Columns

As I reflect on the last year and anticipate enjoying time with loved ones during the holidays, I’m filled with both gratitude and resolve.

As Americans, we have been granted an unrivaled heritage of freedom and prosperity which we now must secure for future generations.

I am deeply thankful for my family, the strong community with which we are blessed in Nebraska, and the country we call home. Despite the challenges we face, and the differences in our perspectives, the United States remains a beacon and destination for those longing for liberty and opportunity the world over.

As is my tradition, I’ve shared here one of President Reagan’s Christmas addresses. The following excerpt is from a speech he gave upon lighting the national Christmas tree in 1985. As they so often do, his words ring true today, capturing well the joy and goodwill of the holiday season.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Nebraskans.

Here we are sandwiched between Christmas and New Year. Time to take stock of what we’ve been through as it impacts what lies ahead.

In case you were somehow fortunate enough to sleep through it, 2022 was an election year. A couple really rich guys and some others ran for the Republican nomination for governor to replace term-limited deep pockets Pete Ricketts who still managed to throw enough money around to have an influence.

Before you get all upset by that, remember that I have said before it isn’t illegal to spend his own money or the family money that way, it just doesn’t look good.

His money went to millionaire pig farmer Jim Pillen who won the primary. He was up against millionaire Charles Herbster whose campaign was almost derailed by allegations of sexual misconduct. In a last-ditch effort, the agribusinessman brought in the still-boasting former President Donald Trump to rally the troops. It didn’t work.

Dec. 12 marked eight years since I graduated from college, but it feels longer than that.

I’m reminded of my graduation from CSC every year thanks to Facebook memories, otherwise, to be honest, this day may have just passed by.

Not that I don’t treasure it, but at this time of year, we’re busy, and there’s more important things to focus on than what happened on Dec. 12, 2014.

I digress. Since it’s been eight years since I left CSC, you know what that means—yep, eight years that Clay County has had to put up with me. Some people more than others.

This past year, to officially mark my eighth year, felt like it was the busiest of them all.

Three 150th sections and larger-than-usual celebrations scattered in between our usual town celebrations; baseball games; the occasional meeting; and other here-and-there events left little room for much else this summer, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

As many of you know, this harvest season has been a tough one for Third District farmers. Arid conditions across Nebraska contributed to an expedited harvest completion and severely diminished yields.

Ongoing drought has taken its toll, and yields for crops such as corn, soybeans, sugar beets, and sorghum are expected to be down significantly from last year.

As consumers face record inflation at the grocery store and we’re seeing global food insecurity, we must do what we can to reduce barriers, not add them, for Nebraska farmers to feed and fuel America and the world.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, maybe Easter. Birthdays, anniversaries, funerals. We got together just as much for the camaraderie as for the chuck roast. We called it family dinner.

It was a time to sit down, face--to-face, and remember. Remember who we are and where we came from and how we got here. It was a time to plan and discuss where we are going. But we don’t do it anymore. Too busy with our lives and work, commitments, and obligations, too many excuses. Too much procrastination.

As a kid, I remember Sundays after church at Grandma’s house. The siblings, their spouses and kids, would gather together. Beyond the food, the fellowship would drain the afternoon. But family dinners aren’t happening a lot these days.

Now we watch the Reagan family gathering on a TV cop show and envy what that represents. Some of the best lines out of actor Tom Selleck’s mouth come during those dinners.

Eyes and ears are, in my opinion, one of the strongest attributes of someone that is in any type of news media. Within me, personally, what I do for a living is far bigger than just writing or covering activities and/or events.

I’ve never considered myself as a journalist persay, nope, I’m not even sure I’d call myself a “newspaper man.” Instead, I’m an observer of life and a listener in the same right. I’ve just always felt that you have to earn a “badge” to be a journalist.

Journalist sounds too “stuffy,” too important...It doesn’t fit me well, because it just seems far too professional for a middle aged—leaning closer and closer to an older—person. I think to be called a journalist, you have to earn “your wings” so to speak, and I’m just not sure I’ll ever earn those pervbial wings, mostly because the term journalist isn’t fitting of me.

Throughout my life I’ve attended many Veterans Day programs.

Whether it was during my school years or covering them for my college newspaper or the CCN, if I had been counting, well, I would have lost track by now.

This year I attended Harvard’s Veterans Day program, and the guest speaker was Rachel Dillman.

Oftentimes when I hear a speaker deliver a message at a veterans program, its about giving our thanks to those who have served and are currently serving, or something along those lines.

Which I will never tire of listening to. I agree wholeheartedly, we should give our thanks to the many men and women who have put their lives aside to give others the chance to live theirs.

On a very rare occassion, I do hear a speech from the perspective of what it was like for a veteran when they were deployed, and that’s exactly what Dillman gave everyone in the audience last Friday.

Veterans Day has long been a day that I often times come up short on what to say to those men and women that have and are serving in the United States Military, because what do you say to anyone that has served?

Thank you, it just seems like I come up short of passing along my heartfelt appreciation for giving me the opportunity to do what I do for a living, to be able to go anywhere I wish, because of the freedom that those who have, and continue to serve our country to preserve our freedom.

I ran across a poem over the weekend that helps me say what I wish I could come up with the words better than simply saying “thank you:”

The Noble and the Brave: A Veteran’s Day Tribute

One act teams and fall plays are getting ready to take the stage for the annual regular competitions.

This year, Harvard and Sandy Creek will compete in the TVC/SNC competitions, respectively, before heading into districts, while Sutton hosts it’s second annual fall play.

Harvard has already seen the stage this season, having traveled to Wilcox-Hildreth on Monday, Nov. 7.

Up next for them will be their public performance, set for 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14.

Their next performance will be TVC, which is co-hosted by Harvard and Silver Lake (at Harvard Public School), Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Harvard is set to perform at 8 a.m. that day.

Districts will take the Cardinals back to Wilcox-Hildreth Tuesday, Nov. 29, to compete for their shot at a trip to state.

Harvard will be competing against Shelton, Franklin, Dorchester, Red Cloud, Meridian, Wilcox-Hildreth, and Lawrence-Nelson.

Parked on Silber Street in North Platte, after Sandy Creek was fresh off a season-ending loss to North Platte St. Pats, a question that has often been asked of me was finally answered within me...nearly 14 years after I reopened the long lineage of “the Bull” in 2009.

“How do you do it each week...how do you come up with the Bull each week?”

No, it doesn’t come easy some weeks, especially during the weeks that not a lot is going on, whether that be school functions, community events or otherwise.

But, when I reached the Jeep last Friday night, it truly hit me, “this is how I do it each week.”

You see, I’m around activity all the time, and when I looked back on the field, parked just beyond the west end zone of St. Pat’s field, I sat there amazed at the amazing turnout of Sandy Creek fans, just like I did a year ago this week when Sutton fans turned out in droves for the Sutton volleyball team’s state runner-up run in the 2021 run for the Fillies.