Columns

By Ricketts

This week, I am leading a trade mission to Canada. The importance of Canada as a trading partner that is helping grow Nebraska cannot be overstated. Canada is Nebraska’s largest export market and fourth largest agriculture export market. In 2016, total agricultural exports from Nebraska to Canada equaled an estimated $468 million out of a total agriculture export value of $5.4 billion. In addition to our important trade relationship, Nebraska and Canada are both celebrating our 150th birthdays this year, a special occasion which we will be highlighting along the way!

By Kuehn

In July, the Nebraska Department of Revenue released a final report on General Fund tax receipts for the end of the fiscal year. Despite the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board reducing revenue projections at its April meeting, the state still ended the fiscal year on June 30 collecting $34 million less than predicted. In the event that revenues continue to fall under projections in coming months, the biennial budget passed in May will need to be adjusted. This may require a special legislative session this fall or adoption of adjustments in the next legislative session, depending on the magnitude of any shortfall in the next few months.

By Tory Duncan

O ne can certainly appreciate a super long drive. It might be a long drive locally, catching the rural areas of where you live, it certainly might be a long drive in the hidden roads of Nebraska.

A person can never appreciate hitting the road in the Sandhills, the northern stretches of Nebraska, or just life in the Sandhills.

This past weekend, while it was a trip to attend a funeral of the father of one of my best newspaper friends, someone who I have admired since being a “young buck” at the Wisner News Chronicle, Willis Mahannah, who was and still is the managing editor at the West Point News, somebody who truly did give me guidance and great leadership during my early years in the newspaper business, I headed north trekking through Aurora, Central City, Fullerton, Albion, Petersburg, Elgin, Neligh, Clearwater, Ewing, Inman (yes, Inman) and finally making my way into O’Neill. The funeral took place this past Saturday morning.

By Ashley Swanson

When I was younger, all I wanted to be was a nurse like my mom. I wanted to care for people, I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to be there when people needed you the most.

When I reached 16 years old, I was finally old enough to take the Certified Nursing Assistant classes at the Blue Valley Lutheran Homes in Hebron.

Over the summer, my classmates and I read the enormous books given to us, we practiced techniques and protocols, and we studied until our eyes saw double.

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By Ashley Swanson

This past weekend I served as host for my sister-in-law’s baby shower. I had the most people at my house that I’ve had in a long time, but it was a welcomed full house.

Along with two of my brothers, my sister-in-law, my other brother’s girlfriend, and my three-year-old niece, there was also a 10-year-old, a high school friend, my parents, and my 11-month-old sister.

Needless to say, in certain instances, my patience was tested this weekend, mostly on account of my niece, who can be super sweet at times, and make you go insane in the next instance.

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By Tory Duncan

To omany times in my term as managing editor at the Clay County News, I’ve found it hard to keep up in my own personal life, like keeping up with house work, keeping a clean office and even a clean car.

It hit me Sunday night, while watching television, which is a luxury at times too, that I live like Oscar Madison, the New York sports writing “hack” on the old, old television show, the Odd Couple.

I hadn’t seen that show in so many years, it really caught my eye. Oscar is a slob at home, clothes laying all over his room, and only his room.

His always neat, uptight and tidy roommate, Felix Ungar, would never let Madison “bleed” his slobby style into the rest of their high rise NYC apartment.

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