A LESSON IN POLITICAL COURAGE FROM ACROSS THE POND

From the Senate’s earliest days, new senators have respected a ritual of remaining silent during floor debates for a period of time ranging from several months to several years, depending on the era. This is, of course, largely a symbolic gesture. But newly elected senators respect the tradition to show they are committed to using their first days in office to learn the traditions, practices, and procedures of the Senate before speaking on the floor.
In other words, listen first and speak second – good advice.
On April 8, 2013, I delivered my “maiden speech” on the Senate floor and used the occasion to discuss my plans to bring Nebraska values to Washington. I praised the resilient, hardworking nature of my fellow Nebraskans and highlighted the sound economic practices of the state, which have produced balanced budgets and the second lowest unemployment rate in the country.
I also stressed my support for a limited government focused on fulfilling its core duties and promoting individual freedom and economic growth.
I was pleased a number of my colleagues accompanied me on the Senate floor and listened to my first speech. For those familiar with Nebraska’s Unicameral, this may sound like a given. But in Washington, the Senate chamber remains relatively empty when senators speak; the largest gatherings of senators occur during votes.
I was honored to have Nebraska’s senior senator, Mike Johanns, join me for the address. Senator Johanns has served as a steady friend during my transition to Washington. My official Senate mentors, John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), attended and offered kind remarks upon the conclusion of my speech. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Virg.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) also attended.
April 8 was the same day the world lost a transformational leader – an uncommon woman born into common circumstances, Margaret Thatcher. Alongside her ally and friend, Ronald Reagan, Thatcher helped lead the world beyond the Iron Curtain’s long shadow to a freer, more prosperous time. Though most Americans remember Thatcher as a sturdy Cold Warrior, Thatcher’s legacy at home in Britain is equally significant.
“Unless we change our ways and our direction,” Thatcher argued, “our greatness as a nation will soon be a footnote in the history books, a distant memory of an offshore island, lost in the mists of time like Camelot, remembered kindly for its noble past.”
Strong language – but Thatcher was hardly being an alarmist.
The 1970’s marked a grim era for Britain. With the garbage men striking, piles of trash littered London streets. At various times, hospital employees, railway workers, and gravediggers all went on strike. The once great British Empire had been brought to its knees, effectively paralyzed by overregulation and over-taxation.
Sound familiar?
Instead of blaming others, Thatcher led – and she reformed. She cut taxes, privatized industries, stood up to labor bosses, and curbed runaway spending. Thatcher accomplished all this with outsized courage and unusual political skill. She earned her nickname of the “Iron Lady” by standing for principles with a spine of steel, regardless of opinion polls or chatter from the pundits. “The lady is not for turning,” she famously stated.
As The Washington Post editorial board rightly noted, Margaret Thatcher was, “in every sense of the word, a leader.” An unapologetic conservative, Thatcher worked tirelessly to reform the welfare state that had come to stifle the British economy.
The Iron Lady’s legacy of unflinching boldness in confronting economic doldrums at home and pervasive communism abroad stands as a gold standard for all elected leaders seeking the political courage to make difficult decisions. The world is a better place because Margaret Thatcher led when others lacked the mettle.
I admire Thatcher’s resolve and principled positions, and I hope to stand tall for Nebraska values as a United States Senator in Washington.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process, and I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
Deb Fischer
United States Senator

Motorists Urged to Delay Westbound Travel

 

(Lincoln, Neb.)- The Nebraska State Patrol in conjunction with the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) is urging motorists headed west to delay travel plans as Interstate 80 is now closed westbound from Kearney to the Wyoming line.

“There simply just isn’t anywhere for westbound vehicles to go at this time,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.  “Road crews are working hard to re-open the interstate, but they are dealing with large amounts of heavy snow, coupled with blowing and drifting.”

Eastbound I-80 has re-opened at Big Springs, but travelers are urged to utilize caution as winter travel conditions still exist.

Motorists are encouraged to keep up on the latest weather and road condition reports by utilizing 511, Nebraska’s Advanced Traveler Information System at < www.511.nebraska.gov > , the 511 Mobile Traveler Site at < http://www.ndortraveler.mobi >, or by dialing 511 (800-906-9069) from any landline or cellular phone for information.  ###

Quote of the Day

, “I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.”

Margaret Thatcher

 Cost of raffle tickets $5.00 for one or $10.00 for three. Also if anyone has any questions or would like to buy any tickets they can contact Angie Scheideler at 402-756-3315 or Jessica Alber at 402-756-3027

Appointments Now Required for Fingerprinting Services

 

(Lincoln, Neb.)- Starting today, Monday, April 8, the Nebraska State Patrol, Criminal Identification Division will begin taking appointments for fingerprinting services offered at the Nebraska State Patrol Investigative Services Center, 3800 NW 12 Street, Suite A, in Lincoln.

Individuals needing fingerprinting for a Nebraska permit or licensure covered by state statute, will need to call the Criminal Identification Division during regular business hours at (402) 479-4971 to schedule an appointment.
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“In the past you just came out and had to wait in line to get your fingerprints taken,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “It is our hope that by scheduling appointments, we can limit the wait for those citizens needing this service.”

Fingerprinting services are provided by the Nebraska State Patrol free of charge.  A list of Nebraska permits or licensures covered for printing services can be found on the Nebraska State Patrol website under the Fingerprinting Appointments link. ##

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Individualism has come in for an enormous amount of criticism over the years. It still does. It is widely assumed to be synonymous with selfishness -- an argument which I have already examined and I hope successfully dismissed. But the main reason why so many people in power have always disliked individualism is because it is individualists who are ever keenest to prevent abuse of authority.

