4-H Project at Lyons Library
March 26, 2014 Leave a comment
Layne Miller’s 4-H project at the Lyons Library. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Hassebrook supports LB887
March 26, 2014 Leave a comment
LB 887, the Wellness in Nebraska Act, will be debated today on the floor of the Unicameral. Democratic candidate for Governor Chuck Hassebrook has issued the following statement in support of LB 887:
“Nebraska lawmakers are again face-to-face with one of the most important issues of the year. Today the merits of LB 887, the Wellness in Nebraska Act (WIN), will be debated on the floor of the legislature. This is a law that, if passed, would extend much needed healthcare to 54,000 hard-working Nebraskans.
Chuck Hassebrook. Photo Courtesy of Meg Mandy.
“There are two primary beneficiaries of Medicaid expansion in Nebraska — the working poor, who are struggling to make ends meet from one, two, or even three low wage jobs that don’t provide their workers with healthcare, and the other is every individual and every employer that buys private insurance.
“We faced this same decision last year, and have since lost millions of federal dollars that could have been used to take care of our neighbors right here in Nebraska. Instead, Governor Heineman and a filibustering majority of the Legislature caused Nebraskans to pay twice. We pay federal taxes to fund this program and we pay higher insurance premiums to cover emergency room medical care for those who were denied Medicaid.
“We must stop playing political games with the lives and well being of fellow Nebraskans. It’s time to start caring for our neighbors again and do what is best for all Nebraskans by supporting and passing LB 887 today.”
Oakland City Office Hours
March 26, 2014 Leave a comment
The Oakland City office’s hours for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week will be 8 am to noon. That is March 26, 27, & 28.
Board of Supervisors Meeting
March 26, 2014 Leave a comment
The Burt County Board of Supervisors will meet Fri., March 28th at 9:00 a.m. at the Burt County Courthouse.
First Day of Spring
March 26, 2014 1 Comment
This picture was taken on the first day of Spring. The jet seems to be flying through the sun’s rays!
Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
Chili Cook Off Concert
March 25, 2014 Leave a comment
Participating in the chili cook off concert were Left to Right: Bailey Baumont , Vanessa Peterson, Jon Mayo, Jessie Mutum and Arron Williams. Photo courtesy of LDNE.
More music participants were: Back left to Right: Amelia Shlickting, Blair Preston, Lena Horak, Kayci Kramer, Arron Williams, Bo Whitely
Bottom Left to Right: Sophie Hsu, Cierra French, Jessica Solis, Jessie Mutum, Jesika Kramer, Sarah Alford and Lupita Prieto. Photo Courtesy of LDNE.
Chili Supper Cook Off Concert
March 25, 2014 Leave a comment
By Jessie Mutum
LDNE Music Student
With the smell of homemade chili in the air it was hard to resist coming to the first annual Chili Supper Cook Off Concert. This year was different compared to the past because this year we added a twist to just eating chili and having a great musical act to watch, this year we asked organizations of the school to compete in the first annual Chili Supper Cook Off Concert.
This years contestants were the Northeast Cougaretts, the Northeast Cheer Squad, and the Drama Department. The rules were the organizations had to make their own chili and people would come around and taste each chili and donate as much as they wanted to the chili they liked and who ever had the most donations at the end of the night would be crowned the first annual Chili Cook Off winners! Also the donations that each organization got they got to keep, as a fundraiser for each group.
But a little friendly competition doesn’t come without a show! The night started off with the high school choir singing Grandma’s Feather Bed, followed with a mix of the junior high girl choir and the high school girls singing Man I Feel Like A Women, then the high school choir finished with I’ll Stand By You. Next to follow with the awesome entertainment was the junior high choir with Mama Don’t Allow, then the 7-12 Grade choir boys singing Honkey-Tonk Ba-Donkey-Donk, and ending with a tribute to Johnny Cash with I Walk The Line; A Tribute to Johnny Cash.
Next in line was the strumming good tunes of the Music Appreciation Guitar ensamble, with soloist Darcey Simonson singing God Gave Me You, and another solo by Jessie Mutum with Wake Me Up. You know the Music Appriciation class was hard to follow up, but I think that the Music Technology kids did a pretty good job with their musical ensemble of That’s My Kind of Night. And lastly but certainly not least was the Northeast Band with Rhinestone Cowboy, Old Santa Fe, and a Taylor Swift Medley to end the night.
The Music Department wants to personally thank everyone that came and supported the Chili Supper Cook Off Concert, and we also want to thank all the organizations for competing in the Chili Cook Off! Lastly all the organizations that participated want to thank all that donated to them, we are so thankful and the money we raised will go to good use! And by the way the Chili Cook Off winners were the Northeast Pom Squad with $81 and Northeast Cheer Squad with $77, and last but not least the Northeast Drama Department with $30.Thank You and see you at our next Spring Concert onApril 7th, and our Spring Recital on April 9th!
Chili Cook Off Concert. Photo Courtesy of LDNE.
Center for Rural Affairs Calls Failed Cloture Vote Unconscionable
March 25, 2014 Leave a comment
Lyons, Nebraska – Yesterday, a cloture vote on LB 887, the Wellness In Nebraska Act, failed by a vote of 27 in favor and 21 opposed to ending debate and allowing an up or down General File vote on the bill. The majority of Senators voting “yes” were not sufficient to reach the two-thirds majority required in the Unicameral to invoke cloture and end debate.
