014, to Jan. 1, 2018. It would also require the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice to seek outside funding for comprehensive reviews of motor vehicle stops and allegations of racial profiling in the state. The bill passed on final reading 46-0. LB476: This bill would modify the provisions of the InternNE program to allow more flexibility for business, educational institutions and students to take advantage of the grant-supported internships aimed at promoting economic growth and retention in the the state, according to the legislation’s Statement of Intent by Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege.The bill would make more students eligible for internships, eliminate minimum week and hourly requirements and increase the maximum reimbursement up to 75 percent or $5,000 per internship. Previously the reimbursement amount was $3,500. The bill passed 46-0 LB6: This bill, introduced by Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, would create a nine-member Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling under the Department of Revenue, replacing a similar commission in the Department of Health and Human Services. The commission would act as an administrative unit that oversees counseling and treatment services for problem gamblers. The bill will be sent for another round of review before it’s presented again for final reading. LB265: Introduced by Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln, the bill would expand the definition of an “extended family member” under the Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Act pertaining to foster care placement. The expanded definition would include the child's parents, clan members, band members or any type of cousin. While kinship and relatives’ homes are exempt from seeking a foster care license, the bill encourages caretakers in these arrangements to get one if it facilitates a permanent placement plan for the child. The bill will be sent for another round of review before it’s presented again for final reading. Contact Bethany Knipp at nns.bknipp@gmail.com |
| Minatare moves toward mobile devices in the classroom 2013-05-16 By Lauren Smith-Kuckkahn - Special to the Citizen |
| On Monday night the Minatare Board of Education voted to move forward on implementing the 1:1 Technology Initiative, which would redirect most classwork to mobile devices and make paper and textbooks relics of the past for certain subjects. Board member John Chavez was absent from the meeting Other Panhandle schools that have implemented the 1:1 Initiative or are considering it include: Oshkosh, Banner County, Potter-Dix, and Bayard. High school principal Kyle Metzger said the district will purchase 110 mobile devices, which could range between $36,000 to $42,000 altogether, depending on which vendor and service package the district chooses. These mobile devices would be used by high school students in the classroom and district teachers and staff. To buy the devices, the district will use $25,000 in grant money and pay the remainder of the cost from this year's and next year's technology budgets, said Superintendent Tim Cody. Metzger said there is a growing selection of curriculum apps and supplemental education apps for mobile devices, meant to be used in classrooms. Classrooms that have switched to mobile devices are called “paperless classrooms.” Metzger said teachers who work in paperless classrooms say they save time on grading assignments, passing out assignments, and receiving assignments back from students. Board president Gary Koke asked Metzger what the expected cost savings will be for the district if it switches over to mobile devices. Metzger said in the last two years the district spent $7,300 on paper, and $10,000 on math textbooks. Metzger said based on these types of figures, it is reasonable to expect cost savings by switching to paperless classrooms and using educational mobile apps for some classes. Cody said it was safe to say that over the lifespan of the devices, there would be cost savings, echoing Metzger's statements. Koke expressed concern that by switching their work over to mobile devices, students might become less creative. Metzger said students would still be creative, they would just adapt their creativity to the changing times. Jackie Meyers asked the board if in the future, students will still be taught handwriting. The question was redirected to Metzger, who said it was a good question, and there are people on both sides of the fence about the issue. He said because of the prevalence of mobile devices and touch screens, it is a controversy whether handwriting and keyboarding will continue to be taught in schools in the future. Cody said he submitted an application to the American Farmers Grow Rural Education for a grant from the Monsanto Fund for a $10,000 to fund the school science department. Specifically, if awarded, the money would be spent to buy furniture and upgrade curriculum for the science department. He said he hopes to get more students involved in science and improve the schools' science test scores. Cody said the Mitchell school district was the recipient of the grant money last year. The board voted to hire Roger Wholesinger as the part-time language arts teacher, sharing him with Bayard schools. Cody said the current location of the wrestling mats, next to the band room, will be used for welding classes in the fall, so he is getting estimates on the cost of pouring a cement floor in the bus barn, and storing the mats there. The grant application that the district submitted to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has moved into a second phase, being reviewed in Kansas City. However, he said because of government staff cuts due to the sequester, the grant might move slowly through this review process. |
| Public invited to participate in Torch Run 2013-05-16 By |
| This year, the public is invited to participate in the Scotts Bluff County Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics. Runner registration begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the Scotts Bluff National Monument parking lot. The registration fee is $10 and each runner receives a T-shirt. Non-runner T-shirts will be available at $12 for short sleeve and $20 for long sleeve. Runners and bicyclists leave the Monument at 10:30 and run through Gering and into Scottsbluff, ending at Frank Park, 1st Avenue and E. 27th Street. The route is 6.3 miles, or approximately 10k. It is important to note that this is not a race and all participants will have to stay behind the torch. The event concludes with a picnic hosted by the Special Olympics families and Runza. Other sponsors include Main Street Market, Fresh Foods, Pepsi and Union Pacific Railroad. The Torch Run calls attention to the efforts of Special Olympians and raises money for their events. The mission of Special Olympics Nebraska is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic–type sports for special children and adults, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. The Scotts Bluff County Torch Run is just one of many local events that are held across the state. Hundreds of law enforcement officers are expected to participate in the LETR. The Nebraska Special Olympics State Games take place annually in Omaha. This year they begin on May 22 and end on May 25. Approximately 100 local athletes are expected to attend. Further information is available on the state Special Olympics site, www.sone.org, or by contacting any committee member. Scotts Bluff County LETR organizing committee members include: Trooper Chris Baer, Nebraska State Patrol; Captain Jason Rogers, Gering PD; Sgt. Troy Brown, Deputy Jared Shepard and Sheriff Mark Overman, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office; Officer James Todd, Scottsbluff PD; Dennis and Sharon Gregory; Good Sam’s Club; Kathy Scott, Special Olympics families and Lois Herbel. |
| Stinner named to head banker’s group 2013-05-09 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| During their recent annual convention in Omaha, the Nebraska Bankers Association named John Stinner, President and CEO of Valley Bank and Trust Company in Gering, as the group’s chairman. “There will be a lot of work and travel involved, as the NBA sets the agenda for me,” Stinner said. “Of course, the agenda will be dictated by events that affect the banking industry and what kind of legislation comes up.” One piece of legislation that Stinner has spoken about is the Dodd-Frank Act, passed by Congress to address the problem of predatory lending practices that caused the housing crisis in 2008. Stinner said a lack of knowledge over the role of community banks and investment banks led to the “one size fits all” legislation. Only about half of the bill’s mandates have been implemented so far, but since its passage, 475 banks across the nation have gone out of business and no new banks were chartered last year. Stinner said it was the large investment banks like Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs that sold the “exotic” mortgages that caused the housing crash. Almost 99 percent of community banks weren’t involved in those lending practices. “Too much regulation and red tape coming out of Washington is punitive on the banks and on everyone else,” he said. “It’s not that bankers are against being regulated, but the regulations need to make sense. A lot of the regulations that affect everyone just don’t apply to community banks.” Stinner added that because of the increased number of regulations and changes in what makes for a qualified mortgage, some smaller banks are getting out of the mortgage business altogether. But he said his bank plans to stay in. “We just need to keep working for sensible regulations,” he said. “The Nebraska Bankers Association is the voice for that.” Stinner said community banks are plugged in on a more unique basis with their customers and their communities. In addition to helping people get the needed financing to purchase a new home or start a new business, they support the community and its activities. A recent example was the local banks all supporting the new Legacy of the Plains Museums. They also supported Bayard High School in getting a new track. “As a community bank, our role is to partner with the community and create that unique relationship,” he said. “America is full of smart bankers, bright businessmen and women, and energetic entrepreneurs. We are all eager to innovate and grow market and hire – if government would just do the right thing and get out of the way.” |
| Students bid farewell to Principal Schlothauer 2013-05-09 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| “Take advantage of every opportunity,” were the words of wisdom Lincoln Elementary Principal George Schlothauer gave to his students on Wednesday. May 1 was officially “George Schlothauer Day” at Lincoln Elementary. Students dressed in their best to honor their principal. For the past seven years, Schlothauer and the students at Lincoln Elementary have gone through many changes; from the transition of moving out of the old school building and back into the brand new school. The day began with a proclamation read by Gering’s Mayor Ed Mayo. After lunch, the students gathered for some fun in the gym. The assembly began with awards to students for being positive role models and active members in the school. Members of the staff then presented Schlothauer with a new chair and yard sign. The students’ special gift was a piece of art with every student’s finger print creating a tree; for the lives he’s touched at Lincoln Elementary. “I was very surprised by the day and very touched,” said Lincoln principal George Schlothauer. Next school year, Schlothauer will begin a new position as principal of the VALTS alternative school. For now, he is busy helping with the transition for next year. “I hope we continue to work well with the parents and always put the kids first,” he said. |
| Chauncey to face trial in August 2013-05-09 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| Dustin Chauncey, 26, who was indicted in January by a Special Grand Jury for his involvement in the death of 2-year-old Juliette Geurts, of Gering, appeared at an arraignment hearing in Scotts Bluff County District Court late last week. He had been charged with manslaughter and intentional child abuse causing death, but the case for manslaughter was dismissed after prosecuting attorney Jim Zimmerman cited the statute of limitations. District Court Judge Leo Dobrovolny approved the dismissal. According to Nebraska State statutes, the child abuse charge is a Class IB felony, which ranges in punishment from a minimum of 20 years to life in prison. A pretrial conference is scheduled for July 22 at 8 a.m. The trial date will be set after the new jury term begins on Aug 5. Juliette Geurts died on July 11, 2008 from blunt force trauma and a liver injury. At the time of her death she was at her home in Gering with her twin sister Jaelyn, and in the care of her mother Charyse Geurts. Two men were also staying at the home, Chauncey and Brandon Townsend. The grand jury declined to indict Townsend, but both Chauncey and Guerts faced charges. All charges were dropped against Juliette’s mother, Charyse Geurts, in April. Judge Dobrovolny accepted the dismissal of charges on April 4. Prosecutor Zimmerman had until May 4 to file an appeal but he decided not to do so. |
| Sugar Valley Rally rolls for 25th year 2013-05-09 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| In just a few weeks, classic cars and drivers from around the country will gather in the community to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sugar Valley Rally. Media coordinator Dan Dickinson, who helped organize the first rally, said the deadline for entries is May 10. Forms and information are available at sugarvalleyrally.com “We’re expecting a strong field of over 70 vehicles for this 25th year,” Dickinson said. “Some of the regulars from around the country will be joining us again. About third of our entries are usually from out of state.” This year’s Sugar Valley Rally opens on Thursday, May 30 with a tech inspection for all entries. May 31 is the day for the rally school, followed by a practice run in the afternoon, taking drivers south to Kimball and back. By about 4:30 p.m., the cars should start rolling in at Main Street Market in Scottsbluff. The Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce will host an after hours event that evening and the public is invited to inspect the cars and talk with the owners. Saturday is the first full day for the rally, as drivers will roll east to Bayard. Fremont Motors in Scottsbluff will serve as the start and finish point. Phil Brooker of Fremont Motors said they’re proud to be one of the sponsors. “The Rally does a lot for our community, showing us in a positive light and bringing the passion of classic cars to the area,” he said. Brooker added he plans to drive his 1945 Ford F-l, which he found in a barn in Alliance almost three years ago. It had been restored by local classic car expert Tom Donahue. Dickinson said the Rally’s 25th anniversary is an honor to all the volunteers who made the event possible over the years. “We got the idea for a rally after seeing the Great Race and all the different cars that event drew,” he said. “At every stop, people of all ages came out to see those classic cars. America was built around the automobile, so what a better tribute than to have an event here.” Dickinson and his wife, Cindy, will also participate in the rally in their 1949 Willys Jeepster. “We’ve been lucky over the years in that we haven’t broken down along the way,” he said. “The rally’s been good to us. I even got the Rookie of the Year Award one year.” Dickinson emphasized the rally is for anyone with a classic car, not just seasoned drivers. With tips provided at the rally school, anyone can participate and have a great time in a fun event. The oldest entry received so far is a 1918 Hudson. Other entries have come from California, Oregon, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas, North Dakota and as far east as Connecticut. |
| Preserving our past 2013-05-09 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| By Founding member of the Rebecca Winters Genealogical Society (RWGS) Wanda Henkel greeted guests and fellow members at the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library Saturday to kick off the 45th anniversary celebration of the group. “We were founded in 1967,” Henkel said. “We are a local history preservation group. The first item we ever purchased was an LP record called ‘Climbing Your Family Tree.’” Henkel said that group was started by 10 women at the old Scottsbluff Library. They were given some shelving space for their collection of books, and it hasn’t stopped growing since that time. “We were short on space but now that the library has been remodeled we are happy to call the Heritage Room our new home. Our motto is seek, find and record. We are here to aid individuals in tracking their genealogy.” RWGS member Ann Herbel then read a list of the charter members before current society president Zita Bolinger recalled all the previous presidents. That followed with society member Kent Harvey who paid tribute to all the former members who have died. “Many people were very dedicated to this society,” Harvey said, “it seems fitting that we read a list of all our friends who are now gone.” Linda Newberry, who works with the group coordinating various classes they have offered out lined the history of their community involvement in the Valley. “We have held special genealogical classes at WNCC, the Methodist Church, the Harms Center, and with the Daughters of the American Revolution group. “We’ve also have worked with, and shared classes with, the West Nebraska Family Research and History Center. On top of all that we’ve made individual house calls to work directly with families wanting to learn how to track their ancestry and history.” The group set up some displays to outline their history and shared old photos and memories of past workshops and members. President Bolinger served cupcakes, punch and coffee to the visitors as they reminisced about their 45 years. Other volunteers pointed out that RWGS offers books that are for sale or available at the library that cover many areas of our local history. The society keeps cemetery records, marriage records and obituaries compiled from the old Nebraska Homestead newspaper. The Nebraska Homestead was founded in 1893 by school teacher William Hale in the area then known as the ‘north-side’ across the river from Gering, before the city of Scottsbluff was founded. The newspaper later moved to Mitchell and is still in operation as the Mitchell Index. “We have complete records of all the old Nebraska Homestead and Mitchell Index papers,” Bolinger said. The society also offers a regional cookbook and a newsletter to subscribing members. Genealogy charts to help folks get started were available free to the public. After the presentation and refreshments the group took a tour of the Heritage Room. Throughout the festivities Merle Zimmerman played his harmonica and strummed some songs on his auto-harp collection. |
| County board discusses Mitchell bridge 2013-05-09 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| By As the bridge over the North Platte River south of Mitchell approaches its 100th year of service, the county board and the Nebraska Department of Roads are discussing how the structure can be improved. Craig Lind, District 5 engineer for NDOR, told commissioners the bridge is in generally good condition, but is in need of some improvements. The bridge was in the news in the summer of 2011when high water levels in the river threatened the structural integrity of its 12 arches. However, the structure withstood the high water and is still in service today. Lind said that although the deck of the bridge is sound, the overlay needs to be sealed, along with the joints. Also, the guard rails need to be improved, as today’s highway is much wider than in 1920 when the bridge was built. The bridge was on the state highway system until 1986, when the county and the state entered into an agreement to relinquish some of the county’s highways. The agreement was later supplemented, giving the state responsibility to maintain the bridge itself. The county would be responsible for surface maintenance. Also under the revised agreement, once the bridge was rehabilitated, its entire maintenance and inspections would become the responsibility of the county. Lind told commissioners he’d like to do some work on the bridge. Options included to do nothing, improve the guardrail and relocating two driveways, reseal the expansion joints, do a bridge deck overlay, or even build a new bridge. That would cost in the neighborhood of $3.5 million for the 670 foot structure. However, the state would only pay a portion of that cost. “The bridge hasn’t reached critical stage where it has to be replaced yet,” Lind said. “But the rating is 57, which it’s been for the past 15 years. It’s inspected every two years and we’ll do an underwater inspection this fall.” If the bridge is rehabilitated, it would cost in the $700,000 – $900,000 range, with NDOR picking up the cost. Under the 1986 agreement, the bridge would then be turned over to the county. Even if the county board decides to improve the bridge, it would be several years before construction could begin. Board chairman Mark Masterton thanked Lind for being both fair and pragmatic in his suggestions, and the board agreed to continue discussions on what to do with the bridge. |
| Bellevue University gears up for fall class 2013-05-09 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Beginning this fall, residents will be able to work further toward their bachelor’s or post-graduate degree without having to leave the area. Western Nebraska Community College recently partnered with Bellevue University, ranked ninth by the U.S. News for Top Online Education Programs in 2013, to expand learning opportunities beyond the two-year college level. Mell Cooper, the university’s Community College Outreach Manager for western Nebraska, said they’re planning to get a business course up and running this fall on the WNCC campus. And if there’s demand, more will be scheduled. Bellevue’s demographics focus on working adults, so many of their classes are available online, which accounts for about two-thirds of the school’s enrollment. Cooper said the courses offered by Bellevue include many in the medical field (excluding RN programs). They also offer many information technology classes, such as information management systems and cybersecurity. Business classes include a track toward earning a MBA degree. And a number of criminal justice classes will also be available. Degrees available through Bellevue go from Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, up to Master’s and a PhD level program in Human Capital Management. All of those programs are currently available online. “Our philosophy at Bellevue is to help western Nebraska students get to the next level,” Cooper said. “Many working adults have family obligations, so it’s difficult to move. The expense of higher education is also a factor they have to consider.” Cooper added it takes students to create a class, whether it’s online of in a classroom setting. “We’re here to stay, so we’ll try to make this the best for the Panhandle and western Nebraska graduates.” It’s been more than a year since WNCC and Bellevue University entered into discussions about bringing upper level education to western Nebraska. It’s the sixth of seven community colleges in the state where Bellevue has a presence. They also have two stations in South Dakota and two in Iowa. In total, they serve more than 16,000 students. In addition to the wide variety of majors offered, Bellevue’s liberal credit transfer policy makes it possible for busy adults to earn their degrees, even with the other challenges of life. “This isn’t a new thing we’re doing,” Cooper said. We’ve been providing this type of education for a number of years. It’s just taken that long for us to get out here.” For more information about Bellevue University programs offered locally, contact Cooper at (308) 635-6772 or by email at mell.cooper@bellevue.edu. |
| Celebrating Cinco de Mayo 2013-05-09 By |
| Photo by Elizabeth Gross/ Gering Citizen Los Guadalupanos dancers Jackie Martinez (center) and Dymitri Morales ride on the group’s float during Saturday’s Cinco de Mayo parade along East Overland. Many spectators enjoyed the warm weather and colorful celebration of Mexican culture. |
| Mayors proclaim Tourism Week 2013-05-09 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| The community’s three mayors met at Scotts Bluff National Monument on Monday to sign a proclamation for National Travel and Tourism Week, celebrated nationally since 1984. “We’re extremely fortunate in all of our communities to have very supportive mayors, councils and media people who recognize the importance of tourism on a daily basis,” said Karla Niedan-Streeks, director of the Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau. According to the proclamation, travel provides significant economic benefits to the nation. In Nebraska, tourism is the state’s third largest revenue generator. Tourism nationwide generates about $1.9 trillion in direct economic output. An additional $1.1 trillion was generated on other industries because of tourism. In reading the proclamation, Terrytown Mayor Kent Greenwalt said travelers made 18.5 million trips to Nebraska, spending more than $3.7 billion. In total, it attributed to an economic impact of $9.9 billion for the state. In the local area of western Nebraska, tourism accounted for $33.7 million in direct travel spending, generating about $2.5 million in state and local tax revenues. That tourism of more than 200,000 annual visitors was also responsible for creating more than 620 travel-related jobs in the county. “We have a lot of things here in western Nebraska we can brag about,” Greenwalt said. “We’re very proud of this area and tourism is very important to us.” Scottsbluff Mayor Randy Meininger and Gering Mayor Ed Mayo both agreed the importance of tourism to the community. Meininger added that residents often take the area for granted because it’s so familiar, but everyone should remember its importance. “Travel and tourism is a leading, viable force in driving our local economy,” Niedan-Streeks said. “It’s too important not to be recognized during this week and year-round.” |
| USDA issues new report on honey bee health 2013-05-09 By |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health. The report states that there are multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure. "There is an important link between the health of American agriculture and the health of our honeybees for our country's long term agricultural productivity," said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. "The forces impacting honeybee health are complex and USDA, our research partners, and key stakeholders will be engaged in addressing this challenge." "The decline in honey bee health is a complex problem caused by a combination of stressors, and at EPA we are committed to continuing our work with USDA, researchers, beekeepers, growers and the public to address this challenge," said Acting EPA Administrator Bob Perciasepe. "The report we've released is the product of unprecedented collaboration, and our work in concert must continue. As the report makes clear, we've made significant progress, but there is still much work to be done to protect the honey bee population." In October 2012, a National Stakeholders Conference on Honey Bee Health, led by federal researchers and managers, along with Pennsylvania State University, was convened to synthesize the current state of knowledge regarding the primary factors that scientists believe have the greatest impact on managed bee health. Key findings include: Parasites and disease present risks to honey bees: The parasitic Varroa mite is recognized as the major factor underlying colony loss in the U.S. and other countries. There is widespread resistance to the chemicals beekeepers use to control mites within the hive. New virus species have been found in the U.S. and several of these have been associated with Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Increased genetic diversity is needed: U.S. honeybee colonies need increased genetic diversity. Genetic variation improves bees thermoregulation (the ability to keep body temperature steady even if the surrounding environment is different), disease resistance and worker productivity. Honey bee breeding should emphasize traits such as hygienic behavior that confer improved resistance to Varroa mites and diseases (such as American foulbrood). Poor nutrition among honey bee colonies: Nutrition has a major impact on individual bee and colony longevity. A nutrition-poor diet can make bees more susceptible to harm from disease and parasites. Bees need better forage and a variety of plants to support colony health. Federal and state partners should consider actions affecting land management to maximize available nutritional forage to promote and enhance good bee health and to protect bees by keeping them away from pesticide-treated fields. There is a need for improved collaboration and information sharing: Best Management Practices associated with bees and pesticide use, exist, but are not widely or systematically followed by members of the crop-producing industry. There is a need for informed and coordinated communication between growers and beekeepers and effective collaboration between stakeholders on practices to protect bees from pesticides. Beekeepers emphasized the need for accurate and timely bee kill incident reporting, monitoring, and enforcement. Additional research is needed to determine risks presented by pesticides: The most pressing pesticide research questions relate to determining actual pesticide exposures and effects of pesticides to bees in the field and the potential for impacts on bee health and productivity of whole honey bee colonies. Those involved in developing the report include USDA's Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Agricultural Research Services (ARS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as well as the EPA and Pennsylvania State University. The report will provide important input to the Colony Collapse Disorder Steering Committee, led by the USDA, EPA and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). An estimated one-third of all food and beverages are made possible by pollination, mainly by honey bees. In the United States, pollination contributes to crop production worth $20-30 billion in agricultural production annually. A decline in managed bee colonies puts great pressure on the sectors of agriculture reliant on commercial pollination services. This is evident from reports of shortages of bees available for the pollination of many crops. The Colony Collapse Steering Committee was formed in response to a sudden and widespread disappearance of adult honey bees from beehives, which first occurred in 2006. The Committee will consider the report's recommendations and update the CCD Action Plan which will outline major priorities to be addressed in the next 5-10 years and serve as a reference document for policy makers, legislators and the public and will help coordinate the federal strategy in response to honey bee losses. |
| Unicameral has golden opportunity with wind energy 2013-05-09 By |
| LYONS, — Late last month the Unicameral advanced LB 402, wind energy development legislation that builds off of the existing Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) program, from General File to Select File by a vote of 33 to 0. “The vote shows that our elected officials understand the value of wind energy and the potential this industry can bring to our rural communities,” said Johathan Hladik, Energy Policy Advocate for the Center for Rural Affairs. “What's more, today's vote shows that our elected officials understand the importance of developing wind energy in the right way - a way that ensures profits stay here in Nebraska.” Passing a bill that encourages wind developers to hire Nebraska employees and use Nebraska materials will help us make the most of this opportunity, continued Hladik April is the windiest month on the calendar, caused by the change of seasons. And the winds of April are a good symbol of the growing support for wind energy in the Unicameral and across Nebraska, according to the Center for Rural Affairs. “LB 402, legislation written to help overcome years of missed opportunity by removing barriers to wind energy development, came to the Unicameral floor for the opening round of debate.” said Johnathan Hladik, Energy Policy Advocate for the Center for Rural Affairs. “The bill would provide incentives to develop Nebraska’s considerable wind resources in a way that enables rural Nebraskans to share in the wealth and small business opportunities that development creates.” While all this spring snow makes it feel like we’re still waiting for that change of seasons, our long wait for a change in the way we produce and consume electricity may be coming to an end, Hladik added. Hladik went on to explain that LB 402 builds off of the Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) program Governor Heinemann signed into law in 2007. The bill makes it easier to qualify under the C-BED program, boosting participation and making it easier to bring investment into rural communities by encouraging the use of Nebraska materials when developing a new project, and encouraging developers to hire Nebraska citizens to do the work. Amendments to LB 402 would also encourage wind developers to invest in Nebraskans themselves through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. These plans provide an ownership stake in the projects the employees help create. On average, participants receive five to 12 percent more in wages and have almost three times the retirement assets as do workers in comparable companies, keeping money from local projects here in Nebraska. “By supporting local investment and giving local workers a share in the profit, we can have the best of both worlds: clean, affordable energy and communities that are stronger because of it,” added Hladik. According to Hladik, Iowa and South Dakota use wind to generate over 23 percent of electricity. In Kansas and Colorado, over 11 percent of energy is generated using wind resources. In Wyoming this number is close to nine percent. A total of 14 states, the majority of which have wind resources inferior to ours, generate at least five percent of their electricity using wind power. Nebraska has yet to hit the four percent mark. “Their rural communities have grown. Their schools have improved. Their property taxes have decreased. So have electric rates. All while watching community wealth dramatically improve,” Hladik concluded. “That’s because state and local governments throughout the Upper Midwest and Great Plains have enacted policies that level the playing field, remove tax barriers to wind energy development and create an environment that encourages energy independence.” |
| Governor Heineman to attend Mitchell After School Clubs for Kids expo 2013-05-09 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF — In February, Western Nebraska Community College launched two EntrepreneurShip Investigation (ESI) after school clubs for kids. Over the past four months, 22 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders have learned valuable lessons about what it takes to be an entrepreneur. One club meets in the John N. Harms Advanced Technology Center in Scottsbluff and the other club is held at the Mitchell Elementary School. On Monday, May 13, the Mitchell Elementary School will host the ESI Expo from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. in the Mitchell Elementary School Gymnasium and the public is welcome to attend. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman is expected to attend the Expo in Mitchell and show his support for these young, future entrepreneurs. One of the Mitchell students, Talera Kinsey, urges the community to come out and support their club. “Our Expo is where we will showcase our businesses and sell what we made. The public is welcome and there is no admission charge.” The following week, on Monday, May 20 from 4-5 p.m., the Scottsbluff club will hold their ESI Expo at the Harms Advanced Technology Center. The public is also invited to this free event. This club has been led by three students from the Scottsbluff DECA Club. “Jon, Sarah, and Shaylee have done a great job of leading the kids through the activities, acting as role models, and helping the students focus on developing and marketing their products,” stated Judy Amoo, WNCC Dean for Economic and Community Development. “The Expo will be a culmination of this experience for these enterprising kids who have committed a lot of time and energy to their business idea.” On their first day, these future entrepreneurs took the Gallup StrengthsFinder survey, which helped them identify their natural talents. They later met local entrepreneurs who shared their inspiring stories of what it was like when they started their own businesses. The kids learned about the importance of their reputation and of giving back to others. They learned about target markets, calculating selling prices, and cash flow. They created business cards, logos, fliers, and even radio commercials inviting the public to attend the Expos. This club has been a collaboration between kids, parents, teachers, business owners, the elementary and high schools, WNCC and UNL. |
| News Briefs ... 2013-05-09 By |
| Farmers’ Market meeting planned SCOTTSBLUFF — There will be an informational/planning meeting for anyone interested in being a vendor at the 18th Street Farmers’ Market (formally the Downtown Scottsbluff Farmers’ Market) on Monday, May 13. The meeting will be held at the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library, 1809 3rd Ave. beginning at 6:15 p.m. The market will begin July 6. Anyone planning on being a vendor or who is interested in being a vendor is strongly urged to attend. If you have any questions or are unable to attend, please contact Kathi Manville at (308) 787-1111. Gering grad honored at UW LARAMIE, Wyo. — Dillon Broussard, a 2008 graduate of Gering High School and currently studying at the University of Wyoming, has recently been named the Outstanding Student of the Year by the Division of Kinesiology and Health at the University of Wyoming. This award is presented to one of the top physical education teaching majors in the state. Dillon is the son of Joe and Carrie Broussard of Minatare and grandson of Jan Rahmig of Gering. Dillon will graduate May 11 from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science degree in the Division of Kinesiology and Health (DKH), focus of study in Physical Education Teacher Education with a GPA of 3.5. He is currently completing his student teaching assignment in Cheyenne, Wyo. at Buffalo Ridge Elementary with Thad Trujillo and Cheyenne Central High School with Chad Lybeck. While a student at Gering High School, Dillon was a three sport letterman in football, track, and basketball. He was a member of G-club, the varsity sport club. He was also a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society, and was named an All State Academic. While attending the University of Wyoming, Dillon volunteered for Special Olympics and Jump Rope for Heart. He participated in multiple UW student recreation intramural events including basketball, flag football, volleyball, and dodgeball. Dillon was employed by the Half Acre Student Recreation Center as an Intramural Supervisor. While student teaching Dillon volunteered his time to coach both basketball and track. Following graduation, Dillon hopes to attain a teaching and coaching position in Nebraska or Wyoming. Dillon will be presented the Outstanding Student of the Year award at the DKH annual awards banquet in Laramie on April 29. Over 80 students earn GED SCOTTSBLUFF — The annual GED graduation ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m. in the John N. Harms Advanced Technology Center on the Scottsbluff Campus of Western Nebraska Community College. Twenty-four graduates are expected to participate. From April 2012 to April 2013, more than 80 students completed their GED requirements and became eligible to attend graduation. This total includes students from the counties of Cheyenne, Dawes, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, and Sheridan. Marilyn Dodge, the chief GED examiner and director of educational outreach, will award the certificates. WNCC President Dr. Todd Holcomb will address the graduates, their families and friends. Administration representatives will be present to honor the graduates and participate in the ceremony. Graduates will also receive a Congressional High School Graduation Certificate from Congressman Adrian Smith. Following the ceremony, a reception will be held at the same location for the graduates, family, and friends. The public is invited to attend this special ceremony and reception. Please park in the east and north parking lots and enter through the east double doors. Students who will receive certificates of completion include: Shelby Luz Baldwin, Jennifer Bianco, Joshua Brown, Karissa Joyce Coe, Joshua Escamilla, Mario Garza Jr., Jazmin Marie Harris, Vicente Hernandez, Mick Lynn Keenan, Christopher L. Keller, Kai-Blayne Konruff, Krystal Marie Lockman, Taylor Nicole McDaniel, Jazmin M. Molina, Cody James Murray, Anastasia A. Red Bear, Mailen Magali Sbatella, Keith Shannon, Carol E. Shelton, Katheryn Elizabeth Trook, Evelyn I. Weinmeister, and Thomas Darrell Winn. The Sisters Grimm featured on tourism passport BUSHNELL — The Sisters Grimm is one of 80 attractions included in the 2013 Nebraska Passport. The program, created by the Nebraska Tourism Commission, encourages travelers to explore Nebraska. Participants collect stamps from participating attractions and then redeem them for prizes. Attractions selected for the 2013 program are organized into 10 special-interest tours: Hit the Hot Spots, Meet the Locals, Picture the Scene, Play Outside, Savor the Flavor, Seeing Is Believing, Sleep Tight, Tap Into It, Turn the Page and Wrangle the West. The Sisters Grimm is part of the Turn the Page tour. Travelers have until Sept. 30 to visit attractions and redeem their stamps for prizes. For each completed tour, participants receive a Nebraska Passport T-shirt. In addition, travelers can win 20 $1 Nebraska Lottery Scratch coupons (for 20 stamps) and a digital camera (for 40 stamps). To learn more about this year’s Nebraska Passport, visit NebraskaPassport.com. Pet health fair slated SCOTTSBLUFF — Murdoch’s and the Panhandle Humane Society are hosting a Pet Health Fair on Saturday, May 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply, located at 1510 E. 20th Street in Scottsbluff. This Health Fair is designed entirely for pets and their owners who would like to get their dog or cat microchipped and vaccinated at a lower cost, thanks in part to funding received from The United Way of Western Nebraska. Dog and Cat City Licenses will be available for $6 for pets who are spayed/neutered and $11 for those who aren’t, with proof of a current Rabies vaccination. The Pet Health Fair will also have door prizes donated by Murdoch’s, animal product demonstrations, a dog wash, dog and cat nail trims, pet photography and more. All pet owners are invited to come and participate in this Health Fair. We ask that all cats be in a carrier, and all dogs on a leash, for their safety and those who attend. Though we hope to serve all animals that attend, there is a limited supply and these low cost vaccinations will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. For additional information on this event, please call the Panhandle Humane Society at (308) 635-0922. Are you ready for the zombie attack? SCOTTSBLUFF — The undead will rise at the YMCA Pavilion for the first ever Zombie Walk. Come dress as one of the undead to help raise awareness for children’s mental health. The event sponsored by the Nebraska Federation of Families kicks off the month long schedule of events to remove the stigma against those children who suffer from mental health issues. The fun starts at 2 p.m. where walkers can registered and hang out. The walk will start at 4 p.m. For more information call (308) 635-3089. Summer matinee series announced SCOTTSBLUFF The Historic Midwest Theater has announced its 2013 Summer Matinee Madness film line up, with the addition of a 9 a.m. showtime in addition to the regular 1:30 p.m. showing.. Coupon books can be pre-purchased for $10. Prices at the door will be: #3 for children 12 and under, $5 for adults. Kid packs (popcorn, candy, and a juice drink) will be available for $3. Normal concessions will be available for purchase at all showings. Doors will open at 8:30am for the 9 a.m. showing, and 12:45 p.m. for the 1:30 p.m. showing. The 2013 Midwest Summer Matinee Madness movie list is as follows, with dates and titles subject to change. June 6 “Ice Age; Continental Drift” PG 88 min June 13 “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” PG 93 min June 20 “Black Beauty” (1971) G 106min June 27 “Rise of the Guardians” PG 97 min July 11 “ParaNorman” PG 92 min July 18 “Alvin & the Chipmunks-ChipWrecked” G 87 min Coupon Books are on sale until June 5 or until supplies run out at the following locations: Platte Valley Bank (Coop, Centennial, and Main Branches), Valley Bank & Trust Gering Branch, the Scottsbluff and Gering libraries, Midwest Theater and online at www.MidwestTheater.com. Patrons are encouraged to purchase their tickets early as supplies are limited All proceeds go to the Friends of Midwest Theater. Friends of the Midwest Theater is a 501C3 non-profit organization |
| Legislative Roundup 2013-05-09 By |
| LINCOLN — Senators continued debating bills this week and passed many bills through their final reading. Here is a debrief of the week: LB507: Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln sponsored this bill to improve the quality of child care centers, which passed on a 27-0 vote Tuesday. It would require certain child care centers to participate in a quality rating and improvement system and change the eligibility for families to get assistance to use child care centers. Requiring the centers to uphold certain criteria, this bill would make information on the quality of certain centers available for parents, and would provide accountability for the state dollars spent funding these centers, Campbell said. An amendment was adopted on a 26-0 vote to change the eligibility for families to get assistance from 120 percent of the federal poverty level, which is about $23,000 for a family of three. The amendment changed the eligibility to 125 percent of the federal poverty level in the 2013-2014 fiscal year and to 130 percent of the poverty level in the 2014-2015 fiscal year. LB44: Under this bill passed Thursday on a 38-1 vote, juveniles convicted of Class 1A felonies would no longer face a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. The bill, introduced by Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha, would establish a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a minimum sentence of 40 years imprisonment for juvenile offenders convicted of the most serious crimes, like murder, rape and kidnapping. The bill also requires parole boards to consider certain factors -- like age at the time of offense -- when making determinations about parole.The bill is an attempt to bring Nebraska state law in line with a recent Supreme Court decision that mandatory sentences of life without the possibility of parole are unconstitutional for juveniles under the age of 18. LB354: Lawmakers suspended debate Tuesday on this bill that would partially privatize the Nebraska Corn Board. Established by the Corn Resources Act of 1978, the Corn Board allocates funds for research, education, market development and promotion to expand the demand for and value of Nebraska corn and corn-based products. Under this bill, called the Nebraska Corn Promotion Act, the Corn Board would no longer be a state entity, but a “quasi-independent” body, according to Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill, who introduced the bill. The bill would allow Nebraska corn producers -- rather than the governor -- to elect Corn Board members. It would also give producers a refund option on the half a cent per bushel of corn excise tax -- called a checkoff -- they pay at the point of initial sale, which funds the activities of the Corn Board. LB545: Nebraska senators advanced a bill Thursday, May 2, that would streamline the appeals process for the Nebraska Public Service Commission. The bill was introduced by Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton who said eliminating district courts, which are the first line of review, from the process would make it more efficient and less costly to ratepayers who bear the expense of appeals. The commission regulates public industries including telecommunications and electric services. Senators advanced the bill to Select File with a 33-8 vote. LB99: A bill that would change the collection of racial profiling information and Nebraska Crime Victims Reparations Fund requirements advanced to Final Reading Tuesday, April 30. Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha introduced LB99, which would remove the sunset date for the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice to collect racial profiling data. It would also add requirements for the commission and law enforcement agencies. An amendment to the bill, adopted 29-0, would eliminate a requirement that a victim suffer at least a 10 percent loss of financial resources to qualify for compensation from the Nebraska Crime Victims Reparations Fund. LB423: This Agriculture Committee bill passed through final reading Thursday on a 41-0 vote. This bill changes the regulations for seizing mistreated livestock to allow police officers to create a compromise with owners to avoid removing the livestock from the owners’ possession. If the animal is seized, the owner must pay for its care, but will be reimbursed if found not guilty of animal mistreatment. A bill (LB544) sponsored by Sen. Tom Hansen of North Platte was adopted as an amendment to LB423. With this amendment, any livestock owner who owns a bull with the venereal disease bovine trichomoniasis cannot transport or sell the infected livestock unless it is for slaughter. LB104 and LB402: Two bills advanced to Select File in the Nebraska Legislature that would give renewable energy incentives in the state, even with some senators saying the bills were too similar. Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha sponsored LB402 that would encourage local ownership of renewable energy projects. Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha sponsored LB 104 that would give tax incentives to companies producing renewable energy to export to other states, including wind, solar and geothermal energy. LB93: Nebraska senators advanced a bill from general file Tuesday, April 29, that would let veterans adds their veteran status on a driver’s license or state ID. Veterans otherwise would have to show discharge papers or other documents with a Social Security number to take advantage of store discounts, said Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton, who introduced the bill. She said those documents, which aren’t photo IDs, contain private information and people wouldn’t routinely carry them. At least 34 other states passed or are in the process of passing similar laws, she said. LB240: Under this bill passed Thursday on a 41-0 vote, continuing education will satisfy work requirements necessary to qualify for public benefits like the Aid to Dependent Children program. The bill, introduced by Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff, eliminates previous age restrictions in the law and allows a person of any age to fulfill work requirements by pursuing a high school diploma or GED. — Contributed by Shelby Friesz, Bethany Knipp, Joseph Moore and Demetria Stephens of the Nebraska News Service. |
| McKeehan birth 2013-05-09 By |
| Sean McKeehan and Steffe Evans announce the birth of their daughter, Hadley Mikele McKeehan. Also welcoming her home is big brother Hudson James McKeehan. Hadley was born April 10, 2013 weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces and 21 inches long. Grandparents are Russ and Tina McKeehan of Harrisburg, Charmaine and Craig Uhrig of Scottsbluff and Jerry and Deb Evans of Chadron. Great-grandparents are Ray and Doreen Semroska of Harrison, Avis and the late Jerry Summerville of Hay Springs, Norma and the late Russel McKeehan of Gering, the late Francis and Dora Evans of Englewood, Colo., the late Beryl Evans of Ogallala, and the late John and Beryl Main of North Platte. |
| Citizen columnist honored by the Nebraska Press Women 2013-05-09 By |
| LINCOLN — Each year the Nebraska Press Women (NPW) sponsors a communications contest for writers, columnists, editors, publishers, reporters, photographers and others involved in the newspaper industry. This year 29 professionals, representing 13 newspapers across Nebraska, from Omaha to Kimball, submitted 180 entries in a variety of categories. Gering Citizen columnist M. Timothy Nolting, who writes a weekly column for Kimball’s Western Nebraska Observer in addition to the Citizen has been honored this year for his work. The columns that Nolting submitted in multiple categories received a second place award in the category of Special Articles: History, as well as a second place award in the category of General Columns. One of the history articles submitted by Nolting received these comments from the judges: “[The] ‘Sitting Bull’ monograph belongs in a history book.” “It is gratifying to find this kind of historical attention in a newspaper.” In the category of General Columns one judge commented, “These recollections are a dying breed of citizen journalism, but they are well-read even into the Twitter era. Now we know how it used to be done.” The Nebraska Press Women was founded in 1946 to give women in the newspaper industry recognition for achievement in a field dominated by men. In 1978 the organization opened membership to men as well. |
| Kizzire offered scholarship 2013-05-09 By |
| Lane Kizzire, son of Jim and Melanie Kizzire has been awarded the Alpha Delta Kappa Nebraska Alpha Eta Chapter 2013 Scholarship. Lane is a senior at Bayard High School where he has been actively involved in athletics which included wrestling, cross country, football, and track and lettering in each sport. Wresting was his favorite sport as he was recognized as all conference, District Champion, and a State Qualifier. Lane's involvement in the fine arts included music and the one act plays. Lane served on the Adrian Smith Youth Advisory Council during his senior year. He held various leadership positions in FFA, class officer for several years and a member of the National Honor Society. His many honors included Cornhusker Boy's State Delegate, Voice of Democracy Contest his senior year, and Homecoming and Winter Royalty candidate. Lane serves his church as a Sunday School Teacher, Bible Study leader and worship leader for Chimney Rock Villa Nursing Home services. He works on the family farm with his father and grandfather every summer. His family operates a small feedlot operation and raise corn, beans, wheat, and hay. His mother is a home loan offer with Farm Credit Services of America. A dedicated member of 4-H, who serves on the County Extension Fair Youth Board of Morrill County, and he continues with his personal 4-H and FFA projects. During the summer he enjoys Legion Baseball and is an umpire for little league baseball. He plans to major in education to teach Political Science and also coach wrestling. As an educator, he believes there is no greater calling than one that shapes the minds of the next generation. |
| McKinley school demolition set for early June 2013-05-02 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Demolition of the former McKinley school building, which was closed in 1996, is expected to begin in early June. “SCS Aquaterra is currently inspecting the building and taking samples for asbestos,” said Gering City Engineer Paul Snarr. “Samples are then sent to a lab for testing on just how much asbestos is involved. It was built in 1923, so we expect there will be a lot of asbestos to remove.” After reporting to Nebraska Health and Human Services and Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, a demolition plan will be submitted. “Our schedule is to start demolition the early part of June,” Snarr said. “That should take about two to three weeks to complete.” He said the city has the block re-platted for 10 homes, but it won’t be recorded until the city council approves. In the meantime, the city will be installing infrastructure, such electric, water and sewer lines in the alley, which will be extended to the 10 lots. “The block was originally platted for 12 homes, but the lot widths don’t meet our current zoning,” Snarr said. “The council will need to change the zoning on that one block.” Originally, the city considered building a few houses on the east side of the block, where the McKinley playground used to be. The sale of those houses would be used to finance the demolition project. However, staff was concerned about dust and potential damage caused by vibration caused by the work, so the building will be removed before any housing is constructed. Earlier this year, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development approved $460, 000 in funding to build affordable housing on the McKinley property. The grant is valid for three years, but the city would like to have foundations poured on four or five homes by July. “We’ve also talked about saving some of the building, maybe some of the bricks for a sign on the corner,” Snarr said. “I think it will be good to do some preservation on a historic building.” |
| Rebecca Winters Genealogical Society to celebrate 45 years 2013-05-02 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| The members of the Rebecca Winters Genealogical Society invite the public to an open house on May 4, from 2-4 p.m. at the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library Community Room. The open house will include refreshments, a short program outlining the history of the group and will highlight the research materials in the Heritage Room. Wanda Henkel is Committee Chairwoman and has planned a very special celebration which will include music and a recap of important events from their history by various members. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event. In February 1967 a group of 10 women met to discuss genealogy, exchange information, trade books and help one another. These women decided that the community needed a genealogical society, and on May 9, 1968 the Charter was issued. The society adopted the name Rebecca Winters Genealogical Society (RWGS) to honor all pioneers. Rebecca Winters was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In August of 1852 Rebecca was stricken with disease and died on the Mormon Trail. She is buried east of Scottsbluff along Highway 26. Descendants from her family have attended events in Scottsbluff celebrating her life, and some family members are members of RWGS. “This is technically our 46th year as a society but we are formally celebrating our 45th anniversary this week,” said society member Karon Harvey. “There are people out there that don’t know their family history is here. We list all publications, and have records of cemeteries and obituaries. We have a lot of things that people can look into.” The Scottsbluff Library allowed RWGS to house publications, files, and books in the library several years ago, but with the remodeling of the library last year, the society was given an entire section called the Edith Abbot Heritage Room. What once was a little corner in the library is now a full section conference room and research center. This room includes shelving for western history, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and RWGS research books. In order to access the books patrons check-out keys at the circulation desk to open the book shelves. In addition to research books, the following resources are available: city directories, high school and college year books, passenger lists, surname indexes, various CDs for state censuses, newsletters from other genealogical societies and magazines. A computer is available for personal research. Founding member Wanda Henkel noted that members of RWGS come from many different backgrounds and areas. “We have members spread from Torrington to Bridgeport,” she said. “So when we founded this we went with our local pioneer ancestors. Rebecca Winters seemed like a good choice as a representative name for the society. Her descendants are still members.” “Wanda is a founding mother who helped to start this with ten other ladies,” Harvey added. “We are proud of the number of members we have. People from 21 different states have visited our library. The majority have come from Colorado and California.” “Before we were in a tiny little corner of the library,” Henkel said. “Now we have this full room. We have compiled all our DAR genealogy stuff and brought it in with our western history books.” At the open house various local family histories complied by Margaret (Peg) Carrell and other genealogists will be on display. These families include the following: Snyder, Tobias, Carrell, Eagles, Deming, Camp, Fonda, Cash, Curtiss, Smith, Rice, Patterson, Hill, Foote, Welles, Thrope, Scrope, Wood, Dyer, Fitch, Beach, Beauchamp, Stafford, Bent, Bradford, and Brigham. Each guest will be invited to look for material on individual family members. Merle Zimmerman will provide music for this gathering to celebrate the 45th anniversary of RWGS. |
| Gering principal takes education tour of Cuba 2013-05-02 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| For five days in mid-April, Gering Junior High School Principal Dora Olivares was part of a trip of a lifetime – to learn about the educational system in Cuba. She was a part of a 12-member delegation of members of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Those making the trip were secondary school principals from around the country. “We went to study how Cuba educates its secondary students, grades 7 – 12 for us, with the resources the country has,” Olivares said. “I already have my U.S. passport, but I had to also apply for a Cuban visa in order to go. A lot of other paperwork was also involved.” She added the opportunity was too good to pass up. “How many people do you know who can say they’ve been to Havana?” Olivares said the visit was like stepping back in time. After America embargoed Cuba in the early 1960s, no new cars have been shipped there. Consequently, the people’s vintage 1950s cars are still running. There are no car dealers in Cuba, and people can only sell them to each other. Olivares said their visit included a presentation from the minister of education on how there system works. Cuba had a high rate of illiteracy when Fidel Castro took over power in 1959. Soon afterward, he developed a successful campaign to bring literacy to the entire nation within two years. Most of the work was done by young volunteers, as many of Cuba’s teachers had fled the country. “We had to change the itinerary around when we arrived,” Olivares said. “We arrived during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Giron. We call it the Bay of Pigs Invasion.” With students out of class for the national holiday, the group of principals had limited opportunity to see classrooms in action. However, they did visit a vocational school. “This was kind of a restoration workshop and school in old Havana,” Olivares said. “They take kids from the ages of 17 to 22 and teach them the old arts, such as marble, tile, masonry, stained glass and plaster. I found out most of the work is done by hand without many power tools.” Graduates of the renovation are often employed by the government to renovate the buildings of old Havana. Other graduates are hired by other countries to renovate their historic buildings. Over the years, restrictions on private enterprise have been loosened in Cuba. Today, some of the graduates from the renovation school have become entrepreneurs who open their own companies to offer renovation services. Private ownership has also opened to taxi operators and restaurants. “Free enterprise is starting to pick up a little in Cuba,” Olivares said. “But I found it surprising how far behind they are in technology.” One computer center they visited still had bulky, cathode ray tube monitors. Kids were playing video games and not much else. And the adults who were online still had restricted access to what web sites they could visit. As principals, they all agreed that once the technology really opens up in Cuba; the government will have lost control. But for now, their level of computer technology is 1990s, when the Internet began to really develop. Olivares said that for the week, she used her cell phone as a camera, as there was no cell phone coverage, email, texts or connections to the outside world. Principals also were required to turn off the GPS on their phones and iPads. Although she was “off the grid” for the better part of the week, Olivares said she was impressed by a city that has modern high-rise buildings next to historic buildings from the 17th century. “They do have some modernizations, but Cuba is still like a time capsule,” she said. |
| Honoring history: Opera House Antiques 2013-05-02 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| California native, Linnie MacMillen’s journey to Western Nebraska is an interesting one that has helped this history lover turns her hobby into a business. Her new store Opera House Antiques in Scottsbluff showcases the importance of knowing one’s history. “I get that question a lot,” said MacMillen, “From California? Why Scottsbluff? Well it’s not like I threw a dime and here I am.” MacMillen was working as a citrus and avocado rancher in Fallbrook, Calif. after retiring from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. She had a close friend who was working in commercial laundry and throughout the years she would help him with by working various positions like production management. The last job before the move to western Nebraska took place in Virginia Beach, Va. It lasted four months when her friend was then offered a position with Ideal Linen in Scottsbluff. He had landed the job and asked MacMillen if she wanted to move out to Nebraska. When she asked what it was like, he told her it was “Victorville without the thrills and a lot of snow.” (Victorville is a small, rural town in California). She had been searching for a place to settle down and retire. “I love it and I never want to leave,” said MacMillen. It wasn’t long before she came across the building that would be the home of her future business. “My first weekend here, I was walking downtown when I saw this building for rent,” said MacMillen. It was that moment she decided that she would turn her lifelong hobby into a business. While cleaning out the space, MacMillen found the historical marker. MacMillen credits her father and grandfather for instilling the passion and importance of history. While cleaning out the space, MacMillen found the state historical society marker. “I knew nothing about the history of this building until I rented it,” said MacMillen. Immediately she began researching the old building, discovering its importance to the people of the valley. After, discovering that the location served as the town’s opera house; it was obvious what the business would be called. MacMillen’s collection consists of mostly WWII and fire department memorabilia. Her grandfather served during WWII and her father retired from the fire department after 35 years of service. “They were two very influential men in my life, “said MacMillen, “I could never thank my dad enough for what he taught me.” They taught MacMillen the importance of history. “History is very important for future generations because time gets lost, memories get lost, and people pass,” said MacMillen. What MacMillen hopes is that people will get a taste of Scottsbluff history. She does offer coffee, tea, and water to her guests. Customers are welcome to bring their lunches down to the shop and check out all she has to offer. On Tuesdays, we have “a cup of Joe for 50 cents” day. Bring down your own red, white or blue mug for a cup of coffee. “We need to show our patriotism and we need to support our vets,” said MacMillen. The money earned on Tuesdays will be donated to the VFW. “It’s an honor for my grandfather and all past, present, future vets,” said MacMillen. Opera House Antiques is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. The stores number is (308) 633-3336. |
| Terrytown continues to research water options 2013-05-02 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| The City of Terrytown continues to research its options on how to bring water to residents, now that only one of its water wells is in service. Jeff Wolfe with M.C. Schaff and Associates, who serves as Terrytown’s city engineer, said the city had been pumping two wells. But arsenic levels in violation of federal regulations made it necessary to close one of the wells last year. Arsenic and uranium are naturally occurring elements in local water, left behind from prehistoric volcanic activity. Although the water is safe for human consumption, the federal government has for some time been lowering acceptable levels of both elements and passing the restrictions along to the communities. “Terrytown is operating with one well,” Wolfe said. “Because of that, they obtained a state grant to do an engineering study of the water system and see what can be done.” Options to be considered in the study include a new well field, water treatment or purchasing water from a neighboring town. While Terrytown officials have until the end of 2013 to complete the study, they would like to have it done by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. Once an option has been selected and approved by the state, Terrytown will move forward with it, including fluoridation. “In last November’s election, Terrytown residents voted to add fluoride to the drinking water supply,” Wolfe said. “That’s been put on hold because of the situation with their well system.” Although the city is operating on a single water well, officials will be allowed to turn its other well back on in the case of an emergency. In such a case, the public will need to be notified of the action and what are the current arsenic levels. Terrytown also has two connections with the Gering water system, which can be used in case of an emergency. “If Terrytown’s one well currently in use were to develop problems, our first option would be to turn the second well back on and do a public notification,” Wolfe said. “Connecting to Gering would require state approval.” The problem with Terrytown’s water well has also put other projects on hold. The city had planned to begin getting residents hooked up to a water metering system. The state wants the study to include the entire water system, along with best solutions before installing meters. Another part of the evaluation will be water storage capacity. Terrytown’s original water tower, located on the hill in Bellevue, is now too small to serve the city’s needs. The city may need to build a new, larger water tower in the future. |
| The play’s the thing at WNCC this weekend 2013-05-02 By |
| WNCC student actress Rae-Lee Tresierra (center) portraying ‘Adrian’ confronts her sister Jenny (played by actress Kylie Carlson, right) as Marti (Nathalie Cabarcas) anticipates her entrance. Several humorous and strange one-act plays directed by students and community volunteers will be performed at the college this weekend. Billed as “An Evening of Bizarre 10-minute Plays,” the plays feature word play, mental health struggles, the frustrations of call-waiting automated services, and a look into the minds of cats and dogs. “An Evening of Bizarre 10-Minute Plays” will be on stage at the WNCC Little Theatre this weekend, May 3-4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door with free admission to WNCC students and veterans with I.D. For more information contact Sherri Carlson at (308) 631-1786. |
| Butterfly release brings hope and support to families who have suffered infant loss 2013-05-02 By Lauren Smith-Kuckkahn |
| On a warm, sunny afternoon in Oregon Trail Park in Gering, parents gathered around tables spread with cake and drinks as children ran through rows of pinwheels, playing and rearranging the flower-like toys. A snow cone truck, parked nearby, served frozen treats as a woman turned on a cotton candy machine under the picnic shelter. The event, a butterfly release, was attended by about 160 people who gathered on Sunday to remember their “angel babies,” infants lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, or early death. Shortly after 3:30 p.m., the crowd was called to gather together for the central activity of the event: the release of 115 Painted Lady butterflies, each one representing the memory of a deceased infant. Lisa Schmeeckle, 26, and Manda Clarke, organizers of the event, both lost babies of their own two years ago, and planned the butterfly release to help families celebrate the short lives of their “angel babies.” The women met through a mutual friend after they had both been through similar experiences of losing their infants within a few weeks of each other. Clarke, of Alliance, is an instructor for the Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing Scottsbluff campus. She said after her infant loss, she realized that in the Panhandle there were not many resources for parents who had suffered infant loss. “I have not found any sort of perinatal loss support group in western Nebraska,” Clarke said. Schmeeckle grew up in Gering, but now lives in Denver, Colo. “In Denver there are many support groups and I know there is nothing like that in western Nebraska, which is why I started doing this back there,” Schmeeckle said. The celebration was scheduled within weeks in what would have been the second birthdays of Schmeekle’s son, Corbin, and Clarke’s daughter, Kinley. As the women discussed the short lives of their “angel babies,” they watched children play on the playground equipment, among them Clarke’s three older children. Schmeeckle, whose only child so far is Corbin, smiled and greeted attendees as they approached her to thank her for organizing the event. As they discussed the feelings that accompanied infant loss, the women’s comments were poignant. “I know I’m a mom, but I want Corbin to be here,” Schmeekle said. “You never forget,” Clarke said. Clarke was pregnant with her fourth child, Kinley, when her doctor informed her that the unborn baby had a lethal condition that could not be cured. Knowing that the child’s lifespan would be only a few hours long, she made the decision to induce labor halfway through her pregnancy. Kinley lived for 72 minutes, but left a lasting mark in Clarke’s life. While Schmeeckle was pregnant, her doctor informed her that her son, Corbin, had trisomy 13, a genetic disorder which caused him to have three copies of chromosome 13, instead of the usual two copies. Due to this chromosomal irregularity, most infants diagnosed with trisomy 13 have several life-threatening medical conditions, and are usually beyond treatment. Infants with the condition who survive gestation and birth usually live only a matter of hours or weeks after birth. “When you receive the diagnosis, you prepare yourself for the worst, but pray for miracles,” Schmeeckle said. “Because miracles do happen!” When she was 32 weeks pregnant, Schmeeckle went into labor and gave birth, via Cesarean section, to Corbin James Reffalt, on May 6, 2011. Corbin lived for two hours afterward. Mother and son received their care at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver. “I’m only beginning to comprehend how such a little being can have such a profound impact on my life in such a short amount of time. His life has given me a new passion,” Schmeeckle said. Schmeeckle also described how having such an experience has caused her to have a special relationship with other parents who have experienced similar types of loss. “After you lose a baby, I feel like I have a very strong bond with Manda, because we’ve been through similar things and we can relate,” Schmeeckle said. She said that Corbin’s short life has made her passionate about helping families that have been through similar situations, and assisting them as they begin their journeys through lethal diagnosis and infant loss. “I still get sad from time to time but I know that my pain is for a purpose. It’s because of Corbin’s life I have a calling – a reason to live, share and praise,” Schmeeckle said. Clarke said that she also has found a special bond with others who have lost infants. She said, as someone who had worked as a labor a delivery nurse, and witnessed infant loss from that side, it was an entirely new and eye-opening experience to be on the other side, as a parent. “My ultimate goal is to have a perinatal loss support group in western Nebraska,” Clarke said. The women said they hope that the event will connect people and raise awareness, and they hope that more parents and families will contact them in the future. “Corbin taught me how to love deeper, experience gratitude and treasure all the gifts God has given, especially the two precious hours we had together with our little man in our arms and the 32 weeks we had with him living inside me,” Schmeeckle said. To contact Lisa Schmeeckle about infant loss support, send email to: corbinscritters@gmail.com. To contact Manda Clarke about infant loss or a possible support group, send email inquiries to: clarke777@hotmail.com. |
| Barrett selected for state capitol poetry reading 2013-05-02 By |
| GERING — Kurstin Barrett, daughter of Craig and Carrie Barrett of Gering, has been selected to read her original poetry at the State Capitol in Lincoln on May 3. Barrett’s poem was chosen from entrants around the state in the UNL-Nebraska Writing Project “Poetry of Place” competition. She is one of 12 students invited to read at the Capitol. Kurstin attends the Gering Freshman Academy. She wrote the poem as an English assignment the first week of school. Her teacher, Lisa Hadenfeld, submitted the poem along with poems from other Gering freshmen. Where I’m From I’m from expectations and very simple rules. I’m from yelling to solve problems and hugging twenty minutes later. I’m from rock n’ roll music and scream. I’m from random things and off the wall requests. I’m from singing and dancing even when I know I can’t. I’m from going up and swinging as hard as I can. I’m from looking up at my Grandma and watching her cheer. I’m from where the grass is never green. I’m from a place where rain refuses, and wheat is the only survivor. I’m from standing in the field as the breeze makes golden waves. I’m from hard work and long days. I’m from being expected to be the bigger person. I’m from huge family get-togethers and jokes and food. I’m from a book of fantasy and fiction. I’m from a place where I can bring words to life. I’m from a place where my mind runs free and my imagination thrives. I’m from a place of harsh support and dreams I want to come true. |
| Zoo welcomes baby muntjac – says goodbye to new zebra 2013-05-02 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| The zoo welcomed a new arrival in April when a baby Reeves’ muntjac was born at the facility. The muntjac, also called a Chinese barking deer, was born between our recent blizzards and is healthy and active. The baby could been seen darting about and prancing happily in its enclosure. “We decided to name the baby muntjac ‘Boston’ for fairly obvious reasons,” said Riverside Discovery Center Zoo director Peter Halliday. “We wanted to show our solidarity with the people of Boston. The baby was born just a few days after the bombing at the marathon. She is in good health and is a welcome addition to the zoo.” Halliday was sad to announce that a new female zebra, ‘Zia’ who was recently acquired from a zoo in Tulsa, died earlier this month after being spooked by snow falling from its holding shed. Zia and her half sister, Zelda, arrived at the zoo on April 7. They were both in a transitional holding pen as they got to know Amigo, the zoo’s only other zebra. Halliday said the three zebra were having great reactions to one another before the mishap. “It broke our hearts,” Halliday said. “It was not our best day. Some snow slid off the roof and the two females panicked and ran into a fence. Zia unfortunately hit a post on the fence and it broke her neck. It was just terrible. Zelda got some cuts on her face but she is doing fine. We were all just standing there losing it. We didn’t have Zia for very long. The other zebra rubbed their heads on the body and tried to lift her up. We were all very sad.” The two new female zebra were brought in with the hopes that Amigo would find a mate and the zoo could facilitate a chance to breed the animals. “Herd animals should not live a solitary life,” Halliday said. “Amigo and Zelda seem to be doing very well. They have officially been placed together and they already seem close to one another. Now that the weather has calmed down Zelda is more settled. Amigo is in season and he seems interested. With in any luck a year from now we’ll have a little foal running around.” Halliday noted once the two zebra were allowed to have contact it was ‘love at first sight.’ |
| Manager selected for Gering bank 2013-05-02 By |
| GERING – Hod Kosman, Platte Valley Companies President and CEO, along with the Board of Directors, announce that Tammy Hoffman has been selected as Branch Manager for the Gering location. Hoffman is currently a Personal Banker at the Centennial Location, and has been with Platte Valley Bank since 2007. She has been apart of the banking industry since 1997, working through different financial departments including mortgage and consumer lending. “Tammy is a great fit for our Gering location,” Kosman said. “She is familiar with the community and has made Gering her home for the past 14 years. She is already extremely active with the schools and community groups, and her past experience will ensure that we hit the ground running as soon as our doors open.” With plans to open at the end of summer, the new Platte Valley Bank will be located at 1850 10th Street, across the street from McDonald’s, in Gering. The 4,100 square foot facility will also include a community room for non-profit and service organizations to utilize. “Platte Valley Companies is already invested in Gering through numerous community service hours and giving,” Kosman said. “We are looking forward to having a new banking facility to serve the community.” |
| Monument BPW names Woman of Year 2013-05-02 By |
| GERING — Monument Business and Professional Women organization has selected Carissa Smith as Woman of the Year. Carissa was nominated and selected as Woman of the Year based on her commitment to our community and involvement and leadership in numerous charitable organizations. Carissa is currently employed by Schank Roofing in Scottsbluff as secretary. Carissa currently serves as the Area Coordinator of Operation Christmas Child, an organization that coordinates sending shoe boxes filled with gifts for needy children in other countries. She is also the organizer and chairperson of the Firefighter Ministry, which assists victims of house fires with motel stays, clothing, household items and the necessary things to get them back on their feet. She also assists her husband, Chris Smith, with the Diaper Depot which is an organization that provides diapers for families in need, as well as baby clothes, baby food and baby accessories. She also delivers food to needy families. Carissa also served on the Scottsbluff Rural Fire Department for 10 years and the Scottsbluff Fire Department for two years. She is a member of the First Baptist Church where she serves as a Sunday School Teacher, member of the Board of Christian Education, Vacation Bible School Leader, and Youth Leader. Over the years, Carissa has touched the lives of many families in need in our community. Monument BPW members are pleased to award this honor to Carissa for everything she has given back to our community. |
| Celebrating Arbor Day 2013-05-02 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| The fourth graders at Northfield Elementary gathered in Northfield Park for their annual tree planting on Arbor Day. Thursday’s warm weather provided an excellent setting for students to learn appreciation for trees. With assistance from members of the Gering Parks Department, students learn not only how to plant trees but why we should learn to cherish them. “It gives them an appreciation of trees and what they can do for them,” said Charlie Fenster. For the last two years, Arbor Day volunteers had been met with terrible weather preventing the students from partaking in the tree planting. Thursday’s planting began with a reading of the city proclamation by fourth grader Victoria Mannel. Amy Seiler from the Nebraska Forest Service then led the lesson on how to properly plant a tree. This year, the class planted a bur oak. Afterwards, students from the Gering High School environmental science class lead a scavenger hunt through Northfield Park. |
| Gering Jazz Band sizzles in final concert 2013-05-02 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| The Gering High School Jazz Band sizzled and popped in the Gering High School auditorium last Thursday. The concert marked the final performance of this year’s jazz band. It also saw the last performance of the freshman jazz band as well. The Gering Jazz Band is comprised of carefully selected student musicians who must audition to be part of this this ensemble. The freshman and high school jazz band have had a successful year, having received a superior rating at the recent District Music Contest held at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff. This year’s superior rating marks the 14th time the Gering Jazz Band has brought home such a distinction at the contest. |
| Gering senior students give back to the community 2013-05-02 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| There are only a few more weeks left of high school life for seniors throughout the valley. It has been a long-standing tradition at Gering High School for the seniors to give back to the community by conducting a Senior Service Day. Each year, the senior class chooses a variety of community service projects for this special day. High school teachers Matt Soloman and Janelle Schultz are the event organizers that help students schedule the various projects. This year, students worked for the Gering Parks Department, or and assisted in moving items into the new school administration building on 10th Street. “I think it’s important that they do give back to the community,” said Janelle Schultz, “It’s their last opportunity to be a class before graduation.” Schultz’s applied communications class is in charge of putting together the picnic at the end of the day. The class solicits donations from area businesses to help pay for the food and prizes. This year the class raised $4,000 in cash and prizes. Prizes can vary from something small to large items like a flat screen TV. With the amount of funds raised, every senior leaves the picnic with a prize. “It’s kind of a trade-off to work in the community and to help the community that supported them throughout the years,” said Schultz. |
| Track project receives Bayard American Legion donation 2013-05-02 By |
| BAYARD — A host of Bayard American Legion Members, American Legion Auxiliary Members and community members led by Mrs. Beverley McDaniel contributed 453 hours of volunteer service preparing cabbage burgers for sale in support of Bayard Track Project. Over 40 individuals came together on two separate weekends to prepare, package, and distribute cabbage burgers in support of the track project. Travis Miller, Superintendent of Schools at Bayard, indicated his appreciation to all of the community members who spent time or donations to the cabbage burger sales in saying, “This community effort has served as an inspiration and as an example of the sweat equity that many caring members of the community have demonstrated in support of the project and this community. Community members from every age group worked together as a team on this cabbage burger sale. It is great to have members of each generation come together to contribute to this effort that will benefit the entire community.” During the ongoing capital campaign, the fundraising committee has found great receptiveness to the private/public partnership with several individuals, community organizations, and area businesses coming forward to provide support for this important health and sports project. It is hoped that regional community members, alumni, and area businesses and organizations will continue to join in the efforts to help replace this important school and community facility. Anyone who is interested in contributing to this project can contact Bayard Public Schools at (308) 586-1325 for additional information. |
| Duck Stamp winner chosen 2013-05-02 By |
| GERING — The 2013 Nebraska Junior Duck Stamp judging event was held on Friday, March 29. Best of Show this year was won by Claire Rush of Tecumseh. This year’s entry depicts a pair of wood ducks. Claire is a 17 year-old student at Johnson-Brock High School. Her art teacher is Rhonda L. Johnson. Clarie’s entry was selected from nearly 400 entries received from all across the state. Her colored pencil drawing will be entered in the National Junior Duck Stamp Competition to be held April 19, 2013 at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, W. Va. The winner of the national competition will receive $5,000, a trip to our nation’s capital along with a parent and/or art teacher, and have his or her artwork used to make the 2013-2014 Junior Duck Stamp. Proceeds from the sale of the Junior Duck Stamps, which cost $5.00, support conservation education. Junior Duck Stamp designs are judged in the K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12 grade groups, for which three first place, second place and third place and 16 honorable mention winners are chosen. The Best of Show is then chosen from the first place winners from all age groups. The top nine pieces of art from each age group are included in the display. |
| Water task force bill rolls through debate round two 2013-05-02 By Demetria Stephens - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Nebraska senators debated a bill on the state’s long-term water management for a second time before moving it with amendments Monday. Legislative Bill 517, introduced by Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege, would create a task force to address the long-term sustainability of state water resources. About 20 years ago, people thought there was an unlimited supply of water, Carlson said. “And now we know better.” Irrigators started limiting the water they could pull out of the ground from about 30 inches an acre per year to about 13 inches and they might need to get closer to eight inches, Carlson said. “We can do that if we have the will to do it because our farmers, our irrigators, are smart enough; they know how to get along if they know what they’ve got.” He said the task force should bring together everyone with an interest in water from across the state, including “people who just need to turn on the tap and have good, clean, cold water.” Senators brought several amendments to reduce the fiscal impact of the bill from $3 million to $1 million and to address concerns that the task force didn’t represent everyone in the state. “If we’re really going to spend this much money, then we better make sure everyone is represented,” Sen. Burke Harr of Omaha said. Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha offered an amendment that passed 33-0 to set the size of the task force at 11 members and include on the task force the Omaha area Metropolitian Utilities District. The Omaha area includes about one third of the state’s population. MUD needs to be included specifically, Mello said, because it’s unique and is undergoing what Mello called the largest water infrastructure project in the Nebraska by upgrading its water and natural gas structure at a cost of about $2 billion.. Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha said he would propose an amendment to the bill before the final reading after repeating a concern he had during the first round of debate. The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources has the power to do what is proposed with the task force, but in the past 10 years it hasn’t, he said. Now the legislative branch is going to act. LB517 would put members on the task force to represent both legislative and executive branches of Nebraska’s government, but senator members wouldn’t have a vote. Carlson said the voting members in the task force need to be experts and there were no senators with expertise in water issues. “We’re housing this in the very branch of government that has failed to act and we’re making the legislators non-voting members and the rationale is this is going to be too complex for senators,” Lathrop said. He said that in his work as a lawyer, he would educate a jury on how to deal with a complex case and by the time they voted, they had become experts. He said he had more faith in the Legislature to learn and understand the issues, then come to floor. If they can’t understand an issue, they won’t get a bill passed, he said. Carlson and Lathrop agreed something had to be done about water management in the state. “Ultimately, our north star has to be sustainability,” Lathrop said. “... Whatever it takes to maintain a sustainable water supply, because we do not want to find ourselves a generation from now where those folks who are in the basins can’t irrigate any longer because we didn’t put our eye on sustainability today.” Contact Demetria Stephens at nns.dstephens@gmail.com |
| News Briefs ... 2013-05-02 By |
| Engineering firm recognized SCOTTSBLUFF — The American Council of Engineering Companies of Nebraska, ACEC/Nebraska, presented their 2013 Engineering Excellence Awards on Feb. 19. One of the recipients was Baker and Associates, Inc./Studio120 Architecture of Scottsbluff. Baker and Associates was honored for their design for new science laboratories and a lecture hall at Western Nebraska Community College. Studio 120 Architecture, a division of Baker and Associates, Inc., is a full service architecture firm located in Scottsbluff. The firm offers architectural design, structural engineering, and interior design. Baker and Associates also provides civil engineering and surveying services to clients throughout Nebraska and Wyoming. Their main office is located in “The Old Post Office Building” in downtown Scottsbluff. They also have two branch offices located in Torrington, Wyo. and Ogallala, Neb. Faith Lutheran to celebrate 50th anniversary GERING — Faith Lutheran Church- LCMS, will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary on Sunday, Oct 27. The church was chartered in 1963 on April 7, Palm Sunday, when 362 persons became charter members. Services were held in the Gering National Guard Armory until dedication of the church building at its current location, 2055 U Street in Gering on Sunday, Oct. 20, 1963. The theme for this celebration is “Faith: Our Foundation and Our Future”. A large part of the planning for the celebration includes contacting those charter members. If you know the current address of someone who may have been a charter member of the church, your assistance in contacting that person will be appreciated. Former charter members or persons with information regarding them can contact the church office at PO Box 307, Gering, NE 69341 or by phone at (308) 436-4307 to leave that information. Several events are being planned for the celebration, including a morning worship service and an afternoon Reformation Festival. |
| Attorney General Bruning issues consumer alert 2013-05-02 By |
| Attorney General John Bruning has issued a consumer alert for Nebraskans to be wary of emails claiming to be sent from IRS tax agents. “The IRS does not initiate contact via email. Unsolicited emails sent from those claiming to be IRS agents or affiliated with the IRS are not legitimate, are meant to gather personal data from the recipient and should be deleted immediately,” Bruning said. “Since Monday’s April 15 tax deadline, we have received five reports of this scam targeting Nebraskans.” The scam emails tell recipients they have overpaid their taxes and are able to receive additional tax refund money. The scammers provide a link and instructions on how to get the “over payment” refunded. The link routes recipients to another website where personal information is collected. Unsolicited emails claiming to be from the IRS or from an IRS-related entity should be reported to phishing@irs.gov or the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at (800) 727-6432 or ago.ne.gov. Tips for consumers include: Delete unsolicited emails from unknown senders. Never follow links in emails from unknown senders. Protect identifying information like bank account and Social Security numbers. Use trusted telephone numbers when contacting government agencies. And be sure to verify government agency information on official websites ending in .gov. Keep updated on the latest scams and fraud by following the Attorney General’s Office on Twitter @NEConsumer.gov or visit www.ago.ne.gov. For more information, contact the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 727-6432. |
| Protecting prairies - praise for “Sodsaver” provision 2013-05-02 By |
| WASHINGTON, DC — Last week, Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Amy Klobuchar lead a bipartisan group of senators in introducing legislation that would modify crop insurance premium subsidies for insured crops grown on native sod converted to cropland. “Our sodsaver legislation makes common-sense changes to crop insurance, saving taxpayers nearly $200 million,” said Thune. “This bill in no way prohibits a producer’s right to convert sod or longstanding grasslands to cropland, instead it simply prevents the less productive converted native sod from being insured the same as land that has been improved and farmed for several years. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to move this important legislation forward in the Farm Bill.” The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Mike Johanns (R-NE). And according to the Congressional Budget Office, this legislation could save taxpayers $200 million over 10 years, and would encourage conservation of grasslands that pheasants, ducks, and other wildlife use as a habitat. “Highlighting programs to conserve important wildlife habitat is key as the Senate moves to pass a five-year farm bill,” said Senator Bennet. “This bill helps ensure that federal investments in the crop insurance program are spent on the most productive farmland and don’t result in the loss of habitat, while also saving taxpayers $200 million.” “Both hunting and agriculture are vital to Minnesota’s economy,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This legislation strengthens both by making common sense changes to the crop insurance program that save taxpayers money and encourage the protection of wildlife habitat, while also protecting our farmer’s freedom to use their land as they see fit.” “We applaud Senators Thune, Johanns, Bennet, Klobuchar, Brown and Harkin for introducing this important legislation to preserve grazing land, protect hunting opportunities, and conserve vital natural resources,” said Traci Bruckner, Assistant Policy Director at the Center for Rural Affairs. “Last year’s Senate Farm Bill included a nationwide “Sodsaver” provision and we urge the Senate Agriculture Committee to include this legislation in the Farm Bill that they will be considering in coming weeks and months.” Bruckner explained further that both native sod and land that a producer cannot prove has ever been tilled have reduced production potential for the first few years after being converted to cropland. And the bill would require that newly broken sod be isolated from other crop acres when calculating insurable yields. The legislation includes the following key provisions to address these concerns: prohibits federal commodity payments on newly broken native sod, and it will reduce the federal subsidy for crop and revenue insurance by 50 percent on native grass and prairie lands. requires that newly broken sod be isolated from other crop acres when calculating insurable yields. And operators would be required to take a percentage of the county average yield for any newly broken native sod until they are able to show a multi-year yield history. |
| Morrill teacher honored 2013-05-02 By |
| JoAnn Wilson, teacher at Morrill High School has received the Advisor Service Award for 10 years of dedicated service to the Nebraska Future Business Leaders of America. Mrs. Wilson, a long time teacher at Morrill High said, “The best part of my job is teaching kids and being able to be creative with the lessons and activities I develop for my students. Being a teacher allows me to make a positive difference in the lives of my students.” Principal Swearingen said, “All of us at Morrill Public Schools appreciate the hard work and commitment to students that JoAnn exemplifies.” |
| Bellevue University joins WNCC Scottsbluff Campus 2013-04-25 By WNCC News Services |
| SCOTTSBLUFF — Western Nebraska Community College is excited to announce a new partnership with Bellevue University, a four-year institution that offers bachelor’s and post graduate degrees. Starting this fall semester, Bellevue University will offer classes on the WNCC Scottsbluff Campus. WNCC President Dr. Todd Holcomb stated, “I knew of Bellevue’s success and solid reputation before I even moved to Nebraska. Now, I can say from experience that Bellevue is indeed a first-class higher education institution.” Partnering with Bellevue compliments WNCC’s mission of assuring learning opportunities for all throughout western Nebraska. Further, one of the College’s strategic plan initiatives is to advance the degree opportunities for working adults, a demographic to which Bellevue caters. “Online courses help us reach some audiences, but there will always be people who prefer to attend courses in a classroom and meet with faculty face-to-face. BU brings that four-year opportunity to the greater Scottsbluff/Gering area,” said Dr. Holcomb. “Other community colleges in Nebraska love the relationship they share with Bellevue University, and I am pleased to usher in this partnership between Bellevue and WNCC,” added Dr. Holcomb. “As I see it, there are three major benefits to the College - significant cost savings to our students because they can attend WNCC for three years, instead of two, and transfer those credits to Bellevue to complete a bachelor’s degree; new and convenient educational opportunities for College faculty and staff; and additional income potential for our own faculty who choose to instruct with BU in addition to their commitment to WNCC’s students.” Bellevue recently hired Mell Cooper to serve all of western Nebraska as a Community College Outreach Manager. In this capacity, Cooper will work to attract students to Bellevue, as well as faculty to teach bachelor, master, and PhD level courses. As a welcome reception and open house, Bellevue University hosts a Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 in the John N. Harms Advanced Technology Center. The public is welcome to attend and learn more about the University’s offerings and new commitment to western Nebraska. Appetizers and refreshments will be served. Formal remarks by Bellevue President Dr. Mary Hawkins and Dr. Holcomb will commence at 5:15 p.m. Bellevue University is a widespread community of motivated students and innovative educators. Founded in 1966, Bellevue University is a private, non-profit, regionally accredited institution with a beautiful 46-acre campus in Bellevue, Neb. . Bellevue University serves more than 16,000 students annually at a total of 10 locations in three states — and everywhere online. Bellevue University’s passion is to make it possible for people of all backgrounds to access affordable, high quality education so they can thrive in an ever-changing, connected world. Students choose from a wide variety of undergraduate majors, graduate majors or a Ph.D. in Human Capital Management. And, with Bellevue’s liberal credit transfer policy and accelerated learning choices, individuals can earn their degree — even with the challenges of an already busy life. Bellevue University is also one of the leading national voices in corporate learning. The University partners with global organizations to help them achieve their learning objectives with impactful programs. Here are a few examples of how Bellevue University has been recognized for its innovation and leadership role in higher education: Ranked in the top 10 in the 2013 U.S. News and World Report Best Online Bachelor’s Programs survey; Designated a National Center of Academic Excellence by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security GI Jobs Military Friendly School; Only accredited university to win a Corporate University Best in Class (CUBIC) award twice; Human Capital Lab named a Learning Leader by Bersin and Associates in the 2010 competition; Only accredited university to win Chief Learning Officer’s GOLD Award for Excellence in Academic Partnerships For more information, contact Terry Gaalswyk, WNCC vice president of educational services, at (308) 635-6103 or Mell Cooper at (308) 635-6772 or mell.cooper@bellevue.edu. |
