Layout 1 (Page 1) - Nebraska Department of Roads · At NDOR a solid culture of the four Cs ... Moe Jamshidi and Khalil Jaber, ... He noted that all of the minor

HappyHolidays

ROADRUNNERthe

Nebraska u Department u of u Roads December 2013/January 2014

2 Roadrunner u December 2013/January 2014

the

RoadrunnerPublished every two months by the

Nebraska Department of RoadsCommunication Division

1500 Highway 2PO Box 94759

Lincoln NE 68509-4759(402)479-4512

transportation.nebraska.gov

Governor Dave Heineman

Highway Commission

Rodney Vandeberg Doug LeafgreenE.J. Militti, Jr. Ronald BooksDavid Copple Greg WolfordJames Kindig Jerome Fagerland

Administration

Roads Director ........................Randall D. PetersDeputy Director ............................Moe JamshidiDeputy Director ...............................Khalil Jaber

Divisions

Bridge ......................................Mark TraynowiczBusiness Technology Support ..........Bill WehlingCommunication ...............................Mary Jo OieConstruction......................................Claude OieController .....................................Marilyn HayesGovernment Affairs ...............Andy CunninghamHuman Resources.............................Sue LarsonLegal Counsel...............................Jeff SchroederMaterials & Research .........................Mick SysloOperations ........................................Tom SandsPlanning & Project Development.........Mike OwenProgram Management.........................Amy StarrRail & Public Transportation .......Ellis TompkinsRight-of-Way .................................Robert FrickelRoadway Design..............................James KnottTraffic Engineering ..........................Dan Waddle

Districts

District 1 ...............................Thomas GoodbarnDistrict 2............................Timothy W. WeanderDistrict 3 ..................................Kevin DomogallaDistrict 4 ..................................Wesley WahlgrenDistrict 5............................................Craig LindDistrict 6.........................................Gary ThayerDistrict 7 .......................................Kurt VosburgDistrict 8 ..........................................Mark Kovar

Editor........................................Linda M. WilsonType & Layout .............................Diane German

The information in this newsletter is con tributedby employees, retirees and friends of NDOR.

At NDOR a solid culture of the four Cs –Communication, Coordination, Collaboration,and Cooperation—underpinned our success onmany fronts in 2013. I want to thank all of ourpublic and private partners throughoutNebraska and beyond for their support of ourmission. In this issue you can read about acontingent of emerging International leaderswho met with the deputies and me to learnhow we in Nebraska earn our reputation fortransparency and integrity.

While we braced for a continuation of last year’s drought what weactually faced this year was a wall of floodwater rolling down the SouthPlatte River valley from Colorado. Throughout the event our waterexperts kept us apprised of what to expect and our District andHeadquarters Operations staff worked around the clock to minimize flooddamage, provide traffic control, and generally extend support during theemergency. I can’t say often enough how proud I am of our NDORworkers.

A major accomplishment within the realm of our Project DeliveryStrategic goal was the completion of the Interstate 80 expansion to sixlanes between Omaha and Lincoln. It was a great honor to commemoratethe occasion with Governor Heineman, many NDOR workers, and a castof mayors, elected officials, law enforcement, emergency responders,highway commissioners, contractors, consultants and media.

July marked the beginning of the “Build Nebraska Act” era. The Actprovides a new source of revenue to address highway capitalimprovement needs. Under the two-year lead period, from the time of thebill’s enactment to its effective date, the department has been diligentlypreparing projects for the first 10 years of this vital new program. I amhappy to report to you that the first phase of the Blair to Omaha four-laneproject on Highway 133 is under construction with phase two to follow in2014. Construction has also begun on the Wahoo Bypass project, aroundthe north and west edges of the city, which will complete the Lincoln toWahoo expressway corridor.

As always our focus remains on improving safety, delivering projects,taking care of our assets, taking care of our natural environment, bringingmobility to the traveler, practicing good fiscal management andstrengthening our partnerships with the people who care about and relyon our transportation system. Thank you all for your invaluablecontributions. Buckle up and stay safe! ◆

NDOR Remains Focusedon Accomplishment

From the Director

Randy Peters

www.transportation.nebraska.gov

Roadrunner u December 2013/January 2014 3

Last year, NDOR’s leadershipteam began to review the agency’sstrategic plans, goals and perfor -mance measures. The group, 16Division Heads, eight DistrictEngineers, two Deputy Directors,Moe Jamshidi and Khalil Jaber,and NDOR Director Randy Peters,through teamwork and perse -verance, emerged from 2012with successful results for thedepartment. NDOR’s streamlinedMission Statement: We providethe best possible statewidetransportation system for themovement of people and goods.

While NDOR has updated itsMission Statement, the mission hasnot changed. The department isstill responsible for all the thingsthey have been accountable forover the past many years.Similarly, NDOR has become asefficient as is possible with theright equipment, a trained work -force and the best technology.

