Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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On Wednesday, Jan. 15, Governor Ricketts presented his State of the State Address to the Nebraska Legislature. The beginning of his speech focused on the events of last year. Although there was much devastation, he emphasized how Nebraskans responded with determination and generosity. A recent federal report pegged the losses stemming from last year’s weather at more than $3.4 billion. This figure does not include all the damages to the private sector, creating hardship for many homeowners, busi...
Looking out the kitchen window as the new year erupts into an expected cold January, a striking red cardinal has stopped at the bird bath. Flashes of blue can be seen as a flock of bluejays dart around the feeders grabbing at morsels of feed. The color reminds me that now is the time to study how to make sure I have color in the plants in the garden this summer. As the winter temperatures force me to indoor time, I need to study up on care for my flower garden. Using the correct fertilizers can...
The other day, I was sorting through a pile of jewelry on my dresser - the catch-all for necklaces and bracelets. (Yes, I know. I should put them away immediately instead of letting everything pile up until I cannot open the doors on my jewelry box.) One pair of drop earrings, comprised of five squares of cubic zirconia, was in the mix. When did I wear these? What special occasion required pushing the finding through my semi-closed pierced ears? Your guess is as good as mine. I opened the...
I first want to extend my wishes that everyone had a Merry Christmas, and a nice holiday season with family and friends, as well as to wish a healthy and prosperous New Year to everyone. The 2020 legislative session convened at 10 a.m., on Jan. 8. The first several days of the session will consist mostly of bill introduction. Bills can be introduced during the first 10 working days of the session, which this year will run until Jan. 23. Debate on carryover legislation - bills from last year...
Wednesday, Jan. 8 marked the first day of the One Hundred Sixth Legislature, second session. This also marks the beginning of the second year that I am serving as the representative of the 40th Legislative District. The 40th district covers the counties of Boyd, Cedar, Dixon, Holt, Knox and Rock. Legislative sessions in even-numbered years last for 60 days. During the short session, senators will make any necessary adjustments to the two-year budget that was developed during the 90-day session...
JOHNATHAN HLADIK Policy Director Center for Rural Affairs The Pew Research Center finds that only 63% of rural Americans have a broadband internet connection at home, and 24% of rural adults consider access to high speed internet a major problem in their community. Recent policy developments are designed to address this. But, will they be enough? In July, the Federal Communications Commission established the Digital Opportunity Data Collection program. This program will collect broadband access data at the address level, and use those results t...
What will the world look like in 2030? The New York Times posed that question to a group of public figures, ranging from politicians to authors to academics. After reading most of the responses, the outlook seems pretty bleak. Former N.S.A contractor Edward Snowden discusses how the things society demands for the sake of convenience will be our downfall. He writes, “As consumer electronics get cheaper and more disposable, the more they will leach their minerals into our groundwater, poisoning t...
It’s late Sunday evening, the wind sounds like a freight train racing through town, and when I glance out the front door, I cannot tell if it is still snowing or if it’s simply blowing what snow already has landed. Scott is stranded at the farm. He tried to make the drive home, but after a mile, the pickup slammed into a drift. Thank God for cell phones and Dad, who brought a tractor to extract the vehicle. Farmers and ranchers never get to experience snow days. Livestock need to be fed and che...
For more than a year, I’ve been navigating the health care system for Dad. It’s been an eye-opening experience. I’m not sure you’re ever prepared to take over your parents’ finances and deal with insurance, Medicare and hospice requirements. I know I wasn’t. My saving grace: a family of medical professionals who are willing to help me understand the system and endless forms I’m filing. Our family agrees he receives excellent care at the facility in Battle Creek. We’re encouraged by his willingne...
To freely offer to do something. This short phrase-volunteer-describes the one action that many organizations, businesses and communities rely on to ensure the successful outcomes for their vested interest. In this particular definition, the reader easily assumes "freely" describes the act where no money is exchanged to reimburse the individual for his or her time, knowledge or energy. However, shouldn't the word freely also describe the willingness and self-efficacy to enjoy and complete the...
BRIAN DEPEW, Executive Director, Center for Rural Affairs The Center for Rural Affairs has long focused on strategies to support economic vitality for small communities. Our work to assist small businesses, develop value-added agriculture and improve policy, all focus on creating widespread opportunity for people who live in rural areas. Increasingly, we see small town housing as an economic development issue. While adequate and affordable housing is a quality of life issue, it also plays an important role in economic development. A lack of...
Not that I’m in a Bah Humbug kind of mood, but Christmas has lost some of its luster. Wait! Hear me out, says the women who hasn’t - and probably won’t - deck the halls of the Schindler casa this year. (In my defense, the miniature Husker-themed tree stays up year round, so one room is decorated.) I like Christmas, the story of peace, joy and love brought to the world with the birth of Jesus. Listening to the story of his miraculous entrance in the world gives me hope and makes me realize how pr...
