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Service Information can be found on the Obituaries Page

* Cal Bretz, 69, of Billings, Mont. 3 p.m. MDT Oct. 17

* Darlene Titus Bammerlin, 89, of Buffalo, Okla., formerly of Ainsworth and Long Pine 11 a.m. Oct. 17

* Roger Lynn Brodbeck, 85, of Grant  2 p.m. MDT Oct. 11

* Meeting reports located below for:

Oct. 10 Ainsworth City Council

Oct. 1 Brown County Commissioners

Sept. 17 Brown County Commissioners

* Additional section of Main Street opens Friday

(Posted 9:15 a.m. Oct. 11)

The Nebraska Department of Transportation opened the next section of Main Street Friday as work continues on the Highway 7 project in downtown Ainsworth.

According NDOT Project Manager Carl Hart, Main Street reopened Friday between Second Street and the Cowboy Trail. Main Street is now open to local traffic and parking between Highway 20 and the Cowboy Trail.

In the coming weeks, portions of the parking areas will close to allow for the completion of lighting work.

Work on Highway 7 continues on South Main Street between Front Street and South Street. Utility work is nearing completion, and reconstruction of the South Street intersection is underway.

Travelers needing to head south on Highway 7 or access businesses or residences south of South Street will still need to use the detour route from Pine Street to Road 877.

More updates will be provided as work on the Main Street project progresses.

* Council discusses nuisance abatement issue

(Posted 7 a.m. Oct. 10)

The Ainsworth City Council on Wednesday discussed the city’s nuisance abatement fines with a property owner who had recently received notice of a violation and appealed the decision to the council.

Dusty Hunt, who now owns the Skinner Motor Court at 215 S. Main St., said he was aware of the condition of the property when he purchased it, but the issues with the property had been there long before he took ownership.

Nuisance violations on the property included rotten shingles, trim issues on window frames and door issues.

City of Ainsworth Code Enforcement Officer Kelsey Evans said she had assisted a resident of one of the units on another matter and noticed some of the issues at that time. Evans said D&K Industries was previously ticketed for violations in April under the city’s previous enforcement agreement with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department.

Hunt said he paid the fine at the time, and he did not know what more was required of him at this point.

“I don’t plan on shingling it unless I have to,” Hunt said. He said he purchased the property as a backup site for a potential shop in the event another site he was trying to acquire for his business fell through.

“If I don’t end up needing it, I will sell it,” Hunt said. “I knew the condition it was in when I bought it. I can’t insure the roof. I just didn’t know this would happen two years after I bought it. I would ask you for another 12 months.”

Hunt said he had a potential buyer for the property who would plan on making some repairs. He said the property breaks even for him at this point with the income it generates from units being rented.

“It passed Bright Horizons’ standards,” Hunt said. “When they call, they need a place now. I have showed them and told them what it is.”

Councilman Kent Taylor said his main concern is there are people living there.

“It is getting rough,” Taylor said. “It becomes a safety issue.”

Hunt said, if that were the main issue, he could tell the current tenants to move out.

Councilman Brad Fiala said he didn’t want to see that.

“That doesn’t solve the problem,” Fiala said. “We are trying to clean up the community. I don’t want to see it go 12 months down the road. I would like to see it cleaned up.”

Councilman Doug Weiss said he understood it would be a significant investment to try and make all the necessary repairs to the property at one time.

“Could we provide some time for some incremental improvements?” Weiss asked. “I am willing to give six months if you would agree to fix some of the doors and windows. The roof would be a major undertaking.”

City Administrator Lisa Schroedl said the property was just in the nuisance code enforcement process at this time.

“It is still in the warning phase,” Schroedl said. “He has time to correct the issues.”

Schroedl said there were other places in town with people living in them that also probably don’t meet minimum housing standards.

Fiala said, if Hunt did not improve or sell the property in a few months, he would more than likely get ticketed, and could be ticketed multiple times if the issues are not corrected.

Mayor Joel Klammer said the nuisance abatement process was a learning process for everyone. He said the city’s goal with the nuisance codes was to clean things up and keep properties from becoming dangerous buildings that would then become an issue for the Board of Health.

Fiala suggested Hunt meet with Evans and agree on a list of items he would be willing to address. He said the city may have to consider changing its fee schedule.

Councilman Dustin Barthel said he thought the fines started to double if the issues were not addressed.

Evans said the city’s current nuisance ordinance does allow for fines of up to $500 for non-compliance on violations, and those fines could be incurred every 24 hours until the property is in compliance.

The council tabled taking action on Hunt’s appeal until its November meeting to give Hunt time to meet with Evans and come up with a plan to remedy some of the issues with the property.

In other business Wednesday, the council approved franchise agreements with both the Nebraska Public Power District and Three River Communications.

The agreement with NPPD was tabled from September’s meeting so that it could be aligned with the utility’s current operations agreement with the city. NPPD representative Brittney Koenig presented the council with an 18-year franchise agreement she said would expire at the same time as the operations agreement.

Koenig updated the council on NPPD employees from the area, including Lee Conroy of Ainsworth and Todd Keller of Bassett, who were part of a crew who traveled to Georgia to assist in power restoration efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

“A resident from Georgia sent us a lovely email,” Koenig said. “She watched the NPPD crew work on the lines in her neighborhood and restore power. It is great to see.”

Koenig said that crew is wrapping up its work in Georgia and is going to relocate to Florida to help after the current hurricane.

The council approved the ordinance for the NPPD franchise agreement and waived the three unique readings of the ordinance.

The council also approved a renewal of Three River’s cable franchise agreement for another three years.

Three River representative Brian Delimont said the agreement was the same as the one the company previously worked out with the council.

“I know it was grueling last time to get this accomplished,” Delimont said. “We have a good template to work off of now.”

Taylor asked how cable subscriptions were doing in the city.

Delimont said subscriptions go up and down. He said Three River gained some subscriptions from previous satellite customers when their prices went up, but he said there were also a lot of streaming options available now.

The council approved renewing the Three River cable franchise agreement for three years.

The council held the second reading of an ordinance that will increase the salaries for council members. If approved following a third reading in November, council member salaries will increase from $150 per month to $300 per month. The mayor’s salary, which would take effect during the next mayoral term, would increase from $300 per month to $500 monthly.

The council approved a special designated liquor license application for the Sandhills Lounge to serve alcohol during the annual Pheasants Forever banquet Nov. 8 in the Conference Center.

The council tabled an agenda item regarding care center funding. Klammer said Brown County Commissioner Dennis Bauer, who requested the item be placed on the agenda, could not make the 7 p.m. meeting after it was moved from its typical start time of 5 p.m. That item will be added to the council’s November agenda.

That meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 13.

* Chase wins KBRB Football Contest for Week 6

(Posted 4 p.m. Oct. 9)

Week 6 was a difficult one for KBRB Football Contest participants. With conference play underway on the college side and some even games on the high school side, just one picker was able to make it through the 14 games on the contest card missing two games.

Carl Chase of Springview missed Sandhills Valley’s one-score victory over West Holt on the high school side and Minnesota’s home upset over USC on the college side. Being the only contestant to miss two games, Chase wins the $40 first-place certificate for Week 6.

Thirteen contestants missed three games on the card, sending us to the tiebreaker, Nebraska’s 14-7 rock fight victory over Rutgers. A total of just three touchdowns were scored. None of the 13 contestants correctly predicted the low touchdown total.

Crystal Stout of Springview, Jenny Beel of Johnstown and Olivia Beel of Johnstown were closest, picking four total touchdowns. That sent us to our second tiebreaker, the card submitted first. And via the second tiebreak, Crystal Stout of Springview submitted her card earlier, giving her the $20 second-place certificate for Week 6.

The other contestants missing three games were Maxine Brink, Kooper Delimont and Kaye Coburn of Atkinson; Lois Kaup of Stuart; Bradd Bussinger of Bassett; Adam Beel of Johnstown; Deb Hollenbeck of Long Pine, and Nick Krause, Terry Allen, and Delbert Smith of Ainsworth

Winners can pick up their certificates from the KBRB Studios or make arrangements to have the KBRB sports crew deliver certificates, which can be redeemed at any contest sponsor.

Week 7 KBRB Football Contest cards are available now from Buckles Automotive in Ainsworth, from the Sandhills Lounge in Long Pine, from the West Plains Bank in Springview, from Circle B Livestock in Bassett, from the Cast Iron Bar & Grill in Stuart, from Speedee Mart locations in Ainsworth and Atkinson, and from Tri County Bank locations in Stuart, Atkinson and Bassett.

Cards are due to the studios by 4 p.m. Thursday or must carry a Thursday postmark if mailed. For those mailing multiple cards, save stamps and mail all your contest cards in one envelope.

* Calamus water levels to remain low for dam work

(Posted 6:30 a.m. Oct. 9)

Water levels at Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area will remain low for the next few weeks so the Twin Loups Irrigation District can conduct crucial repair work to the soil cement on Virginia Smith Dam.

Access to some boat ramps is affected. The ramps at Homestead Knolls and Nunda Shoals are open. However, large boats will have difficulty launching at Nunda Shoals because of shallow water. Ramps at Buckshot Bay and Valley View Flat are closed.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission appreciates the patience of its park guests and is committed to providing access to the reservoir. However, the movement of sand in the reservoir has posed challenges, particularly at the Homestead Knolls boat ramp. Staff are working to secure a contractor who will remove the sand built up at Homestead Knolls.

The dam repair is part of the district’s ongoing efforts to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the dam. The Twin Loups Irrigation District provides irrigation water for approximately 52,000 acres from water stored in Calamus and Davis Creek reservoirs.

For updates on reservoir access, call the park office at 308-346-5666.

Water levels are low at many reservoirs around the state. Game and Parks advises boaters to be patient and cautious when launching and loading a boat.

Game and Parks recommends boat operators have a spotter with them or check to see if the end of the ramp is visible from the shoreline or dock before launching if water clarity allows.

Local staff are a great resource to get the most current ramp conditions as water levels and ramp conditions vary from one water body to the next.

When a water body’s level drops, less of the boat ramp is underwater, reducing the length of the ramp for a successful launch, which can cause problems launching and loading a boat.

Once on the water, boat operators should also be mindful of the increased possibility of underwater hazards during low-water conditions.

* Area NPPD personnel headed to Georgia

(Posted 9:45 a.m. Oct. 3)

The Nebraska Public Power District has assembled a crew of technicians who headed to Georgia Thursday morning to aid in restoration efforts following Hurricane Helene

The 15-man crew, including 12-line technicians, one fleet technician, and two supervisors departed from the York Operations Center Thursday morning headed toward the Augusta and Savannah, Georgia areas. Once crews have gotten closer, they will coordinate with Georgia Power to identify where they can begin work to restore power. As of Thursday morning, Georgia Power reported having over 141,000 customers still without power.

NPPD crews assisting in the mutual aid come from Ainsworth, Atkinson, Bassett, Chadron, Humboldt, Kearney, Lexington, Norfolk, O’Neill, Plattsmouth, and Ravenna.

* Neiman wins football contest tiebreak

(Posted 2:45 p.m. Oct. 2)

One game kept six contestants from turning in perfect cards during Week 5 of the KBRB Football Contest.

Niobrara-Verdigre’s 24-22 victory over Boyd County in the high school ranks was the lone loss for Brett Swan of Rapid City, S.D., Travis Mundorf of Springview, Greg Dostal of Atkinson, and Dwight Neiman, Terry Allen and Bill Carr all of Ainsworth.

That sent us to the Week 5 tiebreak, the total number of touchdowns scored during Nebraska’s 28-10 road victory over Purdue. All five touchdowns in the game were scored in the second half after both teams were scoreless at halftime.

Dwight Neiman correctly picked five total touchdowns to win the tiebreak and earn the $40 first-place certificate for Week 5. Travis Mundorf guessed six total touchdowns to earn the second-place $20 certificate.

Terry Allen, Brett Swan and Greg Dostal each guessed seven total touchdowns, and Bill Carr picked a total of nine touchdowns in the tiebreak.

Winners can pick up their certificates from the KBRB Studios or make arrangements to have the KBRB sports crew deliver certificates, which can be redeemed at any contest sponsor.

Week 6 KBRB Football Contest cards are available now from Buckles Automotive in Ainsworth, from the Sandhills Lounge in Long Pine, from the West Plains Bank in Springview, from Circle B Livestock in Bassett, from the Cast Iron Bar & Grill in Stuart, from Speedee Mart locations in Ainsworth and Atkinson, and from Tri County Bank locations in Stuart, Atkinson and Bassett.

Cards are due to the studios by 4 p.m. Thursday or must carry a Thursday postmark if mailed. For those mailing multiple cards, save stamps and mail all your contest cards in one envelope.

* Commissioners table action on isolated land appraisal

(Posted 2:45 p.m. Oct. 1)

The Brown County Commissioners on Tuesday tabled action on the amount to be paid to property owners in southwestern Brown County who lose a portion of their land for the construction of a road to an isolated parcel.

The commissioners called for an appraisal of the land needed to construct the road to the former Long Lake State Recreation Area, which was purchased two years ago by Grant Kobes. With the sale of the parcel by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, an easement through an adjacent property owner to access the site ended.

Kobes asked the commissioners to establish a route to the property after he was not able to secure access privately through an agreement with any neighboring property owners.

The appraisal was to be completed by Sept. 30, but County Attorney Andy Taylor said the appraisal company was not quite finished with the work. He said he hoped to have the completed appraisal by next week, and asked the commissioners to table the matter until the board’s Oct. 15 meeting.

“I talked to Mr. Kobes and informed him we would get him a copy of the appraisal when completed,” Taylor said. “He couldn’t be here today, so it works out to table it.”

In other business Tuesday, the commissioners approved an $18 annual increase in solid waste fees charged to county residents to cover the rising costs associated with operating the KBR Solid Waste Transfer Station.

The county has charged residents $13 per month, $156 annually, for several years. Commissioner Buddy Small, who serves on the KBR Solid Waste Board of Directors, said he had Treasurer Bruce Mitchell come up with the figure needed for the county to cover its costs as part of the entity.

Mitchell said, with the increase the county has seen in claims to support the organization, he recommended an increase of $1.50 per month, from $13 to $14.50. He said there are currently 410 residential customers, 33 businesses and 27 cabin owners who pay solid waste fees in the county.

Small said KBR Solid Waste recycles numerous materials to try and keep costs to customers down. He encouraged more customers to recycle cardboard, tin, aluminum and metal instead of just placing those materials in with their trash.

“The prices we get for those materials vary,” Small said. “We are hauling more trash all the time. More people recycling would help us a great deal.”

The increase in solid waste fees will take effect Jan. 1, as Mitchell said many customers in the county pay their solid waste fees for the entire year in January.

Mitchell told the commissioners all personal property tax distress warrants for the previous tax year were collected. New distress warrants will be issued Nov. 1 for delinquent taxpayers. He said he sent out 45 reminders to those with delinquencies and had already had 20 of those come in to pay.

The commissioners approved an agreement with accounting firm Contryman Associates to perform the annual audit of the county’s finances for the recently completed 2023-24 fiscal year. The cost of the audit is not to exceed $18,500.

During his report, Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin said Meadville Avenue north of the pavement is now closed as the roads department undertakes mixing 1 mile of road surface with the new Perma-zyme product. He said, as dry as it is, it had been difficult for the roads department to get the road surface saturated.

Six inches of surface will then be taken off and mixed with the hardening agent before being laid back down and compacted.

“We probably won’t mix it until Thursday,” Turpin said. “We will have a mile of it next to a mile that doesn’t have it, so we will be able to compare.”

Turpin said Meadville Avenue will remain closed to traffic between Road 886 and Road 888 until Monday while the work is completed.

Turpin reported armor coating work on asphalt roads for the year has been completed. He said the roads department placed cold mix asphalt on 4-tenths of a mile of South Pine Avenue and had removed auto gates on the recently vacated Cedar Road.

The highway superintendent told the commissioners he had identified seven bridges in the county to include in a federal grant application that, if awarded, would cover 80 percent of the cost of replacing the aging bridges.

A majority of the bridges are located across the Ainsworth Irrigation District canal. The total estimated cost to replace those bridges was $550,000. The estimated cost to replace the McCullough Bridge on the Bar 25 Road is $550,000 itself. Turpin said the county would be responsible for $224,000 if the grant is awarded.

Commissioner Dennis Bauer said Rock County would be responsible for half of the local cost to replace the McCullough Bridge, 10 percent of the total project. Turpin said Rock County has its funding tied up in the Carns Bridge replacement project across the Niobrara River. He said the county might have to work with the Rock County Commissioners on a payment plan for the McCullough Bridge replacement if the grant is awarded.

Turpin reported a 16-year-old county motor grader sold for $45,200. After auction fees, the county received about $41,000 for the machine.

“It would be ideal to trade them at about 10 to 12 years,” Turpin said. “The more frequently we trade the less it costs us in depreciation.”

Bauer said if the county could get the motor grader replacement on that type of schedule it would also save substantially on repair costs.

“We just don’t know where the money would come from to do it,” Bauer said.

The next meeting of the Brown County Commissioners is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Oct. 15.

* Portion of Meadville Avenue to close Tuesday

(Posted 12:30 p.m. Oct. 1)

Brown County Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin reported a 1-mile stretch of Meadville Avenue will close Tuesday afternoon.

Turpin said the stretch of Meadville Avenue between Road 886 and Road 888 just north of the pavement will close early as the roads department continues to prepare the area for the introduction of bonding product Perma-zyme, which is being tested as a way to harden the base of the road and reduce the need for blading and gravel applications.

The portion of Meadville Avenue was expected to close Wednesday but is being closed early to allow the roads department to prepare the site.

The stretch of Meadville Avenue will remain closed until Monday.

* Monday fire burns 600 acres in Rock County

(Posted 9:45 a.m. Oct. 1)

Seven area fire departments responded to a fire Monday that started during a day with a red flag warning due to dry conditions and strong north winds.

According to Bassett Fire Chief Jim Stout, the fire started from a combine that was picking in a soybean field at 4 p.m. approximately 7 miles north and 2 miles west of Newport on property owned by Rick Steskal.

Stout said the wind pushed the flames to the south onto several neighboring properties. Volunteer firefighters from the Newport, Bassett, Springview, Long Pine, Ainsworth, Stuart and Atkinson departments responded to combat the flames.

Stout said the Rock County Sheriff’s Department was notified in the early stages of the fire to notify Newport residents of the potential for an evacuation notice to be issued.

Stout said evacuation of Newport did not end up being necessary as the fire departments were able to stop the head-end of the fire. He said a disc was used to help control the fire, and two drops were made by the SEAT plane to help slow the flames.

The Bassett fire chief said firefighters had the fire stopped by 8 p.m. Around 600 acres burned, but the fire was contained to pasture ground and a few bales.

Stout said firefighters from the Newport department monitored the site overnight and remained on site Tuesday as some trees and other spots were still burning in the center of the burned area.

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 11 a.m. Sept. 30)

September 22

Booked a subject for holding on a Boyd County arrest for possession of a controlled substance and trespassing. 

Received a report of suspicious activity on Wilson Street in Ainsworth.

The Brown County Ambulance transferred a patient to a Kearney hospital.

September 23

Monitored traffic in a Nebraska Department of Transportation work zone on Highway 20 after traffic was reported not following work zone signs.

Received a report of debris on the roadway near the intersection of 884^th Road and 430^th Avenue.  The Brown County Road Department corrected the issue.

The Brown County Ambulance provided standby services at the football field.

Released a subject from the Brown County Jail on hold for Boyd County Sheriff’s office after they posted bond.

Traffic stops on this day resulted in a citation issued for no proof of insurance and a written warning for no valid registration.

September 24

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.

Responded to a two-vehicle accident near the intersection of 2^nd and Ash Street.  No injuries were reported.  A tow truck was called to the scene.

Received a report of identity theft.

Follow-up accident investigation in Ainsworth.  Later, a citation was issued to a driver for leaving the scene of the accident.

Responded to a report of suspicious activity in Johnstown.  No criminal activity was found at this time.

Received a report of a wounded deer on Highway 20.  The Nebraska Game and Parks responded to dispatch the animal.

Responded to a 911 call reporting a subject in a mental health crisis.  A subject was booked into the Brown County Jail for disturbing the peace and assault.  The subject was later released from jail on a personal recognizance bond and transported to a mental health facility.

September 25

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.

Responded to a 911 call reporting an uncontrollable juvenile in Long Pine.

September 26

Received a request for a welfare check on a subject in Ainsworth.  The subject was located and was with family.

Responded to a report of a two vehicle accident in a business parking lot along 4^th Street.  No injuries were reported and both vehicles were able to drive away.

Issued a citation for speeding on Highway 183 to a driver for speeding.

Responded to a report of an uncontrollable juvenile in Long Pine.

Served two paper services in Ainsworth.

September 27

Responded to a report of stolen property in Johnstown. 

Inmate transport for medical services.

Responded to a report of an oversized load on Highway 20 without appropriate signage.  The load was found to be in compliance with oversized load requirements.

The Brown County Ambulance picked up a flight crew and transported them to pick up a patient at the hospital.

September 28

Booked a subject into the Brown County Jail for holding for a Boyd County arrest on false reporting.

Issued two written warnings for speeding on Highway 20.

Received a report of trespassing on a rural property near Long Pine.  A subject was issued a verbal warning he was on private property.

Weekly Log
Calls:  113
911 Calls:  17
Handgun Purchase Permits:  1
Vin Inspections:  3
Inmates Housed:  4

* Portion of Meadville Avenue to close next week

(Posted 2:45 p.m. Sept. 26)

The Brown County Roads Department will undertake a soil stabilization project on Meadville Avenue beginning Monday, Sept. 30.

Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin said the work will begin on Meadville Avenue 8 miles north of Ainsworth at the end of the pavement. One mile of Meadville Avenue will undergo this new treatment, and it will be done in two half-mile segments.

Turpin said Meadville Avenue will be closed between Road 886 and Road 888 beginning Wednesday or Thursday. The roads department will begin watering the roadway Monday. As the surface is saturated, 6 inches of road surface will be windrowed. Turpin asks motorists to use an alternate route while the roads department waters the road.

Either Wednesday or Thursday, the department will apply Perma-zyme to the road surface and mix it in with the windrowed material. When mixed, the department will lay the material down and compact it for a final surface.

Turpin said the product takes 72 hours to cure out to 60 percent. The road will remain closed during the 72-hour curing period so the surface does not develop washboards or ruts.

Once the surface cures for 72 hours, Meadville Avenue will be reopened to traffic. Turpin said, if the product works as designed, the surface should harden like concrete.

Once Meadville Avenue is closed on Wednesday or Thursday, it will not reopen until Monday, Oct. 7.

Perma-zyme is manufactured by Substrata, a Nevada company. Perma-Zyme is a natural soil stabilizer manufactured with organic compounds so there is no environmental impact. It is a non-toxic, nonhazardous, organic material. Perma-zyme is made with 70% food-grade materials. Its unique solidifying process permanently bonds the soil particles together to create a concrete-like surface.

During the process, the soil’s strength can increase by 13 times, making the soil stronger than traditional road base.

Turpin said he talked to county road departments in Iowa who indicated, after applying Perma-zyme, the roads only needed to be bladed four times in a year compared to previously blading the same roads an average of 20 times per year.

Turpin said, if the new product works as designed, it could save the roads department substantially on maintenance and gravel expenses.

If the Perma-zyme does not work or the county is not satisfied with the surface, Turpin said the company will provide the county with a refund as it is using the product on a trial basis.

The cost for the Perma-zyme is approximately $8,000 per road mile. Turpin said he believed it was a no-brainer for the county to test the product.

* Recent cases from Brown County Court

(Posted 2:45 p.m. Sept. 26)

In addition to fines, each case carries $50 in court costs

Kyu H. Koo, age 77, of Bel Air, Md., charged with speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, fined $75.

Lorne K. Walker, 47, of Sioux Falls, S.D., speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Perry R. Tobe, 63, of Seattle, Wash., speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Jordan A. Long, 38, of Gering, issuing a bad check $500 or less, ordered to pay $410 in restitution.

Eric D. Lakin, 37, of Ainsworth, third degree domestic violence assault causing bodily injury, sentenced to 15 days in jail with credit for 10 days served; also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, sentenced to 15 days in jail.

Rachel A. Collatos, 25, of Long Pine, disturbing the peace, $250.

Johnathan K. Cropsey, 34, of Malcolm, speeding 21-35 mph over the limit, $200.

Adam P. Joyce, 44, of Alton, Ill., speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Jeri J. Biltoft, 47, of Ainsworth, no valid registration, $25.

Courtney D. Jones, 26, of Lincoln, speeding 16-20 mph over the limit, $125.

Guadalupe Coleman, 32, of Schuyler, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

* NRD receives watershed improvement funds

(Posted 7 a.m. Sept. 26)

In August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nebraska Natural Resources Conservation Service, in partnership with Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District received approval on the Bone and Pine Creek Watershed Project Improvement Plan.

With NRCS providing $665,000 in funding to complete the plan, the Middle Niobrara NRD is now eligible to seek additional financial assistance from NRCS to develop detailed project designs, anticipated to begin in 2025. The designs are crucial in addressing critical environmental and safety issues.

“NRCS is pleased to have provided technical and financial assistance to Middle Niobrara NRD for completing the Bone and Pine Creek Watershed Plan,” said Nebraska State Conservationist Rob Lawson. “One of our top priorities is assisting local sponsors in identifying and completing watershed projects that not only enhance natural resources but also protect the public.”

The Bone and Pine Creek watersheds in north central Nebraska cover more than 332,000 acres in Cherry, Brown and Rock counties with a significant portion in Brown County, including the communities of Ainsworth and Long Pine.

