Generator — Summer 2023

GENERA OR
a publication of Loup Power District SUMMER 2023
Columbus’ Public Power Building
Once a testament to the city’s power and progress,
current City Hall to be demolished this year
Citizens State Bank
Creston entrepreneur restoring historic building

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Steve Heesacker
Chairman
Bob Cerv
First Vice Chairman
Jim Donoghue
Second Vice Chairman
Mike Fleming
Secretary
Dick Tooley
Treasurer
Rich Aerni
Alan Drozd
Chris Langemeier
Larry Zach
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Neal Suess
President/CEO
Walt Williams
Vice President,
Accounting & Finance/CFO
Todd Duren
Vice President,
Corporate Services
Korey Hobza
Vice President, Engineering
Dan Hellbusch
Vice President, Operations
The Loup Generator is
published quarterly
as a service for Loup
employees, families,
friends, and associates.
For feedback, story ideas
and submissions, contact:
Stacy Wemhoff
Communications Coordinator
402-562-5711
swemhoff@loup.com
RETIREE PROFILE: BOB ANDERSON
Bob Anderson had a feeling
he’d end up working at Loup
Power District.
His grandpa, Pete, was
a dredge operator at the
Genoa Headworks. So was his
dad, Gilbert Anderson. And
eventually he became one too.
“It’s what I always wanted to
do,” he said.
Anderson was a selfemployed
drywall installer in
1997 when he saw a job open up
at Loup and decided to apply. He
knew his dad and grandpa enjoyed the work.
His uncle, Bob Ramaekers, also worked for
Loup as Genoa Local Superintendent.
He was hired as Maintenance Man at
the Headworks in 1997 and was promoted
to Equipment Operator in 2002. In 2012,
he achieved his goal of becoming Dredge
Operator and continued in that role until his
retirement last year.
In that role, Anderson was responsible for
dredging sand from the Loup canal settling
basin at the Headworks just southwest
of Genoa. Dredging takes place in the
spring and fall. In the off season, he helped
maintain the dredge.
“When you’re not dredging, you’re fixing
something,” Anderson said. “Sand destroys
everything.”
He also took care of a variety of other
tasks, such as steaming the intake gates in
the icy winters or checking the canal during
his night shifts.
Some people hate working in temperature
extremes. But Anderson wasn’t
one of them.
“I love the outdoors,” he said.
And he loved working at Loup
— until 2019.
“I enjoyed it right up until the
flood,” Anderson said. “It was
heartbreaking.”
A storm in March that
year dumped rain on top of
melting ice, causing ice jams
and flooding that breached the
canal and destroyed areas of the
Headworks.
“All the work we did and in 24 hours it
was gone and we had to start all over.”
The result was months of working
overtime every week. In addition, Anderson
said the shift work can be tiring after many
years. And that’s how he knew it was time to
retire.
He said retirement started off pretty good
last fall.
“Then winter hit and it was awfully
boring,” he joked.
Still, he has plenty of projects to keep
him busy in retirement — yard work and
property and vehicle maintenance.
He does miss the Headworks, the
coworkers, and the dredge. He drives out for
a visit every once in a while and takes a look
at the dredge.
It was his home away from home for 25
years and it’s been hard to leave it behind.
But then he throws a fishing line in
the canal, sits back to relax, and realizes
retirement isn’t so bad after all.
2 | GENERATOR

