General News

The city of Omaha ended 2011 with a $740,000 budget deficit.

City officials released the preliminary fourth quarter financial report Thursday. The report says Omaha’s lack of a new contract with the fire union cost the city two million dollars. The City Council rejected a new contract with the fire union last year. Since then, a ruling from the Commission of Industrial Relations cost the city of Omaha $3.2 million.

The 5th annual Ultra Chic Prom Boutique takes place Saturday, February 25th.

Lisa Sekundiak, Vice President and Owner of Max I. Walker, says she was inspired to start the event after looking through her own closet of gently used formal wear.  She says the company asks people to look through their own closets, and consider donating any unwanted bridesmaids gowns or prom dresses. 

Sekundiak says Max I. Walker cleans all the dresses and then displays them all at the boutique.  Each dress is sold for $25.  Sekundiak says the prom boutique features more than dresses.

PRIDE-Omaha, Inc. is dissolving its non-profit corporation on March 31, 2012.

The organization was formed in 1978 with the purpose of working to keep children safe and drug-free.  Executive Director Susie Dugan says even though the need for drug prevention is as great as ever when it comes to kids and drugs, it has become increasingly difficult to sustain funding for their resource center. 

She says PRIDE-Omaha is grateful to the community and state supporters who made it possible for them to do their work for so long. 

Omaha’s Siena/Francis House plans to open 48 new efficiency apartments and a community services center.

A groundbreaking Friday morning marked the official start of the project on 18thStreet. The $7.2 million dollar project is set for completion in August. Siena/Francis House executive director Mike Saklar says the new apartments are for homeless people with disabilities. They’ll pay 250 dollars a month rent, with assistance available.

The project also includes a community services facility. Saklar says the goal is to bring the 70 programs Siena/Francis offers in partnership with other agencies in to one location.

The apartments are expected to open in August. Siena/Francis House opened in 1994. In 2008, the shelter opened a Day Services Facility.

278 broken light fixtures that are part of Omaha’s so-called “string of pearls” will be replaced in April.

The string of pearls are 700 lights that line a three-quarter mile stretch of Abbott Drive, from downtown Omaha to Eppley Airfield. A hailstorm last August shattered 278 of those lights. City engineer Todd Pfitzer says original estimates put the replacement cost at $500,000. But Pfitzer says those lights will be replaced with LED ones, which will save the city $120,000 to $150,000 in energy costs over the next five years.

The 300 replacement lamps cost $200,000 and will be installed in April. Eventually, all of the string of pearls will be replaced with LED lights.

Right now the city doesn’t have an estimate of the cost to replace all 700 lights.

Omaha city officials say the combination of a weekend storm and extra contractors prevented the need to declare a snow emergency.

 Mayor Jim Suttle and Public Works officials updated the city’s snow removal efforts during a news conference Tuesday. Saturday’s storm left more than nine inches of snow in Omaha.

Public Works Director Bob Stubbe says the heavy, wet snow was challenging for crews to clear.  He says that type of snow can damage equipment. But Stubbe says crews were helped by temperatures that stayed at or above freezing, and by additional resources. 18 private contractors helped Public Works crews clear streets and put down de-icing material. The city uses private contractors primarily for plowing and clearing snow in residential areas.

Lutheran Family Services’ 3rd Annual At Ease Luncheon featured a Medal of Honor recipient.

This year’s keynote speaker was former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, Sal Giunta.  Sgt. Giunta is the first living American serviceman to receive the Medal of Honor for service in Iraq or Afghanistan.  

Sgt. Guinta said he was happy to support At Ease, a program he said helps soldiers fighting for the freedoms all Americans enjoy.

At Ease is a program that provides therapeutic support and trauma treatment for active duty military, veterans and their families.  Sgt. Giunta received the medal after repeatedly charging into a gunfight and helping rescue two fellow soldiers.