Letters, 7/25: NRD's flood focus wrong
The Local View column written by Danny E. Walker, entitled “Where will the water go?,” on the opinion page (LJS, July 7) compels me to add other comments.
There are not enough people speaking out about the present course and policy of the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District.
I have been around long enough to have watched the beginning of the NRD and participated in the development of the Corps of Engineers dams that were built to control the flooding in the Salt Creek drainage system. I watched the widening and deepening of the Salt Creek channel through Lincoln and east to its junction with the Platte River long before any of the upstream efforts were made to control flooding.
I believe the NRD has broadened its mission to include areas not intended by the Legislature. This has led to the establishment of programs most people do not know about. It appears the NRD’s mission is driven by the politics of Lincoln with too much emphasis upon money spent on the outlet end of the flood plains, rather than at the source of the flooding.
There should be more construction of small dams on every branch of the Salt Creek system. There could be dry dams designed to release their water storage slowly after each fill so as to be empty to store following rains.
Take a casual look at our NRD elections; there are few new candidates. We have poor representation in the southern and southwestern area of our NRD.
Cecil R. Morris, Roca
Simple made complex
Community Columnist Roger Conrad (LJS, July 19) spent a lot of time dancing around his point. All he had to say was, “If you like the way things are going, vote for McCain; if you don’t, vote for Obama.” Except when you put it that way, I’m not sure that was the direction he was headed.
It brings back the old saying, “You can put a dress and lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.”
Bob Hurlbut, Lincoln
Indian Cave needs upkeep
I was saddened Sunday when I visited Indian Cave State Park, the park that my husband and I spent so much time in for close to 30 years. He died nine years ago, and I gave up camping. It was our favorite park.
The roads are in dire need of repair, and general upkeep is not what it used to be. Do we need to spend so much of the parks budget on Mahoney and Platte River? Indian Cave is a beautiful nature park.
We are not all swimming, tennis and paddle boaters. We just want a nice place to go and spend quality time together with friends and family in a serene atmosphere.
Indian Cave is that place.
Pat Behrends, Nebraska City
Freedom of religion
Last Friday night, Lincoln Neighborhood Pharmacy sponsored a free outdoor concert by VOTA (formerly Casting Pearls), a local Christian contemporary rock band.
In a day and age when saying anything “religious” out loud is frowned upon because it may offend someone, it sure was great to be surrounded by hundreds of Christian people … on O Street … out in the open … with Christian music cranked up loud. The children were dancing, everybody was smiling, and yes … the words “God” and “Jesus” were freely spoken.
We should have these experiences more often!
Sondra Lothrop, Lincoln
There are not enough people speaking out about the present course and policy of the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District.
I have been around long enough to have watched the beginning of the NRD and participated in the development of the Corps of Engineers dams that were built to control the flooding in the Salt Creek drainage system. I watched the widening and deepening of the Salt Creek channel through Lincoln and east to its junction with the Platte River long before any of the upstream efforts were made to control flooding.
I believe the NRD has broadened its mission to include areas not intended by the Legislature. This has led to the establishment of programs most people do not know about. It appears the NRD’s mission is driven by the politics of Lincoln with too much emphasis upon money spent on the outlet end of the flood plains, rather than at the source of the flooding.
There should be more construction of small dams on every branch of the Salt Creek system. There could be dry dams designed to release their water storage slowly after each fill so as to be empty to store following rains.
Take a casual look at our NRD elections; there are few new candidates. We have poor representation in the southern and southwestern area of our NRD.
Cecil R. Morris, Roca
Simple made complex
Community Columnist Roger Conrad (LJS, July 19) spent a lot of time dancing around his point. All he had to say was, “If you like the way things are going, vote for McCain; if you don’t, vote for Obama.” Except when you put it that way, I’m not sure that was the direction he was headed.
It brings back the old saying, “You can put a dress and lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.”
Bob Hurlbut, Lincoln
Indian Cave needs upkeep
I was saddened Sunday when I visited Indian Cave State Park, the park that my husband and I spent so much time in for close to 30 years. He died nine years ago, and I gave up camping. It was our favorite park.
The roads are in dire need of repair, and general upkeep is not what it used to be. Do we need to spend so much of the parks budget on Mahoney and Platte River? Indian Cave is a beautiful nature park.
We are not all swimming, tennis and paddle boaters. We just want a nice place to go and spend quality time together with friends and family in a serene atmosphere.
Indian Cave is that place.
Pat Behrends, Nebraska City
Freedom of religion
Last Friday night, Lincoln Neighborhood Pharmacy sponsored a free outdoor concert by VOTA (formerly Casting Pearls), a local Christian contemporary rock band.
In a day and age when saying anything “religious” out loud is frowned upon because it may offend someone, it sure was great to be surrounded by hundreds of Christian people … on O Street … out in the open … with Christian music cranked up loud. The children were dancing, everybody was smiling, and yes … the words “God” and “Jesus” were freely spoken.
We should have these experiences more often!
Sondra Lothrop, Lincoln
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