KBRB Radio- Ainsworth, Nebraska

* Robert Jackson, 77, of Rapid City, S.D. formerly of Ainsworth 10 a.m. May 25

The Ainsworth Cub Scouts' annual Rainwater Regatta was held Thursday in the Elks Lodge.
Brendan Bussinger had the fastest boat to win the regatta, and Mason Hagan finished as the runner up. The craftsmanship award was given to Cameron Bussinger, and Robbie Lucas won the design award.

Nebraska 43rd District State Sen. Al Davis checked in from the Nebraska Legislature, providing an update of activity as the Unicameral nears the end of the session.
To hear the complete report, click on the audio link below.

It's 1967. Elvis gets married, Disney releases "The Jungle Book," and Julia Roberts is born. It's also the last time Nebraska had both snow and temperatures over 100 degrees within two weeks during the month of May before this year.

"Although it's extremely rare, it has happened in the past," Al Dutcher, state climatologist in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said.

The Climate Prediction Center released new data last week with predictions for Nebraska's summer weather.

It looks like the cooler-than-normal temperatures of April and May are behind us.

Above normal temperatures are predicted for June in the 30-day forecast. The highest probability of above normal temperatures falls across the areas west and south of a line from Chadron to Holdrege.

For the summer prediction, which includes June, July and August, the highest probability for above normal temperatures is south and west of a line from Valentine to Hebron.

Below normal precipitation is predicted for the western two-thirds of the state, with the highest probability being in the southeastern Panhandle, the southwestern Sandhills and the southwestern corner of the state.

The cooler spring temperatures have impacted corn farmers, Dutcher said. "Farmers are 10-15 days behind planting corn," Dutcher said. "Under normal temperatures, this crop would be projected to come into pollination during the statistical peak of the summer heat, the second and third week in July."

"The benefit of these cold and wet conditions has been a significant increase in soil moisture conditions across eastern Nebraska," Dutcher said. "They have contributed to a limited recovery but are insufficient to alleviate concerns."

This in part was due to snow pack across Canada and the Northern Plains, Dutcher said.

Nebraska Department of Revenue
Comparison of February 2013 and February 2012 Net Taxable Sales
for Nebraska Counties and Selected Cities

County or City	2013 Net Taxable Sales	2012 Net Taxable Sales	Percent Change	2013 Sales Tax 5.5%	2012 Sales Tax 5.5%
Brown	2,259,163	2,230,965	1.3	124,254.11	122,703.26
Ainsworth	2,197,732	2,107,214	4.3	120,875.40	115,896.94
Cherry	3,889,234	3,768,313	3.2	213,908.22	207,257.56
Valentine	3,754,988	3,596,695	4.4	206,524.63	197,818.47
Holt	8,085,974	7,932,660	1.9	444,729.21	436,296.99
Atkinson	1,670,519	1,841,493	(9.3)	91,878.74	101,282.35
O'Neill	5,481,025	5,191,082	5.6	301,456.69	285,509.87
Keya Paha	164,444	142,858	15.1	9,044.44	7,857.20
Rock	594,244	430,388	38.1	32,683.50	23,671.41
State Total	1,936,708,764	1,850,863,065	4.6	106,860,752.26	101,954,427.50

Nebraska Department of Revenue
Comparison of February 2013 and February 2012
Net Taxable Motor Vehicle Sales by County

County or City	2013 Net Taxable Sales	2012 Net Taxable Sales	Percent Change	2013 Sales Tax 5.5%	2012 Sales Tax 5.5%
Blaine	74,271	42,000	76.8	4,020.57	2,263.11
Boyd	444,659	499,042	(10.9)	24,450.17	27,518.72
Brown	501,460	581,319	(13.7)	27,698.73	32,121.88
Cherry	879,107	1,270,147	(30.8)	48,606.66	70,296.78
Holt	2,334,265	2,162,901	7.9	129,085.40	119,515.39
Keya Paha	199,314	203,216	(1.9)	10,952.56	11,186.86
Rock	376,078	217,744	72.7	20,702.48	11,969.67
State Total	268,807,477	271,126,712	(0.9)	14,923,854.45	15,050,667.34

Nebraska 40th District State Sen. Tyson Larson provided his weekly report from the Unicameral.
To hear the complete report, click on the audio link below.

More than 50 landowners and agency representatives Tuesday heard engineers discuss plans to improve the Pine Creek watershed, including efforts to improve problem E. coli levels in Bone Creek and Pine Creek and erosion problems along Sand Draw Creek.

Engineers Adam Rupe and Lalit Jha with JEO Consulting Group of Lincoln, along with Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District Manager Mike Murphy, outlined a study undertaken by JEO Consulting to address problems related to runoff and erosion in the watershed.

“This is something that probably should have been done 30 years ago,” Murphy said. “We hope to accomplish some goals and find funding mechanisms.”

Rupe said erosion in the Sand Draw Creek due to increased water flows since the 1960s have created a 20 to 30 foot drop in elevation on the Sand Draw Creek from the Meadville Avenue box culvert east.

“There is more water in the Sand Draw than there used to be, and that has increased the bank erosion below the Highway 7 culvert,” Rupe said. “The culvert is holding the head cut right now, but the culvert is being undercut.”

Rupe said he realized the timeline for finding a solution at the Meadville Avenue crossing with the Sand Draw was imperative, as the current box culvert has been compromised.

“Our goal is not to just have a patched solution at that site,” Rupe said. “We need to take an entire watershed approach and solve it in a holistic fashion. We want the stakeholders involved in the process.”

Jha said the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Nebraska Environmental Trust funded a study by JEO Consulting to determine solutions to address the elevation changes and the added sediment and E. coli levels in the watershed.

“Irrigation added water to the system in the 1960s and added velocity to the stream,” Jha said. “It began to undercut, and there is a sense of urgency on the box culvert.”

Jha said, while the entire 132 miles of stream within the watershed will be analyzed, the focus will be on Sand Draw Creek east of Highway 7.

“There is possible hazard mitigation grant money from FEMA that can be used by the county for a Highway 7 solution,” Jha said.

Jha said potential solutions include raising and stabilizing the stream bed below Highway 7, but it would likely be a 10 to 15 year plan to entirely restore the Sand Draw.

Murphy said undertaking the study and having the engineering firm come up with solutions to the sediment and erosion problems would help unlock additional funding and bring in several project partners.

“The big picture is the entire watershed and, to me, everything is on the table,” Murphy said.

Brown County Commissioner Buddy Small said, without the study and additional project partners, the entire cost of a project would have to be shouldered by Brown County.

“Without fixing the downstream issues, any project the county does at the Highway 7 box culvert will not solve the problem,” Small said.

Rupe said one of the goals of the public meeting was to establish advisory and stakeholder groups to provide feedback on potential solutions JEO Consulting proposes during the study.

“We are looking for 12 to 15 people to help engage the stakeholders and the community, and provide us with input,” Rupe said. “We will work on a plan with the goal to come up with a final project by the fall of 2014.”

Though Murphy acknowledged gathering the funding for a large scale watershed improvement project would be a tall task, completing the study and having concrete solutions to the issues would help the group acquire additional funding from the NDEQ and the Nebraska Environmental Trust, as well as other agencies.

“This begins the process of prioritizing projects so the entities can put together some matching funds,” Murphy said.

Jha said the overall goal of the plan was to protect and enhance the quality of all water resources within the Long Pine Creek watershed.

Goals include reducing E. coli levels in Bone Creek and Pine Creek, and reducing stream bank erosion, field erosion and runoff.

Jha said there is a serious question as to how long the Highway 7 box culvert can last, so a short term goal of JEO Consulting was to come up with a solution for the box culvert within the next three to four months and apply for FEMA hazard mitigation funding through the county for a project.

“We should then know in six months if FEMA will fund a project at the box culvert,” Jha said. “We may also look for a temporary fix that does not cost much that would get us by until a larger project is ready.”

Jha said the next step is to put together a preliminary plan of action, meet with the stakeholders to discuss it, and have a final draft ready by the spring.

“This is a very challenging project from an engineering standpoint,” Jha said. “I am excited to work on it.”

Anyone with questions on the project, or anyone with property along the streams in the watershed who would like to serve on the advisory committee, is asked to contact Murphy at the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District office at 402-376-3241.

Nebraska Public Power District is encouraging farmers, many who are involved in spring planting at this time, to be particularly alert to the dangers of working near overhead power lines. Contact between farm equipment and electric transmission and distribution lines could cause electrocution.

NPPD urges farm workers to review farm activities and work practices that take place around any power lines. Everyone who works on the farm should know the location of power lines and keep farm equipment at least 20 feet away from them. The minimum 20 foot distance is a 360-degree rule – below, to the side and above lines.

“It may take a little more time, but ensuring proper clearance can save lives and reduce the possibility of creating a power outage that impacts more than just the farm, but also can create an outage in a local community “ NPPD Transmission and Distribution Manager John Humphrey said. “Contact with power lines can have an adverse effect on an individual through the potential of electrocution, but also affected are homes, businesses and industry through the outage.

“It’s important all farm workers know the location of power lines so we can have a safe planting season.”

Humphrey urged farmers not to raise or move a power line under any situation and to be aware of underground lines before digging and contact the Digger’s Hotline (dial 811) before work begins.

Many farm electrical accidents that involve power line contact happen when loading or preparing to transport equipment to fields, or while performing maintenance or repairs on farm machinery near power lines. It can be difficult to estimate distance and sometimes a power line is closer than it looks. A spotter or someone with a broader view can help.

Do not raise the arms of planters, cultivators or truck bed when moving vehicles;

Be aware of increased height when loading and transporting larger modern farm machinery.

Watch for radio antennas that extend from the cab to fifteen feet above the ground that could make contact with power lines;

Be careful not to raise any equipment such as ladders, poles or rods into power lines. Non-metallic materials such as lumber, tree limbs, tires, ropes and hay will conduct electricity depending on dampness and dust and dirt contamination.

Do not try to clear storm-damage debris and limbs near or touching power lines or near fallen lines.

The overhead electric wires are not the only electrical contact that can result in a serious incident. Pole guy wires are grounded to the neutral; but, when one of the guy wires is broken, it can cause an electric current disruption. This can make those neutral wires anything but harmless. If a guy wire is struck with farm equipment and breaks, or when making contact with electrical poles and wires, always contact your local rural public power district or electric co-operative.

“It is also important for operators of farm equipment to know what to do if the vehicle comes in contact with a power line,” Humphrey explained. “It is always best to stay in the cab and call for help. Warn others who may be nearby to stay away and wait until the electric utility arrives to make sure power to the line is cut off.”

The Brown County Sheriff’s Department investigated a two-vehicle accident that occurred on Tuesday, May 21, in Ainsworth.
According to the sheriff’s department report, at 2:20 p.m. Tuesday at the Ainsworth Community Schools west parking lot, a collision occurred between a 1994 Ford F-150, driven by Clint Ruegge, 17, of Johnstown, and a 1970 Chevy pickup, driven by Marcus Osborn, 16, of Ainsworth.
No injuries were reported. Damage to the Chevy was estimated at $1,000. The Ford did not sustain any damage.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Department investigated a one-vehicle property damage accident that occurred on Monday, May 20, in Ainsworth.
According to the sheriff’s department report, at 5:53 p.m. Monday in the alley in the 500 block of West Oak Street, a 2002 Chevy Silverado, driven by Jake Wilkins, 17, of Ainsworth, was traveling north in the alley and struck a gas meter.
No injuries were reported. Damage to the gas meter, owned by Source Gas, was estimated at $200. The Chevy did not sustain any damage.

The Ainsworth Lions Club held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, and reported five members helped present trees to the fourth-grade students at McAndrew Elementary in observance of Arbor Day.

The club voted to continue the Arbor Day tree planting project with the elementary students next year.

The club reviewed the Lions Club-sponsored All Sports Tailgate Party held last month. President Larry Rice reported the coaches are considering inviting a speaker for the program in the future. The club discussed the video presentations presented by each coach and sponsor, and suggested one video be produced that included all sports, and the video placed on continuous play at the beginning of the event. The condiment table continues to create a bottleneck at the serving line. Round tables will be used next year, which should address the concern. The members of the Ainsworth track team set up the tables and chairs for the banquet, and the club members agreed to volunteer to assist with track meets held at East City Park in a show of appreciation.

The 2013-14 slate of officers and directors presented to the club membership via an e-mail ballot was approved as presented. Officers include Past President-Larry Rice; President-Sarah Williams; First Vice President-Pat Jones; Second Vice President-Evan Evans; Secretary-Jerry Ehlers; Treasurer-Phil Fuchs; Tail Twister-Dwain Grunke; Lion Tamer-David Spann; Directors-Brian Williams, Darrell Peterson, Jerry Allen, Jim Walton; Membership Chairman-Dick Albrecht.

Rice reported that the club has been awarded a $500 grant from the Brown County Foundation to assist with the Playground Improvement Project at East City Park. The grant award will be presented during the Brown County Foundation annual meeting to be held on June 2 at East City Park. Rice said he will consult with project coordinator Evan Evans regarding an evening work session to be scheduled to place crushed rubber under playground equipment and to place wood chips around newly planted trees beyond the Legion Baseball Field fence.

Dues statements for 2013-14 were e-mailed to club members on May 19, with a due date of June 17. Dues are $59 for Lions Club members.

Todd Mundhenke reported plans for the Ainsworth Alumni Banquet are progressing. He put out a call for volunteers, since many Lions Club members will not be available due to other commitments the weekend of June 28-29. He also asked for someone to volunteer as co-chair for the event, should he be called out-of-town due to a possible new “family arrival” that weekend. Anyone interested in serving as co-chair for the event is asked to contact Mundhenke.

Rice has several Lions Club banners and badges for display. He will check with the Golden Steer regarding the possibility of arranging a wall display.

Rice also reported he has received the magnetic “Ainsworth Lions Club” signs to be placed on the sides of a motor vehicle during local parades to promote the Lions Club.

The annual Nebraska Lions Club Convention is scheduled May 31-June 2 at Norfolk.

The next Lions Club meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 17, in the Golden Steer.

Following extensive debate and an executive session with its chairman, the Brown County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to remain with the Region 24 Emergency Management Agency.

Having previously stated its dissatisfaction with the performance of the Region 24 Emergency Management Agency director, the commissioners on Tuesday debated whether to continue the county's membership with the region or fund its own emergency management director.

“I am the first to agree, staying with the group is the ideal way to go, but the group is only as strong as its head person,” Commissioner Reagan Wiebelhaus said.

Commissioner Buddy Small, who serves as Brown County’s representative on the Region 24 Emergency Management Board of Directors, said he has, on more than one occasion, voiced his concerns with the agency’s operation.

“It seems like all I am doing is beating my gums for no reason,” Small said. “Brown County is not displeased with Region 24, only with the leadership.”

County Attorney David Streich said the county could choose to either disassociate itself from Region 24 or work within Region 24 to try and improve the performance of its director.

Region 24 Board Chairman Mark Adamson, Cherry County’s representative, said there were costs associated with breaking away from the region the county needed to consider.

The board entered into executive session with Adamson. Upon ending the executive session, the commissioners unanimously approved remaining with Region 24 with the agreement that the region’s policies and procedures be revised.

“We have decided we are going to stay with Region 24, revise the policies and procedures handbook and see where we are in December or January,” Wiebelhaus said.

The commissioners stated they would reevaluate their membership in the region in December or January to see if progress had been made.

In other business during Tuesday’s meeting, Kyle Graham with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service visited with the board about installing a new water control structure above Willow Lake in an effort to reduce the chance of carp repopulating lakes in southern Brown County the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is attempting to renovate.

Graham said the water control structure, similar to a culvert, would be placed under the Moon Lake Road at the head end of Willow Lake.

“It is a notched Weir water control structure,” Graham said. “It slows down water flow, stabilizes the grade, the elevation evens out, it slows down erosion and it is a barrier for carp.”

Graham said the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission successfully renovated Clear Lake in southern Brown County in December, and planned to kill off the Willow Lake fish population this fall.

He said using Rotenone to kill off the fish population is the only effective way to eradicate carp from a water body. Carp ruin water quality, which eventually affects a water body’s game fish population.

“Anything you can do to keep the carp out after you eradicate them is worth its weight in gold,” Graham said. “This structure will keep carp from moving into the next area.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with the Sandhills Task Force to provide the water control structure to the county free of charge. Graham said the county is responsible for installing and maintaining the structure.

Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin said he was in favor of replacing the culvert west of Willow Lake on the Moon Lake Road with the new structure.

“We will probably have to raise the elevation of the road quite a bit to accommodate that size of tube, but we can do it,” Turpin said.

Streich said neighboring landowners would need to be consulted and agree to having the structure in place, since it could affect the water table.

Graham said, by slowing down erosion and the cutting of the stream channel, landowners would not lose sub-irrigated meadows as quickly as they would when the stream cuts and lowers the water table.

Wiebelhaus said everything he has heard about the renovation of Clear Lake and the eradication of carp has been positive.

Graham said he would visit with neighboring landowners about the project and try and get their approval.

In roads department items, the board approved pay raises for several roads department employees for the 2013-14 fiscal year based on their performance reviews.

Turpin said pay raises for roads employees would be based on their performance evaluations instead of every employee simply getting a blanket raise.

The increases ranged from no increase to 60 cents per hour based on the performance ratings.

“It makes a lot more sense to me to give raises based on performance instead of blanket raises,” Small said.

The board approved having the roads department lay down millings for an east-west street in Johnstown that runs north of the post office.

Johnstown will pay the county for the expenses associated with performing the milling work.

Turpin reported the milling and overlay project at the Ainsworth Airport could start as early as September. The county can receive millings free of charge to place on Rousher Avenue east of the airport, and could likely buy the remaining millings at a price below the market rate. Turpin said, if the county can get the millings, he would likely use them on the Airport Road from Highway 20 north to the airport.

In a final roads item, the commissioners approved an agreement with Three River Communications to bury fiber optic lines under county right of way in the rural Long Pine area.

Other action items Tuesday included the board approving a transfer of $448,250 from the county’s miscellaneous general fund to the highway fund, and an agreement with Pete Peterson to prepare the 2013-14 fiscal year budget at a cost of $3,000.

A 27-year-old Bassett woman died in a one-vehicle rollover accident Monday morning near Rose.
According to the Rock County Sheriff's Department report, at 7:20 a.m. Monday on Highway 183 approximately 24 miles south of Bassett, a 1998 Jeep, driven by Claudia Koenig of Bassett, was traveling north when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the east ditch. The vehicle veered back across the highway and then rolled several times in the west ditch.
Koenig, who was the vehicle's lone occupant, was ejected from the Jeep. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Jeep was considered a total loss. Minimal damage was sustained to a fence owned by Ben Andrews of Bassett.

With the current session of the Nebraska Legislature winding down, 43rd District State Sen. Al Davis provided KBRB Radio with a report on recent happenings in the Unicameral. To hear the complete report, click on the audio link below.

There were 120 scholarships awarded to 33 seniors in the graduating class of 2013 at Ainsworth High School. The scholarships were awarded for outstanding performances in fine arts, athletics and other activities as well as for outstanding academic performance in the classroom. The 2013 senior scholarship winners are:

Northeast Community College Board of Governor’s & President’s Early Entry Scholarship Alternate

The City of Ainsworth is hosting a free citywide cleanup for Ainsworth residents on May 30 and May 31. The city is encouraging all residents to participate in cleaning up their property and alleys of all debris that may include household furniture, old appliances, iron, metal, wire items, discarded and broken toys, any machinery/vehicle parts etc.

