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Public input sought for comprehensive plan Tammy Partsch The News-Press

ebraska City’s community planners are asking for public input on what Nebraska City’s future should look like. At a public town hall meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 8, Olsson Associates, dPlanit, and students from the University of

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Nebraska-Lincoln College of Architecture presented statistical findings about Nebraska City. The group has spent the last few months collecting data regarding demographics, infrastructure, public services, natural resources, environmental issues, market and consumer patterns, economic development opportunities, historical and cultural resources, transporta-

tion systems, and existing land use within the Nebraska City jurisdiction. All of that data will be complied with comments from local citizens about perceived opinions on Nebraska City’s future growth. From that, a unified comprehensive plan will be presented to the city. “Usually, communities redo

their comprehensive plan every ten years or so,” said Dave Knopick, owner of dPlanit, a professional planning consulting company. “The trend now, however, is to set a document you can build on so you are not rewriting it all the time. If you make it a living document and look at it yearly, you can make See PLAN, A7

See Page A2

NC Board of Education receives 2014 President’s Award

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INSIDE: ■ Weather Report See Page A8 ■ Calendar See Page A5 ■ Police Reports See Page A3 ■ Opinion See Page A4 ■ Classifieds See Page B6-7 ■ Obituaries See Page A3

SCC sponsoring Career Day Oct. 17 Prospective students will have the opportunity to view manufacturing-related programs of study during a special day on the Milford Campus of Southeast Community College. SCC’s Careers in Manufacturing Day is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17, on the Milford Campus at 600 State St. Registration and continental breakfast begin the day at 8:30 a.m. in the Dunlap Center. That will be followed by keynote speaker Afton Hollertz, a graduate of SCC’s Manufacturing Engineering Technology program who is a continuous improvement engineer for Allmand Bros. Inc. She also is involved in SME, an organization for individuals, students, educators, and companies involved in all facets of manufacturing, and the Society of Women Engineers. From 9:30 a.m. until noon, students will rotate through SCC programs Precision Machining and Automation Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Nondestructive Testing Technology, Electrical-Electromechani cal Technology, and Electronic Systems Technology. After lunch a panel of speakers will discuss various aspects of manufacturing and manufacturing-related topics.

Matt Belka For the News-Press

Hayward Elementary School third grader Ashly Argumaniz, 8, hula hoops during the Relay Recess event at the school Oct. 9. PHOTO BY NIKKI CARLSON

Hayward students participate in cancer awareness event

The Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB), Board of Directors and staff, recognized the Nebraska City Public Schools Board of Education as a 2014 President’s Award recipients during the Nebraska City Region Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014. This award of distinction recognizes the board’s collective volunteer time and commitment to education. The criteria for this award requires that all board members participate in learning opportunities to grow in their governance role by atSee AWARD, A7

cer Society Relay for Life specialist Heather [email protected] Gorham of Lincoln said to a group of thirdgraders. "So by taking part today you guys are gohildren outlined a field at an elementary ing to learn some healthy information to lower school carrying white plastic bags with your chances of ever getting cancer, as well as just purple ribbons for an event to bring can- some overall cancer statistics." cer awareness to Hayward Elementary School The school hosted an ACS Relay Recess prostudents. gram Oct. 9 to teach third-through fifth-grade "I just wanted to let you know that while you're students about making healthy decisions reparticipating in this event you're not only par- garding tobacco, physical activity, nutrition and ticipating for your school, but you're also helpSee CANCER, A2 ing people in your community," American CanNikki Carlson

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Bomb threat reported at Wal-Mart, 2nd in NC in 30 days Jim Brock ncnewspress.com

Jackie Moyer's yard chosen as Garden Club’s Yard of the Month Sandy Parmenter [email protected]

It's probably not surprising that someone who has five Christmas trees every year with different themes takes a lot of pride in her yard, too. On Oct. 1, Jackie Moyer was honored by the Tree City Garden Club for having the Yard of the Month. Jackie and her husband Stan moved into the sizable home at 1622 1st Avenue 15 years ago, and she has been beautifying See YARD, A8

Homeowners Stan and Jackie Moyer proudly stand next to the Yard of the Month sign with Tree City Garden Club representative Rosie Pfeiffer.

