We will officially be halfway through our legislative session on February 23rd. This column will highlight some of the bills that I presented to committees in the past couple of weeks that will directly benefit rural Nebraska and District One.
1-105. SOUTH PLATTE RIVER COMPACT (1) Ratification by Nebraska Legislature COMPACT WITH COLORADO, SOUTH PLATTE RIVER AN ACT to ratify and approve the Compact between the States of Colorado and Nebraska, respecting the South Platte River, and to declare an emergency.
Thanks to a 99-year-old agreement that was approved by Congress, Nebraska can build a canal in Colorado to bring water from the South Platte River to the state and store it in a reservoir here. The agreement, called the South Platte River Compact and signed by Nebraska and Colorado in 1923, Neb is entitled to 120 cubic feet of water per second from the South Platte from April 1 to October 15 annually for irrigation use.
On Friday, Feb.11, the fourth S-Club Athletic Hall of Fame class was inducted during halftime of the boys’ varsity game at the Syracuse Middle School Gym. Inductees included Mark Weiler, Dean Farley, Renee Cheney, and the 1963 undefeated football team.
Fans can always expect a high-intensity game between the Syracuse and Auburn girls’ programs. Syracuse has beaten Auburn in the two sports in every contest dating back to 2019 in basketball and 2015 in volleyball. With the lady Rockets being a thorn in the side of the Bulldogs, the Bulldogs almost prevailed in their most recent basketball contest.
Despite being about five years younger than many of the teams they faced, the Otoe County Robotics Team hung in strong during this year’s competition. “I’m really proud of them,” said Extension Educator Deb Weitzenkamp in her annual report to the Otoe County Board of Commissioners.
Photos by Amy Wander 106 COLTON SPRAGUE •Freshman• Colton has done a great job stepping into the varsity role and really catching steam that last part of the season to punch his first ticket to Omaha. Colton comes in each and everyday ready to work hard and do what it takes to help the team as well as perform individually.
BI have always believed that strong families form the foundation of strong communities. Through my work in the Unicameral and now in the U.S. Senate, I have worked for state and national policies that set families up for success.
We’re nearly halfway through session and things are heating up in floor debate. A familiar foe arose this week- the urban-rural divide.
I answered the ring of my doorbell this afternoon – well before the start of the Super bowl. There stood a woman I have known since she was a tiny girl.