At a recent meeting of the Northeast Nebraska Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council they heard from Roger Wiese, Director of the North Central District Health Department located in O’Neill. He gave a brief history of how and why the public health departments were created in Nebraska. They started in 2001 and were funded initially in all 93 counties with payout from the tobacco industry lawsuit. His office covers 9 counties: Cherry, Brown, Rock, Keya Paha, Boyd, Antelope, Pierce, Holt, and Knox. Some of their programs include Emergency Management Preparedness, mental health issues, substance abuse, natural disasters, and public health symptoms. Much of their work involves collecting data and information and then acting on it. He explained that their Miles of Smiles program, which offers oral screening and fluoride varnish for elementary and middle school students in the district, is seeing an improvement with the children’s dental issues.
Jan Jorgensen, Projects Manager, reported that the grant writing workshop held recently was successful with 34 people attending from 23 communities. They were excited to learn of the granting opportunities that exist and were glad for the chance to meet some of the funders. Sensitive document shredding events will take place May 8th and 9th in the six communities of Orchard, Creighton, Plainview, Ponca, Hartington and Wayne. Electronics Recycling is still be planned for this summer with times and locations to be announced.
The Plainview Farmers Market will begin on June 4th and continue through September with the site in the RC&D parking lot. Jim and Pearl Laycock, Plainview, will serve as the market managers. Two Grandparent-Grandchild events will be hosted this summer. The first will be held near Royal and include a fishing clinic, visit to the trout rearing station and an artifact hunt. In August the event will coincide with the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s annual powwow and include a visit to the Kreycik Riverview Elk Ranch.
For more information about any of the RC&D programs or services please contact the office at 402-582-4866 or email [email protected]
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The RC&D office is handicap accessible. This institution is an equal opportunity provider & employer.