| Council decides to move ahead with new police chief 2013-04-25 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| While the Gering City Council is still undecided about a possible law enforcement merger, they did agree it was time to hire a new police chief. The decision to move ahead with replacing retired police chief Mel Griggs came after council members heard a proposal from Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman on how the sheriff and local police departments might work as a combined entity. Gering City Administrator Lane Danielzuk said the police department has been running smoothly since Griggs’ retirement on Feb. 28, but a new chief needs to be hired. Currently, the city is considering candidates from within the department. Overman told council members he was asked by the mayors of Gering, Scottsbluff and Terrytown to develop a possible plan on how the three agencies could work as one. He visited with a number of other cities in eastern Nebraska that have a similar plan. The county sheriff in smaller counties often contracts with towns to provide law enforcement coverage. Locally, Terrytown contracts with Scottsbluff to provide for their police coverage. “The entity we’re talking about doesn’t exist in Nebraska so far,” Overman said. “There’s no sheriff’s department that runs law enforcement for counties our size.” Under Overman’s proposal, municipal police officers would be sworn in as sheriff deputies and would retain their current rank and seniority. The new agency would have 62 sworn officers, a reduction from the current 64. Also, both cities’ chief positions would be eliminated, along with two captain positions. There would be four shifts with nine officers and two supervisors on duty for each shift. Overman said it would result in more officers on the street and county residents would receive 24-hour coverage instead of the current 20-hour coverage. Overman said a combined agency would also allow for more comprehensive training of personnel. “That will become more important in 2014 when a state law goes into effect mandating 20 hours a year in additional training for all law enforcement personnel.” Discussion of a possible Gering-Scottsbluff police merger in 2010 had Gering residents wondering whether they would receive adequate coverage when most of the crime took place in Scottsbluff, because of its size. “We plan to put GPS in each car,” Overman said. “Any of you who want to know how many hours we’re spending in Scottsbluff or Gering; we can prove it to you.” But the GPS proposal raised some questions from council member Larry Gibbs, who said the cost of equipping the vehicles with GPS would eat up any potential savings, especially if the merged department goes to a one officer, one car policy. Another concern Gibbs expressed was over an item in Overman’s proposal that “cities lose control of their police departments and must trust that the sheriff (whoever he or she may be) will do a good job.” Under state statute, anyone can run for county sheriff. But once elected, the new person has a year to pass the state law enforcement training program. Gibbs said in the future, a new sheriff might not have the professional qualifications of a police chief. Gibbs, along with fellow members Jill McFarland and Julie Morrison, were also concerned about a salary and promotion structure that wouldn’t give Gering officers credit for their rank and seniority. Overman’s proposal recommends Scottsbluff, Gering and Scotts Bluff County each appoint two members to form a committee to further research the potential of a law enforcement merger. The county has already voted to appoint two representatives, but the Gering council decided to wait until they receive input from the public before proceeding. McFarland estimated that even if they decide to go ahead with the merger, it would take from 18 to 24 month to work out all the details. In other action, Ken Mabery, superintendent of Scotts Bluff National Monument, asked the council to be a co-applicant for Nebraska Federal Lands Access Program Funds. The federal funds would be used to build and extend a pedestrian/biking lane from West Lawn Cemetery out to the Monument, which would include connecting with the Legacy of the Plains Museums. The action was approved unanimously by the council. |
| StoryCorps to record seniors' stories 2013-04-25 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Prairie Haven Hospice is partnering with StoryCorps Legacy, a program that provides the opportunity for people with serious illness, and their families, to record the stories of their lives for future preservation. Radio documentarian Dave Isay, who founded StoryCorps in 2003, believes it’s the conversations that people have that are the most meaningful and important. So he set about creating a program that would transcribe, preserve and share people’s oral histories before they’re lost. About three years ago, the organization received funding to implement StoryCorp Legacy to support the stories of people with serious illnesses. “We work closely with hospices, hospitals, palliative care centers, cancer centers and other groups across the county,” said Perry Chinalai, associate manager of StoryCorp Legacy. “Our model is to have a few people who know each other come together and have a conversation.” The person interviewed is asked to share the story of their life, which is recorded. A copy is sent to the person for sharing with family and friends. A second copy is permanently archived at the Library of Congress. Chinalai said with their partnership with Prairie Haven Hospice, they train volunteers and professionals to go out and conduct the interviews over a three-month period. Sandy Brown, a volunteer with the hospice, said she was excited to conduct her first interview. She had been working to get the program implemented since last November. “The lady I talked with had a great time talking about all her memories, her family and her upbringing,” she said. “I think it brought back a lot of good memories for her.” Brown added she’s happy the lady’s family and future generations will be able to listen to her voice telling about her life and times. “You really get a picture of what their life was like and what kind of person they are.” During a 40-minute session, the interview asks a wide range of questions, from favorite colors to the most important relationships in the person’s life. “This lady also talked a lot about the local history,” Chinalai said. “One item this generation might not know was that the hospital used to be downtown. This is so valuable as a historical record from people who witnessed first hand living through the Depression and World War II. These are the personal stories you don’t read about in books.” Brown said they will interview a minimum of 10 people per month over the next three months. But she’s hoping for an even bigger response from the community. “We have about six volunteers to do the interviews and they’re all committed to the project,” she said. “This gives people a chance to leave their legacy, even if they think they don’t have one.” Chinalai said. “The people who at first think they have nothing to say will start sharing so many of their stories about their lives and families.” People who are interested in volunteering to share their life stories through the StoryCorp Legacy project may call Whitney Hoyle, social worker with Prairie Haven Hospice, at (308) 630-1149. Through this partnership, Prairie Haven Hospice hopes to preserve the life stories of as many people as possible – a record for the time when those who were there are no longer here. |
| Symposium to address school safety 2013-04-25 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| On Monday, April 29, local law enforcement and community members will meet to discuss how to keep our schools safe and how to respond if an incident occurs. One of the keynote speakers at the School Safety Symposium will be John-Michael Keyes, director of the “I Love U Guys” Foundation. That was the last message Emily Keyes texted to her parents on Sept. 27, 2006 when a gunman entered the Platte Canyon High School in Colorado and took seven girls hostage. Emily lost her life in that incident. The foundation was created by Emily’s parents to present educational programs and offer positive actions to families, schools, communities and government entities. The goal is to restore and protect the joy of youth. The Standard Response Protocol classroom response to school incidents developed by the foundation has been presented at hundreds of events, conferences and venues. And it’s been adopted by school districts and agencies in several states. Monday’s School Safety Symposium is sponsored locally by the Scottsbluff Police Department, in conjunction with the Gering Police Department, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff, Scottsbluff School District and Western Nebraska Community College. In addition to John-Michael Keyes, speakers will include Sgt. A.J. DeAndrea of the Arvada Police Department and retired team lead of the Jefferson County Regional SWAT unit; and John McDonald, director of security and emergency management for the Jefferson County School District. Two sessions of the School Safety Symposium are planned for Monday. The session for the public is scheduled for 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Midwest Theater in downtown Scottsbluff. A second session for law enforcement professionals will be from 1 – 5 p.m. at the Harms Advanced Technology Center on the WNCC campus. Keyes said a critical part of safe schools is the classroom response to an incident at the school. At the symposium, he will discuss his Standard Response Protocol and how students, staff and first responders can get involved when there’s no time to waste. Capt. Kevin Spencer of the Scottsbluff Police Department said the program has been here in the past and he was very impressed with the material covered. “Our hope now is to take it a step further and develop a unified response for area law enforcement as well as all the schools in the area,” Spencer said. “This training can be used in many different situations, not just random acts of violence. It’s easy to understand, practical and common sense information we can use when an emergency occurs, such as a weather disaster when shelter is needed.” The goal of the symposium is to use productive discussion to provide actionable items that school districts and other agencies can implement right away to help make our schools a safer place for children and adults alike. |
| GHS journalists take state championship again 2013-04-25 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| For the third year running, the Gering High School journalism and yearbook staff has claimed the state Class B championship, sponsored by the Nebraska High School Press Association and the Nebraska State Activities Association. Students who have been on the championship team for all three years include Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski, Alexa Anderson and Kendall Uhrich, who is editor of both the Blueprints newspaper and the school yearbook. She also writes a weekly column for the Gering Citizen newspaper. “It feels good that people are noticing your work,” Uhrich said. The students also set a new state record for total points this year with 86. “That in itself is pretty amazing,” said journalism and yearbook adviser Janelle Schultz. “Eighteen first place finishes really speaks to what these students were able to accomplish. They know there’s a level of expectation when they come into the program and they work toward that goal. I just can’t say enough about this group of students. They are busy in sports, course work and other activities and get they put forth 100 percent of their efforts every day to produce quality journalism. I am so proud of each and every one of them.” Gering journalism students placed at least one member in each of the competition’s 21 categories: 18 in first place, 10 in second and 12 in third. Schultz said that although there’s some teaching about online journalism and blogs, most of the course work is still paper and pen, although students can now submit stories they’ve published online. “That’s still the basics of good journalism,” she said. For competition purposes, entries are submitted in March and judging results are returned in April. The state championships are based on the total number of sweepstakes points each school earns. Students will be in Lincoln on May 13 to compete in the all-class state championships. Gering journalism and yearbook students placing in the top three in the following categories were: Advertising: Jasie Beam; Column Writing: Tanner Baird; Editorial Cartooning: Cara Wimberley; Editorial Writing: Alexa Anderson and Kendall Urich; Entertainment Writing: Alexa Anderson and Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski; Graphic Illustration: Alexa Anderson; Headline Writing: Katherine O’Boyle, Amber Fertig and Alexa Anderson; In-Depth News Coverage: Alexa Anderson, Tanner Baird, Kendall Uhrich, Michael Marsh, Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski and Elizabeth Millay; News Writing: Kendall Uhrich and Tanner Baird; News/Feature Photography: Michael Marsh and Katherine O’Boyle; Newspaper Feature Writing: Alexa Anderson; Newspaper Layout: Tanner Baird and Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski; Photo Illustration: Michael Marsh and Alexa Anderson; Sports Feature Writing: Katherine O’Boyle and Gage Winkler; Sports News Coverage: Elizabeth Millay, Holly Grote and Kendall Uhrich; Sports/Action Photography: Alexa Anderson and Katherine O’Boyle; Yearbook Feature Writing: Jasie Beam and Kayla Todd; Yearbook Layout: Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski; Yearbook Sports Feature Writing: Kendall Uhrich and Katherine O’Boyle; Yearbook Theme Copy Writing: Amber Fertig, Kendall Uhrich and Kayla Todd; Yearbook Theme Development: Kendall Uhrich, Kayla Todd and Amber Fertig. |
| Planting a seed 2013-04-25 By |
| Riverside Discovery Center education coordinator Kim Miedema (left) offers guidance to Adriana Garcia, 11, of Scottsbluff, as she plants flower seeds at the Earth Day celebration at the zoo. More than 100 children and their families enjoyed the mild weather on Saturday to attend the zoo's 'Party for the Planet' event. |
| Gering speakers celebrate winning season at Speech Night 2013-04-25 By Philip Eckerberg - Special to the Citizen |
| Gering Speech team celebrated a successful season Thursday with Speech Night at the Gering High School auditorium. This year’s team highlights include the championship at North Platte’s Blue and Gold Invitational, a Western Conference championship, the Class B-6 District championship, and the runner up for Class B State. The speech team is led by head coach Tyler Thompson and assistants Jason DeMaranville and Andy Stobel. Thursday evening featured a sampling of the top speeches from the season. Sophomore Kyle Upp performed his persuasive speech, “Permissive Parenting: If You Don’t Spank Your Kid, Someone Else Will.” Sophomores Jonathan Boyd and Jenna Longmore presented their Duet, “Breaking the Chain” about a woman whose neighbor sends her a chain letter which she refuses to forward. Sophomore Kali Rimington educated the crowd with an Informative Speech about feet. Senior Tanner Baird got the crowd laughing with his Entertainment speech about failure. Senior Caleb Wyre recited a rap style Poetry selection about life in the inner city. Freshman Allison Baird performed her Serious Prose on “The Property Known as Garland.” The State Champion Oral Interpretation of Drama team sent the crowd into fits of laughter as the team of five presented “Over the River and Through the Woods,” a piece set in New Jersey. The final performance of the night was given by the senior Oral Interpretation of Drama team, which earned a second place at the state meet. This team consisted of all seniors Caleb Hayden, Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski, Kendall Uhrich, and Caleb Wyre. Their piece, “How to Succeed in High School Without Really Trying featured a group of high school teachers and a counselor instructing a freshman class on the ins and outs of surviving high school in the big city. Coach Thompson beamed with pride as he described the scene at the state competition when the winners of Oral Interpretation of Drama were announced. Thompson had been informed by Coach Stobel that both of Gering’s teams had performed well and were likely to place high but of course no one knew how high. The sixth through fourth winners were announced and Gering was not among them. Then third place was announced. The Omaha Skutt team and the Gering students and fans went wild because they knew that Gering had taken the top two spots. The last part of the evening consisted of the presentation of varsity letters to speech team members. Lettermen were seniors Tanner Baird, Andrew Delcamp, Samuel Eastman, Caleb Hayden, Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski, Kendall Uhrich, and Caleb Wyre, who had also qualified for the state meet, while Senior Erika Bowman also earned a varsity letter. Juniors Brittany Eckerberg, Arich Knaub and Isabel Wolf earned varsity letters. Sophomores Johnathn Boyd, Megan Brady, Hayley Grams, Gavin Hovseth, Jenna Lonhmore, Kali Rimington, and Kyle Upp all earned Varsity letters and qualified for the state meet. Sophomores Torri Brumbaigh, Nicolette Cook, Andrew Cook, Brooke Doggett, Brandy Mendoza, Leah Potts, Ciara Sabala, and Sydni Schledewitz also earned varsity letters. Freshman Allie Baird had the distinction of being the only freshman to earn a Varsity letter and qualify for state. The evening turned emotional as seniors presented the three coaches with posters thanking them for working with them over the last four years. Hugs were shared and a couple of tears were shed as they realized that this will be the last time they would perform together. The future looks bright for Gering speech competitors. While the team is losing eight seniors, it retains talented and experienced speakers from both the junior and sophomore classes. These speakers have tasted victory, and they know what it takes to win. |
| Gering Senior Citizen Center Menu for May 2013-04-25 By |
| April 29 – May 3 MONDAY: Cook’s choice. TUESDAY: Meatloaf, baked potato, spinach, wheat bread, milk, apple crisp. WEDNESDAY: Ham salad sandwich, corn chowder, juicy gelatin, milk, tapioca pudding. THURSDAY: Chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, broccoli, wheat bread, milk, apricots. FRIDAY: Tuna patties, baked yam, green beans, wheat bread, milk, cupcake. May 6 – 10 MONDAY: Enchilada casserole, Spanish rice, refried beans, tortilla, milk, mixed fruit. TUESDAY: Crab salad, hash browns, peas and carrots, fruit muffin, milk, hot compote. WEDNESDAY: Barbecue pork, tater tots, coleslaw, bun, milk, plums. THURSDAY: Beef stew with vegetables, orange gelatin with fruit, biscuit, milk, peach cobbler. FRIDAY: Oven fried chicken, scalloped potatoes, peas, fruit juice, wheat bread, milk, chocolate zucchini cake. May 13 – 17 MONDAY: Spaghetti with meat sauce, zucchini, tossed salad, garlic toast, milk, orange wedges with cookie. TUESDAY: Pork cutlet, parslied potatoes, Brussels sprouts, wheat bred, milk, banana. WEDNESDAY: Baked fish, macaroni and cheese, mixed vegetables, wheat bread, milk, pineapple tidbits. THURSDAY: Chicken pot pie with potatoes and vegetables, ambrosia salad, wheat bread, milk, applesauce. FRIDAY: Cabbage burger, potato salad, pickled beets, milk, frosted cake. May 20 – 24 MONDAY: Swiss steak, mashed potatoes, carrot raisin salad, wheat bread, milk, tropical fruit. TUESDAY: Cook’s choice. WEDNESDAY: Homemade sausage and cheese pizza, spinach salad, fruit cup, garlic toast, milk, brownie. THURSDAY: Breaded fish, creamed potatoes, broccoli, wheat bread, milk, sherbet. FRIDAY: Hamburger with lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion, past salad, baked beans, bun, milk, strawberries with topping. |
| Peck named BPW Woman of the Year 2013-04-25 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF — Banking and Mortgage executive Bridget Peck has been named Woman of the Year by the Panhandle Business and Professional Woen. Peck is an Assistant Vice President at Nationstar Mortgage, with responsibility for Operational Controls and Examinations. She has worked for Nationstar Mortgage for nine months. Previously, she was a Vice President at Aurora Bank for 10 years, managing various functions including Examinations, Incentive Compensation, Investor Relations, Operational Risk, and Vendor Management. At Aurora Bank, Bridget was honored as an Employee of the Month and a Circle of Excellence Employee. Bridget is a former Certified Public Accountant and earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado. She currently serves on the boards of the Scotts Bluff Country Club, Saint Agnes School Foundation, and Joyful Noise at Gering Zion; is an active member of Panhandle Business and Professional Women; and serves on several United Way of Western Nebraska volunteer committees. Bridget is a past board member for the DOVES Program and the Panhandle Humane Society; earned a Competent Toastmaster designation; and is a graduate of Leadership Scotts Bluff. Her husband of 12 years, Jeff Peck, owns and operates Intralinks Inc, a technology consulting firm. They have two children, Addison, age 4, and Andrew, age 2, as well as three beagles. Bridget enjoys reading and golf in her spare time. |
2013-04-25 By |
| Students at Lincoln Elementary School completed a shoe drive on April 15. They collected 133 pairs of shoes to donate to the Shoe Ministry Program. Members of the Student Council sorted and counted the collection. |
| Students turn trash into art 2013-04-25 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| A different kind of mural adorns the wall just inside the entrance to Cedar Canyon Elementary – one created from collected trash. “With Earth Day right around the corner, we decided we needed to do something with recycling or reusing trash,” said Allison Wagner, sixth grade teacher at Cedar Canyon. “I asked all the kids to bring trash from home. From there, they made a tree mural.” All the kids thought it was “pretty cool” they made something artistic from collected trash. They said if people don’t recycle, trash will just go into the ground and into the water supply. They added that recycling paper is important so that fewer trees need to cut down to make more paper. Some of the common household items that can be seen in the mural include plastic milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles and cardboard tubes from paper rolls. Someone even brought a plastic play sword. As the area’s young people have demonstrated, we all need to be to be conscious of all the material we use and recycle and reuse everything we can – for a better environment. |
| News Briefs ... 2013-04-25 By |
| Junior Ranger activities scheduled at Monument GERING — Celebrate National Park Week and earn a badge or two on Saturday, April 27. How do you earn a Junior Ranger badge? Each unit in the National Park Service has put together an activity booklet for children. After completing the required activities for their age group, they take a pledge and earn their badge. Since the badges have the name of the park, collecting the badges has become very popular among young visitors. Not only are there badges for the individual Park Service units, there are badges and patches available for subjects covered by a variety of parks. Kids may earn a Junior Paleontologist badge as they learn about fossils and a Junior Ranger Night Explorer patch by observing the night sky. Both of these are available at Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Beds National Monuments. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be extra activities to help potential Junior Rangers earn their badges. Ranger Lynne Johns will give pioneer cooking demonstrations at the wagons, giving kids an opportunity to experience living history. Meanwhile, Ranger Matt Salomon will meet groups on the Saddle Rock Trail and talk about the geology of the bluffs. The Scotts Bluff National Monument visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. -12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The summit road remains open from 9 a.m. -4:30 p.m. All Monument trails are open from sunrise until sunset. Please inquire about the Bi-Park Annual Pass valid at both Fort Laramie National Historic Site and Scotts Bluff National Monument. Additional information about Scotts Bluff National Monument programs and schedules may be obtained at the visitor center, by calling (308) 436-9700. Art Center to host Access 100 Artists event SCOTTSBLUFF — West Nebraska Arts Center, in partnership with Art21 as part of its Access 100 Artists initiative, presents an exclusive screening of episodes from Art in the Twenty-First Century, the only prime time national television series focused exclusively on contemporary art, on Sunday, April 28 in the gallery at WNAC. The event features an open house beginning at 1 p.m., the screening of Art21 at 1:30 p.m., and an informal discussion immediately following. After the screening, the Arts Center will feature an open studio. This event is free and open to the public. “Everyone is welcome to enjoy and discuss this great series with us.” said Mason Burbach, Executive Director of West Nebraska Arts Center. “I also want to invite local artists to bring their art to the gallery during the open studio time. It’s a great atmosphere for art-making as well as a time to visit with other local artists.” Art21 Access 100 Artists is an international screening initiative created to increase knowledge of contemporary art, ignite dialogue, and inspire creative thinking through hundreds of public screenings and events that tailor the ideas presented in series to the interests and concerns of local audiences. Through in-depth profiles and interviews, the Art in the Twenty-First Century series reveals the inspiration, vision and techniques behind the creative works of some of today’s most thought-provoking artists. Art21 Access 100 Artists celebrates a milestone of 100 artists featured throughout six seasons of the Art in the Twenty-First Century series. “Art21’s Access 100 Artists provides an opportunity for organizations around the country and the world to experience a central goal of Art21 – dialogue inspired by contemporary art and the ideas it expresses,” said Susan Sollins, Executive Producer of Art21. “We hope that participating organizations find ways to best utilize the Art21 materials for their respective communities and that audiences will take full advantage of the events in their area and discover the life-changing potential of viewing creative role models at work. Our goal is that these events spark new conversations, and expose all kinds of viewers to the important work of the artists profiled in the series.” |
| Senators debate state aid to schools 2013-04-25 By Joseph Moore - Nebraska News Service nns.jmoore@gmail.com |
| LINCOLN A bill that would change the formula for state aid to schools pitted senators representing smaller, mostly rural school districts against those representing larger districts. Lawmakers began debate Monday on LB 407, introduced by Sen. Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids. The bill would slow the growth rate of state aid to schools to 6.3 percent for the upcoming school year, down from the current projected rate of 10.3 percent. The following year the growth rate would slow further to 5.1 percent. State aid to schools currently makes up about one-third of the state budget, or just under $1 billion a year. The aid formula calculates a school district’s needs and subtracts its resources -- revenue from property taxes and other sources -- to determine how much state funds the district should receive. Four percent of the state’s school districts educate about 50 percent of the state’s students and receive 60 percent of the aid, according to Sullivan. About 100 of the state’s 249 school districts receive no state aid because they are believed to have enough resources to cover their needs. About half of school funding comes from property tax dollars. Under current law, school districts cannot raise more than $1.05 for every $100 of property value without voter approval. Several of the larger school districts in the state -- like Lincoln and Omaha -- have already met or exceeded this limit and must rely on increased state aid for their financial needs. Senators representing these districts do not believe the slower growth rate is adequate to accommodate the increase in student population and the resulting costs. Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln cited an increase of 2,600 students over five years in Lincoln Public Schools. “I’m not sure (LB) 407 quite gets us where we need to be,” he said. Senators opposed to the bill argue that rural districts should have to raise their property tax levies before being eligible to receive state aid and that more of the aid should go to larger districts with already high levies and low per-student costs. Senators representing rural districts counter by saying that as the value of agricultural land continues to rise, ranchers and farmers are forced to pay higher percentages of their income in property taxes. Any increase in levies in these areas would place a disproportionate burden on rural land owners. Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis said rural landowners are already paying as much as 10 percent of their gross income in property taxes. “If you’re going to penalize rural districts for their low levy, I hope you realize what you’re doing,” he said. |
| Hybrids may not live up to hype 2013-04-18 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| The idea that we could be cutting back on some of the dollars we spend at the gas pump while also saving the environment is a compelling reason to get behind the hybrid car. The automotive industry is constantly creating new design concepts to help reduce our dependency on gasoline. In larger cities, hybrids zipping around are a common sight. City drivers are more than likely to be idle in traffic for long periods of time. Hybrid cars use a combination of electricity and gasoline. So when a driver is idling for a long period of time, the electric engine will kick on, and reduce gasoline consumption. Along with hybrids, electric cars that allow the driver to plug in the vehicle at night have been introduced. Honda has recently launched a new hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicle, which are now being leaded in the U.S. but what do these advancements mean for us in Western Nebraska? Is it worth the money to pay a little extra for one of these hybrid vehicles? Honda expert, Kevin Sandberg of Regais Auto Center doesn’t think so. “It's nice to drive one and in some cases it tells people you’re green but it’s not always practical, said Sandberg, who has dealt with hybrid cars before and even owns one himself. Sandberg understands firsthand the ever advancing technology with vehicles. According to Sandberg, Honda has been on the front line in creating the most fuel efficient vehicles since the late ‘70s. Due to the upfront costs it is questionable whether a hybrid will be worth the money. For example, let us compare a 2013 Honda Civic versus Civic Hybrid. According to Honda.com, the Civic at base price is $18,965. While the Civic Hybrid starts at $24,360 making it a price difference of $5,395. While according to the website the combination of electricity and gasoline in the Civic Hybrid estimated 44 miles per gallon the Civic averages about 32 miles per gallon. While, the hybrid does beat out the base model Civic there is only a 12 mile per gallon difference between the two. “It really depends on the miles you drive and the price of gasoline,” said Sandberg. If investing in a new vehicle is not in the near future for you, there are a few simple maintenance steps that can help you to make your vehicle more environmentally friendly. Chris Hasse at Nebraskaland tire recommends getting your tires rotated every 5,000 miles. This practice doubles the life of your tires and also keeps them from ending up in the land fill before it’s necessary. Checking the air pressure is also important, because your tires perform at an optimum when the tire pressure is correct, saving gas. Other simple maintenance includes a flue system flush and oil change. Most manufactures recommend this be done every 3,000 miles; however, those that require synthetic oil only need to be changed every 7,000 miles. Choose your maintenance shop carefully. At Nebraskaland all the oil is sent to a company where it is properly recycled. A system flush helps your vehicle to use less fuel, therefore decreasing your carbon footprint. Even watching your driving habits can also help to decrease your need for gasoline. Pay attention to your speed, and unnecessary acceleration before upcoming stop signs. A person can do many simple things to save on gas and economy. Due to the upfront costs it is questionable whether it will be worth the money. Government mandates is the push for many car companies to switch their fuel systems not because of gas effectincey but for global warming. |
| Tintypes pleases the crowd 2013-04-18 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Last week’s snow didn’t dampen the spirits of the cast and crew of Gering’s musical ‘Tintypes’. The unique vaudevillian style musical was a crowd please this year. “We got tons of compliments from audience members because it wasn’t what they expected,” said musical director Shelly Revelle. Revelle credits the fact that the show is unknown made it a different experience for audience members. Frigid temperatures did bring down audience numbers but the Sunday matinee received a crowd of about 75. “We appreciate those who did come out despite the weather,” said Revelle. |
| Kindergartens travel through time at the NPVM 2013-04-18 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Kindergarteners from across the Valley gathered at the North Platte Valley Museum to travel through time Monday. The event hosted by ESU 13 took children through various points in history. Students learned everything from how the first settlers survived the harsh winter months to how newspapers were printed. The event had a great turn out despite winter weather moving back into the area. |
| Who is Michael Grunden? 2013-04-18 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Who is Michael Grunden? It was a question that began to appear all across town and ended at the Northfield Assembly of God Church. One couldn’t help but be curious when seeing the large banners, yard signs and posters, and wonder just who was this man? Was he going to be speaking at the church? Well, the truth is, Michael Grunden did speak at the church, and he died at the church that same day. Michael Grunden was a fictional character created by the pastors at Northfield Assembly of God. “The idea was to do something different for Easter that has not been done before in this area,” said pastor Justin Adams. Adams and senior pastor Kiley Callaway created a script and story about the man’s life. Their character Michael Grunden had just found out he had lung cancer that had progressed so far that he had only 30 days to live. “He is named after two different people; my best friend and senior pastor Kiley Callaway’s best friend,” said Adams. This Grunden character had a blog where he shared his thoughts about life during his final days. The character even had his own Facebook account where he added friends and interacted with them. At the top of Grunden’s blog was a countdown counter to the final moments of his life. The culmination of the project, “The Fortunate Death of Michael Grunden,” was implemented on Easter Sunday. “It was designed to be nontraditional,” said Adams, “not for its own sake but to do it because we want to impact people.” At the start of the Easter Day performance, Grunden walked on stage and told the audience he had 130 seconds to live. He then died on the stage. There followed by a rewind of his life all the way up to his death and the impacts he had on the world. The production was presented in the form of a musical, which was pre-recorded. “I find that people respond better to musicals,” said Adams, “it really opens up the window of our soul.” The major points of Grunden’s life were touched on, showing how his life had impacted others without his knowing it. For example, as a young boy, Grunden took to church, and went on to create an anti-slavery organization that would set thousands of people free. “We wanted to create a campaign of curiosity,” said Adams. The church sent out 5,000 mailers to the direct area; created yard signs, posters, invitations and Facebook ads, all asking the one simple question; “Who is Michael Grunden?” The marketing proved to be very effective. Last year, the church had 230 people for their Easter Sunday service. This year they had 370 people. “We had the largest crowd we’ve had on Easter in about 12 years,” said Adams. The Fortunate Death of Michael Grunden served as a kick off to the church’s “One Month to Live” series; which will follow with their “Global 4 incentive,” which will serve to combat the four major problems in the world; hunger, poverty, clean water, and slavery. “We don’t know what kind of impact we have in this life,” said Adams. |
| Museums receive major donation 2013-04-18 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Platte Valley Bank-Nebraska has donated $250,000 toward the new Legacy of the Plains Museums (LPM), now under construction west of Gering. LPM is a merger of the Farm And Ranch Museum and the North Platte Valley Historical Society Museum. The new expanded facility is going up at the current FARM campus, next to Scotts Bluff National Monument. “Two organizations, each very successful, had a vision of an even better approach to combine these organizations into one that was even stronger,” said Hod Kosman, President and CEO of Platte Valley Companies. I’m sure it took a lot of perseverance, leadership and some diplomacy, but it all came together because it was the right thing to do.” He added the real beneficiary of this collaboration is the community and the tens of thousands of visitors who can learn and experience our rich history and stories of this region. “We could not do this without the support of everyone in this community,” said LPM campaign co-chair Nancy Haney. “We know how important it is to have that community support and we want to do the right thing for the community.” Campaign co-chair George Schlothauer also said they have received a major donation from Kelley Bean Co., generating support not only from the area’s financial institutions, but also from the agricultural community. “People are realizing the importance of this project and are supporting us in a big way,” he said. For more information about the capital campaign, contact committee co-chairs George Schlothauer at (308) 436-5724 or Nancy Haney at (308) 436-1989. |
| Cawthra joins Citizen family 2013-04-18 By Jerry Purvis editor@geringcitizen.com |
| Henry resident Mitzi Cawthra, veteran local media sales person, has joined the Gering Citizen sales department. Mitzi grew up on a farm south of Gering, attended Cedar Canyon School and graduated from Gering High School. “I’ve stayed in the area except for three years when my husband and I lived in Colorado,” she said. “We moved back to the area to be closer to family.” Mitzi has been in advertising her entire career, starting with print advertising before working on the radio end for Tracy Broadcasting and later at KNEB. “What I like about advertising is that I get to see and talk with different people every day and every day is something different,” she said. “I’m a very task oriented person, so I make schedules and stick to them. That makes me good on follow-through.” She added that a lot of her customers have become her friends as they find things they have in common. “Anyone can sell advertising or service accounts,” Mitzi said. “I try to be an advocate or consultant for the customer’s company. That’s a whole different thing in doing the best you can for that company’s advertising dollars. I’d rather not make the sale than to have them advertise where it’s not a good fit. It’s about building the advertising around what they need.” As for her new job with the Citizen, Mitzi said she’s looking forward to working with a small staff. “We all work off each other’s strengths. Because I know so many people here, I can really tell them what the Citizen is about and what we do and what we have to offer.” An old business adage states that stopping your advertising to save money is like stopping your watch to save time. Mitzi said she agrees with that. “Business always goes where it’s invited, so business people need to keep telling customers what they’re offering. The businesses that came back strong after the 1980s economic downturn were the ones that kept advertising.” |
| Civic Center celebrates 20 years 2013-04-18 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| In 1993, local developer Irving Rushall and a group of investors presented the Gering City Council with a plan to construct a Civic Center at the corner of 10th and M Streets – and the Gering Civic Center is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. “The Civic Center was a lease-to-own arrangement, which the city has since paid off,” said Rick Keller, Civic Center operator. “Since we opened, we’ve continued to grow every year and it’s been really good for the community.” The first function hosted in the Civic Center in 1993 was a “soft opening” hosted by Rushall for all the subcontractors that worked on building the facility, about 250 people. Keller was the facility’s first caterer, coming on board in 1993. The manager was Alan Doll, who had a background in building and opening hotels for one of the nation’s larger chains. “Alan had the knowledge they needed during the construction phase,” Keller said. “It worked well and he stayed on as manager once we opened.” In 1998, Keller made a successful proposal to the city council to take over as operator of the Civic Center. “We’ve covered a lot of ground in 20 years, hosting about 600 functions a year,” he said. “And the functions have been growing is size over the years.” An architect’s formula for function size estimated the Civic Center would average about 350 people per event. “At first they thought we’d struggle to hit that number, but we got there right away and started filling the room constantly,” Keller said. “Two years ago, we were able to remodel and move a wall, which gave us room for 500. We’ve been having that many people consistently.” “Over the years, we’ve developed repeat clients, such as HOG, the Harley Owners Group, who are coming back this summer,” he said. ‘We work with the Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau, which has turned into a great partnership for us. We can offer full conventions and travel package deals.” In the early years, the Civic Center was primarily a venue for family and class reunions and wedding receptions. That’s grown into more and more conventions, including the Nebraska State Republican Party Convention, which came to Gering in 1996. They’ve also hosted the National Red Angus Convention and have professional groups from Lincoln coming on a regular basis, such as the Nebraska School Board Association and the Nebraska Healthcare Association. “The Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln used to be the premiere venue a few years back,” Keller said. “It was a real compliment at the time when people compared us to them.” The Gering Civic Center staff invites past and present clients and friends to an evening of food and entertainment to help celebrate the center’s 20th anniversary. The event is on Friday, April 26 from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Civic Center. Please RSVP by April 24 by calling the Civic Center at (308) 436-6888 or by email at judyk@geringciviccenter.com |
| Platte River Basin Environments Inc. preserves natural resources 2013-04-18 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Everyone should be involved in whatever way they can to help preserve our natural resources for future generations, and two local groups are well aware of that. Ken Mabery, superintendent at Scotts Bluff National Monument, said conservation means two things to them – preservation and restoration. “When we talk of preserving the landscape in the area of the monument, we’re attempting to hold on to the historic landscape,” Mabery said. “That’s the short grass, tall grass prairie that existed in the mid-1850s during the westward expansion.” The second area Mabery pointed out is restoration – restoring areas that were disturbed by human intervention back to their original state. “The west side of the monument was where the old country club and golf course was located,” he said. “We’re trying to restore those areas back to that historic appearance by re-landscaping the terrain and replanting native grasses.” Mabery said they’ve had good luck in restoring some areas, such as north of Dome Rock. They’ve been less successful around the old golf course because of the ongoing drought. One of the tools used by monument staff to maintain the area is prescribed burns. When weather conditions are right, fires are set in mapped out areas to burn the weeds and other non-native plants, stimulating the growth of native grasses. “Down along the river the primary invasive species are Russian olive and tamarisk that tear up the ecosystem by using so much water,” he said. “We have to cut those trees down and burn the heavy logs.” Prescribed burns are necessary because of today’s lack of large grazers, such as bison or elk, which keep prairie grasses from overgrowing the area. Mabery said his staff takes a hands-on approach to conservation because the mission of the monument is to preserve its historic time period. Scotts Bluff National Monument Ranger Bob Manasek said that while the bald eagle has been taken off the federal endangered species list, they still watch for them. However, there are some endangered species listed at the state level, such as the river otter and a species of carrion beetle. “Nebraska is so long and has such a change in elevation, some species that might be endangered back east won’t be out here,” Manasek said. “Rabbit brush is one of those that’s common here, but not in eastern Nebraska.” Platte River Basin Environments (PRBE) takes a different, but just as important, approach to conservation in the area. The group was founded 23 years ago with a bequest to the Nature Conservancy from the estate of Clive Ostenberg. “As we became more involved with conservation, we realized how unique of a biological landscape we have here,” said PRBE president Hod Kosman. “Our goal is to have this landscape open to the public for their enjoyment and also to create habitat environments where our local wildlife can flourish.” Kosman added that in addition to the unique landscape of the area, below the surface are paleontological and archeological finds that tell their own story of our history. PRBE works in conjunction with landowners and other groups such as the Nature Conservancy, Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited, as well as state agencies such as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Environmental Trust. “We own many of the properties we manage now,” Kosman said. “We also have a variety of lands in the Wildcat Hills that we manage. These lands are still being worked and are part of our local economy as the landowners pay taxes. Farm and ranch families are still using them to make a living, but these lands are managed with recreation and wildlife in mind. It’s been extremely successful so far with about 35,000 acres working landscapes that are open to the public.” |
| County board learns about law proposal 2013-04-18 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| During their Monday meeting, Scotts Bluff County Commissioners heard from County Sheriff Mark Overman about the feasibility of merging some of the county’s law enforcement agencies. In February 2013, the mayors of Gering, Scottsbluff and county board chair Mark Masterton asked Overman to develop a plan on how a merger could be accomplished. Masterton earlier said the fact neither Scottsbluff nor Gering currently has a police chief, along with the announced retirement of Chief Deputy Sheriff Jim Gaspers, created a “perfect storm” where a merger might be the best option. Overman consulted with six different law enforcement agencies of similar size in the state to see how they did it. He told the board the plan he developed would coordinate law enforcement functions of Gering and Scottsbluff under the county sheriff’s office. Terrytown, which receives enforcement from Scottsbluff, would also be included. It would be in the form of a contract with the county for services. Overman said a combined department would have 62 sworn officers instead of the current 64 among the different agencies. That number excludes both chief positions. Also, more officers would be on the street with two supervisors assigned to each 12-hour shift. As a result, the county would see 24-hour coverage rather than the current 20-hour. Overman said the plan calls for a centralized record keeping system, rather than several merged systems. That would allow for more effective policing, especially in investigations. All personnel from the merged agencies would be sworn in as deputy sheriffs. New hires would have to pass necessary physical agility tests and a background check before their one-year probationary period. All current personnel would retain their rank and seniority. Overman told the board the individual agencies would need to keep their current facilities, as there isn’t a single building at the time that can house all then agency’s personnel. One item in the proposal states: “Cities lose control of the police departments and must trust the sheriff (whoever he or she may be) will do a good job.” Commissioner Steve Stratton pointed out that some officers might think that giving up some of their status is a demotion. “After several years of service, they might have hard feelings about that,” he said. Commissioner Sherry Blaha also had some concerns. “I’m not opposed to this,” she said, “but I wonder what it will do for morale. And are we really going to save money by merging? I’m not sure we actually can.” Overman’s proposal recommends the creation of an advisory committee with two members each from the county, Gering and Scottsbluff. Committee members would assist with the project and report back to their boards. Commissioners approved creating that committee. Overman later made the presentation to the Scottsbluff City Council and will present it to the Gering City Council on April 22. |
| Fire destroys Gering home 2013-04-18 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| A south Gering home was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning after the Gering Fire Department responded to a blaze at the same location the previous day. In the first fire, firefighters were called to the home of Richard Franke at 250 Cox Drive around 3:30 a.m. Friday for a possible attic fire. “That one was caused by a short in a bathroom fan,” said Gering Fire Chief Jay Templar. “It started a small fire above the bathroom ceiling. It was minor because the fire melted some of the plastic tubing. Crews were there until about 5:30 that morning.” Then at about 5:20 a.m. Saturday, the department got another call. But this time, the roof was fully involved. “When we arrived, part of the roof had collapsed into the house,” Templar said. “”We were there until about 11 o’clock that morning. The walls are still standing, but I’d say this was a total loss for the homeowner.” Templar said the State Fire Marshal has investigated the fire and findings have been turned over to the insurance carrier. |
| North Platte NRD offers water conservation incentives 2013-04-18 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| While recent early spring rains and snowstorms have improved the outlook regarding water resources in the Panhandle drought conditions are likely to remain a concern this coming summer. According to Ron Cacek, General Manager of the North Platte Natural Resource District (NPNRD), the latest Bureau of Reclamation report regarding the surface water system in our area doesn't look very good. “But that was released just before our current storms,” Cacek said. “This situation will hopefully improve with this added moisture. We'll have to wait and see how it develops.” Cacek said while the storms will help with the overall situation he doubted that we will get back to normal surface water systems levels anytime soon. Dave Wolf, NPNRD Information and Education Coordinator added, “It is looking better than last year, but most things would look better than last year. In July and August of last year we had 19 days of triple digit temperatures. That is just amazing. We have had a colder winter this year so hopefully that won't make it so hot this coming summer.” With continued drought conditions looming the NPNRD offers several cost share programs designed to help conserve and preserve water in the Panhandle. “We have a couple of different programs designed to conserve water,” Wolf said. “One is our Panhandle No-till Partnership. This protects the ground from sun and wind evaporation.” The NPNRD teams up with other agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Agency Service to help landowners make improvements in irrigation water management, planned grazing systems and tree planting. “The goal is to keep water in the soil,” Wolf said. “All of these programs are set up to preserve water.” “We also have our buffalo grass cost-share project,” Cacek added. “We want to encourage people to plant buffalo grass in lieu of Kentucky blue grass. Buffalo grass doesn't take as much water. It won't be nice and green like the Kentucky blue grass but it will survive. We offer a cost-share program so people can convert from blue grass to buffalo grass. We are saving water in doing that. This program is open to anyone in our NRD area. The NPNRD oversees such efforts in Scotts Bluff, Banner, Morrill, and Garden Counties, and also the southern end of Sioux County.” Cacek said that people can get an application for the program on the NRD website at npnrd.org. He noted that most people who sign up are approved. “We pay $15 a pound to re-seed areas,” Cacek said. “It will cost a little more than that but the cost share can cover up to 7,500 square feet. The recommended rate is three pounds per thousand square feet of grass seed.” Cacek said the cost of preparing the seed bed and the planting would be covered by the landowner but that the NPNRD tries to create an incentive for folks to make the conversion. “We've been doing this for four or five years now,” Wolf added. “We usually get around eight to ten people a year. We are taking applications right now.” “The ideal time to plant grass seed is in June,” Cacek said. “We say anytime between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July is the best time to plant.” The NPNRD also works to ensure that irrigation systems are operating at peak efficiency. “We offer cost-share programs to improve getting water from the water source to the center irrigation pivot,” Wolf said. “We also have a cost-share project for people to get moisture sensors. The sensors will tell them when they need to irrigate so they don't do it too often. The sensors go into the ground to measure moisture. We encourage farmers to acquire and install them.” Cacek said they also work with landowners to convert from high pressure to low pressure irrigation systems. “The old systems would shoot the water high into the air and more of it evaporated,” he said. “New systems are lower to the ground so we aren't losing as much water.” The NPNRD budgets up to $250,000 annually for the various cost-share projects. This averages out to about $3,000 each to those who participate. “Other than our tree planting and irrigation efforts we focus on three other areas,” Cacek said. “We help with the grass seeding, building fence to control grazing, and working for efficient livestock watering. We work more on irrigation management than on any other items.” Wolf added that the NPNRD offers many educational programs for teachers and after-school programs. “We discuss conservation and water quality issues.” Cacek noted that with Arbor Day and Earth Day falling in April they have been busy with programs for youth. “We do programs at schools and tell classes about trees and the benefits of trees,” he said. “This is the best time of year to be planting trees. Of course you can't plant them in the middle of a blizzard but all the extra moisture we are getting can only help.” |
| Developers look at possible Gering hotel 2013-04-18 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| A development group from the Midwest is looking at Gering as a potential site for a new hotel. Rawnda Pierce, executive director of Twin Cities Development, said she was contacted by the group about siting a hotel in the area of the Gering Civic Center. “It would be a partnership between the developer and a local investment group,” Pierce said. “We’d have to raise enough investment to make it possible to go forward.” Developers are looking at a local investment of about $2 million on a total project of just over $4 million. Half of the funding is expected to be bank financing, with opportunities for Tax Increment Financing and LB840 funding through the city. The proposed multi-story hotel would contain about 50 rooms, a breakfast area and a pool/hot tub on site. Pierce said she first met with the development group in late January and then city officials in February. TCD has scheduled a May 7 meeting for potential investors to gauge interest in the project. According to the TCD letter to potential investors, Gering has access to more than 120,000 visitors to the Scotts Bluff National Monument each year. Another 60,000 meeting and convention goers make use of the Civic Center. Plus, the city draws thousands of other visitors with special events such as the Sugar Valley Rally and Oregon Trail Days. Currently, the city has only 91 hotel rooms to accommodate more than 180,000 travelers and visitors each year. Pierce said the development group that TCD is working with specializes in smaller communities, which was a positive for Gering. |
| Public gets behind recycling 2013-04-18 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| People today are becoming increasingly aware of the need to keep to a minimum the amount of materials they throw away – and recycling plays a big part in that. Since 2012, the City of Gering has been offering single-stream recycling. Residents no longer have to sort recyclables – just put them in the blue containers for pickup up every other week. However, they can’t accept glass or plastic bags. Rick Hurt, Gering’s director of environmental services, said about 200 people have requested the blue recycling containers. A $4 monthly charge is added to utility bills for the service. “We’ve also added about 15 to 20 businesses,” Hurt said. “This has made our recyclable product better because most of their waste is cardboard.” Once the material is baled, it’s sent to Waste Management in Denver to be recycled. So far, the program is paying for itself. Hurt said the program has grown to where they produce about six or seven one-ton bales a week. That represents material that is kept out of the landfill. It takes about 30 bales to fill a tractor trailer, so the landfill is sending a load to Denver every four or five weeks. When the program first started, it took about five months to pack the first trailer load. “We’re real happy with how the program has grown,” Hurt said, “and so far, it’s not costing us anything. As the quality of the recyclables improves in the future, we might even turn a profit.” The City of Scottsbluff, which shared the landfill with Gering, has also implemented the recycling program. Hurt also mentioned that the landfill will have free days on April 20 and 27, where residents can bring in up to 10 years of trash, and up to four passenger tires and two appliances. It’s available to residents of Gering, Scottsbluff and Mitchell. Bring a utility bill and a photo ID. Also, the tree dump near the Gering lagoons on east U St. will be open the week of April 22 for the disposal of trees, brush and yard waste. While the Cities of Gering and Scottsbluff handle household recyclables, Keep Scottsbluff-Gering Beautiful (KSGB) schedules recycling days for numerous other common household items. Kathy Kropuenske, KSGB executive coordinator, said their group is active throughout the year, especially during the currently ongoing Great American Cleanup. On Saturday, April 20 an electronics recycling day is scheduled for the public to get rid of old computer, monitors and other electronic equipment. “Larger loads of electronics need to go the Scottsbluff Environmental Services at 609 E. 2nd St.,” Kropuenske said. “We’ll accept smaller amounts from 10 a.m. to noon at Main Street Market.” Because many electronic devices contain hazardous chemicals, proper recycling is important. Kropuenske said they work with responsible recyclers to assure the electronics receive proper disposal. A risky area that most people don’t think about is the disposal of computer hard drives. If someone doesn’t erase all the data on the hard drive, it can open up the person to a security risk. “A few years ago, a lot of the identity theft was coming from overseas,” she said. “Recyclers would ship discarded electronics to other countries and people would sometimes use the data for their own purposes. The recycler we work with destroys all the hard drives, so they don’t become a future problem.” Also on April 20 at Main Street Market, KSGB is accepting used oil, antifreeze, plastic bags, batteries and car tires. People can also have their old documents shredded at the bank. Kropuenske said one of their annual events isn’t technically a recycling program, but is important. On May 4, they will accept expired and outdated prescription drugs for disposal. And on June 1 at Nebraska Public Power District, KSGB will accept used bicycles, which will be refurbished and sent back into the community for people in need. “It’s getting better in the community than when I first started,” Kropuenske said, “but we always need to do better and recycle whatever we can.” |
| Lunch prices for junior high and high school to increase 2013-04-18 By By Lauren Smith-Kuckkahn, Special to the Citizen |
| School meal increases were approved at the Gering Public Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday night as the board convened in a new venue. After years of meetings hosted in the board room under the stadium, the school board was hosted in the City of Gering council chamber. During the discussion about increased lunch costs, board members said this increase is largely based on the tremendous changes in the schools' meal plans. In compliance with the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, starting in 2012 the Gering school district began making changes to its menus, adding more fruits and vegetables, serving more whole-grain foods, and excluding breaded meats from meals. Sodium and fats have also been reduced in school meals. These changes increased the district's food costs, and although the Nebraska Department of Education began reimbursing the schools $0.06 per meal, it did not fully cover the increased costs. This year, elementary breakfast and lunch prices will not change, but meal prices for the secondary grades will increase by $0.25 in the fall. Board President Alan Doll said the district will not make a profit from the increase, but will barely “break even”. It is typical for lunch programs to stay afloat by increasing prices $0.10 or more per meal on an average year, to stay in step with steady cost-of-living increases. During action items, the board accepted a letter of resignation from reading coordinator Jadie Beam. “We're so grateful for everything you've done for Gering schools, and that you will continue to do,” Doll said. Mary Winn, board member, said NET (Nebraska Educational Television) will feature Gering students in the “NSAA Speech Championships: Best of the Best”. She said those interested should check their local listings. During his Business Committee report, Doll said there are changes being made in the way extracurricular funds are managed, specifically, making sure that they are in alignment with Title IX, a law that prohibits discrimination in federally funded education programs. Activities Director Glen Koski reviewed the management of Booster Club and Bulldog funds according to Title IX, and spoke with coaches about receiving donations and reporting expenditures. Koski emphasized that fund-raised money should be dedicated to the entire program, not to specific students. During the Business Committee meeting, Koski said he is attempting to create rules and regulations to ensure that all activities are treated equally. “It's being more scrutinized than it was in the past, and it needs to be,” Doll said. “It's being handled differently than it was in the past, but he has it moving in a direction that we like. The district may replace 261 computers this summer, but will try not to exceed $180,000 in the project. The older computers will be replaced with new desktop computers, since the district is not yet structured for laptops. This summer the IT Department will move into the offices below the stadium after the administrative staff moves to the district's newly purchased building on 10th Street. The district is collecting bids for a district-wide surveillance and secure access system for each school building. The cost of installing the system may be up to $3,500 per entrance. The total project cost is estimated at $42,000. Principal Betty Smith was running the Boston Marathon and crossed the finish line as the explosion happened, but is unharmed, said Superintendent Don Hague. |
| News Briefs ... 2013-04-18 By |
| Gering grad honored at UW LARAMIE, Wyo. – — Dillon Broussard, a 2008 graduate of Gering High School and currently studying at the University of Wyoming, has recently been named the Outstanding Student of the Year by the Division of Kinesiology and Health at the University of Wyoming. This award is presented to one of the top physical education teaching majors in the state. Dillon is the son of Joe and Carrie Broussard of Minatare and grandson of Jan Rahmig of Gering. Dillon will graduate May 11 from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science degree in the Division of Kinesiology and Health (DKH), focus of study in Physical Education Teacher Education with a GPA of 3.5. He is currently completing his student teaching assignment in Cheyenne, Wyo. at Buffalo Ridge Elementary with Thad Trujillo and Cheyenne Central High School with Chad Lybeck. While a student at Gering High School, Dillon was a three sport letterman in football, track, and basketball. He was a member of G-club, the varsity sport club. He was also a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society, and was named an All State Academic. While attending the University of Wyoming, Dillon volunteered for Special Olympics and Jump Rope for Heart. He participated in multiple UW student recreation intramural events including basketball, flag football, volleyball, and dodgeball. Dillon was employed by the Half Acre Student Recreation Center as an Intramural Supervisor. While student teaching Dillon volunteered his time to coach both basketball and track. Following graduation, Dillon hopes to attain a teaching and coaching position in Nebraska or Wyoming. Dillon will be presented the Outstanding Student of the Year award at the DKH annual awards banquet in Laramie on April 29. Realtors to attend housing conference GERING — More than 100 realtors, landlords and community housing and service agencies are planning to attend the 2013 Fair Housing Conference on April 23 at the Gering Civic Center. Walk-in registrations will be accepted at the Civic Center for the sessions throughout the day. The cost is $15 and will include rolls and coffee at 8 a.m., luncheon buffet and afternoon break. Fair Housing is an important topic, not only for renters and landlords, but also for lenders/bankers, attorneys, local city and county governments who provide zoning, code enforcement and housing development oversight. There are many impediments to Fair Housing. These barriers will be discussed as well as what happens when a complaint is filed. Gretchen Eure, Unit Director for the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission will start the day off with the Intermediate Course for Realtors, #0282R which will provide attendees with 3 Continuing Education Credits. At noon, a panel of landlords, tenants, and other community representatives will “Ask the Experts.” Questions about Fair Housing Topics that might include Pets, Companion Animals, Reasonable Accommodation, Security Deposit Refunds and more related to the Landlord Tenant Act. At 1:30 p.m. Ms. Eure will present an “Advanced Fair Housing Course #0763-R which will earn attendees an additional 3 Continuing Education Credits. Art show opens at monument GERING — Vote for your favorite work of art at the annual Artist’s Perception Art Show in the Scotts Bluff National Monument visitor center. Artists from the North Platte Valley Art Guild will display their work from April 21 to May 12, 2013 this year. An opening reception will be held on April 21 from 2 – 4 p.m. to kick off the event. Meet the artists while looking at works done in a variety of media and enjoying refreshments courtesy of the Oregon Trail Museum Association. The theme of the show focuses on the landmarks, nature, and history of the Scotts Bluff area. Some of the media used over the years include oils, watercolor, acrylics, gouache, ceramics, photographs and multi-media. During the three week event visitors may vote for the piece of art they like best. The winning artist will receive a Bi-Park Annual Pass to Scotts Bluff NM and Fort Laramie NHS. The Scotts Bluff National Monument visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 – 5 p.m. The summit road remains open from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. All Monument trails are open from sunrise to sunset. Additional information about Scotts Bluff National Monument programs and schedules can be obtained at the visitor center or by calling (308) 436-9700. Banner County students excel in scholastic contest HARRISBURG — The following Banner County students placed in the top 20 percent at the Chadron State College Scholastic contest held on April 5: Cole Carey – Algebra I (9th); Megan Gifford – Algebra I (7th) and General Science (9th); Dalton Jordan – General Biology (14th); Allysa Matthews – Human Development and Family Life (3rd); Michael McKown – Plane Geometry (13th). Banner County won Division V during the competition. Nebraska’s outstanding senior volunteers need your vote SCOTTSBLUFF — Nebraska residents are encouraged to cast their vote for the state’s Outstanding Senior Volunteer. The recognition is part of the Salute to Senior Service program, sponsored by Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network. The program honors the contributions of adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favorite causes. Online voting will take place from April 15 to April 30, 2013 at SalutetoSeniorService.com (Nominations for outstanding senior volunteers were accepted between Feb. 1 and March 31, 2013.) From those state winners, a panel of senior care experts will pick the national Salute to Senior Service honoree. Home Instead, Inc. will donate $500 to each of the state winners’ favorite nonprofit organizations and their stories will be posted on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s nonprofit charity of choice. Last year’s state winner was Denny Nielsen of Omaha, Neb. The 70-year-old was honored for his work at the Nebraska Humane Society, where he volunteered daily to take the dogs out to run and play. The 2012 national winner is Clark Paradise, an 85-year-old volunteer from Toms River, N.J., who – with his wife, Jean – founded a growing mission in his community that serves more than 1,000 homeless and disadvantaged each month. The national U.S. judging panel will include the 2012 winner Clark Paradise; Dr. Jane F. Potter, Chief of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, representing the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging; Sandy Markwood, CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging; and Dr. Harry R. Moody, AARP Vice President and Director of Academic Affairs. For more information about the Salute to Senior Service program, visit SalutetoSeniorService.com. WNCC students to celebrate Week of the Young Child SCOTTSBLUFF — Western Nebraska Community College students who are members of the Education Professions Club are celebrating Week of the Young Child by telling flannel board stories and reading story books to young children at Monument Mall on April 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Week of the Young Child is a national celebration honoring young children and all those who make a difference in children's lives. This year's theme is Early Years are Learning Years. This event is free and open to the public. All parents of children, birth to 8 years old, are encouraged to come and enjoy this relaxing and fun activity. "I'm so pleased that WNCC is helping our community celebrate Week of the Young Child once again," said Linda Mattern-Ritts, WNCC's early childhood education program coordinator. "Through the avenue of play, children are learning math, social studies, language, and science - the same core academic subjects that are taught K-12. The preschool teacher's job is to set up a classroom environment for children to learn through their play. Our activity at Monument Mall this Saturday helps illustrate this important model of early childhood education." Week of the Young Child (April 13-20), sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is an opportunity for early childhood programs across the country, including childcare and Head Start programs, preschools and elementary schools, to hold activities to bring awareness to the needs of young children. WNCC is an affiliate of NAEYC, the largest organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of early education programs for children birth through age eight. Founded in 1926, NAEYC has more than 80,000 members and a national network of over 300 local, state, and regional affiliates. |
| Art students earn awards 2013-04-18 By |
| West Nebraska Arts Center, with the support of First State Bank, the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, announces the award recipients of the 28th Annual Visionaries Student Art Exhibit. The exhibit was open to students attending Grades 6 through 12. Schools represented this year include: Banner County Schools, Bluff Middle School, Bridgeport High School, Crawford High School, Gering High School, Kimball High School, Life-Link Nebraska, Mitchell High School, Nelson Home School, Ogallala High School, Scottsbluff High School, Sidney High School, Sioux County High School, and St. Agnes Academy. Yelena Khanevskaya, Art Professor at WNCC, and Donna Thompson, Program Manager of West Nebraska Arts Center, selected 17 awards from 205 entries. Nate Larriuex, a Freshman at Scottsbluff High School, won Best of Show with his 2013 pen and ink collage of drawings, Sketches. Outstanding Artwork Awards include: Marlee Lupher, 11th Grade, Gering High School, The Skull, 2012, pencil ; Aime Gutierrez, 12th Grade, Sioux County High School, Antlers, 2012, charcoal; Ivan Gonzalez, 11th Grade, Scottsbluff High School, The Grey, 2013, pencil; Richard Klemm, 10th Grade, Scottsbluff High School, Remembrance of the Seasons, 2012, origami, watercolor, charcoal; Sarah Hall, 11th Grade, Scottsbluff High School, Living Poetry, 2013, watercolor; Jonny Dunn, 12th Grade, Sioux County High School, Landscape, 2012, acrylic; Rachel Leigh Nixon, 12th Grade, Crawford High School, River of Lights, 2012, acrylic; Madison Hostetler, 11th Grade, Ogallala High School, Lioness, 2013, acrylic; Savannah Jordan, 8th Grade, Banner County High School, Knight’s Horse, 2013, ceramic; and Sierah Crable, 10th Grade, Mitchell High School, Face, 2012, pen and ink. Audrey Towater Awards for Outstanding Artwork include: Alejandra Cantu, 12th Grade, Bridgeport High School, A Life a Rising, 2013, hand-dyed fabric, batik, applique; Sarah Hall, 12th Grade, Scottsbluff High School, Into the Wilde, 2013, metal, fiber, ceramic, manipulated paper; Anna Wiebe, 9th Grade, Scottsbluff High School, Hands, 2013, ceramic; Nate Larriuex, 9th Grade, Scottsbluff High School, Portrait, 2013, ceramic; Kyle Blankenfeld, 12th Grade, Ogallala High School, Graduation, acrylic, chalk on 1940’s Ford trunk lid; Jonny Dunn, 12th Grade, Sioux County High School, Portrait w/Llama, 2012, mixed media. The Towater Awards are in memory of local artist Audrey Towater and are made possible through her memorial fund. They are awarded for those pieces that show ‘extra’ creativity and originality. Thompson says, “This is my favorite exhibit each year by far because I love to see the creativity and talent coming from such young artists. Some of the pieces just make you smile, some make you stop and think, and some just make you go ‘Wow!” For most students, this is the only chance they have to show their work and it’s important that the community gets to share in and support that experience. Congratulations to the students, and thanks to everyone who has encouraged their creativity.” This gallery exhibit will be on display through April 28, 2013. The West Nebraska Arts Center is a cultural non-profit organization committed to education, awareness and excellence in the arts, serving the North Platte Valley Region. WNAC is located at the corner of 1st Avenue and 18th Street in Scottsbluff. Visit the gallery Tuesday through Friday 9 to 5, and weekends from 1 to 5, closed Mondays. Visit www.thewnac.com. The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, has supported the programs of this organization through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Visit www.nebraskaartscouncil.org for more information on how the Nebraska Arts Council can assist your organization, or how you can support the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. |
| Earth Day activities 2013-04-18 By |
| Each year, April 22 marks Earth Day, the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. On that first Earth Day, about 20 million Americans rallied for a healthy, sustainable environment. And each year since then, more and more Americans are getting involved in any number of activities to help remedy the problems of pollution, whether it’s in the air, in the water or on land. Keep Scottsbluff-Gering Beautiful (KSGB) has taken the lead locally by scheduling numerous Earth Day events in conjunction with local governments to clean up the area. On April 20, an electronics recycling day is scheduled for the public to get rid of old computer, monitors and other electronic equipment. Larger loads of electronics should be taken to Scottsbluff Environmental Services at 609 E. 2nd St. Smaller amounts can be taken to Main Street Market between 10 a.m. and noon. Also on April 20 at Main Street Market, KSGB is accepting used oil, antifreeze, plastic bags, batteries and car tires. People can also have their old documents shredded at the bank. The Gering landfill will also be open free of charge for residents of Gering, Scottsbluff and Mitchell on April 20 and 27 for disposal of household items. A current driver’s license and utility bill are required for admittance. The tree dump on east U St. will also be open the week of April 22 for disposal of trees, brush and yard waste. On May 4, Keep Scottsbluff-Gering Beautiful will accept expired and outdated prescription drugs for disposal at Main Street Market. People should keep the drugs in their original prescription bottle, so they can be identified. And on June 1 at Nebraska Public Power District, KSGB will accept used bicycles, which will be refurbished and sent back into the community for people in need. |
| Earth Guardians inspire youth to save the planet 2013-04-18 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| It isn’t every day that a 12-year-old boy is invited by delegates of the United Nations to discuss conservation and environmental protection efforts, but Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, of Boulder, Colorado isn’t your average seventh grader. As a youth leader of the environmental protection group Earth Guardians, Martinez was the youngest speaker at the Rio+20 United Nations conference on sustainable development last summer. Xiuhtezcatl (pronounced ‘Shoe-Tez-Cot’) traces his environmental activism to his heritage. “My dad is of the Aztec tradition and I have always grown up knowing that all life is sacred and should be protected,” Xiuhtezcatl said. “In order to change the world, we have to change the way we think about earth and others.” This remarkable young man has organized over 35 rallies and actions and was the co-organizer of the biggest iMatter youth-led march in the United States. He was instrumental in getting the Boulder City Council to get pesticides out of parks, coal ash contained and a fee on plastic bags. On top of all that he has also started a performance group called “Voice of Youth” and he writes original music and lyrics to educate people about the earth. He and his younger brother Itzcuauhtli, 10, have recorded rap and hip-hop music including their song “What the frack?” “Going to the Rio summit was incredible,” he said. “I was on several panels and got to speak at some big meetings. Yet to a certain degree it was depressing. It became more about politics or money than it did about our future. I met hundreds of incredible young people who are so ready and prepared to save the earth. That gave me hope and inspiration to keep going. It gives me passion and hope to continue my work. I was sad the summit didn’t make new laws but it was beautiful there.” Earth Guardians was founded by Xiuhtezcatl’s mother Tamara Roske, who serves as a youth mentor and executive director for the group. All six of her children are involved in Earth Guardians. In 1992 she co-founded and directed the Earth Guardian Community Resource Center, an accredited experiential learning high school in Maui, Hawaii. Roske has taught environmental education and has organized youth outreach programs and cross-cultural programs focused on earth restoration for the past 20 years. Roske is now guiding the third generation of Earth Guardian youth volunteers into environmental activism and leadership. “Because my mom is so active in saving the earth I’ve been involved in this my entire life,” Xiuhtezcatl said. “I started to really get into the activism part at age 6. I did my first public speaking at that time.” The young man said he was concerned about the planet in so many ways it was difficult to single out one particular issue that seemed to be of paramount concern. “A lot of people from around the world ask me what is the most pressing concern facing the earth,” he said. “That is tricky to answer. We can’t just work on one issue. We need to get humble and aware. You need to get to that level where you will work on what matters to you. Carbon emissions, global warming, these are huge issues. I’ve been talking to young people about hydraulic fracturing because that is happening in my area near Boulder. It depends on where you are from. In Rio the people were concerned about deforestation and animals that are endangered species.” Xiuhtezcatl said that a lifetime of exposure to meetings and marches and other forms of environmental activism has helped him find a ‘really good consciousness’ about mother earth. “My dad is Aztec,” he said. “I have learned Aztec traditions as well as about the environment from my mother. The Aztec tradition is based on a very ancient civilization. It is really cool to keep those traditions alive. We practice the songs and the language. Aztecs would pray for the earth. It is really cool spiritual stuff about connecting to the earth and to understand the earth’s connection to nature. Having this background and with my mom’s teachings I feel very committed to saving the planet. I want to encourage other young people to do the same.” Xiuhtezcatl explained the fracking process in vivid detail displaying apparent encyclopedic knowledge of his subject matter. “They are pumping ground water mixed with chemicals into the ground to extract minerals and gas,” he said. “They have to store that water. It really affects the water here in Colorado. They are dumping the chemicals back into the ground. I know kids who live near these fracking operations and they come to school and get nose-bleeds and stuff.” Without seeming to taking a breath, the animated young activist continued. “We want to educate kids in school. We want to work to get a city-wide ban on fracking. Then work for a moratorium in all of Boulder County. We start local and build our way outward. We need to keep hammering them hard with the facts. We have to educate adults and get our message out there.” Xiuhtezcatl said he was definitely committed to leaving the world better off than he found it. “I know it affects me,” he said. “This all affects my future. We have to be caretakers of the planet. When I have kids I want them to be able to climb mountains and swim in the oceans like I have. I want to leave my world better than I found it. I love animals and nature. I like to go into the woods or the mountains and see frogs and toads and stuff. Species are dying off! This hits me hard. Just like people are losing their cultures and traditions we have to save everything we can. This is too much of a price to pay; too much of a cost for corporate profits.” Xiuhtezcatl noted that his other main passion in life was his music. He is a classically trained pianist on top of being a rap and hip-hop artist. “My music is another thing I love,” he said. “My brother and others are involved with our Earth Guardians Voice of Youth group. We went to Australia last year and attended many music festivals to get our message out. We are going back there again this summer for a big environmental awareness and music tour. "I get to meet other young people like me and we can learn and grow together. We can link up. We can team our talents and our numbers to make everything an international movement. And it isn’t just singers and rappers we need. We want to include everyone based upon their talents and interests. We need photographers. We need web designers. People love music and we want to spread a positive message. Sometimes an eight verse rap song is going to have more impact than just another power point presentation.” The sky seems to be the limit for this energetic and wise beyond his years pre-teen. Combining his love of nature, his love of music, and his natural leadership abilities to protect the planet seems to have created a dynamic mix of activism. “First you have to look at your own lifestyle,” he continued. “Every decision you make affects future generations. Tell your parents. Kids have more influence on their parents than anyone else. Encourage them to make good choices. Ride your bike to work or school. Don’t buy plastic bottles. Be conscious of what you are eating. This is really about how we relate to our planet. We need to treat the planet as a living being. It has supported life and we need to take care of it. Start community gardens. Start one by yourself then take it locally, then expand from there. Educate your school. Young people need to remember that everything they do will have an impact.” Earth Guardians can be contacted via their website at Earthguardians.org and they also have a lively Facebook page. Xiuhtezcatl said that everyone was welcome to get involved and to learn more. This dedicated and impressive young man expresses his vision with a compelling and contagious confidence. He seems, even at age 12, to be a natural leader. He is willing to stand up and speak truth to power. “Stand with me,” he said, “and we can become a force to change the direction we are headed. When we all become leaders for the good of all humanity, we will create a world of beauty, equality, light and love.” |
| GHS journalists take state championship again 2013-04-18 By Jerry Purvis |
| For the third year running, the Gering High School journalism and yearbook staff has claimed the state Class B championship, sponsored by the Nebraska High School Press Association and the Nebraska State Activities Association. Students who have been on the championship team for all three years include Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski, Alexa Anderson and Kendall Uhrich, who is editor of both the Blueprints newspaper and the school yearbook. She also writes a weekly column for the Gering Citizen newspaper. “It feels good that people are noticing your work,” Uhrich said. The students also set a new state record for total points this year with 86. “That in itself is pretty amazing,” said journalism and yearbook adviser Janelle Schultz. “Eighteen first place finishes really speaks to what these students were able to accomplish. They know there’s a level of expectation when they come into the program and they work toward that goal. I just can’t say enough about this group of students. They are busy in sports, course work and other activities and get they put forth 100 percent of their efforts every day to produce quality journalism. I am so proud of each and every one of them.” Gering journalism students placed at least one member in each of the competition’s 21 categories: 18 in first place, 10 in second and 12 in third. Schultz said that although there’s some teaching about online journalism and blogs, most of the course work is still paper and pen, although students can now submit stories they’ve published online. “That’s still the basics of good journalism,” she said. For competition purposes, entries are submitted in March and judging results are returned in April. The state championships are based on the total number of sweepstakes points each school earns. Students will be in Lincoln on May 13 to compete in the all-class state championships. Gering journalism and yearbook students placing in the top three in the following categories were: Advertising: Jasie Beam; Column Writing: Tanner Baird; Editorial Cartooning: Cara Wimberley; Editorial Writing: Alexa Anderson and Kendall Urich; Entertainment Writing: Alexa Anderson and Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski; Graphic Illustration: Alexa Anderson; Headline Writing: Katherine O’Boyle, Amber Fertig and Alexa Anderson; In-Depth News Coverage: Alexa Anderson, Tanner Baird, Kendall Uhrich, Michael Marsh, Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski and Elizabeth Millay; News Writing: Kendall Uhrich and Tanner Baird; News/Feature Photography: Michael Marsh and Katherine O’Boyle; Newspaper Feature Writing: Alexa Anderson; Newspaper Layout: Tanner Baird and Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski; Photo Illustration: Michael Marsh and Alexa Anderson; Sports Feature Writing: Katherine O’Boyle and Gage Winkler; Sports News Coverage: Elizabeth Millay, Holly Grote and Kendall Uhrich; Sports/Action Photography: Alexa Anderson and Katherine O’Boyle; Yearbook Feature Writing: Jasie Beam and Kayla Todd; Yearbook Layout: Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski; Yearbook Sports Feature Writing: Kendall Uhrich and Katherine O’Boyle; Yearbook Theme Copy Writing: Amber Fertig, Kendall Uhrich and Kayla Todd; Yearbook Theme Development: Kendall Uhrich, Kayla Todd and Amber Fertig. |
| Boston Marathon blast reverberates in Gering 2013-04-17 By Lauren Smith-Kuckkahn editor@geringcitizen.com |
| When the faculty at Gering Public Schools heard about the explosions at the Boston Marathon on Monday, panic hit close to home – Cedar Canyon principal Betty Smith was running the marathon with her daughter and son-in-law. During an interview on Monday night, Gering Superintendent Don Hague said Smith had crossed the finish line just as the explosion happened. Hague and others who knew Smith anxiously awaited news from her until she emailed Hague later in the day letting him know she was alive and uninjured, he said. Hague said Smith has run other marathons. He said that Smith's son-in-law, a medical doctor, also finished around the time of the explosion, and ran straight for the triage center to help victims of the explosion. The attack, which killed three and injured around 170, has now been linked to two homemade “pressure-cooker” bombs – explosive devices made from pressure cookers filled with shrapnel, detonated by a simple explosive device. Back in her office on Wednesday, Smith said she did not feel comfortable giving interviews, as she felt she was such an unimportant figure in the event. She confirmed that her son-in-law is Dr. Chris Rupe, a surgeon from Salina, Kans. who, since Monday, has been interviewed by publications such as Runner's World, Public Radio International and The Washington Post. Smith's daughter, pediatrician Abbey Rupe, had finished the marathon 30 minutes before the explosion and was already walking back to her hotel room when the attack occurred, according to various news sources. During a Public Radio interview published on “The Takeaway” on April 17, Rupe said he crossed the finish line about 30 seconds before the first explosion. “As I was catching my breath, I heard a very loud sound behind me. It sounded like a canon or some sort of loud explosion, and then I saw smoke filtering out onto the street. I turned to see if someone needed help there, and I heard the second blast, and at that point I ran away for a ways, to make sure that I was going to be safe, before I went back to see what I could do to help,” Rupe said during the interview. Rupe described the scene as “controlled chaos,” with police directing traffic and clearing out bystanders. “All I could see was some fencing and clothing items and probably some body parts. There was debris just everywhere when I went back to look at that and then I went directly to see how I could help at a medical tent. There were people with lower extremity injuries that I was able to help some, but most of the major trauma and major things were taken directly to the hospital from the scene,” he said during the interview. According to The Wichita Eagle, the Rupes have two children, ages four and six, who were concerned and anxious after hearing of the attack. Rupe said he and his wife's priority was to get back to Salina as soon as possible, to be with their children and reassure them. “I was a charity runner in the race, and when they first announced the race they said that the marathon had raised $11 million for charity, with that marathon, and I think that a lot of that is going to be drowned out by this horrible tragedy, but there's obviously, for every bad person, there's hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of good people,” Rupe said during the Public Radio interview. “It was an awful scene, but it was great that there were so many people there willing to help out and so many of the first responders taking wonderful care of the people.” According to a New York Times article published on April 16, “Boston Bombs Were Loaded to Maim,” doctors in Boston area hospitals said that the death toll could have been much higher but for the excellent work of the triage teams at the blast site; some victims were so badly wounded that a delay of mere minutes could have been fatal. |
| Gering High School presents ‘Tintypes’ 2013-04-11 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Tonight the Gering High School auditorium will come to life with the old sounds of ragtime in the musical, Tintypes. Tintypes is a revue that pays tribute to Turn of the Century America and the onset of World War I. Audience members will be given a musical history lesson taking them through pivotal points of American history. The style of the show is vaudevillian, with much of the action pantomimed by actors rather than traditionally spoken dialogue. While the script only requires five lead actors, a men’s and women’s chorus was added to provide the show an extra boost for its 52 musical numbers. The audience can expect a lively performance in the high energy of the ragtime genre. The performance will begin Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and will run through Saturday, April 13 in the Gering High School auditorium. Tickets are $7 and will be available at the door. The cast of Tintypes: Charlie, Andrew Cook; TR, John Boyd; Emma, Katie O’Boyle; Anna, Allie Baird; Susannah, Megan Brady; Women’s Chorus: Savannah Walker, Alexa Longoria, Torri Brumbaugh, Kylee Bairn, Olivia Anderson, Brandy Mendoza, Hayley Grams, Jenna Longmore, Brittany Eckerberg, Kali Rimington, Holly Walker, Audrey Fries, Kylee Bairn, Ciara Sabala, Chelcey Mannel, Dakota Wademan, Dakota Gellner, Rachel Huffman, Mikayla Kreider, Brooke Doggett. Torri Brumbaugh; Men’s Chorus: Justin Brester, Brock Chitwood, Justin Schwartzkopf, Josh VanLitsenborgh, Jake Thomas, Justin Esparza, Matt Wolfe, Isaiah Wilson, Ben Horrocks and Alex Clark. |
| Council kills resolution for building permit 2013-04-11 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| A request for a building permit for developer Terry Jessen died before the Gering City Council after no member would introduce the request. Jessen was not present at Monday’s council meeting. However, his request for the building permit on Lyman Drive, east of Tax Express on North 10th St., claimed approval was being delayed by City Engineer Paul Snarr. Gering Mayor Ed Mayo said the paperwork submitted Jessen was outdated and he didn’t specify what he planned to do with the building. “One time, it was going to be a comm. shop, then storage, then a machine shop,” Mayo said. “Still, we have a requirement to protect our potable water well field, and this building is in that area.” Mayo added that if the building were used as a machine or auto maintenance shop, hazardous chemicals might seep into the city’s water supply. Council member Jill McFarland wondered why the council was even considering the issue. “We’re a policy making board,” she said. The day-to-day activities of the city are handled by staff. The only reason we should consider building permits is if they require an exception or if it’s an area that hasn’t been platted before. I see no reason for us to even discuss this.” McFarland said from what she understood, the process hadn’t been completed as far as the appropriate paperwork. And the permit hasn’t been submitted to the Planning Commission for discussion. Mayo asked if anyone would make to motion to consider Jessen’s request, but the issue died without a motion. Another motion was approved by the council. They voted unanimously to approve the creation of a Public Resolution Team. Membership would include both city staff and members of the community. Team members, appointed by the mayor, would address code violations, such as health and sanitation concerns, property maintenance and nuisance complaints. |
| Storm victims found near Berea 2013-04-11 By |
| BEREA — The body of a 35 year-old Berea resident reported missing after her vehicle became stranded during a spring snowstorm pounding the Nebraska panhandle has been located and her 19-year-old son has been found alive in an abandoned farmhouse in Box Butte County. Around 5:40 p.m., three area residents on snowmobiles searching the area where Lisa Conrad was believed to be last heard from, discovered the body of a female in a field about a half mile west of Highway 385 off of Johnson Road. The body was identified as that of Lisa Conrad, 35, Berea. The snowmobilers then traveled to an abandoned farmhouse approximately 2 ½ miles west of Highway 385 on Johnson Road where they found 19-year-old Brandon Conrad Jr. alive. The young man was transported by private vehicle to the Box Butte General Hospital where he is being treated for hypothermia and frostbite. “This is a tragic turn of events,” said Captain Mike Gaudreault, Troop E Commander. “The conditions in the area are brutal and the roads remain impassable. We offer our appreciation to the snowmobilers who helped in the search and extend our thoughts and prayers to the Conrad family.” Lisa Conrad was last heard from around 12:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, when she called her husband to say she had left her car which had become stranded about a mile south of Berea on Highway 385. Conrad told her husband she was walking to meet their son Brandon, who was walking from their home in Berea to meet her. The Nebraska State Patrol is working in conjunction with the Box Butte County Sheriff and Box Butte County Attorney as the investigation into the incident continues. |
| Fresh Foods to host After Hours event 2013-04-11 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| For the past several years, the Gering Merchants invites the public to enjoy a “Taste of Gering” during its Business After Hours event in conjunction with the Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce. Fresh Foods, a locally owned supermarket that has had great success in the past year, will host the event on Thursday, April 18 from 5 – 7 p.m. “The Gering Merchants have done this for the past four or five years,” said Karla Niedan-Streeks, executive director of the Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The overall goal is to get the Chamber of Commerce members over to Gering and experience a downtown business. Most importantly, we want to feature the great food from out great restaurants.” She added that 16 local restaurants and food providers will be featuring samples of their specialty items. “Not only are the visitors getting to try some great food, but the restaurants are showcasing their establishments.” In past years, a wide variety of food has been available, from garlic sausage to Mexican food to bar food. “The diversity of food is incredible,” Niedan-Streeks said. “And this year, Fresh Foods is working with their wine distributor to offer a wine tasting during the event. And some additional adult beverages will be available. Great food and great drink is always an important part of Business After Hours. And the location is unique and fun this year.” Food will be set up through the Fresh Foods store, and owners Ben and Kerri Dishman will also be conducting tours so people can get to see everything that goes into supermarket operations. “The Gering Business After Hours is one of the best attended,” said Niedan-Streeks. “We usually have about 200 people attend. We hope everyone will join us at the event.” |
