Competing for Growth

March 22, 2017 Leave a comment


By Governor Pete Ricketts

Over the last two years, Nebraska has hit some key growth benchmarks.  In 2015, for the first time, Nebraska had over one million non-farm jobs.  Our population hit an all-time high of 1.9 million people last year.  And just a few weeks ago, Nebraska won the Governor’s Cup for the most capital investment projects per capita in the nation.  Over 100 new investments helped Nebraska garner this coveted award.

 

Even with all these successes, Nebraska should not rest.  We must continue to look for ways to become more competitive nationally.  Other states are constantly working to develop new competitive edges to attract more people, jobs, and investment.  

 

One significant area that Nebraska is not competitive in is taxes.  We are a high tax state.  Bloomberg ranks Nebraska 16th highest for income taxes and USA Today rates us 5th highest for property taxes.  Recently, the Tax Foundation released a new study showing Nebraska ranks 14th highest nationally for income tax collections per capita.  High taxes stifle growth, hinder job creation, and burden family budgets.  Our tax rates also matter because site selectors in charge of picking venues for new investments screen out high tax states for new projects, meaning Nebraska can miss out on even being considered for some investments.

 

If we are going to stay competitive, we must make progress in bringing our tax rates down.  Over the past two years, we successfully delivered over $400 million in direct property tax relief for all property owners across the state, and an additional $40 million in property tax relief targeted at ag land taxpayers.  Additionally, we worked with the Legislature last year to put more resources towards state aid to K-12 schools along with new spending controls on school spending.  

 

This year, we are working with the Legislature on new reforms to income and property taxes to make our state more tax competitive. 

 

In the area of income tax, I am working with Revenue Committee Chairman Jim Smith to bring down our top tax rate from 6.84 percent to under six percent.  Bringing down the top tax rate is critical because 90 percent of income taxes are paid by Nebraskans who pay in the top tax bracket.  This includes solidly middle class families making more than $29,831 of taxable income.  Additionally, 90 percent of Nebraska businesses pay individual income taxes, according to the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce.  Cutting income taxes will give more money back to family budgets, help Main Street grow job opportunities, and make our state more attractive to job creators.

 

On property taxes, I am working with Ag Committee Chairwoman Lydia Brasch to change the way ag land is valued for taxation purposes.  With the Agricultural Valuation Fairness Act, we are proposing to move assessments for ag land from a market-based system to an income-potential approach.  This will help valuations to better reflect the income of Nebraska’s ag producers.  This is long-term, structural reform that will help ensure our state’s number one industry remains strong.  This system has been suggested to me by ag producers across the state, because of the success other ag states have experienced.  If the Agricultural Valuation Fairness Act were in place for 2017, it would have reduced ag land valuations by about $2.2 billion.

 

Getting both income and property tax reform done this year is critical for growing both Main Street and agriculture, and key to bringing together both urban and rural senators in the Unicameral. 

 

While many senators are focused on getting tax reform done this year, a small minority have suggested no tax relief is needed.  Last week, one senator even suggested that the Legislature should consider raising taxes instead of providing tax relief.  Our income tax rates are already uncompetitive.  Raising our income tax would put an additional burden on our middle class families and small businesses.  Right now, our sales tax is middle-of-the-pack.  Raising our sales tax even a penny would give Nebraska the 14th highest sales tax in the nation, according to the State Chamber.

 

As you can see, we need to focus on bringing tax rates down if we want to ease the burden on our families and grow Nebraska.  Raising taxes would make us less competitive and less attractive to job creators as well as to families looking to move here.  If you have feedback on what you would like to see the Legislature do on tax reform, I encourage you to contact your senator.  You can find all their information at www.NebraskaLegislature.gov.  If you have feedback for me, I hope you will contact my office by emailing pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or by calling 402-471-2244.

Governor Pete Ricketts

 

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Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Trainings Offered

March 22, 2017 Leave a comment


By John Wilson, Extension Educator

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Trainings Offered

Nebraska Extension will be offering three Beef Quality Assurance informational meetings for area beef producers. The dates and locations are:

 Wednesday, March 29 – 9:00 a.m., Community Building, Stanton

 Wednesday, March 29 – 1:30 p.m., Courthouse Meeting Room, West Point

Thursday, March 30, 10:00 a.m., First Nebraska Bank Meeting Room, Emerson

Topics that will be covered at the meetings include Antibiotic Stewardship, Veterinary Feed Directive, and General Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Assessment topics. These meetings are also for those producers that need BQA certification or recertification. There is a $20 fee for those who wish to become BQA certified.

