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* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary
(Posted 6:30 a.m. Dec. 31)
December 22
Issued a citation for speeding 88mph in a 65mph zone on Highway 7 to a Colorado driver.
Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 7.
Issued a citation for speeding 79 mph in a 65mph zone on Highway 20 to a Minnesota driver.
Served a paper in Long Pine.
Received a request for a welfare check on a male subject in Ainsworth. The male was located and reported safe at this time.
Responded to a report of an assault in Ainsworth near South Main Street. Statements have been obtained and a report will be sent to the Brown County Attorney’s office.
December 23
Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 20 to a Tennessee driver.
Served two papers in Ainsworth.
Received a report of a disturbance at a 4th Street business in Ainsworth. It was recommended a no-trespassing letter be issued to prevent future issues.
Responded to a report of a reckless semi driver on Highway 20.
Responded to a report of trespassing at a Main Street business in Ainsworth.
December 24
Responded to a report of trespassing near Mule Deer Rd in Brown County.
December 25
Responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Meadville Ave. Parties were separated.
December 26
Served a no trespassing letter to a male subject in Ainsworth.
Responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in Ainsworth. A civil standby was provided for property exchange and both parties separated.
December 27
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing on Highway 20.
The Brown County Ambulance transported a flight crew from the airport to the hospital to pick up a patient.
Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 7 to a Colorado driver.
Provided traffic control for a funeral procession in Ainsworth.
Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 183.
Issued citation for passing violation on 4th Street in Ainsworth.
December 28
Issued written warning for speeding on Highway 20.
Issued citation for speeding 80 mph in a 65mph zone on Highway 20 to a Nebraska driver.
Weekly Log
Calls: 63
911 Calls: 7
Calls for Service: 10
Inmates Housed: 1
Handgun Purchase Permit: 1
* Star-Journal will continue to publish
(Posted 1:15 p.m. Dec. 24)
Just like a Hallmark Channel Christmas miracle, as the final hour was approaching for the Ainsworth Star-Journal, three Ainsworth businessmen joined forces to purchase the Ainsworth Star-Journal and keep the newspaper from ceasing publication.
Kirk and Chelsey Peterson, Graig and Stephanie Kinzie and Clint and Katie Painter have combined their resources to purchase the Ainsworth Star-Journal from Rod and Kathy Worrell.
In the November 13th edition, the Worrells announced they would be ceasing publication of the Ainsworth Star-Journal with the December 25th edition.
The Worrells have had their three newspapers listed for sale since early in 2024. The Gregory Times-Advocate and Valentine Midland News have recently sold, but until December 19th no one had agreed to purchase the Ainsworth Star-Journal.
As the Worrells were preparing for their final edition, Peterson, Painter and Kinzie contacted them and agreed to purchase the Ainsworth Star-Journal.
Rod Worrell said, “It is a great relief to have this group of local businessmen come forward to purchase the Ainsworth Star-Journal. Kathy and I are delighted and look forward to working with them. Since the agreement came so close to us ceasing publication of the Ainsworth Star-Journal, Kathy and I will continue publishing the Star-Journal for the next two to three months.
“It will take two to three months for the group to get organized to take over the operations and until that time, Kathy and I are more than happy to continue publishing the Ainsworth Star-Journal and keep the 142-year legacy alive.”
Kinzie said he had tried for months to find a partnership to keep the Star-Journal going. He said, while there are some areas where KBRB’s operations could assist the newspaper, someone was needed to handle the day-to-day duties of covering the community and putting each week’s edition together.
“Steph and I had tried several different avenues to make it work,” Kinzie said. “Early last week I had resigned myself to the fact that it wasn’t going to happen, and I had apologized to Rod and Kathy that I couldn’t find someone to help us keep it going. Thursday morning, December 19th, Clint and Kirk came into the office with a proposal for a partnership to have Clint and Katie’s daughter Erin return to Ainsworth and manage the newspaper. We are thrilled they were able to come up with the missing piece that we couldn’t.”
Clint Painter said, “I truly feel the Ainsworth Star-Journal is a pillar of our community. I’m a community guy. I have been blessed to own a business here and with our community’s support, I feel like we can make this adventure work. It’s always been a dream of mine to have my kids move back to this community to hopefully raise their families.”
Kirk Peterson said, “This is my new home and the place my kids will tell people they come from. It’s our job to make sure there is a home to talk about when that time comes.
“This newspaper is truly a pillar of the community and exemplifies the hard-working people who make this town a survivor. This is just one example of how people can truly come together from different backgrounds to hold together something worth keeping.”
Going forward, Cody Goochey and Angie VonHeeder will be taking over the advertising sales duties for the Ainsworth Star-Journal. They can be contacted by phone, email or text at:
Angie VonHeeder: 402-376-4534 or angiekbrb@sscg.net
Cody Goochey: 402-760-1719 or kbrbnews@sscg.net
“We are very excited to be associated with Angie and Cody,” said Worrell. “The businesses that advertise with us have been very loyal over the years and we are confident VonHeeder and Goochey will continue to provide the advertising coverage that our customers have come to know and utilize.”
“We can’t thank Rod and Kathy enough, not only for more than 40 years of providing this critical service to Ainsworth and Brown County, but for agreeing to stay on a little longer and work with us as we get our feet underneath us and become comfortable with continuing to bring the paper to the public,” Kinzie said.
“It was a tough decision to close the Star-Journal and thanks to this group of businessmen and wives, it won’t,” stated Rod Worrell.
“As the paper continues for many more years, people should be excited that they didn’t lose it,” said Worrell. “Please continue to support this business along with all the other businesses in Ainsworth and surrounding area. One doesn’t appreciate what you have until it is gone!”
* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary
(Posted 11:30 a.m. Dec. 23)
December 15
Follow-up investigation regarding a coroner report.
Issued a violation card for defective headlight on a Highway 20 traffic stop.
Responded to a report of a reckless driver Eastbound on Highway 20 still in Cherry County. The vehicle was not found to enter Brown County.
Issued two written warnings for speeding on Highway 20.
December 16
Received a report of trespassing in Long Pine.
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing on Highway 7, near 876th Road.
Responded to a report of a hit and run accident in Long Pine to a parked vehicle. This is an ongoing investigation.
Served two paper services in Long Pine.
Issued two citations for speeding 80 and 86 mph in a 65mph zone on Highway 20.
Responded to a report of a one vehicle accident near the intersection of Main and 1st Street in Ainsworth. No injuries were reported, the driver was issued a citation for driving under the influence of alcohol and booked into the Brown County Jail.
December 17
Released an inmate from the jail after bond was posted.
Received an adult protective services intake that did not meet definition.
Received a report of theft and damages that occurred to a business in the overnight hours on 12-15 to 12-16 in Ainsworth. This is an ongoing investigation.
December 18
Provided court room security.
December 19
The Brown County Ambulance and Sheriff’s Office responded to two ambulance requests in Ainsworth at the same time, with two patients being transported to the hospital. We as a county are so blessed to have an excellent ambulance crew to respond to these emergency situations!
Two papers served in Ainsworth.
The Brown County Ambulance provided a ground transport crew to a Kearney hospital.
December 20
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing on Highway 183.
Issued a written warning for speeding, four violation cards for defective headlights, two citations for speeding, and a verbal warning for defective trailer lights during traffic stops on this day.
December 21
Received a report regarding a spam email requesting bitcoin payment or they would be blackmailed.
Served two papers in rural Brown County.
Issued a written warning for driving on the shoulder and driving left of center during a traffic stop on Highway 20.
Issued written warning for speeding on Highway 20.
Weekly Log
Calls: 73
911 Calls: 5
Calls for Service: 6
Gun Permits: 3
Jail count: 2
* Area students receive degrees from UN-L
(Posted 7 a.m. Dec. 23)
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln conferred 1,149 degrees during commencement exercises Friday and Saturday in Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The degrees were earned by 1,132 graduates from 41 countries, 40 U.S. states and 150-plus Nebraska communities.
Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett presided over the ceremonies.
Two honorary degrees were awarded during the graduate and professional degree ceremony: Ken M. Bird, longtime educator and founder of the nonprofit Avenue Scholars, received a Doctor of Education; and Marion LaVerne (Patton) Larmon, a 103-year-old Lincoln resident who attended the University of Nebraska from 1939 to 1941 but did not graduate, received a Doctor of Fine Arts.
Area students who received degrees from UN-L over the weekend are:
Ainsworth
Megan Jo Appelt, Graduate Studies, Master of Science.
Springview
Sydney Eleanor Linse, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication.
Stuart
Madison Claire Stracke, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education with highest distinction.
* Chadron State Dean’s List students announced
(Posted 7 a.m. Dec. 23)
Chadron State College announced the students on the Fall President’s and Dean’s Lists. The President’s List consists of students with a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. Students met the requirements for the Dean’s List by earning at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average.
To qualify for either list, students must be enrolled in 12 credit hours of coursework, be seeking their first bachelor’s degree, and have no incomplete grades during the semester.
Area students named to the fall lists are:
President’s List
Ainsworth – Traegan McNally and Baillee Palmer
Johnstown – Kerstyn Held
Springview – Adyson Linse, Hannah Linse and Hunter Wiebelhaus
Stuart – Jenny Forker
Valentine – McKenna Elliott, Macy Homan, Cody Miller, Alivia Patterson, Ian Slama, Grant Springer and Sadie Vander Wey
Dean’s List
Ainsworth – Bria Delimont
Valentine – Lindsey Boes and Zoe O’Keefe
Dunning – Brayton Branic
* Board urges Turpin to seek refund for road product
(Posted 9:30 a.m. Dec. 18)
The Brown County Commissioners encouraged Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin Tuesday to try and obtain a refund from the company that provided a road hardening product after the road experienced heavy rutting during a November rain.
Turpin said the roads department sent a sample to the company that provided the Permazyne road hardening product. He said the company tested the samples and said they looked fine.
“The road stays nice and smooth when it doesn’t rain,” Turpin said.
The commissioners said the product was pitched to the county that the roads department would not have to blade the roads near as frequently. However, with traffic creating heavy ruts on the portion of Meadville Avenue where the product was applied following rain in November, the commissioners indicated they wanted to see Turpin pursue a promised refund of the $8,000 cost of the product if the county was not satisfied.
“I think it is nonsense,” Commissioner Buddy Small said. “It is going to get torn up each time it rains.”
Board Chairman Dennis Bauer recommended Turpin try and obtain a refund from the company.
In other roads items Tuesday, Turpin said he planned to purchase crushed concrete from the Main Street renovation project in Ainsworth. The highway superintendent said the county could purchase the material for $17 per ton.
“That is a pretty good deal,” Turpin said. “It is usually $22 per ton, and it is right here.”
Turpin said the total cost for the crushed concrete would be between $80,000 and $100,000.
Turpin discussed replacing the bridge deck and pilings on the Stewart bridge across Goose Creek in southern Brown County. Turpin said that bridge is the last remaining bridge across Goose Creek with a wood deck, and it currently has a reduced weight limit of 13 tons.
“It is going to keep getting worse,” he said.
Turpin estimated the cost to redrive the pilings and replace the deck with concrete would cost between $50,000 and $60,000.
The highway superintendent said he planned to attend a three-day bridge training workshop Jan. 14-16 at Lincoln. He said the cost of the training and the hotel room is paid, the only thing the county will be responsible for is the fuel to travel to and from Lincoln.
Turpin said state bridge inspectors came to Brown County to inspect a bridge and compare their inspection with Turpin’s inspection of the same bridge.
“It’s good for them to double check to make sure I’m doing things properly,” he said.
Turpin reported the roads department was performing bank stabilization work along the Calamus River in southern Brown County, and had to remove a beaver dam that had been built under a bridge on 428th Avenue that was causing the loss of dirt around a bridge abutment. Turpin said the roads department tore out the beaver dam with the county’s excavator and placed some concrete around the abutment.
In other business Tuesday, the commissioners approved the recommended appointments of Ryan Schwindt, Tom Schumacher and Aaron Jackman to the Brown County Planning Commission.
Planning Commission Chairman Tom Jones said Schwindt and Schumacher would fill the remainder of the terms held by Steve Bejot and Linda O’Hare.
Jones said Bejot and O’Hare had served on the Planning Commission since its formation in 1993.
Jackman will replace his father Jim Jackman on the commission. The commissioners approved the appointment of all three for three-year terms.
The board approved allowing Emergency Manager Traci Booth to pursue a Stop the Burn Grant, which if awarded would provide money for cedar tree removal within a 3-mile corridor of the Niobrara River.
Tanya Cole reported the sheriff’s department was not awarded a JAG Task Force Grant. She said applications were received for $350,000 in funding, with $150,000 available. She said the sheriff’s department was encouraged in the letter denying the application to reapply for the grant funds next year.
Weed Superintendent Scott Erthum presented year-end reports to the commissioners. Erthum said the prevalence of purple loosestrife exploded in the county in 2024. He said leafy spurge infestations remained about the same, with a slight increase in the presence of Canada Thistle. He said there was not much musk thistle found in the county this year. The board accepted the reports.
The commissioners also acknowledged the county’s property, vehicle and mobile schedules for its 2025 NIRMA insurance policy as prepared.
The commissioners discussed which publication the county would use for its mandated public notices with the closure of the Ainsworth Star-Journal. The board discussed the subscriptions in Brown County for both the Rock County Leader and the Springview Herald. The board will make a decision in January to designate a legal publication.
Small thanked Star-Journal owner Rod Worrell for his coverage of commissioners meetings and community events.
“Rod, you have done a great job reporting the business of the county,” Small said. “You are very professional.”
Bauer also thanked Worrell for his service to the community.
The commissioners acknowledged a filing in district court by Hathshire Berkaway against the county. County Attorney Andy Taylor said the filing was made by Grant Kobes’ company against the county for the board’s action to award damages to landowners for the construction of a road to Kobes’ property in southwestern Brown County at the former Long Lake State Recreation Area site.
Taylor said the issues in the filing were the same that Kobes raised during a previous board meeting, questioning the methods used by the appraiser hired by the county and the damages that were awarded to the neighboring property owners.
Taylor said the county has 30 days to file a response, which he said he would do and would state the qualifications of the appraiser used by the county to determine the damage to the adjacent landowners for the construction of the road to Kobes’ property.
In reviewing the claims, Bauer questioned a claim submitted by Cherry County to house an inmate for Brown County. Sheriff Brent Deibler said the inmate had medical issues that the sheriff’s department could not accommodate. He said the inmate was now back in the Brown County Jail.
The next meeting of the Brown County Commissioners is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Jan. 7.
* Area students set to graduate from UNK
(Posted 11 a.m. Dec. 16)
Degrees will be conferred for 394 winter graduates of the University of Nebraska at Kearney during commencement exercises at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20, in the UNK Health and Sports Center.
Area students scheduled to receive degrees from UNK are:
Ainsworth
Tory Cole, a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and dietetics, graduating with honorable mention recognition.
Bassett
Alexis Chavez Monasterio, a Bachelor of Science degree in political science, graduating summa cum laude
Josie Kuchera, a Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences, graduating with honorable mention recognition
Atkinson
Emilie Otto, a Master of Arts degree in business administration
Heather Slaymaker, a Master of Arts in Education degree in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade reading
Valentine
Kooper Reece, a Bachelor’s degree in general studies
* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary
(Posted 11 a.m. Dec. 16)
December 8
Issued two written warnings for speeding on Highway 7.
Responded to a report of a disturbance along Highway 20 regarding juveniles throwing objects at another vehicle. The reported vehicle was not found.
Issued a citation for speeding on Highway 20 for driving 79mph in a 65mph zone.
