Columns

Veterans Day has long been a day that I often times come up short on what to say to those men and women that have and are serving in the United States Military, because what do you say to anyone that has served?

Thank you, it just seems like I come up short of passing along my heartfelt appreciation for giving me the opportunity to do what I do for a living, to be able to go anywhere I wish, because of the freedom that those who have, and continue to serve our country to preserve our freedom.

I ran across a poem over the weekend that helps me say what I wish I could come up with the words better than simply saying “thank you:”

The Noble and the Brave: A Veteran’s Day Tribute

One act teams and fall plays are getting ready to take the stage for the annual regular competitions.

This year, Harvard and Sandy Creek will compete in the TVC/SNC competitions, respectively, before heading into districts, while Sutton hosts it’s second annual fall play.

Harvard has already seen the stage this season, having traveled to Wilcox-Hildreth on Monday, Nov. 7.

Up next for them will be their public performance, set for 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14.

Their next performance will be TVC, which is co-hosted by Harvard and Silver Lake (at Harvard Public School), Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Harvard is set to perform at 8 a.m. that day.

Districts will take the Cardinals back to Wilcox-Hildreth Tuesday, Nov. 29, to compete for their shot at a trip to state.

Harvard will be competing against Shelton, Franklin, Dorchester, Red Cloud, Meridian, Wilcox-Hildreth, and Lawrence-Nelson.

Parked on Silber Street in North Platte, after Sandy Creek was fresh off a season-ending loss to North Platte St. Pats, a question that has often been asked of me was finally answered within me...nearly 14 years after I reopened the long lineage of “the Bull” in 2009.

“How do you do it each week...how do you come up with the Bull each week?”

No, it doesn’t come easy some weeks, especially during the weeks that not a lot is going on, whether that be school functions, community events or otherwise.

But, when I reached the Jeep last Friday night, it truly hit me, “this is how I do it each week.”

You see, I’m around activity all the time, and when I looked back on the field, parked just beyond the west end zone of St. Pat’s field, I sat there amazed at the amazing turnout of Sandy Creek fans, just like I did a year ago this week when Sutton fans turned out in droves for the Sutton volleyball team’s state runner-up run in the 2021 run for the Fillies.

Leave it to the Republicans to pick on their own. Leave it to the short-timer Nebraska Governor to lead the charge.

Yes folks, Governor Pete Ricketts is the first and only funder, so far, of a political action committee that is seeking to block the election of a term-limited Republican state senator seeking election as a University of Nebraska Regent. The state Accountability and Disclosure Commission said Ricketts has given $314,000 to the Nebraska Future Action Fund.

That group has spent about $51,000 to campaign against outgoing State Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg who is seeking a Regent’s seat. All because, according to Ricketts or somebody, Williams is a RINO – Republican In Name Only. Political dictionaries define that as a disparaging term that refers to a Republican candidate whose political views are seen as insufficiently conforming to the party

Dear Editor, After a lot of meetings and brain storming, the city council and LB 840 members finally came to an agreement that will help my daycare and staffing issues. It’s not that I can’t find help, I couldn’t find anyone who wanted to work for a little above “minimum wage.”

Back in June 2021, my husband Brett Gibson and I took on this building project to start a daycare center. You could imagine the cost of everything while going through a pandemic.

When I opened in November 2021, I had enough staff to have 32 kids. Things were going good but I could still use more staff to enroll more kids. I had to cut my hours of operation due to staff shortage.

In August 2022, I had to close my School Age Room because of staff shortage. At the end of September, I had to go down from seven infants to four infants due to another staff shortage.

Patrons of Sandy Creek schools, I do not normally write letters and endorse anything to try to persuade an individual. I fully believe individuals should learn and develop their own opinions on topics that mean the most to them.

However, in certain situations it is necessary to offer some guidance when external sources are trying to influence the process. I feel like that time is now.

I firmly hope you will vote for Chad Dane and Brian Shaw for the Sandy Creek school board.

While the latest hot topic is the Nebraska Department of education and their poor ideas, the biggest issue facing our school district the next few years is the dividing of South Central Unified district.

Nebraska’s family farmers and ranchers have long had to grapple with the effects of natural disasters and extreme weather. Droughts, flooding, hail, wildfires—all of these events can heavily impact farmland, grazing areas, and livestock.

Wildfires can be particularly devastating when drought conditions are widespread and wind speeds are high.

Most recently, portions of western Nebraska had to contend with the Bovee Fire. This was a fierce, fast-moving wildfire that burned an estimated 18,930 acres. Tragically, a Nebraska firefighter lost his life while bravely fighting the fire. The fire also destroyed the state 4-H camp, as well as a lookout tower. My prayers remain with the communities and ranch families impacted by the Bovee Fire as they begin the difficult road to recovery.

Nebraskans are remarkably resilient in the face of this kind of adversity. We know how to come together, help one another, and rebuild.

Dear Editor, I would like to urge all voters to vote in this coming November election. First, be sure you are registered and your address is correct.

Then study a voter’s guide like Nebrasakvoterguide. com or ivoterguide.com/ my-ballot with the later information collected by Family Research Council.

This information has been researched by interviewing the candidates and their voting records.

Using these guides, you can see which candidates’ values align best with yours. Locally, talk to your city and county candidates.

Again, it is so important that your values be counted. There are many issues that are being debated in our country and state. Among them are abortions, handling of foreign affairs, human rights, and parental rights.

Our children will inherit this country and it’s government. So, take this inheritance seriously. Be a responsible voter.

In 2024, NASA will send a small surgical robot from Nebraska to the International Space Station.

The tiny, two-pound robot will be able to perform surgeries on the space station that would normally require a surgeon’s expertise and much larger equipment.

The surgical robot can operate more or less on its own, performing complex procedures at the flip of a switch. The device, developed by Nebraska- based Virtual Incision, is a significant step toward making it possible for surgeons to operate remotely—whether their patients are in deep space or on a battlefield halfway around the world.

Virtual Incision’s surgical robot is just one example of the many breakthrough products Nebraska’s bioscience companies are creating. From biomedicine to biofuels to biochemicals, companies in our state are on the cutting edge of innovation.

Going to bed is my least favorite time of day, all because of the monster.

The monster is loud and no matter how hard I try I cannot hide from it.

It doesn’t even sneak into the room, but instead saunters in as if he owns the place. Sometimes he’s screaming, other times he’s laughing in a high-pitched tone that I have to cover my ears.

My parents tell me it’s all in my head, that there really is no monster, but how would they know? They don’t sleep in the same room as me; they can’t see what I see when the monster stumbles through the door.

Sometimes I gather up whatever bravery I have and scurry my way to their bedroom, but it’s useless, as they usually send me back to my own bed.

This monster wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t so loud and actually let me get some sleep.

But most nights he hovers over me, smiling at me and using this bright light to shine on my face.