Opinions

Independence Day is quickly approaching and that means that ball season is beginning to wrap up for all the little guys and gals out there in the community. This year has been a bit different then we had expected with child #1 injured and child #3 playing his first season of tee ball. It has been a different mix, but a fun one.

There are two committees in the Nebraska Legislature that deal primarily with money. The Appropriations Committee doles out the money, whereas the Revenue Committee works at getting your money (think taxes). As a member of the Appropriations Committee over this past year, I was surprised to see just how many people seek taxpayer dollars for their various programs, many of which are legit, but some are not.

This week instead of my normal rant, we mix it up with a short fictional story, based on the world around us, that I wrote with the hopes of highlighting the importance of supporting community newspapers.

Bison Bucks! Who doesn’t love to receive this “free” money to spend at one of our area chamber businesses? As we gear up for our semi-annual Bison Bucks Bonus promotion over Lone Tree Days I want to share the impact these paper tokens have in our communities. Over $23,000 BB have been redeemed in the first 5 months of 2023—money that has supported our businesses in the Central City area. Remember, they are just like cash and can be used to purchase whatever you need or want at any chamber of commerce member business. We are grateful to those who purchase and share Bison Bucks and to those who shop at our hometown businesses.

Anyone else open their phone for one simple task and then snap back to reality an hour later as you claw your way out of a massive rabbit hole? I hope it’s not just me. Here I sit at 9:19 pm on a Tuesday night.

We just finished the first session of the two year 108th Legislature and my first year as the senator from District 34. With 2023 being an odd numbered year, lawmakers had 90 legislative workdays. Next year the session will be just 60 days long. Though I had watched from the sidelines as a Page during my college years, I discovered being on the playing field takes a whole other set of skills and a great deal more patience. Asking lots of questions, listening, discovering who to trust (and who not to), working lots of hours, building relationships, having loyal, dependable and capable staff, and having unbending principles were critical in a fast moving stream of a full spectrum of subject matter. Working in the legislature was more daunting than I expected!

I survived Washington D.C. and I am back here in my bubble that I know and love. It was a great trip and some great memories were made along the way, but I am also happy to be back to normal and here in the office to write this week’s column.

Loren Lippincott, District 34 Senator In the 2022 election, Nebraskans voted overwhelmingly to join 35 other states in implementing Voter ID. While most agree the integrity of our elections is of utmost importance, we have seen voter fraud on the rise in many parts of the country.

On May 30, 2023, I signed LB753 into law. LB753, known as the Opportunity Scholarship Act, will provide parents the choice in which school to send their children.

As I drive to and from various destinations in Central City I am amazed at the number of houses with Sold or Sale pending on the realtor signs. I always wonder who will be moving into those houses—is it a young family with school-age children, a retired couple looking to downsize or even someone who grew up here and is returning home. I realize those realtor’s are helping to sell our community and the small town life. I hope you recognize them as one of our best business assets— they are the cheerleaders and the Welcome Wagon all rolled into one. They are the first to promote our businesses and the fun places to visit, where to eat and where to shop, who can paint a house, do that plumbing job or who is hiring part time help. We are grateful for our realtors at these chamber businesses--Central Realty, Ross Realty and Coldwell Banker Holdings. They do much more for our communities than just sell a house.