Card Volleyers Score Big Road Win
October 22, 2008
The Boone Central Cardinals got off to a strong start and rolled to a 3-1 victory at Hartington Cedar Catholic Thursday, Oct. 16, in Mid-State Conference volleyball action.
Boone Central, 10-7, competed in a triangular event at Twin River Tuesday night and will begin play in the annual Mid-State Conference Tournament Monday at Pierce. Read more
My Side of the Fencepost
October 21, 2008
OK, so it IS partisan . . . .
By Jim Dickerson
If you’ve been picking up your mail lately most anywhere in the 41st Legislative District, you are well aware that the two major political parties are already heavily involved in the legislative race between Kate Sullivan and Paul Eurek.
Our little old 41st District must be very important on the state and national scene, because there is some REAL money being spent on this race — and it’s coming from more than just the candidates and their campaign committees. The state Republican party is now hauling out the ammunition. The Democratic party has also produced one direct mail piece on the District 41 race and may be planning more.
You might have heard a big “Whoosh!” a few weeks ago when the first volleys were fired. That was the sound of our nonpartisan Legislative system being swept away. From now on — apparentlly without regard to language in the state constitution or other resource material — the Nebraska Legislature will be Partisan (with a capital P).
Now, I really shouldn’t complain about this. Our newspapers and the others across the 41st District might gain financially from increased newspaper advertising . . . or the political parties might choose to spend the bulk of their campaign money on direct mail or other media. Whatever the case, it appears we’ll be hearing more from (and about) the candidates through the two political parties — with their own “spin” added.
The ball started rolling during the primary election campaign last spring. Gov. Dave Heineman and Attorney General Jon Bruning, the two highest ranking Republicans in state government, made a swing through the 41st District to endorse Paul Eurek.
At that time, I used this space to mention that nonpartisan races should remain nonpartisan. I said (more or less) that the governor should have stayed home — let the candidates do their own campaigning and let the people decide.
My editorial opinion apparently didn’t change any minds.
As I mentioned, the shots have pretty much been taken by direct mail so far. I’ve been saving up the cards for later reference. They started with a direct mail piece from the Nebraska Republican Party, which stated that “Kate Sullivan has benefitted from thousands of dollars from Nebraska’s biggest unions.” Actually, as far as I know, the only union endorsing Kate was the Nebraska State Education Association, which is an endorsement many candidates would like to have.
So far, I have counted five direct mail pieces in the race. The only two negative pieces came from the Nebraska Republican Party, and both sought to cast Kate Sullivan as a union supported big spender. The other three pieces have been positive — one each from the respective candidates’ campaign organizations and one positive piece from the Nebraska Democratic State Central Committee.
I don’t believe negative campaign ads appeal to most voters in the 41st District. In that regard, I think the Democrats have the upper hand so far. I hope both parties refrain from any further negative campaigning in this race.
Perspectives
October 21, 2008
Simple Dreams
By Paul Hosford
My wife Lori and I stopped at Julie’s Café recently for a late breakfast. A disheveled man sat alone at another table, and we couldn’t help but overhear him mention to Julie that he was homeless, on his way to family in Kentucky. It was cold and rainy, and he had a long way to go. Julie graciously prepared him a sack lunch and directed him to the local ministerial association for additional help. He vanished out the door; maybe he’s in Kentucky by now.
It’s hard to imagine being homeless, but it’s a fact of life for too many people (the average age of a homeless person is eight!). In contemplating this man’s situation I had to wonder what were his dreams? Even the simplest of homes, a cot to sleep on, a source of heat, would probably be central.
In my past two columns, I’ve written about the dreams of the Native Americans. Their dreams were visions, gifts of the land, that gave them direction in life. As white pioneers supplanted them, though, their “dreamer religion” faded away. The land was no longer seen as a source of spiritual power.
