The Doniphan Herald

Nebraska State Fair releases 2012 livestock schedule

The Nebraska State Fair's 2012 livestock schedule is now available online at StateFair.org.

According to Nebraska State Fair livestock superintendent, Bill Angell, "Our goal was to put together a schedule and make it available much earlier than it has been in year's past. This will allow everyone the opportunity to plan their schedules to take part in Nebraska's premier livestock event."

Open breeding cattle shows will be Wednesday August 29th and Thursday August 30th. Wednesday will feature Angus, Red Angus, Charolais, Limousin and Gelbvieh. Thursday will be designated as Cattleman's Day. Members of Nebraska's beef cattle industry will be treated to the Open Beef Cattle Show featuring Hereford, Shorthorn, Maine Anjou, Simmental and Dexter breeds among others. The highlight will be the Supreme Champion Drive with open female and bull selection followed by the Open Jackpot Feeder and Breeding Calf Show.

Angell said, "2012 will once again feature crowd favorites, like the draft pull, draft horse hitch and open 6 hitch shows, cattle stock dog trials, mutton bustin' plus competitions in 4-H, FFA and open class exhibitors."

"From traditional favorites like sheep, cattle, horses and swine, the Nebraska State Fair will also feature a collection of animals from alpacas to goats- longhorns to poultry. All fairgoers are encouraged to look at the schedule so they can plan their visit accordingly," Angell said.

To access the schedule online, visitors should go to StateFair.org, and click on Entry Book/Forms and look for 2012 Livestock Schedule under Livestock/Horses.

The 2012 Nebraska State Fair is from August 24th through September 3rd at Fonner Park in Grand Island.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE 2012 NEBRASKA STATE FAIR (1-10-12)

LA - Livestock Arena RED - Big Red Barn SH - Sheep Barn SW - Swine Barn

Friday, August 24
8:00 am Open Dairy Cattle Show - LA
10:00 am Nebraska Wool Show - SH
5:30 pm Draft Horse Hitch Show - LA

Saturday, August 25
7:30 am Draft Horse Halter / Youth Show - LA
8:00 am Dairy Goat Showmanship - SW
8:00 am Open Sheep Show - SH
8:00 am 4-H Dog Show - RED
9:00 am Dairy Goat Junior Doe Show - SW
9:00 am Open Poultry / Waterfowl Show - SH
9:00 am Llama Show: Showmanship & Halter - SW
12:00 noon Dairy Cattle Judging Contest - LA
1:00 pm Pigeon Show - SH
5:30 pm TX Longhorn Steer Class - LA
6:00 pm Draft Horse Hitch Show (Gelding 6) - LA

Sunday, August 26
7:30 am Dairy Goat Senior Doe Show - SW
8:00 am Youth Dairy Show / Showmanship - LA
8:00 am Open Sheep Show - SH
9:00 am TX Longhorn Show - RED
9:00 am Llama Show: Performance - SW
2:00 pm Alpaca Show: Performance - SW
2:30 pm Supreme Championship, Youth Dairy Show - LA
4:00 pm Draft Horse Open 6 Hitch Show - LA

Monday, August 27
8:00 am Cattle Stock Dog Trials - LA
10:00 am Alpaca Show: Showmanship & Halter - SW
7:00 pm Mid West Regional Cattle Stock Dog Trial Semi-Finals - LA

Tuesday, August 28
8:00 am Cattle Stock Dog Trials - LA
7:00 pm State Fair & Mid West Regional Cattle Stock Dog Trial Finals - LA

Wednesday, August 29
8:00 am ABGA Boer Goat Show - SH
8:00 am Open Beef Cattle Show - LA
Angus, Red Angus, Limousin, Gelbvieh, Charolais, Lowlines
6:30 pm Mutton Bustin' - LA
7:00 pm Cattleman's Reception - VIP Lounge

Thursday, August 30 (Cattleman's Day)
8:00 am Open Beef Cattle Show - LA
Hereford, Shorthorn, Maine Anjou, Simmental, Dexter, Other Breeds
4:00 pm Cattleman's Get Together - LA
5:00 pm Supreme Champion Drive: Open Female & Bull Selection - LA
6:00 pm Open Jackpot Feeder & Breeding Calf Show - LA

Friday, August 31
8:00 am Intercollegiate and Junior Judging Contest - LA
12:00 noon Draft Horse Pull - LA
5:00 pm Open Class Swine Showmanship - SW
6:00 pm Open Class Breeding Gilt Show - SW
6:00 pm Wether Sire / Dam Show - SH

Saturday, September 1
7:30 am Open Class Market Barrow Show - SW
9:00 am 4-H Sheep Showmanship & Breeding Show - LA
10:00 am NE Elite Swine Showmanship - SW
10:00 am 4-H Poultry Showmanship - SH
12:00 noon Junior Jackpot Swine Show - SW
1:30 pm FFA Feeder Calf & Market Beef Show - LA
2:00 pm 4-H Poultry Show - SH
4:00 pm 4-H Market Goat Show & Meat Goat Breeding Show - LA
4:00 pm Futurity Swine Show - SW
4:15 pm FFA Feeder Calf & Market Beef Grand Champion Selection - LA
5:00 pm NE Elite Sheep Showmanship - LA
5:00 pm NE Elite Beef Showmanship - LA
7:00 pm FFA Swine Showmanship - SW
7:00 pm NE Sheep Breeders Classic - SH
7:00 pm 4-H Market Goat Grand Champion Selection - LA

