Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Sorted by date Results 1074 - 1098 of 1718
The ideological war we’re witnessing in America is as old as mankind. We’ve see the pattern played out over and over throughout history. Prosperous and powerful nations become corrupt and detached from principled moorings. The people become complacent and restless. The disaffected rebel and rise up. Totalitarianism follows in a crackdown usually welcomed by those demanding an end to the chaos. There’s a period of darkness and evil, followed by spiritual renewal and renaissance. Then the prosperi...
In Bill Bryson’s 2003 book, A Short History of Nearly Everything, he writes, “If your two parents had not bonded when they did—possibly to the second—you wouldn’t be here.” Your existence also depends upon countless exact bondings between your grandparents, great-grandparents, all of your forefathers back thousands of years. Bryson has counted up all the people required to make you, You. He says that “if you count back sixty-four generations, to the time of the ancient Romans, the number of peo...
Since 1949, the month of May has marked Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. This campaign aims to draw public attention to the sobering fact that in any given year, one in five Americans will suffer from mental illness. Perhaps even more strikingly, more than 50 percent of us will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in our lives. Each year’s campaign features a different theme, ranging from encouraging social connectedness and participation in the communities a...
On February 15, 1865, General Beauregard of the Confederate States Army ordered the evacuation of all Confederate forces from Charleston, South Carolina. He knew that his army could not stop General William T. Sherman’s Union troops from capturing Charleston on their march north. Union forces detested South Carolina. It was the first state to secede from the Union, in December of 1860, and it was there, at Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, that the Civil War had begun in April of 1861, when r...
I’m writing this column on Sunday evening. After seeing the successful launch of the Space X rocket from a NASA facility in Florida and a successful docking with the International Space Station, I was hopeful for a moment. And hope is something we badly need. Sadly, our media buried the story of the first private-enterprise-funded venture into space. It seems the only really important news centers on burning, looting, screaming, beating and the bewildering belief that illegally taking p...
On February 15, 1865, General Beauregard of the Confederate States Army ordered the evacuation of all Confederate forces from Charleston, South Carolina. He knew that his army could not stop General William T. Sherman's Union troops from capturing Charleston on their march north. Union forces detested South Carolina. It was the first state to secede from the Union, in December of 1860, and it was there, at Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor, that the Civil War had begun in April of 1861, when...
We traveled to a nearby memorial last weekend, a memorial garden really. It is, after all, the main purpose of a cemetery, besides the obvious. We have a fair amount of family in this location. I could say at least one left this world too soon, just as she was beginning to understand the springboard of her future she was standing on. And it would be true. When a parent has to let go, it is not easy, it is not clean, it is not quick, but it is necessary. It is necessary because there is no...
Over the past three months, Nebraskans have once again shown the world how our grit, determination, and spirit of working together can help us overcome any challenge. Faced with the greatest public health crisis in over a century, Nebraskans have responded by slowing the spread of the virus, protecting our healthcare system, and taking care of our neighbors. Thanks to widespread adoption of social and physical distancing techniques, Nebraskans flattened the curve. Anybody in need of a hospital...
Today we know a lot more about COVID-19 than we did before the outbreak first occurred in China’s Wuhan Province. Unfortunately, those who make the policies for our states, do not always get their information from the right sources. We’ve known since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in America that the elderly were most at risk, especially those living in nursing homes and long term care facilities. We’ve known this about the coronavirus because on March 17 Stanford epide...
I hope you feel as blessed and grateful as I do that we don’t live in a large city. One thing I hope we learn from this virus mess is that God never intended for millions of people to live on top of each other. He expressed His displeasure first at the Tower of Babel thousands of years ago, but we apparently didn’t get the message. As the virus takes a heavy toll on metropolitan areas, some mayors and governors are revealing their true natures by acting like fascist dictators. Even as we learn C...
Conversation is on again about activating pro sports seasons. The newscasters were punctuating the excitement of the Rockies hitting the field, the Broncos prepping for the fall season and the list of other teams that are expected to follow suit. Oh, by the way. These games are to be played without fans. The Mud Hens of Nowhere Special will face off against the Blaze... in an empty stadium. I have to say when the news first broke I got excited. I was mentally preparing for a day trip to a Rockie...
It’s hard to believe we’ve been battling coronavirus in Nebraska for over two months now. I applaud Nebraskans for working together and successfully slowing the spread of the virus. The impact of the virus has been much less severe here than in many other states. That’s due in part to Nebraskans staying informed, following the rules, and practicing good hygiene and physical distancing. As we have worked to mitigate the impact of the virus, communities have been working to overcome a varie...
