Pistol League Offered at Nebraska Game and Parks

October 19, 2015 Leave a comment


The Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center will host a .22-pistol league for shooters of all abilities ages 12 and up on Thursday nights beginning Oct. 22. Additionally, the center will offer two youth shooting programs — Intro to Gun Safety and Technique for Young Shooters, and Best Shots Youth Rifle Marksmanship.

All programs will meet weekly, and will focus on range safety, skill development and proper technique. More information on these and other events is available online.

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Elmer Engelbart, 99, of Fremont NE, Formerly of Bancroft NE

October 19, 2015 Leave a comment


Elmer Engelbart, 99, passed away Sunday, October 18, 2015 at Pathfinder House in Fremont, NE.

Funeral services are pending with Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft, NE.

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Gloria Faye (Frank) Moore, 77, of Pender NE

October 18, 2015 Leave a comment


Gloria Faye (Frank) Moore, 77, of Pender, Nebraska passed away Friday, October 16, 2015 at her home in Pender, NE. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender; with Pastor Daniel Springer officiating. Memorial visitation will be Monday, October 19, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Pender. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender, NE.

Gloria was born May 18, 1938 in Pender, NE to Herman and Elsie (Burner) Frank. She was baptized in June of 1938. Gloria attended school in Pender, graduating in 1956. She was united in marriage to John Paul Moore at St. Patrick’s Church in Battle Creek, NE on December 26, 1956. The couple resided in Pender where Gloria worked as a retail clerk at Ken’s Rexall Drug for 37 years. Never one to slow down, upon retirement from Ken’s, Gloria worked for two years at Subway before retiring completely. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary for 32 years.

Gloria enjoyed gardening, decorating her home for Christmas, and taking care of those she loved. Most of all, she enjoyed the time she spent with her family and attending her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s events.

She is survived by four children, John Moore and special friend, Denise Wilson of Niobrara, NE, Mary (Marvin) Greenfield of Bancroft, NE, Patty (John) Bessmer and Jerry (Tammy) Moore of Pender, NE; 10 grandchildren, Mandy Johnson, Aaron (Rachel) Bessmer, Jamie Johnson (Matt Torczon), Ian Moore (Amy Leonard) , Tyson (Kathy) Greenfield, Caleb Greenfield, Candice (Andy) Welsh, Ashley Bessmer, Sam Moore, and Jasmine Greenfield; and 11 great grandchildren, Haylie and Hayden Torczon, Brooklynn Dutcher-Bessmer and Addilynn Bessmer, Zane and Asher Moore, Trey and Addi Johnson, Zander and Tayten Welsh, and Rebel Greenfield. Also surviving her is her brother, Donny (Darlene) Frank of Omaha, NE, and sisters, Priscilla Mazourek of Yankton, SD and Betty (Al) Matteo of Norfolk, NE.

Gloria is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Richard, infant son James, and grandson, John Adam Bessmer.

Gloria Moore

Gloria Moore

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Kats’ Korner: Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.

I have interviewed some people who have adopted dogs from shelters, rescuing dogs in need of a good home. The story will appear in my paper next week.

We have adopted one dog from a shelter. Actually, our daughter Whitney did. She adopted Sox from the Dodge County Humane Society in Fremont many years ago. He passed away this past July after living a very good, long life. He was a great dog, always loyal and loved kids! It was hard to lose him. Pets are family. Unfortunately, they don’t live forever, no matter how much we want them to.

I am glad so many people adopt dogs, even if it isn’t from a shelter. Sometimes people can’t take care of their dog for whatever reason and need to find a new home for him or her. To me, that is also rescuing a dog.

If you or someone you know wants a dog to love, please look into adopting one from your local shelter.

Providing a home for a dog, having endless love and companionship, is one of the greatest gifts you can have, for you and the dog.