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
2019 storm damage totals $9.8M
FEMA reimbursement stands at $4.5M to date
It has been more than four years since the 2019
mid-March storm affected the District and
the operations with the hydroelectric facilities.
I often get asked about where things stand
regarding repairs and reimbursement for the
repairs the District has made.
For the most part, all of the repairs regarding
the hydroelectric facilities have been completed.
There is still minor work to do on the canal
banks to ensure they are sloped and firmed up,
but for the most part, these repairs are completed.
The District is still waiting to bid out an
overflow structure along the canal near the
Headworks operation. This overflow structure
is meant to return water from the canal to the
Loup River when excess water enters the canal.
This was a requirement from the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC).
The District has received all approvals on the
design concept from FERC and is just waiting
on approval from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) to bid the project
out and start the construction.
Regarding cost and reimbursement, to date the
District has spent approximately $9.8 million
on repairs from the 2019 storm. The District
has been reimbursed slightly more than $4.5
million from FEMA and insurance; however,
we expect to eventually be reimbursed for almost
all expenses associated with repairs from
this storm.
Sometimes it is frustrating at the amount of
time it takes to get reimbursed for project
costs from FEMA. The District has had to front
this money, all the while waiting for the reimbursement.
This has affected the District’s
cash flow, but luckily the District’s financial
position was strong before the 2019 storm, and
we have been able to weather the slow nature
of reimbursement by using cash reserves and
not issuing any new debt, all the while keeping
retail rates stable and cost effective.
Once all of the funds are reimbursed from
FEMA, the District’s cash position will be
much better and the financial flexibility will be
back to pre-2019 conditions.
Coming back from the 2019 mid-March storm
has taken a lot of resilience from all District
employees, and this has been a challenge.
Having to deal with facilities that are damaged
and making repairs while trying to keep the
facilities in operation takes a great deal of effort
and concentration. All District employees
should be proud of their performance during
this difficult period.
Storms like the one in 2019 are never fun to
deal with, but they are a way of life in our industry.
Wind and ice storms can damage poles
and lines, and District employees respond to
these quickly and efficiently. It is one of the
many reasons I am proud to work at Loup
Power District.
NEAL SUESS
President/CEO
SUMMER 2023 | 3

the VAULTon MAIN
Entrepreneur infuses new life into old building
Jamie Olmer was only 21 when she bought a building in
her hometown of Creston.
It had tar paper covering the plaster walls and sunlight
shone in through the roof. Most of the boarded-up
windows were broken and others were bricked over. A part
of one wall had caved in and the building had significant
water damage.
But all she saw was potential. “I knew I had to try to save
it,” she said.
PURCHASING THE BUILDING
Olmer was working at Mark’s Custom Woodworking
in Creston in the summer of 2011. Owner Mark Korth also
owned the former Citizens State Bank across the street. He
bought it in 2005 when Central Valley Ag closed.
He no longer had use for the building and was thinking
of tearing it down.
Olmer — who was studying history in college — was
saddened by the thought. She had always admired the
building and wished someone would use it. Her mom, Lynn
Olmer and grandparents, Nancy and the late John Scheffler,
were also passionate about their town’s history and knew
the building was worth saving.
Olmer asked Korth for the keys to get a look at the inside
of the building. It was definitely in rough shape, but she
decided to ask if he would be interested in selling it.
“After all the years of hoping someone would use the
building, standing inside it that day, I realized that I could
do something about that,” she said.
A year later, the keys and building were hers at a cost of
$5,000. But it would have to wait a while for those muchneeded
repairs. Olmer had a few more years of college.
Then she traveled with the national service program
AmeriCorps for three years. After that was graduate school
and a then full-time job in 2020.
During that time, Olmer had been researching and
getting estimates for the repairs, so she knew that it was
going to be an expensive project. Now that she had a steady
income, it was time to get back to the building eight years
after buying it.
4 | GENERATOR

