Columns

by J.L. Schmidt

Lawmakers are back in session today (Jan. 6) and they hit the ground running. It’s a short session, so while they still have time to introduce new bills for discussion, carry-over items are ready for debate by the 49 officially non-partisan senators. In addition to the specific carryover bills, there are carry-over ideas, recurring themes if you will. Chief among them is the governor’s continuing promise of property tax relief. And with that promise comes the quote which shows up in Governor Pete Ricketts’ news releases often (most recently on Dec. 15, 2015): “As I travel the state, property tax relief is the number one priority on the minds of Nebraskans,” said Governor Ricketts.

by Tory Duncan

So, when you spend a few days with an eight-year-old little boy, especially at Christmas time, it certainly changes your focus a bit...or should I say A LOT! It is really kind of cool when you share that time with him and really focus on how little of importance he puts on the life around him. He focuses on how his days are impacted by the hour, I swear.

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by Ashley Swanson

Every year, I make up some long list of New Year’s resolutions, and do you know how many I actually finish? That’s right, none. I usually choose resolutions that have high expectations. This year, I’ve decided to switch things up a bit. To start my list, I’m going to say the one everyone says every year: I’m going to exercise more and lose weight. I have said I am going to do this every single year, and every single year I’ve failed. This year is going to be different because there’s an actual challenge going on that will, hopefully, keep me with my resolution and reach my goal.

by Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts

Over the past few weeks, I have joined Nebraska Cattlemen and Farm Bureau members at their annual conferences. These events are always great opportunities to reflect on the year’s successes and challenges, while also sharing ideas on how we can work together to continue to grow agriculture, which accounts for one in four jobs in Nebraska. While our state’s farmers and ranchers have faced challenges ranging from lower commodity prices to avian influenza this year, Nebraska agriculture continues to find new ways to grow. Let’s review some of the events of the past year that positively impacted our state’s number one industry.

by J.L. Schmidt

Whatever happened to peace on earth, good will to men? Is it just me, or has the world gone crazy? Are we really talking about closing the borders to keep folks from other countries out? Stop, consider your ancestry. If the border had been closed in 1902, I wouldn’t be living in America right now. We all came from immigrant stock.

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by Ashley Swanson

It’s not often that I talk about myself (or try not to), but you know what?, I’m a pretty lucky person. I’ve been a pretty lucky person my whole life because of the family and friends I have, but this particular lucky feeling stems over just this past year.

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by Tory Duncan

Have you found your Christmas  spirit/holiday spirit yet? I actually had a dream about this the other night...and in that dream, it’s almost as if it started out with the Grinch dominating the dream. 

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by Ashley Swanson

A little bit ago, Tory had this story idea to do this series on lost towns in Clay County. I decided to head down to Spring Ranch for our first town—mostly because I find the history of the “hanging bridge” interesting....unfortunate, but interesting nonetheless.

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by Tory Duncan

It is with a heavy heart, but certainly with a big heart, that I remember a man that glowed like no other, this week. Perhaps Harvard’s most well known man, Ronnie Schwindt lost his battle with cancer this past Friday.

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