A large part of the explanation of why the English have been so successful in making liberty work is, I am convinced, that the nation has bred and nurtured more than its share of these rugged, angular individualists. We all know who they are. They are the people referred as ‘one of a kind’, or ‘a character’, or, sometimes and less favourably ‘a difficult customer’, or even on occasion ‘a damned nuisance’. They are not to be consigned to social categories, nor planned into programmes, nor fitted into schemes. They drive socialists wild. We need such individualists in every walk of life. We need them just as oysters need grit. No grit, no pearl.”

MARGARET THATCHER

Ending the Tax on a Lifetime of Success

Weekly Column

Sen. Mike Johanns

 

Summer after hot, dusty summer, many of our parents and grandparents worked in the fields, raising their crops. Winter after icy winter, they braved frigid corrals, helping to grow their herds. They often worked the same ground for decades—first as children, learning the trade.  Over time, they may have added new land and new equipment here and there—whenever they found an opportunity to expand their life’s work. It takes a lifetime to grow a farm or ranch.
These stories are bountiful in Nebraska. But not all of them have a happy ending. Farmers and ranchers are often vulnerable to one of the federal government’s most egregious policies that can reverse a lifetime of work in an instant, and at the hardest time for a family. The estate tax, or death tax, is a staggering 40 percent tax levied on inherited property following the death of a family member. This tax disproportionately affects rural America because of the cost of owning and operating farms and ranches. The average price for an acre of farmland has ballooned more than 140 percent, from $746 to $2,425 in the last decade, with little sign of slowing down, according to the University of Nebraska Department of Agricultural Economics.
Land is not the only part of the equation. Equipment and structures from center pivots to combines to grain bins can be valued well into the millions of dollars. Indeed the cost to own and operate a farm or ranch requires a substantial investment in land, buildings and equipment, but significant cash to pay the estate tax can be difficult or even impossible to produce. Although the tax exempts the first $5 million of each estate, the remaining tax burden leaves many rural farm families deep in debt. As costs continue to climb, the number of agriculture operations impacted will also increase.
I have met with families over the years who fear the estate tax will take away their family farm—their livelihood and the product of generations of hard work—to pay Uncle Sam after the death of a loved one.
I believe that repealing this tax is in the best interest of our nation’s farmers, ranchers and business owners.  That’s why I am cosponsoring legislation being introduced this Tax Day that would repeal this arduous fee for families in the midst of mourning. The legislation would not only end the government’s twisted idea of a sympathy card, but would do much to give our economy a much-needed boost. Studies indicate that repealing the estate tax would create 1.5 million additional small business jobs, add $119 billion to our economy and boost workers’ income by $79 billion. Similar legislation received bipartisan support during the Senate’s budget resolution debate.
A lifetime of work should not become a tax liability. It’s time we return to the fundamental principle that hard work and achievement is worthy of reward, not penalty.  It’s time we repeal this tax on success.

Legislative Newsletter

 

Sen. Tom Carlson

The legislature is now debating both morning and afternoon and soon it will be into the evenings.
I have been very busy presenting and defending my priority legislation as well as bills forwarded by the Natural Resources Committee. In that case, the introducing senator takes the lead but it is my responsibility, as chair, to explain the committee position and assist with questions during debate.
LB 517, my priority bill, had nearly three hours of debate before the Easter weekend recess. The bill creates a state water funding and sustainability task force, and I believe this is important for our state. I included in my introduction, “the United States and Nebraska will find alternative energy sources if oil and gas run out. But, if water runs out, we will die.”
The task force would identify water resources programs, projects, and activities in need of funding in order to meet long term goals of preserving and perhaps expanding the state’s water supply. Our water resources consist of the Ogallala Aquifer, rain and stream inflows. We can’t predict rain, so we need to properly manage the water resources we have.
While there was much discussion of the bill and some legitimate concerns, most senators agree that we must commit to working with many groups to accomplish the goal. Senator Heath Mello, chair of the Appropriations Committee, is concerned about the cost of the task force, and we are addressing that issue. It is my belief that we can have this study completed in time for bill introduction in January of 2014. The bill moved to the second round of debate on a vote of 36-0.
The second Natural Resource bill that warranted lengthy discussion this week was LB 57, introduced by Senator Larson. The bill would put into statute the policies of the Environmental Trust Board, including requiring written permission of the board to approve any real property transactions if the property was purchased with grant or revolving funds. Another section of the bill would ensure that any time land is purchased with grant money and then sold or otherwise turned over to the federal government, county property tax dollars must be fully replaced with in-lieu-of-tax payments or a permanent endowment fund.
This issue has been the subject of previous legislation introduced by me and town hall meetings in Clay Country and Lincoln. Our rural areas depend on property tax being taxed at the highest and best use rate to ensure county tax bases are not eroded. After several amendments, the bill advanced to Select File.
A third Natural Resources bill debated this week was LB 388, which advanced on a vote of 30-0. The bill would preserve state authority over electric transmission lines in light of a federal order which would allow any qualifying company to build lines instead of deferring to incumbent utilities. Existing companies have 90 days to decide whether or not to construct, own, or maintain a line if the line will connect with another that they own.
The legislature faces at least three more important issues during the last third of this session. Education funding, Medicare, and the state’s budget still wait and we will be working hard to finish these required state responsibilities.

