Kimball High School senior Madison Ebeling has had a senior week to remember.
Her cheerleading team placed first in the Class D Non-Tumbling Division at the Nebraska State Cheer and Dance Competition in Grand Island. A week later, Madison was eating lunch with the governor of Nebraska and testifying at a Unicameral committee hearing.
Madison said, "The best part of the LB712 trip was having lunch with the governor, Jim Pillen."
She explained that Gov. Pillen provided a little history of the Capitol. Then, he explained to the Kimball seniors that he grew up as a hog farmer. Madison said he has a giant metal pig in his office that people are voting on to name."
In addition to lunching with the governor, Madison and her fellow seniors had a tour of the Capitol building. They watched some floor debate, and Madison said, "It was really cool to see all the senators filibustering. Filibustering is when a senator talks about anything and everything to stop them from voting on the bill."
Madison and three other seniors testified before the Unicameral Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee as a proponents of LB 712. LB712 would provide the Kimball area with $26 million for infrastructure in preparation for the missile replacement project.
Madison said, "I am very positive the bill will be voted on to come out of committee. But it is very hard to tell whether or not it will be passed. I am trying to stay positive that it will pass. Brian Hardin is trying his very best to make sure it passes."
Accompanying Madison from Kimball High were students Angel Helms, Hannah Schildhauer and Keara O'Brien and teacher Jeri Ferguson.