I don’t get enough sleep. I’m guessing, neither do you. Daily, as I sync my FitBit, I’m reminded that a sleep score in the 70s isn’t good. “Catch more Zzzzzs,” the app taunts. When I look at my REM pattern, frankly, it scares me. I know I need more deep sleep. Four to five hours a night may have been sufficient in college, or most of us convinced ourselves it was enough to get by. But now, four or five hours of rest leaves me feeling more tired then when I went to bed. The biggest reason I kn...
Looking out the kitchen window, the landscape has changed the past couple of weeks. Snow caps the trees and decor, making a wonderful winter photo. Out our window, green swags with red berries and bows on the garden fence are also frosted with snow. Even at night, we have a view out the kitchen window with lights glowing on the swags. Christmas shopping is near completed at our home. If you are still searching for a gift for a gardener, I have a few suggestions. They include subscriptions to...
Sitting down in your favorite chair next to a warm, crackling fire in the fireplace enjoying a good, intellectually stimulating book is a form of relaxation. Well, in today's world, that book is commonly replaced with a phone, tablet or other electronic device, playing a mind-numbing game of Candy Crush or an application with a similar objective. When considering this, has reading become an activity of the past? The skill of reading, which used to be a sign of knowledge and education, is...
How do we sustain rural America? The question was discussed Monday in Norfolk during a town hall meeting titled "Growing Together." The event, sponsored by the Aksarben Foundation, included speakers who addressed brain drain - students who leave the area following graduation and do not return home - and how to make the northeast region of the state a more desirable place to attract young professionals. Former state senator Mike Flood presented data regarding the ages of population in area...
A recent New York Times article, "Farm Country Feeds America. But Just Try Buying Groceries There," by Jack Healy, nailed what happens when a community loses its grocery store. The article shares the story of Winchester, Illinois, whose only grocery store shuttered. After fundraising efforts, similar to a grassroots movement we experienced in Clearwater, a community-owned grocery store opened; however, members were unable to land a produce supplier. Now, the store sells produce and baked goods...
Rhea Landholm | Center for Rural Affairs Shopping at a locally-owned and operated business is truly a unique experience. The atmosphere surrounds you as soon as you step out of your car. Sometimes, holiday music flows through the main thoroughfares of your small town. Almost always, twinkling snowflakes line the streets. Large storefront windows decorated for the season beam welcoming lights onto the sidewalk. These windows offer a snapshot of what you can expect when you enter the small business. Upon taking that step inside, chances are...
A faded envelope sat tucked inside Dad's top dresser drawer. On it, a list of dollar amounts written in his precise penmanship. More than 10 columns crossed the expanse of that pouch, each line crossed off, with the next entry either increasing or decreasing. A childhood throwback, the envelope held chore money. Laurie had one too, and if we wanted to spend any of our hard-earned cash, we asked permission first. Mom or Dad would question if the purchase was something we honestly needed and...
As many of you are aware, TC Energy (formerly TransCanada Corporation), is renewing its efforts to build a tarsands oil pipeline through the United States, including here in Holt County. The project is massive in scope and size, and will have a massive impact socially, culturally, environmentally, and economically. Whether the impact in each of those categories is positive or negative is the subject of heated debate. That debate is not the subject of this letter, and I am certainly not in a...
It's funny when people on the coasts figure out Midwestern culture. For several months, I've read magazine articles about and website postings dedicated to what may be a true middle-of-the-country delicacy: the pairing of chili with cinnamon rolls. It's even funnier when Midwestern folk figure out what's popular in the Midwest. Even a Sioux Falls radio station featured a segment on the union of soup and dessert, noting it's popular in Nebraska, Colorado, Utah Montana and Kansas. In South Dakota?...
Success breeds success and fuels momentum. At the moment, momentum and success for Summerland activities and events are cause for excitement. In the co-operative's inaugural year, the cross country program made major strides, drawing approximately a dozen students into competition and qualifying two athletes for the state meet in Kearney. If you have not attended a cross country meet, add it to your bucket list next season. What a great showing of dedication and determination! A definite sense...
The fall temperatures have turned cold and the skies are often gray as I look out my kitchen window. Bright bluejays and dark eyed juncos add activity to what is otherwise a dull landscape. I hope, now that November is here, you have your gardens and house tucked in for colder temperatures. That is usually a fulfilling but labor-intensive job, at least it is at our house. When the job is done, l realize that the emptiness of the flower garden is like cleaning a slate to redesign next year's...
Most of us have one, that single being who keeps us grounded and offers support even when we don't deserve it. I'm talking about man's - and woman's - best friend that is not of the canine persuasion. In a time seemingly filled with countless obligations, family demands and self-imposed craziness, we rely on friendships for a sense of stability, a key element for living a happy and fulfilling life. Even when we reach a low point in our lives, friends provide a sounding board and offer guidance....
When I submitted my column this past month, I presented the piece to one of my education professors to receive her input. As luck had it, the dissertation she spent three years researching and writing for her doctoral program focused on the transition from high school to college. Furthermore, her research focused on college freshman not being legitimately prepared for the academic struggles college presents. As she read through my article, she circled questions I presented in my writing that...
