Hutton, Smith Win Contested County Races; Fulton Carries County While Losing Statewide

Written by Nemaha County Herald

Jana Smith won the Democratic nomination for Nemaha County Assessor and Bob Hutton won renomination as Nemaha County Commissioner, 1st District, on the Republican ticket in the Tuesday, May 11, primary election.
Tony Fulton, Auburn native, carried Nemaha County despite losing the statewide vote for the Republican nomination for state treasurer.Smith received 333 votes to 112 votes for Wendy Hemmer in the assessor’s race. She will be unopposed in the Tuesday, Nov. 2, general election.Hutton, incumbent, received 179 votes to 99 for Jim Jarvis. He will also be unopposed in November.Brownville, Peru IssuesPeru voters, 64-19, approved continuation of a 1 percent sales and use tax.Brownville voters, 32-21, approved a 1 percent sales and use tax. The issue of whether that issue would sunset in 10 years tied with 25 votes each.Other County RacesAll other county officers were unopposed in their respective primaries.Republican: Amy Hector received 762 votes for Clerk of the District Court, there were two write-ins. Louie Ligouri received 675 votes for County Attorney, there were five write-ins. Brent Lottman received 718 votes for County Sheriff, there were six write-ins. Marvin Bohling received 224 votes for 3rd District Commissioner, there was one write-in. There were 42 write-ins for County Clerk, 86 write-ins for County Assessor, 29 write-ins for County Treasurer and 21 write-ins for County Assessor.Democrat: Joyce Oakley received 414 votes for County Clerk, there were two write-ins. Patricia Holtzman received 381 votes. Randy Rohrs received 115 votes for 3rd District Commissioner, there were three write-ins. There were 15 write-ins for Clerk of the District Court, 15 write-ins for County Attorney, 28 write-in for County Sheriff, 11 write-ins for 1st District Commissioner and 10 write-ins for County Surveyor.Humboldt-Table Rock Steinauer Board of EducationFor four-year terms: Lynn Fankhauser, 30 votes; Scott Ogle, 28 votes; Neal Kanel, 25 votes; Todd Binder, 23 votes; Corey Hain, 22 votes; Steve Schaardt, 21 votes; Pete Niedzielski, 13 votes and there was one write-in.For two-year terms: Bryan Gossman, 68 votes; James Zentner, 52 votes; Terry Vice, 51 votes; Jeremy Leech, 15 votes; Missy Freeman, 11 votes; Joe Standerford, seven votes and Sandra Stalder, six votes.State RacesRepublican: Gov. Dave Heineman received 746 votes to 57 for Paul Anderson and 38 for Christopher Geary. John Gale received 671 votes for Secretary of State and there was one write-in. Fulton received 673 votes for State Treasurer while former Attorney General Don Stenberg received 136 votes and Tom Nesbitt, former head of the State Patrol, received 36 votes. Attorney General Jon Bruning received 711 votes and there was one write-in. Mike Foley received 657 votes for Auditor and there were two write-ins.Democrat: Mark Lakers received 288 votes for governor and there were three write-ins. Janet Stewart received 289 votes for Secretary of State and there were two write-ins. Mark Stoj received 259 votes for State Treasurer and there were 20 write-ins. There were 20 write-ins for Attorney General and 13 write-ins for Auditor.Despite winning the statewide vote, Amendment 1 received 586 No votes and 573 Yes votes in Nemaha County. It authorizes the Legislature to permit officials of counties and municipalities to acquire, own, develop, and lease or finance personal property for use by nonsectarian, nondevotional and nonreligious purposes and to issue revenue bonds for such purpose; will prohibit the use of condemnation for acquiring such property and operation of such property as a business by county or municipal officials and will not authorize county or municipal officials to impose any tax to repay the obligations represented by such revenue bonds.Patricia Timm received 882 votes for the State Board of Education, District 5. There were seven write-ins.Congress, 1st DistrictRep. Jeff Fortenberry received 709 Republican votes. David Hunt received 60 votes and Ralph Bodie 49 votes.On the Democratic ticket, Jessica Lynn Turek received 108 votes; Ivy Harper, 67 votes; Sherman Yates, 60 votes; Stanley Krauter, 54 votes and there were two write-ins. Harper won the district Democratic nomination.

