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Category: Opinion
SD WANTS MORE SAY IN REGULATING PROPOSED POWERTECH URANIUM MINE
South Dakota environmental officials are asking the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission for more authority in regulating the proposed Powertech USA uranium mine near Edgemont, while mine opponents have submitted proposed legislation to restore portions of state permitting authority over the project.
South Dakota lawmakers in 2011 suspended the state’s power to issue permits for and directly regulate in-situ injection-extraction mining…the system Powertech plans to use for its Dewey-Burdock project, which would mine about 200 of the 11,000-acres the company has under mineral lease.
Lawmakers agreed with Powertech that direct state in-situ-mining permits are an unneeded duplication of federal permits and regulation. The state did retain authority on other permits needed for Powertech and similar projects.
South Dakota Department of Energy and Natural Resources spokesman Eric Holm said the agency is working with the NRC on a memorandum of understanding that would give the state a bigger role in setting reclamation bonds and inspecting Powertech’s mining operation, but legislation would be needed to reinstate permit authority.
Holm says public interest in and requests for having state inspectors on such projects led to the talks with the NRC, explaining that responding to such citizens contacts is “customer service.”
Powertech critics aren’t satisfied with that and want the limits passed by the legislature repealed. Lilias Jarding, an organizer for the Clean Water Alliance of Rapid City, says South Dakotans “value keeping government close to the people,” so “it makes sense” for the state rather than “some distant federal official” to regulate uranium mining.
Democratic State Senator Jim Bradford of Pine Ridge filed 3 bills Friday that had been developed by the Clean Water Alliance and Dakota Rural Action. The bills strengthen state regulations on uranium mining and restore the state permitting authority over in-situ uranium mining.
Bradford says residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation are worried about the mining operation depleting and contaminating water supplies that reach to the reservation…with Edgemont area residents also expressing such fears to him and promising to go to Pierre to testify in favor of his bills.
Powertech project manager and Edgemont rancher Mark Hollenbeck says the company opposes simply reinstating the state in-situ permit process, but would support the state reaching an agreement with the NRC to have the state be the lead regulator for all the mine permits…including the one for the in-situ operation.
Hollenbeck says opponents who claim the state doesn’t regulate Powertech are just trying to create another hurdle for the company to jump, pointing out that he has 4 different state permits to show how extensive state regulation is.
In-situ mining…the processed used at the Crow Butte uranium mine near Crawford…pumps a solution of water chemicals similar to bi-carbonate of soda into the aquifer to dissolve and capture uranium. The water is then pumped to the surface and processed to remove the uranium.
Hollenbeck says the process is designed to reuse most of the water…which is not of drinking standard to begin with…and to restore it to its original quality when mining ends. Opponents says the chemical solution has escaped in other mines and is certain to do the same at the Edgemont project.
CSC HALL OF FAMER PROCESSING WELL AFTER STEM CELL TRANSPLANT
The wife of Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Famer Jason Robinson says he remains exhausted, but is “right on track” after undergoing a stem cell transplant a week ago at the Mayo Clinic in the Phoenix area.
A CT scan in 4-to-6 weeks will give doctors a clear idea of how the procedure is working.
Tresha Robinson, also a Chadron State graduate, says the biggest concern short-term is a virus or infection since her husband’s immune system was wiped out by 6 straight days of chemotherapy to prepare him for the transplant of stem cells from his younger brother Jeremy.
Doctors tell the Robinsons it will be about two weeks before they know if the donated stem cells have been “engrafted” by Jason’s system, but remain confident the transplant will work since Jeremy tested as a perfect match. They also have medicines in reserve that encourage acceptance of transplants.
Tresha Robinson says the family believes that God is going to heal her husband, but is still asking that everyone keep praying. She says they definitely felt the power of prayer when Jason had the transplant…receiving some 600-million stem cells collected from his brother the previous day in a 6-hour procedure.
Jason Robinson was diagnosed with lymphoma…a cancer of the blood…two years ago and has lost 30 pounds from his already-lean frame. The hope is that the stem cells received in the transplant will develop into healthy blood and marrow cells.
The three Robinson brothers…Josh, Jason and Jeremy…came to Chadron State from Thompson Valley High School in Loveland, Colo….one every two years from 1988 to 1992. In their combined 12 seasons, they scored 5,081 points and grabbed 2,128 rebounds…making them one of the most successful brother trios in college
There was at least one Robinson in the Eagles’ starting lineup for 8 straight seasons and two of them starting for 6 of those seasons. All three brothers, who were recruited and played for Bob Wood, are in the CSC career top 10 in both scoring and rebounding, and are all in the CSC Athletic Hall of Fame.
