Do we care enough to make a difference (07/02/09)
It's easy to get discouraged about the way things are going, especially if you or your friends or family are out of work and you've watched your chance for a comfortable retirement evaporate with Wall Street's bull market. We've looked on with alarm as the government takes over banks and two of the former "big three" automakers and old family franchises disappear. ...

More analysis offered on Republican River arbitration (07/02/09)
Steve Smith of WaterClaim.org issued the following analysis of Tuesday's document by the Republican River Compact arbitrator: I have read through the 74 page ruling by the arbitrator regarding the Republican River Basin. This is a more detailed analysis of his ruling. ...

Forgive, but don't forget (07/01/09)
I admit my memory sometimes fails me, usually at the most inopportune time -- like when a familiar face appears and their name flies out of my head like bats out of a cave at sunset. It happens in other ways, as it did just the other day. A face, familiar in one context, struck no resounding chord in my memory in another. And the one unrecognized was astonished that I had forgotten his name, his face...

Arbitrator leaves many questions unanswered (07/01/09)
There was nothing "arbitrary" about an arbiter's decision about the Republican River, and that is how it should be. On one hand, Nebraska should breath a sigh of relief that Colorado-based expert Karl Dreher didn't go along with Kansas' contention that all wells within 2.5 miles of the Republican River be shut off, or that millions of dollars are owed for water for which Kansas was entitled but never received, mostly because of the recent drought...

New commander on board (06/30/09)
"Sir! I relinquish command," stated Lt. Col. Cantu, the retiring commander. "Sir! I assume command," in turn stated the new squadron commander Lt. Col. Nate Allerheiligen. With those four simple words McCook's own Colonel Nate assumed the helm of the 50th Airlift Squadron, an essential part of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. The 50th is stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base but flies C-130 missions world wide...

Putting out the welcome mat (06/30/09)
Anyone who doesn't think sports has an important impact on our community just isn't paying attention. Last weekend's State Prep Tournament, hosted by the McCook Rebels, is just the latest example. Twenty teams in four divisions played dozens of games over three days, with only a few games canceled because of rainy weather. ...

Iraq should have chance to experience independence (06/30/09)
They're celebrating in the streets in Iraq. The country declared a public holiday today because American troops were officially withdrawn from Iraq's cities and towns, a result of an Iraqi-American security agreement that went into effect on Jan. 1...

Independence Day honors for those who assure our independence (06/29/09)
The makeup of the military has seen dramatic changes over the years. No longer does it consist primarily of single men. The majority of men and women in today's all volunteer force are married and have families. More than half of the nearly 3 million members of regular and reserve components of the military are married. In Nebraska, there are more than 15,000 families of regular and reserve components of the military. 7,500 regular and 7,700 reserves...

Freedom and liberty are not free (06/29/09)
As we approach Independence Day, I encourage you to reflect for a moment about the cost of living. I'm not talking about gas prices -- though the price at the pump right now is hitting families in Nebraska and across the country -- or how much it costs to see a movie or buy groceries or purchase a house...

Heeeeere's Johnny! (06/29/09)
News of Ed McMahon's death this week brought back a flood of memories of Ed, the ultimate sidekick, and his boss, Johnny Carson, who entertained America for over 30 years. I didn't know Ed McMahon, other than as a fan of the Tonight Show, and Star Search -- and I always hoped he'd call with a big check from Publishers' Clearing House. That never happened. But Johnny Carson was from Norfolk, near Plainview, where I grew up, and I always felt a certain kinship with him because of our hometowns...

It's time to relax Nebraska's fireworks regulations like those of Missouri (06/29/09)
From Chadron to Falls City and Imperial to Winside, firework stands opened for business all across Nebraska. As the sounds of Independence Day remind us of our hard-fought freedom, keep in mind that Nebraska's overzealous regulation of fireworks is antithetical to the liberty fireworks represent...

Have fun with fireworks, but do so safely (06/29/09)
Sunday morning dawned bright and early with the "pop-pop-p0p" associated with America's birthday. Thanks to new, tighter restrictions on the sale of fireworks in Nebraska, there's still plenty of time to celebrate the Fourth of July while providing less irritation for pets and those of us who prefer peace and quiet...

Nelson: $47.8 million in stimulus funds for Nebraska schools (06/29/09)
Sen. Ben Nelson welcomed today an announcement by the US Department of Education that $47.8 million in stimulus funding will be added to existing Title 1 funds being made available to school districts across the state for a total $115 million investment...

Another excellent adventure II (06/26/09)
Continuing where I left off in my last column, my son Michael picked me up at Tulsa International Airport and we headed for Arkansas. The drive is a little under three hours and it went by pretty quickly because we had a lot of things to talk about. Linda, my ex, had KFC and all the fixings waiting on us when we got there and after dinner and a couple of glasses of wine, I turned in after a long, somewhat harrowing, day...

A little brother who isn't so little (06/26/09)
I'm trying to avoid the more maudlin aspects of life in my column. I promise. No one wants me to get back to writing about TV -- the good, the bad and the ho-hum -- more than me. It's just that I've been distracted. Mother's Day. Father's Day. And for my latest diversion, well, my little brother is getting married next week, so you'll have to indulge me, just once more...

Stars' passing should cause us to reassess (06/26/09)
City editor Lorri Sughroue has been writing stories about The Greatest Generation, interviewing several veterans who received long-overdue recognition for their service and sacrifice by being treated to "Heartland Honor Flight" trips to Washington to the World War II memorial...

Cookies go great with the Milky Way (06/25/09)
As much as the rain is needed, I would prefer clear skies. It is hard to make astronomical observations through clouds, or skies heavy with hazy humidity. Now that summer is here, however, the evenings are much warmer and more comfortable for staying outside to observe. Except for the mosquitoes and other such creepy pests...

'When thunder roars, go indoors' slogan should catch on (06/25/09)
"Fifty-four Forty or Fight!" "Where's the beef?" "Loose lips sink ships." "Read my lips ... no new taxes!" "Want fries with that?" "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit." Famous saying, all, but not all of them were effective. Only time will tell whether the National Weather Service's new slogan for this week's Lightning Safety Awareness Week, "When thunder roars, go indoors!" will catch on...

Straight A's (06/24/09)
Apathy has reared its ugly head, again. Or is that a contradiction in terms? Nearly two years ago I wrote in a column titled "How's that again?" about a statement made in the hallway of a church by a member of that church to the effect that she wasn't promoting Christianity above any other religion. That was one example at the time of statements made by self-professed believers that belied their beliefs. A definite contradiction in terms...