Smiths Recognized at 2010 Industry Recognition Event

Written by Nemaha County Herald



ADC chairman Daryl Obermeyer presented a plaque to Randel and Jane Smith in recognition of their accomplishments and dedication to Brownville and Nemaha County.

Jane and Randel Smith, Brownville, were recognized Tuesday, May 11, for their accomplishments and dedication to Brownville and Nemaha County.The Smiths were recognized at the Industry Recognition Luncheon at Arbor Manor Steakhouse, Auburn.
“There are great things happening in Brownville. We didn’t do it singlehandedly. Our family and friends get involved,” Jane Smith said.Auburn Mayor Bob Engles said that Brownville has invented and repeatedly re-invented itself. That has enabled Brownville to maintain its position as Nebraska’s oldest town and one of the most progressive communities in Nebraska, Engles said.“No community in the state has drawn upon its cultural and historic heritage to the extent Brownville has,” the mayor said.Engles recognized such Brownville attractions as Whiskey Run Creek Vineyard & Winery; the Brownville Concert Hall; the Brownville Village Theatre; Spirit of Brownville river excursion boat; the Captain Meriwether Lewis Steamboat Museum; The Lyceum Cafe & Bookstore, which was the Smiths’ idea and The River Inn Resort, a floating hotel.Richard Baier, Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) director, was guest speaker. Baier talked about the economy, housing, economic development, tourism and business development.Baier said that Nebraskans are fortunate that the state’s unemployment is below the national average.“We need to be appreciative of where we are at. Nebraska is in good shape,” Baier said.Companies are hiring, jobs are coming back and people are making investments, he said.“We have to deal with budget issues. The Legislature is working on that. It’s a significant challenge. We need to be cognizant of that,” Baier said.In housing, Baier said that officials are clear and conscious about watching housing starts. He said that values of homes are increasing and land values are beginning to level out.“We need to be cognizant about providing housing over all spectrums, how to get young families into their first homes and priorities about what first-time homebuyers are looking for,” Baier said.In business development, Baier said there are a lot of requests for information. Areas seeing a lot of activity include renewable energy, solar and geothermal. He said that Nebraska is fortunate to have an affordable operating environment, but there are training challenges to work on. Labor force is a huge issue, Baier said. State officials are investing a lot of money in site efforts. Nebraska Advantage has made Nebraska competitive in the marketplace, Baier said.In tourism, Baier said that Brownville officials have created a model for tourism in Nebraska. Officials need to know how to market and create tourism long-term, he said.“Tourists are looking for an experience. They want to be part of a living, breathing experience. We need to change the model and build attractions that people want to go to,” Baier said.Nebraska officials are working with officials of a national consulting firm to look and evaluate new target industries, innovation, creativity, and strategies in the workforce and population, Baier said.Baier thanked State Sen. Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek for his service.“He’s got one of the toughest jobs in Nebraska. He’s a real leader in the Legislature. He’s done a great job. We’re fortunate to have him represent Southeast Nebraska,” Baier said.Major Employers RecognizedMajor job creators in Auburn and Nemaha County were recognized.Engles thanked Steve Skaggs of Ariens Company for contributing to economic development in Southeast Nebraska. Engles said that Magnolia Metal Corporation was “an extremely valuable member of our business community.” Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) serves residents of 91 of Nebraska’s 93 counties. “Their presence and value in Nemaha County cannot be underemphasized,” Engles said.The mayor said that he was disappointed when Armstrong Cabinets Products, Inc. closed, but officials worked closely with officials of various state agencies to assist the displaced workers. Plans are to recruit a major job creator and officials will continue until successful in replacing Armstrong, Engles said.“We are committed to get a job creator replacment for Armstrong. With help from NPPD and Nebraska DED, we will get the job done,” he said.“The only constant in economic development is change. It’s an ongoing process,” Engles said.