NDOR’s has eight strategicgoals, every goal has at least twoperformance measures. Newperformance measures have beendeveloped to help move forwardmost effectively with the eightstrategic goals. The more theeffectiveness of the department’swork efforts can be measured andadjusted accordingly, the morecredibility NDOR will earn withstakeholders. Find NDOR’sperformance measures atwww.roads.nebraska.gov. NDOR’snew performance measures willbe discussed in greater detail infuture articles. ◆

NDOR Has Updated Goals andStreamlined Mission Statement

Safety

Fiscal Responsibility

Environmental Stewardship

Project Delivery

Asset Management

Mobility

Communication, Coordination,Collaboration & Cooperation

Workforce Development

NDOR Goals

www.roads.nebraska.gov

4 Roadrunner ◆ December 2013/January 2014

Ten years after workers beganwidening Interstate 80 betweenOmaha and Lincoln all six lanes areofficially open to traffic, according toNebraska Department of Roads’District 1 Construction Manager,Curt Mueting.

A dedication ceremony was heldon November 7 at the Waverly inter -change, where the last piece of theexpansion – a four-mile stretch fromthe interchange to North 56th Street –was officially opened to six-lane traffic,with a ribbon cutting by dignitaries,including Governor Dave Heineman,Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, LincolnCity Councilman Carl Eskridge – whostood in for Mayor Chris Beutler – andNDOR Director Randy Peters.

“This is a great day for the state ofNebraska and an exciting momentin our history,” Governor Dave

Heineman told a crowd of state andlocal officials and spectators.

Seven Segments

The ceremony marked completion ofthe $400 million project, paid for withfederal and state funds. That price tagfor the six-lane expansion is close tothe $435 million it originally cost tobuild I-80 from border to border.Funds were spent on a 42-mile I-80widening project – built in sevensegments – between the Nebraska 370interchange near Omaha and theU.S. 77 South interchange on Lincoln’swestern outskirts.

Construction began in 2003, withwork on Segment 1, east of Ruff Roadto just west of the N-370 interchangefor 8.73 miles. Work was completedin 2005. Six additional segmentscompleted included: Segment 2, westof Mahoney interchange to east of

I-80 Six Lanes betweenLincoln and Omaha Rolled Out

Photo by Jay Bailey

NDOR Director Randy Peters (right) joined other dignitaries, including Omaha Mayor JeanStothert, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman, and Lincoln City Councilman Carl Eskridgefor the November 7 dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the official opening of sixlanes of I-80 traffic from Lincoln to Omaha.

NDORProject Personnel

Project Managers

District 1Dewaine Knutson, Jim England, RodgerPreble, Abdul Sidiqi, Curt Mueting, BobTraudt, Joseph Kuehn, Jesse De LosSantos, Ryan Hobelman, Bob Sanburn,Babrak Niazi, Dan Lange, Hugh Holak

District 2Rick Fisher, Mike Fox, Aleksandra(Sasha) Tsvid

Years 2003 to 2013District 1 EngineerRich Ruby and Thomas Goodbarn

District 1 Construction EngineerMike Sklenar, Mark Traynowicz,Curt Mueting

District 2 EngineerJohn Jacobsen, Timothy Weander

District 2 Construction EngineerMarv Lech

State StaffRoadway Design EngineerEldon Poppe, Jim Knott

Project Design EngineerBrian Johnson, Jeff Johnston, Mike Owen, Eric Dixon

Project DesignDana Arndt, Erika Fjelstad, Bob Carnazzo,Paul Knievel, Dan Lange, Cindy Shockey,Christian Davenport, Tim Otto, FarhanaTabassum, Tim McCarthy, Niki Figard,Wayne Patras, Andrew Ross, Jeff Haase,Kevin Wray, Brandon Prauner, LizWunderlich, Brian Jelinek, Dennis Hatfield,Brandie Neemann, Mick Syslo

Bridge EngineerLyman Freemon, Mark Traynowicz

Bridge DesignMark Ahlman, Vince Koenig, Dan Sharp,Lynden Vander Veen, Max Antoine,Mark Fisher, Zoia Clark, Scott Milliken,Pat Haecker, Jesse Sire, Ben Ptacek,David Fritz, Dennis Vodicka, Dennis Boyd,Steve Sabra, Fouad Jaber

(see Six Lanes on next page)

Local residents, state officials anddignitaries gathered on November 7for the official opening of the LoupRiver Bridge on N-14 just south ofFullerton, in Nance County.Pictured l to r: NDOR DirectorRandy Peters, Nebraska Lt.Governor Lavon Heidemann,District 4 Engineer Wes Wahlgrenand State Senator Annette Dubaswere among those commem oratingthe event.

The prime contractor, A.M.Cohron and Son, Inc., of Atlantic,Iowa, began their work last summer,with the $6.9 million bridge open totraffic before winter. Doug Williamsof Columbus was the Contractor’sSuperintendent on the project. RickKwiatkowski, of St. Paul, wasNDOR’s Project Manager and JohnGraff was the Lead Inspector.

The 820-foot bridge was con -structed on new alignment 50 feetdownstream of the existing structureand is three feet higher than the

existing bridge due to ice jamsoccurring on this stretch of the LoupRiver in the winter. The projectutilized approxi mately 114,550 cubicyards of excavated soil that wasused as “fill” underneath the

surfaces/roadbed to support theroadway for the new roadalignment.

