On March 25 Saline County received the invoice for the legal services rendered by the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (NIRMA) for the Milligan 1 Wind, LLC lawsuit against Saline County as a result of actions taken by the Board of Adjustment.
On July 25, 2023, the BOA voted 4-0-1 to create a sound limit prohibiting the wind farm from exceeding 50 decibels from Alan Brunkow’s house after Brunkow sought relief from what he described as excessive noise from the turbine near his home.
Days after the vote, Milligan 1 Wind, LLC filed their lawsuit against the county, BOA and Lyle Weber in his official capacity of planning and zoning administrator.
NIRMA contracted Patrick Guinan as the legal representative for the county in the legal proceedings under the public officials liability coverage. Guinan sought to make it clear on the court record that the Saline County Board of Commissioners oversees the BOA by statute and therefore gets to decide how the case is defended, without input from the BOA or Weber.
Guinan defended the county’s interests through the resolution of the case in January 2024 when Judge David Bargen ordered that the board of adjustment ruling on July 25, 2023 imposing a sound limit on a Milligan 1 turbine needed to be vacated.
Legal fees in the amount of $7,055.72 are to be reimbursed to NIRMA from Saline County for defending the action. The amount due from the county represents payment of the deductible amount due within the policy coverage.
Saline County’s deductible is $10,000.
The Saline County Planning Commission will meet on April 16 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be in the assembly room of the Saline County Courthouse in Wilber.
The Friend Community Clean-up Day is Saturday, April 6, from 8 to 11:30 a.m., and organizers need some help that morning directing people and manning the various stations that are collecting specific items to be disposed of.
If you have a little time to spare Saturday morning, contact Paster Tim Schrunk (rschrunk80@gmail.com).
Residents of the City of Wilber are invited to participate in a city wide cleanup April 20 and 21. Proof of residency will be required.
Drop off will be by the wastewater plant at 811 East 1st St. on the edge of Wilber.
Saturday drop off will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There are some restrictions on items that may be disposed of. Items not accepted include construction or demolition waste which includes siding, shingles, decking, lumber, windows, gutters and fencing. Hot tubs, paint, tires, chemicals, yard and animal waste are also exlcuded.
Loose garbage must be contained in bags.
Questions should be directed to the City at (402) 821-3233 prior to the event.
Schools systems are the heart of communities and Crete is taking steps to become a "heart safe district."
The April 8 Crete Public Schools board of education meeting will host a special guest from Children's Hospital, Kim Castellano. The meeting will be at the Cardinal Welcome Center and begins at 6 p.m.
Castellano will speak about Project ADAM, an advocacy program for AEDs and CPR training in communities. Project ADAM is a nationwide initiative that has saved the lives of more than 200 children, adolescents and adults who went into sudden cardiac arrest. For more information about Project ADAM to to: www.projectadam.com.
The Crete Public Library will host a drop-in Solar Eclipse Program on April 8 from 12-3 p.m.
The Saline County Extension office is hosting a babysitting clinic on Tuesday, May 21 in Wilber from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The clinic is open to youth 11 and older. The cost is $20 per participant and is limited to 25 attendees. Youth need to bring a sack lunch for the day.
Register at go.unl.edu/24salinebabysittingclinic by May 3.
Eye exams aren't just for when a vision problem arises. They can offer a look into what's going on in the rest of the body and catch asymptomatic eye diseases before permanent vision loss occurs. Read our upcoming Health and Wellness section on April 10 to hear from a local eye doctor about the importance of an annual exam.
Relay for Life will be held at Doane University on Friday, April 5 in the Fuhrer Field House. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and will feature speakers, carnival games and a silent auction. The Saline county fundraising goal is $35,000. Visit www.bit.ly/donaerelay to donate or sign up.
The two-time Grammy award-winning polka band, Brave Combo, is coming to Sokol Hall for the first time on April 5 from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door.
In addition to its two Grammy wins for polka music, the band has been nominated for its work seven times. Its music has been featured in films such as “The Personals'' and “David Bryne’s True Stories'' and shows including “Ugly Betty” and “Bakersfield P.D.'' They contributed original music to the Big Ten network and ESPN and appeared at Oktoberfest in an episode of “The Simpsons.”
The Crete High School graduating class of 1969 will be celebrating their 55th Class Reunion on Friday 21 June 2024 and Saturday 22 June 2024. On Friday at 2:00 pm, interested golfers will meet at the College Heights Country Club in Crete. On Friday night, the class will meet at the Country Club for a 5:00 pm to late pm social (light meal and cash bar). On Saturday night, the class will meet for a 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm social hour (cash bar) and 6:00 pm dinner at Veterans and Friends West Dining Room in Crete. The planning committee encourages all classmates of 1969 and their teachers to attend. Please email Kathryn Freye Kuna at chsclassof69@cox.net by 1 May 2024, if you plan to attend either event, and if you have not yet contacted her.
Everett Heath drove in six runs and Crete-Milford beat Lincoln High 12-2 April 3. Heath was 2-2 and hit two sacrifice flies for CM. Kenner Svitak also drove in two. Nick Wendt pitched all five innings and struck out five. Crete-Milford is set to host Bennington this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at Tuxedo Park in Crete.
The Tri County track and field team swept the JCC meet on April 2 as both the boys’ and girls’ teams won.
The Wilber-Clatonia boys' track team was the champion at the Malcolm Invitational April 3. Event champs for the Wolverines were Gavin Vlcan in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes, Evan Odvody in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs, the 4x800-meter relay team, Carter Skleba in the high jump, long jump and triple jump and Jorge Vazquez in the discus.