The improvement plan identifies watershed protection projects that will provide grade control, stream bank stabilization, and aquatic ecosystem restoration and rehabilitation opportunities within the area. The need for the proposed action is due to extensive stream degradation, widening, and wildlife habitat loss within the watershed.

“As local sponsors, we appreciate the technical and financial commitments from NRCS,” said Middle Niobrara NRD General Manager Mike Murphy. “This vital partnership has helped us identify and eventually establish important erosion protection and environmental improvement measures for the watershed.”

The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations Program provides technical and financial assistance to states, local governments, and tribes to plan and implement authorized project plans for completing numerous watershed enhancements.

* Smith wins KBRB Football Contest with 1 miss

(Posted 2:45 p.m. Sept. 25)

Missing just one of the 14 games, Wendy Smith of Ainsworth is the Week 4 winner of the KBRB Football Contest.

Smith’s lone miss was Utah’s tight road win over Oklahoma State in the college ranks. As the only contestant to miss one game, Smith wins the $40 first-place certificate for Week 4.

Six contestants missed two games on the card, which sent us to the tie-break, the total number of touchdowns in the overtime thriller between Illinois and Nebraska. Both Tony Allen of Ainsworth and Erin Allen of Ainsworth correctly picked there would be seven total touchdowns scored in Friday’s 31-24 Illini win over the Huskers. Since they were mailed in the same envelope, both Tony Allen and Erin Allen will pick up a $20 second-place certificate.

Terry Allen and Dwight Neiman, both of Ainsworth, missed just two games on the Week 4 card and were close by picking six total touchdowns. Mark Hysell of Atkinson narrowly missed a second certificate on the season, missing two games but picking five touchdowns.

Winners may pick up their certificates in the KBRB Studios.

Week 5 KBRB Football Contest cards are available now from Buckles Automotive in Ainsworth, from the Sandhills Lounge in Long Pine, from the West Plains Bank in Springview, from Circle B Livestock in Bassett, from the Cast Iron Bar & Grill in Stuart, from Speedee Mart locations in Ainsworth and Atkinson, and from Tri County Bank locations in Stuart, Atkinson and Bassett.

Cards are due to the studios by 4 p.m. Thursday or must carry a Thursday postmark if mailed. For those mailing multiple cards, save stamps and mail all your contest cards in one envelope.

* Area jobless rates beat state average in August

(Posted 2 p.m. Sept. 25)

The Nebraska Department of Labor announced Nebraska’s unemployment rate for August is 2.7 percent. The rate is up 0.1 percent from the July rate and is up 0.3 percent from the August 2023 rate of 2.4 percent.

Brown County’s unemployment rate in August is now below the statewide average at 2.5 percent. Rock County leads the area with a jobless rate of just 1.6 percent, which is good for second in the state behind the 1.5 percent August rate of Wheeler County in central Nebraska.

Cherry County at 1.8 percent and Holt County at 1.9 percent also came in below the 2-percent mark in August. Keya Paha County’s unemployment rate was 2.3 percent in August, and Boyd County’s rate of 2.7 percent matched the statewide average.

Blaine County had the highest jobless rate in the state in August at 4.1 percent. Banner County in the Panhandle and Johnson County in southeast Nebraska were next at 3.5 percent unemployment.

“New entrants and re-entrants to the labor force were up over the month and are the drivers of the uptick in the unemployment rate,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin.

Nonfarm employment, a count of filled jobs, reached 1,071,382, down 2,300 jobs from July but up 21,696 from August 2023. Private industries with the most growth month to month were private education and health services (up 369 jobs); other services (up 268 jobs); and information (up 171 jobs). Private industries with the most over-the-year growth were private education and health services (up 8,024 jobs); manufacturing (up 4,184 jobs); and trade, transportation, and utilities (up 3,743 jobs).

Nebraska’s rate is tied with Mississippi for the fifth lowest in the nation. South Dakota enjoys the lowest jobless rate in the nation at 2 percent. Vermont is second at 2.2 percent, followed by North Dakota at 2.3 percent and New Hampshire at 2.6 percent.

The highest unemployment rate in the country belongs to Nevada at 5.5 percent. Illinois and California both came in with rates of 5.3 percent in August, followed by Washington and New Jersey at 4.8 percent.

The national unemployment rate for August is 4.2 percent, down 0.1 percentage points from the July rate of 4.3 percent and up 0.4 percentage points from the July 2023 rate of 3.8 percent.

* Portion of Main Street to reopen Friday

(Posted 9 a.m. Sept. 25)

Nebraska Department of Transportation project manager Carl Hart reported Main Street between Second and Third streets is scheduled to reopen Friday afternoon for local traffic and parking.

In the coming weeks, there will be portions of the parking areas closed throughout the project to complete street lighting work.

Work continues from South Street to Second Street as anticipated. Underground utilities are nearing completion and reconstruction of the South Street intersection will begin soon.

Hart reminds motorists, until South Street reopens, those heading south on Highway 7 or needing access to homes or businesses south of South Street should continue to use the marked detour, which is Pine Street to Road 877 to Highway 7.

* Armor coating work slated for Wednesday

(Posted 7 a.m. Sept. 24)

Ainsworth Streets Foreman Jade Egle reported several streets on the southeast side of Ainsworth are scheduled for armor coating work on Wednesday.

Egle said TopKote of Yankton, S.D., will armor coat First Street from Pine Street to East City Park, Second and Third Streets from Pine Street to Richardson Drive, Harrington Street between Highway 20 and First Street, Park Street between First and Third streets, and Plainsman Drive between Harrington Street and Richardson Drive.

Homeowners along those streets are asked to move all vehicles off the streets prior to Wednesday morning to allow for the armor coating work. Egle said TopKote plans to complete all the work on Wednesday.

Anyone with questions about the armor coating project is asked to contact the city office.

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 10:45 a.m. Sept. 23)

September 15

Provided traffic control on Highway 20 for a cattle crossing.

Responded to a report of a stuck semi along Highway 7.

Responded to a report of an injured deer on Highway 183.

Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 183.

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a page in Ainsworth, transporting one patient to the hospital.

September 16

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a page in Ainsworth, transporting one patient to the hospital.

Issued a citation for speeding 82 mph on Highway 20 to a Nebraska driver.

Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail after serving 5 days for a court commitment.

During a traffic stop on Highway 7, a Kansas driver was issued a citation for driving under suspension.  The male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail where he posted bond and was released.

The Brown County Ambulance were paged to a 911 call in Ainsworth, transporting one patient to the hospital.

Received a written statement regarding harassment of a juvenile in Ainsworth.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Received a written statement regarding suspicious activity in Ainsworth.

Responded to a 911 hang-up call on North Main Street.  No emergencies were found.

During a traffic stop near 4^th and Pine Street in Ainsworth a Nebraska male was issued a citation for no valid registration and failure to yield to a pedestrian.

September 17

Responded to a report of terroristic threats in Ainsworth.  A male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail and is currently being held on a $50,000 dollar bond.

Responded to a report of a vehicle striking the stop sign at the Highway 183/20 Junction.  The vehicle left the scene of the accident.

Served 4 papers.

September 18

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth, transporting one patient to the hospital.

Completed a search warrant on a follow-up investigation.

Received report of debris on the Highway, East of Ainsworth. 

September 19

Responded to a report of a semi spreading gravel on a highway.

Received a report of an email scam regarding gift cards.

Assisted with a female subject in a mental health crisis.  Information was transferred to the Nebraska State Patrol as the Female was not in Brown County.

September 20

Follow-up investigation regarding an accident.

Sheriff and Deputies attended range qualification in Rock County for continuing education requirements.

The Brown County Ambulance provided standby coverage for a football game.

Served a protection order.

September 21

Responded to a report of a vehicle-deer collision on Highway 20, East of Ainsworth.  The vehicle had minimal damage, and no accident report was needed.

During a traffic stop on 4^th and Oak Street, a Nebraska driver was issued a violation card for no headlights.

Weekly Log
Calls:  76
911 Calls:  12
Calls for Service:  11
Gun Permits:  1
Vin Inspections:  2
Inmates Housed:  5

* Evans named Ainsworth Lion of the Year

(Posted 6:30 a.m. Sept. 23)

Four nominations were received for the Ainsworth Lion of the Year. During the board’s meeting Sept. 16, Evan Evans was selected as the recipient of the 2023-24 Ainsworth Lion of the Year. Evans has been the longtime chair for the Playground/Parks Committee and has been instrumental in obtaining and installing the borders and mulch that have been placed around park playground equipment.  He is also a consistent contributor for the All-Sports Tailgate and Alumni Banquet projects.

No action was taken on a request received from Building Blocks Foster Care to make a monetary donation for foster parents to purchase Christmas gifts for children in foster care. Discussion was held on a possible local donation during the holidays to directly benefit area families. Discussion was also held on possible future service projects that would qualify for additional funds to be donated through the District 38I Assistance Fund.

The popcorn popper the club had for sale has been sold, with the money being deposited into the activities account. The Lions Club held its Highway 20 cleanup on Sunday. The Lions Club continues to work the admission gate for the Ainsworth varsity home football games.

There was a total of $3,135 in expenditures for completed service projects during the 2023-2024 year.  The expenditures included a scholarship to the Ainsworth Child Development Center, Ainsworth Chamber of Commerce dues, payments for eye care assistance, and donations to Brown County Hospital for health screenings and their fundraiser golf tournament, the Food Pantry, Post Prom, and the Senior Center.  The proposed budget of $5,000 for 2024-25 service projects was presented and approved.

The next meeting of the Ainsworth Lions Club will be held at noon Monday, Oct. 21, in the Ainsworth Senior Center.

* Brink wins KBRB Football Contest for Week 3

(Posted 2:45 p.m. Sept. 18)

It was a great week for road teams during Week 3 of the KBRB Football Contest. Only two home teams, both from the high school ranks, won at home this week and one of those was on a last-second touchdown by West Holt to clip Ainsworth by two.

One contestant, Roger Brink of Atkinson, was riding the road teams for Week 3. His only misses were Boyd County’s home win over O’Neill St. Mary’s on the high school side and Washington State’s rivalry win at Washington.

Missing two games earns Brink the $40 first-place certificate for Week 3. Four contestants missed three games on the Week 3 card, which sent us to the total number of touchdowns in Nebraska’s 34-3 victory over Northern Iowa. All four touchdowns were scored by the Huskers. Both Mark Hysell of Atkinson and Erin Allen of Ainsworth picked six total touchdowns to miss the total by two. Maxine Brink of Atkinson picked seven total touchdowns, as did Week 1 winner Scott Nelson of Meadville after both missed three of the 14 games on the card.

The second tie-break between Hysell and Allen also ended in a tie, as both cards carried the same postmark date. Hysell and Allen will each earn $20 second-place certificates after finishing in a tie.

Winners may pick up their certificates from the KBRB Studios or make arrangements to pick up the certificates from the KBRB sports crew.

Week 4 KBRB Football Contest cards are available now from Buckles Automotive in Ainsworth, from the Sandhills Lounge in Long Pine, from the West Plains Bank in Springview, from Circle B Livestock in Bassett, from the Cast Iron Bar & Grill in Stuart, from Speedee Mart locations in Ainsworth and Atkinson, and from Tri County Bank locations in Stuart, Atkinson and Bassett.

Cards are due to the studios by 4 p.m. Thursday or must carry a Thursday postmark if mailed. For those mailing multiple cards, save stamps and mail all your contest cards in one envelope.

* Clerk says Keya Paha County has received FEMA funding

(Posted 9:45 a.m. Sept. 18)

Keya Paha County Clerk Suzy Wentworth contacted KBRB Wednesday to correct the record on information discussed during Tuesday’s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners.

One of the commissioners Tuesday stated Keya Paha County had not received any reimbursement from FEMA following the 2019 flooding.

Wentworth said Keya Paha County had in fact received more than $1 million in reimbursement from FEMA.

Wentworth said the county is still waiting for reimbursement for two projects from the 2019 floods, but those amounted to about $200,000 in reimbursement that had not yet been received.

* Stuart receives funding for rental housing unit

(Posted 9:30 a.m. Sept. 18)

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development announced the recipients of $10.72 million in awards under the 2024 application cycle of the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

The Stuart Village Manor was among the recipients, receiving $789,500 in funding to construct a new rental housing unit in the village of Stuart.

The Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund was established by the Nebraska Legislature in 1996 through the Nebraska Affordable Housing Act. Enacted to address Nebraska’s affordable housing needs, the act calls for a portion of the documentary stamp tax from Nebraska real estate transactions to be transferred to the NAHTF. DED administers the fund to support the development of quality, affordable housing across the state. Having a ready supply of reasonably priced housing helps communities recruit new families, attract businesses, and ensure residents at all income levels can enjoy the Good Life.  

The NAHTF program assists local units of government, public housing authorities, community action agencies, nonprofit organizations and for-profits working in partnership with one of these entities. NAHTF dollars may be applied to support a variety of housing-related projects, including the construction of new units and rehabilitation of a community’s existing housing stock. The program also supports first-time homebuyers through direct homebuyer assistance such as down-payment and closing costs.

The NAHTF application cycle for 2024 was highly competitive. DED received 52 full applications, requesting a total of $30,683,015.

The funds awarded will assist 20 individual projects and support the development of at least 253 housing units. Projects include new home construction, construction of new rental housing, rehabilitation of existing structures, and homebuyer assistance.

“NAHTF has a proven track record of helping communities develop attractive, affordable housing,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz. “Each year, the amount of NAHTF funding requested from quality applicants greatly exceeds DED’s funding availability. The organizations awarded this cycle made especially strong cases for how their projects will alleviate local housing needs. Congratulations to the NAHTF award recipients for 2024. Also, thank you to the many applicants who, while not awarded this round, are doing important work to serve their communities.”

* Commissioners approve 2024-25 budget

(Posted 3:45 p.m. Sept. 17)

The Brown County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $25.52 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year that asks property owners for $4.10 million in tax. The $4,107,826 in property tax is $193,544 more than the $3,914,282 requested for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Of the property tax, $3.55 million will be used to support the general fund, $443,866 for the voter-approved Brown County Hospital addition bond, and $108,138 for the voter-approved 1 cent levy to support the Sandhills Care Center.

The county collected $3.38 million to support the general fund budget during the 2023-24 fiscal year, $426,689 for the hospital bond and $103,155 for the Sandhills Care Center.

The total value of agricultural, commercial and residential property in Brown County increased by $49.1 million, from approximately $1.03 billion to $1.08 billion.

The county’s levy increased by less than six-tenths of 1 cent, remaining at 37.9 cents in tax per $100 in property valuation. Had the county asked for the same amount of tax as it did during the 2023-24 fiscal year, the levy rate would have dropped 1.8 cents to 36.1 cents per $100 in value.

One cent of levy in Brown County will generate $108,138 for the 2024-25 fiscal year, up from $103,223 during the 2023-24 fiscal year.

The $25.52 million total budget does include the entire Brown County Hospital budget, which accounts for about 60 percent of the total budget, $15.68 million.

The county actually spent $24.72 million during the 2023-24 fiscal year, which was an increase from the $22.28 million spent during the 2022-23 fiscal year and also includes the hospital’s entire operating budget.

The Brown County Agricultural Society will receive $70,000 in total property tax for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which represents about six-tenths of 1 cent of levy. The Brown County Rural Fire Protection District will receive 3 cents in tax levy on $971 million in total property value within the district, which equates to $291,417 in tax.

During a public hearing discussing the budget, Commissioner Jeremiah Dailey said he had been grasping at straws trying to figure out how to keep the county’s budget from exceeding the state’s allowable growth percentage.

“I can’t figure out where to cut the damn thing,” Dailey said. “We would have to cut services to make a difference. We talked about using inheritance tax funds, but that really is a terrible idea.”

The county typically uses its inheritance tax fund, which contains about $1.4 million, to pay for unforeseen expenses that could arise, such as the 2019 flooding, or to pay for one-time infrastructure improvements.

Commissioner Dennis Bauer said the board did have a serious discussion about trying to get under the state growth limit by spending from the inheritance tax fund.

“We decided spending that fund down for this purpose would not be wise,” Bauer said. “We don’t want to spend it for ongoing expenses, I think that is foolish. For one-time expenses, yes.”

Clerk Travee Hobbs said keeping money in the inheritance tax fund and taking advantage of current interest rates also provides the county with additional funding to help offset other costs.

“That interest is helping us tremendously,” Hobbs said.

Bauer said the cost of one new maintainer for the roads department has increased by $100,000, so buying one piece of machinery would throw off the county’s entire budget if it was trying to stay under the growth percentage recommended by the state.

Dailey said the county not getting a renewed contract for law enforcement services from the city of Ainsworth also did not help the county in trying to stay under the increase allowed by the state without holding a public meeting.

Sheriff Brent Deibler said he removed $297,000 from his original budget proposal during the budget workshop to try and help account for the lost contract with the city.

Audience member Craig Smith said he attended the public session Sunday where the taxing entities that increased their property tax request by more than the amount allowed by the state had to attend to answer to taxpayers.

Smith said the 24 or 25 people in attendance were all against those entities raising taxes.
“One gentleman down south said half of his income now goes to paying property taxes,” Smith said.

He said more people may have attended the session if they had received the postcards in the mail before Saturday.

Hobbs said the county mailed the postcards, which cost the county around $6,000, Sept. 4 on the first day they were legally allowed to do so. It took numerous days for the cards to be delivered by the postal service to property owners. She said public notice for the session was also printed in the Ainsworth Star Journal and aired on KBRB Radio.

“We also advertise for our budget workshop,” Hobbs said. “That’s the day each line item in the budget is gone through. I agree there needs to be some relief. The county is dealing with inflation just like everyone else.”

Bauer agreed the best time for the public to come have a discussion about how tax dollars are spent by the county would be the county’s annual budget workshop.

“You can look at each individual department,” Bauer said.

Bauer said he believed the best solution to help alleviate the property tax burden on the agricultural sector would be to change the way property is valued from the current sales-based system to a production-based system. He said land is already valued somewhat based on soil classifications, and there could be a way to tax the land off of what it can produce as opposed to what someone else will pay for it.

Smith said some recent agricultural property sales have been pretty outlandish.

Bauer said, “One irrigated quarter I inherited from my folks in Franklin County went up by $80,000.”

With Commissioner Buddy Small absent Tuesday, the board approved the 2024-25 budget and property tax request at the conclusion of the public hearings.

In other business, Bauer reported Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin was unable to attend the board meeting as he was meeting with FEMA representatives to try and finalize the remaining funds the county is eligible to receive from the 2019 flooding.

Bauer said Turpin had done an excellent job collecting reimbursement from FEMA.

“We only have a little more than $100,000 still to collect,” Bauer said. “Keya Paha County hasn’t collected a dime yet.”

Bauer said other neighboring counties have also had to deal with delays that have increased the cost of projects. He emphasized the delay in replacing the Carns bridge over the Niobrara River between Keya Paha and Rock counties.

“The first estimate to replace the Carns bridge was $7 million,” Bauer said. “That project got held up with the scenic river and other things. Now, that same bridge is $17 million.”

In a roads action item, the board approved a budgeted transfer of $300,000 from the county’s miscellaneous general fund to the highway fund.

The commissioners also approved conducting a county tax sale on four to five parcels that had delinquent property taxes for three years as recommended by Treasurer Bruce Mitchell.

Bauer reported the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District submitted a quarterly report on water nitrate levels at a test well near the Sandhills Elite Genetics hog confinement operation. Bauer said the report showed nitrates in the water tested at 1.5 parts per million, well below the 11 parts per million threshold for human consumption.

The next meeting of the Brown County Commissioners is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Oct. 1.

* Keya Paha County school building briefly locked down

(Posted 9:30 a.m. Sept. 17)

Keya Paha County Public Schools entered into a brief lockdown Tuesday morning. According to a post from Principal Rachel Hall on the school’s web site, the district was made aware of a personal threat made by an individual outside the school building Tuesday morning.

By 8:17 a.m., the building was locked down and no students or staff were allowed outside the building. Responding to the reported threat, Keya Paha County law enforcement reported to the school at 8:38 a.m. the situation had been managed and there was no longer a danger.

Keya Paha County Public Schools resumed normal operations following the all-clear from law enforcement.

Hall said the safety of the school’s students is the district’s top priority. Anyone with questions may contact the school at 402-497-3501.

* Brown County Commissioners Tuesday agenda

(Posted 3 p.m. Sept. 16)

Brown County Commissioners
Meeting 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17
Brown County Courthouse
Agenda
1:15 p.m. – Public hearing on the 2024-25 property tax request
1:30 p.m. – Public hearing on the 2024-25 county budget
Roll Call.
Approve minutes of the 9-3-2024 Commissioner meeting.
Kenneth Turpin – Road Department Update
Adopt 2024-2025 Budget
Resolution – Property Tax Request 2024-2025
Resolution of Adoption and Appropriations – Hobbs
Nomination for Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management
Association (NIRMA) Board
County Tax Sale – Mitchell
Budgeted Transfer of $300,000 from Miscellaneous General
within the General Fund to the County Highway Fund – Clerk
Approve Claims
Correspondence
Public Comment

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 12:15 p.m. Sept. 16)

September 8

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, a SD driver was issued a citation for speeding.

Responded to a report of a civil property dispute in Ainsworth.

Issued two written warnings for speeding on Highway 20 to a Nebraska driver.

September 9

Responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident on Highway 20, near the Norden Road intersection.  No injuries reported and minimal damage occurred to the vehicles.

Assisted in a fire drill at school.

Assisted Mitchell, SD PD in locating a possible stolen vehicle in Brown County.

Responded to a report of a protection order violation.  A male subject was arrested and booked into the Brown County Jail.

Responded to a report of a medical alert alarm in Ainsworth.  It was found to be a false alarm.

Responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident in a business parking lot along 4^th Street in Ainsworth.  Minimal damage occurred to both vehicles and insurance information was exchanged.

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, a SD driver was issued a citation for speeding 16-20 mph over the posted speed limit and no valid registration.

Responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle on 420^th Ave.  The vehicle was not found.

September 10

The Brown County Ambulance was paged to an assisted living facility in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.  Another ambulance during this time transported a flight crew from the airport to the hospital to pick up a patient.

Provided court security and transferred different inmates to court appearances and back.

Served court issued paperwork in Ainsworth.

Booked a male subject into the Brown County Jail after they received a 15-day court commitment in a District Court sentencing.

Transported a male subject to the Nebraska State Penitentiary after receiving a one-year jail sentence in District Court.

Follow-up investigation regarding stolen property along Highway 20.

Responded to a report of a vehicle that had ran over the stop sign at the 183/20 Highway junction.  No injuries were reported.

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth, transporting one patient to the hospital.

Ainsworth and Long Pine Fire Departments were paged to a fire approximately 7 miles North on the Bar 25 Rd just before 3 pm and were able to return to the barn around 5 pm.  The Fire Departments returned the following day to the same location after the fire was reported as active again.

The Brown County Ambulance responded to Highway 20 business and transported one patient to the hospital.

Responded to a report of a reckless driver near 5^th and Oak Street in Ainsworth. 

Responded to a one vehicle deer collision accident on Highway 20. 

September 11

Received a report regarding property damage that occurred to a well in rural Brown County.

During a traffic stop on Highway 7, a Nebraska driver was issued a citation for speeding and no operator’s license, and no proof of insurance.  Another traffic stop on Highway 7 also resulted in a speeding citation being issued.  A traffic stop on Highway 20 resulted in a citation for speeding being issued to an Ohio driver.

September 12

Responded to a report of a security alarm at a bank in Ainsworth.  It was found to be a false alarm.

Booked a male subject into the Brown County Jail for a 5-day court commitment sentence.

Received a report of neglected livestock on Meadville Ave.  This is an ongoing investigation, and reports have been sent to the state livestock investigator for further investigation.

Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 20 to a Nebraska driver.

Responded to a report of a gas drive off in Ainsworth.  The vehicle was not found in Brown County.

September 13

Responded to a security alarm at a bank in Ainsworth.  It was found to be a false alarm.

Responded to a report of trespassing on 879^th Rd.  A verbal warning was issued to a Nebraska driver.

September 14

Responded to a request for a welfare check.  The subject was located and reported safe at this time.

Responded to a report of a bull on Meadville Ave.

Responded to a report of a male subject driving a golf cart on Highway 20. 

Issued a violation card for no taillights and no proof of insurance during a traffic stop on Highway 20 to a Nebraska driver.

Issued a citation for speeding on Meadville Ave to a Nebraska driver.

Weekly Log

Calls:  128

911 Calls:  7

Calls for Service:  16

Vin Inspections:  2

Handgun Permits:  1

* Council approves changes to Legion Field

(Posted 9:15 a.m. Sept. 12)

Representatives from the Ainsworth Park Board told the City Council Wednesday they had been approached by members of the public hoping to use the Legion Field at East City Park for other sports.

Park Board Chairman Cody Goochey told the council the park board had been approached by groups asking to use the field instead of having the field lie dormant and unused since it had been several years since the community fielded a junior or senior Legion baseball team.

“We would like to get feedback before we do anything,” Goochey said. “People would like it to be a multi-purpose field.”

To make it a multi-purpose field that could be used for little league and softball games, the grass infield would need to be replaced with dirt and the pitching mound removed.

“A lot of us have memories out there,” Goochey said of the Legion Field. “But instead of it just sitting there, we can make it so it can be used.”

Mayor Joel Klammer said he was sure it was difficult for the park board to even consider making a change, as many members were former baseball players.

Goochey said Legion baseball could still be played with a dirt infield if there were enough players in the future to field junior or senior teams.

City Parks Manager JC Clopton said everyone would love to see Legion baseball teams again, but unfortunately it looked like the program just wasn’t going to be what it once was.

“I will do everything in my power to get the field shaped back up regardless of the decision,” Clopton said.

Audience member Mark Johnson, whose family is a long-time supporter of the community’s baseball program, said he would hate to see the grass infield torn out. He asked if the other programs could use the field if the mound was torn out but the grass remained in the infield.