But despite this shift away from the traditional Native American relationship to the land, it did not lose it’s hold on people’s dreams. Only now, instead of spiritual visions, these dreams were of a more practical nature. This land inspired dreams of freedom, of a home and a way to support one’s self and one’s family. This land offered people a path through life that was every bit as important, every bit as real, and every bit as challenging as the guiding dreams it had offered the Native Americans.
So powerful was the dream of freedom that people came hundreds and even thousands of miles to pursue it. They crossed oceans and continents with little more than the shirt on their back, tired and poor, driven by a desire to be free.
It’s hard to appreciate the power of these people’s dreams, inspired by the prospect of owning a little piece of land. It was the motivation of a generation now past, and our desires today have little to do with working the soil. But to our ancestors, freedom was part and parcel to owning farmland.
European immigrants came from a world governed by ancient and entrenched ideas of class and privilege. One’s position in life was governed by one’s position at birth — if you were lucky enough to be born into an aristocratic family, you had little to worry about. Your needs were met. And the way your needs were met was by the labor and efforts of those of lower birth. They tilled the soil, tended the herds, built the roads and buildings, but shared little ownership in the fruits of their labors.
America served as a beacon of hope. Here, with hard work and determination, a man could wrest a living from the ground, build a home upon it, raise a family and one day rest satisfied beneath it. To European peasants and tenement dwellers from Eastern American cities, the endless vistas of the Great Plains were the Promised Land, holding before them the dream of freedom to work for one’s self, to follow the dictates of one’s own heart, to take pride in even the simplest of accomplishments because they were one’s own.
We don’t think about those who failed, those who turned back when grasshoppers devoured not only their crops but hoe-handles and harnesses. We’ve forgotten those who retreated in the face of blizzards and prairie fires, droughts and floods. They left nothing of themselves. But we are surrounded by reminders of those who persevered — those who’s dreams of a better life were so powerful that nothing could stop them. Their legacy is all around us. They built our towns, built our state and transformed empty prairies into a breadbasket for the world.
Like the homeless man on that cold dreary morning, they had simple dreams. But just as the dream of finding his way back home to Kentucky kept that man going, the dream of finding a home — of building a home — kept the pioneers going.
Dreams are ephemeral things; they can’t be measured or weighed. But the fruits they bear can. Families and businesses, careers and accomplishments all arise from the intangible, gossamer wisps of dreams. And while many may have forgotten it, this land has traditionally been as fertile a source of dreams as any crop that’s raised upon it.
Country Laminates to celebrate 25 years
October 21, 2008
Country Laminates, an Albion business since 1983, will be celebrating its 25th anniversary with an open house this Friday, Oct. 24, starting at 3 p.m. The business owners are Barb and Dan Krohn. Employees include Tom Lueken, Clint Palmer, Ken Olnes, David Krohn, Mark Lueken, Larry Pochop and Don Merten.
City’s comprehensive plan may be expanded
October 21, 2008
An update of Albion’s comprehensive plan could include two additional studies useful in economic development.
Albion City Council last Tuesday night approved a recommendation from the Albion Planning Commission to award a contract to Hannah:Keelan Associates of Lincoln for an update of the city’s comprehensive plan. Read more
Health Center open house is Sunday
October 21, 2008
Boone County Health Center’s new facilities and equipment will be on display for the public this Sunday, Oct. 26, during an open house from 1 to 3 p.m.
The open house will showcase the renovation of the front admission desk with private admitting room, the enlarged emergency room, a private surgery consultation room, the remodeled restrooms off of the front lobby and the new MRI and digital radiology suite.
Albion Library hosts open house
October 21, 2008
Helping out with the open house at Albion Public Library weere, l. to r., Sharon Stephens, Marie Hosford and Carolyn Fischer.
More than 70 people attended the 100th anniversary open house at the Albion Public Library last Sunday afternoon, Oct. 19.
The event was hosted by the library staff and the Albion Library Board. Read more
Obama, McCain campaigning here?
October 21, 2008
Barack Obama, left, and John McCain
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