Josh, the oldest, is CSC all-time leading scorer and holds the single-game scoring record with 51. He’s now head boys’ basketball coach at his high school alma mater, Thompson Valley High
Jeremy, the youngest and a 2012 inductee into the Hall of Fame…coaches the girls’ team at Liberty High School at Joes, Colo.
The 6-3 Jason was a 2-time All-State selection in basketball, a 1-time All-Stater as a wide receiver, and a 46-foot triple jumper at Thompson Valley. At CSC, he was an Omaha World-Herald All-State College selection as a junior and senior, graduating with 1,581 points and 560 rebounds.
Jason…who is a farrier…Tresha…a veterinarian…and their 3 children live in Queen Creek, Arizona, about 50 miles southeast of Phoenix. Coincidentally, all 3 brothers have 3 children.
RISCHLING TO RETIRE AS AHS BAND DIRECTOR (Updated)
Alliance High Band Instructor Dave Rischling (left) will retire at the end of the current school year.
Rischling presented his letter of resignation at Monday night’s school board meeting.
He has been involved with the Alliance Public Schools Music Department for over 20 years. He and his brother, Dick Rischling, along with their wives Shawna and Gretchen, were named Heritage Days grand marshals in 2004 in honor of the outstanding band programs they had built in Alliance … including the organization of the band’s trip to Washington, DC and New York City every four years, which began in 1988.
Rischling started teaching in Alliance in August of 1992, after his father, Bill Rischling, retired as the middle school band director. Dave took the high school band in the fall, 2010, after Dick’s retirement.
Rischling’s first teaching job was band and HS choir for Perkins County High School in Grant from 1979-1984, then Bridgeport Public Schools band from 1984-1992.
“My future plans are to keep working,” he said. “I would like to spend more time working as an insurance claims adjuster during storm seasons. During the winter months I plan on spending time in my shop working on wood projects. I also hope to find some time to go fishing again.”
Rischling says it has been a privilege to teach band for APS.
“Our students are the best,” he said. “The support the band receives from the school and community makes Alliance a great place to teach band.”
Pictured above: Dave, Shawna, Gretchen, and Dick Rischling, honored as Heritage Days Grand Marshals in 2004.
REACTION MIXED ON GOV. PIPELINE APPROVAL
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) _ Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has approved a new route for the Keystone XL oil pipeline that avoids the state’s environmentally sensitive Sandhills region.
Heineman sent a letter Tuesday to President Barack Obama confirming that he would allow the controversial project to proceed in his state.
Canadian pipeline developer TransCanada has faced strong resistance in Nebraska from a coalition of landowners and environmental groups who claim the pipeline it would contaminate the Ogallala aquifer, a massive groundwater supply.
The original route would have run the pipeline through a region of erodible,
grass-covered sand dunes. The new route skirts that area.
Americans for Prosperity-Nebraska, a free-market advocacy group, applauded the governor for approving the revised route, saying it is an important step toward energy security, the creation of thousands of new jobs and is in step with what most Nebraskans support.
But the grassroots group that mobilized in opposition to the pipeline in Nebraska, Bold Nebraska, said the governor just performed “one of the biggest flip-flops in Nebraska political history.” Bold Nebraska leader Jane Kleeb said in an email, “He approved the pipeline route that crosses the aquifer after he asked Obama to deny the route that crossed the aquifer,”.
Kleeb said “President Obama is our only hope now.”
PANHANDLE GETS GAME AND PARKS PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
LINCOLN, Neb. – Justin Haag will join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as a public information officer for the Panhandle beginning Jan. 28.
Haag’s duties include community and media relations, public information, and photography and writing for NEBRASKAland Magazine and all agency media. Haag, a lifetime resident of western Nebraska, comes to Game and Parks after 12 years at Chadron State College, where he was a communications coordinator for seven years and then media and public relations coordinator the past five. He served a leading role in advertising as well as communications.
Before joining the Chadron State staff, Haag was associate editor at the McCook Daily Gazette from 1998-2000 and a news and sports reporter at the Chadron Record from 1996-1998. He also was active on the Chadron State student newspaper staff before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1996.
Haag was attracted to northwest Nebraska as a college student largely because of its outdoor recreational opportunities. When not on campus, he often journeyed the northern Panhandle countryside to capture photos of the region’s wildlife. In addition to photography, his passions include fishing by ice and kayak, hunting upland birds and waterfowl, and mountain biking.
