I had a chance Monday to do some checking in on some of the things going on in some Central Nebraska over the past few weeks. Here’s what I found:

Burwell
— The big news out of Burwell is that the city council is taking bids for the Community Memorial Health Center, Burwell’s city-owned nursing home and assisted-living center. (The bids were due last Thursday, but I haven’t checked yet to see what was received. I’ll do that this week.) Last week’s Burwell Tribune had a very informative article on the issue by former City Councilwoman Melissa Schere, who ended it with a barely implicit recommendation to sell the hospital to a for-profit company. On the next page, it ran a letter to the editor from another former city councilman, Ron Kerkman, opposing the city’s sale. The center is the town’s largest employer, so this is sure to continue to be heated issue as the city and the center’s board make a decision. We’ll keep an eye on it.

— In less contentious Burwell news, Augy’s Fitness Center, owned by Bob Augustyn, was scheduled to hold its grand opening last week, according to the Burwell Tribune. It’s in the Hub Building, the historic building at the center of Burwell’s downtown square. The Independent wrote about John and Melissa Schere’s efforts to restore the Hub in 2006.

Loup City
— Loup City is moving forward on Viaero Wireless’ plans to build a retail store there, two and a half years after the company agreed to do so. At its Sept. 8 meeting, the city council gave Viaero a variance to build its building on a lot that would otherwise be too small to be allowed under city code. The city planning commission has given it a preliminary OK, too. You can find details of the city’s struggles with Viaero in this story from August.

St. Paul
— According to minutes from the St. Paul City Council’s Sept. 21 meeting, its new fire truck is ready to go. The city will be borrowing $33,500 after receiving a $250,000 grant for it last year.

Gibbon
— Gibbon’s swimming pool will be getting an evaluation from Olsson Associates as part of preliminary steps toward a new pool, per the minutes from the city council’s Sept. 21 meeting.