Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
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"I became, at ten years old, a little labouring hind in the service of Murdstone and Grinby." Thus relates David Copperfield in the Charles Dickens novel of the same name. Of course, Dickens was a crusader against the exploitation of children. The edge is taken off the depictions of the heartless treatment of children in his fiction, though, by the funny and memorable portrayals of the malefactors, the upward trajectory of the lives of the likes of David Copperfield and Oliver Twist, and the...
In recent days, I have begun reading John Barry's book, "Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State, and the Birth of Liberty." Although published in 2012, Barry tells the story of how the Puritans chose to leave old England to build a plantation on the rocky New England coast of Massachusetts. In England, the Puritans wanted to purify and simplify their church. Hence, the title of Puritans. They wanted a rustic sanctuary, without stained glass windows and gaudy...
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Jehovah Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts). A fire goes before Him to burn up His enemies round about." Psalm 97:4, 5 Elbridge Gerry was a wealthy cod fisherman from Marblehead, Massachusetts. He was among the first Founding Fathers to finance a new nation. Because of his wealth, sea going ships and intrepid workmen, Britain's King George III targeted him, directly, with the Tea Stamp Act in 1773, in order to pay for the costly French and Indian War. George...
Everyone has an opinion. When it comes to change, however, it would seem not everyone has a voice. Not one they want to use anyways. It is curious how big and brave people can be from behind a keyboard. Demanding answers, screaming for change but when the need arises for their voices to be heard, it is instead replaced with the sound of crickets. There have been some very reasonable questions being asked in our community regarding a variety of issues within our county. Bullying at the schools,...
First, they came for Roald Dahl. Anyone who thought the politically correct rewriting would stop at the irreverent author of such children's classics as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox" was, of course, sadly mistaken. The news that hundreds of changes have been made in Dahl's classics is now followed by word that Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, is getting an emergency rewrite as well. This is a very bad idea. For a start, where does it end? There's no limiting...
I believe a major failing of our national education system is the general lack of teaching the historical foundations of our Nation and its governmental system. Even though it is not close to the Fourth of July, I believe it is time to look at the Declaration of Independence that was passed by the fledgling American Congress on July 4, 1776. Let's examine just a few parts of this document and see how they apply to the state of the Union today. The second paragraph makes a concise and logical...
"Come unto Me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," Jesus said. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. Here is the light and easy life! "If you be willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land," Isaiah 1:19 God is on the 'lookout' for a willing, obedient soul, who will say, "YES, I WILL!" Yes, I will seek Your face. Yes, I will...
We all agree that our kids are our future. In every community across our state, no matter the size, we all want the same thing – a better future for our kids than we had. Our highest priority is to protect our kids and their adolescent minds until they are old enough to discern and make their own decisions. That is why I support Senator Kauth's bill, LB 574, that will keep misinformed parents from allowing their kid to have irreversible, gender-altering surgery. There is a reason why kids in N...
On February 17, 2023, David Remnick of the New Yorker podcast interviewed Steven Kotkin, history professor at Stanford, and biographer of Joseph Stalin. Kotkin said, "Let's think of a house with ten rooms, and let's say I barge in and take two of those rooms. I wreck those two rooms, and I also wreck your other eight rooms. You try to evict me, but I'm still there wrecking your entire house. "You need your house. That's where you live. You don't have another house. Me, I've got another house,...
Only in 21st-century America can you call yourself the "proud daughter of Indian immigrants" and get accused of whitewashing your background. For the left, the verdict is in and has been for a long time - Nikki Haley is not Indian American enough. The offenses of the former South Carolina governor are myriad, from using an easily pronounceable name to converting to Christianity, to once checking "white" on a voter registration card, to touting the value of hard work in getting ahead, to defendin...
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his work is done by the meekness of wisdom." James 3:13 Meekness is not timidity, but a strong resolve when under fire. Moses portrayed meekness as he went against Pharaoh to deliver Hebrews from Egypt's slavery, thereby creating the nation of Israel. O! Friend! We have been here, before! Matthew 6:24, Jesus reveals that we cannot serve God and Mammon. Is Mammon simply material things? I Timothy 6:10 declares the love of...
A recent report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected our nation will add nearly $19 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years. CBO projects the debt will equal 118 percent of gross domestic product 2033. With the national debt already in excess of $31 trillion, inflation hammering American families, and economic uncertainty threatening American small businesses, it's clearer than ever we must put a stop to runaway spending in Washington. As recent numbers from the...
Last week we started floor debates in the Nebraska State Legislature, and the first thing on the agenda was to confirm the governor's appointments. In the past, this process would usually take three to four hours of floor debate to complete. The appointments would be confirmed and the Legislature would then move on to other business, such as debating bills. That has not been the case this year. A few Democrats have decided to hold up the confirmation process. Consequently, we spent the first...
