Heartland Lutheran basketball record

Thanks from garbage workers

Thanks for help with groceries

Good experience traveling through

Build America
Benefit for Scott Beaudette

Opponents of moving the Nebraska State Fair to Grand Island say they have widespread support, but their failure to gather enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot speaks volumes.

On Monday of this week President Bush rescinded a 27-year moratorium on oil drilling on the outer continental shelf to ameliorate growing concern over rapidly rising energy costs.

The President's executive action, hailed as a purely symbolic gesture, quickly fostered tangible effects. Not long after the announcement, OPEC released news that its long range forecast for exports was downgraded and the stocks of major offshore drilling companies rose.

Last week's Iran missile exercise, which could be interpreted as a response to Israel's drill, is an issue of concern. Israel has always pointed out that it really does not wish an encounter with Iran, although now it feels extremely threatened that some military action might be justified and "might be inevitable”.  And Israel might speculate that as long as President Bush is still in the White House any military action will be supported by the United States — which is a dangerous scenario.

U.S. Senate candidate Mike Johanns brought a familiar economic policy to Central Nebraska last week: cut taxes, cut regulations, cut wasteful spending.

Lower taxes are terrific, but without lower spending they are not getting the country anywhere but deeper in debt.

A recently conducted study by the Chamber of Commerce on the impact of the State Fair moving to Grand Island should open some eyes, especially those who perceive the move as a bad thing for the city.

The study reveals that the $40 million spent on improvements at the Fonner Park site will yield a total of $64.56 million in economic output activity. Only $8.5 million is required from Grand Island to launch the move. In addition, the study reveals that the construction phase will create 565 jobs and spin-off activities will create a total of 904 jobs in the region.

Central Nebraska Ethnic Festival

Vet's Home Independence Day celebration

Travelers thankful for help from local business

Club Notes

In the case of the state of Nebraska, they should pay off what they owe to counties who incur significant costs while housing state inmates before they are sent to the state prisons. It isn't chump change. In the case of Hall County, the state of Nebraska owes the county over $265,446 this year through May. The June amount is not available, but it will not be collected either. Since 2001, the state owes Hall County a whopping $937,000. That money would  go a long way in taking care of road repair and other burdens.

Four areas felt the brunt of the damage last month:  the Lamar/Arthur street area, the "Irish Acres" in the northwest part of town, the Utah/Nevada street area near Northwest and the Brentwood area in the southwest quadrant. The mildew aroma that enveloped much of these neighborhoods that week still lingers in many homes.