Audience member Brandon Evans, who has had a lead role in the Elks youth baseball program, said a portable mound could be purchased that could be brought in if the junior and senior Legion programs got back to a point where there were enough kids to field teams.

“I would like to see the field utilized,” Evans said.

Councilman Dustin Barthel said he had an individual volunteer to remove the sod from the infield free of charge so the field could be used.

The council discussed marking the heads of the underground sprinkler system and capping those as part of removing the sod, and finding enough dirt to fill in the infield after the sod was removed.

“I think we should tear the grass up, cap the sprinklers and be done,” Barthel said.

Councilman Brad Fiala said it was the park board’s recommendation to make the field useable for other sports.

“We appoint these committees to do the leg work for us,” Fiala said. “I think we should trust them.”

By a 4-0 vote, the council approved allowing the Legion Field infield sod to be removed so little league and softball games could be played. The community is hosting a large co-ed softball tournament in early October. The goal would be to try to get the field ready for play by that date, which is why the council opted to take action Wednesday instead of waiting to make a decision.

In other business, the council discussed making changes to the city’s fee schedule. The changes included increasing machinery rental rates, which occur when city streets or utilities have to be altered during construction or rehabilitation projects and the private contractor does not have the required equipment.

City Administrator Lisa Schroedl also proposed increasing the fee to rent the Conference Center gym from $250 to $500 but remove the $300 deposit required to rent the Conference Center. Schroedl said she proposed the increase to help the city recover costs, including having to replace a mat that was damaged during a recent event in the gym. She said the city has to pay three employees overtime wages to go in and remove the mats following an event, typically on weekends.

Barthel said he believed $500 was high for non-profit organizations trying to raise funds by holding events in the conference center.

“If the Booster Club tries to raise money, I don’t think we should charge them $500,” Barthel said. “They raise that money to help the community.”

The council instead opted to keep a $250 rental rate for non-profit organizations but increase the rate to $500 for for-profit entities. The council opted to keep the $300 deposit, which the organization gets back if there is no damage, and also opted to include the renter having to sign a liability waiver in case damage did occur to the facility.

The council on Wednesday tabled action on extending a franchise agreement with the Nebraska Public Power District. NPPD representative Brittney Koenig told the council the franchise agreement differed from the retail operating agreement the city has with the utility. She said she wasn’t sure why the two agreements were separate for Ainsworth, as most communities merge both agreements and vote on them as one item. She said the city still had 18 years remaining on its operating agreement with NPPD.

She said the franchise agreement differed in that it allowed NPPD to build, operate and maintain facilities on city property and right of way. The operations agreement allows the utility to serve as the operator of the city’s overall electric grid.

Fiala said he would prefer to have the agreements match on the same time frame, and asked Koenig if she would draft a franchise agreement for 18 years so the two would next expire at the same time.

Councilman Kent Taylor agreed, saying he thought it was ridiculous to have the two agreements separated. The council will take action on the franchise agreement during its October meeting.

The council approved the final pay application of $661,536 to Myers Construction for the North Main Street rehabilitation project. Schroedl said the city and its engineering firm conducted a final walk-through of the project, and Myers Construction fixed a couple minor things that were found.

The council approved a request by the Ainsworth Commercial Club to close a portion of Third Street in front of the Ainsworth Fire Hall from 6:30 until 11 p.m. Oct. 26 for downtown bed races.

The council approved a four-year agreement with the city employees’ union that runs from Oct. 1 of this year through Sept. 30, 2028.

Klammer said the agreement did provide a wage increase that would help the city play catchup with other governmental entities.

Schroedl said, overall, the city’s wages were lower than what are paid by the county and the state.

“We talked about how to be more competitive,” Schroedl said. “We don’t want to lose our valued employees elsewhere.”

Schroedl said the contract with the union included all city employees except herself and Water Superintendent Brad Miller, who are considered managers.

Councilman Doug Weiss said he would like to see the city tie future cost of living wage increases to the Consumer Price Index instead of increasing wages by a set percentage.

Klammer agreed using the Consumer Price Index as a way to set cost of living wage increases would be a prudent way for the city to gauge those increases.

In a final action item, the council approved the first reading of salary increases for elected officials. Council members would be paid $300 per month instead of the current $150, and the mayor’s salary would increase from $300 per month to $500 per month. Schroedl said the change to the mayor’s salary could not take effect until after the completion of the current mayor’s term.

Schroedl reported code enforcement officer Kelsie Evans was doing a good job working with residents on weed and mowing issues.

“She had had a good response so far,” Schroedl said. “I thank the community for that.”

Evans said she was also working with residents on nuisance ordinance violations. She said she did issue her first nuisance ordinance notices and would follow up next week with residents who received those notices to see if progress had been made to correct the issues.

The council will hold a special meeting at noon Sept. 30 to pay final 2023-24 claims. The next regular meeting of the Ainsworth City Council is scheduled for 5 p.m. Oct. 9.

* City Council approved $9.29 million budget

(Posted 6:30 a.m. Sept. 12)

Following public hearings Wednesday, the Ainsworth City Council approved a $9.22 million budget that asks property owners in the city for $604,937 in tax.

The city will collect about $64,000 in additional property tax than it did in the 2023-24 fiscal year thanks to the value of property in Ainsworth increasing by more than $23 million.

Total valuation in the city jumped from $86.35 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year to almost $110 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Only $495,405 of that growth was due to new construction. The remainder was due to the value of existing property in the city increasing.

By leaving its general fund property tax levy the same at 45 cents per $100 in valuation, coupled with the voter-approved 10-cent levy to support the Sandhills Care Center, and the city will go from collecting $550,118 in property tax the previous fiscal year to collecting $604,937 for the 2024-25 year.

City Administrator Lisa Schroedl said the council looked through several budget proposals during its recent work session. She said, given the projects the city has planned, the council opted to leave the 45-cent levy in place.

“The council considered whether to keep the levy the same or reduce it,” Schroedl said. “We have several projects in mind.”

Those projects include additional improvements to the South Main Street renovation project currently being undertaken by the Nebraska Department of Transportation as well as a more than $200,000 renovation of the tennis court at East City Park into a basketball and pickleball court.

The council indicated it would have the ability to help fund the basketball and pickleball court project instead of having to completely rely on outside funds to complete that project.

Schroedl said, outside the park project, there were no other major capital outlay projects planned during the fiscal year.

Though the city approved a $9.22 million budget for the fiscal year, actual expenditures will likely be much lower. City governments are required to budget to spend all of the funds available to them, including in accounts such as water and sewer utilities and all of their sales tax funds such as ABC and LB 840.

The city actually spent $4.91 million during the 2023-24 fiscal year, which Schroedl said was elevated due to the North Main Street renovation project from Highway 20 to the wastewater treatment plant as well as items the city included with the South Main Street renovation.

The $4.91 million spent during 2023-24 was $1.33 million more than the city spent during the 2022-23 fiscal year – $3.58 million.

“Budgets are always high,” Schroedl said. “We don’t spend what we budget. Restricted funds get budgeted to spend everything even though that is not what we will be doing. Spending will be down after the multi-million dollar Main Street project.”

Schroedl said, since the city did increase its property tax asking for the 2024-25 fiscal year, the council will participate in a joint public meeting now required by the state to give property taxpayers an opportunity to question taxing entities on why their requests increased above the allowable growth percentage.

That meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, in the Ainsworth Community Schools Learning Center.

The council scheduled a special meeting for noon Sept. 30 to pay remaining claims for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The next regular meeting of the Ainsworth City Council is scheduled for 5 p.m. Oct. 9.

More information from Wednesday’s council meeting will air Friday on KBRB.

* Beel wins KBRB Football Contest for Week 2

(Posted 3:30 p.m. Sept. 11)

Week 2 proved difficult for KBRB Football Contest pickers, with numerous close games and even matchups on the high school and college card.

Two contestants missed three games, which put them in the running for the Week 2 prizes. Brandy Bussinger of Bassett and Eli Beel of Johnstown each missed one game on the high school side and two games on the college side from among the 14 games on the Week 2 card.

That sent us to the tie-break, the total number of touchdowns scored in the Huskers 28-10 triumph over the Colorado Buffaloes. The Huskers scored four of the five total touchdowns on their way to a 2-0 start and a win over their rivals.

Beel guessed seven total TDs and Bussinger nine, giving Eli Beel the $40 first-place certificate. Bussinger receives the $20 second-place certificate.

Twelve contestants missed four games to finish just out of the mix.

Winners may pick up their certificates from the KBRB Studios.

Week 3 KBRB Football Contest cards are available now from Buckles Automotive in Ainsworth, from Sandhills Lounge in Long Pine, from the West Plains Bank in Springview, from Circle B Livestock in Bassett, from the Cast Iron Bar & Grill in Stuart, from Speedee Mart locations in Ainsworth and Atkinson, and from Tri County Bank locations in Stuart, Atkinson and Bassett.

Cards are due to the studios by 4 p.m. Thursday or must carry a Thursday postmark if mailed. For those mailing multiple cards, save stamps and mail all your contest cards in one envelope.

* Ainsworth City Council Wednesday agenda

(Posted 6:45 a.m. Sept. 11)

Ainsworth City Council
Meeting 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11
Ainsworth Conference Center
Agenda

• Call to Order
• I. Routine Business
  • Announcement of Open Meetings Act
  • Roll Call
  • Pledge of Allegiance
• II. Budget and Tax Request Hearings
  • 2024-25 Budget Hearing – 5:00 p.m.
  • 2024-25 Tax Request Hearing – Immediately following the Budget Hearing

• III. Consent Agenda – All items approved with the passage of one motion
  • Approve minutes from the August 14, 2024 regular meeting
  • Approval of claims
  • Treasurer’s report
  • Department head reports

• IV. Mayor’s Appointments and Report
  • Mayor’s Report
  • Mayor’s Appointments
• V. Public Hearings
  • None
• VI. Old Business
  • Discuss and consider the agreement between the City of Ainsworth and Local Union No. 1597 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers AFL-CIO effective October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2028 
• VII. Regular Agenda
  • Consider approval of Ordinance #1561 to Adopt the 2024-25 Budget
  • Consider approval of Resolution #24-06 to set the 2024-25 Tax Request
  • Consider approval of an increase of total restricted funds by an additional 1%
  • Discuss and consider Resolution #24-07 amending the City of Ainsworth Fee Schedule
  • Discuss and consider the franchise agreement with NPPD – Brittney Koenig, NPPD
  • Discuss and consider the Park Board suggestions regarding the Legion baseball field
  • Consider the final pay application #6 for Myers Construction for the North Main Street project in the amount of $661,536.26
  • Consider a request by the Ainsworth Commercial Club for a street closure on 3^rd Street, from the alley East of Main Street to Walnut Street (in front of the Fire Hall) on Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. for the Downtown Hocus Pocus Bed Races
  • Consider Ordinance #1562:  To Change the Salaries of Elected Officials
  • City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer Report

* Recent cases from Brown County District Court

(Posted 6:45 a.m. Sept. 11)

During Brown County District Court Tuesday, Ryan Crane, age 33, of Ainsworth, appeared for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to one count of attempted terroristic threats, a Class 4 felony. Crane was sentenced to two years of incarceration in the Nebraska Department of Corrections with one year of post-release supervision.

Also in District Court, Shawn Fernau, 49, of Ainsworth, appeared for sentencing after previously pleading no contest to one count of illegally transferring a handgun to a convicted felon, a Class 4 felony. Fernau was sentenced to serve 15 days in jail and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.

James Wilson-Parker, 29, of Long Pine, failed to appear on a motion to revoke probation and issue an arrest warrant. District Judge Mark Kozisek took the matter under advisement pending a warrant from the state within 14 days.

* Care center has 32 residents, improved financial outlook

(Posted 12:45 p.m. Sept. 10)

With 32 current residents and an August profit of more than $84,000, the Sandhills Care Center Board learned Monday that it would not have to borrow funds from a line of credit to pay for the three pay periods that fall in September.

The care center pays its employees every other week, which leaves two months of the year that have three pay periods instead of two. With each pay period at around $80,000, the care center has had to borrow from a line of credit in the past to handle the expense of the extra pay period.

Business Manager Makenzie Crane told the board Monday the facility would still be in the black even after paying the additional payroll expense.

“It’s incredible,” Crane said. “It makes me so happy that we are able to cover three payrolls and still show a profit.”

During August, the facility generated $294,883 in revenue with expenses of $210,872 for an operating margin of $84,010 for the month.

Crane reported the care center also received its first allotment of voter-approved property tax levy funds from the city of Ainsworth. She said the city provided $54,343 to the facility’s interlocal account to couple with the $95,786 provided by the county of the approximately $100,000 that is to be collected by each entity this year.

City representatives in August indicated to the board a preference to keep the funds in city coffers but ultimately did agree to provide the funds to the care center.

The board keeps the tax funds in a separate account from its operating account. Those funds are used for facility upgrades requiring a vote of the board and are not currently being used to fund operations.

Administrator Penny Jacobs told the board there are currently 32 residents in the Sandhills Care Center, with 14 paying privately, 17 receiving Medicaid assistance and one resident receiving hospice care. She said the facility admitted one new resident since the August board meeting.

Of the current residents, 16 are residents of Ainsworth, four are from rural Brown County, eight are from Cherry County, two are from Keya Paha County, there was one resident from Long Pine and one from Rock County.

Jacobs said the care center has hired a CNA, a PRN/LPN, a PRN/CNA and one dietary employee during the past month. She said the facility lost one CNA who moved out of state and two PRN/CNAs who went back to school.

Jacobs said the facility was still in need of CNAs, dietary cooks and a maintenance director. She said the facility would like to hire a full-time maintenance employee after having current maintenance director Matt Moody on hand for just eight hours per week. Moody will help the facility complete the kitchen remodeling project but indicated he would be leaving the position soon.

Jacobs said the kitchen remodeling project would begin Monday and take about three days to complete. She said the kitchen staff already had menus planned out for the days when the full kitchen would not be available.

The board opted to end its lease of rental property with Casey Jones and instead entered into an agreement with Pam and Dennis Bauer for rental space in the basement of their home at a cost of $600 per month. The care center had been paying $1,500 monthly to lease the rental home in Ainsworth.

The board discussed the ability of staff using the rental to be able to make it to the facility during inclement weather, as the Bauers live northeast of Ainsworth. They also discussed whether there were any issues with entering into the agreement due to Denny Bauer being a Care Center Board member.

After discussion, the board determined there was no conflict as long as Bauer abstained from any action regarding the lease. Crane said she would separate that monthly claim from the rest of the bills so Bauer could abstain as she previously did with board member Dr. Mel Campbell serving on the board and also as the facility’s medical director.

Director of Nursing Sara Mayhew said weekend nursing staff travel from Alliance and needed a place to stay on Friday and Saturday nights on weekends they were scheduled to work. She said other staff travel from Valentine and may need a place during inclement weather.

Board member Kent Taylor asked Jacobs and Crane to keep track of how often the rental space was used by staff during the next year. He said it would be interesting to know how often the space was used and if that was a better option than putting staff up in hotel rooms.

Mayhew said the only issue with going the hotel route was that there were times when the hotel had no vacancy.

The board discussed a pending allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds the facility was anticipating from the federal government in October. Jacobs said this would be the final installment of three years of funding to go toward care center employee recruitment and retention efforts.

While the funds can be used to pay for job opening advertising costs, much of the previous year’s ARPA funds went to a retention bonus for employees based on their number of hours worked.

Board Chairman Tom Jones said the board wanted to reward employees who had stuck with the care center for the hardships during the COVID pandemic when it voted to provide the retention bonuses using a portion of the ARPA funds.

Crane said the bonuses were well received by employees last year.

“We don’t know how much we are getting until it is deposited,” Crane said.

Campbell said it would be nice to know the amount the care center is receiving before the board makes a decision on how to use the funds.

“The best way to show appreciation to an employee is money,” Campbell said.

Jacobs said the administration should know by the October board meeting how much funding would be allocated to the facility. The item was placed on the board’s Oct. 14 agenda.

Jones thanked Campbell for allocating a recent $10,000 award he received to the Sandhills Care Center through the Brown County Hospital Auxiliary.

“We sure appreciate it,” Jones said.

Campbell said the Medical Volunteerism Award he received from COPIC Insurance through the Nebraska Medical Association came with a $10,000 award to be gifted to the recipient’s choice. He said he was nominated for the award by Brown County Hospital Administrator Mirya Hallock.

Jacobs asked Campbell if there was anything in particular he would like to see the money go toward.

Campbell said there were no parameters on how the funds were spent.

“Whatever the board and staff decide is the best use,” Campbell said.

The next meeting of the Sandhills Care Center Board of Directors is scheduled for 5 p.m. Oct. 14.

* School Board approves 2023-24 budget

(Posted 7 a.m. Sept. 10)

Following public hearings Monday, the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education approved a $15.21 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year that asks property owners for $6.18 million in tax.

The amount in property tax requested is just shy of $80,000 more than the school requested for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Superintendent Dale Hafer said, while the property tax request did go up slightly in this budget, this year also marks the final payments on the agriculture and industrial technology building addition.

“The last payment on that building addition is in June,” Hafer said. “The general fund went up a little, basically staff costs. We raised classified staff pay to stay competitive and teacher pay is competitive. The option the board brought forward keeps us on track with our goals. We are holding the line.”

Board President Brad Wilkins said, last year, the board reduced the amount of property tax it requested from landowners by the amount the district received in additional state aid.

Hafer said, “Yes, it went down $565,000. Our property tax request went from $6.6 million to $6.1 million.”

The levy rate decreased from 60.5 cents in tax per $100 in valuation to 58.5 cents per $100. The overall property valuation in the school district’s taxing boundaries increased 4.7 percent from just over $1 billion to $1.05 billion.

Of the approximately $47 million growth in valuation, $2.32 million was determined to be from new construction.

Of the 58.5 cents in property tax asking for the 2024-25 budget, 53.2 cents in levy ($5.61 million) will support the general fund and 5.3 cents ($566,667) will support the district’s special building fund.

Had the district taxed at the same amount it did during the 2023-24 fiscal year, the levy would have been 57.8 cents instead of 58.5 cents.

Hafer said the goal of the district during the budgeting process is to stay consistent and avoid big swings in the tax request.

“We had four budget cycles in a row with the same or a lower tax ask,” the superintendent said. “It is a little higher this year. About a half a million dollars is for the ag and industrial tech building that will come off next year. We should have even more flexibility next year.”

While the district budgeted $15.21 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year, actual expenditures will likely come in substantially lower. The school district spent $9.79 million during the recently completed 2023-24 fiscal year, which was up by about $26,000 from the $9.77 million spent during the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Hafer said the budget includes $450,000 for a new playground equipment project the district is pursuing through a 100 percent grant application. While no tax dollars would be included in the project, Hafer said the budget has to reflect the project in case the grant were to be awarded in October.

“That would be money in and money out,” Hafer said. “There is no guarantee we get that grant but we have to account for it in case we do. The budget is 2.33 percent higher than last year, but it would be 1.1 percent lower without that project.”

The district will receive $594,190 in school aid from the state of Nebraska.

Hafer said the administrative staff and the school board work hard to build a budget based off what the district needs and not simply what it has the ability to tax.

“We have about $700,000 of unused budget authority,” Hafer said.

Wilkins thanked Hafer for the work he did preparing the budget and presenting the board with different options for their consideration.

Following the public hearings, the board approved the 2024-25 budget and property tax request.

In other business Monday, the board heard a presentation from school counselors Kelsey Riesen and Lisa Schlueter on mental health resources available to parents and students of the district.

Riesen and Schlueter created a page on the district’s web site with links and information for numerous mental health services. The information can be found on the counselor’s corner page of the district’s web site. Riesen said the goal has been to have more information for the public on the web site for mental health resources.

While some parents contact the school counselors for assistance, others prefer to remain private with any issues that might arise.

Riesen said there are live links on the web site for counseling services provided in the area as well as online options.

Elementary Principal Ben Wright said mental health is a big issue for schools.

“I am very pleased these two tackled this project,” Wright said. “We will also promote those resources in our elementary newsletter.”

During his report, High School Principal Steve Dike said the school plans to assist with numerous projects during the community betterment day Wednesday. He provided the board with a list of the projects the students will tackle, which range from sprucing up at the care center and assisted living facility to working on the community fishing pond, Cowboy Trail and projects in the Long Pine area.

Activities Director Luke Wroblewski told the board Ainsworth had been selected to host both district cross country Oct. 17 and district one-act play production Dec. 4.

The board approved adjustments to the school calendar cancelling classes Dec. 4 for district play production and changing the date for classes to be cancelled from March 21 to March 28 for a track meet the school hosts.

Wroblewski reported Yanda’s Music updated the school’s sound system in McAndrew Gymnasium last week after the district had sound issues during its first home events in the gym.

Hafer said some of the equipment was more than 20 years old and needed to be replaced. He said the cost of the equipment was approximately $7,500 and was paid from the activity fund using donations from Coca-Cola and other entities.

In action items, the board approved an option enrollment request allowing Taylor Smidt’s children Newt and Emma to option out of the district and into the Rock County Public Schools District.

The board approved a corporate certificate authority removing former activities secretary Angie Welke from the activities account at West Plains Bank and adding secretary Amy Dike.

The board approved a Title IX policy update that Wilkins said made a few clerical error updates, and approved the second reading of a policy updating the district’s substitute teacher pay.

The board also reviewed several school policies and updated personal leave and accumulated sick leave policies to account for negotiations completed with the teachers association.

Wilkins congratulated the board for earning its third consecutive Board of Excellence Award from the Nebraska Association of School Boards. Wilkins serves as an officer with the association. Hafer said Ainsworth Community Schools was one of 11 districts to receive the award from among the 241 districts in the state.

The next meeting of the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education is scheduled for 8 p.m. Oct. 14.

* Fire starts in Niobrara canyon in Keya Paha County 

(Posted 1:45 p.m. Sept. 9)

The Springview Volunteer Fire Department, with assistance from Wood Lake firefighters, battled a canyon fire Thursday afternoon north of the Niobrara River.

According to Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock, the fire started in a canyon on land owned by Steve Brueklander approximately 1 mile north of the Niobrara River Sunnybrook Camp.

Hallock said firefighters were able to access the site from below and kept crews at the top of the canyon to keep the fire from breaking out. The SEAT plane dropped four loads of flame retardant to help slow the fire and it was extinguished by Thursday evening.

The fire chief said the fire was contained to about 15 acres of trees that burned in the canyon. No property was damaged.

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 8:30 a.m. Sept. 9)

September 1

During a traffic stop in Johnstown, a male subject was issued a citation for driving under the influence of alcohol and booked into the Brown County Jail.  The South Dakota male posted bond and was released the following morning.

The Brown County Ambulance transported a patient from the Rock County Hospital to Kearney.

Received a report of a one vehicle roll-over accident near 879th RD and Highway 183.  The accident was reported over 12 hours after the incident took place.  One male was transported privately to a hospital, the vehicle was towed from the scene, property damage occurred to a fence, and an investigation is still on-going.

Provided increased traffic and foot patrols of the Brown County Fairgrounds for fair and Labor Day weekend activities.

Responded to a report of a domestic assault in Ainsworth.  A male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail for domestic assault and committing child abuse.

The Brown County Ambulance provided standby services for all three days of the Fair events in Johnstown.

September 2

Responded to a report of an uncontrollable juvenile in Long Pine. 

Received a report of a possible stolen utility trailer along Highway 20.  It is a large unknown time frame of when the trailer could have been removed from the storage shed.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Traffic stop on West Highway 20 resulted in a written warning for speed.

Served three court issued paper services in Ainsworth.

Responded to a report of a domestic altercation in Southwestern Brown County.  One male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail for false imprisonment and domestic assault.

September 3

Responded to a report of a stranded motorist on Highway 7. 

Received a report of a one vehicle deer collision on Highway 20, near the 9A Spur.  The vehicle was towed from the scene, no injuries were reported.

Received a report of a grass fire along Highway 20, approximately 3 miles West of Ainsworth.  Ainsworth and Johnstown Fire Departments were paged to the location and were able to return back to the barn in less than an hour.

Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail after they received a personal recognizance bond.

The Brown County Ambulance transported a flight crew from the airport to the hospital to pick up a patient.

September 4

The Brown County Ambulance transported a patient from the Rock County Hospital to Kearney.

Provided courtroom security.

Released three male subjects from the Brown County Jail.  One male served 64 days for a protection order violation and was released on a personal recognizance bond.  Another male served 7 days for issuing a bad check and was released for time served.  The third male was released on a personal recognizance bond with a no contact order for domestic assault.

Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 20.

September 5

Issued a citation for speeding 16-20 mph over the posted speed limit on Highway 7 to a Nebraska driver.  Two additional written warnings for speeding were issued on this day.

Served a court issued paper service in Ainsworth.

September 6

Assisted in traffic control for the Homecoming Parade.

Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 20.

The Brown County Ambulance provided standby service for the football game.

September 7

Received a report of trees that had fallen over the roadway on 431st Ave.  The Brown County Roads Department cleared them from the roadway.

Responded to a report of a verbal domestic altercation in Long Pine.  No citations were issued at this time.

Weekly log

Calls: 133

911 Calls:  12

Calls for Service:  11

Handgun Purchase Permits:  1

Vin Inspections:  4

Inmates Housed:  2

* Main Street from Front to South streets to close Monday

(Posted 6:45 a.m. Sept. 6)

Weather pending, the Highway 7 project on Main Street in Ainsworth will move into the final phase on Monday, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Beginning Monday, Main Street will close from Front Street to the end of the project, which is approximately 150 feet south of South Street. Traffic will not be able to access or cross Hwy 7 from First, Front, Dawes or South streets during this phase of the project.

