Columns

Newspapers face another big election.

It’s about them.

While the United States is riveted by a most unusual presidential election, the newspaper industry is running to win the hearts, minds and souls of “voters.”

These voters are readers, residents, subscribers, students, advertisers, marketers, sponsors and newspaper employees.

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Politics are not something I often casually bring up in any conversation, let alone in a newspaper where my written words are forever.

However, this year’s election has gotten way out of hand in terms of where people’s focus are, at least in my opinion.

Everything is about the presidential election, which, granted does warrant your attention. And I’m not saying vote this way or that.

However, did you know we have four contested races in the county this year? Did you look at the ballot on pg. 5A of this week’s paper to see who’s running for what in your town?

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Weekly, as I come up with my focus for the Bull, as I’ve shared many times, I pay attention to the surroundings that I put myself in day in and day out. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, putting myself into surroundings has become harder and harder, after all, let’s face it, I’m not a youngster anymore, so this week, as I turn another year older, I found my motivation coming from the energy on the sidelines, while keeping my distance. Yet, with a little downtime this past weekend, I also gained some motivation from some items I found while surfing the internet.

This week, as the Sutton Mustangs and Sandy Creek Cougars prep for their yearly battle on the gridiron, Friday night in Sutton, I find this year’s contest one that could be an interesting challenge for both schools and their fans.

Expanding trade opportunities by opening more markets for U.S. ag producers, manufacturers, and service providers is one of the best ways to strengthen our economy and provide stability for producers and consumers. Finding new trading partners while strengthening existing relationships with allies like Japan, is of the utmost importance. The market access we gained in Phase One of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, which President Trump signed last year, was significant and we should not squander the opportunity to complete the deal. Now is the time to prioritize Phase Two of the agreement.

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The state Supreme Court has twice reversed Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen and decided what issues will be on the November ballot. Expanded gambling and a cap on the interest rates that so-called “payday lenders” can charge will be on the ballot. Medical marijuana will not.

In a 4-3 decision, the high court ordered Evnen to place a three-pronged casino gambling initiative on the November general election ballot. It would authorize casino gambling at Nebraska horse race tracks and allocate the bulk of the funding derived from that new state revenue source to local property tax relief. Evnen had argued that it did not adhere to requirements for a single topic because it was split into three separate votes.

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Since March, time has become irrelevant. At some point in the year, when things really started to slow down and there came a point where there was nothing to truly cover, the days of the week started mashing together.

Eventually, there came a point when you’re in May or June and then suddenly it’s September, and I’m still not sure how we got to this point already.

We all know this year is crazy. Between the pandemic, protests, riots, wildfires, deaths, and everything in between, trying to keep “normal” a thing has been a taxing effort.

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Some of you may chomp at the bit with my column this week, because I’m going to kind of refer to myself as an old man, even though in my heart, and my mind, I’m pretty young for sure.

But here’s the deal, the older I get the more I pay attention to things that go on off the court or field of competition and pay attention to things that happen on the sidelines.

Does that distract from my reporting of sports? Nah! I think it enriches what I do and what I pay attention to each week when I cover an event, whether sports related or otherwise.

Some of the best moments that I’ve gone through or lived through in this newspaper business don’t happen on the field of competition, or don’t happen with something that’s expected, rather they happen when it’s the most unexpected.

This weekend should be the Old Trusty Show, but thanks to a certain virus it was necessary for those who put the show together each year to cancel the event.

Which I fully understand—Old Trusty brings in hundreds of people from all over Nebraska, plus out-ofstaters. Besides, even being on the fairgrounds there’s not much room to avoid people in the six-foot span being required.

While OT being cancelled may not be some sort of life-altering action, it’s still an annual event I and many others have come to look forward to each fall.

Also, this year Allis-Chalmers was being featured and it’s tied with John Deere as my favorite tractor.

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The things I know and the things I think I know, or feel. It’s hitting my brain more and more this year, with all the craziness of 2020 and then throw on top of it an election year. That at least to me, is about as crazy as crazy can get, at least with the presidential ticket and yes, even some of our other federal races.

One thing is for sure, which in my mind goes under the things I know... there is absolutely no middle ground what so ever in the race for the president’s office this year.

Either people are voting red, or they’re voting blue. Whether it be on a news channel or through social media, the verbal slander and the language of this election year is at times outrageous.

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Autumn is hands down my favorite season. Not super fond of the season that follows, but I appreciate the fall season for as long as physically possible.

For those who know me pretty well...or really anyone who has read my column the past five-anda-half years, has a good understanding of how much I love what I often refer to as spooky season.

Everything from the leaves changing color, to the cooler temperatures and then being able to wear all of my sweatshirts, and, of course, Halloween and pumpkins.

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