The Blue Hill Leader

Silver Lake athletes narrowly miss medaling in Class D morning session

OMAHA - The Slver Lake 3,200-meter relay team of Nathan Kosse, Jared Rathje, Conner Hansen and Kevin Hall came one spot away from a medal in ninth place, while senior Cami Bruckman came in 10th in the 3,200-meter finals.

The 3,200-meter relay team was clocked in a season-best time of 8:43.83, which was just behind eighth-place McCool Junction, which was clocked in 8:42.53. Lindsay Holy Family won in 8:14.80.

\"We were hoping to medal,\" Rathje said.

In the 3,200-meter run, Bruckman finished in a season-best time of 12:43.05, which was six seconds away from medaling.

\"I ran faster this than I did last year when I got seventh,\" said Bruckman, who finished fourth in the event as a sophomore and seventh last season. \"It\'s the fastest I have run this year so that is definitely a good way to finish.

\"I am kind of sad that this is my last race, but I think I have had a good four years of track.\"

In other preliminary events, no Mustangs or Lady Mustangs made the finals.

Rathje finished second in his heat of the 400 in 53.119, but was 10th overall and missed making the finals.

Bailey Morris finished fifth in her heat of the 400 and missed the finals.

Shelby Rupprecht came in eighth in her heat of the 300 hurdles in 52.903 and didn\'t make finals.

\"My timing just wasn\'t there,\" said Rupprecht, who was competing in an individual event at state for the first time after running a leg in a relay last season. \"I stutter stepped every hurdle.\"

Rupprecht, who plans to play basketball at Midland Lutheran, was also glad to finish her high school athletic career at Omaha Burke.

\"There are 20 million more people than any meet we run at all year,\" Rupprecht said. \"It was kind of nerve wracking. It was a good way to end the year. It was very exciting being here.\"

Kosse didn\'t finish his 3,200-meter final.

On Saturday, Morris will lead things off for Silver Lake with her 800-meter finals. Hansen also will be competing in the open 800.

Kosse will try and come back in the 1,600 meter finals and the 1,600-meter relay of Kosse, Rathje, Hall and Hansen will end the meet for the Mustangs.

Webster County voters turn out for primary election

WEBSTER COUNTY - In the May 11 primary election, 37% of the Democrats voted, 53% of the Republicans voted and 14% of the Independents voted.

Click to view the results from the primary election

Blue Hill\'s Willicott to play for Doane

Doane College is pleased to announce that Alyssa Willicott of Blue Hill High School will be signing a Letter of Intent to participate in basketball this upcoming Fall for the Tigers.

The signing will take place at the high school at 3:30 PM on Friday, May 7.

Blue Hill Leader correct sports page for April 28

Due to a printing error, the wrong sports page was run in the April 28 edition of the Blue Hill Leader.

We apologize for the error. If you would like to see the correct page, please click on the following link.

Click to view correct April 28, 2010 sports page.

Alber resigns from Blue Hill City Council

BLUE HILL - Four days after having his pardons request turned down by the Nebraska State Board of Pardons, Blue Hill city councilman Jesse M. Alber resigned from the Blue Hill City Council.

Alber was one of 31 individuals who appeared before the Nebraska State Board of Pardons on April 2, 2010 to ask for a full pardon stemming from felony and misdemeanor charges nearly 20 years ago.

"I submitted an application to the board of pardons last fall, after I was declined professional certification," Alber said. "My intent was to attempt to remove the conviction from my criminal history report."

The Board denied Alber\'s request for a full pardon.
"The board, which consist of the Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General, declined my appeal, primarily based upon written statements in opposition from Webster County Attorney, Jerry McDole, and Blue Hill City Attorney Michelle Oldham," Alber said.

According to the Nebraska Board of Pardons web site the board \"heard applicant Jesse M. Alber\'s case for full pardon of felony and misdemeanor convictions wherein he was convicted in Adams County and sentenced on December 28, 1988 to a term of one year probation for the offense of Disturbing the Peace and to a $50.00 fine for the offense of Resisting Arrest. Sentenced on November 3, 1989 to a term of one year probation for the offense of Third Degree Assault; sentenced on January 25, 1991 to a term of 24 months probation for the offense of Third Degree Assault on an Officer; and sentenced on September 14, 1992 to a $250.00 fine for the offense of Disturbing the Peace. (Legal Counsel: None listed).\"
The fact that Alber was a convicted felon and didn\'t get a pardon on April 2, 2010 raised many questions about whether he legally could or should have been allowed to be on the Blue Hill City Council since 2006 when he was first elected.

