Columns

When I packed up to go away to college, my folks put me on the train in Scottsbluff at night and I arrived in Lincoln at 6 a.m. the next morning. It was a smooth trip and I recall having a good sleep as the miles clicked by.

That was more than 50 years ago. Such travel is no longer possible across Nebraska. A couple years after that first trip, I chose to take the train home for Christmas. But the train only went as far as Alliance and I had to find a ride the rest of the way. A few years later there was no passenger train.

Today, the Nebraska Department of Transportation is focused on improving the Interstate traffic flow between Lincoln and Omaha and has plans to increase the number of lanes from Lincoln to Kearney. Meanwhile, gas prices increase and car-manufacturing production limps along because of a shortage of microchips to run advanced technology in those vehicles. Promoters of electric vehicles are having a heyday touting their latest.

On March 13, 2020, I issued a proclamation declaring a State of Emergency related to the coronavirus pandemic. The State of Emergency existed over the last year to help Nebraska mobilize resources to respond to the pandemic. This is a separate measure from the State’s Directed Health Measures (DHM), which ended a few weeks ago. The DHMs had included quarantine directions and other restrictions that varied over the course of the event. This week, I announced that the State of Emergency would end on June 30, 2021, removing the last official pandemic measure issued by the State of Nebraska.

Festivals, the county fair, summer activities, they thankfully are in full swing this year, and while at times, it would be nice to have a little downtime, this summer is certainly a much, much different summer than “the summer of double aught....you know, the double 00.”

We here at the news office have been knee-deep in the big 150th for the Sutton community, as you will see in next week’s 64-pages devoted to Sutton’s 150th celebration.

And while the summer festivals and activities are always enjoyable to take in from our working perspective, at times, this year included...the summer festivals can be a scheduling hassle, but a good problem to have, thus my reference to the Summer of 2020, when NOTHING but the slimmed-down county fair took place.

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Since time seems to run together more often these days, I can’t tell you exactly when we started this project, but what I can tell you is, it’s one of the biggest I’ve ever been a part of since working at the CCN.

Sometime within the past few months, Tory said, “what if we...” and then went into an explanation about a special section that included not just Sutton history, but Sutton businesses too.

It wasn’t a simple, go talk to businesses and see if they want to be included, it was also a “when can we set up time to take a photo of staff members,” kind of situation.

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It’s hot outside. Not like usual hot, though. For some reason the way winter stuck around until we got a week of rainy spring in May, and then we were catapulted into a desert, well, it makes this hot feel worse than usual.

In saying that, there are still things we can do this summer, albeit staying safe and avoiding potential heat stroke.

First off, is anyone participating in the Nebraska Passport Program or the NE Beef Passport Program? I’m partaking in the first program and since I was traveled to Chadron a couple of weeks ago it meant being able to stop at places out west.

In searching for passport stops, I stumbled upon some new places, ones that I’ve driven by a lot in the past 11 years, but either never had the chance to stop or just chose not to.

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Conversations as of late that I’ve had with a handful of people have seemingly been centered around, at least in general, the overall attitude and personality of people as we begin to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic protocol and try to figure out what our “new normal is,” in hopes that we’re in the clear from this devastating virus worldwide.

I’ve certainly found myself not nearly as outgoing, and when I am at events, out of habit, for the most part, I still find myself a little “standoffish,” or should I say careful in and around large group activities.

I think that it was so drilled into our minds the past 13-14 months or so that we need to keep our distance and all, in an effort to curb the virus.

While I still don’t think that we’re out of the woods by any means, I’m trying to get on with life, and back to some form of normalcy, at least as much as I can and am willing.

With another regular session of the Nebraska Legislature in the books, let’s look at the impact of their actions on the state’s General Fund.

The headlines have focused on: $1.4 billion in cumulative property tax relief that has been offered over several years; $20 million set aside for statewide broadband expansion and another $15 million designated for preliminaries to building a new state prison. But wait, there’s more.

“A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon it begins to add up to real money.” The quip is universally ascribed to Senator Everett Dirksen (1896–1969) from Illinois, but the New York Times also lays claim to the phrase in a 1938 story on budgets.

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In my last article, I informed you of a few of the significant pieces of legislation that passed this year. This week, I would like to share with you several legislative bills that I sponsored this year that successfully advanced through the Unicameral and were signed into law by the Governor.

On May 27, Nebraska’s Unicameral Legislature adjourned this year’s regular session. The Legislature will reconvene this fall for a special session to deal with redistricting.

With the legislative session adjourning, I thought that it would be a good time to review a few of the significant pieces of legislation that passed this year. They include the following:

• Broadband Availability LB 388 created the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Act, appropriating $20 million annually to fund grants to unserved and underserved areas of the state to provide high speed broadband internet service.

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Hats off to the Clay County News for great coverage on the State Track Meet! It was almost like being there to see all the pictures of the area athletes. Your coverage clearly showcased their hard work throughout the year and each athlete was highlighted.

As I proceeded to read the rest of the newspaper, I read the Letter to the Editor and my blood began to boil. I was not at graduation, but I have attended Sutton graduations for over 50 years and am immensely proud when Sutton graduates receive their appointments to either West Point, or the Air Force Academy. Sutton graduates Doug and Greg Bender were appointed to West Point. John and Joe Waddell, and Eric and Joel Pauls to the Air Force Academy. All these young men served or are serving their country with honor and integrity. When I read that the West Point mentor was