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann
UNL Extention Educator

Webster County 
April 5, 2013 Edition
 There is some good news for our area farmers and ranchers, believe it or not, from the Federal bureaucracy concerning the Spill-Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) rules. What is the good news?  Are you sitting down? The “new” regulations requiring farms with on-farm tanks and drums with oil-storage capacity of over 1320 gallons to have spill-prevention measures in place have been delayed from their May 10 enforcement date until September 30, 2013!  A lot of collective farmer/rancher prayers have been answered.  Instead of worrying about compliance or filling out forms to satisfy the regulations set forth by the EPA, farmers can instead focus on getting ready for planting their crops, and ranchers can concentrate on hay shortage and when and if they can utilize pastures. That wind you heard last night was a large collective sigh of relief generated by thousands of producer across the United States.
     The SPCC rule enforcement delay proposal originated in the Senate, which approved an amendment (Senate Amendment 29) offered by Sens. Mark Pryor (D-AR) and James Inhofe (R-OK). The two lawmakers previously introduced a separate bill (S. 496) to provide relief from the Environmental Protection Agency's costly SPCC regulation.  The extended enforcement window offers an opportunity for Congress to take additional legislative action regarding the SPCC rule and its enforcement. They are still working on getting this cumbersome and confusing rule set aside for farmers and ranchers. The hope is that this delay will give them time to gather support to throw this thing out completely for farmers or at least make it so that it is not so confusing or difficult to undertake.  It also gives some breathing room to the bulk of farmers who were worried about making compliance with the EPA and also get their crops planted.
     The Pryor/Inhofe Amendment was linked to legislation to fund federal government operations for the second half of FY 2013. The amendment provides for a delay of the May 10 enforcement date requiring on-farm tanks and drums with oil-storage capacity to have spill-prevention measures and plans in place or face penalties. Federal lawmakers passed the FY 2013 Continuing Resolution (H.R. 933), which President Obama is expected to sign.  The measure contains the spill-prevention, control and countermeasures (SPCC) rule postponement through September 30, 2013.  Some funding provided in the bill is subject to the president's sequestration order, which will reduce total discretionary spending in FY 2013 from $1.043 trillion to $984 billion. That sequestration fiasco may actually be the reason that we have a reprieve from this added workload for farmers and ranchers which is with compliments of the Environmental Protection Agency. 
     I know that there is a lot of angst, confusion, frustration and perhaps some anger over this EPA regulation. It is no secret that farmers are not happy with all the regulations and proposed regulations that have surfaced over the last several years including EPA’s concern with milk spills, dust and particulates, and pesticides to name just a few.  They look at all of this as an attempt to regulate farms and other small businesses out of business.  The costs of the overreach of the EPA and other governmental agencies, like the Department of Labor (child labor fame) through regulations rules and threats can eventually lead to the undermining of the very industry that is keeping the US Economy from collapsing. The farm sector and positive exports of agricultural commodities globally is of a magnitude never seen before. Look at what it has done for the Nebraska economy. Can you imagine what it would be in Nebraska if we didn’t have farms?
     We all know how fickle prices and nature can be.  We never know when corn and soybeans prices may drop dramatically or when yields may take a nosedive.  Both which have been forecast for this year, and you know that input costs will not drop as fast. If you add the potential for more expenses brought to you by unnecessary or, at the very least, burdensome regulations brought on by ideology instead of solid, sound science.  I know that we have to be good stewards of our water and soil, but I believe the original environmentalist, the farmer, does a superb job and that should not be discounted.  The fact is that farming practices are continually evolving and it is most always to the benefit of our environment.  When you make a living off the land, or with the animals that live upon that land, it becomes a part of your soul. It becomes a part of you, and you do not hurt the very thing that you love or what holds your very security.
     I am hoping that Senators Pryor and Inhofe can succeed in getting this SPCC monkey off our farmer’s backs completely. If you are of that opinion, I suggest that you contact your Senator and let them know what you think. You can make a difference. Just look what happened when you extended yourselves to stop the Department of Labor’s effort to change farm child labor laws that would have been disastrous to many family farms. This is no longer the farming environment that was enjoyed by our forefathers. I always wonder what my two grandfathers would have to say about what is happening in today’s world. I just wonder what words they would use! Maybe I don’t!
     If you are of the mind that this will just be a delay and this regulation will still happen, and you may be right, then you may want to gather information so that it will not be last minute preparation come September.  I have given you several sources of information earlier, but you may want to watch, or at least save to your computer, the webinar that was presented on SPCC at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBwTlVy8izw&list=UUSHsdmu3o3cKY5C0DuZrBcg&index=1   Ok , now you can go back to your seed books and grease guns.  You have a reprieve, at least for a few months!

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 

FISCHER, VITTER: EPA GIVING OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION OF PRIVATE CITIZENS TO ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS

 

Senators ask EPA for answers regarding the agency's blatant disregard for personal privacy concerns of small businesses, farmers, and ranchers through misapplication of FOIA

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, along with committee members Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.)  wrote to Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) questioning the agency's decision to release personal and confidential business information related to recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from environmental groups.
"In releasing the personal and confidential information of private citizens and business owners, EPA has shown no regard for their privacy and safety," said the Senators in a letter. "Conversely, EPA has recently used FOIA exemptions in an overbroad manner with respect to agency information, undermining FOIA’s purpose by preventing the public from learning what EPA is up to. EPA's current application of FOIA represents the antithesis of a transparent government and an offensive abuse of agency discretion."
In response to a FOIA request for information related to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from environmental groups, EPA released comprehensive data providing the precise locations of CAFOs, the animal type and number of head, as well as the personal contact information, including the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of CAFO owners. Previously, the Department of Homeland Security had informed EPA that the release of such information could constitute a domestic security risk. In contrast, EPA has refused to disclose information relating to internal agency actions and emails, even when such disclosure is the intent of FOIA.

See below to read the Senators’ letter. Click HERE for the PDF version.

April 4, 2013

The Honorable Bob Perciasepe
Acting Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Dear Acting Administrator Perciasepe:
We write to express concern and seek further information regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent release of personal and confidential business information relating to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to environmental groups in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.  This action demonstrates a troubling disregard for the interests of both private citizens and competitive businesses.  We understand that you are currently investigating the propriety of the FOIA releases and whether the releases contain sensitive information not already publicly available.  EPA claims that the recipients of the information have agreed not to disseminate the data EPA provided to them.  Since the information has already been released, EPA’s assertion that the groups will not distribute the information is hardly reassuring.  As such, the lack of appropriate safeguards within EPA’s FOIA office requires your immediate attention.
As you are aware, FOIA’s purpose is to provide the public with a means to access government information.  The statute essentially enables people to learn "'what their government is up to.'"  FOIA is not, however, a mechanism by which private citizens or organizations may obtain personal information of other private citizens, or confidential business information.

