Commissioner apologizes for school bus, rake incident

Unbelievable, A person with 40 years experience working for the County as McNutt notes can loose it and throw a rake in front of a bus that could have caused a wreck that could of injured or killed a driver or children merely apologizes and turns the blame on others and stress. This does need investigated more thoroughly by authorities and/or his work supervisor. Saying it is a problem of drivers going around workers as they are suppose to do, unless otherwise marked. And then put at risk by an experienced worker who is also a trusted Commissioner is truly unacceptable. Although personnel matters are usually private there should be some counseling or action to find out the purpose of his actions and if he can be trusted not react this way again. Other than just promising "it will not happen again". Once is usually enough no matter if the person has worked at a specific place long or even if he is an elected official. He showed no common since, or concern of what his actions could have resulted in, death or injury of citizens.

The guy's out in the hot sun all day and mistakes happen. Everyone will look bad under the microscope if you look hard enough.

A split second bad decision could of cost lives but thank God it didnt end that way. We have a God of second chances and the Commissioner has been given one.... he really needs to face to face apologize yo the driver and those kids and their parents. Maybe an anger management class could benefit him in the aggravations of his job.

I fired an employee for road raging that involved just yelling because he represented my company. If he showed obscene finger gestures toward the bus, that would be deplorable, throwing a stick out would be unacceptable, throwing out a tool that could be likened to a spike strip is unthinkable.

Spammyspam..... be careful when you justify questionable behavior, hot and humid conditions aren't an excuse to do the wrong thing. I've been hot and frustrated and said things that I shouldn't have, and apologized emphatically afterwards. This is a spiked tool in front of a vehicle that has at least one person aboard, furthermore it could have multiple passengers that have no control over the driver's actions.... furthermore, this vehicle could have small children who have never hurt a sole, furthermore this is a vehicle that DOESN'T have seatbelts. I see a bus in front of me, I avoid following it just because I'm not entirely certain what the rules and regulations are, regarding it... "Do I have to stop, can I pass?" I always error to the side of safety. Throw a rake.... WHAAAAT?!

Anyway, it only takes 1 bad decisions and really bad things can happen, we've all done stupid, it happens. It really makes you stop to think though.

Did I read that no signs were posted? That might explain the fast traffic, that alone is worth looking into. Perhaps a call to the Sherriff should have been made to catch the speeders, but I believe I would try a more proactive approach like getting proper equipment when the system I was employing wasn't working. A life is hard to replace, for both the workers as well as the passengers of school buses.

No excuse for doing that and with him being in the position he is in or anyone doing something like this. If it was another employee that did this would they still have their job? Doubtful. I don't like to see anyone lose a job but he probably needs to lose his job over this. Throwing a rake in front of a bus with children on it or any vehicle, is inexcusable!

I for one am furious over McNutts actions! He needs to step down from County Commisioner position as he apparently cannot make wise decisions and makes excuses for his actions.

He can pretend to be sorry all he wants it does NOT excuse his behavior and i believe the only reason he is acting sorry is because he was caught!

I am also disgusted with Sheriff Alan Kotschwar! No charges? You were voted into that office, you begged and promised and now you act gutless, yet you can post wanted pictures and your good old warrant list etc, and dont hold everyone up to the same standards. Shame on you... now we see your true self! I am sickened I voted for you, dont worry, it wont happen again!

No harm, no foul if you're a politician.

People are . . . human. Earl made a really, really, stupid and potentially tragic mistake. He reacted out of anger (and outrage; he and his crew were nearly run down moments earlier), in a way that is very unlike the man who has devoted his life to the County and it's residents for over 40 years. Luckily, the experienced bus driver didn't swerve and no one was hurt. Earl's apology was one of the most heartfelt I have ever heard, and I know he feels miserably remorseful. His action was so out-of-character, people who know him did not believe the story until he insisted that it was true. Think carefully before you ruin a man's life.