Those items mentioned above can be left at the curb side of your property to be picked up by the City Street Department free of charge.

City crews will pick up the east/west streets on May 30 starting on the east side of town.

The north/south streets will be picked up on May 31 starting on the north side of town.

Items will need to be at curb side by 7:30 a.m. each day. The city will not be go back to pick up items that have not been put out on their designated days.

Items not accepted include household trash, tires, oil, chemicals, paint and hazardous household waste items.

The city crews also will not pick up tree limbs, grass, leaves, yard waste and clean lumber. These items, however, may be taken to the KBR Solid Waste Transfer Station free of charge on any day that the transfer station is open.

In past years, West Nile Virus has affected our community and city residents are asked to take responsibility to help reduce the spread of the virus. Mosquitoes are known to reproduce in grass clippings, tree limbs and stagnant water.

City officials remind residents it is illegal to keep motor vehicles that are inoperative and are not licensed unless they are in an enclosed building.

City officials encourage residents to contact a salvage dealer to haul inoperable vehicles off their property. Contact the city office at 402-387-2494 for more information.

City officials also remind residents it is illegal to dispose of leaves, rubbish, wood or other debris in city streets, gutters or alleys.

It is the hope of city officials that residents utilize the free cleanup days and help prevent the city from having to take action against nuisance properties.

In addition to the free pickup, the KBR Solid Waste Transfer Station will be open on May 30 & 31 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. to allow residents to dispose of items.

For more information, please contact City Administrator Kristi Thornburg at (402) 387-2494.

Dakota W. Gibson, age 19, of Ainsworth, charged with theft by unlawful taking, $200 or less, sentenced to 10 days in jail with credit for 10 days served; also charged with minor in possession, 10 days in jail with credit for 10 days served; and first degree criminal trespassing, 10 days in jail with credit for 10 days served.

David J. Clark, 53, of Bassett, issuing a no-account check, fined $50 and $486 in restitution.

Laurie S. Sheriff, 51, of Othello, Wash., no valid registration, $35; also charged with commercial vehicle marking and general violations, fined a total of $100.

Russell L. Myer, 52, of, Ipswich, S.D., failure to carry a fuel permit, $100; also charged with a commercial vehicle marking violation, $50.

Michael D. Freeman, 50, of Ainsworth, violation of a stop or yield sign, $75; no seat belt, $25.

Miguel A. Martinez, 17, of Ainsworth, minor in possession, sentenced to three months of probation and ordered to perform 20 hours of community service.

Jesse A. Ptacek, 30, of Rochester, Minn., speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Levi A. Hollenbeck, 17, of Ainsworth, two counts of no operator’s license, fined $75 on each.

Jeffrey S. Andrews, 50, of Sioux City, Iowa, speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Daelin Connell, 17, of Bonifay, Fla., attempt of a Class 3A felony, sentenced to 85 days in jail with credit for 85 days served.

Luke A. Norman, 26, of Crawford, no valid registration, $25; also charged with driving a commercial vehicle without a commercial license on person, $25.

Austin C. Anderson, 16, of Albion, minor in possession, sentenced to three months of probation and ordered to perform 20 hours of community service.

Amanda G. Kegley, 18, of Ainsworth, unlawful or fictitious display of plates, $50.

Rosa E. Kepler, 20, of Johnstown, first offense driving under the influence, $500, also sentenced to six months of probation and ordered not to drive for 60 days.

Christopher G. Donati, 32, of Oraville, Calif., speeding 6-10 mph over the limit, $25.

Curtis E. Bolli of Ainsworth, issuing a bad check, $25 and ordered to pay $28 in restitution.

Grant G. Woods, 37, of Lincoln, first offense reckless driving, $500 and sentenced to six months of probation.

The 74th annual Sandhills Cattle Association Convention is scheduled for Thursday, May 23, in the Atkinson Community Center.
The schedule for the event includes:
9 a.m. - Registration and a Board of Directors meeting.
10 a.m. - Speaker Don Blankenau with Blankenau Wilmoth Jarecke LLP of Lincoln.
11 a.m. - Ann Marie Bosshamer, the executive director of the Nebraska Beef Council, and Dave Hamilton, the chairman of the Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Check-off Task Force, will speak about low water in the Sandhills.
12:30 p.m. - Lunch.
1:15 p.m. - Business meeting and presentation of scholarships.
2 p.m. - Speaker Connee Quinn of Chadron.
2:45 p.m. - Ice cream break.
3:15 p.m. - Speaker R.P. Smith of Broken Bow.
4 p.m. - Trade show opens.
5:30 p.m. - Benefit live auction.
6 p.m. - Food stations open.

Conner Kozisek has been named the 2013 Ainsworth High School valedictorian. Kozisek is the son of Mark and Joni Kozisek of rural Ainsworth.
Alyssa Kinning, the daughter of Rod and Coleen Kinning, is the salutatorian for the Ainsworth graduating class.

Senior Conner Kozisek was named the Fine Arts Student of the Year for Ainsworth High School last week during an awards ceremony in the learning center. Senior Jedd Raymond received runner-up recognition. Other finalists were Amanda Theis and Katie Brown.

Kozisek swept many of the awards, including the Senior Oratory Award and the Varsity Speaker of the Year in speech, the Patrick S. Gilmore Award in band, and he was named the Thespian of the Year.

In addition to those major awards, Kozisek received the Duden Award in speech, and was a member of the Ainsworth mock trial team that finished as the state runner-up.

Richard Albrecht received the Partner in the Arts Award presented by fine arts staff.

Most Improved – Sydney Fling, Hailey McBride, Lisa Ludemann, Justin Keller, Lauren Allen, Austin Harthoorn, Nathaniel Goodloe, Matt Barrow, BJ Norton and Ben Allen.

Leadership by Diversity Awards – Kirsten Gilliland, Cidnee Scholtes, Aaron Goodloe and Jayne Barrow.

Sunshine Awards for positive attitudes – Allison Davis, Sydney Fling, Aliyah Poole, Conner Kozisek, Hayley Murphy, Jedd Raymond, Ellie Carr, Heather Martin, Hayes Chohon, Quentin Wagner, Jacob Jeffers, Matt Barrow and Brandon Clark.

Band Letters – Nicole Wen, Hallie Bower, Kirsten Gilliland, Whittney Pirnie, Amanda Theis, Aliyah Poole, Conner Kozisek, Hayley Murphy, Drew Klatt, Lisa Ludemann, Jedd Raymond, Amanda Pike, Clay Chohon, Lydia Allen, Aaron Goodloe, Sara Salzman, Jayne Barrow, Matt Barrow, Quentin Wagner and Brandon Clark.

Thespian Initiates – Hallie Bower, Damen Cleal, Abbey Doyle, Kirsten Gilliland, Nathaniel Goodloe, Stephanie Hempel, Stevie Parker, Amanda Pike, Tara Taylor and Quentin Wagner.

Honor Thespians – Hallie Bower, Nathaniel Goodloe, Drew Klatt, Laura Peters and Maikayla Weiss.

Mock Trial Team – Katie Brown, Alyssa Kinning, Conner Kozisek, Amanda Theis, Shi Watts, Hallie Bower, Clay Chohon and Rob Maxwell. The team placed second at the State Mock Trial Championships.

Most Improved - Lauren Allen, Hayes Chohon, Shelby Grupe, Dominic Henry, Seth Taylor, Tara Taylor, Damen Cleal, Shealynn Palmer, Sabree Porter, Holden Smith, Tiffani Beegle, Leah Taylor, Quentin Wagner and Landon Welke.

Stepping It Up Awards - Lauren Allen, Hayes Chohon, Abbey Doyle, Austin Dunbar, Jacob Jeffers, Seth Taylor, Tara Taylor, Kirsten Gilliland, Holden Smith, Leah Taylor, Quentin Wagner, Landon Welke, Stephanie Hempel and Jedd Raymond.

Outstanding Choir Member Awards - Hayes Chohon, Nathaniel Goodloe, Laura Peters, Quentin Wagner, Hayley Murphy and Jorden Hollenbeck.

A 19-year-old Ainsworth man and a 20-year-old Wayne man were sentenced in Brown County District Court Tuesday for their roles in a burglary at H&R Food Center.
Dakota Wayne Gibson of Ainsworth appeared in District Court for sentencing Tuesday on a probation violation after being previously convicted of criminal attempt of a burglary, a Class IV felony, and theft by unlawful taking, a Class IV felony. Gibson was sentenced to 20 months in prison on the first felony conviction relating to the H&R break in, and was ordered to pay $430 in restitution to the business. Gibson was sentenced to an additional 20 to 60 months in prison on the felony theft conviction, which related to the theft of a vehicle. As part of that sentencing, Gibson was ordered to pay $3,672 restitution to Progressive Insurance and $500 restitution to Rick and Marilyn Brodbeck.
Pete Lundahl of Wayne was sentenced to three years of probation after being convicted of criminal attempt of a burglary, a Class IV felony. In addition to the probation, Lundahl was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $430 in restitution to H&R Food Center.

Four new staff members received contracts during Monday’s meeting of the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education, and the district will be saying goodbye to one long-time staff member at the end of the school year.

The board accepted the resignation of guidance counselor Sherry Campbell Monday. Campbell wrote to the board she was retiring at the end of the school year.

Superintendent Darrell Peterson said Campbell had given enough notice that the district was able to find a replacement.

“Guidance is a difficult position to fill, but we ended up with three good candidates,” Peterson said.

The board approved a contract for Lavisa Schlueter of Wood Lake to fill the position. Peterson said Schlueter completed her student-teaching requirements under Campbell a couple years ago.

The district filled three other staff positions Monday, approving contracts for vocal music, English and an elementary teaching position.

Peterson recommended, and the board approved, hiring Kayla Seefus as the district’s vocal music instructor. Seefus, a native of Fort Calhoun, graduated from Wayne State College with endorsements in K-12 music.

After conducting several interviews, Peterson recommended the district offer an English teaching contract to Tamara Hancock, a Chadron State College graduate. Hancock is an Alliance native and has endorsements in 7-12 English.

The superintendent said some shuffling of elementary teaching positions will be undertaken for the 2013-14 school year. The board approved a contract for Misty Wroblewski to teach in Ainsworth Elementary. Wroblewski is a Springview native who graduated from Chadron State College and was most recently teaching at Ewing.

Peterson said Wroblewski will teach in a third-grade classroom, with Kelly Gibson moving to second grade and Robin Wright helping with the larger fourth-grade class and assisting in the resource room.

“I am pleased with all of the candidates we have lined up to fill these positions, and I am excited about bringing them in to the district,” the superintendent said.

In a final hiring note, Peterson said the district received more than 45 applications for its open administrative assistant position following the retirement of Donna Mundorf.

Peterson said the district had an excellent slate of candidates from which to select. He said six applicants were interviewed, and the district hired Danielle Palmer to fill the position. Palmer will begin work in her new post on Monday.

In other business during Monday’s meeting, the board approved a five-year contract with Lunchtime Solutions to provide the district’s breakfast and lunch service.

Peterson said Lunchtime Solutions, the district’s current meal provider, was the only company to submit a bid to provide the service.

“I strongly encourage the use of this company,” Peterson said. “They have done really well, and our finances for the program have been good.”

The superintendent said the costs to the district will increase by approximately 19 cents per meal under the new contract.

“Our goal is to break even each year, and we are about $13,000 ahead this year,” he said.

Peterson said federal regulations are forcing the district to increase breakfast and lunch prices. The federal government requires districts to charge an equal amount to students who pay for lunches as what the government provides to the district for students who receive free or reduced price lunches.

Lunch prices will increase by 10 cents per meal to $2.40 for elementary students and $2.55 for middle and high school students. Breakfast prices will increase by 5 cents per meal to $1.35 for all students.

The board approved allowing a foreign exchange student, Franziska Deutschbein from Italy, to attend Ainsworth Community Schools during the 2013-14 school year.

Students from Nicole Flynn’s history class presented their winning productions from the National History Day competition.

Vanessa Taylor showed her winning documentary on the Dust Bowl, and Jack Arens, Sydney Graff, Miranda Raymond, Emma Good and Breanna Schwindt presented their winning play production on women in the workforce during World War II.

Both productions won the state-level competitions to qualify for the National History Day Competition at College Park, Md.

The board approved providing $100 per student to attend the national competition, per district policy, and approved paying Flynn’s registration to the event. Elementary Principal Sarah Williams reported Flynn was named the History Teacher of the Year in Nebraska, and will compete for the National History Teacher of the Year during the History Day gathering.

The next meeting of the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education is scheduled for 8 p.m. June 10.

The Brown County Sheriff's Department, through funding provided by the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, will participate in the national "Click It or Ticket" campaign May 20 through June 2.
The campaign is designed to increase awareness and make roadways safer by having more drivers buckled up. The Brown County Sheriff's Department will join other local and state law enforcement officers by strongly enforcing the state's seat belt law.
"Too many people on the road, especially at night, are not wearing a seat belt," Brown County Sheriff Bruce Papstein said. "Our goal is to save more lives, so the Brown County Sheriff's Department will be out enforcing seat belt laws."
While the annual "Click It or Ticket" mobilization runs from May 20 through June 2, Papstein said the sheriff's department enforces seat belt laws year round.
"Motorists should buckle up every time they go out, day and night, whether it is a short drive or across the country," Papstein said. "Last year, 75 percent, or 129 of 172, fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants were not wearing a safety belt."
The sheriff's department encourages the driving public to make roadways safer by ensuring everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.

Ainsworth Community Schools held its annual academic honors convocation Tuesday, and senior Willie Kackmeister received the Principal’s Leadership Award presented by Secondary Principal Richard Gilson.

Seniors Alyssa Kinning and Conner Kozisek were recognized for earning All-Academic Team awards from both the Omaha World-Herald and the Norfolk Daily News. Kozisek also received a Nebraska Schools Activities Association Believers and Achievers Award.

Teachers presented awards to students for their academic achievements throughout the year. The award winners are listed below.

Business Math Outstanding Student – Jose Garcia. Most Improved – Nakia Sawle.

Info Tech I Outstanding Students – Hayes Chohon and Dori Haskell. Most Improved – Scott Fuelberth.

Info Tech II Outstanding Student – Serena Frew. Most Improved – Kolton Lurz.

Web Design Outstanding Student – Katie Brown. Most Improved – Michael Emmons.

College Prep English Outstanding Students – Shianne Watts, Kathleen Brown and Paxton Fiala.

Spanish I Outstanding Students – Ellie Carr and Ana Garcia. Most Improved – Hailey McBride.

Algebra I Outstanding Attitude – Abby Doyle and Shayden Platt. Outstanding Achievement – Jacob Nelson and Shelby Grupe. Outstanding Effort – Dammian Denny, Whittney Pirnie and Tristen Sears.

Geometry Outstanding Students – Austin Harthoorn, Jayden Philben and Seth Taylor.

Physical Education Lifetime Recreation Outstanding Students – Paxton Fiala and Lane Johnson.

Freshman Physical Education Outstanding Students – Lisa Ludemann and Jayden Philben.

Physical Science Outstanding Students – Austin Harthoorn, Heather Martin, Jayden Philben and Seth Taylor.

Anatomy and Physiology Outstanding Students – Paxton Fiala, Alyssa Kinning, Schylar Philben and Shianne Watts.

World History Outstanding Students – Ellie Carr, Lydia Allen, Maikayla Weiss, Nathaniel Goodloe and Kirsten Gilliland.

American History Outstanding Students – Clay Chohon, Quentin Wagner, Hallie Bower, Jose Garcia, Leah Taylor and Nicole Wen.

Mike and Jan Foster of Bassett are the April winners of one dozen anniversary roses from the Rusty Petal Flower Shop in Ainsworth and KBRB Radio.
Each month, all the anniversaries announced on KBRB Radio are entered in the end-of-the-month drawing, with the winner receiving one dozen anniversary roses from the Rusty Petal flower shop on Main Street in Ainsworth.
Congratulations to the April winners of the anniversary roses, Mike and Jan Foster of Bassett.

The Brown County Sheriff's Department investigated a two-vehicle accident that occurred on Friday on Main Street in Ainsworth.
According to the sheriff's department report, at 10:35 a.m. Friday in the 300 block of North Main Street near the Ainsworth Post Office, a collision occurred between a vehicle driven by George Hipke, 97, of Ainsworth, and a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville, driven by Amber Hollenbeck, 18, of Bassett.
No injuries were reported. Damage to the Hollenbeck Pontiac was estimated at $500. The Hipke vehicle did not sustain any damage.

Nebraska 40th District State Sen. Tyson Larson provided his weekly update of activities in the Nebraska Legislature.
To hear Larson's complete report, click on the audio link below.

Nebraska 43rd District State Sen. Al Davis provided a weekly summary of legislative activities to KBRB.
To hear the complete report, click on the audio link below.

Ainsworth Community Schools is now registering kindergarten students for the 2013-14 school year. To be eligible to enter kindergarten in public schools in Nebraska for the 2013-14 school year, a child must reach the age of 5 on or before July 31, 2013.
Letters were sent to prospective kindergarten students. Anyone with a child eligible to enter kindergarten but who has not received a letter is asked to contact the school at 402-387-2083 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Kindergarten orientation will be held Aug. 6, but the school is registering students now to help determine the potential size of the kindergarten class.

The Ainsworth City Council on Wednesday approved its master fee schedule, which included previously discussed increases to the city’s water and sewer rates.

Under the new fee schedule, the base water rate will increase from $9 to $11, with an additional fee of $1.35 per 1,000 gallons, up from the previous $1.25 per 1,000 gallons. The base sewer rate increases from $16.50 to $17.50 per month.

The council approved the fee schedule by a 3-1 vote, with Councilman Jake Adkisson voting against.

In other business during Wednesday’s meeting, the council approved an ordinance prohibiting the use of fireworks in the city during times of drought and increased fire danger.

City Attorney Rod Palmer said the ordinance simply gives the city the authority to put a ban in place if needed due to the conditions and upon the recommendation of the city’s fire chief. The council voted to suspend the three readings of the ordinance and enacted it Wednesday. The ordinance approval does not ban fireworks at the current time. Additional action would be taken by the council at a future meeting to enact the ban if dry conditions prevail and the fire chief recommends the ban be implemented.

In another ordinance item, the council directed Palmer to draft an ordinance ending a previous ban on alcohol sales on Election Day.

Kenny Eggers, owner of J’s Keggers, and Carol Walton, owner of The Silver Circle Bar, asked the council to consider ending what they said was an outdated ordinance.

“You can go to Long Pine and Johnstown, and you can go just east of Ainsworth on Highway 20 and get served,” Eggers said. “People come in to buy a six-pack and have never heard of such a thing as not being able to sell alcohol on Election Day.”

Walton said banning alcohol sales on Election Day costs her virtually an entire day of business.

City Administrator Kristi Thornburg said the prohibition on alcohol sales in the past was a state statute. The state ended the prohibition years ago.

“Ainsworth had left it in place,” Thornburg said. “Holdrege was the only other town I heard back from that still bans alcohol on Election Day.”

Thornburg said it was hard to enforce the ban, as the city called the holders of liquor licenses the night before an election to remind them of the ban, which was in effect from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. while polls were open.

“With so many workers in and out of the convenience stores in a day, it is hard to remind everyone,” Thornburg said.

Both Adkisson and Councilwoman Deb Hurless said they saw no need to continue the prohibition. Councilman Kent Taylor agreed, but said he would abstain from any voting as the Farmers-Ranchers Cooperative Ampride station does sell alcohol. Taylor manages the cooperative.

The council also recommended a special designated liquor license for The Silver Circle be approved by the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.

