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 886 - 910 of 1658
We’re about to put 2020 in the rearview mirror. Most seem eager to do so as it’s been a year of significant challenges. A year ago we had record-low unemployment, a flourishing economy, relative peace abroad and a bright future. Then came Covid-19, George Floyd, BLM, Antifa, and the most bitter presidential election of my lifetime. Anyone who tells you 2021 will be any better should be regarded with suspicion. I think 2021 will be the year of important choices, both for the nation and for us...
During this season of Hanukkah and Christmas, friends and acquaintances have asked me to explain Hanukkah to them. I’m happy to help them understand the holiday. A recent, highly publicized interview with U. S. Senator Kamala Harris raised questions and negative comments about her understanding of and explanation for the significance of Hanukkah. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means “rededication”. Rededicating the Temple through purification acts and oneself to practice traditional Judaism. It has a...
Almost 12 months ago, when I flipped the calendar to 2020, I had visions of getting better at what I do, finding time for some things I don’t do enough and, as I told a friend as a goal or resolution, ride more. I saw myself retracing the Tour de Nebraska ride through the Panhandle. I saw myself doing a few more weekenders, seeing people I miss and scheduling excuses to let the mind and body relax. Instead, I like most of us, spent the year moving from thinking I was a normal hard-working guy t...
Christmas and New Year’s Day are welcome opportunities to slow down, connect with loved ones, and look forward to 2021. As we approach the year’s end, I am thankful for the many sacrifices Nebraskans have made in 2020. Despite many difficulties, our state’s residents have displayed inspiring strength and compassion during the pandemic. Healthcare workers have done heroic work this year to keep people healthy. Families have adjusted their routines to protect elderly or at-risk loved ones in th...
As the world gets more complex, many question the relevance of Jesus Christ to our world. After all, he was born more than 2,000 years ago, they point out. His world and life experiences were nothing like ours. Really? Jesus was born into a world of conflicting ideologies. For 300 years, the Holy Land had been dominated by Greek culture, one that emphasized philosophy, education and the arts. In 140 B.C. the Jews rebelled against the Greeks in the famous Maccabean Revolt, which established the...
There was a time we would already be hiding presents, guarding the tree from the family pet and double-checking our list of guests and what they will be bringing to the feast of all feasts. We would be worried about having enough ham for the number of guests, and if Uncle Tony will make a fool of himself again There was a time movies like “Jingle All the Way” were more of a docudrama than a funny story of misplaced values. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when employees hurried home C...
The Kolyma Highway begins at the port of Magadan on Russia’s Pacific Ocean, heads north some distance, but then veers to the west, and ends at Yakutsk, a city of 311,000 people, deep in a Siberian wilderness called the taiga. Travelers see only spruce and fir trees in every direction. All together, this highway of gravel, mud, ice, and pavement that cuts through the endless forest extends across 2012 kilometers, or 1260 miles, of the Russian landscape. Early in the twentieth-century, the S...
America is fortunate to have an excellent higher education system, and is home to many of the world’s greatest and most prestigious universities. During any given year, nearly 20 million Americans are enrolled in public and private colleges studying topics ranging from engineering to business to science. Nebraska in particular is proudly home to many world-class universities educating thousands of our young people. It is no wonder that Nebraska consistently ranks among the best states for h...
I absolutely love making homemade Christmas gifts. I enjoy praying over the person who will receive the gift. This year I jumped on the crazy train and decided I was going to give my family a present from the past. Genealogical study has always ranked high on my list of fairly nostalgic (albeit kind of nerdy) endeavors, but it has always fascinated me to see where I came from and the rich history of men and women coming together to produce my ancestors. I bought one of these huge fan charts...
Christmas is our nation’s first federal holiday. Christmas was first declared as a national holiday back in 1789. Since this time there has been an unbroken history of official acknowledgement of the holiday by all three branches of our federal government. So, when the city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island was sued for displaying a nativity scene, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Lynch v. Donelly (1985) that the Constitution does not require a complete separation of church and state. I...
Nebraskans are known for common sense, tenacity, and grit. When faced with a major challenge, we don’t panic or abandon core principles and long-standing traditions. Instead, we pull together to do what’s best for our communities. Whether it’s a pandemic or historic flooding, Nebraskans have shown the world that we can overcome incredible challenges. In mid-November, Nebraska’s coronavirus hospitalizations had reached a critical point. With nearly 1,000 coronavirus patients, hospitals across...
This is my last column about globalist agendas unless readers request more. To review, this is NOT conspiracy theory. Most of what I describe is out in the open for anyone to read on the World Economic Forum’s website. There you can read what the elite, wealthy and powerful from business, politics, academia, entertainment, media and religion have as goals. They are laid out in discussions about the Great Reset, Agenda 21, Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2050. Here are some of them. Economics – Bec...
“Whoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.” “As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of who you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and His religion as He left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see.” — Benjamin Franklin A few years ago, it feels like longer, then-President Barack Obama gained attention when he told a crowd America is not a Christian nation, nor has it ever claimed t...
We are finally getting some good news about the coronavirus. The number of hospitalizations in Nebraska declined last week and both Moderna and Pfizer are beginning to send out vaccinations. Because those working in the medical field, those in nursing homes, and high risk individuals will be the first to receive these vaccinations, the rest of us will have to wait. So now is a good time to remind the public about what can be done at home to treat the symptoms of the coronavirus. The American...
When I meet with hospitals and health care providers around Nebraska, both prior to and during the current pandemic, the impact of unnecessary regulations on their ability to provide care in rural areas is always at the top of their list of concerns. Over the last four years I have appreciated working with the Trump administration on these issues because of their persistent willingness to listen to rural Americans, take these concerns seriously, and act. We cannot afford to go in the other direc...
Last week I said I’d write more on the coming Great Reset if readers requested it. You did. So here’s more. We can learn a lot about the Great Reset by reading its own material. It’s right there on The World Economic Forum website. And as is often the case with these things, it’s vital to look for what is NOT said or included on the site as it is to examine what is critically. On the surface, this initiative undertaken by wealthy and powerful globalists sounds wonderful. They hit all the rig...
As much as I would love to write about the tyrannical measures of the lockdowns, the overreach of government, the uselessness of masks, the election fraud and the absolute absurd idea that a vaccine is going to do one iota of good for our current state of affairs, I am reminded of what my greatest task actually is. My paramount sphere of influence is within the four walls of my home. I will have the greatest impact right here and I need to be reminded of that right now…. because my heart and min...
I watched part of a video recently that was both enlightening and heart-felt. It was one of those events where the mall or major retail store looks typical with shoppers buying and grazing and suddenly one of the previously unnoticed shoppers starts singing. From across the counter another joins in. Then another, and another. It is called by some a “mob sing.” It seems like after the last several months the event might want to change its name. The protests and related activity have put a dim...
As you may know, for the past several weeks I have been delineating the ten rights of the Nebraska Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, which I plan to include in legislation for the consumption tax in January. Today I will complete the Nebraska Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights by explaining the tenth right. The tenth right in the Nebraska Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights says, “The State of Nebraska shall live within its revenue means in the same way that a citizen lives within his or her revenue means.” This fina...
An interesting anecdote appears in Barack Obama’s recently-published memoir, A Promised Hope. He recalls the day, a Friday, October 9, 2009, when he was stunned to learn that the Nobel Peace Prize Committee’s members, meeting in Oslo, Norway, announced that they had selected him. When told of the honor, Obama was incredulous. “For what?” he asked. The committee’s members explained that they had selected him, “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation...
When discussing the Great Reset, it’s vital to understand what it is, and what it is not. It’s not a conspiracy theory. It’s proponents say upfront what it is on the website https://www.weforum.org/great-reset. It’s also not a shady secret organization made up of Bond-villain-like power players. It is an effort driven by misguided wealthy and powerful globalists who are very open about what they envision and their pursuit of a global collectivist agenda with tentacles reaching into nearly...
In the 11 November 2020 issue of the Sidney Sun-Telegraph, Mr. Benson again willingly and gladly reveals his ignorance and open bias against Israel, this time using “education” and schools with the examples of the Arab-controlled Gaza Strip and the Palestine Authority controlled areas within Israel. Both Hamas, which militarily controls Gaza, and the PA have disgustingly proven records of vile, anti-Israel and anti-Jewish messages within their “educational” materials and within their schools...
By now Thanksgiving dinner is a memory, a calorie explosion many try to forget while preparing for the next. Refrigerators and pantries are full of leftovers from the grand feast. Families were sent home with more food than they contributed. The host family doesn’t want to relive the well-worn movie of a child recalling eating refashioned leftovers for days on end. There really is a connection between the dinner table and emotional connection. Most people are respectful of the cook even when t...
As you may know, for the past several weeks I have been telling my readers about the Nebraska Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. This Bill of Rights will be included in legislation for the consumption tax that I plan to introduce in the Nebraska Legislature in January. This week I will highlight the ninth right contained in the Nebraska Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The ninth right says, “The State of Nebraska shall never impose or collect a tax on services or materials used to manufacture products, inclu...
It’s fitting to set aside time each year to express gratitude to God and to one another for the many blessings we enjoy. In seasons of peace and plenty, as well as in times of war and loss, Americans have faithfully carried on Thanksgiving traditions. During challenging times, it’s even more important to remember the abundant blessings we enjoy as Americans. In 2001, President George W. Bush issued a Thanksgiving proclamation a couple months after the tragic September 11th terrorist att...