Sunday, September 2
7:30 am 4-H Market Beef Show - LA
7:30 am 4-H Market Lamb Show - LA
8:00 am FFA Beef Showmanship & Breeding Show - LA
8:00 am FFA Breeding & Market Swine Show - SW
11:00 am 4-H Rabbit Show - SH
4:00 pm FFA Meat Goat Breeding Show, Market Goat & Sheep Showmanship/Breeding
Show - LA
4:30 pm 4-H Market Lamb Grand Champion Selection - LA
5:00 pm 4-H Swine Showmanship - SW
30 minutes after Market Beef Show - 4-H Beef Showmanship - LA

Monday, September 3
7:30 am 4-H Breeding Beef Show - LA
7:30 am 4-H Market Swine Show - SW
7:30 am FFA Market Lamb Show - LA
2:30 pm FFA Market Lamb Grand Champion Selection - LA
3:00 pm Celebrity Showmanship Contest - LA
4:00 pm 4-H Market Swine Grand Champion Selection - SW
4:30 pm Parade of Champions / 4-H Market Beef Grand Champion Selection - LA

Asera Care seeks hospice volunteers

Asera Care is currently seeking volunteers to visit hospice patients both at their home and in skilled nursing facilities. We have patients in both Hastings and Grand Island so volunteers may go wherever it is most convenient.

These individuals make a tremendous difference in the lives of our patients and their families. Volunteers provide companionship, support, and possibly share a talent such as music or art.

Please feel free to contact me if more information is needed. My office number is 308-384-1080.

Hoffman leads D-T runners with seventh-place finish at Gibbon cross country meet

GIBBON - The Doniphan-Trumbull cross country teams started the season at the Gibbon Invite last Thursday.

\"I thought that we had a very strong showing in our first meet, considering all the hills and the insane heat,\" D-T head coach Corey Hatt said. \"I told the kids that about 90% of the course was on a hill, either up it or down it.

\"I felt like they really pushed through the uphills and coasted on the way back down. There was a lot of excitement on the course, as it was the first meet of the year for most teams out there.\"

Lexi Hoffman finished her first high school cross country race in 7th with a time of 17:28.

\"This was the 2nd fastest D-T time ever at the Gibbon meet,\" Hatt said.

Blake Ballard also ran his first high school race finishing 20th with a time of 21:33. Following Ballard was sophomore Riley Taylor in 44th (24:16), sophomore Tristan Stock in 54th (26:08), freshman Sam Atchity in 58th (26:52), and sophomore Dylan Sullivan in 77th (32:11).

\"I felt like the D-T runners ran their races, instead of getting caught up in the first-race hype,\" Hatt said.

Cardinals suffer two losses at Wood River triangular

The Doniphan-Trumbull volleyball team suffered a 25-20, 25-23 loss to Wood River and 25-21, 25-16 loss to Blue Hill on Thursday night in the opening matches of the season.

Governor\'s Column - June 24, 2011

Flood Update

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

I want to provide an update on the ongoing flood response in Nebraska.

Last week I submitted request for a federal disaster declaration and it was granted immediately. The declaration covers 14 counties along the Missouri River and 4 Platte River counties. It will make federal assistance available for damages and losses to public infrastructure.

Our flooding challenges are going to be with us for months. This is going to be an emergency that continue to unfold and we anticipate the cleanup and recovery will extend much longer than any of us would like.

The size and scope of the challenge we are facing is extraordinary. Eight of the 17 river monitoring stations along the Platte River report water levels at or above flood stage. All of the 10 stations along the Missouri River are above flood stage - most by several feet.

Water flows along both rivers are predicted to remain high throughout the summer. Storm activity across Nebraska demonstrates the potential for heavy rain over the Platte and Missouri River, and all river systems, could quickly change conditions in communities across our state.

In spite of these challenges, I am very proud of the preparations that have taken place, the quickness of local and county officials in responding, and the partnership of Nebraskans who are being touched by flood challenges.

Our State Emergency Operations Center and all of the agencies activated in our response efforts are preparing to remain fully operational as long as this flooding emergency persists.

More than 100 Nebraska National Guard personnel are on duty to support our emergency planning. They have prepositioned supplies and are monitoring levee conditions from the ground and the air along the Missouri River, including South Sioux City, in Omaha, along the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District levees, and other areas of Douglas County. Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) personnel worked with Nemaha officials to develop a levee monitoring plan and National Guard personnel are assisting in those efforts.

Roads officials are talking frequently with counterparts in Iowa, South Dakota and Missouri to determine alternate routing for highways and interstates. Crews have temporarily elevated a segment of Highway 14 at Niobrara, and sandbagged Highway 75 at Plattsmouth and Highway 83 at North Platte. We are working with the railroads to protect rail lines in some areas to keep the railroads operational. Additionally, road and bridge inspectors continue to monitor highways, bridges and other infrastructure while pre-staging equipment needed to redirect motorists as roadways are affected.

While state and local officials are working to prevent as many losses as possible, we are also urging Nebraskans who have been impacted by recent storm and high wind damage, as well as individuals and businesses with flood-related damages to report property damage to NEMA.

Those with storm or flood damages to their property are encouraged to contact NEMA to provide basic information that will be helpful in tracking private damages. This includes those who have relocated, those whose homes have been impacted by flood waters, and any business that's sustained damage or losses.

There are two options for filing a preliminary damage report. An electronic form is available on the NEMA website, www.nema.nebraska.gov, which can be filled out and submitted electronically. Damages can also be reported by calling the NEMA hotlines at (855) 211-2453, or (855) 211-2454 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT. While these reports are very helpful, safety is always the first priority. Please do not go back to a damaged building to get information. Our main goal is to begin the information gathering process and ensure we can contact residents who have relocated due to flooding.

Nebraskans are doing an outstanding job, and I want to commend our residents on the proactive way they are responding. I also want to acknowledge the incredible work by the state and local personnel involved in flood preparations across Nebraska. Our state is very resilient and I know that we will get through this challenge together. Thank you.