Issued two written warnings for speeding on Highway 20.
December 9
Served a paper service in Ainsworth.
Issued a citation for driving without a license to a male subject driving a golf cart down Highway 20. The golf cart was impounded.
Served a paper service in Long Pine.
Issued a violation card for no taillights on Highway 20.
December 10
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing at 433rd Ave and Highway 20.
Served three papers in Ainsworth.
Responded to a report of a juvenile assaulted by another juvenile. Statements were collected and a report will be sent to the Brown County Attorney’s office.
December 11
Responded to a report of a hit and run accident on Woodward Street in Ainsworth. A male subject was later issued a citation for leaving the scene of an accident and failure to furnish information.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to two 911 calls in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital each time.
The Brown County Ambulance transported a patient to West Holt Hospital and returned to Brown County Hospital with the patient.
December 12
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing near Highway 183 and Keller Park.
Follow-up investigation regarding juvenile assault.
Responded to a report of a semi-trailer losing contents on Highway 20. The driver was contacted to correct the issue.
December 13
Assisted a motorist on Highway 20 while they changed a flat tire.
Responded to a report of a car-deer accident on Highway 20. The vehicle was towed from the scene and no injuries were reported.
December 14
Served a paper in Ainsworth.
The Brown County Ambulance and the Brown County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call in Long Pine.
Weekly Log
Calls: 88
911 Calls: 9
Calls for Service: 11
Inmates Housed: 1
Vin Inspections: 2
Handgun Purchase Permits: 5
* Stracke named a UN-L Chancellor’s Scholar
(Posted 7 a.m. Dec. 16)
Eighteen University of Nebraska–Lincoln students will be recognized as Chancellor’s Scholars during the undergraduate commencement ceremony Dec. 21 in Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Chancellor’s Scholars are students who have maintained 4.0 grade-point averages on all collegiate work at Nebraska and elsewhere.
Madison Stracke of Stuart is one of the 18 Chancellor’s Scholars at UN-L. Stracke is graduating with a Bachler of Arts degree in agricultural education from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
* Commissioner asks council to repay care center funding
(Posted 9:30 a.m. Dec. 12)
A Brown County Commissioner asked the Ainsworth City Council Wednesday how it planned to make good on a “gentlemen’s agreement” to provide additional funding to the Sandhills Care Center made in 2022 when the facility was struggling financially and in danger of closing.
Commissioner Dennis Bauer told the council the county wondered what the city’s plans were for either repaying the county for half of what was provided to the care center or providing an equal amount to the care center as the county paid.
Brown County and the city of Ainsworth jointly own and operate the Sandhills Care Center. The operating agreement requires each entity to provide an equal amount of funding to the facility.
Bauer said the issue stemmed from joint meetings held in 2022 between the commissioners and the council regarding funding the care center during a period of financial hardship. Bauer provided minutes from a commissioners special meeting that showed the county voting to supply the care center with additional funding. He said the council at that time had agreed to act in a following meeting, but the city never provided the funding to match the county’s contribution.
“My understanding was the city could pay the county back at some point,” Bauer said. “I’m here to start the process and ask about the repayment.”
City Administrator Lisa Schroedl said she and City Attorney Michael Scholes had visited with Brown County Attorney Andy Taylor to try and get on the same page.
Schroedl said, during one of the special meetings, the two entities agreed to provide a total of $250,000 in additional funding to the care center. At that time, the county offered to fund the entire amount up front with the city then repaying the county as it could.
Schroedl said the council made a motion during that meeting to come up with the $125,000 itself instead of being indebted to the county, and subsequently provided payments of $75,000 and $50,000 to the care center to honor that commitment.
Schroedl said there was another $80,000 provided by the county on top of that amount.
“There is a discrepancy of an additional $80,000 the county gave in July 2022 that was above and beyond (the $250,000),” Schroedl said. “There is no argument who has put in what. The discussion was, can the county obligate the city to pay without a joint agreement.”
She said the city did not have an additional $80,000 at that time and did not take any action to match the additional $80,000 paid by the county above and beyond half of the $250,000 that the council had agreed to pay.
Bauer said he recalled the city saying at the time that it did not have the $80,000 in its budget to provide to the care center.
“I thought we had a gentlemen’s agreement at that time,” Bauer said. “I am not asking for a decision tonight. I just want to start the dialogue.”
Councilman Doug Weiss said it sounded to him like the city probably owed the county, even if it was an unwritten agreement.
“I think the city has an obligation to reimburse the county for half of that,” Weiss said.
Weiss said reimbursing the county for half of the $80,000 it provided the care center would be better for the city’s budget than trying to provide an additional $80,000 to the care center to get back to the 50-50 joint operating agreement between the two entities.
Councilman Dustin Barthel said, since he was not on the council at the time, he was relying on the minutes from those meetings.
“That is not in the minutes,” Barthel said. “Gentlemen’s agreements are not how the city does business.”
Brad Fiala, the only current City Council member who was on the council in 2022 during the period in question, was absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
Mayor Joel Klammer said everyone agreed the issue was an additional $80,000 that was paid by the county. He recommended the council table the item until January when Fiala would be available to provide his recollections of the 2022 meetings and what the city had agreed to provide.
No action was taken by the council Wednesday.
Councilman Kent Taylor, who was elected to a council seat in November after being appointed to fill a vacancy earlier in the year, took the oath of office for a four-year term. With no one running to fill the seat held by Weiss, who was also appointed to fill a vacancy, the council approved the mayor’s recommendation to appoint Heather Lutter to the council. Lutter also was administered the oath of office.
Barthel was then reappointed as the council president.
The council approved the appointment of Jean Hunt to fill the remainder of a term on the Ainsworth Library Board created by the resignation of Phyllis Leach.
The council approved appointments to coincide with the mayor’s new term in office. Those included Scholes as city attorney, Schroedl as the city administrator/clerk/treasurer, Brad Miller as the water and sewer superintendent, Jade Egle as the streets foreman, Lloyd Smith as the streets superintendent and Bruce Papstein as the city’s representative on the KBR Solid Waste Board.
The appointments also included naming the West Plains Bank, Homestead Bank, Union Bank & Trust, the Nebraska Public Agency Investment Trust and NFIT as depositories for city funds, and the Ainsworth Star-Journal, Rock County Leader, Springview Herald and KBRB for publication of city legal notices.
Klammer recommended tabling the appointments of the municipal physician and city prosecuting attorney until the January meeting.
Following a public hearing, the council approved a conditional-use permit for Grant Stec to place a storage container on property outside the city limits but within its 1-mile zoning jurisdiction following a recommendation from the City Planning Commission.
Schroedl said the site is on North Main Street south of the wastewater treatment plant.
“The Planning Commission did not have an issue as long as there weren’t concerns from neighbors,” Schroedl said.
She said no one had expressed concerns to the city office regarding the application, and no one spoke against the application during the public hearing Wednesday.
The council approved an administrative subdivision separating one lot into two in the Plainsman Addition, Block 2, Lot 1 and a portion of Lot 2. The request was made by the Ainsworth Star-Journal and separates a parcel with a storage shed from the remainder of the Star-Journal property.
The council approved a resolution to retain Heather Sikyta to continue to serve as the city’s LB 840 attorney at a rate of $200 per hour as needed. Schroedl said the city does not have to use Sikyta often but it was nice to have her available when needed.
Klammer said Sikyta had served as the city’s LB 840 attorney for several years and has a lot of experience with the LB 840 program.
Linda O’Hare with the Brown County Visitors Committee discussed the placement of new welcome signs on the east and west sides of Ainsworth that were being funded by the Visitors Committee.
O’Hare asked the city if it would trim and maintain trees and shrubs at the site of the sign on the west entrance to the city. O’Hare said the signs cost approximately $15,000 each.
Terry Burdick asked the council if it would consider repainting a no-parking area on the south side of Willow Creek Mercantile on Third Street as there was prior to the Main Street construction.
Burdick said there was previously a no-parking area painted on the north side of Third Street just off Main Street which allowed for trucks to park and make deliveries to Willow Creek Mercantile.
Following the construction, the no-parking area was removed and Burdick said there was no place for trucks to park and make deliveries. He said residents of the apartments across the street from the business park in the area and leave their vehicles in the same spot for days.
Burdick said he expressed his concern to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, which indicated the striping on Third Street was the city’s responsibility.
Klammer said he was inclined to try and address the issue through code enforcement.
“I hate to rush into any decisions,” Klammer said on removing parking spaces.
Taylor said he was sympathetic to Burdick’s concerns, but was hesitant to set a precedent by designating no-parking areas. He said numerous businesses might then want similar designations or 15-minute parking.
The council did not take action on the request.
During her report, Schroedl said she planned to hire Sandy Sisson for a part-time position in the city office. Schroedl said the city had not made a replacement for the position previously held by Lynde Osborn.
Prior to adjourning, Klammer recognized Ainsworth Star-Journal owner Rod Worrell for his more than 40 years covering City Council meetings and other events in the community.
“You are still welcome to come to all the meetings!” Klammer said.
The Worrells announced they were retiring, with the final edition of the Star-Journal slated to be printed Dec. 25.
The next meeting of the Ainsworth City Council is scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 8.
* Ainsworth grad named History Teacher of the Year
(Posted 9 a.m. Dec. 11)
Nathan Kackmeister, a teacher at Crawford Public Schools was recently named the 2024 State History Teacher of the Year, an award sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
In 2024, parents, students, teachers, and administrators nationwide nominated more than 7,000 teachers for the History Teacher of the Year Award. Kackmeister was recognized as the top history teacher in Nebraska.
The History Teacher of the Year Award highlights the importance of history education by honoring American history teachers from elementary through high school. The award recognizes one K-12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and U.S. territories.
As a classroom educator, Kackmeister said he is driven by a desire to instill in his students historical thinking skills like inquiry, research, multiple perspectives, and synthesis to create and tell the stories they have found. Kackmeister requires each of his students to dive deeper into the nation’s past to find understanding and knowledge through accurate and reliable sources from differing perspectives, to corroborate and evaluate a source. Kackmeister said he believes knowing and understanding one’s own history is critical.
Kackmeister will receive a $1,000 award and Crawford will become a Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School, receiving history books and educational materials from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Kackmeister will also be a finalist for the $10,000 National History Teacher of the Year Award.
* Care Center financial outlook continues to improve
(Posted 1 p.m. Dec. 10)
The Sandhills Care Center turned in another solid month financially during November, as business manager McKenzie Crane told the Board of Directors Monday that expenses were down and revenue was up.
“I don’t have a lot else to report this month,” Crane said. “It is going well.”
The care center generated $291,139 in revenue during November with expenses of $274,530 for a net operating margin of more than $16,600.
The facility also received $29,549 in property tax dollars from the voter-approved levy, which is placed into the interlocal account for building improvements or upgrades as approved by the board. The tax levy dollars coming into the facility are not placed in the care center’s operating account.
The board received a document from West Plains Bank with information on a cooperative agreement between banks for accounts that exceed $250,000, which is the limit for FDIC insurance.
Jacobs said the care center’s account has at times now exceeded that amount, so the bank has options to ensure all of the care center’s funds remained covered through the FDIC program.
Audience member Graig Kinzie said having more funding available in its account than is covered by the FDIC program is likely not an issue that the board would have anticipated a couple years ago.
Administrator Penny Jacobs reported one new resident was admitted to the Sandhills Care Center during the past month, with one resident discharged home with family members. A total of 31 residents call the care center home. Of those, 15 are Ainsworth residents, two are from Long Pine, four are from rural Brown County, eight are from Cherry County, and there is one resident from both Rock County and Keya Paha County.
Of the 31 residents, Jacobs said 13 pay privately, 16 receive Medicaid assistance, one receives Medicare assistance, and one resident receives hospice care.
Jacobs reported the care center is still in need of CNAs and dietary help, as well as a full-time housekeeper.
During action items Monday, the board approved the annual audit report, which Board Chairman Tom Jones said showed no negative findings other than the standard lack of segregation of duties which all smaller entities show.
“The auditors complimented Kenzie and Penny on how quickly they got things to them,” Jones said.
The board approved making repairs to the facility’s generator. Jacobs said Ainsworth Electric is waiting on parts to arrive and will repair the generator at that time.
Jacobs reported the handicap-accessible front door has been ordered. She said the company has to coordinate with the care center’s security company to make sure the alarm is compatible with the new door when it arrives.
Jacobs reported the care center has reached out to three companies to obtain bids for the yard sprinkler system at the care center. She said she would report back when responses are received.
Jones discussed an emergency preparedness table top exercise conducted by the facility’s staff he attended.
“Everyone did a great job,” Jones said. “I learned a lot.”
Jacobs said the exercise scenario involved a fire south of Ainsworth that was moving toward the community, prompting an evacuation notice to be issued. Jacobs said the exercise required staff to prepare to evacuate residents when ambulances may not be available and when the Brown County Hospital, which is the facility’s primary site to take residents if the care center must be evacuated, is not available due to also being under the evacuation notice.
“We went through alternatives for transportation, and we had to think about where we would take residents,” Jacobs said.
The board was updated on its responsibilities when the care center would need to invoke its emergency operations plan. Jacobs said she would first try to notify the board chairman to relay information to the other board members. If the chairman was not available, she would notify the next officer on the list.
The next meeting of the Sandhills Care Center Board of Directors is scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan.13.
* School Board recognizes outgoing members
(Posted 6:45 a.m. Dec. 10)
The Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education recognized two longtime board members Monday who were attending their final meeting.
Combined, Mark Johnson and Scott Erthum served more than 30 years on the Board of Education, with Johnson serving five four-year terms and Erthum three.
Board President Brad Wilkins expressed his gratitude to both veteran board members for their service to the school and the community.
“Mark has been instrumental to the building and grounds committee,” Wilkins said. “Scott, I appreciate your insight as a rural school board member and your teaching background.”
Wilkins said Ainsworth has a good thing going and the district is moving forward, and both Johnson and Erthum played key roles.
Superintendent Dale Hafer said, coming in as a new superintendent, the institutional knowledge from both Johnson and Erthum made his transition into the district much easier.
“I appreciate all of the advice,” Hafer said. “We have had a lot of easy conversations, and some tough ones too. I appreciate the level of professionalism you brought to the board.”
Johnson said it had been a good run.
“I worked with a lot of good people,” Johnson said. “I appreciate everyone’s work. We have tried to lead by example. We are here for the kids.”
Erthum said he felt like the district was in good shape financially.
“This was a good time to step aside and let younger folks take over,” Erthum said.
In addition to receiving certificates of appreciation, both Erthum and Johnson received lifetime passes to Ainsworth Community Schools activities.
Crystal Dailey and Jake Graff will be seated on the board in January.
In action items Monday, the board approved a contract for special education teacher Tiara McGinley for the 2025-26 school year.
Hafer said McGinley was originally from the Sargent area and her husband was from the area as well, and both were interested in moving back to this part of Nebraska. He said McGinley is currently teaching at Sturgis, S.D.
Hafer said the district has an open special education position, and there has been increased need for those services, especially in the lower elementary level.
“I am excited to bring her on for next year,” Hafer said. “
The board approved a review of another segment of district policies. Following an executive session and evaluation, the board approved extending Hafer’s contract for an additional year through the 2026-27 school year.
Both Elementary Principal Ben Wright and Secondary Principal Steve Dike discussed upcoming testing windows with the board to measure students’ progress from the original tests administered at the beginning of the school year.
Dike thanked the district’s staff for assisting with district one-act play production, allowing the Ainsworth team to perform at home instead of having to get on a bus and travel.
Counselor Lisa Schlueter reported Ainsworth Community Schools has been selected as one of three sites in the state by the I Love You Guys Foundation to conduct a reunification exercise, which will be conducted March 17.
