It has been a very busy week here at the Legislature. My office holds many responsibilities that require my attention and input on.

America is grappling a difficult legacy. Our society was built by the blood and sweat of slaves, on land previously occupied by Native Americans. When we won independence, only white male property owners were fully enfranchised. Enslaved peoples were not fully counted under the constitution.

So you thought things would simply be fixed because the calendar flipped, eh? I kid...sort of. The calendar wasn’t the source of our problems and now that 2021 is delivering a new batch, I think we all understand that wishing and hoping everything gets bet-ter and easier isn’t going to suffice.

On Thursday, January 14th I delivered my annual “State of the State” address to the Nebraska Legislature. Even after back-to-back years of major challenges—historic floods in 2019 and a pandemic in 2020—I am pleased to report that the state of the state is strong.

Eileen Kay Meagher-Holsten age 81 of McCook, NE passed away on January 16, 2021. She was born in Benkelman, NE on December 26, 1939 to Leonard and Alberta (Mathew) Miller. Eileen graduated from Beauty College and opened the Chateau Continental in McCook till 1986.

Rolland John Bamesberger passed away January 14, 2021 at his home at Johnson Lake, Nebraska at the age of 95. He was born in rural Hamilton County, August 3, 1925 to John and Elizabeth (Troester) Bamesberger. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church.

Private family services for Ellen Glanzer, 87, of Norfolk, will be Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at Christ Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Reverend Mike Moreno will be officiating. A public memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at the church.

There was definitely news in The Valley this week! But certainly not the kind of news we like to hear. As if the winds weren’t bad enough Thursday, they caused an electric wire to break and ignite a fire.

BEAVER CITY — The Regular City Council meeting was called to order on January 18, 2021 by Mayor Leighton Schmidt with all six city council members present.

The Bartley Village board met briefly for their first meeting of the new year. Newly appointed Chairman Ed Cochran called the 7 p.m.