STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann,
 UNL Extension Educator,
Webster County
September 28, 2012 Edition

I have spent a lot of time this past several months complaining about the drought, and for good reason. The drought this year has left many cattle producers in an awful bind. If you have priced hay you know that prices are high and pastures were pretty much history a couple of months ago leaving no option but to do things like early weaning, culling open, old or unproductive cows and even those cows that look to be calving later than the others. I know that a lot of producers have been creep feeding calves and supplementing pastures with hay and even mixed forages with grain or corn ethanol byproduct. I know a lot of cattle producers who have been waiting, somewhat impatiently, for the corn to be harvested as they know that corn stalks are an excellent grazing option. The use of corn residue offers producers increased flexibility for fall and winter pasture and helps reduce the overall feed costs. While many producers annually graze cornstalks, this year it will be of even more importance. Some cattle are already in stalks and some corn fields are even being baled for feed.
Corn Stalk Grazing: Grazing corn residue can be an important part of many livestock operations. One acre of corn residue can supply enough forage to sustain a 1,000-pound cow or animal equivalent for 1.5 to 2 months. It is estimated that for each bushel of shelled corn produced per acre, 50 pounds of residue are also produced. At that level, an acre yielding 120 bushels of corn will produce 6,000 pounds of residue. An added benefit for grazers is that corn grain is also lost in the harvesting process. It is estimated that at least three bushels of grain per acre are left on the field during harvest. This means that more than 150 pounds of corn per acre are also available for the animals to consume. About 50 percent of the weight of the total corn plant is residue left after harvest. This residue consists of stalk, leaf, cob, and husk. With the stalk supplying 50% of the reside, you will find that leaves only supply 20% and it may surprise you that another 20% is the cob, leaving the husks at 10%. For best utilization, - corn fields should be used immediately after harvest for 30 to 60 days to take maximum advantage of the feed value of the residue. This would allow the permanent pastures to "stockpile" additional days of fall growth that could be grazed after the animals come off the corn fields. Grazing corn fields for an extended period, even all winter, is also an option if supplemental feed is provided and the fields remain dry.
It should not surprise you that livestock will selectively graze the most palatable portions of the residue first, just like they will in a pasture, starting with the grain, leaves, and husks and then the cobs and stalks. Generally, animal grazing will leave 75 to 80% of total residue in the field, especially if animals are rotated to new areas before much of the cob and stalk material is consumed. With this in mind, one acre of corn residue will yield approximately 60 animal-unit grazing days. This means that one acre of corn residue will provide 60 days of grazing for a 1,000-pound animal.
I suggest if you have the resources and time that limiting access by strip grazing will allow for an increased stocking rate and greater utilization of the residue. This can be accomplished by using portable electric fencing. Either a single break wire to the front, or double wires with one in front and one to follow can be used effectively, depending on the layout of the field and water sources. However, if strip-grazing practices are used, and snow cover arrives before the field is grazed through, some of the best feed may be lost if the grain and husks cannot be recovered.
Be Careful Grazing Stalks --Too Long or Too Close: Let’s go back to those cornstalks. The stalk, which is typically the last plant part consumed by livestock, contains the most moisture and is one-half of the dry matter weight of the total residue material, however we may have to be very careful about leaving cattle in a field of stalks after they get through with the corn, leaves and shucks. As you can see, cornstalk residue is a tremendous resource for fall and winter grazing; however, this year care needs to be taken in grazing drought stressed cornstalks due to the potential of high nitrates in the feed. Cattle prefer grazing the leaves and husk which tend to be lower in nitrates. Because drought stressed corn is smaller and stunted, it is more likely that cattle will eat lower into the stalk where nitrate levels may be high. Nitrates are usually concentrated in the bottom third of the stalk in the corn plant. High nitrates may not only be an issue in dryland acres but also on irrigated corn edges and in the corners where water hasn’t reached and plants are stunted. Cattle tend to prefer these drought stressed plants when grazing. They will graze them right into the ground if you let them. There is the potential that cattle could seek out those plants when first turned onto a pivot-irrigated field, so you may want to keep an eye on them.
We are likely to leave cows grazing cornstalks longer than they normally would to try to stretch feed resources. Forcing cows to eat more of the stalks increases the risk that they will be consuming parts of the corn plant that could be toxically high in nitrates. Following are suggestions for grazing potentially high nitrate cornstalks: Don't turn cows into drought stressed cornstalks hungry, make sure the cows are full as this will help them adjust; fence out pivot corners and edges where plants are severely stressed; resist the temptation to leave cattle on corn stalks after they have eaten most of the leaves and husks; avoid forcing the cattle to consume more of the potentially high nitrate stalks; and consider giving cattle a dose of nitrate utilizing microbes 7-10 days prior to turnout which will help cattle adjust to utilizing potentially high nitrate feed. (Note: Bova-Pro is an example of a product. You may want to remember that the use of this product doesn't eliminate the risk of nitrate poisoning when grazing high nitrate feed; it only helps cattle adjust to it.) ---- Happy stalk grazing!

The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home

Blue Hill 40 Ravenna 6

Blue Hill Celebrated Homecoming with a big win against Ravenna.  Blue Hill defeated Ravenna 40 to 6  Friday evening on the Blue Hill field.
Garrett Sharp led Blue Hill with 101 yards rushing on 14 carries.  Parker Trumble was 11 for 18 passing for 256 yards and four touchdowns.  Mitchell Ruybalid had 174 yards receiving on five catches and three touch downs.  Blue Hill totaled 386 yards as a team.  The Blue Hill team also managed a number of interceptions.
At half time Garrett Sharp was crowned Homecoming King and Katie Schaefer was queen. 





Homecoming Candidates 2012 — with Conner Brown, , April Faimon,  Shane Kohmetscher, Katie Poe,   Parker Trumble, Lexie Himmelberg, Katie Schaefer and Garrett Sharp...     

Blue Hill Community Raises $5,000 for First responders

 A recent fundraiser  initiated after the School bus/ semi truck accident  has raised thousands for first responders. Superintendent Joe'l Ruybalid reported more than $5,000 dollars has been raised.  He also reports that the school has been receiving outstanding support: from phone calls, monetary donations, to cards in the mail, and even donations taken at the recent football games. Ruybalid says donations and cards  have been coming in from everywhere…even outside of Nebraska.

"We've gotten a lot of support from other school districts whether they are school districts from our conference, neighboring school districts, or even districts from around the state; [some] as far east as Lincoln or Omaha, or as far west as Chadron.  out of state...Wyoming, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri. just a lot of support from the education committee," said Ruybalid.

. Some have said the support helps them heal after the fatal crash. Ruybalid says that as a school with a population of only 300, the effect of the tragedy continues to hit home.

"All of us have really felt the loss. Each student that we have is precious to us, and each is very valuable to us and the community. To suffer any kind of loss is heartbreaking, and difficult to overcome and to move past," said Ruybalid.

. Ruybalid says he thinks the Blue Hill community will take away a lot from this tragedy; a tragedy that took away a lot from them.

Ruybalid said the school is starting to re-build back into an atmosphere like they were, and he feels like students and staff are recovering from the tragedy well.

Johanns Adds Support to Suit Over Unconstitutional Recess Appointments

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today filed, along with 41 of his Senate colleagues, an amicus brief in a challenge (Noel Canning v. NLRB) to the constitutionality of President Obama’s so-called “recess” appointments to the National Labor Relations Board in January. The case is pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The full brief is available HERE.

“The President overstepped his Constitutional authority by making these appointments and in doing so cast a shadow of doubt over the legitimacy of the NLRB,” Johanns said. “Because of the President’s actions, the court should not uphold any ruling from this powerful agency until every member has been duly confirmed and required to answer questions about the board’s recent disregard for workers in right-to-work states like Nebraska.”
The suit is being brought by Noel Canning, a local, family-owned business in Washington State that bottles and distributes soft drinks. The company is challenging the NLRB’s determination that it must enter into a collective bargaining agreement with a labor union.

