Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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It’s funny how reading something can lead me down a rabbit hole, filled with history and memories. As I perused a daily “ideas” email from a writing group, the following question was posed: If you could design a theme park around any concept, what would it be? That simple question provoked thoughts of amusement parks in Nebraska. Kids today, more than likely, think about the mega-waterparks made popular by lazy, floating rivers and crazy slides or a Fun Plex, where video games can keep you occupied for hours. More than 50 years ago, Chaut...
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which song would you choose? I hope this scenario doesn’t play out. Ever. Music is one of my top three learning styles, woven into the fabric of everyday instances. Let’s face it, it’s practically one of my love languages, forging a bond that strikes a right chord, creating harmony on all levels. When Plato wrote, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything,” I wonder wh...
Be kind. That’s it. Pretty simple, right? Be kind. Stop spreading rumors about others. Stop the trash talk. Stop trying to make yourself feel better by putting others down. Stop being a bully. You are responsible for your happiness. You are responsible for your actions. Want the world to be a better place? Be genuine. Be kind....
It may seem cliché but one of the funniest Halloween costumes is the blind referee. If you’re a sports fan, the referee scenario undoubtedly has run through your mind. I’m not into conspiracy theories but ... At least six calls were missed during Saturday’s Nebraska-Ohio State football game, calls that could have given Nebraska a signature road win or handed Ohio State an even bigger margin of victory. Two of the most notable: the spot on Emmet Johnson’s first-down run that turned into a third...
As I'm writing this, two weeks stand between now and Nov. 5, the general election. I don't often write about politics. A long time ago, in J school, a professor shared a belief that in community journalism, it's best to let the public make their own decisions. Present the facts. Neighbors don't need to tell neighbors how to vote, she would say. Let the big city dailies endorse a candidate. Here, in small-town America, let residents investigate and research candidates and issues and form an...
One of my favorite play scripts is “First Night” by Jack Neary. In it, Danny Fleming, a video store clerk, sees his eighth-grade crush, Meredith O’Connor (who is now a nun), enter the store. What ensues is a roller coaster of emotions from puppy love to midlife angst. The play answers questions: Does he still love her? Is she in love with him? After 20 years, will she leave the convent to build a life with the man of her dreams? The best line first comes from Danny, talking about Mered...
One of the best yearbooks my students produced is based on the theme, "Everyone has a story." Like a typical yearbook, it is stuffed with photos and cutlines and articles, from bleed line to bleed line, placed on double-truck spreads. The difference from others we previously produced: We looked for commonalities among students that weren't school related. In that edition, students wrote about their peers who participated in non-traditional sports outside of the school day, like trap shooting...
I turned 13 when a magical show debuted on Saturday evenings, full of comedic genius and up-and-coming musicians. I grew up watching what was first dubbed NBC’s Saturday Night. It didn’t become known as Saturday Night Live until 1977, after ABC dumped its lackluster Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell. Those first seasons with the Not Ready for Prime Time Players - Gilda, Dan, Chevy, Jane, John, Garrett and Laraine - are classics. From Roseanne Rosannadanna to Landshark to the Killer Bee...
Good things come to those who wait. Or, sometimes, you have to flesh out details of a project before all the pieces come together. In this instance, the second statement hits the mark. For two years, we have wanted to establish a reader panel for SAM. Why? We believe listening to reader feedback is a solid way for our weekly product to continue to grow. We believe SAM has an invested group of readers and we feel it’s important to connect with you, whether you’re a print subscriber or prefer the...
While reading a weekly email from James Clear, writer of the wildly popular book “Atomic Habits,” the author posed a question that caught my attention. “What season are you in right now and what does that season require?” We walk through life and experience different phases, like the changing of seasons. Right now, we’re transitioning from summer into fall, where the days cool down, school activities heat up and there’s a constant sense of motion. I call it the season of busy. What does it req...
My Uncle Paul left this earth about 10 days ago. He was an entertaining character who loved his family and always had a knack for making people laugh. I was asked to speak at his funeral. My Aunt Deanna tells me he loved this column. He told me that, too. Uncle, this one’s about you. I read two statements this week that hit home. The first one said, “An auntie and her first-born niece will always have an unbreakable bond. I know it’s true. Ask my aunties, I’m their favorite “Hey, will you run t...
Last week, I watched ESPN E60: No Place Like Nebraska. It wove several storylines into one, showing why Husker volleyball continues to be the program to emulate. The show included snippets of the program’s humble beginnings, a fair amount about the attendance record at volleyball day and a glimpse into Harper Murray’s successes on the court and downfalls outside of Devaney. It’s a lot to wrap into a 50-minute video. Maybe too much. One storyline needed more. If you’re a volleyball enthusi...
I opened the wooden recipe box sitting on the kitchen counter the other day and was transported to my childhood. It’s funny how reading recipes in your mom’s and grandmothers’ handwriting makes you long for certain foods. The first recipe out of the box listed ingredients in mom’s seven-minute frosting: egg whites, sugar, water, white corn syrup, salt and vanilla. I can see her standing at the stove, laboring over a double boiler, using a hand mixer to whip the concoction until peaks formed. It was a delicious final touch on her homemad...
