LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Nebraska’s corn and soybean crops appear to be in good shape, but the recent cool, damp weather has hindered field work. The USDA issued its weekly update on crop conditions Monday. About 74 percent of Nebraska’s corn crop is in good or excellent condition. That’s close to the average of 75 percent good or excellent at this time of year, but it’s behind last year’s 83 percent rating. The USDA says about 79 percent of the soybean crop rated was in good or excellent condition. That’s even with last year’s rating at this time and ahead of the average of 74 percent good or excellent.
Category: News
Neb. city sues businessman over unkempt property
SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) – The city of Sidney has filed a complaint against a businessman for keeping junk, inoperable cars and other items on his property. A complaint filed in Cheyenne County District Court cited by the Sidney Sun-Telegraph says Chad Hrbek runs an illegal junkyard and has accumulated debris from the partial demolition of a hops plant, refusing to both haul it away and complete the demolition, among other things. The city has asked a judge to order Hrbek to clean his property. A number listed for Hrbek was not in service Sunday.
You Drink, You Drive, You Lose totals
NORTH PLATTE, Neb.- (Eagle Radio) The You Drink, You Drive, You Lose campaign netted four arrests for driving under the influence, and 22 people were arrested for outstanding warrants. The effort, which ran August 19th through September 5th, also led to deputies writing 174 warnings and 39 citations for various traffic offenses. The deputies worked nearly 200 hours of overtime during the campaign, a nationwide effort aimed at reducing the number of injury and fatality accidents caused by impaired drivers. The You Drink, You Drive, You Lose program is funded by a $7,000 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety.
Neb. businesses, organizations get $1M from USDA
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Businesses and organizations in Nebraska have been awarded more than $1 million in grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A release from the USDA says most of that money went to Knox County as part of a $750,000 loan program to help the business and community recover from Missouri River flooding. So far, five businesses have been identified as likely recipients of low-interest loans. More than $250,000 went to Nebraska through the USDA’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program. That money was distributed to four organizations to promote business development. Recipients include the University of Nebraska, the Panhandle Area Development District in Gering, the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons and the Potter Historical Foundation.
Postal service could close 5 Neb. mail centers
NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) – The U.S. Postal Service is studying whether to close five mail processing centers in Nebraska to save money. The Norfolk Daily News reports the postal service announced Thursday that it would consider whether to continue operations at the centers in Alliance, Grand Island, Norfolk, North Platte and west Omaha. U.S. Postal Service spokesman Brian Sperry says that if the centers are closed, mail now processed through the Grand Island, Norfolk and west Omaha centers could be sent to the downtown Omaha center. Mail now destined for the Alliance and North Platte centers could go through Cheyenne, Wyoming. Sperry says no decision has been made and the postal service is considering its options. The postal service lost $8.5 billion last year and is expected to lose $10 billion this year.
Longtime Alliance, Neb., councilman resigns
ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) – An Alliance City Council member has announced he’s resigning after 15 years in office. KNEB-AM reports Dan Kusek submitted his resignation Thursday, citing family and work issues. His last day on the council will be Sept. 30, the last day of Alliance’s 2011 fiscal year. The four remaining council members will select a replacement to fill out the 14 months left on Kusek’s term.
Central Neb. university announces cuts
KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) – The University of Nebraska at Kearney has announced nearly $370,000 in proposed budget cuts. The Kearney Hub reports that Chancellor Doug Kristensen sent an email to UNK employees Thursday announcing the cuts and asking for comments. Kristensen says no job cuts are planned, but proposed reductions include not filling vacant positions. Also, planned equipment buys were adjusted and some operating accounts were cut. Kristensen says the cuts would cause some loss of fiscal flexibility in each of UNK’s colleges and in some support offices. But he said the university has to preserve its ability to deliver courses that students need to complete their programs in timely fashion. In June, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents told UNK officials to reduce the budget by more than $368,000 for fiscal year 2012.
(VIDEO) Distant planet has double sunset
Southwest Neb. school board rejects recall vote
TRENTON, Neb. (AP) – A southwest Nebraska school board has rejected an attempt to force a recall vote on three of its members. The Hitchcock County school board voted 5-1 this week to not call a recall election, even though the county clerk has certified the signatures. School attorney Karen Haase told The McCook Daily Gazette that that some signers claimed they were told the petition was to save an old school building, while others believed it was to lower their property taxes Haase says the man behind the petition, Shane Rippen, reportedly did not gather all of the signatures himself even though he signed the petition as the sole circulator. Haase says she advised the school board members against calling the election to avoid possible lawsuits.
Central Neb. city council bans ‘dumpster diving’
KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) – “Dumpster diving” is now a no-no in Kearney. The Kearney Hub reports that the City Council on Tuesday adopted an ordinance banning people from scavenging in garbage cans. The move came after Kearney Police Department Chief Dan Lynch raised concerns. According to the memorandum from City Attorney Michael Tye, other communities have reported problems with people scavenging through trash receptacles looking for recyclable metal and other materials. Scavenging also has been a source of identity theft. The new ordinance makes digging through someone else’s garbage a
misdemeanor offense.