Cheyenne County faces poor track record on prosecuting sex crimes

I am going to make this blunt. The 25 year old who is facing felony sex-charges in connection with a sexual act with a 14 year old should get the book thrown at him. Who in their right mind thinks it is ok to participate in sexual intercourse with a girl who can't even go to her own prom yet?

Unfortunately, Cheyenne County courts have a bad history in the last five or so years with obtaining convictions with significant and appropriate punishments on these matters.

Kudos to Sidney Housing Authority board...finally

While I am not sure the back and forth on this publication had anything to do with moving the ball on the issue, I am glad to hear that positive movement has been brought forward in the Sidney Housing Authority window replacement situation.

The Sidney Housing Authority finally took decisive action to remediate the damage from the recent hailstorm. The decision to split the project among local contractors in order to get the ball moving was a solid act of leadership.

Though I have outstanding personal reasons for my feelings regarding Tamara Nelsen, I must give her, as well as Dalan Hiett and Brad Craig, praise for doing the right thing by the residents.

Pelosi, Democrats out of their minds

In the midst of the cacophony of the debt and spending debate, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) gives a speech indicating Republicans are insistent on destroying clean air, water and are highly desirous of starving grandma out of her home.

If ever there were a case where hate speech shouldn't be tolerated, it should be this kind of rhetoric. Clearly having the purpose of rallying the nut jobs that cost the Dems the House last year, Pelosi's inflammatory language serves no purpose and exposes the real fear that there are those in her party who do not wish to suffer the blame if a deal is not reached prior to next Tuesday.

It is a fact that we spend far more than we take in. It is also a fact that the debt ceiling must be raised. The Republicans are on the right path and the compromise must be that for x amount of new money to spend, we want x amount in systemic cuts to programs. It is time to prioritize and everything must be on the table. If cutting spending alone doesn't get the job done, then it may be necessary for additional taxes, but let me be clear. The tax code must be reformed before any such discussion takes place. Thirty-eight percent of the population cannot be allowed to ride the great American Experiment for free. The only way out of this is to wide the tax payer base. That means more jobs and more accountability at all income levels. End all loopholes, including personal items such as mortgage interest and all corporate loopholes and subsidies.

It is time for a hard dose of reality. Pelosi, Reid and Obama have dug the ditch even deeper than they claimed it to be when President Bush retired. It is time to put all of the American people to work, repairing the ditch and making it safer for the future.

Distance makes the skin grow thicker

While commenting about the need to get moving on improving the conditions for those living at Sioux Villa after the hailstorm devastated many of the windows, it caused a great deal of input from some people who might not like to be accountable. True to form, the friends of Gary have launched into a defense and like Obama, are spending a tremendous amount of time blaming Marv Filsinger for failing to act in the past.

Big Nasty at it again

Big Nasty HR, Inc., is at it again.

A female employee at Big Nasty made a complaint to her Boss', boss' boss, a director. She did this after complaining about the boss' boss who made disparaging remarks about her in a meeting among several departments, all of whom reported to boss' boss, whom we will call Manure.

The female worker went to HR to complain about the remarks made, which adversely affected her and were patently unwarranted. Our HR Representative, whom we will call Box of Rox, of Big Nasty HR, Inc. actually asked the female worker if she thought about leaving the company for her health's sake, stating that, "sometimes you have to think about your health before your job."

Travesty

To read the story in the Sun-Telegraph about the window situation in Sioux Villa and to see the picture of these apartments with boarded up windows has gotten under my skin.

The Sidney Housing authority is acting as a prototypical slumlord. The residents are paying whatever rent that pay and are entitled to enjoy the premises as contained in their lease agreement. Natural disaster aside, the housing authority, and by way of extension, the city government should have gotten the ball rolling on getting this mess addressed. People going weeks with darkened homes, requiring additional air conditioning and electricity for lights isn't coming out of the coffers of the city. It comes from the people who have to live there under third-world conditions.