Auburn Chamber President Kris Gill presented recognition certificates to AHS Future Business Leaders of America officers (from left) Spangler, Comstock, Allgood, Harmon and Wellman.

Engles recognized members of the Auburn High School Future Business Leaders of America. Five members and adviser Teresa Hahn attended. They were: Nathan Allgood, president; Hannah Harmon, vice president; Michael Wellman, community service representative; Martha Spangler, news reporter and Kerri Comstock, historian.Allgood reviewed the chapter’s activities in the past year. He thanked the officer team and advisers. Allgood thanked community members for their support.“It’s important that our young people get involved with business. We need youth willing to step up and take responsibility,” Engles said.Engles thanked Auburn Rotary members for being hosts. He introduced important guests who have done a lot for Auburn, Nemaha County and Southeast Nebraska.Engles said that Southeast Nebraskans and Nebraskans are fortunate to have Heidemann as chair of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

Auburn Celebrates 34 Years as Tree City USA

Written by Nemaha County Herald

EDGAR HARTWIG, AUBURN city forester, accepts the city’s 2010 Tree City USA award from Gov. Dave Heineman; Scott Josiah, Nebraska state forester and Eric Berg, Nebraska Forest Service community forester.

The award was presented during early April at the annual Tree City USA Recognition Program at the Lincoln Holiday Inn. Auburn was among 106 Nebraska communities honored for developing and maintaining a community forestry program. Auburn residents were honored for their commitment to management and enhancement of the community tree resources.

UNO Names Scott Snyder to Chief Research Position Effective This Fall

Written by Nemaha County Herald

The University of Nebraska at Omaha announced that Scott Snyder has accepted the position of associate vice chancellor for Research and Creative Activity. This is UNO’s chief research position. Snyder begins Sept. 15. Snyder has been on leave from his position as a professor in UNO’s Department of Biology since 2008 while serving as a program director in the Division of Environmental Biology at the National Science Foundation. He has been a UNO faculty member since 2001. “He brings to the associate vice chancellor position his own background as an accomplished scholar and researcher as well as a wealth of NSF experience,” said Terry Hynes, senior vice chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs. She added that since completing his postdoctoral research fellowship, Snyder has attracted more than $500,000 in external funding to support his research. Snyder’s research results have appeared in more than 30 refereed journal publications, among other venues.“I’m very excited by the opportunity to serve UNO in this new capacity,” Snyder said. “I feel strongly that research and creative activity contribute directly to the primary mission of the university, the education of willing minds. I look forward to the opportunity to facilitate the growth of scholarly activities, to foster new activities, and to share the scholarship of this dynamic campus with the public.” Snyder had been an NSF/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation postdoctoral research fellow in molecular evolution at the University of New Mexico from 1996-1998. From 1998-2001, he was an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He earned his doctorate in parasitology and bachelor of sciences degree in biological sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His master of science degree in biological sciences came from Wake Forest University.

Woerth’s Gardens Offer Extensive Variety to Nature Lovers

Written by Nemaha County Herald

The Japanese teahouse overlooks the pond on the Woerth acreage. The couple can often be found enjoying the serenity of the area in the evening.