Pre-registration is encouraged by contacting Larry Howard, Nebraska Extension Educator in Cuming County located in West Point at 402.372.6006 or lhoward1@unl.edu. For additional information contact the Nebraska Extension office in Cuming County or Rob Eirich, Nebraska Director of Beef Quality Assurance at 308.632.1230.

 

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Happenings at Oakland Heights

March 21, 2017 Leave a comment


Oakland Heights News by Nancy Silvey

This week we will be having our Movie Matinee on Thursday March 23rd movie starts at 2:00 pm. Next week on Monday March 27th at 2:30 pm is the monthly Resident Council meeting. On Tuesday March 28th is the Residents Choice diner meal at 11:30 am. Thursday March 30th is the resident general store it will be open for residents to shop from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. We have a resident celebrating a birthday this, Delwin Benne has a birthday on March 23rd.

Church Service for Sunday March 26th be given by St. John Lutheran Church at 2:30 pm with a luncheon following service. On Tuesday March 28th is Catholic Mass at 9:30 am given by Father Paul.

Activities for the week of March 27th to April 1st   are as follows, reading with Jill, Manicures, Sing A Long, Game Day, Bingo the w/VFW Aux., Reading Group, Bible Fellowship, Let’s Play Ball, Crafty Cooking, Saturday Movie, and Lawrence Walk.

Volunteers signing in last week were; Dani Moseman, Bonnie Fleischman, Sue Beckner, Di Ruwe, Judy Nelson, Betty Hanna, Ann Anderson, Patty Miller, and Nadine Anderson.

Guests signing in this past week was: Mary Plageman to see Dorothy Larson.

Oakland Heights Activity Memory Fund

A new Bingo cage was given to the Activity department in memory of Tim Hawkins by Candice Fehrer.

 

 

 

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News From Bancroft Senior Center

March 21, 2017 Leave a comment


Bancroft Senior Center News by Connie Bargmann  

*If you are 60+ and need information on programs designed to help keep you stay in your home longer or if you need legal help, contact Connie at 402-648-3387 or in the evening at 402-648-7648. There are no membership fees or attendance requirements and new faces are always welcome.

* 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 walkers. Call 402-648-3387 during office hours.

Meals on Wheels

*Would you like to get Meals on Wheels? 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 8:30 a.m. if you want a meal that day. The suggested donation for the meals is $4.00.

 

Weekly Activities:

Wed. March 22: Chime practice at 9:00 a.m. Coffee time at 10:00 a.m. Fitness chair exercises at 1:00 p.m. Caroline Zuhlke will talk and show slides of her trip to Mexico at 2:00 p.m.

Thurs. March 23: Tai Chi Class at 9:30 a.m. We serve rolls/coffee from 9 – 11 a.m. Please sign up for the pitch tournament at 1:30 p.m.

Wed. March 24: Join us for coffee at 9:00 a.m. If you would like to play in the pinochle tournament at 1:30 p.m. please remember to sign up.

Mon. March 27: Join us for coffee in the morning. Come and play cards or a board game at 1:30 p.m. The board meeting is at 3:30 p.m. The evening quilling class will start at 6:30 p.m., the class is free. Sign up if you are interested in taking the class.

Tues. March 28: Tai Chi class at 9:30 a.m. Coffee time at 10:00 a.m. Today’s meal will be fried chicken and cards will be played at 1:30 p.m.

Wed. March 29: Chime practice at 9:00 a.m. Coffee time is at 10:00 a.m. Fitness Chair Ex. at 1:00 p.m. If you would like to play Skip-Bo it will start at 1:45 p.m.

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Early Spring is the Time to Fish for Northern Pike

March 17, 2017 Leave a comment


Early spring is a great time to fish for northern pike, and Nebraska offers several great places to do so, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. 

Northern pike are best suited for colder environments; they are one of the first species to spawn in the spring. Spawning is currently underway, which means pike are coming up into the shallows to spawn on rooted vegetation. During and immediately after spawning, pike can be easily caught by working the shallows with various baits. That is the time when a pike’s metabolism rate is ready for it to start feeding.  

Most of the state’s best pike waters are located in north central and northwestern Nebraska; however, eastern Nebraska anglers have an excellent location at Lake Wanahoo in Saunders County to catch and release pike into the 40-inch range.

Sandhills lakes cannot be beat, for anglers wanting to experience true pike waters. The Valentine National Wildlife Refuge lakes in Cherry County are excellent, with the best pike opportunities at Dewey, Pelican and Hackberry lakes. The best reservoirs in the state for pike are Box Butte in Dawes County and Merritt in Cherry County, as they have excellent numbers with a variety of sizes.