Where is Tammy Nelsen, who normally can't keep her mouth shut on any little issue on one that truly matters? Why, in fact, is there $137,000 of depreciation on a $500,000 claim to begin with. The value of this property is being squandered by those who run it. What does it tell the residents of this complex that the city, in addition to failing to run its streets to an effective end, now is encroaching on the personal lives of the poor who often can ill-afford to move elsewhere.

Shame on the Sidney Housing authority and on the City Manager for failing to provide the responsible oversight on one of his most important duties. Roads matter, but people matter more and when the city allowed people to live under its care, it has a responsibility to them just like every other landlord in Nebraska.

City Councilmen, especially Mark Nienhueser, who is all about the beauty of the town, and Gary Person: Get off the stick! Get off your asses and tell your Housing Authority to put at least one window in each place, pending the final outcome of the insurance process. Don't make these people suffer unnecessarily.

How to get ahead at the Big Nasty

Today, a leading group for women in the outdoor industry announced a plan to create an advocacy group to help women in traditionally male dominated outdoor industry with gender discrimination, equal pay, employment law and other critical issues affecting a growing segment in the outdoor industry workforce.

The Outdoor Industry Women's Coalition (OIWC) said in a release from their website that they intend to research and apprise businesses on these critical issues affecting women in areas such as:

Sure we want to mediate... psych!

The procedures the EEOC sets up attempt to resolve problems at the lowest possible level and cost to all parties. Here is how a large employer in Sidney handles this process.

Despite having many opportunities to investigate and correct complaints of gender discrimination, equality of pay and opportunity, the employer decided to brand the female employee as a problem child, wrote her up several times, including a special re-write up at her annual evaluation because a policy in HR said it had to be done (no such policy existed at the time).

Charlie Reese's final column... an internet sensation must read

Publisher's note: Someone forwarded Mr. Charlie Reese's final column. Reese, a journalist for nearly 50 years wrote this final column regarding the balance of power between the people of this country and the elected/appointed political class in Washington, DC. It is such an interesting read, I attached it herein and suggest that you let people know about it. The power of this country isn't the politicians, it is each of us and it is only fully wielded when we take the time to hold our representatives accountable at the ballot box. Without further adieu....


545 vs. 300,000,000 People

They left the light off.....

Tom Bodett would not be pleased

My Girlfriend Kathy has a wanderlust that must be satisfied. Although we live in mid-town Atlanta, among all that is going on, we decided to take an overnight trip to Charlotte, NC, or about Kearney distance away from Sidney. The idea was to go find something different about our new home region.

About 30 miles outside of Charlotte, we decided to grab a cheap hotel and grab something to eat. By cheap, I mean inexpensive. Little did I know that both appellations would become evident and appropriate.

KSid radio announces the beginning of the end

Local radio magnate KSID announced on it's website that a deadline to challenge the beauty police has come and gone. As early as next week, we will get a grip on the throats of specific businesses who will face the grinding wheels of justice at the hands of a special prosecutor who will go after unspecified businesses.

My guess is that Mr. Filsinger and Mr. Van Natter are the chief targets of Councilman Mark Nienheuser, (D-Cabela's). It is only in punishing long-standing businesses in this manner that the beautification police can create the kind of business climate that let's Cabela's take advantage of it's shiny 17 million dollar shareholder meeting convention center. Do they even pay for the use of the school for these meetings?

I digress.

The nature of these people's business will come to a head shortly. Will they be able to do their business as they have been allowed to for years, thus continuing to enjoy a tacit right, or will the city shut them down without providing compensation for the adverse affects on their businesses. I don't know the answer, but I do know at least one of the businesses plans on not going quietly into that good night.

Here's to the beautification police.

And the Answer Is.....?

Karen Hruza asks the pointed question about land values in Sidney valued at more than $4,500 per acre and wonders why and how they could be so much.