Schlueter said conducting a similar exercise would cost the district about $13,000. She said the community reunification team, staff, law enforcement and other emergency responders would participate in the exercise, which mimics a school emergency and goes through the process of reuniting students with their families.
“There will be about 120 participants,” Schlueter said.
Hafer said the emergency operations plan established by the school has put Ainsworth on the radar for being a school that is prepared.
“We work on our emergency operations plan and practice it with the hope that we never have to use it,” Hafer said.
The next meeting of the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 13.
* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary
(Posted noon Dec. 9)
November 24
Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 7.
Responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on 2nd Street in Ainsworth.
November 25
Received a report of harassment on Meadville Ave.
The Brown County Ambulance transported a flight crew to pick up a patient at the Brown County Hospital.
Responded to a report of a vehicle leaving the scene of an accident after driving through a property gate near 877th Road and 430th Ave.
Issued a citation for speeding on Highway 7 to a Colorado driver for 79mph in a 65mph zone.
Received a request for a welfare check on a male subject in Ainsworth. The male was located and reported safe at this time.
Issued a citation to a driver for expired registration and no trailer lights on Highway 20.
November 26
Issued two verbal warnings for speed on Highway 20.
Attempted paper service delivery in Ainsworth.
November 27
Received a report of a reckless driver in Ainsworth, exceeding speed limits and failure to stop. The driver was later identified and issued a citation.
Served a paper near Johnstown.
Citation issued for speeding and no proof of insurance on Highway 7 to a SD driver.
Received a report of a reckless driver on Highway 7.
Issued three citations for no taillights on Highway 20. One a semi-driver was escorted back to Ainsworth until the lights could be repaired.
Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 7.
November 28
No reportable activity.
November 29
Issued citation for no headlights on Highway 20.
Issued a citation for speeding on Highway 20 to a NE driver.
Responded to a report of a vehicle blocking the roadway on Main Street. No vehicle was found.
November 30
The Brown County Ambulance was paged to Johnstown and transported one patient to the hospital.
Located a disabled vehicle on Highway 20. The vehicle was later removed.
Weekly Log
Calls: 65
911 Calls: 2
Calls for Service: 6
December 1
Served a paper in Johnstown.
Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 20.
Responded to a report of burglary. No criminal activity was found at this time.
December 2
Follow-up investigation regarding a report of trailer theft.
Responded to a request for a welfare check on a male subject in Ainsworth. The male was located at his home address and reported safe at this time.
Issued a citation for speeding on Highway 20 to a Wyoming driver for 77mph in a 65mph zone.
Issued a citation for speeding near 5th Street and Meadville Ave for speeding 52mph in a 35mph zone.
Issued two written warnings for speeding.
December 3
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing near 427th Ave and Highway 20.
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing near 876th Rd and Highway 7.
Issued citation for speeding on Highway 20 to a Nebraska driver for 76mph in a 65mph zone.
The Brown County Ambulance was paged and transported one patient to the hospital in Ainsworth.
Served a paper in Ainsworth.
Issued two violation cards during traffic stops for improper/defective vehicle lighting.
Responded to a report of a car-deer accident near Highway 20 and 9A spur. No injuries occurred and the vehicle was able to drive away from the scene. The deer was dispatched due to injuries.
December 4
Provided court room security.
Served a paper in Ainsworth.
Follow-up interview regarding a report of theft.
Issued written warning for speeding on Highway 20.
Received a report of a vulnerable adult. This is an ongoing investigation.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to Long Pine and transported one patient to the hospital.
December 5
Served a paper in Ainsworth.
December 6
Citation issued for speeding on Highway 20 to a Nebraska driver for 16+mph over the posted speed limit.
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing near 433rd Ave and Highway 20.
Responded to a report of a male subject driving a golf cart on Highway 20. The male subject was issued a citation for no operator’s license and the golf cart was impounded.
Attended a fire drill at Ainsworth Community Schools.
Issued a citation for failure to yield to oncoming traffic and violating stop sign during a traffic stop on Highway 20.
Issued a citation for speeding to a Nebraska driver on Highway 20 for 88mph in a 65mph zone.
December 7
Issued a written warning for speeding.
Served paper service in Ainsworth.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a call in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.
Issued citation for speeding on Highway 20 for 80mph in a 65mph zone.
Weekly Log
Calls: 98
911 Calls: 4
Calls for Service: 10
Handgun Purchase Permits: 1
Inmates Housed: 1
* Local Hoop Shoot winners advance to district contest
(Posted 10:15 a.m. Dec. 9)
Six shooters qualified for the district contest Jan. 12 at Cozad by finishing first in their age division during the annual Elks Hoop Shoot, held Sunday in McAndrew Gymnasium.
The top shooter of the event was Blake Hansmeyer, who won the boys 12-13 age division. Isabelle Arens was the top 12-13 girls shooter.
Landon Arens won the boys 10-11 age division, with Sutton Brodbeck taking first in the girls 10-11 division.
Jett Hansmeyer was the top shooter for the boys 8-9 division, and Cecilia Kerrigan took first in the girls 8-9 division.
Those who win the District Hoop Shoot Jan. 12 will advance to the Elks State Hoop Shoot.
* Bassett Christmas Bucks winners selected for Week 1
(Posted 10:45 a.m. Dec. 5)
First week winners of the Bassett Chamber Christmas Bucks giveaway are Allen’s Pizza Place, Kent Croghan and Jeff Allen; Bassett American Legion Club, Derek White and Austin Kroll; Bassett Country Club, Lisa Fischer and Chris Coulter; Circle B, JoLyn Dillon and Ty Jackson; Corral Bar, Joyce Menzel and Jake Friedrich; G & V’s Market, Mary Morton and Kim Ost; Hometown Repair, Connie Bussinger and Ginny Kepler; Leon’s Hardware, Jean James and Jinny Kepler; New Images, Theresa Denny and Sheila Peterson; Range Cafe, Rock County Agronomy, Barta Cattle Co. and Clifford Kepler; Rock County Pharmacy, Melody Turpin and Steve Larson; Rock County Leader, Carla Anderson and Jan Buoy; Rock County Senior Center, Denny Lane and Donna McGuire; Rolling Rock Vet, Brandy Connell and May Ranch; Scott’s Place, Donnie Buchanan and Margret Walton; Second Chance Thrift Store, Allyson Frank and Nina Atkinson; Stout Welding LLC, Bernie Hart and TCR Cattle; The Porch, Connie Munk and Ev Armstrong; The Scissors Edge, Mona Davis and Maren Arens; Teased Salon, Donna Adams and Sam Krieger; Bassett Methodist Church, Britley Morrison and Robin Wright; Whistle Stop, Amber Zoucha and Kasy Epke; and Wm. Krotter, Wade Hollenbeck and Kevin Connell.
Additional winners will be chosen Dec. 9, 16 and 23.
The first “Shop The Rock Sunday $100” winner is JoAnn Claussen. Remember to register each Sunday – Dec. 8, 15, and Dec. 22 to be eligible to win. Shoppers must make a purchase on Sunday in any open local business in Bassett. The winner of each of the $100 does not need to be present but must make a purchase on Sunday.
* Deer harvest down 2 percent from 2023
(Posted 4 p.m. Dec. 4)
Preliminary results from the Nebraska November firearm deer season show statewide harvest was down 2% from 2023 and down 24% from the 2019-2023 average.
This was more successful than expected for the Nov. 16-24 season as November Firearm permit quotas were reduced 13% from 2023 in response to declining deer populations.
Mule deer buck harvest increased 9% from 2023, while whitetail buck harvest fell 2%. Antlerless mule deer harvest declined 10% from 2023, while antlerless whitetail increased 2%. All harvest levels are down significantly from the five-year average. Total deer harvest for the firearm season has declined each year since 2019.
“Nebraska Game and Parks significantly reduced permit quotas, intending to reduce harvest this year, due to lower numbers of deer,” said Luke Meduna, Game and Parks’ big game program manager. Deer populations in Nebraska have been declining in recent years due to drought conditions, severe winters and increased permit quotas in 2019 and 2020.
“Despite those lower deer populations and permit quotas, many Nebraska hunters found success and created great memories in the field this season,” Meduna said.
Overall, November firearm permit success was 2% higher at 40% this year, compared to 38% in 2023.
Final harvest results will be available following the close of all deer seasons. Archery season closes Dec. 31, while muzzleloader season is Dec. 1-31. The late antlerless season is Jan. 1-15, while the River Antlerless late season is Jan. 1-15.
* Turpin says new road product did not perform
(Posted 9 a.m. Dec. 4)
Brown County Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin told the Board of Commissioners Tuesday the product used to harden the gravel surface of Meadville Avenue north of the paved portion of the road exhibited substantial ruts and mud following rains in late November.
Turpin said the 1-mile stretch of Meadville Avenue where the Permazyme product was placed experienced severe ruts following the rain.
“It got really muddy in November and rutted pretty bad,” the highway superintendent said. “It had ruts up to 7 inches deep in a few spots. Every road around it was in better shape.”
Turpin said the roads department bladed the stretch and it has hardened up again. However, one of the selling points of the new product was its ability to remain in a hardened state and lessen the number of times maintaining equipment has to be used.
“It had plenty of time to cure,” Turpin said. “I told the company, if we can’t get it resolved, we will want a refund. It did not work as advertised.”
The company sold the product to the county on a trial basis, offering the county a refund if it was not satisfied with the way the product performed.
In other roads item, the highway superintendent reported roads employee Joe Crooker planned to retire from the department at the end of the year.
“Joe has been a good employee,” Turpin said. “I think we can get by without hiring an extra person. We have had eight since the flooding, but I think we can try it with seven and see how it goes.”
Turpin said he was trying to find ways to save the county a little money.
Commissioners Dennis Bauer and Jeremiah Dailey both said they appreciated Turpin’s decision to operate the roads department with seven employees instead of eight.
Turpin also reported TopKote, the longtime contractor for the county’s armor coating work, was closing as the owner planned to retire. Turpin said the company had done good work for the county for 25 years, but the roads department would now have to find someone else to perform armor coating work.
In a roads department action item, the commissioners approved a three-year agreement with the village of Johnstown to provide snow removal and road maintenance on streets in the village in exchange for half of the village’s annual highway allocation funding. Turpin said there were no changes to the previous agreement. He said the county hauls gravel for the village if it is needed, but the village pays for the cost of the gravel.
Turpin said he would like to revisit an agreement the roads department has with Cherry County. Under that agreement, the Brown County roads department maintains a portion of Beel Lane located in Cherry County while the Cherry County roads department is responsible for maintaining a portion of a road located in western Brown County.
Turpin said there has been some turnover in roads department personnel in Cherry County and it didn’t sound like the Brown County road Cherry County had agreed to maintain was being bladed.
Turpin said he did not necessarily want to end the agreement, he just wanted to revisit it to make sure both roads are maintained.
Sheriff Brent Deibler reported he has been working to try and have the Nebraska Department of Transportation lower the speed limit back down on the approaches into Ainsworth from the east and west on Highway 20, and also from the south on Highway 7.
Deibler said he was also trying to get a painted crosswalk installed on Highway 7 at Daniels Manufacturing, as the company’s employee parking lot is located across Highway 7 from the facility and employees have to cross the highway on foot to get to work.
The commissioners and audience members also encouraged Deibler to work on a painted crosswalk on Highway 20 between the Ainsworth Conference Center and Red & White Market since so many youth cross the highway at that intersection to attend practice in the conference center gym.
Deibler said anyone who supported reducing the speed limits and creating the crosswalks could send a letter of support to the sheriff’s department.
The commissioners Tuesday approved allowing the sheriff’s department to apply for a 2025 JAG Taskforce Grant to help pay for radio equipment upgrades, with Clerk Travee Hobbs being the fiscal point of contact for the county.
Tanya Cole with the sheriff’s department said the grant application window is now open, and North Central Development Center Executive Director Kristin Olson is working with the sheriff’s department on the application. Cole said Olson would handle the grant reporting requirements for the county if the grant is awarded.
The commissioners approved resolutions to make budgeted transfers from the county roads department highway bridge buyback fund and the inheritance tax fund to make the $273,608 payment due on the Meadville Avenue bond and approved making the annual payment on the Brown County Hospital addition bond.
The next meeting of the Brown County Commissioners is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Dec. 17.
* Nebraska’s jobless rate remains among nation’s best
(Posted noon Nov. 26)
The Nebraska Department of Labor announced Nebraska’s unemployment rate for October is 2.7 percent. The rate is unchanged from the September rate and is up 0.2 percentage points from the October 2023 rate of 2.5 percent.
For the fifth straight month, Nebraska’s rate is ranked fifth lowest in the nation. South Dakota maintains its grip on the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 1.9 percent. Vermont moved to second with an October rate of 2.3 percent, followed by North Dakota at 2.4 percent, New Hampshire at 2.5 percent, and Nebraska.
Nevada experienced the highest unemployment rate in the nation in October at 5.7 percent. California at 5.4 percent, Illinois at 5.3 percent and Kentucky at 5.0 percent rounded out the four states with the highest jobless rates. The fifth-worst rate was a tie at 4.7 between Michigan, New Jersey, South Carolina and Washington.
The national unemployment rate for October is 4.1 percent, unchanged from the September rate and up 0.3 percentage points from the October 2023 rate of 3.8 percent.
Brown County’s unemployment rate in October was above the statewide average at 2.9 percent.
Rock County had the lowest unemployment rate in the area at 2.1 percent, which was tied for the second-best rate in the state behind the 2.0 percent rate in Hayes County. Holt County and Cherry County were close behind with rates of 2.2 percent in October.
Keya Paha County’s October rate was better than the state average at 2.6 percent, with Boyd County matching Brown County at 2.9 percent.
Blaine County had the highest rate in the area at 3.6 percent. Thomas County at 4.2 percent and Loup County at 4.1 percent on either side of Blaine County experienced the highest unemployment rates in the state in October.
“Total nonfarm employment reached an all-time high in October at 1,085,139,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin. “That is an increase of over 4,000 filled jobs from the prior high in June of this year.”
Nonfarm employment was up 7,298 from September and up 22,738 since October 2023. Private education and health services reached a record high of 172,155 jobs and increased 8,321 from October 2023. Other private industries with the most growth during the past year were the manufacturing sector (up 3,846 jobs); and the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (up 2,543 jobs).
Private industries with the most growth from September to October were the private education and health services sector (up 2,217 jobs); the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (up 1,587 jobs); and the mining and construction sector (up 556 jobs).
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 10:45 a.m. Nov. 25)
November 17
Speeding citation and written warning issued during traffic stops.
Responded to a report of a car-deer collision on Highway 20. No injuries were reported and the vehicle was able to drive away.
November 18
The Brown County Ambulance were paged and transported one patient to the hospital.
Responded to a car-deer collision on Highway 20. No injuries reported and the vehicle was able to drive away.
Received a report of a gas drive off. Contact was made with the driver who returned to pay.
The Brown County Ambulance provided a ground transport crew to take a patient to Omaha.
The Brown County Ambulance and a deputy responded to a request for a lift assist in Long Pine.
November 19
Responded to a report of a chipped windshield in Ainsworth. The semi and trailer reported to be dropping rocks was not found.
Issued two warnings during traffic stops for no driver’s license on person and a violation card for no trailer lights. Another traffic stop resulted in a written warning for speeding.
Served a paper service in Ainsworth.
November 20
Provided court room security.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a page in Long Pine and transported one patient to the hospital. A deputy also responded for assistance.
Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail after they received a personal recognizance bond in court.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a page in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.
