Readers ask about stimulus check, quiet zone

The following questions were asked recently on the Wonderline:

Q: My stimulus check was supposed to be here a week ago. I still haven’t gotten it. Is there a phone number or a website we can go to, to ask questions about where it would be and when we could expect to receive it?
A: Area residents may call the IRS office in Lincoln at 437-5060 — they are open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office is located at 100 Centennial N. Mall.

Q: I’ve read several questions about the “Quiet Zone Study” that is being conducted, regarding the train noise in York. But there’s never really an answer, as to when we’ll know anything about that. What’s the deal?
A: Actually, this past week, York City Administrator Jack Vavra told the city council that he recently spoke with Kirkham Michael (who is doing the study). He says he hopes a report will be made on the matter, before the council, sometime in July.
The report will detail several different options regarding “quiet zones,” that will include the cost estimate for each. The council will make a decision whether or not to move forward, based upon that information.

Q: Why doesn’t the old Dairy Queen have to mow? Their grass and weeds are higher than anywhere else in town.
A: Enforcement of the city’s weed/grass height regulations is handled through the complaint process.
City Administrator Jack Vavra explained the process: “If complaints are filed with the police or public works, we notify the property owner. If they do not comply by handling the situation, after due notification, we will mow the property with city personnel and send the property owner a bill. If they don’t pay the bill, the city will assess a lien against the property.”
Vavra acknowledged that the wet weather has made it difficult to keep the grass and weed height down.
“It’s been a difficult season, with the rain and wet ground. It’s been difficult to keep the weeds down,” Vavra said, “because of the unusual growing season we’ve had so far.”

Q: Why is it that the aquatic center closes at 7:50 p.m., or 8:50 p.m. (on one day)? And why is it that lap swimming is from 11:50-12:50? Why not just noon to 1 p.m., or close at 8 p.m.? Or 9 p.m.? Why is it 10 minutes earlier? Just curious because it's an odd time.
A: Paula Christensen, the York director of parks and recreation, provided the following answer:
“The Nebraska Department of Health mandates that we have a 10-minute rest break every hour we are open for public swim — ‘rest break’ meaning that everyone must be out of the pool. Since we open at the top of the hour, we have our rest breaks the last 10 minutes of the hour. Subsequently, our final rest break before closing is at 7:50 p.m., and since people are not allowed in the pool that final 10 minutes, we state that time as the time we close swimming.
“In the past, when we stated that our closing time was 8 p.m., there was some question as to why we were telling people they must get out of the pool for the 7:50 p.m. rest break — they were interpreting it to mean we were open to swim until 8 p.m.”

Q: Prices are so high for everything, even at the grocery store. Anyway, I have a bunch of hamburger in the freezer and of course, I want to make sure we use it all up. But we’re all getting sick of eating “hamburger everything.” Any good ideas that are a little different that use hamburger?
A: Ground beef can be used in so many interesting ways that are varied — whether it’s for stuffed green bell peppers (simply mix ground beef with uncooked rice, two eggs and minced onion — then fill blanched half-peppers and place in baking dish. Pour tomato sauce over the top and bake until the meat filling is fully cooked . . . top with cheese if you wish. If you want to skip the green peppers altogether — that’s fine. Just roll into balls and proceed as normal.
There’s also shepherd’s pie — brown ground beef, onion and mushrooms; add mushroom soup and corn. Top with leftover mashed potatoes. Brush with butter and bake until golden.
Or how about mixing browned ground beef, onion, American cheese, tomato soup and egg noodles? It’s inexpensive, filling and tasty.
Wonderline welcomes readers to submit their interesting hamburger recipes, as well.

Q: If, during the natural gas situation Wednesday night, the Nebraska Center for Women would have had to have been evacuated, how would that take place? How would they be transported and where would they be taken? We are curious now as to how that would work.
A: York Fire Chief Kevin Stuhr says the prison has a contingency/disaster plan in place.
However, Wonderline was unable to find anyone who could speak to the details of that plan. It is assumed that such information is not made public due to security purposes.

Q: When will work start on the underpass? I saw there’s been work crews doing something there and wondered if it was going to start soon.
A: City officials had a meeting with the Nebraska Department of Roads last week, regarding the work on the underpass. City Administrator Jack Vavra says the work will likely not begin until July 7.
The News-Times will publish details regarding the construction work and eventual temporary closure of the underpass, when it is substantiated.

Q: I read in the Overview that there was a specific number of tires collected during the Tire Amnesty period. Seriously, did they really count them all?
A: Yes, the tires were counted. The last official count was 7,022 . . . however, as this Wonderline was being compiled, collections were still in the final hours, so there may have been more.