Walton said The Silver Circle plans to have the band Bone Creek play June 29 during alumni weekend. She requested the special designated liquor license for an outdoor beer garden and asked the city to allow Second Street to be closed between Main and Woodward streets on the evening on June 29 until 1 a.m. June 30.

The council allowed the closure of the street with the stipulation that The Silver Circle name the city as an additional insured party on the business’ liability insurance.

The council approved the purchase of a load of red dirt for the East City Park little league field and the purchase of a portable mound to allow for little league, T-shirt league and softball games to each be played on the same field.

Adkisson said, with the number of players in the Elks and Legion baseball and softball program, he believed the organization needed to improve the current East City Park fields instead of trying to build and maintain new fields for each league.

“The mounds for the T-shirt league, little league and softball are all different distances,” Adkisson said. “The portable mound would allow for more games to be played on each field.”

The cost of the portable mound is $1,300. The council annually budgets $5,000 for field improvements, and the money for the dirt and the mound will be taken from that line item.

In another park issue, city employee Brad Miller said the sump pump at the softball field restroom needed to be replaced. Instead of shutting down the restroom for the summer months while a sump pump is ordered and installed, city crews will pump out the sewer at the restroom and replace the pump during the off-season. Miller said the sump pump was necessary due to the restroom being at a lower elevation than the nearest sewer mains.

In an annual item, the council, by a 3-1 vote, approved trading in its skid steer for a new model. The council trades for a new Bobcat skid steer annually and pays the company $10 for each hour the previous year’s model was used.

Streets Foreman Monte Goshorn said the current skid steer has 170 hours of use, but will likely be used more before the new model is delivered. Under the agreement, the city would pay approximately $2,000 to upgrade to a new model.

The council discussed upgrading to a track skid steer as opposed to a model with wheels. Both Miller and Goshorn said a track skid steer would cause less damage to the parks and cemeteries when the machine was used there.

Thornburg said upgrading to a track skid steer would cost the city $10,400, and the lease agreement would increase to $18 for every hour the machine is used.

Councilman Chuck Osborn said he believed a track skid steer would serve the city better than a wheel model, and cast the lone dissenting vote against staying with a lease for a wheel machine.

The council discussed an offer from Communications Capital Group to purchase the easement the city has with Verizon wireless for the company’s communications tower.

Palmer said, in talking with a representative from Communications Capital Group, the company wants to purchase the easement in order to hang additional antennae for other cellular companies on the Verizon tower.

Palmer said the representative indicated Verizon was on board with the easement purchase, and the city would generate additional revenue from the additional cellular antennae.

Taylor said he wanted to hear from Verizon representatives before entertaining the idea of selling the city’s easement.

During her report, Thornburg said the city collected a total of 95 tons of tires during its recent recycling event. The cost of the tire collection was $10,928, with the entire amount paid by a recycling grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

Thornburg said the city would likely be asking residents to voluntarily work with area recyclers to remove vehicles that are no longer operational or licensed. She said, in addition to making an effort to rid the city of unsightly vehicles, it was probably time for the city to start going through nuisance abatement procedures against property owners who refuse to clean up their property.

She said the city would likely hold a citywide cleanup day this year after skipping last year. The city budgets $1,000 to allow residents to dispose of furniture and other large items at no cost.

The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 12, though Thornburg said a special session would likely be necessary to hear from companies who want to present their water and sewer services to the council.

Nebraska U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer announced Wednesday the Senate unanimously adopted a bipartisan amendment to the Water Resources Development Act, which she introduced with Sens. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), to change unnecessary, burdensome environmental regulations that would adversely impact American farmers. Specifically, the amendment modifies the Environmental Protection Agency’s Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure rule scheduled to go into effect on May 10, and to be enforced at the end of September.
Upon adoption of the amendment, Fischer said, “The Senate’s unanimous approval of this amendment is a huge victory for farmers throughout Nebraska and across America, who are dealing with onerous new regulations for their on-farm fuel tanks. These misguided EPA rules have a direct impact on producers, who faced incredible compliance costs and paperwork requirements; inability to meet these new standards would result in the risk of stiff fines and penalties from EPA. This bipartisan amendment raises the exemption levels for fuel storage capacity to better reflect the spill risk and financial resources of farms.
“Nebraskans know that one size does not fit all, particularly when it comes to regulations impacting the agriculture industry. Throughout the past several months, hundreds of constituents contacted my office to express their concern about EPA's new SPCC regulation. I am pleased this bipartisan amendment goes a long way in providing common sense regulatory relief for Nebraska farmers.”
The EPA regulation would affect any facility with a fuel storage capacity of more than 1,320 gallons, which includes a majority of Nebraska farms. The amendment provides for an immediate 6,000-gallon exemption, with a study to review and determine the most appropriate level of exemption for those tanks with storage capacities between 2,500 and 6,000 gallons. In addition, the legislation increases the oil storage threshold to determine whether a professional engineer must certify a facility's SPCC plan from 10,000 gallons to 20,000 gallons.

* State Patrol releases information from Friday's fatal accident west of Bassett

The Nebraska State Patrol has released information from a Friday two-vehicle accident that claimed the life of a 26-year-old Bassett man.
According to Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins, at 2:44 a.m. Friday, May 3, a collision occurred on Highway 20 near milepost 258 approximately one mile west of Bassett between an eastbound Ford F-250, driven by Cody McCullough, 26, of Bassett, and a westbound freight truck driven by Alexander Thomsen, 26, of Norfolk.
The collision occurred in the westbound lane of Highway 20.
McCullough was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Thomsen was transported to the Rock County Hospital at Bassett with what Collins said were minor injuries.
Collins said neither driver was wearing a seat belt.

Brown County will see a 33 percent reduction in its Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance premiums for the 2013-14 fiscal year, but not because health insurance rates went down.

During Tuesday’s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners, the board approved renewing its health insurance through the Nebraska Association of County Officials Blue Cross/Blue Shield group.

This is the third year in the NACO group for Brown County. For the first two years it joined, the county paid a premium 45 percent above the other county governments in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield NACO group. Entering its third year, Brown County’s premium reverts back to the same rate as the other counties in the group.

Therefore, even though the NACO Blue Cross/Blue Shield premiums increased by 12 percent, the county will see a 33 percent decrease in its premium by calculating the reduction from the 145 percent premium back to the group rate.

County employees receiving cash in lieu of county health insurance will see a reduction ranging from $117 per month for a single insurance policy to almost $200 per month for a family policy.

The county offers employees 60 percent of the full value of the insurance policy as an option if they choose to decline the health insurance benefit.

In addition to approving the health insurance policy for the 2013-14 fiscal year and setting the cash in lieu of insurance rate, the commissioners renewed the county’s long term disability insurance policy through Madison National Life.

In other business during Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners approved specifications for a front-end loader submitted by Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin and directed Turpin to proceed with advertising for a new loader or a used loader with fewer than 2,000 hours of use.

Turpin discouraged the commissioners from looking at loaders with more than 2,000 hours of use.

“You start running into problems with them after that amount of time,” Turpin said. “We bought our last loader new in 1994 and we haven’t had hardly any problems with it.”

In other roads items, the board approved an agreement with the State of Nebraska to have JEO Engineering inspect the two fracture-critical bridges in Brown County, the Norden Bridge and the McCullough Bridge. Turpin said the state has a private engineering company perform inspections on bridges deemed fracture-critical, and the county will be responsible for 20 percent of the cost of the inspection. Turpin said the county’s cost would be approximately $2,000.

The commissioners recommended a special designated liquor license for Cherokee Travel LLC be approved through the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.

The license is requested for a wedding reception from 5 p.m. June 1 until midnight June 2 on property owned by Pat Schumacher.

The board also approved a subdivision allowing Brandon Kjar to sell a house and 6.4-acre tract of land to Pat and Joe Schumacher. Zoning Administrator Dean Jochem said the subdivision met the county’s regulations since it included more than 5 acres of land and had been surveyed. The tract of land is located approximately 5 miles northeast of Ainsworth.

The commissioners received a check from the Peter Kiewit Foundation in the amount of $67,750 from a grant for the recently purchased rural fire department pumper truck.

The letter congratulated the county for finding the matching funds necessary to complete the truck purchase. The North Central Development Center wrote the grant application to the Kiewit Foundation on behalf of the county and the Brown County Rural Fire Protection District.

The board voted to authorize North Central Development Center personnel to attend upcoming emergency management training on behalf of the county after the board discussed issues relating to its membership in the Region 24 Emergency Management Agency.

The commissioners received a budget request in the amount of $11,000 from the Ainsworth Public Library. Commissioner Buddy Small said the library’s funding request for the 2013-14 fiscal year was equal to the 2012-13 fiscal year.

Niobrara National Scenic River Interim Superintendent Chris Ryan with the National Park Service discussed the park service’s planned activities for the summer months.

Ryan said he would serve as the interim superintendent for the next four to six months until a permanent replacement is named.

Ryan said NPS staff would conduct water quality studies on the Niobrara River, and would begin spraying for noxious weeds, particularly purple loosestrife, inside the scenic river corridor if granted permission from property owners.

He said four seasonal law enforcement rangers had been hired to patrol the river and provide information to those utilizing the river.

Ryan said he was hopeful Valentine would serve as a base of operations for an air tanker and fire retardant mixing station to be used to help combat any wildfire activity this summer.

“That would be a great asset for the area, and would help tremendously during the early stages of a fire,” Ryan said.

He said he had also been looking for excess firefighting equipment from other national parks.

“We have obtained 16 brush fire coats, and we will keep looking for additional equipment,” Ryan said.

A battery on a solar-power monitoring station at the University of Nebraska Barta Brothers Ranch shorted Monday, sparking a grass fire that burned a swath approximately 3 miles long and three-quarters of one mile wide.
Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala said the fire, which started in Rock County on the Barta Brothers Ranch, burned pasture ground and a grove of cedar trees.
Fiala said the Ainsworth, Bassett, Newport, Long Pine, Raven, South Pine, Gracey and Loup County fire departments responded.
The fire began between 2:30 and 3 p.m., and firefighters had the fire stopped and extinguished by 6:45 p.m. Light winds kept the fire from spreading more quickly.

Supporters of the Brown County Fund are urged to reserve the date of June 2 for the Fund’s annual grant and scholarship award presentation. A picnic style meal will be served at East City Park beginning at 4:30 p.m., followed by the awarding of the 2013 Foundation grants and scholarships. The event is an opportunity to celebrate progress towards realizing the Vision for the Brown County Community.

Ainsworth will be the host site for a Regional Fund Advisory Committee meeting on May 29 in the Ainsworth Conference Center. Registration begins at 5 p.m. and a light meal will be provided. Persons in positions of community and organizational leadership, economic development and extension are invited and encouraged to attend. The forum will deal with the HomeTown Competitiveness project.

The May monthly financial report for the Brown County Fund indicated contributions to the General Fund of $40 in memorials and $250 to the Endowment Fund from pledges and memorials. A reminder that any donations to the Endowment Fund must be so noted in the memo line of a check or have a note attached stating such designation. If undesignated, the donation will be deposited in the General Fund.

The next monthly meeting of the Brown County Fund Advisory Committee will be held following the annual meeting on June 2.

On Friday, some of the Ainsworth Art classes participated in a clay-carving workshop. The instructor was Pat Schemmer from Valentine. She showed students how to develop a simple design using line and value. She also showed them techniques for carving clay to show depth and texture.

After the workshop, Schemmer judged the Ainsworth High School Art Show, which contains work from the high school art classes as well as work from the 7^th and 8^th grade art classes.

The Ainsworth Art Show will be in the commons area of the High School through Tuesday.

NORFOLK – The 40^th Commencement of Northeast Community College will take place on Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. in the Cox Activities Center on the Norfolk campus. The 10 a.m. start time is earlier than in previous years.

As of Wednesday, May 1, some 807 students, including those earning double majors and 169 who completed their studies last December, were to be listed in the commencement program. Northeast President Dr. Michael Chipps will give the commencement address.

The Ainsworth Area Chamber of Commerce held a Cash Mob Thursday at Keller's Custom Embroidery and Imprints on Main Street, inviting people to the store to spend at least $10 on merchandise, with the chance to win prizes.
Gina Keller, owner of Keller's Custom Embroidery, thanked the chamber and those who visited the store as part of the Cash Mob.
Keller said the event was a success, with many first-time shoppers as well as repeat customers.
Prize winners Thursday were Renee Adkisson, Jamie Stutzman and Kim Galas.

To hear the full reports from Nebraska State Sens. Al Davis and Tyson Larson, click on the audio links below.

The Brown County Sheriff's Department, North Central District Health Department, and the Drug Enforcement Agency held a prescription and over-the-counter drug take-back event Saturday.
Residents could drop off unwanted medications anonymously in drop boxes provided by the DEA. Brown County Sheriff Bruce Papstein reported 20.4 pounds of medication were dropped off Saturday in the sheriff's department drop box.

Brown County Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin is advising motorists a one-mile stretch of 435 Avenue between Road 879 and Road 880 will be closed on Thursday while an irrigation pipe is buried under the road.
Turpin said the one-mile stretch will be closed from 11 a.m. Thursday until the project is completed. He said signs will be posted notifying motorists of the closure.
The road is located approximately 4 miles east and 2 miles north of Ainsworth.

The Nebraska School Activities Association has announced Academic All-State Awards for spring sports and activities. The Academic All-State Award recognizes students for academic excellence, leadership and significant contributions in their NSAA activity.

To be considered for the award, a student must be a varsity player or organizational leader who has played a significant role on the team or in the organizational activity. Honorees must attain at least a 93 percent cumulative grade point average on a 100 percent scale or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale.

Award winners for Ainsworth High School are Hallie Bower and Conner Kozisek in music, Paxton Fiala and Alyssa Kinning in girls track, Lane Johnson and Zach Welch in boys track, and Rob Maxwell and Jayden Philben in boys golf.

At Rock County, Kyle Jackman was named Academic All-State in boys golf, Amber Frerichs and Jamie Turpin in journalism, Carter Camp and Tabitha Belmont in music, Carter Camp in boys track and field, and Sareese Clay and Amber Frerichs in girls track and field.

Academic All-State Award winners at West Holt for the spring are Alex Fritz and Matt McDermott in boys golf, Alex Fritz and Jessica Thiele in music, Josh Coyle and Brett Pacha in boys track and field, and Mariah McAllister and Taylor Mitchell in girls track and field.

Valentine Academic All-State Award winners are Angela Cruz and Mary McQuistan in music, and Skylar Mathis in girls track and field.

* Long Pine City Council approves guidelines for housing rehabilitation program

The Long Pine City Council will swear in a new member during its next meeting, as the council approved Mayor Henry Thorne’s recommendation of Fred Meyer to fill a vacancy on the council created by the upcoming departure of Darlene Amos.

Meyer, who currently serves on the city’s Board of Health, will serve until the 2014 election cycle. His term will end Dec. 31, 2014.

During a special meeting of the City Council Tuesday, the council approved having Central Nebraska Housing Developers administer the city’s current housing rehabilitation loan program.

Long Pine currently has $26,000 available for housing repairs and improvements for those who income-qualify.

The council adopted program guidelines that call for half the money awarded through the housing rehabilitation program to be forgiven, with the remaining half paid back to the city through a low-interest or zero interest loan, depending upon income eligibility.

Central Nebraska Housing Developers Director Judy Peterson said 50 percent of the funds awarded are forgiven if the resident remains in the home for a 10-year period, with the second half being paid back to the city.

The loan rate depends upon the applicant’s income. Those between 65 percent and 80 percent of the median income level for the city receive a 2 percent interest loan, while those at 51 percent to 64 percent of the median income level for the city receive the loan money at zero interest. Those below 50 percent of the median income level can have the entire payment deferred until the home is no longer the applicant’s primary residence.

Along with the $26,000 currently available for housing rehabilitation, the council approved having CNHD apply for an additional $189,000 in Community Development Block Grant housing rehabilitation funds to allow for an additional six home rehabilitation projects in the city for those who qualify.

CNHD will handle the grant application for a fee of $1,750, which the city will pay through its KENO fund.

Thorne said there are already three homeowners interested in improving their homes using the program’s funds.

In other items, the council approved advertising for a city employee to train under Utility Superintendent Larry Svenson. Thorne said Svenson has indicated he is nearing retirement, and the city would like to have someone hired to train under Svenson before he leaves city employment.

“This person will be responsible for water and sewer, trash and streets,” Thorne said. “Whoever we hire will eventually also need a CDL license, and a water operator and lagoon operator’s license.”

The council approved allocating $200 from the city’s KENO fund to assist with costs during the Long Pine Cleanup Day, scheduled for May 18.

Thorne said the city will pick up refrigerators and steel, with Clint Painter providing the trailer free of charge in exchange for the recyclable material.

Thorne said the city will also pick up couches and other large items for a fee, then haul the items to the KBR Solid Waste and Recycling Center.

The council approved building permits for Barry Clark to construct a cabin at Hidden Paradise, for Bill DeBolt to build a fence on his property, for Adam Wade to construct a garage on his property, and for Jim Carley for a room addition to his cabin at Hidden Paradise.

Thorne provided an update on nuisance abatement litigation between the city and a property owner at 687 N. Ash St. Thorne said a pretrial conference was held, and a trial date was set for Aug. 18.

Thorne said, while nothing has been done to clean up that property, several other property owners who received nuisance abatement notices have cleaned up their properties.

With the special meeting Tuesday, the council will not hold a meeting on its regular first Thursday of the month, May 2. The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 4.

SkillsUSA Nebraska, a Nebraska Department of Education student organization, recently recognized award winners and elected new officers during its 2013 conference at Hastings.
About 1,500 people attended the conference, including 1,200 high school and college and technical students and advisors.
Among the students elected as officers for 2013-14 was Moriah Heerten of Keya Paha County.

A 59-year-old Ainsworth man pleaded no contest Monday in Brown County District Court to two counts of felony theft stemming from the disappearance of cattle in Brown County.
Brown County Attorney David Streich said Micky Don Davis of rural Ainsworth pleaded no contest to two Class IV felonies after being charged with taking cattle in the fall of 2010 from two ranchers in the county.
Streich said Davis stole cattle from Cody and Wes Luther, and from Terry Graff, then branded them with his brand. Then, in November 2011, Streich said Davis attempted to sell two cows owned by the Luthers and one heifer owned by Graff at the Bassett Livestock Market.
A jury trial had been scheduled, but Davis entered a plea of no contest to the theft charges before the trial was set to commence.
Streich said sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. June 19 in Brown County District Court.