Top left: The state of the former
Citizens State Bank before restoration
work.
Top: The Vault on Main owner Jamie
Olmer talking about her project at a
Community Builders meeting in March.
Left: One of the first projects Olmer
tackled was replacing the roof of the
building.
CITIZENS STATE BANK HISTORY
Citizens State Bank was established
in 1898. It grew rapidly and broke
ground for a new building in 1920,
holding an open house in 1921.
The new bank was “one of the
most modern and up-to-date bank
buildings in this part of Nebraska,”
according to the Creston Statesman.
It featured mahogany and marble
throughout its interior.
The bank also featured a terra
cotta exterior. By the 1920s, terra
cotta was becoming more and more
popular with architects because
it was fireproof, economical, and
lightweight. It was also easier and
cheaper than carving stone.
But the bank’s opulence and
customers could not save it from the
Great Depression and it closed in 1931.
The bank continued to own the
building until 1940 when it was sold
by public auction to the Village of
Creston for $102.50. It had a variety of
uses until 1946 when it was purchased
by a local family and turned into a
meat locker. Farmers Cooperative Oil
Company bought the building in 1964
and used it for feed storage. Korth
bought it in 2005 along with some
adjoining buildings. It was unused and
empty.
NATIONAL REGISTER
Right after buying the building,
Olmer began steps to get it listed
on the National Register of Historic
Places.
She visited the Nebraska State
Historical Society and the State
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
Olmer explained that she was trying
to dig up information on a building in
a really small town. A SHPO employee
there said they had an inventory of
historically significant buildings
throughout the state and they may
have information.
“Not knowing how rare and unique
of a building this really was, I was
sure they would not have a file on it,”
Olmer said. “I stressed that this was a
building in a very small town.”
But as soon as she said “Creston”
she learned about the significance of
her small-town building.
“The wedding cake?” the employee
exclaimed and got the attention of
everyone in the office who wanted to
know her plans for the building.
Olmer learned that the bank
was designed by famous architect
Frederick W. Clarke of Omaha.
“There are plenty of buildings clad
in terra cotta, but this one has two full
sides, an enormous amount of detail,
and color,” Olmer said.
Most other terra cotta buildings
in the state, such as Union Station
(now Durham Museum) in Omaha are
monotone. The Creston bank is mostly
white, but with striking color accents.
The façade features colorful lions’
heads and floral swags. A large arch
and columns flank the front door.
“The details for the lions and the eagle
are just amazing,” Olmer said.
RESTORATION
In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic
gave Olmer the extra time to begin
restoring the building.
The obvious first step was a new
roof which involved replacing the
north wall of the building. Then came
the fun stuff — tearing out 18 inches
of cement and filler on top of the
original floor that was put in for the
meat locker.
SUMMER 2023 | 5

The Vault on Main has two full sides of terra cotta with color on its exterior — a rarity in the state.
“After we took it all out, we did the
math to find it was 72,500 pounds of
concrete that we removed,” she said.
Then she put in custom windows
and a new front entrance.
The work is still getting done in
spurts, with Olmer driving from
Omaha on the weekends. She has help
from family and friends.
“It’s getting to be a long list, but
my mom is almost always there
working on it with me,” Olmer said.
“My uncle, Jim Scheffler, and cousins
Anthony and Austin Bruhn, and
boyfriend, Daniel Primi, have put in a
lot of hours as well.”
After the major repairs, she began
to work on designing the interior
spaces. She sent a survey in Creston
residents’ water bills asking what
use they envisioned for the building.
She also posed the question on social
media. The overwhelming response
was a small event venue.
Others mentioned the need for an
Airbnb rental, a library, and a gym.
Olmer plans to merge the ideas
— creating an event venue on the
main floor with an Airbnb on the
mezzanine. She also wants to include
a free library with bookshelves lining
the walls. Once that is done, she would
like to create a gym in the basement.
But all this comes at a significant
cost. “At this point I have $193,000 in
this building and it still is not usable,”
she said.
Above: Olmer custom designs tiles to
raise money for the building’s restoration.
The tiles will be displayed along
the west wall.
Of that, the majority is a personal
loan. The rest she has funded herself
or paid for through donations.
Olmer was surprised at the number
of people who wanted to donate to
her private project. They even asked if
she’d do a fundraiser.
“I told them, ‘If you want to donate
to a privately owned building, then
your name is going to be in there,’”
Olmer said.
From that, she got the idea to sell
tiles. For donations of $100 or more,
Olmer custom designs and engraves
3-inch by 6-inch ceramic tiles. She
has made more than 100 tiles so far
and they will be installed on the west
wall.
“Funding is obviously one of the
biggest barriers in a project like
this,” she said. And that’s why the
completion date is uncertain.
But it has been worth it and Olmer
is looking forward to the day when an
old building will finally have new life.
“People have often been surprised
by my willingness and determination
to take on such a daunting project,”
Olmer said. “I joke all the time that
someone does have to be some sort
of crazy to try to do something like
this.”
But in all seriousness, she said
her work is really a reflection
and continuation of her family’s
dedication to the community of
Creston.
Her grandparents, John and
Nancy Scheffler, were involved in
starting the Rescue Unit, served
on various boards and community
groups, started the annual 4th of July
fireworks display, and volunteered
countless hours for community
celebrations and events.
“I grew up volunteering right
alongside them along with many
other family members,” Olmer said.
“This is just another way the Scheffler
family is giving back to Creston. I
am so excited for the day when the
community can use this beautiful
building again.”
LEARN MORE:
Visit “The Vault on Main –
Creston, NE” on Facebook to
follow Olmer’s progress on
the building.
6 | GENERATOR

