Energy prices put pressure on family budget

Temperatures promise to climb into the mid-60s later this week, and propane prices are descending from all-time highs, but Nebraskans are paying the price this month for living in a sometimes-frigid climate.

Unfortunately, we may pay the price next summer for living in a sometimes-scorching state as cooling demands push up utility demands as well.

Natural gas prices are near a five-year high, and this winter has been about 10 percent colder than normal and 23 percent colder than last year, a natural gas company told the Lincoln Journal Star.

Utilities customers who have budget plans may not notice the higher bills yet, with the impact spread out over a year's worth of payments, but climbing energy costs will definitely make themselves felt and put pressures on other areas of the family budget.

The McCook office of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska can help in emergencies; call (308) 345-1187.

You can call Barb Ostrum of Mid-Nebraska at the same number if you're interested in helping others in dire circumstances.

An annual "Share the Heat" soup supper each fall helps replenish the energy fund, but those funds don't last long, especially over winters like the one we're hoping to wrap up in 17 days.

While we're discussing worthy local charitable causes, congratulations to the McCook Community Foundation, which needs only $30,000 more to leverage a $250,000 challenge grant from the Sherwood Foundation to add $500,000 to the foundation's endowment.

If you'd like to pay back our community and invest in future generations, contact Karl Shaddock at (308) 344-9363 or foundation@mccookne.org, or write McCook Community Foundation Fund, P.O. Box 36, McCook NE 69001.

You can make a one-time gift, set up monthly debits from your bank account, or even donate agricultural commodities.