About 25 guests got acquainted at the P4OC welcome coffee

Partners for Otoe County hosted a welcome coffee on Thursday, March 10th, for people with new positions in the Otoe County community. The event was held at the Nebraska City Center for Children and Families.

Special guests welcoming the group included Nebraska City Mayor Jack Hobbie, Nebraska City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Edwards.  and Nebraska City Area Economic Development Executive Director Stephanie Shrader.  "Newcomers" in attendance included:  Jonathan Spearman, General Manager for Cargill; Chuck Wiiest, Market

(Left) Mayor Jack Hobbie visits with CASA Program Co-Coordinator Mari Jackson.  (Right) Jonathan Spearman talks with Stacie Higgins, TeamMates Coordinator.

Manager for Arbor Bank; Pastor Juan Fernandez, Calvary Community Church; Rick Shank, WOTA Senior Center; David Stickrod, Special Services Director for Nebraska City Public Schools; Cody Ruby and Paula McVay, KNCY Radio; T. J. Charstil, Nebraska City News-Press reporter; David and Darcy Carpenter, owners of Seniors Helping Seniors; George Pflager and Shelly Benshoof, therapists with Behavioral Health Solutions at the Nebraska City Medical Clinic and Tom Ross, Child Protective Services Supervisor for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. 

(Back left) Dr. Jeff Edwards visits with Traci Reuter and Rick Shank, (Front Right)  George Pflager visits with Shelly Benshoof

The Leadership Nebraska City class attended the event, including:  Jenni Brant, KHN Center for the Arts; Aimee Harker, Arbor Bank; Robyn Long, VF Outlet, Kimberly McGiffin, Peru State College, Kay Olson, Cargill Meat Processing; Amy Stouffer, Arbor Day Foundation; and Paula Aldana, St. Mary's Community Hospital, along with advisor Amy Allgood and Rose Ralstin from Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce.   

Dale Haverty, Executive Director of the Nebraska City Center for Children and Families, provided tours of the center for participating guests.       

Governor Heineman signed LB 274 on March 10th.  The bill, sponsored by Senator Mike Gloor of Grand Island, will make it possible for people to get rid of unneeded prescription drugs at pharmacies.   

Safe disposal of prescription medications is becoming a greater public health issue due to the increase in the number of people who abuse prescription medications.  According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, each day approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time and a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.  Nebraska City Police Chief Dave Lacy says    "We are unknowingly becoming drug dealers if we leave medications around and risk getting them into the wrong hands." 

Partners for Otoe County has organized a Safe Rx Committee to increase safe disposal of medications and decrease their misuse.  Committee members include:  Sgt. Dana Schebaum, Nebraska City Police Department; Bob Moser, U-Save Pharmacy; Kay Kiechel-White, St. Mary's Community Hospital; Kay Oestman, Southeast District Health Department; Traci Wieckhorst, Nebraska City Housing Authority; Derek Effle, Region V Systems; Kent Blum, Nebraska City Elks; Yoanda Peck, Interpreter; Gregg Goebbel, Otoe County Emergency Management; and Jennfier Conway, Conway Communications.  The Safe Rx Committee will be hosting its 2nd medication take back event on Saturday, April 16 from 10:00 to 2:00.  Details will follow in upcoming issues.     

LB 237, introduced by State Senator Gwen Howard, would establish a statewide system to alert physicians, hospitals and pharmacists when someone attempts to obtain prescription drugs from multiple providers.  That bill bill has advanced to the final reading stage in the Nebraska Legislature.