What is hope? According to good 'ol Webster, the definition of the word hope as a verb is "to expect with confidence; trust," and the definition of the word hope as a noun is "desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment." I love that the word hope is both a verb, an action word, and a noun, the subject doing the action. We are called to be both! We must be living as verbs and nouns. For me and my family our hope comes from the Lord. ""But now, Lord, what do I look for?" My hope...
On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel's Declaration of Independence. He said that the new State of Israel will "uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of religion, or race." Despite Ben-Gurion's promise, war broke out between Arab and Jew. Fearing the worst, the native Palestinian people panicked. They packed their bags, and fled their homes, their villages, expecting to return in days or months, never imagining that their move was...
I went for a drive recently, to a region I haven't seen for, well, since the coronavirus was officially acknowledged. It is a location treated almost like a day trip destination. Go and do some shopping (only for those things not offered in Sidney). Take the time to see places and people not in Cheyenne County. Then load up for the windshield time home. I have to say I was disappointed. I was disappointed because the health measures in areas outside of Sidney squelch the very idea of tourism,...
Enough is enough! We are now 60 days into the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic first reached American soil, predictions were made by medical experts about its severity and mortality rate. At that time they said the virus was going to be horrific because they were basing their opinions upon insufficient information about the virus. But, at that time it was all they had to go on. Now we know the facts about COVID-19, and the facts do not back up what was originally projected to happen. The...
We are discovering many things as a result of the corona virus and its impact. Among them are that work and jobs centralized in office buildings and business parks are over. Prior to 2020, only about 8 percent of wage and salaried employees in the U.S. worked remotely at least one day a week according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Then the virus hit and so did the landscape of work within our country as millions of Americans employed by thousands of companies were told they had to...
Two months ago, give or take a few days or so, “normal” took a left turn in the Panhandle. We were strongly encouraged to stay home unless on an essential errand or duty. The “encouragement” was even stronger if we traveled outside of the Panhandle, at which point we were to take a two-week staycation i.e. self-quarantine. As of May 4, the economic, emotional and social lights are starting to flicker back on. Restaurants and cafes can have a limited number of dine-in customers. Custome...
If you have not read Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty” speech in the last week, look it up right now and give it some time. Mr. Henry gave this speech in 1775 to reluctant members of the Second Virginia Convention to develop a military response to British aggression. He was calling out men to rise to action in the face of government oppression. This idea sounds strangely familiar right now. I have been a red-blooded, white, blue-collared American my entire life. It is time to stand up and be bold for our American freedoms. As I quote Mr. Henry...
Nebraskans are tough, resilient, and generous. Our strength of character is revealed on an everyday basis, but it’s especially illuminated during difficult times like we are facing right now with the COVID-19 pandemic. From distilleries and ethanol plants contributing to hand sanitizer production to school districts continuing to provide meals for students in need, the stories I have heard about Nebraskans’ collective response to this crisis are truly inspiring. At a time when the news can oft...
As I write this article this week I am very concerned with the continued struggle that the COVID-19 virus has presented us with. This crisis has affected every person not only in my legislative district, but throughout the State of Nebraska, throughout the United States, and even throughout the world. Folks have been reaching out to me by phone, email and text messaging about the current situation they are facing. Small business owners are saying if they are forced to close up shop, they may never open again. Agricultural people have contacted...
In a matter of just a few weeks, the outbreak of COVID-19 has upended how Nebraskans and all Americans are living their lives. Schools have closed their doors, bars and restaurants have shut down, and nearly all public events have been put on hold to slow the disease’s spread. As uncertain and stressful as this time of crisis is, I have seen so many wonderful stories of Nebraskans helping one another. Brickway Brewery & Distillery in Omaha is using its distillers to produce hand sanitizer for fe...
I remember watching the movie “Marley and Me” and relating to some of the events. Owen Wilson played the part of an aspiring writer and columnist fresh to the Florida community. It is a little bit familiar. Having a dog that immediately attaches to the family. Again, it is a little bit familiar. Fortunately, our canine family members have never eaten jewelry intended for my lovely wife. I’m not sure she would be too excited about an amethyst necklace having traveled the insides of a rambu...
Christmas is upon us. It's a Christian holiday established by Pope Julian I in 4th century A.D. to mark the intervention of God in the events of human history by sending a savior to not only offer salvation, but also to show us how we should live. The gospel message is simply stated in John 3:16. Regrettably, religion, tradition and politics have diluted the simplicity of God's gift to the point that people are leaving the faith in large numbers. During my 40-plus years in ministry I've seen my...
On Christmas Eve, 1968, the Apollo 8 crew reached the lunar orbit. The year, as we all know, was full of deep division. But on that night, more than 50 years ago, the astronauts understood they had an opportunity to offer comfort and healing to the fractured nation they were gazing upon from hundreds of thousands of miles away. The Apollo 8 crew delivered a Christmas Eve television broadcast and sent back to earth the following message: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the e...