Reaching back into the not so far distant past, one of the activities I participated in during my high school years was debate. Monroe High School in Fairbanks, Alaska had a debate club that I joined shortly after leaving the high school choir. My voice had changed and I couldn't hold a note without ending up screeching in C above high C. That simple change ended up making a great change in many things in my life over the following years. Among the things we were taught in the debate club,...
"'I have loved you.' says the LORD. Yet, you say, 'In what way have You loved us?'" Malachi 1:1 Can Mankind truly understand the Father's love? I Corinthian 13 tells us, briefly, what love is and is not. 1, 2 and 3 John add detail. Now, let us look at Galatians 5:22, 23 with fresh eyes, starting at the bottom. Faith believes that Jesus is Messiah. He told the Disciples, "You believe in God. Also believe in Me." John 14:1 If we don't believe in Jesus, we cannot please the Father (Hebrews 11:6)...
Last weekend, the United States shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon that entered our airspace. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is constantly looking for opportunities to spy on our nation's military facilities, steal intellectual property, and threaten the United States' position as the leader of the free world. The CCP cannot be trusted, and it's critical that we present a united front against any attempt to chip away at our national security. That's why my colleagues and I are...
State agencies are supposed to work for the State of Nebraska. State Senators represent the people of Nebraska because they are elected by the people of Nebraska. So, it is inappropriate for the director of any state agency to tell the Legislature what to do. Instead, it is the job of the Legislature to make the laws, and it is the job of each state agency to carry out those laws. That is, unless you work for the Game and Parks Commission. Protocol for the director of any state agency is to...
We celebrated St. Valentine's Day two days ago, February 14, a day when we reflect upon our good fortune that we have that special person in our life, our Valentine. Next Monday, February 20, government officials grant us a holiday to consider the forty-five Presidents, all men. Because Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms, officials count him twice, as #24 and #26. Thus, we give honor to forty-four men. First President George Washington was born on February 11, 1731, by the Julian...
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Lord, Jesus, the Anointed One, that He may dwell in your hearts, being rooted and grounded in His love and able to comprehend, within you, how His love is able to do exceeding abundantly above what you are able to ask or think." Ephesians 3:14-21 Pastor Bill Gothard produced the book "The Power for True Success, How to Build Character in Your Life"; 12th printing 2001, published by Institute of Basic Life Principles, PO Box One, Oak Brook, Illinois 60522-30...
By now many of you have received a postcard or two in the mail indicting me for trying to repeal term limits. Since these postcards went out in the mail, I have received numerous phone calls and emails about term limits. I deeply appreciate the phone calls and the emails I have received. I have been especially blessed by constituents who have sought me out to find out the truth about what this is all about, so today I would like to set the record straight about what the Legislature is trying to...
"He who loves his brother lives in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. Greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world, because He has given us of His Spirit; you have an anointing from the Holy One to love as God has loved. God IS Love." 1 John 2:10, 20; 4:4. [As I bow before you, Lord, I will rise in confidence, I will see Your goodness, Lord, in the land I'm living in]. Song lyrics Homer and Emma began their day singing, "I've got the peace that passes...
After watching young people (anyone under 30 years old... snicker) demonstrating and rioting because they find their lot in life so difficult I want to throw up. It makes me that sick. They want other people to pay for their college education. They want to enter the work force and get paid large salaries for sitting on their duffs in front of a computer screen. They act like they are the only ones who have to deal with the stress of living. Yep. Living can be stressful, especially when you have...
Just for the record, would the Nebraska legislative district 47 voters who influenced Senator Steve Erdman to limit Nebraskans to election day voting only (with few exceptions); asked him to request that the Unicameral be changed to a two house bicameral; and sought a dangerous, untested consumption tax to replace all other government revenues, please step forward and identify themselves? And while we're at it, would those who followed his advice and used hydroxychloriquine as a treatment or preventative for Covid 19 during the recent pandemic...
Local control and keeping our families together – essential aspects of The Good Life in Nebraska – are threatened by LB 662. Imagine this waking nightmare: your water is contaminated, your rural road is overrun and torn up by heavy trucks and semi-trailers, your property has become nearly unlivable and so devalued that you may never be able to sell it, and your air is polluted by noise, odor, and particulates that sicken you, your family and your pets. Sounds unimaginable, right? Now, add this: you have no legal recourse against the ope...
On February 4, 1977, the band Fleetwood Mac released their record-selling "Rumours" album. Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie sang one of its songs, "Don't Stop." "If you wake up and don't want to smile. If it takes just a little while. Open your eyes and look at the day. You'll see things in a different way. Don't stop thinking about tomorrow. Don't stop. It'll soon be here. It'll be better than before. Yesterday's gone. Yesterday's gone." Last week, for the first time, I watched Bill...
