Archived Local News

Tuesday July 22, 2008

The Broken Bow School Board met in regular session last night in the Board room at BBHS. Middle School and High School Principal Ken Kujath recommended that a teacher contract be approved for J.R. Appleton to be the new Middle School and High School Vocal Music Teacher for the 2008-09 school year. Appleton is working on his Master's in Speech Pathology, has five years teaching experience and is a classical guitarist. Appleton’s contract was approved. In other business, Wayne Palmer asked the Board what is being done to repair both elementary schools and Tom Meyers asked the Board what is being done about getting rid of the mold in the all of the schools before this school year. The Board said that repairs and school maintenance issues are being paid for through the building fund, new taxes and the Broken Bow School Board is also looking into grants. A 4.4% increase on the total package of the 2008-09 Teacher Negotiated Agreement was approved by the Board and the 2008-09 Classified Wage Scale was passed by the Broken Bow School Board with a 3.75% increase on the base wage. Dr. Shafer will a guest on KCNI’s Public Affairs this morning at 10:05 to talk more about last night’s meeting.

The Broken Bow City Council will meet in regular session tonight at 7:00. Among the agenda items is City Administrator Steve Waring who will request approval of an agreement with JEO for the construction engineering portion of the grading plan for Melham Park.

Monday July 21, 2008

The four-day 2008 Comstock Rock Festival ended Sunday night. The event began last Thursday and featured bands from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. According to organizer Jim Proskocil, the turnout was better than he expected with approximately 500 on Friday and Saturday and less than 200 on Sunday

The 8th Annual Country Music Festival was held at the Broken Bow Fairgrounds on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday night, organizer John Eichelberger expressed his appreciation for all who attended and to the bluegrass and country bands who helped make the show another success. According to Eichelberger, the 2009 festival will be held again on the third weekend of July.

Friday July 18, 2008

A house fire broke out at the residence of Gayle and Larry Ferguson at 1111 Fargo Street in Ansley on Thursday afternoon. According to Ansley Fire Chief Ervie Ferguson, the fire was caused by lightning and began in an attic of the home a little after 3:00. The first was considered contained after 4:00. Most of the damages were in the attic and the second floor of the house. A portion of the roof also received significant damage. The Ansley Fire Department received mutual aid from Mason City and Broken Bow. No injuries were reported.

The Cozad Community Health System is conducting a Relay for Life Box Social during After Business Hours tonight from 5:30-7:30 at the Cozad Elks Club. Hospital personnel are organizing gift boxes with different themes to raffle off. Proceeds will go to the Relay for Life.

Thursday July 17, 2008

Residents and business owners that received damage to their home or business because of a tornado or storm, may be able to postpone paying their income taxes until August 29th if they are based in a county that has been declared eligible for federal aid. The declared counties in Nebraska are Buffalo, Butler, Colfax, Custer, Dawson, Douglas, Gage, Hamilton, Jefferson, Kearney, Lancaster, Platte, Richardson, Sarpy and Saunders. FEMA is urging people to call the IRS Hotline at 1-800-562-5227 to see if they qualify for federal income tax relief.

The Central Nebraska Housing Developers are conducting a REACH-Approved Homebuyer Educational Workshop in Ord tonight from 6-10:00. The workshop will be held at the Ord Housing Authority, 2410 K Street. For more information call Judy Peterson at (402) 482-5711 or e-mail her at judy@cnedd.org.

Wednesday July 16, 2008

The Custer County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday and among the business items they had on their agenda was the Sandhills Open Road Race. A motion was approved to close the Arnold-Dunning Road and the Callaway-Cozad Road for the race that starts on August 7th and goes until August 9th. In other business, Harry Ray Boyles was reappointed to the Veterans Community Board and a motion was made by the County Supervisors to approve their interlocal agreement with the Sargent Airport. The motion carried unanimously. The Sargent Airport will receive $2,500 in funding from the County.

The Custer County Child Safety Seat Inspection Clinic will be held today from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Broken Bow Fire Department. A Child Passenger Safety Technician will provide education and assistance on the proper use and installation of car seats and seat belts. Contact Susan Borchart at 1-800-736-7491, Extension 145 for an appointment. Parents are asked to bring their child and the vehicle that their seat is used in the most.

Tuesday July 15, 2008

The Custer County Board of Supervisors will meet this morning at 9:00 in the Supervisors’ Room of the Custer County Courthouse. The lease agreement for office space in a new County Building will be discussed and there will be Property Valuation Protest Hearings starting at 1:00 this afternoon.

The Nebraska Farmers Union is teaming with the Loup Basin RC&D for an informational meeting on the Carbon Credit Program and C-BED Wind Development Model today. The first meeting is this morning at the Valley County Ag Complex in Ord at 801 S Street in the Loup Basin Technology Center. That meeting starts at 9:00 this morning. A second meeting will be held in Broken Bow at the 4-H Building at the Custer County Fairgrounds starting at 3:00 this afternoon. The public is encouraged to attend.

Monday, July 14, 2008

A very good crowd and great blues music highlighted the last day of the 15th annual South Loup Blues Festival at Old Mill Park in Arnold on Saturday. The Mooncats were the first act, followed by Sarah Benck and the Robbers from Omaha who played at this year's Festival for the first time. Lead singer Sarah Benck felt the show she and her band put on went very well. The Tablerockers from Arkansas were the next group to get things rolling. Lead singer Baby Jason Davis was amazed he and his band received such a positive reception from the crowd at this year's Festival. This is the 14th straight year the Tablerockers have performed at the South Loup Blues Festival. Baby Jason Davis added that every show he and his band have put on at the Festival for the past 14 years has blown his mind and he thought that special guest Sean Benjamin performing with him and the rest of the band was something special and is hoping he'll be back again next year. Roxanne Potvin and her band from Canada performed at the South Loup Blues Festival for the first time and she was impressed with the response they received from their new music and is hoping to be back in the United States again very soon. Tinsley Ellis and his group from Atlanta, Georgia closed out the Blues Festival in Arnold rocking to a packed house. Tinsley Ellis is very happy he and his band came back to Arnold and he felt his performance at this year's Blues Festival was better than the last time he came out nine years ago.  He indicated that he and his band will be here if they're asked to come back to the Blues Festival.

Friday July 11, 2008

This week, the McKesson Corporation awarded Varney Health Mart of Broken Bow the 2008 Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year Award at the McKesson Pharmacy Strategies Conference in Las Vegas. This is the first time Varney Health Mart received this honor. Varney Health Mart has been a McKesson customer for 21 years and received this award because of their customer educational programs, product selection, in-store programs and design, local marketing and advertising, community involvement and use of technology to increase efficiencies and ensure accuracy. Varney Health Mart has been a part of Broken Bow for almost 100 years.

20-year old Joseph Olsson of North Platte was arraigned in Custer County District Court on Thursday. Olsson is charged with theft by receiving stolen property and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest. The charges are a result of an alleged incident that occurred on May 20th. He pleaded no guilty to both charges. He was also arraigned on charges of escape from custody, an alleged incident that happened on June 18th. He also pleaded not guilty to that charge. Judge Noakes set a progression hearing for August 7th and bond for each case is $500,000.