LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A bill that would require Nebraska abortion providers to give women information about possibly continuing their pregnancy after taking the first of two abortion drugs has won initial approval from lawmakers.

Lawmakers advanced the bill through a first-round vote Tuesday despite criticism that the information isn’t backed by scientific evidence. The vote was 37-9 after supporters overcame a legislative filibuster. Two additional votes are required before it goes to the governor.

Sen. Joni Albrecht, of Thurston, says the bill ensures that women have a right to know all of their options when if they are pursuing an abortion with medication.

Opponents say the bill is premised on a faulty and unethical study.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Fishing improves Nebraskans’ quality of life and is crucial to the conservation of our natural resources. To encourage Nebraskans to go fishing and introduce newcomers to the activity, on May 6 Gov. Pete Ricketts officially proclaimed the month of May as Take ’Em Fishing Month in Nebraska.

Take ’Em Fishing is a new challenge introduced by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, which encourages experienced anglers to pledge to take new or lapsed anglers fishing. Now through Sept. 15, anglers submit a photo of themselves taking someone fishing can enter an online drawing for dozens of prizes including a Bass Tracker Classic fishing boat, SCHEELS and Cabela’s gift cards, kayaks, fishing gear, camping equipment, a stay at a Nebraska state park and more.

“Every angler learned to fish from someone,” said Nebraska Game and Parks Director Jim Douglas. “We hope this challenge will inspire our experienced fishermen and fisherwomen to remember those early trips that helped grow their love of fishing and to pass on the tradition to someone new.”

Fishing is vital to the conservation of Nebraska’s natural resources, as money generated through the sale of fishing permits and aquatic habitat stamps is used to maintain healthy fisheries, improve water quality and to enhance access for anglers.

Economically, fishing also provides a huge boost, contributing $324 million to the state’s economy annually, and creating $210 million in retail sales.

On a more personal level, fishing also improves mental health, brings families and friends closer together, and creates more inspired workers.

“For many Nebraskans, fishing provides cherished memories and a long-held tradition of enjoying the outdoors,” said Dean Rosenthal, the Nebraska Game and Parks fisheries division administrator. “With Take ’Em Fishing, we aim to introduce this activity to a new generation of anglers, and we extend our thanks to Gov. Ricketts for understanding, recognizing and honoring this important goal.”

For more information about Take ’Em Fishing Challenge, including prizes, official rules and how to enter, visit Outdoornebraska.org/TakeEmFishing. For questions on getting started in fishing or public places to fish, visit OutdoorNebraska.org or contact your nearest Game and Parks office.

NebraskaLand National Bank will host its annual Community Shred Day at the Main Bank location, 1400 South Dewey Street, on Friday, May 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Shredding services will be available to the public with a recommendation of one bag of items up to five standard sized boxes per person.  Items can include scam mailings, bills, banking statements, credit card offers and more.

NebraskaLand National Bank will provide lunch. Community members can park and enjoy lunch on the patio or drive-thru and drop off their shred.  Volunteers from NebraskaLand National Bank and the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Memorial Board will be available to help unload shred.

A free will donation is encouraged to benefit the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Memorial.  NebraskaLand National Bank will match all funds raised up to $500.00.

With an increase in internet scams and fraudulent behavior, the importance of identity theft prevention and awareness has risen as well. Practicing prevention methods such as shredding bank statements and personal information helps to decrease fraud and theft.

NebraskaLand National Bank encourages the community to take the necessary precautions to protect their identities.

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) are stepping-up enforcement on exhibition speeding in the Omaha metro area over the next several months. For the second year in a row, troopers will conduct special enforcement operations focused on motorcycles and excessive speeding in Douglas and Sarpy County.

“Exhibition speeding is dangerous,” said Captain Jason Scott, Commander of the Troop A – Omaha. “Our troopers will be patrolling the roads and the air throughout the summer looking for excessive speeders and raising awareness about this dangerous practice.”

The operation began last weekend, on Friday, May 3, and will run through Saturday, August 31 with troopers and dispatchers working overtime to make metro roads safer. This effort is possible thanks in part to a grant for $17,900 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

Patrol troopers on the ground will have assistance from the NSP Aviation Support Division to apprehend drivers who flee from an attempted traffic stop. NSP will also work with local law enforcement agencies such as the Omaha Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.

During last year’s enforcement campaign, troopers made three arrests for reckless driving and another three for flight to avoid arrest in addition to dozens of citations for speeding.

By Heather Johnson-MPCC

A lifelong resident of Southwest Nebraska will be honored with the 2019 President’s Award from McCook Community College this week.

Dr. Mike Owens will be recognized Friday during MCC’s commencement ceremony for his service to the college and the community as a whole.

A Benkelman native, Owens graduated from Benkelman High School in 1968. He then spent a year at Chadron State College before transferring to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln where he obtained bachelor’s degrees in botany and chemistry.

“After that, I decided I wanted to get a master’s degree in biochemistry,” Owens said. “But, I needed to eat, so I got a part time job at the university’s dental school compiling statistics for the professors’ research.”

