The Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise, Blair, Nebraska  Dec 21, 2007

Depot just misses funding The Blair Historic Preservation Alliance probably knows how the first-runner-up in a beauty pageant feels. Earlier this year, The BHPA and the city of Blair submitted an application for federal funding in the renovation of the old Blair railroad depot that now sits in Lions Park. The judges liked what they saw, said Tom Kranda, BHPA president, so much so that the Blair project was put in a special "provisionally funded" category. Basically, what it means is that if more money becomes available or if one of those projects that got funded falters, Blair is first in line to get money. "We were on the bubble," Kranda said. "They told us they really liked it, but they ran out of money." So, the BHPA must wait until the fates of all of the projects ahead of theirs are decided before they know if they get money. Kranda knows that's a longshot. "If somebody who did get funded either elects not to go forward with a project or if somebody does not think they will require the entire budget they asked for, then we will be in line for money," he said. "The odds of that are not very strong." Kranda said the BHPA likely will ask the Blair City Council to put the project on hold for a year. "We will probably ask the city council to consider sitting tight and resubmitting an application for funding again next year," he said. Plans for a fundraising campaign will probably be put on hold, too, because "we are reluctant to go out and mount a campaign not knowing what the finished product will look like." In the short term, the BHPA is taking steps to make sure the 1880 structure is "secure and weather-tight. Whether that will mean we might need some money to do that, we don't know. We're dealing with 50 years or more of neglect."