Nebraska
Grant program looks to revitalize small towns
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The distinct downtowns of Nebraska is one of the things that makes it special, but as many small towns dry up, some of those historic areas are decaying too.
A new grant program, passed last year in the state legislature and administered by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, seeks to reverse that course.
The Dempster industrial compound in south Beatrice once pumped industrial lifeblood through the homestead town.
“When I was a little boy, that was running three shifts, and then I saw it stop,” said Ted Fairbanks, Beatrice City Council.
But over the last decade, Dempster has become a dumpster. A labyrinthine cavern of pitch black corridors with scenes frozen in time from its heyday.
“It’s the first thing when you come to town from this side,” Chet McGrury, the Beatrice Community Development Director, said. “You know, you get an impression, first impression that, ‘Ooo, things aren’t so great here, possibly.’”
So Beatrice leaders are looking for hope in a new grant program to slowly, but surely, transform the ruins into a green space.
State Senator Myron Dorn introduced the Revitalize Rural Nebraska Grant Program last legislative session. It’s $1 million aim to help small towns with the cost of clearing away rundown buildings.
“To clean that up,” Sen. Dorn said. “Get that so it’s now not an eyesore no more. That when people drive by, they go, ‘boy that makes our town not look very good.’”
The grant is intended for towns pinched for pennies, with populations of less than 5,000. But if there’s enough in the pot of this grant and others, some money could come Beatrice’s way—a welcome prospect as it tries to take down Dempster, one building at a time.
“It’s going to be really expensive, and we need to get these grants or we really can’t do it,” Fairbanks said.
The Department of Environment and Energy will accept applications for this grant program through February.
“I’m hoping a lot of cities apply for this because if we can show need for $3 (million) to $5 million, hopefully we can come back and maybe ask for more,” Dorn said.
Beatrice leaders said the city’s historic downtown has been coming back to life, but to really get there, they said they’ll have to lay Dempster’s haunting past to rest.
“Even to get this back to just a nice green space, another park,” McGrury said. “Something that just is not a an ugly, rotting building.”
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Nebraska Game and Parks is offering residents a chance to win prizes simply for getting outside and moving, as part of a challenge honoring America’s 250th birthday.
The Outdoor Nebraska 250-Mile Challenge invites participants to log miles through activities like walking, running, kayaking, horseback riding and more using any fitness app. The goal is to reach 250 miles before the end of the year. Once completed, participants fill out a form on the Nebraska Game and Parks website to become eligible for prizes.
Mike Selman, a regular walker at Zorinsky Lake, said the challenge caught his attention.
“I think it’s great, as long as you put in the time and effort,” Selman said.
Selman said getting outdoors is already a big part of his routine.
“I absolutely love it, I love being outdoors, just the beauty, the nature, the trees, the water,” Selman said.
He said one of his favorite aspects of the challenge is the opportunity to explore Nebraska’s many outdoor spaces.
“Especially here, around Zorinsky, Standing Bear, Flanagan, you got great opportunities and great places to go,” Selman said.
When asked if he planned to submit his miles, Selman did not hesitate.
“I’ll definitely think about it, most definitely,” Selman said.
Between Memorial Day and the end of the year, logging just over 1 mile a day would be enough to reach the 250-mile goal and qualify for prizes.
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We’ll have to wait a bit longer to get into the Cowgirls’ Super Regional.
A rainy night in Lincoln meant the teams only managed to get four outs into the Super between Oklahoma State and Nebraska. The game is tied at 0. The weather delay lasted about two hours before they called it.
The game will resume at 4 p.m. Friday and be televised on ESPN2. They will not play another game Friday, as Game 2 will now take place at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Nebraska football team added its third 2027 offensive line commitment and addition from the state of Georgia on Wednesday.
Loganville (Ga.) Grayson offensive lineman KD Jones officially announced his commitment to NU this week. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Jones picked the Huskers over Georgia Tech, Auburn, Kentucky and Virginia Tech. He visited Lincoln on May 6 and is scheduled to take his official visit to Nebraska on June 6.
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The Huskers first offered Jones in April, after offensive line coach Geep Wade had previously been recruiting him at Georgia Tech.
“Coach Wade called me and offered me today,” Jones told HuskerOnline on Apr. 25. “He has been on me for a long time, ever since he was at Tech. So his interest wasn’t anything new to me. He came to watch me train at school and was amazed. He offered the next day.”
Jones joins safety Corey Hadley from the state of Georgia in NU’s 2027 recruiting class.
“I knew nothing about Nebraska before the offer,” Jones said in April. But now that Coach Wade and Coach (Lonnie) Teasley are there, I know I can trust them.”
Jones had planned to take official visits to all the schools recruiting him, but his early commitment to NU appears to have shut down those visits.
He jones Omaha (Neb.) Millard North’s Matt Erickson and fellow Grayson product Jordan Agbanoma are the other offensive linemen in the Huskers’ 2027 recruiting class. He’s now the 10th commitment in Nebraska’s class of 2027.
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