Opinions

Welcome to 2024. It has been a year that has already started with some somber news for the community.

Legislative preview: The carryover bills As you read this, I will be back in Lincoln at my seat in the Nebraska Unicameral for the second half of the 108th Nebraska Legislature. By law, each year’s session begins on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of the new year, so there wasn’t much time between New Year’s Day 2024 and the beginning of legislative business for the year.

Here we are, the last newspaper of 2023. In some ways it seems like the year just began, but in many ways it was a year that I was wishing would end some time ago. It has been a difficult year to some degree in my professional life, but more so in my personal life. It was a year of death and heartbreak, but it was also a year that brought us great love and compassion. It was a year when our family was put to the test and we showed our strength.

As we near the end of 2023 it is time to give thanks to our amazing chamber members and what they have done this year to promote our Central City area. Big or small, all have stepped up to support various events either with their monetary sponsorship or physical presence. Our holiday events including ”Rockin’Around the Holidays” is an example of this community support. We have had holiday drawings, store giveaways and discounts, sale events, Bison Bucks promotion, free movies, family fun day, “Deck” your Halls and the list goes on. None of this would have happened except our business community said “YES” when asked to participate.

In life we are often met with unexpected moments. These moments are always when I feel a person’s true character reveals itself. I know from my experience I have had to learn to laugh at the unforeseen and roll with the punches instead of melting down like that snowman just to the right of this.

It’s OK to say Merry Christmas It was December of 1965 when cartoonist Charles Schultz’s beloved Peanuts gang first made the leap from newspaper comics pages to television screens across America. It was that year that CBS first aired “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It became an instant classic and has been aired every year since.

The completion of the first semester also marks the end of 2023. The past year has brought with it considerable attention to our community and school district. Many people have been watching our community growth and have been taking notice.

The path of passivity leads to destruction Nebraskans are known far and wide for their work ethic. Our state routinely has the lowest unemployment numbers in the nation and many companies seek to employ workers from here! In the Fourth of the 10 Commandments, God writes: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work…” Imagine, God had to TELL the Israelites to take one day off every week, instead of working seven.

It is such a busy time as we go full steam ahead into Christmas. Our downtown community arranged another successful Family Fun Day last Sunday at the Merrick County Courthouse and Elementary School. A big THANK YOU to everyone who had a hand it making it a fun day for families—businesses and organizations that provided fun activities including rides in barrels, tractors, wagons and buckets, food and craft vendors, live nativity and talent participants, Santa and other fun photos, the Merrick County Historical Museum who hosted their annual Christmas Tea and finally the annual lighting of the Christmas tree. Did you know that Wild Roots planted this tree on the courthouse lawn so we can light it annually with future holidayevents? Itisamazing what happens when we all band together to plan something that represents AND benefits our entire community. Thanks to all for bringing such fun to Central City!