Served an arrest warrant for failure to appear in Ainsworth. The male subject was booked into the Brown County Jail.
Received a report of trespassing in Ainsworth.
Responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle near 3rd and Main Street in Ainsworth. The vehicle was not found.
Received an intake from Department of Health and Human Services reporting suspected child abuse/neglect.
The Brown County Ambulance provided a ground transport crew to Norfolk.
Received a report of an underage driver.
November 21
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing on Highway 20.
The Ainsworth and Long Pine Fire Departments were paged to a fire near the Buffalo Flats Cemetery. The fire was contained quickly and trucks returned to the barn.
Responded to a report of a driver shining a spotlight at another vehicle. Contact was made with the driver.
November 22
Served three paper services in Ainsworth and one in Long Pine and Johnstown.
Provided traffic control for a funeral procession.
Responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident near Third and Main streets in Ainsworth. Minimal damage occurred to both vehicles and insurance information was exchanged.
Issued written warning for speeding on Meadville Ave.
Responded to a report of a hay trailer operating after dark with no taillights. Contact was made with the driver and a violation card was issued.
Issued two citations for speeding on Highway 20.
Another traffic stop on Highway 20 resulted in a violation card issued for no trailer lights.
November 23
Provided traffic control on Highway 20 for a cattle crossing.
Provided traffic control for a funeral procession.
Received a report of harassment. This is an ongoing investigation.
The Brown County Ambulance and the Brown County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a male subject in a mental health crisis. The male was transported to the hospital and later transported to a mental health facility by ground ambulance transport.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.
Responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle at a business in Ainsworth. The vehicle was not found.
Weekly Log
Calls: 118
911 Calls: 8
Calls for Service: 13
Inmates Housed: 2
Vin Inspections: 4
Handgun Purchase Permits: 6
* Parking areas to close on Main Street for striping
(Posted 2 p.m. Nov. 21)
Portions of parking areas on Main Street in Ainsworth will be closed intermittently this week for to allow for striping.
Orange cones will be placed in areas scheduled for paint striping. Motorists are asked not to park in areas with the cones.
The painting is the final portion of the Main Street renovation project. The Nebraska Department of Transportation is working with the Nebraska Public Power District to electrify the new streetlights.
Carl Hart with the NDOT thanks the downtown business owners and residents for their patience and cooperation during the construction project.
* Conroy discusses hurricane recovery effort
(Posted 11:15 a.m. Nov. 21)
* Commissioners approve hiring additional deputy
(Posted 3:15 p.m. Nov. 19)
The Brown County Commissioners on Tuesday gave Sheriff Brent Deibler the go-ahead to interview and hire an additional full-time deputy for the sheriff’s department.
Deibler said, with himself, two full-time deputies and two part-time deputies, the sheriff’s department did not have enough staff to cover all shifts and current employees did not get much, if any, time off.
With three daily eight-hour shifts to staff, Deibler said he had not taken a day off work since he started as the sheriff and his deputies don’t get much time off.
Deibler said, in the past, the sheriff’s department was staffed with the sheriff and five full-time deputies.
Commissioner Jeremiah Dailey said he didn’t think it was out of line for the sheriff’s department to have four full-time employees.
“If we don’t get some more help, we may not have any employees left,” Dailey said.
Deibler agreed, saying his deputies needed to be able to have some time off.
Board Chairman Dennis Bauer said things were going well with the sheriff’s department, and he didn’t want to see someone quit because they can’t take any time off.
“It is important to be able to unwind,” Bauer said.
Commissioner Buddy Small said he agreed hiring an additional full-time deputy was the right thing to do.
Deibler said he would schedule two interviews, one with an applicant who is certified in the state of Nebraska and another who is certified in law enforcement from another state.
County Attorney Andy Taylor said the commissioners would need to approve a resolution allowing for the hiring of an additional employee since it was not included in the sheriff’s budget.
Deputy clerk Becky Hardy said the additional employee would stay in the sheriff’s department budget but the funding needed for the position would then be transferred from the miscellaneous general fund.
Taylor said he would create a resolution for the board to approve during its Dec. 3 meeting.
In other business Tuesday, the commissioners approved updates to the BKR Extension office’s bylaws and constitution. Extension Educator Blair Speck said the main change in the bylaws was requiring five board members to be present for a quorum instead of three. Speck said the board had been operating under the guidelines of needing five members present for a quorum, but the bylaws indicated only three were needed.
Speck said the Extension Board had approved the updates, as had the Rock County Commissioners. She said she will meet with the Keya Paha County Commissioners next week.
The board discussed how to print the county’s legal notices after the Ainsworth Star-Journal indicated it planned to cease operations after Dec. 25 unless another party purchases the newspaper to continue the publication.
Newspaper co-owner Rod Worrell said he was still hopeful a buyer could be found to continue Brown County’s newspaper of record.
Taylor said, if the Star-Journal did cease publication, the county would need to post meeting notices as it does now in three locations.
“If there is a newspaper published outside the county that is in general circulation in Brown County, we would use that publication,” Taylor said.
Worrell said the two papers outside the county that might be in circulation in some part in Brown County would be the Springview Herald and the Rock County Leader. He encouraged the board to check with those newspapers to find out how many subscriptions are mailed to Brown County addresses.
The board continued discussion on a proposal from the North Central District Health Department to place a mobile food pantry in the county.
Bauer said there were pros and cons to the county taking responsibility for the mobile pantry. In addition to finding volunteers to maintain the pantry and keep it stocked, Bauer said liability was a concern.
“We do have a food pantry in town already,” Bauer said. “In the winter, I worry about cans freezing and exploding.”
Dailey said it might work better for the health department to work with a church in the community to place the pantry and have a youth group volunteer to keep track of it.
Bauer said he would talk to the United Methodist Church youth group to see if it would take on the mobile pantry as a project.
“If not, we can come back as a board and make a decision,” Bauer said.
The commissioners approved an update to the county’s meal reimbursement policy, including that receipts for meals must be itemized for the employee to receive reimbursement.
Taylor said an individual submitted receipts for reimbursement recently but they were not itemized. Taylor said he realized the policy did not have language requiring itemized receipts, but he recommended the board update the policy.
Taylor said there were no ill intentions on the part of the employee submitting the receipts, but he felt the county needed to clarify that those receipts needed to be itemized to include the individual items purchased.
Bauer agreed, saying if the county did not have an itemized bill, it had no way to know what was purchased when the reimbursement request is made.
The board approved a budgeted transfer of $13,000 from the miscellaneous general fund to the re-appraisal fund.
The commissioners also discussed an agreement with the village of Johnstown for snow removal and road maintenance. The Village Board did not recommend any changes and requested an agreement be approved for three years. The county receives part of the village’s highway allocation funding from the state in exchange for assisting the village with snow removal and road maintenance.
Taylor said he would review the previous agreement and have something for the commissioners to consider during its next meeting.
That meeting is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Dec. 3.
* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary
(Posted 10:30 a.m. Nov. 18)
November 10
Issued a violation card for no taillights during a traffic stop on Highway 20.
November 11
Responded to a report of a vehicle-deer accident on Highway 183.
Issued a warning to an unauthorized motor vehicle driving after dark in Ainsworth.
The Brown County Ambulance was paged to Long Pine for a lift assist. A deputy also responded.
November 12
Provided court room security.
Received a report of harassment by mail.
Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail after they posted bond. Brown County was housing the subject for Boyd County.
Received a report of suspicious activity on North Main Street in Ainsworth.
Responded to a request for a welfare check on a female subject in Ainsworth. The female was reported safe at this time.
November 13
Follow-up regarding the welfare check from yesterday.
Served three paper services in Ainsworth.
Responded to a report of an assault on 4th Street in Ainsworth. Statements were received and a report will be sent to the attorney’s office.
Responded to a report of terroristic threats on Elm Street in Ainsworth. A male juvenile subject was transported to a juvenile detention facility.
November 14
The Brown County Ambulance responded to 911 call in Ainsworth. One patient was transported to the hospital.
Follow-up interviews regarding previous assault report.
November 15
Issued written warning for speeding on Highway 20.
November 16
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing on Highway 20.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a call in Ainsworth, transporting one patient to the hospital.
Issued a speeding citation during a traffic stop on Highway 183.
Received an adult protective services intake reporting possible abuse of an elderly male subject. The report does not meet definition for an investigation.
Issued a warning for a broken headlight on Highway 20 during a traffic stop.
Issued citation for failure to display plates.
Weekly Log
Calls: 101
911 Calls: 5
Inmates Housed: 2
Calls for Service: 10
Vin Inspections: 3
Handgun Purchase Permits: 5
* City Council approves ABC grant, denies LB 840 apps
(Posted 6:45 a.m. Nov. 13)
The Ainsworth City Council on Wednesday approved one application for funding from the Ainsworth Betterment Committee but denied three applications submitted for LB 840 funding.
The Ainsworth Senior Center initially submitted a request to the ABC Committee for $2,500 to help install a handicap-accessible door to the facility, which represented approximately half of the cost of the project.
Ainsworth Betterment Committee member David Spann said the senior center initially thought it would be able to apply to LB 840 for the remainder of the project, but learned it did not qualify for LB 840 funding.
Spann said the full ABC group did not have a chance to meet again to recommend the additional funding to complete the project, but he said he hoped the council would approve $5,000 from the ABC fund to support the installation of the door.
Spann said the minutes of the ABC meeting indicated that if the senior center was unable to obtain funding from LB 840 then the committee would likely recommend approving the full amount.
Following the discussion, the council approved up to $5,000 in ABC funding. City Administrator Lisa Schroedl said quotes for the electrical wiring portion of the project had not yet been obtained, so the funding would cover the project cost up to $5,000 in case the total comes in lower.
The council voted to deny three applications for LB 840 funding. Two of the applications were recommended for denial by the LB 840 Loan Committee, while a third for professional recruitment was recommended for approval by the committee.
The committee recommended the council deny a business loan application in the amount of $30,000 due to the deemed risk associated with the project and the lack of community benefit.
The committee also recommended the council deny a business façade application due to the sign proposed for rehabilitation not being attached to the building as required by the façade program.
Mayor Joel Klammer said he appreciated the loan committee sticking to the rules of the LB 840 program when looking at each application.
North Central Development Center Executive Director Kristin Olson said, if the council would like the loan committee to review the definition of façade, the committee could make a recommendation to the council at a future meeting on what it believed would meet the definition of façade.
Audience member Rod Worrell said, “Make sure you don’t have any applications in the pipeline before you change the rules, because I’ve been there.”
Councilman Kent Taylor said he was not looking to change any of the rules the committee abides by during this meeting.
The third application, a professional recruitment request in the amount of $90,000 which was recommended for approval by the loan committee under the conditions that the professional commits to serving in the community for at least five years and that the city includes a repayment clause to the LB 840 fund for any breach of the agreement.
Schroedl said the loan committee debated whether to require the professional to serve in the community for five years or for three years, which had been the timeframe included on other contracts.
Councilman Dustin Barthel said, if he was reading through the lines correctly, the agreement was for someone who is already serving in the community and was not for the recruitment of a new professional.
Schroedl said the contract was a retention agreement as opposed to professional recruitment.
Councilman Brad Fiala said recruitment and retention are two different things, and asked if retention of professionals was included in the LB 840 language as a proper use of funding.
Barthel said he believed the council would be opening a whole can of worms by approving a retention contract.
The council entered into a half-hour executive session to further discuss the application. Upon exiting the executive session, the council voted to deny the application as not meeting the guidelines set forth by the LB 840 program for professional recruitment.
In other business Wednesday, the council voted to discontinue the sandblasting work that was previously included as part of the Main Street rehabilitation project.
The council approved having sandblasting work done to differentiate and pattern the downtown sidewalks and crosswalks. However, the contractor instead placed a brick pattern into the concrete sidewalk area instead of the sandblasted pattern approved by the council.
Worrell asked why the city’s engineering firm did not catch the change in what was done compared to what the council approved.
“Who dropped the ball on this?” Worrell asked. “Was it Olssons or the NDOT?”
Klammer said the communication on the entire project has been frustrating for the city.
Barthel said he was disappointed in the way Olsson Associates was overseeing the Main Street work on behalf of the city.
The council voted to discontinue any sandblasting work on the project.
In another streets matter, the council approved the year-end certification of city streets superintendent Lloyd Smith to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. By certifying it has a licensed streets superintendent, the city receives an additional $3,000 incentive payment in its streets allocation funding.
The council approved the third and final reading adopting an ordinance that increases the pay of city council members and the mayor. While pay for the council members will increase to $300 per month, the increase in the mayor’s pay will not become effective until the beginning of the next mayoral term.
The council discussed a policy relating to donors being able to place their names on projects and what funding levels would be needed for a project to be named after a person or entity.
Schroedl said the topic began through a discussion by the Park Board related to the planned pickleball and basketball court project at East City Park.
The Park Board suggested the city come up with a policy for receiving private donations and how much would need to be donated for a project to be named for a specific person or entity.
Olson suggested any policy be generic so it can cover a broad range of projects where private donations may be used.
Klammer said he believed it would be a good idea for the city to have some kind of policy in place relating to private donations.
Barthel suggested members of the council meet with members of the Park Board to discuss what a policy might look like.
Councilman Doug Weiss suggested the city also consider ongoing donations made annually to support various projects in addition to one-time donations.
The council did not take any action Wednesday but will continue discussions on creating a policy.
The council held the second of two required public hearings for the North Main Street paving project. As part of the $433,000 Community Development Block Grant the city received for the project, the council was required to hold public hearings ahead of the project and following the completion of the work to give the public a chance to comment on the project.
With Taylor being elected to the City Council during the General Election but no other city resident running to replace Weiss on the council, Klammer said he would make a recommendation to the council in December on an appointment to the seat. The mayor said anyone interested in serving on the City Council call him or the city office.
The next meeting of the Ainsworth City Council is scheduled for 5 p.m. Dec. 11.
* Care Center Board approves retirement benefit
(Posted 11 a.m. Nov. 12)
The Sandhills Care Center Board of Directors on Monday approved providing a 1 percent match to full-time employees who contribute to a 401K retirement account.
During its October meeting, the board tabled the item until it could determine what would happen to health insurance premiums for 2025.
Administrator Penny Jacobs told the board health insurance premiums would increase slightly for 2025. She said the care center opted to keep its health insurance through the Lyons payroll company but would research alternatives, including through the Nebraska Association of County Officials as a subsidiary of Brown County, prior to the 2026 enrollment period.
The care center pays for 85 percent of the cost of an employee’s single health insurance policy. Board member Kent Taylor asked Jacobs how many full-time employees took advantage of the health insurance coverage provided by the care center. Jacobs said about half of the full-time employees receive coverage. After being asked by Taylor, Jacobs said the care center does not offer a cash-in-lieu of insurance benefit.
After discussing the cost of the health insurance benefits provided by the care center, the board discussed providing some kind of employer match to full-time staff members who place a portion of their income into a 401K plan.
Taylor said, if the care center provided a 1 percent matching contribution, it could cost approximately $15,000 per year based on the facility’s payroll.
“I think it is a good idea, and would help with employee retention,” Taylor said.
Board member Bruce Papstein questioned whether the care center’s finances would support the additional benefit moving forward.
“It impacts the bottom line,” Papstein said. “We are kicking in that percentage no matter how many people opt in to it. From an audit and operations standpoint, I think we should wait.”
Board member Dr. Mel Campbell said the care center would be able to include the benefit in its cost reports for Medicaid reimbursement.
“The best way to attract and keep good employees is through salary and benefits,” Campbell said. “One percent is not that high of a kick-in to a 401K. I think we should start there and revisit.”
