Tr ibuneThe Grant Sentinel WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 www.granttribune.com $1 PER COPY | VOLUME 121 NUMBER 49 PCHS COVID-19 HONORS! Midwest Electric cases recognized as July Chamber Spotlight. holding Page 5 at 22 Nine employees, 13 residents infected thus far BY RUSS PANKONIN GRANT TRIBUNE-SENTINEL COVID-19 cases of Perkins County Health Services resi- dents and employees stands at 22 as of Tuesday, July 28. PCHS CEO Neil Hilton said 13 residents at Golden Ours Convalescent Home have tested positive for the corona- virus since the outbreak was first reported July 14. In addition, nine employees of the home have tested posi- tive from July 14-22. BALL TEAMS! The last positive test came Summer ball team RUSS PANKONIN I JOHNSON PUBLICATIONS back Saturday, July 25, mark- ing the 13th resident to test photos to wrap up positive. the season. Things get “hog wild” at the fair Hilton said the outbreak among patients has slowed Page 8 The Perkins County Fair wrapped up last week and while there may not have been any hired entertainment, that didn’t stop all the fun. Getting a but they aren’t backing off picture of the hogs with their exhibitors after the swine show can sometimes be an adventure. That’s why Tanner Burge, (inset), is equipped with any precautions to limit the feed pan and a water sprayer to keep the hog’s attention while Olivia Gengenbach poses for the camera. Adding some fun to the effort, Storm spread of the virus. Peterson does his best imitation of a hog while Burge does his best to keep his attention during the photo. The first four Golden Ours residents tested positive on July 17. The situation began to peak Wednesday, July 22 IN BRIEF when four more residents GRADUATION: Perkins tested positive, followed by Spray plane goes down, pilot dies four more the following day. County Schools will hold their graduation The unknown of whether ceremony for the class BY RUSS PANKONIN Administration were on the more residents might test positive created a great deal of 2020 on Saturday, GRANT TRIBUNE-SENTINEL scene Sunday, according to the August 1 at 1 p.m. in sheriff. of stress and strain among the Pritchett Gym. The A 31-year-old Tennessee man the staff. event will allow ticket perished Saturday when the CHASE COUNTY CRASH “It was starting to wear holders in only. See aerial spray plane he was pilot- Ironically, a single-engine on everybody. You betcha,” last week’s issue of the ing went down in a cornfield plane went down around the he noted. Hilton said things Tribune, or visit the south of Grant. same time shortly after takeoff began to look up when no one school’s website for Perkins County Sheriff Jim from a private strip south of tested positive Friday and more details. Brueggeman identified the Imperial. The aircraft was a only one Saturday. victim as Alex Tuttle of College fixed-wing VANS RV-6. Hilton said they had Grove, Tennessee. The pilot and his passenger cleared the seven rooms in Brueggeman said Tuttle were transported to the Chase north wing of the home to CRUISE NIGHT: The Per- was a contract pilot flying for County Community Hospital specifically house coronavi- kins County Chamber Aurora Cooperative when the where the pilot was treated for rus residents. and the City of Grant accident occurred. The plane minor injuries and released. When the number of cases have decided against was owned by Aurora Co-op. The passenger sustained began to explode last week, hosting the annual The call came in at 12:05 p.m. serious, non-life threatening Hilton said they knew they Cruise Night that was His office, along with the Grant injuries and was transported to had to begin transferring in- scheduled for August and Madrid fire departments, a medical facility in Colorado, fected residents to other hos- 7. The Chamber is look- were dispatched to scene. according to the Chase County pitals. Of the 13 who tested ing into a later date Brueggeman said another pi- Sheriff ’s Office. positive, seven were trans- and will release more lot spraying nearby lost sight of ferred, five remain at Golden information if and the plane and efforts to contact BUSY WEEKEND Ours while one resident in when it is available. Tuttle were unsuccessful. Sheriff Brueggeman said his late 90s passed away. After finishing the load, the there was lots of activity over Hilton said they transferred pilot flew over the field and the weekend. four residents on Wednesday, spotted the downed plane in a Severe weather conditions one on Thursday and two on cornfield seven miles south and were experienced both Friday Friday to hospitals in North a half mile east of Grant, off and Saturday night. Platte, Ogallala