The president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau said the Environmental Protection Agency’s inability to provide clear and concise direction and answers to farmers and ranchers on the agency’s broad and unnecessary rule regarding oil spills has Nebraska Farm Bureau urging farmers and ranchers across the state to help be part of a solution to fix the faulty EPA regulation.
“Not only is EPA’s oil spill rule not needed, the agency has developed a rule that doesn’t fit agriculture and because of that they have struggled to answer questions about the rule,” Nebraska Farm Bureau president Steve Nelson said. “We’ve heard from members who have contacted EPA directly and received conflicting answers to their SPCC questions. That in and of itself has been a source of frustration for many farmers and ranchers attempting to identify whether they are even obligated to meet the rules requirements.”
Nelson said Farm Bureau has been involved in discussions with EPA since 2009 to try and clarify the obligations of farmers and ranchers under the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures Rule with minimal success. The main requirement under the SPCC rule requires farms and other facilities to develop, maintain and implement oil spill prevention plans. The rule was first established in the 1970’s as a way to control spills from oil refineries.
Nelson said the EPA claims farmers and ranchers have never been exempt from the 30 year-old SPCC Rule, yet the agency didn’t establish farm-specific SPCC Rules until 2009 and did so despite the fact there is no history of oil spill issues on farms and ranches.
In 2011, EPA provided a two-year compliance delay for SPCC implementation, but only for farms and ranches established after Aug. 2002. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the current rule, Congress passed a provision as part of the 2013 Continuing Resolution, which prevented EPA from enforcing SPCC rules on farms and ranches until the end of September 2013. EPA maintains the SPCC compliance deadline for farms and ranches is May 10.
Farm Bureau is encouraging farmers and ranchers to help fix the rule by contacting members of the Nebraska Congressional Delegation and urging them to take action on the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act, which among other provisions related to SPCC, would change the starting point from where SPCC regulations and requirements would take effect. Under the current SPCC Rule, any farm or ranch with above-ground oil storage capacity of 1,320 gallons would need to have a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures plan in place if there is a reasonable expectation a spill would reach waters of the U.S. The FUELS Act would raise the initial threshold of compliance from 1,320 gallons to 10,000 gallons which would prevent many Nebraska farm and ranch families from having to meet the regulations. The FUELS Act has been introduced in both the House of Representatives as well as the Senate and garnered support from members of Nebraska’s delegation.
“The SPCC rule is a prime example of big brother government and an agency that has lost its way,” Nelson said. “Farmers and ranchers are willing to comply with rules and regulations that solve real problems. Having farm families spend their time and thousands of dollars complying with regulations that do little to protect the environment is a waste of farmers and taxpayers’ time and money.”

Ainsworth Weather Observer Gerry Osborne reports 2012's total of 10.59 inches of moisture is the second driest in the history of the city, eclipsed only by 1989's 9.53 inches.
Eleven of the 12 months of 2012 were well above the average daily temperatures.
Ainsworth received a total of 20.5 inches of snow in 2012, which is about half the normal amount.
A 106 degree reading on July 26 was the warmest of the year, and was one of 27 days during that month that reached 90 degrees or warmer and led to massive wildfires in the Niobrara River valley and across western Nebraska.
Feb. 11 was the coldest reading of the year, at 7 degrees below zero.
To hear Weather Observer Gerry Osborne's complete weather summary for 2012 and for the month of December, click on the audio link below.

* Gov. Heineman discusses health reform issues, Keystone XL Pipeline on KBRB

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman appeared on KBRB Thursday to discuss several items of state relevance, including how the state is preparing for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the upcoming public hearing on the Keystone XL Pipeline.
To hear the full report with Heineman, click on the audio links below.

* Obama re-elected; Fischer beats Kerrey handily in race for U.S. Senate; Davis edges Ravenscroft in 43rd District Legislative contest

President Barack Obama was re-elected to office on Tuesday, obtaining the need 270 electoral votes while the popular vote was about as close as it could be between the president and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

It is projected Obama won the battleground states of Iowa, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Colorado, Nevada and, most importantly, Ohio. Romney won the battle ground state of North Carolina. The races in Florida and Virginia were still extremely close as of late Tuesday night.

CNN projected Obama with 303 electoral votes, giving him the nod in Virginia as well, while Romney received 203 electoral votes.

Both candidates received 49 percent of the popular vote, with the race nationally as close as anticipated. However, Obama had the edge in the majority of the swing states.

The Republican Party will maintain control of the House of Representatives, while the Democrats are projected to keep a small edge in the Senate.

In Nebraska, the big race was for U.S. Senate, with Republican Deb Fischer picking up about 58.5 percent of the vote to 41.5 percent for Democrat Bob Kerrey. Fischer, the former 43^rd District state senator from Valentine, gives the Republicans all five Congressional seats in the state of Nebraska. Fischer joins Republican Mike Johanns in the Senate, while all three Republican incumbents won re-election to the House of Representatives. Second District Rep. Lee Terry faced the biggest challenge, edging Democrat John Ewing Jr. by a 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent margin.

Republicans Jeff Fortenberry in District 1 and Adrian Smith in District 3 comfortably won their re-election bids, with Fortenberry receiving 68 percent of the vote compared to 32 percent for Democrat Korey Reiman. Smith received 74 percent of the District 3 vote compared to 26 percent for Democrat Mark Sullivan.

As expected, Romney was the victor in the presidential race in Nebraska, receiving 61 percent of the vote to 38 percent for the president.

In a closely contested race to replace Fischer as the 43^rd District representative in the Nebraska Legislature, Al Davis overcame a large Primary Election deficit to defeat John Ravenscroft.

Davis received 8,618 votes (51.5 percent), fewer than 600 more than Ravenscroft, who finished with 8,066 votes (48.5 percent).

Two of the four constitutional amendments on the ballot Tuesday were approved by voters. Amendment 1 was approved by a wide margin, 83 percent to 17 percent, meaning elected officials can now be impeached for offenses committed while running for office.

Amendment 2, guaranteeing Nebraskans a constitutional right to hunt, to fish and to harvest wildlife, was passed by a 77 percent to 23 percent margin.

Amendment 3, which would have extended term limits in the Nebraska Legislature from two four-year terms to three four-year terms, failed by a wide margin, 64.5 percent to 35.5 percent.

Amendment 4 also failed, 68 percent to 32 percent, meaning state senators will still receive a $12,000 annual salary instead of the proposed $22,500.

* Rowan beats Sharp for KBR Rural Public Power board seat in Keya Paha County

In the only contested race locally in Keya Paha County Tuesday, Randy Rowan defeated Kirk Sharp for a seat on the KBR Rural Public Power Board of Directors. Rowan received 333 votes to 136 votes for Sharp.

Republican Mike Tuerk was voted into another four-year term as Keya Paha County Commissioner after running unopposed Tuesday in the West District. Tuerk received 166 votes.

David Lewis and Ernest Hallock were elected to the Springview Village Board. Lewis received 131 votes. Hallock picked up 91 votes.

Three candidates were elected to three open seats on the Keya Paha County Public Schools Board of Education. Kelli Gibson led the way with 380 votes, followed closely by Tanya Hallock with 365 votes and Brian Munger with 364 votes.

Keya Paha County voters sided with Gov. Romney in the race for president, by a margin of 389 votes to 80 votes for President Obama.

In the race for U.S. Senate, Keya Paha County voters favored Deb Fischer, 406 to 74 for Democrat Bob Kerrey.

For the Third District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Keya Paha County voters were behind Republican incumbent Adrian Smith by a 410-55 margin over Democratic challenger Mark Sullivan.

For the 43^rd District seat in the Nebraska Legislature, Keya Paha County voters chose John Ravenscroft over Al Davis. Ravenscroft received 284 votes to 179 votes for Davis.

Keya Paha County voters were in favor of retaining the three judges on the ballot, judges Orr, Brodbeck and Fitzgerald, by about a 3-1 margin overall.

Four proposed amendments to the state constitution appeared on Tuesday’s ballot.

Amendment 1 related to impeachable offenses for members of public office. The amendment would allow elected officials to be impeached for offenses committed while running for the prospective office, instead of offenses committed only while in office.

The second constitutional amendment on the ballot asked voters whether the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife should be in the Nebraska Constitution.

The third ballot amendment changes term limits for members of the Nebraska Legislature from the current two, four-year terms to three, four-year terms.

Keya Paha County voters were against Amendment 3 almost two to one, with 298 casting ballots against and just 150 in favor.

The fourth amendment on the General Election ballot Tuesday related to the salary paid to members of the Nebraska Legislature, and whether the salary should increase from $12,000 to $22,500.

Keya Paha County opted against the pay raise by a vote of 314 to 140.
Turnout in Keya Paha County was 76 percent.

Kent Taylor and Deb Banzhaf-Hurless were elected to the Ainsworth City Council Tuesday in one of the few contested races on the ballot in Brown County.

Taylor received 496 votes to lead the four-way race for the two spots on the City Council. Hurless finished with 353 votes to beat out Duane Anderson and John Mead for the second four-year seat on the council. Anderson received 298 votes, and Mead picked up 180 votes.

In the other contested race in Brown County, Pat Schumacher defeated Roger Brede by an extremely close margin, 334-289, for a six-year seat on the KBR Rural Public Power Board of Directors. That translated to a 53.5 percent to 46.5 percent margin of victory for Schumacher.

Four candidates ran for three openings on the Ainsworth Community Schools Board of Education.

Aaron Jackman led the way with 1,165 votes, 101 votes ahead of second-place finisher Brad Wilkins, who recorded 1,064 votes. Incumbent Mark Johnson was the third member elected to the school board with 985 votes. Kip Lukasiewicz’s name appeared on the ballot for the Board of Education, however, between the time he filed and Tuesday’s General Election, Lukasiewicz moved from the city. Lukasiewicz received 435 votes.

In the race for two seats on the Long Pine City Council, incumbents Joyce Micheel and Audrey Vandeventor were elected to four-year terms on the council. Micheel received 103 votes. Vandeventor picked up 100 votes. Challenger Johnny Brown finished with 30 votes.

Johnstown voters selected Randy Welke and Daniel West for two seats on the Johnstown Village Board. Welke received 22 votes and West earned 16 votes. Ruth Trobee finished with eight votes.

Republican Buddy Small ran unopposed for a four-year term on the Brown County Board of Commissioners, and received 1,298 votes.

Brown County voters were about 75 percent to 25 percent in favor of retaining three judges on the ballot, Judges Fitzgerald, Orr and Brodbeck.

Looking at the way Brown County voters cast ballots on issues of state and federal importance:

In the race for U.S. Senate, Brown County voters overwhelmingly backed Deb Fischer. Fischer, the Republican state senator, received 1,339 votes to 202 for Democrat Bob Kerrey, a former Nebraska governor and U.S. senator. The margin of victory for Fischer in Brown County was 86 percent to 13 percent.

For the Third District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Brown County voters favored Republican incumbent Adrian Smith by an 87 percent to 13 percent margin, 1,304 to 185 for Democratic challenger Mark Sullivan.

For president, it was no surprise Brown County voters favored Mitt Romney by a margin of 1,298 to 223 for President Obama.

In the duel to replace Fischer in the Nebraska Unicameral, John Ravenscroft picked up 55 percent of the Brown County vote to 45 percent for Al Davis. Ravenscroft received 829 votes to 666 for Davis.

Four proposed amendments to the state constitution appeared on Tuesday’s ballot.

Brown County voters supported Amendment 1 by a wide margin, 1,200 (84 percent) to 227.

The second constitutional amendment on the ballot asked voters whether the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife should be in the Nebraska Constitution.

Brown County was supportive of that amendment, with 1,152 votes (79.5 percent) cast in favor and just 296 against.

The third ballot amendment changes term limits for members of the Nebraska Legislature from the current two, four-year terms to three, four-year terms.

Brown County voters were not inclined to include Amendment 3 in the State Constitution, voting against the measure by a 904-566 margin.

The fourth and final amendment on the General Election ballot Tuesday related to the salary paid to members of the Nebraska Legislature, and whether the salary should increase from $12,000 to $22,500.

Brown County was strongly against that amendment, placing 1,010 votes (68 percent) against and just 479 votes in favor.

Voter turnout in Brown County was an impressive 72 percent, with 1,571 ballots cast in early voting and voting at the polls on Tuesday from among the 2,163 registered voters in the county.

There were few local races contested in Rock County during the 2012 General Election. Voters chose Gary Williams for another term as the mayor of Bassett. Williams had been challenged by Christopher Burlison for the position, however, Burlison moved from the city between the filing deadline and General Election. Williams received 203 votes.
Chad Peterson, Tim Shaw and Leah Hagan will be seated on the Rock County Public Schools Board of Education. Shaw received 647 votes and Peterson 518 votes. Hagan submitted the paperwork necessary to run as a write-in candidate and received 147 write-in votes for the third opening.
Reno Gordon and Michael Turpin were elected to seats on the Bassett City Council. Gordon picked up 236 votes and Turpin received 230 votes. They were the only two candidates for the two seats.
Marilyn Crooker and Brenda Dobrovolny were elected to four-year terms on the Newport Village Board. Crooker received 36 votes and Dobrovolny 33 votes. They were the only candidates for the two openings.
Rick Anderson and James Nelson were elected to seats on the Rock County Airport Authority. Nelson received 646 votes and Anderson picked up 594 votes. They were the only two candidates for the two open seats.
Dale Caskey was elected as the Rock County representative on the KBR Rural Public Power Board of Directors. Running unopposed, Caskey received 395 votes.
Rich Lackaff ran unopposed for a seat on the Educational Service Unit 17 Board of Directors. He received 578 votes.
In races of state and federal importance, Rock County voters sided with Gov. Romney over President Obama by a wide margin, 669-103.
In the race for U.S. Senate, Rock County voters supported Republican Deb Fischer by a margin of 680-103 over Democrat Bob Kerrey.
For the Third District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rock County voters favored Republican incumbent Adrian Smith by a 674-86 vote over Democratic challenger Mark Sullivan.
For Northeast Community College Board of Directors, Keith Harvey received 481 votes in District 2 running unopposed, and John Davies received 489 Rock County votes running unopposed for an at-large seat.
Rock County voters sided with retaining three judges on the ballot. Judge Fitzgerald received a 402-189 favorable margin. Judge Orr picked up 402 votes to retain and 183 against. Judge Brodbeck received 401 votes in favor of retaining and 204 against.
None of the races for Lower Niobrara, Middle Niobrara and Upper Elkhorn Natural Resources District Board of Directors were contested.
Amendment 1 related to impeachable offenses for members of public office. The amendment would allow elected officials to be impeached for offenses committed while running for the prospective office, instead of offenses committed only while in office.
Rock County voters were strongly in favor of Amendment 1 by a 589-111 margin.
The second constitutional amendment on the ballot asked voters whether the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife should be in the Nebraska Constitution.
Rock County voters heavily favored Amendment 2, by a vote of 566-135.
The third ballot amendment changes term limits for members of the Nebraska Legislature from the current two, four-year terms to three, four-year terms.
Rock County voters were not in favor of Amendment 3 by a margin of 449-286.
The fourth and final amendment on the General Election ballot Tuesday related to the salary paid to members of the Nebraska Legislature, and whether the salary should increase from $12,000 to $22,500.
Rock County voters opted against Amendment 4 by a 533-212 margin.

* Rock County Sheriff struck by vehicle, injured during Monday incident at Bassett

A 16-year-old juvenile girl from Norfolk was jailed Monday for allegedly striking and injuring a law enforcement officer with a stolen vehicle during an encounter at Bassett.

According to Rock County Attorney Avery Gurnsey, at approximately 12:10 p.m. Monday, Rock County Sheriff James Anderson received a report that a possible stolen vehicle from Madison County had been sighted in the Stuart area headed west.

At approximately 12:30 p.m., Anderson located the vehicle on Sunrise Circle in Bassett. Approaching the suspect vehicle and three juvenile females, the girls returned to the vehicle and allegedly drove at Anderson. The vehicle struck Anderson, who Gurnsey said fired two shots, deflating one of the vehicle’s tires. The vehicle became high-centered, and Gurnsey said Anderson was able to detain the driver, identified as a 16-year-old Norfolk girl.

The two other occupants in the vehicle, a 16-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl, both from Norfolk, were apprehended in the immediate area.

Gurnsey said law enforcement officers from the Rock County Sheriff’s Department, Brown County Sheriff’s Department, Nebraska State Patrol and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission responded to the scene after the call of an injured officer was communicated.

After apprehending the driver, Anderson was transported to the Rock County Hospital for injuries he suffered from being struck by the vehicle.

Gurnsey said the driver was arrested on felony charges of assaulting an officer and possession of a stolen vehicle. He said the investigation into the incident continues, and additional charges may be filed. The other two juveniles were placed back into the custody of juvenile officials in Madison County.

Rock County Public Schools Principal Steve Camp said, with the incident occurring near the school, school officials went into a modified lockdown of the school building Monday afternoon until all the suspects were apprehended.

“We posted staff at every exit to the building, and we were on heightened awareness with the event happening that close to the school,” Camp said.

All three juveniles had reportedly escaped from a group home in Madison County, and allegedly stole the vehicle in Norfolk before being apprehended in Rock County Monday.

Just like in Brown County, Keya Paha County voters Thursday overwhelmingly approved additional property tax dollars for the Keya Paha County Rural Fire District.
With just under 70 voters needed to make the town hall meeting official, more than double that amount cast a ballot Thursday in the Springview Grade School multipurpose room.
Ninety-one percent of the 155 voters supported the 8 cents in additional property tax levy for the rural fire district in response to the costs incurred in fighting the Region 24 Complex fires in July.
A total of 141 votes were counted in favor of the additional funding. Just 14 cast ballots against the measure.
By approving the additional 8-cent levy, voters allowed the Keya Paha County Rural Fire District to collect an additional $223,984 to help pay for the extensive costs incurred fighting wildfires during the summer and begin to repair or replace damaged equipment.
Had the additional levy not been approved, the fire district would have had a budget of $41,667 from the 1.5 cents in levy given by the Keya Paha County Commissioners as part of their 2012-13 fiscal year budget. County boards can award up to 4 cents in general levy to fire districts. Anything above that amount must be approved by county voters using either the town hall or special election format.
By using the town hall format Thursday, the additional 8 cents in property tax levy will be collected for one year only.
With the levy passing, residential and commercial property owners in Keya Paha County will pay an additional $80 in property taxes for every $100,000 worth of property value. Agricultural property owners will pay an additional $60 per $100,000 in value.
The 91 percent approval rating in Keya Paha County's town hall vote was even higher than the 85 percent approval rating for Brown County's town hall meeting Sept. 24.

By Sen. Ben Nelson

In large rural states like Nebraska, we depend heavily on volunteer firefighters to protect our homes and property. These are very special people who deserve our gratitude and respect because of their selfless devotion to a part time job that requires extensive training and doesn’t pay anything.

Their courage and bravery have never been more apparent than during the raging wildfires that have swept across parts of Nebraska this summer. In the face of unknown dangers, hundreds of volunteer firefighters answered the call. They left their paying jobs, their homes and their families to try to quell the dangerous fires.

Heroic Effort

Several hundred volunteers joined forces with federal firefighters and National Guard troops on the front lines of the wildfires. They came from more than 30 communities from all over Nebraska; some traveling hundreds of miles to help out.

They are our heroes. They do what they do out of a sense of duty to their communities and now their state. It is a calling that reaps them no financial rewards. They ask nothing in return for risking their lives, giving of their time and talents to fight the fires and the hours and hours of intense schooling required before they can do what they do. They cannot just get on a truck and put out a fire, especially fires as sprawling and fast moving as these.

It’s difficult to find just the right words to describe Nebraska’s volunteer firefighters, especially those who rose to this occasion. There are times when the actions of some are so heroic and extraordinary that a simple thank you doesn’t seem to be enough even though it’s about all we have to offer other than the food and water that so many generous Nebraskans donated.

Natural Disasters Require Help

When natural disasters like wildfires and drought strike we pull together as Americans and put political differences aside but we also need a little help from Washington.

That’s where the Farm Bill comes in. On a strong bipartisan vote, the Senate passed the Farm Bill that includes a number of provisions for financial relief for those suffering from drought and wildfires. Relief provisions include an authorization of direct and guaranteed loans for recovery from wildfires and drought. Funding for the construction and rehabilitation of fire breaks, and other pre-suppression efforts. Compensation for ag producers that have incurred livestock and livestock feed losses resulting from wildfires and much more.

