Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1970)
1 TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1970 Dir.e A ;ilMMFR NFRRASKAN -. ! Rural American Paradox-Part IV Ccoporation, spirit and change Imp Slender son going strong By GENE KELLY Reprinted from Lincoln Journal Th village of Henderson has some things going for It. Like communiyt spirit, com ma religious background, a community betterment group and bard-working citizens. These art resources shared by a great many of Nebraska's small towns. Right? But Henderson, located 61 miles west of Lincoln, has a unique achievement to its credit: recognition and adop tion of a new role in society. Judging by Henderson's transition from a farm town to a light-industry small city in a span of 20 years, those looking for quick solutions to i problems In rural American sociology will be disappointed. ; And note this: Feeling they had merely scratched the surface of the town's potential, the Henderson Planning Com mission, in 1964, asked the Community Development Department of the University of Nebraska Extension Division to create "the plan." ' Federal aid regulations for low-rent housing also required a development master plan. This plan's goal was to forecast over-all community development for a two-decade period and lay the foundation for a rural city of the year 8000. Sounds impressive. And the full story of Henderson's come back from the end of the road when the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad tracks were torn up In 1941 sounds like an Horatio Alger manuscript. The comeback has resulted in a community hospital, con solidated school, nursing home, low-rent housing project, nearly double the population, 18 local Industries and modern Mennonite churches. Yes, Mennonite. "While religious homogenous groups might find it easier to aet together on projects, the community spirit and cohesiveness of this village are a bit beyond typical," said Dr. Otto G. Hoiberg. NU Com munity Development Dept. director. Hoiberg, recognized specialist in rural sociology, said that hie work on the Henderson master plan published is 1MI, demonstrated that "here's a town that knows where it's going. The people are pro gressive, yet conservative, in the sense that they don't go oH half cocked. Henderson leaders study the possibilities and decide on definite goals," Alan Hansen, executive director of Vision-17, southeast Nebraska development group, said that religion might be a factor in the dramatic closeness and unusual growth" of Henderson. Lab Theatre to Tryouts for parts in the University Laboratory Theatre's five- plays will be from 2.30 to 3 p.m. and from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday la Room 201 Temple Building. The plays will be presented August 16, 17, 23 and 24. Farts, are open for 14 men and six women and any student may try out Join The Roffler t?In Crowd" W U-ilJJM II I l'Wm!-LM ,m" Haircuts Arc Out... tturstyle Arc In! Ym. k't torn. WM m. Ton't m Im lw Mad. H TWt ,- hwmyta - on. . mttacM Ma Individual pwU Your RuffWr kaitor ta inMMr at paraoMMi Mw atvwa. T IM foo4 (roamtat mow met thm N awck Ma ... . Ha'a m w t " bkwiim. On altor yea tot yuo teat atn fcxtttyte. voa Bmms M taCMMKl. Bob Taylor's EL TORO 135 Ne. 13m THE CLIPPER lit Ne. Utk Baiier Shops "But how do you explain other one-denomination towns that aren't doing a thing?" Hansen said he feels that this village, IS miles southwest of York and 38 miles southeast of Grand Island, is "a good example of people getting together and making something happen." Dr. Carl Friesen, Henderson dentist, offered new perspec tive, asking, "Isn't it coopera tion and (school) consolidation which result in unity?" Hoiberg summed up the community image: "It strikes you right off as you drive into Henderson, the well-kept homes and businesses. And in the summer, thin are flowers alltver. "The desire to work together was evident long before our extension office had any con tact with the village. This is no short-term proposition. They've been cooperating for years, under excellent leadership. They have realism to temper their dreaming." Friesen, chairman of the planning commission, pointed to modern school and medical facilities, as the key to local progress. Henderson was one of the first small Nebraska towns to consolidate in 1952 with other rural school districts. A half million dollar community school was built in 1954, ex panded in 1961 and now in cludes elementary, junior and senior high schools. Medical facilities consist of the Henderson Clinic, staffed by two physicians and a den tist, serving patients within a 50-mile radius, and the Henderson Co mmunity Hospital. The 20-bed Henderson Com munity Nursing Home is con nected with the hospital and is located near a public hous ing project, the 20-unit Midi town Manor. Friesen added that the town's location two and one half miles south of Interstate 80 has been a factor in secur ing industry and has increased business