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Editorial: Keeping kids' vaccinations up-to-date is vital (4/26/24)Protecting our children from preventable diseases should be a fundamental priority for every parent. As we mark the beginning of National Infant Immunization Week, it’s crucial to remind ourselves of the importance of keeping our children’s immunizations up to date...
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Column: Diving into sleep Evolution, dreams and aging (4/26/24)I have been battling sleep issues lately, and as I look for ways to improve my situation, I find myself being drawn into a broader exploration of the topic. It’s interesting stuff, and I find it easy to understand why people devote entire careers to their studies. I am also humbled by realizing how little I know about a function that, in theory, should comprise roughly a third of our lives...
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Letter to the Editor: Buckle up, phone down (4/25/24)Diane Becker | League Association of Risk ManagementAs of April 15, 2024, there were 71 traffic fatalities for the year in Nebraska, a 29% increase over the same period in 2023. The causes are not surprising – speeding, drunk driving, lack of seatbelt use, and distracted driving were some of the reasons for the fatal accidents. You can take steps to increase your chance of avoiding or surviving a vehicle accident...
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Column: Volunteering not limited to a day or week, but constantly (4/25/24)There is a day, week and month devoted to just about anything these days. For a while, “Speak like a pirate” day was unique. But then along came “donut” day, “take your dog to work” day, “stay in bed until noon” day, which all in theory could be every day...
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Column: In the upcoming election, values matter (4/23/24)In the upcoming election, values matter In his 1796 farewell address, our first President George Washington said, “Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle”. In short, the very survival of our nation relies on the survival of our public faith. ...
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Editorial: New nursing home rules threaten rural communities (4/23/24)The recent move by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement minimum staffing requirements in long-term care facilities has drawn significant opposition from lawmakers, and rightfully so. Led by representatives like Adrian Smith and Senator Deb Fischer, concerns have been raised about the potentially devastating impacts of these rules, particularly on rural communities like those in Nebraska’s Third District...
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Column: Elected office memories, roads and the race for commissioner (4/23/24)Ah ha. Election season approaches and some of the voters in Red Willow County will be choosing to reelect their Commissioner or one of the other gentlemen running for office. This former Commissioner has an opinion but that will be kept close to my heart...
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Letter to the Editor: Drug education can help children understand cannabis (4/19/24)Marcel Gemme | SUPEMarijuana laws in Nebraska are strict as medical and recreational cannabis for adults is fully illegal. While some 4/20 celebrations do occur in the state, most cannabis users and aficionados travel to cannabis-friendly states. Even in states where cannabis is fully illegal, children, teens, and young adults are influenced, whether through social media, pop culture, or adults in their lives using cannabis. ...
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Column: Human tragedy and 5G warfare (4/19/24)Editor’s Note — Since this column was filed, Israel has launched a limited counterattack on the Iranian Air Base in Iran’s Isfahan Province. Iranian media reports that three drones were shot down, but no damage has been acknowledged. It’s been an interesting week. ...
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Column: Young people's voices valued and respected (4/18/24)As my high school career comes to an end, I reflect on all of the accomplishments, failures, lessons, and opportunities that I have made. From participating in sports to being involved in clubs, I have learned a tremendous amount of skills that I will be able to apply to my...
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Column: Enjoying the art in our midst (4/16/24)Grannie Annie and this old guy went on a wonderful local excursion this past Saturday. Long overdue we toured the sixth floor of the Keystone and the ArtBank here in McCook. Yes your old columnist hasn’t been too much into modern art as I prefer mechanical perfection especially modern machines that fly with pilots on board aka our local airport. Still I’m willing to explore and learn...
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Column: Unrestricted endowments prepare Greater Nebraska for the future (4/12/24)Humans have a penchant for looking far ahead. Ask a room of kids what they want to be when they grow up, and you’ll quickly discover just how creative we can be when it comes to envisioning our future. Along the same lines, if you ask members of a community about their dreams for their hometown, you’ll leave with a long list...