Check the 2017 Nebraska Fishing Guide, as these water bodies have different harvest regulations. Purchase a fishing permit at OutdoorNebraska.org.

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On This Day: Saint Patrick Dies at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland

March 17, 2017 Leave a comment


On this day in 461 A.D., Saint Patrick, Christian missionary, bishop and apostle of Ireland, dies at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland.

Much of what is known about Patrick’s legendary life comes from the Confessio, a book he wrote during his last years. Born in Great Britain, probably in Scotland, to a well-to-do Christian family of Roman citizenship, Patrick was captured and enslaved at age 16 by Irish marauders. For the next six years, he worked as a herder in Ireland, turning to a deepening religious faith for comfort. Following the counsel of a voice he heard in a dream one night, he escaped and found passage on a ship to Britain, where he was eventually reunited with his family.

According to the Confessio, in Britain Patrick had another dream, in which an individual named Victoricus gave him a letter, entitled “The Voice of the Irish.” As he read it, Patrick seemed to hear the voices of Irishmen pleading him to return to their country and walk among them once more. After studying for the priesthood, Patrick was ordained a bishop. He arrived in Ireland in 433 and began preaching the Gospel, converting many thousands of Irish and building churches around the country. After 40 years of living in poverty, teaching, traveling and working tirelessly, Patrick died on March 17, 461 in Saul, where he had built his first church.

Since that time, countless legends have grown up around Patrick. Made the patron saint of Ireland, he is said to have baptized hundreds of people on a single day, and to have used a three-leaf clover–the famous shamrock–to describe the Holy Trinity. In art, he is often portrayed trampling on snakes, in accordance with the belief that he drove those reptiles out of Ireland. For thousands of years, the Irish have observed the day of Saint Patrick’s death as a religious holiday, attending church in the morning and celebrating with food and drink in the afternoon. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade, though, took place not in Ireland, but the United States, when Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City in 1762. As the years went on, the parades became a show of unity and strength for persecuted Irish-American immigrants, and then a popular celebration of Irish-American heritage. The party went global in 1995, when the Irish government began a large-scale campaign to market St. Patrick’s Day as a way of driving tourism and showcasing Ireland’s many charms to the rest of the world. Today, March 17 is a day of international celebration, as millions of people around the globe put on their best green clothing to drink beer, watch parades and toast the luck of the Irish.

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Radon Testing and Mitigation

March 10, 2017 Leave a comment


Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department wants you to keep your family safe from radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is a radioactive gas in the soil that can leak into homes. It cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled. So the lower the radon level, the better. Testing for radon is the first step for home owners to find out if the radon levels in their homes are safe.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests taking action when the radon levels in your home get higher than 4.0 pCi/L. In Nebraska, almost 6 out of every 10 homes have levels higher than 4.0 pCi/L and most homes in Nebraska have radon levels at 6.0 pCi/L or above. Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department serves Burt, Cuming, Madison, and Stanton Counties where the average radon level in the past has been at 7.5 pCi/L or higher.

About five years ago, Roger Foster of Madison remembers picking up a radon test kit for his home after a neighbor’s basement had tested high for radon. Sure enough, Roger’s radon levels were also high. Roger decided to be safe and have a professional put in a unit to lower his radon level. These radon mitigation units are set up in the lowest level of the home, and pump radon safely outside. When asked about the process of installing the system, Roger said that it was clear-cut and “one afternoon was all it took.”

Years after installing the system, Roger re-tested his home for radon. This time, the results came back clean, almost as low as normal outside levels. His unit is working, and he can breathe easy.

To learn more about radon or how to get a radon test kit, call Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department at 402.529.2233 or visit our website at www.elvphd.org.

 

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This Day in History

March 10, 2017 Leave a comment


AMERICAN REVOLUTION

1792

The Right Honourable John Stuart, 3rd earl of Bute, dies »

AUTOMOTIVE

1927

Inventor who won suits against auto giants is born »

CIVIL WAR

1865

William H. C. Whiting dies »

COLD WAR

1948

Strange death of Jan Masaryk »

CRIME

1993

Dr. David Gunn is murdered by anti-abortion activist »

DISASTER

1906

Mine explosion kills 1,060 in France »

GENERAL INTEREST

1876

Speech transmitted by telephone »

1945

The Firebombing of Tokyo continues »

1969

Ray pleads guilty to King assassination »