Papstein said he could live with a 1 percent matching contribution for a year and see how it went.
With board member Dennis Bauer absent, the board approved providing the 1 percent 401K employer match beginning Jan. 1.
In other business Monday, the board approved providing current employees with a retention bonus based on the final installment of federal employee recruitment and retention funding through the American Rescue Plan Act.
While the amount of the federal funds was lower than a year ago and came in at just over $33,000, business manager Makenzie Crane said she figured the retention bonuses in a similar fashion as the previous year, basing the percentage of the bonus on the total number of hours worked by each employee between January and November.
Taylor said the formula worked well the previous year.
Campbell said it needed to be emphasized to employees that this is the final year the care center is receiving the federal funding for the retention bonuses.
The board also discussed holiday pay for employees. Consultant Mark Iverson recommended the board pay staff double time for working on the seven major holidays.
Campbell said he also consulted with the Brown County Hospital and the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care, who both provided double pay to critical staff members who worked on holidays.
Board Chairman Tom Jones said he believed the double pay should extend to all employees, including PRNs, housekeeping and dietary staff, who work on holidays.
“I think we should include the PRNs and see how it goes,” Jones said.
The board approved a bid of $10,994 from Glass Edge of Norfolk to replace the front door of the facility with a handicap-accessible door. There will be an additional cost for wiring the new door.
The board discussed whether it needed to obtain additional bids, but determined due to the uniqueness of the project the only other companies who could perform the work would have to travel from numerous hours away.
The board did opt to obtain additional bids after receiving one quote for updating the sprinkler system in the yard of the care center.
The care center generated $281,847 in revenue during October with expenses of $293,734 for a net loss during the month of $11,887. October was one of two months that included three pay periods.
The care center additionally received $31,384 in grant revenue and $24,150 from the voter-approved tax levy during the month.
Jacobs reported there are currently 31 residents calling the Sandhills Care Center home. Of those, 15 are from Ainsworth, four are from rural Brown County, one is from Long Pine, nine are from Cherry County, one is from Rock County and one resident is from Keya Paha County.
Jacobs said, during the past month, the facility admitted two new residents, both from Valentine. One resident was discharged to an assisted living facility and one resident passed away.
Of the current residents, 14 pay privately, 15 receive Medicaid assistance, one receives Medicare assistance and one resident receives hospice care.
Jacobs reported the new kitchen is much improved but the facility was still in the process of organizing the kitchen to best utilize the space available.
Crane reported the facility’s dining room was in the process of receiving new painting, wallpaper and lighting.
“It is going to be so much brighter in there when it gets done,” Crane said.
The next meeting of the Sandhills Care Center Board of Directors is scheduled for 5 p.m. Dec. 9.
* ACS attains Heart Safe School designation
(Posted 6:45 a.m. Nov. 12)
School nurse Lori Clapper informed the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education Monday the district had attained a Heart Safe School designation from Project Adam and Children’s Hospital at Omaha.
Clapper said the Heart Safe School program was initiated following the death of a 17-year-old in Wisconsin, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest during a basketball game.
To achieve the Heart Safe School designation, not only does the school have to incorporate defibrillators in the buildings, but the district has to form an emergency response team, an emergency response plan and practice putting that plan into action.
“We have had AEDs in the school for a number of years,” Clapper said. “We do drills at least twice per year.”
Clapper said about half of the district’s staff is proficient in CPR. She said, during sudden cardiac arrest events that occur at school, the survival rate increases by 71 percent in schools that have a defibrillator.
The board thanked Clapper and the school’s emergency response team for their work in attaining the designation.
Superintendent Dale Hafer reported the district has submitted its final reimbursement request for its allocation of federal ESSER funding. He said the remaining ESSER III funds were used as part of the school’s summer program.
“We made a lot happen with those funds,” Hafer said.
He said the funds were used on updating the district’s curriculum and student laptop computers, which were items the district would have had to use property tax dollars to purchase.
The superintendent reported the district’s Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance rates would increase 5.49 percent for the 2025 plan year. Hafer said the increase was not as high as the double digit increase that was anticipated.
In action items Monday, the board approved closing its student fee fund and transferring the $1,575 in the fund to the district’s general fund.
“We’ve had this fund for years, but it has been inactive for several years,” Hafer said. “The auditors told us to just close the account and move the $1,575 to the general fund since the account was inactive.”
Hafer said he double checked with the Nebraska Department of Education to make sure the transfer could be made as recommended and was told the transfer could be completed by a simple vote of the board.
The board approved closing the student fee fund and closing the account.
The board approved the second reading of a policy revision relating to support staff licensing and certification and approved the review of school policies 501 to 503.6 with no changes recommended.
The next meeting of the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 9.
* Main Street open to traffic
(Posted 2:15 p.m. Nov. 11)
Nebraska Department of Transportation project manager Carl Hart reported Highway 7 in Ainsworth is now completely open to traffic. The final portion of the project, from Front Street to South Street, was opened to traffic Monday afternoon.
Some additional work on Main Street will continue, including lighting, striping and seeding. The first portion of Main Street was closed in March. The NDOT anticipated portions of Main Street would be closed into November, so the project is on schedule.
* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary
(Posted 11:15 a.m. Nov. 11)
November 3
Responded to a 911 caller reporting a reckless driver near Highway 20 and 430th Ave. The vehicle was not found at this time.
Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 183.
Received a report of calves out on Highway 183. The owner was notified and corrected the issue.
Issued two citations for speeding on Highway 7.
Issued a citation for speeding and no registration on Meadville Ave.
Issued a written warning for improper use of center lane on 4th Street in Ainsworth.
November 4
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a page in Ainsworth, transporting one patient to the hospital.
Issued citation for speeding on Meadville Ave.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Long Pine, transporting one patient to the Rock County Hospital.
Responded to a report of a suspicious individual walking along Highway 20, near the Brown and Rock County line. The male subject was not found.
Issued a violation card for defective trailer lights and expired registration during a traffic stop on Highway 20.
November 5
Received a report of a lost or stolen firearm.
Follow-up investigation regarding a Department of Health and Human Services intake involving truancy issues.
Responded to a report of cattle out on Highway 183. The owner was notified and corrected the issue.
The Brown County Ambulance was paged for a lift assist in Long Pine. Two deputies also responded to the scene for assistance, and no further transport was needed at this time.
Issued a written warning for defective tail lights on Highway 20.
The Brown County Ambulance was paged to an Ainsworth business parking lot and transported one patient to the hospital.
November 6
Responded to a vehicle accident in Ainsworth at a business parking lot. No injuries were reported, and a vehicle was towed from the scene.
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing along Highway 20 and 428th Ave.
Responded to a report of a semi-trailer driving without headlights on Highway 20. A citation was issued for defective headlights, no registration and no insurance. The semi driver was escorted by patrol units to the Bassett NE sale barn as it was loaded with cattle.
November 7
Provided traffic control for a funeral procession on South Main Street.
November 8
Booked a male subject into the Brown County Jail for holding for a Boyd County arrest of domestic assault charges.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital. An on-duty deputy also responded to the scene to assist.
Issued a citation for speeding and expired registration on Highway 20. Another traffic stop resulted in a citation for speeding on Highway 20, near mile marker 247.
Issued a citation for failure to stop near 4th and Oak Street.
November 9
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing near 429th Ave and Highway 20.
Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail after bond was posted.
Weekly Log
Calls: 113
911 Calls: 11
Calls for Service: 10
Inmates Housed: 3
Handgun Purchase Permits: 6
Vin Inspections: 2
* Statewide General Election Results
(Posted 6:45 a.m. Nov. 6)
Election Results
Statewide
Voter Turnout – 934,188 (73.89 percent)
Winners in BOLD
President
(R) Donald Trump 551,343 (60.18 percent)
(D) Kamala Harris 353,106 (38.54 percent)
(L) Chase Oliver 6,113
(LMN) Cornel West 2,884
(PET) Jill Stein 2,705
President by District 1
(R) Donald Trump 172,335 (56.27)
(D) Kamala Harris 129,714 (42.35)
President by District 2
(R) Donald Trump 142,486 (47.49)
(D) Kamala Harris 153,618 (51.21)
President by District 3
(R) Donald Trump 236,522 (76.33)
(D) Kamala Harris 69,774 (22.52)
U.S. Senate
Six-Year Term
(R) Deb Fischer 487,661 (53.86 percent)
(I) Dan Osborn 417,801 (46.14 percent)
Two-Year Term
(R) Pete Ricketts 571,281 (63.15 percent)
(D) Preston Love Jr. 333,401 (36.85 percent)
House of Representatives
District 1
(R) Michael Flood 181,865 (60.55 percent)
(D) Carol Blood 118,491 (39.45 percent)
District 2
(R) Don Bacon 153,191 (51.4 percent)
(D) Tony Vargas 144,873 (48.6 percent)
District 3
(R) Adrian Smith 241,818 (80.43 percent)
(D) Daniel Ebers 58,823 (19.57 percent)
Nebraska Legislature
43rd District
Tanya Storer 11,468 (60.77 percent)
Tony Tangwall 7,404 (39.23 percent)
Initiative 434
Unborn Children Protection Measure
For 496,586 (55.32 percent)
Against 401,072 (44.68 percent)
Referendum 435
Private Education Scholarships
Retain 370,542 (42.94 percent)
Repeal 492,478 (57.06 percent)
Initiative 436
Paid Sick Leave
For 638,737 (74.27 percent)
Against 221,309 (25.73 percent)
Initiative 437
Medical Cannabis
For 614,236 (70.74 percent)
Against 254,079 (29.26 percent)
Initiative 438
Medical Cannabis Dispensing
For 578,375 (66.95 percent)
Against 285,573 (33.05 percent)
Initiative 439
Abortion Rights Protection
For 436,750 (48.55 percent)
Against 462,756 (51.45 percent)
* Brown County Election Results
(Posted 9 p.m. Nov. 5)
Election Results
Brown County
Voter Turnout – 79.88 percent (1,652 ballots cast)
President
(R) Donald Trump 1,422
(D) Kamala Harris 199
(L) Chase Oliver 6
(LMN) Cornel West 5
(PET) Jill Stein 2
U.S. Senate
Six-Year Term
(R) Deb Fischer 1,237
(I) Dan Osborn 380
Two-Year Term
(R) Pete Ricketts 1,451
(D) Preston Love Jr. 168
House of Representatives
District 3
(R) Adrian Smith 1,442
(D) Daniel Ebers 151
Nebraska Legislature
43rd District
Tanya Storer 935
Tony Tangwall 559
Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court
Retain Judge Julie A. Martin
Yes 1,053
No 230
County Court District 8
Retain Judge James Orr
Yes 1,063
No 256
Brown County Commissioner
(R) Don Painter 1,492
KBR Rural Public Power Board
Pat Schumacher 581
Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education (three seats)
Jacob Graff 1,009
Brad Wilkins 955
Mark Johnson 820
Crystal Dailey 1,253
Ainsworth City Council
Kent Taylor 660
Long Pine City Council (two seats)
David Cheatum 100
Donald Buchanon 50
Hayley Collatos 107
Johnstown Village Board (two seats)
Sam Myers 12
Ruth Trobee 6
Reena King 19
Ainsworth Airport Authority
Matthew Kovar (write-in) 10
Initiative 434
Unborn Children Protection Measure
For 1,123
Against 473
Referendum 435
Private Education Scholarships
Retain 598
Repeal 909
Initiative 436
Paid Sick Leave
For 908
Against 586
Initiative 437
Medical Cannabis
For 744
Against 765
Initiative 438
Medical Cannabis Dispensing
For 644
Against 861
Initiative 439
Abortion Rights Protection
For 463
Against 1,128
All races for Community College Boards and Natural Resources District Boards were unopposed
* Rock County Election Results
(Posted 9 p.m. Nov. 5)
Election Results
Rock County
Voter Turnout – 78.8 percent (846 ballots cast)
President
(R) Donald Trump 745
(D) Kamala Harris 85
(L) Chase Oliver 2
(LMN) Cornel West 1
(PET) Jill Stein 1
U.S. Senate
Six-Year Term
(R) Deb Fischer 669
(I) Dan Osborn 156
Two-Year Term
(R) Pete Ricketts 746
(D) Preston Love Jr. 64
House of Representatives
District 3
(R) Adrian Smith 741
(D) Daniel Ebers 58
Nebraska Legislature
43rd District
Tanya Storer 501
Tony Tangwall 224
Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court
Retain Judge Julie A. Martin
Yes 479
No 141
County Court District 8
Retain Judge James Orr
Yes 492
No 139
Rock County Commissioner
(R) Wade Hollenbeck 765
Rock County Public Schools Board of Education (three seats)
Krystal Kaup 553
Matthew Morrison 623
Rachel Weidner 671
Bassett Mayor
Mace Turpin 281
Bassett City Council (two seats)
Monte Andrews 249
Michael Turpin 228
Rock County Airport Authority
James Nelson 712
KBR Rural Public Power District
Rock County
Michael Kreitman 426
Initiative 434
Unborn Children Protection Measure
For 536
Against 252
Referendum 435
Private Education Scholarships
Retain 247
Repeal 499
Initiative 436
Paid Sick Leave
For 387
Against 346
Initiative 437
Medical Cannabis
For 337
Against 395
Initiative 438
Medical Cannabis Dispensing
For 278
Against 437
Initiative 439
Abortion Rights Protection
For 247
Against 534
All races for Community College Boards and Natural Resources District Boards were unopposed
* Keya Paha County Election Results
(Posted 8:45 p.m. Nov. 5)
Election Results
Keya Paha County
Voter Turnout – 86.4 percent (546 ballots cast)
President
(R) Donald Trump 498
(D) Kamala Harris 44
(L) Chase Oliver
(LMN) Cornel West
(PET) Jill Stein
U.S. Senate
Six-Year Term
(R) Deb Fischer 448
(I) Dan Osborn 85
Two-Year Term
(R) Pete Ricketts 496
(D) Preston Love Jr. 34
House of Representatives
District 3
(R) Adrian Smith 489
(D) Daniel Ebers 31
Nebraska Legislature
43rd District
Tanya Storer 296
Tony Tangwall 201
Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court
Retain Judge Julie A. Martin
Yes 269
No 104
County Court District 8
Retain Judge James Orr
Yes 274
No 101
Keya Paha County Commissioners West District
(R) Tony Tiefenthaler 170
Keya Paha County Public Schools Board of Education (three seats)
Kyle Linse 176
Ann Kepler 371
Rachel Ferguson 388
Erik Johnson 331
Reo Miller 168
KBR Rural Public Power Board
Keya Paha County
Clay Beck 431
Springview Village Board
Raymond Angelilli 135
Initiative 434
Unborn Children Protection Measure
For 399
Against 117
Referendum 435
Private Education Scholarships
Retain 180
Repeal 302
Initiative 436
Paid Sick Leave
For 210
Against 269
Initiative 437
Medical Cannabis
For 194
Against 296
Initiative 438
Medical Cannabis Dispensing
For 172
Against 318
Initiative 439
Abortion Rights Protection
For 93
Against 422
All races for Community College Boards and Natural Resources District Boards were unopposed
* Board hears dispute regarding surveyor access
(Posted 3:15 p.m. Nov. 5)
The Brown County Commissioners on Tuesday heard from an attorney representing adjacent landowners near the former Long Lake State Recreation Area site concerned about a notice they received that a surveyor planned to be on their properties the week of Nov. 11-15.
Attorney Todd Flynn said he received an email Oct. 23 that a survey of the area would commence the week of Nov. 11-15 involving multiple sections and multiple landowners.
