Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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A few (or more) years ago, Popeye the Sailor Man was an inspirational cartoon character. When needed, the superhero would quickly swallow some spinach and become strong, able to pack a punch that would defeat any evil villain. Nowadays, TV and internet commercials are encouraging men to consider testosterone replacement as the way to become stronger. While they are quick to tout the benefits, the risks are important and should not be ignored. Testosterone is the hormone in men that is produced...
More than 3,900 students were recognized for their academic performance over the fall 2024 semester at South Dakota State University by being named to the dean's list. To earn dean's list distinctions in SDSU;s colleges, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits and must have earned at least a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Area students named to the list includeMadison Melcher, Page....
The most recent survey of teen mental health by the Centers for Disease Control in 2023 revealed that 20.3% of adolescents in the United States have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. This reflects a 35% increase since 2016. The survey also found that 40% of teens reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, 20% seriously considered suicide, and, tragically, 9% attempted suicide. These statistics should alarm any parent or grandparent of a teenager. As the mother of a...
For the last five years, I have had the great privilege of serving my local health system as medical director for home hospice. Every week I sit in a meeting with the multidisciplinary caretakers on this team – the nurses who provide the great majority of the hands-on care, social worker, pharmacist, dietician and pastor. We discuss all the patients currently under our care and discuss how we can improve each patient’s suffering and maximize their quality of life. The patients we care for on hom...
Jackie (Kallhoff) Sidman, who was named after her father, was born Aug. 28, 1964 in Neligh, the daughter of Jack and Bonnie (Damme) Kallhoff . She died at her home in rural Kensington, Kansas, due to complications from diabetes, on Jan. 9, 2025, at the age of 60. Her early years were spent on the family farm south of Clearwater. This is where the "cowgirl" was started, as she loved taking care of the animals and riding "her" horse Tom. She lived in and around Clearwater until graduating from...
Farm Credit Services of America O'Neill office location made a donation of $10,000 to support the hot lunch programs of ten schools in the northeast Nebraska region. Farm Credit Services of America, which is dedicated to supporting rural communities, made the donation to address food insecurity and hunger by assisting families in the local area who had outstanding balances in the schools' lunch programs. The donation, made by the O'Neill branch of FCSAmerica, will be distributed equally among...
As the State Legislature gets to work on its 90-day session, it's time to consider whether the Unicameral should resolve an important, and regularly overlooked matter - designating a state dessert. Face it, we all love dessert and naming an official state dessert is long overdue. It has to rank higher than designating an official state reptile or state fossil, which we already have (the box turtle and mammoth, respectively.) Eight states, our research indicates, have state desserts including, gu...
Years ago, I had the pleasure of covering the dedication of a new, $17-million bridge spanning the Missouri River east of Niobrara. The bridge was named after Chief Standing Bear, whose people, the Poncas, once ruled over that area of northeast Nebraska. Standing Bear, known for winning a federal judge's declaration that Native Americans were "persons" under the law, is buried nearby. But the structure, and another bridge built farther east across the Missouri, were dubbed the "Bridges to...
Most of my family dreads the thought of going to a museum with me. It really doesn't matter what the museum is, or how interested they might be in the subject, they'd prefer to do something, perhaps anything, else. I recognize that I am the problem. I love museums. One of my early memories is of exploring the King Tut exhibition at the Chicago Field Museum and being drug out by my exasperated parents long before I was ready to leave. I wasn't done reading all that fascinating information....
When many people hear the term plastic surgery, images of Hollywood stars trying to fight back the effects of aging come to mind. It is easy to assume that plastic surgeons just deal in vanity. However, that would minimize everything that these talented surgeons accomplish with their scalpels. The term "plastic surgery" comes from the Greek term "Plastikos" meaning "to shape or form." Plastic surgeons work to form or change the outward appearance of people for a variety of reasons. They work on...
We've all had our fill of political news. So I thought that this week, we'd delve into a topic that's equally as timely – pheasant hunting. I've spent a fair amount of time in pursuit of the ring-necked bird, and recently traveled to South Dakota – the self-proclaimed "Pheasant Capital of the World" – to try my luck with my trusty Vizsla, "Gunnar," and a couple of buddies. If you've ever traveled to our northern neighbor this time of year, you'll see dozens upon dozens of guys (and a few gals)...
The human body is composed of a typical pattern of anatomy, yet every structure varies in form from person to person. For example, humans develop with a standard set of defined muscles, yet the shape and mass of each muscle varies significantly among individuals. Sometimes, "anatomical variations" develop – that is, anatomical structures that do not conform to the typical range of regular morphology (for example, an entirely separate "extra" muscle that develops in one person). Human anatomy i...
As cold weather approaches and Nebraskans remove watercraft, docks and other boating equipment from the water, Nebraska Game and Parks encourages boat owners to check equipment for zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are highly invasive, and when introduced into a water body, can cause millions of dollars in damage to infrastructure and catastrophically effect ecosystems and agricultural areas. “Many boaters already are on the lookout for zebra mussels, but it’s important that every Nebraskan check their equipment for attached mussels so we’re infor...
