Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 10

RASKA 2B Saturday March 4, 2000 Page design: Rob Schlotterbeck NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE Last-mmuute MM tM reducdons' sought NEB THryTTgfgr; 1 I Lawmakers looking for right approach changing how agricultural taxes are assessed and valued for tax purposes. The likely vehicle for any property tax plan will be LB1124, which was introduced and prioritized by Coordsen, a Thayer County farmer. The bill was prioritized BY SCOTT BAUER Tha Associated Press With the clock ticking on the 2000 legislative session, proponents of tax relief measures for farmers are trying to find the right solution to debate. Tve been a little slow," acknowledged Sen. mind and hopes to have a bill ready fpr discus- -sion in the committee next week.

One obstacle Coordsen sees to winning approval to any proposal is overcoming the public's perception that farmers are wealthy and: i should not worry about their property taxes. There is no doubt Nebraska's ag land owners pay proportionately higher taxes than farmers in other states. -''X A report written released last fall, written at the request of the Legislature, showed that Nebraska has the highest taxes on agricultur-. al land in the region and among the highest in the nation. South Dakota is embarking on a two-year -trial program to gauge the merits of using the income capacity of agricultural land to determine its taxable value.

Results of that study and recommendations will be made that state's lawmakers by Oct. 1, 2001. v. Coordsen said that approach may not be constitutional in Nebraska. As introduced, his bill calls for assessing the value of agricultural land based on its income-producing potential Agricultural land in Nebraska is assessed at 74 percent to 80 percent of the land's market value for tax purposes.

All other real estate is assessed at 92 percent to 100 percent of market value. At a committee meeting this week, Coordsen said another approach would be simply to lower the percentage at which agricultural land is valued. Bills proposing that tack also are sitting in the committee. "Is there an interest in one or the other or both?" Coordsen asked committee members. Lincoln Sen.

Dave Landis said he favored tying the value of the land to its income-producing capability more than lowering the percentage. Coordsen is taking the recommendations in LEGISLATUREOOO early and can be advanced George Coordsen of Hebron, a key proponent to the full Legislature late and still be at the of change. "I should have been working on it head of the line for debate, said committee more. chairman ben. Bob Wickersham of Harrison.

With 22 working days left in the session, the Revenue Committee is sitting on more than half a dozen bills taking various approaches to Coordsen has been working with staff for the Revenue Committee on coming up with just the right mix of ideas for the bilL Road deaths on pace to be highest since '81 Ag summit focuses on dry weather KEARNEY (AP) Gov. Mike Johanns invited farmers from across the state to attend his agriculture summit, themed "Preparing Today for Tomorrow's Opportunities," held Friday. But what he wanted to talk about was preparing for tomorrow's possible disaster. Johanns warned that droughtlike conditions over the last six months could cause an ever growing headache for weather issues that have contain uted to fatalities that's really hard to put your finger on." The high number of fatalities could be linked to more multiple fatality accidents, Zwonechek said. This year 27 people have died in 12 multiple fatality accidents.

Nine accidents killed two people each, and three wrecks killed three; people each. Last year by this time, 17 people had died in multiple wrecks of those killing two each, and one, wreck killing three people. Since hitting a low in the mid-' 1990s, traffic fatalities have been rising in the state. In 1997, fatalities topped 300 for the, first time since 1981. In 1998, 302 died on Nebraska roads, and last year the number dipped slightly, to 295.

Speed and low seat belt usage among victims have been looked at as causes for the high numbers, but Zwonecek said there is one usually one underlying factor in the accidents. "It comes down the driver making a bad decision making a bad choice," Zwonechek said. He said in the last year, about three of the four victims killed in: traffic deaths were not wearing a seat belt. OMAHA (AP) Nebraska may be on track to record more traffic fatalities this year than it has in almost 20 years. In 1981, 61 people died on Nebraska roads by March 3.

