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Fourteen young ladies from Weeping Water participated in the Plattsmouth Lions Club Annual Amateur Talent Contest on Sunday, April 5, 2009. 
Four dance classes from Amanda Flanagan’s dance studio with young ladies ranging in age from seven to sixteen performed tap or jazz routines that afternoon.

Also performing that day were Adalie Thomas and Taylor Hermann.  Addy played the guitar while both of the ladies sang “The Climb”. 
Everyone danced, sang, and played beautifully!  They should all be very proud of themselves for representing the city of Weeping Water in such a wonderfully talented way. 


 


 

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For Immediate Release: Some New Laws

April 3, 2009, Lincoln – In January 416 bills and six proposed constitutional amendments were introduced for consideration by the One Hundred First Legislature – First Session. Fifty-four of the bills have already been passed by the Legislature and approved by the governor. These are some of the new laws that are now or will soon be in effect in Nebraska.

The Farm Mediation Act was created in 1988 to bring producers and others together to resolve disputes. The Nebraska Farm Mediation Program has been very effective in providing borrowers and creditors an alternative means of resolving financial disputes without litigation or appeals. The original Act was due to expire on June 30th of this year. LB 101 removed this sunset date, so the Program can continue to be used by individuals, who want to develop mutually agreeable solutions to their problems.

LB 29 amended the Nebraska Real Estate License Act to allow licensed managing brokers to manage multiple branch offices of real estate companies. Managing brokers are responsible for the actions of associate brokers and salespersons who work for them. Under current law associate brokers can manage multiple branch offices, but managing brokers do not have the same authority. Since managing brokers have the highest level of responsibility and liability, it makes sense to give them the same management authority that is afforded to associate brokers.

As proposed by LB 102 students who complete an associate degree at a community college in Nebraska will automatically be defined as a high school graduate when applying for financial aid and/or admission to a postsecondary institution. Under current law the absence of a high school diploma can prevent these students from being admitted to Nebraska’s public colleges and universities, and receiving much-needed financial assistance.

LB 7 required that clerks of the district court, like all other elected county officials, live in the county for which they work. Under LB 55 candidates for nomination or appointment as a county attorney must be admitted to the practice of law in Nebraska. This qualification previously existed only in counties with populations above twenty thousand. LB 55 also required that a candidate for Attorney General must have practiced law in Nebraska for at least two years before taking office.

The purpose of LB 91 was to expand subsidized adoption provisions. Current law allows the Department of Health and Human Services to make such payments on behalf of state wards with special needs when they are adopted. The new law will provide a state-funded adoption subsidy to guardians, who currently receive a state-funded guardianship subsidy, and who want to adopt the child. Such payments may be for medical expenses and other costs associated with the care of the child.

LB 49 was the Transportation Committee’s bill to require the consolidation of motor vehicle and motorboat services in the county treasurer’s office. These services include certificate of titles, registrations, license plates, and collection of fees and taxes. The new law will streamline the county’s practices to make them more efficient and customer-friendly. It will also eliminate the need for duplicate equipment for both the county clerk and treasurer. Forty-seven of our 93 counties had already combined these services in one office. Services in Cass, Otoe and Sarpy Counties will soon be consolidated, as well.

The Department of Environmental Quality coordinates Nebraska’s Scrap Tire Management Grant Program. Under this Program up to one-hundred percent of the costs incurred by political subdivisions to clean up scrap tires is eligible for grant funding. The Program was due to expire on June 30th of this year. LB 379 extended the Program for another five years.