A year into the job, a couple of professors in the pediatric dentistry department, began encouraging Owens to apply to dental school. He initially pushed aside the thought because he was just about to finish his master’s degree. Ultimately, it was his wife, Candy, who convinced him to take the Dental Admission Test.

“I passed, and the rest is history,” Mike said.

Mike earned his dental degree in 1979 and moved back to Southwest Nebraska at the urging of Dr. Harlo “Mac” McKinty, a former McCook dentist, who had been teaching at the dental college.

“I also had an offer for a job in Arizona at that time, but my wife and I chose McCook because it was close to home and a good place to raise kids,” Mike said.

He went to work at Dr. Ray Langfeldt’s dental clinic, then opened his own practice a few years later at 521 Norris Ave. Mike remained there for 39 years – until his retirement last summer.

“I always told my patients that McCook Community College is a good place to go to school,” Mike said. “Success starts here. I paid the banks for a long time, and it wasn’t easy. MCC is more affordable than a four-year college or university, and the education is just as good if not better because of the one-on-one instruction. You can’t beat MCC. You can’t beat Mid-Plains.”

That passion for the college was what led him to join the MCC College Foundation in 1987.

“At that time, the school was going through some growing pains,” Mike said. “The college’s accrediting body had told the college to centralize its administration, which was a big move because a lot of people thought the authority for McCook would be diluted and that McCook’s role in the Mid-Plains system would be more like that of a satellite location.”

MCC was the first two-year college in Nebraska, and Mike and other foundation members wanted to make sure it stayed prominent in the system. They also wanted to see it grow and prosper, and they launched a beautification program to help make that happen.

“When I moved to town, the campus was bare,” Mike said. “There weren’t many trees, so we got trees donated and had them planted all over. Then I was given the go-ahead to put a sitting area on the north side of McMillen Hall. After that, we bought lights from the city and put them down the center of the campus, lining the sidewalks. We must have moved those lights three or four times before we were done.”

As a business owner, himself, Mike was keenly aware of the importance of creating a welcoming environment.

“First impressions are important,” Mike said. “If you have a nice welcome mat out for people, it will attract them to your business, and the college is a business. It needs to attract people. That’s how I always looked at it.”

Mike left the foundation 2010, but didn’t completely leave his work with the college behind. He joined the Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors in 2011 at the urging of former board member Elizabeth Benjamin.

One of his favorite projects while on the board was the creation of the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center in 2012.

“An event center was in the back of everyone’s minds from the time I moved to McCook,” Mike said. “Looking back, that’s probably why I got on the board in the first place. McCook has always been a hub for Southwest Nebraska, and an event center was a definite need. It has really improved the college and the community.”

Another proud moment Mike had as a board member was the hiring of current president Ryan Purdy.

“Hiring Ryan was one of the best decisions we ever made,” Mike said. “McCook Community College is very important to the growth of this area, and I’m happy to see the emphasis that Ryan and his colleagues have put on it. He has been a good influence, and I think the school is definitely moving in the right direction.”

Mike served eight years on the board of governors – until December of 2018.

“I always told people I would have to quit if I ran out of jokes, and I guess I ran out of jokes,” Mike said. “The governors are a good group. There are a lot of dedicated people on the board who are all there because they want the best for the college. They want the college to grow, and we need the college to keep growing because it’s vital to our local economy. I miss the camaraderie already.”

It couldn’t be more fitting then that Mike will receive the President’s Award in the same building he helped to establish, the Graff Events Center, surrounded by the board members he served with.

The commencement ceremony is open to the public. It will begin at 10 a.m.

Gothenburg State Bank announced that it will be renaming to Flatwater Bank.

They have officially selected a new name and logo and the changes are expected to occur over the next several months.

“We have strong brand loyalty with local roots dating back 117 years”, commented Matt Williams, Chairman of the Board.

“The name and tagline we chose, “Flatwater Bank – Still Pioneering”, reflect our heritage, while strengthening our commitment to our valued customers as well as serving new markets,” said Williams.

What does Flatwater mean?  Williams, explained, “The name Nebraska actually comes from a term meaning “flat water”.  Two of our most treasured resources in Nebraska are our water and our people.  The name Flatwater is representative of both.  It is how we approach our relationship with our customers and communities, steady and always ready to serve.”

“While we look forward to integrating and creating greater value for our customers, employees and communities we serve, we realize the name is secondary to delivering the outstanding service our customers have come to expect.  We will remain a family-owned, community bank,” said Luke Rickertsen, President.

“Although our name will be different, our customers will continue to experience outstanding service from the same familiar faces and relationships they have come to know and count on,” commented Rickertsen.

About Flatwater Bank, formerly Gothenburg State Bank:  Gothenburg State Bank has been a family-owned community bank since 1902.  They are headquartered in Gothenburg, NE and have locations in Brady and Ansley.

If you would like to learn more about Flatwater Bank, visit their website atwww.flatwater.bank or join one of the many conversations through their social media channels by joining Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.