Travelers heading south on Highway 7 or those needing access to homes or businesses south of town will need to use the marked detour, which is Pine Street and Road 877.

Once the pavement is removed from Front Street to the end of the project, underground utility work will begin. Once the underground utility work is completed for the final phase, the NDOT will prioritize rebuilding and reopening South Street.

Work on sidewalks, driveways, and imprinted concrete from First to Third streets will continue. Tie-in work for the Cowboy Trail crossing will be completed and open for use by Friday afternoon.

Anyone with questions on the Main Street project can contact the Nebraska Department of Transportation office in Ainsworth.

* Shifflet selected for LEAD 43 class

(Posted 8 a.m. Sept. 5)

The Nebraska Leadership Education/Action Development Program announced the selection of 30 individuals who will join the program as Fellows of Nebraska LEAD Class 43. These fellows were selected based on their demonstrated leadership potential, commitment to agriculture and dedication to their communities.

Among the 30 members of the LEAD 43 class is Spencer Shifflet of Long Pine.

Nebraska LEAD Class 43 Fellows represent a diverse group of professionals from across the state, bringing with them a wealth of experience and expertise in various sectors of Nebraska’s agricultural industry. Over the next two years, they will participate in a rigorous curriculum designed to enhance their leadership skills, broaden their understanding of domestic and global agricultural issues, and prepare them for greater roles in their communities and industries.

“I’m excited to work alongside this talented group of LEAD Fellows committed to the future of agriculture in the state,” said Kurtis Harms, Director of the Nebraska LEAD Program. “The selection process was challenging this year, as we had many quality applicants. This serves a testament to the passionate, well-qualified people who will be serving our industry for many years to come. Keep an eye out for these individuals, as these are names we’ll be seeing a lot more of down the road.”

The Nebraska LEAD Program, which began in 1981, continues its legacy of developing leaders who are equipped to address the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture in Nebraska and beyond. Through seminars, study travel and hands-on experiences, LEAD 43 Fellows will gain insights into the complex issues shaping the future of agriculture and rural communities.

* Commissioners vacate Cedar Road south of Long Pine

(Posted 10:15 a.m. Sept. 4)

The Brown County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution vacating a road south of Long Pine.

The board held a public hearing during its previous meeting on whether to vacate Cedar Road located in Sections 9, 16 and 17 of Township 26 North, Range 21 West. Most of the public comments received were in favor of closing the road, with one written comment encouraging the commissioners to keep the road open.

Board Chairman Dennis Bauer said the final step in the process was for the commissioners to either approve a resolution vacating the road or take no action, which would leave the road open.

The board unanimously voted to vacate the road. The ground will revert back to the adjacent property owners.

In other roads items Tuesday, Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin reported the roads department was in the process of hauling clay from the pile near the Brown County Hospital created during the construction of the community fishing pond to the county shop. He said the department planned to mix the clay with gravel for road surfacing.

Turpin said Topkote would be in the area next week to armor coat several roads in the county. He said the department dug up bad spots on Ponderosa Road and placed a new layer of cold-mix asphalt.

“Dustin Craven came up with the idea to dig those spots out first,” Turpin said. “It worked well.”

Turpin said the department continued grading work on the East Calamus Road and had received help from neighboring property owners in seeding the area.

The highway superintendent reported the county has now received $682,810 in reimbursement from the 2019 flooding. There were two projects where the county was still awaiting reimbursement – $106,231 in repair work to the Hidden Paradise and Bar 25 roads and $30,000 in administrative costs.

Jordan Schultheis appeared by phone to discuss a new product the county could use to strengthen the base of its gravel roads.

Schultheis said the product was a food-grade enzyme that, when mixed with water, would stabilize county roads and cut down on potholes and washboards.

Schultheis said just 15 gallons of the product mixed with water would take care of 1 mile of gravel road.

“Maintenance costs are typically between $5,000 and $5,500 per mile per year,” Schultheis said. “You pay for this product in year two.”

Schultheis said, to apply the product, the roads department would grade 6 inches of road surface and then mix in the stabilizer with a water tank before blading and compacting the surface. He said, as long as the road contains 15 percent clay or limestone, the product would set up and create a hard surface.

Turpin said, when the roads department re-grades a road, it typically makes three to four gravel applications. He said one application of gravel costs $2,067, so if four applications are used, the cost of the materials is similar and the county would not have to blade the roads near as often with the liquid product.

Schultheis said his company would provide a money back guarantee on 1 mile’s worth of the product, approximately $8,100, if the county was not satisfied with how it works.

Bauer said the county could try a mile of the product and see in the spring how it held up. He told Turpin to use his discretion on where he wanted to place the product.

Commissioner Jeremiah Dailey agreed, saying, “I’m good with that. We won’t know if we don’t try it.”

Bauer said he attended a meeting in Valentine last week with representatives from U.S. Senator Deb Fischer’s office, who indicated there were potential federal grant funds available for road and bridge projects that would cover 80 percent of the cost.

Bauer said the projects would need to be shovel-ready and completed within two years. He suggested the replacement of the McCullough bridge might be a good project. Turpin agreed and said he would also like to replace several bridges across the Ainsworth Irrigation District canal.

Nebraska Association of County Officials representative Luke Bonkiewiez provided the board with a NACO activity update Tuesday. Bonkiewiez said he works with state senators to craft bills taking into account how they could impact county governments.

He said NACO was opening a new office in Ogallala to better serve western Nebraska counties. Bonkiewiez said NACO had recently compiled salary and compensation data from each county and created a study that was released in June. The information looks at salary and benefits packages offered by county governments broken down by each position.

“This lets counties compare with neighboring counties for each position,” Bonkiewiez said. “Counties can decide how competitive they want to be.”

In other items Tuesday, Linda Alberts provided the commissioners with cost estimates for an outdoor pavilion to be placed at a site in downtown Long Pine owned by the county. The county applied for a grant to demolish a building it acquired and create a playground at the site.

Alberts previously discussed Long Pine’s preference to build an outdoor pavilion at the site instead of a playground. The pavilion Alberts quoted was 48-by-48-feet, which she said would fit on the 53-by-100 lot.

Bauer said he appreciated the information, and if the county is awarded a grant for demolition of the building and construction of a public improvement, the board would see if the plan submitted in the grant application could be amended.

The board met again with representatives from the Brown County Agricultural Society regarding the potential replacement of the Johnstown Community Hall roof. Ag Society representative Alex Goochey said he was going to get an estimate from Tillotsen Roofing on a coated metal roof. He said he contacted NIRMA regarding insurance deductibles and premiums if the roof is replaced with shingles instead of tin. Goochey said the insurance premium should not be impacted by the type of roof placed on the community hall.

The item was placed on the board’s next agenda for continued discussion.

The board acknowledged an amended inventory report for the county probation office, which added a computer to the previous inventory submitted. The board also acknowledged the completed audit for the previous fiscal year as submitted by accounting firm Countryman Associates.

The next meeting of the Brown County Commissioners is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Sept. 17.

* Second Street intersection open at Main Street

(Posted 9 a.m. Sept. 4)

Nebraska Department of Transportation Project Manager Carl Hart reported Wednesday morning the Second Street intersection with Main Street is now open to traffic.

Hart said the intersection has reopened to traffic while Main Street itself remains closed between Second and Third streets but is open between Third Street and Highway 20.

The West Plains Bank drive-through is also now open.

* Area landlines down in some instances

(Posted 9 a.m. Sept. 4)

(Update 1 p.m. – Services appear to be restored for landline phone customers)

Three River Communications Manager Brian Delimont reported there will be landline phone issues due to a fiber optic line that was cut somewhere between Ainsworth and Norfolk Wednesday morning.

The cut is not on Three River’s equipment, but the company uses a fiber relay to Norfolk and somewhere along that line is where the cut occurred.

Service to landlines in the area, whether being called from cell phones or other landlines, may not work properly until the cut has been found and the fiber repaired.

* Nelson wins Week 1 KBRB Football Contest

(Posted 9 a.m. Sept. 4)

While there were no perfect cards turned in during the first week of the KBRB Football Contest, one prognosticator missed just one game to win the $40 first-place prize for the opening week.

Scott Nelson of Meadville missed just one game in the college ranks, USC’s upset victory over LSU in Las Vegas.

By missing just one of the 14 games on the Week 1 card, Nelson wins the $40 first-place certificate.

Four contestants missed just two games on the Week 1 card, which sent us to the tie-breaker. The tie-breaker format this year, inadvertently, is the total number of touchdowns scored between the two teams in the Huskers’ 40-7 season-opening win over UTEP. There were six total touchdowns scored between the two teams.

Tony Allen hit the touchdown total on the button, picking six total touchdowns to earn himself the $20 second-place certificate. Erin Allen (seven), Derek Swan (eight) and Bradd Bussinger (9) also missed just two games on the card but were farther off the total touchdown total.

Winners may pick up their certificates from the KBRB Studios.

Week 2 KBRB Football Contest cards are available now from Buckles Automotive in Ainsworth, from the West Plains Bank in Springview, from Circle B Livestock in Bassett, from the Cast Iron Bar & Grill in Stuart, from Speedee Mart locations in Ainsworth and Atkinson, and from Tri County Bank locations in Stuart, Atkinson and Bassett.

Cards are due to the studios by 4 p.m. Thursday or must carry a Thursday postmark if mailed. For those mailing multiple cards, save stamps and mail all your contest cards in one envelope.

* Portion of Highway 12 to close Tuesday

(Posted 3:15 p.m. Sept. 2)

Weather permitting, work will begin Tuesday, Sept. 3, on the Minnechaduza Creek Bridge replacement project, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Beginning Tuesday, Highway 12 is anticipated to be closed to traffic at the Minnechaduza Creek Bridge after 9 a.m. and will remain closed until the spring of 2025. During the closure, traffic will be detoured utilizing Highway 83, north of Valentine then onto unpaved County Road 906, Nolette Road and Whitetail Road before returning to Highway 12 near milepost 7.

General Excavating of Lincoln is the prime contractor for the project. Work includes removal and replacement of the bridge over the Minnechaduza Creek on Highway 12, 3 miles east of the Valentine city limits or 0.15 miles west of the S-16A junction (Fort Niobrara Wildlife Refuge access road). Anticipated completion is May 2025.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

* Brown County Commissioners Tuesday agenda

(Posted 3:15 p.m. Sept. 2)

Brown County Commissioners
Meeting 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3
Brown County Courthouse
Agenda

1:15      Roll Call.

Acknowledge posting of Open Meetings Law.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Approve minutes of the 8-20-2024 Commissioner meeting.

1:20    Luke Bonkiewiez – NACO Update

Linda Alberts – Update on open air pavilion in Long Pine

Kenneth Turpin – Road Department Update

1:30    Jordan Schultheis – ZOOM Conference – Soil/Base Stabilizer for  unpaved road maintenance – Jordan Schultheis

Update from Senator Fisher’s office on funding for road and bridge projects – Bauer

Approve Final Audit – Hobbs

Ag Society roof project

Resolution regarding closure of Cedar Road

Quarterly Custodian Report – Hobbs

Sanitary Landfill fees increase effective January 1, 2025 – Board

Acknowledge Amended 2024 Inventory Report for Ainsworth Probation Office – Clerk

Approve Claims

Correspondence

Public Comment

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 3 p.m. Sept. 2)

August 25

Provided traffic control after receiving a report of Highway 20 traffic failing to follow NDOT signs in a work zone.

Issued a warning for speeding to a SD motorcyclist on Highway 7.  Issued a citation for speeding on 4^th Street in Ainsworth to a MN driver for 61mph in a 45mph zone.

August 26

Follow-up investigation regarding unauthorized distribution of photos by juveniles.

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, near 430^th Ave, a NE Semi driver was issued a written warning for failure to stop.  During a traffic stop on Highway 20, near mile marker 243, a written warning was issued for speeding.

Attended a fire drill at the Ainsworth Child Development Center.

Received a report of an abandoned vehicle near Highway 7 and Paradise Valley Rd.  The vehicle was towed.

Received a report of lightning starting a fire NW of Hagen Lake or near the South Pine Wildlife Management Area, South of Long Pine.  Long Pine, South Pine, Raven, and Ainsworth Fire Departments were all paged to the fire.  The first page was sent at approximately 4pm and most trucks returned shortly after 7pm.

Responded to a report of suspicious activity on Meadville Ave. 

August 27

The Brown County Ambulance responded to two separate 911 calls on this day in Ainsworth and Long Pine.

Responded to a report of property damage that occurred to a gas station on 4^th Street in Ainsworth.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Served a court issued paper service in Johnstown.

During a traffic stop on Highway 183, a SD driver was issued a citation for speeding 11-15mph over the posted speed limit.

August 28

During a traffic stop on Highway 7, a NE driver was issued a citation for speeding 82mph in a 65-mph zone.

Extradited a male subject from the Gering, NE after they were arrested on a Brown County warrant for issuing a bad check.  The male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail.

The Brown County Ambulance transported a flight crew to the hospital to pick up a patient.

During a traffic stop on Highway 7, a NE driver was issued a citation for speeding 16-20 mph over the posted speed limit.

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a page in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.

August 29

Responded to a report of a juvenile in possession of a tobacco product.  A female juvenile was issued a citation for minor in possession.

Responded to a welfare check request in Ainsworth.  The subject was found and was transported to the ER by a responsible party.

During a traffic stop on Meadville Ave, a NE driver was issued a citation for speeding 6-10mph over the posted speed limit.

Received a report of a pivot watering the roadway on 882^nd Rd.  Contact was made with the owner to correct the issue.

Responded to a report of cattle out on Norden Rd.

Received a report of an abandoned vehicle on 424^th Ave.  The owner was identified and had it removed.

August 30

The Brown County Ambulance transported a flight crew to the hospital to pick up patients twice on this day.

Extradited a male subject from El Dorado, KS on a Brown County warrant for possession of controlled substance and assault.  The male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail.

Responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident near Park and 2^nd St in Ainsworth.  Minimal damage occurred to a car and a parked trailer.  No injuries reported.

Raven, Calamus, and Ainsworth Fire Departments were paged to a structure fire on West Calamus Rd.  Trucks were out of the barn for almost 6 hours, and some returned the following day for some clean-up assistance.

Issued a violation card for no headlight during a traffic stop near 4^th and Hunt Street in Ainsworth.

August 31

Responded to a report of a one vehicle accident on Highway 20, near mile marker 230.  A semi struck a mountain lion.  The semi had considerable front-end damage and was towed from the scene and no injuries were reported.

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, near mile marker 238, a Maryland driver was issued a citation for speeding 80mph in a 65mph zone.

Responded to a report of suspected child abuse/neglect in Ainsworth.  This is an ongoing investigation.

The Brown County Ambulance provided standby services for rodeo and rough stock events all three days of the Brown County Fair.

Responded to a report of trespassing on a property near Johnstown.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Weekly Log

Calls:  145

911 Calls:  8

Calls for Service:  12

Inmates Housed:  5

* Work begins Wednesday on Highway 12 near Butte

(Posted 12:30 p.m. Aug. 30)

Weather permitting, micro-surfacing work will begin Wednesday on Highway 12, beginning at Butte and proceeding west between mileposts 86 and 113, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Missouri Petroleum, Co. of St. Louis, Mo., has the contract, which consists of micro-surfacing and fog sealing. Traffic will be maintained with a pilot car and flaggers. Anticipated completion is September.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

* Recent cases from Brown County Court

(Posted noon Aug. 29)

In addition to fines, each case carries $50 in court costs

Daryl L. Ladeaux, age 42, of Valentine, charged with no valid registration, fined $25.

Courtney W. Sears, 76, of Ainsworth, driving during revocation, $100; also charged with no proof of insurance, $100.

Robyn L. Zeigler, 32, of Ainsworth, dangerous dog, ordered to pay restitution of $220 and $614.

Jesse L. Callahan, 33, of Wheatland, Wyo., no valid registration, $25.

Tyson W. Beck, 37, of Valentine, no valid registration, $25.

William D. Jeffers, 73, of Livermore, Calif., violating a stop or yield sign, $75.

Carmen Y. Segundo Ursula, 33, of Valentine, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Clinton W. Painter, 49, of Ainsworth, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Jefferson Downing, 62, of Lincoln, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Esteban Villalobos, 35, of Sioux Falls, S.D., attempting a Class 4 felony, $1,000; possession of marijuana more than 1 ounce but less than 1 pound, $500.

Patrick M. Bull, 73, of Barker, N.Y., speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Melvin L. Rein Jr., 57, of Scottsbluff, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Baylor S. Ashworth, 25, of Blue Springs, Mo., speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Parker J. Baumann, 26, of Lincoln, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Brandon L. Anderson, 48, of Wayne, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

James H. Haskell, 59, of Ainsworth, first offense driving under the influence, $500, also sentenced to six months of probation, driver’s license revoked for 60 days and ordered to install an ignition interlock device.

Dustin S. Privett, 28, of Ainsworth, disturbing the peace, $100.

Levi A. Vavra, 22, of Ainsworth, second degree criminal trespassing, $100.

Matthew W. Davis, 26, of Ainsworth, assault causing bodily injury, sentenced to seven days in jail with credit for one day served.

Christopher M. Rehkopf, 52, of Long Pine, domestic violence third degree assault causing bodily injury, sentenced to six months of probation.

Cynthia A. Rehkopf, 56, of Long Pine, assault by mutual consent causing bodily injury, $100.

Anthony R. Stichert, 21, of Bellevue, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25; no valid registration, $25.

Shane L. Hellbusch, 41, of Columbus, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Samuel C. Marksberry, 25, of Seymour, Ind., speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Elvin O. Torres, 43, of Bellevue, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Clayton M. Bolen, 28, of Bellevue, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Rhett Q. Mundorf, 18, of Kearney, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

* Work to continue on Highway 183

(Posted 9 a.m. Aug. 29)

Weather permitting, work will resume Tuesday on Highway 183 south of Springview between mileposts 207 and 211, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Western Engineering Company of Harlan, Iowa, is the contractor for this project, which includes grading, culvert and flume work, guardrail placement, and erosion control. Traffic will be maintained with a pilot car and flaggers. Anticipated completion is November.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

* Lightning sparks fire Monday south of Long Pine

(Posted 8 a.m. Aug. 27)

Four area fire departments responded to a grass fire Monday afternoon sparked by a lightning strike south of Long Pine.

According to Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala, at 3:50 p.m. Monday, a fire was reported 15 miles south and 2 miles west of Long Pine on property owned by Bob Alberts.

Fiala said a lightning strike sparked a grass fire that burned approximately 150 acres of pasture. No other property was damaged. Firefighters from the Ainsworth, Long Pine, South Pine and Raven volunteer departments responded. The fire was extinguished by 7 p.m.

Fiala said firefighters were also called to a report of hay bales on fire at 11:30 p.m. Saturday 1 mile east and 2 miles north of Ainsworth. The fire chief said six bales on a pivot corner owned by Rolling Stone Feed Yard caught fire.

Fiala said Tommy Schumacher brought a tractor to help unroll the bales, allowing firefighters to extinguish the flames. He said firefighters were on scene approximately three hours, and damage was contained to the bales.

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 10 a.m. Aug. 26)

August 18

Provided traffic control for cattle crossing West of Ainsworth on Highway 20.

Follow-up investigation regarding terroristic threats.

Received a report of an erratic driving vehicle on Highway 20, East of Ainsworth.  The vehicle was found but no driving infractions occurred for a traffic stop.

August 19

Received a report of juveniles distributing inappropriate photos.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Issued a written warning for speeding to a South Dakota driver on Highway 20.

August 20

The Brown County Ambulance was paged to a residence in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.

Responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle on Norden Ave.  The owner of the vehicle later called in to claim the vehicle and had it moved.

Received a report regarding harassment in Ainsworth.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Served a court issued paper service.

Received a report of theft regarding stolen money from an app.

August 21

Received a report of a one car deer accident near the 9A/Highway 20 Spur.  The vehicle was towed from the scene, no injuries were reported.

Released two inmates from the Brown County Jail after receiving personal recognizance bonds.

Received a report of a medical alert alarm in Ainsworth.  It was found to be a false alarm.

Responded to a report of an uncontrollable juvenile South of Long Pine.

August 22

Provided traffic control for cattle crossing on Highway 183.

Responded to a report of a one vehicle deer accident near Highway 183 and 879^th Rd.  No injuries were reported but the vehicle was towed from the scene.

August 23

Received a report of cattle out near 429^th Ave and 877^th Rd.  The owner was identified and removed the cattle from the roadway.

Responded to a medical alert alarm in Ainsworth.  It was found to be a false alarm.

August 24

Issued written warning for speeding on Highway 20 to a Nebraska driver.

Responded to a report of a reckless driver on Highway 183.  The vehicle was later located by Rock County Sheriff’s Office.

The Ainsworth Fire Department responded to a 911 call reporting bales on fire near 880^th Rd and 432^nd Ave.

Weekly Log

Calls:  125

911 Calls:  12

Calls for Service:  13

Vin Inspections:  3     

Handgun Permits:  2

* Rock County Commissioners meeting notes

(Posted 7 a.m. Aug. 23)

The Rock County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday.

Waylon Reynolds, Road Foreman met with the Commissioners on road updates. Reynolds discussed purchasing a road groomer & a tree mulcher. Matter tabled until a later date. The Twin Lakes Road was discussed. Highway Superintendent Lloyd Smith will make contact with the Corps of Engineers to see what the county needs to do before work is started so the county is in compliance.

An Ainsworth Electric Motor representative presented an application for a permit to construct utilities on County Right-of-Way. The board approved the application for a permit to construct utilities on County Right-of-Way.

The commissioners approved the annual lease for Flat Rock for the 2024-2025 year. The board reviewed a quote from Pro Electric for the installation of mini split heating and cooling units for the Courthouse. The commissioners tabled the item, indicating they would like to see all the offices included in the quote.

The board approved a contract for propane with Rock County Agronomy, pre-purchasing 5,000 gallons of propane at $1.45 per gallon.

Kathy Maloun and Tonya Larson from the Rock County Senior Center discussed a budget increase with the board. The commissioners approved an 18 percent increase from $1,200 to $1,416 to help with the center’s Cash Wa bill.

The board approved county inventories as submitted. Ally Grant met with the commissioners to discuss the Rock County Historical Society’s need for repairs. The county will work with Ev Armstrong, to see if volunteer help could be found to assist with the repairs.

The commissioners held an executive session to discuss potential litigation, and a second executive session to discuss personnel issues. No action was taken following the sessions.

The next meeting of the Rock County Commissioners is scheduled for Sept. 3.

* Holt County mosquito pool tests positive for WNV

(Posted 10:30 a.m. Aug. 21)

The North Central District Health Department reported another  mosquito pool has tested positive for the presence of West Nile Virus in Holt County near O’Neill.  This marks the third mosquito pool that has tested positive for the presence of the virus in Holt County during the 2024 trapping season.

Residents should take precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

Limit time spent outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

Wear long sleeve shirts and pants if outdoors at dusk or dawn.

Apply EPA-approved mosquito repellant (DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon, eucalyptus, or IR3535).

Get rid of standing water that mosquitoes may breed in.

A mosquito dashboard with more information is maintained at www.ncdhd.ne.gov

* Commissioners hear comments on road vacation

(Posted 10 a.m. Aug. 21)

The Brown County Commissioners held a public hearing Tuesday on the topic of whether or not to vacate a county road located south of Long Pine.

After receiving a request to vacate Cedar Road in Sections 9, 16 and 17 of Township 26 North, Range 21 West and having Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin conduct a traffic study of the road, the commissioners proceeded to the next step in the process, allowing residents to voice their support or concern over the potential vacation.

Shane Hamilton, representing the Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds, which owns property adjacent to the road, said the school land organization had no objections to closing the road. He asked if the county planned to seed the area if the road closed.

Turpin said the roads department will remove auto-gates and may try to reclaim clay and gravel but has never seeded a road the county has opted to vacate.

Commissioner Jeremiah Dailey read a letter against closing the road submitted by Sandy Welke. Welke said in the letter her family had used the road for three generations and would like it to remain open.

Jeep Cozad, who owns property near Cedar Road, said keeping the road open was pointless. He said there is another access route through that area that is shorter and in better condition.

Following the public hearing, County Attorney Andy Taylor said the commissioners would not take action Tuesday but would instead have a resolution to close the road on the agenda for the Sept. 3 meeting. The board would vote at that time whether to approve the resolution vacating the road or take no action and leaving the road open.

Should the road be vacated, the property would revert to the adjacent landowners.

In other business Tuesday, Brown County Agricultural Society representative Alex Goochey presented the commissioners with the ag society’s budget request for the 2024-25 year. Goochey said the request was the same as the previous year, $50,000 in property tax for the ag society’s general fund and $20,000 to a sinking fund for fairgrounds improvements.

Goochey said the community hall’s roof at Johnstown was leaking and would need to be replaced. Replacing the roof with another tin roof would cost approximately $75,000. Going to shingles would be about $65,000.

While Goochey said the tin roof was dented from hail damage, the ag society’s insurance did not cover cosmetic damage to the tin roof. He said the tin roof was installed in 1999 and some of the screws have worked halfway out, allowing water into the building.

Goochey asked if the commissioners would consider allowing the ag society to replace the roof now using inheritance tax funds and then pay back the inheritance tax fund over time.

Commissioner Denny Bauer said he would be willing to consider that option. He asked Goochey to check with the ag society’s insurance carrier to see what the difference in premium would be between shingles and a tin roof.

Commissioner Jeremiah Dailey said he would be more inclined to see the roof go back to shingles, but also encouraged Goochey to check on the insurance policy.

Bauer asked how much the ag society had in reserve in its general fund.

Goochey said there was currently about $30,000 in the ag society’s account but that amount would decrease following the county fair.

“The fair comes close to breaking even, but we usually lose a little during the fair,” Goochey said.