EPA's recent and overbroad application of FOIA exemptions with respect to agency information undermines FOIA's purpose by preventing the public from learning what the agency is up to. Conversely, in releasing the personal and confidential information of CAFO owners, EPA has shown no regard for the privacy and safety of private citizens, and businesses.  EPA's current application of FOIA thus represents the antithesis of a transparent government and an offensive abuse of agency discretion.
Pursuant to its long term effort to regulate CAFOs, EPA proposed a rule (CAFO Reporting Rule) in October 2011 that would have required CAFO owners to submit information on their operations, including location and contact information. EPA withdrew this rule in July 2012 and instead began working with states to gather the data.  In October 2012, three environmental groups submitted FOIA requests to EPA requesting information relating to CAFOs.  In response, the EPA released to these three groups the information EPA had gathered from more than 30 state permitting authorities. However, not all of the information provided to EPA should have been released in such a careless fashion.  The comprehensive data released provides the precise locations of CAFOs, the animal type and number of head, as well as the personal contact information, including the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of CAFO owners. The Department of Homeland Security had previously informed EPA that the release of such information could constitute a domestic security risk. EPA’s disregard for the implications of the release of this information is alarming.
FOIA provides nine exemptions designed to protect the disclosure of certain information.  Exemption 4 shields the disclosure of information related to the proprietary interests of business, and exemption 6 safeguards the privacy interests of individuals.  In this instance, EPA's release of the geographical location and the animal specifications of CAFOs falls within the broad definition of business information and should have been withheld.  Moreover, EPA's release of the CAFO owners’ personal contact information could result in serious and unacceptable risks for farmers, ranchers, and their families – a risk exemption 6 was designed to avoid.
In an attempt to calm the fears of the individuals affected, EPA has reported that the three environmental groups who currently have possession of this information have agreed not to disseminate the data.  This assurance is hollow.  As the Supreme Court of the United States confirmed in Favish, and as EPA is aware, "release to one is release to all."  Accordingly, EPA has no ability to ensure that this information will be kept private, and, moreover, private requestors cannot legally withhold the information.  Since the very purpose of FOIA is to provide information about the government for public dissemination, an agency cannot control what an individual or organization does with information procured through a FOIA request.  As such, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is disappointed that EPA sought to downplay the seriousness of their mistake by inaccurately claiming that the information released will remain private.
EPA has stated that the agency plans to do an investigation to ensure that any legitimate privacy concerns are addressed.  While we support this initiative, we request that you brief the Committee staff on the status of your investigation by no later than April 18, 2013.
Additionally, we request that you respond to the following questions and requests no later than April 18, 2013:
1.      Please detail the steps EPA is taking to investigate this privacy breach.
2.      Who at EPA is in charge of the investigation?
3.      Is the agency examining possible conflicts of interest or inappropriate relationships between EPA employees and groups requesting the information, in particular regarding Nancy Stoner and/or her staff?
4.      Who was responsible for processing and executing the above mentioned FOIA requests?
5.      What was the purpose of compiling the information released?  How does the agency plan to use it?  Does EPA intend to develop a national database of CAFOs?  If so, will the database include information about producers and facilities not subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act?
6.      How much time, money, and staff did EPA dedicate to bundling the information distributed pursuant to the above mentioned FOIA requests?
7.      Please provide all documents referring or relating to the CAFO FOIA requests from Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Pew Charitable Trusts, including any emails sent or received on personal or private accounts.
8.      For each state from which EPA sought to obtain information on livestock agriculture, please provide copies of all written, electronic, or other communications between EPA, its agents and partners, and the individual states from which EPA collected information on livestock facilities.  In particular, this includes but is not limited to copies of all emails or other written communication with the individual states describing the types of information and the public nature of that information, which EPA sought.  In addition, please provide copies of any written correspondence received from the states, including cover letters or other electronic or written communications transmitting the information.  If no written records exist to memorialize the request or the response received from the states, please indicate why, and provide specific details on the state officials with whom communications were made, their authority to release records, and the general custodial chain of records that describes how EPA obtained each state’s data.
9.      If a party other than EPA’s Office of Water obtained the information, please include that information and all correspondence between the states and that third party, including but not limited to EPA Regional Offices, the Association of Clean Water Administrators, or third-party contractors, such as Tetra Tech.  Please also include copies of all communications between these third parties and EPA.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.  If you have questions regarding this request, please contact the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works at (202) 224-6176.
Sincerely,

Deb Fischer
U.S. Senator
David Vitter
U.S. Senator
James Inhofe
U.S. Senator
John Barrasso
U.S. Senator
Mike Crapo
U.S. Senator
Roger Wicker
U.S. Senator
John Boozman
U.S. Senator
Jeff Sessions
U.S. Senator

cc:        The Honorable Nancy Stoner
Acting Assistant Administrator for Water

Marvin E. Schneider Sr. Died March 29, 2013

Marvin E. Schneider Sr.
Marvin E. Schneider Sr., 79, of Blue Hill, Nebraska, died Friday, March 29, 2013, at Good Samaritan Village-Perkins Pavilion in Hastings, Nebraska. Services were Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Blue Hill, Nebraska, with Rev. Steve Marsh officiating. Burial was to be at Blue Valley Cemetery in Ayr, Nebraska.