I know I can’t imagine not having a dog. We now have a rat terrier, Shiloh. We didn’t rescue him from a shelter though. My sister had puppies that needed a home. There were three left and she was trying to find them good homes. Our dog Sox had passed away and I felt so empty without him. I decided to take one of the puppies. I felt like it was meant to be.

He is a great puppy, always on the go! He is a true blessing!

Thought for the Day: Happiness is having a dog!

Have a great week!

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Medicare Mania Begins

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant

As we head into October this week, Medicare Mania is just beginning. Although if you are a Medicare recipient you may have already received “Medicare mail” in your mailbox.

Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15 and runs through December 7. This is your opportunity to see if another Medicare health or drug plan will fit your needs and your billfold for the next year.

There are always changes in the plans. In 2016 five prescription drug plans are being deleted. We don’t know yet if they will be automatically changed to another plan or what yet. In addition, one Low Income Subsidy Plan with a $0 premium is going away, while a new one is coming in.

Other changes can include the drugs the plans cover, the cost of the plan premiums and the cost of the drugs and co-pays as well as the deductible. This is why you NEED to compare your prescription drug plans each year.

If you use a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan for your health care, there are also changes there. In Burt County the only two plans available are both Coventry plans. In Dodge County there are six Medicare Advantage Plans available and in Washington County there are seven MA plans for 2016.

If you receive information from your current Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and you are happy with the plan and your prescriptions continue to be covered you don’t have to do anything. The plan will continue on for next year…however, if you don’t compare your plan with the other prescription drug plans you may not know you could save significant money next year by changing prescription drug plans, pharmacies, or by using mail order to get your prescriptions. But it is always YOUR decision.

Opportunities to compare your prescriptions to the 2016 Medicare Health and Drug plans are available through several avenues including comparing on-line yourself by going to www.medicare.gov. You may also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to compare plans.

If you’d prefer a face-to-face opportunity to discuss your prescriptions and the plans available, you are welcome to make an appointment at any of the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Medicare Open Enrollment comparison events. All SHIIP presentations and counseling sessions are free and unbiased. In addition, all counseling sessions are completely confidential.

As a SHIIP Counselor myself, I have planned 18 Open Enrollment Events throughout Burt, Dodge and Washington Counties from October 15-December 7. You are encouraged to call your local Nebraska Extension office to make an appointment for one of these sessions. You are welcome to attend any event in any county regardless of where you live, but please call the Extension office where the event is being held to make an appointment.

Here is a quick list of 2016 Medicare Open Enrollment Events:

In Burt County call 402-374-2929 for an appointment:

October 19 – Monday –9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Chatt Senior Center, 1124 S. 13th Street, Tekamah, NE

 

October 28 – Wednesday – 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Sears Senior Center, 8th & Broadway, Decatur, NE;

 

October 28 – Wednesday – 3:30-5:30 p.m. Tekamah-Herman High School, Room 107, Tekamah, NE

 

October 29 – Thursday – 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Chatt Senior Center, 1124 S. 13th Street, Tekamah, NE

 

November 2 – Monday – 9:00 a.m.-noon. Lyons Public Library, 305 Main, Lyons, NE;

 

November 3 – Tuesday – 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Oakland Public Library, 110 East 3rd, Oakland, NE

 

November 4 – Wednesday – 9:00 a.m.-noon. Lyons Public Library, 305 Main, Lyons, NE;

 

November 4 – Wednesday – 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sears Senior Center, 8th & Broadway, Decatur, NE;

 

November 5 – Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Chatt Senior Center, 1124 S. 13th Street, Tekamah, NE

 

November 6 – Friday – 9:00 a.m.-noon. Lyons Public Library, 305 Main, Lyons, NE;

 

November 9 – Monday – 1:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Oakland Public Library, 110 East 3rd, Oakland, NE

November 17 – Tuesday – 9:00-3:00 p.m. Craig Fire Hall, 333 south Main, Craig, NE;

 

In Dodge County call 402-727-2775 for an appointment:

October 15 – Thursday – 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Hooper Senior Center, 208 North Main St., Hooper