The answer appears to be no and there is still a possibility that Albers, 40, could face new charges.

\"It is up the County Attorney to determine if any charges should be filed against him when falsifying under oath on the 2010 Candidate Filing Form that he is qualified for that office,\" said Lonnie Knehans, who is the Webster County Clerk and Election Commissioner.

Albers was up for reelection and is on the ballot for the May 11 primary election in Webster County.

According to Knehans, convicted felons can not hold public office in Webster County.

On the application for running for public office, individuals are asked if they are a convicted felon.

"Obviously, I was aware that I had been convicted of a felony, however, based upon a 1992 conversation with then Adams County Attorney, Stephen Scherr, I was under the impression, for the past 18 years, that my civil rights had been restored," Alber said. "When I completed my non-partisan candidate filing forms in both 2006 and 2010, I was still under the assumption that my civil rights, including the right to run for and hold public office had been restored."

According to Knehans, \"since 2007, the state checks the county voters against the felon list from the previous two years. In 1990 a certain individual having a felony conviction from another county would not have been reported to other counties. There would have been no way of knowing in 2004 when the certain individual registered to vote if he was a felon.

\"He would have signed an oath saying he wasn't. If he lied, it would have been a Class IV felony. That felony had a three-year statute of limitations and could not be prosecuted at this time. Then in 2005, the legislature changed the law to allow felons the right to register and vote two years after completing their sentence.

\"In 2006, when the certain individual completed his candidate filing form, he lied under oath that he was qualified for office. That would be in violation of some state statutes and the Nebraska Constitution (Art XV, Sec 2).

\"Pursuant to �32-603 (3), when taking office in 2006, it was the city's duty to see that he was qualified for office pursuant to �32-603 (3).\"

It will be up to the City of Blue Hill again to decide how it wants to proceed this time around.

Another appointment seems likely.

Alber's brother, Andy, who also was a member of the Blue Hill City Council, was recalled Aug. 18, 2009 by Blue Hill voters last year and Albert Gray was appointed to fill the remain time on his term. Doris Hartman was also appointed to the current council after Keri Schunk became mayor following Russ Willems death last year.

\"The vacant seat will be handled like the previous two appointments,\" Schunk said. \"It is on the April agenda for the council to accept his resignation. After it is accepted the city will note the vacancy in the minutes and proceed with appointment at the May meeting.\"

The Blue Hill City Council was scheduled to meet on April 13.

Treasurer\'s Weekly Column April 9, 2010

We made it to April. After a galling winter that at times seemed like it would never end, it is finally another radiant Nebraska springtime. The welcomed warm air and new spring growth are literally a breath of fresh air after months of frigid temperatures and dim skies. It seems that on this side of the fence, the grass actually is greener. But April is not only the beginning of spring; it is also National Financial Literacy Month.

We are currently living in a country with a down economy. Americans, as consumers, have had to adapt their lifestyles as well as their spending habits. For most, days of over-charging and excessive spending are regrettable realities. In fact, one major factor for the current economic condition is a general lack of responsible credit. A recent survey done by Money Management International revealed that 33% of Americans feel as though they should be held solely accountable for their own financial education. This illustrates that even in times of economic discord people still recognize the importance of being responsible of their own personal finances.

In light of that, if you have outstanding credit card debt, now is as good a time as any to face it. While it may seem intimidating, there are some simple ways to start the process of becoming financially fit again. Here are three basic steps to regaining control over your financial future:

First off, know exactly where you stand. Get organized and acquire your current credit score. To find your free and reliable credit report, visit treasurer.org. Personal financial literacy begins with a keen awareness and understanding of your individual situation.

Second, balance you're your income with your spending, and create an appropriate budget. Record and observe even the smallest of your expenditures. Whether it be monthly or weekly, frequently monitor your progress. This is basic money management.

