Sen. Hughes speaks at WCNDD annual meetings

West Central Nebraska Development District, Inc. (WCNDD) held its annual meeting Wednesday, June 19. 

Newly-elected to the Governing Board were Lincoln County Commissioner Bill J. Henry and Holbrook Village Clerk Darla Halstead. Re-elected were Mike Aldridge of Benkelman, Vice-Chairman Doug Schultz of Curtis and Mary Pierce for Mid-Plains Community College. 

Other members of the Board include Chairman Jason Tuller of Imperial, Secretary/Treasurer Bob Sestak from Adams Bank and Trust and Michael Tuttle from Keith County Area Development. 

The Governing Board meets on the third Wednesday each month and is responsible for WCNDD policies and oversight of funds. 

Membership is comprised of representatives from municipal units of government and private entities; as required by the Economic Development Administration.

The annual meeting was held in Ogallala and hosted 39 members and visitors across the 18-county-wide district. 

Nebraska State Senator Dan Hughes of the 44th Legislative District, delivered the keynote address for the evening. 

He spoke of relevant goings-on from the recently concluded Legislative Session as well as what to expect from the Unicameral in the coming year. 

Afterward, Executive Director CJ Poltack presented to Hughes Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story, by Wilfred M. McClay. The book will be donated to the Goodall City Public Library by WCNDD on Hughes’ behalf.

Two members who are retiring from the WCNDD Governing Board were also recognized for their extensive number of years in service: Richard Colson of Paxton and Kandra Kinne,of Cambridge. 

Ogallala’s Driftwood was recognized as the Project of the Year, and Keith County Clerk Sandy Olson was recognized as the Clerk of the Year.

The next regular meeting of the WCNDD Governing Board is set for July 17.