The basis for property value is a complicated one, but has something to do with home sales in your neighborhood, improvements you make to your property and any infrastructure improvements that are made in the neighborhood such as street repair, underground power lines and of course, greed by taxing authorities who seek to extract as much of your wealth out of your property as possible. Given the condition of the aforementioned "improvements' by the city on street repair, one has to ask why values keep going up in an economy that continues to go south.

Gary Person, like a metronome keeping the beat, touts how Sidney land values keep going up over the years. He doesn't have to raise taxes much, but the absolute dollars goes up every year. Whether its for a 17 million dollar annual shareholders convention center, or an increase in water fees, he is all about the progress of separating you from your money.

I wish I could re-read Karen's LTTE again, but the piece of crap Sun-Telegraph doesn't seem to be available in its present ap award winning form. Probably another one of those pesky IT problems Sue Mizell mentioned. Speaking of which... Hey Sue... how's your investment in the clothing store going?

It is a bit ridiculous that despite homes sales trailing off and the average amount of time a home spends on the market, that property values continue to rise in Sidney. Unfortunately, the tax on land is one of the most expensive taxes you will ever find, even more so that personal income tax. The government is going to hit each of us where we live.

Sun Telegraph Opinion Piece anything but

Today's Sun Telegraph "Our Opinion" attempts to walk a fine line and re-report what has been bashed around for months: Do we raise the debt ceiling or not?

Displaying the lack of conviction they have for any serious matter, the paper fails to actually take a position and instead, asks you what do you think? Hardly the cutting stuff of the New York Times.

The question of the debt ceiling is massively important. There is no question among Democrats or Republicans that it should be raised. The question is by how long and will there be spending reforms to act in restraint of a future borrowing limit extension in the future.

Funny, but Sad

The Sun Telegraph today put a letter to the editor in today's rag explaining that for those of you who were concerned that your letters to the editor weren't getting to the right place, have no more fears. The website (which won an award for the ap (case intentionally chosen) itty bitty newspaper website with a singular view on reality, apparently wasn't handling the deluge of letters to the editor from Carl Cornelius.

Yet another reason to Vote against Ben Nelson

Remember way back into last year, when the world was full of promise over the new health care law that Ben Nelson was the lynchpin vote for. Remember how Nancy Pelosi said we would have to pass the bill to see what's in the bill?

Second reading comes tonight

The Beautification Alliance is in full swing again tonight as Gary Person and his cast of clowns seek to gain a second successful reading of the Anti-Storage Ordinance. In the military, ordinance is something use to blow up or otherwise kill, injure or maim someone or something.

Sidney shouldn't be a "Wannabe town."

Someone, anonymous of course, wrote a comment and wondered if only I were still in Sidney that I could see all the, "Crap that was going on." They wanted to know If I would post my email so they could contact me and tell me what was going on next. They said they also missed the, "citizen," which I took they meant the association many had to me as the rumored author.

Time to Set the Last Ball in Motion

Stunning word hits me that a new, very senior person has been shown the door at a certain (aledged) women's rights violating employer in town. Although the most recently departed didn't have a particular work related issue that rose to the level of EEOC complaint, his departure is certainly a vindication for someone who lost his life last year. Now, the top two people directly in my friend's chain of command are gone and frankly, only one Ball remains between eternal rest for my best friend and total healing in his former department.

Decorum regulation unnecessary

Public meetings in Nebraska, like most other states, are governed by a protocol known as Robert's Rules of Order. Under these rules, the chairperson of the meeting has the responsibility and authority to maintain civil discourse. Te County Commissioners have, in my opinion, overreached legislatively that which should be simple common sense.

I am of the opinion that this new rule was passed as a means to tone down the people's anger by creating a rule whose purpose was to chill the debate on issues that obviously strike a nerve with the electorate.

While I am not suggesting that there be chaos in the meeting room, the passage of such an innane rule can have no other purpose but to keep people silent.

Sometimes government wishes to neither see, nor hear the constituency. I think in this case, this ruling clearly violates the principle of a spirited debate with those whom have given their consent to be governed.

