This, That and One Other Thing

July 18, 2015 Leave a comment


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

The State Board of Education is not meeting in July, so this month, I am going to take the opportunity to write about opportunities. As I am working on this article, I, like many of you are shocked and disheartened to hear the news that a 12 year old boy has been accused of murder, here in our heartland! Why is a 12 year old boy out on the streets in the middle of the night? We all have more questions than answers.

One of the greatest gifts you can give a child is access to opportunities. Summer is a time that many children are engaged in summer sports, summer camps, vacation bible school, trips to the library, spending time at a park or a pool, family vacations and many other activities. However, many students do not have access to these common and important summer opportunities. Communities who put kids first should be asking what the kids in their communities are doing this summer. Are there activities and opportunities for all children that are affordable and accessible? Does your community have strategies to reach out to all children? Do you know the percentage of children in your community accessing the library, pool or the park? Do you know the percentage of students in 4H, Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts? Enough with the questions, I think you all get the point. We all have a responsibility in ensuring access to opportunities during the school year and during the summer.

Summer is a good time to “power down” and pick up a good book, or at least enjoy a good book in a digital format! Previously, I wrote in an article that reading is not just an activity for the school day or the school year. Teachers across the state will thank you, if you fit time for reading in your child’s summer activities, even if the book is on a phone, tablet or computer!

Throughout the year I wrote about the lack of progress in the reauthorization of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This week the Senate has actually started debate on reauthorization of this important legislation. It is possible that reauthorization will include elements of accountability that align with the direction Nebraska is taking with our new system of accountability. I am optimistic that my article in August will be about the progress being made by both the Senate and the House to reach compromise to reauthorize!

One other thing—enjoy the last few weeks of summer!

Rachel Wise

Rachel Wise

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.

 

 

 

 

Filed under Community Tagged with ,

Danish Alps SRA Grand Opening is August 1st

July 18, 2015 Leave a comment


LINCOLN – Enjoy a day of family fun Aug. 1 at the grand opening of Nebraska’s newest state recreation area – Danish Alps SRA in northeast Nebraska.

Activities scheduled between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. include a fishing clinic, kayaking, boat tours, naturalist activities, hayrack rides and fish-shocking demonstrations. A ribbon cutting will take place at 11 a.m. and refreshments will be served at 11:30 a.m.

Danish Alps SRA includes 520 acres of park land and 219-acre Kramper Reservoir. The area is owned by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District and the SRA is managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The lake is stocked with channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and walleye. No live baitfish may be used or possessed. The lake features a handicap-accessible fishing pier, a variety of aquatic habitat features suitable for fish to reproduce and grow rapidly, and several breakwaters to provide excellent angling access.

Boaters will find a ramp that can accommodate two boats at once. There is a 5 mph/no-wake boating restriction on the lake.

The SRA has 73 electrical campsites as well as primitive sites. Danish Alps also has three day use areas, as well as hiking, biking and equestrian trails, picnic shelters, and horse corrals.

Hunting will be allowed in some areas south of 203rd Street from the first Tuesday following Labor Day through the end of the spring turkey season.

Danish Alps SRA is located 1½ miles south and one-half mile east of Hubbard in Dakota County. A park entry permit is required of each vehicle entering the park and may be purchased at the park.

-30-

Health Advisory Lifted at Sutherland Reservoir

LINCOLN – A health advisory has been lifted at Sutherland Reservoir near Sutherland.

Earlier this month, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) detected elevated levels of toxic algae at the lake. As a precaution, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission closed the lake to swimming and advised visitors to avoid ingesting water and to keep pets out of the water. All other activities were unaffected.

Testing earlier this week by the DEQ indicated that algae levels had returned to normal levels. As a result, Game and Parks has reopened the swimming beach for public use.

More information on algae levels at lakes statewide can be found on the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality website, deq.state.ne.us.

 -30-

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 North 33rd Street
Lincoln, NE 68503
402.471.0641
www.OutdoorNebraska.org

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is responsible for stewardship of the state’s fish, wildlife, parklands, and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Filed under Community Tagged with , , , ,

Public Meeting in Kearney to Discuss Tree Removal

July 18, 2015 Leave a comment


LINCOLN – A public meeting will be held in Kearney on July 29 to discuss invasive tree removal for upland game bird and other game management on Bassway Strip Wildlife Management Area.

The meeting will be held from 7-8 p.m. at the Environmental Resource Center Building in Yanney Heritage Park, located at 2020 W. 11th St.