Removal of the existing bridgeand old roadway will occur later thisfall or winter. ◆


Photo by Greg Weinert, NDOR

ConsultantsKirkham Michael, Tadros Associates,University of Nebraska (Dr. AtorodAzizinamini), Wilson and Company,Schemmer and Associates

ContractorsHawkins Construction Co.Dobson Bros. Construction Co.Ames ConstructionCapital Contractors, Inc.Commercial Construction, Inc.Cohron & Son, Inc.Prairie Construction Co.Judds Brothers Construction Co.Electro Braid Fence Co.JMN Construction, LLCMidwest Fence Co-GR Systems, Inc.Pavers Companies–136 Subcontractors

worked on the expansion

Ruff Road, 4.13 miles, 2005 to 2008;Segment 3, west of Greenwood towest of Mahoney interchange,5.78 miles, 2009 to 2011; Segment 4,east of Waverly to west of Greenwoodinterchange, 9.57 miles, 2010 to 2012;Segment 5, US-77 N (56th St)interchange to east of Waverlyinterchange, 3.86 miles, 2011 to 2013;Segment 6, I-180 interchange thru 27thSt. interchange to US-77 (56th St)interchange, 5.66 miles, 2008 to 2010;and Segment 7, west of US-77interchange thru the Airportinterchange to west of the I-180interchange, 4.11 miles, 2005 to 2007.

Final Completion

According to Mueting, contractorswill finish up work over the coming

weeks, with some lane closures inboth directions throughout the winter.He noted that all of the minorconstruction work should be done byearly summer 2014, which is thedeadline for completing the project. Atthat point, the last concreteprotections barriers will be removedso that all eastbound lanes willbecome available. The speed limit formost of the stretch between Lincolnand Omaha will be 75 mph.

Roads Director Peters thankedeveryone who worked on the project,including engineers, consultants,Roads Department staff, 12 majorcontractors and more than 130subcontractors.

“It’s a proud day for us at theDepartment of Roads,” Peters said. ◆

Fullerton Loup River BridgeOpening Celebrated

Six Lanes (cont’d. from page 4)


Ten NDOR employees were recognized by GovernorDave Heineman for their accomplishments as Employeeof the Year and Supervisor/Manager of the Year. Theyjoined outstanding state employees from other stateagencies during recognition ceremonies held on October30 at the State Capitol Rotunda.

Those receiving Employee of the Year awards: MartinEgbarts, D6, Highway Maintenance Worker/Sr.; DianeGerman, Communication Division, Artist II; Keith Kohel,D1 Headquarters, Highway District ROW Permits Officer;Michael Shannon, D4, Highway Maintenance Worker/Sr.;Lisa Wade, Traffic Engineering Division, StatisticalAnalyst II.

Those receiving Manager of the Year awards:Ronald Arnold, D1, Highway Maintenance Supervisor;Kenneth Hartwig, Roadway Design Division, Engineer IV;Jonathan Lindgren, D3, Highway MaintenanceSupervisor; Matt Neemann, Traffic Engineering Division,Engineer V; Devin Townsend, Materials & ResearchDivision, Engineer IV.

Each year, agencies select onenon-management/nonsupervisoryemployee per 500 from theiragency and one supervisor ormanager per 500 from their agencywhose job performance hasexceeded the highest standardsand contributed to the overalleffectiveness of their agency.Congratulations to theseoutstanding NDOR employees. ◆

Martin Egbarts Diane German Keith Kohel

Michael Shannon Lisa Wade Ronald Arnold

Kenneth Hartwig Jonathan Lindgren Matt Neemann Devin Townsend

The Associated GeneralContractors-NE Building Chapterrecently announced SampsonConstruction received the 2013 BuildNebraska Award for the RYDETransit Facility in Kearney. Theproject won the award in the“New Construction Projects-Under$5 Million” category.

Eligible projects were evaluated bya panel of their industry peers fromother regions. Evaluation criterionincluded innovation in methods andmaterials, project management,

client service, challenge of a difficultjob and sensitive treatment of theenvironment and surroundings.The award encourages outstandingperformance and quality construc -tion throughout the entire state.

The RYDE facility was fundedthrough the American Recoveryand Reinvestment Act of 2009 and adedicated appropriation. The 19,000square foot building providesvehicle storage space, an employeewellness room, and office facilitiesA number of innovate features were

incorporated into the buildingdesign including a geothermalenergy system to heat and coolthe building, electric vehicle chargesand in-floor radiant heat.

RYDE Transit is a public trans -portation system operated by theCommunity Action Partnership ofMid-Nebraska. Based in Kearney,RYDE serves numerous communitiesin seven Nebraska counties. In fiscalyear 2013, RYDE vehicles traveled344,000 miles and recorded over122,000 passenger boardings. ◆

Governor Recognizes NDOREmployees and Managers of the Year

Build Nebraska Award to Sampsonfor Kearney RYDE Transit Facility

On November 18, six internationalguests participating in the Inter -national Visitor Leadership Program(IVLP), along with their escort fromthe U.S. Department of State and anEnglish Language Officer (ELO),visited officials at the NebraskaDepartment of Roads (NDOR), atCentral Headquarters in Lincoln.Director Randy Peters and DeputyDirectors Moe Jamshidi and KhalilJaber met with the group, whosemembers were studying accountabilityin government. Guests representedthe countries of Columbia, Ghana,Greece, People’s Republic of China,Spain and Timor-Leste.

