News from neighbors
Brush enters HGTV competition for a home town takeover and Clayton Street ‘face lift’
BRUSH NEWS-TRIBUNE, Feb. 3 — The city of Brush is entering an HGTV competition for small towns looking to give their historic buildings and main street areas a makeover in the next year.
Brush hopes to be featured on the new HGTV show “Home Town Takeover,” which would bring HGTV personalities Ben and Erin Napier to town to lead a restoration of Clayton Street and other original architecture in the area. The nationwide competition is open to small towns in America with less than 40,000 in population and that have a main street that “needs a facelift,” according to the HGTV website.
“We determined that we have good infrastructure, but it’s some of our buildings that are worn or dilapidated,” said Melody Christensen, executive director of the Brush Area Chamber of Commerce.
According to an HGTV release about the show, the winning city can expect to see a handful of family homes rehabilitated, as well as a revitalization of public spaces, such as “parks, local diners or restaurants, and outdoor recreation areas.”
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Grand jury clears sheriff’s office in fatal pursuit
GRANT TRIBUNE-SENTINEL, Feb. 12 — Members of an 18-person grand jury cleared the Perkins County Sheriff’s Office of any wrongdoing during an Aug. 9, 2019, high-speed pursuit that resulted in the death of a 55-year-old Illinois man.
The secret grand jury comprised of Perkins County, Nebraska, residents convened on Jan. 31 and heard testimony from seven different witnesses.
Nebraska law requires a grand jury be convened whenever someone dies while being apprehended or in police custody.
After nearly eight hours of testimony, the grand jury determined the Sheriff’s Office and the Grant Volunteer Fire Department acted in accordance with their policies and procedures with no criminal intent.
At 9:44 p.m. on Aug. 9, a citizen reported a red car driving erratically on Highway 61, and then parking at Golden Ours Convalescent Home.
A Perkins County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded and located the vehicle, a 2017 Hyundai sedan, in the parking lot, where he noticed a headlight was out. The vehicle departed, and the deputy initiated a routine traffic stop at the 1100 block of Central Avenue.
The driver, James P. Lustyk of Roselle, Illinois, was asked to step out of the vehicle after telling the deputy he was in possession of marijuana. He then proceeded to flee the scene.
The deputy turned on his emergency equipment and began to pursue Lustyk northbound on Highway 61.
Sheriff Jim Brueggeman said the Lustyk vehicle was traveling in excess of 100 mph with the deputy about one-eighth to one-quarter of a mile behind.
About 3 miles north of Grant, the vehicle veered off the west side of the highway and into the ditch before striking a large tree stump. The vehicle flipped, coming to rest on the passenger side in the driveway of the rural residence at 76260 Hwy 61 known as the Stumpf place.
The deputy immediately summoned emergency responders and evaluated the victim upon arrival, finding no signs of life.
An investigation of the incident was conducted by special investigators with the Attorney General’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol.
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Council approves MOU for proposed recreational facility
BURLINGTON RECORD, Feb. 6 — At their regular meeting Monday, Jan. 27, Burlington city councilmen approved the mayor’s signature on a Memorandum of Understanding between the city, Our Hometown Charitable Foundation and Barry and Debbie Hinkhouse to assist in the implementation of plans to build a proposed recreational facility.
While this agreement is non-binding, it sets the ball in motion for OHCF to take the beginning steps to survey, prepare deeds and begin the annexation process.
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