“Failing to pass LB 887 will cost Nebraska in lost federal money and budget savings, as many as 10,000 new jobs in healthcare, insurance premium savings for the already insured… but first and foremost, it will cost lives,”
Jon Bailey, Director of the Rural Public Policy Program, Center for Rural Affairs
“We have waited for this vote for over a year. And we applaud the 27 Senators, led by bill sponsor Senator Kathy Campbell, that have shown the courage and leadership to stand up for tens of thousands of working, uninsured Nebraskans,” added Bailey.
To view or download the official Unicameral vote count go to – http://www.cfra.org/www.cfra.org/LB887Vote
“However, the time has come for naysayers and critics of Medicaid expansion to offer up solutions to the stern challenges so many Nebraskans face in our current healthcare system. These working Nebraskans have sought and secured a job, they work hard, and they deserve a chance at a happier, healthier life,” Bailey continued. “And the 21 Senators who stood in the way of passage of LB 887 owe them real solutions, not just rhetoric about openness to new ideas about providing health care. They owe Nebraska more than just political posturing and empty words.”
“We are deeply disappointed that 21 Nebraska state Senators would put petty partisan politics ahead of the health and economic well-being of tens of thousands of working Nebraskans,” said Bailey. “Voting to preserve a public policy of negligence that leaves at least 33,000 people, including over 15,000 from rural and small town Nebraska by the side of the road with no health care options is unconscionable.”
There simply are no compelling arguments against adopting this legislation, added Bailey. Which is why the Center for Rural Affairs was joined by AARP, Nebraska Hospital Association, Nebraska Nurses Association, Nebraska Medical Association, Voices for Children, Nebraska Appleseed, Health Center Association of Nebraska, Nebraska Association of County Officials, The Nebraska Restaurant Association, Community Action of Nebraska, the Nebraska State Education Association and many others.
According to Bailey, many of the impacts of failing to adopt LB 887 and expand Medicaid will fall heaviest on rural and small town Nebraska. Due to inaction in the Unicameral, 15,000 of our rural friends and neighbors will “fall in the gap”, without access to affordable health care. Currently insured Nebraskans will pay higher insurance premiums to cover the cost of uncompensated care. Bankruptcy filings necessitated by medical debt brought on by lack of health care coverage will continue. Rural hospitals will be stretched, possibly to the breaking point. And an estimated 500 Nebraskans will die as a result of having no health care coverage.
“Failing to pass LB 887 will cost Nebraska in lost federal money and budget savings, as many as 10,000 new jobs in healthcare, and insurance premium savings for the already insured, but first and foremost, it will make many of our fellow Nebraskans less healthy and cost lives,” concluded Bailey.
4-H Project at Lyons Library
March 25, 2014 Leave a comment
This project was made by Heidi Miller. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.
4-H Leader Banquet and Upcoming Activities
March 24, 2014 Leave a comment
By Mary Loftis
Extension Assistant
4-H Leaders and 4-H Council members from across Burt County met Sunday evening, March 23 for the Burt County 4-H Leader Banquet. Although many of the 4-H leaders were unable to attend, those that did were treated to a wonderful roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy meal with all the fixings prepared by Donna Preston.
The evening started off with the introduction of 4-H leaders, 4-H council members UNL Extension staff and guests via the use of anagrams. An anagram uses the letters of a name or phrase and rearranges them to make other words or ideas. For example the words “Leader Training” can be rearranged to say: Gala Dinner Rite, Endearing Trail or Arterial Ending. (As good as Donna’s gravy was, that is very possible!) The last anagram before the meal was “Ale Test” which was “Let’s Eat!”
Mary Loftis
Throughout the evening, thanks were expressed to the 4-H leaders for their commitment to the program, but not nearly as much appreciation was shared as there should have been. Without our 4-H leaders, the 4-H program simply would NOT be and we thank each and every one of our 4-H leaders for their many years of dedication to the program.
The guest speaker for the evening was Lisa Kaslon, the Northeast District 4-H Youth Program Coordinator. She outlined the newly revised 4-H Policy Handbook and helped make the 4-H leaders, council members and staff aware of several changes which could affect them and the total 4-H program.
During the evening I made several announcements attempting to update and remind the 4-H leaders of activities and events coming up which may be important to their 4-H members. Some of these were:
· Burt County Beef Preview on Saturday, April 5 on the Burt County Fairgrounds in Oakland.
· 4-H Public Speaking Contest, April 21 with workshops offered on March 31 in Tekamah and April 1 in Lyons.
· Favorite Foods Day Contest, April 26 at the Craig Fire Hall. A new portion of this contest is a team event featuring the use of technology along with the traditional table setting favorite food and meal planning. More details will be shared in the 4-H Newsletter.
· Tagging day will be May 22 in Oakland at the fairgrounds from 3:00-6:00 p.m.
· Livestock Quality Assurance training modules need to be completed and turned in to the Extension Office by June 10.
· Early-bird registration for all 4-H camps is April 15 to receive a 10% discount.
Many thanks go out to the Burt County 4-H Council for sponsoring this event.
Eggs Needed for Embryology Project
It’s time to make plans for the 4-H School Enrichment Embryology project, but unless I can find a supplier for the fertile eggs I need it might be a “chickless” year. If you know of someone who has chickens and roosters and is willing to sell the eggs to the 4-H program please let me know.
In addition, I’ve had a request for baby ducks by the Lyons-Decatur High School. They would like to reintroduce ducks to the local park pond. If anyone has both drakes and hens I’d like to attempt to hatch duck eggs for the Lyons 3rd grade embryology project.
If you’ve got any leads on potential egg suppliers please give me a call at the UNL Extension Office at 402-374-2929 or leave a message if after hours by pressing 214 when the voicemail message comes on. Thanks in advance!
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
Kat Country Hub 
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