[]

Smith Statement on the Retirement of Tom Osborne

Washington, DC – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) issued the following statement today after former Third District Congressman Tom Osborne announced he would retire as Athletic Director for the University of Nebraska on January 1, 2013:

“Coach Osborne is a legend not only because of his success as a football player and coach, but also because of his life-long dedication to our state and service to others. During his time in Congress, he was an outstanding representative for the Third District. Today, I join all Nebraskans in wishing Coach Osborne the best and thanking him for his leadership, class, and countless contributions to our state.”
Osborne served as head football coach of the University of Nebraska from 1973 until 1997, and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska’s Third District in 2000, 2002 and 2004. He has served as Athletic Director for the University of Nebraska since 2007.

Bonnie Jean (Smidt) Redinger Doyen March 15, 1934 to Sept. 25, 2012

Hastings resident, Bonnie Jean (Smidt) Redinger Doyen, 78, passed away Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.
Services will be Friday, September 28, 2012; 2:00 P.M. at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hastings with Pastor Joel Remmers officiating. Burial will be in Blue Valley Cemetery, Ayr, Nebraska. Memorials may be given to the family for a later designation. Visitation will be Thursday, September 27, 2012; 9:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Bonnie was born March 15, 1934 to John and Sadie (Moore) Smidt at their home near Pauline, Nebraska. Bonnie attended school at Pauline and Blue Hill High School. She married Dwight L. Redinger and they had three daughters. Dwight preceded her in death and she later married Charles Doyen. Through the years Bonnie worked at several cafes, Mode-O-Day, Jack-n-Jill bakery, and Bruckman Rubber. She was a member of the Pauline Methodist Church. Bonnie was an avid Husker fan and a Dallas Cowboys follower. She cherished her eleven grandchildren and her seventeen great-grandchildren and was eagerly waiting for number eighteen.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; one brother; two sisters; daughter, Brenda Bottolfson; and son-in-law, Steve Frazier.

Survivors include:
Daughters & Spouses: Deb Frazier-Rolfsmeyer & Bill Rolfsmeyer
Sherri & Ken Auten
Sisters: Betty Snow
Doris Solomon
Grandchildren: 11
Great-Grandchildren: 17

Ron Brown Message to Blue Hill FCA

Quote of the Day

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. ~Ambrose Redmoon

Senator Mike Johanns weekly column: THE STUFF OF HEROS

Senator Mike Johanns

September 24, 2012

We often use the term “hero” loosely.

We think of cape-clad comic book icons or of athletes at the apex of their career. We shower them in accolades and ask for their autographs. But the difficult reality is that it often takes heartbreak for true heroes to emerge.

This was the case on September 5, 2012, when tragedy struck the small community of Blue Hill, Neb. A school bus and semi-trailer collided on a rural county road, claiming the lives of both drivers and two young students on their way home from school. If not for the actions of Ron Meyer and Phil Petr, the toll could have been much worse.

The two arrived at the scene shortly after impact and immediately sprang into action. Without regard for their own well-being, the two braved the smoke and flames, rescuing five children trapped in the wreckage.

They’ve been called good Samaritans and guardian angels, but I think we can all agree that, for their actions, they are true heroes. They aren’t the only ones who deserve recognition for that day. The first responders did what they do daily—arrive at horrific scenes and do heroic things. To them, we owe gratitude year round. But, when average citizens brave life-threatening situations with no special training and no protective gear, equipped only with a need to put others before self. That deserves special recognition.

Those who achieve the title of hero don’t do it for the recognition. Neither man woke that morning, knowing what they would face. There was no planning or preparation for the decision they would have to make. But they courageously responded, preventing what one eye witness said surely could have been a much worse situation.

Unfortunately, not even heroic acts can lift the grief felt by a mother and father who have laid their child to rest. There are no words that can wholly heal the hearts of friends or family who have lost. The entire community of Blue Hill is still reeling from the events of that day – a heart wrenching day for this small farm town. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy.

But we can be thankful for those who, in ways big and small, help carry us through. It can seem a heroic effort to keep the faith and stand together amidst crushing despair, but I know that’s exactly what will happen in Blue Hill. Friends are surrounding those grieving, church leaders are soothing souls and teachers are offering gentle words of encouragement. How do I know? Because that’s what we do in Nebraska.

We admire selflessness, honor courage and salute the efforts of Ron Meyer and Phil Petr and the first responders on the scene Sept. 5. I know that I speak for the entire Blue Hill community and all Nebraskans when I express my deepest gratitude for their actions. As I pray for those grieving, I thank God for those who survived and the heroes who rescued them.

Click HERE to view a video of Senator Johanns’ tribute to Ron Meyer and Phil Petr on the Senate floor for their heroic efforts on September 5, 2012.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"This is, in theory, still a free country, but our politically correct, censorious times are such that many of us tremble to give vent to perfectly acceptable views for fear of condemnation. Freedom of speech is thereby imperiled, big questions go undebated, and great lies become accepted, unequivocally as great truths." Simon Heffer in The Daily Mail, 7 June 2000

TEAM OF THE WEEK FOR WEEK 4

Anderson Auto Group  Team of the Week: Blue Hill (week 4)

The Anderson Auto Group Team of the Week is the Blue Hill Bobcats.
The Blue Hill community was challenged by tragedy this past week, but had a feel good moment last Friday as Blue Hill defeated Hastings St. Cecilia on a kickoff return with less than 1 minute left in the game.
Congratulations to Blue Hill for being named the Anderson Auto Group Team of the Week

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann,
 UNL Extension Educator,
Webster County
September 21, 2012 Edition

Producers are in the middle of harvest of beans, corn and milo and that means that it won’t be long and our area farmers will be busy preparing and planting for the 2012-13 wheat crop. With the type of year we have experienced and the problems in wheat fields we have seen in the past in our area, I think that like never before it is crucial to follow the recommended guidelines to insure a productive and successful crop. With the ergot, loose smut and Fusarium head blight (scab) in the heads of this year’s wheat as well as the light seed weights that we saw, it behooves us to follow some good production practices for wheat. Let’s this week look at planting wheat and what we can do to insure a good crop next year.
Planting Wheat in Dry Conditions: I remember an old adage “Plant it in the dust and your bins will bust!” That applied to winter wheat and it always scared me. My thought process was more along the line that your “bins will rust”. But wheat is and has been very versatile and adaptive and I would venture to say has as many lives as a cat. Unless we receive significant rainfall, most of the wheat producers intend to plant into soil that will be quite dry. Winter wheat producers have been faced with planting into dry soil before, although this may be one of the most widespread occurrences in recent history. There are three options to consider, each with their advantages and risks. One strategy is to plant wheat in the “dust” at the normal seeding depth of 1 1/2 to 2”, at normal, recommended planting time and hope for rain. A second option is to use a hoe drill to plant into moisture, if possible, during the recommended planting dates. The third strategy, wait for a rain, and then plant. I suggest going to  http://www.kansaswheat.org/news.php?id=652 and read what Dr. Jim Shroyer has to say. Through it all, please remember that crop insurance considerations and deadlines will play an important role in these decisions. Contact your local FSA office or crop insurer about those considerations.
Wheat Variety Selection: First, let’s look at the potential for disease and what we can do about it. Believe it or not, Fall is the best time to prevent wheat disease problems from robbing yields next spring. How can that be? Well, variety selection is the single most important factor in disease management and many producers are looking at what seed wheat they will be planting in the next few weeks. Although no variety is resistant to everything, modern varieties have much better resistance to diseases and insects than those from a decade ago. The 2012 Nebraska Fall Seed Guide is available in your local Extension Office at a minimal cost, or if you have access to the internet you can find the same book in digital form at: http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/live/ec103/build/ec103.pdf.  There are some other very good places you can go for wheat. You can go for a “Virtual Tour of Nebraska Wheat Varieties” by going to: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/wheat/virtual  or additional on-line information on wheat varieties can be found at  http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/varietytest/wheat .
A fairly new tool for wheat variety selection for the area, UNL Extension Winter Wheat Variety Selection Tool, can be found at: http://citnews.unl.edu/winter_wheat_tool/index.shtml . You can also get a lot of good information at: http://wheatbook.unl.edu/  Since we in SC Nebraska have a lot in common with North Central Kansas I might also suggest utilizing the Kansas State wheat varieties and test results web site at: http://www.agronomy.ksu.edu/extension  .
No matter which variety of seed wheat you select, I absolutely suggest using cleaned and conditioned Certified and treated seed that has a high test weight (56+). All of these qualities increase the success with winter wheat. The seed treatments need to thoroughly coat the seeds to give good results and should be applied with seed treating equipment. If you treat it with a fungicidal seed treatment (e.g. Dividend Extreme, Raxil-Thiram, or RaxilXT, Vitavax, Rancona, etc.) it can reduce the risk of problems later on. I have a list of treatments that you can use. Please contact me if you are interested, or you can go to http://cropwatch.unl.edu/  and you will find plenty of help there. Dr. Steven Wegulo has some great ideas. Whatever wheat variety that you settle on, don’t forget also that wheat producers must follow the rules and regulations as set by the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVP). Be sure that you are in compliance.
Planting Considerations: It isn’t only seed varieties that can have an effect on disease and insects, there is no doubt that planting date has a strong impact on several diseases and insects. Early planting is a risk factor for wheat streak mosaic, barley yellow dwarf, take-all root rot, and of course Hessian Fly. To minimize risks, I suggest that you plant after the Hessian fly free date which is September 27-28 for Webster County. So from then up to two weeks after that date would be the optimum planting dates. More information and specific county dates for Hessian Fly Free planting go to NebGuide G1923 at your local Extension Office or on the web at  http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g1923/build/g1923.pdf  .  This publication also gives you some ideas for wheat varieties that are resistant to Hessian Fly and especially those that are not. You may want to note that if you get late in planting, the seed rate should be increased to compensate for the lack of tillering associated with that delayed planting. Use a seeding rate of 90 lbs/- 120 lbs/acre in rain fed row crop fields.
Wheat can emerge from various depths, but a planting depth of 1 to 2 inches is optimal. If deeper planting is necessary, producers should be aware of the coleoptile length of the variety to be planted. They should also be aware that soil temperature also has a big effect on coleoptile length. Soil fertility is always a big concern with any crop. Soil tests can go a long way in insuring a healthy plant and a great yield. Here’s hoping for good fertility, clean seed wheat and some rain!

