Welcome to Arnold, Nebraska! Arnold is a vibrant, progressive community brimming with family values and an outstanding quality of life. Our school system is among the top in the state, combining traditional learning with innovative programs and new-age technology that has been recognized by the State School Board of Education as well as the Nebraska Commissioner of Education. Our volunteer fire and EMT personnel are second to none in providing urgent health and safety services—they recently received a national EMS Gold Award recognizing their outstanding volunteer work. Arnold and Custer County employers find the Midwestern work ethic to be impressive and of immeasurable value to their businesses. Arnold is a community with strong leadership where great things happen. A new community center has recently been completed and many new businesses have opened. Arnold is host to two unique events that have gained nationwide attention. The Sandhills Open Road Challenge is held every August; it is one of only three events of its kind in the United States, and has drawn participants from all states and many countries. This nonprofit event has generated over $750,000 since 2001, which has been given back to the community of Arnold and the surrounding area. July brings the Devil’s Den Motorcycle Rally which is a new annual event with a charity poker run and many fun events throughout the day ending with a great outside concert. Arnold has a strong plan for growth. The Arnold Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) has been aggressive in working to improve the quality and diversity of industry and businesses in the community. The AEDC has implemented a comprehensive plan, an economic development strategic plan for 2006-2021, and a blight study for tax increment financing. A 1% local option sales tax for economic development efforts is also in effect. Arnold is a town of opportunity and is poised for growth and prosperity into the next century. Additional information can be found at www.arnoldne.org. Location Arnold is located in the west central side of Custer County in central Nebraska. Highway 92 runs east and west through Arnold and Highway 40 runs south. Interstate 80 is 35 minutes south at Gothenburg. City Miles From Arnold North Platte, NE 40 Broken Bow, NE 35 Gothenburg, NE 35 Omaha, NE 264 Lincoln, NE 211 Denver, CO 306 Kansas City, MO 402 Chicago, IL 728 Dallas, TX 749 Los Angeles, CA 1,317 New York, NY 1,502 Population General   Last Census 2010 Latest Year 2013 Arnold Population 597 604 Custer County Population 10,943 10,792 State Population 1,826,341 1,826,341 Arnold Age Breakdown   0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 Over 69 Total 132 60 55 71 77 81 121 Median age in Custer County (2013): 44.06 years Median age in Nebraska (2013): 35.3 years Labor   State County Nation 2012 2012 2012 Labor Force 1,419,577 8,645 243,847,821 Unemployment 55,912 184 14,536,637 In Armed Forces 5,636 12 1,168,874 Total Employment 946,986 5,614 141,996,548 Wages Sample of hourly wage rates in manufacturing occupations (production and/or clerical). 10th 90th Job Title Percentile Median Percentile Assemblers/Fabricators $9.55 $11.89 $15.62 Data Entry Keyers $8.25 $10.38 $15.23 Laborers, Helpers, Material Movers $7.17 $10.85 $15.49 Lathe Tool Setters $10.86 $16.24 $18.54 Machinists $10.87 $14.40 $18.88 Secretaries, exc. Legal and Medical $7.84 $11.42 $15.67 Welders and Cutters $11.15 $14.95 $20.56 Welding Machine Operators $16.59 $18.42 $20.28 Transportation Number of improved two-lane highways: 3 State Highways 40, 70, and 92 serve the Arnold area Distance to nearest interstate: 35 minutes (I-80) Nebraska has more than 8,000 licensed motor freight carriers with global connections throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Transit Time for Carload or Truckload Lots Destination Days by Railroad Days by Motor Freight Chicago N/A 1-2 days Dallas N/A 2-3 days Denver N/A 1-2 days Kansas City N/A 1-2 days Los Angeles N/A 2-3 days Minneapolis N/A 1-2 days New York N/A 3-5 days St. Louis N/A 2-3 days Distance to closest public airport: 35 minutes Elevation: 2,547 feet Length of longest runway: 4,203 feet Runway has lights Private aircraft storage is available Private aircraft maintenance is available Distance to nearest commercial air transportation: 45 minutes Nearest railroad: Bailey Yard, Union Pacific (world’s largest yard) Distance to nearest railroad: 40 minutes Tax Valuation Real Property Tax Rates for 2013 Levy Rate Item ($ per $100 of actual value) Village $0.448501 Custer County $0.284212 School/ESU #10 $0.969029 Other: $0.197905 Total Real Property $2.106399 Municipal Services Type of government: Village board City engineer County zoning ordinance in effect Garbage service provided by village Public library Volunteer fire department personnel: 30 Fire insurance class within Arnold: 7 Fire insurance class outside Arnold: 9 Utilities Electric system provider: Village of Arnold Wholesale supplier: Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) Regulated by state authority Distribution capacity (KW): 12.470 Peak demand (KW): 1744 General capacity (MW): 1 Number of customers: system wide: 520 Water treatment provider: Village of Arnold Major source: Wells Average depth in feet: 150 Rated capacities (MGD): .5 Average capacity (MGD): .5 Peak demand (MGD): .4 Storage capacity (gallons): 35,000 Treated: No Temperature range (degrees Fahrenheit): 55-58 Water connecting fee: Yes Cost per 1,000 gallons: $14.00 base fee, $.75 per 1,000 Sewer treatment provider: Village of Arnold Rate capacity: .06 Average daily demand: .02 Sewer connection fee: .02 Cost per 1,000 gallons: Base $8.50, $.65 per 1,000 Sanitation: Village of Arnold Cost per month is $15.00 Housing Avg. cost/square foot of single unit built in last two years: $100 Avg. monthly rental for 3-bedroom house: $450 Avg. monthly rental for 2-bedroom house: $350 Avg. cost of houses sold in last two years: $85,000 1- and 2-bedroom apartments Low-income housing complex Health Care Medical services are provided locally at the Arnold Medical Clinic conveniently located downtown on Hwy 92. The facility is affiliated with Callaway District Hospital and Callaway Medical Clinic just 20 minutes from Arnold. Medical doctors: 2 Physician assistants: 2 RNs, LPNs, and other medical staff Educational Facilities Arnold Public Schools is a Class III type K-12 school and has North Central Accreditation. Recently recognized as one of the top 25 schools in the state of Nebraska by the NE Commissioner of Education, Arnold Public School is truly an example of excellence in education. For two consecutive years, Arnold High School had the second highest cumulative ACT scores of all schools in Nebraska. Arnold was also recently recognized as a leader in technology integration in schools by Apple Computers with its One-to-One Initiative where every student grades K-12 has his or her own laptop computer. Nicole Badgley, a teacher and district technology coordinator, was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator for her work on this program. The school also provides numerous innovative class projects such as School House Graphic Products, a sign business maintained and operated by high school students under the direction of Nebraska’s 2004 Teacher of the Year, Clay Mohr. The students in School House Graphic Products recently completed a summer internship where they worked for Custer County making and installing the 911 road signs for the entire county. They also bid and were awarded a project assembling trophies for the National American Miss pageant. Construction Tech Class also offers real-life experience by building new structures within the community. Arnold has a state-of-the-art distance learning program and has academic and vocational partnerships with Nebraska colleges and universities for dual-credit college courses. The facilities include two gymnasiums, an all-weather track, and exterior field bleachers with a capacity for 600 people. Also the school has a fully equipped library and media center. High school sports programs include football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track, golf, and cheerleading. AIMS-web testing is completed for students grades K-8 in both reading and math. State writing and reading tests are utilized, as well as Nebraska STARS tests and Terra Nova achievement tests. The elementary classes use the AR reading program to build a solid reading foundation. Arnold elementary students recently received an award for their recycling program, the 4th grade class completed a project using Skype, they have hands- on learning about various topics with monthly enrichment days, and all elementary classes participate in plays. Educational Facilities   Number of Teacher/Student Schools Enrollment Ratio Elementary 1 64 1:9 Middle / Jr. High 1 36 1:6 Senior High 1 31 1:4 Preschool Learning Tree Preschool is a licensed and accredited preschool in Arnold that brings in students ages 3-6 from a wide area, including surrounding communities, because of its reputation for quality instruction and excellent curriculum.