New RC&D coordinator to take post

A new coordinator for the Southwest Nebraska Resource Conservation and Development will be on the job Monday.

Ken Noonan, Nebraska Resource Conservation Service assistant state conservationist and RC&D program manager, informed the group about their new coordinator, Richard Mullaney. Mullaney is currently a RC&D coordinator in North Dakota, it was announced at the May 23 meeting in Culbertson.

Southwest Nebraska RC&D also released its Project Report for 2002. Projects include:

- The RC&D is now fiscal agent for Southwest Nebraska Community Builders. Funds previously held by the Nebraska Community Foundation have been transferred to a local account administered by Southwest Nebraska RC&D. Several members are serving on the Community Builders Steering Committee with the Nelson Institute, Hi-Line Community Builders and others to develop a Youth Community Builders curriculum for Southwest Nebraska.

- Approximately 50 people attended a portion of the 2-day annual conference of the Nebraska Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society in McCook, June 13-14. Lory Cappel escorted five women and two children to Dancing Leaf on Thursday as part of the family program. The concert on Thursday night was very successful. Friday's program included a tour of Valmont, Irrigation Tour and the Work Ethics Camp/Olsen's Ag Lab. The group was very appreciative of the assistance provided by Southwest RC&D.

- Dan Van Dyke of ESU 15 received word from the Department of Environmental Quality that the grant application for $18,464 was approved. The RC&D will be working with ESU to coordinate collection in the participating schools: Lakeside Central, Dundy County, Medicine Valley, Wauneta-Palisade, Culbertson and Twin Valley.

- The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources Southwest Region is partnering with the RC&D to develop and distribute a regional survey. They survey results will be utilized to determine how the Regional Group and RC&D can better serve the needs of the area. Pinpoint Communication has arranged a summer intern program with the Peter Keiwit Institute. The interns will be assisting with the project by designing an on-line survey form.

Projects will be further discussed at today's meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the City Office, 401 10th Street, in Beaver City.