The Summerland Advocate-Messenger - Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community

An email landed in my inbox and caught my attention. I don’t watch a lot of television, unless the Weather Channel and sporting events count. And, if by some chance I watch a network show, I’m...

Two weeks ago, I supported a one-year extension of current Farm Bill programs. While a conventional five-year reauthorization of the Farm Bill is preferable, many of these critical programs lapsed...

Just when you thought the drought was bad, deserts have started popping up in Nebraska. Pick a topic: childcare; food; maternal health care. They have been discussed in the interim by lawmakers and de...

Nearly 1.2 million Americans live in nursing homes today. The vast majority of those Americans are seniors, people who urgently need the specialized care that long-term nursing facilities provide. Tha...

“I don’t need stress; I need my shopping bag. It’s almost Black Friday.” Um, I’ve never uttered those words, much alone given day-after-Thanksgiving sales a lot of thought. I’ve gone...

The holidays are for celebrating and Small Business Saturday is a celebration of the key role independent, locally-owned businesses play in Nebraska's economy. Founded by American Express in 2010 and...

So, how about we rethink Thanksgiving?  Oh, I don't want to take away the tradition of turkey and football and listening to Uncle Harold's stories about the big war in which he never fought but he...

Earlier this year, a new Nebraska statue arrived in the U.S. Capitol. Each state memorializes two people in the Capitol building and our newest addition is Pulitzer Prize- winning author Willa Cather....

A journalism friend of mine recently hit a milestone birthday - she’s 65 now and thinks she will officially retire from the daily grind of deadlines and late night writing sessions which have fueled...

The holiday season is right around the corner and it comes with great news. According to a Gallup survey, 74% of holiday shoppers said they expect to pay about the same amount or more on holiday gifts...

I don't remember much about my recent 64-block ambulance ride from my house to an urban hospital, but I was told after the fact that it was a matter of a few minutes to keep my body from going into...

Last week, I heard the story of a veteran trying to use his GI benefits and attend school. After retiring from service, this veteran, who requires the use of a service dog, decided to enroll at a...

Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird” is one of my favorite novels. Perhaps it’s because of the lyrical motion of the words she employs in telling the story of Jem and Scout and their father...

There has been no formal request, but speculation runs high that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Department may ask for funds to help with the planned $450 million renovation of Memorial...

Nebraska is home to over 100,000 of our most honorable American heroes. These heroes left home and family to follow a call. They showed grit and dedication throughout taxing training. They fought...

With the election of Speaker Mike Johnson, the House is back to work. We certainly have our work cut out for us as we fulfill our responsibilities to the American people. Speaker Johnson hit the...

Isn’t it amazing how a game changes over the years? During the late 1960s, Mom coached volleyball in Clay Center. I remember sitting on the stage in what later became known as the “old gym,...

Despite hysteria from social media, late night comedy shows or even presidential administrations, net neutrality is not a policy that needs to be controversial. Net neutrality is the idea that...

Quick, somebody give the governor a shovel, I want to see how much deeper he can dig the hole. Weeks after he insulted a reporter who questioned the high nitrate levels on his pig farm, Governor Jim...

One of the best parts of my role at Nebraska Community Foundation is listening to our NCF affiliated fund volunteers speak about their communities with pride. These local leaders invest so much time,...

“Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.” I read this quote, by author Mason Cooley, recently and it made me think about Halloween traditions and costumes from my childhood and ones my...

If you are a farmer or rancher, there has never been a better time to apply for popular conservation programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Nebraska, the deadline to submit...

The heinous attack on Israel by Hamas this month sent shockwaves throughout the Middle East and across the world. War in one part of the world has a ripple effect — we all feel its impact. In this c...

I made two confessions this weekend to friends from long ago. We reconnected Saturday at the Northeast Nebraska Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Norfolk. I serve as secretary on the...