News

A standing room only gathering of over 300 people crowded into the Vesper Community Center Sunday afternoon to listen to Norman Kincaide, Ph.D. The meeting in Vesper is one of nine meetings to be held from April 7-15. The topic of these gathering is to educate the public regarding the proposed National Heritage Area composing 26 counties in Kansas and 23 in Nebraska with an area equaling 22,906,888 acres.

The USD #273 Board of Education held their April meeting at the Board Office on North Independence Avenue Monday night. This was the first meeting to be held at the Board Office in a number of months. Due to social distancing concerns, the monthly meetings have been held at the high school where more room was available.

Four members of the citizen’s group opposed to the Kansas Nebraska Heritage Area Partnership (KNHAP) met with the commissioners and requested they sign a resolution opposing the 49 county area. The visitors included Jim and Linda Burton, Billie Payne, and Matt Schroeder. The group expressed their concern that this is the first step in removing private control of the land in Kansas and Nebraska. Nine meetings are being held in North Central Kansas to alert landowners to the program with the latest held in Vesper on Sunday with over 300 plus in attendance. During the Vesper meeting a letter signed by the State of Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, Neb. Dept. of Economic Development Director Anthony Goins and Neb. Department of Agriculture Director, Steve Wellman, was presented in opposing the National Heritage Area.