Paul L. Tobin, 94, Formerly of Tekamah Ne

March 26, 2015 Leave a comment


PAUL L. TOBIN, 94 years, formerly of Tekamah, Nebraska passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at the Carter House in Blair, Nebraska.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 10:30 am, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Tekamah, NE.

VISITATION: Monday, 5 – 7 pm with family receiving friends. VIGIL SERVICE at 7:00 pm all at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Visitation Tuesday will also be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL WITH MILITARY HONORS: Tekamah Cemetery, Robert Klase-Rogers VFW Post #7998 and American Legion Rogers-Crum Post #215 and VFW Bataan Post No. 3304 and American Legion LaFrenz Post No. 15.

MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family and will be designated at a later date.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com

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Governor Ricketts Calls on Senator Ernie Chamber to Apologize

March 26, 2015 Leave a comment


Today, Governor Pete Ricketts called on Senator Ernie Chambers of Omaha to issue a public apology following unacceptable comments he made during a committee hearing:

 

“As public officials, we are held to a higher standard, and we should be. No one should ever suggest the use of violence against law enforcement officials. I have reviewed the transcript from the Judiciary Committee hearing in question, and Senator Chambers’ comments were out of line. Words matter. At a time when we need to develop better relationships between law enforcement and our communities, Senator Chambers’ comments are irresponsible and only promote distrust and the potential for violence. I urge Senator Chambers to issue a full apology for his remarks and to condemn all violence against law enforcement.”

 

Yesterday, Governor Ricketts tweeted his support for law enforcement. He encourages Nebraskans to tweet their support using the #SupportBlue hashtag. Twitter users can follow @GovRicketts for updates.

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Henry Phillip Eriksen, 85, of Omaha NE Formerly of Tekamah NE

March 26, 2015 Leave a comment


HENRY PHILLIP ERIKSEN, 85 years, of Omaha, Nebraska, formerly of Tekamah, Nebraska passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services.

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Construction Ready to Begin Again on Roundabout

March 26, 2015 Leave a comment


Work is set begin again soon on the roundabout at the Highway 32/77 junction. “The contractor plans on returning to the project on Monday, April 6th,” said Kevin Domogalla of the Nebraska Department of Roads.

The workers will begin by grading and surfacing the temporary road. “That work will take approximately three weeks,” Domogalla stated.

After that, the east left of the intersection, Highway 32 towards Tekamah, will be closed after the temporary road is open to traffic. “The contractor will then begin constructing the roundabout. Highway 77, north and south, and west Highway 32 to West Point, will remain open during all phases of construction,” said Domogalla.

Stay tuned to Kat Country Hub for more information as the contractor’s schedule is updated.

Work to begin again on the roundabout at why 77/32 junction. Photo credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

Work to begin again on the roundabout at why 77/32 junction. Photo credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

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Mervonne Lubberstedt Doebke, 84, of Pierce NE

March 26, 2015 Leave a comment


Mervonne Lubberstedt Doebke 84, of Pierce, Nebraska died on Saturday, March 14 , 2015, at the Pierce Manor in Pierce, Nebraska. A family graveside memorial service will be held on June 5, 2015 at the Wakefield Cemetery in Wakefield, Nebraska. Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home of Wakefield is in charge of the arrangements. Mervonne was born in Wakefield, Nebraska, the daughter of Erwin and Mabel (Denker) Lubberstedt. She was baptized and was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wakefield. She graduated from Wakefield high school in 1951. She married Glen Doebke and they lived in Fremont and Norfolk, Nebraska for several years.

Mervonne is survived by her brothers Wes Lubberstedt of Lexington, Nebraska, Robert (Dawn) Lubberstedt of Wakefield, Nebraska and Rodney (Bonnie) Lubberstedt of Kerrville, TX, and one sister; Cathy (Kent) Lubberstedt Bressler of Kerrville, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents Erwin and Mable, husband Glenn and a brother Gene. The family requests that memorials be sent to Pierce Manor in Mervonne’s memory.

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Wes Lueth, 56, of Wakefield NE

March 26, 2015 Leave a comment


Wes Lueth, 56, of Wakefield, Nebraska passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at Providence Medical Center in Wayne, Nebraska with his family at his side.

Funeral services for Wes are pending at this time with Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home of Wakefield, Nebraska.

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Home Invasions Common

March 25, 2015 Leave a comment


By John Wilson, Extension Educator

Last Saturday, while she was at work, I tried to earn a few points with my wife by addressing a perennial problem at our home. She has this vile hatred of multicolored Asian lady beetles. I wouldn’t want to say for sure, but I think it has something to do with the time one flew into her coffee cup and she found it the hard way. It took me forever to get the coffee stains out of our carpet!

With warmer temperatures this past week, our house, like many, has seen an increase in the activity of these pests along with boxelder bugs. I probably get 10 lady beetle questions to every one about boxelder bugs.

