What's New

CELEBRATE AGRICULTURE!

AG Week March 14-20, 2010!

You're Never Too Young (or old!)
to Plant Something Special
and
Watch it GROW!

Read more about it here: http://www.agday.org/

Do You Know What These Things Have in Common?

Birthday Wishes
Card of Thanks
Wedding / Engagement Announcements
Obituaries
Letters to the Editor
Upcoming Events
Birth Announcements
Photos
Recipes
Follow-up Stories to Past Events
and So Much More!

All YOU have to do is get the information to us - it's that simple!

Deadline for submissions to each week's Wednesday Newsletter is
NO LATER THAN NOON on the previous MONDAY and it's so easy to submit
your news.

1,)  You may call in your information, 402-235-2926, 
Leave a voice mail with your name phone number.

2.)  Email your story to Editor@MurrayNebraska.com.
No 'zip' files, please, and send photos in jpg format, if possible,
no larger than 640 x 480 pixels.

3.)  Send items via the U.S. postal service to
Editor, MurrayNebraska.com
201 N How Ave, Murray, NE, 68409-8403. 
(When mailing items you'd like to get back, please enclose a self-addressed,
stamped envelope.)

Remember to include 'who, what, when, where and why', along with any other helpful
details, such as a contact person and phone.

Thanks for helping to keep YOUR Murray Newsletter fresh and up-to-date!

Are you thinking Spring?

Flowers?

Fresh Veggies?

Then help support the Louisville Fireman's Auxiliary raise money by attending our plant sale.

We are raising money to help with scholarships and other things we do.

Plants are locally grown in Fremont, from Janet's Jungle.

We are taking pre-orders till April 19th

You can contact for an order sheet or questions:
Candy McClun 234.4995

Teri McClun 234.4161

Plants will be available for pick up May 1st at the Fire Hall from 9am-3pm.

If you don't pre-order you can still stop by and check them out as we will have plants that day for you to purchase.

www.janetsjungle.com

Otoe County Rural Schools Reunion

Saturday, April 10 2010

Harmony School
6265 'Q' Road
Nebraska City, NE 68410

On April 10th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, the Otoe County Genealogical Society will host its 1st Annual Otoe County Rural Schools Reunion at Harmony School at 6265 'Q' Road, which is located 8 miles south of Nebraska City on Highway 75, and ½ mile west on 'Q' road.

Harmony School is a rural schoolhouse that was built in 1879, and was closed in 1997.  This reunion will include a coffee social and tour of the 130-year old rural schoolhouse. In addition, it will also give visitors a chance to assist our society in identifying numerous unidentified rural schoolhouse photographs from several different school districts throughout the county. The society has come into possession of these prized photographs through their Otoe County Courthouse Clean-up Project, in which these photographs were donated to the society by the Otoe County Clerk's office, and through other generous donations as well.

So please come join us at Harmony School and help us pay tribute to the outstanding contributions that these rural schoolhouses made in the education of our state's youth for the past 100 years!

Ladies ~ Start your Bonnets!

Some Important Bills Don't Earn Headlines

March 5, 2010, Lincoln - Only a few of the bills that are introduced in the Legislature generate media coverage. This means that the majority of Nebraskans seldom, if ever, hear about most of the new laws that are enacted. Some of the laws in question have little direct impact on the lives of our citizens, but others create changes that deserve to be brought to the attention of everyone in our state.

LB 216 was passed last month to allow a family member injured in a car accident, in which a relative was driving, to have their medical expenses covered by the driver's auto insurance policy. LB 216 eliminated the "guest statute" which protected drivers from liability for injuries to passengers if they were family members, unless the driver committed gross negligence or was under the influence of alcohol.

Several constituents voiced support for a bill to move back the eligibility date for children to start kindergarten. Under LB 1006, which is ready for the final round of debate, children would be eligible if they are five years old by July 31st instead of the current cut-off date of October 15th. An exception would be included for children who turn five between August 1 and October 15, if they perform well on a kindergarten assessment tool. These changes would begin in the 2012-13 school year. Under the current cut-off date, teachers reported a wide age range in their classes, with differences as much as 18 months to two and a half years. This age range can mean that some children are mature enough to thrive in today's academically focused kindergarten classes, and some are not. LB 1006 would create a more even experience for young children as they begin their K-12 education.

Neighbors would be required to construct and maintain a just proportion of a division fence under LB 667. The term "just proportion" would mean an equitable allocation of the portion of the fence line to be physically built and cared for by each landowner, or in lieu of the actual work, a financial contribution for construction and maintainence made by either landowner. LB 667 would clarify that the fencing standard to which landowners would be held, unless they agree to a different standard, is a wire fence. As defined in our current law, a wire fence is consistent with widely understood and used fence standards.

