Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
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Two ballot measures will appear on your ballot in November which would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. The first initiative would make it legal for physicians to prescribe medical cannabis, while the second initiative would regulate the dispensing of the drug. The reason for two separate ballot initiatives has to do with the single subject rule stipulated in the Nebraska State Constitution, which states in Article III, Section 2 that “Initiative measures shall contain only one s...
Like most Americans, I was horrified by the recent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. I'm grateful that President Trump survived the attack. Our nation prays for the innocent victims. Corey Comperatore was murdered while using his body to shield his loved ones from gunfire. This shouldn't have been allowed to happen. Political violence is anti-American. An attempted political assassination is an attack against America and our democratic republic. Everyone must condemn...
The placebo effect is a great illustration of the awesome power of the mind. Here is how it works. A person is given an inert substance with no medicinal properties and told that it is a drug that is proven to cure whatever malady they are experiencing. The amazing result is that the subject often recovers as if they received actual medicine. The only explanation for the recovery is that since the person's mind believed they were going to get better, they did. Then there are those who don't...
What just happened? Father God's 'fullness of time' and satan's nightmare. Saturday, 7-13-24 The Son of David, The Lord's Servant showed up in Butler, Pennsylvania, an unstable 'swing state'. God's design of time is 7 days, weeks, years and Jubilees. In Hebrew, 13 equates His word LOVE. The year 2024 is to restore and bring more of everlasting life. Further, the day was Sabath, His holy day of rest for Man. Attacking God's people on holy days is never tolerated; not Hamas' attack on Chosen...
I imagine that most readers are expecting me to write this week about the upcoming special session of the State Legislature. The Governor has not yet formally called for a special session of the Legislature and his plan for property tax relief remains under construction. When news becomes available, about a special session or about his plan for property tax relief, I will be sure to let the readership know. I am committed to keeping the folks of Western Nebraska informed about state news. When i...
Is complaining an effective strategy for solving problems? Will complaining improve your situation? Do others enjoy listening to you complain? The answer to all three questions is no. Then why do people complain? There are a number of reasons a person complains. He or she may be looking for sympathy, assistance, support, or just letting off steam. There are also people who are habitual whiners who are never satisfied or content. In the case of sympathy, there is an erroneous assumption that if...
Columbia Pictures released Easy Rider on July 14, 1969, fifty-five years ago last Sunday. I missed seeing it that summer, because I was busy on the farm driving a 92 Massey Harris combine in wheat harvest. I missed the film later, because I was busy my sophomore year in high school running here, there and everywhere: cross country, track, and basketball. I admit. I have never watched Easy Rider. Other things have crowded out my time. The film was a runaway success, grossing $60 million, but only...
"Seek first the Kingdom of God. It is God's good pleasure to give you the kingdom which is within you." Matthew 5:1-7:29 Sermon on the Mount summary: "God blesses what we do get right, which inspires us to get more right." God has called us all to good works. It is how He uses us to love His chosen ones with what He has called them to do. This is known as fellowship, partnership and loving one another as Christ (Messiah) Jesus has loved us. John 13:34, 35 Joe had come to clear our property of...
Today it is with great disappointment that I must report that the EPIC Option Consumption Tax team did not meet the required signature count to place our two initiatives for constitutional amendments on the November general election ballot. While the team met the first goal of securing signatures from at least five percent of registered voters in 38 counties, the team fell short of the second requirement of securing signatures from ten percent of the registered voters statewide. I would like to...
Alice, a high school guidance counselor, was conducting a job and career seminar for seniors. During their four years in high school, she overheard students worrying about their hair, their clothes, who was dating who, what cars people were driving, along with all the other typical teenage angst. Alice wanted to impress upon the students what's important in life versus the small stuff. As the students sat down in Alice's room, they saw some items on her desk more appropriate for an earth...
Sometimes we need to stop and look back in our nation's history and see some of the grander and better seeds that were planted by our elected leaders. Here are some seeds from both sides of the political aisle that were planted years ago. We need to water them and help them to grow in these troubled days. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT QUOTES: The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose...
"Then the Lord said, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord!" Numbers 14:20-21 "Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophecy, test all things and hold fast what is good." I Thessalonians, 5:19-21 Prophecy is given to instruct, encourage or reveal Father's heart. This prophesy came from a man and wife in New York: "The Lord says, 'I founded Israel because I loved the people but, the United States was founded because the people loved Me.'" John 3:16, 17 Today the...
Last summer, my team and I launched our internship program in Nebraska and Washington. Over the past year, we've welcomed 23 young professionals into our offices. The experience gives future leaders from across our state an opportunity to serve their fellow Nebraskans. They gain valuable professional skills. They also receive hands-on experience working in public policy, communications, and constituent services. I'm grateful to each intern we've had so far for their contributions to our team....