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Editorial: Human wages, robot purchases in lock-step (4/11/24)The advent of robotics has undeniably reshaped industries across the globe, offering unparalleled efficiency, precision, and productivity. As revealed by the 2022 Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES), investment in robotic equipment continues its steady climb, reflecting a dynamic landscape where automation is increasingly becoming the norm. ...
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Column: McCook Connects working to bring community together (4/11/24)During the McCook Chamber of Commerce’s recent annual meeting, I had the pleasure of sharing several projects that the McCook Community Foundation Fund and the McCook Chamber are working together on. There are the Third Thursday events in downtown McCook throughout the summer and Beautify McCook projects to bring lights and flowers and - beauty - to our community...
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Editorial: Heed the call for caution this year in road work zones (4/9/24)Nebraska roads are the veins through which our state pulses with life and progress. But as spring blooms and summer beckons, so too does the increased activity in our construction zones, which sadly have become hazardous corridors for many drivers. A recent analysis by LendingTree (https://tinyurl.com/2de6ku4h) reveals a stark reality: Nebraska ranks second in the nation for deadly crashes occurring in work zones. This is not a title we should wear with pride; it’s a sobering call to action...
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Editorial: This year, heed the call for caution in highway work zones (4/9/24)Nebraska roads are the veins through which our state pulses with life and progress. But as spring blooms and summer beckons, so too does the increased activity in our construction zones, which sadly have become hazardous corridors for many drivers. A recent analysis byLendingTreereveals a stark reality: Nebraska ranks second in the nation for deadly crashes occurring in work zones. This is not a title we should wear with pride; it’s a sobering call to action...
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Column: Lives touched across thousands of miles (4/9/24)1“Oh the monkey wrapped his tail around the flag pole and the wind blew…” well the rest of that marching “jody” is unprintable but here in Southwestern Nebraska we got a strong dose of it this past weekend. Gusts up to 65 miles per hour. I rolled up roof sheeting on the City’s Taj Mahal, a couple of overturned trees and a few dead branches littering the few miles of street that I drove. ...
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Editorial: Railroad safety should not be left to contract negotiations (4/5/24)In a landmark move, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has finalized a rule mandating two-person train crews on major freight railroads across the nation. This development marks a crucial victory for organized labor and, most importantly, a significant step forward in bolstering rail safety...
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Column: Campaign songs, part one (4/5/24)1As we approach the final months of our presidential election process, I think about how media coverage and advertising have changed over the years. Social media now play a prominent role in news coverage, generating what’s known as “earned media” in marketing circles...
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Editorial: Rejecting LB764 upholds fairness in Nebraska (4/4/24)2The proposal to reinstate the winner-take-all electoral system in Nebraska, as outlined in LB764, is a misguided attempt that threatens to undermine the principles of fairness and representation in our electoral process. While proponents argue that returning to a winner-take-all system would streamline Nebraska’s electoral votes and amplify the state’s voice in presidential elections, a closer examination reveals significant drawbacks and potential consequences...
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Editorial: A wake-up call for young adults: Get your cancer checkups (4/2/24)The recent revelations of cancer diagnoses among young, high-profile individuals such as Olivia Munn and Kate Middleton serve as a stark reminder: cancer knows no age limits. Their experiences highlight a concerning trend that cannot be ignored. Cancer diagnoses among adults under 50 are on the rise, and if current projections hold true, the numbers are only set to escalate in the coming years...
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Column: Funerals and other happy times (4/2/24)No, funerals are not happy times but as my pastor says we are all terminal so we should make the best of it. Last week I grieved at the funeral of the wife of my best friends in life. Dan was a compatriot from country grades through high school until we both went off into the Air Force. ...
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Column: Immigration anxiety: A voice from the past (3/29/24)Our recent snowstorm allowed me to catch up on some reading, including an essay in “Imprimis,” a newsletter I have received since the late 1980s. The piece addressed our current immigration issues, comparing the rate of crossings to those in 1960 when the Eisenhower Administration began keeping track of those numbers. ...