Discussion will focus on removal of invasive eastern red cedar trees and grey dogwood to benefit bobwhite quail, deer, turkey and other wildlife species.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 North 33rd Street
Lincoln, NE 68503
402.471.0641
www.OutdoorNebraska.org

Filed under Community Tagged with , ,

Falls Park, Sioux Falls SD

July 17, 2015 Leave a comment


Every time we go to South Dakota, we stop at Sioux Falls and go to Falls Park. It is beautiful there!

The beauty of Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD. All photos credit of Denise Gilliland/Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

The beauty of Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD. All photos credit of Denise Gilliland/Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

DSC06589 DSC06590 DSC06591 DSC06592 DSC06593

Filed under Community, Photo Gallery Tagged with , ,

Heat Advisory Issued

July 17, 2015 Leave a comment


Heat advisory in effect until 8 PM CDT this evening for … The National Weather Service in Omaha/valley has issued a heat advisory…which is in effect until 8 PM CDT this evening. * Temperature…heat indices will range from 105 to near 110 degrees this afternoon. * Impacts…above normal temperatures combined with high humidity will lead to dangerously high heat index values today and Saturday. Precautionary/preparedness actions… A heat advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. Drink plenty of fluids…stay in an air-conditioned room…stay out of the sun…and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Filed under News Tagged with ,

Village Board of Decatur to Hold Special Meeting

July 17, 2015 Leave a comment


The Village Board of Decatur will hold a special meeting on July 24th at 3 pm.

On the agenda is ordinance 7-15 and employee insurance.

Filed under News Tagged with , , ,

Fremont 4-H Fair Swine Showmanship Winners

July 17, 2015 Leave a comment


Burt County showmanship skills were apparent at the Fremont 4-H Fair Swine Showmanship Contest Saturday evening in Fremont. Brayden Anderson of Lyons won the Intermediate Division while Jenna Bromm of Oakland won the Senior Division and Elise Anderson of Lyons placed third in the Junior Division. Photo Credit/Kevin Anderson.

Burt County showmanship skills were apparent at the Fremont 4-H Fair Swine Showmanship Contest Saturday evening in Fremont.
Brayden Anderson of Lyons won the Intermediate Division while Jenna Bromm of Oakland won the Senior Division and Elise Anderson of Lyons placed third in the Junior Division. Photo Credit/Kevin Anderson.

Filed under News Tagged with , ,

Federal Crop Insurance Gets Failing Grade

July 17, 2015 Leave a comment


The Center for Rural Affairs releases a report card and white paper evaluating the performance of federally subsidized crop insurance programs.
“The time has come for crop insurance reforms that emphasize conserving soil and water, put real limits on subsidies to the nation’s largest farms, and ensures these subsidies are transparent to taxpayers.”
Traci Bruckner, Center for Rural Affairs
On June 3, 2015, the Center for Rural Affairs launched their Crop Insurance Reform Initiative (www.cfra.org/crop-insurance-reform) to address long-standing concerns about federal farm programs and crop insurance subsidies. According to Traci Bruckner, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Rural Affairs, evaluating the current state of and functionality of federally subsidized crop insurance programs has been a first-order priority since the very beginning.
“We’ve heard from farmers across the Midwest and Great Plains about the negative impacts of federally subsidized crop insurance for over a decade,” said Bruckner. “A farm safety net is important to help family farmers mitigate risks, but there are real concerns with the current crop insurance program. The best way to begin addressing those concerns is through honest and forthright assessment of the crop insurance system.”
“This report card is our earnest effort to get that assessment started,” added Bruckner. “And this is just the beginning, we will have more analysis, and more recommendations for reform coming out in the coming weeks and months.”
The report card evaluates six categories of performance: reliability, transparency, support it gives to beginning farmers, emphasis on crop diversity, efficient use of taxes, and conservation of soil and water. Along with the report card, the Center for Rural Affairs is also releasing a policy brief, which more fully explains each letter grade provided in the report card.
To view or download the Crop Insurance Report Card and Policy Brief go to:
“By displaying this assessment of crop insurance in a format that everyone is familiar with, we hope to simplify a set of complicated issues and attract the general public to join us in pushing for reforms,” Bruckner explained.
Bruckner also pointed out that while most of the grades we awarded are not what parents would hope to see on their own child’s school report, grades did range from a B to several grades of F. And the accompanying Policy Brief offers further analysis and what reforms could be enacted to improve the performance of the crop insurance system. In overall performance, crop insurance received a failing grade.
“A student who fails overall is usually not allowed to progress to the next grade,” offered Bruckner. “We want to stress that the crop insurance system needs some serious reforms before we can honestly say this is a real safety net that deserves to advance, as is, in the next farm bill debate. The impact crop insurance will have on future years of farming practices is significant, making reform of the federally subsidized crop insurance system vitally important to the future of rural and small town America.”
“Subsidizing the nation’s largest and wealthiest farms on every acre, every year, regardless of crop prices, production or farm profitability, puts America’s natural resources at risk,” concluded Bruckner. “And, absent reform, crop insurance gives mega-farms an advantage in bidding up land costs, driving their smaller neighbors out of business, and preventing the next generation of farmers from ever getting started.”

