Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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As work begins on the 2025 federal budget, the Center for Rural Affairs and 26 partner organizations from across the country are asking Congress for continued support of rural small businesses through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program. Their letter, sent April 16 to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations subcommittees, requests $8 million in funding for the program. Supporters said RMAP provides much-needed support for the small businesses that strengthen our nation’s rural c...
Jewel Rodgers, an interdisciplinary poet and activist from Omaha, recently celebrated National Poetry Month with Summerland English classes. During the event, she shared some of her own poetry and led engaging activities to inspire students to develop their creativity. Jewel's passion extends beyond poetry; she is dedicated to fighting urban blight in her community. To achieve this, she has completed two notable projects in North Omaha: Tierra Park, a charming pocket park located at 2413...
Passion for music and its format fuels the decision to purchase and sell music physically every day. A MusicWatch study in March 2022 estimated that 18 million consumers ages 13 and older, purchased a vinyl record, which is a 27% increase from 2020. Billboard concluded that 47.1% of album sales in the U.S. were vinyl record sales. Fifty-seven percent of physical albums were sold on vinyl and outsold their competing formats. "The best part of vinyl records is that it's real. It's a physical...
Much of this week’s activity focused on broadband and the Nebraska Department of Transportation, along with some controversy relating to education policy. The Transportation and Telecommunications Committee heard three of my bills this week. LB1038 would make a small change to the membership requirement of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission, which develops and reviews our state’s information technology plans. The commission currently has nine voting members and one member from the...
Holt County Supervisors learned the district probation office needs more space. Tara Sprigler Price, district probation officer, addressed supervisors, Jan. 31, when the board met in O'Neill. If the veterans' office moves to the former O'Neill school administration building, Price would like to expand to the current veterans' office in the annex."I have a new officer I've hired who's currently in training and I don't physically have an office for him to go to here," Price said. The new officer...
In life and legislative work, a new year brings new opportunities and new undertakings. As we enter 2024 and the second session of the 118th United States Congress, there is much work to do and I’m optimistic we can achieve results for the American people. Commonsense policies promoting economic growth and productivity in our communities can benefit our country as a whole. With no shortage of obstacles to overcome to curb wasteful spending, deliver tax relief and manage federal programs, it i...
TAYLOR – Bailley Leibert walks into civics class and plops her sunflower-print backpack onto an empty table. The 15-year-old rummages for her notebook and colored pens. Around her are enough chairs to seat 10 students. But today, and every day, there are nine empty seats. It's just the ninth-grader and social studies teacher Ken Wright – an unintentional private lesson for the only freshman in this school. At Loup County High School, Bailley is the sole member of the class of 2027. The cla...
Have you started Christmas shopping or are you one of those people who have completed the task and have everything wrapped? I belong to the first group. While I blame my tardiness on my over-scheduled time, part of me also knows I don't need to hurry because I can get everything I need locally. The push for shopping local hit home last week, when a 20-something year old shopped the Sidebar for holiday gifts. She told me she's "keeping it local." Her holiday gift giving will feature only items...
Two weeks ago, I supported a one-year extension of current Farm Bill programs. While a conventional five-year reauthorization of the Farm Bill is preferable, many of these critical programs lapsed Sept. 30. The current lapse shouldn't affect 2023 crops, but a one-year extension was necessary to prevent reverting back to pre-1930s farm policy as we begin 2024. I'm pleased Congress has acted to ensure American producers will have another year of certainty as they work to put food on our table and...
Ed. note: This is the second in a series about Clearwater's downtown revitalization efforts. When Clearwater village officials receive the Downtown Revitalization Capital Improvement Plan, it will include proposed improvements at focus areas, which were unveiled Nov. 8, during an open house at the American Legion. Additionally, it will outline what types of infrastructure and streetscape improvements may best fit the village, based on feedback from visitors during the open house. Bobbi Pettit,...
The holidays are for celebrating and Small Business Saturday is a celebration of the key role independent, locally-owned businesses play in Nebraska's economy. Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011, Small Business Saturday will be Nov. 25, the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and small businesses across Nebraska have embraced Small Business Saturday and the...
The holiday season is right around the corner and it comes with great news. According to a Gallup survey, 74% of holiday shoppers said they expect to pay about the same amount or more on holiday gifts this year compared to last. Moreover, 23% of shoppers said they choose one retailer over another because they want to support small and local businesses in their community. Small businesses are essential to rural America. When buying from local small businesses, you are supporting your community in...
With the election of Speaker Mike Johnson, the House is back to work. We certainly have our work cut out for us as we fulfill our responsibilities to the American people. Speaker Johnson hit the ground running to responsibly fund our priorities, including our support for Israel. Supporting our greatest ally in the Middle East as they battle the ruthless enemy that is Hamas is an urgent priority. Regionally, Israel is in a precarious position and our support for them is vital as their neighbors...