Lately my teenager has been fascinated by medical dramas. Although my “doctor self” is usually rolling my eyes throughout the program, it’s often a good conversation starter. One recent show featured a pregnant woman who experienced one medical crisis after another. Her kidneys, liver, and lungs failed in succession as the team raced to identify the underlying obstetrical problem and find a treatment. At the climax of the episode, her heart stopped. Of course, being television, the corre...
When Larry and Judy Parker moved to Clearwater in 1965, little did they know they would spark the idea for one of the hottest rodeo tickets in Nebraska. On Nov. 9, Clearwater Chamber of Commerce honored the Judy Parker, the late Larry Parker and Steve Patras, of Clearwater, for orchestrating the first Clearwater Rodeo in 1967 and named the new building on the grounds the Double P Tack Room. Larry Parker died in 2004, in an automobile accident near Mission, South Dakota. During Saturday's event,...
Memorial Services for Cauy Shaw, 24, of O'Neill, will be at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Word of Life Christian Center in O'Neill with Rev. Jim Loutzenhiser officiating. Burial will follow in the O'Neill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Word of Life Christian Center. Cauy died on Thursday, Nov.7, 2024, at his home in O'Neill. Memorials may be directed to his family for future designation. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill. Cauy...
With the rapid rise in internet use among children, the dangers of online exploitation have grown alarmingly. Children’s access to the internet has become nearly ubiquitous, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote learning, online gaming, and social media are now integral to daily life, meaning more children, even preschool-age children, are regularly online, often unsupervised and unprotected. This new reality demands that we consider not only physical safety for our children, but also the dangers they are facing online. The S...
Memorial Services for Cauy Shaw, 24, of O'Neill, will be at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Word of Life Christian Center in O'Neill with Rev. Jim Loutzenhiser officiating. Burial will follow in the O'Neill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Word of Life Christian Center. Cauy died on Thursday, Nov.7, 2024, at his home in O'Neill. Memorials may be directed to his family for future designation. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill. Cauy...
In the past three weeks, I outlined all six ballot initiatives and referendum measures that will be on this year’s general election ballot. This editorial is dedicated to my personal perspective on two ballot measures: Initiative Measures 434 (Protect Women and Children) and 439 (Protect Our Rights) relating to abortion. In my mind, we should strive to do the most good and preserve human life. This is why I am encouraging pro-life voters in Nebraska to consider voting for Initiative Measure 4...
Over the years, I've covered a few elections – probably more than I'd like to remember. Back in the day, we didn't get the wall-to-wall commercials slinging mud or the daily update on what the polls say. But one thing hasn't changed – elections are maybe the most observed, double checked and overseen functions of government. Vote counting machines are double- and triple-checked. Each political party employs "poll watchers" to make sure there's no hanky panky and the boards that count and rec...
The saying goes, “newer isn’t always better,” and while I typically tend to agree with that, newer might be better when it comes to glucose monitoring technology. In recent years we have seen rapid development and uptake of new types of glucometers, leaving fewer and fewer patients with diabetes using the old standby fingerstick method of blood sugar monitoring. Let me be clear: not every patient with diabetes needs a fancy new continuous glucometer (CGM). The cost might be higher, and there...
Labels in politics are a tricky thing, particularly in Nebraska. If you're a "Republican," do you align with the wing of the party that identifies with former governor and U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts? Or do you roll with the new GOP, the group that tossed out Ricketts' loyalists? (You might also be a "moderate" Republican, though they are harder to find than a 25-cent cup of coffee.) Same holds true for the Democrats. Are you a Democrat who holds more moderate views on abortion and government...
The saying goes, "newer isn't always better," and while I typically tend to agree with that, newer might be better when it comes to glucose monitoring technology. In recent years we have seen rapid development and uptake of new types of glucometers, leaving fewer and fewer patients with diabetes using the old standby fingerstick method of blood sugar monitoring. Let me be clear: not every patient with diabetes needs a fancy new continuous glucometer (CGM). The cost might be higher, and there is...
Longtime American Legion and Auxiliary members Ralph and Barb Tichota, of Clearwater, were recognized Saturday, for providing the inspiration and dedication to bring the veterans park to life in Clearwater. "It will have a lasting and significant impact," said Steve Stearns, veterans park committee member, during the presentation. "Your legacy will live on through this beautiful park and your work in creating a place of reflection and remembrance has touched all of our hearts." The park, located...
Artificial Intelligence or A.I. has gone from science fiction to a reality. This technology continues to evolve and find new applications in the world, including the world of medicine. With any new advancement, there are pros and cons to be considered when implementing it into regular use, especially in medicine. In 2023 the Journal of Medical Internet Research published an article where they had ChatGPT take two of the three USMLE exams. Step 1 is taken by third-year medical students and all...