Lincoln was selected as one of threestate capitol cities for IVLP guests tovisit because of Nebraska’s ranking intransparency and accountability;Nebraska ranked fourth as the mostaccountable and transparent state inthe country based on the Center for

Public Integrity’s research survey. The Mayor’s Committee for

International Friendship, along withtheir joint organization, the LincolnCouncil for International Visitors,worked together to arrange the visitfor the international guests. Theyreached out to the NDOR becausetheir guest from Columbia works fora newly created agency within theMinistry of Transport responsiblefor expanding their country’s infra -structure through public-privatepartnerships for roads.

Discussion topics includedNebraska’s road infrastructure, howNebraska ensures funds allotted forroad projects are used efficiently andaccountably, and best practices increating transparent and fairprocurement policies for trans -portation projects. Specific projectobjectives outlined by the Departmentof State include: understanding the

role and structure of ethics ingovernment in the United States;examining similarities and differencesin approaches of ethical conductbetween government and the privatesector; addressing international effortsto strengthen ethical leadership; andexamining the effect of transparencyon trade, investment and economicdevelopment.

The IVLP, within the Bureau ofEducational and Cultural Affairs, isthe U.S. Department of State’s premierprofessional exchange program. Theprogram connects current andemerging foreign leaders with theirAmerican counterparts through short-term exchanges to build mutualunderstanding on foreign policyissues. The IVLP is an opportunity toexperience American culture firsthand,cultivate lasting relationships andinspire leadership to address globalchallenges. ◆


NDOR’s International GuestsDiscuss Accountability, Transparency

Photo by Jay Bailey

NDOR Deputy Director-Operations Moe Jamshidi, Director Randy Peters and Deputy Director-Engineering Khalil Jaber with InternationalVisitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participants from five countries.

TowardZeroDeaths


Winter WeatherWords to Know

Winter Storm Watch – A winterstorm is possible or approaching.

Winter Storm Warning –A winter storm is imminent.

Snow Advisory – One to fiveinches is expected.

Blowing and Drifting SnowAdvisory – Visibility can be ator below a quarter mile.

Wind Chill Advisory – Windchills of -30 to -35 are expected.

Freezing Rain/Sleet Advisory –An accumulation of freezing rainor sleet could make exposedsurfaces dangerous or causedamage.

Travel Not Advised – TheNebraska State Patrol, theNebraska Department of Roadsand local emergency responderswarn motorists not to enterhighways, roads, or streets afterthis advisory has been issued ashazardous conditions have beenreported.

Road Closed – If the StatePatrol or Nebraska Departmentof Roads show a state highwayor any part of the Interstate as“Closed” on their AdvancedTraveler Information System(ATIS) and/or on the 511 roadconditions reporting system –this means the highway or theInterstate is officially closed totraffic – until the “Closure” isremoved from the reportingsystem.

The Nebraska Department ofRoads’ crews are prepared forsnowplow season. Workers andequipment will be out to clear thehighways and to monitor changingconditions. Motorists should beprepared, too.

Know Before You Go!

For 24-hour-a-day, year-roundNebraska road condition information,dial 511 on your cell phone orlandline. If outside Nebraska, dial800-906-9069. 511 provides motoristscurrent information about weatherconditions, road conditions and traveladvisories. The 511 system andvarious other weather links areavailable at www.transportation.nebraska.gov or www.511.nebraska.gov.

Make sure everyone in a motorvehicle wears a seat belt and childrenare in a car safety seat. Do not usecruise control in wet or snowyweather and do keep your gas tankfull.

Watch Out

When traveling outside of abusiness or residential district, it isunlawful to follow a highway mainte -nance vehicle (snowplow, truck orgrader) more closely than 100 feetwhen it is plowing snow, spreadingsalt or sand, or displaying a flashing

amber or blue light. If conditionspermit, however, drivers maycarefully pass a maintenance vehicle.

Snowplows cause soft snow toswirl. It can become difficult to see aplow, or for the plow operator to seeyou. Drive with your headlights on.Make sure your headlights, taillightsand windows are clean and clear ofsnow so you can see and be seen.

Plowing snow on a multi-laneroadway is often done in tandem(more than one snowplow at a time).Give them plenty of room! Do notpass on the right side and alwaysstay where the plow operator cansee you.

Beware of icy spots when driving,especially on bridges and in shelteredareas. Drive at a reduced speed andallow plenty of distance for reactingto traffic. Slow down gradually whenapproaching curves and intersections.

Motorists may use studded snowtires in Nebraska from November 1to April 1. School buses, emergencyvehicles, and mail carrier vehiclesmay use them anytime during theyear.

