Plattsmouth Newsletter - August 30, 2017

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Cass & Sarpy Coalitions Merge to Form T.E.A.M

For the last 15 years, Tobacco Free Sarpy and Tobacco Free Cass County have been educating, advocating, and fighting big tobacco to address the multiple negative impacts of tobacco in our community. In August, the two coalitions officially joined forces and created Tobacco Education & Advocacy of the Midlands (T.E.A.M).

Do you know how tobacco affects our community?

Our Health. Smoking is still the #1 cause of preventable death, killing 6 million people a year, including 2,500 Nebraskans. That’s more than the entire population of Ashland that dies every single year, right here in the good life. Families are losing their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and grand parents because of tobacco. There are walks in the park, job promotions, baseball games, home purchases, weddings, and graduations – all missed because of a product that if used correctly; will maim or kill you.

Our Youth. The tobacco industry spends over a million dollars an hour on marketing. Internal tobacco marketing documents prove that the industry spends those dollars specifically marketing to ages 12-15. In Nebraska – 1,800 youth under age 18 become daily smokers each year.

Our Budget. Businesses lose $532 million worth of productivity due to smoking, plus Nebraska spends $795 million on smoking-related health care costs per year. That means state tax payers are annually spending $727 per person, regardless of age, on smoking-related health care expenses and lost productivity. Nebraska also has the 9^thlowest cigarette taxes in the U.S.

Our Environment. Cigarette waste is the #1 littered item on the planet. These butts are filled with cancer causing chemicals that get into our soil, groundwater, lakes, streams, sidewalks, and playgrounds.

The coalition is led by Autumn Burns, T.E.A.M Sarpy Coordinator and Becky Smart, T.E.A.M Cass Coordinator under fiscal agent CHI Midlands Health. A Steering Committee representing multiple community sectors advocating for tobacco-free environments includes T.E.A.M Chair, Sarpy/Cass Health Department Assistant Health Director Jenny Steventon; T.E.A.M Chair- Elect, City of Plattsmouth Recreation Director Michael Lennon; Sarpy County CASA Program Director Paula Creps; Plattsmouth Chamber of Commerce Director Cindy Cruse; Pavilion at Twin Creek Property Manager Cindy Dropinski; American Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Mike Francis; Novatis Respiratory Clinical Specialist Dee Humm; Bellevue Housing Authority Executive Director Carolyn Pospisil; and Sarpy Community YMCA Executive Director Katlin Wilson.

T.E.A.M meets every 4^th Thursday of the month from 11:30-12:30pm at CHI Health Midlands in the Smith Suite. Please join us next month, we serve a light lunch. For questions please call 402-593-3022 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Funding provided by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services/Tobacco Free Nebraska Program as a result of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

The Plattsmouth Harvest Festival

Celebrating 150 Years of Harvesting the Good Life

SEPTEMBER 7-10, 2017

4 days of pageantry, activities and celebrations for the entire family

Aug 28 is the last day to sign up for the Royalty Dinner on Thursday, Sep 7. If you plan to attend but have not yet done so, please contact Cindy Dougherty at 402-690-7199.

Past royalty (kings, queens, lord & ladies) are invited to walk in the Coronation onThursday, Sep 7, at 7:30pm (show-up at7:15pm). If you plan to do this, please contact Nancy Johnson at 402-297-2384.

Past kings and queens are invited to ride on the Past K&Q float in the Grand Parade onSaturday, Sep 9, at 6:00pm (show-up at 5:30pm). If you plan to do this, please contact Roger “RT” Wiles at 402-297-2004.

In addition to the latest up-to-date schedule of events, registration forms and information are available on the PHF web site (www.plattsmouthharvestfestival.com) for the following events: Kiddies Parade; Farmers & Merchants Parade; Grand Parade; Cass County’s Got Talent Show; Beautiful Baby Contest; Horseshoe Tournament.

2017 PHF T-shirts are available to order from Pro’s Shirt Shop on Main Street. Cost is ~$19.00 each. Order now. Call Karen Prohaska at402-296-3261.

Downtown Coronation

Carnival Rides • Parades

Music • Karaoke Contest

Chicken Chariot Races

Slow Tractor Races • Egg Toss

Photo Contest • Flower Show

Corn Eating Contest • Ugly Pick-Ups

Car Show & Shine • Little Tuggers

Waterfights • Entertainment

Youth Dart Tournament

Talent Show • Pep Rally

Airport Fly-In Breakfast

Tractor Pull • Vendors

Fireworks Extravaganza

Many More Events!

Full Schedule Here

PL michael hoffoff

CASA Volunteers Needed

Cass Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is currently recruiting CASA advocates to speak up for the best interest of abused and neglected children in Cass County. The next training session is scheduled to begin October 1 and will run for five weeks. The training consists of 15 hours of online training and 15 hours of in-person training. We are also seeking male volunteers for this class as over 60% of our CASA children are males. If you are interested, please contact Debbie Green at (402) 296-9521; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or if you would like to learn more information about our program, please visit www.casscasa.org

Lofte WUD