Governor Pete Ricketts made a quick and quiet visit to Chadron Thursday evening, flying in to tour the Chadron State College campus.
He began his tour about 5:30 and ended it by dining in the Lewellen Hospital Suite at Elliott Field, Don Beebe Stadium.
Most of the governor’s visits to Chadron are to deliver speeches at various events, but he says this one was almost entirely to see the campus – including the newly dedicated track and the site of the Math Science Center of Innovative Learning expansion, which had its groundbreaking last month.
Lt Gov Mike Foley attended both the dedication and groundbreaking, and Ricketts says Foley had encouraged him to make the trip.
Senator Robert Clements of Case County, on the Missouri River south of Omaha, traveled with the governor’s party while 43rd District Senator Tom Brewer of Gordon met them in Chadron.
Brewer is challenged by Tanya Storer of Valentine and recently completed a campaign horseback ride reaching all the towns in the vast 43rd District. He says while he loves riding part of him is very glad it’s over.
Senator Clements, appointed to the legislature by Ricketts 3-½ years ago, says he jumped at the chance to come along – in part because he’s a member of the Appropriations Committee which helped arrange state funds for the CSC projects.
Governor Ricketts and his party spent less than 4 hours in Chadron before flying back to Lincoln