By the end of that year a total of 378 people died. As of March 3 this year, 60 people had died in Nebraska traffic accidents. This year nearly half of those fatalities involved accidents where two or more died. 1 "The indicators would show we are going to be at much higher level of fatalities than 1999," said state Highway Safety Office Administrator Fred Zwonechek, adding that fa-tality statistics can be unpredictable. Last year at this time 42 people had died on Nebraska roadways as of March 6.

By year's end, 295 had died. A dry, mild winter has created ideal driving weather, more people on the roads and more fatalities, Zwonechek said. Motorists drive slower and more cautious on slippery or snowy roads, he said. Nebraska State Patrol Maj. Bryan Tuma said it was too early to say for sure, but mild winter weather has probably contributed to more driving and more accidents.

"One of the things we're looking 1 at is the impact of the winter and whether there is any seasonable or farmers already facing a hobbling agriculture economy. The governor urged Nebras-kans to begin thinking about what water conservation steps they can take if the dry weather JOHANNS Trailer pins man, killing him COLERIDGE A Belden man was killed Friday morning while unloading molasses from a tractor trailer at the Circle Grain facility south of here. Donald Christensen, 50, was Unloading the molasses from the rear of the trailer when liquid at the front shifted, the Cedar County sheriffs office said. That caused the rear of the trailer to lift, pinning Christensen against a steel beam above the trailer. Christensen was pronounced dead at the scene of the 9 a.m.

accident. Accident victims' Identities released EMMET Authorities have released the identities of three O'Neill residents killed in a one-car accident Thursday in Holt County. Raymond Hornback, 95 his 90-year-old wife, Estella, and their 69-year-old daughter, Bonnie, died in the Alan Rowse said. Rowse did not say who was driving at the time of the 1:38 p.m. crash.

The car was westbound on U.S. 20 about two miles west of Emmet when the driver lost control. The car went into a ditch, struck a power pole and. caught fire. Warrant issued for Omaha physician OMAHA A Douglas County district judge has issued an arrest warrant for an Omaha doctor who failed to appear for a contempt hearing in a divorce case this week.

Dr. Edwin Denis-Flows was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to face allegations that he had not paid $27,000 in child support and alimony since July. When he did not show, Judge Michael McGill issued the warrant Denis-Flows had spent time in ail for contempt in the case after Edilma Rosa Denis filed fordivorcein 1997. In July, Denis-Flows was ordered to serve 90 days in jail or pay $350,000 for contempt. He reportedly took money out of the country in violation of a court order.

Rose Denis' attorney said the doctor voluntarily resigned from his hospital emergency room job in January and failed to show up for a February deposition. The attorney said Denis-Flows, who is a native of Panama, may have left the court's jurisdiction. Murder house may become playground SCOTTSBLUFF The city has scheduled a neighborhood meeting Tuesday to decide what to do about a house that played a part in a gruesome murder. Three-year-old Adam Gomez's body was found a year ago in a freezer, in a dog food bag and dog bowl at the borne. The home's owner, Raymond Mata 26, was convicted in January of first-degree murder, felony murder and kidnapping for the killing of Gomez.

A three-judge panel is scheduled to meet May 10 to hear evidence on whether Mata should be sentenced to the death penalty or life in prisoa The City Council has established a task force to seek donations to pay the remaining $16,000 on the mortgage so the house can be demolished. Plans to install playground equipment and landscape the rea for a park have met with tnixed reactions, so the city is seeking additional input From wire reports Qj I THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Agriculture talks: Gov. Ed Schafer of North Dakota talks about his state's work to promote value-added agriculture products during his keynote address Friday at the 12th annual Governor's Ag Conference in Kearney. The summit drew a record crowd of more than 400 people. continues, as many forecasters think it will.

Johanns based his suggestions on a recently released Climate Assessment and Response Committee report. Meteorologists say that although recent rainfall has brought some moisture to parts of the state, current subsoil moisture levels are extremely low. "I would rather have Nebraskans hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst," Johanns said. "Should the long range forecast for extremely dry conditions hold true, Nebraskans need to be ready to manage our towns' and cities' water demands." Most areas in the state need five to seven more inches of rain in the Groundwater event lets kids quench thirst for knowledge coming weeks for soil moisture to than usual, reach normal levels, said Mark Svo-boda with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's National Drought Mitigation Center. BY AL LAUKAITIS Lincoln Journal Star Who Wants to be Water Rich? i Modeled after the hit television; show, without the million dollars.