Check often for current weatherreports through local media sourcesbefore you travel. Keep a radio on.Weather conditions change rapidlyand so do the road conditions. ◆

Are You Ready for Winter Weather?

www.transportation.nebraska.gov

www.511.nebraska.gov


On September 14, 1953, the NebraskaState Highway Commission met for thevery first time at the Nebraska StateCapitol Building. The Commission wascreated by the 1953 Legislature toinsure citizen input in the planning,design and operation of the statehighway system. It acts as a liaisonbetween the public and personnel ofthe Department of Roads regardinghighway matters.

The Commission is composed ofeight members, one from each of theeight field districts. Each commissioner

is appointed by the Governor andapproved by the Legislature to servea six-year term. The Director-StateEngineer is an ex-officio member ofthe Commission.

The Highway Commission meetsno less than six times per year. Allmeetings are open to the publicand conducted in accordance withthe Open Meetings Act. At thesemeetings, and various other hearingson proposed projects, the Commissionserves as an additional channel forcitizens to voice their opinions con -

cerning the state highway system.The basic duties and responsibilities

of the Commission have not changedsince inception. The group advises theDirector in establishing policies andprograms for NDOR; assists in con -ducting public hearings, investigationsand studies related to providing anadequate and safe highway system forthe state; provides assistance inadvising the public regarding policies,programs and activities of NDOR; andadvises the Governor, upon request,regarding appointment of a Director. ◆

State Highway Commission Serves Nebraskans for 60 Years

Then: The very firstmembers of the NebraskaState Highway Commissionmet in September 1953 atthe Nebraska State Capitolbuilding. Governor BobCrosby is standing at the left.Merle Kingsbury, seated farright, represented District 3and served from September1953 – November 1987, atotal of 34 years, 2 months –the longest time served byany commissioner.

Now: Members of the 2013 Nebraska State Highway Commission. Seated (l to r): James H.Kindig, District 4–Kenesaw; Douglas C. Leafgreen, District 5–Gering; David E, Copple,District 3–Norfolk; NDOR Director Randall D. Peters; and Ronald W. Books, District 6–NorthPlatte. Standing (l to r): E.J. Militti, Jr., District 2–Omaha; Rodney P. Vandeberg, District 1–Falls City; Greg A. Wolford, District 7–McCook; and Jerome A. Fagerland, District 8–Atkinson.

Photo by Jay Bailey

By Linda WilsonCommunication Division

Murphy loves people. He is even-tempered, controllable, reliable andpredictable, making him the perfectcandidate for the Pet Partners TherapyAnimal Program. Murphy, a goldenretriever, and his teammate, NDORemployee Ed Kelley, recently joinedthe ranks of more than 11,000registered Pet Partners teams acrossthe U.S. by becoming part ofMadonna’s Angel Dog Program.

According to the Pet Partners’website, the mission statement reads:“Pet Partners is the leader inpromoting and demonstrating thatpositive human-animal interactionsimprove the physical, emotional andpsychological lives of those we serve.”To that end, Angel Dogs have beenbringing a sense of being at home topatients at Madonna RehabilitationHospital in Lincoln for more than tenyears. Anxiety, fears, and lonelinesshave been lessened by manyindividuals who have received visitsor met an Angel Dog in the hall. TheAngel Dog Program works with PetPartners to register volunteers andtheir dogs as nationally recognizedvisiting teams.

Kelley, an IT Infrastructure SupportAnalyst Sr. in the Materials andResearch Division, said he decided tovolunteer after his family’s first goldenretriever, Kelsey, passed away. Overthe years, they had thought aboutdoing animal-assisted therapy, as thedog was so gentle and good with theirchildren, but their schedules were toohectic.

Calm Disposition“When we brought Murphy home

and started raising him, we noticed hisdisposition was even more laid-back.After the kids encouraged us to lookinto animal-assisted therapy for him,we did some research and found thatSoutheast Community College inLincoln occasionally has half-dayclasses for pet owners who would like

to explore getting involved with theprogram.”

“I took the class on August 17th; onSeptember 7th, Murphy and I took anevaluation test and aced it. After that,I filled out some paperwork and sent itto Pet Partners, a national certificationorganization. They reviewed andprocessed the paperwork and aboutfive weeks later, sent a confirmationletter, followed by an identificationbadge for me and a tag for Murphy.Within several more weeks, I hadarranged visits and orientation tourswith Madonna Rehabilitation andSt. Elizabeth hospitals in Lincoln.Within the last month, Murphy and Ihave had four visits at Madonna andone at St. Elizabeth.”

While admitting he is still appre -hensive at times, Kelley said he isgetting more comfortable with eachvisit and it has been gratifying to seethe quick rapport that has developedbetween Murphy and the patients.For example, during their first coupleof weeks at Madonna, while accom -

panying a mentor and her dog up anddown the halls of the facility, Kelleynoted two men who stood out.

Positive Reactions“Both have interesting histories; one

is a veteran and the other retired froma career in graphic arts, having metfamous people such as actor TomHanks and cartoonist Charles Schulzalong the way. Both love Murphy,especially when he does tricks, suchas catching a milkbone placed on hisnose, which makes them laugh andsmile. Also, I’ve had the opportunityto observe positive reactions duringvisits to a woman with a stroke and aman with a brain injury who couldn’ttalk. Even though there weren’t verbalexchanges, the expressions on theirfaces told the story… Murphy giveshugs and kisses as needed.”