"Everybody's OK, right?" was the only question answered by an employee at the Nebraska City WalMart late Thursday night, just a few hours after receiving a bomb threat. "Yes," the employee said hurriedly, after directing all media inquiries to 1-800-WAL-MART. The alleged bomb threat, which was reported to police just before 7 p.m. on Thursday, caused the store to shut down for more than an hour while police and Wal-Mart staff searched the building. "There were no specifics given of any particular item we should be looking for – just a blatant statement that there was a bomb in the building," said Sgt. Chris Bando of the Nebraska City Police Department. "Three managers and three officers searched the premises once, then some employees were allowed in to do a second search, and then the rest of the employees were allowed in to do a third search. "Nothing was found to be suspicious." Bando said there were no "known

PHOTO BY SANDY PARMENTER

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geek of the week Brian Voyles of Nebraska City geeks "music, playing the electric guitar and using Facebook at the library." For more information on how to get your geek on, go to geekthelibrary.org or visit the Morton-James Public Library website at morton-jamespubliclibrary.com. PHOTO BY NIKKI CARLSON

Spiral Communications open for business Above, people gather as Spiral Communications Chief Executive Officer and President Craig Hagenau, from left holding the ribbon, Chief Operations Officer Justin Hornberger and marketing manager Nikki Hein cut the ribbon for Spiral's Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting event Oct. 8 at 800 Central Ave. Spiral offers a fiber optic network to provide high-speed Internet and phone service. Below, Spiral Communications Chief Executive Officer and President Craig Hagenau, left, of Glenwood, Iowa, speaks to guest during the event. PHOTOS BY NIKKI CARLSON

NEMAHA NRD MINUTES From the Nemaha Natural Resources District

TECUMSEH – Water was on the mind of many at the Nemaha Natural Resources District’s regular meeting Thursday, October 9. Following a period this summer when some domestic wells in the Barada area of Richardson County failed, landowners there asked the NRD for help in determining the cause. They requested a moratorium be placed on approval of any further irrigation wells in the area to allow time to study possible impacts on domestic well supplies. However, with proposed changes to the NRD’s groundwater management area rules and regulations set to be acted upon in November, it was felt the revised rules and scoring system would effectively eliminate many high capacity wells in that area from approval. NRD staff will continue to work with landowners in that area to monitor water levels and assist with registration of domestic wells to help protect them from encroachment by high capacity wells. Last month the board tabled action on a motion to reconsider a previously denied well permit for Harlan Plager. After voting to take up discussion and action on that motion, the board narrowly defeated the original motion in a 9-8-1 vote. Much discussion and concern revolved around what kind of restrictions could be placed on approval of another permit, whether reconsideration of a permit should even be allowed, and the prevailing concerns from the Pawnee County Rural Water District about the proximity to

he Team Jack Foundation would like to thank Big Apple News Radio of Nebraska City, Nebraska for participating in the 2nd Annual Team Jack Foundation Radiothon. The Foundation would also like to thank the listeners of Big Apple News Radio for their amazing generosity throughout the day of the radiothon. Because of your community’s involvement in the radiothon, approximately $60,000 was raised for pediatric brain cancer research on September 18, 2014. It is because of the sup-

T counterclockwise around the field. When the music stopped, they then sprintContinued from Page 1 ed to another station until they had visited all four stations. sun exposure. "So the big thing today ACS Cancer Action Network volunteer Au- is to have fun, fight cancer, drey Graves of Nebraska we're gonna fight back City helped coordinate and you're gonna learn a the Relay Recess event little bit along the way," with Gorham. On Oct. 3, Graves told students. At the physical activity Graves told students her station, manned by Anne story of being diagnosed with Stage II breast can- Dutt of Nebraska City, cer, and Gorham spoke children either jump about ACS and Relay for roped or hula hooped to promote maintaining Life. Students were asked to physical activity in their bring in spare change dur- lives. Volunteer Kathy Duffy ing the week of Oct. 6 through Oct. 10 to raise of Nebraska City gave stumoney for Otoe County dents assorted fruit Relay for Life. Third snacks after asking them graders cheered as Graves to list off healthy snacks at and Gorham announced the nutrition station. "We're teaching stuOct. 9 that they were in the lead in the "Penny dents to eat healthy War" competition with a snacks," Duffy said. "Eat little over $200 in change. fruits and vegetables The winners of the com- paired with physical acpetition were given prizes tivity to maintain a good - girls were given minia- weight to prevent canture purple ribbon cer." Students applied sunbracelets and the boys were give miniature pur- screen on themselves at the sun exposure station. ple footballs. "You are all very awe- Gorham said sunscreen some supporters because with a Sun Protection you all helped bring in Factors of 15 or higher is some money for us to recommended to aid fight cancer this week," against harmful ultraviolet rays. Gorham said. "We're trying to get At the beginning of Relay Recess, children were them in the habit of slapinstructed to run to one of ping on some sunscreen," four stations to begin their Gorham said. "Even on 30-minute informative cloudy days." Volunteer Patty Madjourney. Then music was sen of Nebraska City played, which alerted stuadded that people should dents to start walking

