It seems to be getting better and better for Wausa Public School’s Business Education teacher, Dawn Friedrich. Also in charge of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Friedrich will send twelve students to FBLA Nationals this year in Baltimore, Maryland on June 28.
Every year Nationals is moved to a different section of the United States. Friedrich has had students compete in Atlanta, San Antonio, Chicago, Nashville, Orlando and Anaheim. With the twelve students going this year, Friedrich has now lead 50 students to the national level. For students to qualify for nationals, they must place in the top 3 at The State Leadership Conference held in Omaha. Friedrich brings students there every year at the beginning of April. “A student can only compete in one event at nationals but in five events at state,” Friedrich said. “Because of this, sometimes a student may be moved up a place if someone above them in the rankings chooses a different event to participate in.” The students can partake in many different challenges. Some are individual events such as tests in subjects like Accounting, Personal Finance, or Spreadsheet Applications. Others are team events, where teams will give a presentation in front of judges or submit graphic design projects or digital video projects. Other events include public speaking, impromptu speaking as well as role play events like Client Service or Sports Management. All of which build very important skill sets for these young adults. Wausa as a school has also been ranked seventh nationwide for Financial Literacy. They also placed fourth in the small school category nationwide. Students partook in the W!se Financial Literacy Test and passed with flying colors. The W!se test is a 50 question timed test. To prepare her class, Friedrich had her students complete a comprehensive study guide and review for about 5 class periods. “Financial Literacy is necessary for all people to learn,” stated Friedrich. “Students will need to know how to budget their money while they are in college as well as after college when they are finally out working in their desired career. If they don't know how to manage their money, they will never experience financial security.” This huge milestone can only be contributed to great teaching. “I think having passion for what you do and building professional relationships with the students and fellow educators is critical.” Friedrich has a great relationship with her students, which doesn’t only make the teaching more enjoyable but can also help students learn. Friedrich says she likes teaching classes with around 12-16 students, that way she can really give each student the attention they deserve. “As a teacher, I let the students know that they can set up an appointment to come in for help or watch tutorials on how to finish an assignment.” Being a great teacher doesn’t just happen in the classroom. Teachers who get involved and always have a hunger to keep learning themselves make the best educators. Friedrich is involved as a Board Member for Nebraska FBLA as well as many other professional organizations. She expressed how vital it is to be involved in such organizations in order to keep up with current trends in her profession. It also helps her stay connected to other teachers and field specialists. As if her students accomplishments hadn’t humbled her enough, Friedrich was also awarded with the NSBEA National Business Teacher of the Year Award. She had a hard time describing how she felt upon receiving the award. “I'm just doing my job and taking a lot of pride in what I do.” The general mood and overall outlook on the future of 21 nursing facilities, including one in Wausa, has taken a complete turnaround. While new owners are being sought, the state is watching the facilities closely.
“People should feel better today than last week,” said Ken Klaasmeyer of Klaasmeyer & Associates, the management company now overseeing the facilities. “There’s more oversight now than they ever had before. We’re checking in with the state daily, as well as the facilities and making sure there is staff and food available.” Wausa Care & Rehabilitation is one of 21 nursing facilities turned over to the state Friday after the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services was alerted that the company could not make payroll. Other nearby facilities include O’Neill, Neligh and Norfolk. Despite being unable to pay their employees, the facilities all remained open to ensure their residents were cared for. Klaasmeyer said his company took over March 23 as managers from the New Jersey-based Cottonwood Healthcare L.L.C. also known as Skyline. That means, as of March 23, Klaasmeyer & Associates is overseeing the bills, and employees will be paid from that date forward. As for the missed pay, Klaasmeyer said they are looking for funding for that but cannot guarantee it at this point. However, Omaha-based Immanuel has stepped in with a “sizeable” donation to assist employees and residents, reportedly about $250,000. “They are living up to their mission,” Klaasmeyer said. “Immanuel provided a donation of a $100 gift card to every employee and donated groceries to the facilities. We started distribution of those yesterday.” Klaasmeyer said his company has now met with every facility administrator and is continuing communication to work through the receivership process, which includes searching for a new owner for the facilities. “We don’t have a timeline. It could be a month, six months, a year. I don’t know, but we’ll do whatever we have to do,” he said. “The people that own the buildings could lease them to other places. We’ve had various calls from cities asking if the city could take them over, and we’ve done that before.” Klaasmeyer said he worked with the City of Clarkson last August to take over ownership of that facility from Skyline. “The city now owns the facility and we manage it for the City of Clarkson,” he said. “They didn’t have the experience for it, so we came in to manage the facility for them.” Klaasmeyer said while there are no concrete plans of who will purchase the facilities, he said they will remain open and overseen by his team until the state approves the new ownership. “Everyone feels good about where we are today,” he said. “We’re moving forward with our primary purpose of maintaining and improving care of the residents.” A Wausa nursing home is one of nearly two dozen in Nebraska now in a legal battle after failing to pay its employees.
The Omaha World-Herald reported that the Department of Health and Human Services were alerted Friday that Cottonwood Healthcare, the company that owns the Wausa Care & Rehabilitation Center, would be unable to pay its employees. Matt Litt of the DHHS told the World-Herald that public health officials worked with the Attorney General’s office to set up a receivership and get it approved in court. Copies of the order signed by a Lancaster County judget were filed in 19 counties. Klassmeyer & Associates has been appointed to manage the facilities while a long-term plan is worked out, according to the report. Other nearby facilities effected by this development include Norfolk, Neligh and O’Neill. Tom Lundberg took multiple medals today at the 2018 Class C2 State Speech held at the University of Kearney.
