GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Three members of a local delegation have returned from a lobbying trip to Washington, where they told federal officials the Grand Island Veterans Home should be remodeled instead of giving way to a new home in Kearney.

Mayor Jay Vavricek (vav-RAH’-chehk), Hall County Supervisor Pam Lancaster and veterans service officer Don Shuda (SHOO’-duh) traveled to Washington last week. They handed out booklets with a letter requesting that the federal officials “intercede in behalf of Nebraska veterans and request that the VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald deny funding for the relocation of the Grand Island Veterans Home.”

Gov. Dave Heineman’s announcement that the Grand Island facility would be replaced by the Kearney project drew protests from Grand Island and Hall County.