“This is not a weed free landscape and we make no apologies for that fact.” Those are the words that welcome visitors as they begin to explore the garden rooms on Steve and Marilyn Woerth’s family acreage located in the hills between Brownville and Peru. Nestled behind a row of cedar trees, visitors will discover eight` unique garden rooms the couple have worked on together for several years. The couple has done the majority of the work on their gardens themselves, with the help of family and friends. On Thursday, April 8 – a cold, wet day, Marilyn shared her family’s garden with this reporter. The Woerth’s yard is comprised of eight garden areas, including a moon garden, a pond area, a children’s garden and a woodland area. With the helpful ideas of thousands of books, catalogues and magazines, each garden has been masterfully designed and laid out to the couple’s liking. In the couple’s basement are filing cabinets and boxes filled with descriptive details about individual plants and the unique gardens. As well as detailed diagrams of how each area has been planted. Marilyn said she likes to keep pictures and often times the individual seed package of every flower she has ordered. She also keeps the invoices of everything she has ordered. She said she does this because often times visitors ask her where she bought a particular plant or flower. “It’s another checks and balance system,” Marilyn said. In the very beginning a few years ago, Marilyn said she started scrapbooking her gardens. She said she recommends to anyone who is starting a garden to take before and after photos of the area.“They remind you how much work you’ve put in to it...gives you more pride,” she said. In May of 2004, Marilyn obtained her Master Gardener certification from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. It took her three months to earn the certificate. Since then, she has been a guest speaker at several group meetings and she has entertained numerous clubs and friends at her home. Last year, members of the Omaha Garden Council brought down 89 people on two buses to tour the Woerth’s gardens. The garden areas have also served as the background for high school senior portraits and the couple’s son, Eric and his wife Stephanie (Rohrs) were married on the island in the pond garden. Marilyn said she has always enjoyed gardening in large part because of her grandfather, Leo Kinzer. Marilyn and Steve are both natives of Columbus and moved to their home on 731 Road west of Brownville about 24 years ago. Her grandfather, Marilyn said, was in charge of maintaining Pawnee Park in Columbus and he always had a large vegetable garden at home. She said she remembered how his home and his gardens were always well maintained. She added her parents did not have a garden and she eventually approached her father to ask if she could have a small plot of land to start her own garden. He eventually agreed and then her garden began to grow.

A waterfountain is featured in the south part of the pond, with goldfish swimming around it.

Marilyn, a retired day care provider, would eventually take a break from gardening after marrying Steve and the two traveled the world while he served in the United States Navy for eight years. And, 24 years ago, the couple relocated to their current home after Steve landed a job at Cooper Nuclear Station. The couple fell in love with their acreage because of the land, Marilyn said. “We love this land and enjoy that it’s not flat,” Marilyn said. “The house was secondary.”The couple, after purchasing the property, planted many trees. Marilyn did note that the woodland area was already established but the property was primarily bare.It wasn’t until she retired from the day care business that Marilyn and Steve were able to devote lots of hours to their acreage. On average, beginning in the spring, Marilyn spends about 60 hours a week tending to the garden rooms. Steve contributes many hours as well.One of the most recent projects the couple has undergone is the completion of their Japanese teahouse and their Zen Garden. The teahouse features a propane fire ring and sitting chairs, which allows for viewing of the couple’s pond and waterfall.And, if guests to the Woerth family gardens don’t get enough of nature and its beauty, there’s always the next visit. Already, Steve has a new envision for an area on the west edge of their property. Marilyn said it is probably a matter of time before the couple take on a new project to add to their garden room collection.

If You Go

The Woerth’s love to entertain guests at their home and welcome visitors to stop by or call to get a tour of the garden rooms. And, if you go, the following information about each of the garden rooms is provided by Steve and Marilyn:Pond Area andWildflower MeadowOff the driveway follow the flagstone path to the xeriscape garden (plants requiring little moisture such as Russian sage, purple coneflower and sedums) and then meet our friend raccoon and frog. Moving on down the path you will encounter our Zen Garden with a Woerth-style Japanese teahouse. The propane fire-ring and the view of the pond blend two important elements together fire and water. We have designed and built our own landscape and hardscape features except for the electrical components.The star attraction of the yard is the water garden. The island is filled with roses, dianthus and a weeping mulberry tree. On the north end of the pond you will find water lotus, cattail, koi and some goldfish. Occupying the south end of the pond there are three colors of water lilies and more goldfish.The outer edges of the pond are landscaped with tall grasses, fairy roses and an assortment of perennials. The Woerth’s have tried to use many Great Plains plants from the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. The couple are members of that organization. Southwest of the pond is an area where native grasses grow, in the spring globe alliums are featured with Black-eyed Susans and asters later in the season. Bluebird houses are also a highlight.