Strong winds, storms force many residents to take cover in basements

DONIPHAN - Strong winds reaching 60 to 70 mph, along with tornado warnings from the National Weather Service, forced the sirens to be sounded in Doniphan and area towns on Monday night.

As a result of the storm, several trees were uprooted and limbs were broken as well as pivots being overturned.

Senator\'s Column - May 23, 2011

Inconsistencies On Medicare Need Clarification

Barely one year after enacting the historically expansive health care law, much attention in Washington is now focused on how to responsibly ensure the long-term sustainability of our country\'s largest health care program: Medicare. The Obama Administration and other proponents of the law told us it would improve Medicare by eliminating $500 billion in waste and reinvesting that money to extend the program\'s solvency. This, however, is contradicted by the fact that this same $500 billion was used to help finance new entitlement programs created by the law. The Administration owes it to all Americans to clarify this inconsistency, and I have asked them to do so.

The double-counting of Medicare cuts was confirmed by the Administration\'s own Medicare experts last year. Chief Actuary for Medicare and Medicaid Richard Foster stated that the cuts to Medicare in the new law \"cannot be simultaneously used to finance other Federal outlays ... and to extend the [Medicare] trust fund.\" He was simply rephrasing the obvious: you can\'t count the same dollar twice. The state of Medicare was drawn further into doubt earlier this month, when the Trustees for Social Security and Medicare released a report on the fiscal condition of these programs. The report concludes that Medicare is now on an accelerated pace toward insolvency.

The Administration wasn\'t satisfied with this conclusion. President Obama last week enlisted Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to once again go on the record to repeat the false assertion that cuts to Medicare can be applied to two different initiatives. While speaking in defense of the health care law, Secretary Geithner claimed that the law \"will significantly strengthen Medicare\'s finances and extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund.\" Yet we now know that a) the cuts to Medicare were used to fund new entitlements, not help preserve old ones, and b) using the conclusions of the Trustees\' report, we know the life of the Medicare Trust Fund is dwindling, not improving.

With two conflicting sides of the story out there, I determined last week it was time to resolve the Administration\'s contradicting declarations on Medicare. In a letter addressed to both Secretary Geithner and Mr. Foster and signed by 36 of my Senate colleagues, I asked them to reconcile their conflicting comments to clear the air on the fiscal status of Medicare. Every American deserves to know whether the Administration stands by Secretary Geithner\'s comments or by the report directed by Chief Actuary Foster and his team of experts.

Our looming budget and entitlement challenges are far too critical to let ambiguity and contradiction deceive and obstruct our way forward. The debate must be direct and honest. I look forward to receiving a response from both Secretary Geithner and Mr. Foster clarifying their comments and outlining the true state of Medicare. Only then can we begin making informed, responsible improvements to the entitlements we depend upon, so our future generations can, too.

Governor\'s Weekly Column May 27, 2011

Get Out & Explore Nebraska with 2011 Passport

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

This is a good time to make plans to explore Nebraska, and the 2011 Nebraska Passport is a good way to get started. The passport program highlights Nebraska's unique attractions and offers travelers a range of activities and places to visit during peak summer travel season.

The promotion encourages travelers to rediscover the road trip and the some of the many opportunities for stops along the way. Souvenir passports are now available at the 33 locations selected to be part of this year's promotion, including __________________. More information is available at www.nebraskapassport.com or by calling l Nebraska Tourism at 1(888)444-1867. Travelers collecting stamps from each location visited are eligible for prizes while supplies last.

The passport promotion highlights museums including: the Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln, the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, the Nebraska Firefighters Museum and Education Center in Kearney, and the Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History. It features unique attractions including Homestead National Monument in Beatrice, Boys Town in Omaha, and Arbor Day Farm's Tree Adventure in Nebraska City.

There are opportunities for outdoor recreation at stops including: the Wildcat Hills Nature Center in Gering, Ponca State Park, the Lake McConaughy Visitor/Water Interpretive Center in Ogallala, Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park in Burwell, and the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Valentine.

The 33 locations featured in this year's Nebraska Passport offer historical connections to our past and the people and places that contributed to shaping our state, as well as opportunities to sample locally grown foods and Nebraska wines. They represent a few of the wide variety of activities and destinations our state has to offer.

Whether you're looking for a short getaway or a vacation destination, Nebraska is rich in opportunities to take in beautiful views along scenic byways, tours of the state's 25 wineries, local festivals and other special events, and farms and ranches offering hunting and other sporting opportunities. Nebraska's eight state parks, 65 state recreation areas, waterways, and recreational trails provide additional opportunities for outdoor activities.

The tourism and travel industry has an important economic impact on our state. It generates more than $3 billion a year. Total travel expenditures in Nebraska have increased by more than $2.4 billion from 1990 to 2010. In 2009, tourism accounted for more than 45,000 jobs statewide.

Travelers will find that their lodging, dining and entertainment dollars go further in Nebraska. Our state remains one of the nation's most cost-effective destinations. We encourage Nebraskans and those in surrounding states to get out and explore Nebraska this year.

More information on the 2011 Nebraska Passport is available online at NebraskaPassport.com. Interactive maps, road trip ideas, trip planners, and more travel information are available at VisitNebraska.gov.

