Foosball Table Eye Catching Exhibit

August 24, 2015 Leave a comment


By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant 

Burt County 4-H member Brent Miller of Lyons took his woodworking skills to an even higher level this year as he made a Mission Foosball Table.

This project was no kit. Brent searched the internet and found the parts online from four different websites. Pieces for the table came from Omaha, Georgia, Wisconsin and Canada.

There are 90 pieces in the body with a total of 130 pieces on the table. The table is solid oak with a walnut and oak play top. The legs are 3” x 3” solid oak. To say the table is heavy would be an understatement as it’s estimated at 400-500 lbs. It caught the appreciative eye of every woodworker walking through the 4-H building.

Jens Andersen of Andersen Wood Floors in Lyons provided the multi-colored wood for the play field. Miller covered the play top with ¼” Plexiglas.

Brent was told when the table entered the 4-H Building on entry day that the Burt County Extension staff would not be able to take it to the state fair…there was no doubt it would be selected when judged. He was told if his family and other strong individuals wanted to take it to and from Grand Island they were welcome to do that and it sounds like that is the case and it will be at the state fair!

The future home of the foosball table is in the family basement. When asked what project is next…he slyly smiles and “Maybe a full size pool table…with a slate top.” This will likely be another beautiful piece only Burt County fair-goers will have the privilege to see, unless the family plans another early trip to the State Fair to enter it!

 

Help needed…

It has come to our attention that a hit and run accident occurred on the fairgrounds on Tuesday afternoon, August 11 just east of the hog barn sometime between 2:00-3:00 during the livestock auction. A 2015 Red Equinox received damage to the front of the driver’s side of the vehicle. If you happened to see anything that might help find the other driver please call the Burt County Sheriff’s Department at: 402-374-2900. Thanks!

 

4-H Kitchen $100 Worker Winner!

After the fair wrapped up, the names of all the individuals who worked a full shift in the 4-H Kitchen were thrown in the hat and this year the winners of the $100 is Chad and Julie Brehmer of Lyons. Congratulations and as they say…the check is in the mail!

 

Join the Fun at the State Fair as a Volunteer!

The Nebraska 4-H program is seeking volunteers to help with exhibit entry day, judging, and serving as 4-H exhibit building hosts and greeters. Volunteers will be needed for educational activities in the 4-H building, serving as the Lil’ Green Mascot being part of the “Green Team” as building hosts answering questions from the visitors. Of course there is a need for assistance with all 4-H contests and events throughout the fair. State Fair 4-H volunteers will receive a fair pass for the day(s) they volunteer. Volunteers can sign-up by visiting http://4h.unl.edu/nebraskastatefairvolunteerinformation.

A complete list of volunteer opportunities is also available on the site. If you have questions about being a 4-H volunteer at the Nebraska State Fair, please contact Cathy Johnston, Extension Educator, at (402) 472-1762 or cjohnston1@unl.edu

 

Nebraska State Fairbook and Schedule Online

The Nebraska State website has the 2015 Fairbook, including the schedule for the 4-H, FFA, and Open Class Livestock shows. The website is http://4h.unl.edu/nebraskastatefairfairbook  and for all other State Fair information you can go to www.statefair.org

Brent Miller of Lyons with the foosball table he made and displayed at the Burt County Fair. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant.

Brent Miller of Lyons with the foosball table he made and displayed at the Burt County Fair. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant.

 

 

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Nebraska State Fair Starts Friday!

August 24, 2015 Leave a comment


Get ready for the 2015 Nebraska State Fair – it’s just around the corner! The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is putting the finishing touches on several exciting new features this year including an outdoor meandering steam, which has been added along the edge of the outdoor playground just outside the Nebraska Building. The seven-foot-wide stream stretches 115 feet and features waterfalls, stonework and landscaping inspired by the Niobrara River Valley Corridor and constructed by Greenworks of Grand Island. Visitors are invited to grab a seat, relax and enjoy the scenery.

Also new is a multi-screen exhibit detailing the reintroduction of bighorn sheep in Nebraska and a NEBRASKAland Magazine photo display will feature prints of wildlife, landscapes and beautiful scenes from outdoor Nebraska.

These features are in addition to the archery and air gun ranges, aquarium, kids’ games and outdoor playground that made last year’s exhibit a big success. For more information on our fair exhibit, visit our website.

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Public Hearing for Waterfowl and Crow Recommendations

August 24, 2015 Leave a comment


The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for the 2015 waterfowl and crow hunting seasons at a meeting on Friday, Aug. 28 in Burwell.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church Parish Center, 757 I St. The public hearing for waterfowl and crow recommendations will begin at 8:45 a.m.

A full list of recommendations to be considered by the Commission, as well as other agenda items for the Aug. 28 meeting, is available online.

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Carol D. Hovendick, 63, of Tekamah Ne

August 23, 2015 Leave a comment


Carol D. Hovendick, 63 years, of Tekamah, Nebraska passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at her residence.

MEMORIAL GATHERING: Thursday, August 27, 2015 6-8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Services Tekamah, with family receiving friends.

