Tag: Mayor Jean Stothert

Omaha Interview: Mayor Jean Stothert

OmahaNebraska.com Interview with Mayor Jean Stothert

Thank you to the Mayor for the interview for this Omaha event.

Mayor Jean Stothert

There’s been so much amazing development in the area.

Right.

It has to feel great to have so much done.

Yes, it does.

I know there’s too many lists of favorites but what are some things you are hoping people will check out when they come to the College World Series?

You know, since the teams and their families stay in hotels around downtown. First of all, it was devastating a couple of years ago because of COVID when it was canceled, and people didn’t get to come to the College World Series. Last year, we had record breaking crowds, because people were so happy it started up again. Last year, the Gene Leahy Mall looked pretty, but you couldn’t go in it. It wasn’t open yet.

This year, it’s open. Kids can go in there and run around and play and play in the great play structure there. There’s events that are going on in the Gene Leahy Mall every day if they want to go and do some yoga or whatever. They could see what the other parks are going to look like because they’re getting done. They’ll open up in August. We have the new Steelhouse downtown, the music venue where the players are going to be tomorrow night. We have the Luminarium Now it’s open, the new museum that’s down on the riverfront. Just so much has happened in this downtown area within walking distance of the stadium. So, I think people are going to really be – those that are coming back. They’ve been here before are going to see a big change. And I think those that are here for the first time in many years are pretty much going to be astounded at what downtown Omaha looks like.

I can’t even fathom how many things have happened in so short a period of time.

Yes, especially because of COVID. You know, because a lot of cities everything shut down which we shut down a lot. But development shutdown to, but it really didn’t here. And you know, the Gene Leahy Mall just kept on right on track, right on schedule, all during COVID because the money has already been raised you know, and so they were on top of it. So, it was, it’s really good that downtown has progressed so much, so quickly. A lot more housing downtown now than there was before. You know, the first phase of the Mercantile which is down, which is on the old Con Agra campus that’s open now there’s a nice lap out there. People can walk around. So that’s going to be a real fun experience for people to see what’s going on.

What’s next on the horizon for development?

Well, I would say the one that I have been working with for a long time and I’m glad to see that construction will start is number one, that Civic Auditorium site which we own that site, and we had the old Civic Auditorium and you know, it was beyond its usefulness anymore. We had it demoed several years ago.

We do have a development that will start developing this summer, and then Crossroads, which is 72nd Dodge. And that is something we’ve been working on for years and years and years and that is underway too.

So, and then, we have all the way out west on 144th and Dodge. We have Heartwood Preserve. That is a big development that Applied Underwriters is doing, but that’s just like going like gangbusters too. So, we have them all over Omaha. We have a Downtown, Midtown, all the way. And then of course, I can’t wait. We can see it started coming out of the ground, but the new Mutual of Omaha tower downtown, and that’s underway too. So all of that is going on right now.

It’s really amazing.

Yeah, yeah.

Thank you for all your hard work.

Absolutely. It’s a thrill to see it become a reality.

Thank you for the interview.

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Places mentioned:

Gene Leahy Mall
1001 Douglas St.
Omaha, NE 68102
402.599.6565
https://theriverfrontomaha.com

Mercantile
901 Farnam St.
Omaha, NE 68102
https://www.hines.com/properties/the-mercantile-omaha

Crossroads
72nd & Dodge Street
https://www.lockwooddev.com/development-portfolio/the-crossroads

Kiewit Luminarium
345 Riverfront Drive
Omaha, NE 68102
402.502.3366
https://kiewitluminarium.org

Steelhouse Omaha
1100 Dodge St,
Omaha, NE 68102
402.345.0606
https://steelhouseomaha.com

Omaha Event: College World Series Pre-Game Press Conference, 16 June

The College World Series Pre-Game Press Conference was held this morning, virtually, on 16 June on Zoom.