Star Patio and Butterfly/Hummingbird Garden

To the east of the shed and above the kitchen garden is the star patio where Steve sets up his telescope on clear nights. The telescope is a Mead ten-inch reflector with an equatorial mount. Chinese trumpet vine winds around the split-wood fence. Just south of the patio are two flower beds. The upper bed features two tree peonies, wiegela and summersweet shrubs and perennial geranium (cranesbill). The lower bed is filled with daffodil blooms in the spring and daylilies during the summer. The east side of the upper/lower bed is a butterfly/hummingbird garden. Here, visitors will find a yellow butterfly bush, honeysuckle, penstemon, hyssop and salvia and other perennials to entice the wee creatures.

Kitchen Garden and Herb Garden

The roses surrounding the garden are pink rugosa roses. The portage has a perennial bed of asparagus and strawberries. Eight raised beds hold heirloom tomatoes, salad greens, corn, cucumbers, peas, squash, peppers and onion. Above the portage, behind the shed is the herb garden featuring sage, chives, thyme, rosemary, tarragon and basil. Woodland Follow the mowed paths down to the woodland area. There are three main entrances to the area. On the west side enter through the wooden arbor. Along this path visitors will find several planting areas, at the center of the woodland visitors will find many prized shade loving plants both wild and planned. Steve has created a room for himself with a stain glass window hung between the trees and a tractor seat. From the center of the woodland take the lower east path, which will lead the visitor to the copper arbor into the campfire area.

Campfire Area and Shade Garden

A bricked-in fire pit with a drainage pipe is the center piece of the area where many family and international sing-a-longs have ended with s’mores. Heading north, follow the path up to the main yard and enjoy the shade-loving varieties under the ash trees. Featured in this area are hostas, columbines, corabells, Japanese painted ferns, daylilies, ‘Little Henry’ spireas and a couple of cimicifugas. Three tamarisks are off to the east – their rosy lavendar tops are brilliant in the early summer. The kidney shaped bed to the west is filled with 400 daffodils, then peonies and then coneflower in the spring.

Pink Box, Children’s Garden and Mary’s Garden

In the backyard visitors will find the pink box. The box is filled with all pink flowers – polyanthus roses and annual zonal geraniums. Further west on the edge of the slop is the children’s garde, “Kindergarten,” where forsythia bushes enclose the area and help give the feeling of a secret garden. Lost toys populate the small garden and the oval path in the middle of the bushes passes by a birdbath, a fairy tea party, whiskey barrel where wizards and dragons battle and a small slide that goes down the hill ending in a small sandbox. The area surrounding the sandbox is terraced for more play. Below the terraced area is a shrub garden with phlox and ajuga ground cover. Just west of the Kindergarten area is a tree house, with a rock climbing wall, tube slide, fire pole, spider web that dumps into a large sandbox. In front of the tree house is a take down “princess pavilion” that Marilyn made from sheer drapes. In the tree house are several lengths of polyester materials that the Woerth’s grandchildren make into hammocks and canopies. Turning north towards the Woerth home is Mary’s garden, Prairie Princess, filled with climbing rose, clematis, Stella D’Oro daylilies, columbines, coralbells, balloon flowers and a few annuals grace her feet.

Hosta Staircase andMoon Garden

Turning the corner to the west of the Woerth home, the hosta staircase starts with two miniature hostas and a butterfly bush the staircase proceeds from large to smaller hostas following the sloper. Move up the incline past the resting doe to the moon garden. Moon gardens are traditionally all white flower gardens. The most fragrant flowers in a garden are often the white ones and the color white actually shimmers in the moonlight. Two white clematis outline the entry way and Sweet Autumn jumps it’s trellis, White Madonna lilies, phlox, obedient pant, iris, hosta, geranium, rugosa rose, azaleas and other white flowering plants and shrubs populate the enchanting area.