This positive connection extendsbeyond specific patient visits to casualencounters. When Murphy stopped bythe nurses’ stations at St. Elizabeth’s,


Angel Dog Program Rewarding for Both Volunteers and Patients

Photo by Barbara Peterson

NDOR employee, Ed Kelley, and his golden retriever, Murphy, enjoy time with a patient atMadonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln during an animal-assisted therapy visit.

(see Angel Dog on next page)

they loved him, too. Also, whilepassing a mother and her two youngdaughters as they were checking in,both girls could hardly wait to pethim. Both examples reinforce Kelley’sobservation that animal-assistedtherapy isn’t just for patients; it canbe for whomever you run across inthe course of the day.

Their first visit to St. Elizabeth’sstands out in Kelley’s mind: “A womanwas with her dad who had just had amedical procedure, followed by anemergency episode afterwards, andwas recovering. Murphy and I justhappened to be there and she saw us.She told me how much her dad loveddogs and asked us to come by. We didand it made a noticeable difference toboth the man and his daughter.”

Reduced StressThis is a great example of the role a

therapy animal can play in a patient’shealing process. Research has shownthat stress reduces the immune

function and slows wound healing;therefore anything that can be doneto reduce stress, especially in someonein a hospital situation, is extremelyvaluable. According to a 2009 studyin the European Journal of IntegrativeMedicine, animal-assisted therapysignifi cantly reduced anxiety levelsin hospital patients with majordepression. Another study in the2011 Journal of CardiovascularNursing showed that chronic heartfailure patients’ ambulation refusalrate decreased from 28 percent to7.2 percent when they were offereda chance to participate in canine-assisted ambulation (walking).

Because of this research and thepositive experience he and Murphyhave had with the Angel Dog Program,Kelley is hoping to help a group getstarted at the Nebraska Heart Hospital.Also, since there is a much higher riskof depression after heart surgery, hebelieves animal-assisted therapy couldbe especially beneficial in this setting.

In addition to dogs, Pet Partners

registers cats and other non-farm,domesticated animals such as rabbits,guinea pigs, rats, potbellied pigs,horses, donkeys, llamas, alpacas andbirds. They must be one year of ageto be evaluated as therapy animals.Also, as long as a human and ananimal can get along together, theoption is avail able to get evaluatedwith someone else’s pet. The onlyrequirement for dogs is that theymust be on a leash at all times.

Kelley encourages those whoare interested in volunteeringwith the Angel Dog Program andPet Partners to visit their websites.He wants others to experience thepositive results he has seen duringhis initial few months in the program.

“This is a wonderful opportunity tomake a difference visiting folks thatmight otherwise spend many eveningsand weekends alone. It benefits boththe volunteer and the patient in somany positive ways. It is a goodreason to do for others as we wouldhave them do for us.” ◆


The Department of Roads receivesnumerous compli mentary letters. Theletters printed here are representativeof those often sent praising the manyfine and deserving employees of theDepartment of Roads.

September 3, 2013To: Director Randy PetersDeputy Director Larry Wayne recently hosted training with a largenumber of staff from the Department of Correctional Services. Heshared with me how helpful your staff had been in coordinatingthis training and asked that I pass this information along to you.Specifically mentioned was Charlie Bowlby, who helped inreserving the Department of Roads’ auditorium, setting up thetables and chairs for the training, and in getting the trainingmaterials from the parking lot to the auditorium. Also ofconsiderable assistance was Zack Broshears who set up thespeakers, DVD projector, and power point for the training.Finally, Christine Trueblood the receptionist was extremelyhelpful, cooperative and pleasant in helping Mr. Wayne andother Corrections Staff find their way around the building andgetting us connected with the right people.

I know you are proud of your staff and I wanted to express myappreciation to you for the outstanding job of cooperation andassistance they provided us in this training endeavor.Thank you,Robert P. HoustonNDCS DirectorEditor’s Note: Charlie Bowlby is Secretary/Administrative Assistantin Rail & Transportation, Zack Broshears is an IT InfrastructureSupport Analyst in Communication, and Christine Trueblood isthe Switchboard Receptionist/Word Processing Specialist II inCommunication.

We Get Mail...

Angel Dog (cont’d. from page 10)

http://www.madonna.org/supporter/volunteer/overview/angel.html

http://www.petpartners.org/page.aspx?pid=267


NDOR2013



By Amy Haycock, RN

The holiday season often bringsvisitors, financial responsibilities,health ailments, changes to diet andnormal schedules. The dizzying arrayof demands, parties, shopping, baking,cleaning and entertain ing can createa silent situation—stress. When stress

is at its peak, it’s hard to stop and regroup. When stress isnot combated a dire dip in emotions is realized—depression.

Many shy away from an honest discussion of emotions.Too many times people are labeled depressed when sad,or bipolar when irritable. Stigma is the definition of howsomeone feels to be set apart and often shamed becauseof mental health changes and diagnosis.

