News from Neighbors
Wind farm construction underway in four counties
BURLINGTON RECORD, July 6 — Construction of the Rush Creek Wind Project, the biggest single-phase wind-generating facility in North America, is underway.
To be located in Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties in Colorado, the project will comprise two wind farms owned and operated by Xcel Energy. XEL is developing the project in association with Invenergy.
With an installed capacity of 600 megawatts, the wind farm will produce adequate electricity to meet the needs of approximately 325,000 homes upon completion of construction in October 2018.
XEL submitted planning application for the construction of the wind farm to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission in May 2016 and received approval in September 2016.
The project is estimated to require a $1 billion investment and is expected to generate 350 jobs during construction.
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Haxtun Town Council votes to ask voters for a 1 percent sales tax increase
HAXTUN-FLEMING HERALD, July 12 — November ballots will feature a sales tax question for Haxtun voters. The Haxtun Town Council voted during a meeting July 3 to proceed with a 1 percent sales tax increase to help fund library and pool costs.
According to Town Clerk Karie Wilson, the council plans to seek a 1 percent sales tax increase, which would bring the current sales tax to 3.5 percent. Of the 2.5 percent in place now, half a percent is designated for the community center, and 1 percent funds the street project.
Over the past 16 years, the Town of Haxtun has gone to the voters only twice for sales tax increases, including the community center and street projects. Voters passed the street tax in April 2010, and the community center t
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Fire burns nearly 1,300 acres of pasture
JULESBURG ADVOCATE, July 13 — On Saturday afternoon, more than 40 calls rang in to the Sedgwick County Communication Center, alerting emergency personnel there was a major fire along Interstate 76 around mile marker 173.
Responding units from Ovid, Sedgwick and Julesburg were first dispatched. As the fire departments responded, they assessed the need for more assistance. Big Springs, Nebraska, Crook and Phillips County fire departments were dispatched.
Area farmers joined in the fight and tilled the land with tractors and discs to create a fire break, helping to contain the fire, thus preventing more loss.
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Judge rules in favor of county over disputed hospital billing; City will appeal judge’s ruling in case
IMPERIAL REPUBLICAN, July 13 — District Court Judge David W. Urbom ruled in favor of Chase County, Nebraska, and declared the City of Imperial, Nebraska, is responsible for a $436 hospital bill stemming from a Dec. 24, 2016, arrest by Imperial’s police department.
But the matter remains far from settled.
Imperial City Clerk Jo Leyland said Tuesday that Mayor Dwight Coleman gave the go-ahead to appeal the ruling to the Nebraska Court of Appeals.
Urbom filed his decision, granting the County’s motion for summary judgment on Friday.
Leyland said the situation involves much more than who’s responsible for paying a $436 hospital bill.
City Attorney Josh Wendell said they believe there are conflicting statutes dealing with duties and responsibilities of a jail when someone is taken into custody.
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