Governor-elect Ricketts Announces Appointments

December 17, 2014 Leave a comment


Governor-elect Pete Ricketts announced the appointment of Dr. Joseph Acierno as Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Division of Public Health. Dr. Acierno will also serve as the Acting CEO of the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) until a full-time replacement is named following a nationwide job search. Also appointed was John Hilgert as Director of the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Director of the Division of Veterans Homes. Along with the two appointments, Ricketts announced that Jodi Fenner would continue her service to the Division of Developmental Disabilities as Acting Director.

 

Dr. Acierno will take over as Acting CEO of DHHS effective December 20th. All other announcements are effective January 8th.

 

JOHN HILGERT TO CONTINUE AS VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AND VETERANS HOME DIRECTOR

 

John Hilgert of Omaha has served as Agency Director for the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs since 2001, and as Division Director of the Division of Veterans Homes for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services since 2007.

 

In 1995, then Governor Ben Nelson appointed Hilgert to District 7 in the Unicameral. Hilgert was subsequently elected in 1996 and reelected in 2000. From 1992-2001, he served in a variety of roles for Catholic Charities of Omaha including Senior Director of Government Relations and Director of Development.

 

In 1992, Hilgert departed from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps at the rank of Captain after serving in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq.

 

Hilgert holds a J.D. from Creighton University School of Law and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is Vice President of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, a Life Member of the American Legion South Omaha Post No. 331, a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1580, a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans & AMVETS Post 25, and a Member of the Cornhusker Boys’ State Board of Directors.

 

“As I traveled Nebraska, I heard from numerous veterans who praised John’s work as leader on veterans’ issues,” said Governor-elect Pete Ricketts. “I look forward to working with him to ensure that Nebraska is a welcoming place where our veterans can return to live and work.”

 

  1. JOSEPH ACIERNO TO SERVE AS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, INTERIM DHHS CEO

 

Dr. Joseph Acierno of Omaha has served as Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Division of Public Health for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services since 2013.

 

Before assuming his current position, Acierno served as Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Division of Public Health from 2007-2013 and as legal counsel from 2006-2007. He holds a Doctor of Medicine, Juris Doctor, and Bachelor of Science from Creighton University.

 

“Dr. Acierno’s medical and legal background make him well-suited to serve as Chief Medical Officer and to lead the Division of Public Health,” said Governor-elect Pete Ricketts. “His willingness to serve as interim CEO will ensure the department has a steady hand to guide it while my administration focuses on finding a transformational CEO to lead the agency.”

 

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News From Bancroft Senior Center

December 16, 2014 Leave a comment


The senior center provides Information and Assistance to any individual who is looking for services for themselves or another person 60 years and older, the center manager and/or center participant can provide information to individuals on services available within the community. We link individuals to the services and opportunities that are available within or beyond the community itself. We will then establish adequate follow-up procedures to see that their needs were met. For more information call 402-648-3387.

*If you are 60 years and older and need information on programs designed to help keep you in your home longer or if you need legal help, contact Connie at 402-648-3387 or in the evening at 402-648-7648.

* 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. Dec. 17: No chime practice today. Foot clinic is cancelled for today; there will be no foot clinic until February 2015.

Thurs. Dec. 18: Tai Chi Class at 9:30 and walking ex class at 10:30. Stop in and have coffee with us at 10:00. Sign up for the pinochle tournament at 1:30.

Fri. Dec. 19: Join us for the chair ex. at 10:00. Lori Lee, an attorney will be at the center at 1:15 to talk privately to you about any legal questions you may have. She will give a presentation at 1:30 before the birthday party starts at around 1:45.

Mon. Dec. 22: We will have a pitch tournament at 1:30. The senior center board meeting will be at 3:30 today.

Tues. Dec. 23: Tai Chi class at 9:30 and the walking ex. class at 10:30. Stop in for coffee at 10:00. We will have a golf tournament at 1:30.

Wed. Dec. 24: No chimes practice. Center will be open from 8:30 until noon. We will be closed in the afternoon.

Thurs. Dec. 25: Center is closed today. Happy Holidays to Everyone.

Fri. Dec. 26: Center will be open from 8:30 until noon. We will be closed in the afternoon.

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Grain Market Report

December 15, 2014 Leave a comment


Markets at close 12/15/14

Mar Corn +1 @ 4.08 ½

Jan Beans -6 ¾ @ 10.39 ½

 

US Dollar is doing very well, up 10.9% in 2014, the stability of the US Dollar is inviting to investors to protect from uncertainty, or geopolitical risks in other countries.  This strength is a concern for exports and manufacturing, and directly effects the value of grain for countries looking to export US Grains.