| Gering Library readies celebration 2013-04-11 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Next week, the Gering Public Library will join the celebration of National Library Week with the theme “Communities Matter at the Library.” Planned for April 14 – 20, library staff is planning a contest to see who can guess the number of books in the library. The winner will receive a book tote bag. As part of National Library Week, Friends of the Gering Library has scheduled its annual book sale for April 18 – 20. The event starts on Wednesday from 5 – 7 p.m. with the sale open to Friends members. People who would like to join can sign up for membership that day. The sale opens to the public on Thursday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. – noon in the library meeting room. Also during the book sale, two graphic novels, “The Asphalt Warrior” and “Ticket to Hollywood,” will be raffled. These are the first two entries in the graphic novel series by Denver author Gary Reilly. The novels feature Murph the Denver cabbie. Raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and are available at the library or from any Friends of the Gering Library member. The drawing will be at noon on Saturday, April 20. Also continuing at the Gering Public Library is the series of free computer classes. Public Services Librarian Christie Clarke said the classes are possible because of a grant from the Library Broadband Builds Nebraska Communities project. “This grant allowed us to purchase a laptop computer cart with six laptops,” she said. “As part of the grant, they wanted to see us utilize the technology and hardware to provide education for the community.” The Gering Library has partnered with the Lied Scottsbluff Library and Workforce Development at Western Nebraska Community College to schedule a number of free classes to familiarize people with specific areas of computer technology. Gering has already had a course in Introduction to the Internet. On May 4, Introduction to Email is planned. And on June 8, it’s Introduction to Microsoft Word. At the Lied Scottsbluff Library, a course in Introduction to Facebook is scheduled for April 18 and Introduction to Pinterest on June 10. Local businessman John Stinner Jr. will conduct much of the training and classes are limited to 15-20 students. Interested persons are encouraged to call either library for times and to register. Clarke said the Gering Library is also in the planning stages for the summer reading program for adults, teens and children. Some of the themes include “Groundbreaking Leads” for adults, “Beneath the Surface” for teens and “Dig Into Reading” for the kids. “We’re also scheduling a family gardening program at the Ever Green House,” Clarke said. “We’ve purchased a plot and families will be able to do some planting and cultivate through the summer.” |
| Best burger could be in Gering 2013-04-11 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| The Diet Burger, an original recipe from the Union Bar in downtown Gering, just might end up as the best burger in Nebraska. Each year, the Nebraska Beef Council sponsors a contest to find the best burger in the state. It started with online voting, where the Diet Burger ended up in second place. Union Bar owner Scott Swanson said judges from the Nebraska Beef Council then visit the top five qualifiers and sample the burgers before voting. The winner is awarded the title “Best Burger in Nebraska.” “We have no idea when the judges will be here,” Swanson said. “They just told us to be on our toes.” Patrons at “the U,” as it’s called, shouldn’t let the name fool them – the Diet Burger is far from it. Two grilled cheese sandwiches made from Texas toast serve as the bun. Included are a pound of hamburger, a pound of bacon and about 12 slices of cheese. “This was kind of a concoction from my two cooks, Jeremy and Justin,” Swanson said. “We looked at some different recipes before coming up with the Diet Burger.” Swanson said they sell a decent number of Diet Burgers, but it’s so big most people are afraid of it. “It’s more of a challenge burger than anything. Everyone has told me it’s a great burger, although it usually takes two people to eat it.” |
| Minatare school board announces possibility of reducing elementary principal to half-time 2013-04-11 By Lauren Smith-Kuckkahn, Special to the Citizen |
| After a few consecutive months of retreating into lengthy closed sessions, the Minatare school board finally announced its decision pertaining to personnel and financial problems the district will face when the PLAS (Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools) grant expires. Board President Gary Koke said it is the board’s decision to possibly reduce the preschool teacher and elementary principal to half-time positions, depending on budget resources. Additionally, the positions of reading coach, intervention project manager, and instructional coach will be eliminated from the staff, Koke said. The board voted to approve this decision. Superintendent Tim Cody said the district will not have to fire anyone to eliminate these positions, since the reading coach and intervention project manager both retired. He said the person occupying the instructional coaching position will be reassigned to a different position during restructuring. A proposal to replace Minatare schools’ laptops with mobile devices will be on the school board’s May agenda, after the board heard a presentation on the use of mobile devices in classrooms. High school principal Kyle Metzger said the high school’s laptops must soon be replaced, and rather than purchasing or leasing new laptops, he is considering purchasing mobile devices, such as Apple iPads. He said the school could adapt the 1:1 Initiative, a program that strives to brings schools up-to-date with technology uses and training. He said the goal of the 1:1 Initiative is to put a mobile device into the hands of each student to use in the classroom. Metzger said paperless classrooms are becoming increasingly common in schools where students do most of their work on mobile devices. Many of the mobile device initiatives become student-driven, students being the ones voluntarily finding apps that are relevant to their classes, and recommending them to teachers. It could cost around $45,000 to implement the 1:1 Initiative, which would be about the same cost as purchasing new laptops, Metzger said. He said switching to mobile devices could cut out other costs, such as virus protection programs. Mobile devices are not as vulnerable to viruses, so the school would be able to drop licenses with virus protection companies such as McAfee, Metzger said. As far as purchasing options go, most schools are on three-year lease programs, but those schools are often trying to provide more devices than Minatare would need, Metzger said. He said that the district might not need to worry about replacing the mobile devices in the future, because schools that have already implemented the 1:1 Initiative predict that it will be obsolete in five years because students will bring their own devices to school. Metzger said some teachers at conferences have said they never again would want to work in districts that have not implemented the 1:1 Initiative. He said when he considered Minatare’s turnover rate, and that the district often hires young teachers, implementing the initiative now rather than later seems more appealing for attracting new hires in the future. Other Panhandle schools that have implemented the 1:1 Initiative or are considering it include: Oshkosh, Banner County, Potter-Dix, and Bayard. In action items, the 2013-2014 school calendar was approved. The resignations of Carla Foland, reading coach, and Chuck Bunner, intervention project manager, were accepted by the board. Retired teachers Foland and Janell Nuss will stay involved with the district, acting as substitute teachers when the need arises, Cody said. During the superintendent’s report, Cody said the NEMA (Nebraska Emergency Management Agency) grant is still under review as NEMA recalculates based on adjustments to the proposed building’s square footage. During board comments, Larry Randolph spoke on behalf of the board, commending Minatare’s speech team and FFA students in their performance at state meets. |
| Terrytown city council hears concerns on water project 2013-04-11 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| The Terrytown city council received an update on the preliminary engineering report on the water project during its regular meeting on Thursday. City engineer Jeff Wolfe reported that the grants have come in for the preliminary engineering report. Terrytown received $15,000 of the $16,500 needed to pay for the report, which leaves the city obligated for $1,500 of the bill. Wolfe also informed the council about an incident that has happened in Minatare which gives him concern about the upcoming water project. After working many years on their water project, the City of Minatare had finally turned on their new system; however, the Natural Resource District (NRD) has informed the city that it is not in compliance with the water system. Minatare has chosen the route of sharing water with Scottsbluff. The NRD informed Minatare that they can’t mitigate their water rights to Scottsbluff, which means that the City of Scottsbluff must purchase the land from Minatare that previously served as the city’s well system. “Our main concern is making sure we have all the requirements on the table because it affects our neighbors,” said Wolfe, “and they may not take our offer.” This would leave Terrytown with the option of building a treatment plant or finding a new water source. There has been no solicitation to Scottsbluff or Gering to purchase water from either city at this time. The council also saw requests from the Eagle Riders Club and Mitchell Chamber of Commerce. The Eagle Riders Club will host a poker run and roast this summer and requested permission to have a beer garden to accommodate the event’s growing crowd. Councilman Jerry Green made the motion to allow the Eagle Riders to have a beer garden which passed after a second by councilwoman Marsha Sherlock. A second request came from the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce which requested financial assistance for the Scotts Bluff County fair parade. While there was a request written to the council there was not enough information explaining what the money would be used for. Council discussion centered on the problem arising from taking the requested money out of the city’s dwindling KENO fund. Mayor Kent Greenwalt recommended to the council that this issue be tabled until he was able to find out more information about the request. Sherlock made a motion to table the issue, which was seconded by councilman Chris Parelas. |
| Judge dismissed charges in ‘Juliette’ case 2013-04-11 By |
| GERING – On April 5, Scotts Bluff County District Judge Leo Dobrovolny has dismissed charges against the mother of 2-year-old Juliette Geurts, who died of blunt force trauma on July 11, 2008. Charyse Geruts, 25, now living in Appleton, Wis., had been charged with accessory to a felony and for false reporting. Dobrovolny ruled on a motion by defense attorney Bell Island that the charges against his client did not meet the three-year requirement for the state’s statute of limitations for the obstruction charge. With no charges filed immediately, Juliette’s aunt, Monica Hall attempted to have an investigation launched since the girl’s death. She was finally successful with a petition campaign last year to have a grand jury impaneled to go over evidence. That grand jury found there was sufficient evidence for charges to go forward. Also charged in the grand jury investigation was Charyse’s then boyfriend, Dustin Chancey. He was charged with child abuse resulting in death, manslaughter and providing false information to an officer. He is currently in prison in Colorado on an unrelated drug charge. James Zimmerman, who was designated as special prosecutor in the case, said there’s still a possibility he could ask the state’s Appellate Court to rule the associated charges should have the same statute of limitations as the overall case. |
| WNCC becomes alive with poetry 2013-04-11 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| By The Little Theatre was alive with poetry Monday for the fourth annual Poetry Alive! event hosted by WNCC’s Emerging Voices. Emerging Voices is a annual literary magazine put on by the group featuring the writing and art of its students and community members. “We really try to do a lot of outreach for Emerging Voices to the area schools,” said sponsor Janet Craven. Poetry Alive! is a oral poetry performance group and was founded in 1984 in Black Mountain, N. C. Its first show was held in the McDibb’s Music Hall comprised mostly of friends of the performers. However, one audience member happened to be a teacher and saw the educational potential in performance poetry. She asked the orators to come perform for her class and Poetry Alive! was born. Now every year, two person teams go across the country performing poetry in high school and college settings. Giving audience members a fun and entertaining way to enjoy poetry. “The fun thing about them is that they bring some of the audience members in with the performers,” said Craven. The engaging group features a wide variety of poems for all ages. It gives the audience a chance to feel the emotion behind the poem than merely the words. “Poetry is a performance art,” said Craven. “A lot of people think of poetry on a page but not as a performance art.” Along with the two performances, Poetry Alive also went to WNCC’s classrooms to give tips and pointers on enjoying poetry. To learn more about Poetry Alive! visit their website at www.poetryalive.com |
| County board approves tourism grants 2013-04-04 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| In the near future, a digital electronic billboard at the South Mitchell Highway and Highway 26 will be announcing local events in Mitchell and beyond. Brenda Leisy, director of Scotts Bluff County Tourism told the county board they had been approached by the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce about the project, which would cost about $43,000. “Through our grant regulations we can give them $21, 500,” Leisy said. “They want to erect a digital billboard at 1463 19th Ave. About 9,000 vehicles a day drive by that intersection.” Leisy told the board the Mitchell Chamber wants to use the billboard to promote local events, as well as county-wide events like Oregon Trail Days, the Sugar Valley Rally and the county fair. Commissioner Steve Stratton said he approved the idea, but was concerned about the size of the sign. In the past some “jumbo-tron” signs with flashing graphics have been distracting to passing motorists. “It’s a great concept to have all that information available to the public, but sometimes you can create another hazard in the process,” Stratton said. “I’d hate to see this approved and the Department of Roads tell us it’s too big of a distraction.” But Commissioner Ken Meyer said the sign wouldn’t be as large as a jumbo-tron, and there are already several digital billboards along the highway through Mitchell. Leisy said the project has already received all the necessary permits from the City of Mitchell and Chamber members have discussed it with Department of Roads representatives. “We’ve done several projects with Mitchell and really enjoy working with them,” Leisy said. Commissioners also approved $10,000 in funding from the Tourism Committee’s budget for the county’s participation in the Expo the day prior to the second annual Monument Marathon, coming up this fall. “The marathon organizers are expecting an even bigger group this year,” Leisy told the board. “Our booth provided tourism information for participants, who might want to return later to visit. Our name will also be on all the sponsorship materials and media releases.” Leisy also told the board the number of requests for information from their tourism website has increased dramatically, from about two a month to close to 100. She said a lot of that traffic came from advertising they placed in several national magazines, including Country Living and True West. |
| Drug charges filed against repeat offender 2013-04-04 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| By A Scottsbluff resident who last year faced charges of selling methamphetamine was arrested again on March 27 for more drug-related charges. Brian Ross, 32, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, attempted assault on a police officer, obstruction, fleeing to avoid arrest and reckless driving. According to court documents, Ross fled from WING Drug Task Force investigators after contacting a woman to purchase the drug. She alerted the authorities. When officers tried to make the arrest, Ross almost struck a police officer with his car in the parking lot of a Scottsbluff convenience store. Officers then followed Ross’ vehicle as he almost caused an accident before he pulled over. Initially, Ross denied making the purchase and no methamphetamine was found in the vehicle. He later admitted he had thrown a baggie of the drug from the car. A search did not locate the methamphetamine. In June of 2012, Ross was also charged with selling methamphetamine at a Scottsbluff restaurant where he worked. As part of that plea deal, Ross was used as a confidential informant for serious drug cases while serving one to four years of probation. One question yet to be answered is how this latest arrest will affect Ross’ plea deal from last year. Ross will make his first appearance in Scotts Bluff County Court on April 12. |
| Civil War veteran buried at West Lawn receives recognition 2013-04-04 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| Nancy Clapp, a volunteer at the West Nebraska Family Research and History Center in Scottsbluff recently helped an Illinois man track down his third great-grandfathers’ burial place at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. Lt. Col. Guy Welch, a retired Air Force officer living in Shorewood, Ill., contacted the history center in an attempt to locate the town where his ancestors John A. Points and his wife Pauline (Brown) Points are lying in rest. John A. Points served in the Union Army as a member of the 1st Regiment Missouri Volunteer Engineers. Points served from Sept. 1861 to Oct. 1864 and was involved in many important campaigns ranging from the siege of Vicksburg to the Union occupation of Atlanta. “John and Pauline Points lived most of their lives in Illinois but as they got older they moved west to be near their children and their families,” Clapp said. “The Points had lived in Custer County and had a daughter, Emma Myers, who lived in Gering. They came here to live with her. Both John Points and his wife died months apart in 1920. Mr. Welch contacted us to find their burial spot.,” said Clapp. Welch is an active member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. “I am part of the General Phillip H. Sheridan Camp Two,” Welch said. “We are interested in working with schools and historical societies to tell young people what the Civil War was about. It wasn’t just about the battles. We want to help people understand what the Civil War meant.” Clapp said after Welch told her he thought his relatives were buried somewhere near Gering she consulted the burial indexes kept at the history center. “I did some research in our microfilm files of the old Gering Courier and found both obituaries,” Clapp said. “I then contacted West Lawn and we were able to locate the plots where they are buried.” Welch noted that many Civil War veterans lie in unmarked graves and his group is working to correct that. “We learned the Veterans Administration (V.A.) through the Veteran’s Service Organization (V.S.O.) will provide headstones for veterans but they must be requested by family members,” he said. “In this case I was lucky as I am a direct descendent. The Gering V.S.O has been very helpful with this process. They helped me with all the forms so I could provide the proof that John Points was in the Civil War. Once the V.A knew it was a legitimate request they paid for the stone and the engraving. I will pay to have the stone installed.” The stone has been ordered from Herstead Monument in Scottsbluff. Welch said his group is active in the Fox Valley region southwest of Chicago. In addition to reenactments wearing historically accurate Union uniforms his Sons of Union Veterans camp participates in parades, and helping to maintain Civil War memorials. “We had a dedication last fall where we did ceremonies dedicating 14 gravestones,” Welch said. “We arrived in full uniform and had cannon fire. The mayor of our town came. The church choir sang. In our area we work with eight different cemeteries.” Welch said his group was fairly large with 20 or so very active members. “It is a lot of fun,” he said. “And we make sure every vet gets honored and recognized for their Civil War service.” Regarding his great-great-grandfather Welch added, “As part of the Missouri engineers I assume he did a lot of the dirty work. They had to clear canals and repair railroads. John Points helped support Sherman’s march to the sea.” John Points himself wrote about his military experiences in a deposition to the Army when he applied for his pension. Points’ unit helped the Union Army clear the vital shipping route of the Mississippi River in the Battle of Island Number 10 that lasted from Feb. 28 to April 8 1862. “While this was going on, we were helping the Army at New Madrid dig a canal across the neck of land to the east of town,” Points wrote. “Several transports were sent to the Army of the Mississippi by way of the canal when it was finished, providing the Army with a means of crossing the river and attacking the Confederate troops on the Tennessee side.” In three weeks, the Mississippi River was open to the Union Navy all the way to New Orleans when David Farragut’s Union fleet captured the city. Points later joined the siege of Corinth, Mississippi and served in General Grant’s Mississippi campaign until Jan. 1863. Points also wrote: “Our Company went on to Memphis, Tennessee, where we spent the winter. Our duty was to maintain the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. Our Company joined the operations against Vicksburg, Mississippi from February to July.” In another part of the deposition Points wrote: “We had to build some railroad bridges for General Sherman’s troops to move over.” Points was promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant in 1864 and went on to serve in the main Army of the Cumberland and participated in the Atlanta Campaign. “During the Battle of Jonesborough we fell back to Atlanta and helped fortify the city,” he wrote. “I was discharged on 3 October 1864 and was mustered-out at East-Port south of Atlanta.” After the war Points returned to Illinois and lived and worked on his farm near Camden. He and Pauline (also called Paulina in some of the material provided by the West Nebraska Family Research and History Center) had several children both before and after the war. One of their sons, William Henry Points, was the father of Chloe Points who was Guy Welch’s grandmother. “She married Lesile Welch,” Welch said. “That is where the Welch’s come in on this story. John Point’s son, my great-grandfather, left Illinois and migrated to Nebraska. My grandmother was ten years old at the time. She walked behind the wagon for over 350 miles. Could you imagine a kid today doing that? They settled in an area near Omaha in 1888. Many of my ancestors migrated to Nebraska because of the Nebraska Homestead Act. Eventually John and Paulina moved to Ansley, and later to Gering.” Welch said he was pleased so many people in the Scottsbluff/Gering area have been helpful with both his research and his desire to honor his third great-grandfather. “The people at the history center helped out, the V.A helped out, the cemetery helped out, and so did Herstead’s,” he said. “I’m happy to be doing this. I had about five great-great-grandfathers in the Civil War and being a military person myself I have researched them all. It is my family history as well something close to my heart. I enjoy military history and this was a nice way to honor both my relation and a fellow veteran.” John Points was born Oct. 11, 1828 and died at his daughter Emma’s home in Gering on April 14, 1920. He was 92 years old. His obituary reads “Another Veteran Gone – John A. Points, Age Ninety-Two Years, Dies at Home of Son-in- Law in Gering. John A. Points, a veteran of the civil war, died at the home of his son-in-law, Fred Myers, in this city on Wednesday. The deceased was aged ninety-two years, probably being the oldest resident of the county.” A few months later on July 30, another story appeared, “Aged Woman Joins Departed Husband.” Paulina was 86 years old and also died in her daughter’s home. In her obituary the Courier reads, “For sixty-six years this worthy couple had lived and labored together, sharing each others’ sorrows and joys. We hope that while they were separated by death they have also been united to enjoy an endless eternity.” They both lived in Gering less than a year but were clearly esteemed by their neighbors. And now after almost 100 years their great-grandson ensures they are honored once again by doing the research, asking the right local people for assistance, and making sure their resting spot for that endless eternity is both marked and recognized. |
| Scottsbluff High School students gear up for Bye Bye Birdie 2013-04-04 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| “If gray skies are getting you down, cheer up and put on a happy face.” Scottsbluff High School will give their audience a reason to smile with this year’s production of the musical Bye Bye Birdie. The musical takes its audience back to 1958. Conrad Birdie is the biggest name in rock ‘n roll and it’s his last night before being drafted into the army. As a farewell to his fans, Birdie agrees to kiss a local girl goodbye on the Ed Sullivan Show. “I always look at the kids I have in the room,” said director Brad Ronne, “From there we pick the show.” While Bye Bye Birdie is arguably one of the most recognizable musicals, Ronne and his students bring a unique musical experience into every show they do. “I always like to put our own little flair on our musicals,” said Roone. The show also requires more than the ability to sing well but comic timing as well. “We have kids with a lot of acting experience and comic timing,” said Ronne. For opening night, audience members are encouraged to dress up in ‘50s fashion to celebrate. Bye Bye Birdie will run from April 11-13 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by visiting the commons area by the main office between the hours of 4 -6 p.m. or can be purchased at the door. The cast of Bye Bye Birdie: Albert, Aaron Aguallo; Rosie, Mahalah Booth; Conrad, Traver Pettijohn; Kim, Kim Ward; Hugo, Michael Wright; Mae Peterson, Mikayla Stephenson; Harry MacAfee, Derrick Goss; Doris MacAfee, Zoey Rada; Randolph, Javier Jiminez; Ursula, Logan Williams; Deborah Sue, Jessica Valles; Alice, Kayla Rodriguez; Margie, Megan Pilkington; Harvey Johnson, Lucas Parsley; Mrs. Merkle, Emily Yanke; Gloria Rasputin, Brittli Sell; Ed Sullivan, Micah Yowell; Edna, Danielle Kuxhausen; Policeman, Ryan Fox; Police Man, Court Muhr; Reporter James Wilhelm; Quartet: Maude, Tyler Wolf; Dishwasher, Brendan Taedter; Customer, Andrew VanAmburg; Mayor, Bryce Meier; Adult Men: Ryan Fox, Bryce Meier, Court Muhr, Keenan Schmidt, James Wilhelm, Micah Yowell; Teen Boys: John Harms, Austin Petersen, Nathan Pritchard, Spencer Riddick, Hunter Scow, Andrew VanAmburg; Adult Women: Krista Grams, Megan Hayhurst, Rachael Heggem, Riley Lang, Barbara Neal, Od Purevsuren, Karli Penrose, Daniella Ramirez, Bessie Sanchez, Breanna Stewart, Allison Stricker, Brittany Suhr, Sonia Zubia, Alli Aguirre, Nikita Anderson, Cynthia Clark, Kai Didier, Lorraine Dominguez, Annie Dumont, Abby Fernandez, Courtney Foster, Mikayla Fulk; Teen Girls: Nikki-Catrina Anderson, SteaVen Becker, Hannah Brown, Teha Cabral, Barbara Calvert, Michelle Clark, Maddy Hall, Kimberly Hernandez, Claire Holsinger, Alyssa Hoxworth, Kayla Jaramillo, Allison Jensen, Katelyn Lambert, Alexis Lynn, Sarah Mercer-Smith, Lauren Miller, Zaidee Rada, Kayla Rodriguez, Natalie Saenz, Kayla Schilreff, Nicol Schnell, Bridget Sell, Katie Taylor, Kaytlin Wolfe. |
| Lawson marks 25 years in softball 2013-04-04 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| In the summer of 1989, 15-year-old Jamy Lawson got an introduction to girls’ softball – and the sport has been a part of his life since. “I’d been playing baseball most of my life, but that year my father, Jim Lawson, asked me if I’d like to help coach my sister’s team,” Lawson said. “We didn’t win many games those first few years, but one of the coaches told me to hang in there. By the third year, we reached the championship game of the 10 and under league.” A few years later, Lawson was asked to join the Gering Girls Softball Association board. “Since I was always out there coaching, the board president asked me in 2001 if I’d like to be the head umpire. I’ve been doing it ever since.” In addition to serving on the softball board, he has served as league commissioner for various age groups. After his sister was too old to play, Lawson and his father got back into coaching, starting with the tee-ball league for seven years. They also coached an 18 and under team. He also served as GGSA president in 2005 and 2006. In 2011, Lawson got his certification to umpire high school varsity games, and he will continue this fall. Although he hasn’t coached since 2008, Lawson said he might coach this year to mark his 25th year in the sport. “If all the umpiring is covered, I’ll still be really busy,” he said. “I’ll be the 10 and under league commissioner this year and the City of Scottsbluff has hired me to schedule the umpires for their slow-pitch leagues.” Lawson said he was also thankful to his family and friends for their support during the ups and downs of 25 years devoted to softball. “My dad deserves a lot of credit as well. He was with me for every team I’ve coached.” GGSA used from 25 to 35 coaches every season. Lawson said it’s been fun to see how they’ve developed over the years. “Last year, Jessica Wolf, one of my umpires, called two junior varsity games in Scottsbluff after three years of experience,” he said. “That was cool to see because it took me 20 years to start umpiring high school softball.” He added the league looks strong for the upcoming season with a number of new board members. “I look forward to coming back and getting to work with the young umpires and give them the chance I was given when I was young. It’s always nice to hear from parents when they tell me the umpires are doing a good job.” After 25 years, Lawson still enjoys the game and said he plans to be involved for as long as he can. And he’s also seen changes. “I know I’ve been here a long time when some of my former players and umpires are married and their kids now play and umpire for me.” |
| News Briefs ... 2013-04-04 By |
| College vocalists to perform SCOTTSBLUFF — Western Nebraska Community College music majors Malorie Winberg, Jessica Schluter, and Rae-Lee Tresierra, along with music students Shawn Gasseling, Kirby Thornton, Simonne Spurgeon, and Sara Zaro will perform a graduation/transfer recital on Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. in the WNCC Little Theatre. The performers are students of Gary Bacon, Becky Kugler, Sandy Massey, and Rita Stinner. Kugler and Tami Lippstreu will accompany the vocal talent. The WNCC Chapter of the National Association for Music Educators will usher. Selections the audience can expect include operatic repertoire and art song by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Faure,’ Hahn, Rossini and others. The public is welcome and there is no charge for admission. For more information, contact Rita Stinner at (308) 635-6045. Tickets remain for Brickman concert at Midwest SCOTTSBLUFF — Tickets still remain for Grammy nominated artist Jim Brickman, with special guest John Trones, in concert on April 7 at 6 p.m. at the Midwest Theater in downtown Scottsbluff. General admission balcony seats are $25. Brickman is an American songwriter and pianist. He has been named the most charted male Adult Contemporary artist to date, with six of his albums receiving Gold and Platinum status. He has revolutionized the sound of solo piano with his pop-style instrumentals and star-studded vocal collaborations. Brickman’s best-known compositions include the chart-toppers “Valentine,” “The Gift,” “Love of My Life,” “Simple Things” and “Peace.” He’s established a reputation for his collaborations with many gifted musical artists: Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Kenny Loggins, Michael W. Smith, Carly Simon, Herb Alpert, Collin Raye, Michael Bolton, Donny Osmond, and Olivia Newton-John. His signature style has brought him six Gold and Platinum albums, 30 charted adult radio hits, and two Grammy nominations. He recently tied for most Number One albums on Billboard’s New Age chart, and he currently holds four of its Top 10 spots. Construction at FARM GERING — Construction has begun on the Farm And Ranch Museum campus to develop the Legacy of the Plains Museums project in collaboration with the North Platte Valley Historical Association. As a result, the normal driveway entrance at FARM is closed, and the regular parking area is inaccessible. To visit FARM, please proceed west on Old Oregon Trail to the pasture gate (the Harvest Festival parking area). Visitors are being asked to park on the western side of the building and enter via the back door. However, conditions are changing daily, so it is advisable to call ahead if planning a visit to FARM (308) 436-1989. Quilt Guild to elect officers CHADRON — Panhandle Quilt Guild, a regional non-profit organization, will hold its April meeting on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the United Methodist Church, 847 Shelton St. in Chadron. The general meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. Election of officers for the 2013-14 year will be held. After a sack lunch, the group will adjourn to the Chadron Festival of Quilts at the Assumption Arena, Third and Spruce Streets in Chadron. Guests are welcome to attend. For more information, please visit www.panhandlequiltguild.org/ or contact President Dianna Hatch, (308) 635-1397. |
| Golf course restaurant prepares for opening 2013-04-04 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Caddies Bar and Grill, the new clubhouse restaurant at Monument Shadows Golf Course in Gering, is getting ready for the start of the golf season. Sal Munoz, one of the operators, said their liquor license has been approved by the City of Gering and they’re now waiting for approval from the state. “We’re kind of in limbo right now, but we’re expecting to hear from them soon,” he said. Munoz, who’s also in the construction business, said they’ve been busy with repainting, adding booths, updated lighting fixtures and other improvements to give the restaurant a more inviting, family-friendly atmosphere. The Caddies menu will cater to the golfers Monday through Thursday with a different menu on Friday and Saturday, which will feature steaks, prime rib and shrimp. “We’ll have featured items every day,” Munoz said. “We’ll also try to do a brunch on Sundays, so we’ll be open seven days a week during the golfing season.” The first event at Caddies is Thursday, April 18 for the golf league kickoff, when they’ll be serving burgers for the golfers. “We’re not sure whether we’ll have some soft openings before or after the 18th, but it’s all based on when the liquor license is approved,” he said. Munoz has owned his own construction business for the past 12 years, and said he’s always wanted to venture into the restaurant or bar industry. And his two partners specialize in managing the kitchen and the front end of the restaurant. “We thought the golf course would be a great location to make a run at making this a successful business,” he said. “It was a fast turnaround getting all this ready, but we’ve had some great help from the city.” Munoz said the council has been very cooperative in helping with all the particulars of opening the business, and they’ve built a strong working relationship because of it. |
| Bayard Bridal Shop offers affordable gowns 2013-04-04 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| All it took was one vacation for Jan and Ray Goossen to fall in love with western Nebraska. Seventeen years ago, the couple took a vacation to Fort Robinson. They fell in love with the beauty of the area. During their stay at Fort Robinson they picked up a newspaper and noticed an ad for a restaurant in Bayard. Nine months later, they sold everything they owned in Omaha and bought the restaurant, and a home, in Bayard. They had owned the restaurant for several years before they decided it was time to sell. Next they purchased a concession wagon from which they sold ice cream. After Ray fell ill, the couple decided to sell the wagon. The couple took a few years off before they began their next entrepreneurial adventure. “I decided I needed something to do and I wasn’t going to sit at home,” said Jan. “There’s only so many quilts I can sew.” Inspiration for the Bayard Bridal shop came while shopping for a bridal gown with her daughter in California. “All the shops I went to, the prices were several thousand dollars and higher,” she said. It was at that moment she realized that there was a need back home in Bayard. “I felt like the girls here could not afford those kinds of prices,” said Goossen. It was not long after that she opened her bridal shop in downtown Bayard. Jan ordered her first round of dresses and opened her doors. “We believe that every girl deserves a beautiful gown,” she said. Jan believes in providing affordable dresses no matter the budget. “Our dream is to make this thing huge,” said Goossen. Along with prom dresses, they offer wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses Quincenera gowns and tuxedo rentals. Most of the gowns are sold cash and carry but they do offer a layaway program. Otherwise, purchases can be made with cash, Visa, MasterCard, checks and Discover. Bayard Bridal is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday from noon to 6 p.m.; Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays are by appointment only. The Bayard Bridal Shop is located at 317 Main Street in Bayard next door to the Bayard Grocery. The phone number is (308) 586-1100. |
| The weather: Hot and dry, cold and wet 2013-04-04 By Wyatt Fraas - Center for Rural Affairs |
| In 2012, critically hot, dry weather hit the Midwest and Great Plains, while the East Coast endured floods, Hurricane Sandy and record New England snowfall. Climatologists described these specific weather events, for the first time, as part of a changing climate attributed to global warming. I watched dry conditions unfold in Northeast Nebraska last year. The warm and dry winter and spring, resulted in no soil moisture at planting time. The hot and dry summer burned up most dry-land corn. High night-time temperatures damaged crops and killed feedlot cattle unable to cool off. Irrigation barely kept up with crop demands. Heavy pumping caused groundwater levels to drop, leaving some livestock wells and rural households without water. Obviously, rural Americans will have to deal with global warming and the climate changes that are already impacting us. Sadly, farm subsidies that discourage diversity and innovation will make climate change impacts worse. Reduced conservation incentives will make weather extremes more likely to cause both immediate and long-term damage to soil and water quality. Farm policy must encourage changes in the ways farmers conserve their soil and water, and the crops they plant, and at the Center for Rural Affairs, we are looking for solutions to these challenges. Our soon to be released report, Banking on Carbon, seeks to encourage agriculture’s greatest tool to reduce atmospheric carbon, namely sequestration in the soil. It also describes other practices and public policy options that can increase farm and ranch resilience and decrease atmospheric carbon. |
| Nebraska’s age of majority could change from 19 to 18 2013-04-04 By Joseph Moore - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Eighteen-year-olds are not considered adults under Nebraska law as they are in most other states. That would change under a bill proposed by Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill. The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee heard testimony March 15 on LB 355. The bill would lower Nebraska’s age of majority from 19 to 18. Nebraska is currently one of only three states – along with Alabama and Mississippi – that has an age of majority over 18. During his introductory remarks before the committee, Larson said the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows 18-year-olds to vote, and males are required to enroll in the Selective Service System on their 18th birthday. “Eighteen-year-olds should be given all the rights adults receive in Nebraska,” Larson said. In 2009, the Legislature passed LB 226, which gave 18-year-olds the right to make medical decisions with parental permission and enter into legally binding contracts like residential lease agreements. Larson said that legislation did not go far enough and called for a “broad, across the board change” to the age of majority. He said there are instances where cell phone companies refuse to allow 18-year-olds to enter into phone contracts because the companies are unaware of the changes to the law. Larson added an amendment to the current bill that would keep the age of majority 19 under Medicaid after the State Department of Health and Human Services warned that the age change could result in Nebraska losing more than $1 billion in federal Medicaid funds. This is due to a provision of the Affordable Care Act that prevents states from changing their eligibility requirements for Medicaid until 2014 when new, nationwide eligibility standards for the program will take effect. Bruce Rieker of the Nebraska Hospital Association testified against the age change. He said he appreciated the Medicaid amendment but believes the bill would deny 18-year-olds access to state and federal aid for mental or physical care. “Cutting them off at 18 is counterproductive,” Rieker said. Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha responded by saying that many 17- and 18-year-olds are already not getting the care they need. “In reality, 17- and 18-year-olds in this state are in deep, deep trouble,” Ashford said. Jim Cunningham of the Nebraska Catholic Bishops Conference testified as neutral on the bill. He said changing the age of majority from 19 to 18 would reduce the amount of Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) payments to some low-income families. ADC provides cash assistance to low-income families with minor children. The payments are used to pay for basic living expenses like rent, utilities, food and clothing. “A lot of 18-year-olds are still living at home,” Cunningham said. He said the bill would deny low-income families with 18-year-old dependents an important means of cash assistance. Cunningham also warned that the bill would cut off child support payments to parents with 18-year-old children, but said that a provision could be added to the bill that would allow for the continuation of child support payments through age 19 or graduation from high school. No one testified in support of the bill. |
| USDA applications for energy efficiency improvements 2013-04-04 By |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. The announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy. "The Obama Administration continues its commitment to help our nation become more energy independent by partnering with agricultural producers and rural small businesses as they build renewable energy systems and reduce energy usage," said Vilsack. "These investments will not only help our farmers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs, but also provide a new potential revenue source and stabilize their operations' bottom lines." REAP, authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, (Farm Bill) is designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and help meet the Nation's critical energy needs. USDA is accepting the following applications: Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications until April 30, 2013;Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan only applications until July 15, 2013; Renewable energy system feasibility study grant applications through April 30, 2013. More information on how to apply for funding is available in the Mar. 29, 2013 Federal Register, pages 19183-19190. Since the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill and through the end of Fiscal Year 2012, REAP has funded nationwide over 6,800 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, feasibility studies, energy audits, and renewable energy development assistance projects. Examples include Edaleen Cow Power LLC, located near Lynden, Wash., which received a REAP loan and grant combination to install an anaerobic digester and sell the resulting electricity to a utility. The project is anticipated to generate 4,635 Megawatt hours per year. Manure produced by Edaleen Dairy's 2,450-head herd is the sole feedstock for the project and the dairy benefits from the bedding byproduct the digester produces. Also, in Augusta, Wisc., farmer Matthew Gabler received a grant to assist in installation of an 11 kilowatt wind turbine to produce approximately 29,000 kilowatt-hours a year for his farm. This funding is an example of the many ways that USDA is helping revitalize rural economies to create opportunities for growth and prosperity, support innovative technologies, identify new markets for agricultural producers, and better utilization of our nation's natural resources. The Obama Administration is working to promote domestic production of renewable energy to create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, combat global warming, and build a stronger rural economy. The President's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns, and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities. USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for the American people, even as USDA implements sequestration - the across-the-board budget reductions mandated under terms of the Budget Control Act. USDA has already undertaken historic efforts since 2009 to save more than $700 million in taxpayer funds through targeted, common-sense budget reductions. These reductions have put USDA in a better position to carry out its mission, while implementing sequester budget reductions in a fair manner that causes as little disruption as possible. |
| Gering High School's National Honor Society students 2013-04-04 By |
| The Gering High School National Honor Society members have been announced. The Gering High School’s National Honor Society students for 2013 include Jessica Helt, Amber Fertig, Rachel Huffman, Jennifer Barge, Jackie Hayden, Ashley Nielsen, Allison Witcofski, Mackenzie Smith, Jerrick Bowers; second row, Savannah Walker, Alexa Longoria, Katherine O'Boyle, Marissa Gutherless, Johnathan Sayaloune, Kayla Todd, Marlee Lupher, Brittany Eckerberg, Vanessa Woolsey, Isabel Wolf; third row, Arich Knaub, Gage Winkler, Grant Olsson, Elijah Timblin, Ryan Schwartzkopf, Justin Brester, Austin Robinson, Baylen Smith, Gage Smith, Brian Doll, Taylor Nelson; back row, Shayla Garetto, Brooke Satur, Elizabeth Millay, Alexa Anderson, Erika Bowman, Justin Wallace, Megan Upp, Kendra Peters, Jeremy Eskam. Not pictured, Samuel Eastman, Caleb Wyre, Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski. |
| Historic horse racing may be in Nebraska voters’ hands 2013-04-04 By Shelby Friesz, Nebraska News Service nns.sfriesz@gmail.com |
| LINCOLN – Nebraska lawmakers advanced a constitutional amendment that would allow historic horse racing on a 29-19 vote Wednesday after about eight hours of discussion. Nebraska residents may be able to vote in November 2014 for the resolution (LR41CA) sponsored by Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha. The resolution would allow people to bet on horse races that have already been run. Participants would know the statistics of the horse and jockey but would not know the date or outcome of the race. Senators fell on both sides of the resolution when Lautenbaugh opened the discussion March 6. They took three and a half sessions, a total of about eight hours, to debate the issue. “Welcome to race track days,” Sen. Scott Price of Bellevue said. Lautenbaugh said the historic horse racing allowed by the resolution was essentially the same as simulcast horse racing, which is already authorized. Rather than being run in a different place, these races will have been run at a different time. Lautenbaugh said he had previously tried to bring the idea of historic horse racing to the Legislature through bills but heard complaints that they were unconstitutional. So he decided to make it a constitutional amendment. Many supporters said that the resolution would help the horse racing industry and save jobs because the simulcast and historic horse racing would be held at race tracks. Many opponents called it another way to expand gambling and gambling addiction in Nebraska. Some opponents also expressed concern that the machines on which the historic races would be watched resembled slot machines that would appeal more to gamblers. Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha began the opposition March 6 by moving to send the resolution back to the General Affairs Committee to be reworded. “LR41CA cannot and should not be forwarded through the Legislature and on the people of Nebraska without major revisions first,” McCoy said, adding, “If we are going to send something to the people of Nebraska or to ask for their vote for or against, it ought be in the most constitutionally sound manner.” Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala said he supported the resolution. He said he heard in committee from anti-gaming people testifying on a different bill that they deserved a chance to vote on gambling issues. He said he thinks the Legislature should give the people a voice on the issue of historic horse racing, referring to Nebraska voters as the second house of the Unicameral. “The second house is being called upon today,” Schilz said. McCoy said that many Nebraskans have spoken out against expanded gambling in the past. Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff, while opposing gambling and wanting to recommit the resolution to committee, said he understands sending it to the people of Nebraska to decide because they may have changed their minds. McCoy’s motion to send the resolution back to committee failed March 12 on an 11-16 vote. Following the failed motion, Lautenbaugh proposed an amendment drafted by McCoy, Sen. Greg Adams of York, Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber and himself. The amendment changed the language to address McCoy’s concerns. Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha also joined the discussion. He opposed the resolution, opposed the new amendment and proposed a number of amendments to change the language of the horseracing constitutional amendment. Chambers said that the resolution was the gambling industry’s way of manipulating the Legislature for its own purposes. “You are watching the savaging of the constitution by the gambling interest,” Chambers said, adding, “Unlike some of my colleagues, my principles don’t take a vacation.” After about eight hours of debate, the legislators decided to end the discussion and vote on the proposed amendment and the resolution. The amendment was adopted on a 30-7 vote Wednesday. “The whole point of this is to promote live racing,” Lautenbaugh said. “This remains about live racing. This remains about jobs. And that is and always will be the focus.” |
| Poetry Alive! performance group returns to WNCC 2013-04-04 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF — A high energy poetry performance show visits Western Nebraska Community College in celebration of National Poetry Month in April. The visit is sponsored by Emerging Voices, a journal of literature and art at WNCC. Poetry Alive! from Asheville, N.C. presents two public performances on Monday, April 8. College students, faculty, and staff can enjoy a noon “Pit Stop” in the commons area of the main building at WNCC’s Scottsbluff Campus. A 7 p.m. public performance will be staged in the WNCC Theater. Both shows are open to the public and there is no admission charge. The performance duo will also visit classrooms during the day. In order to bring poetry from the page to the stage, Poetry Alive! presents verse as theater, transforming the poems into scripts and the audience members into fellow actors. The result is a non-stop tour de force of words with a twist of sorrow and a dash of silliness and every emotion in between, according to the Poetry Alive! website, www.poetryalive.com. “We hope a lot of folks take advantage of the public performances,” said Janet Craven, advisor for Emerging Voices. “Poetry Alive! is an exceptionally creative and engaging form of performance art.” Returning to the Bardic tradition of long ago, the Poetry Alive! actors have memorized literally hundreds of poems from the classics to the popular to the contemporary. The company sends out actors in pairs to schools, libraries, festivals, and anywhere there is an audience for “poetry with a twist.” The company also presents teacher workshops, conducts a summer institute for teachers, and offers a celebrated line of educational books, CDs, and audiotapes. Since 1984, Poetry Alive! has been presenting high-energy poetry shows for audiences of all ages. The company regularly travels throughout the United States and has appeared in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and as far away as China, Puerto Rico, Guam, South Korea, Saipan, the Bahamas, Venezuela, and Peru. For more information, visit www.poetreyalive.com or call Craven at (308) 635-6121. |
| Prairie Haven Hospice partners with NPR’s StoryCorps 2013-04-04 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF — Prairie Haven Hospice of Scottsbluff is partnering with StoryCorps Legacy, a program that provides people with serious illness and their families the opportunity to record, preserve, and share the stories of their lives. StoryCorps is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording and collecting oral history interviews. Through a three-month partnership with Prairie Haven Hospice, StoryCorps will assist Prairie Haven staff and volunteers in conducting and recording interviews with area residents using equipment provided by StoryCorps. People who are nearing the end of life or who are affected by serious illness may participate in the StoryCorps project. They will be interviewed about their lives in the comfort of their own residences. The conversations will be recorded and each participant will receive a copy of their interview. An additional copy of the audio recording will be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. There is no charge for participation. Prairie Haven Hospice staff and volunteers will conduct the legacy interviews between April 19 and July 12 of this year. They are currently seeking participants for interviews. “We feel very fortunate to be able to partner with StoryCorps Legacy project to offer those we serve an opportunity to participate in life review and sharing their stories. I am very grateful to our hospice staff and volunteers for their commitment to this program,” said Linda Rock, Executive Director of Prairie Haven Hospice. StoryCorps interviews are conversations between two people who know each other, typically a family member or friend. In StoryCorps Legacy, participants with serious illness or their caregivers are the storytellers. They are asked open-ended questions about their lives by their interview partner. A staff member trained by StoryCorps Legacy is also present during the interview to handle all technical aspects of the recording and complete the necessary paperwork. Participants are encouraged to share memories and wisdom but not worry too much about specific details, such as exact dates or locations. The interview process takes about an hour. Recording time is 40 minutes, but can be flexible based on participant needs. “Looking a loved one in the eyes and asking about his or her life is one of the greatest gifts we can give one another. The simple act of listening tells them how much they matter, and documenting that conversation for posterity tells them that they won’t be forgotten,” says StoryCorps founder and president Dave Isay. StoryCorps is not a clinical program and does not require or maintain health records of its participants. The organization works through partner organizations that have existing relationships with community members. Participation is voluntary, and StoryCorps protects the privacy of all participants throughout the interview experience. People who are interested in volunteering to share their life stories through the StoryCorps Legacy project may call Prairie Haven Hospice social worker Whitney Hoyle at (308) 630-1149. |
| UPDATED STORY_Pedestrian motor vehicle accident, fatality indentified 2013-03-28 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF - After further investigation the Scottsbluff Police Department has identified the male in this case as 38-year-old James Maurice Feather of Scottsbluff, Neb. Next of kin have been notified. _________________________________________________________________ Update as of 3 p.m. SCOTTSBLUFF - After further investigation the Scottsbluff Police Department is releasing additional information regarding identification of the male killed in this motor vehicle accident. The investigation has determined the deceased is likely a 25-35 year old white male with dark brown medium length hair. The male also has a beard and mustache. The male was wearing black shorts with red markings, a long-sleeve gray insulated sweatshirt, white and blue Starter brand tennis shoes and wore a black baseball cap pictured below. The male also has numerous tattoos one of which appears to be two flaming skulls, black and red in color. This tattoo is located on the right inner-forearm of the deceased. The police department encourages anyone with information to contact them at (308) 632-7176. ______________________________________________________________________________ SCOTTSBLUFF - Scottsbluff Police Officers were dispatched to a reported motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Avenue I and Schmid Drive at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday March 27. Officers and members of the Scottsbluff Fire Department and Valley Ambulance arrived and worked to free a white male approximately 35-45 years of age from beneath the vehicle. The male died at the scene and has not yet been identified. The police Department is seeking assistance from the public in the identification of the male and encourages those with information to contact us at (308) 632-7176. The female driver of the southbound passenger car involved in the accident was not injured. The investigation is continuing and an autopsy has been scheduled. The investigation has corroborated witness statements indicating that the male, while crossing the street fell in front of the southbound vehicle. The male was believed to have been walking in the area and visiting the Sinclair Super Shops convenience store just prior to the accident. Investigators have obtained evidence that is being used to assist in the identification of the deceased. Additional information will be released as it is received. |
| Riverside Discovery Center hosts Easter scavenger hunt 2013-03-28 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| On Palm Sunday dozens of children and their parents enjoyed an Easter themed scavenger hunt at the Riverside Discovery Center Zoo in Scottsbluff. The event was originally scheduled for Saturday but cold winds and light snowfall led zoo staff to postpone the celebration for the next day. The weather was slightly more cooperative but it was still a fairly chilly afternoon for the bundled up kids. This didn’t stop them from having fun looking at the animals and greeting the Easter Bunny. “All the kids were given a piece of paper when they entered the zoo,” Ann Heasty, a volunteer docent for the zoo said. “They were asked to find at least three exhibits with plastic Easter eggs, three with piñatas, and three places with pictures of eggs. They weren’t here to find and keep objects, only to list where they noticed special Easter displays. When leaving the zoo they dropped off their slip and were given prizes in the front office.” “It is fun,” said 5-year-old William Pieper of Mitchell. “I like the Easter Bunny and seeing the tigers.” Heasty, stationed indoors at the chimp building, had a ball python wrapped around her arms and she let the kids touch and get a close up look at the snake. “This snake is from Africa,” she told the interested youngsters. Heasty later added, “Most of the zoo animals were given special treats today. We made a bunch of paper Mache eggs with food items or toys inside for the animals to unwrap and enjoy. The kids liked watching them open them up.” Heasty noted that the local Squires organization also volunteered to help with the project. “The Squires are an all-male organization that is right below the Knights of Columbus,” said volunteer John Maag of Scottsbluff. “We are part of the Catholic Church. Males between 10 and 18 can be involved. We do community service work. Once we turn 18 we can join the Knights of Columbus. Being a Squire is an introduction to the Church.” The Squires joined zoo staff, docents, and other volunteers to provide families with an inexpensive lunch of hot dogs, chips and hot chocolate. Several families enjoyed taking a moment to warm up and have a hot treat in the Learning Center building. Zac and Christi Hays of Gering said it was fun to take their 2-year-old daughter Lily to the scavenger hunt. “She is really enjoying seeing all the animals,” Zac said. The Easter Bunny wandered about the many zoo buildings and skipped along the various paths arm and arm with many of the children. While the Easter Bunny was completely silent, communicating only through waves, hugs, and other gestures, it can be reported the young man in the suit was Squire volunteer Collin Maag. Every time the Easter Bunny walked by the tiger or lion cages the big cats perked up and stared at it with great interest and intensity. One can only imagine what they were thinking, but it probably wasn’t a dream of hopping on down the Bunny Trail in search of chocolate eggs. |
| Council approves redevelopment plan 2013-03-28 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| During their Monday meeting, members of the Gering City Council agreed to reapply for a $30,000 planning grant for downtown redevelopment. The grant application was developed from input from merchants and the Downtown Redevelopment Committee with assistance from Rick Willis, marketing and research manager with Twin Cities Development. Willis told the council the Nebraska Department of Economic Development turned down the first application because they wanted more input from the community as to what they see for the future development of downtown and beyond. “Input from the community was wonderful for this second try,” he said. “We made quite a few refinements to the application because of that input.” After several meetings with business owners, citizens of the town and members of the Gering Downtown Redevelopment Committee, overall goals were put in writing. They included “create a business environment that promotes growth in the retail and service industries” and “infrastructure and structural improvements to the downtown business district.” TCD executive director Rawnda Pierce said after the first application was rejected, the state wanted to Continued from page A1 know what specific items the city would ask a consultant to consider if a full implementation grant were awarded. Input from the community was distilled into a few tangible goals and objectives that could be acted upon. Council member Don Christensen attended some of those meetings and said he was impressed with the hard work from all involved to keep the project moving forward. And Mayor Ed Mayo added this application had a lot more community buy-in. “We want this to be a catalyst for future growth,” Willis said. “If our application is approved, we need to focus not only on downtown revitalization, but also on what goes after that. No matter what happens, we need to plan for what we want in downtown Gering. I think that’s what the committee has done and it’s a good application.” Lisa Betz, a member of the Gering Downtown Redevelopment Committee, thanked TCD for their help and said the application process hasn’t always been easy. “I think we have a very good group on the committee as we’ve focused on the same goals. I feel hopeful and optimistic this grant application will be successful.” Council members unanimously approved the application, which must be submitted to the Department of Economic Development by March 29. |
| Fun facts about Easter 2013-03-28 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Holidays are centered on traditions. Long-time traditions of celebration and observance are taken by a family and personalized in a way to make each holiday special. With Easter upon us, it’s interesting to explore the question of where our many Easter traditions come from. Many of us know that Easter is the time in the Christian faith to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Yet, as with Christmas and Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny has also become a symbol of this celebrated holiday. So, let us take a look at some of the more popular Easter holiday traditions and where to explore their origins. Easter Sunday According to historians, Easter was not always celebrated on Sunday. Easter or in the Jewish tradition, Pascha, marked the ending celebration of the Jewish holiday Pesach (Passover). Typically, the end of Passover was on a Wednesday. This tradition changed, however, during the reign of Roman Emperor Constantine who moved Easter celebrations to Sunday. This was done for two reasons; in the Christian faith, Sunday was the day that Christ rose and that particular year, on that Sunday, there was a full moon which marked the spring equinox. The Eggs With Easter comes thoughts of spring and the earth’s reawakening from the harshness of winter. The egg has served as a symbol of fertility in many cultures. Early followers of Christianity were banned from eating eggs during Lent and it became a tradition to eat them again during Easter. Eggs were difficult to come by during winter months, which is why they became a treat after Lent. Decorating eggs began in the late 19th Century in Russia. Tsar Alexander III wanted to give his wife a decorated egg as an Easter gift. He appointed Peter Carl Faberge, a goldsmith, to construct a special egg known as the Hen Egg. Alexander was so impressed that he commissioned Faberge to create more, and they became known as the ‘Imperial Eggs.’ Faberge created 50 eggs for the royal family. As of today, there are only 42 known to have survived and they are much sought after by collectors. The Easter Bunny The Easter Bunny traces back to the 13th Century. In pagan practices, the hare or rabbit was the symbol of the goddess Eostra, who was the goddess of spring and fertility. Feasts were held in her honor as a celebration of the spring equinox, with the exchange of gifts and sweets. This practice over time may have been adapted by other cultures. One of the first stories about the Easter Bunny dates back to 1680. It is believed that the legend of the Easter Bunny made its way to the United States in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in the Pennsylvania Dutch country. The story was passed along through oral storytelling before many children’s books were published about the rabbit. The Easter Egg Hunt The tale of a spring critter hiding eggs varies from country to country. In Switzerland, a cuckoo hides the eggs and leaves sweets for children to find. Germany has several versions of an Easter critter from a fox, chick, rooster, and even a stork. No matter how you celebrate the holiday, Easter is a special time for many families. It is a day for families to come together for faith and fun and to celebrate the beginning of spring, more light in the day and all of the delights that go with it. |
| Simple home upgrades can create a new look 2013-03-28 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Jerry Clemens, owner of Clemens Carpet and the Carpet Barn, admits his business was started because of a somewhat unusual incident. “My father, my uncle and I were shopping for carpet back in 1976 and went to a competitor,” he said. “When we couldn’t get waited on, we thought this would be a good area to start a carpet store, so that’s what we did.” Although he was only 14 when the poor customer service incident happened, Clemens said he’s been involved in his family business since then. “We just opened our own carpet store,” Jerry said. “At that time we only sold carpeting. But today we sell everything. We sell carpet, vinyl, ceramic tile, hardwoods, cork, bamboo, laminate, just about anything in the way of floor covering, we have it.” He added they install what they sell. “We’re really good at helping people find what they want. Basically, we’re a full service flooring store. This is one-stop shopping for wall tile for the shower, countertop tile or anything to do with the floors.” Jerry said it takes a number of years to build up an inventory, and they’ve grown to the point that in 1994, the opened the Carpet Barn, across the street from Clemens Carpet. “Between the two stores, we have a lot of floor covering,” he said. “We’re probably the exception to the rule. Most carpet stores in larger areas only carry samples and don’t stock anything. We stock a lot of inventory because we want people to be able to buy it and take it with them if they want.” He said that because they buy full rolls of carpeting and full pallets of tile, they can pass the savings along to the customer. “One thing I’m proud of in the carpet business is that 99 percent of carpet is still American made,” Jerry said. “There are not a lot of things you can say that about. It’s nice to be able to sell American products.” Years ago, most carpeting was made from wool. But today, synthetic blends are the norm. DuPont has even developed a way to turn corn into a polymer that can be used in yarn for carpeting. “I never would have thought of anything like that,” Jerry said. “This stuff is durable, the stains come out easily, it’s soft and people love it. It makes me feel good we live in an agricultural community where our commodities are coming back to us.” With spring underway, homeowners might want to try something new to make an impact in their homes without breaking the bank. “You might want to try something as simple as new carpeting,” Jerry said. “Carpet prices have stayed level for the past several years. It’s an economical way to change the whole look of a room.” Jerry said the focal points in the home are kitchens and bathrooms, so people might want to start there. Inexpensive new flooring can update a kitchen or bath and there a lot of options on the market. And since the entryway is usually the first thing people see, new flooring in that area can make a big visual difference. “People should be careful,” Jerry said. “It’s my experience that once people get started with a project, it snowballs to others.” He added that more people are spending more on their homes in recent years, so Clemens has been doing a lot of remodeling work. With a flat housing market, people are staying in their homes for more years and remodeling to create a new look. |
| Trees add value beyond beauty and shade 2013-03-28 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| The humble tree has offered humankind a nearly endless list of benefits. Trees provided us with our first form of fuel and gave us a way to turn darkness into light with the earliest campfires. Trees provided food and shelter to our ancestors. Trees became the basic building material of most societies. In modern times we have learned even more uses for the amazing tree. Trees create peaceful and aesthetically pleasing environments and improve our quality of life. They bring a natural element to urban settings. They provide privacy and can be used to screen unpleasant views. Trees can reduce noise pollution and they filter the air into life-giving oxygen. In our area, efforts are being made to ensure that healthy trees thrive within our city limits. The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum recently warned that the Native American Ash species is likely going to vanish in the coming decades. The Ash tree is being decimated in the Great Lakes region by the Emerald Ash Borer and the insect is heading west. Experts feel it is only a matter of time before Nebraska is affected. While this will affect the eastern half of our state more, it will drastically reduce the overall community tree count in the State of Nebraska. Both Gering and Scottsbluff offer reimbursement programs for residents who plant trees on their land. Other efforts will be kicking in as Earth Day approaches. The City of Scottsbluff was recently one of seven towns awarded a grant from the Nebraska Forest Service and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum for the purpose of planting more trees in public areas. Two other communities in our area, Chadron and North Platte were also provided the grants. Community forestry specialist Amy Seiler of the Nebraska Forestry Service is assisting the City of Scottsbluff in administering the program. “All the funding for this comes from the Nebraska Environmental Trust,” Seiler said. “Around $65,000 has been given to Scottsbluff to promote the planting of more local trees.” Seiler said the Forestry Service put out grant applications for the ‘Greener Nebraska Towns’ project last year and Scottsbluff was one of the recipients. “The money will be used in two portions,” she said. “The first purpose is to plant large canopy trees on public property or where the public will benefit. The second purpose is to create rain gardens. A rain garden is essentially landscape planting that is designed to capture water. This is all a big effort for tree planting and water wise landscaping.” Both Gering and Scottsbluff’s water departments continue to offer incentives for anyone in the area to buy and plant more trees, but the Westmoor area in Scottsbluff has been targeted specifically as a result of the grant. “Our goal in the Westmoor area is to plant 100 trees,” Seiler said. “And while Westmoor is our main target we won’t turn anyone down in the City of Scottsbluff. But this will be on a first come first serve basis. We only have 100 trees.” The 100 trees are already 4-6 feet tall and will be sold for only $15. People have the option of having the Boy Scouts plant the tree for them at a total cost (including the tree) of $25. “That is a really a great deal,” Seiler said. “Applications can be picked up at the City of Scottsbluff or at local nurseries. “Both Scottsbluff and Gering offer reimbursement programs for people who want to plant trees for public benefit. The trees need to be planted in front yards but both towns will give people a 50 percent rebate for new trees. If you buy a tree for $100 you can get $50 back if you apply for the rebate.” Trees provide oxygen and improve our air quality. They help to conserve water and preserve our soil. Trees provide shade and wind breaks and they can also shield us against rain or hail. Both above ground and below, trees are good for our communities. The roots hold soil in place and fight erosion. Even fallen trees have a use. They make for good firewood but also can be ground to mulch for gardening or composted to improve or enrich soil. Certain trees provide timber for construction or good wood pulp to make paper. Tree bark even provides us with some medicines. Both aspirin and quinine are made from bark extracts. Seiler said a special tree planting workshop will be held on April 20 at the Westmoor School starting at 8 a.m. “People will be given detailed instruction on how to properly plant their tree,” she said. “They can pick up their new trees at that time. Often people will improperly plant a new tree and it will probably die off in about five years or so. We really want to improve our urban forest so that is why we are hosting the workshop.” Anyone from the region is invited to attend the free workshop. The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum is a good source to consult to know which trees are likely to do well in western Nebraska. Examples of good deciduous trees for our area are the Kentucky coffee tree, cottonwood varieties, the new elm hybrids, hackberry, American linden, oak varieties, and the black walnut. Evergreen species that do well in the Panhandle are most any type of pine, juniper and spruce. Seiler said all the trees available would be viable species that can thrive in the Panhandle. “We really want to see more tree diversity,” she added. “Mono-cultures of trees are not the best way to improve or create greener cities. With only one species they are vulnerable to disease or pests and we can see a huge loss of our urban forest. So we will be providing many different types of trees that will do well in our environment.” Seiler noted that having more trees in town is a win-win situation for everyone. “Trees are part of the infrastructure in our community,” she said. “They shade our streets so the streets don’t break down as quickly. This saves the community money. Trees shade our homes and help reduce our electricity costs. Trees capture rain water and they clean our air. Trees make a community more livable.” Everyone is encouraged to plant more trees this spring. Training is being provided. Local Scout troops are willing to help out for a modest donation. Grants have been awarded. The Twin Cities both have incentive programs and rebates. Local nurseries will help folks with the reimbursement applications. The poet Joyce Kilmer wrote in her poem entitled, ‘Trees,’ “I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree.” When we consider the many benefits that community trees provide us, Kilmer’s words seem never more true than today. Now is a good time to plant a tree. |
| Freshen up your home 2013-03-28 By Lisa Betz editor@geringcitizen.com |
| It’s springtime. The birds are chirping, there’s more light outside and you may be noticing that it’s time to make changes at home. All of that wind we’ve been having lately has caused a lot of dust. This could prompt you to consider investing in new, energy-efficient windows that would also cut down on that dust. But this is just one way you might freshen up your home environment. What are others? Speaking of windows, why not consider changing your window treatments? Without going to a lot of expense or perhaps even by getting a little splashy and spending more, one can easily change the vibe of a room with fresh blinds or curtains. While you’re at it, perhaps paint the walls a new shade. One doesn’t have to go to a ton of expense to give a room a new feel and a fresh energy. The bedroom. We spend more time in the bedroom sleeping than in any other room in our house. Is your bed comfortable? If not, make it so. Invest in a new mattress. A proper mattress that supports your back will do wonders for your personal energy and outlook, not to mention reduce chronic aches and pains that are plain unnecessary. If your back is sore, think about a new pillow. Chiropractors sell specialized pillows that properly support head and neck alignment. As for mood in the bedroom, get a new comforter. Change up your throw pillows, reduce clutter on your dressers, weed out the old things in your drawers that aren’t needed. Organize those closets! Are you really going to wear that old leather jacket you had in your twenties? Does it even fit you? Yes, it’s glorious, so let another young person enjoy it. Say goodbye and make your closet space ready to embrace your life now. How about other rooms in the house? The kitchen. We spend much of our time gathering in the kitchen, it is the heartbeat of the house where we nourish ourselves and relationships with our family members. Making one or two changes in the kitchen can work wonders. Are you tired of the old crusty-looking stove that doesn’t keep accurate temperature? Replace it. Is your refrigerator barely keeping the milk cold? Replace it. Making food for ourselves and our family is one of the most important things we do each day, invest in that experience, make it a pleasant one. Other ideas in the kitchen could be to add lighting underneath your upper cupboards that provide more light to see what you are doing. This lighting can also provide a nice mood if you have company and want to avoid the harsh overhead lighting. Of course, paint works wonders in the kitchen too. Try a new shade or just freshen up what is already there. Grease deposits can collect in kitchen areas that appear grimy and feel sticky. Clean up the walls, put a fresh coat of paint on and it’s good as new. One can also paint accent colors on cupboards and create a completely new air in the kitchen. Consider painting just one wall in the room an accent color. Color changes can do wonders for the mood of any room. What about doing a new back splash? Using tile behind your faucet and along the whole wall under the cupboards alongside it can jazz up your kitchen with just one project. Color options are limitless. One can even choose colored grout, sanded or smooth. The possibilities with tile are endless. A note of caution though, if you don’t know what you are doing with tile, it’s best to have a professional do the installation. Badly installed tile is awful and you won’t be pleased with the result. Moving into the living room, how about a new area rug? Area rugs can be inexpensive and therefore, easy to replace after a few years. If your rug is looking dull, drab or tired, replace it with something new and fresh. For the sofa, get some fresh accent pillows, add a new color to the mix. Why not pick up a new lamp and add some light in a darker corner? One simple idea that costs nothing is to move your furniture around. Try a different configuration for awhile. Nothing changes the energy of a room like moving things around. Another great way to spice up a room is to find a decorative mirror. Mirrors provide the optical illusion that a room is larger than it really is. This is also an excellent way to add more light to a room. When hanging your new mirror, have someone hold it up in different places while you move about to see what is reflected to you from different perspectives. A carefully hung mirror has many benefits, one of which is to highlight a piece of art from across the room. There is no reason not to make small changes in your environment that give you a feeling of freshness. If you are feeling humdrum about life, get to work on your home environment. One doesn’t have to spend much money in order to make a big impact. If you do want to make a serious investment, there are many experts in the panhandle community that can help you to choose quality materials and plan your project. It’s spring time! Do something to celebrate by investing in your home. You might be surprised how nice it feels to freshen up your environment. |
| Spring cleaning check list 2013-03-28 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Ah spring, that time of year when we shed winter coats for warmer weather, the trees begin to show signs of life, and little green shoots begin poking their heads out of the earth. Ah spring, the time of year when it’s time to clean. Part of spring cleaning involves going through our overabundance of accumulation and figuring out what to do with the things we really don’t need. While spring organizing can be overwhelming, there are three options one has to reducing acquired goods: sell it, store it or give it away. Here are some helpful tips to get you started sorting your stuff, to sort your life this spring. Sell it As the old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” so why not turn those unnecessary items into a profit? One of the most classic ways to sell old items is to have a garage sale. Garage sales are an easy way to sell clutter quickly; however, the Internet has taken the classic driveway garage sale into the digital age. Online garage sales are proliferating in our area. If you are a Facebook user there are three online garage sales for the Scottsbluff/Gering area. There are three groups with the same name, dedicated for the same purpose. On Facebook, search for the group name, Scottsbluff Area Online Garage Sale. You will find three options. One of the groups is a closed group, meaning that a user must ask to join the group before they are allowed to post items on the group’s page. It takes from a couple of hours to a day to be accepted into the group. From there, users are allowed to upload items for sale. These uploads include a photo of the item, brief description, cost, and contact information. The groups are open and can be joined immediately. All groups recommended that once the item is sold, users remove their posts from the page. This helps to avoid any confusion about whether the item has been sold or not. Another garage sale site in our area is Scottsbluff and Gering Garage Sale. This group is also open for anyone to join. There is no waiting period. It works in the same way as the other garage sale pages. Another group dedicated for this purpose is called, Panhandle NE Sales & Swaps Online Garage Sale. If you are not a Facebook user, there are other websites that allow you to sell your unwanted goods. The online auction site eBay is a great website for this purpose. eBay is an auction style website, where users can auction off or bid for certain items. Users create a profile that allows them to name a price on their items and the closing time of bidding. Bidding can last from 24 hours to a couple of months. Depending on the demand for your item, some users find themselves selling the item for more money than originally expected. To purchase items on eBay, you do not have to have an account; however, to post items for sale you must create a login to the site. For a more classic classified style of selling, there is the website Craigslist.com In order to post items on this website, users must create an account. This allows one the ability to post items in a city of their choice. Craigslist gives its users more control in where in the world their items are posted for viewing. An interested buyer does not have to have an account to see your post. One can always place items for sale in a classified section of the newspaper. The Gering Citizen offers affordable classifieds for the people of the Panhandle. Check out the classified section of the paper to see what it can do for you. If you’re interested in selling your items in our classifieds section call (308) 633-6397 for more details. Store it You don’t have to say goodbye to everything unearthed by your spring cleaning. Sometimes it’s not possible for us to enjoy our beloved possessions in our home. Perhaps the size of a new home, the welcoming of a child, or fragility of the item require storage for a time. Self storage is an effective and inexpensive way to allow you to keep your beloved possessions. There are few factors one must consider when deciding to use self storage. Finding an available unit is the first step. There are many storage units in the area; however, not every self-storage business has availability. Be sure to call and find out which businesses have availability. Next, you must decide what you want to store. Unit prices vary based on size. If would be a waste of money to have a large storage unit if you are simply storing old clothes, knick-knacks, etc. Once you decide what will be going into your unit, you can determine the size and cost factor. Self-storage units put you in control of your items. Give it away If storing or selling is not the avenue for you, there are always charitable organizations that solicit donations. Donating unwanted items can benefit the less fortunate among us. Take into consideration the condition of the item you plan to donate. Clothing donations should be gently used and not be stained or soiled. Furniture donations should be in good shape. The criteria for what can be donated varies among organizations so it’s best to call ahead to see what they are willing to take. Certain donations also qualify as a tax credit. Two local organizations to consider are the Hope Center and Potter’s Wheel Ministries. The Hope Center is currently taking donations; however, they are not accepting clothing or mattress donations at this time. Appliances must be no larger than a microwave. Donations can be dropped off at 1937 Avenue A in Scottsbluff, Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call the center at (308) 633-4673. Potter’s Wheel Ministries in Scottsbluff accepts most any kind of donation. They will not take baby cribs, due to changing regulations, nor used carpet pads. They will also accept broken appliances for a $10 donation toward the cost of disposal. Potter’s Wheel can assist with pick up on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Otherwise donations can be dropped off at their warehouse at 118 E. Overland or at the store at 1815 1st Avenue. Potter’s Wheel Ministries is open Tues.- Fri. from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. To schedule a pickup or for any questions call (308) 633-2888. Whichever direction you take in your spring cleaning and organizing, let the process give you a sense of freedom to enjoy the new season. |
| Gering Speech team place second at state 2013-03-28 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.comBy |
| KEARNEY — Last Thursday, the Gering Speech team took runner-up in Class B competition at state in Kearney. Thirteen Barking Bulldogs brought home individual medals in competition. “A lot of hard work and dedication paid off,” said head coach Tyler Thompson. Gering’s two Oral Interpretation of Drama (OID) teams continued the tradition of state victories, taking first and second place. The medal winners from the Gering High School Speech Team are: Kali Rimington, third in Informative Speaking; Sam Eastman, fourth in Extemporaneous Speaking; Allie Baird, fourth in Serious Prose; Kendall Uhrich, fifth in Serious Prose; John Boyd and Jenna Longmore, fourth in Duet Acting; the team of John Boyd, Hayley Grams, Andrew Delcamp, Gavin Hovseth, and Megan Brady, first in Oral Interpretation of Drama (OID); the team of Caleb Hayden, Caleb Wyre, Kendall Uhrich, and Kaitlyn Kryzyanowski, second in OID. Across the river, the Scottsbluff High School speech team had medal winners as well. As a team the Talking Cats, placed sixth overall in Class A. Individual medal winners include Mikayla Stephenson and Luke Parsley, fifth place in Duet Acting; Luke Parsley, fourth in Humorous Prose; and Derrick Goss, fifth in Entertainment Speaking. |
| Museum burgler pleads guilty 2013-03-28 By Citizen Staff Report |
| GERING — A 23-year-old Gering man has agreed to plead guilty or no contest to a reduced charge from the attempted burglary of the North Platte Valley Museum on Jan. 7. Josh Fowlkes was found hiding inside one of the museum’s storage buildings after police responded to a burglary alarm. Police arrested Fowlkes for burglary, trespassing and carrying a concealed weapon after retrieving a BB gun, a folding knife and handcuffs. After an agreement with prosecutors, Fowlkes entered a plea to a lesser charge of attempted burglary in Scotts Bluff County District Court. He is scheduled for sentencing on May 9. |
| Gering schools plan soccer field improvements 2013-03-28 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| The 2012 – 2013 school year has brought Gering High School soccer back to Memorial Stadium, and some changes are being planned to improve the field. While there is some flexibility as to dimensions, a standard soccer field is about 110 yards long by 70 to 80 yards wide. Gering’s field is shorter in both dimensions for soccer, although it’s larger than the size used for football. “A couple of schools play soccer on their football fields,” said Gering School Board member Brian Copsey. “Torrington is one of them.” Copsey, who is a member of board’s facilities committee, said the school will expand the dimensions of the soccer field next year when planned improvements are made to Memorial Stadium. “We’re planning on removing the curb and the track cinders,” he said. “More concrete will also be laid in front of the home bleachers so that when it does rain, it won’t turn into a muddy mess like we have now.” Copsey said the board wanted to make the improvements in phases. The first was to remove the curb and extend the turf, which would provide room for an expanded field for soccer. “The engineers said that if we add more turf and more irrigation to keep the grass growing, plus put down more concrete, we could expect more drainage problems,” he said. “That would require a lot of underground work to improve the drainage, so we postponed that phase.” When the first phase was postponed, the decision had already been made to play home soccer games at Memorial Stadium. For the previous several years, Gering’s home games were played at the Landers Soccer Complex north of Scottsbluff. “We’re still planning those improvements, but with budget issues we’ll be making those improvements next year,” Copsey said. “I’m sure the coaches and players wish the field was a bit wider, but they’re just happy to be playing games at home again.” Copsey said that as far as he knows, Gering’s field is the only one in the district that is lighted, so matches can be played under the lights. “As parents, we’re excited to have games back at home,” Copsey said. “The turnout has been great. More parents are showing up for games and more junior high kids, because the field is just behind the school.” |
| Resident expresses concern over historic buildings 2013-03-28 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Gering resident David Carter spoke to city council members Monday about his concern for some of the city’s historic buildings, which he said are simply disappearing. Under his agenda item “Preserving Our History,” Carter said several buildings of historic significance have been sold, salvaged or completely destroyed. That represents a loss for future generations to understand and appreciate a part of the city’s history. “I’m concerned for the future of our town for future generations if we don’t do more to protect and preserve our heritage,” Carter said. “I’d like the council to do what it can to restore and rebuild what we have left.” Specific buildings Carter mentioned to the council were the former McKinley Elementary School and the former Central Church of Christ, which later became Lane’s Auction House before it was acquired by the city. Both buildings are scheduled to be torn down. Carter also mentioned the old Union Pacific depot building at 10th and U Streets. That building is one of only a few on the UP line designed by the same architectural firm. That southwestern style design was also used for the passenger terminal in Los Angeles. “I still think we have a chance to save these buildings and we have an obligation to do so,” Carter told the council. “I think working with the Gering Downtown Revitalization Committee might be an outlet to preserve our historic buildings.” He said that even if McKinley is torn down, the answer isn’t to put houses in its place, but to rebuild a school to help with the district’s ongoing overcrowding problems. Council member Larry Gibbs, who spoke with Carter earlier, said that McKinley becoming a school again is out of the city’s hands. The school board sold the building, which is beyond repair, and no one has stepped up with the millions of dollars needed to restore it. Gibbs added he’s been working for about 20 years to procure the train depot building. Ownership should revert to the city in about a year, once the Riverside Discovery Center has moved all of its displays into their new facility. It’s still unknown what plans the city would have for the structure. “We can’t save everything because we have to have progress,” Gibbs said. “Some buildings just aren’t unique enough to save once they’re worn out. I’m all for historic preservation, but we have to be selective. When we decide to preserve a building, we have to come up with the financing to restore it.” Carter said the city might develop a policy for preserving the integrity of buildings before they become a problem and eventually unsalvageable. “Just because a building is old doesn’t necessarily make it a historic building,” said Mayor Ed Mayo. “A historic building might also have health and safety problems that no longer make it a benefit to the community.” Carter asked about the status of the McKinley building and Mayo said it will be torn down by June 1. A plan for removing the asbestos in the structure is currently being developed. |
| News Briefs 2013-03-28 By |
| Artist’s Guild offers scholarship North Platte Valley Artist Guild is awarding one $500 scholarship to a 2013 high school senior or junior college student planning to study art at a higher college in the near future. The scholarship may be used at any junior college, four year college, university or trade school with an accredited art department. The applicant must be a resident of western Nebraska or eastern Wyoming. Application forms are available at West Nebraska Arts Center, 106 E. 18th Street in Scottsbluff, www.thewnac.com or ask your school’s art instructor. Applications are due on or before the postmark deadline of Friday, April 19, 2013. The decision of the NPVAG will be final and notification to the winner will be made on or before May 3, 2013. The North Platte Valley Artist Guild is an organization of individuals living in the North Platte Valley interested in the visual arts who enjoy each other’s fellowship, encouragement and inspiration. NPVAG raises money for this scholarship through the sale of NPVAG Member artwork. Meetings are held the 3rd Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m., at the West Nebraska Arts Center in Scottsbluff. Eighth grader competes in geography bee Jace Henderson, Community Christian School eighth grader, is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2013 Nebraska National Geographic Bee, sponsored by Google and Plum Creek. This is the 25th anniversary of the Bee. Bees were held in schools with fourth through eighth grade students throughout the state to determine each school’s Bee winner. School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. In each of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, and the U.S. territories, the National Geographic Society invited the students with the top 100 scores to compete at the state level. The 2013 Nebraska National Geographic Bee will be held in the Milo Bail Student Center on Friday, April 5, 2013. The state winner will receive $100, the “Complete National Geographic on DVD,” and a trip to Washington, D.C., where he/she will represent Nebraska in the national finals at National Geographic Society headquarters, May 20 - 22, 2013. DAV hosts Easter party Disabled American Veterans Chapter 10 and Auxiliary and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1681 and Auxiliary will be putting on an Easter party for the members at the Western Nebraska State Veterans Home in Scottsbluff at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28. Embert Mishler will be providing the entertainment and DAV Chapter 10 and Auxiliary and VFW Post 1681 and Auxiliary will furnish the Easter treats. Members of both DAV Chapter 10 and Auxiliary and VFW Post 1681 and Auxiliary are urged to attend to help put on the party and pass out treats. College plans community run/walk Summit to Summit Summit Christian College of Gering is preparing to host its fifth community walk/run/ shuttle event on May 11. The event will follow its usual 7.1 mile course from the campus of Summit Christian College to the summit of Scotts Bluff National Monument and back via the pathway along U Street and the National Monument footpaths. This event is for the entire community. Those who like a challenge may run the course. Those who prefer to walk can take their time and walk with their friends and families. Those who want to “join in” but would rather not walk, can ride the shuttle for all or any part of the course. Shuttles will run from SCC’s campus to the top and back via the Park’s visitor’s center throughout the morning. For those who like a real challenge. The timed, whistle-start run will begin at 8 a.m. sharp. Look for updates and more details as May 11 draws near. Visit us at summitcc.net/s2s. Nite at the Races planned On Friday, April 5 at the Gering Civic Center, Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska Foundation will hold their annual fundraiser. This fundraiser, A Nite at the Races, features video horse racing, food, beverages, and a great night of fun. The fun begins with a social time at 6:30 p.m., Post Time at 6:45 p.m. and the races beginning at 7 p.m. The event transports you from Gering to the stands at a track as the horses enter the gates. Using “Funny Money” you can place bets and get caught up in the excitement of the racing. There will also be a silent and a live auction, along with a 50/50 raffle and a dessert auction. This year there will be a raffle for a pair of diamond earrings valued at $1,000. There are a limited number of tickets for the earrings raffle. There will also be two or three races featuring horses purchased by local individuals and businesses. All proceeds will go to the Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska Foundation. The Foundation helps the agency reach out to help people and change lives throughout Western Nebraska. Tickets for the event cost $27 prior to the event and $30 at the door, which provides you with $10 of “Funny Money,” food, and an evening of fun. A cash bar will be available. Tickets can be purchased at the CAPWYN main location at 3350 10th Street in Gering, by contacting a CAPWN Foundation Board member or by contacting Margo Hartman, Deputy Director, at (308) 635-3089 mhartman@capwn.org WNCC to host wellness festival Area seniors are invited to 2012 Spring Wellness Festival, on Friday, April 12, at the HARMS Center at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff. Registration forms are available throughout the Panhandle or by calling (308) 635-6700. The keynote presented by Dr. Pamela Richardson, is entitled “Choose Wellness” In addition to the keynote there will be numerous breakout sessions on a variety of topics such as crafts, computer and internet basics, and various health issues. Other topics include gardening tips, book recommendations for both men and women, and a presentation of the Bluffs Middle School jazz band. Brochures highlighting all of the program selections with a pre-registration sheet are being distributed by the program sponsors and can be found in senior centers, banks, and libraries in the area. If you need more information including the cost or can’t find a brochure call the WNCC HARMS Center at (308) 635-3700. |
| North Platte NRD March Board Meeting 2013-03-28 By |
| The North Platte NRD will be holding two public hearings to take testimony from the public on proposed amendments to the District’s Integrated Management Plan (IMP) and the Rules and Regulations for the Enforcement of the Nebraska Ground Water Management and Protection Act (Rules). Both hearings will be held on April 4, 2013, at the NRD office in Scottsbluff. The first hearing on the IMP will start at 7 p.m. and the second hearing on the Rules will start at 7:15 p.m. or immediately following the first hearing. The first public hearing is a joint hearing between the NRD and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on the proposed amendments to the IMP. The proposed amendments to the IMP include: (1) inclusion of language related to the use of the occupation tax authority authorize by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 2-3226.05 for qualified projects; (2) changing the allocation in the over-appropriated portion of the NRD, excluding the Pumpkin Creek Subarea, from 56 acre-inches per acre for four years to 70 acre-inches per acre for five years; and (3) removing obsolete language. Since the IMP is a joint document between the NRD and DNR, both entities must approve any amendments. The second public hearing is on the proposed changes to Chapters 6 and 7 of the Rules. The proposed amendments to the Rules are as follows: 1. Changing the allocation in the over-appropriated portion of the NRD, excluding the Pumpkin Creek Subarea, from 56 acre-inches per acre for four years to 70 acre-inches per acre for five years. This change is the same amendment that is being proposed for the IMP because this proposed change to the allocation cannot be implemented if the IMP is not similarily amended. 2. Allowing pre-existing allocation units (PAUs) to be included in designated allocation units (DAUs). Under the current rules, PAUs are not allowed to be included in DAUs. 3. Allowing landowners to relinquish DAUs at any time during the current allocation period. Under existing rules, DAUs cannot be relinquished by the landowner before the end of the allocation period. 4. Changing the DAU application deadline to May 15. 5. Changing the notification period for written agreements regarding apportionment of ground water following the rescission of a PAU or DAU, the relinquishment of a DAU or, in the OA area, the construction of a special circumstance replacement well. 6. Clarifying existing language. The primary purpose of the proposed amendments to the Rules is to allow producers more flexibility in managing ground water, especially under the current drought conditions. Both hearings will be held at the North Platte NRD conference room, 100547 Airport Road, Scottsbluff. |
