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GERING, NEB. (November 4, 2005)—More than 250 community volunteers and leaders attended the 42nd Annual Nebraska Community Improvement Program (NCIP) evening banquet at the Gering Civic Center to celebrate the many successful economic and community development projects accomplished throughout the year.
NCIP is a partnership between the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, University of Nebraska, and NCIP sponsors ALLTEL, Aquila, Glenwood Telephone, Great Plains Communications, Inc., HunTel Systems, Kinder Morgan Inc., NorthWestern Energy, Northern Natural Gas, and Qwest. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Community Development Initiative provided additional support in the form of pre-conference Community Capacity Building Training.
"It is the collective strength of individual communities that enhance our state's cultural and economic vitality, and the Nebraska Community Improvement Program provides an opportunity to demonstrate the power, tenacity and commitment of Nebraska's citizens to local development," said Governor Dave Heineman, who presented the following awards:
The Founders Award, recognizing an outstanding intergovernmental project in Nebraska, went to the City of Kimball Water Project, which included the City, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, and Kimball Board of Public Works. Kimball and its partnering agencies implemented a three-phase project to replace the 50-year-old water system. The EPA provided a grant. Nebraska Health and Human Services System provided financial assistance for booster pumps and removal of major equipment at no cost to Kimball homeowners, which led to a more productive, energy efficient system. The award is named in honor of David Osterhout and David Carson, who in 1963 co-founded NCIP (first named the Nebraska Community Betterment Program).
The Marilyn Ristine Leadership Award went to Rosa Lee Hoff from Alliance. Hoff has been an active Alliance NCIP Committee member since its reorganization in 1993. For the last seven years, she has chaired the committee. Her belief that the NCIP program is the best vehicle for positive internal and external promotion of Alliance has led the community to place first in every NCIP category during the past five years. The Alliance Times Herald named Hoff as “Alliance’s passionate cheerleader and NCIP champion.” The award, created in 1993 and named for Gothenburg volunteer leader Marilyn Ristine (1928-1992), recognizes one long-time community volunteer who exhibits exemplary leadership qualities.
The Otto Hoiberg Award went to Nebraska City. Judges were impressed with the city’s innovative and creative projects that demonstrate ongoing, long-term vision. An example is the development of a skate park that tapped young adults for key organizational and leadership roles. Nebraska City also is reportedly home to the greatest number of historic museums per capita in the Midwest, and its new Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is the only facility in the nation to emphasize the explorers’ flora and fauna discoveries. Dr. Otto Hoiberg was dedicated to community and economic development throughout Nebraska. Every year, one NCIP community, regardless of population size, receives the award for best overall community development excellence.
Youth Leadership for Outstanding Community Service Awards were presented in each population class, recognizing select youth for their efforts and community service leadership.
Class I: Youth Award (Pop. 400 or Less) went to Alex Dodson, Goehner, Neb. A member of the Goehner CIP for four years, Alex is involved with the Goehner Centennial Players, serving as lead ‘tech’ person for the past six years, managing and producing lighting and sound effects for shows (33 performances in 2005). Alex also builds sets and encourages younger youth to get involved in the productions. In January, he will attend Southeast Community College in Milford to study Electrical Technology.
Class II: Youth Award (Pop. 401-900) went to Katherine ‘Katie’ Madsen, Stuart, Neb. An active member of the Stuart NCIP Committee, Katie has written community project nominations, compiled information for the Stuart NCIP notebook, led community tours for judges, and presented at the 2003 NCIP Conference. Katie is pursuing a career in Business Administration and Communications Studies.
Class IV: Youth Award (Pop. 1,601-5,500) went to Eric Basnett, Ravenna, Neb. Eric is active in the Blue Jay Headquarters Youth Center. As a member of the Blue Jay grant writing team, Eric has helped write successful grants totaling $8,350. He coordinated and organized the school health fair, and his legendary recruitment skills have netted many youth volunteers. Eric also serves on the Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board and the Nebraska Health and Human Services System Anti-Tobacco Advocacy Group-No Limits. As a board member, he has assisted with group retreats for teens warning about underage drinking and tobacco use, and evaluated grant applications for area schools interested in developing teen advocacy programs.
Class V: Youth Award (Pop. 5,501-50,000) went to Clayton Wurtele, Nebraska City. Clayton’s leadership skills have contributed to many organizations in Nebraska City, including student government, the Youth as Resources Advisory Council, and the Parents and Communities Together Board. Clayton was instrumental in helping secure a new community skate park for youth. His research and involvement with the skate park development led to his appearance before the City Council to discuss the possibility of starting a youth council in Nebraska City.
Community Development Awards, given for overall excellence in community and economic development, were presented as follows:
Class I: (Pop. 1-400)—Potter (388). Potter’s commitment to involving youth has resulted in a youth program that is woven into school activities. For example, a for-credit Community Involvement course is offered in high school. With 20-plus members on the Potter NCIP Committee, brainstorming sessions are important to keeping projects, surveys and community needs in focus and on track. The community’s NCIP core team is able to provide the group with a timeline that is flexible, yet adheres to project completion dates. The community enjoys itself with NCIP, evident in its community presentation “Touring Potter with the Simpsons”. Second place was awarded to Farnam and third place went to Eustis.
Class II: (Pop. 401-900)—Bancroft (494). One judge remarked that Bancroft “isn’t afraid to collaborate”. The Bancroft Leadership Team came up with innovative ideas, and with community support implemented goals related to the athletic complex, a project, “Service Learning through Environmental Studies” that involved youth, and improving the downtown minipark. Judges were particularly impressed with “Project Hope” that provides a venue for intergenerational discussion, a key component for sustaining rural communities. Blue Hill received second place and third place went to Stuart.