Au revoir, Paris. See you in 2028, Los Angeles. As the Olympics draw to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the competition storylines that captured my attention during the past two weeks. Who wouldn’t be inspired by Simone Biles and her redemption tour? After withdrawing from Olympic competition four years ago, due to injury, her journey to this year’s podium was inspiring. Not only is Biles one of the most-decorated Olympic gymnasts of all time, her actions on the sidelines show why she is simply the best. Her enthusiasm for her teammates shine...
The Antelope County 4-H shows I viewed were a lot of fun. You could tell members invested a lot of time and energy in their projects. And, despite the heat, animals mostly cooperated. I wish I had been able to see the other shows. Instead, I was battling an infection and made multiple trips to the emergency room to receive IV fluids and antibiotics. The descent into sickness began Tuesday, once the paper was put to bed. A quick whoosh of something washed over me and, within minutes, a 103° fever...
I don’t pay a lot of attention to television commercials; however, one in particular will always stand out. Picture it: a beautiful river, pastel orange sky and a rock-strewn shoreline. What viewers eventually see is a polluted river, smoke puffing out of factory stacks and garbage covering the shore. The narrator says, “Some people have a deep abiding respect for the natural beauty that was once this country and some people don’t. People start pollution and people can stop it.” Then, the camera...
Another trip around the sun. SAM and I have that in common. In 2019, the inaugural issue of the Advocate-Messenger made its debut on my birthday. Now, we're starting our sixth year of publication, a feat that isn't lost on Scott and me. It's been a positive and encouraging journey. Oh sure, there have been days when we wonder what the heck we're doing ... luckily, those days are few and far between. We feel like we're on solid ground and are excited to keep building the quality publication you e...
It does not matter which side of the political aisle you gravitate toward. Saturday’s assassination attempt of former President Trump should give you pause and make you wonder how this nation has wandered so far apart. In the aftermath, I’ve seen tasteless memes and an abundance of misinformation spread through social channels. I urge you to take a step back, take a deep breath and critically think before clicking the share button or opening mouth (and possibly inserting foot). I’ll offer what...
A person may not always verbalize how they feel. Trust me, their actions will always show you the truth. For example, I can tell when Courtney becomes frustrated with me when I voice my opinion and we don’t necessarily see eye to eye. She’s mastered the art of the eye roll, those long, thick lashes fluttering as she defends her way of thinking. Wonder where she learned that behavior? (Looking to my left, checking to my right, searching in the mirror to see if I’m the culprit.) Did I just roll...
If I ask you to define nuance or manifest or antecedent, would you be able to provide an answer? According to a recent study, “nuanced” is the “hardest SAT word.” Shades of gray, I say. Crossword experts at WordDB.com measured “the difficulty of every word listed as an answer option in the reading and writing section of the most-recent SAT practice tests.” The study’s methodology: evaluate the number of times each state searched on Google for the definition of 257 words included in six SAT pr...
It’s almost “the best weekend in June.” Are we having fun yet? With the exception of contestant pages, the rodeo program has been at the printer for almost two weeks. Hallelujah! There are plenty of noticable changes. At the rodeo grounds, the bull - formerly part of the old steakhouse sign - towers above the entrance, foreshadowing action visitors are about to view. The bull’s devilish facial expression may be a nod to Laredo, the infamous bull that reveled in jumping the fence in the early d...
Another Father’s Day is nearing an end. How have we spent it? With the exception of a two-hour lunch date, the “Yellowstone” Father’s Day marathon has been playing. And, just like the “Yellowstone” Mother’s Day marathon and the Memorial Day marathon and any other excuse needed to air 72 hours of the popular TV show, John Dutton’s family’s woes have provided background noise. Thank goodness it has a solid soundtrack to sing along with while I work on the paper and fiddle with household chores....
Film producer Rick McCallum said, “It’s easy to be a backseat driver. It’s even easier to be a backseat driver when you’re not even in the same car.” Spoken like a true backseat driver. I never realized how often I make driving suggestions to Scott until Sunday, when he drove to Verdigre. As we near Royal, I politely suggest we should take the road past Grove Lake to avoid road construction on Highway 14. There was construction earlier in the week when the grandkids played baseball in the Kolac...
Challenge your limits. I’ve been flirting with the idea of trying a no-buy challenge. Unfamiliar with a the concept? It’s pretty basic. Make a list of non-essential items you won’t buy for a set period of time. Then, stick to the plan. Sounds easy, right? I’m not so sure. A year seems impossible, heck, a month may be, too. Maybe I should try a week and see how it plays out. The first step: owning up to my weaknesses. Check that off the list. Do I need to visit the convenience store for a glass...
Baseball, hot dogs and apple pie are considered All-American staples. Should ranch dressing be added to the list? The condiment - oh, it’s more than a salad dressing - is an every-meal accessory for a couple of our grandkids. Drizzle it on pizza? Check. Add dry ranch seasoning to oyster crackers for “squeaky snacks,” as my kids call the treat? Absolutely. Dip chicken strips and fries in a dollop or twenty? All the dang time. Buy it by the gallon? Heck no, not in this house. (Dorothy, on the o...