The rise and fall of Citizens State Bank
The Creston Statesman
Friday, February 4, 1921
CRESTON’S NEW
MODERN BANK BUILDING
The bank is a firm believer in
reciprocity and felt that since they had
prospered it was only right that they
should do their part in the up-building
of the community by erecting a home
that would be a credit to the town and
a real convenience to their patrons
and to the public generally.
With this thought in view, they have
erected one of the Most Modern
and Up-to-date Bank Buildings
in this part of Nebraska. It is of
permanent construction and fire
proof throughout, and faced with
white Terra Cotta of a very artistic
design. The building is 26x80 feet.
The interior finish and fixtures are of
the finest quality of Mohagany and
Marble, with Marble floor in the lobby.
The whole building is arranged with
an idea to convenience, giving ample
room for the clerical force of the bank
and general public.
Some of the special features of this
bank are as follows: A community
room at the back of the building
especially designed and arranged
for the use of the public as a meeting
place with access from an outside
entrance, a ladies rest room at the
right as you enter the building. They
welcome all ladies of Creston and
vicinity to enjoy its comforts. The
Bank is equipped with a fire proof
vault which fully protects all books
and records, while funds, notes,
bonds, monies, etc., are carried inside
one of the latest patterns of burglar
proof Manganese steel safes with
triple time locks . . .
The bank merits the confidence of
the people and that they have this
confidence is abundantly testified by
the fact that they have at the present
time a very large volume of business.
Of course all of their customers are
protected not only by their honesty
and ability of management, but by
the Guaranty Fund of the State of
Nebraska.
They want the community to feel that
this is their bank and to feel that its
conveniences and facilities are freely
at their disposal, no matter whether
they happen to be a customer or not.
They feel that they are too broad
minded to draw any distinctions and
want you all to feel perfectly free to
come in, meet friends here, to make
use of its facilities in any way. Of
course they want all the business they
can get, but they want this based on
the idea of mutual service.
The Creston Statesman
Wednesday, June 3, 1931
CITIZENS STATE BANK TAKEN
OVER STATE DEPARTMENT
Doors closed at the request
of Fred Rabeler on Monday
The Citizens State Bank was closed
Monday afternoon when a sign
was put on the door saying that the
institution was being taken over by
the state banking department. The
order was signed by Virgil Lee, state
bank examiner.
According to a dispatch from Lincoln
Fred Rabeler, the present owner of the
Creston bank, was in Lincoln Monday
and requested the department of
trade and commerce to take over the
institution.
Creston people are unable to
understand Mr. Rabeler’s reason
for bringing this calamity to the
community—a community whose
fertile lands and prosperous
landowners should be proof against
a bank failure. Mr. Rabeler has not
been at Creston since last Thursday
and hence Creston people have no
statement from him regarding the
closing of the bank . . .
The closing of the bank is a severe
blow to the entire community,
whether depositors in the bank or not.
While most people feel that a large
percentage of the money in the bank
will be paid back to the depositors, yet
it will be tied up for some time.
A FEW LAMENTATIONS
ON THE BANK FAILURE
Every bank failure has its attendant
lamentations and the Creston bank
flareup is no exception. After working
hard all year to accumulate a sum of
$150 with which to go to a Scout camp
for 10 days vacation, our Girl Reserves
find their money tied up in a failed
bank. This is a great disappointment
to these young girls.
The fund for the Presbyterian
Bible school is tied up in the failed
institution, but the faithful teachers
who have offered their time for this
work are going to carry on without
funds.
The members of the Luther League
purchased a piano recently which was
to be delivered this week. Since their
funds are now tied up in the failed
bank with no hopes of raising the
money, they are obliged to cancel the
order.
One man that was shooting off loudly
that he had lost $300 in the failure
received a sarcastic reply from a
bystander that if he had paid the folks
in the community whom he owed, he
would not have lost a cent.
SUMMER 2023 | 7