Flynn said his clients’ main concern was the dry conditions and the potential for fires to start. He said, according to the Drought Monitor, the area was deemed to be in a severe drought.
Flynn said he would attempt to find a more logical date for the surveyors to be in the area without the potential for fires starting.
County Attorney Andy Taylor said the issue doesn’t involve the county and is a dispute between private property owners.
Taylor said he contacted the surveyor. Taylor said the surveyor acknowledged the risk of fire but said the company would take precautions and carry fire extinguishers.
“There is a statute passed in September that says surveyors are allowed to come onto private property,” the county attorney said. “When there is a dispute, it can be filed in District Court and the judge decides.”
Taylor said the survey does not involve the route to the property that was previously approved by the commissioners, but is a survey of the boundaries of the property itself. Taylor said he would coordinate with the sheriff’s department in case the surveyors contacted the sheriff if they were denied access. He said the issue should first go through the court.
No action was required by the commissioners.
In other business Tuesday, the commissioners tabled a request to place a small food pantry in the county until the county could determine any potential liability issues.
TyLinn Dodd with the North Central District Health Department said the pantry was a simple concept that carried no cost to the community. She said it would be an opportunity for people to obtain food without having to wait for a pantry to be open.
Dodd said food insecurity is a private issue, and those who need help with food are often embarrassed and don’t want others to know they are in need of help.
Dodd said freewill donations of non-expired foods could be made to the pantry and those in need could simply obtain items from the pantry.
She said high school construction students built the pantries, which have an overhang and a door with a latch to keep food from being exposed to the elements. She said the pantries are being utilized in other communities.
Commissioner Buddy Small asked Taylor who would assume liability if someone put something bad in the pantry.
Dodd said food donated to the pantry should be non-perishable and unopened. She said she would look for volunteers who would inspect the pantry on a weekly basis to check for any issues.
She said the pantries are designed to give people more privacy and keep them from having to wait for a local pantry to be open.
Taylor said if the county is providing the space for the pantry, the county would be liable for any issues. He suggested the county contact its insurance carrier to see if the pantry could be covered by the county’s liability policy.
“I don’t think anyone would do anything bad, but we always have to plan for the worst,” Taylor said.
The board opted to table action on the item. Commissioner Dennis Bauer said the board would contact NIRMA to find out if the pantry could be covered under the county’s liability insurance policy.
Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin reported the roads department has replaced culverts on both 427th Avenue and Road 881. He said the old culverts on 429th Avenue at Bone Creek have been excavated with new culverts installed. The roads department was now working on sheet piling and backfilling the site, and should have the project completed by the end of the week.
Turpin said the roads department is installing an auto gate on Moon Lake Avenue, the cost of which would be paid by the property owner who requested the work.
The highway superintendent said he had 22 bridge inspections to perform during November.
The board approved the year-end certification of the highway superintendent. Turpin said, by certifying the county had employed Turpin as the highway superintendent during the past year, the county would receive an additional $9,000 incentive payment on its annual highway allocation.
Brown County Hospital Administrator Mirya Hallock reported the hospital had recently hired nurse practitioner Crystal Dailey and was actively trying to recruit a second physician to join Dr. Kenneth Wasmund and practitioners Dailey, Jen Schiermeyer and Hillary Goodwin.
Hallock said visits to the clinic and hospital are up, and the facility’s revenue is up. She reported the hospital granted funds to Ainsworth Pharmacy to purchase Ainsworth Drug, and the hospital was working with Northeast Community College to hold nursing classes at the hospital starting in the fall of 2025 to help nursing students from having to travel to Norfolk as often while pursuing a nursing degree.
The commissioners approved the hospital’s annual licensure application, and appointed Ryan Ortner and Scott Goodloe to the Brown County Hospital Board of Trustees for terms starting Jan. 1, 2025, and ending Dec. 31, 2030. Ortner and Goodloe replace Brian Delimont and Tate Schipporeit on the Board of Trustees after their terms expire Dec. 31.
In other action items, the commissioners approved a Highway 20 law enforcement interlocal agreement as presented by Sheriff Brent Deibler. Deibler said the agreement allows law enforcement agencies to assist each other when needed and includes agencies from Chadron to Neligh located along Highway 20.
The board acknowledged a letter from the District Court judge notifying counties in District 8 that wages for court-appointed attorneys would increase from $100 per hour to $125 per hour. Taylor said Attorney Mike Borders serves as the county’s public defender and handles a majority of cases. Only in instances where Borders has a conflict or is not available would the court appoint an attorney for those who cannot afford an attorney.
Treasurer Bruce Mitchell reported that, for the first time in at least 32 years, the county would not have to issue any distress warrants for past-due personal property taxes. He said everyone who received a letter came in and paid the property tax for 2023.
The board approved Deputy Treasurer Melissa Freudenburg to have the right to sign on behalf of the county at any bank where the treasurer does business.
The commissioners approved a budgeted transfer of $300,000 from the county’s miscellaneous general fund to the county highway fund.
Prior to adjourning, the board held an executive session with Deibler to discuss personnel issues. No action was taken following the executive session.
The next meeting of the Brown County Commissioners is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Nov. 18.
* Brown County Commissioners Tuesday agenda
(Posted 2:45 p.m. Nov. 4)
Brown County Commissioners
Meeting 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5
Brown County Courthouse
Agenda
Approve minutes of the 10-15-2024 and the regular meeting.
Bruce Mitchell – Recognize Melissa Freudenburg Deputy Treasurer as having rights to sign at any bank the Treasurer’s office does business
Distress Warrant Report – Mitchell
Isolated Lands – Attorney Todd Flynn
Kenneth Turpin – Road Department update
Year-end Certification of County Highway Superintendent & Resolution authorizing chairman to sign – Turpin
1:30 Mirya Hallock – Brown County Hospital License
Appoint two members to the Brown County Hospital Board of Trustees – Small
Budgeted Transfer of $300,000.00 from Miscellaneous General within the General Fund to the County Highway Fund – Clerk’s Office
District 8 Judge’s letter notifying counties of a raise in Court Appointed Attorney fees from $100/hour to $125/hour – District Court
Hwy 20 Law Enforcement Inter local agreement – Deibler
Approve Claims
TyLinn Dodd North Central District Health Department Heart Corp Health Educator- Food Pantry location in Brown County – Dodd
Correspondence
Public Comment
Executive session – RE personnel issues – Deibler
* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary
(Posted 8:45 a.m. Nov. 4)
October 27
Provided traffic control for a cattle crossing on Highway 20.
Responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle on Norden Ave. The vehicle had wheel damage and was towed due to still being on the roadway.
The Brown County Ambulance transported a patient to Norfolk.
October 28
Extradited a male subject from Ogallala after he was booked into the Keith County Jail on a Brown County warrant for escape and failure to appear.
Responded to a report of a reckless driver on Highway 20. Contact was made with the driver, who received a verbal warning for driving on the shoulder.
Served 3 paper services in Ainsworth.
Issued a written warning for speeding to a South Dakota driver on Highway 20.
Issued a citation for defective taillights and failure to display correct number of plates to a Nebraska driver in Ainsworth.
October 29
Issued a citation for speeding 77mph in a 65mph zone near the Highway 20/9A Spur to a Nebraska driver.
October 30
During a traffic stop on 4th Street in Ainsworth a male subject was issued a citation for driving under suspension.
Responded to a report of animal abuse on Maple Street.
Responded to a request for a welfare check in Ainsworth. The juvenile party was located and reported safe at this time.
October 31
Responded to a report of a juvenile not attending school in Ainsworth.
Responded to a report of a one vehicle accident on Highway 20 near the Brown and Rock County line. No injuries were reported, and the vehicle was towed from the scene. The driver stated he fell asleep.
Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail after receiving a personal recognizance bond.
November 1
Responded to a civil matter in Long Pine.
Follow-up investigation regarding theft in Long Pine.
Responded to a report of a juvenile on 4th Street throwing rocks at passing cars. The juvenile was not found.
Received a report of harassment with the use of a cellular device.
Issued a citation for no trailer lights or current registration during a traffic stop on Highway 20.
Issued a citation for speeding on Highway 20 for driving 77mph in a 65mph zone.
Received a report regarding a male subject in a mental health crisis.
November 2
Follow-up investigation regarding a civil property dispute in Long Pine.
Provided a civil standby in Ainsworth for property distribution.
Issued a violation card for no trailer lights during a traffic stop on Highway 20.
Weekly Log
Calls: 106
911 Calls: 6
Calls for Service: 12
Vin Inspections: 3
Handgun Purchase Permits: 6
Inmates Currently Housed: 2
* Few contested local races for General Election
(Posted 3:15 p.m. Oct. 31)
Brown County voters will not see many contested local races when completing their General Election ballot.
While races for President, the U.S. Senate, Congress and the Nebraska Legislature all have numerous candidates in the running, one of the only races Brown County voters will see where there are more candidates than openings is for three seats on the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education. Incumbents Brad Wilkins and Mark Johnson are running for additional four-year terms, while Jacob Graff and Crystal Dailey are seeking their first term on the school board. The top three will be seated on the Board of Education.
Residents of Long Pine will cast votes for two seats on the Long Pine City Council, with three running for those two positions. Candidates for Long Pine City Council are David Cheatum, Donald Buchanon and Hayley Collatos. Two of the three will earn council seats.
There are three candidates running for two seats on the Johnstown Village Board. Johnstown residents will choose two between Sam Myers, Ruth Trobee and Reena King.
Kent Taylor is the only candidate running for two open seats on the Ainsworth City Council. Taylor will be elected to a council seat, and with no write-in candidates being certified, the council will hear a recommendation from the mayor to appoint someone to the other vacant council seat.
There are two seats open on the Ainsworth Airport Authority for six-year terms, but no candidates are on the ballot. The Airport Authority will appoint members following the election.
After winning the Republican Primary over incumbent Buddy Small, Don Painter is running unopposed for a four-year term on the Brown County Board of Commissioners.
Like the commissioner race, the other local races appearing on the General Election ballot have candidates running unopposed.
Brown County voters will also cast ballots to determine whether District 8 County Court Judge James Orr should be retained for an additional six-year term, and whether Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court Judge Julie Martin should be retained for an additional six-year term.
In Rock County, the local races mostly see candidates running unopposed or a number of candidates running for an equal number of seats.
Krystal Kaup, Matthew Morrison and Rachel Weidner are running for three open seats on the Rock County Public Schools Board of Education and will all be elected.
Mace Turpin is the sole candidate for Bassett Mayor, and Monte Andrews and Michael Turpin are the candidates for two seats on the Bassett City Council.
Republican Wade Hollenbeck is running unopposed for another term on the Rock County Board of Commissioners.
James Nelson is unopposed for a six-year term on the Rock County Airport Authority. None of the races are contested for Natural Resources District, Northeast Community College or KBR Rural Public Power boards. The lone candidates for those offices will earn board seats.
No one filed to run for open seats on the Newport Village Board. Those seats will be appointed by the current board following the election.
Like in Brown County, Rock County voters will be asked whether Judges Orr and Martin should be retained for additional six-year terms.
In Keya Paha County, there are five candidates running for three seats on the Keya Paha County Public Schools Board of Education. Voters may select up to three between Kyle Linse, Ann Kepler, Rachel Ferguson, Erik Johnson and Reo Miller. The top three will earn four-year seats on the board.
Tony Tiefenthaler is running unopposed after winning the Republican Primary for a four-year seat on the Keya Paha County Board of Commissioners.
Ray Angelilli is the only candidate running for two open seats on the Springview Village Board.
Keya Paha County voters will also be asked whether Judges Orr and Martin should be retained.
Voters in all three counties will help select the next 43rd District representative in the Nebraska Unicameral. With Tom Brewer not able to run due to term limits, the two candidates vying to replace Brewer are Tanya Storer and Tony Tangwall. One will earn a four-year term to the Legislature.
Polls on Tuesday are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Voters must present identification when casting a ballot. Brown County voters cast ballots in the Ainsworth Conference Center. Rock County voters cast ballots in the Bassett Fire Hall and Keya Paha County voters cast ballots in the Springview Activities Center.
* Recent cases from Brown County Court
(Posted 1:45 p.m. Oct. 30)
In addition to fines, each case carries $50 in court costs
Colby G. Grupe, age 23, of Ainsworth, charged with no proof of insurance, fined $50.
Travis J. Olberding, 34, of Stuart, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.
Sandra S. Nilson, 54, of Ainsworth, speeding 16-20 mph over the limit, $125.
Levi E. Gum, 30, of Long Pine, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.
Angelica M. Volquardsen, 22, of Neligh, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.
Marshal R. Tinant, 40, of Crookston, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.
Jacee K. Devries, 24, of Inwood, Iowa, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.
Christine A. Carson, 46, of Blair, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.
Jennifer L. Davidson, 45, of Chadron, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.
Rozalynn K. Goss, 42, of Ainsworth, violating a stop or yield sign, $75.
Joseph L. Mixon, 19, of Ainsworth, no registration in vehicle, $100.
Tyler L. Nadauld, 30, of Fort Thompson, S.D., first offense willful reckless driving, $1,000.
Caleb L. Burton, 26, of Ainsworth, no license on person, $50; also charged with no proof of insurance, $100.
Natalie S. Sercl, 30, of Vero Beach, Fla., speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.
Eric J. Davis, 36, of Hastings, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.
Joel M. Conley, 27, of Littleton, Colo., speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.
Horacio Bravo Zamora, 57, of Ainsworth, speeding 16-20 mph over the limit, $125.
Gary B. Scott, 59, of Omaha, speeding 11-15 mph over the limit, $75.
* State’s jobless rate remains among best in country
(Posted 2:15 p.m. Oct. 29)
The Nebraska Department of Labor announced Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for September is 2.7 percent. The rate is unchanged from the August rate and is up 0.2 percent from the September 2023 rate of 2.5 percent. Nebraska’s rate is ranked fifth lowest in the nation.
South Dakota continues to enjoy the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 2 percent, followed by Vermont at 2.2 percent, North Dakota at 2.3 percent, New Hampshire at 2.5 percent and Nebraska.
The highest unemployment rate in the country belonged to Nevada at 5.6 percent. Illinois and California were tied for the second-highest rate in the nation at 5.3 percent, with Kentucky at 4.9 percent and Washington at 4.8 percent rounding out the five states with the highest rates.
The national unemployment rate for September is 4.1 percent, down 0.1 percentage points from the August rate of 4.2 percent and up 0.3 percentage points from the September 2023 rate of 3.8 percent.
In the area, Brown County’s unemployment rate in September was 2.4 percent, below the state average. Rock County had the lowest jobless rate in the state in September at 1.6 percent.
Cherry County at 1.8 percent and Holt County at 1.9 percent were also among the lowest unemployment rates in Nebraska for September.
Keya Paha County matched Brown County with a rate of 2.4 percent in September, and Boyd County equaled the state average with a rate of 2.7 percent. Blaine County’s unemployment rate fell in September to 2.7 percent after that county experienced one of the highest rates in the state in previous months.
Banner County in the Panhandle had the highest unemployment rate in the state in September at 4.3 percent.
“The manufacturing sector in Nebraska has been steadily growing, with manufacturing non-farm employment up 4,333 jobs in September compared to a year ago,” said Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin.
Nonfarm employment, a count of filled jobs, reached 1,078,646, up 7,751 from August and up 24,152 since September 2023. Private industries with the most growth between August and September were the private education and health services sector (up 1,159 jobs); information (up 140 jobs); and manufacturing (up 96 jobs). Private industries with the most growth during the past year were the private education and health services sector (up 8,364 jobs); manufacturing (up 4,333 jobs); and the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (up 3,502 jobs).
