Nelson’s Food Pride Wine and Cheese
December 2, 2015 Leave a comment
Nelson’s Food Pride is hosting their annual Wine and Cheese night beginning at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow December 3rd through 10:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.
Kats’ Korner: Thanksgiving was a True Blessing
December 2, 2015 Leave a comment
I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving. The weather may have caused some of you to change your plans, but being safe at home is the most important blessing of all.
Jeff and I picked up our granddaughter Penelope the Tuesday before Thanksgiving so she could stay with us until her parents came for Thanksgiving on Thursday. She just turned a year old on the 21st. She isn’t walking on her own yet, but she holds onto furniture or people and walks. She is a busy girl, crawling all over the house!
Wednesday evening, Jeff and I were in the kitchen with Penelope. She was playing on the floor. She crawled around the corner, into the living room, came back into the kitchen, looked at me and said “yeah” and crawled back into the living room. Then back she came, looked at me and said “yeah” again, only louder this time. I wasn’t sure what she wanted at first. Then I understood. She wanted me to crawl too, following her. So, of course, I did.
But, that wasn’t good enough. She turned around, saw me, but papa wasn’t with us. Back to the kitchen she went! Looked at papa and said “yeah” and crawled back into the living room. Yes, papa got on the kitchen floor and crawled into the living room, behind Penelope and I. She was a happy girl then, laughing while crawling all over the house.
I got up and grabbed my camera while her and papa crawled into the kitchen. It wasn’t long and Penelope came into the living room with papa right on her heels! She was crawling as fast as she could, giggling along the way. They did that several times before papa was worn out and had to get up off the floor. I think that was the hardest part! I was laughing too, while taking the pictures. I have to say, hardwood floors do hurt the knees!
I do believe nana and papa have spoiled her, but that is what grandparents are for!
We were also so grateful that our daughter Whitney and her husband Tri decided to come to our house later Wednesday night. With a winter storm moving in for Thanksgiving, travelling was a concern.
Thanksgiving was a wonderful day. The weather wasn’t good, but we were all warm and safe in our house. We ate a lot, watched movies and football, talked a lot, and played cards. That used to be a tradition at family gatherings. It hasn’t happened for years, but we brought the tradition back this year. We played several games of pitch before calling it a night.
They left Friday morning and, thankfully, got home safely.
We had a wonderful time.
It was a true blessing to have three generations together for Thanksgiving.
It is a blessing to be together any day.
Penelope and papa crawling and a selfie with nana. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Thought for the day: Be thankful for each day you are given.
Have a great week!!
Holiday Bazaar at Oakland Heights
December 2, 2015 Leave a comment
Oakland Heights is having their annual Holiday Bazaar this Friday, December 4th from 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to Christmas shop at the Heights!
Burt County Ag Society Receives Check for Fairgrounds
December 2, 2015 Leave a comment
The Burt County Ag Society recently received a check for $2,000 to be used on the new tie out area on the Burt County Fairgrounds.
Presenting the check were Brandy Balzer and Brandon Carda of Farm Credit Services of America in Norfolk.
Pictured are: Ag Society President, Bill Ahrens, Brandy Balzer, Board Treasurer, Norman Johnson and Brandon Carda.
Burt County Ag Society members receiving check from Farm Credit Services. Photo Courtesy of Mary Loftis.
The Last Minute is Now!
December 2, 2015 Leave a comment
By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant
If you’re on Medicare and you’re waiting for the last minute to decide whether or not to change you prescription drug plan, the last minute is NOW!
December 7th is the final day to make any changes for your Medicare prescription or health plan. Unfortunately, if you need any help or have questions, it’s too late for help from me as I need most of those final days to wrap up details on individuals I have already assisted.
There are several ways to make sure you don’t pay too much for your prescription drugs. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). After a few automated button pushes you can get to an operator who will enter your prescriptions into the Medicare Plan Finder. They will then be able to help you decide which plan will save you the most money. They will ask for your Medicare number, but since you initiated the call to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) that should be a safe place to provide this personal information.