Clearwater residents will get a sneak peek of what the village’s business district could resemble during a Nov. 8 open house, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Clearwater American Legion. Five Rule Rural Planning founder Bobbi Pettit, planner Lowell Schroeder and members of its design team will unveil concepts for buildings and infrascture along the village’s Main Street. Pettit compared Wednesday’s meeting to a home remodeling project. “If you want to remodel your kitchen, you hire an interior design te...
Chili. Just one little word that causes so much controversy. And no, I'm not talking about the whole "beans-or-no-beans" debate that seems to pit Texas chili purists against the rest of the world. I'm talking about the chili and cinnamon roll combo that so many of us remember from our school lunch days. In 2020, as were all sheltering in place and more of us were cooking at home than we had in years, I was invited to join a Facebook group that focused on "Eating through the pandemic." It was...
Their low, rumbling bellow first cuts through the silence of the Sandhills. Next comes the crunch of pointed hooves, trudging their way through tall prairie grasses. Then, the oohs of the out-of-towners watching – people up close and personal with the majestic thousand-pound mammals for the first time. This is Golden Prairie Bison, a ranch nestled in the Sandhills where Carl and Vicki Simmons raise a herd of 50 bison. Theirs is one of the dozens of bison ranches in Nebraska, one piece of an o...
This week, the House was set to continue its work on the 12 annual appropriations bills to ensure the government is responsibly funded. Unfortunately, our legislative work to cut wasteful spending was disrupted when a small handful of Republicans voted with Democrats to remove the speaker of the House. I voted against vacating the chair because it sets a disruptive precedent and because the House should be focused on delivering results for the American people. House Republicans already have a...
What would an ideal Antelope County look like in 20 years? The answer to that question, along with challenges and opportunities for area residents, were discussed during a Sept. 20 townhall meeting, at the Antelope County Courthouse in Neligh. Mason Herrman, a planner with Marvin Planning Consultants, of David City, led the get-together, which included approximately a dozen area residents. MPC is working with the county’s planning and zoning team to update the local comprehensive plan. The townh...
John Heaston opens the door to a brick warehouse next to Johnny's Cafe in South Omaha and walks through rooms holding his life's work. "It's kind of a hot mess," says the 52-year-old longtime publisher of Omaha's alternative newspaper, "The Reader." Here's a garage bay holding empty green newspaper boxes emblazoned with the word, "FREE." Here are floor-to-ceiling shelves stacked with yellowing copies of "The Reader" and "El Perico," a separate publication that Heaston owns. Sticky notes...
There are more than 900,000 child care workers across the United States. Think of the impact they have on the millions of young children and families they serve. Trusted early educators allow parents to work. They help businesses run at full speed. As small business owners, they invest their dollars right back into their communities. And, Buffett Early Childhood Institute Executive Director Walter Gilliam argues, the early childhood workforce just might be the linchpin to our country’s economic...
REGULAR PROCEEDINGS Village of Clearwater BOARD OF TRUSTEES August 14, 2023 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Monday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 8:05 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger, was posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Clearwater Market, and Cornerstone Bank-Clearwater and was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly...
Maurice S. Schindler, 83, of League City, Texas, died Aug. 12, 2023, surrounded by family. He battled nearly a year from a failing heart. ~~~~~ Maurice was born on the family farm southwest of Ewing, on Jan. 26, 1940, to Joseph (Jack) and Marge (Marjorie Christiansen) Schindler. He was the eldest of their five children. Maurice was baptized at St John's Catholic Church. He received his early education at the country school located near the original Schindler homestead, and then went on to...
The dining room table, it's not my style. But it was my parents' style, and we ate every holiday meal there at the house they built after we all grew up and left home. A bigger house. A house with the dining room my mom always wanted. What my dad wanted was to die in that house. Now a dark-haired stranger was carting that table away from the retirement home my mom and dad had landed and where Dad would spend his last months. His journey was a fill-in-the-blank primer on aging, as predictable as...
Holt County Ag Society has announced its 2023 4-H and fair schedule. Events will begin Saturday, Aug. 5 with 4-H shooting sports action and end Saturday, Aug. 12, at the fairgrounds in Chambers. 4-H shooting sports participants will register Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., with competition in trap, .22, small bore pistol and muzzle loading scheduled to start at 9. On Sunday, shooting sports participants will compete for bragging rights and ribbons in BB gun, air rifle, air pistol and archery, at...
Random thoughts on a Tuesday, as this week’s deadline looms: • Sometimes, an overactive imagination can be detrimental. I have a list of 10 column ideas, but the analogies weren’t panning out. Oh, the words were flowing, no doubt about that, but the mental image wasn’t connecting among the dots. There’s always next week. • Small-town community celebrations are simply the best. The Page and Orchard communities put on great events this past weekend. From the purple and white balloons drifting fr...