The count of employed and unemployed in the labor force are based on a survey conducted by the Census Bureau regarding employment status.
* Kennedy named an NSAA Believer & Achiever
(Posted 7 a.m. Oct. 29)
Currency and the Nebraska School Activities Association announced the 2024-25 Believers & Achievers. Believers & Achievers is a statewide program designed to give recognition to Nebraska’s future leaders.
Beginning in November and continuing through April, 48 Nebraska high school seniors will be recognized as Believers & Achievers. From those 48 finalists, eight will receive $500 scholarships from Currency to use for the college or university of their choice at a scholarship banquet to be held in April of 2025.
Area students among the 48 selected statewide are Emma Kennedy of Ainsworth High School, Brooklyn Eckert of Boyd County High School, Annabelle Barlow of O’Neill St. Mary’s High School, and Ashley Sidak of O’Neill High School.
* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary
(Posted 10:30 a.m. Oct. 28)
October 20
The Brown County Ambulance transported a patient from the Rock County Hospital to Norfolk, NE.
Responded to a report of assault in Ainsworth. A male subject was later issued a citation for assault and booked into the Brown County Jail.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call from Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital.
October 21
Responded to a report of trespassing in Ainsworth. The reported male subject left on his own recognizance and a protection order was filed and served.
Responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle on Meadville Ave. The vehicle was towed, and the driver was issued a citation for fictitious plates.
The Brown County Ambulance transported a flight crew from the Airport to the hospital.
Received an intake from Department and Health and Human Services regarding possible child abuse/neglect in Ainsworth.
Responded to a report of a driver leaving the scene of an accident near South Main after driving through wet cement. The driver was later located and issued a citation for leaving the scene of an accident and driving on a closed road.
The Brown County Ambulance transported a patient from the Rock County Hospital to Norfolk, NE. Another ambulance crew transported a flight crew from the airport to the Brown County Hospital.
Received a report of cattle out on Highway 183.
October 22
Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail after they received a personal recognizance bond.
Responded to a report of a one vehicle roll-over near the intersection of 430th Ave and 881st Rd. When the vehicle left the roadway, it struck a power pole causing it to break in half. No injuries were reported, and the vehicle was towed from the scene.
Issued a citation during a traffic stop on Highway 20 for failure to yield.
October 23
The Brown County Ambulance was paged to Long Pine twice. On the first trip the patient denied transport. On the second trip one patient was transported to the hospital.
Received a follow-up call regarding stolen property was returned in Ainsworth.
Responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in Ainsworth. The vehicle was not found.
Served a protection order in Ainsworth.
Received a report from Department of Health and Human Services for suspected adult abuse/neglect.
Responded to a report of a welfare check on a transient on Highway 20.
October 24
The Brown County Ambulance transported a patient from the hospital to a senior living facility in Ainsworth.
Responded to a report of a minor two-vehicle accident in a gas station parking lot in Ainsworth. No injuries were reported.
Assisted Department of Health and Human Services in Ainsworth with a follow-up investigation regarding possible child abuse/neglect.
Provided traffic control on Highway 20 for a cattle crossing.
Received a report regarding an uncontrollable juvenile in Ainsworth.
The Brown County Ambulance provided standby services for a football game.
Responded to a report of a one vehicle deer accident on Highway 20. No injuries were reported but the vehicle was unable to drive away from the scene.
October 25
Provided traffic control for a funeral procession.
Served 2 paper services in Ainsworth and 2 in Long Pine.
Responded to a report of a reckless driver on Highway 20. The driver was issued a written warning for driving on the shoulder of the road.
October 26
Issued a violation card for no registration for a vehicle.
Issued a citation for speeding on Meadville Ave.
Weekly Log
Calls: 102
911 Calls: 5
Calls for Service: 14
Inmates Housed: 3
Vin Inspections: 4
Handgun Purchase Permits: 3
* Tiebreak decides Week 8 after 15 contestants miss 3
(Posted 2:30 p.m. Oct. 24)
The KBRB Football Contest in 2024 did not yield a single perfect card, a tribute to the tightly contested high school and college football games fans were treated to this season.
The Week 8 Football Contest proved exceedingly difficult, as the best cards submitted missed three of the 14 games during the final week of the contest. There was a logjam of 15 cards submitted that missed three games, which sent us to Indiana’s 56-7 dismantling of Nebraska in the tiebreak game. The Hoosiers scored eight of the nine touchdowns during Saturday’s blowout, and Edith Cross of Ainsworth correctly picked nine total touchdowns after missing three games on the Week 8 card. That earned Edith the $40 first-place certificate for Week 8.
Second place in the tiebreak, earning a $20 certificate, was Nathan Finley of Valentine, who picked eight total touchdowns.
Kaye Coburn of Atkinson and Bill Carr of Ainsworth missed three games and picked seven total touchdowns to just miss out on the Week 8 certificates.
Also missing three games, Crystal Stout of Springview and Lanay Hansmeyer of Long Pine picked six total touchdowns. Jasmine Stout of Springview, Eli Beel of Johnstown, J.T. Shaw of Bassett and Brett Swan of Rapid City, S.D., missed three games and picked five total touchdowns, and Jenny Beel of Johnstown, Olivia Beel of Johnstown, Michelle Adulaju of Springview, Derek Swan of Lead, S.D., and Kenny Schelm of Ainsworth missed three games and picked four total touchdowns.
Winners can pick up their certificates from the KBRB Studios. KBRB thanks everyone who participated in this year’s football contest. The 2025 cards will go back to having an actual score for a tiebreak after the total touchdowns tiebreak was inadvertently printed on the tiebreak this year.
Thanks to this year’s contest sponsors – Buckles Automotive in Ainsworth, the Sandhills Lounge in Long Pine, the West Plains Bank in Springview, Circle B Livestock in Bassett, the Cast Iron Bar & Grill in Stuart, Speedee Mart in Ainsworth and Atkinson, and the Tri County Bank.
* E. coli cases reported across country, in Nebraska
(Posted 7 a.m. ct. 23)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported an outbreak of 49 cases of E. coli in 10 states. Currently, nine cases have been identified in Nebraska. Initial investigations have potentially linked the outbreak to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is working closely with the CDC, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Food and Drug Administration, and local health departments in Nebraska to communicate with patients and identify other potential cases.
The CDC is not advising against eating McDonald’s food. Potentially contaminated items have been removed from the menu in affected states.
E. coli can be spread through undercooked meat, raw milk, unpasteurized juices, contaminated water, and fruits and vegetables that have been contaminated with feces.
After being exposed to E. coli, symptoms usually occur after three to four days but could take as little as one day and as long as 10 days. Infections can make individuals of all ages sick. In some cases, especially in young kids, older adults, or people with weakened immune systems, E. coli can cause a serious condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure and other health problems, including death.
Signs of hemolytic uremic syndrome include little or no urination, losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids, unexplained bruising or rash of tiny red spots, blood in urine, and decreased alertness.
If you become ill with diarrhea or vomiting and a fever higher than 102°F after eating at McDonald’s, contact your primary care provider immediately. For those without a primary care provider, call your local health department or the Nebraska DHHS Office of Epidemiology at (402) 471-2937.
* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary
(Posted 9 a.m. Oct. 21)
October 13
Provided traffic control for cattle crossing on Highway 183.
Served one paper service in Ainsworth.
Two reckless driver reports on Highway 20.
Stolen property report in Long Pine.
Citation issued for speeding on Highway 20 for 79mph in a 65mph zone.
Responded to a report of gas smell on Elm Street.
October 14
Responded to a report of a reckless driver in Ainsworth.
Report of stolen property.
Issued two warnings and one violation card for traffic stops on Highway 20 for defective lights.
Inmate transport.
October 15
Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 20.
The Brown County Ambulance was paged to Long Pine transporting one patient to Rock County Hospital.
Assisted with a one vehicle accident in Keya Paha County on Meadville Ave.
Served a paper service.
During a traffic stop, in the East City Park of Ainsworth, a Nebraska male driver was issued a citation for reckless driving.
October 16
Provided court room security.
Received statement regarding a protection order violation.
Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail after they received a personal recognizance bond in court.
The Ainsworth Fire Department was paged to a dumpster fire near 4th and Main Street in Ainsworth.
Responded to a report of an unauthorized vehicle parked in a handicap parking zone. The vehicle owner was found and moved the vehicle.
The Brown County Ambulance transported a flight crew to the hospital.
October 17
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Ainsworth and transported one patient to the hospital. Later, they provided standby services for a football game.
Responded to suspicious activity near Pine and Cedar Street in Ainsworth.
The Brown County Ambulance was paged to Long Pine and transported one patient to the hospital.
October 18
Issued a written warning for driving left of center in Ainsworth. Issued written warning for speeding near Meadville Ave and 883rd Rd. Issued written warning for no headlights on Highway 20.
During a traffic stop on Plainsman Drive, two drivers operating unauthorized motor vehicles were issued citations for operating after dark and no proof of insurance.
October 19
Responded to a report of suspicious activity in Ainsworth regarding a rental property. No criminal activity was found.
Citation issued for speeding 11-15mph over the posted limit to a South Dakota driver on Highway 7.
Weekly Log
Calls: 66
911 Calls: 9
Calls for Service: 15
Vin Inspections: 3
Handgun Permits: 5
Inmates Housed: 2
* Hunters may check firearm season deer electronically
(Posted 9:45 a.m. Oct. 18)
Starting this fall, hunters have the option to electronically report their November firearm deer season harvest or take their deer to a check station.
While checking in deer is mandatory, hunters may choose to check in their deer at a check station or through Telecheck for the first time this nine-day firearm season.
In the past, hunters were required to take their harvest to a physical check station during the firearm season while deer harvests during the remainder of the year were reported through Telecheck.
Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance still will be conducted in eastern deer management units during the firearm deer season. Firearm hunters in the Missouri, Elkhorn, Loup East, Wahoo, Blue Northwest, and Blue Southeast deer management units are encouraged to report their harvest in person and voluntarily submit their deer for free chronic wasting disease sampling. However, they may opt for Telecheck, as well.
Telecheck is a free service that allows hunters to check their deer from the field or at home, by telephone or online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The online option is strongly recommended for those who opt to Telecheck. It was introduced in Nebraska in 2010 to save time and fuel costs for hunters. It also was a faster way for Game and Parks to obtain harvest data. Until now, it’s only been used to report deer taken in seasons outside the November firearm season and for other species.
For more information on Telecheck, to view a map of check stations, or to access the online reporting form, go to OutdoorNebraska.gov/hunt/telecheck. A QR code has been added to deer permits to scan with a smartphone and take hunters directly to the Telecheck page.
The November firearm deer season is Nov. 16-24.
Deer taken during the November Firearm season must be delivered to a check station or checked via Telecheck no later than 1 p.m. on the day following the close of the season. Deer taken outside the November Firearm season must be Telechecked within 48 hours of the kill and no later than 1 p.m. the day after the season closes.
* Nolles receives Farm Bureau award
(Posted 9:45 a.m. Oct. 18)
The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation awarded 20 teachers with funds in support of agricultural education and FFA programs in Nebraska. Among the teachers receiving the funding is Katie Nolles of Holt County.
“The Dr. Allen G. and Kay L. Blezek Teacher Retention Award is an investment in the future of Nebraska agriculture,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “We are very proud to support these teachers as they get established in their classrooms and communities. The return on investment is clear as the number of schools that offer agricultural education and FFA grows, and alumni go on to contribute to Nebraska’s number one industry.”
Recipients are all agricultural education teachers in their first through fifth year of teaching. Teachers are eligible for increasing awards over time. As the teachers’ impact grows in the classroom, in their FFA chapters, and in their communities each year, the award recognizes their service and supports their efforts. A longtime program of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, the award was renamed in recognition of an estate gift from Dr. Allen Blezek. Dr. Blezek was an agricultural education teacher, the first director of the Nebraska LEAD program, and a founding member of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation board of directors.
* Beel wins Week 7 KBRB Football Contest
(Posted 1:30 p.m. Oct. 17)
Week 7 proved difficult once again for those submitting KBRB Football Contest cards. Of the 14 games on the Week 7 card, three contestants submitted cards with two misses.
Ryan Salzman of Ainsworth, Tony Stahl of Bassett and Adam Beel of Johnstown missed two games on the card, sending us to the Week 7 tiebreak. With Nebraska on a bye, the tiebreak was the total number of touchdowns scored in the Red River rivalry game between Texas and Oklahoma. The Longhorns scored all four touchdowns in a 34-3 romp over the Sooners.
None of the contestants had four touchdowns picked, but Adam Beel was within two, guessing six total TDs to earn him the $40 first-place certificate for Week 7.
Both Ryan Salzman and Tony Stahl picked nine total touchdowns in the tiebreak, which sent us to the second tiebreak, the card that was submitted on the earliest date. Ryan Salzman’s card was postmarked Oct. 8. Stahl’s card carried an Oct. 9 postmark. By that margin, Salzman wins the $20 second-place certificate.
Nine contestants missed three games on the Week 7 card to just miss being in the prize hunt.
Winners may pick up their certificates from the KBRB Studios.
Cards can be redeemed 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.
* Main, South Street intersection reopens
(Posted 2:45 p.m. Oct. 16)
Nebraska Department of Transportation project manager Carl Hart reported Wednesday the intersection of South Main Street and South Street is now open to local traffic.
South Main Street remains closed south of the South Street intersection, and those needing to travel south of Ainsworth on Highway 7 are still asked to use the Pine Street to Road 877 detour route.
However, local traffic needing to cross Main Street can again do so at the South Street intersection. Concrete work continues between Front Street and South Street. The NDOT will provide additional updates as work on Main Street progresses.
* Commissioners approve damages for new road
(Posted 10:15 a.m. Oct. 16)
Following discussion and objections from the property owner responsible for paying the costs, the Brown County Commissioners on Tuesday approved damages to three property owners in southwestern Brown County for a road to be constructed through their property to reach an isolated parcel at the former Long Lake State Recreation Area site.
The commissioners had previously approved a route for the road to reach the isolated parcel. Grant Kobes, who purchased the former state recreation area from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, requested the county establish a route to the site after he was unable to secure site access through an easement with neighboring property owners.
The Game and Parks Commission had an access easement for the state recreation area, but that easement ended when the property sold.
Following a previous public hearing, the commissioners approved a route for a road to the isolated property and ordered an appraisal be conducted by Agri-Affiliates.
The appraisal was recently completed. County Attorney Andy Taylor said the appraisal showed a total of $81,479 should be awarded to three property owners for the land they would lose and damage they would incur for the construction of a road to Kobes’ property.
Greg and Gail Wales would receive $43,047 in damage. Scott and Samantha Flannery would receive $14,872, and property owned by Milligan, Mace, Boies and Flannery would receive $23,560.
The damages include the loss of physical acreage as well as the cost of fencing.
Kobes said he believed there were too many errors with the appraisal for the county to rely on it.
Kobes said the appraisal included payment to the property owners for 66 feet of right of way acquisition. He said the plan was for 33 feet of right of way, with the appraisal including double what it should be.
Kobes said the route included three areas that did not currently have fencing. He said he should not be required to pay for fencing that doesn’t currently exist. He said the current fence that is present is three-wire fence, with the appraisal calling for the construction of four-wire fence.
Kobes said one auto gate could be placed along the route that would remove the need for fencing. He again lobbied the commissioners to approve an alternate route that would be one-half mile shorter than the route the board approved.
“We can cut a half mile off the road distance and still be compliant with the section lines if the route was modified,” Kobes said. “I think there should be a modification to the route to reduce damages and shorten the distance of road needed. I think it is a benefit to the county to build a shorter road with fewer turns, and the neighbors lose less land.”