Multicolored Asian lady beetles and boxelder bugs seem to plague homes in the spring. However,  they actually invaded homes last fall and have overwintered under siding and between walls. With warm weather, they become active and accidentally move indoors instead of returning to the outdoors.

While they may be a nuisance in the home, and lady beetles can bite, they are harmless to people, plants or pets… and their bite is harmless, too. Neither of these insects will survive or reproduce in the home. They are frequently drawn to sunny windows as they look for a way to return outdoors. Once outside, lady beetles are beneficial because they feed on a major crop pest, soybean aphids, as well as other aphids and insect pests that may attack gardens, trees, shrubs and other ornamentals.

If you have many lady beetles or boxelder bugs in your home, sweep or vacuum them up to control them. If you use a vacuum, here is a suggestion. First, cut a leg off a pair of pantyhose or use a knee high nylon to trap them before they reach the container on your vacuum. Stick the toe end of the nylon down the hose with the open end folded over the outside of the end of the hose. Then put the attachment you’ll use on the end of the vacuum hose to hold the nylon in place so it is not sucked into the bag or canister. Then, as soon as you are done vacuuming these six-legged pests, remove the nylon and release them outside or flush them down the toilet.

This works great, although I don’t know if I’ll lose any points I gained when my wife discovers I used one of her good knee high nylons! The reason to trap them before they reach the bag or canister of your vacuum is twofold. First, if the ride didn’t kill them, they may crawl back out when you are done using the vacuum. The second problem is, they do give off an odor. Even if they die in the vacuum, each time you use it you will notice their odor until you dump the canister or change the bag.

Spraying or fogging with an insecticide indoors  is not effective nor recommended for controlling either of these pests. Once their coming-out-of-winter hibernation period ends, these pests will not be much of a problem until next fall when they look for a protected place to overwinter.

To keep them out of the home next fall, caulk cracks, crevices, and around conduit; use weather stripping around windows and doors, and keep screens in good repair. This should reduce the pests entering your home and also help reduce your heating bill. If these pests seem to be concentrated in a particular room this spring, focus your inspection on the wall and foundation outside this room.

For more information on controlling multicolored Asian lady beetles or boxelder bugs in your home, contact you local Nebraska Extension office.

John Wilson

John Wilson

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Ushering in a New Era of Accountability

March 25, 2015 Leave a comment


By Rachel Wise, District 3, Nebraska State Board of Education (March, 2015)

The State Board of Education moved forward this month on two very important steps for Nebraska schools. The first step was to authorize the Commissioner of Education to submit a waiver from certain No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements. NCLB is the accountability system imposed by federal law. I wrote an article last July on this topic urging the U. S. Congress to do its job and, with a new Congress in place, one would hope for action. However, in the case of reauthorizing ESEA—currently known as NCLB—there seems to be “talk” but still no real action!! Because Congress has not reauthorized ESEA—action that should have occurred in 2007—it is time to pursue the NCLB waiver. The Commissioner of Education will submit a waiver request to support our schools that are still saddled with an unrealistic federal accountability system and start negotiations with the U. S. Department of Education to allow Nebraska to establish a system of accountability that is clear, transparent and a system that benefits Nebraska’s children, families and communities!

Before I continue, I again urge you to contact your Congressional representatives to encourage bipartisan collaboration on the reauthorization of ESEA. We may be moving forward with the NCLB waiver request, but I believe my colleagues and I are on the same page—reauthorization of ESEA needs to occur!

The other important step taken by the State Board of Education was to approve four levels of school classification for Nebraska’s a new accountability system, AQuESTT—Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today and Tomorrow. AQuESTT was developed as a result of the Nebraska Quality Education Accountability Act, state legislation passed last year.

Under AQuESTT this first year, student growth and improvement on state tests as well as high school graduation rates, will be the primary indicators used to classify each school and district as Excellent, Great, Good or Needs Improvement. Within the Needs Improvement classification, the three schools in greatest need of assistance to improve will be designated as priority schools. The Nebraska Department of Education will develop intervention teams to help improve student achievement for priority schools and will share those strategies and interventions with all Nebraska schools.

The AQuESTT tenets and examples of possible future indicators include:

  • College and Career Readiness: rigorous curriculum and alignment with state standards as well as student participation in career education and/or college courses while in high school
  • Assessment: competency-based assessment or adaptive assessment
  • Educator Effectiveness: percent of classes taught by appropriately endorsed staff, a formal evaluation process to monitor and to ensure effective instruct
  • Positive Partnerships, Relationships and Student Success: engagement of families and communities as well as individual learning plans for students
  • Transitions: improvement in school attendance, reduction in dropout rates and improved achievement for highly mobile students
  • Educational Opportunities and Access: number of instructional units available to students, expanded enrichment opportunities, including programs before and after school and in the summer, access to early childhood programs and digital learning.

The State Board will continue to refine AQuESTT and seek additional input on from individuals across the state.