 

October 22 – Thursday – 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Nebraska Extension in Dodge County, 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont, NE

 

October 23 – Friday –9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Nebraska Extension in Dodge County, 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont, NE

 

October 30 – Friday –10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. North Bend Public Library, 110 E. 13th Street, North Bend; NE

 

In Washington County call 402-426-9455:

November 18 – Wednesday –9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Nebraska Extension in Washington County, 597 Grant Street, Suite #200, Blair, NE

 

November 19 – Thursday – 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Nebraska Extension in Washington County, 597 Grant Street, Suite #200, Blair, NE

 

 

 

 

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October is Farm to School Month in Nebraska

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


The Center for Rural Affairs is celebrating Farm to School Month by hosting three webinars filled with useful information for school staff and farmers and ranchers interested in starting or expanding Farm to School programs in their communities.

 

The hour long webinars taking place during October and November will cover a wide range of topics such as how food service staff have participated in local food procurement, key points farmers and ranchers should consider when working with schools as a market opportunity, and how Nebraska farmers, ranchers and food producers have made the school connection.

 

“These webinars are a free resource we are facilitating to bring together educators, food service directors, farmers, ranchers, parents, students, and others interested in Farm to School programs across Nebraska,” said Sarah Smith with the Center for Rural Affairs. “They will allow Nebraskans from across the Farm to School table to hear success stories, learn best practices, and most importantly connect with each other. This effort will grow market opportunities for Nebraska food producers, and healthy, delicious food options for our Nebraska students. Bringing the farm to school is a win-win for all of us.”

 

The first webinar, “Farm to School Case Studies for Nebraska Food Service Staff” will take place Thursday, October 22, 2015 from 2-3pm and targets Nebraska Food Service Staff.  Rural food service directors will share how and why they have participated in local procurement and farm to school activities. Their stories will address a range of topics like scratch cooking techniques, working with local farmers and ranchers, using produce from a school greenhouse (and planning for it),  incorporating local foods into salad bars; and bringing local beef onto the school lunch tray.

 

The second webinar, “Farmers and Ranchers: Reach a New Market with Sales to Schools” will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 from 2-3pm. This webinar, designed for Nebraska farmers, ranchers and food producers, will discuss key points for farmers and ranchers to consider when working with schools as a market opportunity. Participants will walk in a food service director’s shoes with Donna Handley, School Lunch Program Specialist with the Nebraska Department of Ed. She will answer what requirements and needs school food service staff face when serving school meals. Sarah Browning of University of Nebraska Extension will discuss the farm food safety procedures farmers and ranchers should consider, as well as helpful training resources that are available to address farm food safety topics. Finally, experienced farmer Ryan Pekarek, will discuss how and when to approach schools, and how to go about planning the growing season. This webinar will introduce food producers to the opportunities available when selling to schools, as well as considerations to take when planning for success.

 

The third and final webinar, “Farm to School: Farmers, Learn an Easier Way to Make the School Connection” takes place Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 2-3 pm. Participants will hear three unique stories on farm to school and how Nebraska farmers have made the school connection. Justin Jones, President of Lone Tree Foods, will share how Lone Tree connects food producers to eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa schools. Food Service Director Tini Van-Oehlertz of Pius X schools in Lincoln will explain her experiences purchasing local foods through the Nebraska Food Cooperative. And Dawne Price of Price Farms will describe how and why she directly connected with Lyons-Decatur Schools and the on-farm activities she organized for Lyons-Decatur elementary students. There are multiple ways to connect with schools, and this webinar will provide insight on Nebraska farm to school opportunities for the food producer.

 

For detailed registration details, interested participants should visit: http://www.cfra.org/farm-school-your-fingertips-join-our-fall-webinars.