 

Weather: How does the weather this week look for Northeast Nebraska?  Well moist and warm is how it looked for last week, which was a welcome break from the cold.  But by end of day today the temperature is expected to drop and this rain becomes…….snow.  High winds expected Tuesday with no moisture, and the temps to remain below freezing at least until Friday with our first shot at 37 degrees.  Slight chances for Moisture Thursday and Friday.

 

Corn:  

Crude falling to sub -$60 levels could play a factor in the margins for ethanol,  as crude continues to tumble and the prices at the gas pumps continue to fall, (in fact gas prices have declined for 80 straight days), ethanol could become less profitable and the grind may slow down.  However new buyers in the corn provide some strength, and as long as the funds continue to show interest in grain we may see the rally continue.

 

Funds adds 10K longs and liquidates 21K shorts. As of Tuesday the fund was long 172K, when the player sheet thought they were long 162K, Commercials add 2K longs and 53K shorts. This week the Index fund adds 4K longs and nothing to the shorts.

 

Beans:

 

NOPA crush numbers were released today

 

Crush: 161.2 million bushels, right near the low end of the trade estimate range, though up from 158.0 mbu last month, 160.1 mbu last year, andrecord number for Nov. Cumulative three-month crush stands at 419 mbu, down 7 mbu (-1.6%) from last year’s pace, with USDA looking for a 46 mbu (+2.6%) year-to-year crush increase.

SBO Stocks: 1005 million pounds, below even the lowest of trade estimates, though slightly above 966 mln lbs in Oct; Nov oil use at 1752 mln lbs right in line with LY. Massive drop in oil yield to 11.1 lbs/bu – worst since Mar ’10.

SBM Shipments: 835k short tons, up from 708k ST in October and 813k ST last November. Subsequent Nov domestic meal usage comes in at 2.96 mln ST, also right in line with last season.

Bias: trade doesn’t get quite the record (for any month) crush number it was looking for it was still the fourth biggest on record and the biggest for the month of November; negative immediate reaction save for bean oil, which jumps to high side on weak stocks and oil yield numbers.

 

As of Tuesday the funds were long 3K while the floor thought they long 7K. Funds added 7K longs and liquidated 21K shorts. Commercials liquidated 14K longs and added 21K shorts.  Index fund adds 3K longs and adds 3K shorts.

 

Tidbit for the week:

After reading this my eyes were opened to just how quickly my children will grow up and be off to college.  As a parent you hope to teach your children what it means to be a “good person”, respectable, ethical, responsible, religious, and of course spend as much time with them as you can.  I didn’t realize from the day they are born till their 18th birthday I only have 936 weeks to do all of this in….

http://erynlynum.com/how-936-pennies-will-forever-change-how-you-parent/

 

Risk Disclosure – The risk of loss in trading commodities can be substantial and past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.  Therefore, you should carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you or your organization in light of your financial condition.  Any examples given are strictly hypothetical and no representation is being made that any person will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those examples.  Neither the information, nor the opinion expressed shall be construed as an offer to buy or sell any futures or options on futures contracts.

 

Greg Mockenhaupt

ProEdge Risk Management Consultant

P: (402) 685-5613 | C: (402) 380-9855 | Greg.Mockenhaupt@cvacoop.com

1007 County Road O

Oakland, NE 68045

www.cvacoop.com

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Christmas Program Held at Craig-Alder Grove Church

December 15, 2014 Leave a comment


The Craig-Alder Grove Sunday school held its annual Christmas program last Sunday during morning services showing “God’s Chain Reaction.”

They showed a Christmas Chain as a reminder of the Chain Reaction of the Love between God and His people.

Participating in the program were:

Front Row: Deklan Anderson, Brinley Eriksen, Elijah Gahan, Naomi Gahan, Avery Bryan, Emma Johansen, Karley Eriksen, Blayr Keller, Morgan Pickell, Cadence Johansen, Shelby Pickell.

Back Row: Paisley Peterson held by Brynn Norton, Justin Smith, Amy Rogers, Luke Rogers, Colton Smith, and Ryan Smith.

Photo Credit/Mary Loftis.

Photo Credit/Mary Loftis.

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Teachers: Champions of Children!