The Recipe for ‘The Good Life’

 

Governor Heinemann

One of the best parts of my job is visiting different communities across Nebraska when the Senate breaks as I did last week. I am always greeted with warm welcomes. Our state’s great sense of community is on magnificent display in town after town, whether it is neighbors pitching in to help comfort firefighters battling grass fires, or volunteers hosting a fundraiser for the local food bank.
Nebraska truly is “the good life.” We’ve always known this, but recently, our way of life has gained national recognition. Communities across the state have landed in the top ranks of a number of recent national surveys and studies. And from Omaha to Custer County, our state’s resiliency and culture are common factors leading to Nebraska’s success.
Lincoln was just rated the happiest metropolitan area in the United States by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which rates communities on a variety of factors such as life evaluation, emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors and access to basic necessities. Omaha has weathered the national economic downturn better than any of the nation’s other largest metropolitan areas, according to recent analysis by the Brookings Institute. Custer County, home to Broken Bow, was just named one of the best places to live in the United States by American Cowboy Magazine. And Nebraska ranked 7th in Gallup’s state well-being study.
Lincoln’s accolades are, in large part, attributed to job satisfaction and a low unemployment rate. These were major contributing factor to Omaha’s success in the Brookings Institute’s survey as well. Our state’s economic diversity and conservative business principles have also allowed us to avoid some of the most turbulent bends and dips in an economic rollercoaster ride that has much of the country still searching for solid ground.
Throughout the Great Recession, when many industries were battling anemic gains or even substantial losses, the ag sector, the motor of Nebraska’s economy, remained strong. Today, Nebraska still enjoys the second-lowest unemployment rate in the nation, at 3.8 percent, compared with the national average of 7.7 percent. Greater job security leads to less stress and a better overall sense of well-being.
Our principles and common sense approach to governing have been just as beneficial in contributing to our coveted way of life, and our state’s government has followed suit.  In Nebraska, we balance our budget and live within our means, even when it requires difficult choices.  We know that allowing folks to innovate spurs economic growth, so we provide space for new ideas to become reality. We know that more money in the pockets of all Nebraskans means more economic potential, so we strive to keep our tax burden reasonable. And we understand that bigger government, however well-intentioned, is not the key ingredient to greater prosperity. Because of all of this, Nebraska has withstood the recession relatively well, emerging from the downturn as a thriving place to start a business or raise a family.  And its appeal has not gone unnoticed.
Washington can learn a lot from the leadership and lifestyles enjoyed in Nebraska. In the midst of economic calamity, the heartland has truly been the steadfast heartbeat of America. Responsible management of the state’s resources in good times has led to greater flexibility in difficult times. A balanced budget and minimal regulations have provided certainty for consumers and removed the anchors on innovation and growth. All this has helped Nebraska become known, not just at home, but across the country, as the good life.

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

April 2 Bertha Lamborn (RIP).Terri Golter, Ron Lampman
April 3 Mark Kumke , Dick Schmidt, Jr.
April 4 Christa Alber , Terry Jordening, Lori Toepher
April 4 Jan Wells, Nina Colburn, Shalene Medina
April 4 Wanda Wright
April 5 Patty Uden
April 6 Jordan Mack
April 7 Pat Kort
April 8 Penny Witte
April 9 Matthew Schwab  (14)
April 10 Kristen Ostdiek
April 10 Jean Heinrich
April 11 Clair Duval , Deb VanBoening, Jesse Alber, 
April 12 Rodney E Hartman (RIP)
April 13 Ruth Elaine Goodrich
April 14, Jennifer Gaede
April 15 Jill Coffey , Rodney Buss, Ken Skarin
April 15 Wayne Strasberg
April 18 Judy Grandstaff
April 23 Tami Kort
April 23 James W. Mackin (RIP)
April 24 Peggy Meyer  Colleen Karmazin  Kristin Rose Kohmetscher
April 25 Cody Bland
April 26 Lamira Karsting,  Marah Leigh Jensen
April 28 Charlene Feeley
April 29 Larry Gianokas, Marvin Harrifeld,   Gary Stertz
April 29 Kevin Toepher,  Beverly A. Meyer
April 30 LaMar VanBoening, Dick Schmidt, Sr

2013 Hastings College Academic Showcase to feature travel stories, research presentations

 

(Hastings, Neb.) –  On Tuesday, April 16 from 6:30-9 p.m. in French Memorial Chapel (800 N. Turner Ave.), travel to Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Germany and Colorado through the eyes of Hastings College students as they discuss their study abroad and internship experiences. These travel presentations, which are free and open to the public, will kick off Hastings College’s 2013 Academic Showcase.

 

A celebration now in its ninth year, Academic Showcase allows students to present their original research to their peers, their professors and the Hastings-area community in an environment which replicates an academic conference. Presentations from many fields will continue on Wednesday, April 16 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the venues listed below. All of the presentations, which are limited to twenty minutes with time remaining for questions and discussion, are open to the public and free.

 

Tuesday, April 16 in French Memorial Chapel

6:30 p.m.       Trevor Brass, a senior from Lincoln, Neb., traveled to Germany

“Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp: Remembering Half the Victims?”

 

7:00 p.m.       Emily Johnson, a junior from Victorville, Calif., traveled to Kenya

“Interning Abroad: The International Culmination of Pursuing My Passion”

 

7:30 p.m.       Chloe Ekberg, a senior from Omaha, Neb., traveled to Ireland

“In Tandem: Growing Old in the U.S. and Ireland”

 

8:00 p.m.       Riley Johnson, a sophomore from Salida, Colo., traveled to Ghana

“From the Western World to the World of West Africa”

 

8:30 p.m.       Mario Powell, a senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., interned in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“Evergroovin w/ Mario: A Music Industry Experience”

 

 

Wednesday, April 17

 

Perkins Auditorium, Fuhr Hall (723 E. 9^th Street)

9:00 a.m.       Sierra Walker, a sophomore from Gering, Neb.

“Lawyers and Comics and Bears, Oh My!: Humor and Internet Gossip in the Oatmeal vs. FunnyJunk”

 

9:30 a.m.       Sarah Wolf, a senior from Hastings, Neb.

“From Piano-wire Weapons to the Great Armistice: The Medium of Music in Erdrich’s Tracks”

 

11:00 a.m.     Lauren Hohbein, a junior from Lincoln, Neb., and Jasmine Khamouna, a junior from Curtis, Neb.