 

The Center for Rural Affairs has many resources for helping bring the farm to the school. One such tool is the Farm to School Producers Map (found here: http://www.cfra.org/findfarmer), inspired by our online Nebraska Find-A-Farmer Tool designed to link a school or program with a farmer to work with directly.
Other Farm to School resources can be found at the main Farm to School page here: http://www.cfra.org/f2s

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Oakland City Council Meeting Agenda

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


MEETING NOTICE:

            NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Oakland, Nebraska, will be held at 5:30 on Monday October 19th, 2015 at the Municipal Building, 401 North Oakland Avenue in Oakland, Nebraska for the regular monthly meeting.

An agenda for such meeting, kept continuously current is available for public inspection at the office of the City Clerk. Except for items of an emergency nature, the agenda shall not be enlarged later than twenty-four hours before the scheduled commencement of the meeting.

______________________________________________________________________________

PRELIMINARY AGENDA

 

I.                CALL TO ORDER

  1. Roll Call
  2. Establishment of a Quorum
  3. Reminder of Open Meeting Laws/Poster
  4. Approval of Minutes of September 30, 2015 meeting
  5. Treasurer’s Report

 

  1. SCHEDULED CITIZENS AND VISITORS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL

A.   Julie Ogden

B.   Julie Johnson special liquor request

C.   Approval of special liquor licenses for Silver Hill Winery for Dec. 3, 2015

D.   Jarvis Guill- Golf Carts allowed on streets

 

III.           COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS

E.    Police Department

F.    Library

G.   Solid Waste

 

  1. OLD BUSINESS

H.   Ben Murray’s proposed alternatives to the present parking ban

 

 

V.              NEW BUSINESS

I.     Approve Engineering agreement

J.     1 & 6 year plan

K.   Mayor recommendation to the Board of Adjustments

VI.             INFORMATION ITEM

 

VII.            DISCUSSION

L.    Hospital signs on hi-way and parking signs

                 

VIII.          EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

  1. APPROVAL OF OPERATIONS BILLS AND WARRANTS
  2. Approval by motion

 

  1. ADJOURNMENT

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Nebraska has Abundant Deer Hunting Opportunities in 2015

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


Plenty of deer hunting opportunities are available this fall for Nebraska big game hunters. Archers have been in the field since the start of September and rifle hunters are preparing for the Nov. 14–22 firearm season.

Permits still remain in 38 of the 53 deer permit types. Most of the permits that typically sell out do not do so until early November or later. Frenchman, Republican and Platte mule deer are among the sold out permits. Archery, muzzleloader, youth and statewide buck permits are unlimited in quantity and never sell out. All youth deer permits are $6, including issuing fee.

New big game hunters or those new to Nebraska should be aware of the requirements for deer hunting. They include permit, stamp, age, hunter education, accompaniment and checking requirements. Read the 2015 Big Game Guide, available where permits are sold, for more information.

A hunting (small game) permit is not required to hunt deer, but a deer-specific permit is needed. All nonresidents and most residents require a habitat stamp. Permits and stamps may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org or at any Game and Parks permitting office. To check the availability of remaining permits, visit the website, then click on Buy a Permit, then Remaining Permits.

Hunter Education or an Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate is required of many hunters.

All November firearm hunters must check their deer at check stations. Telephone and Internet checking is required in all other deer seasons.

Hunting is allowed on private property if permission is granted. In addition, the Open Fields and Waters program offers public walk-in hunting access on private property, with sites displayed in the 2015 Public Access Atlas. Available public ground includes nearly 250 state-owned wildlife management areas.

“Deer numbers are on the increase in most areas of the state due to the restrictions on antlerless permits since 2012,” said Kit Hams, big game program manager with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “The percentage of age 3-and-older bucks in the harvest set new records in 2014, so the opportunity for a trophy remains high.”

Hunters may donate their deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry Program, which provides ground venison to Nebraskans in need. Visit http://www.outdoornebraska.com/hunting/programs/HHH/index.asp for more information.