Columbus Public Power Building
coming down after more than 80 years
The City of Columbus is nearing
completion of a new three-story
building housing the Public Library,
Columbus Area Arts Council,
Columbus Area Children’s Museum,
café, and City Hall.
When the building is complete, the
current City Hall — once known as
the Public Power Building — will be
demolished to make way for a parking
lot.
The building is coming down in the
same year that Loup Power District
marks its 90th anniversary.
What was the Public Power
Building? And why is Columbus called
the City of Power and Progress?
The Columbus Daily Telegram from
May 14, 1941, offered readers a recap
of Loup’s early history and describes
the new, modern Loup office building:
8 | GENERATOR

“
COLUMBUS MORE
THAN EVER IS POWER CAPITAL
WITH NEW HOME IN USE
History of District From Earliest Days
Makes Gripping Story
By Francis Dischner
Once again The Loup River Public
Power district, long the source of
‘putting Columbus on the national
map,’ makes important history.
Its new $100,000 home, being
opened to the public inspection
Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May
17, not only entrenches Columbus
as the Power Capital of Nebraska
more securely, but marks another
monument to the soundness of men’s
dreams of long ago.
MANY DATES
The Loup power district annals are
full of important historic dates. Its
chronology has been told many times,
and detailed in hundreds of news
stories through the past nine years in
the columns of The Columbus Daily
Telegram as well as in the press of the
state and nation.
History often appears as dry and
sleepy matter, though it is far from
that actually. It is not the purpose of
this sketch to tell again the story of
the rise of the Loup River Public power
district from firm seed planted in the
mind of man to the vast and important
enterprise of 1941.
Rather, let’s recall a few dates that
stand out perhaps most emphatically
as milestones of progress in the Story
of Loup River Hydro Power.
SUMMER 2023 | 9

ATTEMPT FAILED
It has been told many times that
Phil R. Hockenberger, now president
of the Loup district, is credited with
first conceiving the idea of a federallyfinanced
power project to harness the
steady flow of the Loup river.
That was in September 1932.
Hockenberger had, of course, since
childhood, heard of repeated attempts
to build a Loup power canal, and as
often saw them fail.
HUNTED PROJECTS
In that year of fitful depression,
when the Reconstruction Finance
corporation, a federal lending agency
created to help revive business, was
looking about for sound projects
on which idle men could be put to
work, he suggested reviving the Loup
project.
His idea met with instant support
at a meeting in the Thurston hotel,
Sept. 15, 1932. A temporary committee
comprising Charles B. Fricke as
president, Dr. J. E. Meyer, vice
president, C. C. Sheldon, treasurer,
and Harold Kramer, secretary, was set
up to direct the work. A subcommittee
of A. R. Miller as chairman, and R. H.
Heynen, A. H. Backus, Dr. E. E. Koebbe,
Ott F. Water and Pete W. Lakers
was instructed to raise $10,000 for
preliminary financing.
OFFICERS
We skip next to April 18, 1933, when
Governor Charles W. Bryan placed his
signature on Senate File 310, the state
enabling act which permitted setting
up public power districts.
On May 29, 1933, State Engineer R.
L. Cochran officially created the Loup
River Public Power district.
In the application for the creation
of the district, from a meeting held
May 13, 1933, this temporary list
of officers was given: Charles B.
Fricke, president; Dr. J. E. Meyer, vice
president; C. C. Sheldon, treasurer,
and Phil R. Hockenberger, August
Ewert, Edd Kelly, Ed. F. Lusienski, D. A.
Becher, Dr. E. E. Koebbe, A. H. Backus
and A.R. Miller, other directors.
Kelly is from Monroe, Lusienski
then of Platte Center. The rest are
Columbus men. The board of directors
automatically became permanent
upon creation of the District.
FIRST DIGGING
Congress passed the emergency
public works bill June 12, 1933 and
application eventually made to the
Public Works administration for
construction funds. PWA approval
was given Nov. 15, 1933 on the Loup
application for $7,300,000 on the
basis of 70 percent loan and 30
percent grant for construction. First
$200,000 of this amount arrived June
28, 1934.
First actual dragline excavation of
earth was made Oct. 15, 1934 on the
James Donoghue farm seven miles
northwest of Columbus by the Haas,
Doughty, Jones company.
MARCH 1937
On March 1, 1937 the switch was
thrown on one of the big turbines in
the Monroe Power house and electric
current began flowing from the
harnessed water of the Loup river.
On May 29, 1937, current produced
at the Monroe plant was first put to
commercial use in lighting the interior
of the plant. Still another red letter
day in electricity was Aug. 6, 1934,
when current flowing from Monroe
to Columbus power house marked the
first transmission of Loup power.
Having ample source and supply
of electric power is one thing, voltage
lines to transmit it to large blocks of
consumers is another.
— Columbus Daily Telegram
May 14, 1941
10 | GENERATOR