volume. Figures compiled in 1966 for the development plan stated that Henderson, with only six per cent of York County s population, accounted for 15 per cent of the county's business volume and 22 per cent of the county's annual business payroll. And Industry, In turn, has helped boost the town's population from 495 In 1940 to an estimated 1,000 for the 1970 U.S. Census. Friesen said that "at least 250" are employed in local in dustries which produce well drilling and Irrigation pipe, grain bins and drying equip ment and a variety of agribusiness items. "Henderson industry is a marvelous example of homegrown ideas manufac tured at a competitive price," said Hansc, Vision-17 official. If the Henderson interchange link with 1-80 is "a two-way have tryouts Plays to be presented are "The Wax Museum," by John Hawkes, directed by Chris Ballant; "Cowboys," by Sam Shepard, directed by Linda Jessup; "The Real Inspector Hound," by Tom Stoppard, directed by Jim S a n d 1 f o r d; "Marriage Proposal," by Anton Chekhov, directed by Terry Geistlinger ; and ''Death Knocks, by Woody Allen, directed by Dorene Wine. wmmimum ov in nemvr street", as described in the master plan booklet, it carries products away to markets and makes Henderson a satellite of both York and Grand Island. The development report faces this fact squarely: Henderson's future is linked to the growth of local industry and the city's role as a residential area (bedroom ci ty) for those who might work in the larger city. "It's important for a satellite city to recognize its role in relation to the big city," said sociologist Hoiberg. "The small town has to ask:. "What can we do to compete with the city in terms of services and halting the population drain?" Hoiberg said that rural Nebraska bedroom cities, such as Gretna and Waverly, aren't existing as just a place to sleep. Many city workers like a small town atmosphere and take a strong hand in village community life. It's a fortunate thing." The master plan, while dealing frankly with the satellite community topic and need for upgrading of the village's streets, also urged development of a civic center, central business park and shopping mall, and a 60-acre park system along a creek .which winds through the village. An aggressive 20-year capital improvement program was termed feasible by the report, since all city obligation bonds, other than school bonds, will be paid off by 1973. Friesen said that a com munity swimming pool and dial telephone system "are a year or two away" but that 58 acres have been purchased lor the park system with federal, state and local fund ing. "We really have the en gineers busy, working on the parks, pool, sewer system, and water main expansion," he said. Solid achievement since the master plan was approved in 1967 Include black topping of all streets, improved street lighting and remodeled store fronts. "There isn't an empty business house in town," Friesen said. "If an old building sets empty anywere In town, tear it down," he ad vised. "It's part of the city image." Student comes from Germany to Orientation Michael Earl, 18, established a travel record for the University of Nebraska's Summer Orientation Program when he came this week from Wiesbaden, Germany, to participate in the program. Mike, the son of Master Sgt. Stewart Earl, formerly of Syracuse, chose the University and Nebraska because it "was about the only place I could Identify with." He has relatives In Syracuse, Omaha, and near Nebraska City and lived for a time In Weeping Water when his father previously served overseas. CMftLKA , lOO ALSO PRO ftQO IIIWIH. MIN T MAN'S RINa IOO t VlNrUAA (KM Al.O ! TO WMIN IN (9 t mil., i. mi ..... ..Jit""' PartV Great Plains cities of future could be the size of Lincoln By GENE KELLY The city of the future on the Great Plains may be about the size of Lincoln. This view is held by sociologists and rural economists, including Dr. Kari A. Fox of Iowa State University. Hehas developed the concept of a "functional economic area," which would provide a full line of consumer goods and public services. Such an area would have a population of not less than 100,000 and a central city con taining at least 25,000 people. Fox said the area should center on at least one major community and contain a number of satellite towns. A multi-county approach, in Nebraska's sparsely populated areas, might attract industry if these capabilities were present: Interstate-quality roads, short-haul air travel, economical (perhaps atomic) power sources and a ready labor supply. Dr. Alan Booth, director of the Bureau of Sociological Research, University of Nebraska, sees this as a framework for Midwest in dustrialization. "Lincoln is the city of the future," in size, labor supply, cultural scope and economy of governmental operation, he said. A city which offers a concentration of highly, specialized facilities such as Rochester, Minn., in the medical field will be a leader among cities, Booth