| NRD cost-share programs underway 2013-03-28 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF — Applications are now being accepted for 2013 conservation cost-share funds through the North Platte Natural Resources District. Cost-share programs are available to landowners in Banner, Garden, Morrill, Scotts Bluff and southern Sioux Counties for soil, water and range conservation improvements. Applications can be submitted between March 25 and April 5 at USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices in Scottsbluff, Bridgeport, and Oshkosh. According to North Platte NRD manager Ron Cacek, this year’s applications will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis and limited to one application per landowner. For more information, contact your local NRCS office or the North Platte NRD in Scottsbluff at (308) 632-2749. You can also visit our website, www.npnrd.org. |
| Waste Connections donates to Bayard Schools track project 2013-03-28 By |
| BAYARD — Waste Connections, Inc. donated $1,000 to the Bayard Public Schools Support fund this past week. Shawn Green, District Manager for Waste Connections, Inc. said Waste Connections is proud to make a contribution to this project as it serves the community and athletes from across the region. Mrs. Tammy Tillman, Athletic Director for Bayard Public Schools worked with . Green and Waste Connections, Inc. to secure support for the project. During the ongoing capital campaign, the fundraising committee has found great receptiveness to the private/public partnership with several individuals and area businesses coming forward to provide support for this important health and sports project. It is hoped that regional community members, alumni, and area businesses and organizations will continue to join in the efforts to help replace this important school and community facility. Anyone who is interested in contributing to this project can contact Bayard Public Schools at (308) 586-1325 for additional information. |
| Spring Cleaning 2013-03-28 By |
| Photo by Doug Harris/Gering Citizen City of Gering Parks Department workers Allen Clause (left) and Mark Staman clear debris from the walkway in the mini park in downtown Gering. City workers have been busy all over town with Spring Cleaning activities to spruce up area parks and other green areas in Gering. |
| Democrat Mark Sullivan announces candidacy 2013-03-28 By |
| LINCOLN — Mark Sullivan, the 2012 Democratic candidate for the US House of Representatives from the 3rd District, is a lifetime farmer and cattle feeder from Doniphan. He and his wife Karen have four grown sons, three daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren. Sullivan has announced his candidacy in 2014 for the same seat Sullivan said, “It’s been over a year since I filed for the 2012 election. Sadly, the same problems with the budget, gridlock , and political game-playing still exist. We don’t have a broken system. We have the best system of government in world," said Sullivan. “The current, long-running, problems still exist because many in our Congress have chosen to represent their national party and their special interest supporters instead of the citizens who elected them,” he added. “If the voters of the Third District send me to Washington, D.C., I won’t represent the Democrats or the Republicans or the Tea Party. I will only answer to the Constitution and the Citizens of the Third District,” he promised. “I am the candidate that can and will be the best Representative for the Third District of Nebraska.” he said. |
| Democrats to honor Nelson and Kerrey 2013-03-28 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF The Scotts Bluff County Democrats invite members of the public to an inaugural Kerrey-Nelson Legacy Dinner on Saturday, April 27, at 6 p.m., at the Gering Civic Center. The group wishes to honor the dedicated public service of Bob Kerrey and Ben Nelson, who have each service as U.S. Senators and former Nebraska Governors. The cost of the dinner is $35. To purchase tickets, send your check with name, address, phone number and the number of tickets you wish to purchase to: Kerrey-Nelson Legacy Dinner, 1906 Broadway, Scottsbluff, NE 69361. |
| Dowell retires after selling long time Panhandle business 2013-03-28 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| It was a small investment of $800 that started a family business that lasted 70 years. Rod Dowell of Dowell Windmill and Repair is now retired after selling the long-running Panhandle business. The story of Dowell Windmill and Repair began in 1941, when Dowell’s father, L.W. Dowell, made that small investment. It’s hard to imagine that investment growing into a family business that has lasted for 70 years. L.W. Dowell was born in Clinton, Neb. No one knows for sure what motivated the young man to go for a life of work in pumps and mills. “He was more of a farmer- rancher type,” said Dowell. L.W. Dowell started working for Mac McPherson and Earle Robinson and learned how to drill wells. When the two men wanted to get out of the business, they sold their Dempster drilling truck to Dowell. Rod’s career in working with windmills began at an early age. “I’ve been in it ever since I was 12-years- old, helping my dad,” he said. Dowell helped his father part-time after his military service in 1961. Then he worked a few jobs until he got on with Nebraska Public Power District. Twenty-four years later, he retired from NPPD and went into the windmill well service full-time. When you come across a windmill in western Nebraska or eastern Wyoming, you’ve probably seen Dowell’s work. He has erected and serviced many of the windmills western Nebraska. The Farm And Ranch Museum, now part of Legacy of the Plains, has two windmills courtesy of Dowell. One sits outside of the building while the other is a part of an interior museum display. Every year, Dowell has been part of the Comstock Windmill Festival held in Comstock, Neb. He has also been active in the community promoting renewable energy with the use of wind power. He has made presentations at various schools to demonstrate how windmills work. After working a business for many years, there are bound to be aspects of the business that make an owner proud. “Keeping my word and trying to keep costs down for farmers and ranchers,” are what Dowell takes pride in. As for what’s next for Dowell, “I’ve never seen Nebraska,” he said. “From Bridgeport east I haven’t really seen it.” We expect Dowell will enjoy his retirement and wish him well. |
| Smith meets with veterans 2013-03-28 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| It was sitting and standing room only last Friday at Adrian Smith’s Scottsbluff office as veterans shared their concerns about the Hot Springs VA Hospital with the Congressman. “There have been no announcements as to future funding for the medical center,” Smith said. “We’ve worked hard to put on the brakes on some of the severe changes they were planning to make. But we’re still working hard to make sure that veterans who already travel some distance to Hot Springs shouldn’t have to travel further.” Smith said one of the important factors in healthcare is the relationship between the patient and the provider as they get to know each other. Breaking up that relationship has a negative impact and a greater cost. Smith also spoke about the overall federal budget and the negative impact of sequestration, where all government agencies must make across-the-board budget cuts. “The negative part of sequestration is that it was intentionally arbitrary,” he said. “We need for this to be short term so we can then transition into and leverage the reforms that need to take place with Medicare and Medicaid. Those large programs are not sustainable in their current form. To do nothing about it is endorsing the demise of those programs.” Smith added that both Medicare and Social Security are becoming more insolvent at a faster rate than anyone predicted. Consequently, it’s imperative for the government to take action sooner rather than later. And he supports giving seniors more choices, because he said a system without choices is doomed to failure. Smith was also critical of the administration for stopping tours of the White House and blaming it on the sequestration. “It costs a lot more to keep the Capitol building open for visitors, and we’re keeping it open,” Smith said. “All these cuts are arbitrary, so the sequestration needs to be short term. But those cuts will be in place until we get the reforms we need to pay down our 17 trillion dollars of debt.” One example of excessive spending that Smith pointed out was in the food stamp program, which doesn’t include the school lunch program. In the 12 years since George W. Bush took office, spending on food stamps has quadrupled. From 18 billion in 2000, it’s grown to 85 billion. And in the next 10 years, the program is expected be spending a trillion dollars. “We know we can make improvements to the delivery of food stamp benefits to make sure the folks that need it get it,” Smith said. “The last thing we want to do is for federal policy to make life worse for the people rather than improve their lives.” |
| News Briefs 2013-03-21 By |
| Gering receives ACE funds GERING — ACE, the Public Alliance for Community Energy is distributing $11,051.27 to the City of Gering as its share of $200,000 being distributed to the 69 Nebraska member communities of the not-for-profit, community-owned natural gas supplier. The ACE board of directors may return any excess revenue beyond the cost of operating the organization to its member communities. ACE returned $150,000 to its member communities last year. Since forming in 1998, ACE has returned more than $1 million back to its Nebraska members. The funds are used in various ways to benefit each ACE member community. “As a community-owned and not-for-profit natural gas supplier, ACE is a win-win for Nebraska communities and natural gas consumers,” said Tim Sutherland, director of retail utility services for ACE. “ACE was created by Nebraska communities to ensure competition in the Choice Gas program. As a bonus, the ACE board has the authority to return funds above the cost of operation to benefit Nebraska ACE member communities. ACE has been beneficial to Nebraskans for 15 years.” The Choice Gas selection period is set to begin April 12 and run through April 25. Selections may be made online through April 25 using ACE’s Web site (www.ACEenergy.org) or by phone at (800) 454-4759. Selection forms will be mailed out to all eligible customers prior to the beginning of the selection period. More information about ACE and its role in the Nebraska Choice Gas program is available at www.ACEenergy.org. Regional West hosts fun run SCOTTSBLUFF — Runners and walkers of all ages are encouraged to register for Regional West’s “Boxer Rebellion Against Colon Cancer,” a 5K fun run/walk to be held Saturday, March 23. The family-friendly event, organized to support colon cancer awareness, is sponsored by the Regional West Endoscopy Department, Regional West Community Health, and the Scotts Bluff County Health Department. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Festival of Hope. The race will begin at 9 a.m. at the Regional West Ambulatory Surgery Center located at 4022 Ave. B, Scottsbluff, just west of the Emergency Department. Runners are invited to wear family-friendly, outrageous, fun, or just plain goofy outfits that support colon cancer awareness. Register online until March 22 at http://www.rwmc.net/boxer-rebellion. Registrations will be accepted in person until 8:30 a.m. on March 23. The $12 per person registration fee can be paid at check-in on the day of the race. For more information about the “Boxer Rebellion Against Colon Cancer,” call Lucretia Spady at (308) 630-2842. FARM and documentary film featured in magazine GERING — The starring role of Farm And Ranch Museum equipment in the documentary film “Harvesting the High Plains” is featured in the April 2013 issue of Farm Collector magazine. The cover, index page, and three interior pages contain text and photographs highlighting the museum and the equipment used in the film. The scenic backdrop of Scotts Bluff National Monument adjacent to FARM (the future site of Legacy of the Plains, which will incorporate FARM and North Platte Valley Museum collections) got a mention, too – as a challenge for the filmmaker, who needed to portray the flat landscape of western Kansas. The magazine article thrills Legacy of the Plains Museums Assistant Director Nancy Haney. “It’s invaluable to have this kind of publicity,” Haney said. “It validates what we do.” Filmmaker Jay Kriss sought functional 1930s-era farm equipment to help illustrate the story of innovative farming techniques developed during the Dust Bowl, and his search brought him to FARM. In July 2011, Kriss and producer Sydney Duvall arrived in Gering to film museum volunteers working vintage tractors and farm equipment. Haney emphasized that while the equipment at the museum is valuable, it’s the museum volunteers who make it possible to bring history to life and provide an active experience that’s a step above a stationary display. “Harvesting the High Plains” premiered in November 2012 at the Midwest Theater, aired on Kansas Public Television in early 2013, and is now available on DVD at the FARM gift shop. The DVDs cost $20 each. For more information, call FARM (308) 436-1989. |
| Community Christian School Honor Roll 2013-03-21 By |
| 1st Grade All A’s: Hans Bastron, Katrina Richards, Brandon Whaley, Laura Yellman. A Average: Alysa Beamon, Wyatt Carlson, Zavannah Chavez, Nathan Clement, Lily Kaufman, Dominic Marostica, Carlee Todd, Ryan Wetherington. 2nd Grade All A’s: Jenna Buck, Destiny Gonzales, Maia Swan, Hayden Umble. A Average; ReBanna Harsh, Jonathan Hudlow, Natalie Laws, Riley McCracken, Regan Mader, Stella Morten, Abby Prohs, Blade Rico, Micah Rusch. 3rd Grade All A’s: Megan Bewley, Tyler Butcher, Cade Horn, Jakob Houchin, Elizabeth Kaup, Sophia McAndrew, Grace Payne, Samuel Sell, Alexis Thompson. A Average: Silas Becker, Justeana Derr, Ashley Grasmick, M’Kayla Hasse, Caleb Muhr, Trinity Adams, Allie Watkins. 4th Grade All A’s: Brielle Arnold, Kristen Whaley. A Average: EJ Garza, Leesha Geary, Evan Heggem, Brooke Holzworth, Micah Schick. 5th Grade All A’s: Katherine Reisig, Haylee Umble. A Average: Joel Anderson, Emma Fogle, Aubry Krentz, Mercy McAndrew, Josie Vardell. 6th Grade All A’s: Cameron Geary, Lauren Whaley. A Average: Robert Hansen, Conner McCracken, Jace Pauli. 7th Grade All A’s: Grace Heggem, Jaelynn Muhr, Kierra Schmidt, Shianne Shaver. A Average: Dakota Empfield, Rachel French, Kristian Hughes, Paige Peterson, Nick Watkins. 8th Grade All A’s: Jace Henderson, Avery Krentz. A Average: Cassidy Butcher, James Eastman, James Gotsch, Spencer Griess, Krista Holzworth, Joshken Sannivech, Sarah Woodward, Moriah Wyre. |
| Midwest Theater readies for conversion 2013-03-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Later this summer, movies at the Midwest Theater will be shown on a digital projector and accompanied by Surround Sound. Friends of the Midwest Theater have already received two grants to help fund the project. The Peter Kiewit Foundation awarded them a $40,000 challenge grant and another $15,000 came from a grant from the Oregon Trail Community Foundation. Last weekend, the Rotary Club held its Rotary Gold event to raise funds for the theater. Past recipients have received grants of $15,000 to $20,000, which is determined after all of the resources and donations have been counted. “We are hoping this is the last cog of our fundraising for our digital cinema and Surround Sound upgrades for the theater,” said Billy Estes, Midwest Theater manager. “We’ll close the week of July 22 to install the equipment.” The upgrade will include a new projector, server, and acoustical treatment that can handle the new Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound system. Estes said they’re also equipping the theater for the potential of receiving live symphony or opera productions via Internet or satellite feed. Estes said they still receive 35 mm prints of movies to show, but the studios are moving away from film altogether. “Film delivers is now shifting to hard drive for major studio releases,” he said. “Some of the smaller studios are moving that way as well.” The Carmike Theaters at the Monument Mall converted to digital projection several years ago, as have commercial theaters across the country. And while some industry experts have shared concerns about movie piracy, it hasn’t been a problem so far. Estes said that in November 2011, they received notification from Fox Studios they would no longer produce or distribute 35 mm films as of Dec. 31, 2012. Other studios haven’t set an end date on film prints, but that date is fast approaching. “Smaller studios will be affected as well,” Estes said. “As more and more theaters convert to digital projection, there’s less and less market for 35 mm prints in first run content.” Estes added he still believes there will always be a market for 35 mm films, especially in the field of classic and archival films. “As film experts complete restoration of some of the classic films, they also make digital copies,” he said. “Right now, we’re working on a plan on how we can fit those into our programming.” |
| CASA names new director 2013-03-21 By |
| GERING — Court Appointed Special Advocates of Scotts Bluff County (CASA) has named Andrea Rein as their new Executive Director. Andrea comes to the CASA program with a lengthy background working with youth. For the past seven years she has worked in multiple capacities within the Job Corps program. Rein was also previously employed as a Youth Counselor for the South Dakota Department of Corrections and was a Volunteer/Mentor at the Chadron Native American Center while attending Chadron State College. She is eager to continue working with the volunteers and youth they serve within Scotts Bluff County. The CASA Program has been in Nebraska for over 20 years and active in our county since 1996. During 2012, CASA of Scotts Bluff County served 72 children. Currently, the program has 12 active volunteers serving 40 children. There are approximately 50-80 children currently in foster care within the county – it is the hope of the Juvenile Court that eventually each of these children will have an advocate. A new volunteer training course will begin mid-April and the CASA program is currently looking for individuals that would like to become an advocate for children involved in the program. Potential volunteers must complete an application, a screening interview and also allow CASA to conduct a background check prior to becoming a CASA Volunteer. Desirable qualities for becoming an effective child advocate for the CASA Program include compassion for children, ability to work as a team member, have time available to attend meetings and hearings as needed, good oral and written communication skills, objectivity and empathy and a “stick to it” attitude to see a case through from beginning to end. For more information and to receive an application or to inquire about a future training please contact Andrea Rein at (308) 672-2922. |
| Bill would abolish death penalty in Nebraska 2013-03-21 By Joseph Moore - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Nebraska would become the 18th state in the United States to abolish the death penalty under a bill introduced by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha. The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee heard testimony March 13 on LB 543. The bill would get rid of the death penalty in the state and replace it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Nebraska has executed three people since 1976 when the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the resumption of executions after a two-year moratorium. There are currently 11 inmates on death row in the state. In his remarks before the committee, Chambers called the death penalty a “negative influence on public morality” and cited Pope John Paul II’s call for the abolition of state-sponsored executions. “The experience of this state with the death penalty has been fraught with errors, frustration and delay due to the constitutional mistakes in the statute,” Chambers said. Several people representing a diverse array of religious institutions, civil liberties and inmate advocacy groups and attorneys organizations testified in favor of the bill. Jim Cunningham of the Nebraska Catholic Bishops Conference said that other means of punishment for criminals and protection for citizens are available and that the death penalty is not absolutely necessary. “We need to reject a culture of death and embrace a culture of life,” he said. Bill Thornton, a pastor and teacher at the Nebraska Christian College in Papillion, said even though evangelical Christians have historically supported the death penalty, that support is beginning to erode. “People are becoming increasingly aware of massive injustices in the death penalty system,” he said. Among those injustices are wrongfully accused people being sentenced to death. The Innocence Project, a nonprofit legal organization, has used DNA evidence to exonerate more than 300 people in the U.S., 18 of who were on death row. Overall, 142 people have been exonerated from death row through DNA and other means, according to Innocence Project attorney Amy Miller. Curtis McCarty was one of the 142. He was falsely charged with capital murder in Oklahoma in 1985 and spent 22 years on death row before having his conviction overturned. “We are told that members of law enforcement are perfect, that they are infallible, that they never make mistakes, and I think that’s probably the most tragic part of the entire process,” McCarty said in his testimony to the committee. Miller cited false eyewitness identification, improper forensics and false confessions as the main causes of wrongful conviction. Richard Dieter, an attorney for the Death Penalty Information Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that studies the death penalty, testified as neutral on the bill. Dieter said the death penalty as a punishment is more expensive than the alternative of life imprisonment without parole because more preparation goes into a death penalty trial and it costs more to house a death row inmate. He cited one study from Maryland that tracked a death penalty case from the beginning phases of the trial until the inmate’s execution and a life imprisonment case over the same period. The study found that the death row inmate cost the state $3 million, whereas the non-death row inmate cost the state $1.5 million over the same period. Don Kleine, a prosecutor from Douglas County, testified against the bill on behalf of the Nebraska County Attorneys Association. “On certain unique cases we need to have this ultimate punishment,” he said. Kleine said that abolishing the death penalty would only shift the lengthy, expensive appeals process onto life imprisonment without parole cases and the state would not save any money. Klein responded to concerns from committee members that the death penalty is not applied uniformly by saying that he bases his decision to pursue the death penalty on the evidence alone. “We consider the evidence,” he said. Joe Kelly of the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office also testified against the bill. In 1979 the Nebraska Legislature became the first in the country to pass a bill abolishing the death penalty but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Charles Thone. Contact Joseph Moore at nns.jmoore@gmail.com |
| First Ever Nebraska Farm to School Summit 2013-03-21 By |
| LYONS — The Center for Rural Affairs and the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s College of Business and Technology are hosting the first ever Nebraska Farm to School Summit. The purpose of the summit is to bring local farmers, ranchers and food service directors together to learn about the Farm to School Program. What: Summit to help farmers and food service directors link schools with healthy, local food sources. When: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 2:00 p.m - 5:30 p.m. Where: Ockinga Conference Room University of Nebraska at Kearney Campus 2505 20th Avenue, Kearney, NE. “This is a timely event that will help connect K-12 schools and local farmers and ranchers with several objectives: serving healthy, nutritious food in school cafeterias; improving student nutrition; creating educational opportunities relating to agriculture, health and nutrition; and supporting local and regional farmers and ranchers,” said Bailey Mahlberg, Nebraska Farm to School Coordinator and intern with the Center for Rural Affairs. According to Mahlberg, a focus on Farm to School local food programs is overdue. Two-thirds of school children eat a National School Lunch Program lunch and consume about one-third of their total daily calories from this meal; and currently that food travels between 2500 and 4000 miles before reaching their plates. Moreover, nearly one-third of Nebraska children age 10–17 are either overweight or obese, according to a 2007 study compiled by the National Survey of Children’s Health. “These stats make clear the need, importance and immediate value of Farm to School programs," added Mahlberg. "Farm to School not only provides healthy food choices for our children but also create economic opportunities for local farmers.” Mahlberg explained further that the summit will provide resources to help Food Service Directors throughout the region connect with local farmers and hear firsthand success stories about how some schools are switching to healthy, local foods. "The transition to sourcing cafeteria foods locally won't happen overnight, but it does need to happen.” This educational summit will show food service directors how they can serve healthy, fresh food to students through a Farm to School food program. Several speakers will discuss connecting to local food resources, rules and regulations, and also share the successes they have had with the Farm to School Program. The summit is designed for food-service directors, farmers, ranchers, principals, teachers, business owners, community members and interested individuals. Please RSVP with name, address and email to Bailey Mahlberg at baileym@cfra.org or call 308-325-3839. A detailed agenda will be given to all. Mahlberg asks that farmers in attendance, have their seed sheets or have a general ideal of how much they will plant this year. She also asks that farmers bring a copy of their safety guidelines, types of food they grow, and be ready to talk about delivery and how involved they would like to be with the school. Food Service Directors should bring a copy of how much and what kind of food they will need each week or delivery period. They should also be prepared to talk about how and when they prefer to have their food delivered |
| Revenue committee considers school security bill 2013-03-21 By Shelby Fries - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN — Public school districts could levy taxes to help pay for school security if a bill that is pending in the Nebraska Legislature’s Revenue Committee passes. The bill (LB 346) was heard by the committee March 7. Ten people testified in favor of it, and nobody testified against it or neutral to it during that hearing. The bill was introduced by Sen. Rick Kolowski of Omaha to help create safer schools across Nebraska. It would allow school districts to choose, based on a school board vote, how much money they to levy in property taxes to fund security in schools. The bill would set a maximum of one cent for every $100 of taxable property. Kolowski said that because the bill deals with taxes, it could deter some committee members from advancing it to the floor. He was pleased, however, with how attentive every member was during the hearing, he said. The Legislature would not be the entity taxing people under the bill. Rather, it would give school districts authority to do so if they wanted. Kolowski added that an amendment requiring an analysis of need in the schools, a public meeting on the results of that analysis and a final report to the state Department of Education has been included in the bill. “It’s a tool for their toolbox,” Kolowski said. “If a school district feels they are adequately safe and secure right now, they don’t have to spend it. They don’t have to raise it. They don’t have to enact it.” Many supporters submitted written testimony urging the committee to advance the bill, with a number of them sharing their personal experiences with violence in Nebraska schools. Angelo Passarelli, administrative affairs director of Millard Public Schools, shared an experience at Millard South High School in his written testimony. In 2011, a suspended student shot both his principal and assistant principal in the office and took his own life later. The principal was seriously injured and the assistant principal died from the gunshot wounds. “We have taken a position in our district that we will not discuss the tragic events of January 5, 2011, unless by doing so it helps us heal or helps us move forward,” Passarelli wrote. “With that said, we think this bill will help us move forward.” Andy Pope, a middle school social studies teacher at Chadron Public Schools, also submitted written testimony. He was a victim of school violence when a seventh grade boy shot him during school in 1995. “As you know, Chadron Public Schools and I know firsthand the need that has developed in our society for the appropriate security measures within the school setting,” Pope wrote. “This bill will allow many schools the opportunity to take those first steps in creating the safe environment each student and staff member deserves.” Kolowski said experiences such as these are what drove him to sponsor this bill. He said he personally knew those affected in the Millard South High School incident. “You just cannot ignore, in this day and age, the security issues of any level of school, elementary, middle or high,” Kolowski said. Tom Casady, director of public safety for the City of Lincoln, wrote to support the bill as well, mentioning the tragedies that have happened in schools across the nation. “Fortunately, these tragedies are rare. As time passes, however, we should not forget the importance of security at our schools,” Casady said. “Children and teachers can focus on education only if they truly feel safe.” |
| NPS supports FCC action for rural telephone service 2013-03-21 By |
| LINCOLN — The Nebraska Public Service Commission (NPSC) applauded action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) after receiving word the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau had taken steps to improve telephone service in rural parts of the country, including Nebraska. The FCC and Level 3 Communications, Inc., entered into a consent decree whereby Level 3 agreed to pay the federal government $975,000 and to abide by call completion standards in the future. In 2011, the NPSC opened an investigation into call completion problems reported by Nebraska customers. The NPSC also joined others, including Congress, in urging the FCC to take action on a national level. “This action by the Enforcement Bureau represents a big first step in dealing with call failures experienced by Nebraskans.” First District Commissioner Frank Landis of Lincoln said. “More work is left to do, but this move by the FCC puts everyone on notice, poor service quality to customers is not going to be tolerated.” The FCC said in its announcement, the rural call completion problem, in general, can be tied to long-distance carriers attempting to minimize the amount they pay to local telephone companies for completing long-distance calls. Many carriers utilize third-party “least-cost routers,” which attempt to connect calls at the lowest possible cost. “The use of call routers has long been a part of the telecommunications industry,” Landis stated, “the problems arise when cost savings is prioritized over service.” Adding, “It is unfortunate companies must be reminded to put customers first.” In addition to the $975,000 payment that Level 3 will make, the company agreed to complete long-distance calls to local phone companies in rural areas at a 5 percent benchmark rate between rural and non-rural, report to the FCC beginning in January 2014 its compliance with the five percent benchmark every quarter, and pay an additional $1 million to the government if the company misses the five percent benchmark in any quarter. |
| Farm Bureau scholarships 2013-03-21 By |
| Farm Bureau offers scholarships SCOTTSBLUFF — Scotts Bluff County Farm Bureau will be awarding three $500 scholarships. Applicants must be children or grandchildren of Scotts Bluff County Farm Bureau members. Applications may be obtained from area high school counselors; Farm Bureau Financial Services agents; or by calling (308) 632-3082. Announcement of awards will be made on May 6, 2013. Payment will be made directly to the college of the student’s choice. Send applications to: Scotts Bluff County Farm Bureau, 90084 County Road 26, Scottsbluff, NE 69361. |
| FARM and film featured in magazine 2013-03-21 By |
| GERING, Neb. – The starring role of Farm And Ranch Museum equipment in the documentary film “Harvesting the High Plains” is featured in the April 2013 issue of Farm Collector magazine. The cover, index page, and three interior pages contain text and photographs highlighting the museum and the equipment used in the film. The scenic backdrop of Scotts Bluff National Monument adjacent to FARM (the future site of Legacy of the Plains, which will incorporate FARM and North Platte Valley Museum collections) got a mention, too – as a challenge for the filmmaker, who needed to portray the flat landscape of western Kansas. The magazine article thrills Legacy of the Plains Museums Assistant Director Nancy Haney. “It’s invaluable to have this kind of publicity,” Haney said. “It validates what we do.” Filmmaker Jay Kriss sought functional 1930s-era farm equipment to help illustrate the story of innovative farming techniques developed during the Dust Bowl, and his search brought him to FARM. In July 2011, Kriss and producer Sydney Duvall arrived in Gering to film museum volunteers working vintage tractors and farm equipment. Haney emphasized that while the equipment at the museum is valuable, it’s the museum volunteers who make it possible to bring history to life and provide an active experience that’s a step above a stationary display. “Harvesting the High Plains” premiered in November 2012 at the Midwest Theater, aired on Kansas Public Television in early 2013, and is now available on DVD at the FARM gift shop. The DVDs cost $20 each. For more information, call FARM (308) 436-1989. |
| Gay rights bills draw crowd at Legislative hearing 2013-03-21 By Demetria Stephens - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Testifiers had standing room only for three legislative bills on same-sex rights during a Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday, March 14. More than 100 people came to hear two bills on adoptions by same-sex couples and a third that would extend employee protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation. LB385, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha would protect same-sex couples, transgender and unmarried couples from discrimination by the Department of Health and Human Services when they apply to become foster parents. Nebraska had 3,000 foster children in out of home care as of Jan. 6 and the LB385 increases the available homes for those children, Nordquist said. Sen. Sara Howard of Omaha sponsored LB380 that would allow unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, to adopt a child. “For children, lack of legal recognition of their family has dangerous implications,” she said. They can’t be assured the financial benefits from their second parent, including health insurance, a variety of benefit programs, wrongful death cases and inheritances. The best interest of the child should trump all other interests under child and family law, she said. Opponents of the LB380 and 385 said the bills would create an unstable life for children because the parents aren’t married. Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha said the same-sex couples want to do to what society wants, to have a family and a loving relationship. “I’m just struggling with what the badness is there,” he said. “It would seem to me we would want to promote that sort of thing.” The high divorce rate might be related to more violence, he said. Ashford cut off the hearing with about 10 opponents waiting to testify, which concerned the last testifier, Nancy Russell, opposed to LB380 and LB385. “I guess I’m a little appalled that these three of the most important issues before this Legislature this year are jammed into one afternoon,” she said. “I don’t feel that the voice of the people has been heard.” Citing research by a professor at the University of Texas, she said same-sex couples negatively affect children they might raise. She would support LB385 if it also had an exemption for religious groups. Ashford, chair of the Judiciary Committee, had to call order twice as Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha spoke. “We have a lot of Christians in this room and they do not respect the rules that we have and I’m accustomed to that,” Chambers said, after getting booed for asking a testifier who said he used to be gay, and now has a wife and children, if he enjoyed the time he was actively gay. “There are no public outbursts in these hearings, please,” said Sen. Amanda McGill of Lincoln. As the hearing focused on testimony for LB485, a crowd member said, “Am I wrong, or does this seem like a filibuster?” during a back and forth between Chambers and Edward Stringham, a Lincoln psychologist. LB485, sponsored by Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, would ban businesses from discriminating against current or potential employees because of their sexual orientation. Chambers introduced a similar bill in 2007 that lost by a 24-15 vote. Society changed since Chambers’ bill by becoming more open to gay rights, notably with the repeal of the military’s don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy, Conrad said. Her bill would not apply to religious groups, but opponents of it said it still violates their U.S. and Nebraska constitutional rights for freedom of religion. Kellie Fiedorek, an attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom, gave an example of a case in New Mexico where a similar non-discrimination law was passed. A photographer refused to take pictures of a same-sex couple because she didn’t want to support their behavior and was sued. Supporters of LB485 said the bill encourages more people to work in Nebraska if they don’t have to fear discrimination. The common ground is to have young people grow up healthy and educated, Ashford said. Laws are trying to reflect a common sense of fairness in society, he said. “If a gay couple wants to have a family and be able to adopt kids and be able to work and have the freedom to work,” Ashford said, “I think that’s a standard we ought to put in our law.” Contact Demetria Stephens at nns.dstephens@gmail.com. |
| FCA customers receive $130 million 2013-03-21 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF — Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) announced today that customer-owners in 13 counties in Panhandle of Nebraska and Southeast Wyoming served by the cooperative’s Scottsbluff and Alliance offices are receiving checks totaling $2.944 million this month. These checks represent the areas’ share of a total $130 million cash-back dividends distributed by FCSAmerica. “History suggests customers will spend a significant percentage of their cash-back dividends in the communities they call home in addition to using the funds to support their operations,” said vice president Darrin Clarkson. The two local offices work with customers in Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Goshen, Kimball, Laramie, Morrill, Scottsbluff, Sheridan, and Sioux counties. Because of the cooperative’s consistency through agriculture’s good times and challenging times, we are able to make this significant distribution, Clarkson said. FCSAmerica’s financial strength and staying power enabled the cooperative’s Board of Directors to return one of the largest cash-back dividends in its history to customer-owners, while continuing to offer attractive interest rates and building capital for future generations. The $130 million cash-back dividend for 2012 is the ninth in FCSAmerica’s history and brings the total cash distributions since 2004 to nearly $700 million. During this same nine year period, FCSAmerica’s capital (members’ equity) has grown from $1.5 billion to $3.2 billion and net income has grown from $294 million to $481 million. |
| Scottsbluff attorney eyeing 2014 elections 2013-03-21 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| Former democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Meister recently announced the formation of an exploratory committee for the 2014 election cycle. “The 2014 election cycle is one of the most wide open election cycles facing Nebraska voters in a long time,” Meister said regarding the announcement. “There will be no incumbent running for Governor or U.S. Senator, two extremely important offices to the people of Nebraska. In addition, all of the even numbered legislative districts will be open as a result of several state senators leaving the Legislature as a result of term limits. Anyone interested in public service should be taking a long hard look at this cycle.” Meister, a personal injury and worker’s compensation attorney has been practicing law in Scotts Bluff County for many years. “I represent the plaintiff only, “ he said. “I represent the little guy.” Meister said some of his friends and political allies from his gubernatorial race have encouraged him to take a serious look at the upcoming election cycle. “People on the east side of the state are saying I should run for the Legislature, and in the west they are saying run for governor again. Even the U.S. Senate seat will be open. We will simply have no incumbents this time around. It makes it all very interesting.” Meister was the first person in Nebraska since the 1920s to be nominated for governor in the Democratic convention held in 2010. After the original nominee for the office, Mark Lakers, abruptly dropped out of the race after winning the statewide primary, Meister was tapped to challenge incumbent Governor Dave Heineman. “The whole process was interesting, “Meister said. “I rode in on my white horse after the Democrats were left high and dry with no candidate. At that time I was approached by some friends and I decided to plunge in and run with it. We did a lot better than people expected us to do. I think that is what I am most proud of.” Meister noted that he had exactly 100 days from the time he agreed to run until the election. “We probably got around 27 percent of the vote and many predicted we would finish out lower than 16. Some pundits didn’t think I’d get into double-digits. I learned a lot from the experience, including that 100 days is not enough time to run a campaign, but we worked hard.” Meister hasn’t decided yet which office he intends to seek. He mentioned his exploratory committee has been gathering information and they might even set up a poll of Facebook to see how the voters are feeling about any potential candidacy. “At this time I‘m leaning towards seeking a state office,” Meister said. “I’d prefer a state office over a federal office because I want to get some things done. It doesn’t seem you can get anything done on the federal level anymore.” This would leave Meister likely eying either the governor’s race or possibly the state senate seat in Legislative District 48 that will be vacated by Senator John Harms in 2014. “I would not rule out another run for Attorney General either if the current incumbent John Brunning decides to vacate that office to run for the senate or for governor,” Meister added. “I am not sure what John is going to decide but I would not be surprised to see him seeking a higher office. This is what make this coming election cycle so intriguing. Anyone with an interest in public service should look into this. The stars don’t align like this very often in politics. So it is time to decide if you are ready to pull the trigger.” Meister said both Governor Heineman and former Governor Mike Johanns essentially have ignored issues that face western Nebraska. “The Heartland Expressway is stalled,” he said. “It has got to be finished. Both Heineman and Johanns would fly out here and tell us how important that project is and yet it is still not finished. We also need to revamp the way we do economic development.” Meister said that Scottsbluff, Gering and Terrytown are often viewed as just one town by folks out east. He said he would like outside businesses or other companies looking for a location to view the three towns as one unit but with differences. “Out east they want us to be one town,” he said. “I grew up here and I like three towns. I like that Terrytown is a buffer between Scottsbluff and Gering. We need to get out our handy-dandy compass and stand on the middle of the Scottsbluff/Gering Bridge and start drawing circles. Five miles out, 10miles out, etc. If a company knows they can negotiate with three different towns and the County for the best deal, it is a no-brainer. But outside companies looking at Nebraska aren’t told about that. It makes it more difficult for people in the west to compete. There are reasons we have different towns. It is who we are. We have an identity. We have Bearcats and Bulldogs and we like it like that.” Meister said viewing the whole as an economic unit with inner diversity would probably be attractive to people looking to operate in Nebraska. Another economic piece that Meister is concerned about is a bill that Gov. Heineman signed to protect big private telecoms in Omaha and Lincoln. Meister is disappointed that rural areas have been cut off from having viable access to broadband Internet services. “Public power has the infrastructure to provide broadband Internet to everyone in the state but Governor Heineman essentially cut them out of the competition,” Meister said. “We can ship the Internet over electric wire. It is ours ‘public-power‘ and they wouldn’t have to do anything to set this up. The wires are already there. Everything needed to have state wide broadband already exists. So our current leadership has limited our ability to grow our state. This hurts us economically because companies won’t relocate to smaller communities without state of the art Internet connections. This hurts our state economically. So we’ve got to repeal that bill.” Meister echoed the concerns of Democratic Party Chair Vince Powers regarding one-party rule. “Vince Powers has it exactly right, one-party rule fosters arrogance and invites corruption and scandal,” he said. “One-party rule in Nebraska is no better for Nebraska than one party rule was good for the Soviet Union. It is important to bring many voices to the public square over the challenges facing our state and our country. The debate and the campaign are as important as ultimately being elected. Unless people are willing to step up and join the discussion, nothing of any substance can ever be accomplished.” Meister attended Scottsbluff High School before going to Creighton University. While in college he was part of the ROTC program. He served in the U.S. Army for five-and-half years before starting his law practice. Meister is 52 years old and has three children. |
| Possible landfill site is still tentative 2013-03-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Although the City of Gering is searching for a site for a new landfill, absolutely nothing has been set in stone. A letter to the editor in this week’s edition of the Citizen raised a number of concerns regarding the potential site east of Gering. But Rick Hurt, Gering’s Director of Environmental Services, said they’ve started far ahead of schedule to make sure the potential site is acceptable, if at all. The area for the potential landfill covers 460 acres located about a half mile from the river. Hurt explained they have an option to purchase the land, but that doesn’t mean they will. So far, the city has spent $300,000 to purchase the parcel with the residence, giving the owner the flexibility to move. If the remaining property proves unsuitable for a landfill, the city will resell the residential property to recoup what it has spent. One of the letter’s concerns was the possibility of groundwater contamination because of runoff into the river. “This isn’t an issue with us. We’re going to protect the groundwater,” Hurt said. “If we can’t do it at that location, we won’t choose that site.” The first thing the city must do is to sink some wells on the property to determine where and how far down is the groundwater. Most of the land is covered in ravines and gullies and is not suitable for agriculture. “A properly permitted landfill today has a liner that will not allow leachate to get into the groundwater,” he said. “But we’re not putting all our eggs in one basket by saying the landfill will be here and here alone.” He added that leachate isn’t a major problem in the dry west because of minimal rainfall. “We have what they call a dry tomb theory for local landfills. That means you can bury trash and 40 years later dig it up and still read the newspapers.” Once the final cell six of the current landfill opens later this spring, it will be filled within about 10 years. Hurt said they’re starting that far ahead so as to identify the best site and have time for construction before they close the old landfill. “It will take from four to eight years to site and permit a landfill before it can begin operations,” he said. “We’re in no big hurry right now, but it’s something that has to get done soon.” But as for continued concerns about a landfill polluting the groundwater, Hurt said that just isn’t the case. “It doesn’t matter where the landfill goes. If you have the correct liner, the groundwater won’t be polluted. The Department of Environmental Quality won’t issue a permit if there’s any chance of that.” Dust and odors was another concern of the letter. Hurt said the area surrounding the potential site is far less populated than what they have now. And the landfill has a plan, approved by DEQ, to deal with dust and odor problems. I appreciate the people’s concerns about a new landfill,” Hurt said, “but regulations keep those things from happening.” There are only 23 licensed landfills in Nebraska. Only six of those bale their trash, which also helps reduce any leachate problems. At the Gering landfill, any water removed from during the baling process is treated through the city’s wastewater plant. |
| Haig: The forgotten village 2013-03-21 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| As it goes, when one mystery is solved, another begins. After discovering the history behind my family’s quilt I was intrigued to find out more about the village of Haig. When I was little I knew about the village’s existence through my mother and grandfather. My grandfather grew up in a time when Haig was more than just a cluster of houses at the end of County Road 17 in rural Scottsbluff. My mother, like many others, began her education at Haig. Researching the village of Haig was nearly impossible. Local archives have little to no information on Haig. The only piece of written history on Haig is one Internet page created by a student of ESU 13 as a class project. To understand what Haig meant to the people who live there, we must turn to the oral history. Haig was established in 1913. Originally named Haigville, the young village was settled by Henry Wolseley Haig. Haig was a British nobleman whose family owned Haig & Haig Ltd., the Scots Whiskey Distillery of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Markinch, Scotland. When he first arrived, he mainly used the land for hunting and invited friends over from England to have coyote hunts; similar to fox hunts back home. Haig had connections with the Union Pacific Railroad and allowed them to build the tracks through his land. During the early 1920s, Haig was the end of the line for the Union Pacific Railroad in western Nebraska. By 1926, the village was starting to grow with a population of 75. Thanks to the railroad line, the village had a rail depot, lumberyard, bank, hotel and general store. The rail depot delivered coal, mail, and the weekly newspaper to the village. Though Haig did have businesses in the village a series of unfortunate events brought them to an end. The lumberyard burned down in an accident, the Great Depression closed the bank, and the fate of the local store is unknown. The two-story building that served as the store was cut in half and turned into two private homes. The rail depot had an unusual fate as it too was moved from its original location and transformed into a private home. The only evidence yet remaining of the thriving village is the coal storage area along the railroad tracks. The coal storage building was attached to the lumberyard where local residents would stock up on coal. If you were to ask anyone about Haig they would probably mention the four-room country school of that name. In 1900, the small school house known as the Haig School was built where Brown Sheep Company stands today. It initially was a one-room school house that had a large black Dutch oven to keep students warm. Later, the school house was moved across the road to Highway 92, where travelers can see the school today. The school was eventually expanded into a four room schoolhouse that had indoor plumbing, a full gym, and a cafeteria. Generations of my family attended the Haig school, which taught generations of students from Mitchell Valley. “What I remember most at Haig School was the soup suppers and penny carnival,” said former Haig student Gloria Rein, who remembers all the parents working together to create the penny carnival for the students, from making meals to cutting relish plates. “We were a very close community and everybody knew each and every one that went there,” said Rein. Former student Amy Jacobs remembers the teaching style of the school. “We were so lucky to have structure and high expectations placed on us in a small classroom,” said Jacobs, “We all had individual attention and the blended classroom was a great experience.” As the years went by; however, the number of students who attended Haig started to dwindle. Haig became a part of the Gering School District and was finally closed in May of 2007. While we go through our day- to-day lives, we rarely think about how our lives may impact the future. Each day, we are all making history with the people we meet and achievements we make. If it weren’t for ESU student Elizabeth Eha creating this school project in 2001, we would never know who established the village of Haig. If we never ask the questions, we risk our own history being lost. The village of Haig is still there today but a mere memory of what was and what might have been. |
| North Platte NRD March board meeting addresses water allocation 2013-03-21 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF — The North Platte Natural Resources District (NRD) held its monthly Board meeting on March 14. Among the agenda items discussed was a review of the proposed changes to the integrated management plan (IMP) and the ground water rules and regulations. The primary change is to extend the current allocation period by one year and change the allocation from the current 56 acre-inches per acre to 70 acre-inches per acre. A copy of the full text of the IMP and rules with the proposed changes can be found on the NRD’s website at www.npnrd.org or by contacting the NRD office in Scottsbluff at (308) 632-2749. The public will have a chance to provide testimony on the changes to the IMP and rules during public hearings on April 4, starting at 7 p.m. In addition to the use of regulations to help meet the obligations of the IMP, the NRD has been investigating a variety of non-regulatory options, such as voluntary surface water leases. The NRD will continue to explore other opportunities to help protect our water resources for the future. The Board approved opening the sign-up period for the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Cost-Share Program. Projects eligible for cost-share include: planned grazing systems, irrigation water management, and trees. The Program sign-up period begins March 25 and ends on April 8. For more information, contact the NRD office at (308) 632-2749, or go to www.npnrd.org. Finally, the Board accepted the resignation of Board members Chairman George Hall and Jim Hass. Hall has been a Director since 2005, and Hass has been on the Board since 2007. Both served the North Platte NRD with distinction and will be missed. The resignations created two openings in Sub-district 4, which encompasses all of Garden and Morrill counties. If you are interested in applying for one of the two Board vacancies, contact Ron Cacek at (308) 632-2749. The next NRD Board meeting will be April 11th at 7:00 p.m. at the NRD office in Scottsbluff. |
| Gering priest optimistic for new Pope 2013-03-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| A number of “records” were set in recent weeks as the Catholic Church’s Conclave of Cardinals elevated Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina as the 266th Bishop of Rome, the Pontiff of the Catholic Church. For one, the new Pontiff succeeds Benedict XVI, the first Pope to step down in the past 600 years. Also, this is the first time in more than 1,000 years that a Pope has been selected from a location other than Europe. The name he selected is Francis, for St. Francis of Assisi, who founded the Franciscan Order within the Church. Pope Francis is the first to be elevated from the Jesuits, who are in many ways the philosophers and educators within the Church. For centuries, the Jesuits have been leaders over Catholic orthodoxy and teaching and also take a vow of poverty. Fr. Gerald Harr, priest at Christ the King Catholic Church in Gering, said the Cardinals are advisors to the Holy See. “When they were in conclave, I’m sure they were looking for a Pope for the times – a Godly leader who is open to the Holy Spirit.” In recent decades, especially in the West, people of influence in governments and society have urged the Church become more in tune with modern society. Issues they believe the Pope and the Church could be more supportive of include same-sex marriage, women priests and abortion rights. But Harr said it’s not the prerogative of the Church to change its teachings, called the Magesterium, to please secular society. “The Pope or the Church cannot change certain things,” he said. “Some things will never be acceptable. The faith was given to us by our Lord and it will not change, no matter what people say or what they want.” The Catholic Church was recently at odds with the administration for the government’s requirement they fund birth control under mandated insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act. One of the Cardinals in the conclave, Timothy Dolan of New York, has spoken forcefully against the mandate. “Issues of faith will continue to be debated in society,” Harr said. “But on these issues, there will be no give on the part of the Church.” The new Pope Francis is a traditionalist known for his humility. After his elevation to Pontiff, he took public transportation back to his Rome hotel to pay the bill. As a Cardinal in Argentina, he declined the use of a church limousine in favor of mass transit. Pope Francis is an ardent opponent of same-sex marriage, writing in 2010 it was a “destructive pretention against the plan of God.” On the issue of abortion, he called it a “death penalty” for the unborn. “As a Jesuit, poverty and obedience are important to our new Pope,” Harr said. “He’s lived a simple life as he’s been called to higher and higher responsibilities in the Church. I would welcome his emphasizing the poor of the world. The rich nations of the world have a responsibility to care for them. I need to look at my own life to see if I’m really sharing as I should.” Harr said he was surprised with Pope Benedict XVI stepped down, the first time a pontiff as resigned from office in the past 600 years. “We assume the pontiff will remain in the position for life,” he said. “His predecessor, John Paul II, was one of those who led the Church through thick and thin until his final breath.” |
| Changes scheduled for Cedar Canyon School 2013-03-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| When the new school year gets underway in August, Gering is planning a number of changes, especially for its Cedar Canyon Elementary School Gering School Superintendent Don Hague said Cedar Canyon will become a K-4 school with fifth and sixth graders moving to Lincoln Elementary. “The rationale is that the new Lincoln building has additional room,” Hague said. “We’re tight on space at Cedar Canyon even though we moved a modular building out there. So it’s not prudent to not use the best and newest building when there’s space available. There are currently two fifth grade classes and two sixth grade classes at Lincoln, so the Cedar Canyon kids would add a third section.” Hague emphasized the change could be temporary, depending on what enrollment does in the future. With the move, Cedar Canyon would have about 90 students, as opposed to the current 120. Hague said that because of crowded conditions, the Cedar Canyon library is on the stage in the gymnasium. “That created a challenge because it was upstairs and not handicap accessible. Now we’ll be able to move the library back into a regular room and we won’t have the interference of trying to teach a library unit over a physical education class.” Hague said a majority of the students attending Cedar Canyon are bussed to the school, so there should be no major difficulties in bringing them to Lincoln. Also, the students will benefit by starting to build relationships with other students before moving on the junior high. Other planned changes at Lincoln Elementary include the reducing the number of sections of kindergarten from three to two. Also, the position of principal being vacated by George Schlothauer will not be replaced. Eight current Gering teachers have turned in their resignations so far, which must be done prior to May 1. The current plan is to absorb all those positions through reassignment and consolidation of classes. The district isn’t planning to drop any classes and there will be no reduction in force. “This is driven by our budget problems and what the state is providing us in funding,” Hague said. “We had to use some of our cash reserve last year and are scheduled to use some more this year. When 85 percent of our expenses come from personnel, we have to start looking at that. About three-fourths of our budget comes from state, so if state aid fluctuates, we don’t have money.” Hague said the changes will only be for the upcoming school year. The school board and Bob Hastings, the new district superintendent, will need to determine how the district will look in 10 years and plan with that in mind. |
| Area DECA clubs excel at state competition 2013-03-21 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Both the Gering and Scottsbluff DECA group have done well this year. This is the second year that Gering High School has had a DECA team. Last week Gering sent 25 competitors to the State Career Development Conference in Lincoln. Students who place in the top three of their event qualified for the national conference in Anaheim, Calif. Six qualified for this year’s national conference. “Overall it was outstanding,” said Gering DECA coach Brock Brown of the team’s performance. Sam Eastman placed first in Human Resource Management. Tanner Baird and Caleb Wyre won first in Sports and Entertainment Team Decision Making. Baird also competed with Michael Marsh, taking second place in Sports/ Entertainment Operations Research. Kendra Peters placed second in Buying and Merchandising Operations Research, and Marlee Lupher took third place in Principles of Hospitality and Tourism. “This is the first time we’ve had two first-place finishers,” said Brown. Scottsbluff DECA also had a fantastic year. Eighty Scottsbluff students competed last week in Lincoln. The team placed in 15 events, qualifying 24 members for the National Conference in Anaheim, Calif. The top three winners and their events are: Lauren Miller, first in Entrepreneurship Participating-Franchising Business; Zoey Rada, Conner Ehler, first place in Creative Marketing Project; Ty Wilson, first place in Finance Operation Research; Michael Hadden, second place, Accounting Services; Aubri Nedella, second place in Restaurant and Food Service Management; Deanna Cortez, second place in Principles of Hospitality and Tourism; Traver Pettijohn, second place in Professional Selling Event; Jon Wiebe, Sarah Hall and Shalee Roseberry, second place in Entrepreneurship Promotion Project; Simon Deng, Ben Willis-Teff, and Anthony Parra, second place in Stock Market Game; Tyler Mickey, third place in Business Finance Services; Aubrey Taylor, Channing Wills, third place in Learn and Earn Project; Ethan Kosmicki, third place Advertising Campaign. The National DECA conference will take place in Anaheim, Calif. on April 24-28. |
| County wants out of housing authority 2013-03-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| The Scotts Bluff County Housing Authority is a part of the county in name only – and the county board wants to change that. The housing authority, formed in the 1970s, needed county support to organize. But the agency receives its funding from state and federal sources. Its board isn’t appointed by the county, the county’s representative on that board can’t vote and the county doesn’t do its budget. However, housing authority vehicles do bear county government plates, which has been a point of contention for several years. “We have nothing to do with the Scotts Bluff County Housing Authority other than the name,” said County Commissioner Ken Meyer. “They do good work, but it has nothing to do with us. Still, the public thinks the housing authority is a part of the county, which it isn’t.” Commissioner Sherry Blaha is the non-voting member on the housing authority board. She said there shouldn’t be any problems with the county pulling out. However, the authority would need to change its by-laws and name. “This has been discussed for some time,” Blaha said. “The county attorney told us we can’t initiate pulling out of the authority, but they can.” Scotts Bluff County Attorney Doug Warner said the board could encourage the housing authority to make the change. Commissioners agreed to consider an agenda item during its next meeting to have board chairman Mark Masterton sign a letter explaining the county’s position. |
| Kosmans honored with Nebraskaland award 2013-03-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| In a telephone interview with the Citizen on Monday afternoon, Gov. David Heineman said community leaders Hod and Willa Kosman were excellent choices for this year’s annual Nebraskaland Award. Each year, the Nebraskaland Foundation recognizes three Nebraskans for their contributions to the state. The awards are presented during the Nebraska Statehood Day Dinner at the state capital in Lincoln. Other award recipients included the Raikes family from Ashland and Fred and Eve Simon of Omaha. “The foundation is looking for individuals or families who have done something of great significance for the state,” Heineman said. “The Kosmans have done a lot.” Hod Kosman serves as chairman, president and CEO of Platte Valley Companies, which has been involved in the local financial industry for several generations. Hod formed Platte River Basin Environments, whose goal is to preserve the area’s wildlife areas for future generations. He’s also served on numerous boards and foundations across the state and has been instrumental in the support of the state’s education centers, including Chadron State College, Western Nebraska Community College and the University of Nebraska. For the past 12 years, Willa has served as executive director of the historic Midwest Theater in downtown Scottsbluff. Through Friends of the Midwest, she was instrumental in raising funds to revitalize the theater. The Friends group has been recognized with the Governor’s Arts Award for Organizational Achievement. Willa has also served on the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees and also helped raise funds for the construction of Centennial Park in Scottsbluff. “To me, this is a perfect example of an outstanding Nebraska family that richly deserves the title of Distinguished Nebraskalander,” Heineman said. Gov. Frank Morrison organized the Nebraskaland Foundation in 1962. Its ongoing mission is “to promote Nebraska through programs and awards which celebrate the state’s social, historical, cultural, educational and economic heritage.” |
| Parents air concerns about relocating students 2013-03-21 By Lauren Smith-Kuckkahn Special to the Citizen |
| Patron comments erupted on Monday night when upset parents addressed the Gering school board about the upcoming move of fifth and sixth graders from Cedar Canyon to Lincoln Elementary. The move, discussed in committee meetings in the past, was not publicized to parents, and news came unexpectedly when the information was disclosed to the media before the superintendent released an announcement to parents. The reasoning behind the move was that Cedar Canyon was short on classroom space and experiencing staffing problems. One suggested solution was to purchase a modular to move to provide more space on school grounds. However, because there were unused rooms in Lincoln Elementary, Superintendent Don Hague suggested moving the fifth and sixth grades to the new school building, saving money and addressing staffing needs at Cedar Canyon simultaneously. Tracy Henderson, Gering resident and German teacher at Scottsbluff High School, said she was one of the parents surprised by the shocking announcement. Currently Henderson has a fifth and sixth grader enrolled at Cedar Canyon, and a child who she was planning to send there in the fall. She said when she and her husband first enrolled their children in Cedar Canyon because they were persuaded to avoid overcrowding at other schools. She said she came to be impressed by the Cedar Canyon staff and Principal Betty Smith, and it became her family’s school of preference. When she learned that the fifth and sixth grades would be moved to Lincoln Elementary, it shook all of her family’s plans for next year. “My daughter came home and she was confused and upset because she had just found out that she would be going to Lincoln,” Henderson said. She said the letter her daughter brought home was sent out by Principal Smith as damage control, after the move was announced via KNEB before any official word was released by the schools or superintendent’s office. She said because she wanted an older child in the same school as her kindergartener, to keep an eye on the younger child, but now because her fifth grader will be transferred, she plans to enroll her kindergartener and soon-to-be sixth grader at Geil Elementary. Henderson said she and other parents were hurt that they were not included in the decision-making process, and that by the time they were aware of the move, the decision was already finalized. As a stakeholder and community member, Henderson felt she and other stakeholders had a right to be involved in a dialogue about the future of the school. During the meeting, Hague said that there was no public forum to discuss the move because it was not voted on by the board. Rather, it was an administrative decision, made with input from Bob Hastings, who will assume his position as superintendent upon Hague’s retirement. Board president Alan Doll reiterated that the decision to move the two classes rather than purchase a modular was a budgetary decision. He said when they realized that they had unused classrooms in Lincoln Elementary, they could not make the financial justification to purchase a modular for additional space at Cedar Canyon. After the meeting, Henderson did not feel less upset over the decision, but certain questions were answered, she said. “I understand more that this was not a decision that the board made, but that Superintendent Hague made,” Henderson said. Doll said he understands that there was a severe failure in communication, and that it was something that the district will strive to address. “We will communicate the rationale for moving fifth and sixth graders with parents,” Hague said. Under action items, a bid of $149,000 was approved to replace 80 windows and vents in the junior high building. “Thompson Glass was the sole bidder. It was a little higher than the architect thought it would be, but these windows should be more energy efficient,” said board member Brian Copsey. The board reviewed the National Honor Society List with enthusiasm as board members commented on the achievements of Gering students. “The list is huge! That’s just awesome,” Doll said. It was announced that Gering DECA was qualified to attend Nationals in Anaheim, Calif. from April 23-28, and a fundraiser to pay for the trip will be undertaken immediately. “Our kids represented our school very well,” said board member B.J. Peters. Mary Winn said the DECA students wear special blazers to these events, and she plans to purchase a blazer for the group, encouraging others to also purchase blazers. She said these can continue to be used by DECA in coming years. In another positive announcement of district success, Hague said the Lincoln Elementary building has been Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, and was awarded a plaque for this on March 15. “We are the first and only LEED Gold building in the state of Nebraska,” Hague said. During the Curriculum Committee report, Doll said committee discussed the VALTS program, and its future. He said focus needs to be shifted to job preparation for students who are not interested in pursuing education beyond VALTS. He said for these students who plan to go straight into the workforce, there needs to be a different strategy. Student Services director Candy Hubbard made a report to the board, providing an overview of the district’s early childhood development and education efforts. She said 127 children are currently enrolled for next fall’s kindergarten, close to what registration was at this time last year. Hague said they can expect about 160 kindergarteners by the fall. Hubbard said that Nebraska is one of 25 states with a mandate to educationally service the needs of children from birth to 21 years of age. She said special needs children under the age of 3 are usually referred to their developmental program by doctors or care providers. These infants and toddlers are usually developmentally delayed due to drug use during pregnancy, Hubbard said. While a child is under the age of 3, developmental services are provided year-round. After the age of 3, developmental services are provided during school months only. Hubbard said the rationale for providing developmental therapy to infants and toddlers is that research shows that the brain develops most rapidly during a person’s first three years of life. The meeting concluded with the board going into executive session over personnel issues. |
2013-03-21 By |
| Courtesy Photo |
| Geil elementary students raise Pennies for Patients 2013-03-15 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Students at Geil Elementary School are gathering their pennies, nickels and dimes to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Every day this week has featured a theme for students. Students brought in their nickels for crazy hat and hair day on Tuesday, while Wednesday was dimes for a fashion disaster, and Thursday, students are encouraged to bring their quarters to be a super hero. Classrooms are competing to see who will collect the most money in support of the charity. Pennies for Patients is a fundraising effort by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since 1994, students from across the country have been helping the foundation raise millions of dollars with a bit of spare change. Last week, students at Gering Junior High School also helped with fundraising efforts. |
| Fresh Foods celebrates year one 2013-03-14 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| According to Ben Dishman, “It’s been a wild ride.” That’s how he described his supermarket’s first year in business. Last Friday, Ben and Kerri Dishman of Fresh Foods brought out the cake to observe their first anniversary. “Our first year has also been a lot of fun,” Ben said. “Things are going well because of the tremendous support we’ve received from the community and we appreciate them all.” Kerri agreed they have so much to be thankful for. “God’s been good to us and so has the community. There have been joy and trials, but they’ve made us stronger,” she said. “We really love the valley. It’s a fantastic place to raise our kids. We’re so blessed to be here.” Kerri said that while she has some background in retail, she learned the supermarket industry from the ground up. “My expectations were different from Ben’s because he’s been in the grocery business for more than 20 years,” she said. “Every day this past year was a learning experience for me.” In addition to occasionally filling in as a checker, Kerri is in charge of social media for Fresh Foods. Lunch specials, daily specials and other featured items are shared on Facebook with close to 900 people who follow them. “It’s been fun communicating with the customers, but actually it’s more like a friend relationship,” she said. “It’s just a great way to connect with people.” Ben said even though he’s been in the grocery business for years, owning his own business is different because the bottom line belongs to him. But he’s happy with where they are right now. “This is the right size store for us and for the community,” Ben said. “People can come in and get what they need without walking around in what seems like miles to find everything.” Kerri added it’s also been fun how the community is taking ownership of the store as their hometown market. “We even have people coming in from the cities and telling us they wish they had that kind of store where they lived.” With a smaller physical space, Fresh Foods is able to order more special request items for customers, such as gluten-free and organic foods and other gourmet items. In addition to operating a supermarket, the Dishmans are also involved in the community through their church, the public schools and other opportunities. “We think it’s important to be involved in the community and give back where we can,” Ben said. “We plan to be here for years to come.” Although it’s been a whirlwind first year for the Dishmans and Fresh Foods, Kerri made an important point about the journey. “What we’ve really learned is to do what you know well,” Kerri said. “That includes being kind to others and taking care of people.” |
| Terrytown may get new keno business 2013-03-14 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| At last Thursday, meeting of the Terrytown City Council, members heard from Paul Guhn about his interest in opening the former Chute #3/The Pond location as a sports bar and grill. “My interest is to bring keno back to Terrytown,” Guhn told council members. “I’ve talked with the owner of Lucky Keno and found out all the keno equipment is still in the building and is ready to go back into operation.” Guhn said he he’s been interested in reopening the business since the previous owners closed. He plans to hire four full-time employees and four part-time employees for the sports bar and grill operation that will also offer keno. “I’m looking long-term,” he told the council. “I’m not interested in something that opens and is closed in six months. That’s not my goal at all.” He said the new name will have something that highlights the view of Terry’s Lake from the business. Tentative hours would be Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. “I’ve received a lot of mentoring from Kent Ewing from the Oregon Trail Lounge,” Guhn said. “I run the lounge for him on Monday nights and when he’s on vacation. I’ve learned a lot about the food and bar industry.” He added he doesn’t plan to open until he has both keno and liquor licenses, which could take up to 90 days to process. Terrytown City Attorney Kent Haddenfeldt said he and Guhn have been investigating possible sources of funding for the operation. Because Terrytown doesn’t have its own LB 840 economic development program, other towns were approached. Because of its size, Scottsbluff cannot use LB 80 funds for retail support. However, Gering might be a possibility. “The biggest thing with the building right now is that all the furnishings are gone,” Guhn said. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done to the place, so a lot of what I put into it will be in inventory and tables and chairs. But I’d like to get it done in 45 to 90 days so Terrytown can start seeing some keno money coming in.” Also during the meeting, Mayor Kent Greenwalt made a brief report on a letter the council received about the possibility of merging the police departments of both Gering and Scottsbluff, along with the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Department. “This is just a study at this point,” Greenwalt said. “The group proposing this will visit with other municipalities around the state that have this kind of setup. They want to know how it works for others.” Greenwalt emphasized that he didn’t want Terrytown’s level of police protection to change at all if a proposal of this kind is even considered. He added the proposal came up because both Gering and Scottsbluff are without police chiefs and the county’s chief deputy sheriff will be retiring soon. |
| Council considers plan to address code violations 2013-03-14 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| For several months, the City of Gering has considered organizing a PRT, or Public Resolution Team, to address code violations such as buildings and nuisance complaints. At Monday’s council meeting, officials from the City of Wayne made a presentation on how their PRT works and how it has helped to remedy code violations. Wayne City Administrator Lowell Johnson told the council their city’s PRT has members from both the city and the public. They review complaints as they come in and treat all properties the same, whether they be commercial or residential. The team then delegates authority to follow up on complaints to Joel Hansen, the city’s building inspector and planner. “The process is isolated and removed from elected officials,” Johnson said. “Elected officials have no role in complaints against properties.” Team members, appointed by the mayor, provide a method to report complaints of code violations, as well as timelines for citizens to take action on the complaints. Decisions can be appealed to the city’s code board of appeals, and eventually to district court if the property owner is dissatisfied with the decision. “When a case gets to district court, it’s not to retry the evidence,” Hansen, Wayne’s building inspector said. “It’s to determine whether the process was followed by the city and the board of appeals. The court determines whether the evidence is reasonable.” Because Gering doesn’t have such a team, complaints often end up before by the council. In recent years, a few residents of the Meadows addition came before the council to complain of trash in back yards, weeds overgrowing sidewalks, vehicles parked in front yards and unlicensed vehicles on city streets. “One person standing by himself can become a political target,” Hansen said. “The process we’ve developed takes a broader view with team members from diverse backgrounds. They identify problems and offer solutions.” Gering Mayor Ed Mayo said one of the factors that gained his support is that Wayne’s PRT has members from the city’s churches. If a property owner is unable, through disability or financial hardship, to bring the property into compliance, members of the faith community often organize volunteers to do the work in bringing the property back into code. Mayo said the idea of a PRT has been researched for some time, and city staff will be drafting an ordinance in the near future to create one. In other action, council members approved a $250,000 project to resurface U St. from 7th St. east to the city limits. Also included in the project is resurfacing 7th St. between M and N Streets, and between U St. and Union Pacific St. Gering Fire Chief Jay Templar also made his annual report to the council. In 2012, the department made a record 616 calls, including 52 mutual aid requests. Some of those requests were to help fight massive fires in northern and northeastern Nebraska. Rick Hurt, Gering’s director of environmental services, also reported that close to 300 residents are now participating in the city’s single-stream recycling program. So far, they’ve been able to recycle about 150 tons of material. |
| Photo ID to vote bill brings threat of lawsuit 2013-03-14 By Demetria Stephens - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Nebraskans want some kind of voter ID law, but a senator’s second attempt to bring such a bill misses the mark, according to Secretary of State John Gale. Larry Dix, executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials, read Gale’s statement during Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on Legislative Bill 381, Thursday, March 7. The bill, introduced by Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont, would require Nebraskans to show a photo ID when voting. Janssen, a candidate in the 2014 governor’s race, introduced a similar bill last year, which failed. Former senator Brenda Council of Omaha said LB381 might be unconstitutional. Amy Miller, ACLU Nebraska legal director, and Adam Morfeld, the Nebraskans for Civic Reform executive director, agreed. Morfeld said his group of 27 Nebraska organizations would sue the state if the bill passes. “Voting is a fundamental constitutional right, not only the U.S. constitution,” she said. “But I urge the members of this committee and the Legislature as a whole to not forget the Nebraska Constitution.” The Nebraska constitution prohibits anything hindering a qualified voter, which is a registered voter, she said. Thirty-three states now have voter ID laws, with one of the strictest being Indiana. Janssen based LB381 on that law. His bill would make the Department of Motor Vehicles offer a state identification card at no cost to a voters who can’t afford another government photo ID. Mail ballots wouldn’t require a photo ID, unless it was the person’s first time voting. Anyone who doesn’t provide the ID at the polls would have to cast a provisional ballot, which means voting officials have to verify the person’s identity. Janssen was amending the bill to allow election officials in rural areas to vouch for the identity of voters if they forget to bring their ID to vote. He cited a 2012 report by the Pew Center on the States that found 24 million U.S. voter registrations, or one out of eight, were no longer valid or significantly inaccurate. "The report also found 1.8 million dead people listed as voters and 2.75 million people registered in more than one state,” he said. But because Nebraska hasn’t had widespread voting fraud, Gale said the bill might not be appropriate for the state. Gale’s statement was read in a neutral position. Other opponents said the bill could reduce the amount of people who vote by putting up barriers. Some groups who might be hurt included students and adopted children who might be on the move, and people who can’t easily travel such as the elderly and disabled, including veterans. Former judge Jan Gradwohl said veterans might be in homes or hospitals and not able to go to the Department of Motor Vehicle to get the ID required by this bill. “Here are people who have fought for the right to vote and who would be themselves unable to vote,” she said. Supporter Marty Brown, vice president of Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, said the American flag in the hearing room reminded him of his service in the military in 1965. People spit on him when he returned from service, he said. “We don’t have any respect for that flag,” he said. “In reference to LB381, we’d give some of that respect back.” Contact Demetria Stephens at nns.dstephens@gmail.com |
| Legacy of the Plains designers impressed by new museum 2013-03-14 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Six members of Exhibit Design Associates of Estes Park, Colo. were in Gering last week to learn about the new Legacy of the Plains Museums – and they were impressed. Members the design team called it “a tremendously exciting professional challenge” and said the museums had an outstanding collection in its quality and scope. They said it was truly significant on a local, regional and national level. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years and I’ve never seen anything like what they have here,” said Biff Baird, principal with Exhibit Design Associates. “The dedication from the community is infectious.” About 28 members of Legacy of the Plains, which incorporates the Farm And Ranch Museum and the North Platte Valley Museums, met with the design team to work on developing a roadmap for the completed museums. “One of the big items is the storyline and how we’re going to incorporate that into both of our collections,” said Legacy of the Plains director Katie Bradshaw. “That committee has been meeting for about a year and found it’s difficult to whittle down all the possible threads of stories into something manageable. There are an infinite number of stories we could tell.” Currently, the design team is in the listening stage with museum board members and volunteers. They’re also making inspection of what the museums have on display, what they have in their research collections, archives and storage. The design team made a presentation during the Legacy of the Plains annual meeting last week. “They were excited about how all these things are coming together, but never revealed a single thing about what they were thinking for the substance of the exhibits,” Bradshaw said. “We’re still in the very preliminary stages of building these museums.” Bradshaw said that by October, they should have a floor plan with a rough idea of where the exhibits will be located. “The design team agreed the museum is a catalyst for change,” she said. “People who go through the museum should come out as changed people, that the museum has changed them in some way. Most of our exhibits tell stories about a catalyst for change. Something happened and it affected everyone. That might end up as a theme for the museum somehow.” She said a lot of the steel that will make up the new building has already been fabricated. They would like to have the foundation poured sometime in May with the building to follow over the next few months. “We’re still targeting the end of the year for having an occupancy permit,” Bradshaw said. “This is such an unknown for all us, including the design team. A project like this is extremely rare in combining two established museums into one and developing a whole new story for them.” |
| Mayors sign cleanup proclamation 2013-03-14 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| The mayors of Gering, Scottsbluff and Terrytown were at last week’s Gering Business Club to sign proclamations for the area’s annual “Great American Cleanup.” Starting in April, numerous activities have been scheduled around the area to emphasize the important of recycling, reusing and reducing the amount of “stuff” that seems to always accumulate. Events get rolling on April 19 with Cleanup Day at the Scotts Bluff National Monument. Volunteers from throughout the area have shown up in past years to pick up trash around the monument as they get ready for the tourism season. On April 20, a tree planting ceremony takes place at Westmoor Elementary School in Scottsbluff just prior to Earth Day, which is on Monday, April 22 this year. Also on the 20th, it’s electronic collection day at Environmental Services in Scottsbluff and at the Panhandle Coop Plaza. It’s a day for people to dispose of their old monitors, computer equipment and other electronics. On April 20 and 27, the Gering landfill is free for Scottsbluff, Gering and Mitchell residents with a valid ID and current utility bill. A number of tree planting events are always scheduled for Arbor Day, which takes place this year on Friday, April 26. On May 4, Terrytown is having its cleanup day. And the pharmaceutical take-back is scheduled from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the east parking lot of Main Street Market. It’s an opportunity for residents to get rid of old prescription drugs, rather than dumping them into the water supply. “Everybody can make a positive step in doing something good for the environment,” said Kathy Kropuenske, director of Keep Scottsbluff-Gering Beautiful. “Whether it’s recycling or just picking up a piece of litter when you see it, you’re making a difference.” For more information on all the activities around the Great American Cleanup, call Keep Scottsbluff-Gering Beautiful at (308) 632-4649. |
| News Briefs 2013-03-14 By |
| County offices close for one day GERING — The Scotts Bluff County Assessor and Register of Deeds offices will be closed Tuesday, March 26 for training purposes. They will reopen Wednesday, March 27. They apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Tom Osborne to speak at breakfast GERING — Scotts Bluff County chapter of TeamMates announced Breakfast with Dr. Tom Osborne on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 6:45a.m. at the Gering Civic Center. Tickets are $30/person or $250 for a 10-person table. TeamMates was founded in 1991 by Tom and Nancy Osborne in an effort to provide support and encouragement to school aged youth. It currently has 116 chapters in Nebraska, Iowa, and San Diego and serves over 6,000 youth. Its mission is “to positively impact the world by encouraging youth to reach their full potential through mentoring.” Tickets are available at local Runza Restaurants, any TeamMates board member or by calling Coordinator Maurie Deines at (308) 225-2997. Theater celebrates movie’s golden age GERING — The Annual Rotary Gold Event “The Golden Era of Movies” will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013. The proceeds from this event are being designated to Friends of the Midwest Theater for their Digital Projector/Surround Sound Upgrade. Willa Kosman, Executive Director of the theater states, “The Theater Board and I are very excited about this event and having this donation to our Digital Project.” She encourages Theater patrons and friends to purchase tickets and attend. It is a fun evening with great food, music, good company and conversation. People can enjoy a fun evening and help the theater at the same time. Tickets are $65 each and can be purchased from any Scottsbluff/Gering Rotary member, at the Midwest Theater office, or on-line at www.midwesttheater.com. All proceeds go to the Historic Midwest Theater. Friends of the Midwest Theater is a 501-c-3 Nonprofit Scholarships available SCOTTSBLUFF — Application forms are now available for college scholarships provided through the Oregon Trail Community Foundation. The foundation oversees numerous scholarships funds. Application forms are available online at www.otcf.org. The Oregon Trail Community Foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships annually to regional high school and college students. The scholarships are established by regional families and organizations that entrust endowment funds and program management to the Oregon Trail Community Foundation. In 2012, the foundation awarded $47,700 in scholarships to regional students. Application forms can be downloaded from the foundation’s web site, www.otcf.org. The application deadline for most OTCF scholarships is April 1; however, a new Agri-Business Scholarship is available this year and its application deadline is March 15. School Day Off at Riverside Discovery Center SCOTTSBLUFF — The Riverside Discovery Center is offering School Day Off at the Zoo programs this March. These days are like mini camps and will be filled with games, crafts, hands-on activities and exploring the zoo’s animals. “This is a great opportunity for parents who are looking for something different and exciting for their children to do on these days off from school,” stated Kim Miedema, Education Curator at Riverside Discovery Center. On Friday March 15, students 1st- 3rd grade are invited to come to the zoo from 12:30-3:30 to learn all about Big Cats. The RDC is home to many different kinds of cats: tigers, lions, bobcats and more. Students will have a chance to observe the many cats of the zoo, learn about their unique adaptations and so much more. On Friday March 22, students 4th-6th grade will have the chance to learn about the monkeys and apes of the zoo: what the difference is between them and where they live. Students will need to eat lunch before they arrive. A small snack will be provided. The cost for these programs is $15/ member; $20/ nonmember. You must pre-register your child by Wednesday March 13. There is limited space, so call us at 630-6236 or email Kim at kim.miedema@riversidediscoverycenter.org with any questions and to reserve your space today. BSA Troop 3 reunion planned GERING — Were you a Troop 3 Scout or Scouter over the years? Boy Scout Troop 3 of Gering is searching for all former Scouts, Scouters, adult volunteers or other friends of the troop in anticipation of celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Troop 3 in July. A 50th anniversary celebration is being planned for all current and former members and friends of Troop 3 in July as part of the local Oregon Trail Days festivities. The celebration will include participation in the OTD Parade and a picnic in Gardner Park. Patches and T-shirts will also be available for purchase. Boy Scout Troop 3 was first chartered in 1963 at Christ the King Catholic Church and is still chartered by the church yet today. The troop has been led by twelve Scoutmasters including Rich Robinson, Dr. Thom Van Boskirk, Harlan Trupp, Jack Copsey, Glenn Fillinger, Maurie Deines, Rick Ediger, Ron Glau, Michael Newth, George Holthus, Kevin Sandberg and Keith Fulk. Many youth and adults alike have been part of Troop 3 since 1963 and the public’s help is needed in locating them. If you are, or know of, a former member or friend of Troop 3, please send your contact information to the reunion committee by email to troop3ne@msn.com or by postal mail to Troop 3 Reunion c/o Maurie Deines 1610 Gentry Blvd Gering, NE 69341 Troop and reunion activities may also be followed on Facebook . Search for Troop3Gering The committee is looking forward to seeing everyone in July. Smith announces art competition winners Washington, D.C.– Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) has announced the winning artists of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition: An Artistic Discovery. Smith worked with the Nebraska Art Teachers Association to coordinate the competition. The first place artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Smith will display the runners-up in his Washington, D.C. and Third District offices. “Young artists in Nebraska are exceptionally talented,” said Smith. “I am proud of and impressed with the works submitted for this year’s competition. Congratulations to all of the students who participated and to their teachers.” First Place: Lindsay Warning, “Peek-a-Boo” – Acrylic, Holdrege High School. Lindsay’s work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Second Place: Andi Meyer, “Venice” – Oil Paint, Blue Hill High School. Andi’s work will be displayed in Smith’s Washington, D.C. office. Third Place: Hunter Ellis, “Coke Classic” – Graphite, Holdrege High School. Hunter’s work will be displayed in Smith’s Grand Island office. Fourth Place: McKenzie Kidder, “The Stare” – Colored Pencil, Holdrege High School. McKenzie’s work will be displayed in Smith’s Scottsbluff office. Note: Images of the winning submissions are available by e-mailing rick.vanmeter@mail.house.gov. |
| Committee takes up Medicaid issues 2013-03-14 By Bethany Knipp - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN - State legislators focused on Medicaid and what expanding it could mean for Nebraskans March 5 at the Health and Human Services Committee meeting March 5. One of the bills the committee considered was LB261, which would ensure that Medicaid benefits for people with disabilities wouldn’t be cut if they earned more income. The bill would update the Medicaid Insurance for Workers with Disabilities Act. Lynn Redding of Grand Island testified in support of the bill, introduced by Sen. Mike Gloor, also of Grand Island. Redding, who has a disability, works at McDonald’s and said she couldn’t take a managerial promotion offered to her because she would lose Medicaid coverage. She said her medications cost her hundreds of dollars monthly. Not passing the bill, she said, would compromise the well-being of people with disabilities. “Working is important to me, as it is to many other people with disabilities, but my health is also important,” she said. “I want to be self-sufficient, but I cannot jeopardize my Medicaid.” The law would require a person to work at least 40 hours a week. Gloor said the intention of the bill is to protect disabled people who work and encourage further self-sufficiency. Currently, people with disabilities who start making too much money for Medicaid’s income eligibility requirements would have to pay more expensive private insurance premiums for their medical care if they choose to do that. “It just seems like it’d be far more advantageous to get people to pay premiums to the state of Nebraska to get people the coverage they need and allow them to work as much as they want,” proponent Gayle Hahn, a benefits specialist with Easter Seals, said. No one testified against the bill. Nebraska legislators also heard testimony about LB338, a measure that would prohibit health care professionals from discriminating against people on medical assistance programs. The bill was also introduced by Gloor. Kerry Winterer, CEO of the Department of Health and Human Services, was the only person who testified in support of the bill. He said the department is concerned physicians will turn away Medicaid patients as more flow into the system in the coming years. “All Nebraska citizens should be able to have access to quality health care regardless of payer source,” he said. Dr. Jessica Meeske, a pediatric dentist in Hastings, testified against the bill on behalf of the Nebraska Dental Association, saying the issue is too complex to fix with this bill. “It’s not as simple as getting enough docs to see the patients,” she said. Meeske, a member of the Medicaid Reform Council, said her practices see a lot of Medicaid patients, but are allowed to turn them down as long as the Civil Rights Act isn’t being violated. “I do limit my practice in Medicaid that I see … Sometimes you have to do that in order to get the sickest kids in the door,” she said. LB231, introduced by Sen. John Nelson of Omaha was also discussed before the Health and Human Services Committee. The bill would establish a uniform reimbursement rate from the DHHS for adult day services. Currently, the Medicaid waiver rate is $32.97, but the lower block grant rate is $17.34, a rate that is income-based and for which more people qualify. The bill would equalize the grant rate to the higher Medicaid waiver rate. According to Julie Kaminski, executive director of Leading Age Nebraska, the actual cost of adult day care is about $50 a day. Kaminski also said Nebraska is the fourth lowest reimburser for adult day services. “I just feel like for Nebraska seniors we can do better than this in our reimbursement rate,” she said. No one testified against LB231. Contact Bethany Knipp at nns.bknipp@gmail.com |
| Amigas for Amigo at RDC 2013-03-14 By |
| Riverside Discovery Center announced that it will be adding two female zebras to their collection in April. According to Zoo Director, Peter Halliday, “We have had Amigo, our male zebra for nearly a year. Since zebra are herd animals, I have been working ever since to find some companions for him. Zia, age 6, and Zelda age 5, will be coming from the Tulsa, OK Zoo to join Amigo. Henri Evard, the RDC veterinarian, will be transporting the two zebra to Scottsbluff in April.” The RDC is currently taking donations to help defray transportation costs and add to the zebra population at the zoo. Any monetary donation can be dropped off or sent to the RDC at 1600 South Beltline Highway West, Scottsbluff, NE 69361. Donations can also be given on the RDC website: www.riversidediscoverycenter.org . All donationsare tax deductible under IRS regulations, since the RDC is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. “Donations are very helpful to the RDC and these will allow us to bring some friends – amigas – for Amigo our male,” said Halliday. |