PUBLIC POWER EXPANSION
In 1936, Loup created a Rural
Electrification Division to provide
service to an estimated 1,400 farms
in Platte, Colfax, Nance, and Boone
Counties. That same year, the Rural
Electrification Administration (REA)
announced that it would give $391,000
to Loup for construction of 355 miles
of electric lines to serve an estimated
319 farms.
Loup initially distributed the power
it generated to both private and public
power companies. By 1939, there were
two other hydropower districts in the
state — Platte Valley Public Power
and Irrigation District and Central
Nebraska (Tri-County) Public Power
and Irrigation District.
The districts were all generating
power but needed to expand
their markets. They had been
contemplating the purchase of
private power companies for some
time for that purpose. Loup had
debt obligations to the Public Works
Administration, posing a funding
problem.
On Aug. 5, the same men who
organized the Loup project helped
create Consumers Public Power
District to facilitate the purchase of
those facilities. Loup River Public
Power District’s President C.B. Fricke
was named president of the debt-free
Consumers.
In October, Consumers assumed
operation of the Columbus division
of the Northwestern Public Service
Company through a lease-purchase
agreement. It purchased the company
in July 1940 with $1.2 million in bonds.
It was the first acquisition of a private
utility by a public power district
through bond issue.
The hydro facilities continued to
sell power to private companies. But
that would soon change. By the end
of 1943, Consumers Public Power
District acquired all generation and
distribution facilities across the state
except for Nebraska Power Company
in Omaha. The cost was more than
$40 million paid for by revenue
bonds. This change to public power
caused much controversy throughout
the state with some comparing it to
socialism and communism.
A PUBLIC POWER SYSTEM
In 1940, the three hydro districts
that formed Consumers — Loup,
Platte Valley, and Tri-County —
signed an agreement to pool their
generation and revenue. This
would provide stability, prevent
competition and allow them to finance
growth. The agreement created
the Nebraska Public Power System
(NPPS), a wholesale marketing and
transmission agency. Its threemember
board consisted of the three
district managers.
The three unified districts also
refinanced nearly $38 million in debt.
The new bonds reduced both the
interest and bond payments to give
the districts an opportunity to pay off
obligations while building revenues.
Consumers leased its generating
facilities to NPPS which began
coordinating power generation and
transmission. Rural public power
districts continued to form across the
state and purchased power from NPPS.
(Central withdrew from NPPS in
1949 to focus on irrigation.)
A NEW BUILDING
By 1940, Columbus was home to
four public power entities — Loup
River Public Power District, Loup’s
Rural Electrification Division,
Consumers Public Power District, and
NPPS.
Management and administrative
offices for the four were scattered
in rented facilities, mostly along
13th Street in downtown Columbus.
It was time to build a facility to
accommodate all four. Board members
of Consumers and Loup wanted a
prime location at the northeast corner
of 14th Street and 25th Avenue. Grace
Episcopal Church and rectory was
located there, but sold their property
and relocated.
The new “Public Power Building”
opened formally to the public in May
1941.
In 1970, Nebraska Public Power
District (NPPD) was formed following
the merger of Consumers, Platte
Valley Public Power and Irrigation
District. and NPPS.
Four years later, Loup moved into
its new office at 2404 15th Street. In
1976, NPPD transferred the title of
the Public Power Building to the City
of Columbus and moved into its new
headquarters at 1414 15th Street in
Columbus.
SUMMER 2023 | 11