OutdoorNebraska.org is an excellent resource for planning a hunting trip. Find hunting sites using the site’s interactive maps or find areas to camp and make reservations through the site.

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Fun Evening at Harvest Moon Pumpkin Patch

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


We had a great time at Harvest Moon Pumpkin Patch with our granddaughter Penelope. We also saw many others at the Pumpkin Patch, enjoying a beautiful Autumn evening.

We had a great time at Harvest Moon Pumpkin Patch with our granddaughter Penelope. We also saw many others at the Pumpkin Patch, enjoying a beautiful Autumn evening.

DSC07615 DSC07617 DSC07618 DSC07622 DSC07625 DSC07626 IMG_1186 IMG_1188 IMG_1190 IMG_1193 IMG_1194 IMG_1197 IMG_1201

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Asian Ladybird Beetles are Invading Homes

October 16, 2015 Leave a comment


By John Wilson, Extension Educator

If you aren’t already, you should be on high alert. I’ve received numerous calls about home invasions around the county, many in broad daylight while the residents were in their homes. I have to confess that we didn’t take all the necessary precautions and our home also fell victim to these invaders.

So who is responsible? The perpetrators are Multicolored Asian Ladybird Beetles (MALBs), a common species of ladybug that congregates on the south and west sides of homes as temperatures drop and harvest forces them from their summer home in fields.

This odd trait goes back to Asia, the original home for this species of ladybug. They would migrate to overwinter in the cracks and crevices of cliffs in their native habitat. Since cliffs are few and far between in eastern Nebraska, the next best thing they can find are the vertical walls of buildings, your home and mine!

Outside, this ladybug doesn’t really cause problems other than large masses of the beetles will emit an odor. However, when these home invaders look for sheltered places to overwinter and find their way inside your home, it may be difficult to remember they are a beneficial insect that voraciously feeds on aphids. Once inside, they present several problems for homeowners:

  • They secrete a foul-tasting chemical, which makes them unpalatable to their enemies. This secretion can stain fabric and wallpaper.
  • Large infestations have a distinct unpleasant odor.
  • They have been reported to be an asthma trigger in sensitive individuals.
  • They will bite. It isn’t particularly painful, but it is annoying.

My wife identified two other problems with the MALBs I hadn’t considered:

  • MALBs are annoying as they walk across the television screen in the evening when other lights are off and they are drawn to the light of the TV.
  • One MALB proved to be particularly annoying when it landed in her cup of coffee when she wasn’t looking. There is no way to describe what happened next other than, “That wasn’t pretty!” The biggest challenge has been getting the coffee stains out of our carpet!

The best method to control MALBs inside your home is to keep them outside your home! Locate entry points and use caulking to seal cracks and crevices. Use weather stripping to insure a tight seal around your doors and windows, and make sure your screens are in good repair. Spraying MALBs with an insecticide where they congregate on the south and west sides of your home will have limited effect because others will migrate in, replacing the ones you might have killed.

Here are my suggestions to callers once these beetles have found their way inside:

  • Do not swat or smash these ladybugs. Their body fluids will stain your draperies and wall coverings.
  • Do not use insecticides to kill them inside your home. Insecticides will not prevent other beetles from coming inside and will have limited effectiveness unless sprayed directly on the MALBs.
  • Do vacuum up MALBs. This is the recommended strategy because it is safer and more effective than an insecticide application in your home.

If large numbers of ladybugs are sucked into the canister of the vacuum cleaner, their secretions will cause the vacuum cleaner to smell like ladybugs every time it is used. To prevent this, insert a knee-high nylon stocking into the hose wand to capture the beetles before they are sucked into the vacuum cleaner body.

Insert the knee-high stocking into a connection joint in the wand so it forms a bag inside the hose. A portion of the stocking is folded over the outside of the wand to secure it in place when the wand is put back together. After sucking up the beetles, remove the stocking and dispose of the beetles.

For more information on controlling ladybugs, contact your local Nebraska Extension office.

John Wilson

John Wilson

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