added. What about the much-larger city and the country village? Are they naturally inefficient due to size? When the first U.S. census was taken in 1790, only one out of 20 Americans lived the city life. Today 14 of every 20 live In cities and suburbia. The dual crisis of size is linked directly to a theory called the economics of size, said Bert Evans, agricultural economist at the University of Nebraska. A dairy herd can be too small for efficiency, or too large. "This also applies to the right number of patrons for a grocery store, the best size for a farm operation and the ideal size of city, Evans said. "A faltering small town is in the same boat as the metropolis: The cost of pro viding services at all levels is too high." Efficiency In law enforce ment, local government, education, even street costs is best in cities with a population span of 50,000 to 150,000, he said. U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics show that when a resident of Washington, D.C., moves to the suburbs, "he not only takes his paycheck and goes off the city's tax roles, he costs the city $23,000 in capital outlay to provide facilities so he can drive to and from work in the city every day." This figure, from the USDA booklet , "Communities of Tomorrow Agricullure 2000." is contrasted with the $487,000 street department budget for a full year in Fargo, N.D., a city of 50,000. "Washington must spend that much to add only 21 com muter cars," the report states. A city Is too big when the cost of providing services in creases out of proportion to total population growth. : Hi i.i'i- A diamond ring to treasure forever Each Keepsake tnotgamtnl l Mtter piece ol styling tnd design, reflecting the kt bfitkanct ind boauty oi the petfect center diamond. DIAMOND HINDS I KII L- , V v- f , i Near almost every Nebraska small town is a scene like Evans said that studies of county governmental costs in Nebraska have demonstrated that counties with 5-10,000 population have the highest per capita expenses. Lancaster County had the lowest costs, and Douglas County (which includes Omaha) was somewhat higher. "Lincoln would be a much stronger citv if it had a half dozen satellite cities of 5-10,000 population rather than a multitude of declining small towns." Big cities don't recognize that small town industry is good for them, as an expansion of the economic base, Evans added "City folk feel that if a small town dies, they'll be better off. Not so. All Nebraska cities, especially Lincoln and Omaha, need the small towns as customers." Evans said that Omaha, with a population in excess of 350,000 would feel the loss of a small town quickly. "The village is Omaha's economic base, not the manufacturing which dominates most cities its size. "Omaha is big enough. What it and our capital city need is not more size, more streets or more population. They need to upgrade every facet of the 'good life' they claim to offer." The NU economist said that Lincoln officials should seek to "increase the viability of small towns" as a source for depen dable labor and wider whole sale market. "If rural people, with limited skills, move to the city, they're merely trading rural poverty for city slums." USDA statistics reveal that rural America has a third of the nation's population but more than half those con sidered living at poverty level (annual cincome $3,000 or less.) Evans praised the 17-county promotional effort of Vision-17. "This is the perfect example of towns seeking efficiency of planning In areas of mutual concern ... and trying t o hold down destructive competi tion." Rivalry which becomes an Incentive to Improve a village is important, Evans said. "The , , . - o.T... ' t'. JshnWaync 12 -gt$tmf Ocnri Corbctt Pane lte Axtcnv Phne Rjdvud bnda Duv-And rtcdicrf' Geoffrey Deud & Rimeii NfM V this. destruction lies in heavy com petition without cooperation. Feuding towns can force more of their talented youths to the city." Alan Hansen, Vision-17 ex ecutive director, agreed. "The young people are city-bound, and us older fellows just aren t having babies." Evans said the secret weapons which Vision-17 is using are multi-county plan ning, broad study of economic and industrial problems, and a cohesive effort to take ad vantage of resource potentials. "As our farms grow larger and population declines, rural Nebraska needs a wider base of non-farm employment opportunities," Evans said. This should include recrea tional facilities linked to tourism, new small factories and expansion of those which already exist. Cooperation on a multi county basis "could be the forerunner, or it ought to be, of local government reorganization to provide strength" for dealing with rural problems, he said. "By and large county government is just not solving crises in roads, schools and hospital planning. And because local government generally is weak, state and federal bureaus are moving in to make the decision." Evans said that county of fices "don't have to merge, just cooperate." Area organizations like Vision-17 stand a much better chance of getting road aid than each county trying to wrest a few miles of paved asphalt from the State Roads Dept., he ad ded. The real problem," Evans said, '"is that small town residemts sit out there and don't get the type of inform ation we offer the farmer. The facts they need in public decision making and business at the village level are not available. It's tough to make a decision whon you lack facts. "People will come up with just as good an answer as ex perts if given enough informa tion on which to base judgments." k.