| Volunteer firefighters save millions 2013-03-14 By |
| LINCOLN – Nebraska taxpayers receive over $8.5 million of free fire protection services every year, according to a report from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), which was released today by the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association. The report, organized by UNO’s Consortium for Organization Research and Evaluation (CORE), documents how Nebraskans annually benefit from the professional services of an estimated 12,000 member volunteer workforce. “Nebraska volunteer fire departments annually provide services to our communities valued at $8.6 million,” said Robert Blair, Associate Professor of Public Administration at UNO, who led the study, along with Chief Analyst, David Drozd. The Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association commissioned the study to estimate the economic value of services and the contribution of volunteer firefighters to Nebraska communities, Nebraska state parks and the interstate system and highways within the state. “Nebraska’s volunteers are proud to announce the findings from the study,” said Cleon Schwede, President of the NSVFA and Fire Chief at Battle Creek and member at Meadow Grove Volunteer Fire Departments. “The volunteer fire and rescue service personnel from across the state and in your hometowns are ready to answer the alarm.” “Whether you travel from Omaha to Lincoln on I-80, drive along Highway 2 in the Sandhills or operate a ranch near Chadron – when an emergency happens, volunteers are there. Responding any time of the night or day, on a cold winter night or a sun-scorched 105 degree August day with 40 mile per hour winds spreading megafires across the Niobrara River Valley by Valentine,” the NSVFA representative said. But Schwede and his counterparts throughout Nebraska are concerned, as he said it is getting harder to recruit and retain volunteers. “Years ago, we didn’t have so much competition for the volunteers’ time,” he said. “In addition, volunteer firefighters are also training to respond to hazardous material emergencies, training to be a part of water rescue and dive teams, and responding to the 2012 wildfires that swept across 500,000 acres in Nebraska last year costing the state a reported $12 million in suppression costs.” The $12 million in suppression costs do not include labor supplied by volunteer firefighters, their time away from their jobs and vacation time used, by some, just to volunteer in battling the wildland megafires. |
| Jim Brickman to perform at the Midwest Theater 2013-03-14 By |
| Grammy nominated songwriter/pianist Jim Brickman will perform 'An Evening of Romance' at the Midwest Theater in Scottsbluff on April 7, starting at 6 p.m. Special guest John Trones will also appear. Brickman has teamed up with many nationally known acts and six of his albums have received gold and platinum status. His pop songs include such hits as “Valentine,” and “The Gift.” Brickman has recorded with Lady Antebellum, Herb Alpert, Carly Simon, and Martina McBride. According to his website, since the release of his debut album No Words in 1994, Jim Brickman’s romantic piano sound has made him the best-selling solo piano artist of our time. Brickman will bring one of the most entertaining and romantic concert events of the year to cities across the country in 2013. An Evening with Jim Brickman, brings Brickman’s signature solo piano melodies and hit songs to life, plus audiences will experience brand new music from his hit CD, Believe. A native of Cleveland, Brickman began playing piano at the age of five and studied music at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Brickman has received international acclaim as a concert performer, taking his popular live concerts to more than 125 cities each year. Other artistic endeavors include a popular weekly radio show, Your Weekend with Jim Brickman; two best-selling books, Simple Things and Love Notes, debuts at Carnegie Hall and the White House; and international touring from Spain to Thailand. Brickman lends a hand to many charitable foundations, including Autism Speaks and UNICEF. A scholarship was recently established in his name at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Tickets are on sale now at the Midwest Theater located at 1707 Broadway, in Scottsbluff. (308) 632-4311. $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Balcony seating - $25. The sponsors for the performance are First State Bank, Tri-State Roofing, Regional Radiation Oncology Care, First National Bank, Hampton Inn & Suites, Regional West Physicians Clinic-Family Medicine, Music and More, Emporium Coffeehouse & Cafe, Todd & Kiki Sorenson, Ralph & Joi Phelps, KNEB Radio, Star Herald, and Hometown Family Radio. |
| Budget concerns continue for Minatare Schools 2013-03-14 By Lauren Smith-Kuckkahn - Special to the Citizen |
| The Minatare school board members half an hour deliberating in another closed session over personnel and finance issues relating to the approaching expiration of the Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools (PLAS) grant on Monday night. When the board came out of closed session, board president Gary Koke said he may not have a decision to announce until next month. “We've reached no decisions, but we're close,” Koke said. The board approved the resignations of two Minatare teachers. High school English teacher Courtney Lee announced that she is submitting her resignation in order to accept a position as Children's Ministries Coordinator for Mitchell Berean Church. Preschool teacher Katie Boyd also resigned due to a decision to relocate. First grade teacher Janel Nuss announced her retirement after 40 years in the Minatare school district. In her letter of resignation, Nuss thanked the district for giving her the opportunity to teach Minatare children. “I only hope they learned as much from me as I learned from them,” Nuss said. During board comments, Larry Randolph acknowledged Nuss's service and said that 40 years with the same district is a remarkable accomplishment. During the superintendent's report, Superintendent Tim Cody said due to the federal sequestration, a five percent reduction for Head Start, Early Head Start, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs was announced, effective immediately. He said he does not know how this will affect Minatare, but will be inquiring into the matter further. Cody said the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) grant application is still being processed, due to a setback after an error in paperwork was discovered. He said that a portion of the application contained a list of signatures of people who would use a storm shelter facility if one were available. The names were counted, but the list was not checked for redundancy before being submitted. However, during processing, it was noticed that the list contained the names of people who signed twice. After recalculating the number of people who actually signed the list, the size of the proposed project was adjusted to a smaller square footage. Cody said Crawford Schools gave a presentation on a new method of parent/teacher meetings at the February Educational Service Unit 13 (ESU) meeting, hosted in Scottsbluff. “You bring all of the parents in in one night to do goal-setting,” Cody said. He said a group meeting allows more time for parents to have all of their questions answered, and individual meetings may be scheduled as needed. He said the district is not changing to this method right now, but it is a possibility to consider. During his report to the board, high school principal Kyle Metzger said the school is anticipating the qualification of one or more Future Farmers of America (FFA) students for state competition, after they competed in Kimball on March 6. Elementary principal Doug Moran said that the school's spring bingo night is scheduled for March 21. The school hosts two bingo nights a year, one in November and one in the spring. These nights give school staff an opportunity to education parents about the district and state-mandated testing. |
| Gering junior readies for Naval Academy summer 2013-03-14 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| This June, Gering High School junior Brian Doll will be in Annapolis, Md. for the U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar. The Naval Academy selects approximately 2,550 high school seniors-to-be to attend their summer seminar. The six-day seminar introduces students to life at the Naval Academy, academics, athletics and professional training – the life they will live the next four years as Midshipmen, if accepted into the Academy. “My grandfathers were both military,” Brian said. “I know I always wanted to do something military in college, either the Academy or an ROTC program.” From June 15 – 20, students live in Bancroft Hall with the other Midshipmen, participate in physical training and attend numerous workshops covering topics from information technology to history to oceanography. Students will also take a cruise aboard a Navy Yard Patrol Craft to apply what they learn in seamanship and navigation classes. “The Naval Academy is my primary choice, although getting accepted is difficult,” Brian said. “If not, I’ll go to UNL and get involved in the Naval ROTC program. After that, I plan to join the Navy.” Brian said he has an interest in engineering and construction, so he’d like to be involved in building things, like the Seabees construction battalion. The summer seminar is led by Naval Academy Midshipmen with oversight by active duty Navy and Marine Corps officers. |
| Panelists explore causes of gun crime 2013-03-14 By Joseph Moore and Bethany Knipp - Nebraska News Service |
| Panelists at a gun violence discussion at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln agreed that a lack of access to mental health care and family dysfunction are the roots of American gun crime. Point Blank: A Conversation About Gun Violence in America featured seven experts in law enforcement, psychology, constitutional law and policy to address issues involved in gun violence Tuesday, March 5. Discussion moderator and UNL Law School Dean Susan Poser began the evening by citing United States gun violence statistics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010 guns killed 31,076 Americans in homicides, unintentional shootings and suicides, with suicides making up 62 percent of those deaths. Superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools Steve Joel said U.S. gun violence is primarily a social problem. “We have a lot of broken lives. We have a lot of broken kids and we have a lot of broken families,” he said. Many of the panelists echoed Joel’s view that violent behavior can be attributed to a lack of meaningful relationships in childhood. UNL psychology professor Mario Scalora, a threat assessment expert, said violent behavior ties into family life and relationships with parents, teachers and authority figures. Another big part of the problem, according to the panelists, is the state of mental health care in the U.S. “Gun violence is a mental health issue,” Susan Swearer, UNL psychology professor, said. Joel cited a correlation between repetitive bullying acts and the likelihood of an individual committing gun violence, an issue he said could be addressed with a greater availability of counseling and social resources in schools. Swearer is the co-director of the Bullying Research Network and said “If we can get children off the bullying trajectory, we can reduce gun violence.” Panelist Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial, a staunch gun rights proponent, agreed, adding that there is a decrease in morality in society. “People are more into themselves than the people around them,” he said. While panelists largely agreed about the causes of gun violence, there was less consensus about the solutions. To solve the issue in his city of Omaha, Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said there isn’t enough money to put officers on every block to deter gun violence. “There’s only so much law enforcement can do,” he said. Something Schmaderer said he would be in favor of is a ban on assault weapons, which he said police chiefs across the country support. “We’re for assault weapons bans just for the safety of our officers,” he said, citing an incident where an Omaha police officer was gunned down by a person with an assault weapon. Andy Allen, lobbyist for the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association, said past bans have been ineffective, but something that might work would be ensuring mental health care for parolees, who are more likely to be violent. School shootings were another issue panelists discussed, citing the recent Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn., that resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six adults. When the LPS superintendent was asked if he was in favor of arming teachers, he said no, adding, “I have yet to meet a teacher that thinks that’s a good idea.” Joel said that what LPS is doing to prevent gun violence is security training and awareness, and threat assessment and management. He said LPS is also teaching students, faculty and staff to be aware of their surroundings, recognizing cues and clues of potential violence. After the panel, audience reaction was mixed. UNL journalism professor John Bender said the panel was good for the most part, but more emotional than informative. Bender, who has served in the military, supports a ban on assault rifles. “It’s not for civilians to have weapons of that nature,” he said. “Those weapons are designed to kill people.” Audience member Chris Bettell of Lincoln said the panel didn’t really address any of his concerns. Bettell described himself as a “libertarian constitutionalist” who said that individuals have the right to carry a concealed weapon under the protection of the Second Amendment. Bettell said one of the reasons that there is so much gun violence is because of a lack of respect for human life. But regarding solutions, he said there’s no single answer to the problem. Contact Joseph Moore at nns.jmoore@gmail.com or Bethany Knipp at nns.bknipp@gmail.com |
| Wind energy tax breaks could attract revenue 2013-03-14 By Joseph Moore - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Nebraska would become one of only two states in the country that offer tax credits for renewable energy generation under a bill introduced by Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha. The Legislature’s Revenue Committee heard testimony March 6 on LB 411. The bill would offer a new tax incentive for solar, wind, biomass and landfill gas energy producers just as the federal tax credit on renewable energy production is set to expire at the end of 2013. “Us having something like this in place would make us a magnet for renewable energy developers,” Nordquist said. He said the tax incentive would give Nebraska a competitive advantage over other states in attracting investment in renewables. Currently, only Oklahoma offers a production-based tax credit on renewable energy. Despite covering several categories of renewable energy, Nordquist said the bill’s goal is to attract wind developers. Nebraska currently ranks fourth in the nation in wind resources, according to the American Wind Energy Association. The state had 260 wind turbines operating in 2012 with a total capacity of 459 megawatts, providing 2.9 percent of Nebraska’s power. By comparison, Iowa, which ranks seventh in the nation in wind resources, had a total wind energy capacity of 4,536 megawatts and generated more than 18 percent of its power from wind in 2011, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Even with plentiful wind resources, Nebraska is falling behind neighboring states in wind energy production. Nordquist’s bill would provide a tax credit of .5 cents for each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated from a renewable source. That amount would increase to a peak of 1.5 cents between 2015 and 2017, dropping back down to .5 cents after 2019. Producers would be eligible for the credit for up to eight years. The estimated cost to the state for these tax credits is about $2 million for the fiscal year 2014-2015. Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus asked if the tax credit is necessary to attract developers considering Nebraska’s abundant wind resources. Richard Lombardi, representing the Wind Coalition, a nonprofit group that advocates for wind energy production, responded by saying that the energy market is heavily subsidized and energy producers are forced to go where the incentives are greatest. “Tax policy is everything in energy policy,” he said. Lombardi said the state, and particularly rural areas, would benefit from an increase in wind energy production. “Wind projects become one of the largest taxpayers,” he said. David Levy, representing Midwest Wind Energy, a wind farm development company with operations in Nebraska, agreed that the tax credit is necessary to attract more investment. “Other states’ tax incentives put Nebraska at a disadvantage,” he said. Levy said Midwest Wind Energy projects in Custer, Knox and Boone counties would generate an estimated $66 million in local and state tax revenue over the next 10 years, adding, “We would like to build more projects in Nebraska.” No one testified against the bill. Nordquist said the committee would hear testimony on a number of related bills and encouraged members to consider some form of incentive for renewable energy development. Contact Joseph Moore at nns.jmoore@gmail.com |
| Bill would regulate herbicide spraying 2013-03-14 By Demetria Stephens, Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Nebraska’s growing grape industry is feeling the burn of chemical drift. Nebraska can grow some varieties that other parts of the country can’t, said Alan Vybiral, president of the Nebraska Wine and Grape Grower Association. But last year, Barton Holmquist a grape grower near Eagle, Neb., lost three tons of grapes or about $3,000 because of suspected 2,4-D spray drift from a neighbor. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture tried to find who it was, but the spray could’ve travelled for an unknown number of miles, depending on wind and temperature, he said. “You’ve all undoubtedly gone down a country road and smelled a skunk,” he said. “That’s a volatile chemical that’s not too far different than 2,4-D.” Holmquist is one of about 24 grape growers in the state and one of three testifiers at an Agriculture Committee hearing Tuesday, March 5, who favored Legislative Bill 636, which would regulate herbicide spraying. Sen. Norman Wallman of Cortland sponsored LB636, which focused on the herbicide 2,4-D, but includes other herbicides. Beginning April 15, 2015, and continuing yearly April 15 through Sept. 15, anyone spraying such chemicals would have to notify the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at least 72 hours in advance of an application if it’s within four miles of a sensitive crop. He said he hesitated to propose the bill at first, as a corn and soybean grower who uses 2,4-D. “But once I realized the magnitude and the loss the grape growers observed and the ongoing problems many are facing as a result of careless application, I decided something had to be done,” Wallman said. Sensitive crops include some fruits, vegetables, beehives and organic crops. If the ground is sprayed, crops grown there couldn’t be sold as organic for three years, according to the National Organic Program. About 16 off-target applications of chemicals were mentioned in a Nebraska Department of Agriculture newsletter, said Brent Meyer, superintendent at the Lancaster County Weed Control Authority. “This is not a huge problem,” he said, “but it is a serious problem and it happens.” Off- target sprayers need to be punished under existing state and federal laws that say the chemical “label is the law,” he said. If people don’t follow the chemical label, there are already potential fines, so he said the weed control authority opposed the bill. Other testifiers opposing the bill said the state’s unpredictable weather would make it hard to notify the agriculture department in advance. The solution could be education about the existing laws and communication among neighbors. Several said Drift Watch, a voluntary program that maps sensitive crops, should be used by people who don’t want to get drifted on and by those wanting to spray. “If you turn something loose in the environment, you ought to be responsible for where it lands,” said Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha, adding he didn’t know if this particular bill solved the problem. Scott Merritt, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, said his group wasn’t against organic or specialty crops, but the program should remain voluntary. “Everybody has to take responsibility for some of their own.” Don Albrecht, a grape grower, said Nebraska can learn a lesson from Iowa that went through similar a time of increased lawsuits dealing with specialty crops and drift because state law relied on people following labels. “If we’re smart, we won’t do that,” he said. “We’ll find a middle ground.” John Lindquist, a professor of agronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, testified in a neutral position on the bill and gave a few pros and cons. Technology has gotten better so spray drift isn’t as common as it used to be, but herbicides are being used more because of glyphosate, or RoundUp, resistant weeds. People are spraying 2,4-D to kill the glyphosate resistant weeds, he said, but that would increase the amount of chemical spray and possibility of 2,4-D resistant weeds. On the other hand, he indicated, the 72-hour advance notice requirement would give sprayers less of a window to spray to control noxious weeds and the four-mile radius was an overreach. Wallman said he could agree to change the four-mile rule, but he wasn’t ready to withdraw the bill. “Introducing it (the bill) is the least I can do to bring light to this important issue,” he said. |
| USDA discrimination claims deadline looming 2013-03-14 By |
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2013 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by the USDA in past decades that there are fewer than 30 days remaining in the filing period closing March 25, 2013. "Hispanic and women farmers who believe they have faced discriminatory practices in the past from the USDA have fewer than 30 days left to file a claim in order to have a chance to receive a cash payment or loan forgiveness," said Secretary Vilsack. "USDA urges potential claimants to contact the Claims Administrator for information and mail their claim packages on or before March 25, 2013." The process offers a voluntary alternative to litigation for each Hispanic or female farmer and rancher who can prove that USDA denied his or her application for loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000. As announced in February 2011, the voluntary claims process will make available at least $1.33 billion for cash awards and tax relief payments, plus up to $160 million in farm debt relief, to eligible Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers. There are no filing fees to participate in the program. The Department will continue reaching out to potential Hispanic and female claimants around the country to get the word out to individuals who may be eligible for this program so they have the opportunity to participate. Call center representatives can be reached at 1-888-508-4429. Claimants may register for a claims package (by calling the number or visiting the website) or may download the forms from the website. All those interested in learning more or receiving information about the claims process and claims packages are encouraged to attend meetings in your communities about the claims process and contact the website at any time or the call center telephone number Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Website: www.farmerclaims.gov Phone: 1-888-508-4429 Claims Period: September 24, 2012 - March 25, 2013. Independent legal services companies will administer the claims process and adjudicate the claims. Although there are no filing fees to participate and a lawyer is not required to participate in the claims process, persons seeking legal advice may contact a lawyer or other legal services provider. Under Secretary Vilsack's leadership, USDA has instituted a comprehensive plan to strengthen the Department as a model service provider and to ensure that every farmer and rancher is treated equally and fairly as part of "a new era of civil rights" at USDA. In February 2010, the Secretary announced the Pigford II settlement with African American farmers, and in October 2010, he announced the Keepseagle settlement with Native American farmers. Both of those settlements have since received court approval. Unlike the cases brought by African American and Native American farmers, the cases filed by Hispanic and women farmers over a decade ago were not certified as class actions. The claims process provides a voluntary alternative to continuing litigation for Hispanic and female farmers and ranchers who want to use it. |
| Arborist training set for March in Scottsbluff 2013-03-14 By |
| People who want to become certified as arborists from the International Society of Arborists can receive instruction at a March 19 workshop at Scottsbluff. The workshop will take place from 1-5 p.m. in the North Platte Natural Resources District meeting room at 100547 Airport Road, Scottsbluff. Preregistration is required and limited to 12 participants. Registrations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, contact NFS Community Forestry Specialist Amy Seiler at aseiler2@unl.edu or 308-632-2749. The four-hour course will provide training in the 10 subject areas covered in the ISA Certified Arborists Exam. The course will provide an overview of the 16-chapter study guide, with particular emphasis in the areas of tree worker safety, soil and water, tree maintenance, pruning, and tree biology. The training is provided by the Nebraska Forest Service and will be taught by Eric Berg, Community Forestry and Sustainable Landscape Program Leader and ISA Certified Arborist and Municipal Specialist. Class fee is $60 per participant. Participants will receive a copy of the ISA certification study manual. The ISA certification test and location will be announced at a later date. |
| Gering Speech Team wins Class B-6 district title 2013-03-14 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| The Gering Speech team will have a major presence at the state tournament in Kearney next week. The barking bulldogs had first or second place finishers in all events. Tanner Baird was a double first place finisher, winning in both Informative and Entertainment Speaking. Also included in the team’s six first-place finishers is Allison Baird in Serious Prose, Caleb Wyre in Poetry Interpretation, Samuel Eastman in Extemporaneous Speaking, the Oral Interpretation of Drama team consisting of Johnathon Boyd, Megan Brady, Andrew Delcamp, Hayley Grams, and Gavin Hovseth. It took a total of 148 points for Gering to seal their fate as this year’s District Championship team. Now the team is on to the final stage of the season as the Gering speakers head to the state tournament in Kearney on March 21. Here are the results from the Class B-6 District tournament in Gering: Humorous Prose 1, Hunter Reeves, Ogallala; 2, Andrew Delcamp, Gering; 3, Collin Cox, Alliance; 4, Lauren Gull, Sidney; 5, Caleb Hayden, Gering; 6, Jennifer VanFleet, Chadron Serious Prose 1, Allison Baird, Gering; 2, Kendall Uhrich, Gering; 3, Alexis Smith, Mitchell; 4, Casey Baldwin, Sidney; 5, Roger Bunnell, Alliance; 6, David Strang, Alliance Oral Interpetation of Poetry 1, Caleb Wyre, Gering; 2, Michael Kruse, Chadron; 3, Balie Waldhelm, Ogallala; 4, David Strang, Alliance; 5, Micah Most, Ogallala Extemporaneous Speaking 1, Samuel Eastman, Gering; 2, Phoebe Lockhart, Ogallala; 3, Casey Baldwin, Sidney; 4, Kyle Upp, Gering; 5, Mitchel Rankert, Sidney; 6, Evan Hansmeier, Ogallala Entertainment Speaking 1, Tanner Baird, Gering; 2, Kaitlyn Kryzanowski, Gering; 3, Flor Acosta, Alliance; 4, Jordan Feisert, Ogallala;5, Madenine McQuillan, Ogallala; 6, Shevelle Lee, Valentine Informative Speaking 1, Tanner Baird, Gering; 2, Kali Rimington, Gering; 3, Abigail Nguyen, Ogallala; 4, Madison Hostetler, Ogallala; 5, Kassidy Linaberg, Valentine; 6, Anna Turner, Sidney Duet Acting 1, Lauren Gull/ Darby Young, Sidney; 2, Johnathon Boyd/ Jenna Longmore, Geing; 3, Annie Brickner/ Jacy Miller, Valentine; 4, Balie Waldhelm/ Byron Nelson, Ogallala; 5, Samuel Cheramie/ Andrew Phelps, Sidney; 6, Rhiann Swancutt/ Jesus Samaniego, McCook Oral Interpetation of Drama 1, Johnathon Boyd, Megan Brady, Andrew Delcamp, Hayley Grams, and Gavin Hovseth, Gering; 2, Aaron Gaswick, Cortland Goffena, and Terran Merriman-Honerkamp, Chadron; 3,Caleb Hayden, Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski, Kendall Uhrich, and Caleb Wyre, Gering; 4, Kathryn Engel, Emilene Engel, Abby Nyguyen, Clarissa Morales, and Cassie Ramirez, Ogallala;5, Morgan Boots, Roger Bunnell, Collin Cox, and Kacey Horn, Alliance; 6, Elizabeth Goodell, William Grant, Mary Weingart, and Mikayla Witt, Alliance |
| Sheriff Overman addresses gun control concerns 2013-03-07 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| A lively crowd of over 100 people attended a gun control discussion Monday night at the Valley Event Center in Gering. Guest speakers gave brief presentations before Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman addressed the crowd and answered many questions about second amendment protections and the rights of gun owners. Many law enforcement officers attended the discussion. The event was sponsored by the Nebraska Panhandle 912 Project. Shortly after President Obama was reelected last fall, Lory Storm of Crawford, and Judy Hoxworth of Gering, decided it was time to follow the lead of conservative commentator Glenn Beck and form a local chapter of the 912 Project. Beck created the non-partisan movement and named it in recognition of the national unity that many Americans felt on Sept. 12, 2001. Storm and Hoxworth invited concerned friends and like-minded folks to join them. “Our state is unique as it has a unicameral form of government,” Storm told the crowd, “Nebraskans are the second house.” Storm said the group will be holding gun control discussions in many other counties around the state and praised Overman for being the first sheriff in the state to participate. “We are also working on a voter ID petition,” she said. “We are working to collect 115,000 signatures to amend the state constitution to require proof of citizenship to be able to vote.” “Ever since Newtown there has been discussion on this,” Overman told the crowd. “I've received many emails and calls regarding gun control and gun ownership rights. The second amendment protects individual rights to own a gun for legal purposes, including self defense. This is the law of the land and it hasn't changed.” Overman then systematically reviewed and read all 23 executive orders regarding guns that President Obama issued in late January of this year in response to the Newtown tragedy. “People are saying Mr. Obama took away our rights,” Overman said, “I have a hard time seeing how these orders do that. We don't want crazy people to have guns because they will do something stupid. We all think of Newtown. I support the idea to focus on keeping guns away from people with a mental illness.” Overman noted he was a relatively new sheriff, having only served for two years, but added he has been in law enforcement for over three decades. “Gun rights have changed radically,” he said. “When I started there wasn't any concealed carry, for example.” The Sheriff then displayed a chart showing all the states that allow for legal concealed carry rules. “This chart was before the Newtown shootings.” He then displayed a second chart. “This chart is from after the Newtown shootings. There has been no change. I don't think very many want to ban guns but we need to keep them out of the hands of those who would shoot children. But nothing has been proposed in Nebraska that would weaken the second amendment. Senator Dianne Feinstein from California has proposed an assault weapons ban in committee but this will not get through the House with a Republican majority. [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid is a former law enforcement officer. He has been pretty silent on all this.” In Nebraska, State Senator Charlie Janssen of Fremont introduced legislation that would ensure solid second amendment protection. Jannsen wrote on his website, “So, as the Nebraska legislature commences with the 103rd Legislative session, I wanted to let you know about LB 451, a bill I filed today to defend the Constitution and protect our 2nd Amendment rights. My legislation will do two key things here in Nebraska: 1, Make any federal law which places new restrictions on firearm or magazine ownership unenforceable in Nebraska; and 2, Make any federal law that places new registration requirements on firearm ownership unenforceable in Nebraska.” Many in the crowd said they supported LB 451 and expressed concerns that there was a potential for federal abuse and a covert plan to disarm Americans. One man told the sheriff, “I know they want our guns and once they get them they'll turn guns on us.” “I don't see any current efforts to do that,” Overman replied. Dave Peterson, who served as the emcee for the event said that while he wasn't too worried about Nebraska he felt people needed to keep an eye on the future. “I love Ted Nugent,” Peterson said. “When people say 'why would you need an assault rifle?' Nugent said, 'It isn't called the Bill of Needs.' We need to keep an eye on the future so our rights aren't eroded.” Overman repeated that he wasn't aware of any efforts in the United States to disarm the citizenry. “Nowhere has it been proposed to take guns,” Overman said, “not even in New York. Law enforcement will follow the constitution. We respect the second amendment. We also respect the fourth amendment regarding search and seizure. Anyone trying to pass a law saying officers will come to your house after your guns is proposing something blatantly unconstitutional. The police grew up around here. We won't be mobilized by Washington DC to do something blatantly unconstitutional. Federal agents are patriots too. I've met several of them and they aren't going to turn against their oath and enforce unconstitutional laws.” Others expressed worries about the mental health recommendations in the 23 executive orders from President Obama. Specifically orders 16 and 17 seemed a little open to interpretation according to some in attendance. Order 16 states: “Clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes,” and order 17 says: “Release a letter to health care providers clarifying that no federal law prohibits them from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement authorities.” “The problem with mental health is the definitions change,” a woman told the sheriff. “Mr. Obama might think differently and that is what scares us. Maybe they will say someone has guns and a Bible and should be placed on a mental health list and denied gun ownership.” Another person expressed concern that the Supreme Court could 'tilt' and redefine who can have guns. Overman said, “I am not a cafeteria constitutionalist. I don't take one part and leave another. There is a balance of power in our system of government. If legislators make a bad law the president can veto it or the Supreme Court can declare it unconstitutional. If we don't like what the Supreme Court does we have the power to change to constitution.” The discussion veered into many areas including the embassy shootings in Benghazi and the Attorney General's involvement in the sale of arms to Mexican drug cartels. Scotts Bluff County Corrections Chaplin Mike Blue said, “The foundation of self defense is the natural law. Our liberty is a gift from God. If we don't involve prayer in this it won't happen. We need to pray for our families, our children and for our future.” Others pointed out that at the time the second amendment was written the civilians were as well armed as the military. “Muskets were the contemporary weapons at that time,” one man said. “They were the same weapons the military had.” “The second amendment says we should have the right to bear the same arms as the military,” organizer Storm added. “They should feel lucky we aren't asking for the right to buy tanks.” Several others complained about a 'liberal agenda' designed to seize control of the nation and the possibility President Obama may declare martial law. Overman acknowledged there are extreme anti-gun advocates who are very vocal but often misinformed. “They are a minority in our country but I agree there are people out there who want to ban guns,” he said, “but this talk of an Obama coup … I don't think that will happen. Do you think our military would back that? Do you think law enforcement would back that idea? In any attempt, by anyone, to take over the nation like that you need support to carry that out. I don't see that happening. I see no efforts being made to indicate that. Don't ever forget law enforcement and military personnel are patriots. They would not support something like that.” Anyone interested in the 23 executive orders in question can easily access them on the Internet. |
| Nebraska’s Miss America exhibit opens in Lincoln 2013-03-07 By Demetria Stephens - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Teresa Scanlan made history as the first Nebraskan named Miss America in 2011. Now through Sept. 3, her dresses, shoes and jewelry will be displayed at the Nebraska History Museum. “When people think of Nebraska history, they think of things that are old and dusty,” said Tina Koeppe, exhibition services coordinator at the Nebraska History Museum. “This is definitely not the case.” About 150 people packed the Nebraska History Museum lobby for an exhibit of Nebraska’s Miss America, Friday, March 1, in Lincoln.. Koeppe pulled the color scheme from Scanlan’s dresses, worn during Miss America events, with a patriotic theme and some sparkle, she said. The exhibit also features a piano and vocal track and display of a Miss America sash and other objects Scanlan made out of duct tape. The dresses also will be displayed at a museum at Scottsbluff, adjacent to Scanlan’s hometown of Gering, Koeppe said. “We just wanted it to look like a big, bright, flamboyant affair,” she said. Special guests led the opening reception, including Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff, along with Nebraska Reps. Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln and Adrian Smith of Gering. Smith remembered when Scanlan was crowned, making Gering, the state of Nebraska and America proud as an ambassador on many issues, he said. “It’s great to be here to celebrate, really, history that has been made for Nebraska,” Smith said. “She has been mentioned representing farm life, explaining agriculture for people around the country, supporting our troops,” Fortenberry said. “These I think are the important parts of her legacy.” Scanlon said the dresses aren’t just materials, they represent people who touched her life. “This is not about me,” she said. “It’s about all of those I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and that I hope to continue to serve this year and from here on out.” Scanlan is a 20-year-old freshman at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va., and the exhibit came together when she dropped off boxes on her way to college, Koeppe said. The museum made mannequins from scratch to fit Scanlan’s dress. The mannequins maker, Curt Peacock, retired the day before the event, so this was his last show, Koeppe said. Scanlan was crowned Miss Nebraska in June 2010, when she was 17 because she had the “whole package,” said Amy Engel, co-executive director of Miss Nebraska with her husband, Jay. Scanlon did well in interviews with a panel of judges, questions on current events, a talent portion and swimsuit and evening gown competitions. But she nearly missed the deadline to apply for Miss Nebraska. “She just turned 17 when she won her local pageant,” Jay Engel said. Eleanor Aufdenkamp, 15, of North Platte was a “little sister” for another Miss Nebraska candidate, Harmony Ray. She followed Ray for the week-long pageant. “I watched Teresa get crowned Miss Nebraska and watched her become Miss America and realized that really anything is possible,” Aufdenkamp said. Harms said Scanlan is a good role model. “You can be beautiful on the outside,” Harms said. "But what really counts is the beauty inside of you as a person and as an individual, because that beauty will carry you for the rest of your life, and Teresa has that beauty.” Contact Demetria Stephens at nns.dstephens@gmail.com |
| Agri-Business Scholarship Applications 2013-03-07 By |
| Agri-Business Scholarship Applications are available at the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce. These scholarships are awarded to students pursuing agricultural related degrees. Five scholarships were awarded in 2012. For more information or to get an application call (308) 632-2133 or email accounting@scottsbluffgering.net. Applications deadline is Mar. 29th. Call or email today to apply. Funded by the Agri-Business Committee event proceeds. |
| Gering Speech Team wins fourth consecutive Western Conference 2013-03-07 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| The Gering High School speech team has done it again, having won their fourth consecutive Western Conference title. Gering sent 21 competitors to finals, had five individual event champions and earned more than 160 sweepstake points. Samuel Eastman took home the gold in both Extemporaneous and Persuasive Speaking events; Kali Rimington won with her Informative speech, Allie Baird took first in Poetry; and the Oral Interpretation of Drama team of Wyre, Hayden and Co. The results of this Western Conference tournament, in part, determine who will go to districts for the chance to make it to the stage at the State Tournament in Kearney on March 21. Humorous Prose 1, Collin Cox, Alliance; 2, Claire Holsinger, Scottsbluff; 3, Luke Parsley, Scottsbluff; 4, Darby Young, Sidney; 5, Kodi Milburn, Chadron; 6, Nikki-Catrina Anderson, Scottsbluff Informative Speaking 1, Kali Rimington, Gering; 2, Jenna Longmore, Gering; 3, Tanner Baird, Gering; 4, Derrick Goss, Scottsbluff; 5, Kimberley Hernandez, Scottsbluff; 6, Sarah Mercer-Smith, Scottsbluff Extemporaneous Speaking 1, Samuel Eastman, Gering; 2, Kyle Upp, Gering; 3, Casey Baldwin, Sidney; 4, Lane Chasek, Chadron; 5, Caston Stack, Chadron; 6, Josh Harnish, Scottsbluff Poetry Interpretation 1, Allie Baird, Gering; 2, Caleb Wyre, Gering; 3, Zaidee Rada, Scottsbluff; 4, David Strang, Alliance; 5, Jenna Banzhaf, Chadron; 6, Sydni Schledewitz, Gering Duet Acting 1, Derrick Goss/ Andrew Holsinger, Scottsbluff; 2, Johnathon Boyd/ Jenna Longmore, Gering; 3, Darby Young/ Lauren Gull, Sidney; 4, Makayla Stephenson/ Luke Parsley, Scottsbluff; 5, Tanner Baird/ Kendall Uhrich, Gering; 6, Kaitlyn Kryzyzanowski/ Caleb Hayden Oral Interpretation of Drama (OID) 1, Wyre, Hayden Co. Co, Gering; 2, Boyd, Delcamp Co. Co, Gering; 3, Piece of My Heart, Scottsbluff; 4, Gaswick Co. Co., Chadron; 5, Bunnel and Co, Alliance; 6, Glover Co. Co, Sidney Entertainment Speaking 1, Derrick Goss, Scottsbluff; 2, Tanner Baird, Gering; 3, Gavin Hovseth, Gering; 4, Kaitlyn Kryzyzanowski, Gering; 5, Alexis Smith, Mitchell; 6, Paige Corr, Scottsbluff Serious Prose 1, Whitney Kuxhausen, Scottsbluff; 2, Allie Baird, Gering; 3, Andrew Holsinger, Scottsbluff; 4, Kendall Uhrich, Gering; 5, David Strang, Alliance; 6, Flor Acosta, Alliance Persuasive Speaking 1, Samuel Eastman, Gering; 2, Kyle Upp, Gering; 3, Morgan Meister, Scottsbluff; 4, Zoey Rada, Scottsbluff; 5, Isabel Wolf, Gering; 6, Channing Wills, Scottsbluff |
| Gering High School gears up for Tintypes 2013-03-07 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| The Gering High School auditorium is alive with the sound of music for this year’s musical Tintypes. Tintypes is a musical revue paying tribute to the turn of the 20th century America and the onset of World War I. Audience members are given a musical history lesson taking them through pivotal points of American history. “The audience is really in for a treat,” said director Shelly Revelle, “It’s funny and very vaudeville.” Tintypes is one of the smaller musicals Gering High School has put on. “It’s a smaller cast this year, we only have 35 total,” said Revelle. While there is only five characters in the show a chorus part was added giving a musical boost to the shows 52 songs. Tintypes open on April 11, 12, and 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gering High School auditorium. Tickets at $7 and will be available the last week of March. The cast of Tintypes: Charlie, Andrew Cook; TR, John Boyd; Emma, Katie O’Boyle; Anna, Allie Baird; Susannah, Megan Brady; Women’s Chorus: Savannah Walker, Alexa Longoria, Torri Brumbaugh, Kylee Bairn, Olivia Anderson, Brandy Mendoza, Hayley Grams, Jenna Longmore, Brittany Eckerberg, Kali Rimington, Holly Walker, Audrey Fries, Kylee Bairn, Ciara Sabala, Chelcey Mannel, Dakota Wademan, Dakota Gellner, Rachel Huffman, Mikayla Kreider, Brooke Doggett. Torri Brumbaugh; Men’s Chorus: Justin Brester, Brock Chitwood, Justin Schwartzkopf, Josh VanLitsenborgh, Jake Thomas, Justin Esparza, Matt Wolfe, Isaiah Wilson, Ben Horrocks and Alex Clark. |
| Roosevelt Elementary students celebrate Seuss 2013-03-07 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| By Students at Roosevelt Elementary celebrated Dr. Seuss in honor of the author’s birthday and to celebrate Read Across America. Students at Roosevelt Elementary in Scottsbluff spent the day doing crafts and reading stories from the beloved children’s author. Read Across America is a national program created by the National Education Association as way to motivate children to become lifelong readers. March 1 is author Theodore Giesel birthday and for the last 16 years has been a day dedicated to reading. It was estimated that this year 45 million students across America made the pledge to become better readers. |
| County prepares for 125th birthday 2013-03-07 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| In addition to the celebration of Oregon Trail Days in July, Scotts Bluff County will also celebrate its 125th birthday. Brenda Leisy, director of Scotts Bluff County Tourism, said the group had originally intended to have the celebration on March. However, confusion over just when the documents were signed to create the county in 1888, the tourism board decided to hold the celebration in July when thousands of people are in the area for the 92nd annual Oregon Trail Days. A number of collectibles will be on sale to help commemorate the event, including, shirts, caps, coffee mugs and blankets. Leisy said the tourism committee is also seeking submissions for a 125th anniversary cookbook. “We’ve had a good response on the recipes, but we could always use more,” she said. “We want to make it a pretty good sized cookbook, as it was a really popular when the county celebrated its centennial.” Recipes may be dropped off at the Human Resources office at the Scotts Bluff County Administrative Building or at the Tourism Office at the Farm And Ranch Museum. She added the committee is still working on what kinds of activities will be a part of the celebration. However, they will participate in the OTD parade and have a cake and ice cream celebration at the county buildings. Also during the celebration, the committee will announce the winner of the Scotts Bluff County 125th Anniversary logo contest. “We had 12 people submit their artwork and we’ve already picked the winner,” Leisy said. “It will be featured on all the commemorative items we sell. It’s a very forward thinking kind of logo and very impressive.” Another project in which Scotts Bluff County Tourism is involved is supporting the Riverside Discovery Center, which will incorporate the Riverside Zoo, Wildlife World and a children’s museum. The county board approved the expenditure during its Feb. 19 meeting. “We’ll be supporting them over the next five years,” Leisy said. “What they needed was some solid support so they could approach the local banks for their capital campaign.” The center will need about $3.2 million to build the facility, which is the second largest tourist attraction in the county. “Our committee fully supports the project,” Leisy said. “It’s the only accredited zoo in our area and is a huge drawing tool for people to come and visit. And the kids love it. We need things for kids to do while they’re here. This will be very beneficial to Scotts Bluff County, so I think it’s important for us to be on board.” With support from the county, Riverside Discovery Center donors have now raised or pledged about $1.5 million toward the project. |
| Gering grad covers state Legislature 2013-03-07 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Shelby Friesz, a 2009 graduate of Gering High School, now spends some of her time covering the state Legislature for Nebraska News Service. Shelby, co-editor of the Gering yearbook, is now a junior at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. But she doesn’t attend their School of Journalism. “I did well in math and science during high school, so I came here wanting to get into something in the mathematical field,” Shelby said. “I started in accounting but found out I was dreadful at it.” Shelby said at that time, she had been considering going into teaching, so she called one of her former teachers. That led to her decision to go into teaching high school English and journalism. She credits her work on the high school yearbook with getting her to expand her creative horizons and step outside of herself. “We had some great opportunities to travel around the state and really get to know people at a different level,” she said. “It helped me a lot in learning to talk with people, keeping deadlines and the other skills I needed in college.” As a freshman at UNL, Shelby enrolled in a beginning reporting class. Her professor saw her talent and wrote a letter of recommendation for her to get into the teachers’ college. The professor, as advisor for Nebraska News Service, also asked her to write for the group. “I didn’t think I could teach journalism without first having done it, so this would give me some experience,” Shelby said. Because of her interest in education, Shelby was assigned to cover the Legislature’s Education Committee for Nebraska News Service. She also helps out with covering the Ag Committee because there are usually more meetings than one reporter can handle. “The budget is a big thing right now,” she said. “The Education Committee is looking at the state aid formula, so I’m going to have to learn a lot more about how they determine that funding.” For new journalists, she recommended asking lots of questions. “Most of the people I cover in the Legislature speak a different language,” she said. “I found that if I ask questions, they’re more than helpful so I understand. So I’d advice new journalists no never be afraid of asking questions.” She also had many thanks for all the teachers in Gering for the help they gave in getting her to this point in her life. “My transition to college was pretty seamless thanks to my teachers who prepared me for the experience. I had such a great foundation; I decided to go into teaching myself.” After graduating in 2014, Shelby has a number of options. “I studies abroad one summer, so part of me wants to teach abroad for a year. I also want to work with at-risk students in a bigger city, so I might end up there to start. After I get some new experiences, I’d like to end up back in Nebraska.” |
| United Way tops fundraising goal 2013-03-07 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| The United Way of Western Nebraska wrapped up its 2012 – 2013 campaign with almost $70,000 more than it had originally projected. Campaign co-chair Katie Camacho said they set their goal at $360,000, but ended up with $429,543.10. “A few different factors contributed to that increase,” she said. “We had an incredible turnout for the Duck Dash and some of our other special events. A new large company, Nationstar, also came on board and encouraged their employees to give. That was a huge benefit to us.” She added the current Pacesetter businesses exceeded their goals in getting employee contributions to United Way. “The community really went above and beyond all year long,” said co-chair Krista Sarchet. “We sold out of ducks for the Duck Dash and it showed us we have an amazing community that gives of themselves as much as they do.” Sarchet said she’s been involved with other non-profit organizations and is always impressed with how the community comes together to support people in need. “The community is incredible,” she said. “I wouldn’t live anywhere else.” Comacho said that beyond the money that people give, they also get involved as volunteers for both the United Way and several of its member agencies. “Volunteers are always the lifeblood of many non-profits, so people can have just as big an impact as dollars.” Sarchet encouraged people to call the United Way offices if they’d like to become a part of the process of determining what money will go to support which agencies. Later this spring, groups will meet with non-profit agencies that apply for funding to determine a support level. “People are surprised to realize how their lives or people they know are affected by these agencies,” Sarchet said. “It might be through the Boy Scouts or the Volunteer Center’s Meals on Wheels program. Even a little financial help goes a long way.” United Way Executive Director Steph Black said they had a lot more people participate in the just finished campaign. Because more people are being touched by these agencies, they’re finding ways to give back. Current agencies being support by the United Way of Western Nebraska include CAPWN – Assets Building Choices, the Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy, CAPstone, the Carpenter Center, CASA of Scotts Bluff County, the Cirrus House transitional Age Program, Disability Rights Nebraska, DOVES, the NCAP Foster Grandparent Program, the Guadalupe Center, Legal Aid Nebraska, Boy Scouts of America Longs Peak Council, Monument Family Connections, Panhandle Humane Society, Panhandle Independent Living Services, Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Center, Scottsbluff Senior Center, SPEAK Out, the Camp Scott Summer Program for Handicapped Children and the CAPWN Western Nebraska Child Development Center. |
| News Briefs 2013-03-07 By |
| New procedure developed for knee defects Regional West Physicians Clinic-Orthopaedics’ new surgeon, Eric Gardner, MD, may have a remedy for patients suffering from focal cartilage defects of the knee. During fellowship training at Cincinnati Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center, Dr. Gardner learned to perform cartilage restoration from his mentor, internationally-renowned knee surgeon and orthopaedic sports medicine specialist, Frank Noyes, MD. Dr. Gardner is now performing the procedure on select patients who have non-arthritic cartilage injuries in the knee. The treatment is best suited to patients from early teens to 40 years of age who have not responded to prior arthroscopic or other surgical repair procedure. The cartilage restoration procedure involves cleaning out damaged knee cartilage, attaching a protective patch to the site, and then injecting the site with the patient’s own cartilage cells, which have been cultured in a laboratory. Rehabilitation generally lasts nine to 18 months. Dr. Gardner is the only orthopaedic surgeon in the region who performs the Carticel procedure. Carticel is an FDA-approved treatment that uses a patient's own cells to repair cartilage injuries in the knee. Dr. Gardner was raised in Denver and attended Brigham Young University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. Severe Weather Awareness Week is coming up Region 22 Emergency Management Agency will observe Severe Weather Awareness Week March 25 – 29. A proclamation will also be signed by Gov. Dave Heineman. A mock tornado warning will broadcast on Wednesday, March 27 between 9 – 10 a.m. All area health care facilities, schools, businesses, government agencies and individuals are urged to participate either in an actual exercise or by discussing their response plan in the event of an actual tornado. From 7 – 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27, representatives from the National Weather Service in Cheyenne will be at the Harms Center at Western Nebraska Community College for the annual Severe Weather Spotter Training. All interested persons are invited to attend, especially those involved with law enforcement, fire services, media, rural spotters, amateur radio and citizen band radio operators. County Democrats schedule next meeting The next scheduled meeting of the Scotts Bluff County Democrats will be held on Monday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Godfathers Pizza They will be buying pizza and drinks (as the buffet is not running) and ask that people make a donation back to the party if you would like to help offset the costs. Spring forward to spring Daylight savings begins on Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m. when residents set their clocks forward one hour. The Scottsbluff Fire Department would like to remind citizens to check their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at this time and change the batteries. If your smoke detector is 10 years old, it needs to be replaced. Carbon monoxide detectors generally need to be replaced every 5-7 years. Batteries in detectors need to be changed at least twice a year, even if they are hardwired into the home’s electrical system. Scottsbluff Fire Department recommends doing this when daylight savings begins and ends as an easy reminder. |
| Dr. Bill Myers 90th birthday 2013-03-07 By |
| Dr. Bill R. Myers will celebrate his 90th birthday with an open house from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, in the main dining room at Northfield Villa in Gering. The event will be hosted by his family. Cards and well wishes may also be sent to him at 2550 21st Street, Apt. 207, Gering, NE, 69341. |
| Bills focus on minors serving alcohol, increased beer tax 2013-03-07 By Bethany Knipp - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN--Making sure employees under age 21 won’t serve alcohol to other minors was the purpose of a bill in the General Affairs Committee Monday, March 4. Another alcohol-related bill would increase beer taxes. Under the LB444, introduced by Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, employees who sell alcohol would have to complete a training course to do so. Underage workers could sell in a licensed retail establishment as long as another authorized person who is at least 21 was on the premise, essentially supervising the sale. Krist said the legislation is necessary because minors who sell alcohol might be pressured into selling their underage peers a drink. Alcohol servers and sellers now have to be 19 years old. Proponent Brenda Worth said she was in favor of the bill because Worth’s brother and nephew died as a result of being served by minors. Worth said there is a lot of peer pressure in small towns for minors to serve their friends on top of more responsibility. “They themselves aren’t old enough to drink and then they also have to make a decision on whether or not to serve this person and to cut off this person who might be 21 years old,” she said. Kathy Siefken, director of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association, said she opposed the bill because some retailers already have training and certification programs, adding that the proposed requirement would increase costs without being very effective. Under the bill, a person’s certification would have to be renewed every three years. Siefken said that wouldn’t be enough training to stop the problem. What would stop it would be managers, according to Siefken. “A deterrent are those good managers that repeat that training on a regular basis and that’s how you stop the sales to minors,” she said. Along with these issues, Seifken said a provision in the bill that would allow for the revocation of liquor licenses for retailers with any one uncertified employee was problematic. “That seems a little harsh to revoke a license because one person slipped through the cracks,” she said. The General Affairs Committee also heard testimony regarding LB653, which would increase tax on beer by 5 cents a gallon. Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis, the bill’s introducer, said 27 percent of Nebraska’s criminal activity last year was related to alcohol. Davis said the tax on beer would put revenue into Nebraska’s law enforcement to help with the increased workload to which alcohol-related incidents contribute. The 5-cent increase would bring the total tax on beer to 36 cents a gallon. Siefken also testified against LB653 saying that $2.3 million would be taken from Nebraska taxpayers, but Davis said the tax would be miniscule and wouldn’t affect people who don’t drink beer. “This tax would be about a nickel on a 12-pack,” he said. No one testified in favor of the bill. Contact Bethany Knipp at nns.bknipp@gmail.com |
| Capitol View - Ernie’s back and so is the debate on the death penalty 2013-03-07 By J.L. Schmidt - Statehouse Correspondent - The Nebraska Press Association |
| The return of Omaha Senator Ernie Chambers from his four-year term-limit-driven exile has also meant a return of discussions about the death penalty. A couple of Chambers’ bills deal with the way Nebraska courts decide whether to execute someone (LB542) as well as an outright repeal of the death penalty (LB543) and replacement with mandatory life in prison without parole. In 134 years, 37 people have been legally executed for the crime of murder in Nebraska. The first was Samuel Richards who was hanged on Jan. 15, 1879. Allison Cole and Allen Grammer were the first to die in the electric chair on Dec. 20, 1920, the only time the state had back-to-back executions on the same day. Mass murderer Charles Starkweather, convicted in 1958 for killing 11 people, was the last to die in the electric chair (June 15, 1959) before the United States Supreme Court banned executions in 1972. Three men have died since that ban was lifted in 1976. Harold Lamont “Walkin’ Wili” Otey died on Sept. 2, 1994, for the death of Jane McManus in Omaha. John Joubert was executed July 17, 1996, for the deaths of Bellevue area newspaper carriers Danny Eberle and Christopher Walden. Robert E. Williams was the last one electrocuted on Dec. 2, 1997, for the deaths of Catherine Brooks, Patricia McGarry and Virginia Rowe in Lincoln in 1977. In 2008, the state Supreme Court ruled that electrocution was cruel and unusual punishment. A year later, the Nebraska Legislature adopted lethal injection as the method of execution. The state’s highest court set the first execution under the new method for June 14, 2011, but stayed that execution based on a defense attorney’s objection that the sodium thiopental the state purchased from a company in Mumbai fails to comply with U.S. pharmaceutical standards. Nebraska law requires that someone convicted of murder be subjected to a second trial by jurors to determine if the aggravating factors surrounding the crime outweigh any mitigating factors. If they do, a three-judge panel then decides whether the death penalty is warranted. They look at nine aggravating circumstances, such as whether the murder was done for hire or to cover up evidence of another crime. Chambers’ LB542 would eliminate one that says: “The murder was especially heinous, atrocious, cruel, or manifested exceptional depravity by ordinary standards of morality and intelligence.” He told the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee that aggravator “is the most litigated, judicially ‘interpreted, tweaked and defined,’ confusing, unworkable, disagreed upon aggravator in the litter.” Chambers’ LB543 would abolish the death penalty and replace it with mandatory life without parole. Opponents of the death penalty emphasize that such a move prevents the execution of an innocent man. On March 25, 1887, William Jackson Marion was hanged for the murder of John Cameron. However, Cameron turned up alive in 1891. Marion received a posthumous pardon by the State of Nebraska on the 100th anniversary of his execution. Proponents of the death penalty say it will work as a deterrent only if administered in a timely fashion. Starkweather was executed almost exactly a year after his sentencing; the shortest time on death row was the four months served by Gottlieb Neigenfind. He was executed March 13, 1903. By 1994, that number had jumped to 17 years for Otey, the first person executed after Starkweather. The most recent prisoner to be scheduled for execution has been on death row for more than 30 years. Carey Dean Moore was convicted in 1979 of the murder of two Omaha cab drivers. He has received six stays of execution since then, including the one dealing with the lethal injection drug. |
| CSC selects RHOP participants 2013-03-07 By |
| CHADRON Incoming student participants in the collaborative Rural Health Opportunities Program between Chadron State College and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have been named. Jill Mack, director of Health Programs and RHOP at CSC said, “They are a great group of students and we look forward to having them here in August.” Mack said some interviews, which took place in January, were conducted in-person while others were conducted using distance technology. Students must be residents of rural communities in Nebraska to apply for the program. All participants receive four-year, full-tuition waivers as long as they remain eligible. The selections for students seeking careers in nine health sciences were based on college entrance examination scores, academic success and leadership exhibited in high school and personal interviews. RHOP began in 1990 as a joint venture between CSC and UNMC to help counter the shortage of medical professionals in rural Nebraska. Graduates of RHOP are encouraged and expected to return to the rural areas of Nebraska to practice. Students selected as participants in the program take pre-professional training at CSC, with guaranteed pre-admittance to one of the UNMC sites if the program’s standards are met. The dental students will take advanced training at Lincoln, the nursing students at Scottsbluff, dental hygiene at Gering and the others in Omaha. The selections consist of 23 participants and eight alternates. Often, the alternates become primary participants before their training at CSC is completed. Following are the selections. Clinical Lab Science: Participant: Kayla Daniels, Albion. Dental Hygiene: Participant: Anessa Kivett, Hershey. Dentistry: Participants: Brook Boucher, Maxwell; Emilee Elwood, Gordon; Kelsy Wood, Hemingford. Alternate: Cassidy Pribnow, Albion. Medicine: Participants: Garrett Dockweiler, Oconto; Anthony Fitzgerald, Crete; Justin German, Imperial; Hailey Keller, Kimball; Sara Marlatt, Gordon. First Alternate: Jerrick Bowers, Gering. Alternates: Sienna Athy, Kearney; Jayden Gubbels, Hubbard; Chelsea Lukasiewicz, Fort Calhoun; Kristen Nelson, Sutherland. Nursing: Participants: Calene Mulcahy, Gordon; Terra Phelps, Ayr; Emily Rongisc, Sutherland. Physical Therapy: Participants: Paxton Ewing, Sidney; Madison Malzahn, Sidney; Regg Strotheide, Rushville. Physician Assistant: Participant: Ellie Applegarth, Alliance; Mariah Conyers, Bellwood; Hollie Eiler, McCook. Alternates: Megan Riha, Stuart; Mackenzie Smith, Mitchell. Pharmacy: Participants: Devin Jacob, Newcastle; Maddison Vaverek, Imperial Radiography: Participants: Bethany Bergstrom, Axtell; Shay Kernick, Gordon. |
| A fond farewell 2013-03-07 By |
| After a Feb. 28 reception, Mel Griggs stepped down as Gering Police Chief, where he’s been for the past 23 years. Griggs, who has been in law enforcement for the past 45 years, said he will be staying in the area, doing a lot more biking and waiting to see what comes up in the future. Many congratulations go to Mel and all the best for the years to come. |
| March 3-9 is National Consumer Protection Week 2013-03-07 By |
| LINCOLN - Attorney General Jon Bruning today marked the beginning of National Consumer Protection Week by joining with Better Business Bureau President Jim Hegarty and Lincoln Postmaster Kerry Kowalski to increase awareness about recent scams that are targeting Nebraskans. In conjunction with today’s press conference, the Attorney General’s Office launched a new consumer-based twitter account that can be found @NEAGConsumer. “We’re working to provide Nebraskans with the information they need, when they need it,” said Bruning. “Twitter allows us to alert consumers when we see an emerging trend in consumer complaints and need to get information out quickly.” Avoid Fraud and Scams In 2012, the Attorney General’s Office received more than 450 consumer complaints related to scams and fraud. Common scams like fake checks, lottery letters and mystery shopper job offers may arrive via email or through postal mail. "Phony telephone solicitations, email scams and fraudulent lottery letters all have commonalities. Each of these scams is designed to help steal from the receiver - money, personal information, or both,” said Lincoln Postmaster Kerry Kowalski. Reduce Available Information BBB President Jim Hegarty encouraged Nebraskans to shred documents with identifying information and to utilize opt-out options to limit mail and phone solicitations. “The first line of defense against scammers is to keep information out of their hands,” said Hegarty. “Shredding documents is a great way to reduce the risk of personal information being used fraudulently. Another way to limit how much information is available is by opting out of receiving prescreened offers.” To reduce mail solicitations, consumers can visit www.optoutprescreen.com or call 1-888-567-8688. The phone number and website are operated by the major consumer reporting companies. Monitor Credit Reports Bruning urged consumers to monitor credit reports regularly and noted a recent study by the Federal Trade Commission. The study showed 20 percent of people have errors on their consumer credit reports. Each year, consumers are entitled to one free copy of their credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) through www.annualcreditreport.com. if consumers fail to recognize all activity on their credit reports, the report may have clerical errors – or they may be victims of identity theft. “It is the consumer’s responsibility to alert the listing credit agency to any suspicious activity,” said Bruning. “And all correction requests or suspicious activity reports should be made in writing.” For more information on these and other consumer issues, visit www.ago.ne.gov or www.bbb.org/scam-stopper/ or call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800)727-6432. |
| Newspaper associations challenge Valassis, Inc.Postal deal in Federal Court 2013-03-07 By |
| WASHINGTON DC — National Newspaper Association this week filed a brief in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit arguing that the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) failed to follow federal law in approving a historic postage discount deal between the private direct mail company, Valassis, Inc. and the US Postal Service. In a joint filing with ValPak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc. and Valpak Dealers Association, Inc., NNA told the court that the PRC did not exercise its responsibility to protect against unreasonable harm to the marketplace. It also overlooked the threat to small businesses expressed by more than 200 community newspapers across America. NNA joined the Newspaper Association of America in a lawsuit against the PRC after postal regulators approved a Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) for Valassis that provides deep postage discounts if the direct mail firm is successful in enticing certain advertisers away from newspapers and related products and into a new Valassis weekend direct mail piece. This NSA was a first-ever attempt by USPS to formally square off against newspapers in the advertising markets through discriminatory contract postage rates. Both NNA and NAA protested the proposed deal at the PRC in the summer of 2012, but the PRC decided the deal is not anticompetitive because it is not offered at a below-cost postage rate and because it believes USPS should be encouraged to compete against newspapers for weekend advertising inserts. Among NNA’s claims are that the deal will have a heavy impact upon hundreds of newspapers across the country that qualify as small businesses and that the discounts will distort local advertising in hundreds of marketplaces, many of which are already economically distressed. NNA attorney Steven Douse, an antitrust attorney with the Nashville, TN, law firm King & Ballow, is critical of the Commission’s attempt to apply federal antitrust laws to the Postal Service’s decision to grant special discounts to a single special-privilege mailer. “Antitrust laws are designed to function in unregulated markets,” Douse said. “But here the dominant firm (USPS) has a statutory monopoly with legally enforced barriers to entry….The Commission failed to realize that because of the postal and mailbox monopolies, one of the competitive responses that would normally be open to firms affected by the NSA—entry into the postal space by providing mailbox delivery—is foreclosed. It forces firms to compete with the Postal Service and Valassis with one hand tied behind their backs.” NNA President Merle Baranczyk, publisher of the Mountain Mail in Salida, CO, said NNA’s appeal of the PRC decision is part of a unified industry effort to achieve a fair competitive environment. “The Postal Service has seriously diminished newspapers’ trust by initiating this special deal with one single company,” Baranczyk said. “This NSA demonstrates that USPS is willing to inflict intentional damage upon hundreds of its newspaper customers around the nation. We are disappointed the PRC does not realize the Postal Service’s role as a government-protected monopoly should forestall special deals like this. NNA believes USPS, in its desperation to solve financial problems, is grasping at straws to find new revenues. This particular straw should be strictly off limits. There should be no NSAs for advertising. The markets all over the country are already fully competitive and USPS can achieve nothing more than exploiting its monopoly to the detriment of tax-paying newspaper businesses and the communities they serve. We look forward to a full hearing of our concerns by the appeals court.” |
| Quilt mystery reveals lives of women in Mitchell Valley 2013-03-07 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| It began with a phone call. One day while I was sitting at my desk I received a phone call from my mother. She told me that she was at Prairie Pines Quilt Shop in Gering and had something I probably wanted to see. I walked the few blocks to the shop interested in what sort of surprise my mother had in store for me. When I arrived, I saw that she had a old worn out quilt laid out on one of the tables. The quilt contained various patches with different names embroidered on it. They stuck out amongst the faded fabric showing that in its creation this had to have been a very vibrant colored quilt. Inside each patch was a name embroidered in the fabric. One of the most striking features about this quilt was the large 1922 in the center. There were 33 visible names on the quilt. The only information I had was that it was created by a group of women from the Mitchell Valley area called “Grandma's Club”. After the initial article was published, I discovered that there is in fact two more quilts like it. The first came from Harry Warren of Gering. He came to the Citizen with an identical quilt to the one my grandfather has. “ It was in my mothers things and she received it from her mother Grace Weatherfield,” said Warren. His great-great grandmother Grace Weatherfield was a member of “Grandma's Club”. All of his grandmothers sisters and her mother Nancy Harrison were on both quilts. The second quilt came from a little farther away. Joyce Chapman from Bennington, NE also had a quilt from the club. Her grandmother was Bertha Henglefelt. Chapman's quilt is a little different from the other two quilts. The 1922 block was created with blue and gold instead of red and white. Chapman's quilt also had a unique patch not found on the other quilts. It is a patch with what looks like two people sitting on a moon, with “The Honeymoon” in the top right corner, and Ellen Parker on the bottom. Ellen Parker was Bertha Henglefelt's sister. Chapman remembers growing up in Mitchell Valley. She lived a quarter mile from her Grandma Hadenfeldt and the Gross/Michie family. Her parents were Ed and Fern (Hadenfeldt) Koenig. Her mother helped many of these women go to and from there get together and luncheons. When Mrs. Chapman would come home from college in the 1950s Grandma Hadenfeldt was the one who caught her up on all the gossip. The members of “Grandma's Club” were all women from Mitchell Valley. They lived near the village of Haig. The rural community was made up of farmers and ranchers. There were three community clubs in Haig: Grandma's Club, The Sunshine Club, and The Haig Community Club ( or Dads Club). Grandma's Club was comprised mostly of older women and widowers. “The Grandmothers Club provided support and company especially for the women who were recently widowed,” said Joyce Chapman. The Sunshine Club was the second generation women club in Haig. The club comprised of mostly married women with children and a few older ladies of the valley. Both mother and daughter were members of the Sunshine Club. This explains why all three quilts had multiple women with the same last name. The men also had a club of their own called The Haig Community Club. This club was very popular during WWII. Both clubs held chili feeds and dinners at Haig school for the general public. My grandfather remembers the ladies of the Sunshine Club holding pie socials. The women would auction off their pies to help raise money. Money made from these events went to help war efforts or to other patriotic organizations and charites. The Sunshine Club held wedding showers for the daughters and gave quilts to the sons. When I began my investigation, I was determined to discover the purpose of creating these quilts. As I began to listen to these stories from the families of Mitchell Valley, I knew that my aim was in the wrong place. I had theories that maybe this was a quilt given to high school graduates or wedding presents. That was besides the point, back then there were no convinces of running to Bed, Bath, and Beyond for a comforter. These quilts were labors of love. Created for function as well as sentiment. Meant to last a lifetime, weaved with names we shouldn't forget. Giving us a chance to remember, the forgotten village of Haig and the women of Mitchell Valley. |
| County board approves funding for patrol cars 2013-03-07 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Scotts Bluff County Commissioners approved, in part, a request by County Sheriff Mark Overman, to authorize the purchase of new sheriff’s patrol cars to replace two aging models. The sheriff’s original request was for $61,500 to purchase the new cars. One of the revenue sources was $45,000 in unused insurance claims from vehicle damage in last summer’s hailstorm. Another $73,000, which had been accumulating for about 10 years, was found in an account that held various fees for sheriff services. Those monies were returned to the county’s general fund. In addition, the sheriff’s office returned about $53,000 left unspent from last year’s budget. Those savings were also returned to the general fund, which is used by 20 different departments. This was the third time he has requested funds to replace the aging patrol vehicles, which each have at least 100,000 miles of service. “I need to have good equipment so my deputies can do their job,” Overman told the board. Commission Chairman Mark Masterton said that as far as he’s concerned, the $73,000 of accumulated sheriff fees belongs to the county. However, he was willing to authorize the $45,000 insurance savings for the purchase of new patrol vehicles. Masterton also thanked Overman for being a good steward of the county’s money in returning $53,000 from the sheriff’s budget. However, the way county government works requires that money to be returned to the general fund. After the meeting, Overman said he appreciated the board for recognizing his good stewardship of county money. He said he will be able to purchase one new patrol car with the money. But an additional car, equipped for their needs, would require another $18,000 beyond the authorized funding. Consequently, a second vehicle will probably depend on how the sheriff’s develops for the next fiscal year. “The county board has a tough job because every department budget was cut last year and we’re no different,” Overman said. “We’re fortunate we didn’t lose personnel, although some of them had their hours reduced.” In other action, District 12 Probation Director Linda Buehler discussed the possibility of starting a probation reporting center “in a small way” in the county administrative building. Under state statute, the county is responsible for housing the district probation office. However, county board members had earlier indicated there were no funds in the budget to purchase and renovate the east building of the former Aurora Loan Services, which was the probation offices first preference. Buehler asked commissioners to allow her to use space in the county administrative building in the evenings for just a few programs, which usually include 12 or fewer participants. Commissioners were in general agreement, although some questions arose about security in other parts of the building. With the county’s approval, Buehler said she would be able to keep the $100,000 already approved for the reporting center by the Nebraska Supreme Court. It will also allow her the time needed to find other sources of revenue to acquire a larger facility to expand the program. |
| Monument budget cuts affect larger area 2013-03-07 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Services offered by government agencies at every level will soon be affected by automatic, across-the-board budget cuts under the sequestration bill – and that includes places like the Scotts Bluff National Monument. “What happens under these budget cuts is still very confusing,” said Monument Superintendent Ken Mabery. “Our directions from Washington are changing frequently. But the one thing I do know is that this park will take about a $50,000 budget cut. Ninety percent of our budget is salaries, so we have no leeway in cutting discretionary spending.” Mabery said the consequence is that seasonal worker positions will be reduced. “Some of our seasonal workers were being paid with money that didn’t fall under sequestration, but we’re still trying to figure that out.” He said positions that will receive reduction in hours are positions that keep the visitor center open during the tourism season. That has a ripple effect, as fewer open hours affects the amount of fees collected, how much maintenance can be done, and a host of other challenges. Entrance fees are retained by the monument staff. Those are used run the shuttle bus to the summit, which might have to be eliminated or reduced. And with fewer seasonal worker hours, fewer education program and living history demonstrations will be offered. “What we do over the next few weeks will largely be unseen, such as cutting back on use of vehicles,” Mabery said. “But people will start to notice once the tourism season gets going.” He said some of the budget cuts at the federal level defy logic. “Everyone has to do their part to reduce the federal deficit. But the reduction of $50,000 in our budget, the area will lose about a million dollars in visitor revenues from what visitors spend in the community.” Statistics from 2011 show 128,811 visitors to Scotts Bluff National Monument who spend just over four million dollars in the surrounding communities. That spending helped support 71 local jobs. The budget cuts could also affect landscaping activities around the monument and how active they can be in control of weeds and other non-native plant species. Monument staff also has a mutual aid fire prevention agreement with surrounding municipalities. Budget cuts might affect their ability to participate in firefighting activities. “These budget cuts are the law of the land right now,” Mabery said. “Our bosses in the Department of Interior have told us not to hold out any hope of that being changed anytime soon.” |
| Committee focuses on guns, drugs, flying lanterns 2013-03-07 By Demetria Stephens - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Guns, drugs and flying lanterns were among legislative bills debated during the Nebraska Legislature’s Judiciary Committee hearings, Thursday, Feb. 28. LB390, sponsored by Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial would remove the Nebraska governor's powers to take guns and ammunition under the Emergency Management Act. “It’s the times of emergency that you need (guns) the most to protect your own self,” he said. He said he got the idea for the bill from the National Rifle Association that reacted to gun seizures during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A police chief decided to take guns from peoples’ homes, said Ron Jensen, a lobbyist for the NRA who testified in favor of the bill. Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha questioned how the bill would apply to Nebraska and whether any governor would try to take guns. “It seems to me you are insulting the present or any other governor who might take office in this state,” Chambers said. “You believe believe that governor will order the seizure or confiscation of guns, ammunition.” Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha gave an example of the governor authorizing the National Guard to take guns from evacuated houses during an emergency. They would take the guns before any looters would, to be returned to them later, he said. Andy Allen, a lobbyist for the Nebraska Firearm Owner’s Association, said that’s different than forcibly removing guns, as happened in Louisiana. “It has not happened here in Nebraska,” Allen said. “It is a concern of Nebraska citizens. Shouldn’t we address concerns of our citizens?” LB298, sponsored by Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha would add “designer drugs,” such as K2, a synthetic cannabis sold as incense, to the Uniform Controlled Substances Act . The drug is similar to marijuana in its effect on the brain, said Christine Gabig, a forensic scientist at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Lathrop and Chambers said bills continue to be introduced annually to ban new drugs. “Unfortunately folks are pretty inventive,” McCoy said. Supporters of the bill said Nebraska is unique because it lists classes of drugs, rather than specific drugs. Chambers said he was concerned drug laws force chemists to make more dangerous drugs. The dangers aren’t fully known with the new substances, Gabig said. Sen. Pete Pirsch of Omaha sponsored two bills spawned from domestic abuse issues. LB608 would increase the punishment for stalking from a misdemeanor to Class IV felony, which could mean up to five years in the State Penitentiary and a $10,000 fine. Stefanie Martinez, deputy Sarpy County attorney, brought the idea to Pirsch to prosecute more domestic abusers by broadening the definition of harassment from a subjective standard to an objective one. A victim can say when they’ve been harassed under the law now, she said. That would change to say an offender could be prosecuted if a “reasonable person” would be frightened by the harassment. Lathrop said the bill would more likely be used against “the guy in the neighborhood who is a nuisance.” In that case, he said the increased punishment didn’t fit the crime. He said there are other laws in place already specifically about domestic abuse issues. “There isn’t a person on this committee who wants one guy to get away, or one person to get away with harassing, domestic violence,” he said. “Nobody wants that.” Chambers said laws can’t control every behavior. “Not every wrong has a remedy,” he said. Martinez also brought the idea for Pirsch’s other bill, LB610, which tries to clarify when terroristic threats are made or received. It relates to an existing statute that doesn’t address threats made through social media. Martinez said she avoids prosecution unless the offenses occurred within her county, and the bill would give her the choice to prosecute someone from another county who threatened someone in her county. Lathrop said the bill as written could result in someone being prosecuted in two jurisdictions for one offense. LB472, sponsored by Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber, would ban the sale and use of paper flying lanterns in Nebraska, which are fireworks that resemble small hot-air balloons. Fireworks are a fire risk for crops, especially if the state has another dry year, he said. Karpisek said he received an email from a Nebraskan who said a lantern had embers still burning 10 minutes after it landed. Seven states have bans or are considering bans, but there were no reported cases of fire by lanterns in Nebraska, he said. A lantern can fly for five miles, he said, before the fire creating the hot air goes out and balloon lands. The two to five minutes of enjoyment of lighting the lantern and watching it float away isn’t worth risking someone’s house or acreage, he said. “If they go up, they come down.” Contact Demetria Stephens at nns.dstephens@gmail.com |
| Panhandle Polar Plunge helps Special Olympics 2013-02-28 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| For the second year in a row the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Department organized what will now be the annual Panhandle Polar Plunge for the benefit of the Special Olympics program. Sheriff Mark Overman said the fundraiser was a great success. “The last number that I've looked at puts the donation amount at over $11,000,” Overman said. “More pledges are coming in and we are also getting some in-kind donations. We are very pleased with the outcome. Last year we raised just over $10,000, so this year it was even better.” Overman praised the City of Scottsbluff's Parks and Recreation Department for assisting with the event. The Polar Plunge idea is used in many cities throughout the United States as a fun way to raise money to support Special Olympic athletes. Volunteers take pledges and agree to jump into a river (or any other outdoor water sites, such as lakes or pools) regardless of how cold it might be on the day of the event. The donated funds are then used by Special Olympics for everything from uniforms to sporting equipment to travel expenses. “We had 81 plungers this year,” Overman said, “and about 400 spectators there to support us.” The Sheriff said the water was a brisk 38 degrees. When asked if he took the plunge himself he replied, “I certainly did. We had a team from the Sheriff's office. Along with myself several other deputies were involved. There were also teams representing the Gering and Scottbluff Police Departments. There were many different teams from other area businesses. The hospital had a team. Members of the local media jumped in. The NEXT Young Professionals team raised the most money. “The site of the plunge was significantly improved from last year,” Overman continued. “Paul Reed Construction volunteered their time and equipment to dig out a better site in the river. The Army National Guard provided a tent. Lot's of people donated their time and money to make this a great success.” Overman noted that High Plains Spas provided several welcoming hot tubs for after the plunge. “It is quite a relief to hop into a warm tub after coming out of a freezing river,” Overman said. Overman said that local law enforcement personnel have been doing the Special Olympics Torch Run for many years now they felt they could do more. “Lots of towns in Nebraska and Wyoming hold a Polar Plunge event, so we thought we should start that up here,” he said. “We plan to continue this tradition. The weather was nice at the park and after the plunge it was like a party atmosphere. We raised money for a good cause and everyone had a lot of fun.” The minimum donation for any plunger was set at $50 but many managed to raise quite a bit more than that. The top fundraisers this year were Brian Feather, Tom Horne, Eli Aguilar, John Selzer, Bobbi Kuhlman, and Maricela DeOllos. The top teams were NEXT Young Professionals, Scrubs (from Regional West Medical Center), Nebraska State Patrol Troop E “Duck Dynastee,” Shiver Me Timbers, Flaming Fireball of Fire, and Team Happy-happy-happy. |
| Gering duet partners make senior year of competitive speech count 2013-02-28 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Gering High School seniors Tanner Baird and Kendall Uhrich were having a typical season of speech. Both were working tirelessly on their individual events and never expected to come together for competition. Everything changed when the speech team made its first trip to the Kearney High School tournament. The Kearney tournament is unique in that it gives competitors the chance to enter four events, rather than the normal three. Those who did quadruple enter got the opportunity to qualify for other awards. “We thought that it sounded cool,” said Baird. Both of them were interested in competing in another event, so the pair decided to team up for duet acting. Earlier this year, Baird and Uhrich performed together in Gering’s All-School Play, “The Good Doctor.” The pair’s favorite scene together was from the segment “A Defenseless Creature.” The duo remembers receiving many compliments from audience members that it was a most memorable scene. “It just worked, it was ten minutes, and we already had it memorized,” said Uhrich. The two placed third in duet at Kearney and received champ finals, one of the high-placing awards at the tournament. In their individual events, both competitors have had an interesting year with their unique piece selections. Uhrich also competes in Serious Prose Interpretation and Oral Interpretation of Drama. Her serious prose is “Crafty” by Paul Rudnick. It chronicles a woman who is trying to deal with her son’s death from a battle with AIDS. In the early part of the competitive speech season it was hard for Uhrich to make it to finals. While the subject matter of her piece is serious, the character is trying to cope with death in a humorous way without trying to be funny. Uhrich received many critiques from judges saying that the piece should be in humorous prose and not serious; however, she was determined to make the piece work. Uhrich found something in her performance that helped to change the judges’ views. “Originally I had a southern accent,” said Uhrich, “I started to use my normal voice and suddenly it wasn’t very funny anymore.” Previously, Uhrich had done many humorous pieces but tried serious prose as a means of stepping out of her comfort zone. “I like the fact that I can surprise people,” she said. Uhrich also competes with the senior Oral Interpretation of Drama team. This year’s selection is “How to succeed in High school without really trying” by Jonathan Rand. The one-act tells the story of a group of student agents who infiltrate an assembly to demonstrate their tips and tricks for succeeding in high school. Gering High School has had great success with the OID, event. It is not uncommon for Gering OID teams to win the state competition. In addition to the duet, Baird also competes in Entertainment and Informative speaking events. Having previously been a strictly extemporaneous speaker, Baird decided to try new events this season. His entertainment speech subject centers on the concept of failure. Last year, Baird competed in entertainment and was not happy with his results, despite much hard work. “Entertainment is a weird beast,” said Baird, “it’s not my favorite thing to do.” he said. “I put a lot of heart into it last year and was disappointed after districts.” When he was searching for a good topic for his entertainment speech this year, someone suggested that he should do failure. The three main points of his speech are: reasons for failure, effects of failure, and how to learn from failure. He feels these are topic points that he has become a living example of. “My entertainment has surprised me a lot this year,” said Baird. Baird finally broke into finals with his entertainment speech at Kearney and has since then started placing regularly. His informative speech this season is about stripes. In the speech, he talks about stripes in nature, stripes in history, and the psychology of stripes. “My informative is my baby this year,” said Baird, “I love this speech.” Informative speaking is an interesting event as it is typically female competitors who do really well and make it to the final found. Baird is an enigma, being one of the few guys in the room when making it to finals. “I have a different style of delivery,” said Baird. As the Western Conference and District meets approach, the duo has a lot to think about as their speech careers wrap up. “We’re going to try and do it the best we can,” said Baird. Last Saturday, speech competitors from around the valley competed at Mitchell the Mitchell High School Tiger Invite. Results are as follows: Persuasive Speaking 1, Kyle Upp, Gering; 2, Sam Eastman, Gering; 3, Shoilee Rahman, Chadron; 4, Isabel Wolf, Gering; 5, Kelsey Franklin, Sidney; 6, Liz Darnell, Chadron Entertainment Speaking 1, Tanner Baird, Gering; 2, James Neeley, Gordon-Rushville; 3, Torri Brumbaugh, Gering; 4, Paige Corr, Scottsbluff;5, Gavin Hovseth, Gering; 6, Arich Knaub, Gering Serious Prose Interpretation 1, Whitney Kuxhausen, Scottsbluff; 2, Andrew Holsinger, Scottsbluff; 3, Michael Barth, Gordon-Rushville; 4, Kendall Uhrich, Gering; 5, Karli Penrose, Scottsbluff; 6, Leah Potts, Gering Poetry Interpretation 1, Caleb Wyre, Gering; 2, Michael Kruse, Chadron; 3, Allie Baird, Gering; 4, Zaidee Rada, Scottsbluff; 5, Shelby Andersen, Gordon-Rushville; 6, Holly Walker, Gering Informative Speaking 1,Kali Remington, Gering; 2, Kimberly Hernandez, Scottsbluff; 3, Tanner Baird, Gering; 4, McKenna Copsey, Gering; 5, Isabel Wolf, Gering; 6, Brittany Eckerberg, Gering Oral Interpretation of Drama (OID) 1, Wicked, Chadron; 2, Piece of My Heart, Scottsbluff; 3, Brandy Mendoza and Company, Gering; 4, Jonathan Boyd and Company, Gering; 5, Caleb Hayden and Co, Gering; 6, Hillbilly Housewives, Chadron Duet Acting 1, Rachel Madden/ Sarah Mercer-Smith, Scottsbluff; 2, Lauren Gull/ Darby Young, Sidney; 3, John Body/ Jenna Longmore, Gering; 4, Kristen Fellhoelter/ Colin Fellhoelter, Bridgeport; 5, James Neeley/ Michael Barth, Gordon-Rushville; 6, Tristan Moore/ Terran Honerkamp, Chadron Extemporaneous Speaking 1, Lane Chasek, Chadron; 2, Sam Eastman, Gering; 3, Caston Stack, Chadron; 4, Casey Baldwin, Sidney; 5, James Neeley, Gordon-Rushville; 6, Mitchel Renkert, Sidney |
| DAR presents the Good Citizen Award 2013-02-28 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Last week, the local Katahdin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a luncheon at Northfield Villa in Gering to honor its winners of the Good Citizen Award. Recipients are all high school seniors and must be recommended by their high school counselors. They must also maintain a high grade point average and be involved in their communities. This year’s winners are, from left: Michael Hadden of Scottsbluff, Janelle Kesterman of Bridgeport and Kayellyn Hall of Bayard |
| Scotts Bluff County Spelling Contest Winners 2013-02-28 By |
| Photo by Jerry Purvis/Gering Citizen - First place in the fifth grade division of the Scotts Bluff County Spelling Contest went to Hailey Rickey (right) of Lincoln Elementary School. In second place was Matthew Bohman of Geil Elementary School and in third place was Zoee Smith of Lincoln Elementary. |
| Scotts Bluff County Spelling Contest Winners 2013-02-28 By |
| Photo by Jerry Purvis/Gering Citizen - Sixth grade winners in the 2013 Scotts Bluff County Spelling Contest were, from left, first place winner Aaron Reed of Northfield Elementary, second place winner Kyle Campbell of Mitchell Elementary and third place winner Sierra Florke of Mitchell Elementary. |
| Scotts Bluff County Spelling Contest Winners 2013-02-28 By |
| Photo by Jerry Purvis/Gering Citizen - Kristian Hughes (center) of Community Christian School won the seventh and eighth grade division at the Scotts Bluff County Spelling Contest by correctly spelling “gingham.” He advances to the Midwest Spelling Bee in Omaha on March 9. In second place was Adam Taylor of Bluffs Middle School and in third was Destiny Lerma of Minatare. |
| Driver pleads not guilty in fatal crash 2013-02-28 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Ethan Kaufman, 22 of Cheyenne, Wyo. entered a not guilty plea in a fatality crash that could potentially send him to prison for the next 60 years. Kaufman’s plea was entered during his arraignment on Feb. 20 in Goshen County District Court. A trial date is still to be scheduled. Kaufman is charged with two counts of aggravated homicide by vehicle in the rollover accident that took the lives of Hallie Anderson, 19 and Alexis Wheeler, 18, both of Scottsbluff. The accident occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 9 just west of the Wyoming/Nebraska state line. Two other passengers in Kaufman’s pickup, Tyler Hill of Lyman and Stetson Allen of Morrill, were injured in the accident. Kaufman was also charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol causing serious bodily injury. Data retrieved from the vehicle revealed that Kaufman’s pickup was traveling at 99 mph when he lost control and left the road. About 600 feet from the highway, the pickup hit an embankment at 57 mph before rolling over. Kaufman was given a blood alcohol test two hours after the accident, which showed he was legally intoxicated. A Wyoming State Patrol investigation found that Kaufman was driving west on Highway 92 and missed a slight left turn near Lyman. The pickup drifted off the road, went into the ditch and collided with a private driveway approach. Officers dispatched to the scene found beer bottles and a cooler in the immediate area. Kaufman is free after posting bond. He’s being represented by the Goshen County Public Defender. If he’s found guilty on all four charges, he could face up to 60 years in prison. |
| Waste to energy is still in the future 2013-02-28 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Waste to energy plants that convert municipal garbage into biofuel and electricity may be a goal for smaller cities, but the technology is still in the future. “There are many things that qualify for waste to energy, so you can’t simplify it to just one,” said Rick Hurt, director of environmental services for the City of Gering. “Some landfills in wet areas produce enough natural methane that it can be recovered and used to produce electricity. This area is so naturally dry, there’s not enough moisture to create the leachate necessary to produce any methane. Even with our dust control, we put down at least 30,000 gallons of water a day and it doesn’t create any leachate.” Hurt said that while larger landfills that serve metropolitan areas have the sufficient garbage to recover some energy from it, the technology just isn’t there for smaller cities – yet. One proposal from Creative Energy Systems (CES) would place waste to energy plants in smaller communities. Still, that system requires at least 250 tons of garbage a day every day of the year to be profitable. The Gering landfill is only open five days a week and produces an average of 93 tons a day. Hurt and Gering Mayor Ed Mayo learned about the CES proposal during a recent meeting of mayors and city managers in the Panhandle. The company is currently opening a plant in Colorado and said they would like to open three more. Both Mayo and Hurt agree the process could be advantageous to the city, but the technology to make it work is still perhaps 10 years in the future. That’s also the amount of time left to fill the final cell at the Gering landfill. Mayo said emerging technology is something to keep in mind as the city researches a potential site for a new landfill. “While we’re trying to site this new landfill, we need to make sure that by the time we’re ready to open, we can see what technology is available to establish a waste to energy plant. If we can put that new technology to work, we won’t have to look for another landfill site in our great-grandchildren’s lifetime.” Hurt said he’s excited about waste to energy technology because it can reduce the volume garbage going into a landfill by almost two-thirds. “We continue to look into the technology because it’s a great thing,” Hurt said. “Once it gets perfected and is shown to be environmentally safe, I’d like to jump all over it. But no one has proven it on a small scale yet.” As for the potential new landfill site east of town, testing should begin in the next six months to a year. The city has just recently finalized its option to purchase the land if it proves to be a suitable location. “We’re still in the due diligence stage,” Hurt said. “It’s going to take anywhere from four to six years to determine whether we can use the site for a landfill. That’s because the state has to review and approve every stage of the process before any permits can be issued. The quickest part is digging the hole and building the buildings.” |
