Stories from Saturday, December 22, 2007

The sun rises over the 20th Century Veterans Memorial in North Platte, a reminder as the old year ends and a new year begins, that we owe a deep debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed to maintain our way of life.

Gassing up for the trip over the river and through the woods may be a little cheaper, thanks to a recent move by the Nebraska Department of Roads. The state announced Monday that Nebraska's variable gas tax rate will be cut to 23 cents from 27 cents per gallon...

Last week I spoke of visiting the Alaskan town of Ruby on Christmas Day 1968. That was a highlight of my Arctic Christmas tour some 40 years ago this week. But there is more to the story. Christmas eve, the night before we flew Santa to Ruby, Bill invited me to accompany him to a bar in the town of Galena, just outside the base. ...

Watching my son, Michael, graduate from college with his B.A. from Arkansas Tech University was the proudest moment of my life. I'm a sentimental old fool anyway and I just couldn't hold back the tears when they announced his name. He had jumped through all the hoops and over all the hurdles on the way to accomplishing his goal and I was so proud of him and for him. He's going to be a teacher, just like his mom and dad...