A Rainy End of September

We not only had a rainy fall day in Seward, but also are fortunate in having the Suhr-Lichty Insurance web site available to give us the details. It began raining this morning about 9:00am and continued until around 4:00pm when we had some sunshine. We are already well over our  average annual precipitation with 3 months to go. Much of that moisture has soaked in and the excess of plant use will recharge our Groundwater. Our Natural Resource Districts have done a good job  implementing regulations at a local level to control the withdrawals. Their record is an example of how much more acceptable regulations can be, if developed, implemented, and enforced locally. California could learn something about irrigation water management from Nebraska. We are unique with our NRD's and the Unicameral Legislature, but it has worked for the good of the State. You would think other states would catch on. But maybe that's what Colorado thinks about legalizing marijuana.

Signs of Progress-Concrete Being Poured

This was a beautiful day and ideal for pouring concrete. Here a crew of Kiwanis members are setting the base for the first State Flag for the Parade of Flags project. The base consist of a pipe set in concrete for the flag pole to slip into. There will be 50 State flags on either side of a walkway leading up to the U.S. Flag and Service flags. Several of the fellows shown working here also sing in the Kitones and reported at practice this evening that they got 19 bases set. They will be back at it again tomorrow and hopefully be able to finish the concrete work while the weather is nice. Don't be confused by the wheels of the cement truck up in the air.  

They drop down when the truck is fully loaded to

 meet weight limit regulations /tire. The next picture is of concrete being poured for the addition to the Seward Memorial Hospital. This is the base of the Physical Therapy Unit which will include a swimming pool. (See my September 6, 2014 blog page). They were also pouring concrete at the Jones Insurance Building on Main Street and have just finished pouring the parking lot and base for the new Dollar General store on South 6th St. New houses are being built in the new development  areas, and it's great to see Seward grow. We are fortunate to live here. 

Nebraska Football Uniforms

Nebraska was most impressive in their 45-14 win over Illinois last night. Ameer Abdulla rushed for 208 yards and 3 TD's. The game was carried on BTN and started at 8:13 with over 91,000 in the stadium. I switched channels at every break to follow the KC Royals in their loss to the White Sox. I thoroughly enjoyed Nebraska's game but was somewhat chagrined by their uniforms. Fortunately, Tom Shatel, OWH sports writer, helped me out this morning. He commented "These 'replacement' uniforms make the Big Red look like blood clots, complete with ruby slippers".  The uniforms were "a brick red, from helmets to jerseys to pants to shiny shoes that glistened."

He mentioned that the numbers were  shiny, or as one press wag called it,"duct tape." We visited with our son Tim who announces HS games back in Columbus, IN and saw the game last night. He was very sensitive to the difficulty of reading such numbers. However, this seems to be the trend of the future. The days of the scarlet and cream are as outdated as the several pillars erected between Memorial Stadium and the old Coliseum. And, according to the legend, they haven't added to their number since 1937. 

Celebration of Life

We attended the Service of Celebration for Myrna Marie Zillig this morning; the lady I wrote about in my September 22 posting. It was a beautiful service from every perspective: flowers, music, tributes, memories, prayers, scripture readings and message by her nephew, Rev. Rod Lyon. We have known Rod all his life and are most impressed with his ability to present a most meaningful message. As a Family Member, he was able to relate to Myrna in a very personal way and said that, "She died in the prime of her life". You have to have known her to appreciate the merit of that statement. Having grown up in the depression of the 1930's, She was frugal and always looking forward and cheering the life of others. It is always nostalgic to get back in the United Church of Christ here in Seward. It was there that Elaine and I were married, our 4 children were baptized, and we spent some of the happiest years of our lives.  We also enjoyed visiting with friends that we hadn't seen for some time,; there was a lot of reminiscing.

This afternoon we visited our Great Granddaughter who was with Carolyn, while Julie and John participated in the Plum Creek Children's Literacy program at Concordia. They brought home a couple books for Sadie and Julie read them to her. She had her second birthday last month and has learned something new every day. I visited with her on the phone today for the first time. She certainly keeps us looking and thinking about the future. She learned to hold up 2 fingers at the time of her 2nd birthday. Yesterday, she held up all 4 finders and told Carolyn she couldn't find her two, so she had to be reminded which 2 they were. Education starts early and hopefully, continues throughout our lifetime. 

Local Politics

My August 22, 2014, posting, "Conflict in River City" tells of a hearing to determine if Mayor Josh Eickmeier had cause to terminate the employment of City Administrator Brett Baker. The hearing followed conflict over the past several months between the City Administrator and City employees. The City Council sat as  the jury listening to the testimony of employees, legal counsel,  and others. While they made recommendations to hopefully alleviate the communication problems, they were unable to find cause to support termination. The Mayor was unopposed in his bid for reelection. But soon after the hearing was held, a former Mayor, Bob Elwell has filed as a write-in candidate for the position. The City Administrator's contract will expire the first of December and it is doubtful that the Mayor will renew it. (That may have had some impact on the City Council's decision. )

Mr. Elwell has indicated that he hasn't determined if he would support renewal of the contract. I served as a City Council member under both of these gentlemen as Mayors. They are each very capable. I was not pleased with Mayor Eickmeier's hiring of Baker as recommended by the League of Municipalities rather than involving the Council. But I  believe he has "learned his lesson". I see no way that the City employees and Baker can effectively continue to operate after the testimony at the hearing. I'm still deciding. 

50 Foot Flag Pole Erected

This is a Google air view of the site for the Seward Kiwanis Parade of Flags Project. I used it on my October 26, 3013 blog page in announcing the project. Final plans were made, funds were raised and the project is taking shape. Nebraska #34 is labeled McKelvie since that is what it becomes as it goes straight east for a number of miles. The Seward Hiker-biker trail shows clearly as does the Historic Marker to the City's first settler, located in the in-out drive at the bottom of the picture. The Flag display is being constructed across the highway from the Marker and will run from the dark green line at the bottom-right corner of the picture, some 400' to the white spot. The "Parade of Flags" will feature a 50' pole for the U.S. Flag surrounded by 6 shorter Service flags.

The 50' pole was assembled by a group of Kiwanians this morning and put in place this afternoon with the assistance of a City boon truck and crew. While the U.S. and Service flags are the focal point, the "Parade" consist of all 50 State flags at regular intervals on either side of a sidewalk to the far end of the project. This display adds to our recognition as the "Official 4th of July City" and the home of the State National Guard Museum. The location at the eastern edge of town is ideal being adjacent to the "Trail" and the "Historic Marker". The Nebraska State Tree is a Cottonwood which is the species of the large tree behind the flag pole. A Great Project.

Seward Kiwanis Kitones

Our Kitones sang this noon at the Senior Center in Utica, NE. There were 17 of us including Paul Beck, Leader and Wes Skilton, accompanist. Several of us in the back row are hid by those in front of us on the picture but we were all heard. We enjoyed an excellent noon meal with the Utica folks; many of whom we knew. Pee Wee didn't get the message on the "uniform of the day" and dressed in our "formal attire". If we discounted a couple of our young members, I believe our average age would have nearly matched that of our audience. I hope they enjoyed our singing as much as we enjoyed doing it. No one enjoys it more than our Leader, Paul Beck. He is even developing some talent as a comedian. This was the 3rd time we sang during the past week which is most unusual. We sang this past Monday evening at the joint Installation Dinner for both our Kiwanis Club and the Helping Hands Club that meets in the evening here in Seward. Last Friday we sang in Lincoln at the Veterans Administration Recognition Dinner. It's all done on a volunteer basis as part of our community service and within the mission of Kiwanis.