First Day of Spring
March 26, 2014 1 Comment
This picture was taken on the first day of Spring. The jet seems to be flying through the sun’s rays!
Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Chili Cook Off Concert
March 25, 2014 Leave a comment
Participating in the chili cook off concert were Left to Right: Bailey Baumont , Vanessa Peterson, Jon Mayo, Jessie Mutum and Arron Williams. Photo courtesy of LDNE.
More music participants were: Back left to Right: Amelia Shlickting, Blair Preston, Lena Horak, Kayci Kramer, Arron Williams, Bo Whitely
Bottom Left to Right: Sophie Hsu, Cierra French, Jessica Solis, Jessie Mutum, Jesika Kramer, Sarah Alford and Lupita Prieto. Photo Courtesy of LDNE.
Chili Supper Cook Off Concert
March 25, 2014 Leave a comment
By Jessie Mutum
LDNE Music Student
With the smell of homemade chili in the air it was hard to resist coming to the first annual Chili Supper Cook Off Concert. This year was different compared to the past because this year we added a twist to just eating chili and having a great musical act to watch, this year we asked organizations of the school to compete in the first annual Chili Supper Cook Off Concert.
This years contestants were the Northeast Cougaretts, the Northeast Cheer Squad, and the Drama Department. The rules were the organizations had to make their own chili and people would come around and taste each chili and donate as much as they wanted to the chili they liked and who ever had the most donations at the end of the night would be crowned the first annual Chili Cook Off winners! Also the donations that each organization got they got to keep, as a fundraiser for each group.
But a little friendly competition doesn’t come without a show! The night started off with the high school choir singing Grandma’s Feather Bed, followed with a mix of the junior high girl choir and the high school girls singing Man I Feel Like A Women, then the high school choir finished with I’ll Stand By You. Next to follow with the awesome entertainment was the junior high choir with Mama Don’t Allow, then the 7-12 Grade choir boys singing Honkey-Tonk Ba-Donkey-Donk, and ending with a tribute to Johnny Cash with I Walk The Line; A Tribute to Johnny Cash.
Next in line was the strumming good tunes of the Music Appreciation Guitar ensamble, with soloist Darcey Simonson singing God Gave Me You, and another solo by Jessie Mutum with Wake Me Up. You know the Music Appriciation class was hard to follow up, but I think that the Music Technology kids did a pretty good job with their musical ensemble of That’s My Kind of Night. And lastly but certainly not least was the Northeast Band with Rhinestone Cowboy, Old Santa Fe, and a Taylor Swift Medley to end the night.
The Music Department wants to personally thank everyone that came and supported the Chili Supper Cook Off Concert, and we also want to thank all the organizations for competing in the Chili Cook Off! Lastly all the organizations that participated want to thank all that donated to them, we are so thankful and the money we raised will go to good use! And by the way the Chili Cook Off winners were the Northeast Pom Squad with $81 and Northeast Cheer Squad with $77, and last but not least the Northeast Drama Department with $30.Thank You and see you at our next Spring Concert onApril 7th, and our Spring Recital on April 9th!
Chili Cook Off Concert. Photo Courtesy of LDNE.
Center for Rural Affairs Calls Failed Cloture Vote Unconscionable
March 25, 2014 Leave a comment
Lyons, Nebraska – Yesterday, a cloture vote on LB 887, the Wellness In Nebraska Act, failed by a vote of 27 in favor and 21 opposed to ending debate and allowing an up or down General File vote on the bill. The majority of Senators voting “yes” were not sufficient to reach the two-thirds majority required in the Unicameral to invoke cloture and end debate.
“Failing to pass LB 887 will cost Nebraska in lost federal money and budget savings, as many as 10,000 new jobs in healthcare, insurance premium savings for the already insured… but first and foremost, it will cost lives,”
Jon Bailey, Director of the Rural Public Policy Program, Center for Rural Affairs
“We have waited for this vote for over a year. And we applaud the 27 Senators, led by bill sponsor Senator Kathy Campbell, that have shown the courage and leadership to stand up for tens of thousands of working, uninsured Nebraskans,” added Bailey.