Extension Update - May 27, 2011

What a spring! We did well in Hamilton County getting our crops planted, but heavy rains resulted in flooding and we could see more flooding yet. The following article from Purdue University written May, 2010 describes what could happen when our corn crop is submerged for a period of time. The article, Effects of Flooding or Ponding on Young Corn, written by R. L. (Bob) Nielson, summarizes the following:
� Corn that is completely submerged is at higher risk than corn that is partially submerged.
� Plants that are only partially submerged may continue to photosynthesize, albeit at limited rates.
� Most agronomists believe that young corn can survive up to about 4 days of outright ponding if temperatures are relatively cool (mid-60\'s F or cooler); fewer days if temperatures are warm (mid-70\'s F or warmer).
� Soil oxygen is depleted within about 48 hours of soil saturation. Without oxygen, the plants cannot perform critical life sustaining functions; e.g. nutrient and water uptake is impaired and root growth is inhibited.
� Even if surface water subsides quickly, the likelihood of dense surface crusts forming as the soil dries increases the risk of emergence failure for recently planted crops.
� The greater the deposition of mud on plants as the water subsides, the greater the stress on the plants due to reduced photosynthesis.
o Ironically, such situations would benefit from another rainfall event to wash the mud deposits from the leaves.
� Corn younger than about V6 (six fully exposed leaf collars) is more susceptible to ponding damage than is corn older than V6.
o This is partly because young plants are more easily submerged than older taller plants and partly because the corn plant\'s growing point remains below ground until about V6. The health of the growing point can be assessed initially by splitting stalks and visually examining the lower portion of the stem (Nielsen, 2008). Within 3 to 5 days after water drains from the ponded area, look for the appearance of fresh leaves from the whorls of the plants.
� Extended periods of saturated soils AFTER the surface water subsides will take their toll on the overall vigor of the crop.
� Some root death will occur and new root growth will be stunted until the soil dries to acceptable moisture contents. As a result, plants may be subject to greater injury during a subsequently dry summer due to their restricted root systems.
� Associated with the direct stress of saturated soils on a corn crop, flooding and ponding can cause significant losses of soil nitrogen due to denitrification and leaching of nitrate N.
� Significant loss of soil N will cause nitrogen deficiencies and possible additional yield loss.
� On the other hand, if the corn dies in the ponded areas it probably does not matter how much nitrogen you\'ve lost.
� Lengthy periods of wet soil conditions favor the development of seedling blight diseases, especially those caused by Pythium fungi (Sweets, 2008).
� Poorly drained areas of fields are most at risk for the development of these diseases and so will also be risky for potential replant operations.
� Certain diseases, such as common smut and crazy top, may also become greater risks due to flooding and cool temperatures (Malvick, 2002).
� The fungus that causes crazy top depends on saturated soil conditions to infect corn seedlings.
� The common smut fungal organism is ubiquitous in soils and can infect young corn plants through tissue damaged by floodwaters. There is limited hybrid resistance to either of these two diseases and predicting damage is difficult until later in the growing season.

Crop Watch: The preceding article was posted to CropWatch. It is during challenging times like this that producers find great value in the UNL CropWatch website. Currently there is also up-to-date information on the following topics. Go to: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/.
� Wheat scab potential
� Evaluating and replanting flooded areas
� Potential nitrogen leaching
� Scouting for soybean seedling disease

ATV Safety Training: We will again be offering ATV Rider Safety Training. This is a four hour hands-on course which includes pre-ride inspection, starting and stopping, quick turns, hill riding, emergency stopping and swerving and riding over obstacles. Participants learn about protective gear, local regulations, places to ride and environmental concerns. The training is free to youth and youth leaders thanks to grants awarded by National 4-H Council as part of the 4-H ATV Safety Grant Program, a collaboration among local 4-H groups, the national 4-H Youth Development Program and the ATV Safety Institute (ASI). Proper safety gear must be worn and the ATV must be deemed to be suitably sized for the individual. Arrangements may be possible for an ATV of suitable size if the participant does not have their own. Youth ages 8-11 (as of the program's date) must have a parent attend all lessons but they may not take the class with the child. Youth 12-15 are suggested to have a parent attend and they may the course with the child. Youth 16 and older do not require parental attendance. The dates and times will be Wednesday June 6 at 1:30 pm, Thursday June 9 at 8:30 am and 1:30 pm, and Friday June 10 at 8:30 am. Students only need to attend one of these sessions. Call 694-6174 for details and to register.

Tractor Safety Training: Just a reminder that tractor safety training will be offered June 16-17 at the UNL Tractor Test Lab in Lincoln. Federal law prohibits youth under 16 years of age from working on a farm other than their parents\'. Course completion grants an exemption to the law allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to drive a tractor and to do field work with mechanized equipment. The class will consist of two days of instruction plus homework assignments. Classes are from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged at least one week before a location\'s start date. Cost is $60, which includes materials, supplies, lunches and refreshments. For more information or to register, contact Sharry Nielsen at (308) 832-0645, snielsen1@unl.edu. You can also find this information on our website at http://hamilton.unl.edu.

Upcoming Event:
June 2: Progressive Ag Safety Day for grades 3-6, 8:30 - 2 PM, Fillmore County Fairgrounds ($5/youth). Call 402-759-3712
June 9: 1:30pm, ATV Safety Training
June 10: 8:30 am and 1:30pm, ATV Safety Training
June 11: 8:30 am, ATV Safety Training, Aurora Airport. Pre-register by calling 402-694-6174.
June 16-17: Tractor Safety Training, UNL Tractor Test Lab, Lincoln, contact Sharry Nielsen at (308) 832-0645

Senator Johanns Weekly Column

Where Is The Federal Budget?

When the Senate last week voted against beginning debate on a budget, it voted to complete the 108th straight week - more than two years - without a roadmap for how to spend taxpayer dollars. This means the astronomical spending levels reached through the bloated stimulus legislation, along with the free-spending 2009 budget have been locked in place because the President and Majority in the Senate have avoided passing a new budget ever since. Our country\'s fiscal situation was dire in 2009, but two years later a spending crisis looms unquestionably closer. The stubborn refusal by the President and Senate Democrats to responsibly address this crisis is simply unforgivable.