In the previous column (part 2), I discussed the positive emotions of joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, and humility. Part 1 reviewed the negative emotions of anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, superiority, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, and ego. This column will finish with the remaining positive emotions of kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The purpose of these three columns is to contrast the positive and...
At the inception of America's Revolutionary War against King George III and Parliament, certain Pennsylvania Quakers urged a policy of abolishment of slavery within their colony. In 1775, a Quaker named Anthony Benezet founded the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, the first abolitionist society in America. In May 1776, delegates at the Second Continental Congress, then meeting in Philadelphia, called for the creation of thirteen new state governments, and allow colonial...
The people thought of stoning David. He called for the Ephod, encouraged himself in the Lord and recovered all." I Samuel 30:6. The Apostle Paul says this: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, for he who comes to God must believe that He is God and that He is the rewarder of a diligent seeker." Hebrews 11:1-6 Jesus said, Mathew 6:24, 33, "You cannot serve God and Mammon, but seek first, the Kingdom of God and all these things will be given (added) unto you." Benjamin Franklin, age 81, ca...
Did your property assessment go down this year? Perhaps you are one of the very rare Nebraskans who by chance received an equivalent valuation as last year or even a slight reduction. Once again, this year's valuation notices aptly demonstrate how broken our tax system is. The process of valuating properties in Nebraska is completely subjective. There simply is no uniform, objective methodology for valuating properties. County assessors determine the value of properties as they see fit, and...
In the last column, I discussed the negative emotions of anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, superiority, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, and ego. This column and the next, will look at the positive emotions of joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. Within each of us is the battle between positive and negative forces. We have the power to pick which force dominates. It is normal...
The following is an editorial article my father Calvin K. Sunderland wrote in the 1970's. I've edited it a bit so this version only half as long as the original. Sometimes we need to go back to our roots and rediscover our foundations. This article is from my early days in the newspaper field. At the time my dad wrote the following, I was a reporter, photographer, press operator, dark room tech, etc. at the Humboldt Sun newspaper in Winnemucca, Nevada. * * * As a reaction to Watergate, a lot of...
"I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in His Word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning. Yes, more than they who watch for the morning." Psalm 130:5-6 As the United States of America celebrates a Declaration of Independence written by the Finger of God 248 years ago, we are assured that Heaven is watching! God's pattern is simple, the same and timely, never changing! God's first watch for the U.S.A. was to declare independence from a depraved and...
Nebraskans are now receiving their new property valuation notices in the mail. As a result, many Nebraskans are suffering from sticker shock once they see how much the value of their property has increased since last year. Mine, for example, went up forty percent! Other property owners are seeing their valuations increase by as much as fifty percent. What these property valuation notices demonstrate is how broken Nebraska's tax system is. To be sure, you can bet your last dollar that the tax...
There are two opposing forces within you. One is positive, the other negative. The dominant force is the one that determines the path your life takes. Most people are unaware of this conflict, or worse yet, allow the negative to rule them. Developing an awareness of your thoughts and emotions is essential to cultivating the positive ones, while allowing the others to wither. Your quality of life is directly related to the outcome of your inner battle. The negative emotions are anger, envy,...
In 2022, a jury convicted Elizabeth Holmes, founder of biotech firm Theranos, of four counts of defrauding investors. A judge sentenced Holmes to 11 years and 3 months in prison. The film producer Harvey Weinstein was declared guilty of inappropriate relations with women twice, first at a trial in New York in 2020, and the second in California in 2022. In 2018, the comedian Bill Cosby was sentenced to 10 years in prison for drugging and assaulting a woman, but in 2021, after serving three years...
Jesus rebuked the Sadducees "'You know how to discern the sky, but you do not discern the signs of the times. No sign will be given to a wicked and adulterous generation except the sign of the Prophet Jonah.' and (He) walked away." Matthew 16:2, 3. Sadducees did not believe in miracles or the afterlife, but were Isarel's leaders at the time. They contested everything Jesus taught and finally, it was the High Priest, Caiaphas, who ordered His crucifixion. Jesus spoke to the faithful of His unexpe...
How many American flags have ever flown on the moon? If you answered, six, you are correct. Each lunar American flag was made of nylon material and was fixed to an aluminum telescoping pole. These flags came in a special kit which were carried on the outside of the Apollo Lunar Module on the descent ladder and were stored inside an insulated tubular case to protect them from the heat of the exhaust, which could reach temperatures up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the flags measured 3 X 5 f...