“Benefits of the Food4Thought Program on School-Aged Children in Hastings, Neb.”

 

11:30 a.m.     Rubea Stouppe, a senior from Hutchinson, Kan.

“American Civil Religion and the Middle East: How Religion Affects Public Opinion”

 

1:00 p.m.       Emily Funkey, a junior from Hastings, Neb., and Beth Holloway, a junior from Grand Island, Neb.

“Poetry to Music: Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill”

 

1:30 p.m.       Elizabeth Wilkins, a senior from Omaha, Neb.

“Fishnets and Bruises: A ‘Ruthless’ Feminist Analysis of Whip It”

 

2:00 p.m.       Jon Randall Marx, a senior from Concord, Calif.

“A Plague of Blood and Darkness: Cleric Responses to the Irish Civil War”

 

2:30 p.m.       Ethan Richardson, a junior from Omaha, Neb.

“The Assassins’ Creed: Separating Fact from Fiction”

 

 

Wilson Auditorium (714 E. 9^th Street)

9:00 a.m.       Jared Buskirk, a junior from Holdrege, Neb.

“Devilish Campaign: Devil’s Advocacy and the Troy Public Library”

 

9:30 a.m.       Miranda Klugesherz, a sophomore, from Colorado Springs, Colo.

“Holla at your 'Holmie': A Socio-Communicative Analysis of the Pro-James Holmes Movement”

 

11:00 a.m.     Michael O’Neal, a sophomore from Highlands Ranch, Colo.

“March Madness: Testing a Statistical Approach to Unpredictable Events”

 

11:30 a.m.     Jordan Borrell, a senior from Hastings, Neb.

“The Design and Test of a Robotic Hand to Determine Viability as a Prosthetic Device”

 

1:00 p.m.       Laura Bonnett-Murphy, a senior from Bellevue, Neb.

“Purely Devastating: Edna O’Brien’s Literary Response to the Irish Church and State’s Regulation of Women”

 

1:30 p.m.       Gage Axford, a junior from Colorado Springs, Colo.

“Sports and Irish Identity”

 

2:00 p.m.       Patrick White, a Master of Arts in Teaching student from Omaha, Neb.

“The Dark Knight Returns – Underneath the Cowl: An Exploration of Batman’s Identity”

 

2:30 p.m.       Heather Earnest, a senior from Phillips, Neb.

“Nebraska’s Advantage: Does the State Benefit from Your Education?”

 

Hazelrigg Student Union, Room C (705 E. 9^th Street)

9:00 a.m.       Trevor Brass, a senior from Lincoln, Neb.

“Everyone’s Doing It: Is Anyone Smart Enough to Beat the Market?”

 

9:30 a.m.       Dylan Stoll, a senior from Lincoln, Neb.

“Effects of Atrazine and Chlorpyrifos on Carboxylesterase Levels in Lab Rats”

 

11:00 a.m.     Laura Bernero, a senior from Highlands Ranch, Colo.

“Alongside: Stories from the Midwest and West Ireland”

 

11:30 a.m.     Abigail Burrows, a senior from McCook, Neb.

“An Exploration in Advertising”

 

1:00 p.m.       Emily Johnson, a junior from Victorville, Calif.

“Bride-Price in a Developing World: The Transforming System of Negotiating Marriage in Kenyan Society”

 

1:30 p.m.       Thomas Olsen, a senior from Grand Island, Neb.

“My Neighbor’s Old Regime is Gone”

 

2:00 p.m.       Elizabeth McCue, a senior from Omaha, Neb.

“Last Stand in the Lost Corner: Viewing Depopulation in Northwest Nebraska through a Photographer’s Eye”

 

2:30 p.m.       Brittany Morse, a senior from Cozad, Neb.

“A New Glass Ceiling? An Analysis of Gender Bias in Political Blogs”

 

Poster Presentations Hazelrigg Student Union Lounge (705 E. 9^th Street)

12:45 p.m.     Seton Bachle, a junior from Murdock, Neb.       

“Growth of Panicum virgatum in a NaCl Gradient”

 

Alyssa Beman, a junior from Ayr, Neb.

“Changes in Levels of Estradiol as a Result of Prenatal Exposure to Atrazine and Chlorpyrifos”

 

Molly Mullervy, a junior from Centennial, Colo.

“Changes in Bone Marrow as a result of Prenatal Exposure to Chlorpyrifos and Atrazine”

 

 Founded in 1882, Hastings College is a private, four-year liberal arts institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. With 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs, Hastings College has been named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Hastings College: Pursue Your Passion^®. Visit Hastings.edu for more.

Obama signs Executive order establishing Presidential Commission on Election Administration.

Following rampant allegations of voter fraud in last November’s Presidential election, President Barack Obama defied his harshest critics this past week, by quietly signing an executive order establishing a Presidential administration dedicated to, among other things, registering non-English speaking citizens to vote.

Last Thursday, while the nation was busy preparing for their Easter holiday President Obama signed an Executive Order establishing the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, a wing of the federal government he has tasked with “election administration,”  a move critics say is an attempt to nationalize the country’s elections for partisan advantage.

The executive order, establishes a nine member board,  appointed by the President, that “shall be drawn from among distinguished individuals with knowledge about or experience in the administration of State or local elections…  and any other individuals with knowledge or experience determined by the President to be of value to the Commission.”

Among one of the missions of the board will be to “ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots without undue delay, and to improve the experience of voters facing other obstacles in casting their ballots, such as…  voters with limited English proficiency.”  A voting bloc that leans Democratic by a margin of 70% in most elections.

In a bold and unprecedented step, the executive order, which side steps any legislation or national debate, created a federal Commission that shall consider, ”the number, location, management, operation, and design of polling places; the training, recruitment, and number of poll workers;  the efficient management of voter rolls and poll books; voter education; and voting accessibility for individuals with disabilities, limited English proficiency, and other special needs.”