Had one of last week\'s budget proposals received enough votes, it would\'ve gone to the Senate floor, and the process of proposing and debating amendments could\'ve begun. Yet we were unable to get even that far. I voted for two of these proposals, one offered by Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and one by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. I didn\'t agree with everything in either one of these plans, but they represented responsible starts that took an honest look at our current situation. Because neither reached the floor for debate, we\'re back to square one with no budget and the clock ticking our debt.

Another budget voted on was the Presidents. Remarkably, it did not receive a single vote. Ninety-seven Senators voted against the President\'s plan for a way forward. There was zero confidence in the President\'s budget because he showed zero leadership in offering an unusable budget. This is tremendously disappointing. The budget process used to be acted upon in a serious and responsible way to fulfill Congress\' duty. The President would propose a workable plan, Congress would use it as a starting point, committees would debate and revise a budget, and it would pass. Our President offered something not even his staunchest Senate allies could support, and Senate Democrats offered nothing at all. Forfeiting leadership in such a way, at such a critical time for our country, is indefensible.

We now must continue relying on temporary extensions of unsustainable 2009 spending levels to keep the government funded, with the next extension due in September. Meanwhile, we\'re still racking up trillion-dollar deficits while reading ominous economic forecasts for our future. The Senate Majority refuses to discuss plans to make government spending sustainable. There is considerable resistance to reforming entitlements, yet it\'s our only hope to rescue Medicare from insolvency. Entitlements make up nearly half of our spending.

Those who voted against debating a budget last week will tell you these efforts to restore Medicare\'s solvency would actually hurt it. This is dishonest. The reality is that under the current health care law, Medicare will be stripped of $500 billion and is expected to be out of money entirely in just nine years. For anyone, or any generation, expecting to have access to Medicare benefits after those nine years, current law dashes those hopes. We must preserve Medicare. I\'ll continue pushing to begin this debate, so we can keep our spending sustainable and our fundamental American health care program available for future generations of Americans.

Senator Utter\'s Column - May 27, 2011

With the 102nd Legislative Session adjourned I wanted to highlight some of the major legislation that was passed.

Abortion related legislation is always a highly controversial topic. Here are 2 bills related to abortion that were signed into law this legislative session.

LB 22 opts out of allowing health insurance plans operating under an exchange, established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to cover abortions unless it is deemed necessary to prevent the death of a woman. This will also prohibit private health insurance policies in Nebraska from providing coverage for an abortion, the only exception would be through an optional rider paid for entirely by the insured. I supported this bill.

LB 521 prohibits the practice in which a doctor oversees administration of a drug to induce an abortion via a live video link; this will remove the use of webcams as a stand in for a physician. A physician will be charged with a Class IV felony, if he or she knowingly or recklessly proceeds with an abortion without being physically present in the same room as the patient. I supported this bill and while these types of abortions are not available in Nebraska, I believe we must ensure patient safety in an industry that is constantly changing.

LB 19 bans the drug K2, also known as Spice, and the underlying ingredients used to make it. Last year the Unicameral banned a similar marijuana alternative called salvia divinorum. This legislation is incredibly important to help curb the availability and social acceptance of these modern drugs.

Stricter laws for drunk driving will now be in place with the help of LB 667 and 675. LB 667 deals with ignition interlock devices. Currently, a person driving under the influence gives up his or her driver's license when they are arrested. They then receive a permit allowing them to drive until there has been an administrative hearing to make a final decision. However, often times even under a suspended license, people will continue to drive, and sometimes drive drunk. LB 667 would let a driver waive their right to an administrative hearing and in turn they would receive an ignition interlock device which would still let them drive to work, school, treatment, etc. but only after successfully breathing into the device. The option to not receive an interlock device would remain, however they would still face the 180-day license suspension. The bill also makes it a crime to drive drunk with a child in the vehicle, stiffens the penalty for providing alcohol to a minor who later kills or injures someone, makes motor vehicle homicide of an unborn child a distinct crime, and aligns boating under the influence with current DUI laws.
LB 675 is aimed at habitual drunk drivers. This bill makes it illegal for a repeat drunken driver to drive with a .02% blood alcohol content level. Anyone convicted of driving under the influence 5 times or more would face a minimum 2 year sentence. Penalties were also increased for leaving the scene of a deadly or serious injury accident. I supported both of these measures and hope they curb the drunk driving problems in Nebraska.
This is just a snapshot of some of the legislation that was passed. Some other monumental bills passed include: LB 84 which will divert a portion of existing sales tax revenues to fund road construction and improvement, LB 397 which reforms the Commission of Industrial Relations, and balancing the budget with no tax increases.

The Legislature also completed the task of redistricting Nebraska. This is done every 10 years after the census. Because of population shifts, many Legislative Districts will see change, some more significant than others. District 33 will be expanded slightly and I want to take this time to welcome the new area to District 33. In southeastern Hall County the district will extend to the eastern county line and north to the Platte River and include the town of Doniphan. I am eager to visit and represent the residents of Doniphan and hope to have a chance to meet some of you during the interim. The town of Cairo and the Cairo area will also become a part of District 33. In western Hall County the district line will extend northward to the Howard County line. I am excited and supportive of the changes and hope to visit with community members of Cairo during the interim as well. I am looking forward to getting to know all of the new constituents of District 33 and representing them in the Nebraska Legislature.

As always, I welcome hearing from you, and if I can ever be of assistance to you or your family, please feel free to contact me. It has been an honor serving District 33 and I am thankful for all of your support during this legislative session.

D-T\'s Schulte qualifies for State Golf Meet

Click to view complete C-4 District results.