Finally, consult a trusted professional for additional guidance. See a tax attorney or financial advisor with questions regarding your present of future finances. By following these simple steps, you have set out on the road to economic independence and financial literacy.

Let this spring be your reminder that anything can be overcome. Acquiring and maintaining healthy financial habits throughout one's life is vital to success. Good practices of personal finance promote a healthy lifestyle and eliminate unneeded stress.

Community Vision Workshop coming to Blue Hill

Successful community development rarely 'just happens'. As you look at successful development efforts, you most often find a person or group that had a vision for success long before development success was realized. Community strategic planning efforts are enhanced when the group understands the connection between future dreams and today's challenges.

Get involved in making things happen in your community by learning from the experts! Clare Gustin & Nikki Pfannenstiel will explain the Community Vision process and how even the smallest community can benefit from the process.

The presentation will begin at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at the Blue Hill Community Center. Come early for dessert and refreshments that will be served between 6:15 and 6:45 PM. Pre-register by calling the South Central Economic Development at 308-995-3190 or e-mail admin@scedd.us, cost is $5. Members of communities through-out the region and those interested in the community vision process are invited and encouraged to attend!

The South Central Economic Development District (SCEDD) and the Nebraska Development Network - Central Region are partnering to bring community development workshops to your community! Collaborating and partnering within regions to connect resources and local entities for community and economic development fulfills the Network's vision of being a source of expertise for enhancing those opportunities in Central Nebraska. The South Central Economic Development District is delighted to partner to bring these workshops to the communities in the SCEDD region.

Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your community development!

Blue Hill councilman Alber appears before State Board of Pardons

BLUE HILL - Blue Hill city councilman Jesse M. Alber was one of 31 individuals who appeared before the Nebraska State Board of Pardons on April 2, 2010 to ask for a full pardon stemming from felony and misdemeanor charges nearly 20 years ago.

The Board denied Alber\'s request for a full pardon.

According to the Nebraska Board of Pardons web site the board \"heard applicant Jesse M. Alber\'s case for full pardon of felony and misdemeanor convictions wherein he was convicted in Adams County and sentenced on December 28, 1988 to a term of one year probation for the offense of Disturbing the Peace and to a $50.00 fine for the offense of Resisting Arrest. Sentenced on November 3, 1989 to a term of one year probation for the offense of Third Degree Assault; sentenced on January 25, 1991 to a term of 24 months probation for the offense of Third Degree Assault on an Officer; and sentenced on September 14, 1992 to a $250.00 fine for the offense of Disturbing the Peace. (Legal Counsel: None listed).\"

The fact that Alber is a convicted felon and didn\'t get a pardon on April 2, 2010 raises many questions about whether he legally can or should have been allowed to be on the Blue Hill City Council.

The answer appears to be no and there now is a possibility that Albers, 40, could face new charges.

\"It is up the County Attorney to determine if any charges should be filed against him when falsifying under oath on the 2010 Candidate Filing Form that he is qualified for that office,\" said Lonnie Knehans, who is the Webster County Clerk and Election Commissioner.

Albers was up for reelection and is on the ballot for the May 11 primary election in Webster County.

According to Knehans, convicted felons can not hold public office in Webster County.

On the application for running for public office, individuals are asked if they are a convicted felon.

According to Knehans, \"since 2007, the state checks the county voters against the felon list from the previous two years. In 1990 a certain individual having a felony conviction from another county would not have been reported to other counties. There would have been no way of knowing in 2004 when the certain individual registered to vote if he was a felon.

\"He would have signed an oath saying he wasn't. If he lied, it would have been a Class IV felony. That felony had a three-year statute of limitations and could not be prosecuted at this time. Then in 2005, the legislature changed the law to allow felons the right to register and vote two years after completing their sentence.

\"In 2006, when the certain individual completed his candidate filing form, he lied under oath that he was qualified for office. That would be in violation of some state statutes and the Nebraska Constitution (Art XV, Sec 2).
\"Pursuant to �32-603 (3), when taking office in 2006, it was the city's duty to see that he was qualified for office pursuant to �32-603 (3).\"

It will be up to the City of Blue Hill again to decide how it wants to proceed this time around.

The next Blue Hill City Council meeting will be held on April 13.