To view or download the official Unicameral vote count go to – http://www.cfra.org/www.cfra.org/LB887Vote
“However, the time has come for naysayers and critics of Medicaid expansion to offer up solutions to the stern challenges so many Nebraskans face in our current healthcare system. These working Nebraskans have sought and secured a job, they work hard, and they deserve a chance at a happier, healthier life,” Bailey continued. “And the 21 Senators who stood in the way of passage of LB 887 owe them real solutions, not just rhetoric about openness to new ideas about providing health care. They owe Nebraska more than just political posturing and empty words.”
“We are deeply disappointed that 21 Nebraska state Senators would put petty partisan politics ahead of the health and economic well-being of tens of thousands of working Nebraskans,” said Bailey. “Voting to preserve a public policy of negligence that leaves at least 33,000 people, including over 15,000 from rural and small town Nebraska by the side of the road with no health care options is unconscionable.”
There simply are no compelling arguments against adopting this legislation, added Bailey. Which is why the Center for Rural Affairs was joined by AARP, Nebraska Hospital Association, Nebraska Nurses Association, Nebraska Medical Association, Voices for Children, Nebraska Appleseed, Health Center Association of Nebraska, Nebraska Association of County Officials, The Nebraska Restaurant Association, Community Action of Nebraska, the Nebraska State Education Association and many others.
According to Bailey, many of the impacts of failing to adopt LB 887 and expand Medicaid will fall heaviest on rural and small town Nebraska. Due to inaction in the Unicameral, 15,000 of our rural friends and neighbors will “fall in the gap”, without access to affordable health care. Currently insured Nebraskans will pay higher insurance premiums to cover the cost of uncompensated care. Bankruptcy filings necessitated by medical debt brought on by lack of health care coverage will continue. Rural hospitals will be stretched, possibly to the breaking point. And an estimated 500 Nebraskans will die as a result of having no health care coverage.
“Failing to pass LB 887 will cost Nebraska in lost federal money and budget savings, as many as 10,000 new jobs in healthcare, and insurance premium savings for the already insured, but first and foremost, it will make many of our fellow Nebraskans less healthy and cost lives,” concluded Bailey.
4-H Project at Lyons Library
March 25, 2014 Leave a comment
This project was made by Heidi Miller. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
4-H Leader Banquet and Upcoming Activities
March 24, 2014 Leave a comment
By Mary Loftis
Extension Assistant
4-H Leaders and 4-H Council members from across Burt County met Sunday evening, March 23 for the Burt County 4-H Leader Banquet. Although many of the 4-H leaders were unable to attend, those that did were treated to a wonderful roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy meal with all the fixings prepared by Donna Preston.
The evening started off with the introduction of 4-H leaders, 4-H council members UNL Extension staff and guests via the use of anagrams. An anagram uses the letters of a name or phrase and rearranges them to make other words or ideas. For example the words “Leader Training” can be rearranged to say: Gala Dinner Rite, Endearing Trail or Arterial Ending. (As good as Donna’s gravy was, that is very possible!) The last anagram before the meal was “Ale Test” which was “Let’s Eat!”
Mary Loftis
Throughout the evening, thanks were expressed to the 4-H leaders for their commitment to the program, but not nearly as much appreciation was shared as there should have been. Without our 4-H leaders, the 4-H program simply would NOT be and we thank each and every one of our 4-H leaders for their many years of dedication to the program.
The guest speaker for the evening was Lisa Kaslon, the Northeast District 4-H Youth Program Coordinator. She outlined the newly revised 4-H Policy Handbook and helped make the 4-H leaders, council members and staff aware of several changes which could affect them and the total 4-H program.
During the evening I made several announcements attempting to update and remind the 4-H leaders of activities and events coming up which may be important to their 4-H members. Some of these were:
· Burt County Beef Preview on Saturday, April 5 on the Burt County Fairgrounds in Oakland.
· 4-H Public Speaking Contest, April 21 with workshops offered on March 31 in Tekamah and April 1 in Lyons.
· Favorite Foods Day Contest, April 26 at the Craig Fire Hall. A new portion of this contest is a team event featuring the use of technology along with the traditional table setting favorite food and meal planning. More details will be shared in the 4-H Newsletter.
· Tagging day will be May 22 in Oakland at the fairgrounds from 3:00-6:00 p.m.
· Livestock Quality Assurance training modules need to be completed and turned in to the Extension Office by June 10.
· Early-bird registration for all 4-H camps is April 15 to receive a 10% discount.
