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 have a confession to make. I dodged the draft during the Viet Nam war era. It was easy to do. All I had to do was call up the Navy recruiter in Anchorage, AK and say, “I want to enlist in the Navy.” A short time later I was safe from the Army, and in Navy boot camp at San Diego, CA. Five years later I received a medical discharge and joined the ranks of those who are proud to have served our great Nation, the United States of America. The Navy taught me a great many things that I have fou...
I’ve been thinking of some of my “unexpected journeys” lately. I’ve been thinking how life can change when stepping out of the familiar and walking life’s path with a stranger. About 10 years ago, I was presented an opportunity to go somewhere I had never been, do things I had only heard and read about, and meet people I might only envision after a National Geographic film. It sounds dramatic, even fictional, like being stranded on an island and encountering a primitive culture or something...
In case you haven’t seen any news in the last two weeks, the notion that the Covid-19 virus escaped from a virus research laboratory in Wuhan, China, is no longer a fever dream only found in intellectually compromised brains of tinfoil-hat-wearing bloggers in the far-right corners of the Dark Web. In fact, it now appears that the virus most likely WAS manmade in a lab, and that it escaped into China’s population months before anyone in the West heard about it. So certain is this idea, that Fac...
Last week the Legislature voted to override Gov. Rickett’s vetoes on three bills: LB 108, LB 147 and LB 306. LB 108 and LB 306 expand Nebraska’s welfare benefits, while LB 147 requires the State to take over management of the Omaha Public School’s teacher pension plan. So, today I would like to explain why the Legislature was wrong to override the Governor’s vetoes on these three bills. LB 108 is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. The bill raises the gross income limit for the Supplemental Nut...
The coronavirus pandemic has been a long journey, but through it all Nebraskans have pulled together to keep people healthy. On March 6, 2020, Nebraska reported its first positive case of the coronavirus. Over the last 15 months, Nebraskans have made many sacrifices. We have spent time apart from each other, figured out how to manage schools and businesses, and worked hard to slow the spread of the virus to protect our hospitals. As our state grappled with the new virus, Nebraskans stepped up...
On Memorial Day we set aside time to honor and remember those who put on our nation's uniform and gave their lives in defense of our freedoms. The willingness of many to defend our borders, our freedom, and our Republic is what keeps the American dream alive and the United States a prominent leader on the world stage. We are reminded of the selfless acts of heroism of our armed forces who served in past conflicts and those who continue to serve around the world today. I recently supported three...
Memorial Day began in the years after the Civil War, when it was originally called “Decoration Day.” At the first official celebration of this holiday in 1868, then-Congressman James A. Garfield, who would become our 20th president, said in a speech at Arlington National Cemetery that those who gave their lives for our country “summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens.” That is as true today as it was 150 years ago. Memorial Day honors the sacrifi...
On Memorial Day we set aside time to honor and remember those who put on our nation’s uniform and gave their lives in defense of our freedoms. The willingness of many to defend our borders, our freedom, and our Republic is what keeps the American dream alive and the United States a prominent leader on the world stage. We are reminded of the selfless acts of heroism of our armed forces who served in past conflicts and those who continue to serve around the world today. This past week, I s...
“56% of Americans in 2021 have a “great deal of trust and confidence” on the military, down from 70% in 2018. 33% of Americans in 2021 have “a great deal of trust and confidence” in public health officials. 21% of Americans in 2021 have “a great deal of trust and confidence” in public educations. 10% of Americans in 2021 have “a great deal of trust and confidence” in Congress.” (Source: Ronald Reagan Institute, reported in the June 2021 issue of The American Legion magazine.) When I r...
In a few days, the flags will fly a little higher, grills will burn a little hotter and many will take the time to remember. It is a time to celebrate, although probably not in the raucous out-of-control method many might envision Memorial Day, once called Decoration Day, is a time to remember those who committed to the call of their country, and paid the ultimate sacrifice in doing so. It is a time for family, but it should be prioritized by remembering our freedoms, where we are since the call...
The first session of the 107th Nebraska Legislature is quickly coming to an end. The Legislature will sine die on May 27, 2021. Although my constitutional resolution for a consumption tax failed by two votes, some good things happened in the State Legislature this year. So, today I would like to highlight some of the good bills that passed this year. One good bill is by Sen. Tom Brewer. LB 387 exempts military retirement pay from the State Income Tax. Hopefully, this bill will attract retired mi...
For readers unfamiliar with my professional background, I was a TV/radio meteorologist for 25 years from 1979 until 2004. During that time, I did side gigs as a forensic meteorologist and assistant fire meteorologist for the state of South Dakota. I left broadcasting in 2004 to work for Cabela’s as a writer but when my meteorology background became known, the company made use of those skills as well. Ultimately, I became Cabela’s corporate meteorologist. All this to say I’ve been involved in wea...