Speakers included:

Jack Diesing, President of College World Series of Omaha, Inc.
Anthony Holman, NCAA Managing Director, Championships and Alliances, Operations and Playing Rules
Mayor Jean Stothert
Diane Duren, Chairwoman of MECA Board of Directors

Topics included:
New App-New app is available for the CWS. Please see the below for more details.
Cashless Concessions- No cash will be accepted at concessions.
Reverse ATMS- For people needing to turn cash into a card, reverse ATMS will be available.
Paperless Tickets- Tickets will be digital. If you do not have a cell phone or computer, you will still be able to attend. Admissions will be open and you can buy your ticket there.
Food- Favorites will be returning from years past.
Fans and Players-No interactions between the fans and players this yer.

 

Get the app here: http://on.ncaa.com/MCWSApp

 

Card above is 4×6 inches.

This page is in progress with more to come including an interview with Jack Diesing and more on food.

Please visit our next Omaha blog post for maps.

Medal of Honor Wall Dedication Ceremony-5 November

From: LTC (Ret) Michael DeBolt

I would like to invite you to the Medal of Honor Wall Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, 2pm at Heartland of America Park. Medal of Honor Recipient Ed Gomez went to Central, Miguel Keith to North High. They have schools, streets and/or parks named after them in South Omaha.

Echo Taps will be played by music teacher Kim Ingraham of Bryan High School who is part of Bugles Across of America playing at many of our 9/11, Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day services. She will be joined by her sister Carly. JROTC Cadets will carry 27 American Flags to honor our 27 names on the wall. Singing the National Anthem will be music teacher Tatiana Eskridge from OPS Mount View. Benson JROTC will provide the Color Guard.

Along with dignitaries listed below, I am excited to host the families of three Medal of Honor recipients. Dale Hansen’s brother from Wisner, Nebraska is bringing the Medal of Honor to place on display. Dale’s nephew Tom is rounding up as much of the family as possible to be on hand to honor his uncle. Mary Easley is the aunt of Miguel Keith. She is bringing Miguel’s Medals with her along with photos. She is hoping his cousins from Kansas City make it as well. Ed ‘Babe’ Gomez will be represented by Crystal Keele-Zimmermann who will be on hand to share the legacy of Babe.

Joining the event will be local Veteran’s groups to include the American Legion, Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, Gold Star families, and Honor & Remember families. Randy Zahn and Heartland Airborne Association has spent 8 years planning this monument and raising the nearly $12,000 for the granite work by JF Bloom.

This is JROTC 100th Anniversary, as part of our community service we raised $5,000 in funds to see this project to completion. Please join us as we honor the sacrifice of our fallen.

Planned program includes:

  • My Country ‘Tis of Thee sung by Sarpy Serenaders Barbershop Chorus
  • Welcome- LTC (Ret) Michael DeBolt, Omaha Public Schools Military Science Department
  • Presentation of the Colors (Benson High School Color Guard)
  • National Anthem sung by Tatiana Eskridge (Mount View Elementary)
  • Invocation – Heartland Airborne Chaplain Arnold Teachout
  • Senator Tommy Garrett remarks
  • God Bless America sung Sarpy Serenaders Barbershop Chorus
  • Keynote- BG (Ret) Don Bacon
  • Congressman Brad Ashford – Dedication of Wall
  • Unveiling of wall with assistance by Dale Hansen Family, Miguel Keith Family and Babe Gomez Family
  • Gun Salute Benson Post 2503
  • Echo Taps Kimberly and Carly Ingraham (Bryan High School/Westside High School)
  • Mayor Jean Stothert remarks (Omaha)
  • Mayor Matt Walsh remarks ( Council Bluffs)
  • Benediction – Heartland Airborne Chaplain Arnold Teachout
  • LTC (Ret) Michael DeBolt – Retire the Colors
  • Service Medley Song sung Sarpy Serenaders Barbershop Chorus

Medal of Honor Wall Dedication
November 5, 2016
Heartland of America Park
800 Douglas Street
2 pm