This article represents my personal view, not that of the State Board of Education or my role as president. Feel free to contact me at rachel.wise@nebraska.gov. Search the Nebraska Department of Education website at www.education.ne.gov to learn more about education in our state.

Rachel Wise

Rachel Wise

 

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Motorcycle Helmet Law Highly Debated

March 25, 2015 Leave a comment


By Senator Lydia Brasch

The 104th, First Session of the Nebraska Legislature is officially halfway done with its 90-day session with Friday marking the close of Day 49. Up to now, we have spent our first half of the day in floor debate and the other half in committee hearings. With only occasional exception moving forward, we will no longer hold public afternoon hearings since all 663 bills introduced have been heard. As of Monday, Day 50, we began all day floor debate and stop only when the Speaker adjourns us. Our legislative day must not end later than 11:59 p.m. as midnight would begin the next official legislative day. Thank you to everyone who came to testify on legislation, as well as those contacting our office through e-mail, phone calls, or personal visits. The next notable day for our legislative process is Day 70 when the Appropriations Committee must introduce a budget proposal to the body of the Legislature.

 

As you may know, my priority bill, LB350, which provides a reduction in the valuation of agricultural and horticultural land from 75 to 65 percent, did not originally have enough support to be voted out of the Revenue Committee. Nevertheless, I have continued to work diligently in an effort to gather the five committee votes necessary to advance this bill for floor debate. My staff and I spent a good deal of the week compiling further statistical information on the impact of LB350 as well as talking individually to senators from the Revenue Committee to gather more support. My hope is the voice of Nebraskans from across the state will not go unheard. Continue doing your part to urge the Legislature to address this issue.

 

This week’s floor debate was mostly on LB31. Introduced and prioritized by Senator Bloomfield, LB31 repeals the motorcycle helmet law and provides the operator the choice to wear a helmet or not. Much debate revolved around individual liberties versus government regulation of public health and safety, as well as the positive economic impact LB31 would bring from enthusiasts nationwide. In the past, I supported this bill when amended to prohibit young children as passengers. While I certainly support the operators individual liberty to decide whether to wear a helmet or not, this year’s original bill as introduced did not provide important safety provisions of last session with regard to child passengers and inexperienced operators. For this reason, I have not been able to offer my full support.

 

A special thanks to this week’s visitors: former-Senator Matt Connealy and his wife, Judith (Decatur); Bob Jones and Rod Giese (Beemer); and LeRoy and Anita Bray (Rosalie). Finally, while we have had a number of pastors from the District serve as Chaplain of the Day, we would like to encourage those pastors who have not served to consider this great opportunity to provide God’s blessing and grace over the Legislature.

 

Please contact me, administrative aide, Katie Wattermann, or legislative aide, Tom Venzor, with questions or thoughts at (402)471-2728 or e-mail at lbrasch@leg.ne.gov.

 

Keeping the Good Life Growing in Nebraska,

Senator Lydia Brasch, District 16

Senator Lydia Brasch

Senator Lydia Brasch

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USDA Abandons Farm Payment Limit Reform

March 25, 2015 Leave a comment


Lyons, Nebraska – Today USDA issued their proposed rule to define what it means to be “actively engaged in farming,” and therefore eligible to receive federal farm payments.
“The purpose of revising the actively engaged definition was to make farm payment limits more effective,” said Traci Bruckner, Senior Associate at the Center for Rural Affairs. “USDA is, however, clearly more interested in defending the interests of mega-farms by preserving loose definitions that will continue to allow the nation’s largest farms to avoid meaningful payment limits.”
“This is not reform,” added Bruckner. “In 2007, while campaigning in Iowa for his first election, President Obama promised to close these loopholes, and so did Vice President Biden. But when given yet another opportunity to fulfill that promise, the White House and Secretary Vilsack took a pass, again.”
“The lack of effective payment limitations has resulted in federal farm programs financing farm consolidation and the elimination of many mid-size family farms….Barack Obama and Joe Biden will close the loopholes that allow mega farms to get around the limits by subdividing their operations into multiple paper corporations.  They will take immediate action to close the loophole by proposing regulations to limit payments to active farmers who work the land….Every President since Ronald Reagan has had the authority to close this loophole without additional action by Congress, but has failed to act.” President Barack Obama, writing as a candidate for President in his rural platform – Obama-Biden: Real Leadership For Rural America
According to Bruckner, Secretary Vilsack has said since the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill that the bill ties his hands and he can not apply any new rule to farms structured solely of family members.
“We have disagreed with that premise from day one, and this rule does nothing more than say the largest and wealthiest farms structured solely of family members are not subject to this new rule or any payment limitation,” argued Bruckner.
Most of the few farms this rule would impact, those structured as non-family member operations, will surely work with an attorney to reorganize their operations to be structured solely of family members to evade any payment limitations, Bruckner concluded.

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