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Nuckolls County Election Results
Stimulus funds willl help clear two abandoned buildings
Gov. Dave Heineman and staff Tuesday traveled across Nebraska
awarding Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding that
was announced by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development
(DED) last fall. More than $1.6 million in grant funding was presented
to local officials in Indianola, McCook and Superior.
"These projects take advantage of opportunities to convert
vacant or abandoned space into more functional projects, which
helps make neighborhoods safer and creates new areas for development,"
Gov. Heineman said. "This program helps fuel economic growth
and I'm happy to present funding that will help these communities
move forward."
The grants are part of Nebraska's allocation of Neighborhood Stabilization
Program 1 (NSP1) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development's CDBG program. NSP1 funds provide emergency
assistance to state and local governments to acquire and redevelop
foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment
or blight within communities.
Indianola received $706,700 in NSP1 funds for the demolition of
five blighted structures located throughout the community, including
a dilapidated downtown commercial building and four dilapidated
residential structures. The funding will also help build a new
community emergency and storm shelter on the vacant downtown lot.
McCook received $629,700 in NSP1 funds for the demolition of at
least six vacant and blighted structures.
The South Central Economic Development District received $312,000
in NSP1 funds for the demolition of six vacant and blighted structures
in Holdrege and two in downtown Superior that will prepare the
sites for future development.
In Superior the funds will assist Nuckolls County and the City
of Superior remove structures that last housed the Hereford Inn,
Deluxe Liquor and the VFW Club.
The Superior project will start after the Holdrege project is
completed.
The governor met with Superior and Holdrege representatives at
9 a.m. Tuesday morning in Vestey Center.

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Annual 'Tour de Nebraska' will come through area in June
The 23rd annual 5-day Tour de Nebraska bicycle ride will visit
South Central Nebraska on its 300-mile round trip journey, June
23 through 27. Approximately 200 cyclists will leave Clay Center
on Wednesday, June 23, and camp overnight in Minden, Cambridge,
Alma and Red Cloud.
"We love this area of the state-it offers friendly people,
history and beautiful countryside which combine to make an excellent
experience for our cyclists," said Susan Larson Rodenburg,
who organizes the tour with her husband, Rich.
The noncompetitive circle tour will start and end this year in
Clay Center. It will then proceed to overnight host communities
of Minden, Cambridge, Alma and Red Cloud (Saturday and return
to Clay Center on Sunday, June 27.
Tour de Nebraska bicycle adventure is a mental and physical challenge
for cyclists of all ages. Participants come from across Nebraska
and other states, including California, Minnesota, Idaho, New
Mexico, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia, Kansas, Missouri,
South Dakota, Colorado, Iowa and Arizona. It's grown from 11 cyclists
to 200 over the years.
"Our cyclists tell us they like the size of Tour de Nebraska
because it's big enough to meet some new people, but small enough
not to overwhelm the communities we visit," Susan Rodenburg
said. "We have families, school teachers, executives and
others who all share a passion for cycling and want to get off
the beaten path. They can ride all day at their own speed so they
can take full advantage of sightseeing and food in the small communities
along the way. By the time the tour ends, they are all bonded
in one way or another."
Tour de Nebraska arranges meals, rest stops, daily maps, itineraries,
luggage and gear transfers, emergency sag support on the highway,
daily fruit and water. Riders camp at city parks or sleep inside
at high school gymnasiums. The Rodenburgs help local communities
along the route prepare for rest stops and overnight stays.
"We encourage the communities to show what they have to offer
and to highlight their community spirit, history and friendliness
all unique to Nebraska," she said. "We work closely
with the local organizers to assist them in providing everything
we need. Most find hosting the riders is not only fun but a great
way to bring new revenue to the area. It's always exciting to
find out what they have planned for us."
The favorite rest stop and overnight host towns chosen by the
riders receive cash awards. "It's a small token of thanks
for their efforts," Rodenburg said.
Organizers also present daily spirit awards (The Sophie Trophy)
to build camaraderie among riders. The Tour de Nebraska Team Spirit
Award is given annually during the last evening on of the tour
to an individual who has shown a great amount of spirit, humor
and joy while facing the challenges of the tour.
Tour de Nebraska is 5 days instead of 7 like many other tours,
There are many repeat riders. "It's like a family reunion
on wheels," Rodenburg said.
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Snow and ice build-up can result in fire
Recent snow removal efforts of one Nebraska town resulted in
an important fire prevention lesson, according to Ray Nance, public
information director for the Nebraska fire marshal's office.
So you're thinking, "Snow and ice will not burn." You're
right, Nance said, however placing that snow or allowing ice build-up
around above ground gas piping, meters and regulators can lead
to failure of gas equipment and possible fire. Such was the case
in a fire at the Shelby Lumber Company on Dec. 19.
Snow piled up on the gas meter and associated piping led to a
failure in piping and ultimately a gas leak that migrated to an
ignition source in the building, resulting in approximately $100,000
in damage. Thankfully, there were no injuries.
With more ice and snow in the forecast, state fire marshal John
Falgione reminds Nebraskans, "Protect your home and family.
Don't pile snow around gas piping and equipment."
Some general ice coating may be normal with the weather, however
accumulation of ice on gas meters, regulators and associated piping
can be hazardous. If melting snow and ice run-off are creating
an ice buildup on your gas meter set, or if you believe you have
a gas leak, contact your gas service provider.
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Well-Being program to start Jan. 12
The second session of Superior Well-Beings starts Jan. 12,
2010.
If your New Year's Resolution is to be well or to live healthier,
Superior Well-Beings is a program for you. This 14-week research
based wellness program starts Tuesday, Jan. 12, from 5 to 6 pm
at Brodstone Memorial Hospital. It is designed to improve the
mind, body and spirit by providing wellness and prevention education
as well as opportunities for improved nutrition and fitness.
The program will consist of a Health Risk Assessment including
height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, blood profile, a health risk
surve, and a Wellness Inventory which is an online assessment
and lifestyle program centered around 12 dimensions including:
self-responsibility and love, thinking, breathing, playing and
working, sensing, communicating, eating, intimacy, moving, finding
meaning, feeling, and transcending.
The weekly wellness seminars focus on the 12 dimensions of the
wellness inventory and the six stages of change. Weekly incentives
and door prizes will be given away to participants and for individuals
returning a fitness and nutrition log
Superior Well-Beings will start Tuesday, Jan. 12. Meeting time
is from 5 to 6 p.m. at Brodstone Memorial Hospital's West Conference
Room. Contact Peggy Meyer by phone or emailpegmeyer@windstream.net
to sign up.
Preliminary results from the first session of Superior Well-Beings
include five people losing a combined 38 pounds which reduced
their BMI 1 to 2 points, improved wellness and satisfaction scores
from the wellness inventory and numerous positive remarks about
how the program helped individuals improve their health and wellness.
Funding for the program is provided by a BlueHealth Advantage
Wellness Grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska and sponsored
by Brodstone Memorial Hospital.
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