December 12, 2014 Leave a comment


By

Nebraska State Board of Education President Rachel Wise congratulated the school and citizens on their new addition. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

Nebraska State Board of Education President Rachel Wise congratulated the school and citizens on their new addition. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

Rachel Wise, District 3, Nebraska State Board of Education (November, 2014)

A highlight of serving on the Nebraska State Board of Education is participating in the celebration of the Teacher of the Year and Excellence in Teaching Awards. The Nebraska Teacher of the Year program has been in place since 1972. The award winners receive a great deal of accolades for their accomplishments and a variety of monetary awards, including a $1,000 grant from the State Board of Education to each of the recipients’ school districts to support innovative practices, tools and resources.

The Teacher of the Year for 2015 is Shelby Aaberg, a high school math teacher at Scottsbluff High School. The Excellence in Teaching Award Winners include: Jim Fielder, a high school science teacher at Hastings Senior High School; Christopher Maly, an English teacher at Lincoln High School; and, Sarah Schau, a business teacher at Westside High School in Omaha. The commonality of all of these exceptional teachers includes a passion for their students and an ability to inspire and motivate every student, every day! Following the November luncheon celebration, the 2014 Teacher of the Year, Kristi Bundy from Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools provided an overview of her experiences the past year to the State Board of Education. Congratulations to these amazing educators who are the everyday champions of children and education.

Though this event highlighted only a few of the outstanding teachers in Nebraska, I know that every school in Nebraska has teachers of excellence—teachers who come to work every day to provide engaging learning experiences for all children. Our schools in Nebraska are always working to get better and to build on their strengths; one of their strengths is our great teachers!

At the end of October, the Nebraska State of the Schools Report was released to the public. At the November meeting, the State Board of Education discussed highlights of that report as well as the status of student achievement. The good news: students across the state are improving in reading, math and science! The challenge: an achievement gap among groups of students continues to exist! Once again, I encourage you to go to the NDE website, www.education.ne.gov, to review a wealth of information about our schools and student performance, including student dropout rates and school district test scores. This is an accurate and reliable source of information about our Nebraska schools.

Finally, the State Board of Education is making progress pursing a “waiver” or flexibility under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. In earlier articles I described the challenges schools have working to meet the unrealistic federal accountability benchmark of 100 percent student proficiency in reading and math. The State Board’s goal is to submit a “waiver” request this spring.

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.

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Village of Decatur Meeting Agenda

December 11, 2014 Leave a comment


VILLAGE OF DECATUR

REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDA

December 11, 2014
4:30 P.M. CITY HALL

 

NOTE: Everyone must use the microphones at the table. The audience must be quiet during the meeting. If you want to ask a question and you are not on the Agenda, you must raise your hand, get permission from the Chairman, and come to the microphone before speaking. If you are on the Agenda the same rule applies.

 

THE VILLAGE BOARD HAS THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THE AGENDA AT THE PUBLIC MEETING WHEN CONVENED. MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

 

1)         Meeting Called to Order by Chairman Richards

Roll Call: Bolln _____, Richards ______, Tolby _____

 

2)        Agenda and minutes of the previous month’s meeting received:

Roll Call: Bolln _____, Richards ______, Tolby _____

 

3)        Approval and/or correction and suspended reading of the previous month minutes.

           Roll Call: Bolln _____, Richards ______, Tolby _____
4)        EXCUSE BOARD MEMBERS NOT ATTENDING THE MEETING:

 

Roll Call: Bolln _____, Richards ______, Tolby _____

 

5)         REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND OR COMMITTEES:

 

1)         Police: Monthly Report

2)         Lights: Monthly Report

 

3)         Water & Sewer: Monthly Report
4)         Parks: Monthly Report- No income
5)         Streets: Monthly Report
6)          Recycling Report-No income.

 

6)        OLD BUSINESS

             1. Check Signer-Resolution #139
7)        NEW BUSINESS

 

  1. Oath of office for new Board members

 

  1. Reorganization of the Board
  2. Annual Reappointments

    4. Tri State High Adventure Base Development & Proposed Use of Beck Memorial Park.

    5. Employee and Board member appreciation supper-tentative date Friday Jan. 9, 2015.

8)        CORRESPONDENCE

Stephanie Warren’s resignation as Board member.

9)         APPROPRIATIONS AND CONSIDERATION OF THE CLAIMS:

 

1) Claims preapproved by Tolby and Bolln
2) Motion to Approve the Claims as Submitted

 

________________2nd_________________

 

 

Roll Call: Bolln _____, Kellogg _____, Richards _____, Tolby _____, Wolf _____

 

Are there any questions from the audience?