The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home

Blue Hill 22 Southern Valley 14

The Blue Hill Bobcats football team met the  Southern Valley squad Friday October 21st and came away with their third victory in a row.  The final score was Blue Hill 22 and Southern Valley 14.  Details as they become available.

Date set for Annual Pheasants Forever Youth Mentor Hunt.

Saturday October 13th the Webster County Chapter of Pheasants Forever will hold their Fourth annual Youth Mentor hunt. This will be one of approximately 50 Youth mentor events that Nebraska chapters of Pheasants Forever will be conducting this fall across the state of Nebraska. The hunt is limited to 12 to 14 youth in the 12 to 15 year old age group who have successfully completed their hunter safety course and have not previously attended a youth mentor hunt.
The event will start at the Rep Valley Trap shooting range near Rosemont beginning at 8 am, Saturday October 13th.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided on site for the youth and for the mentors.
Youth participating in the Pheasants Forever youth mentor hunt  will be given instructions in various hunting related topics such as dog training, hunter safety, archery, land owner appreciation, wild life conservation and blue rock shooting.
 Each youth participating will be given a hunting vest provided by the Webster Co. chapter of Pheasants Forever.  They will also be eligible for door prizes. 
Part of the program will include target shooting with 22 rifles. Also during  the day each youth hunter will participate in an actual live pheasant hunt with a mentor and a dog handler.  Youth hunters will be given instruction on cleaning their birds and will be able to take home the birds harvested.  The day should prove to be very rewarding and is designed to target those youth with a strong interest in hunting.
Special permission has been obtained from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to allow for hunting prior to the opening of the regular pheasant hunting season.
Activities are expected to conclude around 2:30 with a lunch prepared and served by volunteers from the local PF organization.
Advance registration for the event is required.  Jamie Reiman of Blue Hill is the president of the Webster Co. chapter of Pheasants Forever. Other local members who will be assisting with the event include but not limited to Toby Alber, Dave Kohmetscher, Art Lienemann, Rocky Premer, Troy Schmitz, Bob Fontaine, Andy & Vicki Alber .
Pheasant Forever chapters and Nebraska Game and Parks commission have been combining their efforts to provide Youth mentor hunts since 1996.

For more information call...
Jamie Reiman at 402-984-4820

Leola M. (Krueger) Schroeder March 20, 1932 to September 19, 2012

Leola “Lee” M. Schroeder, 80, passed away Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at her home.
Services will be Monday, September 24, 2012; 10:30 A.M. at Faith Lutheran Church, Hastings with Pastor Paul Dunbar officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, Nebraska
. Memorials may be given to Faith Lutheran Church or American Heart Association.
Visitation will be Saturday, September 22, 2012; 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M., Sunday, September 23, 2012; 1:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. with family present from 3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the church.

Leola “Lee” was born March 20, 1932 to Ernest and Florence (Kort) Krueger at Ayr, Nebraska. She attended Ayr School for a few years, then her family moved a short distance and she attended a rural school until going to Trinity Lutheran Parochial School in Blue Hill, Nebraska for her 7th and 8th grades and graduating from Blue Hill High School in 1949. After graduation, she moved to Hastings, Nebraska and worked at Publishers News Company. On August 5, 1951 she married the love of her life, Dale Schroeder at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Hill, Nebraska.
Lee worked at NC+ Hybrids as a secretary and office manager for 23 ½ years, retiring in December of 1990. Lee was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed being a Den Mother for a Cub Scout group for many years, and also being a member of the Hastings Bowling Association.
She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and Just For Fun Car Club. Lee enjoyed cooking, bowling, dancing, playing cards, family trips, boating, hunting and fishing, but most of all, treasured the time spent with her family. She looked forward to the weekends they spent at their lake home at Harlan County, with family and friends. Lee will be greatly missed by all.
Leola was preceded in death by her parents; son, Dennis; father & mother-in-law, Louis & Laura Schroeder; sister, Mary Hongsermeier; brother, Robert Krueger; brothers-in-law, Karl Baehr, Dard Dealey, and Duane Schroeder.
Survivors include:
Devoted Husband of 61 years: Dale Schroeder – Hastings, NE
Sons & Spouse: David & Janet Schroeder – Kearney, NE
Steven Schroeder – Hastings, NE
Grandchildren & Spouses: Jacqueline & George Ajazi – Batavia, IL
Ryan Schroeder – Hastings, NE
Alex & Kate Schroeder – St. Charles, IL
Sarah & Christopher Schifferns – Hastings, NE
Great-Grandchildren: Noah Ajazi – Batavia, IL
Gavin Schifferns – Hastings, NE
Keaton Schifferns – Hastings, NE
Stella Schroeder – St. Charles, IL
Step-Grandsons: Nicholas Cousens – Fremont, NE
Eric Cousens – Norfolk, NE
Step-Great-Grandchild: Katie Cousens – Fremont, NE
Sisters: LaVerda Baehr – Hastings, NE
Kathy Dealey – Ogallala, NE
Brother-in-law: Gary Hongsermeier – Republican City, NE
Sisters-in-law: Mary Schroeder – Hastings, NE
Ruby Krueger – Blue Hill, NE
Numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends

Editorial: Romney a Doer of Good Deeds

I have heard it said, although it is not true,  that Mormons don't believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior because they believe they can get to heaven by doing good works, because so many of them are known for doing good works, They do the good works because they believe Christ when he says What you do for the least of these your brethern you have done for me.
 But then I contrast Mitt Romney, a Mormon, who believes in good works  with Barack Obama who sympathizes with the Jhadist Muslims that believe in killing anyone who they perceive as being disrespectful to their prophet Mohammad. 
Who would you rather have running the country, a Mormon who believes in doing good works or a Muslim sympathiser that would apologize to those who kill Americans. 
Muslim extremists  kill an ambassador because  someone else may have been disrespecting  their prophet.  The government sends out a apology, denounces the disrespect, speaks out about how terrible it is.  It is horrible to disrespect anothers religion says our secretary of State.
Yet on Broadway a play is running called The Book of Mormon that completely disrespects Mormons and their religion and I haven't heard of a single politician   (republican or democrat)denouncing it.  It's called freedom of speech.   I guess it's only wrong to disrespect another religion if they are crazy militants and will kill someone over it.  Politicians  pay hundreds of dollars for tickets to The Book Of Mormon play and attend and laugh.   Double standard or what! 
And what do the Mormons do about it, turn the other cheek, buy advertising in the playbill, "you've seen the play, now read the Book.or  The Book is always better. 

