Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The message from Clearwater residents is overwhelmingly clear: fix the streets. "We've been researching different options and trying to figure out a way to start improving the streets. When we went through the surveys done for the Downtown Revitalization project, and the housing grant two years ago, streets were the No. 1 concern of citizens of the community," said Clearwater Economic Development Director Lauren Sheridan. Navigating Clearwater's business corridor may get a whole lot smoother if...
After an approximate 30-minute executive session with legal counsel, Village of Ewing officials announced, July 10, they would not be applying for a Rural Community Recovery Program grant for potential demolition of the former Ewing elementary school. RCRP funds may be used for rehabilitation or reuse projects and is "designed to address vacant, abandoned or deteriorated properties," according to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The DED website lists eight criteria for use of...
Andi McClintic has been hired to serve Nebraska as lending services assistant director with the Center for Rural Affairs. In this role, McClintic collaborates closely with the center's loan specialists, assisting them as they work with small business and mortgage clients. The center provides training, free one-on-one business counseling, and loan products. Originally from southwest Nebraska, McClintic brings a wide variety of skills to the center, having worked for the University of...
Ewing officials were praised, Monday, for completing its duplex housing project in approximately two years. The comments came during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, held at 204 N. Cedar Street. State Sen. Barry DeKay said he often hears about the need for housing, especially in rural areas. "Our communities have to be very innovative and willing to take a risk with developers," he said. He cited a lack of subcontractors in some rural areas, coupled with construction costs, which can make it difficult...
It's easy to understand but hard to remember that the one task of the Nebraska Legislature is to pass a balanced budget during the 90-day session and to make adjustments to and pass that budget again in the 60-day session. Mission accomplished again by the 2024 Legislature, which has a little more than a week of session left. The simple task often gets lost in the shadow of high-profile issues, such as this year's struggle to find a solution for skyrocketing property taxes. With all eyes on...
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely is a proverbial saying reportedly coined by the English nobleman Lord Acton in 1857. How much power should be given to the executive branch of Nebraska state government is a topic for discussion by state lawmakers and political observers alike. Currently there are 18 code agencies, which answer to Governor Jim Pillen. The Legislature is considering measures addressing the situation. Sen Steve Erdman of Bayard wants History Nebraska (formerly...
Ed. Note: Sen. Dorn’s letter to the editor is in regards to an editorial by J.L. Schmidt, statehouse correspondent for the Nebraska Press Association. A recent editorial in this publication showed no understanding of the constraints on city governments regarding rundown properties, citing LB 45. While it would be most desirable for all property owners to keep their properties in peak condition, that is not the reality; thus, communities across the state are left with buildings which continue to deteriorate. Let me start at the beginning of h...
The expansion of wind generation has been, and continues to be, a boon for rural development. Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity across the nation. Several Midwest states, including Nebraska, are leading the charge in its development, according to recent reports from the U.S. Department of Energy. In 2022, wind power accounted for 22% of new electricity capacity in the nation, representing a $12 billion investment. While it was considered a down year for installatio...
The holidays are for celebrating and Small Business Saturday is a celebration of the key role independent, locally-owned businesses play in Nebraska's economy. Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011, Small Business Saturday will be Nov. 25, the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and small businesses across Nebraska have embraced Small Business Saturday and the...
Their low, rumbling bellow first cuts through the silence of the Sandhills. Next comes the crunch of pointed hooves, trudging their way through tall prairie grasses. Then, the oohs of the out-of-towners watching – people up close and personal with the majestic thousand-pound mammals for the first time. This is Golden Prairie Bison, a ranch nestled in the Sandhills where Carl and Vicki Simmons raise a herd of 50 bison. Theirs is one of the dozens of bison ranches in Nebraska, one piece of an o...
Two new housing units are for sale in Clearwater. A duplex, constructed by Stearns Construction, is completed and accepting applications, according to local economic development director Lauren Sheridan-Simonson. A ribbon cutting and open house were held at the unit, Thursday, Aug. 10. The project was possible, in part, from a Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund grant of $221,000 to the Village of Clearwater.Steve Stearns worked with Miller & Associates "to create a plan that benefits...
Almost a year after receiving notification that the Village of Ewing was selected to receive funds to construct a two-unit duplex, officials broke ground on the project, Aug. 1. The $431,640 project, from the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund, will start construction in mid-August, according to village clerk Sharon Swails. The village will provide a $100,000 match. Village chairman James Ramold said each unit will feature two bedrooms, one bathroom and a single-car garage, available for...
In early July, I will begin my new role as director of the department of economic development for the State of Nebraska. It is an extraordinary honor to serve my home state in this capacity and I will bring with me experiences from my past career. As chief operating officer of Nebraska Community Foundation, I like to think I learned a thing or two about community economic development. Lessons I will undoubtedly carry with me to my new appointment. I don’t have any illusions or preconceived n...