If you have a computer (or a child or grandchild who does) you can take care of this process yourself. Just go to the websitewww.medicare.gov and click on “Find Health and Drug Plans” and you’ll be on your way to comparing your prescriptions, selecting which drug store(s) you want to compare with and deciding which of the 23 Medicare prescription drug plans saves you the most money for 2016. If you’d like to try comparing on the Medicare.gov website but would like a little guidance, stop by the Nebraska Extension Office in Burt County for a Step by Step Medicare Comparison Help Sheet or email Sharon at our office atswimer2@unl.edu and we’ll send you a copy to help walk you through the process.
If all else fails, call the UNL Extension office in Burt County at 402-374-2929 and make an appointment for the final personal comparison sessions in Lyons on Monday, November 30 at the Lyons Library or in Tekamah on Tuesday, December 1 at the Chatt Center. Trained volunteers will be working that day to help compare plans that fit your needs and save you money.
Some people already have the least expensive plan for their needs, but unless you compare, you don’t know that for sure. Don’t give up your peace of mind unless you’ve compared and know your current plan will still be the best value next year.
The Medicare Last Minute is NOW…don’t miss this once a year chance to make sure your Medicare prescription or health plan is the best choice for you.
Alcohol Compliance Rates Backsliding
December 2, 2015 Leave a comment
Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI), is a substance abuse prevention coalition, serving Burt, Cuming, Stanton, and Madison Counties. HCI reports that the rates of alcohol compliance failure for businesses selling alcohol to underage youth has been increasing in the past two years. Alcohol compliance checks are a type of prevention strategy that deters alcohol outlets from selling alcohol to underage youth. The Nebraska State Patrol or local police officials supervise undercover youth who try to buy alcohol; if the attempt is successful, the business is penalized. Compliance rates in 2013 were 96% and they have decreased to 88% in 2015. Selling alcohol to a minor is against the law. Allowing a person who is under the legal age of 21 to buy alcohol not only puts the business at risk, it also puts its staff and our youth at risk.
HCI provides FREE Responsible Beverage Service Training classes to On Premise and Off Premise businesses. This class, TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) is free to all business owners, managers, and staff involved in the sale of alcohol and liquor. TIPS training is designed to help liquor license holders and staff in identifying intoxicated customers, checking ID’s, confidently intervening and resolving troublesome situations. The training is a one-time 3-5 hour class. TIPS training is approved by the Nebraska Liquor Commission and taught by local certified trainers. Persons successfully passing the TIPS training are certified for three years.
Businesses that recently failed the alcohol compliance checks have been contacted by HCI and encouraged to attend a TIPS training. The class is provided free of charge and are scheduled at the convenience of the business. Businesses that recently passed the compliance checks are also invited to attend a TIPS training. It is important that all servers and sellers of alcohol learn how to encourage responsible drinking.
This FREE training is being made available through grant funding provided to the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department. If you are interested in attending a TIPS training, please contact Kathy Becker at 402-529-2233 or email her at kathy@elvphd.org.
Making Health Insurance Make Sense
December 2, 2015 Leave a comment
By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant
As a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Counselor, I received this information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) just last week. At the time of our SHIIP training in early October, CMS had not announced the new coverage and deductible prices or plan changes.
Here are “Answers to Some of the Most Commonly Asked Questions about Medicare” from CMS.
Q: Can you explain what the Part A and Part B premiums will be in 2016?
A: For most beneficiaries, the answer is simple: they will be the same in 2016 as they were in 2015. That’s because there will be no Social Security cost-of-living increase in 2016 benefits. As a result, most people will pay the same premium for Part B, as long as the premium is withheld from their Social Security benefit check. That’s about 70% of all people on Medicare. Also, since 99% of beneficiaries get Part A Medicare coverage without a premium (since they or their spouse have at least 40 calendar quarters of Medicare-covered employment during their lives), that won’t change, either.
Q: What about people who don’t qualify for this? How much will they pay?