Extension Update - May 9, 2011

Well we sure turned the page weather wise with the week starting in the 90s. It looks as if by the time you read this we’ll be back to normal with cooler spring like temperatures and a chance of showers. Hopefully the weather has provided the opportunity for farmers to finish corn planting and to start planting their soybeans. If you have not yet started planting soybeans, do not delay. Our Nebraska soybean planting date on-farm research over the last 5 years has shown a significant yield increase averaging 3 bushels per acre for beans planted late April to mid May vs. those planted in mid to late May.

Last week Tuesday, we planted the Hamilton County Corn Grower’s Corn Hybrid Plot. The plot is on Mike Oswald’s farm and located just East if the IAMS Plant on Highway 34. A big thanks goes to all that helped including: Glenn Larson, Fontanelle Seeds; Derek Nissen, Stine Seeds; Ron Elge and Greg Bonifas, Pioneer Hi-Bred; Rich Arnold, Hoegemeyer Seeds; and of course Mike Oswald. The plot is like a community project bringing together these friendly competitors to support the Hamilton County Corn Growers through the entry fees and seed while helping area farmers by educating them at the fall field day and providing them with credible yield data after harvest.
Irrigation season will be upon us soon. Have you been involved with our Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Network (NAWMN)? If not, I’d be glad to share more information about it. The network started in 2005 with only a few producers and has grown to over 500 producers across the state. Every year new producers join in and very few, if any, drop out. A couple of the tools we’ve been using are ETgages® or Atmometers which mimic crop evapotranspiration and Watermark® soil matrix sensors which measure soil moisture content. This information along with crop stage of growth can help you determine when to irrigate. These two tools have worked well in adding efficiency to irrigation systems while adding peace of mind for the producer.

Now is the time to install ET gages®. It’s important to replace the #54 canvas covers and wafers each spring. You can pick these up at the UBB NRD if you don’t have them on hand. Soon after the crops emerge it will be time to install Watermark sensors. It’s important to soak and dry them a couple of times before installing them each year. They should read 5 or less when completely wet. For more information or installation tips, check out this web site: http://water.unl.edu/web/cropswater/nawmdn.

While at the site, also check out the on-line ETgage site. Last year we’ve added several automatic weather stations blue balloons that provide the daily reference as well as past week readings. That way if the ETgage readings are updated, you’ll have current weather station data. If you have an ETgage, I hope you’ll consider also posting it to the website so that other producers can access the info! If you need help with any of this, I’d be glad to assist you. Feel free to call the office at 402-694-6174 or stop in.

Hall County Historical Society to offer cemetery tours

As he has done for the past several years, Skip Meyer will be conducting tours at the Grand Island City Cemetery in three days preceding Memorial Day.

Sponsored by the Hall County Historical Society, the tours are free to members of the society with a $5 donation asked of non members.

The tours are set for:
6 p.m. on Thursday, May 26
1 p.m. on Friday, May 27
6 p.m. on Friday, May 27
9 a.m. on Saturday, May 28

Because of the popularity of the tours, reservations are required and the group is limited to 25 people for each tour. Reservations can be made with HCHS president, Fred Roeser, 4262 MIcihigan Ave., Grand Island. Phone number 308-384-2154. Please include your phone number so we may call you back if this time you would like to attend is full. If you do not hear back, your reservation has been accepted.

The tour is held on the south side of the cemetery, the older part, where many of the first settlers are buried. Participants are asked to park in the Bosselman Corporate parking lot adjacent to the east end of the cemetery and the tour will begin at the northeast corner of the cemetery on Stolley Park Road. It may last 3 hours. Participants may wish to bring a bottle of water.

Skip Meyer, a member of the Association of Cemetery Studies will tell visitors about the hidden meaning and folklore behind many tombstones. He will point out the grave sites of many famous, and some infamous, Grand Islanders of the past. He began his interest in tombstones while stuyding under Dr. Robert Manley. Skip learns information on each tour as participants offer knowledge of some of the families buried in the cemetery.

The Historical Society places flowers on the grave sites of Grace and Edith Abbott, who buried here. They are among the notables whose graves are recognized.

Stuhr�s �1890�s Memorial Day Celebration� Kicks Off Summer of Honoring First Responders

GRAND ISLAND , STUHR MUSEUM - In a summer dedicated to honoring first responders, Stuhr\'s annual 1890\'s Memorial Day Celebration puts the focus on the military and the burden born by its soldiers throughout our nation\'s history.

This stirring event begins at 10 a.m. when Railroad Town opens with the townspeople finding themselves in a reflective mood. They gather at the Railroad Town bandstand at roughly 11:30 for a flag-led, quarter-mile procession to the rural cemetery adjacent to the Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church on the museum\'s grounds. A short remembrance ceremony and military tribute will then take place.

After lunch the festivities continue in Railroad Town with music provided by Rairoad Town \'s own Silver Cornet Band, playing patriotic favorites from the period. From there, visitors can watch a historically accurate remembrance ceremony, taken from past Grand Army of the Republic literature, which honors the serving military and those who died in service.

Visitors can also view the \"Always There: First Responders\" exhibit in the Stuhr Building any time throughout the day. Stuhr\'s summer exhibits, including the Farm Machinery Building , rural farmstead and more are all available for viewing as well.

Admission to the 1890\'s Memorial Day celebration is $10 for adults, $8 for children and FREE for Stuhr Museum members. For more information, call (308) 385-5316.

Farmers urged to look up for power lines

COLUMBUS - Farm workers are accidentally electrocuted nationally each year when their farm equipment makes contact with overhead power lines, but these tragic accidents are preventable - just by looking up and around for overhead power lines. Nebraska Public Power District is encouraging farmers in the midst of planting season to be wary of overhead power lines.

