Opinion

Jana Hughes represents District 24 in the Nebraska Legislature. Read her column from time to time in the Polk County News.

Jana Hughes represents District 24 in the Nebraska Legislature. Read her column from time to time in the Polk County News.

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Talking on Mental Health

Jana Hughes
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
This week I testified before the Education Committee about LB565, a bill that I introduced to provide our schools with greater flexibility in providing more comprehensive behavioral and mental health training that focuses on suicide awareness and prevention.
Community Connection

Community Connection

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Community Connection

News Staff
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Call Annie Jeffrey Health Center at (402) 747-2031 for more information February is AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month AMD is a disorder called age-related macular degeneration. AMD is a disease that can cause the center part of your vision to become blurry or wavy.
Beth Sparrow is co-owner of the Polk County News.

Beth Sparrow is co-owner of the Polk County News.

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It’s Black History Month

Beth’s Bits
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
February is Black History Month. Last year I wrote about George Flippin, who is the most famous black person I know to have lived in Polk County, not counting ones who currently live here. Do you want repeat articles? Should I run my Flippin article every year?
Alan Sparrow is co-owner of the Polk County News. Find his column, Alan’s Anecdotes, each week in the newspaper and online at www.polkcountynews.net.

Alan Sparrow is co-owner of the Polk County News. Find his column, Alan’s Anecdotes, each week in the newspaper and online at www.polkcountynews.net.

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It’s a Trial Balloon

Alan Sparrow
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
I looked up the history of the term “trial balloon” and en.wiktionary.org said it was a “small balloon released into the sky to determine the direction and tendency of winds in the upper air before a manned ascent in a larger balloon; (figuratively) prospective action to test acceptance.
Beth Sparrow is co-owner of the Polk County News.

Beth Sparrow is co-owner of the Polk County News.

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‘Big Game’ Entertainment

Beth Sparrow
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
I am not a pro football fan. I don’t watch it at all except I usually tune in to the Super Bowl. Honestly this year, I only know one team that’s playing, the Chiefs. I can’t even come up with their opponent now without Googling. But I don’t tune in for the football, even though I love football.
Rick Holtz is a co-owner for the Polk County News. Find his column, Reporter’s Notebook, from time to time in the newspaper and online at www.polkcountynews.net.

Rick Holtz is a co-owner for the Polk County News. Find his column, Reporter’s Notebook, from time to time in the newspaper and online at www.polkcountynews.net.

It’s Report Card Time

Rick Holtz
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
So, the local schools are still a few weeks away from getting report cards, but it’s time for a PCN Report Card. I want to hear from you. What do we do well. What do we need to improve on? Do we cover all our communities equally? Do we cover our high school sports teams equally?

Reader: 81 is Not Congested

News Staff
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
I have no kids in school, so my interest is personal. I think the people who drive to school are more than capable of watching for cars before entering highway 81. They are ask to make the same decisions in driving on any highway so it shouldn’t be too hard to continue.

Reader on 81: Use Your Heads

News Staff
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Rick, My name is Dennis Koinzan and I live in Stromsburg. Just read about the 81 project going through Stromsburg. 1. An expressway is to accommodate more traffic. 2. Safer for people to travel. 3. Faster and easier travel. Plus many more reasons.
J.L. Schmidt has been covering Nebraska government and politics since 1979. He has been a registered Independent for more than 20 years.

J.L. Schmidt has been covering Nebraska government and politics since 1979. He has been a registered Independent for more than 20 years.

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Things Not as They Seem at the Legislature

J. L. Schmidt - Capitol View
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Many people touted this year’s legislative session as a Republican dominated conservative body that could easily work with the Republican administration to get things done. They reasoned that 32 Republicans in the officially nonpartisan body would win out over the 17 Democrats.