A: Some beneficiaries will not qualify for the rule that keeps their Part B premium unchanged. These include: people who do not yet collect Social Security benefits; people who will become new beneficiaries in 2016; people who have their Part B premiums paid through a different process, such as Federal retirees; and people who pay an additional premium already, because of their income. People on both Medicare and Medicaid, whose premiums are paid by their States, are also ineligible for unchanged premiums. All beneficiaries in those categories will see an increase in their Part B premiums to $121.80 per month (higher for those with income-related surcharges). These groups together account for about 30% of Medicare’s 52 million beneficiaries.
Q: Are Part A and B deductibles going up, too? Will some people be exempt from those increases?
A: The Part A deductible for an inpatient hospital admission is going up from $1,260 in 2015 to $1,288 in 2016. Co-insurance for stays beyond 60 days, and for stays in a skilled nursing facility following an inpatient admission will also increase, by a modest 2.2% in 2016.
The Part B deductible is increasing from $147 in 2015 to $166 in 2016. This is the first increase in the Part B deductible in 3 years. These increases will apply to all beneficiaries; those exempt from premium increases will still be subject to the new deductible and co-pay amounts in 2016.
For more information about 2016 premiums and deductibles, you can go to www.medicare.gov, or call Medicare any time of day or night, at 1-800-MEDICARE [1-800-633-4227].
News from Bancroft Senior Center
December 1, 2015 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.
Our annual Cookie Walk will be Sat., Dec. 5 at the community building. Anyone in the community is welcome to bring cookies, candies or snack items for our cookie walk. We are still collecting items for the raffle; we accept craft items, cash, homemade sweet rolls and pies, etc.
Weekly Activities:
Wed. Dec. 2: Melody chime practice at 9:00 a.m. Come for coffee at 10:00 am. Just a reminder to sign up for the pitch tournament at 1:30 p.m.
Thurs. Dec. 3: Tai Chi class is at 9:30 and walking club at 10:45 a.m. Rolls and coffee in the morning. Board games at 1:30 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 4: We will have a pinochle and hand & foot tournament at 1:30 p.m. St. Joseph’s Retirement Community will bring a snack to go with the coffee at 3:30 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 5: Cookie Walk and Raffle 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Bancroft Community Building on the main level.
Mon Dec. 7: Today is the potluck meal, bring your food and eat with friends. Hand and foot will be played at 1:30 p.m.
Tues. Dec. 8: Tai Chi class is at 9:30 a.m. and walking club at 10:45 a.m. Come and have coffee with us. The pitch tournament will be played at 1:30 p.m.
Wed. Dec. 9: There will be melody chime practice at 9:00 a.m. Come and play bingo with us at 2:00 p.m.
Happenings at Oakland Heights
December 1, 2015 Leave a comment
Oakland Heights News by Nancy Silvey
I hope everyone had a good holiday weekend, we are starting a new month this week, and it is a month of many special holiday events here at the Nursing Home.
We start off this week on Friday December 4th is our Annual Holiday Bazaar from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm , we have a variety of holiday items to choose from, so come up and do a little Christmas shopping with us. On Sunday December 6th the St. John Lutheran carolers will come up and sing in the dining room at noon. Next week on Monday December 7th is the monthly Volunteer executive meeting at 2:30 pm. On Thursday December 10th Charlie Davis will be here to play his harmonica. Then on Friday December 11th is the Residents Christmas party, dinner with family members at 6:00 pm and the party to follow. On Saturday December 12th the Uehling FFDA will be putting on their Holiday play for the residents at 3:00 pm. We have one resident celebrating a birthday, Janet Kroger on December 7th.
Church Service for Sunday November 6th at 2:30 pm will be given by the First Baptist Church with a luncheon served afterwards. On Tuesday November 8th is Catholic Mass with Father Paul at 9:30 am.
Activities for the week of December 7th to December 12th are as followed, Reading with Marilyn, Manicures, Sing a Long, Game Day, Bingo w/Evang. free, reading group, Bible Fellowship, Friday Bingo, Saturday morning movie, and Lawrence Walk.
Volunteers signing in last week were; Marilyn Baker, Judy Nelson, Betty Hanna, Mary Donavan, Anne Anderson, Patty Miller, Dani Moseman and Seth Anderson.
