Columns

Like most things, when 2020 happened the annual Nebraska Press Association Convention was canceled for in-person, and instead the last two years we had a sort of virtual convention.

This year, however, we were finally able to meet back in person, and let me tell you just how amazing that was! Due to all of us being spread out across Nebraska we don’t get to see each other often, so many of these journalists I hadn’t seen since early 2019.

It was so nice to be able to reconnect with them, and meet others.

As mentioned a few times throughout the weekend, NPA is much like a second family and that statement holds true.

Whether you’ve been in the news business for several years, hitting 10 years or just starting out, you’re welcomed into this family we call the Nebraska Press Association.

Listening, observing, and soaking in information has always been the key to my writing of a personal column, a game story or a feature story throughout my newspaper career. It’s just a must in order to do what anyone in this business does. It’s pretty simple, if you don’t open your ears and observe, you might just as well get out of the journalism field.

I’ve spent the better part of the past couple of weeks just listening and soaking in the memories of a legendary man that was lost by many, John Schoneberg.

Hearing and reading memories about John has been enlightening and amazing. It’s obvious that his legacy from those that played for him, that were taught by him, and who coached with him is priceless.

My gut reaction after hearing of his passing was to write from my perspective about how he impacted me, but John’s legacy was far more reaching than just my own memories, thus my delayed reaction to this loss.

One of the many things I love about the midwest—Nebraska in particular—is when there’s a disaster or something unfortunate happens, everyone comes together to help.

Anyone who’s watched, listened or read the news in the last month knows the many devastating fires happening in our state.

These fires have ravaged farm and ranch ground, destroyed homes and other buildings, and forced people to evacuate their towns.

However, through all the smoke and danger, people have risen to help. We’ve saw countless firefighters coming to the aid; communities banding together to make sure others are fed or have a place to stay; and others are helping rebuild what was lost.

It’s incredible to see people come together despite everything that could be thrown their way—long hours, dangerous conditions, clouds of thick smoke, etc—to help out.

One of the most rewarding aspects of serving Nebraska’s Third Congressional District is the opportunities I get to engage with young people interested in government service.

This spring, I’ve welcomed students from Bayard, Oakland-Craig, Boone Central, Summerland, and Doniphan-Trumbull schools, as well as Peru State College, to our nation’s capital. Fielding students’ questions is always a pleasure, and I deeply appreciate their thoughtful feedback and ideas about the issues we are working on in the U.S. House of Representatives.

One of my priorities as a member of Congress is helping more young people get involved in serving their communities and country. There are several opportunities for young people to utilize their time and talents to give back.

Forgive me for not realizing sooner that the 2022 version of the Nebraska Legislature would end on a draconian note.

From its support of a veto of badly needed federal rental assistance funds to turning down an attempt to provide the same tax relief to middle class Nebraskans as it guaranteed to the richest, this Legislature showed its true colors in the waning days.

"Draconian" one of the more compassionate senators called it. Draco was an Athenian lawgiver whose harsh legal code punished both trivial and serious crimes with death.

But the real blow came with a rejection of prison reform (LB920) aimed at addressing the nation's worst overcrowding problem. The reforms were recommended by a working group of several state agencies and senators with national consultants.

Involvement is a key factor in making improvements and growing each of our communities, as well as our rural areas within Clay County. I’ve always felt that without people stepping up, things such as community events, or community growth are just that much harder to accomplish.

This week, I was able to sit down for a while with Wendy Gwennap, the Early Childhood Community Coordinator for the United Way of South Central Nebraska.

First off, if you haven’t met Wendy yet...you need to. She’s an amazingly positive professional woman that has her heart in the right place, finding ways to make life that much better.

One of the committees that I’ve served on for the past four years is the Education Committee. This legislative session the Education Committee has heard a multitude of bills addressing a wide variety of topics.

This week I would like to discuss several bills that I anticipate will be debated in the remaining days of this year’s session.

LB 1218 has been designated as priority bill by the Education Committee and has been advanced by a unanimous vote to General File.

This bill (with the committee amendment) is intended to address Nebraska’s teacher workforce shortage by accomplishing the following:

• Passing a statewide examination related to basic skills competency as an entrance requirement to a post-secondary education institution would no longer be required. Testimony showed that this test had become a barrier for many students, has not been linked to teaching effectiveness, and was an unnecessary expense for students.

State speech is one of my favorite school events to cover.

Speech, in general, is something I enjoy immensely, but there’s something about state speech that pushes that enjoyment even higher...even if every year I get lost in the school trying to find the right rooms. But I digress.

If you saw the last couple of papers, you know we had two students make it to state this year—Leif Andersen and Chloe Bergen, both of Sutton.

As with last year, state was hosted at Kearney High School and I chalk the layout of that school up to the likes of Grand Island Senior High...it’s confusing.

The good thing was, though, since having only two students to cover there was ample amount of time to find the rooms I needed in between rounds (Kylie Schroetlin also helped me find the first room that morning, so shout out to her for the help. I appreciated it).

Personal opinions matter, they just do, but at times, action taken upon personal opinions needs to be prodded, if you will. As I get closer and closer to beginning my 14th year at the Clay County News I reflect on what has been, but more importantly, what will be. What is the future of the county I call home? Can we survive with the same ‘ole way of life?

Maybe we can, but after digesting, researching, and looking up information about my thoughts for the Bull this week...Maybe it’s time for Clay County and each of our small towns, starting to consider to start a new path, take off in a new direction.

I had mentioned this 5-6 years ago with the progressive way of life that Valley County Nebraska has served it’s communities, or more directly, how they have helped to improve their livelihoods for each of their communities, which in turn has improved the way of life for Valley County Nebraska.

As Nebraskans, we value resourcefulness and self-reliance. We also care for our neighbors. We recognize that extraordinary times—like a natural disaster or a global pandemic—warrant extra assistance. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Nebraskans stepped up to help those in need. At the federal and state level, we did the same.

The state has received and distributed an unprecedented amount of federal funding to help Nebraskans weather the storm over these past two years.

But at a certain point, we must acknowledge that the storm has passed and get back to the Nebraska Way. We must guard against becoming a welfare state where people are incentivized not to work and encouraged to rely on government handouts well after an emergency is over.

That is why Nebraska is not seeking the second round of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). We cannot justify asking for federal relief when we don’t have an emergency.