With less than two weeks left in the session, the 108th Legislature is dragging an overburdened $12.975 billion budget to the finish line. Passing the budget is the only thing lawmakers are constitutionally required to accomplish. As introduced by the Appropriations Committee, the budget proposal would result in a projected ending balance of almost $715 million above the 3% required minimum reserve. This amount would be available to fund proposals pending before the Legislature this session....
Neligh Chamber of Commerce will receive a Rural Workforce Housing Fund award to create quality affordable housing. Nebraska Department of Economic Development announced the recipients from across the state, Thursday, who will receive $22,825,000 in awards through the 2022 round of the RWHF. Neligh will receive $510,000 in award funds, with a local match of $255,000. For the 2022 funding cycle, non-profit development organizations that supplied a match minimum of at least 50% were eligible....
The Legislature's Appropriations Committee has signed off on providing the funds to build a $366 million prison in the Lincoln-Omaha area just as the Department of Corrections brings on a new director who appears to favor programming and investing in the humanity of the incarcerated. That brings some hope to a small but fierce band of senators who don't think building is the best way out of the problem for the nation's most overcrowded prison system. The money is a big part of the budget which...
Many major issues were debated this past week in the Legislature, with LB 626 and LB 574 being the two most highly-contested bills considered by senators. LB 626 would adopt the Nebraska Heartbeat Act and restrict abortion to when a fetal heartbeat is first detected, thereby reducing the current 20-week abortion time window to about six weeks. This bill includes exceptions for rape, incest, sexual assault, medical emergencies (such as ectopic pregnancies and the removal of the remains of an...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF EWING BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Ewing Village Board of Trustees convened in regular session on March 13, 2023, at 7 p.m., at the City Hall. Notice of the meeting was published March 8, 2023, in the "Summerland Advocate-Messenger." An agenda was kept current and on file at the village clerk’s office. Chairman James Ramold called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Notice was given to the posted location of the open meetings law. Board members present were Dustin Jorgensen, Dustin Wright, Kane Fry and James Ramold. Absent was K...
Guests at northeast Nebraska state park areas were treated to some improvements in 2022, with more set to be completed in 2023. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Summit Lake State Recreation Area Summit Lake State Recreation Area near Tekamah saw aquatic habitat and angler access improvement projects completed to improve the fishery and guests' experience. The west and south sediment basins were excavated to restore them to their original capacity and prevent...
This week saw the Legislature conclude the second and final week of all-day committee hearings. The schedule will return to a traditional format, where floor debate is in the mornings and committee hearings in the afternoon. The question of whether Nebraska should legalize medical marijuana will again be considered by the Legislature. Sen.Wishart introduced LB 588, the Medicinal Cannabis Act, which would provide a regulatory framework to establish access to cannabis specifically for medical...
This week, Governor Pete Ricketts is leading a trade mission to Japan to promote Nebraska's quality ag products and to pitch Nebraska as a top destination for international investment. The governor and trade delegation will meet with government officials, promote Nebraska beef, pork, ethanol and other ag products and encourage Japanese businesses to invest in Nebraska. Delegates on the mission include representatives from ag businesses, state commodity organizations, Nebraska Farm Bureau, the De...
The Village of Clearwater received good news Thursday. Nebraska Department of Economic Development notified village officials it will be the recipient of a Community Development Block Grant to spearhead downtown revitalization planning. Up to $53,000 will be awarded, with a $5,000 commitment coming from village funds. Five Rule Rural Planning, of Kearney, will work with community members and village officials to complete the plan. Phase one of the project is expected to take place this month...
A new duplex is under development in Clearwater, with assistance from a $221,000 Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund grant. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday, Oct. 27, at the site on the corner of Nebraska and Utah streets. Steve and Michelle Stearns, members of the village's economic development board, board of trustees and other dignitaries attended the 1 p.m. event. Stearns Construction, of Clearwater, will serve as developer of the housing project. Each unit covers 1,085 square...
The Village of Clearwater received good news Thursday. Nebraska Department of Economic Development notified officials it will be the recipient of a Community Development Block Grant to spearhead downtown revitalization planning. Up to $53,000 will be awarded, with a $5,000 commitment from the village. Five Rule Rural Planning, of Kearney, will work with community members and village officials to complete the plan. Phase one of the project is expected to take place this month during an...
In 2024, NASA will send a small surgical robot from Nebraska to the International Space Station. The tiny, two-pound robot will be able to perform surgeries on the space station that would normally require a surgeon’s expertise and much larger equipment. The surgical robot can operate more or less on its own, performing complex procedures at the flip of a switch. The device, developed by Nebraska-based Virtual Incision, is a significant step toward making it possible for surgeons to operate r...
