The new Bancroft-Rosalie Panther
October 11, 2013 Leave a comment
New Panther! Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Bancroft-Rosalie Homecoming Pep Rally
October 11, 2013 Leave a comment
Games and fun were the highlight of the community pep rally for B-R homecoming! Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
B-R Homecoming Community Pep Rally! Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Homecoming fun! Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
What a great time! Community Pep Rally big success for B-R! Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Go team! Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Fire Prevention Week: Lyons Fire Department
October 11, 2013 Leave a comment
Back Row L-R
Brad Brink
Raymond Hayes
Larry McElroy
David Whitley
Al Hoover
Tim Graham
David Hartley
Gregg Simonsen
Scott Burgettt
Jamie Kroger
Beau Freese
Andrew Tuttle
Kyle Olson
Dillon Freese
Eric Simonsen
Jesse Raabe
Justin Webster
Jim Watson
Middle L-R
Maxine Kroger
Marlene Graham
Hillary Tuttle
Abby Simonsen
Mary Sue Haag
Shannon Burgett
Front L-R
Karolyn McElroy
Kyle Brink
Kyle Simonsen
Angela Whitley
Jeff Going
Pete Johnson
Ron Brovont
Kim Preston
Wendy Phillips
Kneeling-
Robert Sparks, Jr.
MISSING-
David McCullock
Bess McCullock
Jim Ferguson
Sam Barada
Jens Anderson
Photo courtesy/Abby Simonsen.
Fire Prevention Week: Decatur Fire Department
October 11, 2013 Leave a comment
Front Row
Jason Troutman, Jimmy Warren, Marco Hardeman, Neicko Deemer, Matt Archer, Jeff Tracy, Josh Richards, Brian McFarland.
Back Row
Theresa Sparks, Taylor Sparks, Joyce McCullock, Renee Stammer, Stephanie McFarland, Therese Magill
Not Pictured
Ivy Anderson, Jackie Anderson, Jack Burgett, Ariel Freemont, Ron Freemont, Jr., Harold Hayes, Mike Madsen, Dan Magill, Jaden Peeden, Jeremy Stammer. Photo Credit/Therese Magill.
Center for Rural Affairs: More wind energy
October 11, 2013 Leave a comment
Rural Leaders urge NPPD wind investment
Lyons, Nebraska – Today, the Center for Rural Affairs released a letter signed by 28 rural and small town community leaders in medicine, education, agriculture, business, economic development and the faith community, urging the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) to make investments in rural and small town Nebraska’s energy future by purchasing locally produced wind power at today’s historically low rates.
“An investment in Nebraska wind power is an investment in the future of our communities, and that’s crucial to all of us,” June Simpson, Silver Hills Winery, Burt County, Nebraska
“The affordability of wind energy and the local economic development these technologies create, along with growing health concerns, all require that we take advantage of the present opportunity,” said Simpson.
According to Lu Nelsen of the Center for Rural Affairs, the NPPD board of directors will vote on Friday, October 11th, on increasing the district’s wind energy purchases.
“This is a crucial vote, because the NPPD board has a chance to have a much greater positive impact on our state and communities by increasing their investment in wind energy,” said Nelsen. “Wind energy has never been cheaper, increasing our investment now will help us move away from dirtier energy sources, and it brings economic opportunities to our rural communities. The same tired arguments, focusing on cost and intermittency, lose credibility each day as utilities in bordering states continue to invest in their local economies.”
The joint letter also focuses on the economic potential of wind energy development, and points out that, unfortunately, Nebraska ranks only 25th in installed wind capacity, far behind neighboring states like Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, and Colorado but also behind such states as Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
“The economic development potential these investments create can be astounding,” added Patty Plugge, Burt County Economic Development Director. “Wind power installations result in total county-level personal income of approximately $11,000 per megawatt and create an additional 0.5 jobs per megawatt.”
“All of us depend on reliable, affordable electricity,” concluded Nelsen. “However, the $2.7 billion dollars Nebraskans spend annually to meet our electricity needs can be managed more productively. More of it should be invested in purchasing Nebraska wind energy.”
The joint letter to the NPPD board includes signatures of farmers, ranchers, small business owners, healthcare providers, and educators as well as community, civic and faith leaders from across Nebraska. The letter will be delivered today during the public session of the NPPD board of directors meeting in Columbus, Nebraska.
To view or download a complete copy of the letter and list of signatories, go to: http://files.cfra.org/pdf/nppd-sign-on-letter.pdf
Center for Rural Affairs: Wind Energy
October 11, 2013 Leave a comment
NPPD rejects investment in wind
Lyons, Nebraska – Today, the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) board of directors voted, 6 to 3, to reject proposals to increase the district’s wind energy purchases.