But, while Nebraska burns the House plays politics and refuses to bring the bill modernizing farm programs for the next five years to a vote. There’s talk of just extending the last farm bill for a year, which would be another half-hearted move by this Kick the Can Down the Road Congress and wouldn’t provide the certainty our producers need or all drought and fire assistance needed after this summer’s disaster.

I have called on the Speaker of the House to put politics aside. Think of the agriculture producers who are in need of help. Show the same courage as all the volunteers who pitched in to fight the fires. There was no political gamesmanship there. Just a common goal to do the right thing. Now, it’s Washington’s turn to do the same.

According to the daily update from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency on Sunday, fire crews made good progress on the Wentworth and Hall Fires. Both are now at 90 percent containment. The Fairfield Creek Fire is at 100 percent containment and remains in patrol status.
Hot and dry is the forecast for tomorrow and for the immediate future. Fuels will continue to be very receptive to fire and the potential for new starts remains elevated. Residents can expect to see smoke within the interior especially in the afternoon when temperatures are at their highest and relative humidity is at its lowest.
Operations have shifted to demobilizing resources. On Monday, the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team will transition the incident back to local authorities. The members of the incident management team thank the area communities and the amazing volunteers for their hospitality and cooperation.
No road closures are in place. However, expect heavy emergency vehicle traffic as engines and other resources are released from the fire in route to their home units.

Many of the state and federal resources in the area to combat the Fairfield Creek, Wentworth and Hall fires began leaving the area during the weekend. While some of the federal officials remain to finish mop-up duties, many of the crews were headed out.
Thank you to everyone who has assisted in any way with the recent fires, from the firefighters on the front lines to the volunteers in the fire halls to the hundreds of people who have donated supplies or funds to assist the effort. North central Nebraska has represented its people well, as have the people who no longer reside here but who have ties to the area.
Those who donated coolers to the fire halls can pick those coolers up, and those who donated air mattresses or cots to the Red Cross for use at the community shelter can pick those items up from Ainsworth Community Schools.
Unfortunately, some people still don't realize the extreme danger of fire in the area. The Ainsworth Volunteer Fire Department was called out at 7:35 a.m. Monday to a report of a grass fire in the ditch south of Ainsworth on the Cemetery Road.
According to Fire Chief Brad Fiala, someone threw a lit cigarette from the window of a vehicle, igniting the ditch just north of the Ainsworth South Cemetery.
"If the wind would have been up, that fire would have probably gotten into a grove of trees before we could have got there to put it out," Fiala said.
Though he has not yet taken that step, Fiala said he has received permission from the Nebraska Fire Marshal's Office to ban smoking in Brown County. If a smoking ban is implemented, smoking will be restricted to inside the home and in a vehicle with the windows up.
Fiala encouraged people to be aware of the extreme dry conditions in the area. If fires continue to be sparked from smoking materials, he won't hesitate to issue the ban. If a ban on smoking materials is issued, anyone smoking outside of their homes or their enclosed vehicles can be issued a fine.
Fiala said he does not want to implement a ban, so he warned people not to throw lit cigarettes from their vehicle.
An open fire ban is already in place, yet the Brown County Sheriff's Department and volunteer firefighters have had to respond to several calls of campfires being started in the Long Pine State Park area. Fines can be issued for anyone who is caught with an open fire.

Seeing first-hand the effects of the fires in Keya Paha, Brown and Cherry counties on Saturday, 43rd District State Sen. Deb Fischer said it was a relief to see the progress that has been made on controlling the fires, and she is amazed at the response from the people in the area.
"You see the outpouring of support from all across Nebraska, but especially from the communities here who have been affected by this horrible event," Fischer told KBRB's Graig Kinzie Saturday afternoon.
Fischer said the 43rd District has experienced some major fires during her time in the Legislature, from the Valentine area in 2006 to the Thedford fire a couple years ago and now the fires in this area and in Dawes County, which is now also in the 43rd District.
"I am trying to see how we can get some additional state and private resources to the area to help meet the huge expenses you've incurred," Fischer, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, said.
She said the stories she has heard regarding the volunteer effort and the sacrifices made by so many make her proud to be a Nebraskan.
"It's the fire departments, the ranchers, the volunteers, the wives of the firefighters," Fischer said. "Everyone comes together in a time like this."
To hear the complete report with State Sen. Deb Fischer from Saturday, click on the audio link below:

Region 24 Manager Doug Fox told KBRB Radio's Graig Kinzie Saturday afternoon substantial progress has been made on the Fairfield Creek, Wentworth and Hall fires in Keya Paha County despite south winds gusting to 25 mph.
Things are starting to look really good," Fox said.
Though there will still be some areas inside the fire lines burning and causing some smoke, work on the edges of the three fires has progressed substantially.
Fox said he took an aerial tour of the site with Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock, and he anticipated many of the state and federal resources would be departing the area by Monday.
To hear the complete report with Region 24 Manager Doug Fox, click on the audio link below:

* Firefighters continue work on Wentworth Fire; river valley picks up some rain

Area firefighters, with support from the National Guard and federal hot-shot crews, continued work into the night with the Wentworth Fire burning in southeastern Keya Paha County.
With the Fairfield Creek and Hall fires both under control, the Wentworth Fire has been the focus of the responders' attention since it broke through a fire line Thursday afternoon.
Reports indicate southeastern Keya Paha County picked up one-quarter of an inch of rain or so from a small line of thunderstorms that moved through the area early Saturday morning. Roger Wentworth in southeastern Keya Paha County reported .20 of an inch of rain from the overnight storm. Wentworth's property absorbed the lightning strike that officials believe started the middle of the three fires - thus the namesake.
There was some lightning with the line of storms, so responders will keep their fingers crossed that no new fires crop up from those strikes.
Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala asked area farmers and ranchers to keep all their stock tanks filled. Firefighters can fill their smaller tanks those water sources if necessary.
Preliminary reports indicate 98 different volunteer fire departments have assisted with the Niobrara River valley fires during some portion of the now nine-day response.
Officials are cautiously optimistic that they are in the home stretch of the major firefighting effort.
Preliminary reports show 14 residences have been lost, some of which were occupied full time while others were cabins, and a total of 47 other structures reportedly burned.
Monetary donations continue to be needed to help the fire departments deal with the monumental costs associated with nine days of fighting fire. Information on how to help is located at the top of this page.
Thank you to those who have already donated, as thousands of dollars are coming in to the relief fund to assist the fire departments and those who have lost homes. Additional support in the way of hay, fence posts and trucking have also been donated, not to mention the hundreds of hours of volunteered labor and equipment use from private contractors on the fire lines. There are so many stories of personal sacrifice and heroism, it is impossible to try and mention them individually. Just know all of the communities in this area are so appreciative of everything being done to assist them in this trying time.

After completing a tour of the fire-affected Niobrara River Valley Thursday, former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey said expanding the crop insurance program and streamlining the disaster declaration process would help the people dealing with the drought and the fires.
Kerrey’s comments came as he returned from a tour of drought and fire-affected areas of north central Nebraska. While there, Kerrey met with fire victims, National Guard personnel, first responders, Forest Service officials and volunteers to learn more about the fire and its impact.
“The response of the volunteer community and the pressure this puts on county and city budgets reminded me of the aftermath of the tornado of 1975 that destroyed hundreds of businesses (including mine), thousands of homes and much more besides,” Kerrey said. “The storm put tremendous pressure on Omaha and Douglas County’s budget. The good news for us was that the area was declared a federal disaster two days later.
“This fire is part of a larger disaster occurring as a consequence of drought conditions. The impact on local governments is substantial. For example, the city of Ainsworth’s Fire Department budget was exhausted in just two hours of fighting this fire. I can’t tell you how impressed I am at the courage, tenacity and effectiveness of everyone involved in this effort. These folks are heroes and I want to do whatever I can to support them. Unfortunately, we may be facing a very long fire season.”
Based on the information he gathered from the tour, Kerrey offered the following proposals for aiding farmers and ranchers affected by the drought:
“First the House must pass the five-year Farm Bill and renew the disaster programs to deliver relief to our struggling farmers and ranchers,” Kerrey said. “The bill’s enactment would also allow the Department of Agriculture to deliver assistance for livestock feed lost due to the drought and to provide compensation for livestock losses. Finally, the bill provides critical assistance to communities by funding fire prevention and firefighting resources.
“Second, the USDA should press forward with, and Congress should support, its efforts to streamline disaster declarations and speed up the turnaround time for low-interest loans to farmers and ranchers impacted by the drought.
“Third, Congress should consider expanding the crop insurance program for grazing land. The bill generates $23 billion in savings and expands the crop insurance program. I think we should look at rolling some of that savings into expanding the program allowing ranchers to purchase insurance for their pastures and grassland.”
Kerrey's opponent in the U.S. Senate race, State Sen. Deb Fischer, is visiting north central Nebraska today (Saturday).

Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock told KBRB just after noon on Friday work continues to solidify the fire line after a breakout of the Wentworth Fire on Thursday afternoon.
Hallock said substantial progress was made overnight and this morning after firefighters were able to stop the breakout before it jumped the Niobrara River into Rock County approximately 2-1/2 miles west of the Carnes Bridge.
According to Deputy Commander Mark Hatcher with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Bravo Team, Thursday's breakout of the Wentworth Fire burned an additional 2,500 acres in southeastern Keya Paha County.
To hear the complete report with Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock, click on the audio link below:

UPDATE: The Springview Volunteer Fire Department requested mutual aid assistance from the Ainsworth, Long Pine and Bassett departments to fight another small break-out of the Wentworth Fire Friday afternoon and to help with back-burns.
Brown County Sheriff's Department Dispatcher Judy Cole said the civil defense siren did sound in Long Pine for the mutual aid call, but not in Ainsworth as a truck was dispatched by Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala immediately. Cole said five trucks responded to the mutual aid call, including two from Bassett, two from Long Pine and one from Ainsworth.

These photos were taken Monday from the vantage point of Nancy Reinhardt's ranch southwest of Springview, south of Highway 12 in Keya Paha County. Though the date on the photo says Sunday, the photos were taken Monday as the Fairfield Creek fire broke out to the north, fueled by a gusting south wind and temperatures that topped 105 degrees. Fire lines worked tirelessly to keep the fire contained to the Niobrara River canyons, but it did break the Highway 12 containment line Monday before being pushed back by firefighters. As of Friday, the Fairfield Creek Fire had burned close to 100,000 acres but was close to being declared closed by fire officials.

A C-130 tanker drops flame retardant on the north end of the Niobrara River valley Monday in an effort to keep the fire from proceeding north. The C-130 planes were based out of South Dakota.

Fire rages out of a Niobrara River canyon southwest of Springview as firefighters attempt to stop the flames at the canyon. The charred ground and the sod mound in the foreground show firefighters' attempts to create back burns and fire breaks to keep the fire from moving north and racing on flat ground.

Flames shoot more than 100 feet in the air on Monday as the Fairfield Creek Fire consumed pine and cedar trees on the north edge of the Niobrara River Valley southwest of Springview.

Appearing on KBRB's Open Line program Friday morning, Rocky Mountain Incident Management Response Team Bravo Deputy Commander Mark Hatcher, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency representative Mike White, Region 24 Emergency Management Agency Director Doug Fox and Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala discussed the continued fire response effort, the toll fighting the fires has taken on firefighters and volunteers, the major assistance provided by landowners and volunteer contractors helping to save property in the river valley, and the work that still needs to be done to help the departments pay for the monumental expenses associated with eight straight days of fighting the wildfires in the Niobrara River valley.
Media outlets, there is a bundle of information from these responders on the following audio links from the 40-minute live program. Feel free to use any of the information to help your newscasts. Please credit KBRB Radio as the source of the information.
Thank you to everyone who has played a role in assisting the firefighting effort and helping to spread the word about the serious needs of the area fire departments and those who have lost homes and property in these fires. Information on how to make donations to support the area fire departments and those who have lost homes and property can be found at the top of this page.
Click on the following four links for the complete audio of KBRB's Friday morning Open Line report with the fire officials.

This week, we are monitoring the status of the drought-related fires throughout the state. While the magnitude of the fires and the drought impacts weigh heavy on Nebraskans and the economy of our state, I have been reminded the past few days of the strong resolve and resiliency of our state’s citizens.

Since the fires broke in north-central Nebraska, I have been to the affected communities twice and monitored the damage firsthand. While seeing 72,000 acres of scorched Earth is striking, what I saw in our people is inspiring. In every community, brave volunteer firefighters were on the frontlines, facing temperatures of 120 degrees. At the command posts, responders worked tirelessly to update and coordinate efforts to contain the massive fires, and anticipate the fire’s next moves through behavior modeling. In the communities, family-members and friends of the community provided aid and comfort, gathering donations of food, ice, water, ibuprofen, eye wash, and other necessities.

When meeting with volunteers, firefighters and responders, I heard story after story of the truly remarkable generosity and thoughtfulness of Nebraskans and caring strangers throughout our nation. At the Ainsworth Fire Hall, I spoke with local firefighter Ann Fiala who told me they have received much needed donations from throughout the state and as far away as Maine. Ann said they have had people walk into the Fire Hall and hand them checks for as much as $500 and $1000.

In Norden, volunteer Cathy Fauren, told me she had been volunteering for days on end. Her husband and son were in the fires, and that a simple phone call from them was all she needed to know they were ok. A volunteer in Springview, Linda Sheehan, told me about the Springview Nebraska Community Facebook page, which is covered with photos and encouraging messages.

While driving the recent fire paths in the Niobrara River Valley, the ground was still smoking and smoldering in many spots. As we drove down a dirt road, surrounded by burnt trees on both sides, we stopped to talk with a father and son from Grand Island who were driving the roads, putting out the residual fires in order to prevent a second round of immense burns.

These stories are examples of what makes Nebraska a wonderful place to live. Nebraskans are generous. We care about one another. We are always willing to help others.

At the incident command center in Ainsworth, I was briefed on current efforts. More than 32 volunteer fire departments have helped. Low humidity, high temperatures, extreme drought, and dry lightning in the weather forecast continue to be major concerns.

This week, we activated the State Emergency Operations Plan in response to the fire emergency in Cherry, Brown and Keya Paha Counties. I declared a State of Emergency in early July, which activated parts of the State Emergency Operations Plan and allowed us additional options for use of state resources. Resources from the State Patrol, the Department of Roads, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are also responding to the emergency.

The Nebraska National Guard continues to mobilize available resources as the response grows. This included the mobilization of three Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with “Bambi buckets” and approximately 28 personnel to provide support to local firefighters. I also want to acknowledge and thank the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team for their continued efforts on site.

As I write this column, we are close to having the fires contained – thanks to everyone’s hard work and support. We are very proud of you.

Through the first 26 days of July, the KBRB rain gauge has picked up a total of .32 of an inch of moisture. That .32 total in July follows the third driest June in Ainsworth's history. Just .73 of an inch fell in June, more than 2.5 inches below the average for the month.
July's average rainfall in Ainsworth is 3.95 inches, according to Ainsworth Weather Observer Gerry Osborne.
Through 26 days of July, the temperature has climbed above the century mark 12 times, including a high of 109 degrees on Saturday, July 21, one of the worst days firefighters had trying to fight the Fairfield Creek Fire.
An additional 10 days in July have been above 90 degrees, including three readings of 99 degrees. That is 15 of the 26 days in July with temperatures of 99 degrees or above, with what could be the least amount of precipitation for July in Ainsworth's history.
Anyone with step by step directions on a tried and true rain dance, feel free to pass them along to KBRB and we will hold a community training session.

The Niobrara River is for float trips beginning today from the launch are at Fort Niobrara to Rock Barn. Before today, the river had been closed east of Smith Falls State Park.
Firefighters continue to use River Road to access the fire line and continue mop-up operations on the Fairfield Creek Fire. Visitors and those traveling in the fire area are urged to use extreme caution as emergency vehicles and firefighters will continue to be working in the River Road area.
The public is also reminded that there are still hazards to be cautious of in the fire area. Smoke may continue to be visible during the next few days as unburned fuels and smoldering logs located inside the perimeter continue to burn. Also, trees that may have been weakened by the fire could fall without warning. Please use caution near the fire area, and while traveling on roads adjacent to the fire area.

Just when it looked like progress was being made, winds picked up out of the northwest this afternoon in Keya Paha County and the Wentworth Fire jumped a fire line sending flames toward the Carnes Bridge area between Keya Paha and Rock counties. Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox told KBRB fire officals are trying to get as many units into that area as possible. He said they have fire crews from Bassett, Naper, Tripp County, S.D., in addition to the federal firemen. The Ainsworth Volunteer Fire Department was also sending trucks to the area. Fox said the south moving fire line was near Walker Creek, which is just a half-mile west of Carnes.

8:30 p.m. July 26 UPDATE: Doug Fox reports that the fire crews working on the Wentworth Fire flare-up in southeast Keya Paha County Thursday afternoon and evening were able to stop the fire before it reached the Niobrara River and the Carnes Bridge area. Listen for more complete information when fire officials appear on the KBRB Open Line program Friday morning.

Instead of producing a smaller version of the map on the site, please click on the above link for the full-scale version. Areas in black indicate fire lines that are secure. Areas in red show boundaries of the fires that have not yet been completely contained. Thank you to the hundreds of folks who responded to our offer to email the full-scale version of the map we placed on our Web site on Tuesday. We tried to get the full-scale version emailed as quickly as time allowed, but we hope this method of delivery works a little better! This is the largest version of the map we have to view. The map may be available in an even larger form on the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency's site, but not confirming that.