The board will consider the budget request as part of its 2024-25 budget hearing in September.

James Wright approached the commissioners about potential relief from back taxes on a property he owns in Long Pine.

Wright said he purchased the former Long Pine Methodist Church in October 2020. He said he had the hope of restoring it, but the building needed way more work than he anticipated.

He said the previous county assessor increased the valuation on the building to $26,000 after he had paid $100 to purchase it. He said he was also charged for the entire year’s property taxes in 2020 even though he only purchased the property in October of that year.

Wright said Assessor Peggy Gross had recently revalued the property at $6,000. He asked the commissioners whether some of the back taxes now owed on the property could be removed based on him only owning the property for three months of 2020 and due to the valuation being changed.

Wright said he did not want to lose his home, but he now has $2,000 in back taxes hanging over his head that he could not afford to pay. He said a letter he received stated the property could go onto a tax sale if the past-due tax was not paid.

Taylor said there was nothing the commissioners could do in this instance because the window to file a protest on valuation and taxes for the 2020 tax year was due in June of 2021.

“You shouldn’t have been charged for that entire year, but you needed to appeal by June of the following year,” Taylor said.

Taylor encouraged Wright to check with the Nebraska Tax Equalization Review Commission. He said, if he had any recourse for alleviating some of the past-due tax, the TERC Board would know what to recommend.

Bauer said the situation was unfortunate.

“Legally, if we could do something, I would vote to do it,” Bauer said. “I am sorry about that, at least (the valuation) is lower now.”

Weed Superintendent Scott Erthum provided the commissioners with an update on noxious weed issues in the county. Erthum said there are three main stages of weed control each year in the county, the first being controlling leafy spurge. That is followed by the thistle stage and now the issue is purple loosestrife.

Erthum said the amount of spurge in the county is about the same as it had been in past years. The prevalence of musk thistle had decreased, while Canada thistle had remained the same and bull thistle had increased slightly. Erthum said native species of thistle are not sprayed and provide a good food source for pollinators.

Erthum said he was working with six property owners who were found to have purple loosestrife on their property. The weed superintendent said one of those was the Ainsworth Golf Course, which has purple loosestrife in the creek area on the south side of the property. He said he visited with Steve Gann from the golf course, who indicated the course would spray the loosestrife when wind conditions would not result in damage to the course from the treatment.

In action items Tuesday, the commissioners approved county inventories for 2024-25 as presented, approved Brown County’s FSA Plan Amendment through its First Concord Benefits Group Policy, and approved $1,500 in tuition assistance for county employee Zach Welch.

During his report, Turpin said the roads department has been hauling magnesia clay on Meadville Avenue and 431^st Avenue. He said the roads department was trying to get 422^nd Avenue near Johnstown shaped up.

“It is a little rough right now,” Turpin said.

He said the roads department is grading the East Calamus River Road that has been on the county’s one- and six-year plan. He thanked property owner Ron Rabe for donating clay to use on the East Calamus River Road.

The highway superintendent said the roads department has been repairing and replacing several culverts in the county. Bader Highway Maintenance is in the county performing crack seal work on the Elsmere Road and would crack seal Meadville Avenue before leaving. He said Top Kote would be in the county in September to armor coat Meadville Avenue as well as portions of 432^nd and 433^rd avenues.

Turpin said he planned to experiment with some rock from Colome, S.D., and mix it with clay to make a road gravel similar to what is used on roads in South Dakota.

“We will try to make some of that and see how it works,” Turpin said. “We will see if it takes care of some of the washboards.”

Bauer said Greg Wilke had approached him and offered to donate the brush mower and labor to remove plum thickets on county road right of way near the hog farm north of Ainsworth. Bauer said it would be a benefit to the county to have the plum brush removed so snow doesn’t drift as bad.

Taylor said having a volunteer do that work is allowable as long as it is coordinated by the county roads department and property owners in the area are contacted.

The next meeting of the Brown County Commissioners is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Sept. 3.

* Area airports receive federal grant funds

(Posted 2:30 p.m. Aug. 19)

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration awarded $18 million in grant funding to 24 airports across the state. The grant funds are part of a nationwide initiative to enhance airfield safety and infrastructure.

The Rock County Airport west of Bassett received a $365,573 grant to rehabilitate the apron, taxiway and runway.

The Stuart-Atkinson Municipal Airport west of Atkinson received $322,152 in grant funding to rehabilitate the terminal access road.

Nebraska’s airports are part of a broader vision, with the FAA distributing over $123 million in grants to 235 airports in 35 states and the District of Columbia. The grants underline a national commitment to promoting safety, efficiency, environmental stewardship, infrastructure, and security across America’s airports.

The FAA’s Airport Improvement Program, bolstered by approximately $3.3 billion in annual funding, is dedicated to elevating the standards of aviation nationwide.

* Kovar addresses new main street ‘bump-outs’

(Posted 1:45 p.m. Aug. 19)

Now that Main Street is open between Third Street and Highway 20, Nebraska Department of Transportation District 8 Engineer Mark Kovar said he has read several social media comments questioning why there are curved out areas at the Third Street intersection.

Kovar said the areas are called “bump-outs” and will be constructed at the Main Street intersections with First, Second and Third streets.

“They extend the curb into the street at pedestrian crossing locations,” Kovar said. “Bump-outs enhance safety by increasing visibility for pedestrians and motorists, shortening the pedestrian crossing distance, and slowing vehicles by visually narrowing the roadway.”

In addition, Kovar said the bump-outs prevent people from parking in areas that are prohibited by law. Nebraska law prohibits parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk and within 30 feet of a stop sign.

The bump-outs are designed to allow medium-sized semi’s, pickups with trailers, and busses to turn the corners easily. They are also constructed with a sloping curb and thickened concrete in case a truck does happen to drive over them.

Anyone with questions on the Main Street construction project may contact the NDOT district office.

* Brown County Commissioners Tuesday agenda

(Posted 1:45 p.m. Aug. 19)

Brown County Commissioners
Meeting 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20
Brown County Courthouse
Agenda

1:15     Roll Call.

Acknowledge posting of Open Meetings Law.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Approve minutes of the 8-6-2024 Commissioner meeting.

1:15     Public Hearing to take public comment/take action on the question of whether or not the following described road should be abandoned or vacated: The public road known as Cedar Road lying in sections 9, 16, & 17 all in T26N; R21W in Southeastern Brown County.

Kenneth Turpin – Road Department Update

Brown County Ag Society Budget – Alex Goochey

2024/2025 Brown County Inventories – Clerk

First Concord Benefits Group – Brown County FSA Plan Amendment & Restated July 1, 2024 – Clerk

Tuition Reimbursement Summer 2024 and approve Fall 2024 Class schedule – Welch

Review job performance evaluations for Nakoa Fletcher & Austin Cook and recommended pay raise – Turpin

2 p.m.     James Wright & Kathy Bonilla – discuss property taxes

2:15     Scott Erthum – Weed Update

Approve Claims

3 p.m.     Budget Workshop

Tax Allocation to Miscellaneous Districts – Hobbs     

1% Increase in Restricted Funds Authority – Hobbs

Authorization/Reauthorization of Petty Cash Funds – Hobbs

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summaries

(Posted 9:15 a.m. Aug. 19)

August 11

During a traffic stop on highway 20, a Nebraska driver was issued a citation for speeding **

The Brown County Ambulance was paged to Woodlake to transport one patient to the hospital.

August 12

Local Dispatchers, Jailers, and Law Enforcement officers attended a training produced by Phil Chalmers (true crime writer, criminal profiler, law enforcement trainer).  The training covered profiling of dangerous people, crime prevention tips for home security, and school safety plans.

Received a report of a suspicious vehicle at East City Park.  The vehicle was found but no criminal activity was found at this time.

August 13

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth.  One patient was transported to the hospital.

Extradited a male subject who was arrested on a Brown County warrant for possession of a controlled substance from Omaha.  The male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail where he awaits his first court date. 

Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 7, near mile marker 41 to a North Carolina driver.  Another traffic stop on Highway 7 resulted in a Colorado driver receiving a written warning for speeding also. 

The Ainsworth Fire Department was paged to a reported gas line hit in the alley between Main Street and Osborne Streets.  

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, a Minnesota driver was issued a written warning for speed. 

Received a report of suspicious activity on the cowboy trail, South of the 183/20 Highway Junction.

August 14

The Brown County Ambulance transferred a patient to a Grand Island hospital.

Received a complaint regarding the school drop off zone. 

Received reports the stop sign was down at the 183/20 Junction.  NDOT was called and put the sign back up. 

Assisted with a school fire-drill.

Received a report of suspicious activity on 3rd Street in Ainsworth. 

August 15

Received a report involving a male subject in violation of a protection order.  The male subject was located in Ainsworth and then booked into the Brown County Jail.  

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth.  A female was found to be deceased at the scene. The Brown County Sheriff’s Office completed a coroner’s report, and no foul play is suspected. 

August 16

Released a male from the Brown County Jail after completing a court commitment sentence. 

Received a report of a pivot watering the roadway near 432nd Ave and 876th Road.  Contact was made with an owner who agreed to correct the issue. 

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Brown County Ambulance, Ainsworth and Johnstown Fire Departments responded to a one vehicle accident on Highway 20, near mile marker 230.  The lone occupant was taken to the hospital by ambulance and the vehicle was towed from the scene. 

Received a report of identity theft involving the rental of an apartment building. This is an ongoing investigation. 

Served three court issued paper services.

A Nebraska driver was issued a citation for speeding 77mph in a 65mph zone during a traffic stop on Highway 20, near mile marker 238.  

Issued a written warning for speeding to a Colorado driver on Highway 7.  Another traffic stop on Main Street in Long Pine resulted in a verbal warning for no tail lights on a trailer.  An additional traffic stop on Highway 20 resulted in a violation card for a broken head light.

August 17

Received a report of an assault on Plainsman Drive.

Responded to a burglar alarm on 424^th Ave near Ainsworth.  No criminal activity was found at this time.

Responded to a report of harassment in Ainsworth.

Served a court issued paper service.

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, near mile marker 241, a Nebraska driver was issued a citation for speeding 76mph in a 65mph zone.

Responded to a report of terroristic threats in Ainsworth.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in Long Pine.  Contact was made with the driver and a verbal warning was issued.

Weekly Log

Calls:  125

911 Calls:  8

Calls for Service:  11

Gun Permits:  2

Vin Inspections:  7

August 4

Responded to a report of a verbal altercation on 2^nd Street in Ainsworth. 

During a traffic stop on Highway 7, a Nebraska driver was issued a citation for speeding 79mph in a 65mph zone.

 During a traffic stop on Highway 20, a Nebraska driver was issued a citation for speeding 80mph in a 65mph zone.

Responded to a report of a domestic physical altercation in the Long Pine State Park.  Statements were taken from each party and a report will be filed with the Brown County Attorney’s office.

August 5

Received a report of trespassing by an out of state vehicle near a property in Johnstown.  The driver was found to be misinformed about what property was owned by relatives.

Responded to a report of cattle out on Highway 183 and 881^st intersection. 

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, mile marker 248, a Nebraska driver was issued a violation for no insurance and a warning for speeding.  Another traffic stop near 435^th and 897^th Ave resulted in a violation card for a defective headlight.

Responded to a report of cattle out near 877^th and 432^nd Ave.

August 6

During a traffic stop on Highway 7, near the 876^th intersection, a Nebraska driver was issued a citation for speeding 11-15mph over the posted speed limit.

 Provided traffic control for a funeral procession.

Served three court issued paper services.

Responded to a report of a reckless driver on Highway 7. A traffic stop was made on Highway 20, near mile marker 239 with a South Dakota plated semi.  The driver was parked for the night.

Received a report of harassment and threatening behavior in Ainsworth.  This is an ongoing investigation.

August 7

Received a medical alert alarm for a fall in Ainsworth. It was found to be a false alarm.

Provided court security.

Received a report of property damage that occurred West of Ainsworth, along Highway 20, after an unknown vehicle ran through a fence and ran over state road signs.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Received an anonymous tip from the Crime Stoppers Line regarding public intoxication and procurement of alcohol to minors. 

Received a report of a gas drive off.  No vehicle was found matching the vehicle description, all information was forwarded to the Cherry County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in locating the vehicle.

Received a report of a domestic verbal altercation involving a reportedly suicidal male.  The male was located and reported safe at this time.

August 8

Responded to a report of two vehicles striking cattle near the intersection of Highway 7 and South St.  One vehicle was considered totaled and towed, and the other was able to drive away from the scene.  The driver refused an ambulance but was transported to the ER by an acquaintance for minor injuries.

Provided traffic control for an oversized load to turn around to follow the correct detour route near Long Pine.

The Brown County Ambulance was paged after receiving a 911 call from Ainsworth.  One patient was transported to the hospital.

Received a report of a pivot watering the roadway near 87^th RD and 432^nd Ave.  Contact was made with the owner who agreed to correct the issue.

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a medical alert alarm for a fall in Long Pine.  The ambulance crew provided a lift assist and the patient denied further medical transport.

August 9

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, near mile marker 244, a Nebraska driver was issued a citation for speeding 82mph in a 65mph zone.

Responded to a report of cattle out near 429^th Ave and Highway 20.

August 10

Booked an inmate into the Brown County Jail for a court commitment sentence of 7 days. 

Received a report of theft involving campfire wood near Long Pine.  Contact was made with the reported party who agreed to pay for the wood.

During a traffic stop near 4^th Street and Oak Street a Michigan driver was issued a citation for speeding and no proof of insurance.  Another traffic stop on 4^th Street resulted in a verbal warning for failure to turn their lights on.

Weekly Log

Calls:  129

911 Calls:  6

Calls for Service:  13

Vin Inspections:  6

Gun Permits:  0

* Glause graduates from UN-L

(Posted 8 a.m. Aug. 19)

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln conferred 574 degrees during a combined graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremony Saturday in Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The degrees were earned by 569 graduates from 46 counties, 36 U.S. states and 60-plus Nebraska communities.

Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett presided over the commencement ceremony.

Area graduates from UN-L include Katelyn Glause of Ainsworth, who received a Master of Science degree in graduate studies.

* First block of Main Street to reopen Thursday

(Posted 11 a.m. Aug. 15)

The Nebraska Department of Transportation reported the first block of Main Street will reopen to traffic Thursday afternoon.

NDOT representative Justin Ripley said the contractor is working on roadway and sidewalk cleanup between Third Street and Highway 20 with the block opening to traffic and parking by Thursday afternoon.

Concrete for Main Street has also been poured between Third Street and First Street, with the contractor working on curb sections followed by sidewalks and imprinted concrete work on those blocks.

The Cowboy Trail detour utilizing sidewalks to Front Street is still in place with signs marking the route.

* Council hears drainage concerns from residents

(Posted 10:15 a.m. Aug. 15)

The Ainsworth City Council on Wednesday heard from residents between Ash Street and Meadville Avenue unhappy with the amount of water that runs onto their property and then doesn’t drain to the northeast.

Lorne Allen told the council everything northwest of his property drains to Ash Street, then goes across his property and that of his neighbors. He said there is no ditch on Old Highway 7 to drain the water off of his and the neighbors’ properties.

“It does not run through the driveway pipes because they are all full of sand,” Allen said. “The water goes over the road and over the driveways.”

Allen said the standing water issues have occurred for years and won’t be solved until action is taken to improve the drainage.

“There are no open ditches in town that I am aware of other than that one,” Allen said. “The ditch has to be as low as the bottom of the pipe. We have been told before that you don’t have enough right of way.”

Allen said trash washes onto his property, and he ends up having to go out and pick it all up.

“I watch it happen with every rain,” Allen said. “When Ash Street got paved in the 1980s and driveways got paved, it all runs to us. The water backs up onto me and the Goocheys (Calvin and Sherry) that we didn’t ask for.”

Councilman Dustin Barthel said the city may have to try and obtain additional right of way to fix the issue properly.

“If the engineer recommends changes, the neighbors need to be willing to work with the city or we are wasting our time,” Barthel said.

Property owner Annie Gous said the water floods out the east side of her property.

“It doesn’t make it to the canal, and we end up with a lot of mosquito pools,” Gous said. “Half of our back lot is covered with water a lot of the time. I am willing to work with you however we need to, and I think the neighbors would work with the city.”

Councilman Doug Weiss said he was in favor of having an engineer look at the area and recommend a solution that would alleviate the standing water issue.

Councilman Kent Taylor said an engineer could tell the city what size of culverts were needed to get the water to the canal. He asked City Administrator Lisa Schroedl if that was something engineering firm Olsson Associates could look at for the city.

Schroedl said Engineer Jess Hurlbert was familiar with the area and could likely provide the city with recommendations.

Mayor Joel Klammer said the solution could potentially involve a lot of property owners.

“It is obviously a problem,” Klammer said. “We can’t come up with a drainage plan today, but we can have our engineers work on it.”

The council agreed to have Olsson Associates visit the site and provide recommendations to alleviate the issue.

In other business Wednesday, the council did not take action on a request to make the alley between First and Second streets west of Main Street a one-way during the Main Street renovation project.

Emily Jones with Little Paws Preschool asked the council to create a one-way for the alley traffic as a safety precaution while children are dropped off and picked up from behind the preschool.

“We don’t have a preference which way the one-way goes,” Jones said. “We just feel it would be safer for drop-off and pick-up.”

Buckles Automotive co-owner Dave Sherman said the business has several semis that deliver in the alley and those semis could not make the turn from Second Street into the alley.

“I am all for the kids’ safety,” Sherman said. “I can’t get them in from the north end of that alley. The semis have to come in from the south.”

The city previously declared a one-way from north to south in the alley one block to the north on the west side of Main Street after a similar request from the Ainsworth Child Development Center. At that time, city personnel indicated the garbage truck had to travel from north to south so the one-way in that block was created in that direction.

Weiss said he was in favor of finding a solution that works for everyone, he just wasn’t sure what that solution would be.

Taylor asked Jones if she could visit with parents and see if they would all agree to travel in one direction.

Jones said she could ask parents to all go in the same direction and staff could monitor the alley during those times.

“Maybe it won’t be an issue if we can talk to the parents,” Jones said. “I am open to that.”

The council did not take any action on making the alley a one-way during Main Street construction.

The council approved three applications for ABC sales tax funding after the projects were recommended for approval by the Ainsworth Betterment Committee.

The largest award was $107,000 to the city of Ainsworth Park Board for a pickleball and basketball court project at East City Park. The total project carries an estimated price tag of $215,000.

North Central Development Center Executive Director Kristin Olson said the Park Board was also working on applications to the Brown County Visitors Committee and the Brown County Foundation to complete the funding for the project.

Schroedl said the lodging tax committee was supportive of the project but indicated it likely did not have $107,000 available to match the ABC funding request. She said the visitors committee would take action on the request during its September meeting.

Weiss said he was in favor of using ABC funds for a portion of the park project.

“They don’t do us any good sitting there,” Weiss said.

The council approved the $107,000 request. The council also approved a $10,000 ABC request from the Ainsworth Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of a multi-use emergency vehicle.

Devin Painter said the fire department had received a $100,000 grant for the vehicle, and the $10,000 being requested from the ABC would complete the funding needed to purchase the $140,000 vehicle.

He said the Ford F-550 would be equipped with a 400-gallon tank to be able to respond to grass fires, but it would also be used to respond during vehicle accidents and most calls in the city.

The third ABC request approved Wednesday provided $1,300 to the Brown/Rock County Emergency Management Agency for the purchase of ROK boxes and reunification equipment kits.

Jessica Pozehl said there are 18 to 20 volunteers who would serve as a reunification team for emergencies in Brown County. The kit includes vests, walkie-talkies, clipboards and other items needed to help the volunteers reunite children with their families during emergency situations. The boxes would store the equipment and be located where it could be easily accessible by the volunteer team.

Weiss said he was supportive of the reunification team but was struggling with the request coming from a county agency.

“Emergency management is a county department,” Weiss said. “I am not discounting the need. This will help Ainsworth residents, but I think the school or the county should provide support.”

He asked Pozehl if the school or county would be willing to fund half the cost of the kit and storage container if the city provided half the cost.

Barthel said he wasn’t sure why the county didn’t just pay for the cost of the equipment, but it was not a large request.

Pozehl said the reason the equipment wasn’t paid for using emergency management agency general funds is because the office is funded by both Brown and Rock counties and these kits would only be utilized in Brown County. A separate reunification team would be formed in Rock County with its own equipment.

The council approved the $1,300 request. Schroedl said, after the three requests were approved Wednesday, there would be a little less than $30,000 remaining in non-allocated ABC funds.

Audience member Rod Worrell said the treasurer’s report showed the ABC fund took in about $7,500 in the past month from its portion of the 1.5-cent city sales tax. He asked if that was about the average for the fund to receive monthly.

Schroedl said the ABC fund typically brought in between $5,000 and $8,000 monthly.

Sandhills Care Center Board Chairman Tom Jones presented the council with the care center’s 2024-25 budget. Jones said the budget estimated 28 residents to begin the fiscal year and a population of 30 residents by the end of the fiscal year.

Jones said he was happy to report that the care center currently has 32 residents and was working on additional referrals.

“We have been able to turn our attention from finances and are now stressing over having a lot of residents,” Jones said.

He said the budget estimated the care center would generate a $407,000 profit during the 2024-25 fiscal year, which did not include the voter-approved property tax levy dollars.

“We now have a strong director of nursing and no agency nursing,” Jones said. “That has really helped with the culture. The staff and employees are doing a great job.”

Jones said several repair and renovation projects have been completed in the facility, including roof replacement, an updated Wanderguard System, new Internet hardware and new concrete in front of the facility. He said the care center was currently working on a kitchen remodeling project.

Klammer said the care center has had a great year.

“The whole community should be proud of you,” the mayor said.

The council on Wednesday approved renewing its property, liability and workman’s compensation insurance through the League Association of Risk Management pool. Schroedl said the city’s property coverage increased by 8 percent, liability increased by 10 percent and workman’s compensation was up by 5 percent. She said, by agreeing to a three-year contract with LARM and a 180-day cancellation notice, the city would receive a 5 percent discount dropping the premium from $144,739 to $137,502.

Schroedl said she was satisfied with the coverage provided by LARM and the insurance pool was easy to work with.

The council approved adding Schroedl and city office staff member Cody Nilson as the city credit card record keepers. Schroedl said she didn’t realize there was an issue until she called the city’s credit card company and could not discuss the city’s account because she was not former City Clerk Kristy Thornburg.

“The bill just comes to the city of Ainsworth,” Schroedl said. “It was never changed.”

Klammer said he would also like to see the city apply to have the card’s credit limit increased from $5,000 to $10,000.

“You can hit $5,000 pretty quick,” Klammer said. “This would give us some more cushion.”

Schroedl said the credit limit had not been an issue until recently, when the library used the card to purchase computers and the city tried to use the card to purchase equipment for the code enforcement officer, but the charges were declined because the city exceeded its spending limit.

Schroedl said each monthly card statement has receipts attached and the charges itemized so the city’s auditors could see what was purchased using the card.

The council approved the change to the card’s record keepers and requested the credit limit increase.

The council approved a proposal from American Tower regarding the lease of an additional 1,000 square feet of space near a tower site owned by the city on the north side of Ainsworth.

The additional lease includes a small 10-by-100-foot parcel next to the tower and the right of first refusal if the city were to ever decide to sell the tower site.

The city will receive a one-time payment of $3,000 by agreeing to the new lease with an ongoing $350 monthly payment and 3 percent annual escalator. The city received an additional one-time payment of $1,500 for providing the right of first refusal to the company. The council approved the agreements pending a review by the city attorney.

The council approved the annual certification of program compliance with the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Schroedl said the annual item simply certifies that the city keeps records required by the NDOT in order to receive funding from the state.

The council approved several appointments recommended by the mayor, including the appointment of Kelsi Evans as the city’s code enforcement officer.

Schroedl said Evans was in the process of being trained by Bruce Papstein, who is a certified law enforcement officer.

Schroedl said Evans would not make traffic stops, respond to disturbances or anything of that nature. Evans would strictly handle code enforcement and animal control issues for the city.

The city administrator said she had an understanding with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department to purchase a vehicle the sheriff’s department was replacing for use by the code enforcement officer. Since the city had the right of first refusal and a 50 percent stake in the vehicle, Schroedl said the city could purchase the vehicle for 50 percent of its current value.

The council approved the reappointment of Gerry Carr and Alane Lentz to five-year terms on the Ainsworth Housing Authority, the appointment of Preselyn Goochey to a one-year term on the ABC Committee, the appointment of Kaden Evans to a two-year term on the ABC Committee, the reappointment of Luke Hitchcock and Alane Lentz to four-year terms on the Ainsworth Public Library Board and the appointment of Tamera Hancock to a four-year term on the Library Board.

The council tabled action on an agreement between the city and the local city employee union on a new contract as Schroedl said the city had not yet received the amended agreement back from the Local Union 1597 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers AFL-CIO.

Klammer said negotiations with the union went well, and the union’s requests were reasonable. He said the new agreement included a 4 percent cost of living wage increase.

The council will hold a budget workshop at 1 p.m. Aug. 27. The next regular meeting of the Ainsworth City Council is scheduled for Sept. 11.

* Council votes to remove trees from Main Street project

(Posted 7 a.m. Aug. 15)

After being presented with an informal petition signed by more than 300 people, the Ainsworth City Council on Wednesday voted for a change order on the Main Street renovation, removing the planting of trees from the landscaping portion of the project.

The change order reverses a close vote taken by the council more than a year ago to include planting trees as part of the project that saw Mayor Joel Klammer break a 2-2 council deadlock.

Roland Paddock said he was not in favor of the city planting trees on Main Street for several reasons and many people he spoke with expressed the same sentiment.

Paddock said, instead of just complaining about it, he decided to take action and circulated an informal petition that garnered 335 signatures in just six days from people also against the city planting trees on Main Street.

