[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6454423,"mediaKeyId","5860824-a57a401bf8283ac9f57d60e9fc856305","parentId",5860824,"title","Nebraska Extension presents countywide programs, shows high leverage of county funding","audioSeconds",1594,"startMs",1510000,"endMs",3104000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860824-a57a401bf8283ac9f57d60e9fc856305&start=1510&end=3104","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860824-a57a401bf8283ac9f57d60e9fc856305/thumbnail_1510000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6454423/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Nebraska-Extension-presents-countywide-programs-shows-high-leverage-of-county-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454423-1bcd2757f3362f36e2d4ae8ec7b8907a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771082070&Signature=oN8~heMwyz16IKteRnHiRuupyl~wPIBhx0bPfp-y-xcT9obj0AyMyqh6zyhr5mLB132vTKsW9BOY4kZw7P1He2gSHvT3UK8eu8ITY8N6Bl5l~O820dmKG7gC9I3OqN9IC~cdNCEu6GHXolrBXKSgQTWF18R1f70u6vozwiqqt3zXyVpVyMuLrwtxsT9CQYbBU-sYDrroKQvqGuMyNOLq9~zvA4ArN4DbGOzP49ogrMXE71PFwQPeo~TYdw6uOxNYzn4O2ya0s7irjq7olRhuguf4w1X5Tph-hhs~gGwKqe9DTrgT9o9QJYgFwkYLfymOE9ac6y4anpiM1SSP4WIeDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Douglas County, NE","date","2025-09-30T20:32:54Z","article","Officials from Douglas‑Sarpy Nebraska Extension described a broad set of educational programs that county officials and residents rely on, and outlined how local funding leverages university and grant dollars.

Carrie Miller, unit leader and extension zone coordinator, and David Varner, associate dean and director for Nebraska Extension, told the Board the local extension unit is a cooperative partnership between county funding, University of Nebraska–Lincoln support and federal and foundation grants. They said Douglas County’s direct contribution is roughly $500,000; Sarpy County contributes an additional amount based on tax valuation. The combined local/unit budget is about $2.5 million across funding sources; the university contributes roughly $1.4 million of that total.

Presenters highlighted staffing and volunteer scale: approximately 27 paid positions are connected to the local office through various funding streams, of which about 6.5 FTE are funded directly by local county contributions. Master Gardener volunteers number about 340 active participants who reported over 20,000 volunteer hours, a volunteer value presenters estimated at about $600,000.

Programmatic reach cited by presenters includes an annual youth audience of more than 20,000 through in‑school, after‑school and summer programs (including embryology, STEM and Build A Hut engineering events), early childhood training for nearly 1,500 childcare providers (reaching roughly 20,000 children indirectly), and food safety/servsafe instruction that has certified about 650 food service managers and employees so far this year in partnership with the Douglas County Health Department. The extension’s horticulture, entomology and urban agriculture work supports Master Gardener gardens (roughly 10 teaching gardens in Douglas County and 18 teaching gardens overall) and donation gardens that supply food pantries.

Commissioners asked for clarification about funding and staffing counts. Extension officials said the local investment is highly leveraged: counties statewide contribute roughly $10 million to Nebraska Extension’s statewide budget (about 20 percent of the system budget), and Douglas County’s local contribution attracts substantial university and grant funding in return. Officials also said extension prioritizes county‑based positions and intends to keep local presence as turnover and statewide budget pressures occur.

Board members praised the programs and suggested greater outreach to raise public awareness. Extension staff offered to provide newsletters and do brief presentations to the board to highlight annual results and public events.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee meeting September 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Nebraska Extension leaders told the board the county's roughly $500,000 contribution leverages statewide university resources, volunteers and grants to deliver youth education, Master Gardener programs, food‑safety training and other services.","taxTitle","Douglas County, Nebraska","taxId",2554,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6454428,"Douglas County law library has evolved into a self‑help center serving thousands of unrepresented litigants",1256,206000,1462000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860824-a57a401bf8283ac9f57d60e9fc856305&start=206&end=1462","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860824-a57a401bf8283ac9f57d60e9fc856305/thumbnail_206000.jpg","/articles/6454428/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Douglas-County-law-library-has-evolved-into-a-selfhelp-center-serving-thousands-of-unrepresented-litigants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454428-ee4996008ac6eb7d68ac48a9ad3b5d8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771082070&Signature=a1DdLxFt8w6vWkbyx4sv4QAm9IvdEtli2CQnhO59KvdaFzXzpkwW0jM48WsdtQUv5JIivbjGQBUTcztrLf5FNATj6nTIjGg~d~jp~8c0wsqEfGwXMEBk6sLC1wKL37BPQYHzUAcEMMq9STyBDw5BwHUgDm~G1Ks70MdFQFCclFHm~Um4inl2Ec2Lo6Lr3EKcrDacoGbf-Aj3Z3tQvJtA5pQyFju43nKJJds1rHCI8rLNtsxMizJVN-fldil-zMX7DJkxYBWZHQhw5ssAe9HcIXmVSNgJ8X~mdRLihAOFkQMR3K-OWWejbifaYGlktY6ODbU8y4WNCaR-yOXaoR6GSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Judge Shelley Stratman told the Douglas County Board of Commissioners that the county law library now functions primarily as a self‑help desk for people who cannot afford attorneys or who have relatively simple legal matters.