Rep Valley Trap team kicks off season in Doniphan

Gun...Check. Reloads...Check. Shooting vest...Check. A cold, cold day...Check. The Rep Valley Trapshooting Club had everything they needed last Saturday to kick off the 2010 season. The club is fielding a full squad this year with 18 high school and 19 junior high members hailing from the Blue Hill, Red Cloud, Minden, Adams Central, Sandy Creek and Clay Center schools. The team is coached once again by Miles Doyle and Dave Kohmetscher.

The Mid Nebraska Trapshooting Conference hosted their first meet on March 20th at Doniphan, and the Rep Valley shooters were ready to go. Scores in general were not especially high, but that could be expected with the cold temperatures and the fact that weather had not allowed for as much practice as usual.

The Junior High A Squad finished as the Runner-Up team with a combined score of 197, behind Grand Island Northwest who shot a 208. Shooting for the A squad were Austin Johnson (37), Amelia Petska (41), Brady May (39), Skylar Brumbaugh (41), and Daniel Kinley (39). Individually, the Rep Valley junior high girls dominated the rest of the field, taking the top 6 places in the female competition. Amelia Petska was the top girl with 41, Kylie Heaton was 2nd with 35, Emily McCleary was 3rd with 33, Statsha May was 4th with 32, and Katie McCleary and Lenae Kohmetscher tied for 5th with 31.

After a less-than-stellar start in the 16 yard competition, the High School shooters came on strong in the Handicap competition. The Rep Valley A squad shot a combined 207 from their respective yardages to take first place in Handicap. Shooting for the A squad were Lance Johnson (43), Blake Brumbaugh (46), Trenton Jordening (42), Christine Herrick (38), and Kelly Faimon (38). At the end of the day, the A squad also found themselves in a tie for Top Over-all Team, as their score of 414 matched the score of Grand Island Northwest. After an exciting team shoot-off, the Rep Valley squad came up 4 targets short, and they settled for Over-all Runner-up honors.
Individually, Eli VanBoening tied for 1st from the 22/23 yard line with a score of 43. Unfortunately, he lost his shoot-off to finish as the runner-up. Trenton Jordening shot a combined 87 to finish 2nd in the Over-all competition. Christine Herrick was 3rd for the ladies with her combined 79.

The team is looking for warmer temperatures and higher scores next week as they compete in week 2 of the six week conference season.

Weekly Column 3-19-2010

Providing a more accountable and transparent government has always been one of my primary goals. I believe that taxpayers have the right to know exactly where their money goes. One of my proudest accomplishments as your State Treasurer has been the launching of nebraskaspending.gov.

When I first took office, I found that there were few places I could go to see how our tax dollars were being spent. These various government reports were often over 100 pages long and not user-friendly. They lacked detail and did little to promote a transparent government. This frustrating search led to my commitment to the idea that Nebraskans deserve an easier way of seeing where their money is going.

Launched in 2008, Nebraskaspending.gov is a comprehensive and searchable database of state government spending here in Nebraska, aimed at educating citizens about how our tax dollars are raised and how they're being spent.

Nebraskaspending.gov provides a searchable listing of expenditures for the State of Nebraska each fiscal year. Here, expenditures are searchable by name, county, amount and agency. Listed are 1.7 million payments made by the state of Nebraska, all by the click of a button. In addition to an updated yearly expenditure breakdown, there is also a comprehensive archive of historical expenditures.

The site includes an interactive search of all contracts made by the State of Nebraska each calendar year. Every contract is listed by agency, contract date, final date, duration of the contract, vendor name, description of the service provided and the estimated contract amount. Site visitors are able to see exactly who Nebraska is doing business with. They can see listed agencies, and the length and worth of their vendor contracts.

Visitors can also search for specific government agency payments. These payments are searchable by agency, operating amount, salaries and benefits, travel, aid, and total expenditures. Agencies are anything from state colleges and Department of Roads, to the offices of elected officials and Administrative Services. An open, online file of government agency payments undoubtedly promotes accountability and transparency within our government.