Public power means doing more than lining the pockets of out-of-state companies. The same tired arguments, focusing on cost and intermittency, lose credibility each day as utilities in bordering states continue to invest in their local economy. If wind energy works there, it can work here. Nebraskans deserve better.
Johnathan Hladik, Senior Policy Advocate, Center for Rural Affairs
“In the discussion, board member Ed Schrock made the claim that there are no NPPD customers that want to invest in more wind,” said Hladik. “But that simply isn’t the reality, it runs counter to our experience. Farmers, ranchers, business owners, educators, healthcare providers and many other rural and small town Nebraskans have told us, directly, unequivocally, that they support investing in wind.”
According to Hladik, NPPD directors Mary Harding of Denton, Fred Christensen of Lyons, and Second Vice Chairman Gary Thompson of Beatrice all voted in favor of investing in more wind generated electricity. The remainder of the board voted to reject any additional wind investments.
“The Center for Rural Affairs also wants to acknowledge Mary Harding, Fred Christensen and Gary Thompson for all their efforts on these issues,” said Hladik. “Their hard work and persistence demonstrate the kind of true leadership that rural Nebraskans want and need to help create a better future across Nebraska.”
“The vote today demonstrates that the only way to change the direction of NPPD on this issue is if constituents stand up, hold the boards’ feet to the fire, and urge them to invest more in wind energy. If their constituents speak out, we can hope for more leadership from other board members. The kind of leadership that Gary, Mary and Fred showed today, the kind of leadership that rural and small town Nebraskans elected them to provide,” concluded Hladik.
In advance of the vote, the Center for Rural Affairs shared a letter signed by 28 rural and small town community leaders in medicine, education, agriculture, economic development and the faith community, with the NPPD board urging them to make investments in rural and small town Nebraska’s energy future by purchasing locally produced wind power at today’s historically low rates.
The public release of that letter, along with the full text of the letter and signatories, can be viewed or downloaded at http://files.cfra.org/pdf/nppd-sign-on-letter.pdf
Reminder
October 10, 2013 Leave a comment
“A New to Medicare Workshop” will be held Thursday, October 10 in Oakland at the Rosen Room beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Mary Loftis, UNL Extension Assistant and Senior Health Insurance Information Program Volunteer will be presenting this informational program.
Call UNL Extension at 402-374-2929 to register for this free workshop for individuals and their families wanting to learn about Medicare benefits.
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
Keep Looking Up
October 10, 2013 Leave a comment
“Fainter Phenomena in the Night Sky”
By Gary Fugman
At the September Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) meeting, we were treated to “Bright Objects in the Night Sky”. This Friday, October 11 at 8pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, October 12 at 8pm at the Decatur Sears Center Pastor Gary Fugman will lead a discuss on “Fainter Phenomena in the Night Sky”. What do we mean by faint? We will discuss phenomena such as the Milky Way, auroras, zodical light and comets. You may know these terms. But do you know what these faint light are and how they can be viewed from Eastern Nebraska? Free star charts will also be given and explained. People of all ages are invited to NENAC this weekend!
Then, weather permitting, on Friday at 9pm we will travel south to the Cory and Tracie Martin residence and on Saturday at 9pm to Fugman Observatory south of Decatur to view the Moon and deep sky objects of fall with large astronomical telescopes. You are invited to bring your binoculars or telescope to the observing sessions.
For more information on this and future NENAC presentations, call Pastor Gary Fugman at 349-1953 or google “nenacstars” and Keep Looking Up!
Questions to Consider:
Why would you expect other planets to occasionally appear in the zodical lght?
Why are auroras most easily visible from far northern or far southern latitudes on Earth?
Stayin’ Alive
October 10, 2013 Leave a comment
The Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive” could be a great theme song for Medicare Open Enrollment season. Now get your jive or disco moves grooving as you read the chorus, followed by the second verse which I “altered” the last line to fit the topic. I would beg forgiveness or permission from the surviving Bee Gees member, Barry Gibb, but I couldn’t find his address, and since he is 67 years old he might like the new version too, so here goes:
“Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother,
You’re stayin alive, stayin alive.
Feel the city breakin and everybody shakin,
And were stayin alive, stayin alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin alive, stayin alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin alive.
Verse 2:
Well now, I get low and I get high,
And if I can’t get either, I really try.
Got the wings of heaven on my shoes.
I’m a dancin man and I just can’t lose.
You know it’s all right. its ok.
I’ll live to see another day.
We can try to understand
How Medicare affects a man.”
How Medicare affects a man or woman is often a big question and this is the time of year is when you need guidance to find the answers you need to make good decisions.