MEMORIALS: To the family for designation at a later date.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com

 

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Twila A. Kessinger, 75, of Dixon NE

August 22, 2015 Leave a comment


Twilla A. Kessinger, 75, of Dixon, Nebraska passed away Thursday, August 20, 2015 at Hillcrest Care Center in Laurel, Nebraska. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Dixon with Father David Liewer officiating. The visitation will be held on Monday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the church with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Rosehill Cemetery in Pender. Arrangements are under the direction of Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield.

Twilla was born on March 4, 1940 in Kansas City, MO, the daughter of Lee and Virginia (Rockhold) Hale. As a young child, the family moved to Raton, NM, where she graduated from High School 1958. On August 20, 1962, she was united in marriage to Doyle Kessinger in Raton, NM. The couple moved to Dixon, NE, where they lived until her passing. In 1990, Twilla entered Wayne State College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 1994. She earned her degree while working at Hillcrest Care Center. She continued to work there and at Careage Campus of Care in Wayne, NE as a Social Service Director. She was a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church, St. Anne’s Altar Society and was an EME. Twilla was also a member of the Wayne Rotary, Toastmasters, Eastern Star, Laurel VFW, the Red Hat Society, and the Concord – Dixon Senior Center. She enjoyed reading, word search puzzles, going to the movies and spending time with her friends and family.

Twilla is survived by her husband Doyle of Dixon, NE, sons: Gary Kessinger of Marlow, OK, Alvin (Christina) Kessinger of Bellevue, NE, Matthew (Redding) Kessinger of Riga, Latvia and Michael Kessinger of Bellevue, NE; daughters: Adel Bohlken of Concord, NE, Jodi Kessinger of Omaha, NE and her special friend Dick Margarita of Sacramento, CA, twelve grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Virginia and parents-in-law, Alvin and Maxine Kessinger, an infant daughter Virginia Ann, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Lyle and Patty Heineman.

Twila Kessinger

Twila Kessinger

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The 21st Century One-Room School House

August 22, 2015 Leave a comment


By Rachel Wise, District 3, Nebraska State Board of Education (August, 2015)

August is all about county fairs and students going back to school! This summer I had the privilege of volunteering at a one-room school house located on the Burt County Fairgrounds. Some hardworking, dedicated teachers and retired teachers worked diligently to display artwork of students attending Burt County schools. The schoolhouse also showcases the history of 72 former one-room school houses. Yes, that is correct: at one time there were 72 one-room school houses in Burt County! You may be wondering where this article is heading….no, I am not advocating that we go back to one-room school houses, but I do believe — after hearing so many stories from former teachers and students who worked and attended school in these very small schools — that there are some great similarities between teaching and learning in a one-room school house and teaching and learning in a highly successful classroom today. It begins with the teacher — the heart and soul of the learning experience for every student every day.

At the August State Board of Education meeting, the Board started a new study committee on competency-based education. The first task of this study committee will be to define competency-based education. Typically, the definition includes a learner-focused education experience. Student progress is based on their ability to demonstrate proficiency or mastery of key concepts and skills. Competency-based education is typically very personalized, tied to individual learner needs. Hmm, sounds like the strategies used by teachers in one-room school houses. Teachers today have digital tools and resources to individualize and personalize learning for every student every day while the teachers in the one-room school houses had few resources, but used those limited resources to individualize and personalize learning for every student every day!

While I am on the subject of the heart and soul of teachers, one topic covered at the August board meeting was the breach of security in state testing in Nebraska. A story on this issue was recently published in the Omaha World Herald. Here is the rest of the story: Nebraska has had 8 serious testing security breaches since 2009. These are truly minimal breaches of testing security when you put it in perspective. Since 2009 over two million individual state tests in reading, writing, math and science have been administered in Nebraska. I believe the number of breaches is minimal is because Nebraska has great teachers who have strong ethics. Simply stated, Nebraska teachers just don’t cheat! Other states have created high stakes around testing and tied teacher performance to one state test score but that is not how we do business in Nebraska! In Nebraska, teachers are evaluated on multiple measures including student performance, but more than one test score. Nebraska also is moving forward with an accountability system that goes beyond a test score. Student success, teacher success and school success is more than one test score and Nebraska’s new accountability system called AQuESTT — Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow — is about more than one test score!

Last month I stated that I was optimistic that I would soon be able to share additional information about the reauthorization of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Well, here we are into August and we are now in a waiting mode. The U.S. Senate and House have each passed their version however, a conference committee comprised of the House and Senate will meet in early fall and work on a compromise that can be supported by both the House and the Senate and signed by the President. Hopefully, this will occur this fall!

Have a great 2015/2016 school year!!

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.