Filed under News Tagged with , , ,

Elaine Marie Ida (Hitz) Holm, 93, of Wakefield NE

July 17, 2015 Leave a comment


Elaine Marie Ida (Hitz) Holm, 93, of Wakefield, Nebraska passed away Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at the Wakefield Health Care Center in Wakefield. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wakefield, with Pastor William Bertrand officiating. Visitation will be held 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2015 at Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery in Wakefield. Memorials may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wakefield. Arrangements are under the direction of Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield.

Elaine was born on October 4, 1921 to Erie and Ella (Pittack) Hitz in Pierce, NE. She was baptized on October 16, 1921 and confirmed in her faith on Palm Sunday 1934 at St. John’ s Lutheran Church in Pierce, NE, by Pastor H. A. Hilpert. Elaine moved with her parents to Wakefield in November 1936 and graduated from Wakefield High School in 1939. On November 16, 1942 she was united in marriage to Harold Holm at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wakefield by Pastor W. A. Gerdes.

Elaine was active in St. John’s Lutheran Church, helping with the Ladies Aid, Ruth’s Bible Study, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and a Bible School Helper. She was also involved with Club 16, the V.F.W. Auxiliary, Rural Letter Carrier’s Auxiliary. In her spare time Elaine enjoyed quilting, crocheting, sewing and crafts. Elaine is survived by her daughter, Cheryl (Dennis) Evans of Bennington, NE; son, Charles (Cecil) Holm of Depoe Bay, OR; four grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, Erie and Ella Hitz; husband, Harold Holm and a brother, Alfred Hitz.

Elaine Holm

Elaine Holm

Filed under Obituaries Tagged with , , ,

The Loss of a Pet

July 16, 2015 Leave a comment


Our dog, Sox, died a few days ago, he was 15 years old.

I remember when our daughter, Whitney, picked him out at the Humane Society in Fremont. He was not the cutest dog there. He was a mix of breeds, or a Heinz 57. He was one of several from the same litter left there. But, he was the only one left.

Whitney took one look at him and knew he was the dog for her. I wondered, but over time, learned she was right from the beginning.

Every night, he slept in Whitney’s room. He was definitely her dog. He wasn’t a watchdog. He would bark, but usually it was because the doorbell rang or someone knocked at the door. He didn’t bark at outside noises.

The grandkids loved playing with him. He would lie right beside them and they would pet him, sometimes harder than they should, but he never flinched or became angry. He loved them and felt he was protecting them by being beside them. I think most dogs protect children.

After Whitney went to college, he became more attached to me. He followed me all over the house. If I was walking towards the front door, he ran to get there ahead of me. He couldn’t wait to run and play in the yard.

But, the minute Whitney walked in the door, he was her dog again. He adored her. She would cut his hair. He would sit in front of her, never moving, until she was done. He wasn’t quite as accepting of me cutting his hair. Sometimes Jeff would have to help me.

He started to go downhill, then rebounded, only to go downhill later. I was taking him to the veterinarian the following morning, but he passed away late the night before, peacefully and on his favorite rug.

I felt like we had lost a member of the family. But, in truth, we had. I dreaded telling Whitney. I knew how much the news would hurt.

We gave him a proper burial.

It is so sad that pets don’t live as long as we do. I have had many dogs over the years and cry like a baby when they die.

I discovered how attached I was to him once he was gone. So, I have decided to get another dog. My sister Angie has puppies and next week, one of them will be coming to our house. His name will be Shiloh. I read the books about Shiloh, loved them and thought the name would be appropriate.

If you have a place in your heart for a pet, there are many that need rescued and placed in a good home.

Contact your local humane society today!

Filed under Opinion Tagged with ,

← Older posts

Newer posts →