Class III: (Pop. 901-1,600)—Wisner (1,253). Wisner’s own diverse volunteers demonstrate great enthusiasm, pride, and the ability to work with an equally diverse cross section of people and organizations. Judges remarked how Wisner’s strength lies in the fact that it never hesitates to pursue projects even when the number of potential projects make it hard to know where to begin. This year, the community hosted the Cattleman’s Ball—tripling all donations. For the first time ever, the community also successfully hosted one of only four national tractor pull contests. In support of its youth, residents passed a school bond issue related to the provision of extracurricular events. Earning second and third places, respectively, were Loup City and Franklin.
Class IV: (Pop. 1,601-5,500)—Hartington (1,652). Judges were impressed with the community’s ability to locate financial resources for community projects, and volunteers’ cooperation in achieving the projects. Equally impressive were Hartington’s Candlelight Christmas and lighted vehicle parade, new Hartington Community Recreation Complex, and a unique intergenerational Character Education Program that draws youth and seniors together to socialize and learn about the Internet, eBay, and basic computer skills. The program has earned state and national recognition for Hartington. One judge commented that “This is a community with ‘Hart’, which is progressive, yet remains true to [all] needs…” Ravenna was awarded second place. Gothenburg and Ainsworth tied for third.
Class V: (Pop. 5,501-50,000)—Nebraska City (6,639). The overwhelming number of young adults involved in leadership roles overwhelmed the judges. This leadership was readily evident in the planning and development of the city’s community skate park. So many youth met before the city council to endorse the project that the council is now considering developing a separate youth council or reserving space for youth representation on the existing council. Judges were impressed that Nebraska City works with seven community foundations, a local economic development organization, and many organizations to undertake needed improvement projects. Other creative and innovative projects included the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, a health care initiative, and collaboration among several museums to promote tourism with support from the local newspaper. Second place went to Alliance; third place to Seward.
Class VI: (Multi-Community) Loup Basin. A “great example of what NCIP stands for…” Loup Basin involves all residents, from the monthly meetings that rotate from community to community to allow everyone equal attendance opportunities, to the successful Junk Jaunt…miles and miles of stuff for sale connecting communities throughout the region. Judges were impressed with the ag diversity networking group tours that help educate farmers and ranchers about the communities in the region and their own personal futures in rural Nebraska. One judge summed up the trip “Hope that the success of the Loup Basin serves as a spark for great opportunities that other multi-regional communities can take ahold of.” Earning second and third places, respectively were Pawnee County and Seward County.
This year’s 2005 NCIP Special Award recipients are:
Volunteer and Leadership Development
Class I: Alexandria—Annual Meal and Melodrama
Class II: Stuart—Hometown Leadership Institute
Class III: Wisner—Cattleman’s Ball
Class IV: O’Neill—Community Pride Pep Rally
Class V: Seward—Harry Potter Book Release Party
Class VI: Butler County—Leadership Plenty
Youth Involvement and Leadership Development
Class I: Potter—Renovation of Duck Pin Bowling Alley
Class II: Bancroft—Service Learning Through Environmental Studies
Class III: Loup City—Spice Up the County Fair
Class IV: Gothenburg—YCIP “Youth Servant Leadership”
Class V: Papillion—Papillion Mayor’s Youth Council
Class VI: Grant County—Fall Food Drive
Business Assistance and Development
Class I: Potter—Potter Historical Foundation/A Collective Gathering Flea Market
Class IV: Central City—Colorado Aspen Homes
Class V: South Sioux City—Dakota Avenue Revitalization
Class VI: Seward County—Seward County Economic Development Office
Tourism Promotion and Development
Class I: Petersburg—Petersburg Punkin’ Chunkin’ Celebration
Class II: Newman Grove—Shell Creek Valley Days
Class III: Wisner—Thunder By the River: Super National Tractor Pull
Class IV: Hartington—Candlelight Christmas and Lighted Vehicle Parade
Class V: Nebraska City—Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail & Visitor Center
Class VI: Loup Basin Region—Nebraska’s Junk Jaunt
Public Works, Facilities, Services, and Planning
Class I: Farnam—New Fire Hall
Class II: Stuart—Stuart Public School Lunchroom Improvement Project
Class III: Wisner—Wisner-Pilger Bond Issue
Class IV: Hebron—Rain or Shine, The Game’s On Time in Hebron
Class VI: Cedar County—Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Network
Environmental Projects and Awareness
Class IV: Kimball—Keep Kimball Beautiful
Class V: Alliance—KAB Intergenerational Service Program
Class VI: Loup Basin Region—Keep Loup Basin Beautiful
Parks, Recreation and Forestry
Class I: Diller—Veteran’s Memorial Park and Main Street Renovation
Class II: Bancroft—Main Street Minipark
Class III: Loup City—Peterson Ball Field Complex
Class IV: Hartington—Hartington Community Recreation Complex
Class V: York—York Family Aquatic Center/Mincks Park
Arts and Humanities
Class I: Potter—Potter Historical Museum Renovation
Class II: Shelby—Bricks, Books, and Video—Oh My
Class III: Loup City—Living History Rural One-Room School
Class IV: Ainsworth—Sand Hills Discovery Experience
Class V: Scottsbluff—Historic Midwest Theatre Revitalization
Class VI: York County—Yorkshire Playhouse
Community Services
Class I: Petersburg—Bloodmobiles For Service In Petersburg
Class II: Blue Hill—Physician’s Assistant
Class III: Franklin—The Franklin After School Program
Class V: Nebraska City—Healthy Community Initiative
Class VI: Seward County—Hometown Hero Campaign
FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Kathy McKillip at 800-426-6505, 402-471-6587, or email:
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