Progress reaches all areas of Otoe County

david Swanson

 

New businesses, business relocations and ownership changes highlighted progress in Syracuse and other Otoe County communities during 2006.

Syracuse

In late January, Gas’n’ Shop stores in Syracuse and Palmyra became Casey’s General Stores.

In April, Doug and Lori Lada, Tecumseh, were new owners of Breadeaux Pisa, Syracuse.

The new Syracuse Medical Clinic adjacent to Syracuse hospital opened Monday, May 1. See more in health care.

Maverick Media, Syracuse, and Nebraska City News-Press, Nebraska City, were among the New West Newspapers operations acquired by Liberty Group Publishing, now GateHouse Media, May 1.

Jo-Bob’s Drive-In, formerly Weiler’s Drive-In, opened May 1. Owners are Bob and Kathy Bruns, Amy Jo and Tim Frederick, and Corie Jo and Kirk Gorton.

The American Family Insurance Syracuse office moved to the west end of Fifth Street in July.

Fifth Street Centre opened in the former Syracuse American Legion post home and Syracuse Steak House & Lounge. The Added Touch Flowers & Gifts and The Studio Salon & Day Spa relocated to Fifth Street in September. New businesses were The Green Room and AJ’s Coffee House. The latter opened in December.

Edward and Bonnie Pfeiffer celebrated 25 years ownership of Syracuse Iron Works Friday, Dec. 1.

Doug and Jean Wymore purchased the former Stutheit Implement Company south building behind Breadeaux Pisa. The building is rented to Luxury Limousine service to store limousines.

Unadilla

Unadilla enjoyed balmy weather for the Groundhog Day festivities. Tony Engelbrecht and April Isaacs were inducted into Groundhog Royalty, with approximately 300 on-lookers attending the parade, said Barb Wilhelm, village clerk.

In December, the Village Board reorganized, saying goodbye to Tom Lewis and hello to Janet Oelke. Russ Ziemann was again elected chairman of the board.

The goals for 2007 are: clean up properties around the Village and to get rid of junked cars; begin the sidewalk renovation project; and improve the park and ballfield. Once again the board will work hard to maintain village services, and to see that all residents are dealt with fairly and equally.

Burr

Village officials continue park improvements. A swing set will be installed for the younger children this spring. There is equipment for smaller children. Walking paths will be added through the park as well as sidewalks, said Nancy Thormahlen, village clerk.

Old, New and In-Between opened next door to Countryside Bank. The building is owned by bank officials. It features collectibles, used items, handcrafted items, new things and some antiques. It is open two mornings and by appointment.

Palmyra

Village officials purchased a new tractor and loader. A Village Park at the corner of West Fifth and E Streets was renovated and is in the process of being named. The interior of Farmers and Merchants Bank was restored and remodeled. A handicap ramp was installed in front of the Legion Club, which was a Boy Scout project by Jacob Knudsen with the financial support of the Legion Club.

A new parish hall was completed at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. Additional Christmas decorations were purchased and put up around town by the Palmyra Action League. Additional flags, now totaling 43, were purchased with support from individual contributions, mostly as memorials to be placed on village light poles from Memorial Day to Flag Day.

A new press box for the high school was constructed at the athletic field. A lighted sign for Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church and the Village of Palmyra was placed near Highway 2.

Lois Ikenberry is the new village clerk.

Otoe

Deana Bennett is the new village clerk.

The Otoe Volunteer Fire Department had an open house in October. Firefighters handed out batteries for smoke detectors. About 50 attended. The firefighters had a Halloween party for children, which they hope to make an annual event. It featured music, games and treats.

Talmage

Open house at the newly-remodeled Talmage Public Library was in July. Talmage Public Library board members and other volunteers painted and installed new carpeting.

Joyce Kinnison retired after 39 years as postmaster. Debi Sturek is the new postmaster.

Talmage residents began planning for the village’s 125th anniversary which will be celebrated Memorial Day weekend 2007. There will be a birthday party in March 2007. The village history is being updated. A Heritage Day is Saturday, May 26. It will include a fishing contest, an antique tractor show, pioneer life exhibits and demonstrations, special programs, a barbecue supper and a street dance. Sunday, May 27, is a community worship service and the Talmage High School alumni banquet.