This year's theme, "Groundwater; "We're losing about an inch of moisture a week due to evaporation," Svoboda said. "So recent rains really don't help as much as it would seem. Normally in February, we wouldn't be losing any moisture to evaporatioa" Svoboda said this year's unusually mild and windy winter is causing moisture to evaporate more quickly A Grand Oasis, emphasizes how. precious ground water is, just like a- desert oasis. I Charges filed against bank robbery suspect hud is uic year iui me annual- festival, sponsored by the Lincoln-based Groundwater Foundation.

About 2,000 students attend the event each year. This year 5,000 an-; plied. Foust said students who were not picked at random will be put on a waiting list for next year. Gov. Mike Johanns, former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne and Maryanne Bach and Ron Egg; ers, both from the U.S.

Bureau oft Fourth- and fifth-graders attending this year's Children's Groundwater Festival in Grand Island will get a chance to quench their thirst at "Hard Water Cafe." Only alcohol-free beverages will be served; distilled water, tap water and bottled water. The idea is to give children a better understanding of groundwater, said festival spokesman Chad Foust. The "Hard Water Cafe" is one of several new attractions at this year's festival, to be held March 14 at Central Community College in Grand Island. Other new activities and presenters include Growing with Groundwater Nebraska artist Julia Noyes of Lincoln will create a seed mural with festival participants. There's No New Water Groundwater multimedia specialist Mary Minor will share her perspective of the importance of was working security at the bank.

Holland, 38, suffered two wounds in the upper right torso and one to the right leg. Police Chief Don Carey said Holland struggled with the robbers and the Police Department was very proud of his efforts. Bernal was apprehended at the scene. He was injured in the holdup and was released to police after treatment. The second suspect was apprehended later by the Missouri Highway Patrol after a high-speed chase on Interstate 29 near Oregon, about 100 miles southeast of Omaha.

Judge Edna Atkins set bail at $1 million for a second suspect, Gregory J. Bernal of Kansas City, on charges of attempted murder, two counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony and attempted robbery. Also on Thursday, federal authorities filed robbery charges against both men. Authorities say in the complaints that someone was seriously injured during the robbery, which increases the possible penalties. On Wednesday authorities said that Bernal and Simmons tried to rob an Omaha bank and shot Jeff Holland, an off-duty policeman who BY JOURNAL STAR WRITERS and NEWS WIRES A man charged with shooting an off-duty police officer during an attempted bank robbery earlier this week in Omaha has been returned to Nebraska.

Bradley A. Simmons, 43, of Kansas City, waived extradition and was returned today from a Jackson County, jaiL He is charged with attempted first-degree murder, robbery and two felony weapons violations. On Thursday, Douglas County i iciiamauuil ui UUUIlg5, lldC been invited to attend. I For more info For more information about the fes- tival, contact the Groundwater Foundation in Lincoln at (402) I 434-2740. TOE 8 111.

OBECK VACUUM IS Orccli Floor Caro 70th Cc Meridian Park Crane spotting: Whooper seen GRAND ISLAND (AP) The arrival in central Nebraska of the thousands of sandhill cranes during their annual spring migration north usually brings a few rare whooping cranes, as well One early-arriving whooper was spotted this week west of Doniphan. Crane Meadows Nature Center naturalist Eric Volden verified the sighting and saw it again Thursday afternoon. The bird was spotted off the Platte River Road, which runs west of Doniphan off U.S. 281, said Mary Jewell of the nature center. Volden said this whooper is believed to have come up early with the sandhill cranes.

He said it probably will hang around until the other whoopers arrive the first week in April. Most whooping cranes migrate from the Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge on the Texas coast to Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Alberta, Canada. They fly over central Nebraska from early April into early May. Wild whoopers now number about 260 worldwide. Another 104 are being raised in captivity.

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