which town is better and why (Grand Island, Kearney: good schools, prices, warehouse)

[kosnebbear]

yankeegirlforever

Your welcome, we have someone who just joined city data that is from Minden so hopefully he will see this. Minden is a little smaller than Aurora and is about 20 miles from Kearney (nearing 30,000 pop), 30 miles from Hastings (around 25,000 pop). Minden should be able to provide your 4h, church and sports and other critera.

First off Kearney is not 20 miles away so tpabes has his cities mixed up. Grand Island is west of Aurora 20 miles. Grand Island is the fourth largest city in Nebraska. You can find anything you would want in Grand Island. Aurora has a nice business area where you will find the things that you will need as well. There is a YMCA in Grand Island that is on the east side of town just north of US Hwy 30. It is a very nice YMCA. Aurora has a swimming pool that is located on the north side of town. The only thing is that your children would have to cross US Hwy 34 that runs through Aurora. This highway does not have a lot of traffic, but your children would still have to be careful as it is a four lane highway.

From reading your first post one of your major concerns appears to be "competent psych care-including psychiatrists, counselors/therapists, hospitals and RTCs" for your children. As I did live in both the Hastings and Grand Island areas for a few years I can tell you that in Grand Island you have St Francis Medical Center where you do have a very excellent mental health center where you will find anything that you want. You have in Hastings the Regional Mental Health Center at Mary Lanning Hospital and once again you can find anything for mental health here that you might need. So you have two places that you can go.

As for fishing for catfish, Gunluvver2 is right about some very good catfishing holes close by, but Harlan County Lake is about two hours away from Grand Island. It is the second largest lake in Nebraska. If you go there your husband would want to fish in the stilling basin area or on the west end of the lake as these are the best areas for this kind of fishing. This I know as well as Harlan County Lake is where I do most of my fishing, but I fish for the Walleye, White Base, Wipers, North Pike by trolling in my boat.

Auburn is on the eastern side of Nebraska and is close to Lincoln and Omaha. It is about 75 miles from both cities in the south east corner of Nebraska.

[tpabes]

Minden is about 20 miles from Kearney, Aurora is 20 miles east of G.I., I wasn't mixed up, I just don't write clear, I guess.

Anyway, you do have to cross the highway to the pool in Aurora, but there is always crossing guards working, I assume it is part of the lifeguards rotation.

I also have seen a couple people mention the regional center in Hastings. The state has tried before to close it and it's patient numbers are low.
Omaha.com Metro/Region Section
The article is about the end of adult care at the regional center. They still serve teens, but with its history I personally would be leary of starting care there. Just my opinion.
If you come to Hastings for care, Mary Lanning is a excellent choice. If you head to Kearney (out of Minden) the hospital system is Good Samaritan, which is also very good. There are probably a few private companies in the tri-city area. We are very blessed to have good health care in Kearney, Grand Island and Hastings.

[yankeegirlforever]

Wow!! Thanks everyone for your input!! I checked deeper into the hospital in Kearney and found a Richard Young center. Anyone know about this other than what I have found-a long term RTC? I never knew coming here would open up such a world of info that I need to make my decision. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

[yankeegirlforever]

tpabes,

From what I've found on the web it looks like western Ne would not be good for what we need- is that true? On my support group for parents of BP kids they had listed a doc in North Platte, so I was looking over there too, but don't see much on that side of NE. Not for what we need anyway.

[tpabes]

Richard Young is long term. My wife, who is an OT, thinks you can get your services in the tri-cities. She suggests maybe asking the schools you have contacted for recommendations for people around the area. You might even contact the public schools in Kearney, Grand Island or Hastings and ask for recommendations. I'm sure you are asking what the schools will offer, as far as services. Some schools are better than others in this department.

If you want to look out towards North Platte, you may take a look at Gothenburg, its going to be similar to Minden. Very nice little city in my opinion. Or maybe even Ogallala, 50 minutes to the west, its going to bigger than your other towns, but you would be right by the largest lake in Nebraska.

You have probably looked there, but if you go to Yahoo Yellow Pages and have your location be Kearney, Grand Island or Hastings. They have many listings under mental health.

[yankeegirlforever]

Okay everybody...here is a question from my 11 yo son- do the kids in NE know about air soft guns? He is afraid that he won't have anyone to play them with anymore. Thank you for your help- from BOTH of us!

[tpabes]

I'm guessing so, hopefully gunluvver2 will log on here, he can probably give you a better answer.

[Gunluvver2]

YankeeGirl. . . I am not familar with the air soft guns. Sorry.
When you move to Nebraska if your kids are interested in hunting & shooting you should enroll them in the MANDATORY Hunter safety courses. Our State legislature was trying to pass a bunch of NONSENSE bills after the mass killing at the Von Maur shopping center in Omaha in December of 2007. One of the things they were trying to get passed was raising the ages of kids to go hunting even when accompanied by an adult. However Hunting safety classes have been required for decades and are a great idea. Some schools even offer this in the local elementary and Junior High Schools.

I don't have kids and although I have two nephews that I taught how to hunt, fish and shoot, they are in their 20's and 30's now and the laws are probably totally different now than they were when I was teaching them. The Nebraska Game & Parks Commission has a website with links or phone numbers to find out anything you need to know. In the three areas you mentioned, Aurora, Auburn and Minden; hunting and shooting are not looked down on like they are in Lincoln and Omaha. If you can get a copy of NEBRASKALAND magazine, in every issue they publish the names and phone numbers of ALL of the game wardens in the state. These officers are great at answering any questions you might have about hunting sites, shooting ranges and current laws. They are spread very thin and have a busy job but I am sure if you leave a message on their voice mail they will get back to you. To anyone thinking about moving to one of the Rural areas in Nebraska, the very first people you should get to know are the local Game Warden and the Sheriff. In my opinion they are even more important than the local Banker or Preacher LOL.

Good luck YankeeGirl.
GL2

[kosnebbear]

YankeeGirl,

Yes they have air soft guns in Nebraska. I have seen them in several stores. Don't really know much about them, but I am sure that when your 11 year old gets settled in and starts making new friends, which kids seem to to better than adults, I am sure that if these friends don't know about air soft guns he can show it to their parents.

[rrtdave]

Just a few thoughts as I'm not from either cities mentioned:
Minden; Nebraska Fast Facts - Community Profile
Aurora; City of Aurora

Medical care for your kids will be good in either Kearney or Grand Island. Also, there is a Children's Hospital in Omaha for any serious conditions and they have a few satellite clinics throughout the state. The scrapes and small stuff can be handled in either Minden or Aurora.
The chances of either town growing into a large city during your time there is doubtful. So make some calls, E-mail the Chamber of Commerce and Welcome to NEBRASKA!!
Oh' This IS BIG RED Country!!

David, RRT-NPS