Front of the House and the Daisy Garden

In the front of the Woerth home are varieties of shade-loving plants, including astilbes, Lady’s mantle, coral bells, columbine and a clematis ‘Blue Moon,’ as well as an almond bush. Other perennials planted in front are groundcover vinca, lychnis, balloon flower, azaleas and a lace cap hydrangea. Across from the black wrought iron bench is a white arbor, one climbing rose and two kinds of clematis grace its side. The daisy garden forms an edge of the front yard that is a gardener’s retreat. Visitors will often find Marilyn there during a break. While sitting on the bench, visitors will gaze out across what Marilyn calls her savannah. Daisy-types of flowers – day lilies, bee balm and oak leaf hyrangea ‘Snow Queen’ are the headlines in this corner of the yard.

Peru State Students Lending Their Hands, Talent to Community

Written by Nemaha County Herald

PSC student Addy Markowsky introduces herself to (pictured from left) Taylor Cusick, Kolby Helms, Cameron Stough and Alyssa Mathers, who are all in Tia Miller’s second grade class.

In honor of the Peru State College 33rd Presidential Inauguration for Dr. Daniel Hanson, students are participating in several community service projects throughout Nemaha County. On Monday, March 22, about 35 college students visited Calvert Elementary School to read and listen to the four classes of second graders. The partnership with the school was one of seven projects the college has and will do in this community. Calvert Principal Sharon Pollard said part of the reasoning for the visit was to help build the students’ reading fluency rates and to help them work on their comprehension skills. The second grade teachers at Calvert are Tia Miller, Shannon Cole, Cindy Cole and Diane Shaw. Calvert has about 64 second graders.Pollard also told the college students that their visit was very important to the children and for 45-minutes the visitors would become heroes. She added that for some of the children that one-on-one time would be the only time during the week they would be read to or listened to, outside of school.

Auburn Native Grant Cole listens to (from left) second graders Alana White, Emma Murphy and Alissa Reeves on Monday. The girls are in Shannon Cole’s class.



The visit to the elementary school is part of the college’s Peru Students Care – An Inaugural Service Initiative, which is being spearheaded by PSC First Lady and Service Project Chairwoman Elaine Hanson and PSC Residence Hall Director Seth Bingham. Through the volunteerism, the students have and will focus on seven projects as a way to give back, Hanson said. Five projects will have been completed prior to the inauguration and the remaining two to be done after. The projects the students are helping with are:


• A letter-writing campaign in support of Bread for the World on March 18-19. Hanson said 128 letters were written to Congress members in support of making changes in U.S. tax policy that would be beneficial to low-income families.


• Also, last week, the students held a Campus Clean-Up, with the students volunteering about 66 hours of labor.


• On Sunday, March 21, several students were to make a trip to Brownville to complete a landscaping project at the Flat Water Folk Art Museum.


• On April 15, the students will host the Peru State College Leadership Conference.


• And, students will help on April 30 and May 1 with a repairing project for the Peru Historical Society.

Justin Powell, a PSC student, listens as Sadie Shriver is timed while reading. Sadie’s classmate John Healy also listened to her read.

Service team members helping with the projects are PSC students Tristan Bassinger, Grant Cole, Kristen Husen, Alicia Miller and Fred Whitted. Cindy Newton and Laura Osborne are helping as community members. Hanson said about 275 students have volunteered for one or more of the projects. She said several coaches have asked their players to participate in this opportunity.“(The students) want to give back and be a part of this,” Hanson said. “And, they show up.”The initiative, Hanson said, has been student driven and the planning of and completion of the projects will have taken just seven weeks from start to finish. The committee, she said, initially began with 16 project ideas that were eventually narrowed down to the selected seven.

Auburn Employees and Officials Recognized for Their Years of Service

Written by Nemaha County Herald

Four Auburn City Employees were recognized on Monday, March 22, during the City Council Meeting for their years of service. Those receiving certificates were (from left) City Treasurer Glen Krueger, 10 years; Librarian Margie Zimmerman, 20 years; Children’s Librarian Heather Koeneke, 10 years, and Police Chief Dan White, 15 years. Standing with the guests of honor is City Council President Annie Thomas (center), who presented the certificates and plaque.