"We have had two situations already this spring where farm equipment has come into contact with overhead power lines," said Tom Kent, chief operating officer for NPPD. "Fortunately no injuries, or worse, have occurred. But, the two situations have resulted in approximately 1,000 customers being without power for a short period of time."

NPPD urges farmers to review farm electrical safety during this time period. "Make sure everyone who works on the farm knows the location of power lines and keeps farm equipment at least 10 feet away from them," said Kent. "That minimum 10 foot distance is also a 360-degree rule - below, to the side and above lines."

Some farms require transporting tractors and equipment to fields several miles away. Before transit, avoid raising the arms of planters, cultivators or truck beds near power lines. Also, many tractors are now equipped with radios and communications systems and have antennas extending from the cab to fifteen feet above the ground that could make contact with power lines.

Other equipment safety considerations include:
� Always lower portable augers or elevators to their lowest possible level before moving or transporting; use care when raising them.
� When moving large equipment or high loads near a power line, always use a spotter, or someone to help make certain that contact is not made with a line.
� Never attempt to raise or move a power line to clear a path.
� If a guy wire or a utility pole is damaged, contact the local public power district to make the repair.

If a piece of farm equipment or vehicle comes into contact with a power line, the operator should always remain in the cab, call for help, and keep others away until the electric utility arrives to safely handle the situation.

"If the power line is energized and you step outside, your body becomes the path and electrocution could be the result," Kent explained. "Even if a power line has landed on the ground, there is still the potential for the area nearby to be energized. Stay inside the vehicle unless there's fire or imminent risk of fire."

In that case, the proper action is to jump - not step - with both feet hitting the ground at the same time. Do not allow any part of the body to touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. Continue to shuffle or hop to safety, keeping both feet together as you leave the area.

Once safely away from the equipment, never attempt to get back on or even touch the equipment. Electrocutions can occur when the operator dismounts and, realizing nothing has happened, tries to get back on the equipment.

"We want the planting season to be a productive and safe for everyone," Kent said, "It's important for those farming to look up and around to see where the power lines are. Call your local public power district in the event of equipment getting tangled in a power line, and practice electrical safety each and every day."

Senator Dubas Column - May 13, 2011

One of the significant bills remaining to be resolved in the waning days of this legislative session is LB 397 which seeks to reform the Commission of Industrial Relations (CIR). We began this session with nine different bills and have now boiled those components down to one bill which is still a work in progress.

A brief review of history is probably in order. In 1947, the legislature provided that no group could suspend the delivery of governmental services by striking. To provide a balance the CIR was created to resolve labor disputes. The CIR is a quasi-judicial state agency with five commissioners who are appointed by the Governor. Since it's inception few major changes have occurred to the CIR process. Calls for adjustments in recent years began to pick up steam as political subdivisions worked to control public employee labor costs within budget lids and declining revenues.

Due to the comprehensive nature of LB 397 the process of crafting substantial change has been complex. The first round of debate presented the culmination of many months of meetings and negotiations. Proponents and opponents presented their arguments and after considerable debate it was agreed to advance the bill to Select File. The work resumes as each side will continue the negotiations and prepare amendments for second round debate.

There are many moving parts to this legislation. Addressing the needs of cities, counties, school districts and the state presents many challenges. I received input from a multitude of individuals and groups. The vast majority of those views support keeping the CIR with the caveat that major changes need to ensue. Predictability, fairness and balance seem to be the guiding principles that LB 397 strives to achieve. Our elected officials need to be able to manage their budgets while treating their employees equitably. Since wages and benefits constitute the lion's share of such budgets it is important to have a mechanism in place with well defined parameters to resolve conflicts should they arise.

There are diverse perspectives represented as we work to craft state policy that allows elected officials and public employees a forum to resolve their differences. Hopefully the end result will present an outcome that not only retains the CIR but also achieves the effective and meaningful reform that is necessary for the efficient operation of government. As always, feel free to contact my office at (402) 471-2630 or email me at adubas@leg.ne.gov with any questions or concerns.

Governor\'s Column - May 13, 2011

Advancing College Access & Success in Nebraska

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

I was pleased to join a number of education leaders and others interested in creating opportunities for more Nebraska students to pursue higher education at the Nebraska College Access Summit.

We want to provide our kids the best education that we can and prepare them to compete in a knowledge-based, technology driven, global, free-market economy. We want to make sure we create quality, high-paying careers so that after they have received a great education, our sons and daughters have excellent opportunities right here in Nebraska.

Nebraska's P-16 Initiative is playing an important part in this effort by uniting policymakers and business and education leaders in strengthening Nebraska's education system. As chair of Nebraska P-16, I was pleased to welcome Jamie Merisotis, head of the Lumina Foundation for Education, to the College Access Summit.

The Lumina Foundation is the largest private organization dedicated solely to enrolling and graduating more college students. They have embraced a goal of 60 percent of Americans having high quality two-year or four-year degrees by 2025.

It is an ambitious goal. In 2008, 40 percent of Nebraska adults had attained an associate\'s degree or higher, which is above the national average but not on pace to meet the 2025 goal of 60 percent. Projections based on our current data predict that by 2018 50 percent of adults will have earned some kind of degree. We are on the right trajectory but our current efforts are not enough. We will need to do more to help students and those interested in returning to college set and attain educational goals.

Fulfilling the vision of a rigorous education that prepares students for the modern workforce will require that we think and do things differently. We need to take greater advantage of technology. We need to improve online learning capacity. We need more college students to complete their degrees and they need a clear path to graduation in four, not six years. Access to college and higher learning could be strengthened if our colleges and universities, in partnership with donors, focused on the creation of more new scholarships, not new buildings.