Douglas

In January the village board, upon recommendation of the village planning commission, adopted the comprehensive plan and its one-mile jurisdictional area. They also adopted subdivision regulations. Greg Boldt started working as the village’s maintenance supervisor.

In February, surveying was done on the streets for the current street project. The engineer is working on the plans.

In March, members of St. Martin’s Catholic Church had their annual soup dinner and members of the United Methodist Church had their annual spaghetti feed and talent show.

In April, the Easter egg hunt was at the village park. Volunteers cleaned up the Douglas and Palmyra ballfields. Dr. R.L. Eddings from Animal Haven Pet Hospital was host of a veterinary clinic.

A bid from Constructor’s Inc. was accepted in July on the village street project. The Homestead Women’s and Girls’ Softball Leagues, 9 and under, 12 and under and 15 and under, were at Douglas in July. Both Douglas 9 and under girls’ teams took the top two places in the tournament. Village Clerk Vicki Focken said that it was three busy weeks but everything ran smoothly thanks to many volunteers. Douglas volunteer firefighters were host of a spaghetti feed and cadet car wash.

Officials of Constructor’s, Inc., started work on the street project in August. Also in August, St. Martin’s Catholic Church parishioners began the church roofing project. Under the leadership of Jim Sack and Joe Moller, many parishioners removed the shingles, built pitched roofs over the sacristy and choir and shingled with metal shingles. The women of the parish furnished meals for the workers. Village officials replaced the parking lot in front of the church with new asphalt.

Village officials were able to resurface many streets in the village in September. Village officials and the Douglas Community Improvement Program (DCIP) sponsored a village clean-up in September. DAMM served lunches to raise money for playground equipment.

Douglas volunteer firefighters were hosts of a pancake feed in October.

In November, the village board began work on a strategic plan for the village.

The firefighters were awarded a fire act grant for equipment purchases in November. Also that month, the firefighters located and purchased the former Douglas 1946 Chevrolet pumper truck. They hope to begin restoration soon.

Santa visited Douglas in December. There was a good turnout. After Santa finished at the Community Center he delivered bags of candy to seniors around the village.

The DCIP has volunteers at the recycling site the first and third Saturdays each month from 10 a.m.-noon. Douglas residents continue to have an active recycling program. They are now recycling in bins furnished by Midlands in Lincoln. DCIP volunteers also staff the library the second and fourth Saturdays each month from 2-4 p.m. To raise money for the upkeep of the library, DCIP members have Food and Fun events during the year. During 2006 and ongoing in 2007 they are currently redoing the brickwork on the building. Contributions are appreciated to help offset the costs of the upkeep of the building.

Douglas firefighters responded to 60 calls in 2006: 21 medical, 16 mutual aid medical; seven fire; three mutual aid fire; one injury collision; two mutual aid injury collision; one mutual aid hazardous materials; seven storm watches and two miscellaneous.

 

Transportation key to community

dan Swanson

 

The elimination of weight limits on the Fourth Corso viaduct and plans to widen 11th Street are answering questions about Nebraska City’s main thoroughfares, but the city continues to seek solutions for public and inner-city transportation.

The Healthy Communities Coalition, spearheaded by St. Mary’s Community Hospital and Catholic Health Initiatives, identified transportation as one of the city’s top priorities. Transportation was joined by basic needs and healthy families for focus group consideration.

Dale Haverty, a Healthy Communities volunteer, said the focus groups found that greater awareness about existing services would be helpful.

He said the Nebraska City trolley service is scheduled to begin a one-year trial this spring. The trolley will run one day a week for $1 a day, and will stop at key businesses that are frequented by seniors.

Nebraska City also has a new, 12-passenger Handi-Bus. Driver Bobbi Lechner said the vehicle can be used for shopping, doctor appointments, WOTA functions or just visiting friends. “We go wherever people want,” she said.

The bus is used by parents to transport children to and from preschool and makes occasional trips to Omaha or Lincoln. Monday routes go to Talmage, Lorton and Dunbar and Friday routes go to Avoca, Union and Nehawka.