| News Briefs 2013-02-28 By |
| Arts Center presents photography show West Nebraska Arts Center presents a collection of original photographs featuring the people and landscapes of Central and Western Nebraska by photographer Brett Erickson of Hastings. This exhibit is sponsored locally by the Juliet Hanson Foundation and will run March 1-28. Join us in the gallery on Friday, March 1 from 5-7 p.m. to celebrate the opening of this exciting new exhibit. Gallery exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public. The West Nebraska Arts Center is located at 106 East 18th Street in Scottsbluff. Monument BPW Young Careerist Recognition Monument Business and Professional Women seek outstanding young career women to recognize in the BPW Young Careerist Program. The YC program has been in existence since the 1960s, honoring young women for achievements in their careers and contributions to their communities. Past Monument BPW Young Careerists include Dr. Lisa Scheppers, Becky Zwickl, Jennifer Schwartz, Michelle Weimer, Andrea Miller, and Dr. Natasha Jenkins Long.. A Young Careerist applicant cannot be over 35 years of age by Jan. 1 of the current year and should be in her current position/profession for a minimum of two years. The application process includes letters of recommendation, a one-page essay, and a standard application form. To self-apply or to nominate an outstanding young woman, contact Brandy Reichert at brandymdorvall@gmail.com or Mary Winn at (308) 436-2189 for additional information and for application forms. Applications are due April 5, 2013. Thefts reported in area Sheriff’s Deputies have recently responded to a rash of theft reports from unlocked vehicles. Stolen items include firearms, electronic devices, wallets, credit cards and virtually anything of value. The majority of the thefts have taken place west and north of the Scottsbluff city limits. To avoid becoming a victim of this crime, we suggest that citizens lock their vehicles at all times, do not leave valuables inside vehicles, and report any suspicious activity immediately. Anyone with information on these crimes should contact the Sheriff’s Office at (308) 436-6667, the communications center at (308) 436-6666. Persons may also use email or text by contacting us at tips@sbcso.org or by calling Crimestoppers at 308-632-STOP. Crimestoppers callers remain anonymous and their tips can lead to rewards of up to $1000. College launches fundraiser The Western Nebraska Community College Foundation will kick off its annual fundraising campaign Thursday, March 7. A kick-off luncheon for campaign volunteers will begin at noon in the Harms Advanced Technology Center. The goal of the campaign is to raise $135,000 for the annual fund, which supports Foundation operations as well as providing unrestricted funds to support WNCC student, faculty, and facilities needs at all three WNCC campuses. Established in 1971, the Foundation is a Nebraska non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation governed by a volunteer board with representatives from across the Panhandle. Those wishing to donate to the Foundation or to volunteer to assist with the campaign should call the Foundation at (308) 630-6550. Foundation announces scholarships Application forms are now available for college scholarships provided through the Oregon Trail Community Foundation. The foundation oversees numerous scholarships funds. Application forms are available online at www.otcf.org. The Oregon Trail Community Foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships annually to regional high school and college students. The scholarships are established by regional families and organizations that entrust endowment funds and program management to the Oregon Trail Community Foundation. In 2012, the foundation awarded $47,700 in scholarships to regional students. Application forms can be downloaded from the foundation’s web site, www.otcf.org. The application deadline for most OTCF scholarships is April 1; however, a new Agri-Business Scholarship is available this year and its application deadline is March 15. For more information about these scholarships, contact your high school guidance counselor or the Oregon Trail Community Foundation at (308) 635-3393. |
| Platte Valley Companies donates to Bayard track project 2013-02-28 By |
| On Feb. 19, Platte Valley Companies President and CEO Hod Kosman presented a $25,000 check to members of the Bayard Public Schools and the Oregon Trail Community Foundation to assist in the new all-weather track project. “At Platte Valley Companies, we have always been about investing back into our communities,” Kosman said. “It only makes sense then for us to support a project that promotes healthy lifestyles for our children and attracts people to our area.” The project will be started after school ends with hopes of being completed in time for the beginning of the school year next fall. The total cost of completing this project is expected to be approximately $450,000. “We want to thank the Bayard community for their vision and coming together to make this project happen. As with all towns, the school is a vital part of the community that everyone can rally around and speak about with pride,” Kosman added. “Platte Valley Companies is honored to be a part of the Bayard community and Morrill County.” Bayard Public Schools Superintendent Travis Miller thanked Platte Valley Companies for their support and was happy with all of the donations that have come in so far. “We are ecstatic about all the support we have received. This is a tremendous benefit to the kids and our community. ” The committee members have been working with the Oregon Trail Community Foundation to raise funds for the project, and to date, have raised nearly $386,000. “The Oregon Trail Community Foundation is such a great venue for non-profits to use as a facilitator. This project is just another example of how we all can benefit from an organization like OTCF,” Kosman said. |
| Consensus builds on need to address water issue in Nebraska 2013-02-28 By Demetria Stphens and Joseph Moore/Nebraska News Service nns.dstephens@gmail.com - nns.jmoore@gmail.com |
| LINCOLN – A statewide consensus appears to be growing on the need to address water resource sustainability in Nebraska. During a Feb. 13 hearing of the Legislature’s Natural Resource Committee, representatives from a diverse array of interest groups testified in support of LB 517, a bill introduced by Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege. The bill would create a Water Sustainability Project Task Force charged with developing a priority list of water resource programs and projects in need of funding throughout the state. The task force would submit its recommendations to the Legislature by the end of the year. Another bill introduced by Carlson, LB 516, would create a Nebraska Water Legacy Commission to monitor and manage water projects in the state. “Water is a huge issue in Nebraska,” Carlson said as he presented LB 517 at the hearing. “Water is life.” During a recent interview, Carlson said crop irrigators in northeast and southeast Nebraska pumped out more water than normal because of the 2012 drought and caused some domestic wells to go dry. Michael Drain, representing the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, the largest in the state, testified in favor of the bill. Drain said Nebraska faces a permanent water issue and because of that, there is a need for permanent funding from the state. “This bill is the best way to get funding through the Legislature,” he said. The bill would divide the state into six districts with three representatives each to ensure that all geographic areas - both rural and urban - are represented. Those 18 representatives would be joined by four at large members - totaling 22 people - who would have to come up with a plan by December 2013. The task force would be made up of representatives from several different stakeholder groups including ground and surface water irrigators, public power, municipalities, agribusiness, livestock producers, manufacturing, conservationists and recreational water users. The committee would compile a list of programs and projects for water sustainability and prioritize which ones should receive state funding. The bill does not address exactly how much it would cost to fund the recommended programs, or where that money ultimately would come from. Sen. Ken Haar of Malcolm estimated that the total cost could be in the area of $50 million and asked if the Legislature should carve that money out of existing budgets or ask Nebraskans to pay more. Jay Rempe of the Nebraska Farm Bureau said water policy needs to be funded from the local, state and federal level and that the task force would look for those sources of funding. Sen. Lydia Brasch of Bancroft expressed concern that a newly appointed task force might diminish the decision-making power of Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts, which oversee conservation efforts in various parts of the state. Rempe said he believed the task force would focus more on finding funding mechanisms and could therefore be a great asset to the Natural Resources Districts, rather than a hindrance. More than a dozen people testified for the bill, including farmers, conservationists, sportsmen and water policy experts. Kim Robak of the lower Republican River Natural Resources District said Nebraska is the state hardest hit by drought and praised the bill as an opportunity for the whole state to get together to work on a water sustainability plan. Bruce Kennedy, speaking on behalf of the Audubon Society, said, “We see LB 517 as an honest effort to secure dedicated funding for our water resource problems.” No one testified against the bill but Dean Edson, executive director of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, expressed some criticism of the bill during a recent interview. This isn’t the first task force to evaluate water projects, he said. In 2011, a task force of 40 to 50 people was supposed to review all the water projects in the state. Meetings were called and cancelled in 2012, so a smaller group got together. LB517 wouldn’t involve those people, Edson said. And there are already state commissions that could be used for overseeing projects, he said, so his association has neutral position on both of Carlson’s bills. “It’s creating more government,” he said. “I don’t know if Nebraska is a state that wants more government.” |
| Bill aims for better foster parent reimbursement 2013-02-28 By Bethany Knipp/Nebraska News Service nns.bknipp@gmail.com |
| LINCOLN--Supporting foster parents with adequate child care reimbursement was the forefront of discussion during the Health and Human Services Committee meeting Wednesday, Feb. 13. Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton introduced LB530, which if passed, would ensure reimbursement rates would keep up with the cost of fostering children. Dubas said the Foster Care Reimbursement Rate Committee of the Department of Health and Human Services calculated standard daily reimbursement rates to be $20 for children 0-5, $23 for ages 6-11 and $25 for children ages 12-18. The rates include food, clothing, shelter and miscellaneous expenses. According to the bill, a statewide baseline payment would be established with additional reimbursement funds calculated by the geographic cost-of-living for the foster family and specialized needs for the child. “If there is no ability to match the foster parent payment to the needs of the child, the unintended consequence will be more children are unable to find appropriate placements because there is no incentive to serve the more challenging youth,” Corrie Edwards, president of Mid-Plains Center for Behavioral Healthcare Services in Grand Island, said. The bill would also prevent foster care agencies contracted by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services from taking increased reimbursement funds from the agencies’ own budgets before a rate changes. Some proponents of the bill said their agencies have almost gone bankrupt. Edwards, who supports the bill, said compromising her budget has her worried about the stability of her facility and others in the state. “I don’t want my company going out of business and so I’m going to fight this time for this,” she said. Gregg Nicklas, co-CEO of Christian Heritage, a Nebraska nonprofit that serves foster children, said without all factors considered and the passage of LB530, agencies will be in peril financially. “As agencies, we’re not asking for a dime more for ourselves,” Nicklas said as a proponent of the bill. In her closing statements, Dubas said why the state needs to support foster families. “Without those foster families, we’re sunk. We don’t have any place to put these children. They are the foundation of this program.” The HHS Committee also discussed working families during the hearing. Sen. Tanya Cook of Omaha introduced LB359, a bill that would prevent impoverished working families from losing their child care subsidies when their income increases slightly. Cook said families on the federal Child Care Subsidy Program are compromised because they have to turn down raises so they will still qualify for certain subsidies. With the bill, an increasing rate of a family’s income would be disregarded for a period of three years: 7 percent would be disregarded the first year, 15 percent after the second and after the third year the family’s income would be treated for eligibility as it initially was. Proponent James Goddard of Nebraska Appleseed said families who lose these subsidies are jeopardized because some can’t afford child care on their own after accepting a pay raise. Toni Liddy of Lincoln said she used the program as a single mother of four while working and obtaining her bachelor’s degree. She remembered a time when her subsidies would be cut off. “At that moment it was terrifying to think ‘All right, so I’ve got this 50-cent raise and now I’ve got to come up with $600 for child care?’ It was not feasible at that time,” she said. No one testified against either LB530 or LB359. |
| Bill could require long-range climate change report 2013-02-28 By By Shelby Friesz/Nebraska News Service nns.sfriesz@gmail.com |
| LINCOLN – A report on the impact of climate change in Nebraska could be required from the Climate Assessment Response Committee if a bill heard Tuesday by the Agriculture Committee is passed. This bill (LB583), sponsored by Sen. Ken Haar of Malcolm, would also require a member of the High Plains Regional Climate Center , with the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to be on the committee. Five people, including representatives of farm and environmental groups, testified in support of the bill, one testified against it, and one testified neutral to it. The Agriculture Committee also had one letter of support from the Nebraska Wildlife Federation. The bill would add to an existing committee that meets twice a year to collect and share extensive data about climate change in Nebraska and how it affects the state. Haar presented the bill, saying that the reports would be beneficial because of the extreme weather Nebraska has experienced lately. He quoted a Lincoln Journal Star article that said that 2012 was the hottest year on record. The report that would be required of the committee would provide long-range data to help people prepare for these extreme climate changes. Clint Rowe, a professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at UNL, said part of the change in climate is due to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. He said that if people stopped using fossil fuels today, the carbon dioxide currently in the atmosphere would remain for at least another 100 years. “We need to start considering how to adapt to the impacts of the change that are occurring and work diligently to ensure that we are not making problems even worse,” Rowe said. Michael Hayes, a professor at the School of Natural Resources at UNL, is a member of the current Climate Assessment Response Committee and spoke in support of the bill. He said the committee is in a unique position to foster a dialogue and prepare people for the state of the climate in the future. He added that while there may not be much people can do at the present, they make a difference by preparing for the future, which the committee helps to do. John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said climate change, especially the extreme drought of 2012, has had a great impact on Nebraska farmers and ranchers. “We couldn’t possibly be more vulnerable as we go into this next growing season,” he said. He said that the more information the committee could provide in its report, the better Nebraska farmers could begin to move forward. Ken Winston with the Nebraska Sierra Club echoed this by saying that the whole state depends on agriculture for the success of the economy. “When people make money in Ogallala, that helps people in Omaha,” he said. Sen. Tom Hansen of North Platte, however, questioned how climate change affected weather trends, especially with the drastic change between 2011 and 2012. He said Nebraska has always been a state of extremes, such as having a cold, wet year in 2011 and a dry, hot year in 2012. John Bellstorff, also with the School of Natural Resources at UNL, testified against the bill. He said he believed that there was a gap in representation of research about the climate change because it was mostly done by climatologists. He said he wanted more data and experiments that would be balanced. He also disagreed with the idea that the collection of data would have a beginning and ending point. He said that collection needed to happen continually to provide the necessary extensive data. |
| Young, college-educated Nebraskans are leaving the state 2013-02-28 By Joseph Moore - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Nebraska is losing its younger, college educated population to other states. Between 2000 and 2010, the state experienced a net outmigration of 20-29 year olds, according to census data compiled by David Drozd of the Center for Public Policy Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Net migration refers to the difference between people moving to a state and those moving out of a state within the same time period. The phenomenon was most pronounced among non-Hispanic whites. In the first decade of this century, 20,181 more non-Hispanic whites age 20-29 left Nebraska than moved to the state, by far the largest exodus of any age group. An influx of international immigrants in their 20s to the state has dampened the overall loss of young people, but has not been enough to reverse the trend. Economists who have studied the issue say it is not a serious problem because many of those young people leaving the state in their 20s return later in life to start families. Nebraska also experienced a net loss of college-educated people, often referred to as a “brain drain,” between 2007 and 2011, according to Drozd’s data. Over that five-year period, the state lost more than 1,100 people with postsecondary degrees. Drozd’s data shows that this is a continuing trend going back to at least 2005. Nebraska’s brain drain and its loss of young people are linked, according to Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. “Young people are more likely to be college educated because it’s more common now than it was 40 years ago to go to college,” he said. Gov. Dave Heineman attempted to address the issue through his now defunct proposal to replace state income tax with increased revenue from sales tax. “We have the opportunity to make Nebraska a top 10 business tax climate so that our sons and daughters can find careers right here in Nebraska,” Heineman said during a Jan. 18 press conference, arguing that lower taxes would attract more businesses offering higher-paying jobs to the state. Thompson does not believe a lack of good jobs is entirely to blame for the flight of Nebraska’s youth. “This is a great place to raise a family in an absolute and relative sense,” he said. “In a relative sense, it’s maybe not as great a place to be young and single.” Scott Fuess, chairman of the economics department at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, was more blunt in his assessment of the state’s appeal to young people. “Why would talented young people not want to leave?” he asked, adding that Nebraska is one of the most remote and sparsely populated states in the country. “Why wouldn’t a 22-year-old college graduate be drawn by the allure of life in Chicago or the Twin Cities or Dallas or Houston?” Thompson agreed that young people are often attracted to large urban areas where they perceive more opportunities for themselves. “Research shows that there are advantages for young people living in larger cities,” he said. “Their skill rises faster in cities.” Fuess said it’s not surprising that young people want to strike out to pursue opportunities elsewhere, but, he said, “what you want to focus on is trying to lure them back when they’re having families.” This is what economists refer to as the “boomerang effect.” People move away from an area in their 20s to gain experience and learn new skills elsewhere, only to return in their 30s to settle down and raise a family. Thompson said he doesn’t think youth outmigration is a major problem precisely because many of those people are coming back to the state in their 30s. The key, according to Thompson, is to lure them back. “I think an effort to create even more and larger thriving metropolitan areas in the state and more rural and micropolitan areas would help the state,” Thompson said. He said tax policy could help do that. “Much of the research I’ve done suggests that households will move towards states and local areas that offer lower levels of government service and lower taxes.” Fuess agrees that enticing people to return to the state later in life to start families is the best solution. “What would be a smart policy for development would to recognize that young people are going to leave and do what you can to attract them to come back when they’re young parents,” he said. Both Fuess and Thompson acknowledged that most of those returning are settling in Omaha and Lincoln and that development should focus on those areas. When asked if anything could be done to attract more people to rural parts of the state, Fuess said, “I doubt it. What are they going to do in those rural areas? I don’t know that there’s going to be a big boomerang effect to come back to remote, rural Nebraska Contact Joseph Moore at nns.jmoore@gmail.com |
| Bill would open the door to national curriculum standards 2013-02-28 By Joseph Moore/Nebraska News Service nns.jmoore@gmail.com |
| LINCOLN – The State Board of Education could adopt new nationwide curriculum standards for Nebraska’s public schools under a bill introduced by Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk. The Legislature’s Education Committee heard testimony Feb. 25 on LB 517, a bill that would allow but not require the Board of Education to adopt the Common Core State Standards. Under current statute, the Legislature would have to vote on whether to adopt the standards. Nebraska is one of only four states that have not adopted the common core standards, along with Texas, Virginia and Alaska. The standards were drafted by the bipartisan education think tank Achieve Inc., which was founded in 1996 by the National Governor’s Association. Their purpose is to create uniform educational standards that do not vary from state to state. Common core standards in mathematics and English were released in 2010 with science and social studies expected in the coming years. The Obama administration has made federal education funds to states contingent on adoption of the standards. Scheer said Nebraska decided not to join the common core initiative when it was proposed in 2009 because the standards were still being written at the time and the assessments that would measure their success would not be available until 2015. “If we had adopted them in 2009, we would have no assessments,” Scheer said. The State Board of Education reviews and updates curriculum standards every five years, but Scheer said there is currently no mechanism in place to update the common core standards. Nebraska Commissioner of Education Roger Breed testified in support of the bill. “We have yet to find a set of standards not in need of revision,” Breed said. He said the bill would give the board the flexibility to merge the common core standards and the state standards, utilizing the best aspects of both. Sen. Ken Haar of Malcolm expressed concern that the focus on standards and assessments creates a “teach to the test” classroom culture, in which core subjects like math and reading are emphasized to the exclusion of extra-curriculars like art and physical education. Breed said an initiative is underway in the Department of Education to draft fine art standards and that this might be expanded to include other extra-curricular subjects in the future. Sen. Rick Kolowski of Omaha asked if the state would be ceding control over its curriculum by adopting the national standards. Breed emphasized that the process of reviewing and updating standards is an inclusive one that involves board members, teachers and administrators, and that the bill would keep this process intact. Jay Sears, representing the Nebraska State Education Association, said his organization supports the flexibility the bill provides the board. He said NSEA is “not necessarily supporting common core, but rigorous standards.” Former member of the State Board of Education Bob Evnen said adopting the common core could improve the state’s math standards. No one testified against the bill. The committee also heard testimony on a bill introduced by Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha that would authorize the creation of private, nonprofiit charter schools within the Omaha Public School District. Nebraska is one of a handful of states that does not allow charter schools. |
| School districts could allow land transfer 2013-02-28 By Shelby Friesz, Nebraska News Service nns.sfriesz@gmail.com |
| LINCOLN – Nebraska landowners who have transferred their land into a different school district may be able to get it back with only the consent of the district from which it was removed if the Legislature passes a bill heard by the Education Committee. Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege presented the bill (LB301) Tuesday during the committee hearing that would change the restrictions on land transfer among school districts. One person testified in support, two testified against and two testified neutral to the bill. Carlson said he decided to bring the bill to the committee because people often transfer their land to a different school district in an emotionally driven moment and later wish they had not done so. He added that bonds could be driving the transfer of land. He also said the situation mirrors how students option into a different district. Even if they leave their home district, these students can choose to return to it. Members of the committee and opponents questioned how often such transfers back and forth among districts could occur, wanting to avoid a yo-yo effect. “How long do you allow this?” Jon Habben, executive director of the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association, asked. Carlson said that there are some questions that may still need to be answered with the bill. School district spending could be more uniform LINCOLN – Schools across Nebraska could have a more uniform process of purchasing supplies if a bill proposed by Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha is passed. Brent Smoyer, Lautenbaugh’s aide, described the bill (LB401) to the Education Committee Tuesday. The bill would require a school district to have a purchasing officer who oversees the spending done within that district. He said it would increase transparency in the schools. Nobody testified for the bill, two testified against it, and one testified neutral to it. The committee also had one letter of opposition from Mark Adler, superintendent of Ralston Public Schools. Virgil Harden, executive director for business for Grand Island Public Schools, said that he worried it would cost the public schools more money because they would need to hire another person to do what his school system is already doing. “Dollars that would be taken away from our budget to hire another administrator to be a purchasing agent is not in the best interest of school,” Harden said. “It would take dollars away from the classroom.” He added that Grand Island Public Schools already stresses accountability and transparency in their spending. Many school districts have positions similar to Harden’s in Grand Island, so many of them would have two people doing the same job, he said. Smoyer said that Lautenbaugh was open to changing the bill to an interim study of having school district purchasing agents. School districts could use emergency funds LINCOLN – More access to emergency funds could be available to school districts under a bill heard in the Education Committee of the Nebraska Legislature Tuesday. Sen. Ken Haar of Malcolm presented the bill (LB201) that would allow school districts and educational service units to use more than their available funds in case of an emergency. Seven people testified in support of the bill and nobody testified against or neutral to it. Haar cited the fire that destroyed the Lincoln Public Schools district office in 2011 and the tornado that tore apart the Norris schools in 2004 as examples of emergencies that would be covered under the bill. John Neal, an administrator in Lincoln Public Schools, said that even with the community support and responsive insurance, the school district struggled to have everything running as it should on time after the fire. He also said that both Lincoln Public Schools and Norris Public Schools were lucky that these emergencies happened while school was out for the summer break. “Because of our experience, we have insight into what would be beneficial policy for the state,” Neal said. Brian Hale, with the Nebraska Association of School Boards, said that getting schools back to normal business can take longer than many expect. It is not always just the physical buildings that need repair but also emotional scars left, too, he said. “The job one of all of us is to get kids back in schools, to get teachers back in front of kids and return the community to some sense of normalcy,” Hale said. Members of the committee questioned how much the emergency funds were needed, however, because neither Lincoln Public Schools nor Norris Public Schools had significant financial struggles when facing their emergencies. Special committee could discuss state aid LINCOLN – A special committee to analyze state aid to education could be formed if a bill heard in the Education Committee of the Nebraska Legislature is passed. Sen. Ken Haar of Malcolm presented the bill (LB323) Tuesday that would create a group of people, representing the schools of Nebraska, to discuss annually and create a report with suggestions as to how to address the state aid formula. Four people testified in support of the bill and nobody testified against or neutral to the bill. In presenting his bill, Haar cited suggestions raised in a letter from Mike Dulaney, executive director of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. Haar said that with legislative term limits, many of the relationships built within the Legislature, especially regarding the state aid formula, would not last. The proposed committee would allow a constant group that would assess how Nebraska schools are funded. This committee would consist of four members of the general public, one of which would be a teacher. It would also include four administrators, one member from each class of school district, and a representative of the governor’s office. It also includes a property tax administrator who would not vote. A committee similar to this used to exist, but was dissolved in 2002 for economic reasons, Haar said. John Bonaiuto, representing the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, said the proposed committee would be beneficial because it would give people in the education field a voice in how the state aid formula is calculated. Virgil Harden, executive director for business for Grand Island Public Schools, said the committee should meet more than once a year, however, to get better discussion going on state aid. Sen. Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids questioned whether a recent interim study, which essentially had the same function as the proposed committee, would be enough to eliminate the need for the committee. Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln said he worried that nothing would come of the committee and the government could be funding a dormant group. |
| Gering Senior Citizen Center Menu for March 2013-02-28 By |
| Feb. 25 – 28 MONDAY: Spaghetti and meat sauce, tossed salad, fruit juice, garlic toast, milk, tapioca pudding. TUESDAY: Creamed chicken, gelatin with applesauce, Brussels sprouts, biscuit, milk, sherbet. WEDNESDAY: Ham loaf, au gratin potatoes, green beans, wheat bread, milk, sweet potato cake. THURSDAY: Hamburgers with the trimmings, French fries, baked beans, bun, milk, strawberries and topping. FRIDAY: Lemon pepper fish, potato wedges, coleslaw, apple ring, wheat bread, milk, brownie. March 3 – 8 MONDAY: Sausage and egg burrito, hash brown, herb baked tomatoes, tortilla, mil, sliced pears with cookie. TUESDAY: Hamburger steak with gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, spinach, wheat bread, milk, mandarin oranges. WEDNESDAY: Oven fried chicken, baked potato, peas, wheat bread, milk, cupcake. THURSDAY: Chili with beans, cheese filled celery sticks, ambrosia salad, crackers, milk, cinnamon roll. FRIDAY: Tuna noodle casserole, sunshine salad, broccoli, wheat bread, milk, apple crisp. March 11 – 15 MONDAY: Sloppy joes, pasta salad, mixed vegetable, bun, milk, orange wedges and cookie. TUESDAY: Cook’s Choice. WEDNESDAY: Sweet and sour chicken, brown rice, sugar snap peas, eggroll, milk, banana. THURSDAY: Corned beef, boiled potatoes, braised cabbage and carrots, rye bread, milk, pistachio green cake. FRIDAY: Crab salad, potato triangles, three-bean salad, tomato juice, fruit muffin, milk, ice cream. March 18 – 22 MONDAY: Liver and onions or leftovers, potato casserole, baked tomatoes, wheat bread, milk, mixed fruit. TUESDAY: Chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, Arabian peach salad, wheat bread, milk, zucchini bar. WEDNESDAY: Pork roast, baked yam, lima beans, wheat bread, milk, pudding. THURSDAY: Meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, creamed peas, wheat bread, milk, strawberry shortcake. FRIDAY: Tuna salad sandwich, vegetable soup, spinach salad, milk, rhubarb crisp. March 25 – 29 MONDAY: Meatballs in gravy, buttered noodles, carrot raisin salad, wheat bread, milk, orange slices with cookie. TUESDAY: Barbecue chicken, rice pilaf, cauliflower, wheat bread, milk, sliced peaches. WEDNESDAY: Polish sausage, red skin potatoes, sauerkraut, wheat bread, milk, oatmeal cake. THURSDAY: Beef stew with potatoes, carrots and celery, green gelatin with fruit, biscuit, pumpkin bar. FRIDAY: Baked fish, potatoes O’Brien, broccoli, wheat bread, milk, bread pudding. |
| Hospice group names new vice president 2013-02-28 By |
| Linda Rock, executive director of Prairie Haven Hospice, was elected vice-chair of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and began her term in January at the organization’s first national meeting of 2013. Rock has represented the Central Plains Geographic Area on the NHPCO board of directors for six years. She has served in a variety of leadership capacities on the board. As vice-chair she will continue to serve on the executive committee. In addition, she will chair the Public Policy committee and also serve on the board of the Hospice Action Network. “I want to recognize Linda Rock, our incoming board vice chair. I look forward to hearing her bold voice this year, especially on behalf of the many important issues affecting small and rural providers,” said Ron Fried, NHPCO Board Chair. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is the largest nonprofit leadership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. The organization is committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones. Rock joined Regional West Medical Center as coordinator of Hospice Services in 1986 and became the executive director of Prairie Haven Hospice in Scottsbluff in 1997. She has served on the Regional West Medical Center Bioethics committee and is past chairperson of the Scotts Bluff County End of Life Care Coalition. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology from Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. Rock is a member of the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership, and served as president of the Nebraska Hospice Association from 1996-2000. In 2005, she was awarded the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership Shining Star Award, and in 2012 she received the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association’s State Impact Award. |
| Legislative bill addresses ‘mega fire’ trend 2013-02-28 By Demetria Stephens - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Hot, dry, windy weather and too many eastern red cedar trees made 2012 the worst year for wildfires in Nebraska, said Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis during a Natural Resources Committee hearing Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Davis sponsored Legislative Bill 634, the Wildfire Control Act of 2013, to address a trend toward “mega fires” in Nebraska. Fires increased in frequency and size starting after 1989, said Nebraska State Forester Scott Josiah. “We have to keep the fires smaller and hit them harder early on,” he said. LB634 would contract two air tankers, thin forests, train volunteer firefighters, create an incident management team, expand a federal and state cost share program and oversee rehabilitation of forests affected by fires. Davis said 50 percent of the cost share program in the act would come from federal funds, 25 percent from state funds and 25 percent from landowners. Fourteen people testified at the hearing, all in favor of the bill, from fire chiefs and landowners to mayors and researchers. The act proposes leasing single-engine tanker planes for both Chadron and Valentine, Neb., for three months when fires are most likely, Davis said. The planes would carry water and put out small fires, and the pilots could spot fires faster to alert other firefighters, he said. It costs $100,000 a day to use a Blackhawk helicopter, $200,000 for a Chinook helicopter and $4,000 for the single-engine planes, Josiah said. The act would add two positions focusing on training firefighters statewide and it would try to triple the number of volunteer firefighters, Josiah said. Ninety percent of the volunteer firefighters have not gone through basic fire suppression trainings, he said, so they’re not ready to deal with the mega fires. “We can save money and get on those fires to keep them small,” but he said there’s still a lot of cedar trees ready to burn. It’s a statewide problem, doubling over the past five years and costing ranchers a lot of money. Rich Bringelson of Doniphan, Neb., said he contracted someone to clear trees from his 1,100 acres of pasture at $200 to $500 an acre. And the trees grow back a few years later, he said. His parents raised him to leave something better than he got it, he said. “I’m not trying to live off of (the land,)” he said. “It’s just something I can leave behind.” Contact Demetria Stephens @nns.dstephens@gmail.com. |
| Proposal would do away with ‘mentally retarded’ in state laws 2013-02-28 By By Bethany Knipp/Nebraska News Service nns.bknipp@gmail.com |
| LINCOLN--The offensive term “mentally retarded” would be replaced with “intellectual disability” in Nebraska’s laws under LB343. The Health and Human Services Committee listened to public testimony Wednesday, Feb. 20 at the hearing for the bill, which was introduced by Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln. In his opening statement, Coash told the committee that it’s time to update the language that was once used by the medical community. “If we didn’t do this from time to time, our statutes would be full of the words ‘idiot’, ‘moron’ and ‘imbecile,’” he said. “The word ‘retardation’ has also been hijacked by our slang.” Coash said it is important in language to put the person before the intellectual or developmental disability, when the description is relevant, so as not to define the person by an impairment, saying “a person with an intellectual disability” instead of “an intellectually disabled person.” Proponent Haley Waggoner of the Nebraska Youth Leadership Council said the word “retard” is a powerful slur. “In high school, I was called that name and I’ve never forgotten it,” Waggoner said. “This will show people in Nebraska that this language is not acceptable.” Jodi Fenner, director of the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities, said often people who use the derogatory R-word don’t understand how hurtful it is. Proponent Lynn Redding, who has a developmental disability, said the word had a profound negative impact on her life in high school. “Everyday, I was bullied. Every day, I was called a ‘retard,’” she said. Redding said she was shoved against lockers all the time and the bullying got so bad that she had to transfer schools. “It’s awfully difficult to improve the image of people with intellectual disabilities and society’s assumptions about them when our law relies on those labels,” she said. Coash said bullying is hard to combat but the overdue terminology change is a step forward. “Changing these words is not going to stop the bullying. It’s not going to stop hurtful people from doing hurtful things,” he said. “But it will show that the state has [people with disabilities’] |
| Mickey named to second term as presiding judge 2013-02-28 By |
| LINCOLN – Judge Kris Mickey has been named County Court Presiding Judge of the 12th Judicial District (Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties) for the year 2013. The Nebraska Supreme Court approved the nomination of Judge Mickey, whose name was submitted by his fellow county court judges for the second consecutive year. Judge Mickey has served on the county court bench in the 12th Judicial District since taking the bench in 2010. He has served as co-host for the Scottsbluff area National Adoption Day celebration since he became a judge. He has also served as guest speaker for legal seminars including the "Issues in the Court" workshop for the Nebraska State Bar Association Leadership Academy in Lincoln. His civic education outreach projects include judging High School Mock Trial competitions each year, as well as representing the court system for County Government Day. He recently assisted in the implementation of security upgrades in the Scotts Bluff County courthouse, and presides over the local drug court as needed. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was in the private practice of law in Scottsbluff from 1995 to the time of his appointment. Prior to moving to Scottsbluff, he worked for the Kansas Supreme Court. As presiding judge, Mickey has primary responsibility for overseeing the delivery of county court services within the 12th Judicial District. Judge Mickey will serve as the liaison to other agencies of local and state government, to the Nebraska State Bar Association, and to the media. Presiding judges also bear the responsibility for the hiring, evaluation, and discipline of county court staff and provide county courts in the district with direction regarding matters of local policy. |
| Mistreated livestock could be seized, owners could pay 2013-02-28 By Shelby Friesz, Nebraska News Service |
| Feb. 12, 2013 LINCOLN – Law enforcement officers could seize mistreated livestock with a veterinarian’s recommendation if an Agriculture Committee bill is passed. Rick Leonard, the committee’s research analyst, presented the bill (LB423) at a hearing Tuesday. Six people testified in support of the bill, and one testified against it. The committee also received a letter of support from the Humane Society of the United States. Under the bill, owners of mistreated livestock would also pay for any expense for that animal after seizure until the courts decided whether to charge the owner. If found not guilty, the owner would be reimbursed. “The ultimate goal is to safeguard animal welfare by assuring that owners and custodians fulfill the responsibilities to these livestock,” Leonard said. Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha questioned whether animals would ever need to remain in distress. Robert Hallstrom, a lobbyist for the Nebraska Bankers Association, said the point of the bill was to help these animals as soon as possible. In extreme cases, however, law enforcement could euthanize the mistreated animal, Hallstrom said. Leonard said the bill could also lead to resolving the mistreatment sooner and limit the amount of money spent by local governments caring for mistreated animals. Jessica Kolterman, director of state governmental relations for the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, echoed him, saying the bill could give local governments guidelines for how to handle mistreated animals. Kristen Hassebrook, lobbyist for Nebraska Cattlemen, added that local governments could avoid becoming overburdened with financing care for these seized animals. Amy Prenda, lobbyist for the Nebraska Sheriffs Association, said that it comes down to who is assuming the cost. In one instance, a local government paid a total of about $26,000 to care for mistreated horses that had been seized for five months, she said. Sen. Tom Hansen of North Platte expressed concern about the condition of the drought on the grazing grass that is a significant portion of cattle feed. People may not know what to do when they cannot find feed, he said. The bankers could be the first line of defense before those situations become problematic because they conduct regular inspections of properties with loans, Hallstrom said. Bern Janezen, vice president of the Nebraska Farmer’s Union, shared an opposing testimony written by the president of the group, John Hansen, who could not be present at the hearing. Janezen shared the story of a member of the organization who was charged with mistreating livestock in 2011 because horses were losing weight. The veterinarian could not explain why, and the law enforcement officers and humane society thought it was due to starvation, he said. But the hay the owner had been using contained blister beetle toxins, which caused the weight loss, he said. With experiences such as this in mind, Janezen offered a number of suggestions to the proposed bill, including first determining whether the problem was medical or criminal. The practices for determining medical issues for livestock need to improve, he said. He added that the bill should require consideration of the ability to pay the fine because that is already done for a wide range of fines. Law enforcement officers in some areas may not have the expertise to know when an animal is mistreated, he said. He suggested offering resources for these officers to use before taking action. He also questioned whether these problems should be taken to criminal or civil court and if additional tax money was necessary. “We need to be willing to spend additional tax dollars, if necessary, in order to both properly deal with these issues when they occur while also protecting people’s private property rights and civil liberties,” Janezen said. Contact Shelby Friesz @ nns.sfriesz@gmail.com |
| Chambers aims to kill bill on prisoner labor 2013-02-28 By Shelby Friesz/Nebraska News Service nns.sfriesz@gmail.com |
| LINCOLN – After three hours of discussion, one of three amendments proposed by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha to a bill dealing with prison labor was passed Tuesday. “I intend to take all the time that is necessary to kill this bill,” Chambers said. The bill (LB52) would allow nonprofit organizations to hire prisoners for labor with no pay. Chambers proposed amendments to eliminate nonprofit organizations from the proposed program and to eliminate the requirement that the labor would pay for the operating costs of the penitentiary. Both failed. But his amendment to exclude organizations that discriminated against individuals based on sexual orientation from the program passed with a 29-5 vote. Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial is the sponsor of the bill that would create the prisoner work program. He said it was based on a work camp in McCook, where he said he had no knowledge that discrimination based on sexual orientation took place. “I don’t see what it changes,” Christensen said. “The whole thing comes down to, if you’re a great worker, nobody is going to get rid of you.” Chambers said it is already against state law to discriminate against people based on sexual orientation, and allowing these organizations to do so would be wrong. Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus agreed. He said if there was no evidence of discrimination seen in the area of McCook in question, then the amendment to eliminate organizations that do so would not hurt the aim of the original bill. Schumacher also said that the Legislature should take advantage of the time to have a discussion on the issues raised about Nebraska’s criminal justice system and underlying tones of discrimination in legislation. “Sen. Chambers can’t have all the fun today,” Schumacher said. “Are we not capable of engaging in that discussion?” With the exception of a few other senators who spoke, however, Chambers occupied the majority of the discussion. “Maybe we have an obligation to deal with those issues,” Schumacher said, adding, “We’re all hesitant to talk about the collective will.” |
| Remembering When ... 2013-02-28 By |
| 120 Years Ago Advertising for final proof were Esther C. Eastman, David McKeag and Charles B. Sherman. Real estate man Uzziel H. Clark and A.M. Pattison returned from Hamilton County on a land seeking prospect. 100 Years Ago Former Scottsbluff banker Albert N. Mathers bought controlling interest in the Gering National Bank from Ostenberg, McNish and Neeley. Married: Dr. A.G. Emerson and Miss Ora Gordon. Born: A daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wittig. Died: Willard Beamus, Mitchell. 80 Years Ago U.S. Senators passed a bill to repeal the 18th Amendment, ending Prohibition. Kinch McKinney, noted local horst thief, died at 75 at his home in Moneta, Wyo. A.N. Mathers was on his way to Washington, D.C. for a hearing on sugar tariffs. 60 Years Ago The announcement that major rodeo had been booked for Oregon Trail Days was made by Chairman Bob Fancher. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stark and family was destroyed by fire. S.C. Clarke resigned as county assessor and Jay Hall was named to succeed him. Observing 50 years of marriage were Mr. and Mrs. James H. McKeeman of Gering Valley. 40 Years Ago The Gering Retail Division elected Bud Clarke of the Gering Safeway store as its chairman. McCosh Drug was set to relocate across the street to the site of the former Gering Hotel. First place winners of the Elks Lodge Most Valuable Student Award were Claudia Pielstick and Doug Van Winkle. The University of Nebraska announced that Gering student Norma Watenpaugh was awarded a Regent Scholarship. Died: Charles A. Brandt, 84, Scottsbluff; Laura Darnall, 83, Scottsbluff; Letha Lawrence, 68, Scottsbluff; Stella Hall, 82, Scottsbluff; Harry Schneider, 55, Minatare; Soshichi Hara, 94, Scottsbluff. 20 Years Ago Rural Gering resident Susan Cross was sentenced to 5-9 years in the women’s prison for assaulting her 3-year-old son. The Clerk of the District Court received petitions calling for a grand jury investigation of three cases: the Valdez-Condon murder case, the Steven Schlothauer fire and death case, and the car accident and death case of Joe Richter. Height restrictions around Scotts Bluff National Monument divided the Gering City Council over building heights in the new Canyon Estates subdivision. The district court budget had been depleted from $103,524 to $300 because of several capital cases. With a district win over Scottsbluff, the Gering Lady Bulldogs basketball team qualified for their first state tournament. Died: June I. Wilson, 64, Scottsbluff; Elmer Weinmaster, 72, Gering; Adam Deines, 81, Scottsbluff. 10 Years Ago Gering considered a draft ordinance for water restrictions, in case needed. Jeffrey A. Hessler of Gering, accused in the murder of 15-year-old Heather Guerrero, waived his preliminary hearing and his defense attorneys entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality gave Gering a June 1 deadline to develop a plan for treating its wastewater for ammonia. Although the Gering City Council agreed the Western Nebraska Regional Airport terminal needed to be expanded, members were hesitant over the cost. Gering Ward II council members Gunther Koob and Alice Wineman invited residents of the ward to a town hall meeting for discuss resident concerns. Cedar Canyon defeated Lake Minatare to claim the Scotts Bluff County volleyball championship. The Gering Lady Bulldogs basketball team finished the season with a perfect record of 21-0 after wins over Scottsbluff and Ogallala. Died: Millie Keller Specht, 98, Gering; Lydia Green, 90, Scottsbluff; Donna L. Clements, 68, Gering; Sharyl DeAnn Reidel, 44, Scottsbluff. As mentioned before, the coming of the railroads ultimately determined success or failure or many towns in the Panhandle. Gering, incorporated in 1887, had not grown much in its early years. In fact, there were only 2,500 people in all of Scotts Bluff County in 1900. Most of the growth in the next 10 years would be from the development of railroad towns. The Burlington Route was the first into the valley, laying tracks on the north side of the North Platte River in 1900. And the Gering business community became nervous, despite an official visit from Union Pacific representatives assuring Gering the UP would lay tracks through the town. Based on those assurances, many in Gering decided to stick it out. But many other accepted very favorable terms to relocate north of the river. In the area that would soon be Scottsbluff, the sign on the Burlington’s boxcar station read “North Gering.” Although Gering officials tried to sell bonds to build a spur line called the Gering and Northern to Scottsbluff, most of the bonds went unsold and the project abandoned. So Gering waited. Within three months, by July 1900, Scottsbluff had grown enough to incorporate itself as a village. Some of the early officials included C.H. Simmons, who had moved from Gering, as postmaster. Board members included John Emery, A. McCreary, John A. McGowan and O.P. Yarger, who later became the station agent. School board members included O.B. Brown, W.M. Barbour and E.T. Westervelt. The first school teacher was L.L. Raymond, who later became a lawyer, judge, county superintendent of schools and a state senator. School board member E.T. Westervelt was also busy elsewhere. He started The Republican newspaper. Early businesses that headed north included the Irrigators Bank, the Carr and Neff Lumber Yard, and even the Spry and Soder saloon. The Union Pacific arrived in Gering in 1911, but in those intervening years, Scottsbluff had outdistanced its older sister to the south as the area’s population and business hub. Editor’s Note: This account was recorded in the 1945 book “Fifty Years of Yesterdays” by A.B. Wood. |
| Local grad earns teaching honor 2013-02-28 By |
| Sara Bordeaux, first grade teacher at Zeman Elementary School in Lincoln, was recognized as A+ Educator of the Week for Feb. 18. Sara, the daughter of Ed and Sandy Bordeaux of Lincoln, is a 2006 graduate of Gering High School. Her grandparents are Ron and Dee Bordeaux of Gering. |
| Shirley Bernhardt will celebrate her 75th Birthday 2013-02-28 By |
| Shirley Bernhardt will celebrate her 75th Birthday Sunday, March 3. Her children Toni Genua, Gale Martin and Mike Bernhardt and Grand Children Joshua, Tommy and Harlee Jo would like to honor her with a open house get-together at the Eagles Club Sunday March 3 from 1-3 p.m. Cards and well wishes may be sent to Shirley at 1713 Ave F Scottsbluff NE 69361. Let your presence be your gift. |
| State Education Association launched cooperation campaign 2013-02-28 By |
| The Nebraska State Education Association will launch an effort to raise awareness about the importance of local businesses and public schools working together. The “Good Schools are Good for Business” campaign begins Feb. 21, and includes a website that provides Nebraskans an opportunity to share stories of how schools and businesses working together create strong schools, strong communities and a strong economy. The entry providing the best example will be awarded a $1,000 prize to be awarded to the public school of the winner’s choice. Members of the community are encouraged to visit NSEA.org to share their stories about how public schools have worked or could work with local business to prepare students for the workplace. This interactive campaign will provide Nebraskans an opportunity to join with NSEA members to strengthen public education in communities across our state. “We all know that public schools are a critical part of our state and local economies,” said Nancy Fulton, NSEA president. “We want to shine a light on those businesses and business leaders that are partnering with our schools and teachers to help our students succeed. To do that, we encourage Nebraskans to share their story about a business/school partnership.” The NSEA has made a strong effort in the last two years researching the results of strong public education and the needs of the community. A 2010 national poll conducted by the National Education Association showed 90 percent of those surveyed strongly believed that public schools play a critical role in the nation’s economy. In the same survey, 94 percent of voters believe that when youth are better educated, they get better jobs and go on to contribute more to the community as adults. Fulton said that through this campaign, NSEA hopes to create a movement “that will help kids learn the value of community by gaining perspectives from beyond the classroom.” “This helps build a stronger workforce and helps make the local economy grow. Connecting with the community is an important part of this effort. NSEA hopes to grow a stronger bond with businesses and community members through constant interaction,” Fulton said. NSEA represents 28,000 public education professionals across the state and advocates for a great public school education for every student. |
| Texting becomes a pain in the neck 2013-02-28 By |
| LINCOLN In today’s technology-thirsty society, it’s rare to not see someone with their head down texting on their cell phone or reading the latest status updates on Facebook. However, too much texting and tilting your head down can become a pain in the neck for some people. An excessive amount of leaning your head forward and down, while looking at a phone or other mobile device could result in what some people call “text neck.” “People get so focused on these devices that they end up holding their neck and upper back in abnormal positions for a long period of time; enough that other people coined the phrase ‘text neck,’ which is essentially referring to postural pain,” said Chris Cornett, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon and spine specialist at UNMC’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. The term, text neck, was first coined by a chiropractor in Florida. It’s defined as overuse syndrome involving the head, neck and shoulders, usually resulting from excessive strain on the spine from looking in a downward position at hand held devices such as cell phones, mp3 players, e-readers and computer tablets. “When you hold your body in an abnormal position, it can increase stress on the muscles, cause fatigue, muscle spasms and even stress headaches,” Dr. Cornett said. “With every degree of motion to the front or side that you move your head, the stress on your neck is magnified beyond just the weight of the head.” He added that what we assume, but do not necessarily know, is whether or not this is causing long term increased stress on the other structures in your neck, such as the discs and joints. Dr. Cornett has seen patients who have complained about this sort of discomfort and has even experienced it himself. “We see it as a frequent complaint, and I would estimate that more and more people over time, as technology use continues to expand, will experience this kind of discomfort and injuries from text neck,” he said. However, Dr. Cornett suggested a few ways to help alleviate or avoid text neck becoming a pain in your neck. • Modify the position of the device Instead of having the device in your lap or causing you to lean your head down, find a way to hold the device at a neutral, eye level. • Take breaks Be aware that you’re using these technology devices throughout the day and force yourself to take a break and to change or alter your position. • Physical fitness Having a strong, flexible back and neck will help you deal with abnormal stresses and reduce musculoskeletal issues. Courtesy, UNMC Physicians |
| Troopers receive honorable service award 2013-02-28 By |
| LINCOLN – The Nebraska State Patrol has bestowed its Honorable Service Award on two troopers injured in the line of duty. Trooper Timothy Flick #382, Troop E- Scottsbluff and Trooper Brian Detlefsen #478, Troop B- Norfolk were presented their awards by Nebraska State Patrol Superintendent Colonel David Sankey. The awards were presented in each individual troop area during recently held winter troop meetings. Trooper Flick was honored for his actions during the June 12, 2012 armed robbery and standoff at the Thiele Pharmacy in Alliance. Trooper Flick was wounded in the torso and arm by gunfire from the robbery suspect. Trooper Detlefsen was honored for his actions during a December 18, 2012 incident involving an individual using a tractor to destroy property in rural Antelope County. Trooper Detlefsen’s patrol vehicle was rammed by the tractor at a high rate of speed, causing the air bag to deploy. Trooper Detlefsen suffered a laceration to his head requiring medical treatment. “Each of these situations was very different,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Yet the response from both of these officers demonstrated their bravery, courage and self-sacrifice in the face of danger and in the protection of others.” The Nebraska State Patrol’s Honorable Service Award was established to bestow recognition to commissioned officers who, while in the performance of their duties, are injured or killed while encountering deadly force or bodily harm. |
| USDA Announces Additional Steps to Reduce Fraud and Misuse in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 2013-02-28 By |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Agriculture Under Secretary Kevin Concannon recently announced tough new measures as a part of USDA's ongoing effort to ensure integrity in the nation's nutrition safety net, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). "Where there is a will to commit malfeasance, bad actors will try to find a way, and we must do everything we can to stay ahead of the curve," Concannon said. "This announcement reaffirms USDA's ongoing commitment to cracking down on abuse and protecting taxpayers' investment in this critical nutrition lifeline." The announcement codifies an expanded legal definition of "trafficking" that incorporates not only the direct exchange of SNAP benefits for cash but other indirect methods of obtaining cash for SNAP benefits. The expanded definition now includes so-called "water dumping," or the purchase of beverages in containers with returnable deposits for the sole purpose of discarding the contents and returning the containers to obtain cash refund deposits; and the sale or purchase of products originally purchased with SNAP benefits for purposes of exchanging those products for cash or other items. USDA is also seeking comment on a new proposal that would authorize USDA to immediately suspend payments to retailers suspected of flagrant trafficking violations from accepting SNAP benefits. Currently, when a retailer is suspected of trafficking, USDA must first conduct an investigation before suspending the retailer. If USDA determines that a retailer is a flagrant trafficker, the Department would be authorized to immediately suspend its redemptions. Such a step would happen concurrently with the retailer being charged; thereby allowing the Department to hold funds that might ultimately be forfeited by the store if the disqualification is upheld. USDA has front line responsibility for overseeing and enforcing the law with respect to the more than 238,000 retailers that are authorized to accept SNAP benefits. While the vast majority of businesses participating in SNAP are honest and play by the rules, USDA continues to strengthen sanctions against those few bad actors seeking to take advantage of the program. Last year, USDA compliance analysts and investigators took action to permanently disqualify 1,387 stores for trafficking in SNAP benefits (i.e. exchanging SNAP benefits for cash) or falsifying an application. SNAP – the nation's first line of defense against hunger – helps put food on the table for millions of low income families and individuals every month. The largest of USDA's 15 nutrition assistance programs, it has never been more critical to the fight against hunger. Nearly half of SNAP participants are children and more than 40 percent of recipients live in households with earnings. The announcement is part of the Obama Administration's ongoing Campaign to Cut Waste designed to fight fraud, abuse and misuse in federal programs. For more information about USDA efforts to combat fraud, visit the Stop SNAP fraud website at www.fns.usda.gov/snap/fraud. |
| Fifty-eight years of miles and smiles 2013-02-28 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| Vera and Keith Strachan were married on December, 24th, 1954 and in the ensuing years since that special day they have lived a lifetime of happy companionship and experienced more than a few adventures. The couple lived for many years on the Strachan family farm in the Mitchell Valley before moving to Gering in 1998. Keith was a third generation operator of the farm his Scottish grandfather, Alexander Strachan, founded around the turn of the century south of Mitchell. Vera grew up in Lusk, Wyoming near the Mansville area. “We met in 1952,” Vera said. “I came to Mitchell to teach school. It was a little town without much to do. We young teachers were just out of college and we liked to go out together. I met Keith at the State Line club. Back then it used to be a respectable place that was very nice. We girls would go out and I met Keith when he was out with his buddies. We would dance and have a good time. The club was owned by the Petsch brothers. They were a very prominent family back then.” A few years later, on Christmas Eve, Vera and Keith were married in Lusk. “I taught school in Mitchell and Keith farmed four miles south. The land was always in Strachan hands until we sold it.” They have one son, Kevin, who currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he works in the oil industry for ConocoPhillips. “We don't have any grand-kids,” Vera said, “but we have a 'grand dog.'” When asked what was the secret to such a long marriage the couple essentially said they didn't really think about it. “There is no secret,” Vera said. “You just get on with life and do things together; help each other along the way.” “The secret to a long marriage is to do what your wife tells you,” Keith joked. “I really don't see that there is any secret,” Vera continued. “We took our vows very seriously. Neither set of our parents were divorced. We worked hard, we farmed. I told Keith long ago I would never divorce him, never.” Vera smiled at Keith and added, “I told him while I would never divorce him I still might kill him instead.” All joking aside the Strachan's said it was important for new couples just starting out to be sure they are on the same page when it came to finances. Planning ahead for retirement and having clear expectations of how and when to spend money was a key to a successful marriage. They said newlyweds are never too young to start preparing for their future. They also added it was important to take care of yourself and protect your health. “We decided early on that we wanted to spend our money on travel,” Vera said. “That is something you should do when you are young. It gets harder when you are older. We have traveled all over the world and really enjoyed it. We both agreed this is what we wanted to do.” The couple noted while they achieved many travel goals and saw some amazing sites no marriage is absolutely perfect, and life brings its own ups and downs. “Everyone who is married will have disputes now and then,” Keith said. “You work out your problems.” “Naturally you argue sometimes,” Vera added. “But you work it out. Don't air your dirty laundry in public. So far we have not been too disagreeable. We work out things. No one told us it was going to be perfect. That's just life.” The couple said they had no special plans for their 60th wedding anniversary and said they didn't really see their 50th as that big of a deal. They also said they didn't really bother with any special Valentine's Day celebration this month either. “We celebrated our marriage with travel,” Vera said. “We both wanted to see the USA and the world. We worked hard and saved and spent our money on various cruises and tours. Life is too short not to take advantage of travel. On our 25th anniversary we took a three-week cruise from California and down through the Panama Canal.” Keith, who was stationed in Saipan during World War Two, said he always wanted to show his wife the big ships he recalled from his time in the navy. “Our first cruise peaked out interest in travel,” Vera said. “After going all over in the USA we went to some resorts in Mexico. We made 13 trips to Europe. We spent three weeks in China and three weeks in Thailand. We've been on river cruises and even went on a cruise to Alaska. It has been wonderful.” The Strachan's said one of their favorite trips was going to the British Isles and visiting Scotland. “We went to my grandfather's birthplace,” Keith said. “There are still Strachans living in that region.” Vera recalled while in Scotland they visited the famous romantic region of Gretna Green. “Couples from all over the United Kingdom and Europe go to Gretna Green to get married,” Vera said. “When we were there the Scots heard our story and called us up. They were in their kilts and everything, the whole ball game. They held a mock wedding for us; it was fun. There a no rules there, no age limits. Anyone can marry at Gretna Green. That experience was an extra bonus.” “Many go there because there are no requirements,” Keith said. “No questions asked. People from all over marry there.” The couple said they have met many wonderful people over the years and frequently traveled with another couple from Irving, Texas who they met in Greece. “They have been married for 65 years,” Vera said. “We've celebrated birthdays and anniversaries together. They are great friends. We talk on Skype. I think when you go out and meet so many wonderful people in the world it can make you a better person yourself. You realize the world is a small place.” Of the many destinations around the globe that they have seen the Strachan's picked a few other favorites besides Scotland. “Greece was a really wonderful trip,” Vera said. “It is where history started.” “The history got mixed up with the myth,” Keith noted. “We saw where the original Olympics were held.” “We were in between both Paris and London when Princess Diana was killed,” Vera said. “Both cities claimed her as their own. There were flowers everywhere and the people were so sad. During that trip Princess Diana was all everyone was talking about. Another trip I would highlight was seeing the Great Wall in China. We saw the terracotta soldiers, we saw cities and antiquities on the Yangtze River before they were flooded when the Chinese built a dam.” Looking back the couple said they had no regrets and advised young couples get out and experience life while they were still healthy and strong. “We can't complain,” Vera said. “We've had a wonderful life and we have a tremendous son who we really admire. We have a wonderful daughter-in-law. My advice is to forget your TVs and chairs and go travel the world. Go out and live life. When you get to be around 65 years old that is when you should buy a good chair. "We don't think we've done anything special, really. We just set some goals and worked hard to achieve them. Couples should set their goals together and work towards them. We wanted to get out and see the world and we did it. We've reached a point of age where we can't do that anymore but have a lifetime of happy memories.” |
| Gering considers police department options 2013-02-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| With the Gering Police Department between chiefs, some city council members are asking what changes can make the department more efficient. Currently, two captains serve under the chief – one for investigations and the other for patrol officers. A sergeant is also on duty for every shift. Council member Julie Morrison said she’s not sure whether the department needs two captains, or how a restructured department should look. However, retiring police chief Mel Griggs said the current system is working effectively. Morrison and fellow council member Jill McFarland met with Griggs to brainstorm whether changes were needed. “All I want to say is maybe we should stop and think how we can restructure the police department,” Morrison said. “We still have a lot more talking to do before anything transpires. We need to come up with the option that’s most beneficial to the public and the best financial idea for the department.” McFarland said that because Gering’s two captains have two separate roles, keeping that arrangement might be best for the department. During their meeting with Griggs, they discussed the possibility of adding a late evening to early morning shift to improve coverage. “I understand the position for chief will be advertised internally first,” she said. “We’d only go outside of we can’t find someone qualified within the department. But Mel assured us there are some excellent people that could easily step into the role of chief.” Gering Mayor Ed Mayo said the city is just getting started on the process of replacing Chief Griggs and they’re in no hurry. “All options are open,” Mayo said. “I’d like to see a promotion from within the department. That way we can keep some continuity as the new chief will already be familiar with the procedures.” Scottsbluff is in a similar position of having no police chief after Alex Moreno resigned last year. The two vacancies led their City Manager, Rick Kuckkahn, to again address the possibility of consolidating the two cities’ police departments. He said it was just a discussion item for his city council. The possible consolidation of the two departments was being considered for much of 2010. Gering residents were concerned over a lack of police identity and whether any savings would be realized. The consolidation was heavily discussed during the 2010 campaign for Gering mayor, which was won by Mayo. One of his campaign promises was to put an end to any potential consolidation, which was one of his first official duties. Mayo said the only way he could possibly support any kind of merger is if county-wide law enforcement were implemented, including the county sheriff and all towns in the county. He said he would be against any consolidation of just Gering and Scottsbluff. “I think we’ll leave things just the way they are,” Morrison said. “That’s what the citizens wanted.” McFarland said she found Kuckkahn’s comment “interesting” but the residents of Gering haven’t changed their minds. “I don’t know about the other seven council members, but I can guarantee I would not support any discussion regarding consolidation. I’m confident it wouldn’t get a majority vote from the council.” |
| Texas band to play at Oregon Trail Days 2013-02-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| The Texas based country rock group the Josh Abbott Band is heading north to Gering for the kickoff concert during this summer’s Oregon Trail Days. Bill Peters of the Oregon Trail Days concert committee said for the second year, the concert will be the Saturday prior to the main OTD events. Josh Abbott will be at Five Rocks Amphitheater on Saturday, July 6. An indie label group, the Josh Abbott has recorded four albums. Going back to 2010, their song “She’s Like Texas” turned into a smash regional hit. That was before “Oh, Tonight,” climbed to No. 44 on the Billboard Country Chart – all this from a band that’s only been touring and recording for the past five years. In an earlier interview, Abbott said he didn’t start writing songs until 2004, when he as a grad student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He first picked up a guitar a few years before then, mainly to strum along with his favorite country tunes. But after a solo concert at the local club Blue Light, he realized that maybe music could be his living. Peters said the gates at Five Rocks open at 6 p.m. on July 6 for the concert. At 6:30 p.m. the local band Stonegate Road, featuring Justin Hanshew, will play. The Josh Abbott Band takes the stage at 8 p.m. As last year food vendors will be onsite and the concert committee will be applying for a license to host a beer garden at the event. “Josh Abbott is a new band that should attract fans of new country rock,” Peters said. “The band has a nice sound that people should like. Like the old saying goes, it has a good beat and you can dance to it.” Peters said the concert committee was pleased with attendance at last year’s concert, the first time they moved the concert up a week. “As it turned out, it was advantageous to have the concert early. Then chili cook-off and the carnival both moved out to Five Rocks last year and were well attended, so we weren’t competing with ourselves.” Tickets for the Josh Abbott Band are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Tickets are available on the OTD website, www.oregontraildays.com. Outlets for printed tickets will be announced soon. |
| Community invited to take the plunge 2013-02-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| People from around the area are invited to brave the cold water of the North Platte River and dive in to help support Special Olympics. Registration for the second annual Polar Plunge starts at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 in the parking area at Riverside Park in Scottsbluff. The plunge is scheduled for 11 a.m. “Our first plunge went beyond all expectations we had,” said Captain Jason Rogers of the Gering Police Department. “We were hoping to raise about $5,000 for Special Olympics and we raised about $10,000. The turnout was phenomenal and we had great support.” Rogers said not only law enforcement professionals showed up, but also members from local young professionals group and family members of Special Olympians. The Polar Plunge event has been going on for several years in eastern Nebraska, sponsored by local law enforcement agencies. This year will be the second one for the local area. Members from the Scottsbluff and Gering Police Departments, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office are all planning to participate. “The law enforcement community has been involved with the Special Olympics program for years,” Rogers said. “Every May, we sponsor the Law Enforcement Torch Run across the state. The Polar Plunge is a tie-in to what we’ve been doing all along.” Immediately following the plunge, a post-plunge party is scheduled at the UMCA Trails West Camp, just west of the plunge area. Like last year, plungers are asked to raise a minimum of $50 each. Prizes will also be awarded for the most outrageous costume, the youngest and oldest plunger, top male and female fundraisers and the most original team theme. Rogers said plungers can sign up even the morning of the event. For more information and tips about the event, go to the Special Olympics website, www.sone.org. “Whether people want to dive in, donate to the cause or volunteer to help out, everything is appreciated,” he said. |
| Snare kills family pet 2013-02-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| A family pet, killed by a snare set in one of the local wildlife management areas, has the family wondering whether the traps should be legal on public lands. Last Sunday, Elizabeth Berge of Gering, along with her uncle and grandmother, were hiking near the Wildcat Hills. Elizabeth let her dog, Jupiter, off leash to run around. And when the dog didn’t return, she started searching. Coming over a ridge, she saw the dog, caught in a snare trap. Elizabeth’s uncle, John Berge, took a closer look and discovered the Border collie mix dog’s neck had been broken in the trap. Snare traps, which use a cable or wire noose to catch wild non-game animals, are commonly used and inexpensive to set. Consequently, they can often be left unmonitored and unchecked. According to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission documents, the goal of their furbearing program, which regulates trapping of non-game animals, is to “manage furbearer populations and their use and control in a fashion that maximizes diversity and consumptive and non-consumptive opportunities while minimizing property damage and negative impacts on habitat and other wildlife.” Through the use of snares, the state’s furbearing program is intended to control the population of non-game wild animals such as foxes, beavers and skunks. However, other animals can also get trapped, such as pets and domesticated animals. This has led to widespread criticism from animal welfare groups. Snares aren’t allowed to be set until the upland bird season on Jan. 31 because hunting dogs are used during that time. But the particular trap that killed Elizabeth’s dog was placed 20 feet from a foot trail. Although signs are posted at the wildlife management areas to warn the public about hunters, the Berges said they didn’t see any signs warning about traps. And that left John Berge wondering whether the traps should be legal on public lands, where people could bring their children or pets. Sam Wilson, furbearing and carnivore program manager with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said he was aware of the incident, which he occurred in an open field and waters area. “These areas are private property where the Commission has a contract with the owner to allow access to people who hunt, trap and fish,” he said. “Within these areas, we follow the same general rules and regulations for trapping that are required for Commission owned properties, like wildlife management areas.” Wilson added the Game and Parks Commission provides signs that designate open field and waters areas. They also publish a public access atlas that shows every area in the state where these contracts are in place. Elizabeth said she had just moved back into the area and her dog had accompanied her in all her travels. The two of them had hiked the trails of numerous local outdoor areas. Still broken up over the loss of her dog, Jupiter, she said if landowners allow access to their land for hunting and fishing, they should post it so hikers know of the potential danger. “There was a parking lot where we hiked, so it was accessible,” she said. “I thought it would be safe to go hiking there.” The family has contacted representatives from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission about the incident. They will also contact state senators and other officials over whether a change in state law is needed to address the issue. |
| USDA program to benefit local museums 2013-02-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| A new loan program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture will benefit the Legacy of the Plains Museums as they continue the work to build a new complex near Scotts Bluff National Monument. The City of Gering will administer the program after receiving USDA approval in December 2012. As part of the approval process, Gering had to budget and approve a 20 percent match for the $60,000 the USDA made available. In order to meet the Feb. 15 deadline for acceptance, the Gering City Council met in special session on Feb. 14 and took 10 minutes to approve their involvement in the program. The USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, implemented two years ago, offers zero percent interest loans that are repaid over a 10-year period. As the funds are repaid, it goes into a revolving loan fund that can be used for future economic development projects. Gering Mayor Ed Mayo said the city has been working toward getting accepted for the program since 2011. “This will help some of the non-profit agencies pay the initial costs of finishing up improvements,” he said. “It’s tough for these groups to come up with the necessary funding ahead of time. And it’s tough to beat the zero percent interest rate.” Gering City Administrator Lane Danielzuk said because of the variety of economic sources for retail and other projects, this loan fund will be more focused on non-profit organizations. Katie Bradshaw, director of the Legacy of the Plains Museums, which incorporates the Farm And Ranch Museum and the North Platte Valley Museum, said the program is valuable to them. “This will allow us to bridge the gap between when our construction costs are starting and when some of the money from our capital campaign starts coming in,” she said. “We’ll bring out a public phase of the capital campaign later this year where people can contribute over a five-year period.” Cost of construction has already started to pile up. The museums have hired a design expert to help them develop a layout for their combined facility. Also, dirt work is starting as utility lines are moved to allow for major construction later this spring. |
| Gering school board makes final arrangements for purchase of credit union building 2013-02-21 By Lauren Smith-Kuckkahn - Special to the Citizen |
| It is a season of change for the Gering school district. March will mark the purchase of a new administration building as well as the arrival of the district's new superintendent. In preparation, on Monday night the Gering Public Schools Board of Education approved final documents needed to complete the purchase of the building on 10th Street. Mike Brunner and Brian Copsey were absent from the meeting. The board voted to authorize Superintendent Don Hague to sign a two-year note to finance the new administration building. Tim Meisner, business manager, said the $295,000 note is to be with Platte Valley Bank, and will have a 2.75 percent interest rate. The board also approved a contract with Western Heritage Credit Union allowing them to maintain an ATM (automated teller machine) in the new administration building for the next five years. Meisner said the contract originated from an unwritten agreement that was made during purchase negotiations for the building. He said because of the price the district agreed to pay for the building, and because the credit union will maintain the ATM at no cost to the district, the district agreed to allow the machine to stay. “The purchase price they gave us was very attractive,” he said. The closing date for the building is set at March 15. Meisner said he would like to see district administration settled into the new space by May 1, but they plan to postpone the move until the new superintendent, Bob Hastings, arrives in the last week of March. “We want him to make sure he's comfortable with how we're arranging offices,” Meisner said. Appointments were made for board positions, and Brian Copsey was elected as vice president of the board. Breaking with tradition, non-board members were selected as treasurer and secretary to the board. Lisa Frahm, administrative assistant to the superintendent, was selected to be board secretary, and Meisner was chosen as treasurer. Board President Alan Doll said the board made the decision to not elect a secretary and treasurer from among board members because it realized that as a Class Three school, according to state statute Gering's school board needs to elect only a president and vice president. He also said that Frahm and Meisner perform the roles of secretary and treasurer anyway, and in the past, electing board members as secretary and treasurer was almost a formality. Doll also said that although the board elected its president in January, the election of a vice president and committee appointments were postponed to give time for consideration to board members deciding which commitments they could make. Copsey, Mike Brunner, and Doll were appointed to the business committee. Curriculum committee members are Mary Winn, B.J. Peters, and Jerry Upp. Facilities committee members are Doll, Upp, and Peters. Copsey, Brunner and Winn accepted appointments to the personnel committee. Winn and Peters are the VALTS representatives. During school reports and discussion items, the board acknowledged the sum of $23,000 awarded to the Freshman Academy by the Gering KENO Committee. The academy's assistant principal, Kraig Weyrich, was awarded the funds to use for the purchase of security equipment, namely radios. These portable units would be used by school personnel or first responders during emergency situations, Hague said. On Jan. 26, Stephanie Upp and Melanie Bibb took 24 members of the girls' and boys' basketballs teams to the veteran's home in Scottsbluff to play bingo with the residents. The board accepted the resignations of seven teachers and staff members from the district. |
| County board at impasse over sheriff’s cars 2013-02-21 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| After more than an hour of discussion, Scotts Bluff County Commissioners were unable to agree whether to allow the Sheriff’s Department to purchase two new vehicles to replace others with more than 100,000 mile on them. Sheriff Mark Overman again asked the board to authorize the purchase, saying his department has the funds without affecting the budget. Last December, the sheriff turned over $119,000 in sheriff fees that had been building in an account over the past 10 years. The department also realized $45,000 in savings from an insurance payout to repair vehicles damaged in last summer’s hailstorm. “I was disappointed in last year’s budget hearings,” Overman told the board. “We generated substantial savings for the county and we were ready to explain it to you. But that year was a severe budget crunch, so I was never given the opportunity to be heard on it. This board said we had too much blue sky in our budget and were castigated for having too much money if we were turning money back to the county.” An hour-long discussion followed over the finer points of accounting and balancing various aspects of budgets, and also whether the Sheriff’s Department actually had the money, since it had been turned over to the county’s general fund. Commissioner Sherry Blaha finally said if the board authorized the purchase; it would be unfair to other departments that also had to undergo budget cuts. Finally, Commissioner Mike Marker made a motion to allow Overman to use the $45,000 in saved insurance reimbursement to purchase one vehicle, but only if it could be done without amending the Sheriff’s budget. Blaha, who supported the Sheriff purchasing one vehicle at the county board’s last meeting, said she now thought differently. She also said she wanted to postpone the vote until absent Commissioner Ken Meyer was present, since he was the one who introduced the measure in the first place. But Marker’s motion was still on the floor and commissioners split over the purchase of sheriff’s cars. Blaha and Steve Stratton voted no. Marker and Mark Masterton voted yes. So whether or not the Sheriff can purchase new cars to replace the aging ones is still to be decided. |
| Minatare city council hears talk of building a Viaero Wireless tower in city limits 2013-02-21 By Lauren-Smith-Kuckkahn - Special to the Citizen |
| On Tuesday night, Rick Bailey, representative for Viaero Wireless, approached the Minatare City Council to discuss the possibility of building a Viaero tower within the city limits.He said Viaero is constantly trying to expand and improve its service, and the reason Viaero service in Minatare is poor is because it lacks close proximity to a tower. He said the company is interested in building a tower in Minatare, but the space he needs for the tower would have to be at least 50 feet by 50 feet, or preferably, a few city lots. He said he is looking in an area north of the railroad tracks. Although the tower is supposed to be in an agricultural or industrial zone, and not a residential or commercial zone, if the city had a promising space available, the company would try to work with it, Bailey said. Bailey said, as he scouted the town for possible tower sites, he noticed structures which could affect signal, such as the Kelley Bean elevator. He said he needs a clear line-of-sight microwave path for the tower to give and receive the strongest signal. If the project moves forward, it would likely be “a 2014 project”, Bailey said. The council approved the purchase of notice signs specifying banned dog breeds in Minatare. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers are banned within the city limits. The signs will specify these breeds and be posted at every entrance to Minatare. The six signs, measuring 18 inches by 24 inches, will cost the city $427 to purchase and install. Terry Rajewich, account manager for Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) addressed the council, discussing the current terms of the city's lease agreement with NPPD. The City of Minatare owns its own power distribution system, which NPPD leases and maintains on a 25-year contract. Rajewich said NPPD employs 24 people in Scottsbluff, who service the surrounding area. NPPD gives a quarterly payment of 12 percent revenue to Minatare. In 2010, NPPD paid the city $63,000, and in 2012, the total payment was $75,000. In addition, NPPD maintains the street lamps and trims city trees that grow over power lines. Rajewich said in 2012, NPPD spent $27,000 in tree trimming services in Minatare. All tree-trimmers contracted by the company are certified to work around power lines, a certification that costs $5,000 per year to maintain, said Dennis Wademan, NPPD Distribution Superintendent. She said that NPPD also offers the state economic development services, bringing new business into the state. Council member Bob Baldwin asked if that service could benefit Minatare directly. Rajewich said NPPD does not help attract “mom-and-pop businesses” into specific communities, but tries to bring large industries into the state. “We are looking at large industries to benefit Nebraska,” Rajewich said. Rajewich said due to regulatory and economic pressures, power rates are going to continue to increase, but NPPD will continue to try to bring the best rates to its customers. Baldwin said he thought this information was important for Minatare residents to understand, and asked if Rajewich could find a way to disseminate the information to all Minatare residents. Rajewich said she had enough information to confuse most people, but that NPPD releases its big announcements through the news media, in addition to providing information on its website. During the review of the city's annual audit, the council learned that Sewer and Sanitation are losing money, and the city may have to consider raising rates to compensate. A presentation was made by Rick Hurt, Director of Environmental Services in Gering, soliciting the City of Minatare to consider switching its garbage service providers when its current contract expires. For sanitation services, Minatare currently is contracted with Waste Management, which trucks their garbage to the J Bar J Landfill near Ogallala. Hurt said Environmental Services does everything locally, using its own landfill near Gering. He said the Gering landfill still has a few years of use left, and Gering is working on securing a piece of land for a new landfill site. Gering Environmental Services serves Gering and Mitchell, and could serve Minatare, also, Hurt said. He said Gering also has a recycling program. In order to encourage more people to recycle, Hurt said he implemented the single-bin system, in which customers put all recycling into a single bin, rather than sorting their recycling. He said glass is not accepted, but plastics one through seven are. All recycling is trucked to Denver, Colo., where it is processed, he said. Baldwin said that if Hurt can submit a rough proposal, giving a ballpark figure for the cost of switching services, the city may consider it. |
| Oregon Trail Community Foundation Hosts Inaugural Barn Party & Agri- 2013-02-21 By |
| What started as a great idea, a delicious meal, and a fun evening has been moved to the Barn! But this isn’t your ordinary barn- this is the Cheyenne Ridge Signature Lodge just east of Minatare. This is the first large-scale fundraiser that the OTCF has held in over a decade, so The Board of Directors and the OTCF Event Committee says, “Strap yourselves in, because the Barn Party and Agri-Recognition Dinner promises to be a fun and entertaining evening to generate funds that go right back into our Communities.” Cocktail Hour begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Country Style Dinner prepared by two 5-Star Chefs. Guests will enjoy Bluegrass tunes by the Green Valley Homesteaders, followed by an award presented to an Agri-Business Person belonging to our valley and who has contributed considerable time and resources to the communities’ agricultural success. Julie Marshall, Membership Director, said “If you’re looking for a relaxed evening, casual attire, jeans, cowboy boots, and no long gowns, I promise that you will have a great time!” Hod Kosman, Platte Valley Companies, CEO, added, “We thought this would be a great way to show our communities who we are, and how we help. And, we’re celebrating 35 years of giving back to our communities, so this really is the place to be on Thursday, April 4th!” John Stinner Sr., CEO, Valley Bank & Trust Co., said, “We felt it was important to have an evening that was unique, something that folks would remember and that they would want to attend again. And we’re proud to present an award to a very deserving agri-business family in the valley that night. In honor of this recipient, we’ve actually designated two ($500) scholarships to be given to graduating seniors pursuing agri-sciences in college.” “The auction,” said Jeff Scheinost, Committee Member, ” is pretty cool- it features a helicopter ride over the city from Aulick Family Companies, a hunting or fishing trip valued at $4900 from the Weinreis Brothers, Special Edition Gun, IPad, Bronco tickets, Nugget tickets, UNL/WY football tickets, Brighton purse from T & Co., Tree-Spraying Service from ABC Nursery, and a John Deere Gator from 21st Century Equipment will be raffled off, with 2 tickets available that night for the wild Cards.” Seating is limited to 250 people and tickets for the event are available at Aulick’s TLC, and Event Committee Members- Phil Brooker, Judy Chaloupka, Hod Kosman, Jim Neuwirth, Joe Burford, John Stinner, Sr., Annette Aulick, Jeff Scheinost, Karen Anderson, Owen Palm, Steve Reisig, Sam Adams, Myron Klein, Cricket Simmons, Julie Marshall and Pete Lapaseotes. “Transportation from vehicles to the Lodge is being provided by the NEXT Young Professionals,” added Marshall. The Oregon Trail Community Foundation, a 501©3 organization, the only Community Foundation in the valley, was established 36 years ago to improve the quality of life in our communities by funding projects that improve education, wildlife preservation, our schools, the arts, healthcare and scientific research. For more information, go to www.otcf.org or call 308-635-3393. The OTCF has given over $7mil back to our communities through grants and scholarships. |
| Forecasts predict continued dry conditions in Western states 2013-02-21 By |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. – According to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service National Water and Climate Center, the February streamflow forecast predicts a decline in nearly every state and basin.The dry conditions continue from the less-than-average precipitation during January, which indicates reduced spring and summer water supply for much of the West.“January wasn’t near the snow accumulation month we wanted it to be, but it wasn’t a hard kick in the shin either,” NRCS hydrologist in Utah Randy Julander said. “We’ve seen far worse in the past.” The winter snow season still has two months left, he said, and if there’s average or above-average accumulation in February and March, much of the West will recover. However, if the remaining season turns out dry, water supply conditions could end up in the 50 to 70 percent of average range. Consecutive dry years would have negative impacts on agricultural production. “We will be anxiously monitoring the snowpack for the remainder of the season,” he said. Affected areas include all of Washington, western Oregon, nearly all of Idaho, and most of Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and Colorado. Similarly, February streamflow forecasts for most of the West will generally be lower than the previous month. Water supply conditions are improving in parts of the West: average levels of precipitation in January fell over southwestern Idaho/northeastern Nevada; the Flathead, Marias, and Musselshell basins in Montana; and northeastern Wyoming and southwestern Colorado. Above normal precipitation fell along the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona and the Cheyenne Basin in eastern Wyoming. “USDA streamflow forecasts play a vital role in the livelihood of so many Americans,” said Acting NRCS Chief Jason Weller. “With much of this region greatly affected by drought, we will continue to monitor snowpack data and ensure that we are ready to help farmers, ranchers and communities plan and prepare for water supply conditions.” “Although the NRCS streamflow forecasts do not directly predict drought, they provide valuable information about future water supply in states where snowmelt accounts for as much as 50 to 80 percent of seasonal runoff,” said Tom Perkins of the National Water and Climate Center. Though February’s forecasts indicate drying conditions, the snowfall, air temperature and numerous other factors ultimately contribute to water supply. Typically, decision-makers and water managers wait until April for a more complete picture that accounts for these variables before making final management decisions. NRCS will continue to monitor levels across the Western states to provide the most up-to-date water supply information each month. Since 1935, NRCS has conducted snow surveys and issued regular water supply forecasts. NRCS installs, operates and maintains an extensive, automated system called Snow Telemetry, or SNOTEL, designed to collect snowpack and related climatic data in the Western United States and Alaska. |
