Even weeds student by drought

McCOOK, Neb. -- A retired Natural Resources Conservation Service federal employee will work for Red Willow County's noxious weed control authority, helping weed specialist Bill Elliott map and attack weed infestations across the county.

They'll start looking for phragmites on the Republican River, because, as Elliott said, "Dandelions aren't even growing in the pastures yet, it's so dry."

Andrew "Andy" Havlicek will start this spring, Elliott told county commissioners during their weekly meeting Monday morning. "He's good. He's going to be real useful. Between the two of us, we'll be able to do a lot of acres," Elliott said, explaining that with Havlicek's background, he's already very well versed on noxious weeds and their control and is fully qualified.

Elliott said Havlicek will create maps of weed infestations that are forwarded to the state Department of Agriculture. "I want Andy to do the mapping for us," Elliott said.

Elliott said that Havlicek will work in April, May and June, and then again in the fall. He will be paid an hourly wage, up to the $8,000 that Elliott budgeted for part-time help.

Elliott told commissioners that he's not too concerned with Canada thistle yet, although he knows there is some in county road ditches. He asked that the county road crews map out where they see Canada thistle and he and Havlicek will go spray it.

There's no use going into pastures yet to map noxious weeds, because it's too dry for even weeds to grow, Elliott said. "It would be a waste of time and gas."

" 'Course, all that would change overnight, if we got an inch of rain," said commissioner Earl McNutt.

Tony Martin and Philip Jensen of Great Plains Communications visited with commissioners about the products and services that Great Plains could provide as the county investigates a new phone system.

The two men described Great Plains' internet connections, telephone lines and telephone systems. Martin told commissioners about a phone system, "Everything we do is hard-wired. There is no wireless because of security issues."

Great Plains has installed phone systems in Logan, Custer, Knox, Dixon, Sheridan, Chase and Hitchcock county courthouses.

It has also worked with the Kugler Company and Frenchman Valley Co-Op.