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After six months, bars, restaurants mixed about smoking ban 

x months after Nebraska's statewide smoking ban took effect, bar and restaurant owners in Broken Bow, Holdrege and Lexington remain divided on the effects of the ban.

One bar operator has been fined $100 twice for violating the ban and faces a fine of up to $500 for a third offense.

For the nearly 20 years he's owned Sylvester's bar in Broken Bow, Fred Schumacher had not had many problems. Since the smoking ban took effect on June 1, Schumacher has been in trouble three times for allowing smokers to light up.

Schumacher believes the complaints came mostly from out-of-town patrons. "I don't understand why someone wouldn't just leave rather than call the cops," he said.

He said he was fined $100 and court costs for the first two violations. He's still waiting for the outcome on his third offense, which could mean a fine of up to $500, he said.

Schumacher said the smoking ban "definitely has" hurt his business, but a Holdrege establishment is experiencing the opposite six months into the ban.

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