Highlights from the 2010  Otoe County Fair Veterans Parade.

Otoe County 4-H and FFA livestock brought $116,112 at auction Thursday accounting for a donation of $54,824 above the market price.

The 4-H grand champion market lamb shown by Paige Heng brought $1,292 by itself.

“I was shocked,” said Heng, who showed sheep for her fourth year. “A normal price at the fair is $2 or $3 per pound, so I was very happy when I heard the bid at $9,” she said.

Video>>> After a nearly unbroken string of dominance that spans 50 years at the Otoe County fair’s 4-H market beef show, livestock judge Corey Thomsen surveyed another selection of the powerful, commercially-attractive crossbred steers.

In their midst Lisa Niedermeyer showed a Hereford that represented the best of the British breeds.

The judge of the crops and garden show at the Otoe County Fair said the humidity and heat were perfect this year for a lot of garden diseases, but local growers appear to have found patience is the remedy.

Tomato plants across the region were hard hit by blight, that spread each time a drop of water was splashed from leaf to leaf. Many onions rotted in the moist ground where they were planted.

The Otoe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating up to 14 reports of thefts from vehicles parked in Syracuse July 26-27.

All of the overnight thefts involved parked vehicles that were left unlocked.
Items stolen include at JVC car stereo, Alpine stereo, Alpine subwoofer, Magellan GPS, digital camera, sunglasses, jumper cables, Garmin GPS, blue plastic cooler and Ipod.

The heat wave that prompted warnings of heat indexes as high as 110 degrees may subside by the start of the Otoe County Fair on Sunday.

A temperature of 94 degrees at 4 p.m. on Tuesday with relative humidity of 58 degrees translates into a heat index of 107 degrees.

     Syracuse Community Memorial Hospital recently began use of two new capabilities designed to improve the quality of health care for Syracuse and its surrounding communities.
     The after hours pharmacy service and the tele-trauma system will help patients receive faster specialized care, said Sara Turpel, chief nursing officer.

Extreme Heat Warnings pose a threat to all ages and all walks of life including construction workers, preseason athletes, and commuters.

Nebraska's farm real estate value rose from 2009, extending a trend that began in 1993, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service,

The first cases of West Nile virus have been reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

WATCH FOR SCAMS, FRAUD FOLLOWING STORMS, FLOODING AND TORNADOES

LINCOLN, Neb. - Survivors recovering from the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes that began in June are urged to beware of scam artists that prey on others' misfortunes, cautioned state and federal officials.

Former Nebraska City stockbroker Rebecca Engle is asking the district court to move her trial elsewhere claiming she can not get a fair trial  here.

Engle, 55, is also asking the court to dismiss three of the eight counts charging her with securities fraud involving the start-up Florida companies American Capital Corporation and Royal Palm.

Otoe County Board Chairman Tim Nelsen is expected to propose a reduction in the taxable value of the Nebraska City Wal-Mart store and changes on some farmland that is not in production at an 8 a.m. board meeting on Friday.

The action follows a week of hearings involving 120 tax protests.

Video>>> The 2010 Special Olympics Torch Run came through Nebraska City and Syracuse on July 16 on the way to Lincoln’s Bob Devaney Center for the lighting ceremony of the National Special Olympics on July 18.

Gov. Heineman sites fairness & equity...

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman today issued a directive that contract covered employees will take two furlough days between now and the end of the year. The furlough is expected to save the state $3.5 million.

Lincoln, Neb. - Federal Public Assistance disaster funds are now available to help local, county and state governments, as well as Tribal Nations, in 53 counties rebuild public property damaged by the recent severe storms, tornadoes and floods that have affected Nebraska since June 1.
 

A thunderstorm that produced heavy rain and lightning is blamed for a house fire in Syracuse an alarm in Hamburg.

A fire in a Syracuse duplex forced the evacuation of three people.

The Otoe County Board offered its approval Tuesday for an outdoor band fundraiser, orchard wine tasting and Nebraska City street dance.

Nancy Holmquist told commissioners she is planning to sell wine on her property near Eagle on Aug. 21 as a fundraiser for Voices of Hope, a Lincoln crisis center for victims of domestic violence.

Otoe County commissioners voiced concern Tuesday regarding stolen road signs.

Commissioners Tim Nelsen and Carol Crook said signs have recently been taken from roadways south of Nebraska City and Syracuse.

Unadilla Fire Chief Steve Vodicka was on the fire hose with his son and wife suppressing a fire in a Unadilla trailer Saturday when a neighbor gave arriving firefighters alarming news.

The house owner, Ron Stock, was seen leaving earlier that morning, but the neighbor said his wife might still be inside.