Five StepsDepression can happen at any time, but can spike during

times of stress like the holidays. There are some ways tomanage stress which can combat depression.

1. Planning. Set aside specific days for shopping, bakingand visiting friends. Plan your menus and then makeyour shopping list, preventing last-minute scramblingto buy forgotten ingredients. Make sure to line up helpfor party prep and cleanup.

2. Budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decidehow much money you can afford to spend; stick to yourbudget! Make a list of the people you need to buy for.Shop early. Pay with cash so the dread of credit cardbills is eliminated. Don’t try to buy happiness with anavalanche of gifts. Donate to a charity in someone’sname, give homemade gifts or start a family giftexchange.

3. Be flexible. The holidays don’t have to be perfector just like last year. As families change and grow,traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose afew traditions to hold on to, and be open to creatingnew ones such as sharing pictures, emails or videos.

4. Don’t abandon healthy habits. Don’t let the holidaysbecome a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to yourstress. Have a healthy snack before gatherings so thatyou don’t go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks.Continue to get plenty of sleep and physical activity.Studies have shown there is a link between sleep lossand depression, so you need to be extra careful aboutcutting back on sleep to get everything done. Seasonalaffective disorder (SAD) can be treated by long walksduring daylight hours or exposure to a light box forabout 30 minutes a day.

Health & Safety

Take Steps to Manage Holiday Stress

5. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself.Spending just 15 minutes alone, withoutdistractions, may refresh and elevate your moodenough to handle everything you need to do.Find something that reduces stress by clearingyour mind, slowing your breathing and restoringinner calm.

Support and CompanionshipDespite your best efforts, you may find yourself

feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued byphysical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable,hopeless and unable to face routine chores. If thesefeelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or amental health professional. If you feel lonely orisolated, seek out community, religious or othersocial events. They can offer support andcompanionship. Volunteering your time to helpothers also is a good way to lift your spirits andbroaden your friendships. If someone close to youhas recently died or you can’t be with loved ones,realize that it’s normal to feel sadness and grief.It’s okay to take time to cry or express your feelings.You can’t force yourself to be happy just becauseit’s the holiday season.

High expectations, money woes and other holidayhazards can spell trouble for anyone, but especiallythose prone to depression. With a bit of foresightand planning, however, holidays can leave youfeeling up, not down.


Information for “All in the Family”should be sent to the CommunicationDivision. Appropriate information willbe included in future Roadrunners. Please note: Birth announcements will bepublished as long as written permission isreceived by the Communication Division. Thisis necessary, as NDOR is required to adhereto privacy laws under the Health InsurancePortability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

CondolencesRight-of-Way sends condolences to family andfriends on the death of Don Shulz. Don workedfor NDOR for 43 years and was Chief Negotiatorwhen he retired on September 29, 2006.

BirthsCongratulations to Katie Duong and StevenNguyen on the birth of their son, Ethan Thien-Nghia, born November 20. Katie is a StatisticalAnalyst in Planning & Project Development.Steven is an IT Business Systems Analyst inMaterials & Research.

Congratulations to Matt and Sheri Beran onthe birth of their third son, Caleb James, bornOctober 8. Matt is Assistant Flexible PavementEngineer in Materials & Research.

Congratulations to Josh and Sandy Willard onthe birth of their daughter, Hailey Mae, bornNovember 10. Josh is a Hwy. Project Managerat District 6 in North Platte.

Congratulations to Paul and Sonya Glup on thebirth of their son, Levi Wayne, born October 9.Paul is a Maintenance Worker, Sr. at District 4 inFullerton. The proud grandfather is Roy Plugge,District 8 Crew Chief at District 4 in Bartlett.

Janie Vrtiska has a new grandson, MasonJames, born November 18. Janie is the FleetManager for Operations.

WeddingsRoadway Design sends congratulations to thefollowing couples on their recent marriages:Darren and Cortney Betz, married April 13.Darren is an Engineer II. Eric and KimberlyGonzalez, married May 11. Eric is a Hwy.Designer II. Curtis and Angela Nosal, marriedMay 25. Curtis is an Engineer II. Korey andLogan Donahoo, married September 1. Korey isan Engineer III. Dan and Amelia Carpenter,married September 7. Dan is an Engineer II.Best wishes for a beautiful journey (on a well-designed road) building your lives together.

District 6 extends congratulations to CarrieBrabec on her marriage to Jesse Haynie onNovember 19. Carrie is a Staff Assistant inLexington.

This ’n ThatZachary R. Foreman graduated from Army BasicTraining at Fort Jackson, located in Columbia,South Carolina. He will be serving in theNebraska National Guard upon completion ofAdvanced Individual Training (AIT) at Ft. Leelocated in Richmond, Virginia. Zachary is the sonof Judy and Milt Foreman. Judy is a LocationAnalyst, Statistical Clerk II in Traffic Engineering.

Congratulations to Esther Shepherd on herretirement on October 31 after 41 years ofservice. Esther was the Administrative Assistantat District 4 in Grand Island.