Speaking of Good works here a a few examples of what Mitt Romney has done.  You might keep in mind that in order to claim a charitable deduction on a tax form it has to be given to a IRS approved charity, any money given to individuals  for house payments, medical expenses or school tuition or any other such thing wouldn't appear listed in Romney's charitable contributions.   He gets no credit for that kind of charity. 
Mitt Romney gives not only his money but he gives his time and has taught his children to do the same. 
 There are many examples:

One cold December day in the early 1980s, Mitt Romney loaded up his Gran Torino with firewood and brought it to the home of a single mother whose heat had been shut off just days before Christmas.



Years after a business partner died unexpectedly, Romney helped the man’s surviving daughter go to medical school with loans for tuition – loans he forgave when she graduated.
And in 1997, when a fellow church member’s teenage son fell seriously ill, Romney sprinted to the hospital in the dead of night, where he kept vigil with his terrified parents.

Reed Fisher tells one such story, from 2007:

That story begins in the aftermath of the wildfires that engulfed San Diego in the fall of 2007, consuming dozens of homes in Reed Fisher’s neighborhood and nearly his own.
Fisher told CBS News the fire did burn a hole through a fence and caught the corner of his house.
While the house was being repaired Fisher got a call from a fellow Mormon, one of his son’s friends, offering help. It was Matt Romney, one of Mitt Romney’s five sons.
When asked what he said, Fisher said, “We would like to come help. We would like to come do something. And I said, ‘Matt, I wish you could, but almost everything has been cleaned up.’ But he pressed me, and I said, ‘Well, there is this one thing. And I don’t know if the insurance is going to cover it. There is a big tree stump in my front yard. They took the tree down, the tree was torched in the fire. But the stump was still there.’ So Matt insisted, he said, ‘We would like to bring a couple of guys and do some service at your house.’”
On that day, Fisher said he ran out to get some breakfast for the volunteers. Fisher said, “As I drove down to my house, there are four men working in the hole there, … and one of them is running for President of the United States of America.”
That man was Romney. When his son told him about the service project, he had asked if he could help.
“He had dirt under his fingernails,” Fisher said. “He was the first one down the hole. He’s the first one with the power saw. He’s doing the hardest work of any of us.”

The Nixon family tells another:

On April 4, 1995, four of Mark and Sheryl Nixon’s six children were driving back from a youth group meeting outside Boston when the driver of the minivan they were in lost control of the vehicle, which side-swiped a utility pole, struck two trees and flipped over.
The two front seat passengers – Rob and Reed Nixon, both high-school athletes – were severely injured in the wreck, their necks shattered, their bodies paralyzed. The boys underwent numerous surgeries, and the family quickly incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenses, not only for the treatments but also for a special van and an addition to their house to accommodate their sons’ conditions.
New to the Boston area and without the means to pay for their sons’ care, the Nixons had few places to turn for help.
Enter Mitt Romney. On Christmas Eve, the Romney family showed up at the Nixon home unannounced, bearing large boxes full of gifts, including a stereo system, VCR and a generous check for Rob, Reed and the entire Nixon family.
“I knew [Romney's] schedule. I knew how busy he was. And their whole family came. He was actually teaching his boys, saying, ‘This is what we do. We do this as a family,’” Mark Nixon told Michael Kranish and Scott Helman in “The Real Romney.” “We’ve never forgotten it,” Sheryl added. “It stood out so much in our minds and helped us to want to be better parents, too.”
Romney later offered to pay for the boys’ college education and participated in a 5K road race and fundraiser for them. In subsequent years, he also made large financial gifts to a golf tournament in their honor.

Bryce Clark’s story is about reaching out with compassion and mentoring that helped him find sobriety out of addiction:

Late one summer night in 1993, distraught over his descent into alcoholism and drug use, Mr. Clark, then a 19-year-old college student, decided to confess that he had strayed from his Mormon faith. So he drove through this well-heeled Boston suburb to Mr. Romney’s secluded seven-bedroom home.
As the highest-ranking Mormon leader in Boston, Mr. Romney was responsible for determining whether Mr. Clark was spiritually fit for a mission, a rite of passage for young Mormon men. Mr. Clark had previously lied to him, insisting that he was eligible to go. But instead of condemnation that night, Mr. Clark said, Mr. Romney offered counsel that the younger man has clung to for years.
“He told me that, as human beings, our work isn’t measured by taking the sum of our good deeds and the sum of our bad deeds and seeing how things even out,” recalled Mr. Clark, now 37, sober and working as a filmmaker in Utah. “He said, ‘The only thing you need to think about is: Are you trying to improve, are you trying to do better? And if you are, then you’re a saint.’”

Another congregant was inspired by Romney’s example of service:

When Clayton Christensen, a Harvard business professor, and his wife, Christine, felt overwhelmed by church obligations, Mr. Romney showed up unexpectedly at the door. With three young children, Mr. Christensen was in charge of missionary work; his wife ran the relief society, ministering to Boston’s poor.
“He said, ‘I was just driving home from work, and I had a feeling that I needed to stop by and tell you that God loves you.’” Mr. Christensen was so moved, he recalled, that he wept.

Not all of Romney’s outreach efforts were as successful as the Washington Post’s account of Romney’s outreach to the Hatian community, the NY Times notes that “[w]hen young Southeast Asian converts began joining gangs, Mr. Romney set up small storefront churches in rough areas of town, with the hope of drawing them back,” but to no avail. But other communities felt the touch of Romney’s generosity and compassion, even if it meant bending the rules a little:

In the back office of his Weston, Mass., headquarters a quarter-­century ago, Mitt Romney, the chief Mormon authority in the Boston area, told the leader of his Spanish-speaking congregation that he would not directly pay for lawyers to help the growing number of illegal immigrants in his church. Then he carefully instructed his subordinate on how to circumvent the Mormon Church’s new hard line against such assistance and subsidize their legal aide.
“In those issues I cannot help you financially to pay for lawyers,” Romney said, according to Jose Francisco Anleu, a Guatemalan immigrant. “But what I can do is allow you to give them food assistance from the bishop’s warehouse,” a church welfare pantry. The money saved could be used to “pay lawyers.” He reminded Anleu that he could use church funds to cover rent, utilities and health care for his needy members. The money came from Anleu’s budget, but, as Anleu noted decades later, it was a budget sustained by Romney’s office.
…Marco Velasquez, an immigrant from Guatemala, said that under Romney the church held workshops to learn English and make gallons of inexpensive liquid soap. He also said that while he had papers, most of the other Latino members did not. Some came on three-month tourist visas and stayed. Many of the Central Americans, he said, simply walked across the border into Texas and made their way up to Boston.
“There is always a way to get papers – you had to pay extra,” said Velasquez, who added that he had a network in East Boston that could get people Social Security cards – “but they were not real.” A counselor in Cambridge before digging his shovel into the ground alongside Romney at the Boston branch’s groundbreaking, he said the church “had to know, but they didn’t say anything.” The same, he said, went for Romney. “He probably suspected that I was doing it.”

Sometimes, Romney’s generosity even came out of his propensity for gaffes:

Ken Smith, the former director of the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, also came on Beck’s show to discuss what Buzzfeed called “a cringe worthy moment in 1994.”
During the visit to the shelter, Smith said Romney first looked at the shelter’s books for about 45 minutes and then took a tour of the facility. At the end of the tour, Romney asked what Smith’s biggest problem was. Smith told him the shelter had problems paying for milk, and Romney replied, “Well Ken, maybe you can teach the vets to milk cows.”
The next day, Smith said, the newspapers were killing him for the remark, and Romney called Smith to apologize. The following day, the milkman showed up, offloaded his milk and gave Smith a bill that was half of its normal size. The same things happened for a month, two months, three months, and then for a full two years, Smith said. Finally, on the day the milkman was to retire, he told Smith that Romney had been paying for the milk.
“Romney’s generosity has helped tens of thousands of veterans who are homeless, who have been through this facility, with nourishment,” Smith said. “The milk cartons said the name of the milk company, it didn’t say, ‘donated by Mitt Romney.’”