When confronted with the news, one Virginia local elections official called the move, “Frightening,”  adding, “Because of my position, I’m non-partisan, which is precisely why I find this to be so troubling.  The genius of American government is rooted in its separation of powers – not only between the branches of federal government, but also between the levels of government in general – state and Federal.  When we have a commission comprised only of individuals appointed by one man, from one party, from only one branch of the government, that will be setting rules and making suggestions as to how local elections should be managed it’s beyond alarming – it’s just plain wrong.”

Nebraska Now Offering Online Criminal History

 

(Lincoln, Neb.)  Gov. Dave Heineman  announced that Nebraskans can now request a name only criminal history background check online through the Nebraska State Patrol.
“This new service will allow citizens with computer access and the proper information to request a name only criminal history check anytime day or night,” said Gov. Heineman. “This is just one more example of how state government is providing more efficient, faster services for our citizens.”
Previously Nebraskans requesting a name only criminal history background check would need to submit their request in person, through the mail or by fax.  Response to the request could take three to 10 days depending on mail service.
“More than 75 percent of the individuals who request name only criminal history checks do not have a criminal background,” said Col. David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “By automating this service, those individuals will receive an immediate response. At the same time we will speed up the process for others whose request may need more research.”
With the new online site Nebraskans needing a name only criminal history background check need only log onto www.ne.gov/go/crime_report and provide the requested information. A credit card will be required as a form of payment for the $18.00 fee.
In 2012, the Nebraska State Patrol processed 33,337 requests for name only criminal history background checks.  Since 2009, more than 128,000 requests have been processed.  ###

Award Winning Nebraska National Guard

   

Gov. Dave Heineman

The Nebraska National Guard had earned several significant national awards in recent months and I would like to talk more about these awards as well as several other significant events involving the men and women of our Nebraska National Guard.
Members of the Nebraska National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters air staff learned they had been awarded their second-consecutive U.S. Air Force Organizational Excellence Award while the Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing had been awarded its 11th Outstanding Unit Award since its founding in 1948. These are both very significant awards because they represent an acknowledgement by the U.S. Air Force of all that our Nebraska Airmen have accomplished in support of our nation’s overseas commitments as well as their work closer to home in support of homeland defense missions, community activities and during the historic flooding of 2011.
This is a significant accomplishment by both these Air National Guard units and the entire state should take enormous pride in them. Only a tiny fraction of U.S. Air Force units are selected to receive these national awards each year.
Along with these two unit awards, I also had the opportunity to recognize a number of Nebraska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen for earning national awards in their particular areas of expertise. Those honored include:

• The Nebraska National Guard’s Prairie Soldier Newspaper was named the top tabloid-sized newspaper of the year in the entire Army National Guard for the fourth straight year. It then went on to earn its fifth U.S. Army tabloid-sized newspaper of the year award since 1995.
• Sgt. Heidi Krueger, Odell, of the Nebraska Army National Guard 111th Public Affairs Detachment was named the Print Journalist of the Year for the entire Army National Guard. Krueger won the Army National Guard’s Photojournalism Competition and then went on to earn a third place award in the U.S. Army’s Keith L. Ware Print Media Competition’s Photojournalism Category.
• Staff Sgt. Koan Nissen, Lincoln, of Joint Force Headquarters placed second in the Army National Guard Personality Feature Article Competition.
• Sgt. Jason Drager, Lincoln, of the 111th Public Affairs Detachment placed third in the entire Army National Guard in the News Article Competition.
• Senior Airman Mary Thach, Lincoln, of the Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing placed second in the Air National Guard Sports Article Competition and third in the News Article Competition.
• And Maj. Kevin Hynes, Murdock, Joint Force Headquarters, placed second in the Air National Guard Sports Photography Competition and third in the Feature Photography Competition.
• The Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th Medical Group Dental Clinic was named the best in the entire Air National Guard. Members of the clinic staff are Lt. Col. Raymond Shaddy, Omaha, Lt. Col. Michael Burbach, Lincoln, Maj. Jennifer Hasslen, Omaha, Staff Sgt. Patrick Lillis, Bellevue, and Senior Airman Lori Watts, Doniphan.
• Tech. Sgt. Shaun Tebo, Bellevue, of the 155th Medical Group was named the Air National Guard Outstanding Base Bioenvironmental Engineer Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Along with announcing these significant awards, I also had the opportunity to welcome home two Nebraska Army National Guard units from deployments to Afghanistan. Additionally, ten members of the Nebraska Army and Air National Guard begin their deployment that will ultimately take them to Afghanistan.
Those welcomed home include the members of the 43rd Operational Support Aviation Detachment, which spent the past nine months providing a variety of aviation-related support in Afghanistan, and the Nebraska National Guard’s Afghan Agribusiness Development Team No. 3, which spent a year helping Afghan agricultural officials and local farmers redevelop their agricultural capabilities.
Those departing for Afghanistan were members of the Guard’s Afghan Agribusiness Development Team No. 4, which will be performing a similar agricultural mission in Afghanistan.
These are all significant moments in the history of our Nebraska National Guard, which has been called upon to do much over the past decade, both overseas and here at home. These Soldiers and Airmen, most of whom are part-time Guardsmen with full-time jobs or educational pursuits, have done much to make each and every one of us proud. They are the very best that this state has to offer.
I join all Nebraskans in commending these dedicated individuals for a job well done.