My goal is to ensure that Nebraskans can see every component of their government's spending, down the very last penny. Government officials need to know that they are being held accountable when they spend tax dollars. In an era of economic uncertainty and financial irresponsibility, we cannot afford for our elected officials to be making careless or negligent choices with state funds. Nebraskaspending.gov exists to promote necessary transparency.

Silver Lake alum Derek Meyer returns with Husker senior football players to put on a show in Roseland

Click to view photos from the Husker Hoops event at Silver Lake on March 19

ROSELAND -�Nebraska senior offensive lineman Derek Meyer returned to his high school for the final time last Friday as a member of the Husker seniors, who took on a group of Silver Lake alumni and faculty in a basketball game that served as a fundraiser for the school athletic department and the Husker seniors.

The Silver Lake team gave the Husker seniors a game for three and a half quarters, but the Huskers pulled away for the victory late.

Read more in this week\'s edition of the Blue Hill Leader.

Silver Lake girls finish in third place at State Basketball

Click to view and/or buy photos from the Silver Lake vs. Elkhorn Valley semifinal game.

Click to view and/or buy photos from Silver Lake vs. Humphrey in the third-place game at State.

Click to view and/or purchase photos from Silver Lake vs. Brady in the first round of the State Tournament.

Blue Hill girls lose heartbreaker at State Tournament

Click to view and/or buy more photos from the State Tournament game against Elmwood-Murdock.

Aurora Cooperative announces acquisition of four aerial application businesses

AURORA, NE (March 2, 2010) - The Aurora Cooperative, a leading grain marketer and
agricultural supplier in Nebraska and surrounding states, today announced the acquisition of four aerial application businesses to service its agronomy owner-patrons throughout its multi-state trade area.

The acquired aerial businesses include:
� Boardman Aerial Spraying - Henderson, NE
� Pioneer Aerial Applicators - Minden, NE
� Buffalo Aerial Services - Kearney, NE
� Traudt Aerial Service - Aurora, NE

The acquisition, along with the company's owned aerial businesses in Grant, NE, (Cornhusker Ag Aviation), and Bertrand, NE, (FFC), will create one of the largest agricultural aerial application businesses in the United States.

Owners of the acquired companies, Rick and Mary Boardman, Brent and Mary Stewart and James Jensen, will continue in management roles within the newly-created Ag Aviation Division of the Aurora Cooperative.

"The Aurora Cooperative has emerged as one of the nation's class-leading agronomy businesses. Our customers are demanding contemporary solutions to deliver crop protection products in a timely manner. The formation of the Ag Aviation Division, with its assets and management team, will be a significant enhancement to our existing agronomy business and create a unique business model in the industry," said George Hohwieler, President and CEO of the Aurora Cooperative.

"Within our strategic plan is the on-going mission to provide our owner-patrons with world-class agronomy products and services to support their crop production efforts. Next-generation crop protection products are emerging as vital inputs in the American farmer's drive for increase yields of high quality grains. Our company's financial performance over the past several years places us in a solid position to invest in this expanded agronomy platform," Hohwieler said. "The American farmer wants solutions to today's challenges. The Aurora Cooperative stands ready to deliver these solutions, both today and for the next generation of U.S. farmers."

Body found in Blue Hill on March 2

BLUE HILL - The Webster County Sheriff\'s Department and Nebraska State Patrol were called out to Blue Hill on March 2 to investigate after a body was found on private property near the Blue Hill baseball fields.

Webster County Sheriff Troy Schmitz said yesterday [March 2] at 5:57 P.M. the skeletal remains of a human were found by some boys that were playing on the property.

\"The remains were removed at approximately 1:30 a.m. [on March 3] and were transported to a hospital in Omaha and are pending the results of an autopsy and forensic dental records for identification,\" Schmitz said. \"No foul play is expected at this time. That is about all I have at this time, until I hear from the autopsy results.\"

Lady Bobcats advance through first game of subdistricts

Click to view and/or purchase photos from the Gibbon game

HASTINGS - The Blue Hill girls basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat Gibbon 57-36 and advance Monday in the Class C2-9 subdistricts at St. Cecilia.

Blue Hill (10-8) outscored Gibbon 25-10 in the fourth quarter after being tied at 9 after one quarter, leading 19-15 at halftime and 32-26 going into the fourth quarter.

