The North Central District Health Department reports a horse in Cherry County has tested positive for West Nile Virus. Additional details on the symptoms or status of the horse are not currently available. Typically, horses with West Nile Virus display symptoms of depression, lack of appetite, change in behavior and mood, fever, muscle spasms and incoordination. Horse owners should talk to their vet about vaccinating their horses annually for West Nile Virus.

The Long Pine City Council held their regular meeting on September 2, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Long Pine Community Center. Present for the meeting were Mayor Ed Brown, Council members President Linda Alberts, Dave Cheatum, Kathy Papstein and Andrea Collatos.

Governor Pete Ricketts issued a statement on September 3rd following a vote by the State Board of Education postponing the Nebraska Department of Education’s (NDE) work to draft health education standards. NDE is a state agency that is independently governed by the elected members of the State Board of Education. Governor Ricketts does not appoint the board members or agency staff.

Weather permitting, a roadway microsurfacing project began on Friday, September 3rd on US-183, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Roadway microsurfacing is a thin layer of asphalt slurry material spread to remove rutting and surface irregularities in asphalt pavements.

A new breakwater planned at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area will protect a nearby boat launch and shoreline. The construction project is scheduled to begin this month as workers capitalize on the low water levels at the Sandhills irrigation reservoir.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking public input on its draft elk management plan. The purpose of the plan, which is a working document, is to provide background and historical information about elk in Nebraska, while providing guidance in the decision-making process.