Whether you are enrolled in Original Medicare using Parts A & B with a supplement and a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan now is the time to compare your needs to what you have. Medicare Open Enrollment is from October 15-December 7 and this is the time to compare plans and for most people, especially their Medicare prescription drug plans.
You should have received information in the mail from your current plan about their costs and coverage for next year. That is great, but unless you compare plans you don’t know if you are getting the best coverage for the least cost.
There are 29 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans available this year in Nebraska and some are new names to this list. There are six Medicare Advantage Plans in Burt County, four in Dodge County and nine in Washington County to choose from if you get your health coverage in this manner. The only way you can tell which plan is best for you is by comparing and there are several ways to do that:
- Go on-line to www.medicare.gov and click on “Find Health & Drug Plans” then you will be well on your way to comparing your needs to the plans available.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and after a series of automated selections you can compare your prescriptions to the plans available.
- Set up an appointment with a REAL person trained to help you compare plans and explain options at a Medicare Open Enrollment Comparison Event. A complete list of Medicare Open Enrollment Event opportunities follows this article. Just call the UNL Extension office in the county where you would like to attend and make an appointment.
Mary Loftis
With a little bit of help during Open Enrollment everyone can understand how Medicare affects a man and we’ll all keep singing: “Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin alive, stayin alive.”
2014 Medicare Open Enrollment Comparison Workshops
offered in Burt, Dodge & Washington Counties
Coordinated by Mary Loftis, UNL Extension Assistant & SHIIP Volunteer
Linda Bisanz, Deb Hawkins, Rick Scofield and Judy Knoell SHIIP Volunteers
Anyone in ANY community or county is welcome to attend any of these free sessions; however reservations should be made at UNL Extension in Burt County 402-374-2929, Dodge County at 402-727-2775 or Washington County at 402-426-9455.
In Burt County call UNL Extension in Burt County at 402-374-2929 for an appointment:
October 17 – Thursday – Tekamah Chatt Center, 1124 South 13th St. 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
October 21 – Monday – Tekamah Chatt Center, 1124 South 13th St. 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
October 25 – Friday – Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., 9:00-Noon
October 29 – Tuesday – Decatur Sears Senior Center, 8th and Broadway, 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
October 30 – Wednesday – Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., 9:00-Noon
October 30 – Wednesday – Tekamah-Herman School Computer Club, Rm. #106, 112 N. 13th St., 3:30-5:00 p.m.
October 31 – Thursday – Oakland Library, 104 East 3rd St., 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
November 1 – Friday – Craig Fire Hall – South Main Street 12:30-4:30 p.m.
November 6 – Wednesday –Lyons – Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., 9:00 a.m.-Noon.
November 6 – Wednesday – Decatur – Sears Senior Center, 8th and Broadway, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
November 21 – Thursday – Tekamah – Chatt Senior Center, 1124 South 13th St., 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
In Dodge County Call UNL Extension in Dodge County at 402-727-2775 for an appointment:
October 28 – Monday – North Bend Library, 110 East 13th St. Heritage Rm. 1:00-5:00 p.m.
November 7 – Thursday – Fremont – Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St. 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
November 8 – Friday – Fremont – Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd Street, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
In Washington County Call UNL Extension in Washington County at 402-426-9455 for an appointment:
October 23 – Wednesday – Blair – Washington County Extension Office, 597 Grant St. 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
October 24 – Thursday – Blair – Washington County Extension Office, 597 Grant St. 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
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
Healthy Communities Workshop held
October 9, 2013 Leave a comment
Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI), a drug abuse prevention group that serves the counties of Burt, Cuming, Madison and Stanton in Nebraska, recently held a Leading Change workshop for its board members in addition to management staff of Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department in Oakland on October 1, 2013. UNMC Office of Public Health Practice facilitated the workshop.
Changes are constantly happening in our lives and specifically in the workplace. How one perceives and deals with change was the basis of the workshop. All participants completed an online assessment prior to the workshop which was designed to measure ones preferred style in approaching change and dealing with situations involving change. Three styles for change were identified and each style had distinct differences and preferences when approaching change.
The information presented helped give insight into why some people appear so threatened by change and intent upon preserving the status quo; why some people appear constantly dissatisfied with the status quo and ready to challenge the existing paradigm; why some people are reluctant to take small calculated risks while others seem so eager to take dangerous unexplored risks; or why some people respond so effectively to gradual incremental change while others seem oriented toward radical, systemic change.
The workshop highlighted understanding personal preferences when it comes to change; appreciating the potential dynamics on teams during times of change; and discussing the leader’s role in assuring successful change transitions.
Funding for the Leading Change training was provided by Drug Free Communities grant funds.
For more information about the workshop, HCI’s programs or to get involved with Healthy Communities Initiative, please call Kathy Becker, HCI Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator at 402-529-2233.
Kat Country Hub 
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