Guest signing in this past week was: Mary Plageman to see Dorothy Larson, and Krista Peters visiting Dale and Janet Johnson.
Lyons City Council Meeting Agenda
December 1, 2015 Leave a comment
A Copy of the “Open Meetings Act” Has Been Posted on the Bulletin Board on the East Side in the Council Chambers.
LYONS CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
December 1, 2015 – 5:30 P.M.
The City Council reserves the right to go into Executive Session at any time as deemed appropriate and in accordance with State Statute.
- ROUTINE BUSINESS
- Meeting called to order.
- PUBLIC HEARING
- None.
III. CONSENT AGENDA
Recommended Action: Approval of Consent Agenda
NOTE: All items are automatically approved when the Consent Agenda is approved unless moved to the Regular Agenda by the request of any single Council member.
- Dispense with reading of minutes of meetings held November 3.
- Claims as presented.
- Treasurer report.
Motion and second to approve the Consent Agenda/Tabulation of Vote.
- REGULAR AGENDA / NEW BUSINESS
Consideration and Action:
- Graham Christensen – Update on wind/solar information.
- Chad Kehrt – Approve/not approve the Certification to Board of Public Roads Classifications & Standards (NBCS Forms); and the SSAR report for FY ending Sept 30, 2015.
- Motion and second from Council members.
- Tabulation of votes.
- Patty Plugge – Presentation of guidelines and application for demolition grants.
- Wyatt Fraas of Center for Rural Affairs – Discuss the Store Front Movie Theater.
- Police report by Chief Buck.
- Library & Grant reports by Mike Heavrin.
- Utilities report.
- Logan Valley Manor.
- Wastewater drawdown.
- Brink Park.
- Wastewater plant.
- Natural gas training.
LYONS CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
December 1, 2015 – 5:30 P.M.
- Clerk’s Report.
- Income Statement – General.
- Income Statement – Utility.
- Budget Reports – General and Utility.
- Deadline for incumbents for City Council is February 16, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. See enclosed letter from the Burt County Clerk.
- Will the City reimburse employees for January through November 2015 out of pocket health claims?
- Consider to approve/not approve NPPD’s 2016 Wholesale Power Contract (Option A).
- Motion and second by Council members.
- Tabulation of votes.
- Discuss Logan Valley Manor Sheriff’s Sale.
- Consider a special designated liquor license to the Burt County Fair Foundation for an event held at the Lyons Community Center on February 27, 2016.
- Motion and second by Council members to approve/not approve the request for a Special Designated Liquor License.
- Tabulation of votes.
- Council to nominate Council President for calendar year 2016.
- Motion and second from Council members.
- Tabulation of votes.
- Mayor recommends the following appointments for January 1 through December 31, 2016:
- Commissioner for Utilities Distribution & Maintenance: Charlie Wheaton
- Commissioner for Sanitation, Recycling, & Landfill: Kyle Brink
- Commissioner for Parks, Pools, Recreation, & Auditorium: Lana Minton & Kyle Brink
- Commissioner for City Streets: Allen Steinmeyer
- Audit Committee: Lana Minton & Allen Steinmeyer
- City Physician: Lyons Mercy Medical Clinic
- Board of Health: Lyons Mercy Medical Clinic, Chief Jim Buck, Allen Steinmeyer, & Andrew Fuston
- Council Representative to Library: Lana Minton
- City Clerk/Treasurer: Mary Lou Ritter
- City Attorney: Dan Smith
- Legal Paper: Lyons Mirror-Sun
- Burt County Economic Development: Kyle Brink & Pam Thomsen
- Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District Council of Officials: Allen Steinmeyer
- Engineering Company: Olsson Associates
- City Street Superintendent: Chad Kehrt of Olsson Associates
Approve/not approve said appointments above:
- Motion and second from Council members
- Tabulation of vote.
- Discuss Employee Christmas Bonus.
- Discuss the Community Center thermostat.
- Motion and second by Council members to adjourn the meeting.
- Tabulation of vote.
Kat Country Hub 
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