BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024 September 11, Wednesday)Don Harrold, Writer / Editorblairtoday@mail.com – Facebook For over two decades, Blair, Nebraska, has grappled with an overwhelming influx of semi-truck traffic through its downtown. The issue reached a tragic climax in August 2019 when Jaycoby Estrada, a sixth-grader at Otte Blair Middle School, was fatally struck by a semi-truck…
Category: City Government
Blair City Council Approves Budget, Tax Increases in Latest Meeting
BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024 September 11, Wednesday)Don Harrold, Writer / Editor (with Aimee Cothran)blairtoday@mail.com – Facebook Blair’s City Council convened Tuesday night for a packed agenda, making crucial decisions on the city’s financial future and development plans. The council approved the budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, setting appropriations at $93.4 million. This comes with a slight increase…
Blair City Council Honors Local Heroes, Discusses Bypass Opening
BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024 SEPTEMBER 1) – Tuesday night’s Blair City Council meeting opened with a ceremony honoring local first responders for their life-saving efforts. Blair Volunteer Fire Department members Joe Maguire, Tyrel Hernes, Anthony Borders, and Derek Paper received awards for performing CPR during a recent emergency at Foxridge Apartments. Blair Police Department officers Josh…
“Just Not Enough Housing Out There”
BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024 AUGUST 16, FRIDAY) Our town of just over 8,000 residents, is experiencing a housing crisis that mirrors challenges faced by communities across the nation. If you live in Blair – or, more likely, if you want to live in Blair, you may feel like it’s impossible to find an apartment here. If…
Blair Gets Blunt: How One Small Nebraska Town Grapples with Vape Shop Boom
BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024 AUGUST 9, FRIDAY) Blair, Nebraska isn’t exactly known for controversy. But lately, our town of around 8,000 has been buzzing – pun intended – with debate, all because of a sudden explosion of vape shops. To understand the significance of five vape shops in Blair, consider this: According to multiple sources, there…
You Must Ask Questions This Time
BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024, JULY 6, SATURDAY) I wrote three articles in 2023 that dealt with Blair’s water supply. I will link them: Blair Mayor, Mindy Rump, Answers Key Questions – Blair, Nebraska News (blairtoday.com) Blair, Nebraska Water: Is It Safe to Drink? – Blair, Nebraska News (blairtoday.com) Blair Water: Where Will The Money Come From?…
Want Versus Need: The Blair Bus Stops Here
BLAIR, NEBRASKA (APRIL 7, 2024) Blair finds itself at the center of a debate over Blair Community Schools’ proposal to purchase new buses for student activities. This issue transcended typical school district decisions, sparking a wide-ranging conversation about fiscal responsibility, educational priorities, and allocation of taxpayer funds. The proposal united community members, board members, and…
What Does Blair Need Most?
BLAIR, NEBRASKA (OCTOBER 13, 2023) Blair, Nebraska stands emblematic of many of America’s cherished small towns, grappling with the quintessential conundrum: how to retain its tight-knit, community-driven spirit while adapting to the evolving needs of a new generation. I moved here in 2003. My wife and I raised our family here. This is our home….
BVFD Hosts “Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat”
The heart of Blair, Nebraska is the steady pulse of its Volunteer Fire Department. More than just a service; it is a testament to dedication, resilience, and community spirit. As Joe Leonard, the Chief of the Blair Volunteer Fire Department, shared his hopes and experiences, he gave us a compelling glimpse into this vital force…
Beautiful and Terrible
Before I left tonight to watch the “controlled burn” of a condemned home here in Blair, I thought of titles for an article that might be ironic, funny, or maybe both. As a writer, I hope to impart the facts of a story with my brand of what – some call – “humor”. When I…