Both parties are at fault here. Road signs should have been placed for the protection of the workers but if someone is standing there trying to flag you down, waving their hands at you, you should slow down or be concerned that something is up ahead or going on. The bus driver obviously didn’t do this regardless of what she said. If I saw someone waving their arms at me I would slow down. Like mentioned above, we are all human and make mistakes, fortunately for this matter no one was hurt. God is Good. We’ve been taught to forgive and I think people need to be reminded of that instead of acting hateful. Also, for those of you who know Earl McNutt, you know that this is not him and not his intentions to ever hurt anyone. We have all made mistakes or actions that we wished we could take back and I know he wishes he could take this back. His apology was one of the most sincere I have seen.

Wouldn't the Sherrif investigating this be a conflict of interest considering the comissioners approve his paycheck?

So if I understand this correctly. Anyone can endanger the lives of innocent children and all They have to say is “I was having a bad day”and say I’m sorry.

Holding someone accountable is ruining their life?? Did I read that right?

He had no problem blaming the bus driver and exagerated the speeding part, the only reason he is sorry is because he was caught. Was he concerned when she was going to lose her job? That was the rumor... I highly doubt it.

I dont know either party personally, I can say he should be thankful that my family wasnt on that bus because I wouldn’t stop until he was held accountable! A ticket is the LEAST he deserves. This entire incident disgusts me and I have lost respect for several people that are in office.

My comment was deleted for kindly suggesting an anger management class. Good luck to everyone else on keeping their posts.

if none was hurt I do t aee the big deal. cant a guy blow off some steam without being damed fo hell. so what if a stick was in the road i have run over a lot of sticks. its nebraska who hasn't hit a stick in the road.

don't let them get you down erl.

As long as no one misses the money, it's ok to rob a bank BT?

You have GOT to be trying to get people to argue.

100's of road workers are killed every year. One of the most dangerous and difficult jobs one can have. The minutia and emotion around things that don't matter are confounding. Look around people, small towns are struggling. Put the long knives away and solve simple things. My 2 copper.

I find it interesting that government entities can not be regulated by OSHA and yet every private organization in the USA is inundated with rules, regulations and hefty fines for dangerous working conditions. If this was a private company commissioned to make the repairs on this road and they didn't have specified flaggers and signs, and someone got hurt, OSHA would have been there to write out fines before the dust settled. I wonder how this article would have read if that was a sub crew out there and such a thing happened.

I can kind of expect the commissioners to make a statement regarding the lack of required safety equipment.

It is definitely a dangerous job, one that I personally wouldn't like to perform. It makes me wonder if OSHA sees government employees as less important, or if government sticks with government. Iron workers without eye protection can get fined up to $25,000.00, even more. That's an employee choosing NOT to use eye protection at the risk of injury or total loss of an eye, what of a road worker that thinks his co-workers are taking care of business up the road and gets struck by a passer by. It's the same thing with potentially much worse outcomes of not a single individual but multiple parties that might be involved. Does the County have a written safety protocol, or is it that if there is no one to enforce safety then there's no reason to do it when it's not convenient?

Believe me, OSHA requirements are ANYTHING but convenient and requires deep pockets to comply with all of their needed equipment and regulations.

Perhaps all of the speeding vehicles are a result of lack of planning and safety policies.

It could have been thrown through the windshield. There are laws about crews working on the roads but the majority never pay any attention and I have to say the school bus drivers are amongst the worst. Good for you Earl, at least now people are talking about how dangerous the drivers are.

There you go georgean.... put innocent lives at risk for the sake of educating the masses. Ironically the innocent lives were already in the educational system, heading home from it, matter of factly. OR.... you can just put up warning signs.

Shake it, slice it wrap it in frosting..... nope, there's no way to make it look better. Nice try georgean I don't think its gonna work, and support from someone that promotes a construction tool through the windshield of a school bus probably isn't helping Erls case right now. "STOP HELPING!" Just razzing you...... still.....