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also wear sunscreen while wearing long-sleeved shirts and hats. Madsen has been a Relay for Life member for 16 years and has had loved ones who've died of cancer. Volunteers Cheri Becerra Madsen and Joan Dutt, both of Nebraska City, showed students the difference between a nonsmoker's lungs compared to a smoker's lungs by first breathing through a straw normally and then plugging their noses while breathing through a straw. Joan Dutt, who is also a radiologic technologist at CHI Health St. Mary's hospital, said the peak ages of when children start smoking are between the ages of 11 and 12. That surprised many students. At the end of the handson event, students returned to classes with plastic bags full of information, coloring pages, stickers, pencils, snacks and more. Gorham said the Relay Recess at Hayward was the only one held in Otoe County. "It's an educational opportunity for kids to learn about preventative measures to lower your risk of cancer," she said. Graves thought the event was a hit with students. "I think the kids had a ball. I think the kids had fun," she said. "They were educated on different aspects on how to fight against cancer."

their public water supply wells. In subsequent action on another permit for a well in Richardson County to be used to fill a pond, the board also denied approval of that permit. In other action, four bids to place rip rap on five watershed structures were awarded to B.A.B., Inc., from Adams. They submitted the low bid in each instance, and only two or three bids were received on each project. Work is scheduled to be completed yet this fall, and the NRD is contracting separately for the rip rap and hauling. Christy Haddan from Schulz and Associates accounting firm in Beatrice was on hand to review the District’s FY2014 audit report. She once again reported that the District’s financial standing was favorable and that no problems or issues were uncovered in their review. The board opted to delay action to approve the report, however, until next month to allow members time to study it in greater detail. A proposal from Beehive Industries to develop a database collection system to be used to track and record information about the watersheds and structures in the District was considered. The initial, total cost to set up the data and provide support, training, and updates was $7,000 with a subsequent annual maintenance fee of $3,600. Board approval was granted for the system, which does not include the cost of the hardware required for employees to use the system in the field. Several items in conjunction with the Duck Creek project were discussed and/or acted upon. First the board authorized the manager to proceed

with incorporating dirt work for road improvements in with the bidding process for the dam itself. In addition some revisions were approved to the land rights settlement with the major landowner on the project. The change reduced the purchase area by about two acres but provided an additional seven acres for mitigation. Finally the board approved an agreement with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission that would have them provide $500,000 in costshare assistance toward the in-lake, fisheries related recreation facilities. With the recent death of NRD director, John Albrecht from Nebraska City, the board was required to make a decision on how to fill the vacancy. Since Albrecht’s term was set to expire at the end of December anyway, their action was to declare the seat in Subdistrict 4 vacant and designate January 8, 2015, as the first date on which to consider applications to appoint someone to fill it. Because of changes in state law, the appointment will only be for a two-year term after which the seat will be up for election in 2016 for another two years. The next regular meeting of the Nemaha NRD board of directors will be Thursday, November 13, 2014, at the NRD headquarters in Tecumseh. Starting in November and extending through March, regular meetings will begin an hour earlier at 7:00 p.m. with committees meeting just prior to each regular meeting. In addition a public hearing will take place on November 13 at 5:00 p.m. to receive testimony on the proposed changes to the rules and regulations for groundwater quality management areas.

port and generosity of your local radio station and amazing contributors which allows us to continue to have a national impact on the leading childhood cancer cause of death. On behalf of the Team Jack Foundation, our family, and all of those parents who have a child

battling a brain tumor, thank you Nebraska City and surrounding area for your amazing generosity. There is no place like Nebraska! With sincere gratitude, Andrew and Brianna Hoffman, Co-Founders of the Team Jack Foundation.

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