Opinion

A common theme among the pundit class these days is that our current national situation is somewhat reminiscent of the 1970s. That resonates with me quite a bit. The similarities are hard to ignore, but there are also differences. I am old enough to remember the energy crises of the 1970s. ...

Testimony heard on LR 107 The Executive Board Committee held a hearing on LR 107 last Thursday. The intent of the resolution, introduced by North Platte Sen. Mike Groene, is to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Nebraska against foreign and domestic acts of aggression and abuse of power...

My husband, Kent, and I are for all practical purposes homebodies. Yes, I venture out for work, and we belong to various community and church groups that add fun and enriching activities to our lives. But for the most part, we are pretty happy and comfortable at our small rural home. ...

There’s always something special about Memorial Day, one of the first official outdoor events of the summer. We take a few minutes that day to listen to a speech at the cemetery, wince at the first round from the firing squad, shed a tear at the grave of a relative or friend...

At an earlier time in my life, your old columnist just had to have a .30-30 Winchester rifle. Touted as the gun that won the West you have seen John Wayne carrying one as he rode in his saddle. Lever action repeater mine was of modern manufacture and I outfitted it with a four-power scope. ...

“Faith is a bird that feels dawn breaking and sings while it is still dark.” ~R. Tagore I do not have a green thumb. It’s not exactly black, but it is a dark moldy grey. Yet, every spring I vow that this will be the year I do something with the small strip of land on the east side of my house. ...

Even though Valentine’s Day is named after a Saint and has historical significance, it’s popular to make fun of the holiday. It is widely seen as a conspiracy between florists, candy, and greeting card companies. The history of Mother’s Day is quite the opposite...

As a runner and a biker, there are days when you simply don’t want to lace up those shoes or pump up your tires. But even on those days that are a struggle, rarely - if ever - have I finished and regretted not doing the ride or going for that run. No one finishes and says, “I wish I hadn’t done that.”...

Last week was deemed ‘Revenue’ week here at the capitol. More long days and nights of passionate and sometimes angry debates ensued as we tackled taxation issues among other things. With an unclear picture at the beginning of last week as to the state’s financial wiggle room, it was important to carefully weigh any bills with significant financial price tags...

It it heartening to see some sense of normality returning, with a gorgeous Simply Strings concert on Sunday at the Fox Theater, a full schedule of spring sports underway and plans for a return of the Buffalo Commons festival announced. While a lot of us have been fully vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus, too many of us have subscribed to the “I guess I’ll just wait a while,” attitude -- waiting for what -- the fourth wave like that now decimating India?...

Dear Editor, I write to you regarding Mike O’Dell’s column dated April 23, 2021. The Governor’s Office has long enjoyed a collegial and transparent relationship with media organizations across Nebraska. The pandemic over the last year provided members of the press with unprecedented, direct access to the Governor and his team. ...

The news this morning is that Lori Lightfoot (D) Mayor of Chicago has implemented a new directive for her police department. Now a policeman has to call and get his supervisor’s permission before pursuing the suspected perpetrator of a crime. See a gun-wielding perp running from holding up a convenience store and the cop has to get his boss’s permission before chasing after the criminal. That should really work out well...

Hail up to 3 inches in diameter in the St. Francis, Kan. area wasn’t welcome, but the rain that accompanied it throughout Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas was a welcome reprieve from drought conditions. More rain is needed if precipitation is ever to be more common than the Red Flag warnings issued by the National Weather Service office in Goodland, Kan...

More questions than answers to improve our communities When I first moved to McCook, one of the first things that caught my eye was the Fox Theater. I was fascinated every time I saw the sign out front lit up on Norris Avenue. We aren’t the only community with a Fox Theater...actually, can someone please explain why Fox is such a common name for a theater?...

You may have noticed that local and far-flung employers are having a real hard time finding employees. The food industry which provides so many entry-level positions seems especially hard hit but they are far from alone. The problem seems to be the generous, federally mandated, unemployment benefits that seem to keep being extended and extended. ...

It doesn’t surprise me at all that the left wants to capitalize on their newfound advantage in Congress and the White House. I expect them to make their best efforts to pack the supreme courts, raise taxes, loosen the borders and pass restrictive gun legislation. No surprises there...

Last week I received a few phone calls and emails regarding LB 271. Sometimes there are groups that will intentionally try and get people upset without giving all the facts. So I appreciate it when constituents reach out to me to find out what I know about a bill. ...

The McCook City Pool is again on the front page as there is progress on the project. Earlier this week, the McCook City Council unanimously approved the hiring of an outside engineer to oversee the development of the city pool project. It is great to see forward movement on this project which has been in the works for years...literally. ...

Smooth and efficient would be how I’d describe our local Transportation Security Agency, TSA, in action a morning or so ago at the McCook Airport. The passengers five in number that morning, few in the scheme of things but good for McCook, and the number of staff present about equaled the number of passengers. ...