Columns

Something has come to my attention here in recent weeks that makes me feel like Clay County is “under siege,’ in a way.

Illegal substances, such as methamphetamines, marijuana and other illegal drugs, along with the crime that goes along with drug use, has started to get a grip on our home county, and so many counties around us.

It really hit home for me on April 8 when I witnessed a bust go down just outside the back door of the Clay County News office. That feeling of being invaded, that problems are affecting our communities, our kids, our families, our livelihoods and it has to stop, not only in Clay County, but it has to be brought under control nationally. For these problems affect people that I care about, that have to live with these types of illegal substances near my office, my home, I call on citizens of Clay County to step up and help.

Nebraska’s Press Association Convention is one of my favorite times of the year.

This year’s marked my fifth anniversary of attending, which falls far below the many wonderful veteran newspaper persons from around the state.

This year’s convention also got me out of my comfort zone. I’ve gotten better with my shyness; I engage with people more and I’m not such the fly on the wall at events as I used to be.

However, the challenge given to me was to become the secret Ms. X and shake 100 people’s hands, and it proved to be a bit harder than anticipated, but the challenge was the best thing to happen to me.

When you are selected as Mr. or Mrs./Ms. X, only yourself and the person who nominated you know, and your goal is to shake 100 or more hands, but the 100th person you shake hands with gets $100.

Thinking back to my younger years in the newspaper business, even my junior high and high school days when I would tag along with my parents to the annual Nebraska Press Association’s convention, never in my life did I think I’d become one of the old(er) folks of our associaton.

The crazy thing is, I’m not sure why I never thought I’d never be, shall we call it, a “veteran” newspaper person, but sure enough, this weekend as I attended our 145th convention in Kearney, there were a few moments where I felt like I was one of the members of the association that attended the very first convention.

The NPA is the oldest trade association in the state and for whatever reason this year, it hit me that I’ve hit the ranks of one of those veterans.

But, despite my shocking discovery/feelings, it was a fantastic weekend for our team.

Currently I’m reading this book called “Our Boys,” by Joe Drape, which is based on the Smith Center, KS, high school football team and their perfect season that landed them the longest-running winning streak, for high school football, in Kansas.

The title of the book encompasses the author describes throughout the book, that the team—the boys—become a part of everyone’s family. It’s a close-knit community and that football team, win or lose, is their boys.

Along those lines, I have to brag about our students. Our students at our county schools and the many awesome things they achieve.

While I was gone Thursday and Friday for state speech, elementary students at Sutton and SPS Staff helped organize a donation gathering to assist those in our state who need help, following the storm that passed through.

This is an incredible feat for students as young as elementary to accomplish, and even them wanting to participate is amazing.

Stewing...simmering, however you want to term it, I’ve done plenty of that over the course of the past couple of weeks. No, I’m not talking about the Nebraska men’s basketball situation either.

This past week, I’ve been privileged to see some amazing “giving back.” ALL of our active fire departments in Clay County had worked hard, not because it was needed, but because it was giving from their hearts.

So many churches, so I’ve heard, and individuals have reached out to give. Sutton’s elementary students raised an amazing $2,000 and some change to help out with the very tough situation that has hit Nebraska hard, with the deep snowfall in the panhandle and most certainly the even deeper flooding that has changed the way of life for so many in Northeast Nebraska and the eastern part of the state.

#NebraskaStrong is alive and well...and that is an understatement in so many ways!

RAMBLES

The thing I love most about our state is that when disaster hits there’s no such thing as rivalries between schools, no disputes between neighbors, no differences in religions or beliefs...it’s everyone coming together to help one another out.

When the flooding started, I’ll be honest, I looked at those photos being posted and thought, “this couldn’t possibly be happening here, in our state.”

This isn’t something I’ve ever seen in my lifetime, where a disastrous event like this hits so close to home.

While I’m grateful Clay County didn’t get anywhere near as much flooding as a majority of the state, nor did we get a ton of snow piled on top of us, I still worried.

Most of my family lives in the northern part of the state, such as Fremont, West Point, Snyder, Scribner, and Omaha, where there is intense flooding occurring.

Hello Neighbor,

This past week has seen extreme weather all across our state, from blizzards in the west to flooding in the east. I am thankful for our first responders who are working tirelessly to keep everyone safe.

I am also happy to see and hear so many stories of neighbors going out of their way to help each other with no hesitation. That is what makes this state so great. Everyone affected by these storms are in my thoughts and prayers as we will find out in the next few days and weeks just how severe the damage has been.

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Do you ever get that nostalgia feeling when something comes on TV, or someone says a phrase you haven’t heard in decades, or you hear a snippet of a once-favorite song?

I love and hate those moments. I love them because if I can find the nostalgia item or song or movie, then I’m in heaven because I loved my childhood and everything that came with being a 90s kid.

I also hate those moments also because A) sometimes I just can’t find that song or movie or even a picture of this item in my head that I want to see to recall some memories, and B) it makes me miss the “old days.”

When people say they miss the easier times (aka, the old days), those easier times are different to each person. What was easy for me from 1992 to 2004 (so before I was a teenager) was easier for me because I was a child just living life to the fullest and going on adventures and such.