“I compliment you for being on the council,” Paddock said. “I know you are trying to improve the town, and it is important in a town this size for people to volunteer. My hat’s off to you.”

Paddock said he had spoken with a couple council members about his concerns regarding the tree planting prior to the council’s initial vote on the matter. He said, when he heard the state had removed trees from the project, he didn’t realize it was for just the trees on the corners.

Paddock said he visited the businesses on Main Street and had 35 people sign the petition against planting trees with only two refusing. He said he checked with Carl Hart from the Nebraska Department of Transportation before circulating the petition to make sure it was not too late to make a change.

“It is possible for the council to reconsider the motion to include the trees,” Paddock said.

Paddock said the main concerns expressed by those signing the petition related to snow removal, the potential for the sprinkler line to freeze and having to tear up the sidewalk to repair it, ongoing maintenance of the trees, the potential for the tree roots to push up the sidewalks, and potential damage to buildings from the tree limbs.

Paddock said he believed the council at the time misread the will of the people when voting originally to include trees in the project.

“We tried this before and it didn’t work,” Paddock said.

Klammer said, if the council misread the citizens at the time, it wasn’t due to a lack of opportunities for the citizens to express their wishes.

“This had been in the planning process for a long time,” Klammer said. “Downtown revitalization always comes up as one of the top priorities in our strategic planning. For two years, we had open houses. I know we never had 300 people come to a planning meeting.”

City Administrator Lisa Schroedl said it was frustrating to hear this kind of feedback at this stage of the process.

“The city spent a lot of money on the design and engineering already,” Schroedl said.

Councilman Dustin Barthel said he had a lot of people talk to him who were against the trees, which is why he said he was one of the two council members to vote against including trees at the time.

“I know what I would do if there was a tree in front of my business,” Barthel said.

Former Councilman Vance Heyer said he was likely one who was having his intelligence questioned for his vote to include trees. Heyer said many people who are in favor of a project won’t attend a public meeting.

“There are plenty against it,” Heyer said. “I think there are a lot of people in favor, especially the younger demographic.”

Heyer said planting trees as part of a downtown beautification project was not a new concept.

“We are not trying anything new here,” Heyer said. “A lot of communities have done this, have done it effectively and have managed the risks.”

Heyer said he agreed the city would need to be responsible for the maintenance of the trees and not try to leave that to the businesses.

Audience member Rod Worrell said he had a business on Main Street when the last set of trees were planted.

“We were promoting Ainsworth as a tree city,” Worrell said. “They were promoted as non-fruit bearing trees, and they would be removed and replanted in 10 years. No one took care of the trees after they were planted. The council changes every four years. I was in favor of the last set of trees and it didn’t go well because there was no follow through and they weren’t taken care of.”

Klammer said some of the issues the city experienced with previous tree plantings downtown were addressed in the planning process.

“I am surprised this is such a flashpoint,” the mayor said. “It is hard to find a residence that doesn’t have trees and landscaping.”

Worrell said people don’t have concrete around the trees at their homes.

Councilman Kent Taylor said he was not on the council when the original decision was made.

“I am not for forcing something on the business community that they don’t want,” Taylor said.

He said snow removal will already look different in the future on Main Street since piling snow in the middle of the street will no longer be an option.

“Wind-rowing it and leaving it won’t work,” Taylor said. “We are probably going to have to remove it immediately. I like trees, but I don’t pour concrete around my trees. The last time we did trees was a terrible experience.”

Schroedl said she understood the complaints people against the trees were expressing.

“I saw the fruit on the sidewalk, and the trees got too big,” Schroedl said. “We tried to plan for that in the design. They went through that and tried to mitigate those issues so they didn’t repeat themselves.”

By a 3-0 vote with Councilman Brad Fiala absent, the council voted in favor of a change order removing the trees from the Main Street project and filling those spots with concrete. The council did include in the motion that it could potentially revisit the decision if the cost of the change order was exorbitant.

More notes from Wednesday’s Ainsworth City Council meeting will be aired Friday on KBRB.

* Ainsworth City Council Wednesday agenda

(Posted 7 a.m. Aug. 14)

Ainsworth City Council
Meeting 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14
Ainsworth Conference Center
Agenda

• Call to Order
• I. Routine Business
  • Announcement of Open Meetings Act
  • Roll Call
  • Pledge of Allegiance
• II. Consent Agenda – All items approved with the passage of one motion
  • Approve minutes from the July 10, 2024 regular meeting and the July 31, 2024 special meeting
• III. Mayor’s Appointments and Report
  • Mayor’s Report
  • Mayor’s Appointments
    • Ainsworth Betterment Committee (2-year term):  Appointment of Preslyn Goochey to fill the Senior student seat with term ending 9/15/2025
    • Ainsworth Betterment Committee (2-year term):  Appointment of Kayden Evans to fill the Junior student seat with term ending 9/15/2025
    • Ainsworth Housing Authority (5-year term):  Reappointment of Gerry Carr with term ending 8/7/2029
    • Ainsworth Housing Authority (5-year term):  Reappointment of Alane Lentz with term ending 8/7/2028
    • Library Board (4-year term):  Reappointment of Alane Lentz with term ending 4/30/2028
    • Library Board (4-year term):  Reappointment of Luke Hitchcock with term ending 4/30/2028
    • Library Board (4-year term):  Appointment of Tammy Hancock with term ending 4/30/2028
    • Appointment of Kelsie Evans as the City of Ainsworth Code Enforcement Officer
• V. Old Business
  • Discuss and consider a proposal from American Tower concerning additional property lease option for the tower located on North Main Street 
• VI. Regular Agenda
  • Discuss drainage ditch on Ash Street – Lorne Allen/Anne Gous 
  • Discuss and consider a request for one-way traffic access along the alley on the west side of Main Street between 1^st Street and 2^nd Street during the construction project – Emily Jones, Little Paws 
  • Sandhills Care Center budget and update – Tom Jones, Board Chairman 
  • Discuss or consider a citizen petition for further review of the current construction design plan for landscaping on South Main Street – Roland Paddock        
  • Discuss and consider the recommendations by the Ainsworth Betterment Committee to approve funding for the following projects:
    • Ainsworth Fire Department – $10,000 toward a multi-use emergency vehicle
    • City of Ainsworth (Park Department) – $107,500 toward a pickleball/basketball court construction project
    • Brown/Rock Emergency Management – $1,300 toward a reunification operation kit/ROK Box
  • Consider Resolution #24-03:  Agreement for credit card program and designated record keeper 
  • Consider Resolution #24-04:  League Association of Risk Management 2024-25 Insurance coverage renewal 
  • Consider Resolution #24-05:  Signing of the Municipal Annual Certification of Program Compliance 2024 
  • Discuss and consider the agreement between the City of Ainsworth and Local Union No. 1597 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers AFL-CIO effective October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2028 
  • City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer Report

* Care Center Board discusses city tax collections

(Posted 10 a.m. Aug. 13)

The Sandhills Care Center Board discussed the procedure for receiving voter-approved property taxes with officials from the city of Ainsworth during Monday’s meeting.

Ainsworth Mayor Joel Klammer complimented the board and the care center’s staff on its strong recent performance as the census has now reached 31 residents. However, Klammer said, with there still being a potential for the facility to incur debt, he believed the city should keep the funds from the 10-cent property tax levy to be able to pay off any potential line of credit or other liabilities.

The city jointly owns the Sandhills Care Center with Brown County. The city and county each appoint two members to the Care Center Board of Directors, with the fifth board member having to be jointly approved by the city and county.

Klammer said it was his interpretation that the ballot language for the additional property tax levy was to support the care center’s operations and other indebtedness.

“You are doing great,” the mayor said. “There is no balance on the line of credit now, but that is still a liability for the city. It is my belief the city should keep the funds to pay off the potential line of credit. I encourage you to develop a reserve fund so you have enough to operate for two months if the care center were to close.”

Klammer asked if the board’s interpretation of the special levy was that the tax funds would go to the care center account. The board indicated that it believed the money should be placed into the board’s interlocal account like the additional property tax funds the care center receives from the county.

Board member and Brown County Commissioner Dennis Bauer said it was his understanding that the levy voters approved was to support the care center’s operations.

“The line of credit only has one year left, so I am not worried about that,” Bauer said.

The board previously voted to pay off the entire balance on the line of credit using additional Medicaid funding the facility received from the state.

Board member Dr. Mel Campbell said city and county residents both voted to support the levy.

“There was nothing in there that said it should be kept in reserve,” Campbell said. “I believe it is for the city and county to trust this board to use the funds wisely.”

Campbell said the board understands the city and county do not want the care center to go hog wild spending money.

“We are doing what you asked,” Campbell said. “It goes to an interlocal account.”

Administrator Penny Jacobs said the board has to vote on any expenditures using the funds collected through the city and county property tax levies.

Business Manager Makenzie Crane said the care center maintains a spreadsheet on how much has been collected through the levies. She said the care center has not received any of the $53,393 that has been collected by the city from the levy.

Jacobs said, for the county, the care center calls the county treasurer at the beginning of each month to see how much has been collected from the county levy. The care center then puts in a request to the county for those funds.

“We don’t have a good follow-through process with the city,” Jacobs said. “I would like to do a standardized claim form with both the county and the city.”

Campbell asked Klammer if he was suggesting that the money from the city levy go into an account that the care center board cannot access.

Klammer said it was his suggestion that the city maintain the account.

Board Chairman Tom Jones asked Klammer what the care center board needed to do to make him feel comfortable about how it was using the funds.

Board member Bruce Papstein said he believed the care center board was being conservative in how it operates the facility. Bauer agreed that the board was pretty conservative with the facility’s finances.

“I like the idea of having a line every month that shows what we have spent the tax money on,” Bauer said.

Director of Nursing Sara Mayhew said the fact that the city and county came together to get the care center reopened is amazing.

“I came from a place where that didn’t happen and it closed,” Mayhew said. “I take it personally when you talk about this closing when we are doing the best we have ever done. Residents are paying up to $10,000 per month to live in an older building. This need is not going to go away.”

Klammer said he meant no disrespect. He said it was his understanding, when the levies were approved, that the tax collection would be used to pay off the line of credit if the facility closed. He said he believed a portion of the funds should go toward a long-term cushion for the facility.

Jones said any use of the tax levy funds from the interlocal account requires a motion from the board. The funds are not simply used for general operations.

Audience member Graig Kinzie said the city attempting to withhold the funds from the care center board because they may not be needed immediately would be no different than the county trying to withhold the voter-approved building addition bond funds from the Brown County Hospital Board. He said it was not the intent of either ballot for the funds to be withheld by the city or county and not provided to the care center.

Kinzie said, if the City Council was not happy with how the care center was being operated, it could appoint two different members to the care center board.

Crane said, if the city would accept a form to request the funds similar to what the county does, the money from both the city and the county levies could then be collected the same way and end up in the same place.

No official action was taken by the board, but the groups agreed to a process for the care center to request the collected property tax funds from the city.

During July, the Sandhills Care Center generated $263,130 in revenue with expenses of $232,679 for a net operating margin of $30,451 for the month. The facility also received $12,034 in property taxes from Brown County.

Jacobs said there were currently 31 residents calling the Sandhills Care Center home, with an additional resident expected to move into the facility on Wednesday. She said that resident would put the facility up to an all-time high of 32 residents.

She said 14 residents pay privately, 16 receive Medicaid assistance and one receives hospice care. Of the current residents, 16 are from Ainsworth, eight are from Cherry County, four are from rural Brown County, and one each is from Long Pine, Rock County and Keya Paha County.

Jacobs said the facility is in need of CNAs, a weekend housekeeper and dietary cooks.

The board discussed the lease the facility has on a rental property in Ainsworth to house staff. Crane said, with the last agency staff member’s contract expiring, the rental house was only being used by a couple nurses every other weekend.

Crane presented the board with a proposal that would split the lease between the care center and a current full-time CNA, who would pay half the monthly rental rate to live permanently on the top floor of the unit. The bottom level, with its own entry, could then still be utilized for traveling nursing home staff members.

Mayhew said a majority of the full-time nursing staff are traveling from Valentine, so they may need a place to stay this winter during inclement weather.

Jones said the care center doesn’t have the same need for housing as it did when a larger portion of the staff came from agencies.

Jacobs said having the flexibility for staff to have a place to stay when the weather is bad is why she preferred not to give up the lease on the rental unit entirely.

Crane said the board could opt to split the lease with the full-time staff member and keep the lower half of the unit available for other staff members, or the board could give up the lease entirely and try and put people up in a hotel when needed.

The board approved sub-leasing the top half of the rental to the full-time staff member for half the $1,500 monthly rate.

Jacobs reported the financial audit of the facility is ongoing by Lutz Accounting of Grand Island, with all information requested being sent. She said the auditor requested eight additional items Monday morning, which the staff was working to get to the auditor.

Campbell asked if the care center’s private pay to Medicaid ratio was still at a level that would unlock additional Medicaid reimbursement. Jacobs said she believed the ratios were good, as there were currently more residents receiving Medicaid than were paying privately.

Jacobs said all the equipment for the kitchen remodeling project had been ordered. She said maintenance contractor Matt Moody was checking on flooring options. She said the goal is to complete as much of the remodeling project in-house and at one time so the project could be scheduled at a time most convenient for the kitchen staff.

“When the equipment all comes in, we will try to get it all done at once,” Jacobs said.

The board voted to keep its officers for the coming year the same as the current year, with Jones serving as board chair, Papstein as vice chair, Bauer as treasurer and Brown County Clerk Travee Hobbs as the board’s recording secretary.

In a final action item Monday, the board approved placing $5,000 into a reserve account and place $1,000 monthly into the account going forward as finances allowed.

Jones said, with the facility opting to keep a larger insurance deductible to keep premium costs lower, having the reserve account would help the care center handle any unforeseen expenses or repairs.

Crane reported the care center’s new web site was up and running. She encouraged the board to visit the new site.

Crane also reported the care center’s recent back to school bash was amazing, with fantastic participation from the community. She said the residents were thrilled to have the students there before going back to school.

The next meeting of the Sandhills Care Center Board of Directors is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sept. 9.

* School Board approves $150,000 to depreciation fund

(Posted 7 a.m. Aug. 13)

The Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education voted on Monday to place $150,000 from its general fund to its depreciation fund ahead of the completion of the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Superintendent Dale Hafer said the district’s budget was in good shape, with the school on pace to spend about 74 percent of its general fund budget.

“That is not out of the ordinary,” Hafer said. “We typically run between 72 percent and 75 percent.”

By moving $150,000 from its general fund to its depreciation fund, the board can replenish a fund used for unforeseen repairs to school property. Hafer said the board used its depreciation fund during the current year to replace the boiler system in the school that was failing, and also used the fund to coat the track at East City Park and replace a damaged bus barn door.

While $150,000 won’t completely cover the money taken from the depreciation fund during the year, the superintendent said moving that amount from the general fund prior to the completion of the fiscal year would get the district to about $200,000 plus a CD in the depreciation fund.

Hafer said he didn’t anticipate the board would have as many large ticket items to pay for from the depreciation fund during the upcoming fiscal year, so making the $150,000 transfer would be sufficient.

“This doesn’t quite cover what we spent last year,” Hafer said. “We spent about $200,000 from the depreciation fund. This replenishes the fund and keeps us on track.”

Hafer said most school districts look at their budget during August and will move funds from the general fund to the depreciation fund.

“It is a great way to plan,” Hafer said. “Our routine has been to move $150,000 per year.”

The board, with Scott Erthum absent Monday, approved transferring $150,000 from the district’s general fund to its depreciation fund.

Hafer said the 2024-25 budget was starting to line up.

“We are going to be in the ballpark of our tax request from last year,” the superintendent said. “We should be able to hold it for another year, but costs are going up.”

Hafer said he would have several different budget options for the board to consider and would present those during the board’s budget retreat at 7 p.m. Aug. 20.

While no action will be taken on the budget until the 2024-25 budget hearing and property tax request at 8 p.m. Sept. 9, the budget retreat allows the board to work through different options.

In other business Monday, the board approved the Emergency Operations Plan for the school district.

Guidance Counselor Lisa Schlueter presented information on how the plan is developed and modified. She said the EOP defines responsibilities during emergencies. She said the plan was initially implemented in June 2021 and the district conducts lockdown drills each fall and spring. She said the district also worked with community partners on drills to put the plan into operation during mock events such as a tornado or a bus accident.

Schlueter said Brown and Rock Counties Emergency Management has put together a reunification team that would assist in reuniting students with their families following an emergency.

Elementary Principal Ben Wright said not every school district has the same type of support from the community.

Hafer said the work performed by Schlueter and Wright on developing and implementing the Emergency Operations Plan has put the district on the radar.

“It is great to have the engagement of community partners,” Hafer said.

Wright said the state is becoming active getting districts to implement emergency plans by starting a badge system for schools that check off all the boxes. He said the district would work to complete everything on the state’s checklist.

In other action items, the board approved an option enrollment request from Melissa Stewart to allow her kindergarten son to attend Rock County Public Schools. Hafer said the Long Pine family already had one child attending Rock County.

The board also approved updates to its Title IX policy and board policies relating to personnel.

During his report, Hafer said the new security system equipment has been installed, which includes new security cameras as well as door controls and access. He said there were still a few things to iron out, but the district now has controlled access to six different entrance points to the building. He said the district would receive reimbursement for a large portion of that project in the amount of $68,235 from a grant.

Hafer said the district was welcoming new staff members for the 2024-25 school year, including custodians Austin Jones and Johnny Mendez Ramos, activities director administrative assistant Amy Dike, paraprofessional Katrina Beel, and paraprofessional and interpreter Karen Rosendo.

High School Principal Steve Dike said nine new students had registered for middle and high school since his last report. There are now 56 junior high and 112 high school students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year.

Wright reported he was anticipating 30 kindergarten students for the first day of school, with 28 of those students attending kindergarten roundup.

Activities Director Luke Wroblewski reported the district was still in need of a head boys basketball coach and an assistant, as well as a sponsor/coach for the Destination Imagination program.

Wroblewski said preliminary numbers indicate there are 29 boys participating in football, 12 girls in volleyball, 10 girls golfers and 10 total runners for cross country.

The next meeting of the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sept. 9 and will include the 2024-25 budget hearing and property tax request.

* Beebout to receive UNK Alumni Award

(Posted 10:15 a.m. Aug. 12)

The University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association will honor alumni award recipients during the University of Nebraska at Kearney homecoming festivities that will take place Oct. 11-12.

Ainsworth High School and UNK graduate Brandon Beebout is being recognized with the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award.

Beebout, DVM, of Kearney, started his veterinary career at Denver, Colorado, as an associate veterinarian. In 2017, he returned to Kearney to work for Hilltop Pet Clinic, a long-standing pet clinic practice that was founded in 1977.

Following the retirement of the owner and veterinarian, Beebout purchased the clinic in 2020, and moved the business to a new location in 2023, opening Beebout Veterinary Medical Center, expanding the services diagnostically as well as surgically, specifically in orthopedic surgery.

Beebout is an Ainsworth High School graduate and Ainsworth native. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife biology with a health science option from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2010. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, completed his clinical year through the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, and an internship in San Diego, California.

He is an active member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce and volunteers his time with various organizations and educational opportunities in the Kearney area.

* Highway 20 bridge near Long Pine to reopen

(Posted noon Aug. 9)

The Long Pine Creek Bridge on Highway 20 at mile marker 250 is scheduled to open this afternoon, Friday, Aug. 9. Motorists should not attempt to cross the bridge until the road closed signs and barricades have been removed.

Iowa Civil Contracting and the Nebraska Department of Transportation announced the bridge will reopen to traffic 20 days ahead of schedule. The bridge was closed on May 28 for extensive repairs.

Initially, the bridge will be open to normal two-lane traffic with occasional single lane closures, using flaggers. A bridge deck overlay will be applied in September, requiring single lane closures, using traffic signals. The project is expected to be fully complete by late September.

For more information, contact the NDOT District 8 Office in Ainsworth at (402) 387-2471.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

* Area students to graduate Friday from UNK

(Posted noon Aug. 5)

Graduate and undergraduate degrees will be conferred for 200 summer graduates during University of Nebraska at Kearney commencement exercises at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, in the UNK Health and Sports Center.

Area students scheduled to graduate from UNK Friday are:

Bassett
Carter Camp, graduating with a Master of Arts in Education degree in physical education

Stuart
Hailey Doolittle, graduating with a Master of Arts in Education degree in curriculum and instruction

Dunning
Elaine Zutavern, graduating with a Master of Science in Education degree in clinical mental health counseling

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 6:45 a.m. Aug. 5)

July 28

Responded to a report of a hit and run accident on Walnut Street.

Issued a warning for speeding on Highway 7.

Issued a citation for no valid registration in Ainsworth.

Issued a violation card for no trailer lights and a head light out on Highway 20.

July 29

A Nebraska male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail for an active Brown County warrant.

Ainsworth and Johnstown Fire Departments were paged for mutual aid response from Cherry County, South of Smith Falls.  All trucks were canceled shortly after leaving the barn as the fire was extinguished.  Ainsworth Fire Department was paged later to a separate fire near Highland Grove Cemetery and 888^th Rd but returned to the barn as that fire was also fortunately extinguished before crews could arrive.

July 30

Received a report of a pivot watering the roadway near 885^th Rd and 430^th Ave.  The owner was called and corrected the issue.

Released an inmate after bond was posted.

Received a report of a pivot watering the roadway near Richardson Rd and Highway 7.  The owner was called and corrected the issue.

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a page in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.

Received a report of suspected adult abuse/neglect.  This was found to not be criminal at this time.

July 31

Responded to a request for a welfare check on a male subject in Ainsworth.  Contact was made with the subject the following day, and he was reported safe at this time.

Received reports of pivots watering Meadville Ave near 885^th and 886^th Rd.  Contact was made with each owner who corrected the issue.

Issued a warning for speeding on Meadville Ave.

Served two protection orders and two court summonses.

August 1

Received a report of dump trucks on Wilson Street traveling in excess speeds.

Assisted NDOT with traffic control in a construction zone.

August 2

Received a report of a cow on Highway 7, South of Raven Fire Hall.  Contact was made with the owner.

Released an inmate to Minnehaha County after being held for an extraditable warrant.

Provided traffic control for a funeral procession.

Issued a warning for speeding, no valid registration, and no proof of insurance on Highway 20.

Issued a warning for speeding on Highway 7.

Issued a citation for no proof of insurance on a 4^th St traffic stop.

August 3

Completed a training exercise at the gun range.

Responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident in the Dollar General parking lot.  Minimal damage occurred to both vehicles.

Stopped an oversize load from crossing the weight restricted bridge.

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, near mile marker 247, a Nebraska driver was issued a citation for violation of a provisional operator’s permit, careless driving, and use of a cellphone during driving.

Weekly Log

Calls:  137

911 Calls:  8

Calls for Service:  6

Gun Permits:  1

Vin Inspections:  4

* Highway 12 bridge replacement begins Sept. 3

(Posted 1:15 p.m. Aug. 1)

Weather permitting, work will begin Sept. 3 on the Highway 12 Minnechaduza Creek Bridge replacement project, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

General Excavating of Lincoln in the prime contractor for the project. Work includes removal and replacement of the bridge over the Minnechaduza Creek on Highway 12 at reference point 3.98, located 2.9 miles east of the Valentine city limits or 0.15 miles west of the S-16A junction (Fort Niobrara Wildlife Refuge access road). Anticipated completion is May 2025.

Highway 12 will be closed to traffic at the Minnechaduza Creek Bridge for a majority of the construction. During the closure traffic will be detoured utilizing Highway 83 north of Valentine then utilize unpaved county roads Whitetail Road, Nolette Road, and 906th Road before returning to Highway 12 near mile marker 7.

Additional information regarding this project will be provided as the construction start date approaches. For more information contact Darrell Lurz at the Nebraska Department of Transportation Valentine office, (402) 340-6496.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

* Council approves SDL application at special meeting

(Posted 2 p.m. July 31)

During a brief special meeting Wednesday, the Ainsworth City Council unanimously approved a special designated liquor license application requested by the Ainsworth Elks.

The Elks made the request as part of the Ainsworth Booster Club’s Bulldog Pride fund-raiser scheduled for Aug. 16 in the Ainsworth Conference Center.

“This is something we do every year,” Mayor Joel Klammer said. “They just didn’t get their request on the July agenda.”

The application approved Wednesday runs from 3 p.m. Aug. 16 to 1 a.m. Aug. 17.

In the only other item on Wednesday’s agenda, the council approved the mayor’s recommended appointment of Councilman Kent Taylor to serve as the council representative on the Sandhills Care Center Board of Directors. Taylor has previously served as a member of the Care Center Board as well as the facility’s interim administrator for a short time.

“I would like to appoint Kent until at least the end of the year,” Klammer said. “Your experience on there will be helpful.”

Taylor, who abstained from the vote, said he was willing to serve on the Care Center Board for the remainder of the year. Taylor encouraged those potentially interested in serving on the City Council to file as a write-in candidate.

Taylor replaces former Councilman Shawn Fernau on the Sandhills Care Center Board.

The next regular meeting of the Ainsworth City Council is scheduled for 5 p.m. Aug. 14.

(Photo courtesy of John Pierce)

A view of Tuesday’s storm cell as it neared Ainsworth from the west. Tornado warnings were active for the area from approximately 8:45 until 10:30 p.m., with law enforcement reporting the touch-down of a tornado at 8:58 p.m. 1 mile east of Johnstown.

(Photo courtesy of Scott Hallock)

A view of Tuesday’s storm cell from the north.

(Photo by Teena Quinn)

A view of Tuesday’s circular shaped formation on the southwest edge. 

(Photo courtesy of DJ Hladky)

A view of the edge of Tuesday’s storm cell.

