By Mark Coddington
mark.coddington@theindependent.com

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Independent/Barrett Stinson Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy stands in front of a political science class at Wood River Rural High School on Friday while talking about his duties and answering questions about the statešs hottest topics. Independent/Barrett Stinson Wood River Rural High seniors Tyler Wiese (left) and Tiana Knuth listen to Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy speak to their political science class. Click Thumbnails to View

But the seniors at Wood River Rural High School on Friday tossed a lot more than that at him, running through most of the state's hottest topics in about 40 minutes.

They were the questions everyone in the state has been wondering lately: Will the economic recession we're hearing about affect Nebraska? (Yes, but not as severely as the coasts, Sheehy responded.)

And what would the State Fair look like in Grand Island? (Much different, and more agricultural.)

While the politics class' teacher, Ben Egger, and several students were in Washington, D.C., for a Close-Up trip, the students who remained made up for their absence with a steady stream of inquiries, including some back-and-forth exchanges.

"I thought it was great," said Corey Melgaard, who sparred with Sheehy over the state's new smoking ban. "I've learned a lot about what's going on in Nebraska."

The class prepped on the issues and possible questions last week, Melgaard said.

They seemed particularly interested in high gas prices and the State Fair's probable move to Grand Island, along with the smoking ban and recession.

Their engagement, especially on those issues, wasn't surprising to Sheehy.

"They're usually tuned in to what's going on for what's affecting them," he said of the high school students he visits.

On the fair, Sheehy said he expects it to have a completely different feel in Grand Island, possibly shorter and probably involving more agriculture and fewer big-time entertainment acts.

But he had no doubt that the attendance would be enough to keep the new fair viable, citing the retail draw Grand Island has for surrounding areas.

"I think the attendance will support (the board's) vision, whatever it is, for what the State Fair will look like," Sheehy said.

Sheehy also described how he, as an ex-smoker, went back and forth on the new public smoking ban.

"It was a very difficult issue," he said. "And in the end, public health finally won out."

The students also got a few personal tidbits about Sheehy, a former Hastings city councilman and mayor.

They found out about how he had planned on running for Congress before he was tabbed as lieutenant governor by Gov. Dave Heineman in 2005.

They found out about his diet on what's called the "rubber chicken circuit" of banquets this time of year with constituents and officials he's had "chicken prepared every way you can think of."

And they found out how he's planning on spending his stimulus package check exactly how the government wants him to.

"I'm not going to pay bills with it. I'm going to buy new golf clubs," Sheehy said. "But we'll see what my wife says about that."