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Editorial

20 YEARS LATER

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On September 11, 2001, the United States of America was changed forever. The world watched and held its breath as terrorists attacked our nation. In New York City, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon, Americans lost their lives at the hands of ruthlessness. While we commemorate that terrible day annually, it is receiving special attention this year, on its twentieth anniversary.

THE CASE OF THE LOST SCOTCH - AND OTHER HIDDEN ITEMS

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At Christmas I gifted Hubby with a bottle of high-end Scotch whiskey, one of the things we as older adults have started enjoying. Both because we can finally afford such small luxuries, but also because our adult palettes have developed to the point where the flavor can be savored and enjoyed without needing to gulp a glass.

Dodge County Seat Removal, 1884:

“There is no necessity for any bad blood over the county seat controversy,” said the Fremont Weekly Herald on August 21, 1884, in referring to a “re-location scheme” that proposed to remove the county seat from Fremont to a more central location within Dodge County. The plan was to establish the county seat of government in “a tract of land in Section 31, Town 19, Range 7, in Everett precinct,” at a location called Centerville, which it was hoped, would grow into a prosperous city. According to the Herald, the move was prompted partly by a recent storm that had damaged the roof of the courthouse in Fremont. Dodge County commissioners responded to a petition asking for removal by submitting the question to the voters in an election held on September 9, 1884.

A BUSTED BUDGET

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Not long ago, I wrote about the unacceptable spending levels set by Democrats in appropriations bills, which annually fund the federal government. Now, just a few weeks later, the Democrats are moving forward with additional spending plans for fiscal year 2022 and beyond. The primary goal for Speaker Pelosi and President Biden is to enact a massive $3.5 trillion wish-list on top of the current federal spending. This is occurring only months after Democrats enacted President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, a major contributor to our economy’s rising inflation.

CATASTROPHE IN AFGHANISTAN

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America mourns as August 26, 2021 goes down as the deadliest day for the United States military in well over a decade. The situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate as a direct result of President Biden’s gross incompetence. His rushed withdrawal has emboldened terrorists, created unnecessary risk for Americans and our allies, and damaged our reputation abroad.

Carry Nation Tours Omaha:

Carry A. Nation, famous as a Kansas ‘“joint smasher” with her trademark hatchet, stopped in Omaha during her short lecture tour through Nebraska in early 1902. Chaperoned by three newspaper reporters, Mrs. Nation ‘did’ Omaha Saturday afternoon,” said the Seward Independent-Democrat on April 3rd, 1902. “She was desirous of going on a slumming expedition in the evening, but in order to catch her train, she was prevented from seeing the sights by gaslight.” After visiting the county jail, Mrs. Nation announced, “‘Now I want to see something interesting.’ Mickey Mullen’s theater, a famous resort for cheap sports, was suggested as a possible point of interest, and the ‘smasher’” readily fell in with the idea.

A STRATEGIC FAILURE

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The scenes from Afghanistan over the past week have been harrowing. As the Biden Administration quickly approached their expedited deadline to withdraw the final U.S. troops from the country, Taliban forces took over regional capitals and major cities as regular Afghan soldiers fled their posts or surrendered. On Sunday the Taliban overtook Kabul, the capital, as former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country and handed over power. While this collapse is a disaster, we must remember why the U.S. military was there and understand why the Biden Administration’s withdrawal plan failed so we can better protect Americans and our allies going forward.

Collecting Souvenir Spoons:

Collecting souvenir spoons became a popular hobby for Americans in the late 1800s when this European fad swept the nation. Wealthy Americans visiting Europe brought home these mementos marked with the names of foreign cities and famous landmarks they had visited. The first souvenir spoon produced in the United States, in Washington, D.C., featured a profile of George Washington and was created to mark the centennial of his presidency. It was shortly followed by the Martha Washington spoon.

ON NEBRASKA AGRICULTURE

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Nebraska’s Third District is the number one agriculture district in the nation. This past week, I hosted an agriculture summit where I was able to engage directly with Third District producers to hear how we can ensure our producers remain among the top producing in the country.

Pests On The Plains: The Potato Bug:

With the sole exception of grasshoppers, perhaps the most hated insects to afflict the pioneer farmer were potato bugs. So prevalent were they at one time in Nebraska that one of the state’s early nicknames, the “Bug Eaters,” was said to refer partly to them. According to John A. MacMurphy, secretary of the Nebraska Territorial Pioneers Association, writing in November 1894, an easterner came to Nebraska to visit relatives during the lean years of the 1870s and on his return home, was asked about conditions here. According to MacMurphy's account, the man responded, "Oh, everything is gone up there. The grasshoppers have eaten the grain up, the potato bugs ate the 'taters all up, and now the inhabitants are eating the bugs to keep alive."