Rural Douglas County construction for 1981 had exceeded the same period for the previous year by $2.5 million. The increase was attributed mainly to a $2.7 million water treatment plant being built by Rural Water District No. 3.

A man convicted of bilking area merchants out of goods valued at more than $25,000 had to stay in prison, local Judge Ralph King Jr. ruled. Rodney R. Moquin who had told his victims he was heir to the French’s mustard fortune was turned down in his bid for a reduction of his term.