PAIGE WOOD
Fullerton High School
—
Plans: Animal Science
at Kansas State University
Daughter of Jennifer and Tom Wood,
Crew Leader; Granddaughter of
Dennis and Julie Jarecke and Sharon Wood
BENTLEY WILLISON
Columbus High School
—
Plans: Central Community
College in Columbus
Son of Jody Evans and Chad Willison;
Grandson of Sharon and Robert Cerv,
Board of Directors
KAIDEN FERRIS
Twin River High School
—
Plans: Heating & Air
at Southeast Community College in Milford
Son of Keith and Katie Ferris;
Grandson of Teresa and Lance Ferris,
Canal Lead
AALIYAH LEIGH RIHA
Columbus High School
—
Plans: Business at Central Community
College in Columbus
Daughter of Craig and Samantha Riha;
Granddaughter of Tim and Sandi Meays,
Corporate Services Administrative Assistant
12 | GENERATOR

ASHTON JOHNSON
Twin River High School
—
Plans: Diesel Technology
at Southeast Community College
Son of Andy Johnson and Sara Janovich;
Grandson of Don and Ginny Johnson,
Customer Service Representative
FAITH ZIMMER
Twin River High School
—
Plans: Radiology at Southeast
Community College
Daughter of Betsy and Kenton Zimmer,
Equipment Operator; Granddaughter of Ken
and Joy Zimmer and Roger and Virgie Nelson
ASHTON HAPP
Lakeview High School
—
Plans: Athletic Training at Central
Community College and Nebraska Wesleyan
Son of Denise and Troy Dreifurst,
Equipment Operator; Grandson of Margaret
Bejvancesky and the late Byron Bejvancesky
Area students earn scholarships
LINKAGES/STEM/STEAM SCHOLARSHIPS
Six high school graduates were awarded Linkages/STEM/
STEAM Scholarships for their work in science, technology,
and engineering courses at their high schools.
The Linkages/STEM/STEAM programs are recognized
nationally, supporting high schools offering quality
programs. The Columbus Economic Council, Loup Power
District, and local businesses provide support for the
program.
Scholarship recipients are: Columbus High School —
Tristan Kamm and Yoselin Mendez; Lakeview High
School —Joshua Gembica and Caleb Neemeyer; Scotus
Central Catholic — Thomas Melliger and Blake Wemhoff.
The following local sponsors provided important financial
support to this year’s program: ADM Corn Processing,
Cargill Protein, Columbus Bank and Trust Company,
Columbus Community Hospital, and TORIN Products, Inc.
Since its beginning in 2004, the Linkages Program has
awarded 211 scholarships totaling $69,075.
LOUP POWER DISTRICT SCHOLARSHIPS
Loup Power District has awarded scholarships
to five area students who are attending Central
Community College in Columbus this fall. The
goal is to encourage students to plan careers
locally after college.
Selection is based on academic achievement,
employment and school activities, personal
statement, application, and recommendations.
Scholarship recipients are: Columbus High
School — Madison Mulder and Aaliyah Riha;
Lakeview High School — Ashton Happ; Scotus
Central Catholic — Ally Wemhoff; Twin River
High School — Braden Allen.
Loup has presented scholarships to high
school graduates in its service territories of
Nance, Boone, Colfax, and Platte counties, and
a portion of Madison County, for more than 50
years.
SUMMER 2023 | 13

