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Property taxes, State support of local schools and developing businesses were three of the topics discussed by Nebraska gubernatorial hopeful Sen. Bob Krist in Sidney Thursday.
Sen. Krist and running mate Lynne Walz are on a campaign tour in western Nebraska, including stops in Sidney. The tour included meeting Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard and Sidney city officials before visiting the business incubator and entrepreneurship program at the Western Nebraska Community College campus. The tour also drove by the Agri-Plastics and Lukjan location, and by Cabela's/Bass Pro locations and met with Sidney School District Superintendent Jay Ehler.
In his fact sheet, Krist said the median household income in Cheyenne County has grown by only 16.59 percent while property taxes have increased by more than 70 percent during the past 10 years. He breaks down the increase of property tax increases as $158.01 percent for agricultural, 34.33 percent for residential and 51.58 percent for commercial. He says the increase in property taxes is, on the average, an increase of $2,517.40 per household.
As part of the tour, Krist met with the founders of NexGen Outfitters, a start-up company presently headquartered at the Western Nebraska Community College Business incubator and Entrepreneurship program.
During the tour, Trent Santero of NexGen commended Norgard and Paula Abbott of WNCC for their assistance.
"I can talk a long time about how Melissa has helped us," Santero said.
Krist and Walz asked about the founding of the company and why they are starting their own company in Sidney.
"This is our home," Santero said.
He said when they say changes take place at Cabela's they had to decide what to do with their future.
He said the founders are all about the same age, with a history in hunting and outdoor recreation.
"We stepped back and said 'alright. This is what we know,'" he added.
He said they decided "we're going to be the best."
Santero said NexGen Outfitters is designed as an online retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor supplies. He said they knew NexGen Outfitters hd to be different from other retailers. He added they intend on remaining focused on what they know.
"It is hard to be everything to everyone, especially online," Santero said. "You have to stay the course."
NexGen Outfitters is currently waiting a decision by a Delaware court on a suit brought by Cabela's LLC regarding NexGen's right to compete.
"They're smart guys," said Norgard. "They know what they're doing."
Krist is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who flew more than 100 combat sorties during his 21 years of military service, according to his website. He was born in Omaha, and graduated from Creighton Preparatory School, later attending the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minn. He earned his Master of Arts degree in business administration and human relations from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. He represents the 10th Legislative District encompassing part of northwest Ohama, unincorporated areas of north-central Douglas County and the City of Bennington. He was appointed to the Nebraska Unicameral legislature by Gov. Dave Heineman in 2009, and elected to a four-year term in 2010, then re-elected in 2014.
Walz grew up on a farm in Fontanelle, Neb., a few miles outside of the legislative district she currently represents. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1981, went to work for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Retardation where she earned the position of Residential Manager. In 1988, she began pursuing education at Midland Lutheran University where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with an endorsement in coaching. That year she moved to Bethphage, now known as Mosaic. She worked as the executive director in Fremont and Columbus.
In 1995, she moved to teaching grades four and five. In 2002, she changed careers again, wrking as a realtor at Don Peterson and Associates, eventually becoming a partner.
She was elected to the Unicameral in 2016 after defeating incumbent Sen. David Schnoor of Scribner.
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