“Justin brings solid writing, photography and media experience to our staff, and he will be a great addition to our communications team,” said Christy Rasmussen, administrator for Game and Parks’ Information and Education Division.
Haag grew up in southwest Nebraska, graduating from Beaver Valley High School in Lebanon. He lives in Chadron with his wife, Cricket, and two children.
Contact Haag at justin.haag@nebraska.gov.
CHADRON COUNCIL DELAYS CONTRACT FOR POOL PROJECT STUDY
The Chadron City Council Monday night put off action on a professional services contract with the consultant picked to design and help sell to voters a joint project with Chadron State College to enclose the city’s outdoor swimming pool as a replacement for CSC’s demolished Armstrong pool.
Council member Paris Fisher says it’s a matter of timing and information…with the council already looking to whether to go ahead with a $4-million dollar upgrade of the city’s storm water drainage system and an extension of the expiring LB-840 economic development sales tax to fund it.
Fisher emphasizes that the council members aren’t opposed to the pool project, they just want to know more about it first and don’t feel they’ll have a chance to do that until the decisions are made on the drainage project and LB-840 vote.
That position frustrates city manager Wayne Anderson because the proposed consultant’s contract with Burbach Aquatics doesn’t ask council members to take any position on the pool idea and has no cost to the city unless the voters were to approve the pool plan in a referendum.
Instead, the contract simply allows Burbach to start preparing the pool proposal that will go to the voters…setting in it what works from an economic standpoint, what it will cost, and what funding mechanism would be used.
Anderson says waiting for the sales tax and storm sewer decisions just pushes back getting the information on the pool completed while perpetuating what he insists is the erroneous idea that the two projects are somehow related.
He says the storm sewer project and enclosing the swimming pool…if the voters were to give their ok…are separate needs that would have separate funding mechanisms.
Fisher says the delay on the pool consultant’s contract will be minimal since the city council is aiming for a vote on renewing the half-cent LB-840 tax in late March or April, but Anderson is worried that even a 2-month delay might prove fatal to the college’s participation.
He doesn’t know when CSC must make a firm decision on going with the joint project using the city pool or move ahead with its own new, but much smaller pool, but says waiting until April or May just to let Burbach start putting the project together means it would be fall at the earliest before a referendum election could be held.
Anderson hopes to set up a meeting between Burbach and the council in the next week or two to ease council fears and get the contract signed so the planning and design work can begin.
BBGH WELCOMES NEW MEDICAL PROVIDERS
One of the top concerns expressed by clients of Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) has been the recruitment of medical providers to meet the health care needs of the communities the hospital serves, both now and in the future. The recent hiring of two physicians and a physician assistant at Greater Nebraska Medical & Surgical Services is proof that the hospital listened.
“I’ve long said that just recruiting any physician or mid-level provider that came along can sometimes be counterproductive,” commented BBGH CEO Dan Griess. “What is key to a stable medical staff is finding the right providers for this area. All three of the new members of our Greater Nebraska Medical & Surgical Services (GNMSS) Family Medicine medical staff are originally from, or near, the Nebraska Panhandle and wanted to be in Western Nebraska to continue their practices and be closer to friends and relatives.”
Terri Bowland, DO, started practicing at BBGH December 26; Kathy Barth, PA-C, December 5; and W. Victor Fattig, MD, January 9.
Dr. Bowland arrives from Oshkosh, NE, where she practiced family medicine at Garden County Health Services from September, 2011 to November, 2012. During that time she was also a locum tenens physician (a doctor who temporarily fills positions at other clinics or hospitals) at Indian Health Services in Winnebago, NE and Trough Creek Medical Clinic in Cassville, PA. Prior to that, she completed her family practice residency at Southampton Hospital in Southampton, NY.
“I grew up in Idaho Springs, CO,” she said. “I went to California for my undergrad and med school, then out to New York for my residency and training. After being on both coasts for several years, I wanted to get closer to Colorado, practicing in either Kansas or Nebraska.” She said BBGH was her choice in furthering her medical career for several reasons. “I saw a great opportunity at Box Butte General Hospital and also liked the size of the community, as well as the people I met,” She said. “I have been very impressed with BBGH and the Alliance community. Everyone has been very welcoming to me and has gone out of their way to help me. Also, I chose BBGH because there is a need here. I want to be where I’m needed. It’s been a wonderful experience so far and I’m very glad that I am here.”
Dr. Bowland is single. “I thought I’d be married by now and have kids … but as it turns out this career and medical school thing got in the way,” she said with a smile.
