LOUISVILLE

Superintendent,

Mr. Ed Kasl

Louisville Public Schools

will be honoring the

retirement of Mr. Ed Kasl,

Superintendent of Schools,

after 26 years with the

school district!

We would like to invite patrons, peers,

staff and students (past and present) to stop by his office on

FRIDAY, MAY 13TH

9:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.,

to enjoy cake, coffee and punch,

share stories and

wish him well in

his retirement.

RETIREMENT

GATHERING

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Cass County Fair 2011 - Schedule is published

CHECK OUT....

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For Immediate Release: Policy Changes for Boats and Parks

May 6, 2011, Lincoln— My message this week speaks again to the connection between District 2 and the bills I introduced in the 2011 legislative session.

A request to license boat dealers in Nebraska was brought to me by a District 2 resident late in 2009. The absence of existing statutes to simply amend, delayed examination of the request until the interim period between the 2010 and 2011 legislative sessions. Interim research was conducted, and consideration of what was needed and how it should be structured was discussed at a hearing before the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. My office collected models of licensing procedures from neighboring states, but the Committee suggested that our own motor vehicle licensing process could serve as the model for Nebraska. As introduced, LB 495 mirrored the Committee’s suggestion. The bill would create boat dealer licensing with regulatory oversight and an annual fee arrangement that are similar to those used for motor vehicle dealers in Nebraska. Further review of the motor vehicle model in LB 495 caused some Committee members and me to have second thoughts about imposing significant regulations and fees on our relatively small boat dealer industry. We still believe boat dealers should be licensed; we just have to design a plan that makes sense for the dealers and their customers. Alternative ideas are being considered and are likely to result in the introduction of an amendment to LB 495 or a new modified proposal next year.

At the request of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, I agreed to introduce LB 421 to increase annual park entry permit fees. This decision also relates to District 2, because five of the more than 80 state park facilities are located in our district. They offer wonderful recreational opportunities for people who live in and visit our areas of the state, and they are strong economic partners for our local communities. We need these facilities to stay open and be well maintained. To accomplish this goal, permit fees must be increased.

At the hearing on LB 421 before the Natural Resources Committee, and again when the bill was scheduled for floor debate, I described three primary reasons to support a fee increase at this time. First, about nine million visits to park facilities are recorded each year. This makes a positive impact on our state’s economy. Tourism is the third largest industry in Nebraska, and 15 of the state parks are among the top 25 tourist attractions in the state.

Next, increased costs and reduced revenue have increased deferred maintenance in our state parks, to the point that some of them may have to be closed to protect the public from unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Game and Parks currently has about $34 million in deferred maintenance costs. The fee increases proposed in LB 421 cannot eliminate this deficit, but they can slow the deficit’s growth and allow park employees to address the most urgent maintenance needs. Nebraska’s state parks are supported primarily by a user-based funding system. Approximately 70 percent of the operating and maintenance budget for our parks comes from fees --- not taxes --- paid by the people who use the parks. Only about 30 percent of the park system’s budget comes from the General Fund, and this percentage has been declining for years. Like the rest of state government, the Game and Parks Commission has cut its budget, in part by privatizing some services and significantly reduced park staff. At the same time, the Commission has faced steadily increasing costs for equipment, materials, contracts and fuel. Operating and maintenance services have been reduced in as many ways as possible, so the failure to approve increases in the park user fees may result in reduced operating hours and the possible closure of some facilities.

Finally, the current annual $20 park entry permit fee, per car, per calendar year, has not been increased for five years. Nebraska’s fee is the lowest-priced park entry permit fee among all of the states that employ a user-fee based system to help fund their state parks.

LB 421 is my priority bill this year. Maintaining our park system is good for our state and especially for District 2.

I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to represent District 2 in the Nebraska Legislature.
We welcome your contacts by mail, phone or email.
Senator Dave Pankonin
State Capitol
PO Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2613
dpankonin@leg.ne.gov            

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LHS Athletes honored...

Kaitlin Coughlin and Paul Drelicharz were named Outstanding Senior Athletes for 2010-2011 school

year. Booster scholarship were earned by Madison Drake, Paul Drelicharz, Taylor Mohler and Nick

Reynolds.

To read more about Louisville Lion SPORTS ACTION,

visit

www.louisvillelions.com

Photos and stories courtesy of Mike Krambeck and Krambeck Photography.

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Beginning April 20th, Louisville Hardware

will be having a BOGO sale...Buy One, Get One 50% off!

See our ad in The Consumer Connection

We've got....

Garden Hoses, Rain Gauges, Plastic Jugs and Hang-a-Pots,
Pest Repellent, Sanitizers, spray bottles of Rust-a-Block.
Need some Planters?  Get a Pair!
Solar Lights, a sweet Lawn Chair!
From Insect Traps, Garden Tools, or Spray Lube for your Car,
To a Portable Shower Safety Bar.
LED Flashlights in colors of four,
Wide Mouth Bottles and much much more.
Fruit Fly Traps, a Baggo Game.

Whatever you need, remember our name,

LOUISVILLE HARDWARE!

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Lofte Receives

Two Awards

at Regional Competition

Pictured on Attachment: Front Row - Allison Bauers of Louisville and Elbert Traylor of Lincoln.  Back row - Best Supporting Actor recipient, Larry Bauers of Louisville, Noelle Bohaty of Lincoln, Doug Rothgeb of Omaha and Betty Colbert of Weeping Water.

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All ages are welcome!

Celebrate the New Spirit and Fun that is Louisville's Original

Art Chicks!

Check the new website: http://www.LouisvilleArtChicks.com

The energy of Jeanne Anderson has been released

in this re-birth of this Louisville Legend!

Let's all remember,

that ... Girls just want to have Fun!

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click here for virtual tour

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Your Louisville Newsletter Editor,

P a u l a

Please send your news to me at:

editor@louisvillenebraska.com

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