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann
UNL Extension Educator

     As I write this column, we just experienced lightning and a sound that is music to most Nebraskan’s ears – the rumbling of thunder. I cannot remember the last time I have heard that sweet music. We, of course, need as much moisture as we can get, since we are so far behind in precipitation. It is, unfortunately, unlikely that we will get enough moisture to guarantee anywhere close to normal grazing, and I have outlined that in earlier editions. Now it is concerning to all farmers, including those that just concentrate on grain production. Even the irrigators are a little concerned about the after-effects of the 2012 drought and the potential for an even worse drought for 2013. Imagine how the livestock producers are feeling. They have done whatever they can do to stretch their resources, even downsizing their herds and trying to find any source of hay or other forages as they can.  In talking to many cattlemen I know that finding or providing grazing alternatives is a high priority for them. Let’s look this week at some ideas that our livestock producers can do to perhaps offset these trials.
     One option is using Spring-planted oats. If you are interested in having some extra pasture and hay this spring, this may be a viable option. The nice thing is that there is still time to plant oats, and they might be one of the surest ways to provide feed for your cattle if you are going to be short of hay and have to wait for pastures to get to the point that they can be grazed without hurting future production. Oats grow during cool spring weather when rain is most likely to occur and when soil moisture is used most efficiently to produce forage. Oats make an excellent source of forage for several reasons. First, oats can be grazed earlier than anything else you plant this spring and are often ready for grazing about a month after planting and can be intensely grazed. Another advantage of oats for spring pasture is the low cost of seed. 
     Also, oats can be used in several different ways. If the forage isn't needed for grazing, it can be made into hay. Oat hay makes ideal feed for young livestock if it is harvested when the plants just begin to head out, and is excellent feed for stock cows. And if rainfall is adequate and pasture isn't needed in the spring, oats can still be harvested for grain and straw. If you have irrigation capabilities, oats that are planted under irrigation can be grazed or cut for hay early enough to permit double cropping to soybeans or a summer annual forage crop. Or under this situation they may even be double cropped to corn for silage. I know this is not usually an option if you are primarily a crop producer, but if you also have livestock it is a great way to accomplish two production goals. The early moisture may be all we get and oats may at least give a chance for feed.
     If you decide to go the oats route, you may want to plant about 3 bushels per acre during the first couple of weeks in April since the weather didn’t allow this last week or two. Oats respond favorably to early planting. Research has shown that oat seeds germinate at 40°F. The oats should be from 4 to 8 inches tall and ready to graze in early to mid-May. With good soil moisture and 30 to 60 pounds of nitrogen, oats can provide a couple months of grazing for 1 or 2 cows per acre. If what you need is hay that’s ideal for young stock, then cutting oats just as it is heading out is the best option. This hay can have over 10 percent protein and 65 percent TDN as well as good palatability. Or you can increase yield by about one-third, and cut oats in the milk stage for hay with 8 percent protein and 55 percent TDN - an excellent feed for stock cows. You can use bin run oats or look for forage oats like “Everleaf 126” which may be a good option, as they are adapted for lower moisture areas, are considered heat tolerant, and hay cut at or before mid-boot can reach up to 19% protein. Not too bad!
     Another thought is that oats also have the potential to stimulate yields from a thin, worn out alfalfa stand. If you discover that you suffered drought injury to your alfalfa and have thin stands, you won’t reach your yield potential or much of it might be in the form of weeds. To improve the yield and quality and provide competition for weeds, just drill a bushel of oats per acre directly into you alfalfa as soon as possible. Then cut your hay like normal and you should have more tonnage. 
     I have also heard some farmers discussing mixing oats with turnips hoping to increase protein quality and tonnage for intensified grazing of cattle in those planted areas. Continuous grazing works well because cattle prefer oats until they start to head. That gives turnips a good chance to get started. You can start grazing about one-half animal/acre and increase the stocking rate as forage growth rate increases. On dryland you may get up to one cow-calf pair/acre; if irrigated, two or more pairs/acre are likely. Oats and turnips can provide 2 lbs or more of gain/acre/day. Nutritionally, oats are almost as good as wheat and what is nice is that they don't have awns, so they're actually more grazing-friendly to cattle. The benefits of turnips are that their leaves are 24-25% protein and the bulbs are 16-18% protein, with about the same energy as corn.
     According to Dr. Anderson, oats and turnips can be planted at the same time using a grain drill with a second, small seed box for turnip seed.  You will need to pull the seed tubes from the turnip seed box and allow seed to drop freely on the soil surface ahead of the coulters. You should plant the oats 1-3" deep in the furrows made by the coulters. Packer wheels or a roller pulled behind the drill work very well. He goes on to say that if they need to be planted separately, you can broadcast turnip seed first and then drill in the oats. Drilling will help give the turnip seed light soil coverage. The other way around works, too, but the turnip seed won't get packed unless a third trip is used. In this case you may want to use 90-120 lbs of oats and 2 lbs of turnip seed/acre (Purple Top White Globe is a good pick). Seed costs shouldn't exceed $20-30 per acre. This option could provide a full 8-9 months of grazing if handled properly. We may have to look at all options this year!

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 High School Band scheduled to participate in Jazz Festival

(Hastings, Neb.) – Drummer Tim Froncek, the featured clinician for the 2013 Hastings College Jazz Festival, will give a free public performance on Monday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. in French Memorial Chapel (800 N. Turner Ave.) 

 

Throughout the festival, to be held earlier in the day, high school and middle school bands from across the state will perform and then receive immediate feedback on their performance from Froncek.

 

High school bands currently scheduled to participate in the festival and workshop are as follows:

 

Blue Hill

Centennial

Centura

Grand Island Northwest

Grand Island Senior High (2 bands)

Gretna

Hastings Middle School

Hastings Senior High School (2 bands)

Holdrege

Lawrence-Nelson

Lincoln East

Lincoln East Horizons

Lincoln East-Jazz Faction

Lincoln Northeast

Nebraska City

Norris

Perkins County

Skutt Catholic

Waberly

Yutan

 

Bio for Tim Froncek

Voted “Jazz Musician of the Year” in 2004 by the “West Michigan Jazz Society”, Tim Froncek has toured internationally with the Western Jazz Quartet. He also has performed with Woody Herman and The Thundering Herd, Pearl Bailey, and Joe Williams just to name a few.

 

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.