Kobes said he believed the appraisal needed to be revised to take into account the items he discussed.
Taylor said the board had already approved the route to be used. He said the appraisal was based on that route. He said, if the commissioners want to reconsider the route, they can agree to do that, but he would then recommend the county conduct another appraisal if the route is changed.
Attorney Todd Flynn, representing property owners where the route would be constructed, said the route that was appraised was agreed to and approved by the commissioners.
“There is an appeals process,” Flynn said. “We followed the protocol of the county commissioners. The commissioners approved the route and an appraisal was provided.”
Kobes argued the route could not be finalized until a survey of the area was completed. He said he believed the board had not fulfilled its duty in having the area surveyed, which resulted in an inaccurate appraisal.
Audience member Dan Spier questioned the commissioners on whether they believed Kobes had truly purchased the property from the Game and Parks Commission based off the documentation he had provided.
Taylor told the commissioners following the public discussion, “You can stick with this route and the appraisal and stick with the damages. Mr. Kobes has 60 days to file an appeal in District Court. Then, Judge Kozisek would make the decision.”
Commissioner Dennis Bauer said, in his opinion, the appraisal had been completed on the route that was agreed to.
“We have been beating on this for two years,” Bauer said. “There is an appeals process. It doesn’t hurt to approve it and if the court finds we are in error, we can go back and look at it again.”
Commissioner Buddy Small said he agreed with Bauer’s assessment of the situation.
Commissioner Jeremiah Dailey said Kobes had indicated during a previous meeting that he needed to be able to access the property. Trying to go back and change the route would only further delay the process.
The board unanimously approved granting damages as indicated by Agri-Affiliates to the three property owners where the road to Kobes’ isolated property would be constructed.
Following the vote, Taylor said Kobes is responsible for paying the damages, and would need to pay the $81,479 to the Brown County Treasurer before the order is filed authorizing the construction of the road.
Taylor said the 60 days for an appeal would start from Tuesday, the day the damages were approved by the commissioners.
In other business Tuesday, by a 2-1 vote with Dailey against, the board approved an agreement between the county and Taylor providing the county attorney with $1,100 in monthly reimbursement for office space outside the courthouse.
Taylor said he included the amount of the agreement in his 2024-25 budget.
Dailey said he was not in favor of providing funding to the county attorney for office space as the county had provided office space in the courthouse.
“We had a facility for you,” Dailey said.
Taylor said the space in the courthouse was not adequate or appropriate for a county attorney office.
“It was half the size of the other elected offices,” Taylor said. “It was not sound proof. People in the hallway could hear what was being said.”
Taylor said victims of crimes such as domestic violence did not want to meet with him because they would have to come to the courthouse in view of other people. He said there was also inadequate storage space in the office provided by the county.
“No other county attorneys in the area have offices in the courthouse,” Taylor said.
Following the discussion, the board approved the $1,100 monthly reimbursement to the county attorney for the private office space with Dailey voting against.
New BKR Extension food, nutrition and health educator Brittany Spieker introduced herself to the commissioners. She asked if there were any areas where the commissioners would like her to focus her efforts.
Bauer indicated he would like Spieker to provide a strong emphasis on youth establishing healthy eating habits at a young age. He encouraged her to partner with area schools to promote healthy eating habits.
The board also learned BKR Extension Educator Hannah Smith had resigned from her position. The university will work to fill that vacancy in the BKR Extension office.
The commissioners Tuesday approved a budgeted transfer of $7,000 from the miscellaneous general fund to the reappraisal fund, and approved $2,000 from the miscellaneous general fund to the North Central Development Center to make up for a shortage in funding the county provided to the NCDC during its previous fiscal year.
In roads items, the board approved an annual SSAR Report to the Nebraska Department of Transportation and an annual Certification of Program Compliance to the Nebraska Board of Public Roads Classifications and Standards.
Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin reported the Perma-zyme product had been applied to the 1-mile stretch of Meadville Avenue. He said the project went well and encouraged the board to consider using the product for additional stretches of county roads.
“In my opinion, we probably want to do some more of it,” Turpin said. “We mixed it almost like we would mix cold mix asphalt. The more we do it, the more comfortable we will get.”
Turpin said the product hardened as advertised. He said there were three small spots that might not have had enough product mixed in to harden like the rest of the mile, but even those spots had started to shore up.
Turpin said he was interested to see how the product responded after a rain, since it is designed not to soften and create ruts after it rains. He encouraged the commissioners to compare the first mile of gravel north of the pavement on Meadville Avenue to the following mile where the product was not applied.
Turpin said the department planned to replace 72-inch culverts on Bone Creek on a road west of Ainsworth but would wait until the corn maze was done for the year since that road serves as the main access for the corn maze. He said the culvert replacement would also require cutting, and he was hesitant to cut metal during the current dry conditions.
The highway superintendent said he received a request from the city of Long Pine to allow the city to use one of the county’s scrapers for projects in the city. Turpin said, if the commissioners were in favor, an agreement would need to be created in case the machine was damaged.
The board indicated it was not in favor of allowing another political subdivision to use county equipment. Dailey said there are plenty of private contractors who the city of Long Pine could utilize to complete the work.
Turpin also reported he submitted his administrative expenses to FEMA from the 2019 flooding. He said the administrative expenses totaled around $31,000. When that reimbursement and the remaining $100,000 or so from other FEMA projects are reimbursed, the county will finally be able to close out the flooding projects from 2019.
The next meeting of the Brown County Commissioners is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Nov. 5.
* AHS students compete in Chadron Scholastics Day
(Posted 7 a.m. Oct. 16)
Twenty-eight Ainsworth High School students traveled to Chadron October 9 to compete in the annual Scholastics Day contest.
Students took tests in different subject areas, performed a musical solo, drew a difficult still life scene or wrote an essay. The Ainsworth students took a total of 49 tests. Emma Kennedy earned a second-place medal in General Anatomy and Physiology and Kiley Orton earned a third-place medal in Nutrition and Family Health.
Students placing in the top 25% of their tests and also earning points for the school were Emma Kennedy – fourth in physical science, Mason Painter – fourth in Nebraska history, Hannah Beel – seventh in Business Management and Decision Making, Londyn Dunbar – eighth in animal science, Megan Jones – eighth in General Anatomy and Physiology, Mason Painter – 10th in American history and Sam Titus – 14th in Algebra 2. Ainsworth placed ninth of 12 schools competing in Division 3.
* Board votes to use ARPA funds for retention bonuses
(Posted 3:30 p.m. Oct. 15)
The Sandhills Care Center Board of Directors on Monday discussed using American Rescue Plan Act funding from the federal government toward providing retention bonuses to care center employees.
The final of three installments of ARPA funds to be used for recruiting and retaining staff for long-term care facilities, the board used previous allocations of the funds to pay for advertising job openings and offering hiring bonuses and bonuses for current employees.
The board opted to use the $31,384 federal payment to again provide retention bonuses to employees based on the number of hours worked during the year.
Board member Bruce Papstein asked how the previous bonuses went over with employees. Care Center business manager Makenzie Crane said the bonuses went over well.
“The employees were very excited,” Crane said.
Board Chair Tom Jones said the first retention payments were made as a thank you to staff for their work helping the care center through the COVID pandemic. Now, he said the bonuses would be a way to thank employees for staying with the facility as its resident census grows.
Papstein said administration just needed to make clear to the employees that the retention bonuses were being paid using ARPA funds and there should not be an expectation that the bonuses would continue when those funds were no longer available.
Crane said she would figure out the bonus amounts based on hours worked and get back to the board in November with the actual amount of the bonuses.
The Sandhills Care Center generated $294,204 in revenue during September with expenses of $256,192 for a net operating margin of $37,011 during the month.
Jones said the care center was currently $21,000 in net operating margin above its budget projections through the first three months of the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Administrator Penny Jacobs said there were currently 31 residents calling the care center home, with 14 paying privately, 16 receiving Medicaid assistance and one resident receiving hospice care.
She said 16 residents were from Ainsworth, four were from rural Brown County, one was from Long Pine, one from Rock County, two from Keya Paha County and seven from Cherry County.
Jacobs said there were no admissions during the previous month and one resident was discharged home, lowering the census from 32 to 31.
Jacobs reported Darrell Olson had been hired as the care center’s maintenance director. Additionally, a PRN CNA had been hired during the past month, as well as a full-time CNA and a part-time dietary aide.
Jacobs said the facility still needed help in the dietary department as well as weekend housekeeping help and CNAs.
Jacobs reviewed the completed kitchen remodeling project with the board. She said the cost of the shelving and installation came in at less than $5,000. She would provide the board with a report on the total cost of the project. She said the staff was looking at solutions for a lack of drawer space with the remodeled kitchen.
The project was suggested by the Department of Health and Human Services after conducting the annual survey of the facility.
Crane said the facility rented a storage unit until it could determine which items would be placed back in the remodeled kitchen and which would be sold.
Jones asked how things went while the kitchen was down.
Jacobs said the residents took it in stride, and seemed to enjoy the pizza and sub sandwiches that were served while the kitchen was closed for the remodeling work.
The board also discussed using a $10,000 grant awarded to the facility by Dr. Mel Campbell through an award he received to help update the wall coverings and lighting in the facility’s entryway and dining room.
Crane said the suggested supplies to brighten the room cost approximately $2,500, and the staff hoped to be able to complete most of the labor in house. She provided the board with samples of coloring schemes. The board deferred to the staff for those decisions.
“Jones said, “That will certainly make it more inviting and homey.”
The board discussed potentially contributing in the future toward a 401K retirement plan for full-time employees. Currently, employees can place up to 3 percent of their pay into a 401K plan. Crane said 40 of the facility’s 60 full-time employees utilize the retirement plan. It would cost the facility approximately $12,700 annually if it provided a 1 percent matching contribution.
The board did not take action Monday on that item, nor did it take action on adjusting its contribution toward employee health insurance premiums.
Currently, the care center provides 85 percent of the cost of the premium for an employee’s single insurance plan. While employees can upgrade to a family plan, the contribution from the care center does not change.
Jacobs said the 85 percent premium coverage supplied by the care center was higher than the industry average. She said employees have the option of low deductible or high deductible plans.
The next meeting of the Sandhills Care Center Board of Directors is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 11.
* Brown County Sheriff’s Department weekly summary
(Posted 6:30 a.m. Oct. 14)
October 6
Served paper service in Ainsworth.
Written warning for speeding issued on Highway 7 and Highway 20.
Served paper service in Long Pine.
Received a report of a car-deer accident on Highway 20, near mile marker 234. No injuries were reported, and the vehicle was driven away from the scene.
October 7
Released a male subject from the Brown County Jail, after holding for Boyd County.
Received a report of cattle out on Highway 7.
Issued a violation card for no registration on Highway 20.
Received a report from the Department of Health and Human services regarding suspected child abuse/neglect.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a medical alert alarm in Ainsworth. No transport was needed at this time, false alarm.
October 8
Issued citation for speeding near Main and 3rd Street in Ainsworth.
Provided court room security.
Follow-up investigation with the Department of Health and Human Services case worker.
Responded to a report of a reckless driver on Highway 7. A traffic stop was made near 1st and Pine St and a written warning for driving on the shoulder was issued.
Responded to a report of a broken window at an Ainsworth Main Street business.
Responded to a report of juvenile sexual harassment. This is an ongoing investigation.
Served a paper service.
October 9
Assisted a neighboring agency in utilizing our data master machine for a driving under the influence of alcohol traffic stop.
Follow-up investigation regarding sexual harassment report.
Served paper service in Southern Brown County.
Responded to a report of a hit and run accident believed to occur on the 6th on 430th Ave. This is an ongoing investigation.
Issued citation for speeding 81mph to a New Mexico driver on Highway 7.
October 10
Issued written warning for speeding on Highway 20 and Highway 7.
October 11
Received a report of a suspected protection order violation. No active protection order was found valid for the reporting party.
Responded to a report of suspicious activity in the alley between Oak and Maple Street.
Follow-up investigation regarding a recent search warrant.
The Brown County Ambulance provided standby services for the football game.
Issued a written warning during a traffic stop on Highway 20 for driving left of center and driving on shoulder.
October 12
Received a 911 call requesting an ambulance to be dispatched in Rock County. All information was forwarded to Rock County Sheriff’s Office.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a lift assist request on 431st Ave. No transport was needed at this time.
Responded to a report of suspicious individual wearing a ninja costume on South Main Street. Contact was made with the male subject.
Responded to a request for a welfare check on a female subject in Ainsworth. The female subject was located and reported safe at this time.
Issued a written warning for speeding on Highway 20.
Issued a written warning for failure to yield at Highway 20 and 9A Spur.
Responded to a report of a female subject in a mental health crisis.
Weekly Log
Calls: 108
911 Calls: 4
Calls for Service: 8
Vin Inspections:
Handgun Purchase Permits:
Inmates Housed: 3
Paper Service: 4
September 29
Issued citation for speeding 80mph in a 65mph zone on Highway 183 to a Colorado driver. Another citation was issued for speeding on Highway 20 for 79 mph in a 65mph zone to a Nebraska driver.
September 30
Follow-up investigation resulted in a citation issued for leaving the scene of an accident.
Traffic stop near 427th & 878th Ave-verbal warning issued for expired registration.
The Brown County Ambulance provided standby services for the football game
Rock County Fire Departments requested mutual aid for a fire approximately 5 miles North of Newport. Ainsworth and Long Pine Fire Departments were paged for assistance.
Responded to a 911 hang-up call location to make sure no emergency, it was an accidental dial.
Booked a male subject into the Brown County Jail for housing for Boyd County. The male was arrested on domestic abuse charges.
Responded to a suspicious vehicle report.
October 1
Responded to a report of a reckless driver on Highway 20.
Received an adult abuse/neglect report from Department of Health and Human Services. The male subject was transported to a mental health facility for a court ordered psychiatric evaluation.
Released a male subject that was housed in the Brown County Jail for Boyd County after bond was posted.
Traffic stop on Highway 20 resulted in a violation card for a defective headlight.
October 2
Provided court room security.
Long Pine Fire Department was paged to an area just South of Long Pine to assist with mopping up a small fire.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a request for a lift assist on Wilson Street in Ainsworth.
October 3
A traffic stop on Highway 20 resulted in a citation for improper passing and failure to yield.
The Brown County Ambulance responded to a 911 call in Long Pine, transporting one patient to the Rock County Hospital. A deputy also responded for assistance.
Rock County Sheriff’s Office called to request mutual aid from Long Pine and Ainsworth Fire Departments for a previous fire North of Newport.
Served a court issued summons in Ainsworth.
Traffic stop on Highway 20 resulted in a written warning for speed.
Responded to a report of a stolen vehicle on South Main Street in Ainsworth. The vehicle returned shortly after the report.
October 4
Responded to a report of an injured deer on Highway 7.
Served a court issued paper service in Johnstown.
Responded to a report of trespassing on 877th Rd.
Verbal warning for speeding on Highway 183.
Written warning for speed on Highway 20.
October 5
Attempted paper service delivery in Ainsworth and on East Calamus Road.
Responded to a report of a male subject walking on the highway.
Responded to a report of an oversized load on Highway 20.
Weekly Log
Calls: 95
911 Calls: 4
Vin Inspections: 1
Handgun Permits: 5
Inmates Currently Housed: 4
* 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 884th Road and 430th 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 2nd 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 4th 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 4th 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 4th 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 4th 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 420th 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 5th 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 879th 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 3rd 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 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 4th 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 430th 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 4th 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 882nd 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 424th 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 2nd 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 4th 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.
Mon-Sat – 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Sunday – 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