As for her leisure time, she likes to work out and loves taking classes. “Right now, I’m doing the Insanity workout at the Y, which it really is.” she said. “It’s insane to get up and be at an exercise class by 5:30 a.m. But I really enjoy the Insanity classes now and I look forward to them each morning. As far as classes, right now I’m taking two health law classes and a finance class. Also, I love to grow flowers, spend time with family and friends, and see movies.”
Dr. Bowland will practice family medicine at GNMSS Family Medicine, seeing clients from infants to geriatric. She is now accepting patients.
The hospital’s new Physician Assistant is no stranger to BBGH. Ms. Barth was a PA student at BBGH over the summer, from Memorial Day through mid-July. At the end of that month, she obtained her physician assistant certification from the Towson University/CCBC Program, in Baltimore, MD, as well as her Master of Science degree.
Ms. Barth has two sons. “One son lives in Richmond, VA, where he is a middle school technology teacher,” she said. “The other son is a paramedic in Buffalo, NY, finishing his masters in clinical social work. I also have other family in Arizona.”
Asked why she signed a contract with BBGH, Ms. Barth said, “I’m originally from Rushville, moving to Arizona when I was a teenager. Also, Carol Bauer is my cousin (Ms. Bauer has long been a wound care nurse at BBGH, now semi-retired). “Prior to my being a student at BBGH, I had called her and mentioned I wanted a small-town practice. I wanted out of the city. Carol told me about the program here, so I came over the summer as a student, with Jerre Mount, PA-C, as my preceptor. I’d gotten to know the town over those months, and found I enjoyed living here.”
Her hobbies include crocheting and martial arts (she has a black belt in Kempo Karate). “However my favorite pastime is playing French horn,” Ms. Barth said. “I’ve been playing with the St. John Brass ensemble for several weeks. I have a Bachelor of Music in horn performance, so I tend to not think of it as a ‘hobby’.”
Ms. Barth will practice family medicine at GNMSS Family Medicine as well, and will see new born to geriatric clients. She is also accepting patients.
Dr. Fattig was born in Kearney, NE, but spent most of his youth growing up in Central City. He has dedicated his medical career to practicing in rural settings. “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a doctor in a small town environment,” he said.
He obtained his MD from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha in 1998. Soon after he went to Creighton, NE where he was a family practice resident. He then spent two years as a general practitioner in Gothenburg at Gothenburg Medical Arts. “That’s where I really started to find out where the training deficits were; deficits you really needed to know in order to practice in a small town,” Dr. Fattig said. “So I decided to go to the University of Kansas in Wichita for three years of residency in internal medicine.” In 2004 he went to Kearney Primary Care in Kearney, and in 2007 he started his solo practice, the Lakeside Medical Clinic, just off the shores of Johnson Lake, near Elwood, NE.
“From all those years in a rural setting I learned the real deficit in rural Nebraska is internal medicine; learning to work with people with formidable medical problems,” he said.
“The reason I wanted to come to Box Butte General Hospital is that it’s a great facility and still rural medicine,” Dr. Fattig said. “This place is fantastic as far as what services they offer. When I had my solo practice I would have to get echocardiograms in Hastings, send people to Omaha for MRIs, or send people to Cozad for sleep studies, or Kearney for CTs. This hospital has everything right here, including nuclear medicine, stress tests and more. It’s like a one stop shop. The new addition is going to make it even better.”
Dr. Fattig loves to play around with computers in his leisure time. “Back before I had my solo practice … you know … when I had a life … I really enjoyed hunting and fishing,” he joked. “And I’ve also talked about being a pilot, but never had a chance to pursue that. Oh, and I really enjoy reading as well.”
He and his wife Sandy have four children: 18 yr. old daughter Brittany (she will be going to Chadron State College); 16 yr. old son Christian; 15 yr. old daughter Ashley; and 8 yr. old daughter Danielle.
Dr. Fattig will be doing general practice and internal medicine at GNMSS. “I’m just six months away from being boarded in internal medicine, but the government has limits on how much residency a person can have and I’m at or near that limit, unless I do a fellowship.” He will also be the medical director at GNMSS Hyannis Clinic. He will see new born infants to geriatric clients as well, and is accepting patients.
Besides having their primary practices at GNMSS Family Medicine in Alliance, all three medical providers will be cross trained at GNMSS satellite clinics in Hemingford and Hyannis.
The new providers join the four current practitioners at GNMSS Family Medicine: David Isom, MD, FAAFP; Brittney Bauer, PA-C; Jerre Mount, PA-C.; and Stephen VanNoy, PA-C.