Congratulations to Ron Disney on his retirementafter 47 years of service. Ron was a Trans -portation Planner II in Materials & Research.

Congratulations to Rhonda DeButts on herretirement after 36 years of service. Rhondawas a Transportation Planner III in the RoadwayAsset Management Section of Materials &Research.

Congratulations and good luck to Joe Hunt onhis retirement after 32 years of service. Joe isan Electronics Design Specialist in Operationsand his last day will be January 2, 2014.

Congratulations to Bob Corner on his retirementafter 37 years of service with both DMV andNDOR. Bob was a Federal Aid Administrator IIin the Office of Highway Safety in TrafficEngineering.

Congratulations to Linda Wilson on beingawarded Toastmasters Division Governor of theYear for District 24, which includes Nebraska andwestern Iowa. Linda was selected from amongfive division governors based on the criteria ofoutstanding service and exceptional leadership.As the 2012-2013 Division C Governor, she wasresponsible for 21 clubs in the cities of Lincolnand Beatrice, including RoadToasters, a com -munication and public speaking training clubsponsored by NDOR and affiliated withToastmasters International. Linda is a PublicInformation Officer in Communication.

Congratulations to Dillon Byre, who recentlycompleted a 5-3 season with Lincoln MidgetFootball on the Assurity team playing as a nosetackle. Dillon is the son of Dale Byre, Jr., QualityAssurance Manager in Materials & Research.

Kay Benson’s grandson, Justin Brinkman, andhis doubles partner, CJ Sjulin, won 1st Place atthe State Tennis Tournament in Omaha onOctober18. Justin and CJ are members of theSouthwest High School Tennis Team who alsowon the State High School Championship. Kay isthe Procurement Manager for Operations.

Service AwardsCongratulations to these dedi -cated individuals for their workand continued service with theDepartment of Roads. Theycelebrate their service datesin December 2013 and January2014.

30 YearsJeffrey Frasch, District 3Charles Schwanke, District 2

20 YearsErnest Buhr, District 5Larry Hoium, BTSDMichael Jenson, District 6Marty Lashley, District 7Michael Sklenar, ConstructionGregory Wood, Construction

10 YearsRichard Davidson Jr, District 2Shannon Erdman, BridgeJerry Harris, District 5Patrick Howell, District 2Victor Larson, District 6Terry Maudlin, District 4Keith Mitchell, District 5Bradley Wooge, District 1

— December —National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month

4 RoadToasters12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., Hwy. Commission Meeting Rm.Contact Glenn Williams @ 402-479-3628

12 Letting1:30 p.m., NDOR AuditoriumContact Kendall Stege @ 402-479-4528

13 Hwy. Commission Meeting8:30 a.m., Hwy. Commission Meeting Rm.Contact Greg Weinert @ 402-479-4871

12/13 - 1/1 You Drink & Drive. You Lose. Crackdown

18 Blood Drive – Community Blood BankNDOR Central HeadquartersContact Diane Holthus @ 402-479-4580

18 RoadToasters Holiday Meeting12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., NDOR AuditoriumContact Glenn Williams @ 402-479-3628

25 State Holiday – Christmas

— January —1 State Holiday – New Year’s8 RoadToasters

12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., Hwy. Commission Meeting Rm.Contact Glenn Williams @ 402-479-3628

13 New Employee Orientation ProgramRm. 152, 5001 S. 14th (the “Hill”)Contact Denice Sears @ 402-479-3656

17 Bd. Public Roads Class & Stds.9:00 a.m., NDOR AuditoriumContact LeMoyne Schulz @ 402-479-4436

20 State Holiday – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day


24 Hwy. Commission Meeting8:30 a.m., Hwy. Commission Meeting Rm.Contact Greg Weinert @ 402-479-4871

24 Bd. Examiners for Co. Hwy. & City Street Supts.10:00 a.m. NDOR Materials & Research Conference Rm.Contact LeMoyne Schulz @ 402-479-4436

— February —6 Letting

1:30 p.m., NDOR AuditoriumContact Kendall Stege @ 402-479-4528


16 - 22 National Engineers Week

17 State Holiday – Presidents’ Day

21 Bd. Public Roads Class & Stds.9:00 a.m., NDOR AuditoriumContact LeMoyne Schulz @ 402-479-4436

21 Bd. Examiners for Co. Hwy. & City Street Supts.10:00 a.m. Hwy. Commission Meeting Rm.Contact LeMoyne Schulz @ 402-479-4436


NDOR Events Calendar

If you would like a key event included on upcoming calendars,call the Communication Office 479-4512 or e-mail [email protected]. Information for the February/March Roadrunnershould be received by January 27, 2014.

Happy Holidays from NDOR

Photo by Steve Olson

Every year Greg Schafer, Operations Division Groundskeeper Supervisor, decorates themotor grader displayed on the front lawn of the 5001 South 14th Street office. It is includedin Lincoln’s annual Holiday Lights Tour.

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Layout 1 (Page 1) - Nebraska Department of Roads · At NDOR a solid culture of the four Cs ... Moe Jamshidi and Khalil Jaber, ... He noted that all of the minor