and McCook. Road 753. Firemen responded to a light- Hilton said the residents Brueggeman said they believe ning strike that hit a home in were transferred to give them OUTSIDE the plane went down some- Grant Friday night. the best opportunity to over- where between 11:40 to 11:50 Late Saturday afternoon, come the virus. a.m. Perkins County Coroner another storm cell with high Rick Roberts pronounced Tuttle winds, rain and hail struck an TESTING CONTINUES dead at the scene. area west and south of Bran- Hilton said every resident An autopsy was ordered since don. in Golden Ours and Park it was an unattended death. Winds as high a 75 mph Ridge assisted living has been Investigators with the Na- destroyed a steel quonset and CONTRIBUTED tested twice, the results of Looking Ahead tional Transportation Safety wind-driven hail totalled crops Emergency vehicles drove through a corn field south of Grant to ac- the second test pending as of Thurs.: Scattered Thunder- Bureau and Federal Aviation in the area. cess a downed spray plane. Tuesday. storms, 76/57 If those results come back Fri.: Partly Cloudy, 83/57 negative, Hilton said the cur- Sat.: Sunny. 89/57 rent wave of infections could Sun.: Mostly Sunny, 83/58 be subsiding. Mon.: Partly Cloudy, 81/57 Wheatland Industries challenging constitutionality of tax refund law He added they have tested Tues.: Partly Cloudy, 81/58 more than 70 additional Wed.: Partly Cloudy, 83/59 employees, some more than BY RUSS PANKONIN ruling to the Nebraska Su- While some of the entities entitled to more property tax once. Thus far, there have Source: weather.com GRANT TRIBUNE-SENTINEL preme Court and the ruling was have already begun to budget refunds for the 2018 and 2019 been no positive tests among upheld. for repayment of the funds, oth- tax years. them. Testing will continue Wheatland Industries, LLC, This meant the taxing entities ers have already repaid small If the statute remains in ef- weekly for the time being, he Looking Back owner of the Madrid ethanol in the county needed to refund amounts due. fect, those refunds would not Date High Low Moisture added. plant, filed a suit in federal nearly $118,000 in taxes that Wheatland Industries said be due for five years from the The most recent positive July 21 85 57 0.09 district court challenging the were overpaid by Wheatland. in the suit nothing compels date of settlement. employee test occurred July July 22 93 64 0.26 constitutionality of a Nebraska In this situation, Nebraska the entities to pay back money Defendants named in the 22. Between July 14-22, a total July 23 93 66 0.21 tax refund law. statute allows those taxing enti- before the five-year, Jan. 3, 2025 suit include Perkins County of nine employees tested posi- July 24 96 67 1.68 The suit names the county, ties to take up to five years to deadline provided for in the Treasurer Julie Sestak, tive. Eight of those employees July 25 93 65 0.83 several county officials and the repay the funds, with no inter- statute. Perkins County Assessor have been in quarantine at July 26 76 66 0.05 taxing entities of Madrid, Per- est accruing. Perkins County Schools will Peggy Burton, Village Of home while one has been July 27 83 67 kins County Schools, Perkins The suit alleges that those repay the largest amount of tax Madrid, Madrid Cemetery, hospitalized in Grant. County Hospital, ESU 16, Mid- provisions make the law money—$44,252.13. Madrid Fire District, Edu- Hilton said it takes 10-14 Source: weather.com Plains College and the Upper constitute an illegal taking of The Village of Madrid will cational Service Unit No. 16, days of quarantine to ensure Republican NRD as defendants property. be hit with a repayment of Mid-Plains College, Upper the virus is no longer commu- in the suit. The U.S. and Nebraska $31,363.45. Republican Natural Resource nicable. If no more positive INSIDE The property valuation of Constitutions both provide that Perkins County will take the District, Perkins County tests come back on employ- the ethanol plant and a subse- private property shall not be next biggest hit at $19,775. 17. Hospital, Perkins Board Of ees, he said everyone infected quent ruling by the Nebraska taken for public use without In addition, Wheatland In- Equalization and Perkins could be back to work by Aug. CLASSIFIEDS 7 Supreme Court serves as the just compensation. dustries has already paid their County. 5. No visitors are allowed at basis for the suit. The 2017 valu- The suit also contends that property taxes for 2018 and half During last week’s com- COMMUNITY 5 Golden Ours or Park Ridge at ation of the plant by the county, the five-year period the tax- of 2019.