Appointments for the provider of your choice at Greater Nebraska Medical & Surgical Services Family Medicine can be made by calling 308.762.7244; appointments in Hemingford by calling308.487.3322; and appointments in Hyannis by calling 308.458.2436.
CSC’S GILKEY TO PLAY IN THE SENIOR BOWL
Chadron State College offensive lineman Garrett Gilkey is having a busier week than usual, as he begins practice today for this Saturday’s 2013 Senior Bowl.
A 6-foot-7, 320-pound senior from Sandwich, Ill., Gilkey has been preparing for the NFL Draft at the prestigious IMG Academy in West Bradenton, Fla., but was recently added to the South roster for the Senior Bowl.
The game in Mobile, Ala., features the country’s best senior collegiate football players and top NFL draft prospects. According to its website, over 800 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other NFL front office personnel attend Senior Bowl practices.
“This entire process has been unbelievable,” Gilkey said. “I’m grateful for it and I’m fortunate to be involved with it. I proudly represent the Eagle on my helmet and I can’t wait to stand out being the small school guy on that field.”
Gilkey was a four-year starter at left tackle for Chadron State and was named to two All-America teams this season, but is expected to play guard in the NFL.
He’s one of just 10 players at the Senior Bowl who didn’t play Division I football and one of just 3 from Division II. The others are Brandon Williams, a defensive tackle from Missouri Southern, and Ty Powell, a linebacker from Harding.
The Senior Bowl kicks off Saturday at 2 p.m. (Mountain Time). The game, as well as practices, which start Monday, will be televised by the NFL Network.
HOOPER SCORES 17 IN HUSKER WIN OVER MINNESOTA
Minneapolis, Minn. – Nebraska played its most complete games of the season, rolling to an 84-63 win over Minnesota at Williams Arena on Sunday evening.
With the victory, Nebraska improved to 13-6 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten while notching its second Big Ten road victory. Minnesota slipped to 13-6 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
Senior Lindsey Moore put together her best game of the year with a season-high 26 points and a season-high seven rebounds to go along with seven assists and three steals in a marquee matchups of Big Ten point guards with Minnesota’s Rachel Banham. Moore hit 9-of-15 shots from the field, including 2-of-5 three-pointers and 6-of-7 free throws.
Jordan Hooper added 17 points and eight rebounds, while Emily Cady contributed her third double-double in Big Ten play with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Freshman guard Rachel Theriot added the best all-around game of her young career with 13 points and a career-high eight assists against just one turnover. Theriot hit 5-of-8 shots from the field, including 3-of-5 three-pointers.
The contributions came across the board for the Big Red, who also got nine points, six rebounds and two assists from Hailie Sample and five points and three boards from Meghin Williams. Tear’a Laudermill rounded out the scoring for NU with a second half bucket while providing intense defensive pressure.
“It was a great win for us today, and it was great to get a win in the way we got it,” Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. “I thought we were the most aggressive we have been all season, and I thought we got back to playing the kind of basketball we want to play. We defensive rebounded and got out in transition and we played with confidence. It is really fun to win when everybody contributes like they did today.”
Nebraska shot a season-high 48.3 percent (29-60) from the floor, including 8-of-15 three-pointers. NU also hit 18-of-23 free throws, while keeping Minnesota off the line entirely in the second half. NU won the battle of the boards, 42-35, and won the turnover battle 12-11.
Defensively, the Huskers’ zone defense held Banham to 15 points on just 6-of-21 shooting from the field. Banham entered the contest averaging nearly 21 points per game. Micaella Riche added 10 points and eight boards before fouling out, while Shayne Mullaney contributed 10 points for the Gophers.
Minnesota hit just 37.5 percent (24-64) of its shots from the field for the game, including 7-of-17 three-pointers, while hitting 8-of-10 free throws – all in the first half.
Nebraska put together a strong first half and took a 41-38 lead into the locker room at the break. Theriot led the Huskers with 10 points and five assists in the opening period, while hitting 4-of-6 shots from the field, including 2-of-3 three-pointers.
Cady added nine points and five rebounds, while Moore pitched in eight points and three assists. NU also got five points and five rebounds from Hooper despite playing just 12 minutes because of foul trouble. Williams added five big points and three boards in place of Hooper to help the Huskers, while Sample contributed four points, two boards and two assists in the first half.
The Huskers return home to take on Michigan State on Thursday night at the Devaney Center. The Spartans improved to 16-2 overall with a win at Indiana on Sunday afternoon and will be making their first-ever trip to the Devaney Center. Tip-off between the Huskers and Spartans is set for 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available now at Huskers.com.