Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Transparency is essential to effective policy making and is the cornerstone of earning stakeholder trust. When people understand the reasoning behind a policy, they are much more likely to accept the final outcome, even if it does not align with their individual preference. The future of clean energy depends on the successful implementation and adoption of solar and wind policies to provide needed rural economic opportunities and preserve the health of our natural environment. Achieving good...
The Nebraska State Patrol is urging Nebraskans to exercise caution when communicating online. In the past several weeks, NSP has received multiple reports of scammers impersonating State of Nebraska officials. One victim has reported losing $5,000 in crypto currency because of the scam. The fraudulent scheme typically originates with a look-alike social media profile for a government official. When the scammers establish communication with a victim, the malicious actors typically move the...
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...
In a time before Prohibition, tiny Wilber, Nebraska, produced something nearby metropolis Omaha envied. Today, more than a century later, Wilber is trying to make Omaha jealous again. In its heyday, the Wilber Brewing Company produced 40,000 barrels of beer per year, and almost all of it was consumed by residents of the small town, located 40 miles southwest of Lincoln, and nearby communities. Gary Wooten, secretary of Wilber Czech Brewery Company LLC, said his organization wants to bring back t...
Growing up in a small town in Georgia, Noah Hicks lives his music life as his most authentic self. From small gigs to working with top artists in the industry, he never forgets the farm he grew up on. Hicks was raised on a small chicken farming operation in Carrollton, Georgia. He was always playing guitar and music became a big influence in his life. In an interview in late May, he told SAM, "The dream really started when I had a friend named Reed Morris who pushed me to start singing. We were...
Recently, amid renewed concern about “the brain drain,” my thoughts returned to a particularly inspiring moment during Nebraska Community Foundation’s 2023 annual celebration. At the end of her lunch plenary speech, Takaylynn Hergott of Hebron asked any attendees under the age of 25 to stand. As the applause faded, she told the audience to look around the hall at her peers who remained standing. This, she said, is the future. It was a powerful scene and it hinted at something we’ve heard t...
Nebraska lawmakers are gathering once again in Lincoln for another year of debating and passing legislation. The democratic process is something America prides itself on and one that requires input from citizens to thrive. As new bills are being introduced and debated, lawmakers need to hear directly from their constituents on issues that are important to them. So, how can you make sure your voice is heard? The first way is to share your views by interacting directly with elected officials by...
What does it mean to be authentic? Credible. Trustworthy. Real. Genuine. These synonyms for the 2023 word of the year, as selected by the folks at Merriam-Webster, make an important statement about the times in which we live. In an interview with the Associated Press, editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski said searches on the dictionary’s website for the definition of “authentic” are normally high. But in 2023, Sokolowski reported searches were “boosted to new heights.” “We see in 2023 a kind of cris...
Central Valley Ag cooperative is asking individuals to share a story by entering CVA’s sixth annual photo contest. Contest opened July 3 and submissions will be accepted through Aug. 3. Photos can be entered into three categories: beauty in agriculture, generations on the farm and working in acres. Photos can exhibit harvest, livestock, planting, equipment, life on the farm and more. There is no shortage of topics to showcase in the agriculture industry. “We’re thrilled to present this photo contest as a platform to showcase agriculture throu...
Midwest culture is unique. We "America's Heartlanders" are known for our outdoor hobbies, farming, winter survival strategies, hard work and country living. We are also known for our politeness. It is at times an autopilot response to hold a door open, greet another with a smile, drop off treats for a neighbor or when running into someone familiar ask, "how are you?" How often have we asked, "how are you" and heard the answer, "good" or "fine" or even answered this question ourselves this way....
I don't remember the first time I had Mexican food. I don't remember the first time I ate in an "authentic" Italian restaurant. I do remember the first time I had Chinese. Growing up in a small town in western Nebraska in the 60s and 70s, what I knew about Chinese food was the kind that you bought in a can at the grocery store. I was not impressed. But when I was a senior at UNL, I was taking a night class at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and, once a week, three friends and I would drive u...
I don't know about you, but I missed holiday parties last year. And even though it's still smart to be careful, getting together with family and friends is something we all treasure. Holiday appetizers have always been one of my favorite things to prepare. I love looking through cookbooks and recipe files, looking for just the perfect tasty tidbit to take to a party. But before we get to the menu, let's first set the scene. Decide on a theme or an anchor activity - gingerbread decorating,...
JARROD McCARTNEY RED CLOUD - It's not unusual to catch sight of a celebrity in Red Cloud, population 962, especially during the annual Willa Cather conference. First Lady Laura Bush has appeared here. So has writer Maya Angelou, Golden Globe-winning actor Paul Giamatti and a drumbeat of talk show hosts, TV stars, novelists and artists. And yet a tiny, energetic, elderly woman often stole the celebrity spotlight, holding court about the life and times of Nebraska's famed novelist. Antonette...
It only seems fitting that Dylan Bloom's music career is blossoming. A native of North Bend, Bloom's grandfather, Greg "Jeep" Bloom, was inducted into the Nebraska Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and played with "He spent the '60s and '70s and some of the 80s playing ... and packing dance halls," he said. "People would come out in the hundreds and thousands and pack these dance halls. That would've been a neat time to be alive." Dylan's dad also played in a band. In fact, he was prepping to...
During my 25-year stint as a play production director, I faced several challenges: kids late to practice, costume malfunctions, broken props, ill students requiring a substitution from an understudy. None of those tests equal what one-act directors are facing during the pandemic. Kudos to Summerland one-act coaches Julie Harley, Mackenzie McClellan and Sarah Kesting, who have learned to adapt and roll with the flow, so to speak, while keeping student safety at the forefront. The Nebraska School...
National Hispanic Heritage Month, with roots going back to 1968, is a period, from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. The term Hispanic or Latino refers to Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or those of other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. While those contributions and influences can be found in many segments of society, none are...
There are many ways to define history. But no matter what definition is accepted, it is important to see that history is the story of people and what has happened to people in families and communities. History is all around us, no matter where we live, and it is our story. The newly-renovated one-Room schoolhouse, located in the Antelope County Museum Complex, is hosting two Lunch Box Learning programs that look back in time about Nebraska and Western History. Programs and curriculum topics...
The TeamMates program always appreciates the adult mentors for giving time to be there for students in our communities. January is National Mentoring Month and a time we especially want to recognize and express our gratitude to them. Mentors understand their role is to be dependable, engaged, authentic and tuned in to the needs of the mentee. Studies show that mentees benefit from meeting with an extra encouraging adult, but what do mentors get out of the experience? Several Clearwater-Orchard mentors share their thoughts. Kate Watson When I...