 

 

10)       MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING

 

 

_______________2nd________________

Adjournment Time:

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Happenings at Oakland Heights

December 10, 2014 Leave a comment


By Nancy Silvey Activity Director

We would like to thank the Uehling FFDA for performing their Holiday Melodrama here last week, the residents really enjoyed it. This week on Thursday December 11th at 2:30 pm Charlie Davis will be here to perform, then on Friday evening starting at 6:00 pm is the residents Christmas dinner and party, with entertainment from Wayne Miller and a visit from Santa Claus.

Next week there are two residents celebrating a birthdays, on December 14th Leonard Bracht will be celebrating his birthday with a party at 3:00 pm. And LaMae Johnson’s on December 20th. On Tuesday December 16th at 2:30 pm we will be having a Hot Cocoa Party, and on Saturday December 20th the Rusty Buckets will be here to perform at 2:30 pm.

Church Service for Sunday December 14 at 2:30 pm will be given by the St John Lutheran with refreshments served afterwards. On Monday December 15th at 2:30 is Communion with First Lutheran.

Volunteers signing in last week were; Judy Nelson, Betty Hanna, Mary Donovan, Dani Moseman, Anne Anderson, Patty Miller, Bonnie Fleischman, Di Ruwe, Nadine Anderson, and Sly Rouse.

Guest signing in last week was: Brian Goracke and Mary Lang to see Jene Hightree, also Mike and Fay Tibbels to see Tom Tibbels.

 

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Local Solutions Keep Rural America Connected

December 10, 2014 Leave a comment


By Lu Nelsen, lucasn@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

Laws in Colorado and 19 other states prevent municipalities from providing broadband internet service. In Colorado and a few other states, local citizens must pass a referendum to allow their municipality to offer internet service. On November 4th, voters in seven Colorado counties passed such referenda, providing greater access to what has become an essential service – broadband internet.
In many states, however, these laws totally restrict the ability of local governments to provide broadband internet access. There’s really no argument that internet access is an important part of modern life. It’s an invaluable tool for small business, health care providers, and educational institutions. The internet has become a part of day-to-day life that can easily be taken for granted, until it’s no longer available. For many people considering moving to rural areas, having good internet access can be just as important as having reliable electricity or water.
In states where there is no limit on who can provide internet service, local governments can step up and fill the void by providing service to underserved areas, often times providing faster and cheaper service than some private companies.
Rural and small town America has a proud tradition of finding innovative solutions to challenges like lack of internet access. But state laws that restrict municipalities from offering internet access remove one of the best local solutions available. People in rural areas deserve to have high quality and affordable internet service for their homes, small businesses, and other community services.

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Grain Markets

December 8, 2014 Leave a comment


Markets as of 9:36am 12/8/14

Mar Corn +3 ½ @ 3.98 ½

Jan Beans +8 ½ @ 10.44 ½

 

Corn: The corn market is leading the upside, as technical buying interest has pushed March Corn back up toward the 4.00 level.  Which may prove to be a good time to make a corn sale or an offer at a higher level.

 

We are also seeing good weather in South America, the US dollar holding firm, and trade anticipating Wednesday’s USDA Crop Report.

 

Beans: A clear head and shoulder pattern was finished last week in the beans, typically a bearish sign for the technical traders, the market seems to have a firmer tone toward the end of last week into this week.  The bulls need to pierce resistance at the Nov. 26 high at $10.54 3/4 to break the recent downtrend pattern.

 

$13.33     — the contract high

$10.24 1/4 — the 10-day moving average

$10.28 3/4 — the 20-day moving average

$10.11 1/4 — the 40-day moving average

$9.04     — the contract low

 

Fun:  For you numbers folks, ever wonder how Santa does it?  I did, so here is what I found out.

  1. Due to international time zones, our modern day Santa Claus actually has 31 hoursto deliver presents to all the children of the world.
  2. But to do so, he’ll need to travel at a rate of 4,796,250 MPH!

So that’s how he does it!

 

Greg Mockenhaupt

ProEdge Risk Management Consultant

P: (402) 685-5613 | C: (402) 380-9855 | Greg.Mockenhaupt@cvacoop.com

1007 County Road O

Oakland, NE 68045

www.cvacoop.com

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Caregiver Support Group to Meet

December 8, 2014 Leave a comment


The monthly Caregiver Support Group will meet at the Bancroft Senior Center, this coming Monday, December 15 at 2:00 p.m. bring a short article that you have read and enjoyed and share it with the group. The information that is shared by those in attendance is kept confidential. If you are a caregiver and have never attended one of our meetings, please feel free to come and join us.

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