A recent scam tugs at the heartstrings of grandparents while emptying out their wallets. It’s called the grandparent scam and it’s targeting Nebraska seniors.

The February Business Conditions Index for the Mid-America region, a leading economic indicator from a survey of supply managers in a nine-state area, rose for a third straight month pointing to improving economic growth in the months ahead.  The index expanded to 61.0 from 54.7 in January and 50.3 in December.  An index of 50.0 is considered growth neutral for the leading economic indicator. 

Attorney General Jon Bruning today applauded the Legislature’s passage of LB 190 and its accompanying appropriations bill, LB 190A.  The bill expands the state’s collection of DNA samples to include all those convicted of a felony, including those currently in prison and on parole.

   Otoe County commissioners trimmed their one-year road plan and say it reflects projects that might reasonably be undertaken.
   The proposed one-year plan contains 36 projects, compared to nearly 100 offered last year.
Only 13 of the 2009 projects were completed, but commissioners expect a $2.5 million bond issue to propel the new one-year plan.

   Incumbent decisions not to file for re-election by the Tuesday deadline last week have left open seats for the school board and Syracuse city council.
   One seat is open on the Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca School board. The Syracuse board has three seats up for election with incumbents Greg Mueller of Avoca and Dean Neels of Dunbar already on the ballot.
   Incumbent Jerry Werner, a 14-year member of the school board who has served as the board treasurer for a decade, said it was a hard decision not to seek re-election.

Public funding and equality at the ballot box are on the line when federal census day arrives April 1, Otoe County Commissioner Carol Crook said Tuesday.

Crook encouraged all Otoe County citizens and non-citizens to participate in the census, which is being promoted as 10 questions that take 10 minutes to complete.

She said it’s 10, 10 in 2010, but its affects will go on much longer. The census determines distribution of over $300 billion annually in government funding.

Prosecutors have dropped animal neglect charges against an Otoe County man who had been hired to winter a herd last year.

Otoe County Attorney David Partsch filed the charges against Christopher Schram, 33, after his office received a complaint from the cattle owner.

He said he filed charges based on the information at that time, but eventually informed the owner that he would move to dismiss the charges.

 

Six area wrestlers, five from Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca, and one from Nebraska City will compete in the semifinals of the state wrestling tournament at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Omaha Qwest Center.

The Rocket girls' basketball team put up a good fight before falling 55-41 in subdistrict action against Lincoln Christian at Johnson-Brock on Thursday night. Now it appears the program will fight on without longtime Head Coach Tim Isaacs.

In second round action Thursday morning at the State Wrestling Tournament, Nebraska City and Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca wrestlers’ results were:

Nebraska City and Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca wrestlers competed at the State Wrestling Tournament. First round results from Thursday morning are reported.

The Nebraska State Patrol has begun training on three light armored vehicles (LAV’s) surplused by the Nebraska Army National Guard.

The LAV-25 is an all terrain, all weather light armored personnel carrier.  Built by General Dynamics, the LAV-25 is an amphibious vehicle capable of forging streams, rivers and inland waterways.

Changes are in store for Syracuse city council and schools board in following Tuesday’s deadline for incumbents to file for re-election.

The Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca School board has three seats up for election with incumbents Greg Mueller of Avoca and Dean Neels of Dunbar already on the ballot.

Incumbent Jerry Werner, a 14-year member of the school board who has served as the board treasurer for a decade, said it was hard decision not to seek re-election.

   After about a decade in Nebraska City, John Schreiter of CropLife Insurance Agency, Inc., moved to Syracuse at the end of November. The office is at 940 12th St., east of Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca High School and between Subway and Dollar General.
    Schreiter said that it has gone well since the move to Syracuse. He said that the move is closer to the Otoe County Farm Service Agency office and his customer base. CropLife Insurance Agency serves customers in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.

   Otoe County commissioners agreed last Tuesday to consider a $15,000 request intended to guarantee that Nebraska City and Syracuse museums will be open and admission be free to residents.
   Brian Volkmer of the Nebraska City Museum Alliance said the county’s contribution, matched by $15,000 from the city’s LB840 economic development fund, will provide $3,000 for museums in Nebraska City and the Otoe County Museum of Memories in Syracuse.
   The money will be used to ensure that the attractions are open at least four days per week and four hours per day. Admission fees, normally $3 for adults and $1 for children, will be waived for residents who provide identification.