Gym Cracks By Jim September 9, 2003 BACK TO NEBRASKA So long lower taxes, we're moving back to Nebraska By Jim (Babe) Berryman MissingNebraska.com Western Nebraska We're returning to the land of the Big Red. Marcia and I have sold our townhouse in Wyoming and purchased a home south of Grand Island. This move will take place during the month of October. Marcia and I are both familiar with the area. Before we married, she lived in Grand Island for a number of years. I grew to adulthood in the Greeley vicinity, a village some 45 miles north of Grand Island, and another decade was spent in the Shelton school system twenty-two miles to the west. The university at Kearney is familar to both Marcia and me. Marcia's Master's degree was earned at what was then called Kearney State College. Several years later she was hired as an instructor for this institution--now called the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK). I earned two degrees from this institution. While serving as superintendent of the Shelton school system, I also served on UNK's Advisory Council. When living in Greeley and Shelton, Grand Island was our primary shopping town. This community has experienced considerable growth over the years. Demographics on the Grand Island website indicate a current population of 43,000 residents. This community is close to Marcia's and my home town/city. Marcia spent the majority of her adolescence in Omaha, which will be a jaunt or approximately 140 miles. Both of her parents are buried in this city. A hour's driving time will get me to Greeley to kibitz with the old-timers. A sign outside of town proudly displays the words, "A friendly town of 562 people and a few old crabs." Several high school classmates have spent their entire lives in or near this village. Over the decades, I have kept in touch with these individuals. And I couldn't forget the Big Red. Memorial Stadium will be 90 miles away, one hour and fifteen minutes! When we arrive in Grand Island, there will be three games remaining on the Nebraska Cornhuskers home schedule. All these games--Texas A&M, Iowa State, and Kansas State--have the potential to be great games. On one of these three Saturdays, don't be surprised if you find me in Duffy's, on a street corner or near the stadium negotiating for a ticket. I'm sure we will miss this part of our great nation. We have lived in extreme western Nebraska (Lyman and Morrill), and Wyoming for over a decade. Marcia leaves many friends, a strong church association, and her colleagues at Eastern Wyoming College. I will miss professional colleagues and a high school classmate who is a priest in Gering. We definitely will miss the lower taxes in Wyoming. An additional $1700 will be added to our real estate property taxes. We will assume a state income tax, which Wyoming does not levy. The sales tax will be one to two percent higher in Nebraska. Still Nebraska beckoned, and we are returning for our retirement years. GO BIG RED! Feedback Previous Gym Cracks: 08-20-03: Retired. Now What? Gym Cracks By Jim 08-14-03: Feet Spoil Feat Gym Cracks By Jim 07-15-03: Training For Walk Gym Cracks By Jim 06-30-03: Walk Across Nebraska Gym Cracks By Jim 06-20-03: No Stress Stress Test Gym Cracks By Jim 06-11-03: Crazy Horse 'Fun' Gym Cracks By Jim 05-31-03: Friends For Life Gym Cracks By Jim 05-19-03: Spurs And Cubs Gym Cracks By Jim 04-29-03: L.A. Delay Gym Cracks By Jim 04-16-03: What's In A Nickname? Gym Cracks By Jim 03-28-03: More March Madness Gym Cracks By Jim 03-14-03: March To Remember Gym Cracks By Jim 03-07-03: Tall & Tough Gym Cracks By Jim 02-26-03: Zingerland Gym Cracks By Jim 02-19-03: Cuss The Bus Gym Cracks By Jim 02-09-03: Ratings And Recruiting Gym Cracks By Jim 01-31-03: Hoops Elite Gym Cracks By Jim 01-24-03: Nebraska's Super Connection Gym Cracks By Jim 01-15-03: Hometown Hits Big Time Gym Cracks By Jim 2002 12-30-02: Count The Numbers Gym Cracks By Jim 12-18-02: Cream Of Coaching Crop Gym Cracks By Jim 11-28-02: The Big Picture Gym Cracks By Jim 11-18-02: 2 For 2 Gym Cracks By Jim 10-25-02: Sweet On Switzer Gym Cracks By Jim 10-17-02: Best Time Year Gym Cracks By Jim 10-11-02: Odds And Ends Gym Cracks By Jim 10-04-02: The Rating Game Gym Cracks By Jim 09-22-02: Fans Panned Gym Cracks By Jim 09-12-02: World Herald Calling Gym Cracks 09-05-02: Bit By Baseball Bug Gym Cracks 08-29-02: Caring Coaches Gym Cracks 08-22-02: Nebraska "Storm" Hits Colorado Gym Cracks 08-15-02: Cubs Win, Wallet Drained Gym Cracks 08-08-02: To Coors For Cubs Gym Cracks 07-25-02: Major League Madness Gym Cracks 07-18-02: Nebraskans In The Majors Gym Cracks 07-11-02: Kile Death Sheds Light Gym Cracks 07-04-02: Couch Potato Parking Gym Cracks 06-23-02: Top 10 Nebraska High School Nicknames Gym Cracks 06-06-02: Better In The 50s Gym Cracks 05-30-02: Dangerfield of Nebraska Gym Cracks 05-16-02: Baseball Sneak Aways Gym Cracks