Lundberg took runner up in the Extempt category as well as fourth in Persuasive. Wausa had lots of talent at the 2018 State Speech held at the University of Kearney today.
In the Extempt category Tom Lundberg finished second followed by William Hague in third. Tom Lundberg also took fourth in Persuasive. Kaitlyn Kumm finished third in Entertainment as well as fourth in Duet with her partner Taylor Kumm. Carli Cobler took 5th in Serious and Samantha Roberts finished 6th in Humorous. The Northeast Nebraska Whitetails Unlimited Chapter held its annual banquet in Wausa this past Saturday evening. In attendance were 466 guests that came together to raise funds in support of local area youth programs.
The evening kicked off with a social hour for guests to interact with one another, browse auction items and take part a variety of games that were held. Guests were served supper followed by raffles. A kids raffle was held with various sports goods which included several BB guns, .22's, sweatshirts and four lifetime hunting memberships. The chapter firmly believes in involving the youth at an early age. It has been a goal for the Northeast Nebraska Whitetails Unlimited Chapter to strive for conservation and carry on the hunting tradition with each other. The chapter recognized all military veterans and honored one lucky veteran with a .308 rifle. Tom Cunningham was the lucky veteran but decided to give it to his brother who serverd in Vietnam. He felt that he deserved it more than he did. Virgil Bayne was recognized as being old veteran at 92 and presented with wall art of an American flag. Dale Wamberg also received a 6.5 Creedmore as part of the veteran recognition. Through out the evening, raffles were ran inbetween the auctioning of a multitude of hunting equipment. Dan Wamberg presented the Sponsor of the Year award to Gary Vesely for his support on this year's event. Auctions and raffles continued throughout the evening with the night concluding with the final gun drawing. The Chapter would like to thank Vicki Ketelsen and her crew for providing the meal, Dave Carlson and the rest of the Wausa Volunteer Fire Department, Paul Loberg for handling all of the guns, Gary Vesely and his team for providing the auctioneer services, all of the donors and sponsors and finally to all of the guests for making the event possible. It would not be successful without everyones help. Wausa businesses — and local contractors — wanting to take advantage of a grant opportunity to spruce up their buildings are invited to an informational meeting.
The Village of Wausa has been awarded $307,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for Downtown Revitalization (DTR). The funds will be dispersed as matching grants and are available to businesses in the Wausa downtown area for improvements, including façade, signage and commercial building improvements. Two 30-minute informational meetings will be Thursday, March 22, in the meeting room at the Lied Lincoln Township Library in Wausa at 12:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Businesses and contractors are encouraged to attend either the 12:15 p.m. or 5:30 meeting to review the program guidelines and application process. For those unable to attend one of the meetings, DTR program staff will be available at the library from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for individual consultations. Questions can be directed to Lowell Schroeder at lowell@nenedd.org or 402-379-1150 ext. 102 or Megan Hanefeld at knoxcodevelopment@gpcom.net or (402) 288-5619. On November 8, Department of Economic Development (DED) awarded $350,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to the Village of Wausa for Downtown Revitalization (DTR) improvements.
The Village of Wausa was awarded a DTR Planning Grant in 2016 and in 2017 submitted the plan within a DTR Implementation Grant application requesting $350,000 to implement Downtown Façade Improvements which had been identified as the highest priority by the Wausa DTR Committee and Village Board. Wausa businesses who participate in the façade program will provide the required matching funds of $107,450. Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District (NENEDD) Community Planner Lowell Schroeder said, “Wausa is a smaller community with a thriving downtown business district. The community came together through the grant application and planning processes to demonstrate that they can implement a successful façade project. This community is encouraging and developing the next generation of business leaders by including FBLA students on the DTR committee.” Business planning meetings are tentatively for the first part of next year. Businesses can then start the bidding process to begin work. There's no illusion here — Wausa continues to be dominant in one-act as the team won its sixth straight state championship on Wednesday. Wausa has a staggering 62 students participating in one-act. "Our kids have overcome some things and they are just a strong group of kids who really pulled together," said Brad Hoesing, who directed the production with his wife, Sheila. "And our Community supports us every day. We don't get that many kids involved from a small town like Wausa without the parental support." Sheila Hoesing couldn't hide her excitement for yet another state championship. "I can finally sleep now!" she exclaimed with delight. At the Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk, Wausa performed "Illusions" and competed against five additional Class D1 schools from throughout the state to include Humphrey St. Francis, Johnson-Brock, Bertrand, Callaway and Leyton. Outstanding male actor in class D1 was Taylor Kumm of Wausa. As a team, Wausa claimed three first-place votes from judges. Runner-up was Johnson-Brock with St. Francis earning third. Wausa play production director Sheila Hoesing has had a hand in guiding students since 2006 and nows the recipe of success has two key ingredients. “Hard work and community support," Hoesing said. Wausa is no stranger to the winner’s circle as they have made a state appearance for the last 12 consecutive years. Of these dozen years, they have claimed the championships 11 times. The one year they did not win, they finished third. Hoesing has been a part of every year. Wausa went into the championships with a major advantage. The five schools competing against Wausa had a combined championship historical count of five wins while Wausa had that many titles in just the last five years. Hoesing said the kids seem to work harder each year in order to hold up the tradition. A key element of Wausa’s success is that scripts are written by Hoesing herself. By creating scripts that suit the kids characteristics help tailor their production to the tools at hand. |