Senior Madison Coffey did the most damage for the Lady Bobcats, scoring 15 points. Kaitlin Kumke added nine points, Alyssa Willicott and Jordyn Atwater both scored seven point, Christine Herrick added five, Kristin Kohmetscher totaled four, Emily Harrifeld chipped in three points.

Blue Hill was scheduled to face top-seeded Sandy Creek on Tuesday at St. Cecilia.

Blue Hill and Silver Lake football schedules released for 2010, 2011

The NSAA released the football schedules for Blue Hill, Silver Lake and the rest of the schools in the state on Wednesday, Feb. 3.

Below are the schedules for Blue Hill and Silver Lake for 2010 and 2011.

Blue Hill 2010 Schedule:

Week 0 BYE
Week 1 @ Sutton
Week 2 Hastings St. Cecilia
Week 3 @ Thayer Central
Week 4 @ Wood River
Week 5 Superior
Week 6 Southern Valley
Week 7 @ Ravenna
Week 8 Kearney Catholic

Blue Hill 2011 Schedule:

Week 0 BYE
Week 1 Sutton
Week 2 @ Hastings St. Cecilia
Week 3 Thayer Central
Week 4 Wood River
Week 5 @ Superior
Week 6 @ Southern Valley
Week 7 Ravenna
Week 8 @ Kearney Catholic

Silver Lake 2010 Schedule:

Week 0 Dorchester
Week 1 BYE
Week 2 Franklin
Week 3 @ Nebraska Christian
Week 4 Harvard
Week 5 @ Nebraska Lutheran
Week 6 @ Giltner
Week 7 Red Cloud
Week 8 @ Lawrence-Nelson

Silver Lake 2011 Schedule:

Week 0 @ Dorchester
Week 1 BYE
Week 2 @ Franklin
Week 3 Nebraska Christian
Week 4 @ Harvard
Week 5 Nebraska Lutheran
Week 6 Giltner
Week 7 @ Red Cloud
Week 8 Lawrence-Nelson

Sandy Creek girls remain unbeaten, end Blue Hill\'s six-game winning streak

Click to view and/or buy more photos from the Blue Hill girls basketball vs. Sandy Creek game on Jan. 21.

BLUE HILL - The Blue Hill girls basketball team saw its six-game winning streak end at the hands of top-ranked Sandy Creek, which remained undefeated on the season.

Sandy Creek (14-0) jumped out to an early lead and never led the Lady Bobcats (7-7) back into the game in losing 45-31.

Kumke hits late shot to lead Bobcats over Sandy Creek

Click to view and/or buy more photos from the Blue Hill vs. Sandy Creek boys basketball game on Jan. 21.

BLUE HILL - The Blue Hill boys basketball team kept its winning streak alive Thursday night with a 59-56 victory over Sandy Creek.

The Bobcats (10-3) won their sixth-straight game thanks to a three-point shot from the corner from Brock Kumke with 1.3 seconds left.

Sandy Creek dropped to 10-4 with the loss.

Chad Hastings, who scored 22 points, led Blue Hill. At one point in the fourth quarter, Hastings scored nine-straight points for the Bobcats.

Silver Lake girls use strong second half to defeat Blue Hill

Click to view and/or purchase more photos from the Blue Hill vs. Silver Lake girls basketball game on Thursday

ROSELAND -�The Silver Lake girls ended a two-game losing streak against Blue Hill with a 46-36 victory Thursday night in Roseland.

Silver Lake (5-0) had been defeated in overtime each of the past two seasons by their rivals and Thursday\'s game also was closer than the final score indicated.

Blue Hill led for much of the first quarter before Silver Lake rallied to take a 13-11 lead on a three-point shot by Jenna Grabill at the buzzer.

In the second quarter, the two teams continued to battle and Silver Lake played much of it without starting point guard Bailey Morris, who picked up her third foul just 12 seconds into the quarter. The Lady Bobcats took a 22-21 lead to halftime.

A Morris three-pointer at the 2:31 mark of the third quarter enabled Silver Lake to go up 30-26 and the Mustangs opened up a 37-29 lead by the end of the third quarter.

The lead grew to as many as 14 in the fourth quarter before the Mustangs held on for the 10-point victory.