Many thanks go out to the Burt County 4-H Council for sponsoring this event.
Eggs Needed for Embryology Project
It’s time to make plans for the 4-H School Enrichment Embryology project, but unless I can find a supplier for the fertile eggs I need it might be a “chickless” year. If you know of someone who has chickens and roosters and is willing to sell the eggs to the 4-H program please let me know.
In addition, I’ve had a request for baby ducks by the Lyons-Decatur High School. They would like to reintroduce ducks to the local park pond. If anyone has both drakes and hens I’d like to attempt to hatch duck eggs for the Lyons 3rd grade embryology project.
If you’ve got any leads on potential egg suppliers please give me a call at the UNL Extension Office at 402-374-2929 or leave a message if after hours by pressing 214 when the voicemail message comes on. Thanks in advance!
Mary Loftis,
Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929
Fax: (402) 374-2930
Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu
Burt County Board of Supervisors Minutes
March 24, 2014 Leave a comment
The Burt County Board of Supervisors met March 11, 2014, pursuant to adjournment of their last meeting with the following members present: Clifford Morrow, Gerald Newill, David Schold, Perry Rogers, Matt Connealy, Greg Brummond and Gene Rollins.
The meeting opened at 9:00 A.M. upon motion by Rollins, seconded by Newill, all voting aye. Chairman Morrow informed the public that the Nebraska Open Meeting Act was posted on the wall.
Upon motion by Connealy, seconded by Rollins, the agenda was approved, all voting aye.
Visiting the Board were Peggy Smith, Mike Braniff, Katie Novak and Chris Aldman.
The County Clerk Report of Fees, the County Court Report of Fines, the District Court Fee Report and the Zoning Report for February were approved upon motion by Rogers, seconded by Newill, all voting aye.
The minutes of the last meeting were approved upon motion by Rogers, seconded by Schold, all voting aye.
Miscellaneous Receipts in the amount of $113,373.36 were approved upon motion by Schold, seconded by Connealy, all voting aye.
Correspondence from the Nebraska Information Technology Commission regarding the FirstNet Project was discussed and placed on file. FirstNet is an effort to build a nationwide broadband network for first responders. Matt Connealy will serve as the County Board’s representative to speak with First Net.
Chairman Morrow signed a lot split application for Howard Buffet located in the SW ¼ of Section 35, Township 22N, Range 11E of the 6th P.M., Burt County, Nebraska.
Highway Superintendent Peggy Smith advised the Board that Burt County can rent a skid loader from NMC for one full year or 250 hours for $5,500.00. Highway Foreman Mike Braniff stated that it would be a 257 or 259 track skid loader. Upon motion by Rogers, seconded by Brummond, the Board voted to rent the skid loader from NMC for $5,500.00, all voting aye.
At 10:00 Highway Superintendent Peggy Smith opened the following bids for the bridge northwest of Oakland on County Road L.
Dixon Construction $757,177.50 with July start date
Theisen Construction $559,247.26 with June 10 start date
Connealy moved to accept the low bid with Theisen Construction in the amount of $559,247.26. Rogers seconded the motion, all voting aye.
There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, the Board adjourned at 10:05 A.M. until 9:00 A.M. March 28, 2014.
ATTEST: MARJORIE R. SHUMAKE CLIFFORD L. MORROW, CHAIRMAN
BURT COUNTY CLERK BURT COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS
These minutes are not part of the official record and are not yet approved and may be corrected. A copy of the approved official minutes is available to the public at the Clerk’s Office.
Did Your Lawn Survive Winter?
March 24, 2014 Leave a comment
By John Wilson
Extension Educator
With one cold blast after another and very little snow cover, many homeowners are questioning if their lawns survived the winter. We will have a better idea on the extent of winterkill as lawns start to green up with warming temperatures in the next week or two.
Green color at the base of old leaves may or may not be this year’s growth. It could be left from last year and may not be a good indication of plant survival. However, ½” or more of green leaf material on turf plants in our lawns is a pretty good indication that the leaf is alive and growing.
A natural response for many homeowners is to mow as soon as possible to remove that brown leaf material to speed the overall appearance of green-up. This dead leaf material is natural protection and insulation from potential Alberta Clipper cold fronts that still may blow through. This could be especially damaging to turf areas that are already weakened by winter. Therefore, our advice is to hold off mowing for another week or two to lessen the chances of damage from cold snaps.