(You can see video of the testimonials from Smith and some of the others here)
Romney is also the kind of many you could depend on to rise to the occasion in a crisis:

When the daughter of Bob Gay, a Bain colleague who once sat with Romney on the church’s high council, vanished, Romney shut down his Bain offices and arranged for a search party. After she was found shaken but safe in New Jersey, Romney boarded a bus to the airport with John Hoffmire, another Bain colleague who belonged to the church. Tears welled up in Romney’s eyes as he talked about his journey through New York’s rave clubs showing teenagers a picture of Gay’s daughter.
“I looked at this young man, and he had a bolt through his lip,” Hoffmire recalled Romney telling him. “But the strongest feeling came over me, and I just thought, ‘The heavenly father loved that young man just as much as he loved anybody.’”

Snopes has more, including Gay being quoted at the time – while his daughter was recovering in detox after “a massive dose of ecstasy,” saying “I’m not sure we would have gotten her back without” Romney.
Romney could even ride to the rescue when more dramatic personal action was required:

It’s a story that’s not often told. Mitt Romney at his family’s summer home in Wolfeboro, N.H. on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee whisking into the night on a Jet Ski with two of his sons to rescue a drowning family of four, their two friends, and their dog.
On the weekend of July 4th, 2003, the Romney family was enjoying their picturesque summer home in New Hampshire on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee…
“We heard a whole bunch of screaming,” Josh Romney told the Boston Herald. The Romney brothers and their father quickly raced to their Jet Skis. “We tore out of there and my dad hopped on the other Jet Ski and came out right after us.”
The screams came from Robert Morrissey, of New Jersey, his wife, their two adult children, two family friends, and the family dog.
The family…were sailing peacefully in their 20-foot long wooden boat until it began to take on water. Within three minutes it had begun to sink.
…’This happened really, really fast,” Mr. Morrissey said in 2003. When the boat started to sink, he dialed 911 on his cellphone as fast as he could. ”As I’m making the call, the boat is going down under my feet.”
Romney and his sons followed the shouts to find the group floating in the darkness treading water alongside their dog.
The Governor heaved the youngest two women onto his Jet Ski, a three-seater, and raced back to shore. The two Romney sons stayed with the rest of the family until the Governor returned to ferry the rest of the family, and their dog, safely to dry land.

You may choose to dislike Romney’s politics, his policies, his ham-handed speeches. But what a better country we would have if half the people attacking him now could compile half of the list above. Compared to Barack Obama, who had half his house paid for by a slumlord convicted of bribing politicians, I’d rather depend on Mitt Romney if I really needed a friend when the chips were down.

 

Smith Encourages Nebraskans to Complete USPS Surveys

Washington, DC – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) issued the following statement today encouraging constituents to participate in United States Postal Service (USPS) surveys on reduced retail hours at certain post office locations:

“The Postal Service is considering changes to retail hours at 13,000 post offices nationwide, including many in Nebraska’s Third District. I encourage all residents who would be impacted by these changes to complete the USPS survey. Doing so allows the Postal Service to determine the best path forward for individuals and businesses in every community. Your input will be considered in the final decision. Nebraskans can contact my office if they have questions or concerns.”
USPS will conduct an evaluation process of the proposed reduced hours at 13,000 post office locations over the next two years. The evaluation will consist of a customer survey and a public meeting. Until these meetings are complete, no changes will be made. Surveys will be mailed to affected zip codes and available at post offices.
A complete list of Post Offices affected by the proposal is available at: http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/welcome.htm.

NELSON; WASHINGTON NOISE, NEBRASKA CONQUENCES

Senator Challenges Nebraska, Media, to Focus on Local Outcomes of Political Rhetoric

September 19, 2012— Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson said today that Nebraskans should insist that candidates and office holders explain the consequences for Nebraska of all the noise they hear from Washington that is propelled by ideological groups, special interests and 24-hour news coverage.
“Nebraskans have a right to know the consequences of the decisions being made for them in Washington. But the 24-hour debate coming from Washington pundits and third party special interest groups ignores the local consequences of the larger conversation,” said Senator Nelson during his weekly conference call with the Nebraska media. “I ask all Nebraskans and (the media) to press office holders and candidates to fully communicate the implications of Washington political decision-making for Nebraska.”
Senator Nelson expressed his frustration with the current state of the national news cycle, and stressed that many Nebraskans are left partially uninformed exactly how particular political convictions can apply to Nebraska communities.
“Everybody hears ‘stop wasteful spending’ and ‘cut the budget,’ and they think those things sound good, so they vote for the people saying those things. But at the same time, not too many Nebraskans like the idea of letting our state’s roads and bridges go without repair, letting farmers and ranchers who just suffered through a drought ‘tough it out,’ or letting the aging Omaha VA Medical Center that serves over 150,000 veterans fall into a state of disrepair,” said Senator Nelson. “These things don’t tend to get highlighted in the national media, or brought up when campaigning politicians deliver their slogans.”
Nelson also highlighted that the media reported on Congressional debate and political reactions to the five-year Farm Bill passed by the Senate in June, and the House of Representatives’ lack of action on both the Senate-passed Farm Bill and an alternative Farm Bill developed within the House. But local implications of not having a Farm Bill were not communicated within Nebraska, resulting in a political climate where House Members were not pushed to pass a Farm Bill.
“While Nebraska has been told about the ‘messy political process behind (the Farm Bill), what candidate ‘A’ has to say about it, and what the talking heads have to say about it, Nebraskans have not been told about the local consequences of not having a Farm Bill,” said Nelson.
“If the current law expires, the Farm Bill defaults to the 1949 law, and the conservation, rural development, and support for farm commodity programs won’t be renewed. Nebraska should know that the disaster programs to assist livestock producers impacted by the drought are gone too. Had more people in Nebraska known about the local consequences of not having a Farm Bill, they may have held their House’s feet to the fire and demanded a Farm Bill.”

Judy Kay (Krueger) Voboril June 25, 1948 to Sept.17, 2012

Judy Kay Voboril

Jun. 25, 1948 - Sep. 17, 2012

Sutton resident Judy Kay Voboril, 64, died Monday, September 17, 2012, at her home in Sutton, NE.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 20, 2012, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sutton, NE with Rev. Judy Nuss officiating. Graveside services are 2:00 p.m., Thursday, at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings, NE. Visitation is Wednesday, from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, NE.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.
Judy Kay Voboril was born June 25, 1948, to Elmer and Tena (Rose) Krueger on the family farm near Blue Hill, NE. She received her education in Blue Hill and graduated from Blue Hill High School. She furthered her education at Cloud County Community College studying art. On December 26, 1968, she married Kenneth D. Voboril in Red Cloud, NE. She was a homemaker and farm wife and enjoyed taking care of her family.
She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Red Cloud, NE and Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Hill, NE.
She is survived by her husband, Ken Voboril of Sutton, NE; sons, Kenny Voboril and wife Gina of Overland Park, KS; Tim Voboril and wife Kari of Crawford, OK; daughters, Kandice and fiancé Kevin Herrick of Guide Rock, NE; Heidi Kruger and husband Adam of Lincoln, NE; sister, Kathy Stewart and husband Larry of Mankato, KS; nine grandchildren, Madylien Voboril, Kohlton Voboril, Paisley Voboril, Barrett Voboril, Jakob Myers, Aiden Myers, Sam Herrick, Alexus McKeithen and Anson Kruger.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and infant daughter, Sherri Sue Voboril; three sisters, Irene Hohlfeld, Lois Dack and Patty Terry; brother, Larry Krueger; two brother-in-laws, Darrell Hohlfeld, Darreld Dack and one nephew, David Dack.

