Opinion

August 18th marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote across the country and enfranchised nearly 50 percent of the U.S. population. A century later, voting is as – if not more – important than ever before...

When it comes to helping low-income families these days, most of the attention is going to Washington’s impasse over a second coronavirus relief bill currently in limbo because of political wrangling and a congressional recess. There are other ways to help, of course. Contributing food or money to the McCook Pantry, Salvation Army or other food bank or organization is one way, of course...

This week, we finally received a break from the 24-hour coverage of the Juice-Boxer Rebellion in Portland with the announcement of Kamala Harris as the Democratic Vice Presidential candidate. I called that one several months ago, but I won’t take too deep a bow. It was simple electoral math in a party that places a high value on identity politics. Besides, predictions can be a cruel mistress. Think back to Y2K, or look around for flying cars...

“Thank you for your service.” It can be a cliché, but if we’ve worn a uniform, loved or lost someone who has, the words carry real meaning. Nebraska lawmakers put their money -- our money -- where our mouths are, to a point, with the passage of a tax cut for military retirees...

If there has ever been a need to be adaptable, it is now. When schools began closing down in mid-March, everyone - including myself - hoped that this pandemic would quickly pass and we’d be back to normal soon. As the weeks turned into months, there was hope that everything would correct itself over the summer. But as we head into fall, “normal” seems far off on the horizon and we are forced once again to learn how to adapt...

This last month, the MEDC board spent time looking back on what we have been working on and then looked at where we want to be in the future. Even though we live in a time of uncertainty, there are opportunities for McCook as we look forward. Two years ago, we identified business recruitment, workforce development, and housing as our top three priorities. We’ve had some wins, but a few projects have taken a little longer than expected. Here’s a few successes:...

By the time this week’s article is published the Legislature will be wrapping up the 2020 session. And everyone will be able to sleep easier! All of us senators, the lobbyists, and especially the taxpayers. I hope I do not jinx LB 1107 by saying it was passed by the Legislature as I am writing this on Monday. ...

This weekend I was privileged to fly a mission of mercy. Actually it was fellow pilot Bill’s mission. Your old columnist mainly went along for old times sake.On the way into Denver we cruised just below a spotty cloud layer. Pilots play the wind and usually the higher one flies the stronger the wind. ...

In my lifetime, I don’t recall vice presidential picks being such a big deal since the Nixon administration. That’s reaching back a bit. For those of you too young to remember, Spiro Agnew was Nixon’s vice president and resigned, just as Nixon was looking down the barrel of the Watergate scandal...

Learning, growing right here at home If you would’ve asked me back in March what I was going to be doing for the summer of 2020, coming home to McCook was not at the top of my list. It was not that I didn’t love McCook or enjoy being here but rather I was making plans and looking at opportunities elsewhere. Just like the rest of the college students in this country, COVID-19 had other plans in mind...

It was a busy week in the Legislature the previous week. We made some headway, covered a lot of territory and subject matter, but we also spun our wheels quite a bit. The only thing we are dealing with is priority bills, both personal and committee. ...

Methinks that Darrell Meister has too much time on his hands. Being quarantined could do that to a person. Of course I don’t know the rules for the 14 day quarantine rules for Hawaii. Can one stay in their own home? Can they get out and drive somewhere to enjoy the grand outdoors of Oahu. Bars and restaurants closed? How about groceries and outdoor markets if one wears a mask? If he has to stay home and watch too many hours of TV I can see how he could get fed up with the 14 day quarantine...

Dear Editor, Medicine and science are busy working on coronavirus, cancer an Alzheimers disease. Cognitive ability of the brain is a common worry when a person suffers a reduction in important mental abilities such as memory and judgment. No drugs have been discovered that will reverse this decline in mental ability...

The pandemic is affecting things in ways none of us could have imagined. In May, the Nebraska State Patrol put out a news release stating that 200 speeders had been ticketed for exceeding 100 mph over the previous two months. Perhaps the drivers were releasing pent-up energy from quarantine, or perhaps it was a fatalistic attitude that manifested itself in dangerous driving behavior...

It’s been quite a week. Between the Barr hearing, Dr. Stella, and mystery seeds from China, well, there’s never a dull moment. The much-publicized and broadcast, four-hour hearing of Attorney General Bill Barr looked more like a Stalinist kangaroo court than what should be a product of our system of government, but those are the times we live in. ...

Anyone with more than one child knows that none of them are the same. They each have their own characteristics and their own quirks, their own way of learning and their own way of responding to a situation. Just as every child is different, every high school class is different. Ask any teacher who has been teaching a few years about the ebb and flow of classes through a school...

The Nebraska Legislature reconvened the 2020 session on July 20th and in the first few days of session we were able to advance a number of bills that had previously been debated before we postponed the session in March. Many of the bills that I recently wrote about in my previous articles were advanced to the next stage of debate. ...

Dear Editor, In a July 22, NET Nebraska online article, Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department Director Myra Stoney says they’ve seen 22 COVID-19 cases over the past week, almost double the number reported over the previous three months. She goes on to say that, “I think the people of southwest Nebraska are in complete denial that there is a pandemic.” She goes on to say that some residents are ignoring social distancing guidelines and aren’t wearing face coverings in public places. ...

I have a reminder every once in a while. Recently I was driving through town and considered stopping at one of the fast food emporiums for a cup for Grannie Annie and me on a short trip. We went through a drive through and ordered to go. Then a couple blocks further another similar restaurant had its parking lot filled with motorcycles. ...

Dear Editor, In a July 22, Net Nebraska online article, Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department Director Myra Stoney says they’ve seen 22 COVID-19 cases over the past week, almost double the number reported over the previous three months. She goes on to say that, "I think the people of Southwest Nebraska are in complete denial that there is a pandemic," She goes on to say that some residents are ignoring social distancing guidelines and aren’t wearing face coverings in public places...

I had a conversation with a family member this week that was thought-provoking. We were talking about new masking requirements in retail spaces and I was bemoaning the degree to which the issue has become politicized. I’m sincerely troubled by that. As much as I can be a political animal, some things should be off-limits to political spin, but that’s not the world we live in...

Most of us are willing to go with the flow if things are going well, sitting up and paying attention only when confronted with adversity. President Trump and other political candidates have drawn votes by promising to root out corruption, but it takes motivation and determination to actually do that job...

With my mother-in-law, Dolores Graff, celebrating her 88th birthday on Friday, my family will wrap up a month chock full of birthdays, including mine a few weeks ago. If birthdays do nothing else, they give you a chance to reflect on the past year and evaluate what you have accomplished and what has happened in your life. Sometimes it is a good reflection; other times you may be left wanting to just forget...

Dear Editor, Since 1984 I have been a loyal fan of Alex Trebek and Jeopardy. When I visited my parents in Denver we always watched his show. It was educational as well as entertaining. Last year, when he was disgnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer I was shocked. A long time friend of mine from my days as a student at East Denver High School and the University of Denver had pancreatic cancer and passed away from it...

Grannie Annie walked into our big box store and a lady greeted her. “You are Dick Trail’s wife,” was her statement. Grannie wondered how in the world the lady made the connection and the answer had to do with the lady reading this column. Roxy and her husband live about 50 miles away in a rural setting and have converted their big red barn into a lodging and event center. It sounds like an adventurous place to visit and maybe spend the night with my bride...