-isrsnJ - , v ; ...... , . '.!'r i. Home fc School is separate At its summer commence ment Fridav nieht. t h e University of Nebraska graduated students from us College of Home Economics for the first time. Formerly the School of Home Economics within the College of Agriculture and Home Economics, it was accorded college status effective July 1 by the Board of Regents. The first alumnae of the new College included four students: Mrs. Deanna Lee Baxter Eversoli of Lincoln, who received her Bachelor o f Science in Home Economics Degree with high distinction; Mrs. Elizabeth Marian Hanor Nelson of Lincoln, who received her degree with distinction, Mrs. Coyne Marie Meeklem Krajnik, Lyman and Miss Linda Jean Rohde of Hubbard. Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degrees were awarded to two University of Nebraska alumni: Otto Kotouc, Sr., of Humboldt, a former state legislator, banker and civic Professorship to Dr, Too; doctorate to Mrs. Tao Just over a week ago, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents granted the Howard S. Wilson Professorship of Chemical Engineering to Dr. Tao. And then Friday night at the University's commencement ceremonies, Mrs. Tao also became Dr. Tao when she was granted her doctor of philosophy degree in the nutri tion area. Mrs. Tao says she doesn't have any definite plans, as yet, to put her new degree to work. But she is interested in working at least part-time. Her dissertation and research were concerned with "Protein Pantothenic Acid Inter relationships in Growing Rats and Pantothenic Acid Nutriture of Alcoholic Patients." Mrs. Tao explains this Involved study of certain vitamins, both in rats and humans, and she hopes perhaps to continue work in this area. Both her bachelor's and Paul Newman Film Series July 21 THE HUSTLER August 4 THE SECRET WAR OF HARRY FRIG August 13 HUD 7:00 P.M. TUESDAY EVENINGS The Nebraska Union Small Auditorium Admission 50c Including Tax Spomortd by the Nebraska Union Program Council LIINCOM 434-7421 biVn & O Street "AIRPORT IS TOP "George Seaton directed a sure BURT LANCASTER DEAN MARTIN JEAN SEBERQ JACQUELINE IISSET CEORGE KENNEDY NEIEN HAYES VAN HEfllN MAUREEN STAPLE TON IARIY NEISON 110Y0 NOLAN DANA WYNTER BARBARA HALE SKA rrwJCiJDiui mm OIRKCT PROM ITS SENSATIONAL NPULUl filMH jf. ' fOHl C4ury PrMntt C SCOTT S4RIM UK l"lTTMr IflMMI'i !! Ill lltlM CiliBXMMtl college wWpi-. and R. Lynn Galloway of Rochester, N.Y., a retired officer of the Eastman Kodak Co. The University's highest recognition for service, the Builder Award, was presented to Miss Alma L. Benton of Fremont, a Nebraska businesswoman for more than 65 years. President Joseph S o s h n i k presided at the commencement ceremony. In a charge to the class, he urged the graduates, as persons who have had the benefits of educational op portunities, to accept their leadership and trusteeship responsibilities in their chosen fields of work and in their social and civic lives. Chancellor D. B. Varner con ferred the degrees and Dean of Faculties C. Peter Magrath was master of ceremonies. The Rev. Alfred H. Ernst, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, gave the invocation and benediction. master's degrees are in chemistry. Mrs. Tao says she could apply much of that field in the nutrition area. "Nutrition involves many areas o f discipline," she explains. "But I don't know how I got started in nutrition. One thing lead to another and so I thought I may as well finish." Mrs. Tao started study towards her Ph.D. 34 years ago, shortly after the youngest of the Tao children, David, was born. The other members of the family include Alvin, a re cent East High School graduate who earned a four, year Regents Scholarship to the University to major in pre medicine; Bernie, who will start his second year at East this fall: and Clara, who has just finished the seventh grade. Mrs. Tao readily admits it wasn't always easy to take care of a household of six while completing her Ph.D. work. And she laughs, "My family is glad I ra finished. MATINttS DAILY MAYURI AT 1-4:30-7 ft 9:39 "Tlltidayt-Kid Shaw at 1 P.M. "AIRPORT" at 1 ft 9:30 FLIGHT ALLTHE WAY!" has scripted and! - fire hit!"- CONTINUOUS FROM 1 fM, NOW SHOWING! RESERVED SEAT ENQAfiEMCNT a 4 Tt ipfc Amtriroi HoRywd to iInk nnMloiiul 1 but wvt had th A Bit b, A, K.kv 4 TODAY yurt scLifTut-tctrr system 81 I