Johanns Statement on Constitution Day

 

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today released the following statement in honor of Constitution Day:
“Since being signed 225 years ago today, the Constitution has served as the pillar of freedom and liberty in our great nation,” Johanns said. “This Constitution Day, we remember how fortunate we are to live in a free society, and how important it is to defend these freedoms. Its essence protects our very basic human rights: life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Elected leaders take an oath to protect the ideals and freedoms of the Constitution, and upholding that oath is our most important responsibility.”
Constitution Day recognizes the adoption of the U.S. Constitution as well as those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed every September 17, the anniversary of the Constitution’s signing at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

Youth Football Drops Opener

The Blue Hill / Red Cloud Youth Football team lost their season opener this past Sunday to the Falcons of Hildreth / Wilcox 22 - 6.  Max Moorman scampered for over 40 yards in the Warcats lone score.  Thirteen of the Warcats 24 players had carries in the game.

A special thanks to Troy Schmitz and Wilson Alber for officiating the game and Jamey Jameson for operating the clock.  The game was held in Red Cloud.  The Warcats return to action on Sunday, September 30 in Minden.  Their next home game is Sunday, October 7 in Blue Hill.

Straight from the Horses Mouth

      
Duane A. Lienemann,
UNL Extension Educator,
Webster County
September 15, 2012 Edition
I was hoping to give an update on harvest, but it would be pretty much a repeat of last week. From what I hear, the corn for the most part is dry and the yields are pretty much all over the board. It was nice that we had a nice gentle rain across most of South Central Nebraska. I know some guys that almost drowned trying to figure out what it was hitting there seed corn hats. I know that a half inch doesn’t seem like much, but when you are as dry as we are it is very significant. If nothing else, it settles the dust, helps the collective attitude, and has a great aroma. I almost forgot what the smell of earth was during and right after a good rain. They ought to bottle that as a perfume or after-shave.
There were a couple of things in the news that caught my eye this week. I think it might be good to discuss these things as I see them as significant to Nebraska agriculture and agribusiness. Anyone that knows me probably has figured out that I have a passion for Nebraska agriculture, our agricultural youth, and even more specifically the livestock industry in our state. It upsets me when I see all the efforts by environmentalists, ideologues, animal rights groups, crackpots, and a whole list of misguided and misinformed people and groups who seem constantly to assail the animal agriculture industry.
I see it as one of the biggest problems facing agriculture. I say this because this sentiment goes beyond dialogue it becomes personal and expensive when it manifests itself into outrageous constraints, regulations and biased attacks via internet, radio and more disturbingly on national television networks like ABC. The readers of this column may remember my distaste for the vicious and misinformed attack on Beef Products Inc. (BPI) by ABC news causing an unwarranted uproar with consumers and even grocery stores across the nation. The negative impact on LFTB forced the company to close three of its four plants and cut about 650 jobs. Furthermore it put a burden on our school lunch programs. It ultimately affected the upward price of hamburger and a downward price for fat cattle. Just for a sensational story?
Needless to say I was pleased when I saw that Beef Products Inc., the maker of lean finely textured beef, often called “pink slime” by the media, has announced a defamation suit against ABC News after media attention led to decreased product demand, job layoffs and closed plants. I see it specifically named ABC anchor Diane Sawyer, Senior National Correspondent Jim Avila and correspondent David Kerley, along with the disgruntled Department of Agriculture microbiologist who coined the term “pink slime” as defendants in its lawsuit. The lawsuit is charging that several ABC News reports ignored countervailing facts offered them by the company and third parties, and “knowingly and intentionally” published “false and disparaging statements” about the company’s lean finely textured beef product. BPI seeks $1.2 billion in damages for roughly 200 ‘‘false and misleading and defamatory’’ statements about LFTB.
ABC used the pejorative phrase “pink slime” more than 130 times within 30 days in the context of 11 television broadcasts and 14 online news reports, which also repeated inaccurate statements about the product’s safety, nutrition and the actual substance of the product. BPI lost 80 percent of its business in 28 days and LFTB sales have fallen from five million pounds per week to less than 2 million pounds per week. The lawsuit seeks three times an estimated $400 million for compensatory damages in addition to punitive damages. All I can say is “Good for them!” They are doing what we need to do to stop this all out affront on animal agriculture. This suit could have far reaching impact.
The legal hurdles that BPI faces for defamation are huge. Obviously, proving economic damage will be easy, and there certainly was a wealth of incorrect material presented by ABC regarding lean finely textured beef. But the sad fact is that when the media chooses to ignore facts and sensationalize a story, there’s little recourse for the aggrieved to take, even if a company, its employees, consumers and the public are injured in the process. The big question still remains.. How can we prevent such uninformed, inaccurate, ill-intentioned, and well-orchestrated attacks from succeeding in the future? That is something that we in the animal agriculture industry must get our minds around. I hope they win and make a big statement that people cannot make false and misleading claims about meat and the meat industry. Kudos to BPI!
The reality of this whole thing is that while I believe we have made tremendous strides in producing a healthier, safer, more environmentally friendly product, we have also advanced the basic tenet of our industry that the welfare of our animals and the land comes first. Unfortunately as this BPI “pink slime” fiasco proves, we are being demonized instead of congratulated for those successes. We have created a great story; however we’ve fallen very short in the telling of that story. We in the ag industry must not be fragmented, we must pull together despite our differences. We have a wonderful story to tell and we need to tell that story. We need it to be science based, steeped in tradition, but with an eye to the future. Producers need to step up to the plate. They need to become involved or they will wonder “What happened?”
I was very pleasantly surprised and proud when I saw an article in this past Monday’s Omaha World Herald entitled “Animal Agriculture Even More Vital”. I think it sends a very positive message. You can contact me for a copy, or if you have internet you can go to this URL -   http://www.omaha.com/article/20120910/NEWS0802/709109989/1677  It is worth the read! My hat goes off to Ronnie Green, Harlan vice chancellor of IANR-UNL; Archie Clutter, Dean of IANR-ARD; and Greg Ibach, Director of the Nebraska Department of Ag. It does my heart good to see them take a stand. Thank you!

Johanns Column: Fixing a Home; Growing a Family

 Dave and Laura Whelchel never planned on moving to Nebraska when they saw a listing for an old farmhouse outside of Harrisburg, Neb. They never planned on adopting five children either. But they felt a special calling, changed their plans, and last week, it was my privilege to honor them in Washington as 2012 Angels in Adoption.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Whelchel family farm last month during my August travels. They are truly committed to providing a loving and nurturing environment. I am thrilled to have nominated them for this recognition, which honors those who enrich the lives of foster and adopted children in the United States.

In 2000, the Whelchels, with their two biological children, took a leap of faith, sold their home in Colorado and began work to repair their new old farmhouse in rural western Nebraska.

“I think God led us here,” Laura told me when showing me around their family farm.

Their newly remodeled home had plenty of extra room to spare and the Whelchel’s family of four felt another calling.

“The house was big and we only had two kids,” Laura said. “It just sort of screamed foster kids.”

So not long after moving to the farm, they welcomed their first foster child, whom they later adopted. Today, they have four adopted children: Ruben, 18; Arielle, 13; San Juan, 12; and Josefina, 11, who join their two biological children: Chance, 26; and Jenna, 23. They are in the process of adopting another child: one-year-old Kayleigh. Each of the adopted children are biological siblings, and came into the Whelchel home with special physical, occupational or speech therapy needs.

“We can’t let them go once they are in the house,” Laura said. “We fall in love.”

Dave and Laura’s work helping children with special needs goes beyond their family, which has now blossomed to nine. Three years ago, they founded Camp Grace, a summer camp for special needs children held on their family farm near Harrisburg. The camp, which helps children reach therapy goals, relies on the support of dedicated volunteers and therapists as well as the Whelchel family’s time and resources.

“It’s more exciting to work on your therapy goals when you have something fun to do,” Laura said.

Through their selfless dedication and commitment, the Whelchel family has touched the lives of many children who have faced hardships at young ages, providing a home and encouragement to face down challenges. I could not think of a family more deserving of this recognition as adoption angels, and hope their story inspires others to consider becoming foster and adoptive parents.