| Briefly speaking . . . 2013-02-21 By |
| Bow education class scheduled There will be a Bowhunter Education Class held in Alliance on Feb. 23 and 24. Students must pre-register at www.HuntSafeNebraska.Org. Class will be held at the Administration Building, 1604 Sweetwater Ave. All the information students need is on the website. For more information, call Dan Anderson (308) 629-7041. Library schedules annual meeting Dr. Seuss is not just for kids. Come join the fun as Deb Carlson and Nancy Escamilla introduce the adventures of famed author Dr. Seuss at the Friends of the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library annual meeting on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. Along with fun with Dr. Seuss, library director Abby Yellman will give a preview of coming attractions at the library and a display table will highlight many of the ongoing programs/events available at the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library. The Friends of the Library annual meeting will begin with a short business meeting and election of board members. All Friends of the Library members and the public are invited to attend this free program. Refreshments will be served. The local Friends of the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library were founded in 2002 and have been advocates of the library from its beginnings. Friends’ members are a support group that focuses attention on the library, provides assistance with projects, promotes the facility and staff, hosts library events and encourages gifts to the library. Its members serve as on-site volunteers, deliver books to homebound patrons, bring in programs and sponsor an annual used book sale. Book discussion group to meet The Gering Public Library will hold its monthly Food For Thought book discussion group on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 1:30 p.m. in the library Community Room. The group will be discussing “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum. Marty Stuart tickets on sale now Tickets for the Aug. 29 Marty Stuart fundraiser concert for Legacy of the Plains Museums are now on sale at the Farm And Ranch Museum. The summer concert at Five Rocks Amphitheater is a major fundraiser to support LPM, which incorporates Farm And Ranch Museum and North Platte Valley Museum. Tickets for the evening concert are $25 for adults and $10 for children 6-12. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Thanks to the sponsorship of 21st Century Equipment, Regional West Medical Center, and WESTCO, and Fremont Motors sponsoring lights and sound, 100 percent of the proceeds from ticket sales will directly benefit LPM. Stuart, who began playing mandolin as a child, is well known for his traditional country music style, often blended with a touch of rockabilly and honky tonk. He has played with Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash and hosts The Marty Stuart Show on RFD-TV. For more information about tickets, call FARM at (308) 436-1989. Audubon Society meets The Wildcat Audubon Society met Feb. 16, 2013, in the Conference Room at Plaza South at Regional West Medical Center. Special guest was Marian Langan, Executive Director of Audubon Nebraska. Langan talked about Audubon’s two main properties in Nebraska – Spring Creek Prairie near Denton and Iain Nicolson Center at Rowe Sanctuary on the Platte River near Gibbon. Spring Creek Prairie is a remnant of tall-grass prairie which is the most endangered ecosystem in the world. Rowe Sanctuary is an area along the Platte that is managed to encourage use by Sandhill Cranes, Whooping Cranes, Interior Least Terns, and Piping Plovers. Both properties have education centers that are constructed with straw-bale insulation. Some of the land at both sites was purchased by Audubon while some is managed under easement agreements. In addition to these two centers, Audubon Nebraska works with other conservation organizations to preserve other habitats. One important project is the IBA (Important Bird Area) program. This program works to identify areas in the state that have special importance to the conservation of birds. One local IBA is Kiowa Wildlife Management Area south of Morrill. Most of the IBAs are publically owned and managed to encourage use by birds. Currently Audubon is beginning to work with private landowners to obtain easements on private land to manage them for bird activity. Volunteers are very important for the smooth running of all Audubon activities and properties. Rowe Sanctuary is in an area that is the site of the spring migration of Sandhill Cranes. This is one of the outstanding wildlife spectacles of the world and thousands of people travel to the area to observe the birds. Education activities are important at both Rowe and Spring Creek Prairie and much of this is accomplished with the aid of volunteers. Audubon Nebraska has recently partnered with other conservation organizations in the state (including Scottsbluff-based Platte River Basin Environments) to hire a lobbyist at the Nebraska Legislature. Of special concern is to keep the Nebraska Environmental Trust going. The Trust has been critical to establishing and maintaining many conservation projects in the state. The next meeting of the Wildcat Audubon Society will be March 16. Donna Davey will give the program about her recent trip to South Africa and Namibia. |
| Scottsbluff duo tackles tough topics 2013-02-21 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| The motivation to succeed in competitive speech can come from many sources. At Scottsbluff High School, there is a wall in Coach Kara Acino’s classroom that contains various wooden frames listing the names of the students who have gone the distance to state or national competition. Seniors Derrick Goss and Andrew Holsinger hope to add their names to Acino’s wall of champions with their powerful duet “A Steady Rain” by Keith Huff. “Derrick and I have wanted to do a duet together since our sophomore year,” said Holsinger. Yet it seemed that every year outside forces prevented the duo from competing in duet acting. This year they are performing together with the story of two Chicago policemen who unknowingly return a small Vietnamese boy to Jeffery Dahmer who claims to be the boy’s uncle. Once it is revealed that the boy is the serial killer’s latest victim the two men begin to question one another and their error of judgment. “I think we can agree that cutting this script had to be one of the most difficult things we’ve had to do,” said Holsinger. In duet acting, a team must create a cutting from a play or book fit into a 10-12 minute time limit. The powerful 90-minute one-act play had to be cut down to just ten minutes. “There are so many different ways we could have done it,” said Goss. Judge and audience response to the powerful duet has been overwhelming. The emotional plateau of the cutting creates a visceral response in the judges and audience. “It’s definitely the loudest speech I’ve ever seen,” said Goss. Recently, the duo took first place at the Cheyenne Speech meet. When competing outside of Nebraska, they must follow different rules. The pair cannot look at one another during competition and must synchronize their movements. “It’s an adjustment period every time you go back and forth,” said Goss. Their goal is to win first place at the Nebraska State Speech Meet with this duet. Scottsbluff alumnus Tyler Webber has helped to coach the duo this year for the additional goal of going to Nationals. It is Goss and Holsinger’s goal to make it to the stage at Nationals, an accomplishment most recently achieved by Logan Vath in 2007. “It’s something new and fresh that judges have never seen before,” said Holsinger. Along with their duet, each competitor is competing in additional individual events this season. Holsinger is competing in Humorous and Serious Prose. His humor is “Thirteen Ways to Screw up Your College Interview” by Ian McWethy. For serious prose he is performing “The Diary of Heath Ledger.” Actor Heath Ledger kept what he referred to as a ‘Joker Journal’ during the filming of The Dark Knight. The journal explores the actor’s psychological state as he developed his character for the role of the film. “The Dark Knight is my favorite movie and I loved Heath Ledger in it,” said Holsinger. The prose has been an interesting one for Holsinger. He has received surprising reactions from audience members. “It’s interesting to see what his final days were like,” said Holsinger, who would like to make it to the state meet with the piece. Goss competes individually in in Informative and Entertainment events. His Informative Speech is about cheating; academic-based cheating, non-academic based cheating, and the psychology of cheating. “Our team really needs strong Informative (speakers),” said Goss. He has competed in Informative speech for four years and Entertainment speaking for three. “Entertainment is probably my favorite event,” said Goss. “It’s fun to get up there and make people laugh.” His Entertainment topic this season is “Crime Does Not Pay.” In it, he tells a fictional story about how he was induced into his life of crime and how he grew up in inner city Compton. His second point is about different ways to commit crimes and finally, why you should be a criminal too. “I’m trying to find the perfect balance on how not to offend people but still be funny,” said Goss. This year’s team is one of the largest Scottsbluff High School has had. As seniors, the duo hopes to see the team thrive after they have graduated. “I really hope we can be an inspiration to the other younger members,” said Goss. “We’re hoping that the team stays this big so Scottsbluff can continue to be successful” said Holsinger. |
| Temple Grandin “The Way I See It” 2013-02-21 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| A crowd of over 700 regional educators, parents, social workers, and other visitors enjoyed a lively and candid presentation about autism from Dr. Temple Grandin at the Scottsbluff High School auditorium Monday. Grandin, an internationally acclaimed author and professor of animal science at Colorado State University, shared her insights and opinions about autism from the unique viewpoint of having lived with the condition her entire life. “I was formally diagnosed at age two,” Grandin said. “I consider myself fortunate that I had good teachers and a mother who continually pushed me out of my comfort zone. When I was tempted to withdraw and isolate myself I had many mentors who simply wouldn't allow me to do that.” Grandin's session, entitled “Autism: The Way I See It,” was one of many area presentations hosted by Educational Service Unit (ESU #13) as part of their annual winter conference. Many special education teachers from throughout the Panhandle were in attendance. “Autism is a big spectrum,” Grandin told the audience. “On one end we have the Mozart's and the Einstein's and on the other end there a people who are severely handicapped. There are people who are non-verbal and need assisted living. Autism as a diagnosis is not precise, but don't get hung up on that. Everyone is an individual.” Grandin, who is also well known for her innovations and work in the cattle industry, frequently referred to her agricultural vocation as she spoke. “In the cattle world people with mild autism are seen as socially awkward, but the social people don't keep a packing plant open. I know it when I see it. The weird old gray-haired hippie in the background is the one getting the work done.” Using a power-point style slide format Grandin explored many facets of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). “I have to use slides so I can keep my focus,” she said. “I am a visual thinker and this helps me track my thoughts.” Grandin emphasized the importance of nudging children with autism to learn and interact with the world around them. She said in her own experience being pushed was the key to finding her strengths and developing her interests. “We need to work with kids and get them out there into the real world,” she said. “We don't want to push too hard because it might cause a sensory overload but we can't let them sit in the corners stewing and spinning. Things as simple as learning how to wait in a line or taking your turn in a board game are important social lessons. We want to avoid surprises but kids, especially teens, need to be encouraged to try new things. “Autism is variable. Some kids will freak out in the school cafeteria and some will be fine with it. Some might need a quiet area to eat and settle down. I know I hated school bells and fire alarms. I have since learned to tolerate them. When I was little I was afraid of vacuum cleaners. We had one at my school that seemed huge to me. One way to deal with it was to let me turn it on. "Then it became less scary. I thought it might suck me up.” Grandin said it was important that children get regular medical check ups to ensure that hearing and vision are in good order. She noted usually they are, but those with ASD might appear to have difficulty and compensate by tilting their heads or using peripheral vision in order to take in their environment. “My hearing was so good I could hear the Star Trek transporter beaming people up down the halls in my dorm when I was in college,” she said, “but when I was young all grown-up talk sounded like blah blah blah. I didn't understand that words had meaning. I still need to clarify that. To this day words like 'bat' or 'cat' or 'rat' all seem the same to me. I need to visualize them to make any meaning of it. It takes people with autism longer to shift back and forth between different things. A cell phone going off will distract me. Florescent lights with their constant flickering are a distraction. I would ban florescent lights in schools, they are constantly buzzing like a phaser on overload. I'm showing my age there, aren't I, because that is from classic Trek.” Grandin said that living with autism was like living in a sensory jumble where the inter-office communication just isn't hooked up correctly. She used the analogy of a mixing board in a recording studio to explain the variables in personality traits. If the adjustments are set correctly then things start to make sense, if the mix is off there is a communication breakdown. “I get irritated when kids get labeled,” she said. “It can marginalize them. I was picked on in school for being different. I got into fights. Eventually I was kicked out of high school for throwing a very big history book at some girl who called me a retard. At least it wasn't a knife or something. I also don't like all the stupid Latin names that the medical world has dreamed up. The hippocampus is 'sea-horse' … o wow, trippy.” Grandin shared some colorful observations and a few pictures from the movie set of the HBO film that told the story of her early life: “Thinking in Pictures.” “I had fun doing that,” she said. “They changed some things for the drama but I enjoyed doing it.” She also quipped the Internet 'is like a great big green lawn that has a lot of dog droppings on it.' Grandin noted that she was a college professor first and didn't like to have her disability define her. She said it was vital for teenagers and young adults to have meaningful work. “We have a generation of folks with ASD playing video games in the basement and living on disability,” she said. “They need to be working. Albert Einstein didn't speak a word until he was over three years old. He might have been labeled and limited. How many Einstein's and Mozart's are sitting around at home with their face in a computer? People will respect ability over personality. When I got into my work in the cattle industry people noticed my designs and what I wrote. They didn't know me by my personality. When you are a weird nerd you have to sell your ability.” Grandin also shared her views about medications with the crowd. She noted that some anti-anxiety or anti-depressant pills could be helpful if used in tiny doses but she advised caution with the use of anti-psychotic meds. “If it ain't broke, don't fix it,” she said. “People with autism aren't psychotic. They have sensory overloads sometimes and severe communication disorders but even with non-verbal people there is a lot more going on inside their heads than people think. "They are labeled 'retarded' but they are much more capable than they get credit for. Even on the lowest end of the spectrum a person will know the difference between real meaningful work or just some stupid 'task' or busy work.” |
| 2013-2014 Kindergarten Registration 2013-02-21 By Candy Hubbard - Director of Student Services - Gering Public Schools |
| Gering Public Schools kindergarten registration is fast approaching for the 2013-2014 school year. Registration will be held March 4 through March 8 at all elementary buildings from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or at the Administration Office from 7 a.m. to 4:30p.m. Parents are reminded that a student must be registered by the parent or guardian of the child, a copy of the state certified birth certificate is necessary for registration, and immunization, physicals and visual examinations must be completed and a record provided to the school before the child enters. If these records are not provided prior to the first day of school, the student will not be admitted. The physical and visual examinations must be completed within six (6) months prior to the start of school. Specific immunizations required include three (3) doses of DtaP, DTP, DT or Td vaccine, three (3) doses of polio vaccine, two (2) doses of MMR vaccine, three (3) doses of Hepatitis B vaccine and two (2) doses of varicella. A student must be five (5) years of age on or before July 31, 2013, in order to begin school. It is important that parents or guardians complete this registration as soon as possible so planning can be completed for next year’s kindergarten classes. Parents with questions may contact any of the elementary school principals. Gering’s purpose statement is to develop the academic, personal and social skills of all students and to prepare them to be productive, responsible global citizens. We are excited to begin this planning process for educating your child. This is the beginning of a new chapter of their life. We look forward to providing many enriching educational opportunities throughout their school years in Gering. |
| U.S. Department of Education investigating record number of civil rights complaints 2013-02-21 By Nadra Kareem Nittle America’s Wire |
| WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Education is seeking to improve the quality of education for minority and poor public school students by aggressively launching civil rights investigations aimed at preventing district administrators from providing more services and resources to predominantly white schools. Faced with public schools more segregated today than in the 1970s, the department is using the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to improve the quality of education for students from minority and low-income backgrounds. The department has outpaced the Bush administration in initiating civil rights probes. During 33 months under the Obama administration, the department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched 30 compliance reviews compared with the 22 begun during the eight-year Bush administration. Investigators determine whether school districts have violated Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. “The civil rights laws are the most sorely underutilized tool in education reform and closing the achievement gap,” says Russlynn Ali, assistant secretary for civil rights, who has run the department’s OCR since May 2009. She said President Barack Obama has emphasized that he wants the department investigating education-related civil rights violations. “This is the most important civil rights issue of our time,” she says. Last year, Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced on the 45th anniversary of Bloody Sunday—the day that Alabama state troopers brutalized civil rights activists marching on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma—that the department’s OCR would significantly increase enforcement actions. Duncan acknowledged that over the last 10 years, the office had not aggressively pursued Title 6 investigations to improve the quality of education for minority and poor students. The OCR received about 7,000 complaints last year, a record for the department. School districts are being investigated for a range of possible violations, including failure to provide minority students with access to college- and career-track courses, not assigning highly qualified teachers to schools with predominantly minority students and disproportionately placing such students in special education courses and suspending minority students. The OCR has also investigated schools for failing to protect female students of color from sexual violence and not offering access to higher-level math and science courses. Judith A. Browne Dianis, co-director of the Advancement Project in Washington, D.C., which advocates for quality education, acknowledges a significant change in direction for the department’s OCR. Ali served as deputy co-director of the organization from 1999 to 2000. “For years, we couldn’t rely on the federal government to enforce civil rights law, so now we have an Office for Civil Rights that is finally taking up the torch,” Browne Dianis says. “During the Bush administration, we wouldn’t encourage anyone to file a complaint. The feeling was that even if you filed a complaint, they probably wouldn’t investigate or would say there was no racial discrimination.” Education Department officials express concern that a wide disparity exists between the achievement level of graduating white and African-American high school students in specific subject areas, such as biology and math. Data show that white students are six times better prepared than black students for college biology when they graduate from high school. White students are four times as prepared for college algebra as their black counterparts. Furthermore, white high school graduates are twice as likely to have completed Advanced Placement (AP) calculus courses as black or Latino graduates. Addressing the statistics, Ali says the solution is not “just about adding more courses” but better preparing minority students in these subject areas. The civil rights investigations are forcing improvements. In South Carolina, the OCR has targeted school districts for concentrating AP courses at majority white high schools, robbing black students of the chance to take college-track courses. Because of the OCR probe, AP classes have become more widely available at majority black high schools. Ali is also addressing the practice of assigning the least qualified teachers to poor and predominantly minority schools. By forcing school districts to end this practice, she hopes to narrow the achievement gap between whites and students of color, preparing more minority students for academically challenging courses. The Education Department and education advocates are examining the higher percentage of minority students assigned to special education classes in many districts. “Special education is another reflection of huge disparities,” says Daniel J. Losen, senior education law and policy associate at The Civil Rights Project at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Losen says school administrators often use subjective criteria to place students in special education programs, resulting in a disproportionate number of minority students being removed from the general classroom setting. Moreover, Ali says the department is evaluating why white and Asian students are overrepresented in gifted and talented programs, while blacks and Latinos are overrepresented in special education classes. Based on an NAACP complaint, the OCR is investigating the Wake County (N.C.) Public School System for planning to assign students to schools based on their neighborhoods of residence. Critics contend that the plan would kill diversity in the school system and concentrate poor students, effectively resegregating the district. Ali says “housing patterns and the correlation between race and poverty” also cause resegregation of school districts. “The federal government is working to end that kind of resegregation,” she says. “We’re very much trying to end discrimination no matter where students go to school or who they go to school with, if they go to school with kids who look like them or to an integrated school.” Owatonna (Minn.) Senior High School is a case in point. The OCR received a complaint that the mostly white school had not acted sufficiently to stop racial harassment of East African students. When racial tension erupted in 2009 and white and Somali students brawled, school officials disciplined the African students more severely. Due to the OCR investigation, Owatonna Public Schools agreed in April to take measures to prevent Somali students from being bullied. School officials issued an anti-harassment statement to students, parents and staff while training the school community on what constitutes discrimination and harassment, and meeting with Somali students to review their concerns. The district must also submit annual compliance reviews to the OCR and the U.S. Department of Justice for the next three years. The case is the most recent race-related Title 6 investigation that the OCR has resolved. The resolution was a coup for the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which filed the complaint on behalf of Owatonna’s largely Muslim Somali population. Many Somali refugees have settled in Minnesota over the past two decades, and the state houses almost 40 percent of all Somalis in the United States. Taneeza Islam, civil rights director of CAIR-MN, says none of the 30 CAIR chapters nationally had filed such a complaint. “We just took our chances,” she recalls. “I had no idea how many cases they had and what their investigation findings looked like. Thankfully, we picked the right [presidential] administration to work with. The process has been really easy. It surprised us how proactive the investigators were.” Resolving the complaint took about a year, Islam says. Since the resolution, CAIR has heard no more concerns about treatment of East African students at Owatonna Senior High. CAIR-MN has also filed a complaint to stop reported harassment of Somali students in St. Cloud, Minn. That case, under investigation for 18 months, is pending. The Owatonna situation exemplifies racial disparities that persist regarding discipline in public schools. For instance, the OCR has reviewed schools in North Carolina’s Winston-Salem/Forsyth County system and Louisiana’s St. James Parish for infringing on civil rights of black students by disciplining them more severely than other students. “There’s a national trend of students of color being suspended from school for minor actions,” Browne Dianis says. “When we think about discipline, it was originally intended to cover violent acts.” Data show that African-American students without disabilities are more than three times as likely to be expelled as their white peers. Too often, Browne Dianis says, schools remove minority children from class for minor infractions such as tardiness or talking back to teachers. She adds that in today’s schools, where standardized test scores are emphasized, a child can easily fall behind academically, and the likelihood of dropping out increases. “Once you drop out, the more likely you are to end up in the criminal justice system,” she says. In 2008, Browne Dianis worked with Baltimore schools on their discipline code to reduce the suspension rate. After the number of student offenses punishable by removal from class was narrowed, the suspension rate plummeted from 26,000 to 9,000 the following year, she says. John H. Jackson, president and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, urges the OCR to address racial disparities in several education areas. Jackson is concerned, for instance, that some local school districts remove unqualified teachers from poor schools but replace them with substitute teachers. He also says states must stop uneven funding of black and white schools. “Look at how the revenue flows to districts and being based on property taxes, it creates an inherent inequity,” Jackson says. “If you know the process for distributing resources is creating an inequity, there has to be a process that rights it.” He calls on the Education Department to withhold federal funding to enforce civil rights compliance, a tactic that the federal government used to help integrate public schools in the 1960s and 1970s. Jackson applauded Ali for her leadership in re-engaging the OCR and examining racial disparities in U.S. education. “These disparities did not begin today,” he says. “They have been here for the last five, 10, 15 years.” While Ali says the OCR’s aggressive pursuit of civil rights violations is continuing the historic fight for racial justice begun decades ago, she cautions that the current racial opportunity gap could reverse gains of the civil rights movement. You can’t give better to some than you do to others,” Ali says. “That’s not equity. That’s a farce. It goes without saying that equity without quality is not equity at all.” America’s Wire is an independent, non-profit news service run by the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. America’s Wire is made possible by a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. For more information, visit www.americaswire.org or contact Michael K. Frisby at mike@frisbyassociates.com. |
| Gov. Heineman names Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann 2013-02-21 By |
| LINCOLN – Gov. Dave Heineman today announced the appointment of Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek to be the 39th Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska. Lt. Gov. Heidemann, 54, was sworn in by the Secretary of State at a news conference with Gov. Heineman Feb. 13 in the State Capitol. “I’m pleased Lavon has agreed to serve the people of Nebraska as the Lieutenant Governor,” said Gov. Heineman. “He is a proven, dedicated public servant for the citizens of Nebraska. He will complete this term as Lt. Governor with integrity, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to move Nebraska forward.” “I am excited for this opportunity to serve the people of Nebraska,” said Lt. Gov. Heidemann. “Public service is something in which I believe deeply. I am looking forward to my time traveling our state, meeting with our citizens, visiting our businesses.” Lt. Gov. Heidemann is a farmer and livestock producer, and is a volunteer firefighter. He was elected to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents in 2012. Prior to his time as a Regent, Lt. Gov. Heidemann served as a State Senator for Legislative District 1 from 2005 to 2013. As a member of the Legislature, he served as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee for six years. Lt. Gov. Heidemann was elected to the Elk Creek School Board in 1996 where he served for until he was elected to the Legislature. Previously he served as a general foreman for a drilling company in Anchorage, Alaska from 1983 to 1995. He has been active with a number of organizations, including the Midwest Council of State Governments, Agriculture Builders of Nebraska, Nebraska Cattlemen, Pawnee County Farm Bureau, the Southeast Nebraska Feeders and Breeders, and the Elk Creek Young Men’s Club. Lt. Gov. Heidemann graduated from Elk Creek High School. He has attended the Midwest Council of State Governments’ Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership. He has earned a number of awards and honors including the Leadership Award for the Association of Nebraska Ethanol Producers, 2012; recognition of Service, Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, 2011; Harold Sieck Public Official of the Year, The Arc of Nebraska, 2009; Leadership Award in Recognition of Outstanding Leadership in Agri-Business, Omaha Agri-Business Club 2009; Award of Excellence for Meritorious Service, Nebraska Cooperative Extension Association, 2009; and the Appreciation Award for Development and Funding of Education Center, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, 2009. Lt. Gov. Heidemann was born in Pawnee City. He and his wife Robin have three children. |
| Law enforcement gaps leave native women vulnerable 2013-02-21 By Kimberly N. Alleyne - America’s Wire |
| WASHINGTON—A gap in law enforcement on Native American lands creates an environment in which Native women suffer a higher rate of violence than any demographic in the United States, according to data collected by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Census Bureau and advocacy organizations. The Justice Department has found that Native women are victims of violent crime at 3-1/2 times the national average, with advocates saying the actual figure is much higher because many victims mistrust authorities and don’t report such crime. The department says 70 percent of sexual assaults are never reported. Jurisdictional conflicts make it difficult to arrest and prosecute non-Natives for crimes committed against Natives. Complications with investigations and court proceedings involving sexual assault and domestic violence cases further decrease likelihood of prosecutions. “It’s almost like non-Native people have a license to brutalize Native women,” says Tina Olson, co-director of Mending the Sacred Hoop in Duluth, Minn. According to its website, the group works “to end violence against Native women and children while restoring the safety, sovereignty, and sacredness of Native women.” The Census Bureau has determined that 39 percent of Native women are victims of domestic violence at least once. Moreover, it says, victims often use the term “domestic violence” to describe more vicious attacks. “We tried to better assess the types of violence that Native women experience, and we learned that how they define domestic violence is so much worse than how we viewed it,” says Sarah El-Fakahany, a sexual assault advocate at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center in Minneapolis. “They viewed it as, ‘I almost died,’ or ‘I was kidnapped, raped and held in a basement for three days’ or ‘I was dragged by a car, but it wasn’t that bad’.” Data from a survey by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in Denver show that 1.5 million women are physically or sexually assaulted annually and that Native women suffer domestic violence at a disproportionately higher rate. A Justice Department report says one of every three Native women will be raped in her lifetime. “The types of violence we see against Native women at this agency are numerous,” El-Fakahany says. “Essentially, if there is a form of violence out there, we’ve seen it. I’ve worked as a sexual assault advocate for five years and in the Native community for about two years, and I’ve never seen the level of violence as I’ve seen here.” Authorities’ inability to prosecute these crimes endangers Native women further. Domestic violence crimes perpetrated on reservations or pueblos are largely not reported or not prosecuted because of loopholes in jurisdictional authority. Arrests occur in only 13 percent of sexual assaults reported by Native women, compared with 35 percent for blacks and 32 percent for whites, according to the Justice Department. Much of the law enforcement paralysis is caused by laws that prevent tribal authorities from arresting non-Natives for violent crimes in most states, while state authorities can’t arrest tribal members. Public Law 83-280, a federal statute enacted in 1953, transferred authority over crimes involving Natives on Native territory from the federal government to only six states — Alaska, California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon and Wisconsin. “The law can be tricky,” El-Fakahany says. “In Minnesota, tribal police can’t go after non-Natives, but tribal and state law enforcement can go after Natives. Basically, there are non-Native perpetrators who don’t have to be held accountable for their actions, but Natives do.” In all other states, federal and tribal governments maintain concurrent jurisdiction for major crimes committed in Indian Country. Tribal governments have jurisdiction over all crimes that are committed in Indian Country and involve a Native offender and Native victim. States retain jurisdiction for non-Native crimes committed in Indian Country but only those in which neither offender nor victim is a Native. El-Fakahany’s experiences at the resource center underscore the extent of challenge for law enforcement. “Crimes against Native women are rarely prosecuted,” she says. “We see a spike in attacks during hunting and fishing season,” adding that non-Native men “can go onto the reservations and then go back to their homes five hours away. With tribal jurisdiction, tribal police cannot touch you, and it becomes a federal matter.” According to the Census Bureau, 77 percent of residents on reservations and other Native lands are non-Natives, and about 56 percent of Native women are married to non-Natives. Still, tribes have no authority to prosecute a non-Native for domestic violence, even if the offender resides on the reservation where the assault occurred or is married to a tribal member. Consequently, prosecution for domestic violence crimes committed in Indian Country is rare. The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction but often has neither resources nor the desire to pursue misdemeanor domestic cases. According to government data, U.S. attorneys decline about 67 percent of sexual assault cases referred from Indian Country. Enforcement gaps created by PL 83-280 and indifferent attitudes help to perpetuate cyclical violence against Native women. Olson says assault cases often are not even investigated. “One woman told me, ‘I would have validated my rape if someone had called or followed up’,” she says. Others blame PL 83-280. “The obstacles presented by Public Law 280 to address sexual assault relate to data collection, training or awareness, lack of resources targeted at tribal communities, lack of well-funded tribal police departments, animosity toward tribal communities and lack of reporting from tribal community members,” the Tribal Law and Policy Institute in West Hollywood, Calif., reported in December 2007. Essentially, the system allows non-Natives who commit domestic violence crimes to act without fear of penalty. Statistics show that non-Natives commit 88 percent of violent crimes against Native women. “It’s like they’ve [Native women] become this mythical creature, and when you mystify something, you tend to destroy it,” El-Fakahany says. “There is an ill-conceived idea that they are not real people. If you don’t believe in something, it is really easy to destroy it.” Tribal authority is further limited because the federal Tribal Law and Order Act, signed in July 2010, limits the maximum sentence a tribal offender can receive for a single crime to three years. Nearly all of 109 tribes responding to a survey about the sentencing increase said they need more federal money and technical help to provide public defenders, establish or update criminal codes and have sufficiently trained judges as the law requires, the Associated Press reported in May. Efforts to address violence against Native women continue. Advocates have included language in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act to expand its provisions to cover undocumented immigrants, American Indians, gays and college students. The legislation was approved by the Senate, but the Republican-controlled House has opposed the additional language and is blocking reauthorization of the Act. First passed in 1994, the Act provided $1.6 billion to assist in the investigation and prosecution of suspects accused of violent crimes against women. It also included other measures, such as creating the Office on Violence Against Women in the US Department of Justice and allowing civil compensation for victims in cases that were not unprosecuted. The Office on Violence Against Women administers the Tribal Coalitions Program, which provides grants to nonprofit and nongovernmental tribal domestic violence groups that work to prevent violence and sexual assaults against Native women. But root causes behind the disparity in domestic violence against Native women remain complex. “Native women are very vulnerable,” Olson says. “There is a high rate of sex trafficking, and many women’s children are being taken out of their homes as young children and going into foster care. And we’re not talking about one-time incidents. Many women experience multiple victimizations.” Advocates for Native women say causes of increased domestic violence often include breakdowns of the family structure, lack of understanding about sexual violence and widespread alcohol abuse. “There are many reasons,” Olson says. “There is a history of violence in generation upon generation. There is addiction, alcohol and designer drugs that can be bought over the counter. There is a smoke shop right near our office, and people line up for two hours to get their drugs, to get a cheap high.” Furthermore, relations between Natives and government authorities at state and federal levels have long been tense. In 2006, Mending the Sacred Hoop and the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault Inc., in Duluth conducted a safety and accountability audit of the response to reported rapes of Native women. “We found that out of 50 police reports, not one of them was prosecuted,” Olson says. “Law enforcement blames whoever is responsible in prosecution, and prosecution blames whoever is responsible in law enforcement.” Enactment of the Tribal Law and Order Act marked a historic step in ensuring that the federal government is properly equipped to manage challenges unique to Native communities. A primary goal is to help reduce violence against Native women there, and a key component is to provide more training for authorities who handle cases of domestic violence against Native women. The Indian Health Care Improvement Act, made permanent in March 2010 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, established standardized practices in health facilities for victims of sexual assault. It helps Native women obtain justice against perpetrators of sexual assault. “There is a lot of hope among people” in Indian Country, El-Fakahany says. “People are revitalizing their languages and getting in touch with their cultures. Before, you could not talk about abuse. It was too painful. We’re seeing progress. There are people who are speaking out and saying, ‘We will not accept violence against women’. “There is a strong fighting spirit in the people we serve. It’s not about education or wealth. . . . I’ve met many amazing, talented and brilliant people. Women are saying, ‘I got help, and you can, too.’ ” America’s Wire is an independent, nonprofit news service run by the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education and funded by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Our stories can be republished free of charge by newspapers, websites and other media sources. For more information, visit www.americaswire.org or contact Michael K. Frisby at mike@frisbyassociates.com. |
| Foster care, uncertain futures loom for thousands of immigrant children 2013-02-21 By Marjorie Valbrun - America’s Wire |
| WASHINGTON—More than 5,000 children of immigrants are languishing in state foster care nationwide because their parents were living in the United States illegally and were detained or deported by federal immigration authorities. These children can spend years in foster homes, and some are put up for adoption after termination of their parents’ custody rights. With neither state nor federal officials addressing the problem, thousands more are poised to enter the child welfare system every year. “They can be dropped into the foster care system for an indefinite period of time,” says Wendy D. Cervantes, vice president for immigration and child rights policy at First Focus, a bipartisan advocacy organization in Washington, D.C.“This causes severe long-term consequences to a child’s development. It has a negative impact on the country as a whole and a direct impact on taxpayers. The fact that these children have parents means they shouldn’t be in the system in the first place.” A recent report by the Applied Research Center (ARC), a national racial-justice think tank, found that when immigration enforcement methods intersect with the child welfare system, consequences for immigrant families can be devastating and long-lasting. Jailed or deported parents are prevented from reuniting with their children, and parents held in immigration detention centers are penalized for being unable to attend hearings in family court. They are also penalized for not meeting court-ordered requirements for regaining custody of their children. The requirements are impossible to meet from jail. In addition, detained parents often aren’t aware that they can request that their children be returned upon deportation, placed with relatives in the United States, or allowed to return to their home countries. Parents unable to speak, read or write English, let alone understand complicated legal rulings, are often uninformed of their legal rights or where their children have been sent. They often don’t have lawyers to help navigate the child welfare system. “Immigration policies and laws are based on the assumption that families will, and should, be united, whether or not parents are deported,” the ARC report states. “Similarly, child welfare policy aims to reunify families whenever possible. In practice, however, when mothers and fathers are detained and deported and their children are relegated to foster care, family separation can last for extended periods. Too often, these children lose the opportunity to ever see their parents again when a juvenile dependency court terminates parental rights.” Encarnación Bail, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala who is in a prolonged fight to regain custody of her son, has confronted many of these obstacles. She lost custody of her infant son, Carlos, in 2008, a year and a half after she was arrested and jailed by federal immigration authorities during a raid of the poultry plant where she worked in Cassville, Mo. Awaiting deportation, she spent two years in federal detention, first in a local county jail in Missouri and then in a federal prison in West Virginia. During her imprisonment, relatives caring for Carlos gave the baby to a childless local couple. After a county court terminated Bail’s parental rights on grounds that she had abandoned the baby, the couple adopted her son. The court sent an official letter to Bail informing her that the couple was caring for her son, but the letter never reached her and was returned unopened to the court. When a formal adoption petition did reach her, Bail was stunned. With the assistance of a prison guard and an English-speaking visitor from Guatemala, Bail wrote back that she did not want her son put up for adoption and wanted him placed in foster care until she was released. She also requested visitation with Carlos. She never received a response from the court and was never informed about the custody hearings. The Guatemalan government learned of her case through news reports and intervened on her behalf, prompting the American government to put the deportation order against her on hold and grant her temporary legal status allowing her to work in the United States while she continues a legal battle to regain custody of Carlos. “I’m very sad, I very much want to be reunited with him,” Bail said through her lawyer. “I suffered an injustice. I’m the mother of Carlos, and I was worried for Carlos during my entire detention. I was always thinking about him, and I never gave my consent for his adoption.” The Obama administration now says it is no longer targeting immigration enforcement activities on undocumented workers, such as Bail, and is instead focused on seeking out and deporting immigrants who have committed major crimes. However, immigrant advocates say that federal immigration agents, state law enforcement agencies and local county police departments participating in federal immigration enforcement programs do not follow that policy uniformly. In fact, the government deported more than 46,000 parents of children with U.S. citizenship in the first half of 2011, according to the ARC report. “It’s clearly un-American to take kids away from loving families,” says Rinku Sen, president and executive director of ARC. “It should give Americans real pause about what we’re engaged in. We need to take a very hard look at these policies and practices.” Hispanics make up the majority of undocumented immigrants in the United States and, as a result, children of color born to parents from poor countries in Latin and Central America and the Caribbean are affected disproportionally. What’s clear, say immigrant advocates, is that racial bias toward Latinos and other people of color play a significant role in separating children from parents and relatives. Court transcripts strongly indicate that social workers’ decisions about foster-care placements and judges’ rulings on custody are sometimes driven by the feeling that the children are better off living in the United States with middle-class, white Americans rather than uneducated and unemployed parents who have been deported to poor home countries. Furthermore, children in foster care are often not placed with relatives unless the relatives are here legally. Child-welfare workers consider undocumented relatives unsuitable foster parents because their status in the United States is unstable and they, too, can be detained or deported at any time. “There are definite judgments being made about the value of one particular family over another family,” Sen says. Immigrants and their lawyers “have been told by officials in the child welfare and court system that a child placed in foster care is better off than being with family in Guatemala. There are racial biases that language and immigration status play into that we should be very careful about.” In Encarnación Bail’s case, the judge who terminated her parental rights made clear in his ruling that he believed the adoptive parents, who make a comfortable living, were more suitable parents than Bail, whom he characterized as a serial lawbreaker. He wrote in his opinion that she "would be unable to provide adequate food, clothing or shelter” to Carlos in the future. “Encarnación is a human being,” said Omar Riojas, her pro bono attorney. “There’s nothing quote unquote illegal about her. She lacked proper documentation to work. Her defunct crime was one of immigration status, not of violence, not of larceny, not of any crime involving moral turpitude. Being undocumented does not render her unfit to be a parent.” Seth Freed Wessler, senior research associate at ARC and author of the report, says caseworkers told him that when parents are detained, “they fall off the face of the earth and when they are deported, it’s even worse. It makes their job to reunify families all but impossible. “Most caseworkers want that to happen but when immigration enforcement is involved, that outcome starts to rise. A whole set of systemic biases starts to emerge and take hold, a revealing assumption that children are better off in the United States no matter what, which ensures that children are not reunited with their families.” Marty Rosenbluth is executive director of the North Carolina Immigrant Rights Project, a nonprofit in Durham that works to protect rights of people in deportation proceedings. He says laws give judges and child-welfare workers little latitude to reunify parents and children more easily. “People will get picked up on some minor violation and end up being deported without any due process or hearing,” Rosenbluth says. “We try to slow down the process enough so people can make some plans.” The biggest fear of parents in the immigrant community, he says, is that they're going to be deported and forced to abandon their children.“My clients talk about it all the time,” Rosenbluth says. “They ask, ‘If I get deported, what’s going to happen to my kids?’ ” He says he tells them to grant power of attorney in advance to someone who can take custody of their children. “But even that is risky,” says Rosenbluth, an attorney. “Do you want to sign over custody of your children to someone you may not know simply because they are legal? A lot of Latino organizations are now telling undocumented immigrants with children to have an action plan and to have certain documents prepared and signed. “I’ve seen several different models of these action-plan packs. They include power of attorney and representation forms to have others sell their car or their property. I tell them to have someone who they can trust and who has some kind of legal status. They ask if they can sign over custody to their pastor or to their priest, but there’s only so many children pastors can take.” Cervantes says that since release of the ARC report, First Focus has been “in more intense conversations” with the Obama administration about adjusting current enforcement policies to ensure that nonviolent, non-negligent parents are not detained, and if they are, that they can make arrangements for the care of their children. Her organization also lobbies for congressional passage of legislation that would establish “nationwide protocols to help keep children with their parents or caregivers while immigration proceedings are underway, and guidelines for certain immigration enforcement activities that involve parents, guardians, or primary caregivers of minor children.” “Responsible enforcement includes letting parents have due-process rights and ensure the well-being of their children,” she said. The Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections for Separated Children Act, also known as the HELP Act, was introduced in the Senate by Al Franken (D-Minn.),and Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) introduced a companion bill in the House. Both are stalled. Cervantes says the ARC report gives advocates momentum to make a new push for passage. Meanwhile, Bail is back in Missouri and working in a turkey processing plant. A year ago, the Missouri Supreme Court unanimously overturned the judgment terminating her parental rights and the adoption of Carlos and ordered a new trial scheduled to begin Feb. 28.She is optimistic that the court will rule in her favor. “God is listening to my prayers,” she said. (America’s Wire is an independent, nonprofit news service run by the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. America’s Wire is made possible by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. For more information, visit www.americaswire.org or contact Michael K. Frisby at mike@frisbyassociates.com.) |
| Valley Bank makes surprise offer for downtown redevelopment 2013-02-14 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Retail and service business owners, along with members of the public, met last week to discuss economic revitalization in downtown Gering when a surprise announcement was made. John Stinner, president and CEO of Valley Bank and Trust, told the group of about 45 people his bank would commit $500,000 in low-interest loans to help finance downtown revitalization efforts. The group met last Thursday at the Gering Civic Center as part of the process of submitting another application for a $30,000 planning grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). The previous two had been rejected. The planning grant would be used to hire a consultant, who would in turn meet with the downtown business community to determine the best way to go forward. Once a planning grant is secured, the city would be in a good position to apply for a $350,000 implementation grant so consultant recommendations could be carried out. Kevin Andersen, economic development consultant with DED, outlined for the group what were some of the things the state looks for in an application and offered advice. Andersen has been involved with downtown revitalization programs since the program was started in 2008 and has worked with about 30 communities, with an investment of about $5 million. That creates a competitive atmosphere for grant funding. Rick Willis, marketing and research manager for Twin Cities Development, helped facilitate the meeting. He said Gering could modify its two previous applications to make a stronger appeal for this round of state funding. “Kevin told us we need to have a strategy that has an impact,” Willis said. “The state will also want to know what we plan for the future and how the grant will work as a catalyst for future projects and economic development.” Gering already has some strong economic draws. The Scotts Bluff National Monument attracts almost 120,000 visitors a year. The combined Legacy of the Plains Museums brings in about 20,000 visitors a year. The city welcomes almost 6,000 people each July for Oregon Trail Days. Even in the off-season, about 4,000 people come to Gering in December to visit Santa’s Village. “One of the unique aspects of downtown Gering is that less than a tenth of the businesses are retail,” Willis said. “That means the service related businesses must get involved as well.” With that statement, Stinner made his offer of low-interest loans for people and businesses who would want to get involved in revitalizing the downtown core. “In the grant application process, the state wants to know the amount of leveraged financial support from the local community,” Willis said. “They also want to know the level of business community support and the commitment to start and finish the project. We fulfilled two of those requirements by Valley Bank’s generous offer.” He said he’s also compiling a number of questions that attendees told him they would ask a consultant to do for the town. “They’d ask what the consultant would see in the way of retail, what our identity should be and what kinds of things the town can do,” Willis said. “The consultant would give us an idea of what’s worked in other areas and what we can expect here.” Willis added that much of the economic development in any community comes from the growth of businesses that are already there. “We want to impress on people that if they have an idea for a business in Gering, we have funding available to make it happen. If we take all of our resources and put them together, we can make some great things happen in downtown Gering.” The next application deadline for the planning grant is March 29. DED will conduct site visits in May and will announce selected communities in June. |
| Council member discusses 911 fees 2013-02-14 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Toward the end of Monday’s Gering City Council meeting, member Jill McFarland discussed her meeting with county officials on how to support the county’s 911 emergency communications center. The center has been operating with the original equipment installed when it first opened in the early 1980s. McFarland and Gering resident Ben Backus met with Ray Richards, the center’s director, and Jerry Crable, the county’s accountant, to discuss the best approach for local municipalities, the customers, to help support the communications center. “This has been a case of not being proactive,” McFarland told fellow council members. “I cannot believe that over a 25-year period as we watched computers get smaller and cell phones arrive, someone didn’t wonder how that would affect the communications center.” The new system is currently being installed and should be operational in May. Equipment costs were in the $258,000 range and are a state-of-the-art package that will handle both call taking and dispatching. McFarland said the reason for the meeting was to discuss 911 fees. Gering has proposed a three percent occupation tax on all cell phones and land line phones. But there’s been some resistance to the proposal from the phone providers that must collect the fees from only the Gering zip code area. She added the current 911 fee for land lines is one dollar and the cell phone fee is 45 cents per phone. But the number of land lines continues to fall as people opt to go to cell phones. The one dollar fee on land lines usually provides about $180,000 to fund communication center operations. “One of the biggest problems we have is we cannot come up with a call metric that measures how many calls coming into the center originate from cell phones,” she said. “Cell phone fees are restricted because of that.” McFarland also pointed out an obvious problem that the county decreased the property tax earmarked for the communications center by $321,000 to divert more tax dollars to the county detention center, although part of that is temporary. “When I asked how the county would make that budget balance next year, they told me the cities would help out,” she said. “The current management structure doesn’t seem to be working. It’s not proactive in keeping current with technology and it isn’t lobbying with the state for funding and for fewer restrictions.” |
| Regional West Medical Center welcomes new surgeon 2013-02-14 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF — Regional West Physicians Clinic welcomes Brad Coots, MD, to western Nebraska. Dr. Coots is board-certified in plastic surgery and sub-specialized in hand surgery. Dr. Coots earned his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Ill. He completed residencies in both general surgery and plastic surgery at Michigan State University-GRMERC, Grand Rapids, Mich. He then completed a hand and microsurgery fellowship at the Buncke Clinic, San Francisco, Calif. After several years of private practice in Spokane, Wash., Dr. Coots accepted a second fellowship in craniofacial surgery at the University of Tennessee-Memphis under Dr. Robert Wallace, and in Paris, France, under Dr. Eric Arnaud. From July 2011 until his recent move to western Nebraska, he served as clinical assistant professor at the University of Iowa, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. While there, he served as the co-director of the Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic and as the plastic surgery liaison to the burn unit. His interest in cleft lip and palate surgery led to his involvement with Third World medical missions. Dr. Coots has traveled to Africa, India, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic with Operation Smile and Rotaplast International. He will soon participate in a mission trip to Bangladesh. Dr. Coots’ wife, Carmen, is a veterinarian with the Animal Health Center. The couple has a son, Callum, who is in second grade, and a daughter Georgia, who is in pre-K. Regional West Physicians Clinic-Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery is located at Regional West Medical Plaza North, Two West 42nd Street, Suite 3700, Scottsbluff. Dr. Coots welcomes new patients. To schedule an appointment or consultation, please call (308) 630-2500. |
| Kaufman to stand trial 2013-02-14 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Ethan Kaufman of Cheyenne, Wyo., charged with the fatal rollover that killed two Scottsbluff teenagers, is scheduled for arraignment in Goshen County District Court on Feb. 20. During his Feb. 8 preliminary hearing, the 22-year-old Kaufman was charged with two counts of aggravated homicide by vehicle in the rollover accident that took the lives of Hallie Anderson, 19 and Alexis Wheeler, 18, both of Scottsbluff. The accident occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 9 just west of the Wyoming/Nebraska state line. Two other passengers in Kaufman’s pickup, Tyler Hill of Lyman and Stetson Allen of Morrill, were injured in the accident. Kaufman was also charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol causing serious bodily injury. Data retrieved from the vehicle revealed that Kaufman’s pickup was traveling at 99 mph when he lost control and left the road. About 600 feet from the highway, the pickup hit an embankment at 57 mph before over. Kaufman was given a blood alcohol test two hours after the accident, which showed he was legally intoxicated. Charges will be read during Kaufman’s arraignment and a plea will be entered. A trial date will then be scheduled. If convicted on all four counts of the charge, Kaufman could face up to 60 years in prison. |
| Council hears about tourism promotion 2013-02-14 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Karla Niedan-Streeks, executive director of the Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau, told members of the city council the city has made some big strides in promoting the area as a tourism destination. From last fall’s Nebraska Travel Conference, hosted by Gering, to the Nebraska tourism ad campaign launched at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, the area is making itself known to a wider audience. “October’s travel conference met our goal of bringing statewide exposure to the area,” Niedan-Streeks told council members. “The service and hospitality of Gering was able to shine once again. The travel and tourism professionals we hosted took valuable word-of-mouth advertising back home with them.” She said that during a recent planning retreat, one of the primary concerns that kept coming up was adequate signage to draw visitors off the highways and into the area. “We outlined some of the signage deficiencies at the entrance gateways to the area,” she said. “We drove around the area, took pictures of the signage and tried to think like a visitor who hasn’t been here yet. Some of those signs need to be redesigned.” One example she pointed out was that on highway signs where Gering was the nearest exit; the name appeared at the bottom of the sign, below other names. Niedan-Streeks added the cornerstone for signage should be the corner of Five Rocks Road and Old Oregon Trail/M Street. From there, travelers can go to Scotts Bluff National Monument and Legacy of the Plains Museum, or to downtown Gering, or north to the Riverside Discovery Center. She said the information they gathered about potential sign improvements will be forwarded to the Nebraska Department of Roads for more input. She added that some already placed signage has been outdated or is confusing to visitors and updates are planned for the near future. During the retreat, tourism committee members also spent time discussing “alignment.” Niedan-Streeks said that to them, alignment means taking a look at what Gering already has and making the most of those assets to generate new visitation and new business. That can only be done through working together with other tourism related sites and organizations to develop a unified plan to market the area. Niedan-Streeks said her group has known for years that our primary marketing target is the Front Range area of Colorado. The group is doing that this year in conjunction with the State Department of Tourism through advertising in several venues at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. “This year the Tourism Commission became an official partner with the stock show and put a significant amount of money into an advertising campaign,” she said. “We got a great, strong presence this year. I think those efforts will continue in the future.” Niedan-Streeks also said that in April, her group will be one of the major sponsors for the annual meeting planners’ event in Lincoln. That will provide the opportunity for some direct sales to more than 100 attending members. And over the Memorial Day weekend, Gering will again host the HOG organization, or Harley Owners Group. The owners were in Gering in 2010 and decided to return for 2013. “You know it when Harley owners are in town,” she said. “They’ll be here for three days and will go on poker runs and have other fun activities. Harley owners from Nebraska and four surrounding states will attend.” |
| Barking Bulldogs make school history 2013-02-14 By |
| The Gering Speech team made school history last weekend by winning the North Platte Blue/ Gold Tournament on Saturday. Gering competed against 26 other schools in one of the largest tournaments of the season. Gering speech team participants are ront row from left, Jenna Longmore, Brandy Mendoza, Hayley Grams, John Boyd, Andrew Delcamp, Caleb Hayden, Kyle Upp, Leah Potts. Back row, Jenna Longmore, Nicolette Cook, Brooke Doggett, Megan Brady, Tori Brumbaugh, Kali Rimington, Andrew Cook, and Gavin Hovseth. |
| ‘Nebraska’s Miss America: Teresa Scanlan’ exhibit to open 2013-02-14 By |
| LINCOLN — The first Miss Nebraska to be crowned Miss America, Teresa Scanlan, will be featured in a new temporary exhibit to open March 1, 2013, Nebraska Statehood Day, at the Nebraska History Museum, Centennial Mall at P Streets, Lincoln. Teresa Scanlan will appear at the free First Friday opening scheduled from 5 – 8 p.m. that evening. The Gering resident was the 90th Miss America when she was chosen in 2011. Then age 17, she was the youngest Miss America since 1921. Many of Scanlan’s pageant outfits, including the gown she wore when competing in the Miss Nebraska pageant and her various costume changes from the Miss America pageant, will be on display. The shoes Teresa wore when she was crowned Miss America, which she wore in every contest beginning in 2004 when she was crowned Scotts Bluff County Teen Queen, are also featured. Pageant contestants have various talents, but Scanlan’s involves an unexpected product – duct tape. One of her many hobbies includes making clothing and other items out of this versatile product. When the Duck Tape brand learned she was a fan, they invited her to be the grand marshal for their festival in Avon, Ohio. A sash and bouquet made entirely out of duct tape will be on display, along with a ring given to her and made by students. During her reign as Miss America, Teresa traveled more than 240,000 miles, visiting 35 states and several foreign countries. She served as a goodwill ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network, visited many hospitals and worked with the USO. She was a spokesperson and advocate for many organizations and causes, including the American Cancer Society, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Special Olympics, and many more. The former Miss America currently attends Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va. Her career goals include becoming a Supreme Court justice and running for president. The exhibit continues through Sept. 3 at the Nebraska History Museum and admission is free. For more information, call (402) 471-4782 or go online at www.nebraskahistory.org. |
| Terrytown welcomes new councilwoman 2013-02-14 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| TERRYTOWN — The Terrytown City Council held its monthly meeting on Thursday to swear in appointed councilwoman Marcia Sherlock. Sherlock will take the place of former council member Larry Plummer, who passed away in December leaving a vacancy in Ward 1. Plummer had served on the Council for 13 years. Sherlock previously served on the council when Terrytown was designated as a village. She views being on the council as a great way to serve and give back to the community. “They are making much-needed improvements to the infrastructure and that’s a good thing,” said Sherlock. She looks forward to working with everyone on the council. During last month’s regular meeting, Lanette Richards asked the council for funds to assist the newly created Monument Prevention Coalition. The Coalition is a new organization created to replace Project Extra Mile, whose mission is to create alcohol abuse awareness and prevent underage drinking in the community. After much discussion, the council voted to provide Monument Prevention Coalition the requested $706.82. Councilmen Jerry Green made a motion to approve that was seconded by Sherlock. Brad Van Pelt was the only nay vote. City engineer Jeff Wolfe updated the council on where they stand in receiving a state grant to assist with the engineering study for the new water system. Several months ago, the council received a notice that one of the city’s wells had high levels of arsenic. In order to remain compliant, the City shut down the offending well, leaving Terrytown with only one working well. Wolfe informed the council that even with the compliance it would be a mistake to have the City run on only one well, which leaves the city vulnerable should anything happen to the well. In the event of a malfunction, Terrytown would be forced to turn back to the well with high arsenic levels, causing a violation. Before any final discussion is made on a new system, an engineering study must be conducted. The study will provide the Council with feasible options on a new source of water. Last month, Wolfe informed the council that he was looking into potential grant money to help fund the study. Wolfe informed the council that a grant has been awarded, which enables the City to begin its engineering study. When the study is complete this spring, its findings will be presented to the Council for further discussion. |
| Remembering When... 2013-02-14 By |
| 120 Years Ago The Gering Methodist Church completed its new building. Advertising for final proof were James A. Yates, Archibald J. Castel, James C. Thompson. A bill was introduced at the state Legislature to reimburse Scotts Bluff County for the cost of the Arnold murder trial. 100 Years Ago Gov. Morehead named John Boatsman of Morrill as state bank examiner. An alleged official announcement that the Burlington Railroad would build from Bridgeport to Kearney was denied. Died: Grantley Smith, son of Rosanna Smith, Minatare. 80 Years Ago The Oregon Trail and White Highway board was officially organized to push for building a shortcut highway between Gering and Bridgeport. The North Platte Valley Cooperative Cheese Company chose Gale Dixon, F.H. Walters, E.R. Weatherfield, H. Yensen and O.H. Bartow as delegates to its governing board. 60 Years Ago The West Nebraska Methodist Hospital board voted to change its name to West Nebraska General Hospital. County Assessor S.C. Clarke resigned. The area draft board named T.H. McCosh as a member. Top sugar growers in the Gering district were J.R. Gross, Alex Meter, Kenneth Booth, Conrad Libsack, Jacob Foos, Charles Reisig, P.A. Scarlett, Melvin Libsack, Harry Ehrlich, David Kaufman and Neal Gross. 40 Years Ago Forty-seven-year-old Frank Ellis of Scottsbluff was rescued from the icy water of the Sample sandpit, where he had been ice fishing. Roger Henderson of Scottsbluff pulled him out. Cedar Canyon School raised about $2,000 for charitable organizations during its annual benefit drive. Ray Ernst and Kim Rahmig were named Gering High School king and queen during the Bulldogs’ basketball game against Kimball. Fred D. Beltner of Bayard offered $25,000 to the North Platte Valley Historical Association on a matching basis for its building fund. Died: Maude Bauman, 91, Scottsbluff; Jesse Urdiales, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Manuel J. Urdiales, Gering; Alexander Weideman, 62, Scottsbluff; Mae Eva Young, 84, Scottsbluff; Elizabeth Hess, 94, Scottsbluff; Daisy Pearl Mikkelson, 55, Scottsbluff; David Schmidt, 81, Scottsbluff; Jim Bradley, 19, Scottsbluff. 20 Years Ago Gering’s Planning Commission rezoned a site across Highway 71 from U St. to Country Club Road from agricultural to residential. Two sites were being considered for a potential landfill by the Scotts Bluff County Board. Died: Earl G. Detweiler, 77, Gering; Susan Tyon, 64, Terrytown; Joseph Allen Fox, 28, Gering; R.R. Kennedy, 55, Scottsbluff; Gary Grasmick, 50, Gering; Jerry A. Gortmaker, 40, Scottsbluff; A.A. Kauffold, 89, Gering; Dean H. Van Winkle, 21, Gering. 10 Years Ago Fifteen-year-old Heather Guerrero of Gering was found murdered in an abandoned house near Lake Minatare. Gering resident Jeffrey A. Hessler was arrested for the crime. Gering City Council members unanimously approved a resolution of support for a Nebraska program to promote ethanol production. Crossroads Cooperative was planning to build an ethanol plant on east U St. A proposal to build a bicycle motocross track in Northfield Park was on hold until an interested group could come up with a plan. Both Gering and Scottsbluff city councils met with county commissioners to discuss proposed expansion of the airport terminal. County commissioners were considering building a new regional jail facility. Died: Delbert Allen Merritt, 69, Gering; Donald W. Childs, 94, Scottsbluff; Nora Kay Linn, 47, Gering. Early Days of Gering In his book “Pioneer Tales of the Nebraska Panhandle,” A.B. Wood wrote his first idea for a chapter heading was “Towns Which Might Have Been.” By the time the book was printed, the title of that particular chapter was changed to “Blasted Hopes of Becoming Metropolitan Centers.” Some of those stops were merely post offices, but others had aspirations of becoming actual towns. Many of those places are no longer on the map. One of them was Millstown, located west of Minatare. It was a contender for the county seat in 1889 but lost in the first round of voting to both Gering and Mitchell. In 1889, the town of Mitchell had sprung up about four miles south of the present town’s location. Their post office was on the north side of the river near Sunflower. And they had a newspaper – the Mitchell Quirt, which Wood often referred to as “the Squirt.” Once the boundaries of Scotts Bluff and other Panhandle counties were drawn and Gering chosen as the county seat, many of the post offices in the eastern part of the county began to disappear. Sedan, north of Minatare and a stop on the Gering-Alliance mail route, was one of them. Also on the route were Malinda and Wright. Wilford, located just south of present day McGrew, was another casualty. A number of towns also sprang up in Banner County with hopes of growth. They had names like Freeport, Centropolis and Flowerfield. Freeport, south of Wright’s Gap, was a contender for the Banner County seat. Their newspaper was the Early Day, which was moved to Harrisburg after that town was chosen as the county seat. Later on, the newspaper was sold and became the Banner County News. One of the strongest contenders for Banner County seat, although unsuccessful, was Ashford, which was located just south of Pumpkin Creek on the east side of the Gering-Kimball highway. The town boasted a number of business buildings, including a newspaper and a water powered flour mill, which was built but never operated. The election of towns for the county seat, and later the railroad ultimately determined the fate of many aspiring towns. Wood remarked in his book that Gering should have been one of those former towns once the Burlington laid tracks through what would become Scottsbluff. What kept the business community going was the promise from the Union Pacific they would be laying track through Gering, and not just as a whistle stop destination. “These instances of fond hopes which were not realized were typical of many sections of the west,” Wood wrote in his book. “The final locations of railroads told the story ultimately.” Editor’s Note: This account was recorded in the the 1938 book “Pioneer Tales of the North Platte Valley and Nebraska Panhandle” by A.B. Wood. |
| News Briefs 2013-02-14 By |
| Reunion committee seeks classmates GERING — The Gering High School Class of 1978’s 35th Class Reunion is coming up on July 12- 13, 2013. If classmates have not received information in an email about this reunion it means that the committee is lacking contact information. The reunion committee asks that classmates not yet contacted email Ronda Berry Freel at rfreel@rtconnect.net or Jeananne Dunne Gross at jgross@highlandcc.edu. Classmates who have not yet been contacted are Bob Allbaugh, Carree Swartzkopf, Cathy Kosel, Chris Spencer, Cindy Owens, Cindy Schmidt, Cyndi Randall, Cindy Kropp, Dan Ostermiller, Dave Canell, Dave Lindgren, David Davis, DeAnn Thomas, Deanna Schwartzkopf, Debra Rupp, Dee Stone, Delores Ybarra, Fletcher Bornschlegl, Gina Ness, Greg Baker, Greg Robinson, Janet Miller, Jeff Haun, Jim Bauer, John Weber, Karen Akers, Kim Gibson, Mickey Torres, Mike Robinson, Renee Loxterkamp, Richard Schultz, Rick Ibach, Rory Zweifel, Roy Palomo, Ruby Martinez, Sonja Foster, Tim Webster, Tom Walter, Winston Lamphier. Parks warn of changes GERING — The public should be prepared for reduced hours and services provided by National Park Service employees at 398 national parks, historic sites, monuments and memorials, parkways, trails, preserves and reserves, seashores and lakeshores, recreation areas and national battlefields. Visitors would see reduced hours of operation for visitor centers, shorter seasons, and possibly closing of camping, hiking and other recreational areas when there is insufficient staff to ensure the protection of visitors, employees, and historic, cultural and natural resources. The reductions would limit the National Park Service’s ability to sustain a full complement of seasonal employees needed for interpretive programs, maintenance, law enforcement and other visitor services as we are preparing for the busy summer season. Local communities and businesses that rely on recreation to support their livelihoods would face a loss of income from reduced visitation to national parks. Some 280 million people visit national parks each year and their spending alone supports 247,000 jobs and a $31 billion economic impact, mostly in local economies. Fundraiser to benefit humane society SCOTTSBLUFF — The Panhandle Humane Society has been earning cash and looking to replace outdated technology by participating in the Funding Factory Recycling Program. They collect empty cartridges, cell phones, small electronics, and laptops from the community and send the waste products to Funding Factory in exchange for cash their choice of technology and office products. Companies interested in demonstrating a commitment to this nonprofit and the environment can participate free of charge in the Funding Factory Business Support Program. Funding Factory will send each supporting business FREE prepaid shipping labels for the return of collected cartridges, cell phones, small electronics, and laptops. By donating to the Panhandle Humane Society, businesses help them earn the technology and fund for the shelter they need. Community and business supporters can also drop off cartridges, cell phones, small electronics, and laptops at the Panhandle Humane Society. To learn more about supporting PHS please call during regular business hours at (308) 635-9022. For more information, visit www.FundingFactory.com, or call, toll-free, 1 (888) 883-8237. Quilt Guild to meet ALLIANCE — The February meeting of the Panhandle Quilt Guild will be held on Saturday morning, Feb. 16, at 9:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Alliance, 515 Emerson Avenue. Elaine Moore will be conducting a class on Scrappy Spools with Diagonally Set Border. All quilters are welcome; coffee is at 9 a.m. www.panhandlequiltguild.org Public invited to join bird count GERING — Scotts Bluff National Monument will be participating in the Nationwide Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) Feb. 15-17. This event is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. It is an opportunity for families, students, and people of all ages to discover the wonders of nature in backyards, schoolyards, and local parks, and, at the same time, make an important contribution to conservation. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15 and 16 at 8 a.m. the public is invited to join Ranger Steve Osburn to count birds within the monument’s boundaries. A different location will be visited each day. Participants will be able to park at the Visitor Center and join the ranger in the park’s shuttle van as they visit birding sites. Counts will be done on short hikes or from the shuttle van depending upon the weather. Park entrance fees will be waived for those participating in the bird counts on both days. Remember to bring your binoculars and dress accordingly. Participants count birds and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Agate Fossil Beds to host bird count HARRISON — Amanda Filipi will present a program in the theater of the Agate Fossil Beds Visitor Center and out-of-doors (where the birds are) on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 1:30 p.m. Her talk will include the background of the Great Backyard Bird Count, birding basics, and common birds of the area. Be sure to dress appropriately and bring your binoculars if you have them; some binoculars will be available to borrow. If you like birds and want to get involved with this important national winter bird count, Agate Fossil Beds’ 2,700 acres are comprised of three different bird habitats attracting upland birds, prairie birds and wetlands birds. With almost five miles of walking trails within the park, birders can see these three different habitats without having to go cross country. Each participant will receive a free Pocket Guide to Prairie Birds put out by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. Other bird books are available in the Oregon Trail Museum Association bookstore in the visitor center. Feb. 15 -18 is the 16th annual Great Backyard Bird Count. This event is hosted by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Homemakers clubs offer scholarships SCOTTSBLUFF — The Scotts Bluff County Council of Homemaker Clubs is offering three (3) $300 scholarships to any Scotts Bluff County resident enrolled in Human Resources and Family Sciences curriculum. Applicants can be graduating high school seniors or college students planning to attend college in 2013 in human resources and/or family sciences. The scholarship is paid to the school after completion of the 2013 fall semester. The student must maintain a C average or the scholarship will be forfeited. The winner will be announced and honored at the Spring Tea in April. You can pick up an application at your local school or contact Shirley Harimon, 1745 20th Street, Gering, NE 69341 for an application. The application must be postmarked by the April 1 deadline. The winner will be notified by April 20. If you have any questions, please contact Shirley Harimon at (308) 436-1775. West Nebraska Arts Center seeks submissions SCOTTSBLUFF — The West Nebraska Art Center, 106 E. 18th St. in Scottsbluff, is now accepting entries for the Visionaries Student Art Exhibit. The show is an open student art exhibit featuring original artwork completed by the young artists of the North Platte Valley region. Deadline for submissions is March 28. Call (308) 632-2226 for more information. |
| Chuck Klutts celebrates 90 years 2013-02-14 By |
| Chuck Klutts of Gering is celebrating his 90th birthday on Feb. 16. Born in Woodbine, Iowa, Chuck graduated from Hemingford High School. He operated Chuck’s Frontier in Gering for 40 years. His children are Barb (Gary) Netherland, Charlie (Dixie) Klutts and Bill (Char) Klutts. Birthday greetings may be sent to Chuck at 775 N St., Gering, NE 69341. |
| Minatare faces district budget questions, awaits NEMA grant decision 2013-02-14 By Lauren Smith-Kuckkahn |
| The public portion of the Monday night meeting of the Minatare Public Schools Board of Education was relatively short, as half of the meeting was spent in closed session over the future of the district’s budget. The board went into closed session for an hour to discuss financial strategies, said Board President Gary Koke. He said the discussion focused on how the district will move forward when the Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools (PLAS) grant expires. Though the board had no comments or announcements yet, at next month’s meeting there will be more to share publicly, Koke said. Alicia Hassel, board member, gave the report for the Jan. 22 School Improvement Committee meeting. She said one of the items the committee wanted to clarify was that the funding for building improvements comes from tax dollars, not from the district’s general fund, so it would not affect personnel decisions. She said the application for grant monies through the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is still being processed, she said. If the grant is awarded, construction on an addition to the high school building will begin in the summer. During personal comments, Hassel said she commends Minatare teachers for being able to share the history of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement with students of all ages in a way that they could understand and appreciate. The board went into closed session at 5:47 p.m., roughly 17 minutes after the meeting began. Closed session concluded at 6:52 p.m. After the board came out of closed session, several small items were reviewed during the superintendent’s report. Superintendent Tim Cody said he attended a Western Nebraska Administrators meeting in Alliance on Jan. 30. During the meeting, a phone conference was conducted with Mike Delaney, Executive Director of Nebraska Council of School Administrators. Delaney provided an overview on how legislative bills would affect education, and how the Legislature was attempting to address the underfunded retirement account. Cody said at the meeting Delaney also discussed how, due to a situation in Omaha over a superintendent’s large benefits package, the Nebraska legislature passed a law that all superintendent contracts must be published online. Cody said the contracts are already available to the public, but the law makes them more accessible by Internet, also. In a brief discussion concerning Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) testing, Cody said that special ed students take the same NeSA test as all other students, but are given special accommodations, such as hearing the questions read to them by a teacher. Cody said the deadline for the NEMA grant application processing was extended from six weeks to eight weeks, meaning the district will not hear whether it is approved or rejected until early March. During board comments, board secretary Sheri McAllister announced that high school sophomore Marc Cinocco is scheduled to compete in the state wrestling tournament in Omaha this weekend. |
| Bill would prevent employment discrimination based on credit history 2013-02-14 By Joseph Moore - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN –— Job seekers could not be denied employment based on their credit history under a bill sponsored by Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton. The Legislature’s Business and Labor Committee heard testimony on Feb. 11 on LB 95, the Employee Credit Privacy Act. The bill would prevent employers from obtaining job applicants’ credit reports with exceptions for positions at banks, savings and loan companies and other financial institutions. Dubas said we need to ask ourselves what employers are looking for when they use a credit check. “There is little correlation between credit history and job performance or the likelihood of committing fraud,” she said. Dubas said the practice of reviewing an applicant’s credit report creates a potential Catch-22 for many job seekers. They need to find a job to get themselves out of debt, but their debt is preventing them from getting a job. “There are many occurrences in our lives that are out of our control but can have an impact on our credit score,” Dubas said. She cited the loss of a loved one, divorce, medical expenses and job loss. “The use of a credit score in job applications has an especially negative impact on women, the disabled, and certain populations such as Hispanic and African Americans because their scores tend to be lower,” Dubas said. Thirty-four percent of employers reported using credit checks in the hiring process, according to a 2012 national survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management. Eighty-seven percent of those did so for positions with financial responsibility. Under current law, employers have to get permission from applicants before obtaining their credit report. If employers choose to deny employment based on credit history, they are supposed to notify the applicant of the reason for the decision. “It’s my understanding that that doesn’t happen very often,” Dubas said, referring to the notification requirement. Robert Hallstrom, representing the National Federation of Independent Businesses, testified against the bill. He said the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal body that enforces workplace discrimination laws, already requires employers to have a justifiable policy for using credit reports in hiring decisions. Ron Sedlacek, a lobbyist for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, also testified against the bill. He said that because credit checks cost employers time and money, they are only used in the final stages of the hiring process. “As a candidate, if you make it to the point where the employer wants to go back and check your credit report, you should celebrate because that’s great news,” Sedlacek said. “It means you’ve made it to the next stage of the hiring process and they’re interested in considering you as a candidate.” He added that employers use credit reports to assess accountability and responsibility and to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Tad Fraizer, representing the American Insurance Association, took issue with the bill’s exemption of certain positions for which a good credit history is an occupational requirement. He said the language of the bill is too vague and fails to lay out specifically what positions would be exempt. Dubas closed her remarks to the committee by reading an email sent to her by a constituent. The woman, an Army veteran and single mother of three with two master’s degrees, ran into difficult times and accumulated significant debt despite working two jobs. Dubas said if this woman were to apply for a job now, she could be denied employment because of her credit history. “I really feel like this makes the point that I’m trying to make through LB 95,” Dubas said, referring to the email. Contact Joseph Moore at nns.jmoore@gmail.com |
| Texting while driving could be primary offense 2013-02-14 By Shelby Friesz - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN — “I k rite,” the text message read. That text message caused a life-changing car accident for 19-year-old Cedar Rapids native Erin Smith, who testified in support of a bill during the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee hearing Monday. Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff presented the bill (LB118) that would make texting while driving a primary offense rather than the secondary offense it is now. Drivers can be ticketed for a secondary offense only if they have stopped for some other offense. Smith was among the nine who testified in support of the bill. Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton, who chairs the committee, said she also had received six letters of support. Nobody testified against or stayed neutral on the bill. Smith said she supported the bill because of her experiences from her accident caused by texting in 2010, which resulted in seven broken vertebrae, a broken collarbone and a brain hemorrhage. She spent 36 hours in the hospital and half of her senior year in high school in a brace from her hips to her neck, she said. “Every day I ask myself, ‘Was that one text really worth everything I’ve had to go through?’” Smith said. Harms said he views distracted driving, especially from cell phone usage, as a widespread problem. “Over the last few years, distracted driving has gone from a dangerous practice to actually a deadly epidemic,” Harms said. He cited a journal article by a University of Utah psychologist who found that drivers who were texting while driving were involved in more accidents and responded slower to driving conditions than those talking on a cell phone. Harms said texting while driving is also related to speeding, driving while drowsy and driving without a seatbelt. He said it takes drivers’ eyes off the road, hands off the wheel and minds off the task of driving a car. With an average of 4.5 seconds to answer a text message, drivers can travel as far as football field without their eyes on the road, Harms said. The bill, however, only addresses sending written communication, such as text messages or emails, on a mobile device while a vehicle is in motion. Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion expressed concern as to how the law would be enforced and how police would prove a driver was texting rather than simply unlocking the phone for a call. Harms said that the driver would have the right to allow a police officer to see the cell phone or the cell phone records could be subpoenaed. Law enforcement officers would also have to become familiar with the signs of texting while driving, just as they had to with seatbelt usage, he said. He sees it as a tool for law enforcement officers to actually enforce a law that is already intact, he said. Harms added that making it a primary offense could help people become more aware of their choices while driving. “Even though a person may agree that it’s a problem,” Harms said, “it certainly doesn’t prevent them from the behavior.” Dubas questioned whether a law was necessary to prevent texting while driving or if education programs could be used instead. A few phone companies have created campaigns to educate people on the hazards of texting while driving. Jason Bromm of Verizon Communications Inc. said that Verizon launched the “Don’t Text and Drive” ad campaign in 2009. Katie Zulkoski with AT&T said that her company created the “It Can Wait” campaign. Zulkoski said, however, she believes that sometimes it takes a fine to change behavior. Drivers who violate this law would pay $200 for the first offense and would have points added to their driving record. Erin Smith’s mother, Lori Smith, said that if texting while driving had been a primary offense, her daughter might have been ticketed for this violation before the day of her accident. If her daughter had experienced the consequences of breaking the law, she might not have been texting that day, Lori Smith said. Lori Smith said that she supports the bill, even if it would help prevent just one family from going through her family’s experience. Contact Shelby Friesz at nns.sfriesz@gmail.com |
| Senators clash with witnesses over horseracing bill 2013-02-14 By Bethany Knipp, Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN — Senators clashed with some testifiers at the General Affairs Committee meeting Feb. 11 about their knowledge of the horseracing industry and proposals to help it make more money. LB73, introduced by Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha, would change the number of live racing days required for a racetrack. Pat Loontjer, director of Gambling With The Good Life, said she was neutral on the bill but didn’t think the racing industry is really interested in the horses and just wants to hold a gambling license and to diminish the number of live races. After hearing Loontjer’s testimony, Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln asked her if she wanted to characterized her testimony as opposed to the bill because nothing in it sounded neutral. Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha, an attorney, grilled Loontjer about her knowledge of subsidies and taxes in the horseracing industry and questioned the group Loontjer represents. “We’re told Gambling With The Good Life has 2,500 people in its database and almost all the churches in the state - not mine - are involved...Who is this group speaking for? Are there really almost 2,500 members and are almost all the churches in the state involved in this network or is it most likely that you have a very committed group of extremists who don’t want the industry to succeed?” Lautenbaugh asked in his closing statement. In an effort to clear up claims Loontjer made that horsemen did not want more live races, Lynne Schuller of the Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association said: “We’ve been struggling to stay alive and struggling to succeed despite the gross inaccuracies spread by that particular group each and every day. I would love the luxury of making wild accusations without having to, or I don’t know, back it up with facts, but unfortunately, I have to back up what I say.” Schuller said the horsemen wanted to hold more live races because that is how they make money, but tracks can’t afford it. Schuller apologized for ranting during her testimony and Lautenbaugh said his conduct was harsh. “This is important and it would be funny if it wasn’t so sad that we are killing an industry in Nebraska not because we’re failing to subsidize it, but because we just won’t get out of the way,” Lautenbaugh said. Contact Bethany Knipp at nns.bknipp@gmail.com |
