FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (WOWT) – An eyesore in the wooded countryside north of the Omaha metro forced frustrated neighbors to take legal action. They ordered a court order for cleanup and the property owner got called before a judge.

More than a year ago, that judge ordered the owner of the Washington County junkyard to remove all parts and vehicles from his property. Neighbors who haven’t seen enough progress hope a civil contempt of court will jumpstart a cleanup once and for all.

“Everyone is disgusted with the sight of it and the sounds of it,” said nearby resident Chris Ostranic. “Something needs to be done.”

Six months ago, Chris and several other neighbors told 6 news about the lawsuit they filed to force a cleanup of the junkyard. After several missed deadlines, the neighbors say it’s time for the court to take a tougher stance and send a message that this mess should not be tolerated on the wooded acreage.

Junkyard owner Michael Pick, acting as his own lawyer, argued that he’s worked hard to cleanup his property. He claims 62 loads of scrap, 7,000 batteries and 150 vehicles have been hauled away. But Pick told the judge he ran out of time to get more done.

“If he’s working as hard as he says he is on this property, it should have been cleaned up,” Ostranic said.

District court judge Bryan Meismer ordered Pick to pay $9,600. Part of the amount for a fine, and the other $3,5000 to cover the neighbors’ legal expenses for their lawyers.

“Our client’s goal is to just get the property cleared and we’re hopeful that this is a step in what has been a long process for them, and to eventually get this junkyard removed from the property,” said the neighbors’ attorney, Brad Entwistle.

After the hearing ended, Pick declined to comment to 6 News; his sister stepping in the way. The two of them then left out a back door, but Pick can’t avoid the judge’s order to pay the contempt fine in 60 days and in the meantime, the niehgbors hope that means they’ll see a significant cleanup fo the property.

“I Just hope Mr. Pick realizes that this is a situation that is well out of hand and he need to abide,” Ostranic said. “He needs to comply.”

Pick told the judge that he will have trouble paying the entire contempt fine before the deadline, but he will be allowed to make payments over time.

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Nebraska football is entering a period of change, with new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen preparing to reshape the team’s approach on offense.

Though he’s only been with the Huskers for a week, Holgorsen is expected to start blending elements of his signature Air Raid offense into the team’s playbook. While it’s impossible that Nebraska will fully adopt this new system by their upcoming game against USC, fans might see a gradual transition, with a full rollout possible in 2025 if Holgorsen remains on the staff.

This shift has stirred mixed feelings among Nebraska fans, many of whom worry about how a pass-heavy offense would fare in the Big Ten. The tradition of run-oriented offenses in the conference is often seen as better suited for the cold weather, and that is what many Big Ten teams have stuck to.

Hal Mumme, one of the original minds behind the Air Raid system and a mentor to Holgorsen, believes the offense can succeed anywhere if handled correctly. In a recent interview on Hail Varsity Radio, Mumme discussed why he thinks the Air Raid could work at Nebraska, even in Big Ten competition.

“I never really cared about what the conference’s style was,” Mumme said. “I just wanted our style to be what it was, and we wanted to be good at it. Anyway, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, but if your athletes are fairly equal in ability, it gives you a great advantage, mainly because not many people do it.”

Timing, Mumme says, is on Holgorsen’s side. Although the Air Raid system was once common in the Big 12, it’s now less popular, providing a chance to reintroduce it in a way that might surprise Big Ten opponents.

“There was a time in the Big 12 when nearly every school in the conference was running it, maybe 10 or 12 years ago. But now it’s kind of rotated back, and it’s not as popular as it was to begin with. So I think it’s a good time to pull it out.”

Nebraska’s Air Raid experiment will soon be put to the test as the Huskers explore whether this high-energy offense can withstand the demands of Big Ten play, especially in the unpredictable fall climate of Big Ten country.

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The 2024 Nebraska high school football playoffs continued last week, and now it’s time for Round 3 — the state semifinals.

Top-seeded Omaha Westside will face No. 5 Omaha North in Round 3 of the Class A bracket. The winner of that game will face the winner of No. 2 Millard South and No. 3 Kearney in the championship round.

Here are the Nebraska high school football playoff brackets, with matchups and game times for each classification: 

(1) Sumner-Eddyville-Miller vs. (4) Garden County

5 p.m. CT Friday

(2) Hay Springs vs. (3) Stuart

2 p.m. MT Friday

(1) St. Francis vs. (4) Central Valley

7 p.m. CT Friday

(2) BDS vs. (6) Riverside

5 p.m. CT Friday

(1) Sandy Creek vs. (12) Lourdes Central Catholic

5 p.m. CT Friday

(2) Stanton vs. (6) Summerland

6 p.m. CT Friday

(1) Norfolk Catholic vs. (13) Kearney Catholic

7 p.m. CT Friday

(2) Bishop Neumann vs. (3) Battle Creek

7 p.m. CT Friday

(1) Sidney vs. (5) Central City

5 p.m. MT Friday

(3) Wahoo vs. (7) Auburn

7 p.m. CT Friday

(1) Bennington vs. (5) Elkhorn North

7 p.m. CT Friday

(2) Seward vs. (3) Skutt Catholic

7 p.m. CT Friday

(1) Omaha Westside vs. (5) Omaha North

7 p.m. CT Friday

(2) Millard South vs. (3) Kearney

7 p.m. CT Friday

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