Blue Hill Bobcats defeat Hastings St. Cecilia Blue Hawks 28 to 20

The Blue Hill Bobcats traveled to Hastings tonight, September 14, to meet the St. Cecilia Blue Hawks at Duncan field. In a surprising last minute finish the Blue Hill Bobcats scored with a touch down by Shane Kohmetscher. Coach Porter decided to go  for the two points and the final score ended up 28 to 20.
More details as they become available to us. 

Rep. Adrian Smith Move from Welfare to Work

Rep., Adrian Smith
 

The successful 1996 welfare reform law passed by a Republican Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton is a model of bipartisan cooperation and a rare example of divided government achieving a major accomplishment. The law created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program, providing states funds for welfare checks, but also contains strong work requirements to help recipients find and keep jobs rather than become dependent on government aid.
The welfare reform law requires states to ensure at least 50 percent of adults participating in TANF are engaged in various work activities such as education, training, actively looking for work, or paid employment for a minimum number of hours per week. These programs help welfare recipients find work and better prepare them to rejoin the workforce.
The TANF work requirements are supported by more than 80 percent of Americans according to a recent survey and have successfully raised earnings, lowered poverty, and reduced government dependence. Since 1996, child poverty in female-headed households fell dramatically, and welfare dependence caseloads have declined by 57 percent as of last year.
Despite the success of TANF and the work requirement, the Obama Administration recently issued guidance to states which could reverse the core of these bipartisan welfare reforms. In July, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it will grant waivers of work requirements. Waiving the work requirement not only undermines the intent of the program, but also could lead to increased levels of unemployment and dependency on government assistance. Further, the decision to offer waivers for the work requirement was made without the consent of Congress. The announcement by HHS was not made in response to any changes in TANF law, and actually is contrary to statute specifically prohibiting waivers.
To protect the progress we have made on welfare reform and help families in need move from welfare to work, I support H.J.Res 118, which was considered this week by the House Committee on Ways and Means, on which I serve. The resolution expresses disapproval of the Obama Administration’s regulatory effort to weaken welfare reform, prevents the Administration from implementing the work requirement waivers, and preserves TANF to help millions of Americans find and maintain jobs.
The resolution was favorably reported by the committee and now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives. Welfare reform remains one of the greatest bipartisan successes in the last generation. Passing our resolution is necessary to preserve this legacy, and to continue to help families in need move from welfare to work.

NELSON RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT CAIRO EMBASSY SECURITY TO EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR

 

Senator Stresses Need to Strengthen Defenses for Diplomats

September 14, 2012— Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson said that after this week’s tragic deaths in Libya, and violent protests that breached the defenses of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, continued American aid to Egypt must come with a guarantee of protection for American diplomatic facilities within the country.
“Nebraska would expect the Egyptian government to provide adequate security around embassies like ours,” said Senator Nelson during a conversation with Ambassador Tawfik. “The Egyptian police were overwhelmed by the demonstrators, and we’re lucky the violence wasn’t more severe. Now is the time for President Morsi to take the necessary steps to shore up Egyptian defenses at the U.S. Embassy.”
On Thursday, Nelson and Tawfik spoke about Wednesday evening’s events in Cairo, when Egyptian protestors hurled stones at the U.S. Embassy, climbed into the compound and ripped down the American flag. Ambassador Tawfik communicated to Nelson that Egyptian security forces at first did not engage the large crowd of protestors because they did not want to aggravate the already-angry crowd. Only after the protestors breached the walls of the embassy compound did Egyptian security forces act.
“Egypt must be proactive to provide sufficient security for our embassy,” Nelson said. “Though the steps that (Egyptian President) Morsi has taken after the attack are commendable, they were part of a reactive effort, after the damage had been done. Egyptian security forces have to take preventative measures to avoid this sort of incident in the future.”
Following the assault on the U.S. Embassy, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi presided over the arrests of several individuals involved with the event, the re-securing of the embassy, and an effort to keep demonstrators contained.
In May of this year, Senator Nelson was one of several American government officials in Egypt following the Egyptian presidential election. During Senator Nelson’s time in Egypt, he toured the American Embassy in Cairo that was victim of this week’s attack, and spoke with numerous government ministers, including several heads of defense.
“Having just been to Egypt, and having been protected in-part by Egyptian security forces during my time there, this issue of American diplomats so easily being reached by demonstrators is one of great concern to me and something not to be taken lightly,” said Senator Nelson. “While it is essential to keep strong ties with young democracies in the Middle East, we need to make it clear that we expect our people to be safe over there. That isn’t too much to ask.”

President Obama's Health Care Law What do you want Nebraska to do?

Governor Dave Heineman

As we look to the future, the State of Nebraska has some very important decisions to make regarding President Obama’s federal health care law. It’s important that we hear from you about this issue.

To that end, I had the Nebraska Department of Insurance hold public hearings in Gering, Kearney, Nebraska City, Omaha and South Sioux City the past two weeks. Additionally, I held several open, informal public hearings with advocacy groups, hospitals, health care providers, insurance companies and insurance agencies.
At these meetings, we heard a variety of opinions. At the citizen public meetings, many Nebraskans expressed strong opposition to President Obama’s federal health care laws.
When Insurance Director Bruce Ramge and I met with advocacy groups, hospitals, health care organizations, insurance companies and insurance agents about health insurance exchange, we asked them to share with us their thoughts about what type of health insurance exchange should Nebraska develop, why and who should pay for it. Currently, the federal health care law requires states to submit their plan to the federal government by November 16 whether they favor a state-based exchange, a state-federal partnership or a federal exchange.
Normally, Nebraska would favor a state-based health insurance exchange to maintain state and local control. However, the more we understand President Obama’s federal health care law, the clearer it is that the federal government is dictating and controlling what the states can do. The states have little flexibility except to decide who is going to be taxed and how much.
For example, on the issue of an essential health benefit plan, the federal government mandates the states must choose from four plans dictated by the federal government. Instead of allowing the states to develop their own essential health benefit plans to reflect their demographics; the federal government is forcing states to choose from one of the federal government’s choices. That’s not real flexibility and without real flexibility on the key issues that impact health insurance exchanges, does it really make any difference what type of exchange a state chooses?
That’s what we are trying to figure out. Additionally, I am concerned about the cost to operate a state exchange. As those costs increase, and they will, it will force states to reduce education funding for local school districts or raise taxes on middle class families.
The choices are difficult. I want your input on these important decisions. Please email me at dave.heineman@nebraska.gov or write me a letter (Governor Dave Heineman, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509) with your thoughts and ideas about what Nebraska should do regarding the federal health care law.

Opera House to Bring Jazz to Red Cloud

The Willa Cather Foundation has been awarded a grant to support Rat Pack Jazz, a live concert by Johnny Adams and Ron Cooley on Saturday Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.
The group performs the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Mart, Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett.
To buy the $10 ticket or to view a full schedule of events, visit www.WillaCather.org or call
402-746- 2641

Donna Jean Stuehrenberg May 10, 1926 to Sept. 12, 2012

Hastings resident, Donna Jean Stuehrenberg, 86, passed away Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.
Services will be Friday, September 14, 2012; 2:00 P.M. at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hastings with Pastor Joel Remmers officiating. Burial will be in Blue Hill Cemetery, Blue Hill, Nebraska. Memorials may be given to First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or Parkinson’s APDA. There will be no viewing; visitation will be Thursday, September 13, 2012; 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. with family present 7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Donna was born May 10, 1926 in Crete, Nebraska to Lebert M. & Liela J. (Siebrass) Leach. She graduated from Blue Hill High School and received her Registered Nursing Degree from Mary Lanning through the Nursing Cadet Program. Donna married Stanley V. Stuehrenberg on June 4, 1948 in Denver, Colorado; he preceded her in death on May 16, 2009. She worked as a private duty nurse and for Dr. C.W. Guildner as his office nurse. Donna then served as the student health nurse for Mary Lanning School of Nursing. Her final job was working with her husband as his secretary at Stuehrenberg Agency. Donna was a member of First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Sweet Adeline’s for many years. She loved being with her family, camping, fishing, and singing.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stanley V. Stuehrenberg; and three sisters.