(Photo courtesy of Shawn Fernau)

Sporadic large hailstones fell in Ainsworth Tuesday night.

(Photo courtesy of Sheri Gann)

For the second time in two weeks, large hail fell at the Ainsworth Golf Course.

* Lightning sparks 2 small fires Monday

(Posted 2:45 p.m. July 30)

The Ainsworth Volunteer Fire Department was paged to two separate fire calls Monday but were turned around before reaching either fire site.

Lightning sparked a fire around 8:30 p.m. south of the Smith Falls State Park. Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala said the Valentine Volunteer Fire Department requested mutual aid from the Ainsworth, Johnstown and Wood Lake departments, but upon reaching the site, Valentine firefighters were able to control the fire and the mutual aid request was cancelled.

Fiala said firefighters were still at the fire hall following the first call when a fire was reported north of Ainsworth near the Highland Grove Cemetery on property owned by Chet Wilkins.

Fiala said lightning started the fire south of the cemetery east of Meadville Avenue. As firefighters responded, the fire chief said a neighboring property owner was able to extinguish the small grass fire.

* Next phase of Main Street project begins Thursday

(Posted 6:45 a.m. July 30)

Nebraska Department of Transportation project manager Carl Hart provided an update Monday on the Main Street renovation project.

Hart reported the sanitary sewer and water service updates to First Street have been completed. The contractor is installing the storm sewer from Third Street south. The contractor anticipates completion of the storm sewer to First Street by the end of this week.

The prime contractor has completed paving to Third Street and partial paving on Second Street. Paving work will continue between Second Street and Third Street next week.

The prime and the sidewalk contractor continue to install the sidewalk and the imprinted concrete between Highway 20 and Third Street. Sidewalk closures or interruptions may occur during this time.

The Phase 3 closure is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 1. This will consist of opening Third Street to cross traffic without parking and the closure of First Street to Front Street.

During the construction adjacent to the Cowboy Trail a detour utilizing sidewalks to Front St will be in place. Signs will mark the route.

Anyone with questions regarding the construction project may contact the Nebraska Department of Transportation District Office at Ainsworth.

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 6:45 a.m. July 30)

July 21

Served 5 court paper service summons.

Booked a female subject into the Brown County Jail for Boyd County holding for warrant extradition.

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, near mile marker 244, a Nebraska female was issued a citation for driving under license suspension.

July 22

Ainsworth Fire Department, Brown County Ambulance, and the Brown County Sheriff’s office all responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident on Highway 7, near the Richardson Rd intersection.  One vehicle suffered significant damage and was towed from the scene.  No patients were transported to the hospital.  The driver of one vehicle was issued a citation for failure to yield to the right of way and no proof of insurance.

Received a report of a pivot watering the Highway near 430^th Ave and 880^th Rd.  The owner was called and corrected the issue.

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call from a residence along Highway 20 and transported one patient to the hospital.

During the Ambulance call from the previous entry, a Nebraska driver was issued a citation for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and no proof of insurance.

During a traffic stop near Dawes and 7^th Street with a Wyoming driver, a citation issued for no valid registration.

July 23

Responded to a report of a struck power pole in the alley between Main Street and Woodward Street.  The pole had minimal damage and was assessed by NPPD.

Booked a male subject into the Brown County Jail for a Boyd County holding for a warrant extradition.

Received a report of a domestic altercation from O’Neill PD that occurred in Brown County.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on the 200 Block of North Main St in Ainsworth.  One male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail and issued a citation for protection order violation.

The Brown County Ambulance provided standby services at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

July 24

The Brown County Ambulance responded to two 911 calls in Ainsworth on this day and transported one patient to the hospital each call.

During a traffic stop near 3^rd and Main Street in Long Pine, a citation was issued for speeding to a Nebraska driver for 11-15mph over the posted speed limit.

Received a report of a semi/trailer running over the stop sign at Pine St and Highway 20.

Responded to a request for a welfare check in Ainsworth.  The individual was located and reported safe at this time.

July 25

Responded to a report of suspected animal abuse/neglect.  The dogs were found to have food and water.

July 26

Provided traffic control for cattle crossing on Highway 7, near mile marker 25.

Follow-up response to the previous animal abuse/neglect report.  Dogs were again found to be with food and water.

Received a smoke alarm on 424^th Ave but was found to be a false alarm.

Responded to a report of an injured female on Moon Lake Ave.  The Brown County Ambulance was also paged and responded, transporting one patient to the hospital.  They later transferred the patient to Faith Regional in Norfolk.

Served two court paper services.

During a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 20 and 430^th Ave, a Nebraska driver was issued a citation for no valid registration, no proof of insurance, and failure to stop at stop sign.

Issued two warnings to Nebraska drivers for no park sticker near Long Pine.

July 27

Provided traffic control for a funeral procession.

During a traffic stop near Highway 20 and 426^th Ave intersection a warning was issued for defective vehicle lighting.

During a traffic stop near 4^th St and Pine, a violation card was issued for defective vehicle lighting to a Nebraska driver.

Weekly Log

Calls:  138

911 Calls:  12

Calls for Service:  10

Vin Inspections:  3

* Brewer discusses special session of Unicameral

(Posted 1:45 p.m. July 26)

Nebraska 43rd District State Sen. Tom Brewer discussed the special session of the Unicameral called by Gov. Jim Pillen to address property taxes.

Brewer discussed the chances of the governor’s proposed bill being passed by the Legislature as well as other proposals that have been introduced.

Brewer’s conversation with KBRB’s Graig Kinzie can be heard below in two parts.

* Recent cases from Brown County Court

(Posted 2:30 p.m. July 25)

In addition to fines, each case carries $50 in court costs

Carolyn A. Rayman, age 24, of Springview, charged with no license on person, fined $50; also charged with no valid registration, $25; violating a stop or yield sign, $75.

Andrea M. Young, 56, of Rapid City, S.D., speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Stetson L. Allen, 35, of Ainsworth, driving under suspension, $100; no valid registration, $25.

Timothy M. Wood, 59, of St. Paul, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Sklyer B. Gallegos, 21, of Springview, two counts of attempting a Class 4 felony, sentenced to one year of probation on each count.

David A. Sweley, 47, of Blue Hill, first offense driving under the influence, $500, also sentenced to six months of probation, driver’s license revoked for 60 days and ordered to install an ignition interlock device.

Shawn W. Nelson, 44, of Long Pine, first offense driving under the influence, $500, sentenced to seven days in jail with credit for two days served, driver’s license revoked for six months and ordered to install an ignition interlock device.

Christopher E. Davis, 53, of Atkinson, violating load contents requirement, $100.

Teresa K. Luse, 68, of Lincoln, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Joel D. Woodhead, 34, of Omaha, speeding 16-20 mph over the limit, $125.

Steven M. Macklen, 74, of O’Neill, exceeding posted load capacity, $100.

Khai D. Nguyen, 46, of Garden Grove, Calif., speeding 21-35 mph over the limit, $200.

Jackson G. Irwin, 18, of Phillipsburg, Kan., speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Gaylen S. Lewis, 49, of Ainsworth, no valid registration, $25.

Savannah B. Dinslage, 34, of Omaha, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Gregory A. Benson, 68, of Moses Lake, Wash., speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

John C. Gross, 67, of Johnstown, speeding 16-20 mph over the limit, $125.

Daniel E. Bennett, 66, of Ainsworth, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Lydia G. Allen, 27, of Ainsworth, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Susan M. Burtwhistle, 67, of Ewing, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.

Caden D. Swanson, 21, of Ainsworth, failure to display proper number of plates, $25.

Nathaniel G. Stevens, 20, of Wheaton, Ill., speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Calvin V. Christensen, 20, of Ainsworth, speeding 16-20 mph over the limit, $125.

Jason J. Batch, 47, of Littleton, Colo., speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Scott C. Uehling, 50, of North Platte, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Kevin J. Enevoldsen, 51, of Montevideo, Minn., speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Michael A. Cuny, 34, of Wounded Knee, S.D., possession of marijuana less than 1 ounce, $300; possession of drug paraphernalia, $100; possession of an open alcohol container in a vehicle, $50.

* Pillen calls Legislature into special session

(Posted 6:45 a.m. July 25)

Gov. Jim Pillen issued a proclamation Wednesday calling the Legislature into a special session to consider legislation relating to his plan for property tax reform. Potential actions outlined in the call include, but are not limited to:
• changing appropriations approved by the Legislature last session;
• modifying state taxes on cigarettes, vaping products, alcohol, keno and game of skill devices;
• establishing sales or use taxes on services and items not currently taxed;
• modifying state education aid;
• eliminating state sales tax exemptions;
• eliminating the personal property tax liability on agricultural and machinery equipment; and
• establishing revenue caps that limit the authority of city and county governments to collect property tax revenue.

Senators will convene at 10 a.m. Thursday for three days of bill introduction.

Public hearings on introduced legislation are expected to begin July 29 at 9:30 a.m. Only measures that are referenced to a standing committee will receive a public hearing.

* Nebraska awarded $307 million EPA grant

(Posted 6:45 a.m. July 24)

Gov. Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy announced the receipt of a sizeable federal grant that will help accelerate the state’s realization of value-added agriculture and the bioeconomy initiative. The grant, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency totals $307 million – the largest federal grant ever awarded to NDEE.

“Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers are among the most innovative and sustainable in the world,” Pillen said. “These federal funds will help more farmers make more money by supporting the continued implementation of best management practices, establishing mechanisms to reward those practices, and expand investment in others that will protect our environment.”

The Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grant will be administered by Nebraska’s ONE RED Program (Opportunity for Nebraska: Reducing Emissions and Decarbonization). In 2023, Pillen endorsed the grant planning process, which enabled NDEE to develop a Priority Climate Action Plan for Nebraska.

Nebraska’s plan proposed high-impact, readily deployable, voluntary measures and incentives to reduce emissions and promote energy efficiency across the state. Selected measures from the Priority Climate Action Plan formed the basis for Nebraska’s successful application for the Implementation grant the state received.

NDEE will use the new grant funds to implement voluntary programs to bolster all sectors of Nebraska’s economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Projects may include efficiency measures to reduce energy costs, incentives for sustainable agriculture practices, and advanced livestock waste management, among others.

“This award provides exciting opportunities for our state,” said Thad Fineran, interim director for NDEE “By implementing the measures outlined in Nebraska’s priority action plan, we can reduce emissions, create high quality jobs, support rural and urban communities, and bolster our economy sustainably.”

The success of Nebraska’s application was made possible by the extensive public input from a broad range of partners and stakeholders across the state, including state and local government departments, public power districts, agricultural stakeholders, subject matter experts, and Nebraska’s citizens.

“The widespread input we received across Nebraska was instrumental to the success in this highly competitive grant application process,” Pillen said. “We are grateful for the investment in our state’s agricultural and energy projects that will make an incredible impact now and for future generations.”

Over the next few weeks, NDEE will negotiate a final grant agreement and workplan with the EPA. The department will then begin work to implement the funded incentive programs. Work will also continue under the original planning grant to develop a Comprehensive Action Plan to address emission reductions through 2050. That plan is due in August 2025.

* Nebraska sits fifth in best jobless rate in June

(Posted 1:30 p.m. June 23)

The Nebraska Department of Labor announced the state’s unemployment rate for June was 2.6 percent. The rate was up 0.1 percent from the May rate and was up 0.4 percentage points from the June 2023 rate of 2.2 percent. 

Nebraska’s rate is ranked fifth lowest in the nation. South Dakota enjoyed the lowest unemployment rate in the U.S. in June at 2.0 percent, which was slightly better than the 2.1 percent rates in both North Dakota and Vermont. New Hampshire sits just ahead of Nebraska in fourth at 2.5 percent.

Nevada and California shared the highest unemployment rate in the country in June at 5.2 percent. Illinois at 5.0 percent, Washington at 4.9 percent, and Kentucky and New Jersey at 4.6 percent round out the states with the highest jobless rate.

Brown County’s unemployment rate in June was above the state average, coming in at 3.3 percent. In the area, Brown County’s rate was only lower than Blaine County, which matched Box Butte County for the highest unemployment rate in the state in June at 4.3 percent.

Cherry County had the lowest unemployment rate in the area in June at 2.2 percent, sitting slightly better than the 2.3 percent rates in both Rock County and Holt County. Keya Paha County’s unemployment rate was also better than the state average at 2.4 percent. Boyd County’s June rate was slightly higher than the statewide average at 2.8 percent.

Wheeler County at 1.8 percent edged Grant County’s 1.9 percent for the best jobless rate in the state in June.

“June was another record-breaking month for nonfarm employment, which surpassed 1,080,000,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin. “Omaha added the most jobs compared to a year ago, and the private education and health services industry saw the largest over-the-year growth at over 6,600 jobs.”

Nonfarm employment, a count of filled jobs, reached 1,080,626 in June, up 3,832 jobs from May and 18,002 more than June 2023. Private industries with the most growth from May to June were the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (up 2,214 jobs); professional and business services sector (up 2,119 jobs); and the leisure and hospitality services sector (up 1,796 jobs).

Private industries with the most growth during the past year were the private education and health services sector (up 6,612 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities sector (up 4,019 jobs); and the manufacturing sector (up 3,868 jobs).

The national unemployment rate for June is 4.1 percent, up 0.1 percentage points from the May rate of 4.0 percent and up 0.5 percentage points from the June 2023 rate of 3.6 percent.

The counts of employed and unemployed in the labor force are based on a survey conducted by the Census Bureau regarding employment status.

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 9:45 a.m. July 22)

July 14

Responded to a motorist assist on Highway 183 after the vehicle struck an animal.

Served a protection order.

July 15

Received a report of a pivot watering the roadway near 885^th Rd and 429^th Rd.  The pivot owner was called and corrected the issue.

Served a civil summons.

Calamus, Raven, and Johnstown Fire Departments were paged to South Moonlake Ave for a bale on fire.

The Brown County Ambulance were paged to transfer a flight crew to the hospital.

July 16

Received a report of a pivot watering Highway 183.  The pivot owner was called and corrected the issue.

The Brown County Ambulance was paged to a 911 call in Ainsworth.  One patient was transported to the hospital.

The Ainsworth Fire Department, Brown County Ambulance, and Brown County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a vehicle in the ditch with one occupant on 429^th Ave.  One patient was transported to the hospital.

The Ainsworth Fire Department responded to a report of a generator fire at the wind tower facility South of Ainsworth.

Responded to a request for traffic control near Kyner Rd at Long Pine for a truck to turn around on correct detour route.

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in rural Brown County.  Transport was denied by patient.

July 17

Served a protection order.

Attended a training in Valentine for Narcan usage.

July 18

Received a report of an oversize semi/trailer going across the restricted weight Long Pine bridge.  The vehicle was not found.

Responded to a request for a welfare check at a hotel in Ainsworth.  A male subject was located and pronounced deceased at the scene. 

Issued a citation for impeding traffic to a semi/trailer driver on 3^rd & Pine St in Ainsworth.

Responded to a hit and run accident on Richardson Drive in Ainsworth.  The vehicle was able to drive away from the scene.

Issued a warning for speeding.

July 19

Responded to a report of a reckless driver in East City Park.  The vehicle was not found.

During a traffic stop in the detour route near Long Pine, a citation was issued for 71 mph in a 45mph zone.

July 20

During a traffic stop on Highway 20, near mile marker 238, a citation was issued for speeding 77mph in a 65mph and expired registration to a Nebraska driver.

Received a medical alert alarm on Maple Street in Ainsworth.  The Brown County Ambulance was paged but it was found to be a false alarm, so no transport was needed.

Responded to a request for a civil standby for property exchange in Ainsworth.

Weekly Log

Calls:  122

911 Calls:  11

Calls for Service:  10

Vin Inspections:  5

Gun Permits:  1

* Commissioners add pond upgrades to grant application

(Posted 9:30 a.m. July 17)

The Brown County Commissioners on Tuesday approved including upgrades to the community fishing pond to a pending grant application.

North Central Development Center Executive Director Kristin Olson said the Rural Community Recovery Program has a minimum application amount of $250,000. The commissioners had previously approved applying for demolition assistance for a building the county acquired in downtown Long Pine.

Olson told the board Tuesday that project only amounted to $65,000. She asked the commissioners what else they would like to consider for the application.

“I need some input on what you want to do,” Olson said.

Commissioner Dennis Bauer said adding a picnic shelter and concrete path at the community fishing pond would be a good public use of the potential grant funds.

“We could build a nice shelter and have a paved parking lot,” Bauer said. “You can also put playground equipment on the lot in Long Pine. You can use the daycare’s numbers and put in the same equipment.”

Olson said the application was due Monday and the county would learn if it was awarded funding in October. She said the grant funds needed to be spent, and Brown County was one of 41 counties deemed eligible to apply. She said she was also working on applications to the Rural Community Recovery Program on behalf of Ainsworth Community Schools and the city of Ainsworth.

The board, with Commissioner Buddy Small absent Tuesday, approved adding playground equipment to the demolition project at Long Pine and the improvements to the community fishing pond to the grant application.

In other business Tuesday, the commissioners approved having Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin sign and submit the annual federal funds purchase program certification. Turpin said the county receives the federal funding annually by completing the certification. He said, in March, the county received $76,697 in federal funds for roads and $72,644 for bridges.

The board approved declaring a 2008 John Deere motor grader as surplus equipment and selling the machine on Big Iron. Turpin said the John Deere was replaced by a new Caterpillar motor grader, which arrived two weeks ago. Turpin said he hoped the motor grader would bring between $50,000 and $60,000 at auction.

The commissioners set a public hearing for 1:15 p.m. Aug. 20 regarding the potential vacation of a portion of Cedar Road south of Long Pine. The hearing was moved back from Aug. 6.

During his report, Turpin said the roads department had been patching holes on Norden Avenue.

“We broke it up a little hauling gravel,” Turpin said. “There were a lot of cattle pots on it too.”

The highway superintendent said some of the sandier roads in the county sometimes get shorted on gravel because hauling the gravel can tear up the roads.

He said the roads department was mixing its first batch of cold-mix asphalt to use for patching paved roads in the county.

Turpin told the board the roads department would shut down the detour road near Long Pine on Wednesday to fix shoulder washing issues and trim trees to improve visibility.

“People drove off the road onto the shoulder and created holes that started washing,” Turpin said. “I don’t want it undermining the oil road.”

Turpin said he debated keeping the road open with flaggers but ultimately opted instead to close the road for a couple hours Wednesday due to the tight space. He said closing the route would give the department more room to work and would remove the chance of an accident.

Bauer said cutting has occurred to the bank on the north side of the Niobrara River near the Meadville Avenue bridge. He asked if it would be Keya Paha County’s responsibility to address the cutting issues on that side of the river.

Turpin said it would be the Keya Paha County roads department’s responsibility, but he said that department did not have as much equipment as the Brown County roads department.

“I can take a look at it and I can assist them if they need it,” Turpin said. “

In other action items, the commissioners approved a resolution amending a 2003 county resolution regarding deputy county officials’ salaries.

The previous resolution capped deputy county officials’ salaries to between 65 percent and 85 percent of the county official’s salary. The resolution approved Tuesday gives the elected official the discretion of setting the deputy’s salary after the deputy has been employed for 10 years. It removed the 85 percent cap on deputies’ salaries after the employee had completed 10 years with the county.

The board approved having Chairman Bauer sign a service and support agreement for the new courtroom equipment that was installed by the state. Clerk Travee Hobbs said the state will maintain the new equipment for five years. The county will be responsible for maintaining the equipment after that.

Sheriff Brent Deibler discussed the E911 radio equipment upgrade that would be undertaken soon. The board approved moving forward with the Lumen Vista hardware and software updates that will be done in conjunction with six other area counties. Deibler said the state will pay for a portion of that project.

That project and the replacement of the county’s radio dispatch system will cost approximately $358,000. Deibler said the county can use $50,000 from its E911 fund for the Lumen Vista updates and could apply $150,000 in E911 funds toward the new dispatch system.

Deibler said he planned to request $25,000 each from the roads department, the Brown County Ambulance Association, the Brown County Hospital and the Brown County Rural Fire Protection District as all four of those entities use the system.

Deibler said he included $200,000 in his budget for the system, but that line item could come down if the county receives the other support he is requesting.

Commissioner Jeremiah Dailey said the county could take the $100,000 from its inheritance tax fund initially and ask the other entities to then include reimbursement to the inheritance tax fund as they prepare their future budgets.

In final action items, the board on Tuesday approved transfers of $5,000 from the miscellaneous general fund to the reappraisal fund, $8,735 from the ambulance fund to the other debt service ambulance building fund to make the interest payment on the new ambulance barn bond, and $72 from the Wireless 911 fund to the E911 fund.

The next meeting of the Brown County Commissioners is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Aug. 6.

The Ainsworth Golf Course was the recipient of a sustained hailstorm late Tuesday afternoon. 

Some hail at the Ainsworth Golf Course Tuesday was as large as the golf balls typically found in play.

* Care Center Board approves 2024-25 budget

(Posted 11 a.m. July 16)

The Sandhills Care Center Board of Directors on Monday approved a 2024-25 budget that projects the facility will turn a more than $400,000 profit without factoring in voter-approved tax dollars.

The budget projects total revenue for the fiscal year of $3.29 million and total expenses of $2.88 million for a net operating margin of $407,978.

While the budget is simply an estimate, it is a much stronger forecast for how the facility expects to operate than previous years. The budget does not take into account the approximately $200,000 the facility will receive from a 10-cent voter-approved property tax levy in the city of Ainsworth and a 1-cent levy in Brown County.

It estimates a resident population ranging from 28 to 30, with the facility currently being home to 29 residents. The 2024-25 budget projects monthly losses just twice, both due to three pay periods falling within those months instead of the typical two.

Board member Bruce Papstein asked Care Center Administrator Penny Jacobs if she felt the projections were achievable. Jacobs said the numbers were achievable, considering the care center already has 29 residents and the budget projected 28 for July. She said the facility was not projecting a steep increase in resident population.

“This is better than we have been projecting since I have been here,” Jacobs said.

Business Manager Makenzie Crane said she believed the facility has come a long way, and the budget projections show that progress.

Papstein said, if the facility was able to generate that kind of profit, that would be excellent.

Board member Dennis Bauer said, “Even if we ended up with 25 percent of this projection, it would be awesome.”

The board approved the 2024-25 budget as presented. Board Chairman Tom Jones said he would present the budget to both the Brown County Commissioners and the Ainsworth City Council in August.

The Sandhills Care Center closed out the 2023-24 fiscal year in June by generating $408,278 in revenue with expenses of $274,351 for a net operating margin of $133,926. However, a one-time Medicaid reimbursement of $151,710 was included as part of the facility’s revenue. Without that annual payment, the facility would have been approximately $18,000 in the red for the month.

Crane reported the facility spent $16,328 in agency staffing. She said the agency contract will end Aug. 3, and the facility will no longer have agency staffing after that point. She said expenses in July also included an $11,549 payment to a dietary consultant who was brought in following the Department of Health and Human Services survey of the facility to recommend updates to the kitchen.

Board member Dr. Mel Campbell asked if the consultant provided recommendations that would make a difference in the building. Crane said she believed they would.

The board approved moving forward with the kitchen remodeling project, which included replacing the current cupboards with shelving, worktables, painting and a new sink.

Jacobs estimated the cost of the upgrade at $4,131 in equipment. She said she hoped the care center’s maintenance employee could handle most of the removal and replacement. She said the project was based off the recommendations of the consultant and the state survey.

Jacobs said the facility’s dietary manager was excited for the project.

“An update to the kitchen will make everyone happy,” Jacobs said. “No one is using cupboards anymore. The shelves will open it up more.”

The board approved the project and also recommended Jacobs replace the flooring in the kitchen as part of the project.

Jacobs reported there are 29 residents who currently call the Sandhills Care Center home. She said the facility had two admissions during the past month, and two residents had passed away. She said she anticipated a new resident would be admitted Wednesday, getting the facility back to the 30-resident mark.

Of the current residents, 12 pay privately, 16 receive Medicaid assistance and one is receiving hospice care. There are 16 residents from Ainsworth, seven from Cherry County, three from rural Brown County, and one each from Long Pine, Rock County and Keya Paha County.

Jacobs said the care center hired a full-time LPN for the night shift and had hired a new CNA. The facility could still use charge nurses and CNAs, and would also like to hire a weekend housekeeper.

With the annual Medicaid reimbursement payment the facility received in June, the facility was able to fully pay off the funds borrowed from its line of credit. The board in June approved paying off the line of credit if the Medicaid funding was received.

Crane reported the facility has now received $71,492 in property tax funds from the county and $53,393 from the city of Ainsworth. The care center will receive roughly another $28,507 from the county and $46,606 from the city.

Crane also reported the care center planned to have a back to school bash for youth from 4 until 8 p.m. Aug. 6 before school restarted. She said there would be food trucks, snow cones, carnival games, blowups and more.

In a final action item Monday, the board approved a new mission and values statement and a new slogan for the Sandhills Care Center as presented by the staff. Jacobs said all of the facility managers met for lunch and came up with the new mission and values statement, which will be incorporated throughout the building.

The facility’s slogan is “Guided by passion, driven by care.”

Its mission statement is “To serve our community with compassionate, person-centered care through life’s transitions.”

Its vision statement is “Aspire to be the community’s preferred care provider by creating a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for residents, while providing peace of mind for their loved ones.”

Its values statement is FAMILY – “Foundation and future; Assurance and acceptance; Means for morals, values and tradition; Inspiring, insight and patience with; Love, loyalty, laughter for; Young and old together.”

The next meeting of the Sandhills Care Center Board of Directors is scheduled for 5 p.m. Aug. 12.

* Brown County Commissioners Tuesday agenda

(Posted 3:15 p.m. July 15)

Brown County Commissioners
Meeting 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, July 16
Brown County Courthouse
Agenda

Roll Call.

