Columns

By Ashley D. Swanson

I n the past almost-four years, I’ve talked about my family quite a bit, because, well, I kinda like them and enjoy sharing stories about them.

My family is far from normal, yet we all understand how the other works, even if the outside world doesn’t.

In previous columns I’ve also talked about the number of things my family has taught me, mainly handson items such as car maintenance, cooking, sewing and caring for others.

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By Tory Duncan

Once a Husker....Always a Husker! But as we all know, the bottom, as I see it hit Saturday afternoon at Northwestern.

If I look back at Saturday’s meltdown loss, though, it was the first time in at least two, maybe three years I was mad, that I let that loss effect my day, at least for a little while!

After cooling my jets, I finally figured out why I was so mad, it wasn’t because of the way we lost, well okay, it was, that is what caused my disgust. But in reality, after two to three years of just not carring that much, I figured out that even at 0-6 now, I care as much as I did about Husker football as I did when Bo Pelini was here.

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By Ashley D. Swanson

When you’re young, sometimes you don’t truly understand the gravity of any given situation. Most of the time, you sit there in silence or ask a ton of questions, only to be given half answers or blank stares.

My family, like so many others, is plagued with cancer. For the generation growing up now, and for our parents and remaining grandparents, I truly hope we don’t develop it because I know and have seen what it can do to a person and those around them.

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By Tory Duncan

October is just one week old and I’ve already got my mind on the month of February. As you read the Bull this week, some of you are going to be thinking in your head, “Duncan, why are you already talking about district wrestling and boys and girls basketball?”

Well.....Here’s why! The Nebraska School Activities Association came out with the district wrestling set up for Feb. 8-9, and the 2018-19 sub-district boys and girls basketball. I’ve got to say, for us here at the Clay County News, we’ll be running!

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By TORY DUNCAN

For the past several weeks I’ve been reading over and over and over again a condensed article that was shared with me via email from an editorial that was published in the Smith Center County Pioneer in Kansas.

The author of the editorial, Darrel Miller, shared some perceptive thoughts regarding a study that was done by former Kansas State University professor Dr. Cornelia Flora. Flora’s study gave thoughts as to why some communities prosper and why others “wither away.”

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The Legislature convenes in a few months. It’s a long session in a non-election year, traditionally the best time to talk about that 800-pound elephant in the room, taxes.

Yes, we’re having leftovers, but everything is on the table. Or should be to deal with the problem of property taxes. And, the entire Legislature should join the newly minted Revenue Committee at the table. The governor and lobbyists should respectfully await their turns.

The state’s two largest think tanks have already weighed in. As expected, the conservative Platte Institute says the problem is sales tax exemptions. Director Jim Vokal of Omaha said those exemptions already cost the state $4.8 billion a year. Removing some of them would bring in more revenue for property tax relief.

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By Tory Duncan

With the recent news of the financial stress that the nursing home industry is struggling with because of the lack of Medicaid reimbursement and a nursing shortage, Walt Becker, a resident of the Sutton Community Home, decided it was time to speak his mind....and boy did he.

Walt, as many of you know, is a proud man, a man that will share his thoughts and a man that has seen it all; there is no “sugar coating” when you have a chat with him.

This past Friday afternoon, while I was at the Sutton Community Home, Walt, while getting in his daily exercise routine, stopped me and well, we talked, mostly about the story on our front page last week regarding the Sutton Community Home’s financial losses last fiscal year, but with Walt, a conversation will go anywhere.

By Ashley D. Swanson

Due to both of our schedules, Loetta and I don’t get to see each other that often, or at least spend more than 30 minutes with each other.

Honestly, some days that’s a blessing because either one or both of us are not in a good mood and our attitudes don’t make situations better. So staying away from each other is actually good once-in-awhile.

By Ashley D. Swanson

Afew weeks ago I wrote about nurses being angels in disguise.

Last year, I wrote about the importance of keeping a nursing home in your town. In 2009, I took a test and officially earned a badge that stated I was a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Prior to 2009, I learned to have a love for caring for others and understood the importance of having facilities for those who can no longer care for themselves, compliments of my mom, the CNA and med aide.

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By Tory Duncan

I think that this past week in the rollercoaster ride of being a Husker football fan over the course of the past several years might be that so called rollercoaster ride that is Nebraska football, as it is right now.

We all know and feel that Big Red football will be back where it belongs, in a yearly battle to be national champions again, that is the hope and desire, but over the past two games, we’ve learned some lessons as fans.

Week one, with the deluge of rain that cancelled the Akron game left us waiting and ready to see the new era of Nebraska football, then week two, UGH! It taught us to be patient.

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