Pick up your copy of this week's edition of The Niobrara Tribune and check out what's happening in and around this fine community. All the fun things!
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The Cougar Homecoming is this coming week, Sept. 27-Oct. 1. For a full report of activities and a color ad of the Homecoming candidates and the Royal Court, please see this week's edition.
VFW Post 4834 members paid tribute to fallen Marine Cpl. Daegan Page of Omaha on Sept. 10. Read more in this week's edition. Hot off the press.
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Senators to tour area
Nebraska senators and consultants will be coming to Niobrara on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26, regarding LB 406, which was recently passed. The officials will be touring the area, and the village of Niobrara will be hosting a breakfast for them, served by the Niobrara-Verdel Presbyterian Church women.
To recap LB 406, Senator Mike Flood, Legislative District 19, and Senator Tim Gragert, Legislative District 40, were at Niobrara in May, gathering input from area residents and businesses, regarding the bill, which at that time hadn’t passed in Legislature, but was very likely to pass. The senators’ “Idea Raiser” event at Niobrara State Park drew lots of interest and attracted about 50 people including Nebraska Game and Parks officials, Niobrara residents and business people, residents from other towns in the county, county economic development staff, Ponca Tribe officials and Nebraska Tourism Commission’s executive director, John Ricks.
For the rest of this article, pick up your edition of this week's Niobrara Tribune or check out the e-edition at www.NiobraraTribune.com!
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Village receives COVID relief funds
The Village of Niobrara applied for COVID-19 relief funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), last month. Niobrara Village Clerk Mona Weatherwax informed the village board, at its regular meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 3, that those funds, which totaled $29,910.33 have been received.
The funds can be used for water infrastructure, so the village board plans to look at updating the village’s water meters, so they can be read electronically, rather than manually.
For the rest of this story, pick up this week's edition of the Niobrara Tribune, or you can also check out an e-edition at www.NiobraraTribune.com!
Ponca tribe to host powwow this weekend
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s 27th Annual Powwow will be Aug. 13-15 at the Ponca Community Grounds, located southwest of Niobrara.
The powwow is a celebration of the tribe’s culture, heritage and traditions, and will feature a variety of dancers, drum groups and vendors. Admission to all events is free, and the powwow is open to the public.
You can find more information about this powwow in a copy of this week's Niobrara Tribune.
Don't forget you can get your news how you want it - whether it's a physical copy or an e-edition at www.NiobraraTribune.com!
Potential Air Quality Impacts from Wildfires in Canada
Lincoln – An advisory of possible Moderate (yellow category) to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange category) impacts may occur statewide in Nebraska beginning August 3 through August 4. Intermittent Unhealthy (red category) impacts in certain areas are also possible. Impacts may continue at the Moderate AQI level through the weekend.
During yellow category/moderate conditions, sensitive groups should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. When conditions rise to the orange category, sensitive groups are advised to reduce prolonged outdoor exertion. In red category/unhealthy conditions, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling; others should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion and take more breaks during outdoor activities.
Wildfires in Canada and the western U.S. may affect the air quality in Nebraska. Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy staff monitor smoke levels and wind directions to assess when impacts to Nebraska's air quality may occur. Smoke advisories are issued for impacted areas by notifying the media and local health departments, and posting information on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy's (NDEE) webpages and social media sites. Advisories help citizens protect their health by alerting them to days where outdoor activities should be reduced or avoided to minimize exposure to smoke.
Advisories are based on data provided by National Weather Service, smoke plume modeling, and from air quality monitors located in Omaha, Bellevue, Lincoln, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff.
The following Air Quality Index (AQI) is used. This AQI is used nationally. For an hourly update on air quality across Nebraska, visit https://www.airnow.gov. To sign up for automatic air quality notifications by text or email, visit http://www.enviroflash.info.
Nebraska Endangered Missing Advisory - Zoey Kain
Issued On: Friday, July 30, 2021 at 12:52:55 PM
McCook Police Department is attempting to locate ZOEY KAIN, 14, white female, short dark hair with red highlights. ZOEY is approximately 5'6" and 180 pounds. Last seen at 2242 on July 28, 2021 in McCook. Last seen wearing a grey shirt with Gary Superfoods logo, blue jeans and Hey Dude Shoes. It is unknown who ZOEY is with or what type of vehicle she is in.
Contact 911 with any information about ZOEY KAIN.
The National Weather Service has announced that there will be Degraded Air Quality late Thursday through this weekend due to wildfire smoke.
WHAT...Wildfire Smoke will cause Moderate to potentially
unhealthy air quality.
WHERE...Eastern Nebraska and western Iowa
WHEN....Tonight especially near and north of Interstate 80,
continuing into Friday across the entire area, and possibly
continuing through the weekend.