LB 226 expanded some rights for 18-year-olds. The bill would allow them to enter into contracts or leases, or consent to medical treatment, if a parent or guardian gives consent through a power of attorney. LB 226 is waiting to be signed by the governor. The bill's emergency clause will allow the new law to take effect immediately and grant to Nebraska's 18-year-olds new rights that will be consistent with those found in the majority of the other states in this country.

The Nebraska Litter Reduction and Recycling Act was scheduled to end on October 30, 2010. LB 798 will extend the termination date to October 30, 2015. The extension will also extend the litter fee collection used for litter and recycling programs.

I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to represent District 2 in the Nebraska Legislature.  We welcome your contacts by mail, phone or email.

Conestoga FFA Wins One

and

Qualifies Four for State FFA in Career Development Contests

The Conestoga FFA traveled to Beatrice, NE on March 2 to compete at District Career Development events. FFA members competed in Horticulture, Livestock Management, Junior and Senior Livestock Selection, and Natural Resource Management against the 12 other FFA chapters in the Southeast Nebraska District. The FFA members did well and finished in the top 50% in all of the contests and qualified for State FFA in all of the contests, but Natural Resource Management, where they are the alternates.

The Horticulture team was the first team to win District Horticulture contest at Conestoga.  During the contest students must correctly identify different landscaping plants, interpret pesticide labels, read landscape drawings, and complete a general plant knowledge test.

The senior livestock selection team received 2nd place and in Junior Livestock Selection, Conestoga's team received 5th place. In both Junior and Senior Livestock Selection, students rank sheep, cattle, and swine animals based on the animal's physical and genetic qualities.  In Senior Livestock Selection, the students, not only rank the animals, they also have to give oral reasons on why they ranked the class the way they did.

In Livestock Management, Conestoga showed off their knowledge about sheep, dairy, poultry, equine, swine, and beef animals.  Conestoga won the poultry and swine areas and participated well enough in the other areas to receive second and qualify for state.

Rounding out the competitions, Conestoga competed in Natural Resource Management.  This very difficult contest tests student's knowledge about land, water and wildlife management.  Conestoga finished 4th and is an alternate to the State contests in April.

The FFA members are excited about the opportunity to travel to Lincoln, NE to compete at the State FFA Convention on April 7, 8, and 9.

(Contributed by FFA's Jonathan Anderson)

Conestoga Junior High Dance

Friday, March 12

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Conestoga High School

$2.00 admission

Sponsored by Student Council

Concessions available:
Pizza $1.25 per slice
Pop $.75 per can

National Agriculture Week is next week, March 14 - 20.

In appreciation, Murray State Bank will be offering

A FREE CUP of COFFEE

for their Customers and Friends in the Agricultural Business!

Omaha Lead and Healthy Homes Conference

The Omaha Lead and Healthy Homes Conference is March 15-16 at the University of Nebraska-Omaha Milo Bail Student Center. After March 8,  registration will be $65/person.  To register go to www.omahahealthykids.org.   Highlights of the conference include presentations on National Lead Exposure and Violent Crime Research, Kim Dietrich, Ph.D. University of Cincinnati,  Ruth Norton, Executive Director of Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, and UNL and UNMC faculty. The conference is  a partnership of several organizations including the Extension in Douglas County and UNL Extension.
For more information contact the Cass County Extension office in Weeping Water at 267-2205, or e-mail cass-county@unl.edu

State Legislature Candidate, Nate Louderback,

Makes proposal to rein in government spending.

On Wednesday March 3, 2010, Nate Louderback, candidate for the Nebraska Legislature District 2, gave his first radio interview on KNCY Country Radio in Nebraska City, NE with newsman Bill Oliver.

Louderback stated that the unprecedented financial crisis was a deciding factor in the decision to run for office. Louderback specifically stated that the fiscal challenges currently facing the state of Nebraska were not caused by the recent economic crisis, but rather were caused by the decision making of the Legislature while the economy was good. In order to curb spending, Louderback proposed that all state-funded programs be reviewed every ten years to determine whether they should be continued or to adjust funding. This would allow the Legislature to ensure that all programs are funded adequately without being tied to automatic increases.

Louderback also discussed that he will be utilizing social networking tools and has created a Facebook Fan page, as well as a website: http://www.louderbackforlegislature.com .

Nate Louderback graduated from Plattsmouth High School in 1998. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Creighton University, a Master's of Politics from New York University, and a Master's of Business Administration from Bellevue University. He works in the financial services industry and lives in Plattsmouth with his wife and two children.

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