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.
Senator Dave Pankonin
    State Capitol
    PO Box 94604
    Lincoln, NE 68509
    (402) 471-2613
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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The Old Avoca (Nebraska) Schoolhouse will be hosting a Contest Fiddling Workshop for fiddlers (or violinists or violists) who want to learn some of the do's and dont's when playing in a fiddle contest.   Fiddlers (or violinists or violists) of any age and experience level are encouraged to enroll. 
Championship fiddler and fiddle book author, Deborah Greenblatt will explain some of the rules (if any) that fiddlers are likely to see.  Tune choices and performance customs will be discussed as well.  The Workshop will be particularly helpful for those folks planning on entering the Monumental Fiddling Championship in Beatrice on Saturday, May 23. 
The Schoolhouse Contest Fiddling Workshop takes place on Saturday, May 16, 1 PM - 3 PM, in the Old Avoca Schoolhouse, in Avoca, Nebraska.  Pre-registration is required, and enrollment is limited.  The fee is $20.00 per fiddler.  For more information, call 402-275-3221, or send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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On Good Friday, the Holy Family Shrine will be erecting a 45’ Crucifix Spire (made of stainless steel weighing 2820 pounds) with a figure of Christ (eight feet tall made of bronze weighing 780 lbs).  The Crucifix will be located next to the shrine (highly visible) drawing visitors in from the I-80 Interstate and surrounding areas.  The Crucifix will serve to call and welcome travelers to visit the Shrine so that they may experience the presence of God and the Holy Spirit in the unique setting so peaceful and beautiful at the Shrine.  The Crucifix was designed by Michael Montag and fabricated by Nebraska Welding.  Stations of the Cross will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Good Friday April 10th.  On May 2nd at 10:00 am there will be a Dedication of the Crucifix followed by an Open House until 5:00 pm.
The Holy Family Shrine is a non-profit 501(c)3 corp. and exists solely on the donations of the over 20,000 visitors a year from all over the world.  The mission of the Holy Family Shrine, as a Catholic Chapel on the highway, is to be a gateway to heaven for pilgrims and travelers to experience the healing presence and inspiration of the Holy Spirit that awakens them to God’s will in their journey through life.  Please direct all inquiries to Jodi Knight, Development Director.
The Holy Family Shrine is located off I-80 exit 432 in between Omaha and Lincoln. Directions: I-80 exit 432, South on Hwy 31 (1.3 miles) west on Pflug Road ( 1 mile)

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Relay For Life brings more than 3.5 million people from across the country together each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that affects so many.

Samantha Wessels, a 2008 graduate of Weeping Water High School, recently contacted me about spreading awareness about Nebraska Wesleyan’s upcoming “Relay for Life” event to be held on April 17th.  She is on the Survivorship committee and is contacting area towns looking for cancer survivors who might like to participate and be honored during the festivities.  Survivors will get a free t-shirt and goodie bag and will be honored during the Survivorship Ceremony.
“Relay for Life” is an all-night event, with the teams walking around the track all night, taking turns in a relay.  However, the Survivorship Ceremony will be held earlier in the evening.
Those who are cancer survivors and would like to participate in the relay and meet with other cancer survivors can call Samantha Wessels at 402-297-1643 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  She will then mail/email them a Survivor’s packet with all the information needed for the event.
Even if you aren’t a cancer survivor, you can still make a donation.  Wesleyan has almost 40 teams signed up to compete for donations this year.  Samantha’s team is called the “Plainswomen”.  There are ten girls on her team and their goal for donations is $1,000.  If you would like to make a donation, you can write a check to the American Cancer Society and mail it to Samantha at: 
Samantha Wessels
5000 St Paul Ave SMB 9029
Lincoln, NE  68504
You can also donate online with a credit card by going to the Wesleyan website at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=16948.  Make sure you specify that you want your donation to be credited to the “Plainswomen” team.

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION

• The Weeping Water Public Library now has wireless internet service for community use.  Please stop in and check out this new service.

• Seasons of the Soul author Janet Syas Nitsick won honorable mention for her unpublished, early-twentieth-century novel, Sustaining Love:  A Time Remembered.  www.Christianstoryteller.com  

Writers Dream Contest of 2008 notified Janet of the award in February.  Visit Weeping Water Public Library to read Seasons of the Soul or listen to its audio version.


CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, April 8:

• Steak Dinner at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Weeping Water  5-8 p.m.

• Board of Education meeting @ 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 9:

• School dismissed at 1:30 p.m.

Friday, April 10:

• No School

• American Legion Fish Fry @ 5:30 p.m. (Last One)

• Community “Good Friday” Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Congregational Church in WW

Saturday, April 11:

• Weeping Water Easter Egg Hunt @ 11:00 a.m. at the ballfield

Sunday, April 12:

• Easter Sunday

Monday, April 13:

• No School