IMPACTS...The smoke may become dense enough to cause health
impacts, particularly for individuals with respiratory problems,
elderly, and young children.
HEALTH INFORMATION...Those with health conditions sensitive to
air quality should reduce prolonged outdoor activity. Should air
conditions worsen, prolonged or heavy exertion should be avoided
by those susceptible to air quality issues. Others may want to
consider the impacts of the expected poor air quality when
planning and participating in outdoor activities and adjust as
necessary.
For the most recent update on air quality across the region,
please visit airnow.gov, and your local health department web
pages.
Vacation Bible School is taking place today, (Tuesday, July 27), and will continue Wednesday, July 28 and Thursday, July 29 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at Faiths United Parish; and at Santee in the evenings on these same dates. All children are welcome to attend.
Tribal members from both the Santee Sioux Nation, who gathered at the Ohiya Casino, and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, who stood near the Chief Standing Bear Bridge, honored a caravan that passed through this way Friday morning. Read more in this week's edition.
The members of Niobrara Lutheran Church and the Niobrara-Verdel Presbyterian Church weren't able to celebrate their fifth anniversary together as Faiths United Parish last year because of the virus. So,they are going to have a Sixth Anniversary Celebration this Sunday, July 11.
Even though we didn't have the NHS Alumni Banquet this year, if your class gathered this past weekend and you took a photo, we encourage you to send it in, so we can see all of those who gathered together to remember their school days at Niobrara. niobraratribune@yahoo.com
The regular season came to an end this week for the Verdigre Stinger's Softball Team. Read more in this week's edition. The 18-and-Under Team included, front row, Abby Frank, Allie Kotrous, Emily Parks, Harley Stark, Serina Babcock; back row, Debbie Ives, coach; Andrea Sucha, Anna Rudloff, Chaney Konopasek, Ashley Parks, Gabriellle Pavlik, Mallory Nielsen, Alexis Bartling and Dana Kotrous, coach. Photo by Michele Foto Studio
Gov. Ricketts ends Coronavirus State of Emergency
Governor Pete Ricketts announced yesterday the end of Nebraska’s coronavirus state of emergency. The Governor issued the state of emergency declaration on March 13, 2020. It will officially end at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Ricketts praised Nebraskans for their actions during the pandemic. Ricketts said Nebraska ranks among the best states in the nation for its low fatality rate from the virus, for getting kids back in school, and for protecting livelihoods.
The Release issued from FEMA over the weekend concerning the $50 million allocated for the Spencer Dam has been corrected and amended by the Nebraska Public Power District.
The amendment clarifies that, contrary to the FEMA release, the dam will be demolished and decommissioned as originally planned by NPPD.
Comments about the change are below:
"In working with FEMA since the hydro was damaged, NPPD had provide FEMA with costs to rebuild the hydro unit which was part of the FEMA process, but at the same time NPPD let FEMA know that the plan was to demolish and decommission the unit. The initial release generally came across that the funds would go towards rebuilding the hydro. At the time of the destruction of the hydro, a an agreement was already in place to sell the hydro itself to a group of local NRDs. With the hydro destroyed the agreement is no longer in place.
The plan is that now that federal funds are obligated, NPPD will begin putting together the costs and plans for the demolition and decommissioning of the hydro and will work with associated regulatory agencies on the approval process."
A release from the FEMA News Desk this morning indicated that the Nebraska Public Power District would be receiving approximately $50 million (a 75 percent cost share) to restore the Spencer Dam to it's "pre-disaster design, capacity and function."
The release is below:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has obligated more than $50 million to the to the State of Nebraska for the Spencer Hydroelectric plant and dam as a direct result of major disaster declaration FEMA-DR-4420-NE.
During the incident period of 3/9/2019 through 7/14/2019, A Severe Winter Strom, Straight Line Winds and Flooding caused damages to the Spencer Hydroelectric plant and dam. Heavy rain on frozen ground followed by a blizzard created a record runoff breaking up ice on the Niobrara River. Large chunks of ice floating in the flood waters overtopped the embankment and spillway structure breaching the embankment in two locations causing catastrophic damages to the Spencer Hydro Electric plant and dam.
Funding of approximately $50 million (75 percent federal share of total project cost) was obligated to assist the Nebraska Public Power District in its repairs to the Spencer Hydroelectric Facility and Dam to restore the facilities back to pre-disaster design, capacity and function.
The Public Assistance Program provides grants to state and local governments and certain non-profit entities to assist them with the response to and recovery from disasters. Specifically, the program provides assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent restoration of infrastructure.
It's National Agriculture Week, March 21-27. As we celebrate agriculture we'd like to thank the people behind the food we depend on every day, and shine a spotlight on all of our area farmers. We are inviting them to post a photo of themselves or their farm, or ranch, on the Tribune's Facebook page this week. We salute you Niobrara area farmers and ranchers!!!
