Web site rallies support to 'save Ashland'
Ashland won’t become Atlantis if Bob Luebbe has his way. This week Luebbe launched a Web site, www.saveashland.com, to rally resistance to a measure that would explore the idea of damming the Platte River east of Ashland.
State Sen. Pam Brown introduced a bill last week that requests $3 million to study the impact of creating an 25-mile-long lake between Lincoln and Omaha. The project would swamp Ashland.
Brown has said the hydroelectric power generated by the dam and tourist dollars generated by the lake could be an economic boon.
But the bill met with shock and anger from Ashland residents.
“We needed a central place where the community could go for information and find out what they can do to help,” said Luebbe, who runs Linoma Software in Ashland.
The Web site includes information on upcoming meetings; a summary of the project idea and a link to the bill, LB112; a map of where a lake might be located; and information on how to contact Gov. Dave Heineman, senators who represent Ashland and members of the appropriations committee.
The Web site also has space for public comments.
“People need a sounding board. They are frustrated and I think they feel stepped on,” Luebbe said.
Mayor Ronna Wiig, who said she can barely make it out of her house because of phone calls on the subject, said she thinks the site can help inform people about the bill and upcoming hearings.
“It’s important for people to know it’s only the bill for the study that we are fighting,” she said. “We’re not even close to the point of having to fight the lake.”
Reach Kendra Waltke at 473-7303 or kwaltke@journalstar.com.
Town meeting set
Ashland-area residents are invited to a town meeting on state Sen. Pam Brown’s bill for a $3 million study of damming the Platte River. It will start at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Ashland-Greenwood High School gym.
State Sen. Pam Brown introduced a bill last week that requests $3 million to study the impact of creating an 25-mile-long lake between Lincoln and Omaha. The project would swamp Ashland.
Brown has said the hydroelectric power generated by the dam and tourist dollars generated by the lake could be an economic boon.
But the bill met with shock and anger from Ashland residents.
“We needed a central place where the community could go for information and find out what they can do to help,” said Luebbe, who runs Linoma Software in Ashland.
The Web site includes information on upcoming meetings; a summary of the project idea and a link to the bill, LB112; a map of where a lake might be located; and information on how to contact Gov. Dave Heineman, senators who represent Ashland and members of the appropriations committee.
The Web site also has space for public comments.
“People need a sounding board. They are frustrated and I think they feel stepped on,” Luebbe said.
Mayor Ronna Wiig, who said she can barely make it out of her house because of phone calls on the subject, said she thinks the site can help inform people about the bill and upcoming hearings.
“It’s important for people to know it’s only the bill for the study that we are fighting,” she said. “We’re not even close to the point of having to fight the lake.”
Reach Kendra Waltke at 473-7303 or kwaltke@journalstar.com.
Town meeting set
Ashland-area residents are invited to a town meeting on state Sen. Pam Brown’s bill for a $3 million study of damming the Platte River. It will start at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Ashland-Greenwood High School gym.
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