Rachel Wise

Rachel Wise

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Kids and Carrots

August 22, 2015 Leave a comment


By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

Nothing says happy and healthy like an image of children gardening, harvesting, and eating carrots, beets, cabbages, cucumbers, etc. The Summer “Out of School” Program students in Fremont, Nebraska got to do just that when they helped create an After School Garden at Linden Elementary in Fremont.
With the support of the school district and the Linden administration, and the help of local volunteers, two raised bed gardens were constructed. The students took ownership over the work of caring for the garden. In July, the students set up a produce stand to market their harvest. Word is they are still deciding whether to funnel the money back into the garden or donate it to a worthy local cause. I’ll be honest; I sort of hope they put it back into the garden.
These activities involved significant educational opportunities. Students learned about teamwork and shared decision-making as they negotiated what would be planted where. They learned about plant science, math skills and measurements in the garden, as well as learning math skills while handling money and making change at the produce stand, where each of the students took a half hour “shift” at the table. And they continue to learn about nutrition and healthy food choices.
Personally, I think growing a cabbage is one of the great educational opportunities available to anyone. And I hope children in after school and summer “out of school” programs everywhere get a chance to garden like the kids in Fremont have.

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Celebrate the Legacy of Lewis and Clark at Ponca State Park

August 21, 2015 Leave a comment


It’s been more than 200 years since Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery camped along the Missouri River not far from the current site of Ponca State Park.  Celebrate their history with Missouri River canoeing, period games, crafts and more during Lewis and Clark Heritage Day on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Ponca State Park. More information is available online.

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Town Hall Meeting with Nebraska State Senators

August 21, 2015 Leave a comment


Lyons, NE – The Center for Rural Affairs, Nebraska Appleseed and The Center for People in Need will host a Town Hall meeting with State Senators Ken Haar, Matt Hansen, Adam Morfeld, Patty Pansing-Brooks, and Kate Bolz. Discussed will be issues that impact the daily lives of Nebraska’s  low income families and New Americans, including health care, fair tax policy and building wealth and inclusivity in our communities.

 

“Come talk with your Senators about the things you care about most, and help influence policy that benefits all Nebraskans,” said Lauren Kolojejchick-Kotch, with the Center for Rural Affairs.

 

“Whether you’ve never communicated with your Senator, or are in touch with them often, everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. This is a great opportunity to have face-to-face time with the individuals elected to the legislature to represent your needs, and hopes for your community. Bring ideas, concerns and questions,” added Kolojejchick-Kotch. “We are working to ensure that Spanish translation will be available.”

 

What:

Town Hall Meeting

 

When:

Wednesday, August 26

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

 

Where:

Center for People in Need

3901 N 27th St #1

Lincoln, NE 68521

 

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Kolojejchick-Kotch at laurenk@cfra.org or 402-687-2100 ext 1032.  

 

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Lights Out

August 21, 2015 Leave a comment


By U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

Presidents are known for rushing new policies during their last two years in office. Without the pressure of re-election, they begin to focus on their legacies and often aggressively pursue partisan proposals.

 

We have seen this before, and we are seeing it now. What’s new is the scope and consequence of these actions. This month, the Obama administration is targeting our electricity and setting the stage for unprecedented harm to Nebraska families and our economy.

 

On August 3, 2015, President Obama finalized new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. This rule, known as the Clean Power Plan, attempts to reduce our state’s carbon emissions by 40 percent through punishing mandates. For Nebraska, this rule is even worse than initially expected. In fact, we are one of the “biggest losers” under the administration’s final rule because the reductions goals for our state are 50 percent more stringent than they were in the proposed rule.

 

The so-called Clean Power Plan is designed to favor certain sources of energy over others by unfairly targeting coal-fired power plants and forcing states to meet new emission requirements. To comply with these regulations, states will be rewarded for showing preference to renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and severely punished for using the existing abundance of fossil fuels. We have seen this charade before and the results are always the same. When the government interferes with the free market and innovation, the economy collapses.

 

Nebraska has the distinction of being the nation’s sole 100 percent public power state. Because of this, our citizens understand the dangers of overregulating our electricity system. This is why President Obama’s rule is so alarming: It will effectively shut down many of the existing coal-fired power plants that produce two-thirds of our state’s electricity. The result? Lights out.

Utilities in Nebraska are already expanding and investing in renewable energy sources. Our coal plants are leading the way by incorporating clean coal technology to reduce emissions while boosting our economy. But “one-size-fits-all” mandates from Washington are not the solution.

 

The plan’s negative consequences were illuminated in June by a panel of expert witnesses during a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. As a member of this committee, I asked the witnesses how the president’s proposed carbon regulations would affect middle- and low-income families, minority communities, and energy-intensive manufacturing operations. They provided sobering accounts of how the EPA’s plan would harm families and how these effects would far outweigh the alleged environmental benefits.

 

To combat the plan, I have joined Senator Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia to introduce the Affordable Reliable Energy Now Act (ARENA). This bill would halt the damaging effects of the plan by requiring the EPA to demonstrate the viability of its proposal. It would require the EPA to study the rule’s effects at a minimum of six separate power facilities before implementing new mandates. Additionally, ARENA provisions would extend the compliance dates for the EPA’s new regulations until after a final judicial review of the proposal has occurred.

 

Put simply, our legislation will force the EPA to prove the economic benefits of this rule. It will also hold the EPA accountable for the harm this will inflict on Nebraskans and families across the nation.

 

I will continue to oppose this rule’s implementation and protect Nebraska from the administration’s unprecedented power grab. We cannot afford to roll the dice with our economy and the electricity you rely on in your daily life.

 

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

 

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