HOLLYWOOD

1997

The WB premieres its first hit show »

LITERARY

1926

First Book-of-the-Month Club selection is published »

MUSIC

1988

Disco sensation Andy Gibb dies at the age of 30 »

OLD WEST

1864

Montana vigilantes hang Jack Slade »

PRESIDENTIAL

1864

Lincoln signs Ulysses S. Grant’s commission to command the U.S. Army »

SPORTS

2006

Cuba plays in World Baseball Classic »

VIETNAM WAR

1970

Army captain charged with My Lai war crimes »

1975

Communists surround Ban Me Thuot »

WORLD WAR I

1917

Turkish troops begin evacuation of Baghdad »

WORLD WAR II

1940

Sumner Welles makes a “peace proposal” »

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They’re Back!

March 9, 2017 Leave a comment


By John Wilson, Extension Educator

            While watching a movie one evening last weekend, my wife said something to me about, “They’re Back!” This sounded like a line out of some cheap horror movie, but then I realized what she was talking about. With most of our lights turned down, the TV attracted a lady bug that was walking across the screen. With warmer temperatures recently, our house, like many, has seen or will see an increase in the activity of these pests.

            Multicolored Asian lady beetles seem to invade homes in the spring, but they actually invaded homes last fall and have been overwintering 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. These insects will not 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 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 up these six-legged pests, remove the nylon and release them outside or flush them down the toilet.

            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 and 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.

            Another pest we may encounter in the next few weeks is the clover mite. These tiny red mites are found on sunny walls and windows in early spring. Wiping them up with a wet washcloth or paper towel will control the mites for the couple of weeks they may be a nuisance indoors. Their life cycle is similar to lady beetles in that they actually got under siding or into walls last fall and are now or soon will become active, trying to find their way back outside.

            Spraying or fogging with an insecticide indoors  is not effective or recommended for 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 clover mites in your home, contact you local Nebraska Extension office.

 

Last Chance: Private Applicator Pesticide Training

            Attention Snow Birds and Procrastinators: Your last chance to attend a training session to recertify as a private pesticide applicator or to become certified if you have never been certified or allowed your certification to lapse are limited. Take advantage of one of these sessions so you don’t get caught later this year wanting to purchase a restricted use pesticide and your ag chemical dealer reminds you that you are not certified. That’s usually when I get a frantic call.

            There are several opportunities to attend this training in this area. They include:

Tuesday, March 21, 1:00 p.m. – Extension Office, Fremont

Thursday, March 23, 6:00 p.m. – Lifelong Learning Center, Norfolk

Tuesday, March 28, 1:00 p.m. – Lifelong Learning Center, Norfolk

Thursday, March 30, 6:30 p.m. – St. John’s Lutheran Church, Schuyler

Thursday, April 6, 9:00 a.m. – Lifelong Learning Center, Norfolk

            Other sessions are available, but are even farther away. For a complete listing of private pesticide applicator training sessions, go to the Nebraska Extension Pesticide Education website at http://pested.unl.edu/ and click on “2017 Private Pesticide Training Dates” at the top of the right column under the heading “Hot Topics!” Once you have all the training sessions listed, you can sort them by clicking on the heading at any of the columns. So click on “Date” to get a list that easily sorts out the remaining training sessions.

 

 

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Happenings at Oakland Heights

March 8, 2017 Leave a comment


Oakland Heights News by Nancy Silvey

Coming up this week Charlie Davis to play the Harmonica on Thursday March 9th at 2:30. Special activities next week is Waffle Supper on Thursday March 16th serving at 5:30 pm, then on Friday March 17th St. Patrick’s Day we will be having a St. Patrick’s Day Happy Hour party combination starting at 2:30 pm. Then on Saturday March 19th the Rusty Buckets will be here to play music at 2:30 pm.

Church Service for Sunday March 12th be given by Elim Lutheran Church at 2:30 pm with a luncheon following service. On Tuesday March 14th is Catholic Mass at 9:30 am given by Father Paul.

Activities for the week of March 13th to March 18th   are as follows, reading with Jill, Manicures, Reminiscing Group, Sing A Long, Game Day, Bingo the w/Salem, Reading Group, Bible Fellowship, Word Games, Let’s Play Ball, Crafty Cooking, Saturday Movie , and Lawrence Walk.

Volunteers signing in last week were; Dani Moseman, Bonnie Fleischman, Sue Beckner, Di Ruwe, Judy Nelson, Mary Donavon, Betty Hanna, Ann Anderson, Patty Miller, and Nadine Anderson.

 

 

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