UPDATE, 4:15 PM: The scheduled Thursday visit to Fairbury by a member of Sen. Deb Fischer's staff has been postponed, not cancelled. A new date for this specific local visit will be determined whenever the federal government resumes operations. 

A member of Sen. Fischer's press team contacted NCN Wednesday afternoon to clarify that the "Local Office Hours" series executed by Fischer and her staff, which included a scheduled stop in Fairbury this week, has been postponed, not cancelled. 

"Local Office Hours will be postponed throughout the duration of the shutdown," according to a release from Fischer's office earlier Wednesday. "When the government re-opens, Fischer’s staff will announce new times for Local Office Hours across the state. While Local Office Hours are paused, Fischer’s Washington D.C. and state offices will remain open to serve constituents."

They also underscored that Fischer's office will remain fully staffed for the duration of the shutdown, which was included in NCN's original story, and underscored that a member of the Senator's team was scheduled to make the appearance this week, not the Senator herself - that was included in NCN's initial story thanks to corroboration from Fairbury mayor Kelly Davis. 

Further information will be added to this story if and when it becomes available. 

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FAIRBURY - One apparent byproduct of this week's federal government shutdown: fewer local appearances from elected officials and members of their staffs in locations across the state.

A representative for U.S. Senator Deb Fischer was scheduled to make an appearance Thursday afternoon in Fairbury, but now that's no longer happening.

The city of Fairbury announced just before noon Wednesday that Thursday's local office hour with the senator has been cancelled, citing the federal shutdown as the reason for the cancellation.

"THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HAS LED TO THE LOCAL OFFICE HOUR WITH DEB FISHER [sic] THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OFFICES ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2ND TO BE CANCELLED," Wednesday's alert read.

Fairbury Mayor Kelly Davis confirmed to NCN that a member of Fischer's staff was in line to make the appearance, not Fischer herself. Locals with questions or concerns that were planning to attend Thursday's event have been instructed to call Ray Ringlein, Fischer's Director of Outreach.

"Ray will be working in the office during the shutdown and if he is not available when someone calls, staff will let him know and he will return your call at his earliest opportunity," the alert read. Ringlein's contact information is below. 

The alert also hyperlinks to a page on Fischer's official website that details answers to common government shutdown-related questions, such as the status of Social Security, the postal service, and air travel. 

"My offices in Nebraska and in Washington, DC, will remain open and fully staffed to continue serving Nebraskans during this time. My staff is available to answer questions and to continue assisting with casework; however, we can expect a delay in responses from federal agencies throughout the duration of a shutdown as many federal employees are furloughed during a funding lapse," Fischer's website says.

Fischer was last in this part of the state - where a lot of her family is from - in a joint event with Pete Ricketts right before the election last October.

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Ray Ringlein

Director of Outreach-Lincoln

Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

1248 ‘O’ Street, Suite 1111

Lincoln, NE. 68508

402-441-4600

Ray_Ringlein@fischer.senate.gov