| USDA Preserves $4 Billion in Agricultural Exports in 2012 by Knocking Down Barriers to Trade 2013-02-14 By |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently highlighted how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) resolved dozens of export issues in 2012, freeing up an estimated $4 billion in U.S. agricultural and forestry exports and protecting roughly 30,000 American jobs in the process. "As consumers around the world demand high-quality, American-grown products, USDA staff are monitoring more than 160 markets to ensure an open system of trade, free from unwarranted and unjustified barriers," said Vilsack. "Since 2009, USDA has acted to remove hundreds of unfair barriers to trade for American companies and is providing businesses with the resources they need to reach new markets. These efforts have resulted in the most successful period in the history for American agriculture and a boon for America's rural economies and agriculture-related businesses." Over the past year, USDA has aggressively worked to eliminate barriers, open new markets, secure the release of U.S. shipments detained at foreign ports, and ensure the safe movement of agricultural products in a manner consistent with science and international standards. Overall, a highly-dedicated group of USDA Foreign Service officers, animal and plant health experts, and analysts monitor 162 markets around the world, ensuring a level playing field for U.S. businesses and products. USDA works in partnership with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and other federal offices and agencies. Currently, the American brand of agriculture is surging in popularity worldwide, while U.S. agricultural exports support more than one million jobs in communities across the country. Fiscal years 2009 through 2012 generated more than $478 billion in agricultural exports, and 2013 agricultural exports remain on track to set new records. Overall, America's agricultural sector is playing a key role in helping to achieve President Obama's goal under the National Export Initiative of doubling exports by the end of 2014. This success builds on USDA's efforts to break down barriers to trade and expand access for U.S. goods around the world. Earlier this week, USDA announced that the Government of Japan—the fourth largest agricultural export market for the United States—agreed to expand access for U.S. beef. Under these new terms, which went into effect on February 1, 2013, Japan will now permit the import of beef from cattle less than 30 months of age, compared to the previous limit of 20 months, among other steps. It is estimated that these important changes will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in exports of U.S. beef to Japan in the coming years. This agreement also goes a long way toward normalizing trade with Japan by addressing long-standing restrictions that Japan introduced in response to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). As American businesses look to reach the 95 percent of consumers outside of U.S. borders, USDA is providing support and service. For example, in 2012, USDA has been able to help conduct more than 110 trade shows around the world to help more than 1,000 U.S. companies make more than $500 million in on-site sales. The majority of these were small and medium-sized businesses. While strong exports benefit farms and rural communities, agricultural trade is also a building block for a strong national economy. Along with their federal partners, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) works to protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources in the international environment. Last year, APHIS successfully negotiated and resolved 150 animal and plant health issues involving U.S. agricultural exports. Examples include: Spearheaded a six-month pilot program with China's animal and plant health authority which established the resumption of log exports from Virginia and South Carolina, resulting in more than $1.5 million in U.S. hardwood log exports to China from those States. The pilot program was recently extended by China. The pilot program signals renewed Chinese confidence in Virginia and South Carolina forestry exports. The United States exported more than $7.7 billion in forestry products in 2011, supporting more than 65,000 jobs. During the first eleven months of 2012, U.S. log exports to China from all states reached nearly $730 million. Nearly 25 percent of those exports landed in China, the second largest market for U.S. timber. Seaports in Virginia and South Carolina handled more than half-a-billion-dollars in U.S. forestry exports in 2011. Worked with Mexican officials to spur U.S. table eggs exports to Mexico valued at $45 million per year. Secured Japanese market access for poultry and poultry products from New York, Ohio and South Dakota. In 2011, U.S. poultry exports to Japan totaled $88 million. Supported the shipment of U.S. cattle to new markets in 2012 by engaging foreign counterparts in preparation for exports and approving seven temporary export inspection facilities to supplement the agency's permanent export facilities, reducing the distance cattle traveled before export and helping exporters meet shipping deadlines. Turkish and Russian purchases alone during fiscal year 2012 were valued at roughly $300 million. Secured the release of 324 shipments of U.S. agricultural products detained at foreign ports, valued at more than $41 million. For example, APHIS recently secured the release of seven grain shipments valued at $1.8 million from the port of Haiphong, Vietnam, and the agency continues to work with Vietnamese officials and the U.S. grain industry on a permanent solution that will keep exports moving efficiently to that market. There are approximately 170 Foreign Service officers in USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), staffing 98 offices covering 162 countries. U.S. farmers, ranchers, trade associations and private companies depend on FAS staff to guide them through export of their products. FAS provides reports on hot market prospects and offers expertise when trade barriers arise. Over the past year, FAS has helped to knock down hundreds of barriers to trade. Examples include: Negotiated the release of hundreds of detained shipments in dozens of countries, valued at well over $60 million, and ranging from soybean meal in Latvia, to white zinfandel in the EU, rice bran pellets in Norway, Massachusetts scallops in Spain, and U.S. meat and poultry products in Taiwan. Began implementing trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, ensuring duty free access for a wide variety of U.S. food and farm products expected to boost U.S. agricultural exports by more than $2.3 billion per year when fully implemented, and support nearly 20,000 domestic jobs in the process. Negotiated expanded access for U.S. beef to the United Arab Emirates and El Salvador. In 2012, U.S. beef and beef product exports to United Arab Emirates and El Salvador reached $47 million. Engaged with China on a memorandum of understanding on soybean trade that prevented disruptions to over $12 billion of U.S. exports. Maintained market access for U.S. dairy—valued at over $432 million in 2012—by coordinating a draft dairy export certificate with the government of China. Spearheaded negotiations with Indonesia to exempt countries with food safety recognition, including the United States, from new restrictions on a variety of imported fruit and vegetables. U.S. fresh fruit exports to Indonesia were $110 million in 2012. Helped to negotiate the organic equivalence arrangement with the European Union. This partnership between the two largest organic-producers in the world will establish a strong foundation from which to promote organic agriculture, benefiting the growing organic industry and supporting jobs and businesses on a global scale. Engaged with India on a measure likely to have halted U.S. apple and pear exports valued at nearly $110 million annually. Expanded market access for U.S. potatoes in Asia, and positioned U.S exporters to take advantage of the U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement that permits duty-free entry of up to 3,000 metric tons of U.S. potatoes each year. Last year, the United States exported $7 million of fresh potatoes to Korea. Worked with Mexico to remove a 16 percent tax on dehydrated U.S. cranberries that had been erroneously applied for two months. The Obama Administration, with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack's leadership, has aggressively worked to expand export opportunities and reduce barriers to trade, helping to push agricultural exports to record levels. U.S. agriculture is currently experiencing its best period in history thanks to the productivity, resiliency, and resourcefulness of our producers and agribusinesses. Today, net farm income is at record levels while debt has been cut in half since the 1980s. Overall, American agriculture supports one in 12 jobs in the United States and provides American consumers with 83 percent of the food we consume, while maintaining affordability and choice. Strong agricultural exports contribute to a positive U.S. trade balance, create jobs, boost economic growth and support President Obama's National Export Initiative goal of doubling all U.S. exports by the end of 2014. |
| The blizzard that never was 2013-02-14 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| The National Weather Service has been trying to predict the future since it was founded in February of 1870. For most of their 143-year history this vital service has protected millions of Americans from disaster by issuing both storm warnings and tracking statistics to avert drought.. But they can't always get it right. Mother nature has a mind of her own, after all. The dire warnings last weekend of a massive winter blizzard enveloping the entire region sent many scampering to the store to stock up on necessities such as milk, snow shovels, generator fuel, coffee, and Red Box DVDs. Travel plans were abruptly canceled, and everyone hunkered down getting ready for the storm. We were told to expect well over a foot of snow, blinding whiteouts, and freezing rain. It was suggested that by Sunday evening (Feb 10) the night of the new moon, we could be all but trapped in our homes as giant drifts edged up against our doors and windows. Then nothing happened. It was a little windy, perhaps, but other than a few slight wisps of snowy rain the Great Blizzard of 2013 failed to strike western Nebraska. The biggest hazard created was easily remedied with our car defroster and our windshield wipers. Now for the east coast, a real storm actually did happen. Boston saw over three feet of snowfall in the fifth biggest storm recorded since 1888. New York City also was on a virtual lock down as the angry weather paralyzed traffic and public transportation systems. Tales of people being stuck for as long as 16 hours in their frozen vehicles have emerged. One woman was so frightened she wrote a goodbye letter to her children before being rescued by the National Guard. With the peculiar new system of naming large storm fronts the National Weather Service dubbed this arctic blast 'Nemo.' We are again told to brace ourselves for this coming weekend. Patterns indicate that Nemo apparently hasn't finished yet. According to Alex Sosnowski, expert senior meteorologist from AccuWeather.com, “There continues to be some indication that a major storm will affect eastern states and neighboring Canada this weekend. Part of the system that could produce a major storm along the east coast this weekend (Feb. 16 and 17, 2013), was still over the northern part of the Pacific Ocean to start the week.” Sosnowski noted that whether the the storm still brewing becomes an east coast monster as they saw last weekend it could move in our direction spreading a swath of snow southeastward over the Rockies Friday (Feb. 15) then to the southern Plains on Saturday. Sosnowski further warns current patterns indicate a 'pipeline of storms' throughout February. “There are almost a half-dozen additional candidates for major winter storms reaching from the southwestern U.S. to the Midwest and the east coast.” So here we go again. Batten down the hatches and flip a coin. As always, it is better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Everyone seems to be in agreement that a massive storm would be more a blessing than a curse. With drought looming this coming summer we can use all the moisture we can get. A cold wet inconvenience might make for a long weekend but if it promises to leave some water behind a heavy storm would be welcome, no matter what name they might give it. |
| Gering speakers achieve historic win at North Platte 2013-02-14 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| The Gering High School speech team made school history last Saturday by winning the Blue/Gold Tournament in North Platte. The tournament is one of the largest of the season with 26 schools competing in the two day tournament. In past years, the team had placed fairly high winning second or third place. However, for a team to qualify for sweepstakes they must compete in both the Friday and Saturday competitions. The missing piece to bringing home the gold was competing in Friday’s debate tournament. “Every year we were always the second or third place team but we could never get a trophy because we didn’t compete,” said coach Tyler Thompson. There are two styles of debate a team can participate in which is either Lincoln-Douglas debate or Student Congress. Student Congress is a mock session of Congress. Students must write bills that have to be turned in two weeks before competition. Four students wrote bills. Fifteen students competed in Student Congress. “We have never been able to find kids who were interested,” said Thompson. The team proved they had what it took winning both houses of Congress. Kyle Upp won varsity house of congress with Isabel Wolf winning the novice house. “It’s a pretty intense competition,” said Thompson. The North Platte Tournament provides competitors a chance to see the kind of competition they may go against in districts and state. By competing in both days of the North Platte Tournament, Gering was able to rack up 412 sweepstakes points. “The kids were excited it was like winning a mini state tournament,” said Thompson. North Platte Blue/Gold Tournament results: Poetry Interpretation 1, Carlin Daharsh, Gothenburg; 2, Allie Baird, Gering; 3, Tiffany Valleau, Kearney; 4, Connor Zimmer, Bridgeport; 5, Sydni Schledewitz, Gering; 6, Caleb Wyre, Gering; 7, Zaidee Rada, Scottsbluff; 8, Michael Kruze, Chadron; 9, Mikayla Pineda, Kearney; 10, Johnmark Shields, Lexington Persuasive Speaking 1, Arria Lakha, Norfolk; 2, Kyle Upp, Gering; 3, Jon Rehmert, Gothenburg; 4, Shoilee Rahman, Chadron; 5, Channing Wills, Scottsbluff; 6, Carlin Daharsh, Gothenburg; 7, Jade Suganuma, Grand Island; 8, Madison Costello, Gothenburg; 9, Conner Kozisek, Ainsworth; 10, Samuel Eastman, Gering OID 1, Kruse, Milburn and Co., Chadron; 2, Gaswick, Goffena and Co., Chadron; 3, Eastman, Uhrich and Co., Gering; 4, Delcamp, Boyd and Co., Gering; 5, Van Vleet, Chamberland and Co., Chadron; 6, Murphy and Co, Ainsworth; 7, All I Really Need, Gothenburg; 8, The Greek Myth, North Platte; 9, Beck Jensen and Co., Perkins County; 10, Eckerberg, Brady and Co., Gering Serious Prose 1, Betsy Potter, Gothenburg; 2, Allie Baird, Gering; 3, Andrew Holsinger, Scottsbluff; 4, Abbie Mazour, Gothenburg; 5, Traver Pettijohn, Scottsbluff; 6, Brandy Mendoza, Gering; 7, Tiffany Valleau, Kearney; 8, Lizzy Sarnes, Lexington; 9, Devan Hawkins, Gering; 10, Whitney Kuxhausen, Scottsbluff Duet Acting 1, Goss/ Holsinger, Scottsbluff; 2, Brand/ Mann, Gothenburg; 3, Reeves/ Madd, Ogallala; 4, Hicks/ Jutten, Wauneta-Palisade; 5, Zimmer/ Ramirez, Bridgeport; 6, Balter/ Pineda, Kearney; 7, Stephenson/ Pars, Scottsbluff; 8, Seimer/ Darling, Gothenburg; 9, Chohon/ Maxwell, Ainsworth; 10, Larson/ Kowalewski, GothenburgInformative Speaking 1, Arria Lakha, Norfolk; 2, Kali Rimington, Gering; 3, Madison Costello, Gothenburg; 4, Clay Chohon, Gothenburg; 5, Carlin Daharsh, Gothenburg; 6, Rachel Rice, Gothenburg; 7, Tanner Baird, Gering; 8, Angela Cruz, Valentine; 9, Kirsten Gilliland, Ainsworth; 10, Jade Suganuma, Grand Island Humorous Prose 1, Tobias Polanco, North Platte; 2, Nikki Catrina-Anderson, Scottsbluff; 3, Jon Rehmert, Gothenburg; 4, Raquel Sandoval, Grand Island; 5, Roman Schmidt, Gothenburg; 6, Drake Langly, Gothenburg; 7, Brent Mercado, North Platte; 8, Andrew Holsinger, Scottsbluff; 9, Abbie Mazour, Gothenburg; 10, Brett Mann, Gothenburg Entertainment Speaking 1, Jordon Geisert, Ogallala; 2, Kaitlin Kryzyanowski, Gering; 3, Tanner Baird, Gering; 4, Katie Brown, Ainsworth; 5, Connor Zimmer, Bridgeport; 6, Maddie McQuillan, Ogallala; 7, Dylan France, Gothenburg; 8, Oscar Galindo, Lexington; 9, Gavin Hovseth, Gering; 10, Arich Knaub, Gering Extemporaneous Speaking 1, Samuel Eastman, Gering; 2, Conner Kozisek, Ainsworth; 3, Nathan Leach, Kearney; 4, Kayla Trevino, Gothenburg; 5, Drew Steinhauser, Norfolk; 6, Jon Rehmert, Gothenburg; 7, Arich Knaub, Gering; 8, Ashley Wilkerson, Gothenburg; 9, Grady Wiedeman, Norfolk; 10, Jordan Wong, Kearney |
| Man to propose to Valentine in space 2013-02-14 By |
| PARIS, France — On February 14, 2013, a 35-year-old French man named Sebastian will be the first man to propose to his girlfriend in space, at an altitude of 30 kilometers. The space flight will be entirely filmed, from the launch to the arrival of the message of love in the stratosphere. For 4990 euros, the man called on the services of the French company ApoteoSurprise, a romance expert specialized in planning spectacular marriage proposals in Paris. On Valentine’s Day, the picture of the couple and the message « Vanessa, will you marry me? » will be attached to a giant helium-filled balloon and released into the sky by professionals operating in the space exploration area. The set will be supplied with a video recording equipment which will film the message and the surrounding scenery during the whole flight, from the launch to the arrival in space. After two or three hours, the message of love will arrive at an altitude of 30 kilometers, and the last footage will be shot with the wonderful blue planet in the background. The balloon will blow up, a parachute will open, and the video equipment will fall back to Earth. The footage will be recovered and a montage will be edited, so the man can show the astounding film to his girlfriend. The lady will then become the first woman being proposed in Space. The scenario, called “Say I love you in Space,” is a new package from the catalog of 30 romantic experiences, available at www.proposeinparis.com. The official launch of this scenario, allowing men to take the stars out of the sky for their Valentine, will take place on February 14, 2013. |
| Governor Heineman names new lieutenant 2013-02-13 By |
| LINCOLN – Gov. Dave Heineman today announced the appointment of Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek to be the 39th Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska. Lt. Gov. Heidemann, 54, was sworn in by the Secretary of State at a news conference with Gov. Heineman Feb. 13 in the State Capitol. “I’m pleased Lavon has agreed to serve the people of Nebraska as the Lieutenant Governor,” said Gov. Heineman. “He is a proven, dedicated public servant for the citizens of Nebraska. He will complete this term as Lt. Governor with integrity, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to move Nebraska forward.” “I am excited for this opportunity to serve the people of Nebraska,” said Lt. Gov. Heidemann. “Public service is something in which I believe deeply. I am looking forward to my time traveling our state, meeting with our citizens, visiting our businesses.” Lt. Gov. Heidemann is a farmer and livestock producer, and is a volunteer firefighter. He was elected to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents in 2012. Prior to his time as a Regent, Lt. Gov. Heidemann served as a State Senator for Legislative District 1 from 2005 to 2013. As a member of the Legislature, he served as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee for six years. Lt. Gov. Heidemann was elected to the Elk Creek School Board in 1996 where he served for until he was elected to the Legislature. Previously he served as a general foreman for a drilling company in Anchorage, Alaska from 1983 to 1995. He has been active with a number of organizations, including the Midwest Council of State Governments, Agriculture Builders of Nebraska, Nebraska Cattlemen, Pawnee County Farm Bureau, the Southeast Nebraska Feeders and Breeders, and the Elk Creek Young Men’s Club. Lt. Gov. Heidemann graduated from Elk Creek High School. He has attended the Midwest Council of State Governments’ Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership. He has earned a number of awards and honors including the Leadership Award for the Association of Nebraska Ethanol Producers, 2012; recognition of Service, Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, 2011; Harold Sieck Public Official of the Year, The Arc of Nebraska, 2009; Leadership Award in Recognition of Outstanding Leadership in Agri-Business, Omaha Agri-Business Club 2009; Award of Excellence for Meritorious Service, Nebraska Cooperative Extension Association, 2009; and the Appreciation Award for Development and Funding of Education Center, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, 2009. Lt. Gov. Heidemann was born in Pawnee City. He and his wife Robin have three children. |
| Lincoln principal to step down 2013-02-07 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| George Schlothauer, principal at Gering’s Lincoln Elementary School, will be leaving at the end of the school year to accept a position with Educational Service Unit 13. Schlothauer has been selected as ESU’s new Director of Alternative Education, which includes the VALTS alternative school. He has 11 years of experience in the Gering schools – four years at the junior high and seven years as Lincoln principal. “Alternative education has always been an interest of mine, working with mentoring program sand at-risk kids,” he said. “When the position came open, I applied and was accepted.” He added the job is a great opportunity to work with the program and take on challenges it will present. It will also be an important credential on his resume as he builds his career. “I’m still vested in the Gering schools because I’m one of their products,” he said. “My kids all attend Gering schools, so I’ll still be involved.” The VALTS program has a number of Gering kids enrolled, as well as students from Scottsbluff, Kimball, Bayard, Mitchell, Minatare and Banner County. Marci Kanarick has been the school secretary the entire seven years that Schlothauer was principal and said he would be missed. “George has the ability to get along very well with all of his staff,” she said. “That was important for us here at Lincoln. I’m sure he will do well in his new position. We’ve enjoyed working with him.” |
| Dentistry changes and remains the same 2013-02-07 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Although advances in technology are pushing dentistry forward, the basics of brushing and flossing will always remain the same. February is Dental Health Month, so we spoke with Gering’s Dr. Mark Schlothauer of the Gering Dental Clinic about changes in the practice of dentistry. “One of the biggest advances has been digital x-rays,” said Schlothauer. “The exposure time is cut down dramatically, we no longer have to mix chemicals to develop the film and the results are immediate.” He added the most important driving factor is in minimizing the time when the patient is exposed to x-ray radiation. With digital, that time has shrunk to a few milliseconds. At Schlothauer’s clinic, patients don’t even have to leave the chair. Once the picture is taken, the image shows up on an overhead monitor for inspection. Schlothauer said laser dentistry is also being used more and more, but one of the most popular improvements is in dental materials. “Filling materials are always being improved,” he said. “The old silver amalgam fillings are on their way out. Everything that dentists are doing is more tooth-like where it’s a lot harder to tell whether a tooth is real or some other material. It’s amazing how far we’ve come aesthetically.” There have been many improvements in dental implants. Through more accurate mapping of the patient’s bone structure, an implant can be placed between two surrounding teeth with minimal problems. “Today we’re able to take a digital image of a patient’s head, like a CAT scan,” Schlothauer said. “It gives us an extremely accurate picture of the bone structure so we know where to place the implants. It’s becoming more of a standard for dentists who do implants.” The same digital imaging technology allows dentists to design crowns and produce them on site, eliminating the need for a temporary crown. Although technology has changed the practice of dentistry, some of the basics will stay the same in every time period. “Daily brushing, flossing and a checkup twice a year are still the best way to prevent dental problems,” he said. “With all the advances we’ve had in dentistry, prevention is still the most important part. People shouldn’t wait until their teeth start hurting to get them looked at.” |
| Sheriff asks for new patrol cars 2013-02-07 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Scotts Bluff County Commissioners voted to schedule a public hearing at their meeting in two weeks to consider a request for two more patrol cars for the Sheriff’s Department. During the last budget hearing, the expenditure was denied by the county board. However, members told Sheriff Mark Overman he could purchase the vehicles if he came up with an alternative source of funding. The sheriff found the money. Approximately $73,000 of department fees has been building up over the past 10 years. The county also received $119,000 in insurance claims for damaged sheriff’s vehicles from last summer’s hailstorm. The monies were turned over to the county’s general fund last December. But Overman proposed purchasing the vehicles using $45,000 of the insurance money they did not use to repair the vehicles and $16,000 from their fees account. He told commissioners the two new vehicles would cost about $61,500. The two cars Overman wants to replace is a 2006 Crown Victoria, the last of its model in the fleet of 17 vehicles. The other is a 2008 Dodge Charger – and each of them has more than 100,000 miles on the odometer. He said deputies will usually put from 20,000 to 25,000 miles a year on a vehicle. “I wonder if we would be doing right by doing this,” said Commissioner Sherry Blaha. “I would support purchasing one vehicle with the money the sheriff saved from the insurance. But I don’t think it would be fair to all the other departments that also had to cut their budgets this year.” But Commissioner Steve Stratton said he didn’t see a direct correlation between sheriff’s fees and any other department’s fees. “This was more of a windfall of funds that weren’t accounted for in the budget. The sheriff isn’t using all the money, but I think we should let him use some of it as it was his discovery.” Overman said his department will need to replace two more vehicles next year. That funding will need to go through their regular budgeting process. “These new patrol cars aren’t a luxury,” Overman said. “I need to have the right equipment so the deputies can safely do their jobs.” |
| Minatare students savor language with Poetry Out Load competition 2013-02-07 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Last Wednesday was the third annual Poetry Out Loud competition at Minatare High School. Thirteen brave souls went before the student body to recite multiple poems. Of the 13 competitors only five remained with the winner, Berlin Moreno, going to the regional competition on February 10 in Kearney. Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation contest. It is made possible by a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation and state art agencies. Students from around the United States qualify in a tier level contest. It begins in the classroom with a class competition then they move on to the school competition, then regional’s, state, and finally the national competition. They select multiple poems to use for competition based on their interests. “It’s a really cool experience to get kids interested in poetry,” said language arts teacher Courtney Lee. Lee found out about the program during her first year of teaching. “I love poetry, so I would like to pass that on to my students,” said Lee. The first year Lee introduced the program to the class room she was surprised to find her students embracing the program on their own “It was really surprising that I didn’t have to force them, the love of poetry came naturally which is how its suppose to be,” said Lee. Lee enjoys that the program offers such a wide range of poetry that a student is bound to find something they like. “We’ve had a lot of success due to their work and the quality of the program,” said Lee. This year the contest was judged by five community members: Louise Kent, member of the Nebraska Arts Council; Phil Flott, priest and poet; Scott Mathis, pastor and public speaker; Kay Grote, editor of The Gering Courier; and Byron Allen, local thespian. There were many factors the judges had to look for in each competitor. Accuracy is an important measuring tool from the title to the final words. They also looked for physical presence, voice, appropriateness, difficulty, and level of understanding. After the two rounds the field was narrowed down to five competitors: Berlin Moreno, Frank Kohler, Juan Garfio, Kirsten Carlson, and Angela Mitchell. In the end, sophomore, Berlin Moreno earned the first place finish. This is Moreno’s second year competing in Poetry Out Loud. “I love poetry,” said Moreno. Her lively recitation of the poem “Jabberwocky” earned her a trip to Kearney for the regional competition. “I am so excited,” said Moreno, “I want to cry and the same time burst with laughter.” |
| High Plains Weed Management targets invasive species 2013-02-07 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| With grant funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) local farmers, ranchers and landowners are getting some help in combating invasive trees and reeds growing along or near the North Platte River. Justin Relka, Field Coordinator for the High Plains Weed Management Association (HPWMA), oversees the eradication efforts throughout eight counties in the southern half of the Panhandle. “We apply for NET grants to help people address out of control growth,” Relka said. “Some years we get the grants some years we don't.” Relka noted the current erradication program is going into its' second phase as part of a $250,000 NET grant. “We deal with invasive species,” Relka said. “In our region we are targeting three different speicies, the Russian olive, saltcedar and phragmites. In Scotts Bluff County about 85 to 90 percent of our time is spent targeting Russian olive trees. The other two species are located on the eastern edges of our territory out in Deuel and Garden counties, but the Russian olive is more prevalent here.” Relka said landowners who have one or all of the 'weeds' can contact the HPWMA to apply for a cost-share program to get rid of and control the spread of these damaging infestations. “As long as the trees are along the river or any waterway or tributary that feeds the river people are eligible,” Relka said. The goal of the HPWMA is threefold: reducing water consumption, reducing the debris that is in the flood plain, and helping landowners reclaim valuable grazing land. “These species just drink up the water that could be used for better purposes,” Relka explained. “There are also flooding concerns. The Russian olive has a very shallow root system and in the event of a flood they would be the first to go. Their roots only go down about two feet and then they spread out. In a flood they will be uprooted and float down the river where they will hang up on a bridge or crossing. This can cause a wider spread of flooding that might damage property.” The program, formally dubbed 'The Platte River Invasive Species Eradication and Control Project' targets 123 miles of the North Platte River, nine miles of the South Platte River, and all perennial streams that feed the main river channel, totaling more than 100,000 acres. The program was started in 2008. Relka said he has been on the job for just over a year and works closely with an eight member board that meets monthly to discuss progress or any other issues. “I know in our title it says 'weed' but we really focus on getting rid of trees,” Relka said. “Our board is made up primarily with county weed superintendents and other county personnel. We currently have reps from five different counties. We try to get a variety of input from all sides so there are farmers and ranchers also involved.” Relka noted his work with the program is on a part time basis. “I farm in Mitchell Valley, “ he said. “But I was asked to help out with this. I used to be a teacher and I worked in Omaha. But I had to come back to this, to farming. I missed the simple life.” Relka said it is pretty easy to recognize Russian olive trees due to their distinctive silvery leaves and little olive-like berries. Saltcedar and phragmites are not as easy to identify but the HPWMA website has pictures online to help folks see if their land is infested. The web address is: www.hpwma.org. Relka said the website also has application information for those interested. People can also visit the HPWMA office at the Scottsbluff Business Center complex at 1517 Broadway, in Scottsbluff. “Treatment applications set up for a 10-year contract” Relka said. “It is our policy to set it for ten years to make sure we aren't wasting any money. 10 years is enough time to set controls.” In the first year the trees are mechanically removed by contractors. “They have big equipment that can saw off the trunks right at ground level. They then spray the stump to kill the root system,” Relka said. “Landowners can burn the wood, pile it up, or do whatever they want with it. The first year of the contract the grant will match the landowner at a 50-50 split of the cost. After a few years we return to address any regrowth. We can usually just spray in the summer with little sprouts and saplings that aren't more than four feet tall. We want to get them when they have a lot of foliage and we douse them with chemicals. If we have to make a third trip for treatment the cost shifts to a 40-60 split with the landowner paying the higher margin. Anything after that the landowner pays 100 percent.” Relka said it is very rare future expenses are incurred after that . He noted that most people can handle small sprouts that might pop up with over the counter weed control products like Round-Up. Overall cost would depend upon how many acres were to be covered as well as the tree density. “With high density we can see up to $300 per acre,” Relka said. “I haven't seen many below $200 an acre.” Relka added that he attends all bidding sessions and assists the landowner as requested. He also takes photographs showing a 'before and after' view of the eradication process. Quarterly reports are given to the NET so they can monitor how the grant is being utilized. “The biggest job I've seen was around 5,000 acres,” Relka said. “That was near Rush Creek. The trees were very invasive. The Russian olive is everywhere near the river. In places they go on and on for miles. They are also alkali based so nothing else grows near them.” Relka explained that areas that have been cleared have been used for a variety of reasons beyond just pastureland. “I've seen areas cleared to restore natural habitats for wildlife,” he said. “We cleared an area near a pond that was a popular hunting area before the trees grew so thick even the ducks wouldn't land there. Some areas have been cleared for access for deer hunting. The trees got so thick it wasn't possible for a person to even walk through them down to the river.” The HPWMA provides continuous education and encourages landowner participation. They work to identify funding resources available to help stop the spread of these invasive species. They can be contacted via the web address listed above or folks can call Justin Relka on his cell (402) 540-4011 or send him an email at: justin@allophone.com |
| USDA Announces Updates on the MILC Program 2013-02-07 By |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan Garcia today announced that beginning Feb. 5, USDA will issue payments to dairy farmers enrolled in the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program for the September 2012 marketings. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended the authorization of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill) through 2013 for many programs administered by FSA, including MILC. The 2008 Farm Bill extension provides for a continuation of the MILC program through Sept. 30, 2013. MILC payments are triggered when the Boston Class I milk price falls below $16.94 per hundredweight, after adjustment for the cost of dairy feed rations. MILC payments are calculated each month using the latest milk price and feed cost. As announced by FSA on Jan. 22, all dairy producers’ MILC contracts are automatically extended to Sept. 30, 2013. Eligible producers therefore do not need to re-enroll in MILC. MILC operations with approved contracts will continue to receive monthly payments, if available. The payment rate for September 2012 is approximately $.59 per hundredweight. The payment rate for October 2012 marketings is approximately $.02 per hundredweight. The payment rate for November 2012 marketings is zero. Before the October MILC payment can be issued, dairy farmers must complete a new Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) form for 2013. The new form, CCC-933 Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information, must complete by producers before they can receive payments for a variety of programs administered by FSA and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Producers may obtain CCC-933 at their local USDA Service Center or online at www.fsa.usda.gov/ccc933. Specific detail about AGI may be found here. |
| 18-year-olds could run for state office 2013-02-07 By Shelby Friesz - Nebraska News Service |
| LINCOLN – Nebraska voters could be considering these six amendments to the Nebraska Constitution in November 2013. LR 1CA: If people can vote, they could become Nebraska senators if this amendment, introduced by Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill, is passed. “If you’re old enough to vote for those you are sending to represent you in office,” Larson said, “you’re old enough to represent those people as well.” With the clarification that the minimum age to be elected is the federal voting age, the law would hold with any future federal changes in the voting age, he said. Larson said some people may believe that 18-years-olds would be too young to be Nebraska senators. “I think any 18-year-old that was to run and get elected would have to demonstrate exceptional knowledge of the skills and issues that would face the Nebraska Legislature,” he said. The resolution has been referred to the Executive Board and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 7. LR 2CA: Sen. Pete Pirsch of Omaha proposed this resolution requiring a super majority vote to pass bills that impose a tax or increase the rate of a tax. This would require 29 supporting votes from the 49 senators rather than the current requirement of 25 votes. Pirsch said he thinks a super majority vote for taxes is important because taxes have such an impact on the health of the state. Having a good tax environment can invite more people to the state, and a super majority would help pass only tax increases that are based on compelling needs, he said. He added that the super majority would help keep the Legislature in check because Nebraska’s Unicameral does not have a second body to do so. Pirsch said that some people may question why a super majority should be required for only tax bills. He said many bills are one-time transactions, but taxes seem more permanent. “Taxes have a lasting effect,” he said. The resolution has been referred to the Revenue Committee. LR 12CA: If a county desires a county manager form of government, it could adopt one with this amendment introduced by Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff. Commissioners could appoint a county manager to preside over the county government, but this would not be required of any county, Harms said. If passed, this amendment could create legislation that allows some elected officials, such as the sheriff or county attorney, to be hired rather than chosen by election. He added that counties with fewer people could save money by hiring one manager for two or three counties. “It’s really designed around flexibility for the county and for the people,” Harms said. The Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee heard this resolution Wednesday, Jan. 23. and nobody testified against it. LR29CA: Sen. Greg Adams of York proposed this amendment to change the constitution regarding redevelopment areas in cities. The amendment would change the current wording of “substandard and blighted” to say these are areas “in need of rehabilitation or redevelopment.” “The ‘blighted and substandard’ language, for all the time that I was the [York] mayor and still today, is offensive to people,” Adams said. It would also increase the number of years bonds can be issued and property taxes used for redevelopment projects from 15 to 20 years. Adams said he can see this change being an issue when the bill goes to the Urban Affairs Committee because agencies such as schools will want the tax money that is used during the redevelopment project. He said, however, that the majority of the redevelopment projects would not last 15 or 20 years. LR34CA: This amendment, introduced by Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus, would allow the Legislature to regulate more gambling in Nebraska and determine the distribution of the revenue. This amendment proposes that 50 percent of gambling revenue would go to preschool and K-12 education. An additional 49 percent would fund medical care. The final one percent would help those with gambling problems. Neighboring states have casinos that produce money that benefits those states, he said. “And we’re paying that,” Schumacher said, adding that Nebraskans send about $10 every second to Iowa through casinos. Schumacher said he thinks people will argue that allowing people to gamble is wrong. These arguments ignore the fact that more than half of Nebraska’s population can travel an hour to the nearest casino, he said. This resolution has been referred to the General Affairs Committee. LR41CA: Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha proposed this amendment to allow wagering on live, simulcast and past horse races. People could bet on randomized past horse races that resemble everything in a live or televised horse race except the date and time of the race, he said. “It’s just another way to actually bring revenue into the tracks,” Lautenbaugh said. He said he does not see the proposed amendment as an expansion of gambling because it is another form of the same horse race wagering already allowed in the state. This resolution has been referred to the General Affairs Committee. Contact Shelby Friesz at nns.sfriesz@gmail.com |
| Anderson birth announcement 2013-02-07 By |
| Matt and Jeane Anderson of Gering announce the birth of their first-born son, Walker Dean Anderson. Walker arrived on Oct. 29, 2012 at Regional West Medical Center. He weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz. and measured 21¼ inches long. Proud grandparents are Greg and Collette Suhr of Gering and Gary and Diane Anderson of Alta, Iowa. Walker’s great-grandparents are Lavinia and the late Dean Suhr of Scottsbluff; the late Neil and Nedine Skinner of Gering; Jim and Rose Anderson of Woodstock, Minn.; Marilyn Rowley and the late Harold Rowley of Alta, Iowa and the late Harold and Virginia Pyle of Schaller, Iowa. |
| News Briefs 2013-02-07 By |
| Puzzles of the Past continues GERING — The next North Platte Valley Museum’s Puzzles of the Past meeting will be Feb. 8 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the museum. Participants will continue reminiscing about businesses on the west side of Gering’s main street. Regular attendees and newcomers are both welcome at Puzzles of the Past, which not only helps the museum gather information, but provides a fun opportunity for socialization. Refreshments are provided at the meetings, which are held on the second Friday of each month. The museum is located at the corner of 11th and J Streets in Gering. For more information, call (308) 436-5411. Theatre West to hold auditions SCOTTSBLUFF — Theatre West has announced that it will be holding auditions for its upcoming summer season. This season the company will be performing Monty Python’s SPAMALOT, Harvey, and Beauty and the Beast. Auditions for SPAMALOT and Harvey will take place on Friday, March 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the WNCC Vocal Music Room. Auditions for Beauty and the Beast will take place on Saturday, March 2 at 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome to audition for any of these shows. For more information contact Theatre West at (308) 635-6794 Valentines at the Zoo SCOTTSBLUFF — This Saturday, Feb. 9, Riverside Discovery Center is celebrating Valentines at the Zoo. People of all ages are welcome to come to the zoo from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. to make a Valentine for their favorite animal. These will then be hung by the animals’ exhibit. “We will have all the materials you need to create a beautiful Valentine for the animal of your choice” says Kim Miedema, the Education Curator. “Throughout the day some of our education animals will be stopping by to see how the Valentines look. This event will be an opportunity to learn about and pet some of the animals that people don’t typically see.” Even though there is snow predicted for the weekend it is a great time to come to the zoo. The Valentine creation will occur in the Education lab near the petting zoo/ gazebo in the center of the zoo. If you have any questions please contact us at the zoo at (308) 630-6236. Vets Home plans Valentine party SCOTTSBLUFF — DAV Chapter 10 and Auxiliary and VFW Post 1681 will be furnishing Valentine treats for the pizza party that the Western Nebraska State Veterans Home at Scottsbluff is putting on for the residents at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14. Members of DAV Chapter 10 and Auxiliary and VFW Post 1681 are urged to come to the pizza party and help pass out the Valentine treats to the residents. If you have news aoout a community event, please contact Jerry Purvis at (308) 633-6397 or email at news@geringcitizen.com. Information must be received by Monday at 5 p.m. to make the week’s paper.College seeks input on the future SCOTTSBLUFF — Parents of middle school children are invited to meet with Western Nebraska Community College’s Master Facility Planners to help shape the future of your community’s college. Feel free to invite friends and family with middle school and high school children to share their voice as well. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 7 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Scottsbluff Campus, Main Building C-1. Pizza and salad will be provided. Plungers to benefit Special Olympics SCOTTSBLUFF — The Panhandle Polar Plunge is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. The Plunge is at the parking area for Monument Valley Pathway, Riverside Park in Scottsbluff. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the Plunge begins at 11. The Plunge is to benefit the Special Olympics program. Immediately following the Plunge there is a post-plunge party at the YMCA Camp, just west from the plunging site. Incentives will be redeemed at the party and food will be provided for plungers. Friends and family are welcome to attend. For further information please contact Jason Rogers at the Gering Police Department, James Todd at the Scottsbluff Police Department or Mark Overman, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff. United Way now accepting applications SCOTTSBLUFF — The United Way of Western Nebraska is currently accepting applications from 501(c)3, non-profit organizations for 2013-2014 funding. Applications are available on-line at www.unitedwayofwesternnebraska.com or you can contact the United Way Office at 1517 Broadway, Suite #106, Scottsbluff, Neb. or telephone at (308) 635-2522 for more information. All completed applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2013, for consideration. Register now for upcoming CDL course TORRINGTON, Wyo. — Eastern Wyoming College will be offering a CDL course in Torrington March 11 - 29. Class will be held Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. This class is perfect for individuals interested in getting a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or need a CDL for their job. Employers needing CDL drivers or those looking to train current staff should also inquire. ETSS Grant funds are available for students who qualify. Training Development grants are available to employers. Interested individuals do need to complete the preregistration process by Feb. 15. Contact Jo Ellen Keigley at (307) 532.8365 or stop by the Workforce Development Office located at the College at 3200 West C Street in Torrington. Birthday wrapped marijuana seized LINCOLN — Nearly 30 lbs. of marijuana covered in birthday wrapping paper was seized and a California man jailed after a weekend traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Cass County. Just after noon on Saturday, Feb. 2, a trooper stopped an eastbound 2012 Toyota Camry for following to close near the Greenwood exit on Interstate 80. An NSP canine indicated the odor of drugs coming from the vehicle. A search of the car led to the seizure of 29.5 lbs. of marijuana. The marijuana, contained in 13 individual packages was located in a box wrapped in birthday paper in the trunk of the vehicle. The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, Johnny C. Hatchett, 52, West Sacramento, Calif., was lodged in the Cass County Jail on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. Midwest Theater hosts fundraiser SCOTTSBLUFF — The Golden Halo Foundation is proud to announce the upcoming “Night of Elegance” on Feb. 9. Professional tenor Rick Novak has traveled around the country performing in a variety of operas. He will perform at the Historic Midwest Theater along with his accompanist and wife, Laura, who is also a concert pianist. The performance will be capped with delicious hors d' oeuvres. Bring your sweetheart to an early Valentine’s Day event. Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m. with the concert from 7 – 9 p.m. at the theater. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door . Tickets are also available at the Midwest Theater, Platte Valley Bank, Physical Therapy of the Bluffs, and the Spa by TLC. Tickets can also be purchased online at MidwestTheater.com. All proceeds go to the Golden Halo Foundation. The Golden Halo Foundation provides funding to families of children with special needs to help pay for expenses that insurance companies won’t cover. For more information about The Golden Halo Foundation go to http://goldenhalo.wix.com/foundation |
| Retired dentist honored for lifetime of service 2013-02-07 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| It took a series of omitted information and false leads to convince George Schlothauer to attend the Chamber’s annual banquet – but a surprise awaited him. The Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce presented Schlothauer with its Trailblazer Award last week. “My wife, Barb, convinced me to go because she told me our son John was being honored,” he said. “I was confused to say the least when his name wasn’t mentioned. I knew what was up once they flashed my baby picture on the screen. It was a real surprise to me.” “I’ve done a lot over the years, but I never thought of myself in the same category as leaders like John Harms and Irv Rushall and Hod Kosman,” he continued. “That’s not who I am. I’m just an ordinary guy who’s plugged away all these years and done a number of things.” It’s a long list of credentials. Schlothauer served 12 years on the Gering School Board, including two terms as president. He also was chairman of the Scotts Bluff County Republican Party, served on the board of Leadership Scotts Bluff, on the Chamber of Commerce board and on his church’s Board of Elders. During his career as a dentist, he’s served as president of the Nebraska State Dental Association. And in conjunction with Rotary International, he took two trips to Guatemala to provide dental services. He also helped establish the University of Nebraska dental hygienist program. “We’ve been so blessed to live here,” said the Gering Valley native. “Coming from a country school helped me with the confidence I have to do more and more in the community.” He also said his three sons have returned to the valley, even though they had opportunities elsewhere. George is the principal at Lincoln Elementary School. John is a local insurance agent and owner of Docu-Shred. And Mark has taken over his father’s practice at Gering Dental Clinic. Even in retirement, Schlothauer keeps busy. He supervises four farms in Gering Valley and does the irrigation himself. He’s also a board member at Legacy of the Plains, where he’s helping with the capital campaign to build a new building for the combined Farm And Ranch Museum and North Platte Valley Museum. In addition, Schlothauer is on the board of Northfield Retirement Communities. “With seven grandkids, there’s always something to do,” he said. Other awards presented during the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce annual banquet included the Visionary Super Star Award, which went to Gering chiropractor Dr. Sam Mark and the Rising Star Award winner Katie Comacho. |
| Gering’s Kryzyzanowski has the last laugh 2013-02-07 By Elizabeth Gross elizabethgross@geringcitizen.com |
| Gering High School senior, Kaitlyn Kryzyzanowski has a confession she would like to make. She suffers from BALLS, otherwise known as boisterous, annoyingly, ludicrous, loud syndrome. What began as an inside joke amongst teammates has become the wildly successful entertainment speech for the energetic senior. She began her speech career last season performing in Oral Interpretation of Drama and Duet Acting. Kryzyzanowski was hesitant about being involved with speech. “I use to be extremely shy, so speech helped bring me out of my shell,” said Kryzyzanowski , “Now I’m just extremely loud.” That ability to burst out of her shell has made speech an activity she really enjoys. Along with entertainment speaking, Kryzyzanowski is also involved with OID and duet acting. Her duet partner is Caleb Hayden. Their script is called ‘Fault in Our Stars’ that tells the story of two young cancer patients. The OID team is performing a selection from ‘How to succeed in high school without really trying’. “ It’s just a really fun piece,” said Kryzyzanowski. Her entertainment topic was not her first choice at the start of the season. Oringinally, Kryzyzanowksi’s speech was on her extreme dislike of math. However, as the first tournament of the season was quickly approaching her heart wasn’t as into the topic as she thought, “Two days before our first meet I decided that I didn’t want to do it anymore,” she said. Seeking the help of Coach Tyler Thompson, the two sat down and brainstormed ideas on a new topic. Despite the dwindling time to perfect the speech, Kryzyzanowski decided to go with the new speech. The response was overwhelming has she placed at the first tournament. “They (judges) generally think it’s funny but don’t know whether or not to laugh at first,” said Kryzyzanowski. Now that the speech has been fine-tuned, she hopes to place at state. Here are the results from the Kearney and Gothenburg Varsity tournaments. Due to the size and distance of the tournament not all area schools were present. Kearney High School “Bearcat” Speech Invite Serious Prose: 8, Kendall Uhrich, Gering Extemporaneous: 7, Tanner Baird, Gering Informative Speaking: 9, Kali Rimington, Gering; 10, Jenna Longmore, Gering; 11, Isabel Wolf, Gering; 12 Brittany Eckerberg, Gering Poetry: 6, Caleb Wyre, Gering Persuasive Speaking: 9, Kyle Upp, Gering Entertainment: 8, Tanner Baird, Gering; 12, Kaitlyn Kryzyzanowski, Gering OID: 5, Samuel Eastman, Caleb Hayden, Kaitlyn Kryzyzanowski, and Kendall Uhrich, Gering Gothenburg “Swede” Invite Humorous Prose: 5, Andrew Delcamp, Gering Serious Prose: 1, Allie Baird, Gering Extemporaneous Speaking: 8, Kyle Upp, Gering Informative: 6, Jenna Longmore, Gering; 7, Tanner Baird Poetry: 3, Allie Baird, Gering; 4, Caleb Wyre, Gering Persuasive: 1, Samuel Eastman, Gering; 8, Kyle Upp, Gering Duet Acting: 1, Jenna Longmore and John Boyd, Gering OID: 1, Samuel Eastman, Caleb Hayden, Kaitlyn Kryzyzanowski, and Kendall Uhrich, Gering; 6, John Boyd, Andrew Delcamp, Hayley Grams, Gavin Hovseth, and Brandy Mendoza, Gering. |
| Scottsbluff siblings show flaw in Nebraska foster care system 2013-02-07 By Demetria Stephens - Nebraska News Service |
| By LINCOLN – Two siblings from the Scottsbluff area spent much of their youth in the Nebraska foster care system, but had different lives. Sarah Peters, 22, left the foster care system at 16 when a couple became her guardian. She lost their support at 19 because they adopted a baby, and she was no longer eligible for state medical assistance. She had to drop out of pre-med school because of a $10,000 hospital bill. Her sister Amy, 23, was a ward of the state until 19, graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in December with a criminal justice degree and plans to go to law school. She had medical and housing assistance and a mentor until she was 21 through the Former Ward program with the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. Amy became a statewide training adviser for the foundation’s Project Everlast and testified about her and her sister’s experience at the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee hearing for Legislative Bill 216 on Thursday. “I’m not going to say I didn’t fall on my face a couple times as well.” Amy said wards of the state like Sarah and herself face a cliff at 19 of losing support services. “It’s really just this all-of-a-sudden snap, you’re on your own.” LB 216 would follow the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 by extending state support for foster youth to transition into society, from 19 years old to 21. It would have the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services provide housing and education assistance, Medicaid coverage and other services. That doesn’t sit well with Thomas Pristow, director of the Nebraska DHHS. Pristow was the only one opposing the bill, of more than a dozen who testified. He said a 2012 analysis by Mainspring Consulting showed the extended support required in the bill would cost about $2.5 million annually. Sen. Amanda McGill of Lincoln sponsored LB216 and told the committee she would work with the Nebraska DHHS, the Appropriations Committee and private entities that might want to invest in the program. “We’ve heard from so many great and talented youth here today,” she said, adding that for every one of them, there are a couple others who are homeless, on drugs, in jail or they might have children who will end up in the same cycle of abuse and neglect that they came from. She said this bill is for them. Nineteen to 21 year olds are at a different development stage than the current system provides for, said Doug Christensen, a vice-chair of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. The foundation’s Project Everlast supports wards of state after they reach 19. He said data collected from the project showed 26 percent of participants had stable employment when the project started, and after two years, 53 percent did so. He said he’s always aware of the need for the data, “but once you’ve heard the stories from the voices you heard today, it has to be a pain. it breaks my heart to hear those stories.” His own children weren’t ready to “face the world” at age 18 when they left for college, he said. “I can’t imagine them being totally on their own at that point.” Even at 30 to 40 years, “they’re not there yet,” he said. Contact Demetria Stephens @nns.dstephens@gmail.com. |
| City sees no hurry in finding new police chief 2013-02-07 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Scotts Bluff County Commissioners voted to schedule a public hearing at their meeting in two weeks to consider a request for two more patrol cars for the Sheriff’s Department. During the last budget hearing, the expenditure was denied by the county board. However, members told Sheriff Mark Overman he could purchase the vehicles if he came up with an alternative source of funding. The sheriff found the money. Approximately $73,000 of department fees has been building up over the past 10 years. The county also received $119,000 in insurance claims for damaged sheriff’s vehicles from last summer’s hailstorm. The monies were turned over to the county’s general fund last December. But Overman proposed purchasing the vehicles using $45,000 of the insurance money they did not use to repair the vehicles and $16,000 from their fees account. He told commissioners the two new vehicles would cost about $61,500. Of the cars Overman wants to replace, one is a 2006 Crown Victoria, the last of its model in the fleet of 17 vehicles. The other is a 2008 Dodge Charger – and each of them has more than 100,000 miles on the odometer. He said deputies will usually put from 20,000 to 25,000 miles a year on a vehicle. “I wonder if we would be doing right by doing this,” said Commissioner Sherry Blaha. “I would support purchasing one vehicle with the money the sheriff saved from the insurance. But I don’t think it would be fair to all the other departments that also had to cut their budgets this year.” But Commissioner Steve Stratton said he didn’t see a direct correlation between sheriff’s fees and any other department’s fees. “This was more of a windfall of funds that weren’t accounted for in the budget. The sheriff isn’t using all the money, but I think we should let him use some of it as it was his discovery.” Overman said his department will need to replace two more vehicles next year. That funding will need to go through their regular budgeting process. “These new patrol cars aren’t a luxury,” Overman said. “I need to have the right equipment so the deputies can safely do their jobs.” |
| Lawmakers look at expanding dental care access 2013-02-07 By Bethany Knipp, Nebraska News Service nns.bknipp@gmail.com |
| LINCOLN—Thousands of Nebraskans would have easier access to dental care under a bill that Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber advocated before the Health and Human Services Committee Friday. Under the proposed bill (LB484), dental hygienists would be allowed to perform preventative oral care on children in public-health settings without a 3,000 hour minimum experience requirement. In 2007, legislation passed that allowed licensed dental hygienists to perform preventative care without the supervision of a dentist in public-health settings. Providers could do this only if they had 3,000 hours of experience or roughly a year and a half of full-time experience, Karpisek said. To practice on adults, dental hygienists would still need to meet the experience requirement, according to the statute. Karpisek said the rationale for the change is that the procedures in a dental hygienist’s scope of practice—including oral cleaning and the application of sealants and fluorides—are basic and already are included in the hygienist’s education. Proponent Jane Brockemeier, a dental hygienist and Nebraska Dental Hygienist’s Association representative, said the expansion would help reach the populations most vulnerable to tooth decay and disease including low-income children and nursing home residents. Members of the HHS Committee also listened to proponents of LB326, which would put automated pill dispensers in locked medication rooms in nursing homes as a mean of easier access to residents’ prescriptions. Currently in most facilities, pills have to be delivered by a pharmacy technician and checked into the nursing home, a process that can take hours. Sen. Sara Howard of Omaha, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure would modernize elder care, helping reduce medication waste, therefore cutting costs for patients and taxpayers. “We won’t see medication thrown away because we’re not using it,” she said. Proponent Larry Johnson, director of government relations for Golden Living Centers elder care franchise, said the technology would save four hours of nursing time that would be spent passing pills to residents. Nursing home staff would have more time to spend working on residents’ care instead, he said. No one testified against either bill. |
| Births decrease, longevity increases, according to Vital Statistics Report 2013-02-07 By |
| LINCOLN — Did you know? Approximately 60,000 records of vital events are filed every year with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The 2011 Nebraska Vital Statistics report contains information on births, deaths, marriages and divorces. Here’s a quick snapshot of the report by the numbers. Births: 25,722 live births occurred among Nebraska women in 2011. It’s the lowest number of births to Nebraska residents since 2002 (25,381). The average age of a Nebraska woman giving birth to her first child increased over the past decade – 24.5 years in 2000 to 25.2 years in 2011. The age also increased for women giving birth to a second or third child. The majority of births occur among women in their 20s. The number and rate of live births among unmarried Nebraska women decreased for the second straight year in 2011, a rare event in recent decades. In 2011, there were 392 sets of twins and 13 sets of triplets. It was first year since 1992 that there wasn’t at least one set of quadruplets born. Deaths: The average age at death for Nebraskans in 2011 was 75.5 years old, a slight increase from 75.4 years old in 2010. 75.5 years old ties the state’s all-time record which was first set in 2003. Average age at death breakdown by gender: Nebraska women - 78.7 years. Nebraska men - 72.2 years. This is a new state record breaking the previous record of 72 years set in 2010. Cancer is Nebraska’s leading cause of death. This is the third year in a row cancer surpassed heart disease as the state’s leading cause of death. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death. Marriage and Divorce: The number of marriages in Nebraska has been on the decline since 1970. The majority of people getting married in Nebraska are in their 20s. The number of divorces in Nebraska declined. There were 6,367 in 2011 versus 6,603 in 2010. Overall, the divorce rate has been on a slow decline since the 1990s. More divorces were granted to people in their 30s. Almost one of every four Nebraska divorces in 2011 ended a marriage that lasted three years or less. To see more information in the report, go to: http://1.usa.gov/VBL5re. |
| Community Action Agencies release employment study 2013-02-07 By |
| Community Action of Nebraska and the nine Community Action Agencies in Nebraska released the results of their 2012 Statewide and Regional Community Assessment on Employment, Barriers to Employment and Training Needs. The report is based on a random survey of residents across the entire state of Nebraska conducted in June of 2012. The assessment survey asked questions covering several topics including: • The extent to which respondents possessed skills and training to make them competitive in the job market • Whether or not they had access to education/ training opportunities • The types of education/ training they felt would improve their employment situations • What they viewed as barriers to advancement in their job • How they viewed their employment situation in terms of skills possessed, skills needed, compensation, and job satisfaction. The purpose of this survey was to better understand employment, as well as the extent of underemployment in Nebraska. Community Action Agencies in Nebraska will use the results to increase employment services and enhance career development programs to serve the needs of their communities. Survey participants were asked to choose the top three characteristics that were important to them in their work environment. Of the 11 characteristics listed, Trustworthiness and Honesty were selected by 49 percent of respondents overall. Other top choices included Work Ethic (48 percent), a Positive Attitude (45 percent), and Respect (43 percent). The top five education/training opportunities that respondents reported would help them to improve or obtain employment included: Computer Skills (54 percent), College Courses (33 percent), Leadership Skills (28 percent), Certifications (27 percent) and Advancement Skills (19 percent). The results from this survey also indicated that families who were struggling were in fact working, yet unable to meet their basic needs. Approximately one in five respondents (18 percent) reported that their employment incomes were insufficient to meet their needs. Of all employed respondents, 48 percent worked 40-49 hours per week and 24 percent worked at least 50 hours per week. This survey report is intended to complement the more comprehensive State and Regional Community Assessment completed in 2010, the 2011 survey on financial behaviors and future documents developed by Community Action of Nebraska. This report, along with the 2010 and 2011 reports are available at www.canhelp.org. |
| Gering Police Chief resigns 2013-01-31 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| During Monday’s council meeting, members rejected a proposed ordinance for a tax on cell phones and accepted a bid to operate the golf course restaurant. But a surprise came at the end when Gering Police Chief Mel Griggs submitted his resignation, effective March 1. Griggs had announced his retirement several times in the past, but he said this time it’s for real. He has 45 years in law enforcement, including 23 years as Gering Police Chief. “After visiting with my financial people, I found out I can retire,” Griggs said after the council meeting. “Forty-five years ago I had no intention of being a police officer. My degree was in electronics. But one day in 1968 I decided to become a cop.” When asked what he would miss about the job, he said “everything and everybody,” although he’s seen the highest and the lowest. Along the way, he’s been beaten, shot at and almost killed. But he said that’s what he was born to do and has enjoyed every minute of it. Griggs will officially retire on March 1. After that he said he’ll be doing a lot more bike riding. “There’s something out there that’s better for me and it will find me,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in youth development. That’s why I taught martial arts.” He said that although his son and family live in Tennessee, he and his wife Barbara plan to stay in the local area. “At this age, we’re comfortable. I’ve never realized how nice comfortable feels. I love this place. Every time I’ve left, I’ve always come back anyway.” Before Griggs made his surprise resignation, council members dealt with a full agenda. The first issue was a proposed three percent occupation tax “on gross receipts resulting from any telecommunication services and charges to a customer for which telecommunication services are provided.” The tax would be implemented only on cell phone and land line users in the 69341 zip code of Gering. The occupation tax would generate about $60,000 a year and would be used to pay the city’s share of upgrades to the county’s enhanced 911 emergency communications system. The city has already approved $40,000, with another $30,000 in the future. Council members agreed the city should pay for a share of the technology upgrades, but said that under the original agreement combining the 911 center, the county agreed to pay for its ongoing operation. Council member Larry Gibbs said the ordinance, as it is written, is vague and contained “ambiguous language” that needed to be simplified. Council member Julie Morrison, who also serves on the Public Safety Committee, said a number of questions posed to the county still remain unanswered. The county “jumps through a lot of hoops” with the state to secure funding for 911 services. However, the person responsible for going after that funding hasn’t been identified. Also, Morrison said she still hasn’t received a requested itemized list of what upgrades were being made to the 911 center and their cost. Council member Don Christensen said he was concerned the council hadn’t given due consideration to the impact such a tax on people and businesses that rely on phone service. But Mayor Ed Mayo said the tax could help fund not just future upgrades to 911 services, but also the city’s public safety needs, such as new fire and police vehicles. Because of the ordinance’s vague language, council members voted unanimously to reject the ordinance entirely. However, the council will continue to discuss how to fund the city’s share of upgrades to 911 services. In other action, council approved a proposal from a group headed by Sal Munoz to operate the restaurant at Monument Shadows Golf Course. Munoz said he plans to use the name Caddies, and would like to be open for the golf season, starting April 1. Council agreed to enter into contract negotiations right away so Munoz would have time to apply to the state for a liquor license. City Administrator Lane Danielzuk also informed the council he had received a letter from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. It said the $460,000 of approved funding to build affordable housing on the McKinley school property was now available for use. |
| New Briefs 2013-01-31 By |
| Sisters Grimm to host poetry workshop BUSHNELL — Get ready for Valentine’s Day with Cupid’s Pen, a poetry writing workshop being held at The Sisters Grimm, in Bushnell. Authors Deb Carpenter Nolting and Tim Nolting will share their skill with workshop participants. Registration strongly encouraged, $20 per person. Space is limited, only 10 people can participate. Call Jamie Carpenter at (308) 230-0683. Theater presents Night of Elegance SCOTTSBLUFF — A Night of Elegance has been scheduled on Feb. 9 at the historic Midwest Theater in downtown Scottsbluff. Rick Novak is a professional tenor and voice instructor that has travelled around the country performing in a variety of Operas. He will be coming to the Midwest Theater to share his talent with us along with his accompanist (his wife, Laura) a concert pianist as well. Their performance will be capped off with delicious hors d'oeuvres. Come bring your sweetheart to an early Valentine’s Day event - cocktail hour starting at 6 p.m. with the concert running from 7 – 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door and are available at the Midwest Theater, Platte Valley Bank, Physical Therapy of the Bluffs, and the Spa by TLC. Tickets can also be purchased online by going to MidwestTheater.com. We look forward to seeing you all there for a great night of entertainment and to support a wonderful charity as all proceeds go to the Golden Halo Foundation. The Golden Halo Foundation provides funding to families of children with special needs to help pay for expenses that insurance companies won’t cover. For more information about The Golden Halo Foundation go tohttp://goldenhalo.wix.com/foundation We want to thank Gary’s Cleaning and Restoration, NossamanPetitt Law Firm PC, Webb Eyecare and Webb Orthodontics for making this event possible. Northfield Boosters host fundraiser GERING — The Northfield Elementary Booster Club is planning a talent show to be held at 6 p.m. on Feb 4 at the Gering High School auditorium. Northfield students will be performing their choice of talent. Admission is free. Coinciding with the talent show we will be a silent auction with different themed baskets such as reading, the Huskers, comforts of home, family night, outdoor gardening, and golf. Some of the silent auction baskets will be on display inside Fresh Foods with the goal of encouraging bidders to be competitive to aid the cause. The silent auction fundraiser is designed to raise funds for renovation of the Northfield Elementary playground. The boosters hope to add many more trees, purchase mulch, re-sod the area, and plant species native to our area that can be used in the science curriculum. For more information, contact Jenifer Muhr at (308) 641-6829. Wellness Grants available to Nebraska nonprofits OMAHA – For the sixth consecutive year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) will award wellness grants to nonprofit organizations committed to improving the health of Nebraskans. This year BCBSNE will award $100,000 in grant money to Nebraska nonprofits based outside of Omaha and Lincoln. Since 2008, BCBSNE, Nebraska’s largest health insurance company, has awarded $434,000 in wellness grants to organizations in 26 Nebraska communities, from York to Scottsbluff. The grant money has supported programs designed to help Nebraskans form healthy lifestyle habits. These programs have targeted obesity, diabetes, smoking and mental health. For more information and to apply, nonprofit organizations should visit www.nebraskablue.com to download an application. The application deadline is April 1, 2013. “We encourage nonprofits across the state to apply, whether they are seeking support for an existing or new program” said Rob Trebilcock, BCBSNE’s director of community engagement and creative services. “We’ve seen tremendous results from past wellness grant recipients, which fuels our passion to continue to help outstate nonprofits make their communities healthier.” BCBSNE will offer two webinars to assist in the application process and answer questions from applicants. The webinars will be Feb. 20 from 9 -10 a.m., and Feb. 26 from 1- 2 p.m. Registration is available at www.nebraskablue.com. For questions, interested applicants can contact Rob Trebilcock at rob.trebilcock@nebraskablue.com or (402) 982-8872. Outstanding Nebraska senior volunteer nominations sought SCOTTSBLUFF — The search is on for Nebraska’s outstanding senior volunteer. The Salute to Senior Service program, sponsored by Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network, honors the contributions of adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favorite causes. Nominations for outstanding senior volunteers will be accepted between Feb. 1 and March 31, 2013. State winners then will be selected by popular vote at SalutetoSeniorService.com. Online voting will take place from April 15 to April 30, 2013. From those state winners, a panel of senior care experts will pick the national Salute to Senior Service honoree. Home Instead, Inc. will donate $500 to each of the state winners’ favorite nonprofit organizations and their stories will be posted on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s nonprofit charity of choice. “We all know seniors who do so much for our community,” said Sandy Butcher, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Scottsbluff. “These silent heroes give selflessly, expecting nothing in return. And yet, their contributions often make a difference not only to the organizations they serve, but in changing how the public views growing older.” Senior care professionals and those who work at hospitals, senior care facilities and other places where seniors volunteer are encouraged to nominate older adults. So, too, are family caregivers and the adult children of aging parents. Older adults also may self-nominate. To complete and submit a nomination form online for a senior age 65 or older who volunteers at least 15 hours a month, and to view the contest’s official rules, visit SalutetoSeniorService.com. Completed nomination forms also can be mailed to Salute to Senior Service, P.O. Box 285, Bellevue, NE 68005. For more information about Salute to Senior Service or the Home Instead Senior Care network’s services, call (308) 635-2900. Bearfoot to perform at Historic Midwest Theater SCOTTSBLUFF — Telluride Bluegrass Festival winner Bearfoot is one of the leading young bands reshaping American roots musi. Drawing from a broad range of musical styles including bluegrass, old-time, folk, country, Cajun, blues and western swing, the female-fronted group delivers a powerful live show that features winningly intimate lead vocals, intricate arrangements of award-winning original songs, tight harmonies and impressive instrumental prowess. Their most recent two CD releases on Compass Records have come to critical acclaim with the 2009 release Doors and Windows debuting at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart, and the 2011 release, American Story saw their music video for title track “Tell Me a Story” reach #2 music video of the week for three weeks in a row on CMT’s Pure Music Video Channel. To purchase advance tickets, stop by the Midwest Theater, located at 1707 Broadway, Scottsbluff or call (308) 632-4311. You may also purchase tickets at the door on the day of the event as available or online at MidwestTheater.com. Friends of the Midwest member s receive discounts. Member single, $15. Non-member single tickets are $18. Balcony tickets are $16, family pack tickets are $40. Pre-purchase champagne and chocolates to enjoy with your sweetheart during the show – $25. The Midwest Theater is a 501(C)3 non profit organization. To become a member of Friends of the Midwest, contact Billy Estes at (308) 632-4311. US Fire Administration releases 2012 firefighter fatality statistics EMMITSBURG, Md. – The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announced a provisional total of 83 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2012, the same number of firefighter losses as in 2011. The 83 fatalities were spread across 34 states. Pennsylvania and North Carolina experienced the highest number of fatalities with nine firefighter deaths each. New York had six firefighter deaths, including the most recent tragic shooting deaths of two firefighters in Webster. California and Texas, each with five firefighter deaths, were the only other states with five or more firefighter fatalities in 2012. Heart attacks or stroke were responsible for the deaths of 41 firefighters (49 percent) in 2012. This single year total is a near average proportion of firefighter deaths from heart attack or stroke over recent years. This nature of fatal injury has remained relatively constant, while others, on average, have been reduced during the past decade. Eleven on-duty firefighters died in association with wildland fires, the same as 2011 and 2010. The single cause of injury seeing more than a four-fold increase in firefighter deaths during 2012 was vehicle collisions (including aircraft), with 18 deaths. These 2012 firefighter fatality statistics are provisional and will likely change somewhat as the USFA contacts state fire marshals to verify the names of firefighters reported to have died on duty during 2012. The final number of firefighter fatalities will be reported in USFA’s annual firefighter fatality report, expected to be available by July. |
| Smith Applauds Progress on U.S. Beef Exports to Japan 2013-01-31 By |
| Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) made the following statement after it was announced Japan would ease some restrictions on beef imports from the U.S. This week's agreement will allow for expanded exports of beef and beef products to Japan, the largest beef market in Asia: “America’s farmers and ranchers are among the most productive and efficient in the world, producing high quality agriculture products sought by consumers across the globe. The agreement announced earlier today will expand export opportunities for Nebraska’s beef producers and is a step in the right direction to bring down long-standing barriers to U.S. beef.” The agreement, which was made public earlier this week by U.S. Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, means Japan will permit the import of beef from cattle less than 30 months of age beginning February 1, 2013. This increase from the existing limit of 20 months, could result in hundreds of millions of dollars in exports of U.S. beef to Japan in the coming years. At a Committee on Ways and Means hearing on February 29, 2012, Congressman Smith asked Ambassador Kirk for an update on Japan’s age restrictions on U.S. beef imports, and what was being done to promote science-based food standards in the international marketplace. |
| Japan lifts long stading beef-trade restrictions 2013-01-31 By |
| U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Announce Agreement to Further Open Japan’s Market to U.S. Beef WASHINGTON, D.C. — United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk and United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the United States and Japan have agreed on new terms and conditions which pave the way for expanded exports of U.S. beef and beef products to Japan. Under these new terms, which enter into effect on February 1, 2013, Japan will now permit the import of beef from cattle less than 30 months of age, compared to the previous limit of 20 months, among other steps. It is estimated that these important changes will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in exports of U.S. beef to Japan in the coming years. This agreement also goes a long way toward normalizing trade with Japan by addressing long-standing restrictions that Japan introduced in response to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).“This is great news for American ranchers and beef companies, who can now – as a result of this agreement – increase their exports of U.S. beef to their largest market for beef in Asia,” said Ambassador Kirk. “This represents a significant and historic step in expanding U.S. beef trade with Japan and growing American exports and jobs here at home. We welcome Japan’s action.” “This announcement reflects another successful effort by the Obama Administration that boosts the bottom line for America’s agriculture. We are in the most successful period in history for America’s agriculture sector, with agricultural exports this year expected to set yet another record,” said Secretary Vilsack. “We will continue our efforts to break down barriers and expand access for high-quality, safe and wholesome U.S. food and agricultural products to Japan and around the world.” The two governments also agreed to regular and ad hoc consultations to review progress under the agreement and address any issues that may arise. In an accompanying letter exchange, Japan also confirms its ongoing BSE risk assessment by its Food Safety Commission (FSC), which includes a consideration of raising the age limit above 30 months for beef and beef product imports from the United States, taking into account international standards. In December 2003, Japan banned U.S. beef and beef products following the detection of a bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-positive animal in the United States. In July 2006, Japan partially reopened its market to allow imports of some U.S. beef from animals aged 20 months or younger produced under a special program for Japan. In December 2011, at the request of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), Japan’s independent Food Safety Commission (FSC) initiated a risk assessment to examine raising the maximum age of the cattle from which U.S. and certain other foreign beef and beef products could be exported to Japan, as well as revising the definition of specified risk materials (SRMs). (SRMs are certain cattle tissues that can carry the BSE agent.) Based on an FSC risk assessment released last October, Japan entered into consultations with the United States to revise the import requirements, including raising the age limit for U.S. cattle and adopting a revised definition of SRMs for U.S. beef and beef product imports that is closely aligned with international standards of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). |
| Geurts surrenders to authorities 2013-01-31 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| The case concerning the July 11, 2008 death of 2-year-old Juliette Geurts of Gering is back in Scotts Bluff County as the girl’s mother, Charyse Geurts, turned herself in to authorities. The case has been investigated as a homicide after an autopsy revealed the girl had died of blunt force trauma. Since that time, Monica Hall, Juliette’s aunt, has organized citizens of the county and filed a petition asking for a grand jury investigation. The petition was successful and District Judge Randall Lippstreu reviewed the evidence last fall. He then called for a grand jury, which finished its investigation earlier this month. Indictments were handed down against Charyse Geurts and Dustin Chauncey, who were living in the house where Juliette was reported dead in her crib on July 11, 2008. The grand jury indictment charged Charyse with being an accessory to a felony and providing false information to police. Chauncey was charged with child abuse resulting in death and involuntary manslaughter. However, he’s since been sentenced to four years in a Colorado prison regarding an unrelated case involving drug and firearms charges. According to Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman, Charyse turned herself in on Jan. 24 and immediately posted $5000 cash bond. She was released from custody the same evening. She appeared for arraignment the next day. She has signed a waiver of extradition form, and the court gave her permission to return to her home in Wisconsin. Her attorney, Bell Island, has filed a motion to quash, claiming there was a defect in the record of the complaint over whether a crime was committed. Charyse continues to maintain her innocence in the death of her daughter and wants to help investigators determine who is responsible for Juliette’s death. In a prepared statement, Island said “Charyse wants the person responsible for the death of Juliette prosecuted and punished. Not a day passes that she does not think about her daughter.” Island said there wasn’t much else he could say, as it is an open case. “It’s always hard to say what the timeline will be,” he said. “This is a grand jury indictment so it’s different than what we’re used to in terms of how things will go forward. But we will be following up with motions to help prepare the case.” |
| Gering Schools Honor Rolls 2013-01-31 By |
| Gering Freshman Academy Superintendent’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA) Allison Baird, Autumn Buehler, McKenna Copsey, Megan Copsey, Jason Doll, Hadley Kirk, Jerilyn Laws, Marquis Maley, Collin Potts, Bianca Quintana , Kaelyn Shaul, Zoe Van Dyke. Principal’s Honor Roll (3.50 – 3.99 GPA) Brent Barge, Kurstin Barrett, Rachel Beeney, Allie Boggs, Austin Dolberg, Jalen Erickson, Davis Eskam, Erika Geary, Madeline Gonzolas, Devan Hawkins, Keagan Heilbrun, Zachary Helt, Luis Hernandez, Abby Kiesel, Emma Leypoldt, Mason Marsh, Mitchell Martin, Madeline Millay, Fiona Miller, Victoria Mueller, Tegan Murdock, Nolan Nelson, Jacob Pieper, Jade Riedel, Marisa Robles, Ty Romey, Jacey Shaul, Lauren Shaul, Morgan Smith, Makayla Talavat, Logan VanAnne, Morgan Wallace, Tanner Wilson, Kira Wysocki, Alyssa Zwickl. Secretary’s Honor Roll (3.00 – 3.49 GPA) Ian Aguallo, Brock Belgum, McKeigh Bianco, Frank Billie, Brenden Brester, Alyson Bueide, Ana Bustillos, Karl Case, Bailey Chamness, Gabriel Contreras, Jodi Deer, Austin Hoffman, Kaitlin Johns, Ashlyn Lang, Seth Leathermon, Clayton Martin, Katie Martindale, Stephen Murphy, Daisha Romisch, Alejandro Salazar, Destinie Savala, Sara Schwartzkopf, Robert Stout, Hanna Thompson, Zandria Unruh, Ramon Villalobos, Kaitlyn Wagoner. Gering High School Superintendent’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA) 10th Grade: Johnathon Boyd, Andrew Cook, Nicolette Cook, Shelby Cripps, Brooke Doggett, Tyler Fulk, Hayley Grams, Brady Gross, Gavin Hovseth, Hanna Kautz, Chelcey Mannel, Leah Potts, Kali Rimington, Ciara Sabala, Kyle Upp, Brandon Wallace. 11th Grade: Brian Doll, Amber Fertig, Marissa Gutherless, Jessica Helt, Courtney Larson, Alexa Longoria, Noah Miller, Ryan Schwartzkopf, Baylen Smith, Kayla Todd, Savannah Walker, Allison Witcofski. 12th Grade: Alexa Anderson, Cassidy Cooper, Samuel Eastman, Jeremy Eskam, Shayla Garetto, Brooke Satur, Mackenzie Smith, Megan Upp, Justin Wallace. Principal’s Honor Roll (3.50 – 3.99 GPA) 10th Grade: Nathan Adams, Jasie Beam, Nicholas Bibb, Megan Brady, Torri Brumbaugh, Jordan Burgener, Mikayla Butler, Russell Dobrovolny, Keenean Fogle, Jonathan Guerrero, Samantha Gutherless, Baily Hort, Steven Kanarick-Godinez, Mikayla Kreider, Annalee Laws, Jenna Longmore, Alex Lupher, Brandelynn Mendoza, Alejandro Munoz, Courtney Murillo, Shania Ortegon, Jared Powers, Valeria Rodriguez, Austin Rogers, Jessica Rogers, Ashlyn Schultz, Adrian Silva, McKayla Stark, Jacob Thomas, Quentin Timblin, Allie Vacha, Daniel Waddle, Dakota Wademan, Cierra Weatherfield, Kayla Wick, Julia Ybarra. 11th Grade: Sheldon Ackerman, Olivia Anderson, Brandon Bernhardt, Laettner Blanco, Shelton Blanco, Justin Brester, Dillon De Mott, Brittany Eckerberg, Audrey Fries, Caleb Geary, Christian Groskopf, Austin Kaufman, Shelby Kemper, Riley Kling, Arich Knaub, Edmond Liu, Marlee Lupher, Macrissa McCoy, Winter McGrath, Danielle Miller, Kailah Moore, Taylor Nelson, Katherine O’Boyle, Grant Olsson, Abigail Peterson, Aaron Pierce, Kelsea Prieels, Jadie Prohs, Austin Robinson, Johnathan Sayaloune, Tegan Schlaepfer, Justin Schwartzkopf, Gage Smith, Kelsey Southard, Tiesha Steinman, Elijah Timblin, Jake Vohland, Morgan Ward, Adrianna Welsh, Dylan Wetherington, Gage Winkler, Isabel Wolf, Vanessa Woolsey. 12th Grade: Tanner Baird, Jennifer Barge, Megan Bianco, Abigail Binegar, Jerrick Bowers, Erika Bowman, Walker Britsch, Cody Churchill, Caleb Hayden, Jackie Hayden, Rachel Huffman, William Hurt, Cassidy Kilthau, Kaitlyn Krzyzanowski, Tabor Laws, Nicole Michael, Elizabeth Millay , Santanna Mitchell, Ashley Nielsen, Kendra Peters, Bryson Richter, Josie Thompson, Jane Voss, Amy Weber, Caleb Wyre. Secretary’s Honor Roll (3.00 – 3.49 GPA) 10th Grade: Tristan Bridges, Anastacia Carabajal, Bethany Case, Alex Closson, Logan Conn, Justin Esparza, Nicolette Gonzales, Kaleb Hammack, Esai Hernandez, Albany Hixon, Tiffany Hopkins, Joslyn Kurtz, Michael Mapes, Mitchell Marietta, Leslie Martinez, Alexandria Melroy, Matthew Orozco, Carlos Perez, Garret Rahmig, Samantha Rahmig, Kaleb Schlenker, Kimberly Scott, Kimberly Snelling, Isabel Thompson, Brianne White Crane. 11th Grade: Kendall Bayne, Caitlyn Bernhardt, Nicole Brown, Brock Chitwood, Katelyn Collins, Danielle Garland, Alexander Garwood-Clark, Aubrey Gonzales, Holly Grote, CeCeilia Gutierrez, Riley Haug, Damian Hort, Thomas Medbery, Keeley Miller, Karlee Muth, David Olmstead, Selena Palomo, Kassandra Perez, Koltn Rowe, Alexis Rupp, Riley Smith, Zachary Stout, Brooke Vowers, Holly Walker, Jacob Walker, Danyele Ysac. 12th Grade: Darin Anderson, Jonathan Anderson, Kyle Austin, Maximillian Bayer, Sarah Beeney, Ryan Brady, Nickolas Chitwood, Vanessa Cuellar, Andrew Delcamp, Austin Ferguson, Branden Gabel, Thalia Galindo, Selena Garcia, Dakota Gellner, Ashley Gonzales, James Guzman, Collin Havengar, Ty Hernandez, Shelby Jones, Gary Larson, Michael Marsh, Margaret Martin, Damaris Martinez, Brissa Munoz, Jessica Olbricht, Bret Orozco, Alma Perez, Jarron Rasnic, Jacob Rexus, Tiffany Rien, Oakley Rust, Katherine Stauffer, Kendall Uhrich, Craig Wilson, Taylor Ysac. |
| Ground Out Hunger at RDC 2013-01-31 By |
| The Riverside Discovery Center announced today that this coming Groundhog weekend, Saturday, Feb. 2 – Sunday, Feb. 3, visitors can get reduced admission to the zoo if they bring a non-perishable food item for the local food pantry to help us “Ground Out Hunger.” One item donated = $1 off an individual admission price; limit one discount per person. “Groundhog Day is a great time to help out our community by donating to the Food Pantry,” said Executive Director, Anne James. “It is supposed to be a nice weekend and perhaps our marmot, Reggie, will make an appearance to predict the end of winter – if he’s not hibernating all snug and warm in his burrow. All donations brought to the zoo will be taken to the food pantry to help alleviate hunger in our community. “We all need to do our part to help those less fortunate and the RDC is glad to offer this opportunity to the community.” Riverside Discovery Center is open 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Located at 1600 South Beltline Highway West, Scottsbluff, (308) 630-6236. RDC is a non-profit corporation promoting conservation, education, discovery, and recreation. |
| WNCC vocal music students selected for national competition 2013-01-31 By |
| SCOTTSBLUFF - WNCC Music Education majors Brayden Ryan, Gering, and Malorie Winberg, Fort Morgan, CO, have been selected to participate in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) 2013 National Conducting Competitions Choir. The students, accompanied by WNCC Music Program Director Rita Stinner, travel to Dallas March 12-16 to attend the ACDA National Conference. Ryan and Winberg will assist in a four-day program of preparation, performance, and adjudication for both undergraduate and graduate college/university conducting contestants. Both students will prepare a program of choral repertoire, rehearse with an 80-voice choir in Dallas, and ultimately perform the music while being conducted by the various contestants. The Conducting Competitions Choir judges each contestant's conducting abilities through semi-final and final rounds. Winberg and Ryan join students from throughout the United States for this experience. The American Choral Directors Association, founded in 1959, is dedicated to promoting excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research, and teaching. ACDA strives, through arts advocacy, to elevate choral music's position in American society. Rita Stinner currently serves as the two-year college choir chairperson for the North Central Division of the American Choral Directors Association, representing two-year college choirs in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. |
| Area genealogy expert retiring to Colorado 2013-01-31 By Doug Harris dougharris@geringcitizen.com |
| Citing health reasons and a desire to be closer to family, local historian Carole Tucker has decided to move to Colorado. After a lifetime of volunteer service to residents in the region Tucker said it was time to retire. “I’m moving to Brighton, Colorado to be near my daughter Barb (and Ken) Eleson.” Having volunteered for so many years Tucker shared many fond memories of meeting area families and helping them with learn more about themselves. “I got started doing family research in the mid-’70s when I joined the Rebecca Winter’s Genealogy Society,” Tucker said. “I’ve been active with historical research ever since.” Tucker volunteered from 1987 to 2004 at the Mormon Church Family History Center before co-founding the West Nebraska Family Research and History Center with director Floyd Smith. “People think they can get everything on the Internet these days,” Tucker said, “but there are so many other sources available. We are able to order films from Salt Lake City and get about anything. Having access to original parish records is very helpful in tracking down someone’s ancestry.” Tucker said she inherited her interest in family research from her father Charlie Jensen. “I was inspired by my father,” she said. “My dad had such a love for family and he always loved the old-timers in Banner County. The Jensen family got their start out by Harrisburg in 1886. They were of Danish, Swedish, German and Irish stock. Dad’s mother was full blood Irish. They lived in a dug-out their first year and in the second year they dug a well.” Tucker said while she was born in Scottsbluff she lived most of her life in Banner County ‘out west of Harrisburg.’ “It is so gratifying when you can help a family find something,” Tucker said. “I like it when you can give them that clue to help them so they can trace their family history. I’ve met so many people over the years. Sometimes I’ve even met new cousins who wrote for help.” The research center, in Scottsbluff, opened in 2003 and since that time has served hundreds of people seeking to learn more about their personal history. In addition to their extensive library and photograph collection they have micro-film machines and several computers. All of this is available to the public. Tucker said uncovering new clues and useful historical material comes from myriad and sometimes unexpected sources. “We use old census records and archive newspaper obituaries but once in a while something rare comes along,” she said. “We got a case of old records in a bag from the Bid It Bob auction house not too long ago. It was full of names and dates. I traced it to Kentucky and found many families that ended up in Peru, Neb. I tracked it all down. That was one of the more interesting things I did recently.” For her own family history Tucker said she has been able to go back as far as the 1600s. “Records show I had family in Denmark in 1820,” she said, “but the farthest I have been able to go back is to 1666 when a German relation married a Danish lady. He was a major in the Danish army but was born in Germany. My Swedish side has also been traced back to the 1600s but in that case someone else did the research and shared it with me.” Tucker was married to Walter Tucker and they had four daughters. “Walter passed away in 2005 and he was always so supportive of my work,” Tucker said. “My husband’s line goes back to colonial America so it was easier to get information. I lost one of my daughters but the other three are here in Scottsbluff helping me with my move. My family has always been supportive of my interest.” Tucker noted while none of her daughters seem to share her passion for genealogy she has a granddaughter in Denver who has inherited the history gene. “One of my granddaughters is very interested,” she said. “She likes to tour the old cemeteries and look at the names and markers. This is something I encourage. I plan to pass this along to her. I want her to carry this legacy.” Research center volunteers Allen and Ruth Vance were among the several well-wishers who attended Tuckers’ party. “We want to wish her good luck and hope she enjoys being near her family,” Allen Vance said. “We hope she enjoys her new adventure.” Vance pointed out the many stacks of books and boxes that surrounded the party table. “We have books from almost every county in Nebraska,” he said. “We have county history books, family histories, and all sorts of pioneer stories from the Old West. Most of the books are donated or we sometimes buy one over the Internet.” Vance said the center library compiles old information from almost any source imaginable. “We have old newsletters from the Rebecca Winters Genealogy group and we’ve had them bound into books. We collect old high school annuals and yearbooks. Recently we got a bunch of old Lyman newspapers. We recently got a set of photographic negatives from the 1920s. It should be interesting going through those.” Vance noted collecting obituaries is vital to preserve family history. “My main job here is to compile and organize obituaries,” he said. “We have four boxes of old Gering Courier’s dating from 1887 to the 1950s. We have other local newspapers as well. We get this material set up in the library and put it all on the computer too. The research we do is available to anyone at no cost.” Center director Floyd Smith said, “This is a place where people can come to learn about their ancestry. We operate on donations only and have an all-volunteer staff. If you have an interest in genealogy this is the place to come ask questions.” Smith, who is a railroad engineer, said genealogy was a hobby and a lifelong interest. “When I first started thinking about making a genealogy library everyone I talked to about this said ‘call Carole Tucker.’ She has supported me from day one. I was collecting books and they were taking up too much space. So I bought and remodeled this building. Carole and I combined our collection and that is how we got our start. Congressman Tom Osborne was here to cut the ribbon for our ‘Carole Tucker Reading Room.’ Carole has so much information. She is a force to be reckoned with regarding our local history. She will be missed. She has been such an important resource for us. I’ll probably continue to call her and pick her brain on things that come up.” Smith said every Latter Day Saints (LDS) church has internal family history centers but there is a big library in Salt Lake City. “We are an affiliate of the LDS library,” Smith said. “We can now borrow directly from them. This was a big coup for us to gain access to all that information. Carole used to volunteer at the Mormon Church and was very helpful in getting this important link established.” Smith noted the center is open Monday to Saturday from 9 to 4, “Or when it gets dark,” he added. “This is all volunteer and all free,” Smith said. “We have a donation bucket if people want to contribute. All are welcome. We’re always looking for volunteers and have lots of different projects.” The West Nebraska Family Research and History Center is located at 1602 Avenue A in Scottsbluff. |
| Gering schools select new superintendent 2013-01-31 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| On July 1, Bob Hastings of Norfolk will become the new Superintendent of Gering Public Schools. With 19 years of experience in education, Hastings has been both an administrator and principal in the Norfolk schools. He also served seven years as a principal and teacher in the Scottsbluff schools. While at Scottsbluff, he was also a football and basketball coach. Currently, Hastings is the Director of Teaching and Learning in the Norfolk schools. He creates and manages budgets related to curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, technology and human resources. “Bob has some great experience, especially in areas of some of the challenges Gering schools will be facing in the future,” said Gering School Board President Alan Doll. “We’re extremely pleased with who we’ve selected.” Doll added that Hastings is also heavily involved in the technology side of education and has the credentials of an excellent communicator, which is so critical in the district. The Norfolk School District is just over 4,000 students, about twice the size of Gering. “Although he hasn’t been a superintendent, Bob has a wealth of knowledge and experience in superintendent-type duties because of the size of the district,” Doll said. Hastings said he’s excited about the opportunity to return to the area and reconnecting with family and friends. His family’s first home was in Gering. “The biggest challenge that every district faces is shrinking budgets,” he said. “We need to be sure we’re using our resources in the very best way possible to make sure our students are learning the things we need them to at the level they need to learn.” He said it’s vital to work with students on academic achievement, but also with their families to help them become great citizens once they graduate. “My first large goal is to meet everyone and talk with as many people as possible, from staff to parents to community members,” Hastings said. “I’ll find out what’s great about Gering and what we need to build on to move ahead.” He added the best form of communication is face to face. But he also likes communicating through social media. “I’m a big Twitter guy,” he said. “It’s a place where the kids are really active and that makes it a great way to communicate with them and with larger groups.” Bob and his wife, Traci, are the parents of daughter Jenna and sons Jon and Jonah. He admits his head is still spinning from the good news, but he plans to visit a few times in the spring to get acclimated with the area prior to assuming his duties on July 1. |
| Legacy of the Plains continues to evolve 2013-01-31 By Jerry Purvis news@geringcitizen.com |
| Although some legal details still need to be worked out, Legacy of the Plains Museums is now an official entity. The new museum, which incorporates the Farm And Ranch Museum and the North Platte Valley Museum, met as a new combined board and elected Katie Bradshaw as its full-time executive director. Also coming up is the museums’ first fundraiser to help with operations – the annual Bandana Benefit Ball. “It’s kind of a dual challenge we’re facing right now,” Bradshaw said. “We need to continue operations and the programs we offer the public. The Bandana Ball and the summer concert fund operations, but we’re also fun |