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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 1988)
Arts & Entertainment Underground Capitol1 houses state officials when disaster strikes By Andy Upright Staff Reporter A relic of the Cold War, the Underground Capitol could house Gov. Kay Orr and 209 other key state officials in case of a nuclear attack. “We’re in the business of dealing with the unthinkable,” said Cindy Johnston, public information officer at the Nebraska Civil Defense Agency. The Civil Defense Agency - which doubles as the headquarters for the Nebraska Underground Capi tol at 14th street and Military Road - is where the Nebraska Legislature would convene and the state govern ment would conduct its business in the event of a national or local emer gency. The first reminder that this build ing is a form of protection against unthinkable nuclear holocaust is a huge, one-foot thick, stccl-rcin forced cement door that would close hydraulically in the case of disaster. According to a pamphlet given out by the Civil Defense Agency, the building’s structure is *rsimply a concrete box of extremely heavy construction.” With the walls’, ceilings’ and floors’ thickness ranging from 24 to 42 inches, the complex is indeed heavily constructed. The floor in the heart of the building, the communi cations room, even has a shock resis tant system built into it that could i absorb the blast erf1 an explosion. < This “self-sustaining unit’ ’ could ] harbor members of the legislature for ! up to two weeks. With 14 days worth ca dried food that has a shelf life of 10 i years, a water well, a full 2,500- 4 gallon storage tank and a well equipped kitchen, the unit could support state officials’ appetites as well as official functions. A decontamination room equipped with a clothing drop/incin erator and a shower would cover the hygiene aspect of nuclear survival. Behind a door which reads “open only after nuclear attack/’ an air filter is ready to supply the complex with sufficiently filtered air. If die power should go out in such an incident, the building has two 50,000-watt diesel generators. If these accommodations don’t prove adequate, then the patrons could opt to use the “post-blast es cape hatch / ’ a tunnel that leads from the complex to the outdoors. The Underground Capitol was conceived in the late 1950s, Johnston said. The construction started in 1960 and the building was first occupied on Jan. 31,1963. The federal government and the State of Nebraska shared the $388,000 bell. At the time, the United States and the Soviet Union were involved in the Cold War. The Cuban missile See UNDCAP on 12 fjP^IN TK«= EVENT I OF A HOC LEAR. V/INTEfi gKAV 0RR AMD A*? flLk£Y STATE OfElCfALT MwovlO HIS EM ATE- ' - - \ri£(*E' -J Andy Manhart/Daily Nobraakan -i ■ Wind auintet breezes into second season M. By Mick Dyer Senior Reporter The Prairie Wind Quintet begins its second season of performing with an Octobcrfest celebration of German wind quintet music Friday. The performance features premiers of music by two early 19th century composers, Ignaz Fr&nzl and Wolfgang Bren^ nstciner, that have never been performed in Nebraska. John Walker, oboist for the quintet, said that the quintet has experienced some positive per sonnel changes since the group first organized in August of 1987. “This is a harder working group," Walker said. Walker said the Prairie Wind Quintet is working to develop a strong professional presence in Lincoln. All members of the quintet belong to the Lincoln Musicians' Association, which is sponsored by the American Federation of Musicians. The Quintet belongs to Chamber Music Antprica, a nat ional organization for the promo tion of chamber groups. He said there are other small chamber groups playing in Lincoln, but none of them are as aggressive about playing as the Prairie Wind Quintet. Walker said that in addition to the group's scheduled performance series, it often plays for private groups. Jayna Nelson, flutist for the quintet, said the quintet is not having to struggle to survive as much as other small groups of professional musicians. “Actually we arc doing very well," she said. Michael Lcderer, clarinet player, agreed. “We’ve got a lot of work,” he said. Other members of the quintet are Suzi Koken, bassoon, and Douglas Stotter, French horn. Trie quintet has been busy lately. In the past week, it has performed twice, and the group will be on the Lincoln Live program on KFOR Monday at 12:i0p.m.andon KZUM Tuesday at 7 p.m. All of the members of the quintet said they enjoy playing together because of their mutual passion for the music. But playing the music is more than just spiritually rewarding for quintet members. “It’s fun to play, but it’s fun to get paid too,” Walker said. Walker said this spring the quintet would like to commission a composer to write music especially * for the quintet. He said the quintet is going to try to bring Donna Perrino, a composer from St. Louis, to Lincoln to work for them. She composed the music for several popular commercials, Walker said. “She’s a struggling composer in the field of serious music,” Walker said. In the summer, the quintet is planning a three or four week tour around the Midwest, Walker said. Other future plans for the quintet include sponsoring a national composition contest. There will be a reception after the concert where patrons will be served a free glass of non-alcoholic imported German beer. Tickets at the door are $6 for adults and $4 for students and children. Advanced tickets and season tickets are available at a reduced price at Dietz Music, Players Music and the Sound Environment. The first concert begins at 8 5.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 2nd and Washington streets. Other performance dates for the concert series are Dec. 9, Feb. 10, March 17 and May 5. All concerts begin at 8 p m. at Grace Lutheran Church. Tlta Prarta Wind Quintal (clockwise from top left): Mika ledeiar, clarinet; Jayne Nelson, flute; John Walter, oboe; Douglas Stotter, French horn; and Suzi Kokan, bassoon. Stewart concert has been canceled, refunds available Prom Staff Reports Because of a rescheduling con flict, the Rod Stewart concert sched uled for Oct. 29 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center has been canceled. The concert is not being resched uled, according to John Fremstad, nunor concerts coordinator for the University Program Council. UPC was presenting the Lincoln show. Tickets will be refunded at the place of purchase, Fremstad said. About 3,500 tickets were sold for $16.50 plus a 75 cents handling charge. The full amount will be re funded, he said. Stewart was ill earlier in the “Lost in America” tour, and was forced to postpone some iold-out shows on the Bast Coast The soki-oui shows over* lap the date of the Lincoln concert, thus the cancellation. Stewart’s gravelly voice brought him fame with songs like “Maggie Mtoy” and “If You Want My Body.” The English rocker has recently hit the top 40 singles charts with ,fFor cver Young” and “Lost in You.” During the rescheduling process, several (fates in the Southeast were moved, and three Midwest tour stops were bumped from Stewart s itiner ary: Lincoln, Manhattan, Kan., and Wichita, Kan. UPC will not reschedule another concert for the Oct. 29 date, Frcmstad said. • Def Leppard will play Oct. 19 in the Sports Center, while Van Hakn is scheduled to appear Nov. 3.