Survivors include:
Children & Spouses: Penny & Gerald Amack – Justin, TX
Nancy Jo & Jerry McCoy – Hastings, NE
Jacki & Bill Luke – Kearney, NE
Cheri & Phil Amack – Lincoln, NE
Susi & Greg Freed – Portland, OR
David & Deb Stuehrenberg – Hastings, NE
Dixie & John Torres – Hillsboro, OR
Sally & Randy McKimmey – Hastings, NE
Grandchildren: 22
Great-Grandchildren: 31
Sister-in-law & Spouse: Nelma & Jim Theis – Topeka, KS
Numerous Nieces, Nephews, and friends

Germanfest Celebration!!!! October 3.

Interested Blue Hill residents will have the oppertunity to learn about the Affordable Care Act and waht it means for Medicare, hidden taxes and hiw the act will change the face of medical care in South Central Nebraska at a special gathering on Wednesday October 3.
Germanfest,  a celebration to feature education, ethnic food and fun will be held at the Blue Hill Community/Senior center.  Beginning with coffee and German pastries at 9 a.m. and then the featured speaker, Dr. Michael Skoch, chief medical officer at Mary Lanning Healthcare. 
At noon an authentic German lunch will be catered by Thramers Food Center.
Anyone planning to have the meal needs to sign up at The city of Blue Hill offices or call 756 2571  by September 28th. 
After dinner at 1 p.m. UNL Extention Educator Dewey Lienemann will present the topic :Genealogocial Search for My ancestors in Ostfriesland, Germany"
The public is welcome and invited to attend the events.  Germanfest is sponsored by the Senior Citizens advisory Committee of Blue Hill. 

Area bands participating Hasting College's 2012 Melody Round-Up Parade

(Hastings, Neb.) – For 61 years, Hastings College has hosted the Melody Round-Up Parade in conjunction with its Homecoming celebration. To be held in downtown Hastings on Saturday, September 15, at 10 a.m., the parade will start at the corner of 4^th Street and Colorado Ave., proceed west to Hastings Ave., turn onto 2^nd St. and conclude at the intersection of 2^nd and Colorado Ave. Immediately following the parade, Hastings College and Dutton-Lainson will serve free root beer floats in Dutton-Lainson Plaza (2^nd Street & St. Joseph Avenue) as part of Floats after the Floats. At approximately 11:30 a.m. in the plaza, the Hastings College Department of Music will announce the parade awards.

Floats after the Floats are but one of the many special activities Hastings College has scheduled for its Celebration Weekend during which the College’s marks not only its 2012 Homecoming but also the 130^th anniversary of its founding and the inauguration of its 15^th president, Dennis C. Trotter. A full list of the weekend activities is available atwww.hastings.edu/celebrate.

The following bands are scheduled participate in the 2012 Melody Round-Up Parade:

School Director

Blue Hill High School William McMurtry

Deshler High School Debra Pohlmann

Doniphan-Trumbull Public School Don Alcorn

Friend Jr. High School Harley Mohlman

Greeley-Wolbach High School Mark Hiebner

Hastings College Daniel Laing

Hastings High School Erin Beave/Rick Matticks

Hastings St. Cecilia Ben Veilleux

Red Cloud High School Kathryn Wiest

Sandy Creek High School Andy Schneider

Shelby/Rising City High School Heather Hultgren

South Platte High School Jody Ziola

Winside High School Kathy Hansen

Corporate sponsors for the 2012 Melody Round-Up Parade include David & Associates, the Hastings Downtown Business Improvement District, Dutton-Lainson Company/Cornhusker Press/Rinder Printing/Showcase/Hastings Equity, Five Points Bank of Hastings, Heritage Bank, Idea Bank Marketing and Moore Music.

A spirit of excellence has long been the hallmark of the Hastings College music experience. Hastings College students and faculty have been making music from the beginning of the College in 1882. Hastings College is recognized as a National Liberal Arts College in the U.S. News and World Report annual “America’s Best Colleges” issue and a Best Midwestern College by Princeton Review. The Hastings College Department of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and also was named an All-Steinway School, one of only 82 worldwide.

The Department of Music offers a full range of vocal and instrumental opportunities for all Hastings College students. Major ensembles and small groups travel regularly, making special appearances at music conferences, schools, and churches. Vocal ensembles at Hastings College include the renowned Hastings College Choir, Men’s Chorus, HC Singers (treble voices), Spectrum vocal chamber ensembles, along with other special smaller groups. Instrumental ensembles include the Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Marching Band; Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Chamber Orchestra, Brass, and Percussion Ensembles, and the Bell Choir. The department serves as the permanent residence of the South Central Nebraska Children’s Chorale; the Nebraska State High School Honor Choir, Band, and Orchestra; and the Hastings Symphony Orchestra.

Music students can earn a Bachelor of Music degree with majors in applied performance, music education, and piano pedagogy. A Bachelor of Arts degree in music with an emphasis in performance, elementary education, music history or sacred music is also available. Hastings College offers a Master of Arts in Teaching with emphasis in music. In addition, the department sponsors student chapters of Sigma Alpha Iota, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Music Educators National Conference, and Music Teachers National Association.

Blue Hill defeated by St. Cecilia in Volleyball

St. Cecilia Hawkettes defeated the lady Bobcats of Blue Hill in straight sets Tuesday, winning 25-16, 25-15, 25-20. 
(kills-aces-blocks)  Maci Coffey, (12-0-1)  Amber Kohmetscher ( 0-0-0)  Hannah Ockinga (3-0-1) Kortney Allen (1-1-0)  McKenzieWillicot (4-0-0)  Rachel Reiman (1-0-1). 

Youth Football Opens Season Sunday

The Blue Hill /Red Cloud Youth Football Team will begin their season on Sunday, September 16 at 2:00 pm in Red Cloud vs Hildreth /Wilcox.  The Warcats are members of the Minden Optimist Youth Football League and will play five games this season.  The 26 players on the Warcat team make the largest team since the Youth Football Team was organized in 2008.

Members of the Team
Tony Bauman - 6th Grade, Blue Hill
Erika Kelley - 6th Grade, Blue Hill
Abby Lara - 6th Grade, Blue Hill
Blaine Minnick* - 6th Grade, Red Cloud
Eric Wademan* - 6th Grade, Blue Hill
Evan Boggs - 5th Grade, Red Cloud
Kade Golter* - 5th Grade, Blue Hill
Brendan Hafer* - 5th Grade, Blue Hill
Andruw Hiller* - 5th Grade, Blue Hill (Cowles)
Mason Klingenberg - 5th Grade, Red Cloud
Dillon M - 5th Grade, Red Cloud
Brendan M - 5th Grade, Red Cloud (Guide Rock)
Max Moorman* - 5th Grade, Blue Hill
Montana N - 5th Grade, Red Cloud
Jared Schmidt* - 5th Grade, Blue Hill
KC Simpson - 5th Grade, Red Cloud (Campbell)
Jacob Spike - 5th Grade, Red Cloud
Colten Bohlen - 4th Grade, Blue Hill
Emily Canterbury - 4th Grade, Blue Hill
Sterling Frey - 4th Grade, Red Cloud (Guide Rock)
Corbin Hoit - 4th Grade, Red Cloud
Cody Hubl - 4th Grade, Blue Hill
Canyen Jameson - 4th Grade, Silver Lake (Bladen)
Kade Kohmetscher - 4th Grade, Blue Hill
Trenton Schmidt - 4th Grade, Silver Lake (Campbell)
Mclayne Seeman - 4th Grade, Blue Hill

*Denotes players returning from last years team

The Warcats Schedule
9/16 vs Hildreth / Wilcox (in Red Cloud)
9/23 BYE
9/30 @ Minden Dawgs
10/7 vs Minden Bulldozers (in Blue Hill)
10/14 @ Axtell
10/21 TBD (team with like record)

All games kickoff at 2:00 pm.

Teams in the league
Blue Hill / Red Cloud Warcats
Minden Dawgs
Minden Bulldozers
Gibbon Buffaloes
Kenesaw Blue Devils
Southern Valley Eagles
Axtell Jets
Hildreth / Wilcox Falcons
Franklin Fliers
Alma Cardinals

The Warcats' first game, against Hildreth/Wilcox, will be a 9-man contest.  The Warcats will play 11-man football for the remainder of their schedule.