Former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey visited Ainsworth and Springview Thursday afternoon, touring the command center in the Ainsworth Conference Center and visiting with firefighters and volunteers in the fire halls on the front lines of the response.
"You start with the volunteer effort," Kerrey said. "The federal communications officer said she has been working on fires for 25 years and she has never seen a better community response."
He said he heard story after story of individual heroism while talking with firefighters.
"There are some great, heroic stories coming out of these fires," Kerrey said. "You have stories of firefighters turning at once, holding the line together and stopping the flames. They did it. They stopped the fire. It didn't have to be that way."
Kerrey said the main assistance that can be provided at the federal level is passing a Farm Bill and allowing the president to have the authority to declare these areas a federal disaster and unlock funding assistance.
Kerrey is the Democratic Party candidate for U.S. Senate. His Republican opponent in the General Election race, 43rd District State Sen. Deb Fischer, has said she plans to be in Ainsworth on Saturday.
To hear the complete report from former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey, click on the audio link below:

Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock said the Hall fire in southeastern Keya Paha County has been contained, and crews are finishing fire lines on the south end of the Wentworth Fire in southeastern Keya Paha County today.
The Wentworth Fire started Saturday from a lightning strike, a day after the Fairfield Creek Fire, the largest of the three fires, ignited from a lightning strike in northwestern Brown County. The Hall Fire sparked up on Monday.
Hallock said weary area firefighters are finally starting to get a break, as federal hot-shot crews are working on the fire lines and removing hotspots.
The Springview fire chief said the current fuel bill for the department is more than $60,000, which is equal to or above the department's entire annual budget.
In addition to the North Central Development Center fund that has been established to assist the fire departments and those who lost homes and livelihoods, an additional fund has been created for the Springview department.
Donations can be made to the Springview Fire Hall at PO Box 204, Springview, NE 68778, or to West Plains Bank at PO Box 189, Springview, NE 68778. Write "fire relief" in the check's memo line.
To hear the complete report from early Thursday afternoon with Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock, click on the audio link below:

Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox said fuel costs for the Springview Fire Department have surpassed $60,000, and fuel costs alone for the Ainsworth Fire Department are estimated at $150,000. Both of those totals surpass the entire annual budget for both departments.
Fox told KBRB's Grag Kinzie Thursday funds will be needed to pay for the costs associated with fighting the Fairfield Creek, Wentworth and Hall fires, as those bills will be due long before any state or federal grant funds are received.
The Region 24 emergency manager said the Fairfield Creek Fire is contained, while work continues on the Wentworth Fire in southeastern Keya Paha County.
"There will be more air drops there today," Fox said. "Hot shot crews are being sent into the fire's perimeter to down trees and create fire lines within the hot areas of the fire.
"The members of those crews are from all over the country," Fox said. "They have done a lot of work taking down trees inside the fire areas. Those guys have been a great asset."
Fox said, within the next couple days, he hopes to report that all three fires are completely contained.
To hear the complete report with Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox from Thursday morning, click on the audio link below:

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman joined KBRB's Graig Kinzie Thursday morning to discuss the effort statewide to support the firefighters and volunteers in the area.
To hear the complete report with Gov. Heineman, click on the audio link below:

* UN-L Extension taking donations to help cattle producers affected by fires

North central Nebraska livestock producers have been hit with a one-two punch -- drought and now fire. The extremely dry conditions, coupled with a fire that is burning tens of thousands of acres of pasture land, have caused a disaster of major proportions.
The fire has consumed hundreds of miles of permanent fence, along with what little summer grass was left for several thousand cows and calves to feed on. The fences that have been destroyed will have to be rebuilt before grazing can resume next year, if weather conditions permit a good growing season.
The North Central Development Center in Ainsworth has set up a fund to take monetary donations to help with the cost of the fire. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to the North Central Development Center at 335 N. Main St., Ainsworth, NE 69210.
Donations of wire and post may be delivered to the Farmers and Ranchers Co-op in Ainsworth, 224 S. Main St. The contact person is Plant Manager Rocky Sheehan at 402-387-2810.
Individuals who want to specify their donations to help with fencing materials and hay may send checks to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension office in Ainsworth. The mailing address is BKR Extension Office, 148 W. Fourth St., Ainsworth, NE 69210. Donations will be deposited into the NCDC Fire Relief Fund.
All funds collected will go to help those who have been affected by the fire. All needs will be taken from the fund, whether it is fencing, hay, feed for animals, personal needs of those impacted by the fire and help for fire departments that have responded to the distress.
For more information, contact the UN-L Extension Office in Ainsworth 1-800-634-8951 or e-mail dbauer1@unl.edu. The NCDC can be contacted at 402-387-2740 for more information.

Additional volunteers are supporting the relief efforts in north central Nebraska. A total of 21 Red Cross volunteers and staff have been supporting residents and the fire departments who are responding, including four additional volunteers who deployed late Tuesday from northeast Nebraska. Three emergency response vehicles have been on scene providing mobile feeding.
As responders continue to battle the blaze, the Red Cross is reaching out to those whose homes were affected. Case work volunteers are meeting with affected residents to provide food, shelter, comfort and care as needed. Residents affected by the wildfires are urged to call (888) 382-3790 to talk with one of the trained Red Cross volunteers.
Red Cross volunteers will continue to deliver prepared meals to seven fixed sites where responders can escape the intensity of the sun and flames to rehydrate and refuel. There are cots and volunteers there to assist those who are working to contain the fires. So far the Red Cross has served more than 4,000 meals and snacks both in the shelter and to the emergency responders on the front lines.
The Red Cross shelter remains open in the Ainsworth Community Schools facility at 520 E. Second St. in Ainsworth. More than 70 residents, responders and volunteers have stayed at the shelter where they find comfort and care from trained Red Cross Volunteers. Disaster workers in emergency response vehicles are circulating in and near affected areas, delivering water and food, supplies and comfort items. The Red Cross is working with community partners to provide support.
You can help people affected by disasters such as floods, tornadoes, fires and hurricanes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. To make a donation, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767); people can also text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala, after six straight days of battling wildfires, told KBRB's Graig Kinzie Wednesday evening he was close to declaring the nearly 100,000-acre Fairfield Creek Fire contained.
"Everything on the south side of the Fairfield Creek Fire has been cold for more than 24 hours, so that is good," Fiala said. "We still have some hot spots west of Norden, but the Valentine crews are doing an excellent job getting that area mopped up."
Fiala said, even if fire officials declare the Fairfield Creek Fire closed soon, there will still be some hot spots along the entire corridor for days to come.
"Don't be too alarmed if you see some smoke for a few days," the Ainsworth fire chief said. "Even if something starts back up, it shouldn't go far. We are still going to be monitoring the area, so if you do see flames let us know."
Fiala said there was an all-out aerial assault today on the Wentworth and Hall fires in southeastern Keya Paha County.
"When I went out and visited the Wentworth Fire today, I didn't see any smoke to the east with the Hall Fire," Fiala said. "They really knocked that one down today."
Fiala said, after six straight days of fighting fire on little rest in demanding weather conditions and terrain, the volunteers are looking forward to getting back to their regular jobs.
"This is our sixth day, and it is still kind of a blur to me," the Plains Equipment employee said. "We need to get back to work and get back to our jobs. It will be nice to get back to our jobs just to get our mind on something different."
He said the costs incurred battling the fires by the area departments are going to be staggering.
"When you get 70, 80, 90 trucks going full bore all day and all night long, that fuel bill is going to be tremendous," Fiala said.
Fuel costs alone could reach the neighborhood of $150,000, and the fire chief said that might be a low estimate. He said the support from the communities, the entire state of Nebraska, and nationwide, is unbelievable, and the volunteers have a hard time putting it into words.
"We have said for years, this is why we live in the place we do," the Ainsworth fire chief said of the area's response. "The overwhelming support we have received has been remarkable."
The North Central Development Center has set up a fund to assist all the area fire departments fighting the Niobrara River valley fires and to assist those who have lost their homes. Checks can be mailed to the North Central Development Center at 335 N. Main St., Ainsworth, NE 69210. Mention the fire relief effort in the check's memo line. Donations will go to all of the area fire departments. All donations are tax deductible, as the North Central Development Center is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
To hear the complete Wednesday evening report with Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala, click on the audio link below:

* Communications infrastructure one of the key elements of firefighting efforts

With the massive effort of more than 40 local fire departments, state of Nebraska resources, the Nebraska Army National Guard and federal officials in the area combating the Fairfield Creek, Wentworth and Hall fires, communications infrastructure was just one of the vital pieces needed to coordinate the response.
Brian Delimont with Three River Communications discusses with KBRB's Graig Kinzie the communications needs of the various agencies. Click on the audio link below to hear the complete report:

Fire burns above the Niobrara River canyon on Monday as the Wentworth Fire in southeastern Keya Paha County jumped out of the river valley. Firefighters pushed the fire back into the canyon Monday night, then spent Tuesday combating a change in wind direction that sent the Wentworth Fire south toward the Niobrara River.

A Blackhawk helicopter hovers near a raging portion of the Wentworth Fire Monday afternoon in Keya Paha County. As of Wednesday evening, the Wentworth Fire had been contained to the canyons on the north side of the Niobrara River valley in southeastern Keya Paha County.

With the KBRB one-man news team chasing down the latest information on the progress being made to combat the Fairfield Creek, Wentworth and Hall fires burning in Keya Paha, Brown and Cherry counties, former one-man news team Larry Rice is beginning a series highlighting just a few of the stories from the thousands of volunteers who have had an impact on the fire-fighting effort. The following audio report with a 7-year-old Pender boy is the first of that series.

* Fire halls appreciative of donations, cash for fuel bills needed at this point

The Ainsworth, Springview and Bassett Fire halls are reporting they have a substantial supply of water, food and sports drinks. With the area departments racking up extremely expensive fuel bills, cash donations are needed to help the area departments pay for those massive fuel costs. Fuel bills for each department are in the tens of thousands of dollars. At last report, the Springview Fire Department's fuel bill alone was more than $60,000.
Cash donations can be made to the fire halls in Brown, Rock, Keya Paha and Cherry counties. The North Central Development Center has set up a fund to assist all the area fire departments fighting the Niobrara River valley fires and to assist those who have lost their homes.
Checks can be mailed to the North Central Development Center at 335 N. Main St., Ainsworth, NE 69210. Mention the fire relief effort in the check's memo line. Donations will go to all of the area fire departments. All donations are cash deductible, as the North Central Development Center is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The volunteers working in all of the area fire halls thank all those who have made a donation and volunteered to help. The support has been phenomenal. From the firefighters on the front lines to the volunteers in the fire halls and those helping the Red Cross purchase and prepare meals, thank you to everyone who has helped provide support.
Your help will continue to be needed when the fires are extinguished, as the costs to these small departments will otherwise be monumental.

Effective at 6 a.m. Wednesday the Fairfield Creek, Wentworth and Hall fires were combined and renamed the Region 24 Complex. The incident will continue to be managed by local units with the Rocky Mountain Type 2 Incident Management Team B providing assistance and coordination.

On Tuesday, Gov. Dave Heineman visited the fire and affected communities. “I’m very impressed with the interagency coordination,” he said. “I’d like to express my personal gratitude to the firefighters and especially all the volunteers working the incident.”

In spite of the extreme fire weather yesterday, good progress was made on all three fires. Crews were successful in constructing and securing line along several sections of the fires.

With the projected cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity expected today Todd Pechota, the commander for the Rocky Mountain team, said he is optimistic that they might have turned the corner on this incident. “However, it’s not over yet - one shift of the wind and we could be off to the races again,” Pechota said.

According to Doug Fox, Region 24 Emergency Management Director, “We currently have sufficient resources on the incident. If additional resources are needed local fire chiefs will put out a call for assistance.”

A cold front moved through the area last night bringing cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity. Combined with winds out of the north-northwest, this will help moderate fire behavior.

Additional air resources are expected on the fire today. They include six heavy-lift helicopters (three Black Hawks, a K-max, a Sky Crane, and a Boeing Vertol) for a total of eight helicopters. Another K-Max is en route to the complex today. Break-out by division:

Division A (Fairfield Fire): Continue to improve and hold fire line.
Division C (Fairfield Fire): Continue to hold and improve line. Provide structure protection.
Division E (Fairfield Fire): Continue to hold and improve line. Provide structure protection.
Division H (Fairfield Fire): Continue to hold and improve line. Provide structure protection.
Division O (Wentworth Fire): Secure line and provide structure protection.
Division M (Wentworth Fire): Construct and improve line along Hwy 7. Provide structure protection.
Division X (Hall Fire): Hold and and improve line. Provide structure protection.
Division Z (Hall Fire): Hold and improve line.

Volunteer evacuations are still in place for Meadville.

Niobrara River is closed for recreational use between County Line and Brewer bridges.

Fire stats at a glance:

Start Date: July 20, 2012

Containment: 25 percent

Cause: Lightning

Acreage: 72,405 total (Fairfield 66,745; Wentworth, 3,278; Hall, 2,382)

Personnel: 321, plus approximately 80 Rural Fire Department personnel

Aviation : Six Heavy-lift helicopters, one medium, and one light.

Engines: 30, plus 40 Rural Fire Department engines

Injuries: 3 (minor)

Structures destroyed: 10 and associated outbuildings

Structures/outbuildings threatened: 128

Anyone who claims Nebraska is nothing but flat land needs to spend a day in the shoes of the firefighters who have been fighting raging wildfires in the Niobrara River Valley since Friday.
The steep, wooded terrain in the canyons on both sides of the Niobrara River have proved to be a difficult opponent for the fire crews. Heavy equipment from the Nebraska Department of Roads and private contractors who have volunteered to assist the effort have been working to knock down trees and clear paths into areas otherwise not accessible. That equipment is also being used to create the fire lines, which have helped stall the fires' progress in several areas.
Ainsworth Firefighter Nate Rau said he has been working west end of Fairfield Creek and west of Norden, an area where on Tuesday fire officials concentrated their efforts to keep the Fairfield Creek Fire from breaking a fire line and burning unabated to the west.
"We have been doing our best to make sure it doesn't get any farther west," Rau told KBRB Radio's Graig Kinzie Wednesday morning at the Ainsworth Fire Hall while awaiting orders on where he would be deployed. "It is rough. There is no way to get two-wheel trucks in there."
Rau said, though not working frequently in areas where aerial drops have been made, he has seen their impact.
"They have been helping," Rau said. "We had one Saturday morning drop about right on me, and that cooled me off quite a bit."
To hear the complete report with Ainsworth Firefighter Nate Rau, click on the audio link below:

Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox said progress continues to be made in containing the Fairfield Creek Fire burning in southwest Keya Paha, northwestern Brown and eastern Cherry counties.
Fire officials are focusing their efforts Wednesday on the Wentworth and Hall fires burning in southeastern Keya Paha County.
"Additional ground units are being moved east to assist with the Hall and Wentworth fires," Fox told KBRB Radio's Graig Kinzie Wednesday morning. "There is a concern that both of those fires could jump the Niobrara River to the south, but the federal officials are confident the aerial drops can keep the fire contained to north of the river."
Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock said firefighters on the front lines of the Wentworth and Hall fires had another exhausting night, first keeping the fire from jumping out of the canyons to the north, then watching as the wind shifted to the north and fires began blazing a new path to the south.
"There is just no way for the ground forces to get in front of it to the south," Hallock said. "The Wentworth Fire is in some very deep canyons. We don't have a way to contain it after the wind shifted."
Hallock said the Niobrara River will be used as the southern containment line for the fires, and additional crews are massing to create fire breaks to try and keep the fires from moving east and threatening additional homes.
Fox said at least nine aircraft will be focused on dropping water and fire retardant on the Hall and Wentworth fires.
As for the Fairfield Creek Fire, Fox reported containment continues to progress, and firefighters made significant progress on the fire's southwest, northwest and southeast boundaries.
"With the resources going to the east today, I am fairly optimistic that in the next few days we can get these fires to the point of being mop-up situations and we can get the job finished," Fox said.
To hear the complete Wednesday morning reports with Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox and Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock, click on the audio links below:

A C-130 tanker drops flame retardant on a fire burning Tuesday afternoon in the Niobrara River canyon. Firefighters pushed the flames back into the canyon in an attempt to protect Greg Bammerlin's home in southeastern Keya Paha County threatened by the Hall Fire.

Firefighters from Keya Paha County and several other assisting departments work to save Greg Bammerlin's home in southeastern Keya Paha County Tuesday afternoon as the Hall Fire moves north out of the Niobrara River canyons.

(Aerial photos of the Fairfield Creek Fire courtesy of Jeff Biermann, Omaha-World Herald)

The Fairfield Creek fire burns the bluffs on the north side of the Niobrara River in Keya Paha County on Monday.

The Fairfield Creek fire, which jumped Nebraska Highway 12 Monday and moved north into the grasslands of Keya Paha County. Firefighters stopped the fire.

Sgt. Richard Shearer of the Nebraska National Guard watches for their target for their bucket of water as the Blackhawk helicopter fights the Fairfield Creek fire.

The Fairfield Creek fire north of Nebraska Highway 12 on Monday. Firefighters stopped the fire from continuing north, but 150 acres burned and a home was lost north of Highway 12.

Sounding optimistic for the first time since the Fairfield Creek Fire ignited Friday morning, Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala reported major progress was made on all fronts Tuesday despite another day of extreme heat and south winds.
Fiala said substantial progress was made on the south side of the Niobrara River in the Plum Creek and Meadville areas.
"A large effort was focused on knocking down the flames there because of concerns with the wind possible shifting to the north later tonight," Fiala told KBRB's Graig Kinzie Tuesday evening.
The fire chief said there are still several hotspots north of Norden, southeast of the community of Sparks. On Monday night, fire officials were concerned that Sparks could be in the path of the fire if it continued to progress to the northwest Tuesday.
"We had some large flare-ups there, but we had two Blackhawk helicopters and one Huey dumping from the air," Fiala said. "We made a lot of progress in that area today."
Fiala said, with the number of volunteer crews who have responded to the area to help with the three fires burning in the Niobrara River valley, the Ainsworth crew was going to be pulled off the fire for a night of rest and to allow the department's equipment to be checked and serviced if needed.
"Some other departments have had some equipment problems, so we are pulling everyone off the fire tonight and giving them a night of rest," Fiala said. "We'll get our trucks checked out and hit it hard again tomorrow.
To hear the complete report Tuesday evening with Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala, click on the audio link below:

After visiting Ainsworth, Springview and Norden Tuesday and hearing a briefing from Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team officials, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman said he is hopeful meaningful progress is being made in combating the three major fires burning in Brown, Keya Paha and Cherry counties.
"My sense is we are on the verge of making some significant progress to contain the fires, and that would certainly be very good news for all of us," Heineman told KBRB's Graig Kinzie Tuesday evening. "I am pleased to see all the federal, state and local forces working together."
Heineman said the volunteer spirit and effort being displayed in north central Nebraska makes him proud.
"We are in a much stronger position today trying to contain the fires," Heineman said. "I can see we are making progress, but the weather still makes you nervous."
Heineman said the state's focus will remain on assisting the volunteer fire departments in the area until the fires are completely under control.
To hear the complete report with Gov. Dave Heineman from his Tuesday evening conversation with KBRB, click on the audio link below:

* Hallock reports Wentworth, Hall fires flaring, but firefighters keeping up

Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock told KBRB Radio late Tuesday afternoon the Wentworth and Hall fires burning in southeastern Keya Paha County are again trying to climb out of the Niobrara River Canyons, jump fire lines and move north, but firefighters have been able to get the fires put out before they gain much steam north of the fire lines that have been built.
Hallock said additional manpower and equipment is on scene at the Wentworth and Hall fires today, helping to keep both fires from gaining momentum.
Federal officials are anticipating a wind change Tuesday night, with winds expected to move from southerly to northerly. While Hallock said crews are prepared to combat them if the flames move south, having the fire move back onto ground that has already burned may help firefighters gain even more grounds.
For the complete report from 5 p.m. Tuesday with Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock, click on the audio link below:

(A larger copy of the map can be emailed by providing a return email address to kbrb@sscg.net, but will be forwarded only as staff time allows)
With the Niobrara River dissecting it, the large orange area on the left is the Fairfield Creek Fire, which is burning in Brown, Keya Paha and Cherry counties on both sides of the Niobrara River. That fire started Friday morning in northern Brown County from a lightning strike. The western edge of the fire is the prime concern for firefighters today, as they are trying to keep the fire east of the fire breaks that have been created along the river valley.
The area jutting to the northern end of the fire area represents the ground that was burned Monday evening after the fire broke the containment line north of Highway 12 approximately 3 miles west of Cub Creek. A home was destroyed when the fire broke north of Highway 12 before firefighters could get it stopped. Approximately 150 acres burned north of Highway 12.
The center orange area represents the scope of the Wentworth Fire in southeastern Keya Paha County. After starting from a lightning strike Saturday, the fire raced to the north Monday afternoon before being pushed back by firefighters into the Niobrara River canyons Monday night.
The far right orange area is the Hall Fire burning in southeastern Keya Paha County. That fire started on Monday and moved quickly to the north, fueled by south winds gusting to 25 mph. Firefighters were able to halt the progress of the Wentworth and Hall fires before any homes were lost.