Controlling Illegal Immigration not Racist

The process of assimilation into a new country requires several things. First, the person who choses to come to the new country must allow that the customs of the host country supersede those of his/her own. The guest, who presumably seeks to gain employment and/or citizenship, needs to become familiar with the customs, history and traditions of the new country. learning the host language, often a barrier to future success, must be tantamount to any other function if the guest is to appreciate and be appreciated in and by the host country.

Laws such as SB 1070 in Arizona and the new, much tougher law in Georgia are not racist in their nature or reasoning. They are meant to provide a legal solution for an illegal immigration policy that the Federal government has for decades turned a blind eye toward.

The nature that farmers complain that the labor in the fields is drying up in the face of immigrant fears over the law's implementation says two things: Some workers are here in violation of immigration law, and some employers are lax in validating worker eligibility. The need to control immigration as a means to control state expenditures, health care costs and other costs associated with managing a large undocumented worker population is critical. This is especially true in the current economic climate where these costs often come at the expense of roads and other infrastructure improvements necessary to support the existing, legal population.

It is not racism to require proper documentation of foreigners who seek employment in the U.S. The number of people who seek to enter this country counts in the millions per year. Immigration must be balanced between the desire to allow people to come to this country a chance at a better life (compared to their home country) and the need to facilitate immigration at a rate that does not incur undue burden to the existing taxpayer base.

Unbridled immigration, a path to citizenship or outright amnesty are recipes for disaster to state programs already facing economic collapse. If there is to ever be a solution to the immigration problems facing the United States, it must start with a policy to discourage illegal border crossings.

I support guest worker programs, whereby employers may ask for certain work skills to be allowed into the U.S., contingent upon successful background checks and employer sponsorship. Guest worker programs should have as a component and automatic deportation for any crimes committed in the U.S. with permanent barring to reentry for felony/drug related crimes. If you are here legally, you should have no fear of institutional racism. If you are here illegally, you should make your way to another country. Come through the correct door and be welcomed.

God Bless the United States of America

On this day before the celebration of our nation's 235th Independence Day, I thought I might reflect on a biography of John Adams, written by David McCollough. It is a highly interesting view into the fascinating life of a man who is perhaps more important to the founding of this nation than any other man.

The two American Revolutionary stalwarts George Washington and Thomas Jefferson often overshadow John Adams. Adams, who was the second U.S. President, was also the first Vice President.

A member of the Massachusetts delegation to the Continental Congress, Adams was deeply devoted to the cause of liberty. Often chided publicly for his vanity, he had of talent for persuasion in the Congress was second to none. People often perceived Adams depending on which side of the coin they were to him. Despite his ability to rail against an argument, his ability to welcome and respect his adversaries was legendary.

Bailman loves Ben Nelson

In his letter to the editor, Hunter Baliman gives credit and thanks to Nebraska Senators Nelson and Johanns for putting Nebraskans first. He is appreciative of their willingness to not raise taxes during tough economic times.

I might remind Mr. Baliman that it was Senator Nelson who has time and again put Nebraskans under the tires of himself and the Democratic party during this economic turmoil.

How many in Nebraska are going to lose their jobs when the provisions of the health care law take full effect. Senator Nelson is an Eastern Nebraska Democrat and a Washington yes man to Harry Reid And Nancy Pelosi.

It is precisely unconsidered thoughts such as Bailman's, who in giving credit for little things like supporting a vote for a bill that most likely would not have passed, that allows Senator Nelson the means to cover up his devastating support for the health care law.

I hope the people of Nebraska are not as naive as Hunter Baliman on the intentions of Ben Nelson.

The Loss of a Good Man, Indeed!

When former planning commission member Mike Merritt announced his resignation recently, City Manager Gary Person was shocked.

Hardly. Merritt was one of the few people to serve on the Planning Commission who did his best to make sure the city plan adhered to the codes in place. Time and again, Merritt confided in me that he was in stark disagreement with what certain members of Gary's inner circle of friends who have recently overtaken the planning commission thought was the, "new" way to go for the town.