Columns

Wed
15
Jan
Edgar's picture

The 106th Legislature: The State of the State

The 106th Legislature: The State of the State

CAPITAL VIEW

Today’s the big day. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts delivers the State of the State address to members of the 106th Legislature, Second Session. It’s his budget recommendation and his agenda for the rest of the session.

So, what is the State of the State? Well, thanks to unseasonably warm January weather, at least it’s NOT flooding. But wait, it’s Nebraska, and all that could change. Not to worry, the Governor is planning targeted increases in the current state budget to help finance repair of some of last year’s record flood damage. Good for you Governor!

Wed
15
Jan
Edgar's picture

PRESIDENT’S OP-ED

PRESIDENT’S OP-ED

Carter

PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA

As students and faculty return for a new semester of classes in Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha and Curtis, I’m reminded again of how lucky I am to be able to serve at a place like the University of Nebraska.

Not quite two weeks into my new role, I am more convinced than ever that this is truly one of the country’s great institutions of higher learning.

Every day I read another story about the life-changing research our faculty are doing in water and agriculture, medicine, national defense and other areas.

Every day I learn more about how our campuses are helping our 51,000 students succeed. Every day I meet thoughtful, engaged Nebraskans who are kind enough to extend well-wishes and share their thoughts on where the university system should be headed.

 

 

 

Wed
15
Jan
Edgar's picture

A tribute to Angie Ridgway

A tribute to Angie Ridgway

Dear Editor:

I recently learned that long-time Fairfield resident Angela Ridgway passed away at the age of 87. Upon learning of Angela’s passing, I felt compelled to write this letter to the Clay County News.

I met Angie Ridgway in the early 1990s when John, Jay, and Patrick Sullivan agreed to hire me as a summer intern in the long-time Clay County law firm known as Sullivan Law Offices. Angie served for decades as the Sullivans’ assistant and paralegal.

At the Sullivan law office as an intern, I essentially worked for Angie. I had never been in a law firm or a courtroom before the Sullivans hired me, and Angie showed me what attorneys in small town practice really do. I learned from the three generations of Sullivans in the firm at the time that it was Angie who kept the trains running on time in the law office.

 

 

 

Wed
01
Jan
Edgar's picture

Finding success in resolutions

Finding success in resolutions

Tis the season for people all over to make some New Year’s resolutions they intend on keeping for the entire year, but slowly drop as the month of January moves on.

I’m guilty of doing just that—making a ton of New Year’s resolutions I swear I’m going to stick with... and then by February I’ve maybe have one left.

I don’t know about anyone else, but last year I only kept one of my nine-or-something resolutions, and that was to stop drinking soda. Minus a couple of mixed drinks, I didn’t have any soda the entire year of 2019, and although that’s a small feat to accomplish, I’m pretty proud of it.

Maybe everyone else had this figured out, but slowly I realized you can’t just make a resolution such as “I’m going to be more healthy this year,” and expect to stick to it. That was, in fact, one of my resolutions last year, but it’s too broad a statement to make, so I narrowed it down.

 

Wed
01
Jan
Edgar's picture

The beginning of yet another year....

The beginning of yet another year....

BULL

Tory Duncan

ccntory@gmail.com

Aging makes one think a little differently as the years go by; this year is no different for me. You see, I have a tendency to keep moving and letting the hours and days just fly by. I guess I can chalk that up to the business choice I made long ago.

As I reflect back on the most recent decade of my life, really, the last 11 years of my life, since moving to Clay County, I stand amazed with all that has taken place, and the changes that have occurred.

Since the move from Lincoln to the county in late May of 2009, I’ve made some great, long lasting friends and of course, I’ve lost some along the path since 2009, starting with the loss of longtime friend Jay Kenney, who came to the county with me. There aren’t many days that pass that I don’t remember Jay’s drive and friendship.

Wed
25
Dec
Edgar's picture

2019’s top 9

2019’s top 9

Getting to cover two of our county teams at the same time is always great, but when I get to cover it with my coworkers it’s even better.

To start off 2019 I introduced my top nine moments of 2018, and since we were on a short deadline and by the time you’re reading this Christmas has come and past, I figured this would be a decent time to introduce my top nine moments of 2019 (designated specifically toward work moments).

And yes, this is a cheap and easy way to write a column, but this column is called “Rambles” for a reason... sometimes you never know what I’m going to say.

 

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/

Wed
18
Dec
Edgar's picture

Don’t worry, your weekly newspaper is still here

EDITORS NOTE: The following article is being published with permission from the original writer of the story, Nathan Arneal, publisher and owner of the North Bend Eagle. We feel it is a very fitting article, and we share Arneal’s sediments, thus we felt that we’d like to share with our readers of the Clay County News.

BY NATHAN ARENEAL,

THE NORTH BEND EAGLE

Don’t let the front page [featuring the headline “What if there was no local newspaper?] scare you too much. We’re still here, and hope to be for a while.

The newspaper business has always been an interesting one. While, yes, the Eagle is a privately owned business, it also provides a public service. It keeps you informed. It keeps you connected with products, services and events offered in the community. We are a group effort, with the whole community contributing to the paper.

 

 

 

Wed
18
Dec
Edgar's picture

A great week for Nebraska trade

A great week for Nebraska trade

Smith

Trade is critical to rural states such as Nebraska. Producers, manufacturers, and consumers all benefit from sound trade policies which expand access to international markets. One of the primary reasons I joined the Ways and Means Committee, is to seize opportunities to reduce tariffs, remove artificial barriers, and ensure all Nebraskans can benefit from fair, open markets. Fortunately, within the past week, we received great news on two massive trade wins for the United States, and Nebraska in particular.

Wed
18
Dec
Edgar's picture

Unfinished business: Interesting proposals on the legislature’s table next session

Unfinished business: Interesting proposals on the legislature’s table next session

Schmidt

Unfinished business: Interesting proposals on the legislature’s table next session

Lawmakers hit the ground running when they convene the Second Session of the 106th Legislature next month. They’ll have 80-some bills left over on first round debate from last session to deal with immediately.

They’ll also address those old familiar topics of placement and treatment for troubled youth, a crisis in nursing home care and management and prison staffing and overcrowding. Oh yes, property taxes will likely take a bit of time to discuss as well as business incentives.

But there’s an interesting proposal expected–albeit one that stands a snowball’s chance in hell of being approved. Speaker of the Legislature, Jim Scheer of Norfolk, thinks it’s time to expand the nation’s only one-house, nonpartisan Legislature to 55 members. That’s up from the 49–the smallest Legislature of any state–that has been in place since 1963 when it was increased from 43 to 49.

 

 

Wed
11
Dec
Edgar's picture

Five years of growth, laughter, mess-ups & everything in between

Five years of growth, laughter, mess-ups & everything in between

In reality five years isn’t that long of a time frame, but in hindsight, a ton can happen in five years.

My first official day in Clay County was Dec. 13, 2014; it was 10 p.m. and I was knocking on what I hoped was my landlord’s door (thankfully it was), and by Dec. 14 I was moving all my stuff into my first adult home (I was scared stiff and had no clue what the next year was going to look like, let alone the next five).

On Dec. 16 I covered my first-ever event as a CCN staff member—Clay County Giving Tree (shout out to Robyn VonSpreckelsen for being my first interviewed person and patiently explaining to me what this awesome event was all about). From then on I never looked back.

 

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Clay%20County%20NewsID530/

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