* Red Cross serving 1,800 meals per day to firefighters, volunteers; donations of cash, bananas, snack mixes and beef jerky sought

Mindy Mangus, the disaster services manager with the Central Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross, said volunteers with the Red Cross are cooking and serving as many as 1,800 meals daily to assist the firefighters and volunteers working in Brown, Keya Paha and Cherry counties.
Mangus told KBRB's Graig Kinzie Tuesday the Red Cross is delivering meals to 10 staging areas near the front line of the fires, and volunteers are preparing as many as 600 meals per meal from their location at Ainsworth Community Schools.
Mangus said the communities have been very welcoming and appreciative of the Red Cross, and the volunteer support has been tremendous.
She said, in addition to cash donations to help support the 100 percent volunteer effort, the Red Cross can use bananas, Chex Mix, peanuts, and snack items such as beef jerky that are sent out with the prepared meals. Those items can be delivered to Ainsworth Community Schools.
The work of the Red Cross is completely voluntary, and free of charge for those receiving its services. Red Cross operations are paid for through the generosity of the American public.
For the complete report with Mindy Mangus, click on the audio report below:

* Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team volunteers preparing 1,800 meals daily

Andrew Lee of North Platte is one of the 17 volunteers from the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team assisting the American Red Cross by cooking meals at Ainsworth Community Schools for the firefighters battling the fires burning in the area and the volunteers working to help support the firefighting effort.
Lee said the Southern Baptist team volunteers have been welcomed warmly to the area, and are working hard to provide the firefighters and volunteers with the energy they need to sustain their effort.
For the complete report with Andrew Lee from the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team, click on the audio link below:

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns said on Tuesday he is monitoring the fires burning in the Niobrara River Valley, and will pursue additional federal resources for the area if needed.
“This summer’s drought has adversely affected nearly every Nebraskan and is now exacerbating the wildfires in the Niobrara River Valley,” Johanns said. “My thoughts are with those who have been displaced, who have lost homes, or whose livelihoods are being threatened. I also want to join every Nebraskan in thanking the firefighters, National Guard and other emergency responders for their dedicated, tireless service as they work to extinguish this blaze.
“I am closely monitoring the situation and in contact with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and county officials. If additional federal assistance is required, I’m ready to ensure that aid is delivered quickly and efficiently.”

Officials with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team provided Gov. Dave Heineman and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency officials with an update on the three fires burning in Brown, Keya Paha and Cherry counties.
Officials said the priority for fire officials today is the western lines of the Fairfield Creek Fire. A substantial effort is being made to stop the western progress of the fire, which has entered Cherry County west of the Rocky Ford area.
With fire crews launching a massive effort to create fire breaks in that area, if the fire jumps those breaks and continues west, it will be extremely difficult to contain.
Heineman said any state resources needed will be available to combat the three fires burning in the Niobrara River valley.
"We don't want these fires going on for another two or three weeks," Heineman said. "With the conditions we have across the state, we could see more and more fires spring up."
Heineman asked about a realistic estimate for having the fires brought under control.
"I know that is hard a question to answer at this point, but do you have any sense on when you can say it is contained?" Heineman asked.
The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team officials indicated, unless the fires erupted again Tuesday afternoon and evening and broke out past the fire lines, that the fires could be contained in approximately three days, though they said there are still several factors that could alter that timeline.
Officials estimated the containment of the Fairfield Creek Fire at 15 percent on Tuesday, though they said they hoped that percentage would go up by nightfall.
Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox said there are an additional 22 to 24 pieces of fire equipment moving into the area today from surrounding volunteer departments.
"That is going to allow some of these departments that have been up here for a while to rotate back out," Fox said.
Though costs of the federal and state resources used in the fire-fighting effort were briefly discussed, Heineman said the first priority was getting the fires controlled.
Following the briefing, Heineman toured the Norden area to see first-hand the damage caused by the Fairfield Creek Fire as it moved through that community on Friday night.
Following a tour of the area today, Heineman will appear on KBRB to talk about the firefighting efforts and the state and federal response.

“We will coordinate and integrate efforts with local, state and federal resources to be effective as possible,” said Incident Commander Todd Pechota at this morning’s briefing. “The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team 2B is interagency, comprised of state and local resources, as well as federal. Our role is to assist and coordinate state and local fire management.”

Hot, dry conditions are expected for another day at the Fairfield Creek, Wentworth fire and Hall fires in north central Nebraska close to the Niobrara River. A total of approximately 65,580 acres have burned.

The Fairfield fire is approximately 58,560 acres and straddles the river. The Wentworth fire is 20 miles east of the Fairfield Creek fire and 3 miles north of the river. It is estimated at 2,595 acres.

A new fire started yesterday approximately 6 miles east of the current Wentworth fire and 3 miles north of the river. It has been labeled the Hall Fire and was estimated at 1,425 in size. Both the Wentworth and Hall fires are east of Springview.

For most of Tuesday hot and dry weather is expected. A heat advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. on Tuesday and a Red Flag Warning is in effect for winds and low relative humidity. Late afternoon severe weather with high winds is forecast with the potential to affect fire behavior.

Division A (southwest) Cherry County Fire District—continue to establish and hold line.

Division C (northwest): Springview Fire District, Keya Paha County--hold line and burn-out where possible to bring defensible line down to the river.

Division E (northeast): Springview Fire District, Keya Paha County—anchor line at the river, hold, improve and secure spot that crossed Highway 12.

Division H (southeast): Ainsworth Fire District, Brown County—construct a direct hand line toward the southwest.

Four Helicopters and Two Air Tactical Platforms will continue to assist ground crews in achieving containment goals.

Road blocks will be in place on Highway 12. Motorists are asked to find alternate travel routes. The Meadville Avenue and Norden Road are also closed to traffic.

Niobrara River is closed for recreational use between County Line and Brewer bridges.

* North Central Development Center has established a Pay Pal account for funds to support fire departments

The North Central Development Center has established an online Pay Pal account that allows those who would like to donate funds to support the firefighters fighting the Fairfield Creek, Wentworth and Hall fires.
Go to Facebook and like the North Central Development Center. A link to the Pay Pal account can be found on the NCDC Facebook page.
For those not on Facebook, make checks payable to the North Central Development Center, 335 N. Main St., Ainsworth, NE 69210. Write fire relief on the check.
All donations are tax deductible, and 100 percent of the money donated will be used to support the firefighting efforts and support the victims who have lost their homes.

* Springview fire chief says Wentworth, Hall fires pushed back into Niobrara River canyons, 1 home lost west of Springview when fire jumped Highway 12

Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock said crews worked through the night to push back the Wentworth and Hall fires southeast of Springview that raced north Monday afternoon fueled by the heat and strong south winds.
"We have both those fires contained to the canyons, but they could flare up again today with the wind," Hallock reported at 11 a.m. Tuesday from the Springview Fire Hall.
Hallock said the Wentworth and Hall fires were kept clear of homes in southeastern Keya Paha County, but one home west of Springview was damaged Monday evening when the Fairfield Creek fire jumped the northern containment at Highway 12 approximately 3 miles west of Cub Creek, 6 miles west of Springview.
Hallock praised the volunteers working in the Springview Fire Hall to keep the front lines supplied with water and food.
"They were making food and water runs out to the guys at 3 and 4 a.m. this morning," Hallock said.
He reported federal forces were assisting with the Hall and Wentworth fires, and fire lines would continue to be created with some back-burning to try and keep the fires from moving north rapidly if they again move up out of the river canyons.
To hear the complete report with the Springview fire chief, click on the audio link below:

* Susan Ford with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management team checks in with an update on the fire response efforts

Ainsworth Volunteer Firefighter Brandon Evans said he has never seen anything like the fire burning in the Niobrara River valley.
It is unbelievable," Evans told KBRB's Graig Kinzie Tuesday morning as his crew was getting its marching orders and preparing to head back out for another day on the fire lines. "I never imagined something like this could happen. I hope we never see anything like it again."
Evans said the crews are basically trying to surround the Niobrara River valley and put out fires as they jump out of the canyons.
"We have seen fire moving at more than 60 mph," Evans said.
Ainsworth Firefighter Jeff Keezer said his crew was out 32 hours straight from the time the Fairfield Creek Fire ignited Friday morning north of Johnstown until they grabbed a break Saturday morning.
"After we got a little break, we went back out for another 24 hours," Keezer said.
Keezer said trying to get ahead of the flames when they break out of the canyons is not an easy task for the crews on the front line.
"When it breaks out, you are moving fast and driving hard over some very rough terrain," Keezer said.
To hear the complete report with the firefighters, click on the audio link below:

* Region 24 manager says crews made progress overnight, another tough day ahead today

Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox told KBRB Tuesday morning progress was made overnight to push the numerous fires burning in Brown, Keya Paha and Cherry counties back into the Niobrara River basin after gusting south winds Monday caused the fire to break out at several locations.
Fox said the Wentworth Fire exploded Monday, but crews there pushed it back south into the canyons and are now working on fire lines in anticipation of strong south winds again today.
Fires continue to burn in several locations. He said the western edge of the Fairfield Creek fire was still burning west of Norden in the Rocky Ford area, and fires were still burning on both the north and south sides of the Niobrara River.
The hear the complete report Tuesday with the Region 24 emergency manager, click on the audio link below:

* Ainsworth fire chief says ground units struggling to keep up with fires; asks Sparks residents to be on alert in case fire continues west

Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala says the 300 to 400 fire personnel are doing their best to knock down fires that are flaring to the north out of the Niobrara River valley at numerous locations, pushed by gusting south winds and extreme heat on Monday.
Fiala said the Fairfield Creek Fire's western edge is burning rapidly, and the small community of Sparks should be on notice that an evacuation may be necessary on Tuesday if the fire continues on its current path.
"Today, the aerial units were giving the ground forces their only chance to keep up," Fiala said. "If we can keep the wind down on Tuesday, we might be able to get on top of it a little."
During the late afternoon hours Monday, a portion of the Fairfield Creek Fire broke the northern containment line on Highway 12 approximately 3 miles west of Cub Creek.
"It burned about 150 acres north of Highway 12, but the fire resources in that area got it knocked down," Fiala said. "It would have been a huge fire in that terrain if had kept burning north, and there would have been no place to stop it."
Fiala also commended the work of the crews that battled the Wentworth and Hall fires in southeastern Keya Paha County on Monday afternoon.
"The Wentworth Fire blew up in the early afternoon hours," the Ainsworth fire chief said. "Those guys were working really hard to slow that fire down."
For the complete Monday night report with Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala, click on the audio link below.

KBRB has received reports that a portion of the Fairfield Creek Fire has moved across Highway 12 west of Springview, which had been the northern boundary of the fire that has been burning since Friday morning.
The fire reportedly jumped the highway approximately three miles west of Cub Creek.
Firefighters are continuing to battle extreme weather conditions in addition to the fires, and are working to try and keep the flames from breaking free to the north of the river valley in several areas.
KBRB will try and bring listeners an evening update on the status of the Fairfield Creek, Wentworth and Hall fires.

* Area departments trying to head off fires in southeastern Keya Paha County

Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock said crews in southeastern Keya Paha County are struggling to slow down the Wentworth Fire and the Hall Fire that have jumped out of the Niobrara River valley and are being pushed northwest by the wind.
Hallock said the Wentworth Fire is now eight miles southeast of Springview, moving to the northeast, and the Hall Fire is located farther east in southeastern Keya Paha County.
Hallock said getting enough water to the fire crews is a big issue at this point, as tankers are doing their best to keep up with demand. Firefighters on the ground are also trying to coordinate with one of the Blackhawk helicopters being used to drop water from the air.
For the complete report with Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock, click on the audio link below:

Ann Fiala, a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician who is helping to coordinate the volunteers assisting the front lines with food and water, told KBRB Monday afternoon she continues to be overwhelmed by the way the communities have come together to support the firefighting effort.
For the full report with Fiala, including how to assist the volunteer effort, click on the audio link below:

* Fox reports 3 fires jumping out of Niobrara canyons fueled by dry, south winds

In addition to the Wentworth Fire in southeastern Keya Paha County that has jumped out of the Niobrara River basin and is moving northeast, Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox said a new fire, being referred to as the Hall Fire, is now burning in southeastern Keya Paha County east of the Wentworth Fire, and a third fire has jumped out of the river canyons in western Keya Paha County. These flare-ups are in addition to the large Fairfield Creek Fire that continues to burn in the river canyons in northwestern Brown and southwestern Keya Paha counties.
To listen to the full report with Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox, click on the audio link below:

* Wentworth Fire southeast of Springview breaks containment, heading northeast

During the late morning and early afternoon hours on Monday, the fire burning in southeastern Keya Paha County known as the Wentworth Fire broke containment in the Niobrara River basin canyon area and is now moving over open ground to the northeast.
Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock said the fire is moving quickly, and personnel from several departments are en route to try and get ahead of the fire as it moves to the northeast.
Hallock said, if its present direction holds, the fire should miss Burton, but it could move close to that community if the departments cannot get it slowed down.
Residents potentially in the fire's path have been notified. Temperatures at 2 p.m. were already 104 degrees and climbing, with south winds at 16 gusting to 25 mph.
To hear the full report with Springview Fire Chief Scott Hallock, click on the audio link below:

The Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team 2 Bravo has set up in the Ainsworth Conference Center to help coordinate firefighting efforts on the Fairfield Creek Fire. This is the third wildland fire to which the team has been deployed during 2012.
KBRB's Graig Kinzie spoke with Susan Ford, the team's public information officer, Monday in the conference center.
Ford said aerial infrared data shows the southwestern and southeastern edges of the Fairfield Creek Fire are continuing to burn at a very high temperature. She said their aerial surveillance of the fire showed it had burned approximately 50,000 acres. Estimates have ranged from 50,000 to 100,000 acres that have burned since the fire started Friday morning in the Fairfield Creek area.
To hear the complete report with Ford, click on the audio link below:

Brown County Sheriff Bruce Papstein reported Monday morning to KBRB that the Norden Road and Meadville Avenue in both Brown and Keya Paha counties, and Highway 12 in Keya Paha County remain closed to traffic.
Papstein said, with fire equipment traveling the narrow roads, other vehicle traffic is prohibited. He warned people to stay away from the area. Law enforcement officials have had to warn several motorists to turn around who were trying to make their way toward the Niobrara River for a closer look at the fire.
To hear the complete report with Sheriff Papstein, click on the audio link below:

* Fox reports another home lost Sunday night, 1 feared lost found still standing

Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox said he plans to tour the area to assess the damage from the Fairfield Creek Fire, which has been burning since Friday morning in northwestern Brown County and southwestern Keya Paha County.
More than 100,000 acres have burned. Fox said six homes have been lost to the fire. One home feared lost in the Norden area was found still intact with only the outbuildings burned. That home was one of several in the Norden area that were saved from destruction, though others were lost.
However, Fox said the fire again jumped the Niobrara River to the south, where it destroyed a home in the Fairfield Creek area Sunday night. He said the fire is moving quickly west, and is now burning several miles west of Norden. Another finger of the fire is burning in the Rocky Ford area of Cherry County.
Fox said the wind will be the main factor on Monday, and could cause additional problems. He said the backfire efforts west of Meadville has stopped the fire for the time being from moving east. Those backfires were set approximately five miles west of Meadville to remove the dry vegetation on which the fire is feeding.
The fire is still burning in Brown County south of the Niobrara River, and is currently west of the old Plum Creek dam.
To hear the complete report from Monday morning with the Region 24 emergency manager, click on the audio link below:

* Heineman reports state assets being brought to bear on Fairfield Creek Fire

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman told KBRB Monday morning state and federal resources have been brought in to assist with the effort to contain the Fairfield Creek Fire.
Heineman said a federal incident management team has taken control of the coordination of the firefighting efforts. He said the federal team has extensive experience in fighting wildland fires.
To hear the full report with Gov. Heineman, click on the audio link below:

* Fairfield Creek Fire 50 percent contained, but tentative with Monday winds expected; 6 homes lost thus far

In a report with KBRB's Graig Kinzie Sunday evening, Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox estimated the Fairfield Creek Fire was 50 percent contained, though that figure could easily change Monday as southwest winds are forecast at 10-20 and gusting to 30 mph.
Fox said six homes have been destroyed by the fire since it started Friday morning north of Johnstown from a lightning strike. The fire tore through the Norden area Friday, but Fox said some homes have been saved in that area.
As of Sunday evening, the western edge of the fire was the most aggressive, burning rapidly west of Norden and potentially endangering three homes. Fire breaks burned Sunday west of Meadville have helped slow the eastern movement of the fire and protect the Meadville area for another day. The northern edge of the zone remains at Highway 12, and the southern edge of the fire continues to jump south of the Niobrara River.
Fox said the fire that started in southeastern Keya Paha County Saturday evening due to a lightning strike has been contained to the river canyons. No homes have been lost in that fire.
For the complete report Sunday with Region 24 Manager Doug Fox, click on the link below:

KBRB's Graig Kinzie spoke with Red Cross volunteer Susan Epps Sunday on the activities of the organization, which has set up a shelter at Ainsworth Community Schools to aid firefighters and those who have been displaced by the Fairfield Creek Fire.
Also, Ainsworth Fire Hall volunteers reported they now have a sufficient number of coolers to transport water to the front lines of the fire. They again thank everyone who has made donations to the firefighting effort.
To hear the full report with Susan Epps of the Red Cross, click on the link below:

The North Central Development Center is in the process of setting up an online shopping cart for all of the local departments and those who have been impacted by the fire.
All donations will be tax-deductible. Anyone who would like to help with the effort can go online to donate to the departments. As soon as everything is set up, more information will be posted. Items the departments have requested include an ice truck, supplies and items for the families who have lost their home. The North Central Development Center thanks everyone who is supporting the effort to control the Fairfield Creek Fire.

* Fiala reports fire still threatening Meadville area, impossible to control

Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala said two Ainsworth firefighters were injured while working on the front lines of the Fairfield Creek Fire on Saturday. Both firefighters were injured while working on the fire lines. They were taken to the Cherry County Hospital, where they were treated and released.
Fiala said the difficult terrain and the high level of fuel in the Niobrara River valley are making the fire almost impossible to slow down. Fiala said a large amount of resources are being utilized to protect Meadville. He said C-130 tankers are being flown into the area dropping fire retardant, and three Blackhawk helicopters are taking water from area dams and dropping it in certain areas.
Fire lines are in the vicinity of the Coleman Creek canyon west of Norden on the fire's western front, west of Meadville on the eastern front, Highway 12 on its northern boundary, and just south of the Niobrara River on its southern boundary.
Winds are not expected to blow at more than 10 to 15 mph for the remainder of Sunday, and will generally be from the northwest. However, on Monday, winds are expected out of the south at 15-20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.
To hear the full report from Fire Chief Fiala, click on the link below:

* Heineman activates Emergency Operations Plan; 3 Blackhawk helicopters dropping water on Fairfield Creek Fire

Gov. Dave Heineman has activated the State Emergency Operations Plan in response to the fire emergency in Brown and Keya Paha Counties. Saturday, Heineman surveyed firsthand the affected areas in north central Nebraska and met with local responders in Ainsworth, Long Pine and Norden.

“I am continually impressed with the hard work of Nebraskans in difficult situations,” Heineman said. “The local communities are working very hard and are supportive of the efforts of local responders and firefighters, including providing aid in the forms of food and water. We will continue to work closely together as we fight these fires.”

The Nebraska National Guard continues to mobilize available resources as the response grows. This includes the mobilization of three Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with “Bambi buckets” and approximately 28 personnel to provide support to local firefighters fighting a wildfire in Keya Paha and Brown Counties at the request of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. The helicopters are equipped with “Bambi buckets” which can scoop water from local sources and place the water where needed by ground firefighters.

The Nebraska National Guard is also preparing to send up to 35 additional ground, red-card certified Nebraska National Guardsmen to support local firefighters if needed.

Resources from the Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska Department of Roads, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are also responding to the emergency.