The 1921 race riot in Tulsa began on Monday, May 30, Memorial Day, when a young black man stepped into an elevator, tripped, and either grabbed a young white girl’s arm to steady himself, or stepped on her foot. She screamed. No one else witnessed what transpired on that elevator. Someone suspected a possible assault and called the police. He was 19 years old. His name was Dick Rowland. He shined shoes on Main Street. A number of Tulsa’s lawyers knew Dick, because he shined their shoes, but non...
Memorial Day began in the years after the Civil War, when it was originally called “Decoration Day.” At the first official celebration of this holiday in 1868, then-Congressman James A. Garfield, who would become our 20th president, said in a speech at Arlington National Cemetery that those who gave their lives for our country “summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens.” That is as true today as it was 150 years ago. Memorial Day honors the sacrifi...
I’ve written about the subject of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) once before in this paper, and I don’t want to give the impression it’s a subject I’m obsessed with. But I have become increasingly interested in UAPs since the flap of “drone” sightings we had in our area a bit more than a year ago. I consume a lot of news each day from a wide range of sources. In doing so, I’ve seen the number of articles and interviews about UAPs increasing in recent weeks. Perhaps that’s because congres...
Whenever a controversial bill gets introduced into the Nebraska Legislature, Senators have the opportunity to ask the Nebraska Attorney General to answer specific questions about that bill. Because the Attorney General must be objective and unbiased, State Senators don’t always get the answer they want, and such was the case with Sen. Tom Brewer’s bill, LB 236, a bill that I had co-signed. LB 236 is an important bill because it allows 90 of Nebraska’s counties to opt out of the State’s conceal...
4-2021 has been a year we hope we never repeat. There is a saying that what doesn’t kill you can make you stronger. We think that has certainly been the case for Sidney Public Schools. Students have an increased respect for school, parents are so thankful they don’t have to teach their children, and our school community has a closeness and new appreciation for everyone’s talents and efforts. We feel that commendations are in order at the end of this school year: To the administrators, for their many hours of hard work constructing and tweak...
When the 30 x 30 concept hit the public, the initial impact in the rural areas such as Panhandle Nebraska was like the Old West had returned, and the money from the East came to tell the ranchers and farmers how to do things. The stories of water wars were returning, but with a tone of “future-speak” instead of quotes from a history book. Then was a time when the small operator could get squeezed out by someone with the ability to control natural resources. Cut off access to water and dry out...
Americans have described our nation since its beginning as ‘the land of the free and the home of the brave.” If there is one thing I know, it is that all of us Americans don’t see our freedoms alike. Our nation has been divided for quite some time and our politicians have quarrelled and debated from day one. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote two thousand years ago: “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you...
Sunday was confirmation day at one of the churches I co-pastor. Six young people stood before the congregation to denounce Satan, recite scripture, profess faith in Jesus Christ and join the church. As I looked at the teens standing in front of the church, I couldn’t help but reflect on the world they’ll be entering after high school. Similar thoughts were in my mind as I spoke to Leyton students at the Gurley Lions Club annual Junior/Senior banquet. The Lions invite students from the local hig...
In recent days, an editor at the New York Times asked readers to send in their wise words that they try to live by. The best responses appeared in two Sunday editions in April. A few examples follow. A Missouri resident named Dave Dillon said, “Always behave as if someone were watching.” Kristy McCray of Ohio, said she lives by the Platinum Rule. “Treat others as they wish to be treated.” Norma Douglas of Idaho, quoted her dad. “You are not better that anyone, but no one is better than you.” Ron...
Recently I was in a discussion on law enforcement and social morality as a general rule. It started with a sentence or two promoted on a social media platform, and took off in unexpected directions. It quickly felt like I was reliving a college philosophy class or retired and sipping a warm cup in a coffee house somewhere. To start with, unless we discuss a specific official contact with a police officer, we need to use generalities, which will always have exceptions. We can say doctors are in...
The day after my last editorial, I received an email from a couple who live in our city. They told me that they had read two of my editorials and that they thought that we were very much alike in our view of the current “goings on.” They also wanted to get in touch with me and others to discuss what we could do to help save our nation. I have done a lot of thinking about what is going on and a little writing about it. And I have asked myself numerous times if there was anything that I could do...
Last week my consumption tax resolution was debated on the floor of the Legislature. LR11CA is my priority resolution for a constitutional amendment to repeal the income tax, property tax, sales tax and inheritance tax and to replace these taxes with a consumption tax. Today I regret to inform you that the resolution failed to advance, but don’t lose heart. When I consider all that this constitutional amendment attempted to do, I am not so surprised that it failed. Change is hard. Change is espe...
Police are being scrutinized, vilified and persecuted with intensity I don’t recall seeing before in my lifetime. The media have crafted a narrative that would have us believe cops are on the hunt for people of color, resulting in increased calls for police reforms, accountability and oversight. Accountability and oversight have always been present in every police department I’ve associated with. I’ve hung out with cops, ridden on patrols with cops, been invited to shoot qualification round...