Acknowledge posting of Open Meetings Law.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Approve minutes of the 7-2-2024 Commissioner meeting.

Kenneth Turpin – Road Department Update

Authorize Brown County Highway Superintendent to sign and

Submit Federal Funds Purchase Annual Program Certification – Turpin

Declare 2008 772D John Deere Motor Grader surplus to be sold on Big Iron, serial #DW772DX61637 – Turpin

County Board resolution to set a public hearing date for vacation of Cedar Road per State Statute 39-1724

Discussion with North Central Development Center RE: RCRP Grant – Kristin Olson

Resolution regarding County Officials Deputies pay – Attorney

Sign CTI Service Support Agreement & Inventory relating to Courtroom upgrade project – Clerk

E911 Radio Equipment – Deibler

Resolution to transfer $72.00 from #2913 Wireless 911 Fund to #2910 – E 911 Fund

Budgeted transfer of $5,000.00 from Miscellaneous General in General to Reappraisal Fund – Clerk

Resolution transferring $8,735.00 from Ambulance Fund to Other

Debt Service Ambulance Building Fund – Treasurer

Approve Claims

Correspondence

Public Comment

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 6:30 a.m. July 15)

July 7

Received a report of assault in Long Pine.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail on a personal recognize bond, and then transferred to a mental health facility.

Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail after bond was posted.

July 8

Provided traffic control for cattle crossing near the Highway 183/20 Junction.

Responded to a follow-up call involving a hit and run accident in Ainsworth.  A citation was issued for leaving the scene of the accident.

The Brown County Ambulance transported a flight crew from the airport to hospital.

July 9

Received a report of a pivot watering the roadway near 427^th and 877^th intersection.  The owner was called and corrected the issue.

July 10

Responded to a request for a civil standby in Ainsworth.

Responded to a report of an oversized truck in need of traffic control to turn around on the correct detour route.

Responded to a report of a reckless driver, West of Ainsworth on Highway 20.  Contact was made with the driver and the Brown County Ambulance was paged to the scene where the driver denied further medical treatment.

Served a protection order.

The Brown County Ambulance was paged to a lift assist in rural Brown County.

July 11

The Brown County Ambulance was paged to a rural address in Brown County and transported one patient to the hospital.

July 12

Responded to a report of a sexual assault that occurred in Ainsworth.  This is an ongoing investigation.

Received a report of a down stop sign at the 183/20 Highway junction.  The NDOT was notified and corrected the issue.

Served a civil summons.

July 13

The Brown County Ambulance was paged to an apartment complex in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.  They responded to a 2^nd page on this day at a senior living facility in Ainsworth resulting in the transport of one patient to the hospital.

Responded to a request for a civil standby in Long Pine.

Weekly Log

Calls:  131

911 Calls:  1

Calls for Service:  10

Vin Inspections:  4

Gun Permits:  1

* Ponderosa Road detour route will close Wednesday

(Posted 10 a.m. July 12)

Brown County Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin reported the local Highway 20 detour route through the Long Pine State Park will be closed for approximately two hours Wednesday morning.

Turpin reported Kyner Street in Long Pine from Eighth Street to the Pine Creek bridge, as well as Ponderosa Road from the Pine Creek bridge to Willow Ridge Avenue will be closed from approximately 10 a.m. until noon Wednesday.

The closure will allow the roads department to repair shoulders of the roadway that washed out during recent rain. The roads department will also trim trees in the area to allow for increased visibility on the detour route.

The traveling public will need to use the Nebraska Department of Transportation detour route using Highway 183 and Highway 7 while the local detour route is closed. Turpin will provide an update Wednesday when the work is complete and the local detour route through the park is reopened to traffic.

* Council approves pursuing grants for park project

(Posted 7 a.m. July 11)

The Ainsworth City Council on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the park board to pursue grant opportunities for a more than $200,000 basketball and pickleball court project at East City Park.

The upgrade would replace a dilapidated basketball and tennis court at the park east of the swimming pool.

City Administrator Lisa Schroedl said the park board is looking at several potential grant sources for the project.

“We just want to make sure the council approves of us going out for grant opportunities,” Schroedl said.

Councilman Brad Fiala said he felt the council should vote on allowing the group to tear out the old basketball and tennis courts.

“The light poles are still ok,” Fiala said. “You can just put different lights on them.”

Councilman Dustin Barthel said the power is still good going to the light poles. He recommended just replacing the lights at the top with new LED lights.

“I would wait to tear out the old stuff until you are ready to move forward,” Barthel said.

Park Board Chairman Cody Goochey said the park board had its stuff in a group and was ready to go. He estimated the total cost of the project at $210,000.

Councilman Doug Weiss, who was appointed by the council Wednesday following a recommendation from Mayor Joel Klammer to complete the term of Shawn Fernau, who resigned from the council in June, asked if the council planned to use general funds to complete the project if the full amount cannot be secured through grants.

Schroedl said the city had some money in its capital outlay budget that could potentially be available to assist with the project.

Fiala said the council had talked about including some money in the upcoming budget to assist with the project.

Schroedl said the council could discuss including some of the cost of the project in more detail during its upcoming budget workshops.

The council approved allowing the park board to pursue grants for the new basketball and pickleball court project.

In other business Wednesday, the council tabled action on a request from American Tower Company for additional property lease options at a city tower site on the north side of Ainsworth.

The company requested the ability to lease additional space around the tower itself and would provide an up-front payment to the city as well as a monthly payment for that consideration.

Barthel said he would like to have a chance to visit the tower site, take some measurements, and visit with Streets Superintendent Jade Egle about the proposal before making a decision.

Schroedl said Egle expressed some concern about the additional lease, as the streets department does store gravel in the area around the tower.

Fiala said the city also owns the ground north of the tower so the streets department could pile more material on that side of the tower if the council opted to lease the space south of the tower to the company.

Klammer said the council did not need to be in any hurry to make a decision, and the council tabled action on the item.

The council approved two pay applications to Myers Construction for the North Main Street water, sewer and paving project, one in the amount of $125,081 that Schroedl said covered work done in May and the other in the amount of $445,933 that covered work completed in June.

Klammer said the North Main Street project is essentially complete.

“It is nice to get the first step completed,” Klammer said.

Schroedl said the city would conduct a walk-through of the project Thursday with an engineer from Olsson Associates. She said the city holds back 10 percent of the contract amount until the project is deemed to be completed to the city’s specifications.

Audience member John Halbersleben asked if parking spaces were going to be striped in that area. Schroedl said painting was not included in the scope of the project with Myers Construction, but the city streets crew could handle the painting.

In addition to appointing Weiss to the council to serve until December, the council appointed Schroedl to continue serving as the city’s representative on the North Central Development Center Board of Directors and recommended Barthel be appointed to an at-large seat on the NCDC Board.

Weiss served on the City Council from 2004 through 2012, and Klammer said it was great to have someone with experience willing to fill the vacancy until the seat comes up for election in November. He encouraged anyone interested in serving on the council to file as a write-in candidate.

The council held a public hearing to review the six-month report submitted by the LB 840 Citizen Advisory Review Committee on the status of LB 840 projects. The committee did not recommend any changes to the program, and Schroedl said all seven applicants who received loans from the LB 840 fund are current on their repayments.

During her report, Schroedl said there was an issue with the bump-outs on the South Main Street project. The city initially included a tree and landscaping in the bump-out areas, but the trees were removed from the specifications by the Nebraska Department of Transportation due to potential visibility issues.

“There was a little misunderstanding on what the council approved compared to what was submitted to NDOT,” Schroedl said.

With trees not being an option, Schroedl said the city would rather just have paving on the bump-outs instead of mulched landscaping. Since concrete in those areas was not included in the bid specifications, Schroedl said the NDOT indicated the city would have to pay for the additional estimated $75,000 in concrete.

Schroedl said she planned to meet with District 8 Engineer Mark Kovar to see if something could be worked out.

Klammer said by discovering the discrepancy now at least everything would match instead of the city having to go back in after the project was completed and adding the concrete to those spots.

Schroedl said she would set up interviews for next week for the newly created code enforcement officer position. She said the city did set up its phone system to have call forwarding after normal business hours for code enforcement emergencies and any utility emergencies.

The city will have two cell phones its phone system will forward calls to for handling any issues. Residents can call the city’s standard office number at 402-387-2494 and those calls will be forwarded.

Schroedl said the city was shopping for a vehicle for the code enforcement officer.

The city administrator congratulated wastewater treatment plant operator Doug Petty for passing his wastewater II licensing examination.

“It is a very hard test to pass, and Doug passed with flying colors,” Schroedl said.

She also reported the city’s health insurance premium would increase by 18 percent for the upcoming plan year. She said the city initially saved 36 percent when it went to the League of Municipalities pool, so the city had still saved quite a bit by making the switch.

The next meeting of the Ainsworth City Council is scheduled for Aug. 14.

* Long Pine Creek Watershed project updates

(Posted 3:45 p.m. July 10)

The Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District recently conducted an assessment of stream restoration projects within the Long Pine Creek Watershed following significant rainfall. Between June 17-21, Brown County landowners reported 9 to 11 inches of rain in the area. The restoration projects demonstrated remarkable resilience, exhibiting only minor erosion along the streambanks.

“Due to the diligent planning involved, we are elated to see that the conservation work has stood up to such significant rainfall,” Middle Niobrara NRD General Manager Mike Murphy said. “These efforts not only protect our natural resources but also enhance the quality of life for the residents and landowners within the Long Pine Creek Watershed.”

The stream restoration initiatives were a collaborative effort involving local landowners, the Nebraska Environmental Trust, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Ainsworth Irrigation District, the Brown County Commissioners, the Natural Resources Commission, and the Middle Niobrara NRD. The projects were identified and implemented as part of the Middle Niobrara NRD’s Water Quality Management Plan, with the initial phase focusing on developing the plan and identifying priority areas within the Long Pine Creek Watershed.

Between 2020 and 2023, three key stream restoration projects were executed to address critical issues such as water quality, fish and wildlife habitat preservation, stream instability, head-cutting, scouring, erosion, excess sedimentation, and streambank degradation. The efforts aimed to improve water conditions, addressing the watershed’s status on the 303(d) impaired waters list. Long Pine Creek stream restoration work included bank stabilization, riprap, and re-seeding or vegetative covering to reduce erosion.

Murphy said the outcomes of the projects were significant. They protected and enhanced habitats across 36 miles of stream, improved water quality over an additional 27 miles of streams and safeguarded over 6,800 acres of land. The initiatives directly benefited more than 210 individual landowners and provided indirect benefits to more than 2,900 residents within the Long Pine Creek Watershed.

The stream restoration projects were funded with $1,746,530 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, $1,907,000 in federal funding, and supplemented by $652,819.71 in local match contributions.

* Long Pine school bus route changed during bridge work

(Posted 7 a.m. July 9)

With the Highway 20 bridge in the Long Pine hills closed while under construction, the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education on Monday opted to alter its Long Pine bus route pickup spot to the Long Pine State Park entrance just west of the city.

Superintendent Dale Hafer told the board he had checked with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and received permission for the school to pick up students from the state park entrance. Once the bridge work is complete, the school will go back to picking up students in front of the Palace.

Hafer said the bus is too heavy to meet the current weight restrictions on the detour route through the state park. He said that route could also pose some potential safety issues.

“This will be a minor inconvenience until the bridge opens,” Hafer said. “It is better than not running the route and paying mileage until the bridge is open. This will keep the kids safe.”

Board President Brad Wilkins asked if the bus had enough room to turn around at the Long Pine State Park entrance. Hafer said Joey Finley had taken the bus to the site to test that very thing and the bus would be able to get turned around without issue.

“This will be a good alternative, and it is temporary,” Hafer said.

The superintendent said the west bus route will be the same as the previous school year, with a pickup point at the intersection of Highway 20 and Rauscher Avenue and another at Johnstown.

Hafer said both routes have about the same number of students who ride the bus each day.

The board unanimously approved the routes for the 2024-25 school year, with the Long Pine pickup spot returning to the Palace when the Highway 20 bridge work is complete.

In other action items Monday, the board voted to increase pay for substitute teachers and substitute para-educators. Hafer said the district had not increased substitute teacher and para pay since 2021.

“Rock County will be at $145 per day this year for substitute teachers,” the superintendent said. “Valentine will be similar. It makes sense to raise it $10 per day to stay competitive.”

The district has paid substitute teachers $135 per day since 2021 and substitute para-educators $100 per day.

The board voted to increase the pay to $145 per day for substitute teachers and $110 per day for substitute para-educators.

The board also approved the second reading of policy updates as recommended by the Nebraska Association of School Boards based off legislation approved in 2024 by the Nebraska Unicameral.

During his report, Hafer said the track refurbishing project is complete and the track is open. He said the project went well and the cost was right where the company said it would be.

Hafer also reported the overhead bus barn door had been replaced and took care of the issues the district was having with the middle door of the bus barn.

The superintendent said the new cafeteria tables had been delayed. Instead of arriving in late July, the new tables were scheduled for delivery in mid August. He discussed potentially replacing the flooring in the cafeteria with new tile during the holiday break if the lunch fund continued to do well.

Elementary Principal Ben Wright reported summer school wrapped up for the year and had about 36 students attending on average.

“It was a great opportunity for kids to get some math and reading help,” Wright said. “They also had a fun time with the enrichment activities.”

The next meeting of the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education is scheduled for Aug. 12.

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary

(Posted 9 a.m. July 8)

June 30

Issued warning for speed issued on Highway 7.

At 4th and Osborne Street a verbal warning given for no registration.

July 1

Responded to a report of lewd images dispersed by an unauthorized subject.  This is an ongoing investigation.

July 2

Completed a taser training.

Responded to a report of a protection order violation.  One male subject was issued a citation for the violation and booked into the Brown County Jail.

July 3

The Brown County ambulance transported a flight crew to the airport.

Issued a citation for speeding on Highway 7.

Storm spotters were paged in Raven and Calamus fire districts for severe storm warnings predicting a tornado by the National Weather Service.

Responded to a report of a tree blocking the roadway on the 300 block of Maple Street, traffic control was provided until the city worker remove the tree.

July 4

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.

The Brown County Ambulance transported a flight crew from the airport to pick up a patient.

July 5

Responded to a report of stolen vehicle keys.  The keys were located the following morning.

Responded to a report of a hit and run accident on 3^rd St in Ainsworth. 

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call from a gas station in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.

Issued a verbal warning to an oversized truck attempting to cross the bridge with current weight restrictions. 

Booked a male subject into the Brown County Jail for a parole violation court commitment sentence.

Responded to a 911 call in Long Pine reporting domestic violence and a male subject experiencing a mental health crisis.  The male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail for domestic assault and terroristic threats.

Responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth reporting a domestic dispute.  The male subject was later found in an unoccupied home and the Brown County Ambulance was paged to assist with the transportation to the hospital. and booked into the Brown County Jail for domestic assault, criminal mischief, and assault of a public safety officer by bodily fluid.

July 6

Received a report of stolen prescription medication.

Issued a verbal warning for an oversized truck attempting to cross the restricted long pine bridge.  Traffic control was provided for the truck to turn around.

The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call at a rural address and transported one patient to the hospital.

Weekly Report

Calls:  121

911 Calls:  14

Calls for Service:  8

Vin Inspections:  5

Gun Permits:  2

Carter Nelson

* Nelson named KBRB Athlete of the Year

(Posted 9 a.m. July 3)

Carter Nelson has been named the 2023-24 KBRB Athlete of the Year. Among a senior class loaded with talented athletes, Nelson received the award based on a vote of Ainsworth High School coaches, faculty and A Club members.

The KBRB Athlete of the Year is presented to a student-athlete at Ainsworth High School who excels in at least two sports, shows sportsmanship and coachability, as well as a strong work ethic in the classroom and the community.

Nelson, who will compete for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln football team this fall, led Ainsworth to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in his junior and senior seasons. He was named First Team All-State and finished his football career with 1,533 passing yards with 27 touchdowns, 1,979 rushing yards with 33 touchdowns, and a school record 2,346 receiving yards with 43 touchdowns. Defensively, Nelson recorded 201 career tackles and 10 interceptions.

On the basketball court, Nelson was one of four seniors along with Kendyl Delimont, Traegan McNally and Trey Appelt, to finish with more than 1,000 points in a basketball career, an unprecedented feat for the Class of 2024.

Nelson finished his career with 1,234 points, 756 rebounds, 422 assists, 156 steals, and a school record 314 blocks. He helped the Bulldogs to a Class D-1 State Runner-Up finish during his senior year.

In track and field, Nelson set the Class C state record with a 7-foot high jump to win all-class gold in the event as a sophomore. He was also the state champion high jumper as a freshman. He won Class C gold in the long jump during his senior season.

Nelson also won state medals twice in the 200 meters, a third medal in the high jump and a medal in the pole vault.

He holds five school records in track and field, 11.03 seconds in the 100 meters, 21.90 seconds in the 200 meters, 7-feet in the high jump, 23-feet-2.5 in the long jump, and 188-feet-1 in the discus.

For being named the KBRB Athlete of the Year, Nelson receives a $500 scholarship to the University of Nebraska.

* Work to begin July 15 at Calamus Reservoir

(Posted 9:30 a.m. July 5)

Weather permitting, work will begin July 15 at the Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Paulsen’s, Inc. of Cozad is the contractor for the project. Work includes improvements to most of the campgrounds, boat ramp parking areas, South Lake Road and Fish Hatchery Road. Work to the recreation areas will begin in July, starting at Little York Point and Valley View Flat Recreation areas, then progressing to Buckshot Bay, Homestead Knolls, Nunda Shoal and Hannaman Bayou. Access to the recreation areas will be limited during construction.

Asphalt paving and guardrail improvements to a portion of the South Lake Road and across the Virginia Smith Dam are anticipated to occur in the fall. Traffic on South Lake Road will be maintained with temporary traffic signals and/or a pilot card and flaggers.

Contact the Nebraska Game & Parks, Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area at (308) 346 5666 for closure information on campgrounds. Anticipated completion is June 2025.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

* Fireworks stolen in Bassett during burglary

(Posted noon July 3)

The Rock County Sheriff’s Department is seeking any information members of the public may have following a burglary at the Rock County Fairgrounds late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

According to Rock County Sheriff Ben Shelbourn, sometime between 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday morning, someone forcefully entered a building at the Rock County Fairgrounds and stole approximately $4,000 worth of fireworks.

The fireworks were owned by Deb Buoy. The building at the fairgrounds also sustained damage during the break-in.

Shelbourn said fingerprints were recovered at the scene and have been sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab for processing.

Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious at the fairgrounds Monday night into Tuesday morning is asked to call the Rock County Sheriff’s Department at 402-684-3811.

* All flood-damaged roads in Brown County now open

(Posted 3 p.m. July 2)

After substantial rainfall and subsequent flooding damaged several roads in the county and caused their closure, Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin told the Brown County Commissioners Tuesday all washouts have been repaired and roads reopened to traffic.

Turpin said the worst washouts were south of Long Pine and east and west of Ainsworth south of Highway 20.

“872 Road was completely washed out,” Turpin said. “The culvert there was in poor shape, so we put in a new culvert.”

Turpin said several stretches of Richardson Road south of Ainsworth and Long Pine had substantial washouts.

“We had some washing southwest and southeast of Ainsworth,” the highway superintendent said. “There are some spots that still need some gravel, and we will have to clean out the ditches.”

Turpin reported flood waters damaged pilings in the Hidden Paradise area. He said sheet piling installed after the 2019 flooding was compromised and fell over. He said that sheet piling was pulled back up, with additional sheet piling added and the tie rods welded.

“That should be pretty sturdy now,” Turpin said.

Turpin reported Willow Creek washed out the road near property owned by Larry Duden. He said the roads department may need to install additional culverts, as that area handles a lot of water.

In other roads items, Turpin said he planned to contract crack sealing work after researching the cost of the county purchasing the equipment needed to handle crack sealing. He said the initial equipment costs would be more than $100,000, so Bader Construction would be contracted to conduct crack seal work on Meadville Avenue and the Elsmere Road at an estimated cost of 55 cents per foot.

Commissioner Denny Bauer said he supported moving ahead with crack sealing work.

“That would be my preference,” Bauer said. “We need to stay after it.”

Turpin said he would also double the amount of cold mix asphalt the roads department typically mixes, as some paved county roads were seeing additional traffic due to detours.

The highway superintendent said he received permission from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to trim trees near the Long Pine State Park bridge to improve visibility.

In another roads item Tuesday, the board, with Commissioner Buddy Small absent, approved hiring Bonnie Downing with Agri Affiliates of North Platte to handle the appraisal of the land needed to construct a road to reach isolated property owned by Grant Kobes in southwestern Brown County at the site of the former Long Lake State Recreation Area.

Attorney Todd Flynn said it typically takes about six weeks to have an appraisal completed. The board included in the approval for Downing to have the work completed and sent to the county by Sept. 1.

Sheriff Brent Deibler told the commissioners new radio dispatching equipment would be needed as part of the North Central E911 System. The sheriff said the North Central group, which includes Brown, Rock, Keya Paha, Cherry, Sheridan, Holt and Boyd counties, had agreed to a contract with Lumen Vesta for a software and hardware contract for the system. Deibler said that company had been recommended by the state, and the state would provide some financial support for the equipment updates.

The cost for the hardware and software contract was $53,640 for the first year and $19,743 annually in years following. Those costs are shared between the seven counties involved in the region.

Deibler said the county would be responsible for the cost of a new radio dispatching system, which is used by the sheriff’s department, the roads department, all fire departments in the county, the ambulance association and the hospital.

Deibler said there was money in the county’s E911 fund to assist with some of the costs for the updates, but some of those funds could not be used for the dispatching equipment. He said the cost of the radio dispatching system was estimated at $225,000.

Bauer requested the sheriff put together a proposal for cost sharing between all the entities that use the radio dispatching equipment.

The sheriff said some counties had already upgraded their systems, but Rock County was in the same boat as Brown County and would need to update its dispatching system.

Deibler also reported the county passed a jail inspection Tuesday, and the sheriff’s department could again house inmates in the Brown County Jail. He said the jail would be able to house both male and female inmates. He said the sheriff’s department needed to install one additional camera to monitor the cells in the jail.

In other action items, the commissioners approved a resolution allowing the Brown County Hospital to construct an additional 224-by-130-foot paved parking area east of the current parking lot. The cost of the construction will be shouldered by the hospital.

The board approved a subdivision for a small parcel located north of Highway 20 in Section 21, Township 30, Range 22 as requested by attorney Todd Flynn on behalf of a client.

The commissioners approved CSG Printing of Omaha to handle printing postcards the state now requires counties to send to property owners anytime tax requests exceed a certain percentage allowed by the state. The cost to the county is 50 cents per mailed postcard.

The board discussed a resolution passed in 2003 that capped deputy county officials’ salaries at 86 percent of the elected official’s salary. County Attorney Andy Taylor said the resolution restricted deputy officials’ salaries to be between 65 percent and 86 percent of the elected official.

“If someone has been here long enough and has done a good job, it might be worth having a policy that isn’t arbitrary,” Taylor said.

Bauer said he was not in favor of caps, and the money paid to employees in each office should be at the discretion of the county official.

“I think most of our officials are conservative,” Bauer said. “I like the idea of the official being able to set the salary for the deputy.”

Clerk Travee Hobbs said the deputy clerk has numerous years of experience and expertise. Hobbs said she is at the point where she cannot even provide a full cost of living salary increase to the deputy clerk due to the caps.

Commissioner Jeremiah Dailey suggested keeping the current caps in place until the deputy official has worked for the county for 10 years. After that time, the salary would be at the discretion of the county official in each office.

Taylor said he would draft a resolution for the commissioners to consider at their next meeting.

The board approved having NACO administer the county’s Vision and MASA Cobra Contracts. Hobbs said NACO would handle the administration instead of it being left up to the county clerk.

In a final action item Tuesday, the board approved a budgeted transfer of $300,000 from the county’s miscellaneous general fund to the highway fund.

The next meeting of the Brown County Commissioners is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. July 16.

* NDOT unveils 2025 construction plans

(Posted 2:15 p.m. July 1)

The Nebraska Department of Transportation released its fiscal year 2025 Surface Transportation Program Book.

The book lists the 2025 State Highway System Program projects separated by each NDOT Geographical District and project type planned for construction within the next six years. The 2025 program has been published at $772 million. It is funded through state and federal highway user taxes and fees, and does not include Aeronautics, Broadband or Local system related construction.

Among the projects scheduled for 2025 in District 8 is 7.29 miles of milling and resurfacing work on Highway 183 north and south of Springview.

Two stretches of milling and resurfacing on Highway 11 in Holt and Boyd counties will be undertaken in 2025. The Holt County portion of Highway 11 is 4.59 miles between Brush Creek and the Niobrara River. The Boyd County stretch is 5.67 miles between the Niobrara River and Butte.

A total of 9 miles of milling and resurfacing work will be completed in 2025 on Highway 12 between Butte and Spencer in Boyd County.

Several micro-surfacing projects are scheduled for 2025 in District 8, including Highway 7 in the Bassett area and Highway 20 between Wood Lake and Bassett.

The 2024 State Legislature allocated an additional $70 million to help fill existing funding gaps. This allocation resulted in an increase from 540 to 805 miles of statewide highway preservation and the expansion of the Highway 275 Expressway from Norfolk to Pilger within the next year.

Other projects planned to begin within the next year include, but are not limited to, 10 miles of Interstate replacement between Cozad and Darr, preservation work and construction of Super 2 passing lanes on the Highway 83 corridor between North Platte and McCook and the Lincoln West Beltway Capital Improvement.

The 2025-2030 Nebraska Surface Transportation program and an interactive GIS map are available at ndot.info/program-book.