The P-16 Initiative has outlined a series of goals to position more Nebraska students for college and the jobs of the future. Jobs in Nebraska and across America require at least a two year degree, and preferably four years of college. Our P-16 goals for higher education call for improving Nebraska's college-going rate to the Top 10 in the nation. We want Nebraska students to have affordable access to our colleges and universities. We need to have high expectations for every K-12 student and help more get on the path to college.

Nebraska is attracting more quality jobs. We need professionals with a solid educational foundation and the skills and training that higher learning provides to fill these jobs now, and in the future.

We have to deliver more. I am passionate about education and I want every student in Nebraska to have the opportunity for a great education. The College Access Summit provided a good forum for this discussion. I look forward to working with schools, colleges, businesses, and others to tackle these challenges and create more opportunities in Nebraska.

Sen. Johann\'s weekly column - May 10, 2011

The Future of Medicare

Over the course of the past year, with our nation\'s debt approaching a crisis level, the debate has shifted in Washington. After years of talking about how much to spend, the conversation is now squarely focused on how much spending we really need.

As these talks have progressed, you have heard more and more about the future of Medicare and the need to protect its solvency for future generations. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has proposed a plan; the President has proposed a competing plan. Others have floated their own plans and trial balloons on Medicare.

None of these plans are ideal, yet the projections are as drastic as they are clear. Medicare already pays out more benefits than it collects in taxes, and the Medicare Hospital trust fund is predicted to be completely insolvent by 2020, now less than a decade away. Additionally, Medicare enrollment continues to grow by 2 percent each year, and will grow to 3 percent annually as the baby boom generation reaches age 65. This coupled with rising health care costs brings us ever closer each year to the day when the Medicare program can no longer sustain itself.

Because of this reality before us, ideas to make Medicare more sustainable deserve attention and close scrutiny. We must also be honest about the problem. When the health care law was passed last year, we were told that it included savings to extend the solvency of Medicare. This however was refuted in a report by the Obama Administration\'s own Chief Actuary for Medicare and Medicaid, Richard Foster, who outlined how the Medicare \"savings\" were instead used to pay for a new health care entitlement program. Foster\'s conclusion confirms what we already know: you cannot spend the same dollar twice - once for Medicare benefits and again to pay for a new entitlement. Foster wrote that Medicare savings \"cannot be simultaneously used to finance other Federal outlays ... and to extend the [Medicare] trust fund.\"

Moreover, Foster additionally projected that the savings originally assumed in the health care law are \"extremely unlikely to occur.\" He explains that specific areas of savings, such as reductions in fees for physicians, are \"clearly unworkable\" and as such the projected savings from the current law \"should not be interpreted as our best expectation of actual Medicare financial operations in the future.\"

Certainly there will be many opportunities to cut down on extravagant spending, including things like earmarks and bloated \"stimulus\" spending, but Medicare will remain part of the conversation since it makes up about 15 percent of our nation\'s budget and is one of the largest portions of the entire federal government. I am hopeful my colleagues and I will work together to make Medicare a better and, as importantly, a sustainable program for our children and grandchildren.

Sen. Johann\'s weekly column - May 16, 2011

Administration Must Keep Sights on Economy and Job Creation

Several developments occurred last week in Washington that impact the debate we\'re having on debt, spending and job creation. One was a concerning report highlighting the need to reform our unsustainable entitlement programs. Meanwhile, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was busy pushing for a change to federal law that could stifle job creation in right-to-work states like Nebraska. Both events highlighted the different but significant ways in which, if we don\'t take the responsible approach, we could end up hurting our economy instead of reviving it.

I appreciate President Obama reaching out and inviting Senate Republicans to the White House to discuss our debt. Last month I co-authored a letter to him, signed by 32 Republicans and 32 Democrats, urging him to show leadership on addressing our debt and deficit, and I hope last week\'s meeting is the first of many, not just window dressing. The President\'s leadership is critical in our efforts to rein in spending and bring down our debt. Though I can\'t say any new ground was broken, it\'s a start.

One of the many warning signs of the serious need to address our debt is the reality that we\'ve maxed out the credit card by hitting our debt ceiling. I\'m concerned about the potential of a debt default, but I remain equally concerned about the inevitable crisis we\'ll face if we don\'t reverse our runaway spending. I would need to see a substantial commitment to deficit reduction before I vote to increase the debt ceiling. Another red flag is being waved by some of our country\'s foremost experts on Medicare and Social Security. The Medicare and Social Security Trustees\' report concludes we\'re now closer than previously thought to seeing the insolvency of both programs. Both are now paying out more than they\'re collecting in taxes. It reaffirms the urgency with which we must confront our spending.

Another development last week could impact the economy and job creation in a different way. Contrary to long-standing federal law, the NLRB asked a judge to force Boeing to halt construction of a new production line in South Carolina, a right-to-work state, because it already had one in Washington state.

NLRB claims the new facility is retaliation against unions in Washington state - a polarizing accusation that could hinder job creation in Nebraska by discouraging businesses from hiring in right-to-work states. NLRB\'s claim is unfounded; since Boeing expanded to South Carolina, the Washington line has actually hired 2,000 more workers. We should be encouraging job creation, not discouraging it - not to mention the stunning government overreach into private business plans. I\'ve signed onto a bill that would guarantee an employer the right to decide where to hire within the U.S. and prevent NLRB from ordering employers to relocate jobs.

We\'ve got important work to do in the months ahead, and the Administration will be critical in determining whether we help our economy by encouraging job creation and controlling our finances, or take steps backward by playing political games with jobs and encouraging more reckless spending. I\'ll continue to advocate for the responsible approach and for the best interests of our great state.