At the beginning of this month, Heineman authorized an emergency declaration for statewide drought and fires that allows state personnel and resources to assist with emergency situations and prevention, and allows maximum flexibility to the state to deploy Nebraska National Guard and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency assets and resources as needed.

The governor and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency will continue to monitor the situation throughout the state, as the drought continues.

* Gov. Heineman reports additional state resources on the way to battle fire

Calling in Saturday evening to KBRB, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman said two additional Blackhawk helicopters and members of the Nebraska National Guard would be in the area Sunday to help combat the Fairfield Creek Fire, which as of Saturday evening had burned to within four miles west of Meadville.
Heineman said the state of Nebraska has declared a state of emergency to allow for the use of additional state and federal resources to combat wild fires in the state.
The complete audio report with Gov. Heineman can be accessed by clicking the link below.

Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox said the Fairfield Creek Fire was now burning out of control on Saturday evening. Despite massive efforts from fire departments representing almost one-third of Nebraska, the fire is burning faster than allows for fire lines to be established.
Fox said firefighters were beginning to experience major fatigue and heat-related problems, and a few firefighters have been injured in non-fire incidents relating to digging fire suppression lines.
The fire, at last report, was located four to five miles west of Meadville, which has been evacuated. The fire on Friday devastated the small community of Norden on the north side of the Niobrara River in Keya Paha County.
Additional fires have sparked southeast of Springview Saturday evening from another round of lightning strikes, and some of the firefighting resources from the Fairfield Creek Fire were moved to suppress those fires before they spread.
The complete report with Region 24 Manager Doug Fox is located below. Click on the link for the audio report.

Anyone with towels and ice packs to spare, please drop them off at the Brown County Ambulance Service. The towels and ice packs will be used to help aid in cooling down firefighters battling the Fairfield Creek Fire.

Some area retailers are running low on water and ice. Deliveries are expected again tomorrow. Stay tuned to KBRB for reports on inventory supply.

Two teams of Red Cross volunteers from Grand Island and North Platte are setting up an emergency shelter at Ainsworth Community Schools for residents evacuated from the path of the Fairfield Creek Fire.
The Red Cross will also help provide meals and hydration to firefighters from the now more than 16 departments trying to battle the fire in the Niobrara River Valley.
More Red Cross volunteers are standing by. The Red Cross will work with local agencies and community organizations to ensure that the needs of first responders and those who have been evacuated are met.
To make a donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief, call 1-800-REDCROSS or visit the web at www.redcross.org.

* Emergency personnel evacuating area east of the Norden Bridge to Highway 183

Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox has issued an evacuation notice for all residents of the Niobrara Valley from the Norden Bridge east to Highway 183. This evacuation notice includes Meadville and the surrounding area.
The Fairfield Creek Fire is moving quickly to the east today, and with the dry and hot conditions and the steep terrain.
Those people east of the Norden Bridge to Highway 183 need to evacuate to the south, not to the north. Those evacuees are asked to report to the Ainsworth Community Schools, where the Red Cross has set up a temporary shelter.
The Brown County Ambulance Service is asking for donations of ice packs and towels to help cool down firefighters who have been battling the fire since it started before 10 a.m. Friday.
Stay tuned to KBRB for the latest information on the Fairfield Creek Fire.

Fox reported the fire has now burned more than 30,000 acres, with numerous structures destroyed. Firefighters are trying to contain the fire to a line south of Highway 12, and fire lines have been set up both east and west of Norden. Fox said the fire is still raging in the Norden area. While firefighters try and contain the fire from the east and the west, aerial support is being brought in from South Dakota and other areas. A Blackhawk helicopter is dropping water on the flames, and a tanker plane from Rapid City will be utilized to drop a slurry mixture on the flames.
Fox said any food, water and ice donations for the firefighters can be taken to the Ainsworth Fire Hall. Highway 12 west of Springview remains closed. No traffic is allowed anywhere near the Norden area, which has been completely evacuated.

Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox is reporting the leading edge of the Fairfield Creek Fire is between 6 and 7 miles wide as it moves through Keya Paha County north of Highway 12.
"The wind is starting to switch a little, so we may be able to start slowing this thing down," Fox said.
The fire has burned several thousand acres in northern Brown County and southern and central Keya Paha County, including extensive damage in the community of Norden. Numerous homes and structures in the Norden area have been damaged, though Fox said the exact number of homes damaged won't be known until the area can be surveyed.
Fox said more firefighting assets continue to move into the area, as units from the six-county North Platte Mutual Aid District are making their way to the area from as far south as Curtis. Fox said those firefighters will concentrate on mopping up hot spots Saturday in both Brown and Keya Paha counties.
A large air tanker from Rapid City, S.D. will also be in the area Saturday, as will a water-carrying helicopter from Lincoln.
No injuries have been reported from the fires, though Fox said some firefighters were being treated for symptoms relating to heat stress. A Long Pine Volunteer Fire Department truck was destroyed by the Fairfield Creek Fire, and a second truck belonging to the South Brown County Fire Department was damaged fighting a second fire south of Long Pine Friday afternoon, though Fox said that truck will be salvageable but will require new wiring.
Fox will again appear on KBRB Saturday morning to provide an update on the firefighting activities and the extent of the damage.

The small community of Norden has been severely damaged by a fast-moving fire that began at 9:45 a.m. Friday north of Johnstown, jumped the Niobrara River and broke through a containment line on Highway 12 in Keya Paha County.
Recapping the events since the fire was first reported 13 to 14 miles north of Johnstown, the flames moved quickly through the Fairfield Creek area and jumped across the Niobrara River. The fire began moving north through Keya Paha County. Residents of Norden and the surrounding area were evacuated ahead of the fire reaching the community.
Region 24 Emergency Manager Doug Fox told KBRB Radio's Graig Kinzie Friday evening most of the Norden area has sustained extensive damage. No injuries have been reported due to the fire, but the Long Pine Rural Volunteer Fire Department did lose a fire truck to the blaze, and another truck belonging to the South Brown County Fire Department was damaged fighting another Friday afternoon fire south of Long Pine. Fox said that truck is salvageable with new wiring.
"We haven't had any injuries," Fox said. "People were evacuated ahead of time. Some of our firefighters are experiencing some symptoms of heat stress."
Temperatures Friday again soared to near 105 degrees, and south winds gusting to 25 mph led to the fire moving quickly through the area already dealing with severe drought.
As of 6 p.m. Friday, the fire had burned an area more than 10 miles long and reportedly up to four miles wide in some areas near Norden.
"The fire is moving faster than we can keep up with," Fox said after the blaze jumped a containment line set up on Highway 12 in Keya Paha County.
Some residents living north of Highway 12 in northern Keya Paha County and into southern Tripp County, S.D., are being evacuated. Highway 12 has been closed to traffic west of Springview.
Firefighters from the Ainsworth, Johnstown, Wood Lake, Long Pine, Bassett, Springview, Calamus, Raven and South Brown County departments battled what is being referred to as the Fairfield Creek Fire, while the Ainsworth, Long Pine, Bassett and Stuart fire departments fought the fire south of Long Pine. That fire was brought under control by 5 p.m. Friday. Damage from the fire south of Long Pine was limited to pasture ground and the loss of the South Brown County Fire Department truck.
Fox reported additional fires were burning north of Merriman in Cherry County on both sides of the Niobrara River, and east of the Spencer Dam in Boyd County. All of the fires in the area Thursday night and Friday morning were sparked by lightning from a storm that carried extensive lightning but little rain.
Aerial support was utilized, but Fox said the numerous buckets of water dropped from the plane were not effective in slowing down the fire in Keya Paha County.
The extent of the damage is not yet known, but thousands of acres and numerous structures, including homes, have now been burned by the Fairfield Creek Fire.
Brown County Board of Commissioners Chairman Buddy Small on Friday signed a declaration asking for disaster assistance for the county stemming from the wildfires burning in northern and southern Brown County.
Dozens of volunteers flooded the Ainsworth Fire Hall with bottled water, sports drinks, ice and coolers to send to the front lines of the fires. Organizer Heather Walnofer said the outpouring of support from the area has been overwhelming.
Stay tuned to KBRB for additional information.

(Posted July 20 as of 4:50 p.m.)

The fire burning north of Johnstown has crossed the Niobrara River, pushed by strong south winds. The Keya Paha County Sheriff's Department confirmed at 4:45 p.m. firefighters are attempting to contain the fire to an area south of Highway 12 in Keya Paha County.
Norden residents and those in Keya Paha County between the Niobrara River and Highway 12 in the Norden area have been evacuated from their residences.
Traffic is prohibited in the area until the fire has been contained.
The Keya Paha County Sheriff's Department is asking for anyone with a large disc to call the sheriff's department at 402-497-3201, as firefighters are trying to utilize that type of equipment to create a containment area and keep the fire from crossing Highway 12.
The Brown County Sheriff's Department reported just before 5 p.m. Friday the fire burning south of Long Pine had been brought under control by the Long Pine, Ainsworth, Stuart and Bassett departments. A Brown County Rural Fire Department truck was damaged fighting the fire south of Long Pine, though no injuries were reported.
No structure damage has been reported with either fire, though that could change as the fire moves its way from the Niobrara River north into the Norden area in Keya Paha County.
Brown County Board of Commissioners Chairman Buddy Small on Friday signed a declaration asking for disaster assistance for the county stemming from the wildfires burning in northern and southern Brown County. Aerial resources continue to be sought to battle the fire burning north of Johnstown that has now crossed into Keya Paha County.

Area fire resources continue to be taxed to the limit as another large fire has been reported south of Long Pine.
According to Brown County Sheriff Bruce Papstein, just before 1 p.m. Friday a fire was reported 15 miles south of Long Pine on property owned by Glenna Abbott. Resources from the Ainsworth, Long Pine, Bassett and Stuart volunteer fire departments responded to fight that fire while numerous area departments continue to fight a large fire north of Johnstown.
According to Papstein, a South Brown County fire truck was damaged by the fire south of Long Pine, but no injuries have been reported.
Area residents continue to volunteer at the Ainsworth Fire Hall, filling coolers with donated water, sports drinks and ice to get to the firefighters as they work in the 100-plus degree heat. Dozens of volunteers were working in the fire hall early Friday afternoon to get coolers of cold drinks headed to the front lines of the fires.
Volunteer organizer Heather Walnofer thanked the community for its support in answering the call for supplies.
"The response has been overwhelming," Walnofer said.
Papstein said the fire north of Johnstown continues to be pushed north by strong south winds, and firefighters are having a difficult time containing the blaze.
"It is a real bear," Papstein said. "It is just really tough for them to keep up with it right now. Thankfully, there has not been any structure damage."
Papstein said the fire has approached the Niobrara River, and there have been conflicting reports on whether it had possibly jumped the river. There has, as of yet, been no confirmation of the fire burning north of the river.
Stay tuned to KBRB for more information throughout the day.

Numerous area fire departments are battling a 1,000-acre fire that started Friday morning north of Johnstown due to a lightning strike.
According to Brown County Sheriff Bruce Papstein, the fire was reported at approximately 9:45 a.m. 13 to 14 miles north of Johnstown.
Firefighters from the Ainsworth, Johnstown, Wood Lake, Long Pine, Bassett, Springview, Calamus, Raven and South Brown County departments are on the scene trying to keep the fire from spreading.
Papstein said a plane is also on its way to drop water on the fire. He said residents in the area have been contacted and provided information. He said one residence was in jeopardy from the fire, which he estimated at between 800 and 1,000 acres.
Papstein urged people to stay away from the area and let the fire departments have room to work and try and contain the fire.
Stay tuned to KBRB for additional updates.

A lightning strike Thursday night sparked a fire northwest of Ainsworth that burned more than 500 acres and prompted the mutual aid response of four fire departments to get the blaze under control.

According to Ainsworth Fire Chief Brad Fiala, a lightning strike sparked the fire at 8:45 p.m. approximately 5 miles west and 4 miles north of Ainsworth on property owned by Pat Schumacher.

Fiala said winds with the thunderstorm pushed the fire to the southwest onto ground owned by Taylor Johnson.

He said the fire remained on pasture ground but did work its way into a tree grove.

“It burned through the tree grove fast enough that it didn’t do much damage,” Fiala said. “It only burned the bottom of the trees.”

Fiala said firefighters were able to get the fire under control by using a county road and two cornfields to help block its advance.

Fiala said the fire was under control by 11:30 p.m., and firefighters returned to the fire hall by 12:30 a.m. Friday.

The Johnstown, Long Pine and Wood Lake fire departments provided mutual aid to the Ainsworth Volunteer Fire Department.

“We are just waiting now to see if any more fires start up today from those lightning strikes last night,” the Ainsworth fire chief said.

* Brown County Sheriff’s Department Weekly Summary

May 5

Ø Assisted an individual with information on horses that had gotten loose in rural Ainsworth area.

Ø Assisted an individual with information on moving violations.

Ø Assisted a party with information on a lost dog with city tags. The owner was contacted and the dog was returned.

Ø The Brown County Ambulance Service transported an individual from a residence on North Maple St to the Brown County Hospital.

Ø Received a report of a possible game violation involving turkeys, South of Long Pine. The report was turned over to the NE Games & Parks officer.

Ø Received a report of cattle out West & North of Ainsworth.

May 6

Ø Received a request from an Arizona Agency to assist with an open investigation, possibly involving a Brown County resident.

Ø Investigated a report of dead cattle located Northwest of Ainsworth.

Ø Assisted an individual with a report of missing cattle South of Johnstown.

Ø Assisted an individual with a report of suspicious activity in Long Pine.

Ø Responded to a report of juveniles fighting in Long Pine.

Ø Assisted a party with information on a yard filled with trash in Ainsworth.

Ø Received a report of suspicious phone calls being received in the Ainsworth area.

Ø Responded to a report of drag racing on Meadville Ave North of Ainsworth.

Ø Responded to a report of a vehicle striking a deer North on Meadville Ave. The deer was still in the middle of the roadway, impeding traffic.

Ø Responded to a report of a cow & calf pair out North on Meadville Ave.

Ø Responded to a disturbance on North Main St. Ainsworth.

Ø The Brown County Ambulance Service transported an individual from a residence on South Main St. to the Brown County Hospital.

Ø The Ainsworth Fire Dept. issued a burn permit to individuals North and East of Ainsworth.

Ø Booked a subject into the Brown County Jail on a Bench Warrant for Failure to Comply.

Ø The Ainsworth, Long Pine Rural, & Raven Fire Depts. responded for Mutual Aid to a grass fire South of Bassett.

May 7

Ø Responded to a report of a vehicle, possibly in the ditch by Plum Creek West of Johnstown.

Ø Investigated a report of vandalism to an apt. on North Main St. Ainsworth.

Ø Investigated a possible theft of items from a vehicle in Long Pine.

Ø Assisted a party with a report of suspicious activity West & North of Ainsworth.

Ø The Brown County Ambulance Service transported an individual from a residence on South Main St. to the Brown County Hospital.

Ø The Ainsworth Fire Dept. responded to a report that the KBR Solid Waste Station had a fire in the construction pile.

May 8

Ø Assisted an individual with a complaint on a cat bite to a juvenile in Ainsworth.

Ø Responded to a traffic complaint at the Ainsworth Schools. A citation was issued for careless driving.

Ø Received a report of possible child neglect in Ainsworth.

Ø Responded to a report of a reckless driver in Ainsworth.

Ø Responded with the Brown County Ambulance service, to a report of a vehicle that fell on an individual causing unknown injuries, South of Ainsworth. An individual was transported to the Brown County Hospital.

Ø The Brown County Ambulance Service transported an individual from a business on Hwy 20 to the Brown County Hospital.

May 9

Ø Responded to a report of a vehicle blocking a private driveway on East 3^rd St. Ainsworth.

Ø Responded with the Ainsworth Firemen to a report of a gas meter that was struck by a mower at the City Bldg. In Ainsworth.

Ø Received a report of a vulnerable adult needing elderly assistance in Ainsworth.

Ø Investigated a report of possible vandalism to a vehicle on South Wilson St. Ainsworth.

Ø Investigated a report of the possible theft of a saddle from a rural Brown County resident.

Ø Released a subject from the Brown County Jail.

Ø Responded to a barking dog complaint North of Ainsworth.

May 10

Ø Performed a traffic stop on Main St. at South St. and arrested an individual for Driving under the Influence.

Ø The subject was booked into the Brown County Jail where they were released later on bond.

Ø Responded to a report of suspicious activity in Long Pine. The report turned out to be a wildlife animal trying to get into heat ducts at the residence.

Ø Investigated a two-vehicle accident without injury on North Main St. Ainsworth.

Ø Responded to a possible vicious dog running at large on East 7^th St. A verbal warning was issued.

Ø Responded to a report of a disturbance at a business on Main St. Ainsworth.

Ø Received a report of suspicious activity at a business in Ainsworth.

Ø The Brown County Ambulance Service transported an individual from a residence on South Main St. Ainsworth, to the Brown County Hospital.

Ø Responded to a report of cattle out East of Ainsworth.

May 11

Ø Performed a traffic stop and arrested a subject for Driving Under the Influence and booked them into the Brown County Jail. The subject was later released on bond.

Ø The Brown County Ambulance Service transported a patient from the Brown County Hospital to the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

Ø Investigated a report of a vehicle that struck a gas meter on North Ash St. Ainsworth. The Ainsworth Fire Dept. also responded.

Weekly Summary

Calls for Service: 33

Citations issued: 6

Crime Stopper calls: 0

Defect Cards issued: 3

Handgun Permits Applied for: 0

Paper Service served: 6 (2 - Orders for Hearings, 1- Bench Warrant, 1- Order to Show Cause, 1- 3 Day Notice of Termination, & 1 – 30 Day Notice of Termination)

Phone Calls: 197

911 Calls received: 12

Titles Inspected: 7

Verbal & Written Warnings issued: 4

April’s Monthly Summary

7 - Arrests

86 - Calls for Service

21 -Citations were issued

0- Crime Stopper call received

6- Defect Cards issued

11- Handgun permits issued

26- Paper Service served

718 - Phone calls were received

22- 911 emergency calls received

25 - Titles inspected

28 - Verbal & Written Warnings issued

2012 Totals

Accidents Investigated - 93

Animal Cases - 13

Board of Health Cases - 1

Brown County Arrests - 63

Burglaries - 13

Citations - 214

Court Commitments - 24

Crime Stopper Calls - 6

Criminal Cases - 41

Dog Complaints - 159

Domestic Assault Cases - 9

Drug Cases - 5

Fix it Tickets - 132

Handgun Permits - 124

Incident Reports - 1,387

Incoming Calls - 10,055

Information Files - 32

Inmates Housed in Brown Co. - 98

Inmates Housed for others - 4

Inmates Housed for NSP Arrests - 11

Intakes – (Abuse & Neglect Cases) 89

Juvenile Cases - 12

Mental Health Cases - 11

911 Calls - 504

Papers Served - 282

Sex Crimes - 10

Thefts - 25

Titles Inspected - 244

Total Traffic Stops 642

Total DUI/ Alcohol/Drugs - 23

Total Driving Under Suspension - 7

Vandalism Cases – 30

Window Service – 3,355

Written & Verbal Warnings - 296

2012 Ainsworth Fire Calls

Accidents - 12

Burn Permits - 89

Child Recovery from Grain Hopper - 1

Fire Alarms - 7

Gas Meters / Gas Leaks - 4

Grass Fires - 35

House / Buildings - 7

Missing Child Search - 1

Mutual Aid / Other Agencies - 16

Other Misc. Calls - 11

Storm Spotting - 1