EMPLOYEE NOTES
TRAVIS SHIVELY
Maintenance Technician
Travis Shively joined
Loup Power District
as Maintenance
Technician at the
Genoa Headworks
in April.
He is responsible for
maintaining District
vehicles and
equipment at the
Headworks. He
also troubleshoots
the mechanical
components of the District’s dredge,
the Pawnee II.
Shively is a graduate of St. Edward High
School and has an associate degree
in diesel technology from Northeast
Community College.
TRENT KONWINSKI
Arborist Crew Leader
Konwinski joined
Loup in 2008 as
Apprentice Line
Technician at the
Columbus Service
Center. He was
promoted to Line
Technician later that
year.
WELCOME
He was promoted
to Journey Line
15 YEARS
Technician in 2012
and was promoted
to his current position of Arborist Crew
Leader that same year.
Konwinski is responsible for
maintaining clearance of the District’s
transmission and distribution facilities.
He ensures proper trimming, removal,
and disposal of trees, branches,
and debris that could interfere with
overhead electrical lines.
Konwinski is a graduate of Columbus
High School and earned an associate
degree in utility line from Northeast
Community College in Norfolk.
He and his wife, Joni, have thee
children: Brayden, Braxtyn, and Blayke.
DOMINIC ZOUCHA
Genoa Local Superintendent
Dominic Zoucha
joined Loup in 2003
as an Apprentice
Line Technician
at the Columbus
Service Center. He
was later promoted
to Line Technician.
He transferred to the
Fullerton Division
in 2005. In 2009,
he was promoted
to Journey Line
Technician and was
promoted to Arborist Foreman later
that year.
In 2012, Zoucha was promoted to
Genoa Local Superintendent. In this
role, he is responsible for overseeing
the maintenance and construction of
Loup’s electric power transmission and
distribution system in the Genoa and
Monroe area. He also directs customer
service in the area.
Zoucha is a graduate of Clarks High
School and earned an associate
degree in utility line from Northeast
Community College. He and his wife,
Amber, have two children, Beau and
Caylyn.
KYLE KEMPER
Line Technician
Kyle Kemper of
Genoa joined Loup
Power District as a
Line Technician in
Fullerton in 2022.
20 YEARS
He is member of
the crew that is
responsible for the
construction, tree
trimming, operation,
and maintenance
1 YEAR
of electric transmission
and distribution
systems and substations in the Fullerton
Division.
Kemper is a graduate of Twin River
High School and has an associate
degree in utility line from Northeast
Community College.
TYLER KLAAHSEN
Journey Line Technician
Klaahsen joined
Loup in 2008 as
an Apprentice Line
Technician at the
Humphrey Retail
Operation and was
later promoted to
Line Technician.
He transferred to
the Columbus Line
Crew based out
of the Columbus
Service Center in
2012 and was promoted to Journey
Line Technician in 2013.
Klaahsen is member of the crew that
is responsible for the construction,
maintenance, and operation of Loup’s
electric system.
Klaahsen is a graduate of Clearwater
High School. He earned an Associate
of Applied Science Degree in Utility
Line from Northeast Community
College in Norfolk.
He and his wife, Terin, have a daughter,
Aleigha.
CALEB BUNDY
IT Network Coordinator
Caleb Bundy has joined Loup Power
District as IT Network Coordinator.
He is responsible for
support and maintenance
of Loup’s
computer network,
including switches,
routers, and the
firewall. He will also
ensure the District’s
digital security and
provide technical
support to Loup
employees.
15 YEARS
WELCOME
Bundy is a graduate
of Grand Island Senior High School and
has an Associate Degree in Information
Technology Systems-Networking from
Central Community College.
He and his fiancée, Sierra, have two
children, Navy and Lucian.
14 | GENERATOR

ANDY YRKOSKI
Journey Line Technician
Andy Yrkoski joined
Loup Power District
as a Line Technician
on the Columbus
Line Crew at the
Columbus Service
Center in 2018.
He was promoted
to Journey Line
Technician in May
2023.
5 YEARS
He is member of
the crew that is
responsible for the construction, tree
trimming, operation, and maintenance
of electric transmission and distribution
systems and substations in the Columbus
Division.
Yrkoski is a graduate of Columbus High
school. He earned an associate degree
in utility line from Northeast Community
College in Norfolk.
Communities receive
more than $1.7 million
Loup Power District delivered lease payments totaling more than $1.7
million to area communities in May. Each of these communities owns
their electric distribution systems. These payments compensate them
for the use of those systems for the first quarter of 2023. Communities
use the funds for a variety of public projects.
The payments were:
Columbus—$1,235,349.19
Platte Center—$16,963.52
Monroe—$14,363.59
Tarnov —$2,296.63
Creston—$9,726.78
Humphrey—$37,560.89
Lindsay—$63,107.13
Cornlea—$2,658.34
Newman Grove—$23,350.56
Duncan—$21,326.77
Fullerton—$40,831.50
Genoa—$32,073.87
Belgrade—$4,345.19
Richland—$3,944.95
Howells—$29,629.08
Leigh—$20,663.76
Clarkson—$25,961.29
Albion—$62,777.93
Cedar Rapids—$19,581.54
Primrose—$1,888.96
Petersburg—$12,288.85
St. Edward—$23,473.81
Total — $1,704,164.13
SUMMER 2023 | 15

2404 15th Street | PO Box 988
Columbus, NE 68602-0988
Cedar Rapids Local Superintendent
Ron Christo and Journey Line Tech
Paul Burbach