The law library, dedicated as the Honorable Michael W. Amdorf Memorial Law Library, has shifted from a lawyer‑oriented reference collection to an access‑to‑justice resource that helps people navigate filings such as divorces, paternity actions and evictions, Stratman said. County staff who manage the library provide packets, laptop stations, and in‑person help for self‑represented litigants (SRLs).

Board members were shown recent usage and revenue figures to illustrate demand. The library’s current fiscal year budget is about $75,000, down roughly 50 percent from a decade ago; copy and printing fees provide a meaningful portion of earned revenue. Library staff reported $5,526 in revenue from July 1 through September of the current year and nearly $14,000 in revenue last year, mostly from copy fees. In the first quarter of the budget year staff logged roughly 1,500 patrons (in‑person visits or phone contacts). From Aug. 1 to Sept. 16 staff printed more than 1,400 pages of packet material for patrons; the library charges 25¢ per printed page.

Library staff and the judge emphasized service gaps elsewhere on the courthouse campus: public computers and workspace were removed from the clerk’s office after a remodel, and county court computers do not permit printing. The law library provides five public computers (one with Westlaw patron access), printing, word processing and staffed assistance for people who cannot access or use online forms at home.

Board members asked about staffing and tracking. Library presenters said one full‑time employee is funded through the court budget; a new staff member who started in June has improved patron tracking and is expected to allow the library to report more precise counts of in‑person help versus paid transactions. Commissioners suggested a short annual presentation to the full board to raise public awareness of the service.

The presenters said some of the matters most often handled through the library are domestic relations and eviction cases. They also noted that legal aid organizations are frequently too backlogged to help with relatively simple filings; the library fills that gap with packet materials and assisted form completion so self‑represented litigants can proceed to hearings.

Library staff described a desire to reallocate book/periodical spending toward staffing and computer workstations so two people could routinely assist patrons, including those without Internet access or printing capability. The Administrative Office of the Courts has piloted a statewide self‑help desk program and chose Douglas County as a pilot district; presenters said the county’s library already provides many of those services.

The session closed with commissioners thanking the judge and library staff and encouraging further outreach so residents know the resource exists.","Judge Shelley Stratman and law library staff told the County Board the law library now functions mainly as a self‑help desk for people who cannot afford attorneys; the operation runs on a shrinking budget and relies on public computers, printing fees and one full‑time employee.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6454418,"Douglas County Historical Society wins preservation grant and plans archive renovation",782,3159000,3941000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860824-a57a401bf8283ac9f57d60e9fc856305&start=3159&end=3941","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860824-a57a401bf8283ac9f57d60e9fc856305/thumbnail_3159000.jpg","/articles/6454418/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Douglas-County-Historical-Society-wins-preservation-grant-and-plans-archive-renovation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454418-6aa7f4831ed213b2e1ebfc150e187318/orig.mp4?Expires=1771082070&Signature=mstmMObIbeLhlwHu37O5~EsnICg~ML-9miLhmbHs6-IE~usC0mVUt5mcrnL7GnoITQ5Wchwr9dg2orbR9Mb5tf2E3pzyxaYP6Gm~k-vCx3VflicTGmrOn4SLXuR5rRmCbX947QoB2pS4F98-xo2LAUCxnbt8rcrd5h7i5CfjAVFArtg9ho1uIuq1307jYR-GAM~wgZ7oEw3bfPadXxwWyaQ2oEx9gFhAmwiALDXZkspp5t-VDJMn09WQNZ5urGI~Ig03q-AjcCYaWgcXZZ0hTnxvoLulN9ungzClIhhdEqTHaO~eAxRtTJYxQUfW-bFKye-vJk5NNXL7LW0qGjApRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thomas Neil, executive director of the Douglas County Historical Society, told the County Board the society manages the Crook House Museum and an archives center that holds the county’s historical records, including marriage records dating to 1856.

Neil said the society operates the Crook House Museum (open seven days a week) and an archives center on the Metropolitan Community College campus. The archives handle research requests, photo and genealogy inquiries and public programming such as monthly lectures and school visits. The society reported about 2,000 museum visitors annually and roughly 30 online research requests per month.

Neil told the board the organization recently secured a matching “Saving Our Treasures” grant through the National Park Service; combined with matching funds from the Metropolitan Community College Foundation the award will total just over $1 million to renovate and stabilize the archive center. The society said the renovation work will require emptying the archive building and completing a top‑to‑bottom restoration over an aggressive 16‑month schedule.

Current staffing includes three full‑time positions, two part‑time positions and several volunteers; the society reported an anticipated 2026 budget near $450,000 and said Douglas County contributes about $108,000 to that budget. Board members asked about climate control and preservation needs; Neil and staff described plans to digitize paper records, expand school programming, and use Metro Community College interns from library sciences and horticulture programs to assist with archives and the Crook House grounds.

Commissioners welcomed the grant news and pledged support for preservation efforts; staff noted the 2029 sesquicentennial of Chief Standing Bear’s trial and increased public interest tied to a forthcoming film and anniversary programming.","The Douglas County Historical Society described collections, public programs and a newly awarded matching preservation grant that will fund a major archive‑center renovation and building restoration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Nebraska Extension presents countywide programs, shows high leverage of county funding

Douglas County law library has evolved into a self‑help center serving thousands of unrepresented litigants

Douglas County Historical Society wins preservation grant and plans archive renovation