Another consideration this year is when and where to apply preemergence crabgrass preventors. We normally recommend late April or early May for a first application followed by a second application in late June. That is even more important than ever this year. I know some people like to get out and make that first application in early April, or even as early as late March.
John Wilson
The reason it will be especially important to NOT do that this year is we don’t know yet if there are areas of the lawn that will need to be overseeded or completely reseeded. The products normally used for crabgrass control will also control or kill newly seeded turf grass seed. So wait to apply preemergence products until you know if you will need to overseed or reseed.
There is an option for crabgrass control in new seedings or areas that were overseeded. There is a product called Tupersan, which has the active ingredient siduron, that will control crabgrass but not injure new seedings of bluegrass or fescue. The two drawbacks to this product is it is not readily available, you will probably have to go to a garden center to find it, and it is more expensive. However, it is your only choice on new seedings to control the early germinating crabgrass.
Your other option is to wait until any new grass seedings have emerged and then apply the more commonly available products in mid- to late June. Once new seedings have emerged, the preemergence products will not affect the stand. The problem is, it will not control any crabgrass that has already emerged either.
One final consideration is whether to water your lawn now. Many areas have received light rains or snow, but this has been quite variable. Check the moisture in the top 6-8 inches of soil. If it is dry, consider watering on a warm day. Do this in the morning so it has time to soak into the soil… and only put on enough water so it doesn’t pool on the soil surface. Too much water that doesn’t soak in will form a layer of ice around the grass crowns and could further damage the turf.
For more information on assessing winterkill and repair of winter damaged lawns, check out the University of Nebraska turf website at http://turf.unl.edu or contact your local UNL Extension office.
Construction of New Lyons Pool Coming Along
March 24, 2014 Leave a comment
New pool in Lyons coming along quite nicely. Both pictures Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Bancroft Senior Center News
March 24, 2014 Leave a comment
Bancroft Senior Center News
* The senior center provides Information and Assistance to any individual who is looking for services for themselves or another person 60 years and older, the center manager and/or center participant can provide information to individuals on services available within the community. We link individuals to the services and opportunities that are available within or beyond the community itself. We will then establish adequate follow-up procedures to see that their needs were met. For more information call 402-648-3387.
*If you are 60 years and older and need information on programs designed to help keep you in your home longer or if you need legal help, contact Connie at 402-648-3387 or in the evening at 402-648-7648.
* We have the following medical equipment to loan out on an as need basis, wheel chair, bath seats, toilet seat riser and portable toilet chair, crutches or walker. Call 402-648-3387 during office hours.
Meals on Wheels
The Meals on Wheels program started in Bancroft February 10th. Anyone over the age of 60 years and lives within the city limits are eligible for these meals. You may sign up anytime for the Meals on Wheels program; you can get the meals delivered however many times you want them each week. You must call 402-687-2332 before 8:45 if you want a meal that day.
We need more volunteers willing to deliver the meals once they get to the senior center in Bancroft. Contact the senior contact 402-648-3387 if you wish to help deliver the meals, want a meal delivered or have a question.
Date Change: Free Colon Cancer Kits will be available at the center March 28 from 11:00 a.m., until 3:00 p.m.
Weekly Activities:
Wed. March 26: No melody chimes practice today. Join us for coffee anytime during the day. Sign up to play in the pitch tournament at 1:30.
Thurs.: March 27: Tai Chi class at 9:30 and the walking ex. class at 10:30. Stop in for coffee at 10:00. Bingo will be played at 2:00. You are welcome to come at any time to work on the jigsaw puzzle.
Fri. March 28: Meal for today is liver and onions or a hamburger patty, mashed potatoes, veggie and strawberry shortcake. There will be a pinhole tournament and hand and foot at 1:30. Barb Fancher from the area agency will give out colon cancer kits and talk about colon cancer.
Mon. March 31: Come and learn how to play the game of golf at 1:30.
Tues. April 1: Tai Chi class at 9:30 and the walking ex. class at 10:30. Stop in for coffee at 10:00. There is a pitch tournament at 1:30.
Wed. April 2: No melody chimes today. Come and play Rummikub at 1:30.
Kat Country Hub 
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