Ruth Ellen Minchow passed from this life on January 5th, 2022 due to complications from Covid. Ruth was born May 11, 1935 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Woodrow and Lola (Bird) Wetenkamp.

Harold Dugan Wisdom, age 66, of Arapahoe, Nebraska passed away on Friday, January 7, 2022 at his home. He was born at Tonasket, Washington on May 1, 1955 to Robert Lee and Amie Marguerite Wisdom.

One of my favorite parables describes the difference between heaven and hell. In both places, hungry people sit at tables laden with delicious food. In hell, people suffer and starve because they cannot eat with the long utensils provided. In heaven, people are happy and thrive because they use the utensils to feed each other.

The unfortunate closing of the Arapahoe nursing home has highlighted the need for more healthcare providers in greater Nebraska. The difficulty in maintaining adequate staff was certainly a major factor contributing to the closure.

1/10/2022 Eric Adams of North Platte - Violation of Protection Order, Pretrial: January 31, 2022 @ 9:30 A.M. Kali Deberry of Holdrege - Driving under suspension, Speeding 16- 20mph, Possess open alcohol contained, Pass in the same direction, Failed to Appear Josh Dunlap - Driving under suspension, Speeding 11-15 mph, failed to Appear Kyle Fields of Hendley - Assault by Mutual Consent, Entry of Plea January 31, 2022 @ 9:30 A.M.

This week the legislature started holding hearings on some of the bills that have been introduced so far. I have 4 bills up this week. LB’s 712, 803, and 805 which were heard Tuesday in the Agriculture Committee. On Wednesday, LB 804 was heard in the Natural Resources Committee.

As many of you know, this is my 8th and final year in the Nebraska Legislature. I’m amazed by how quickly time has gone by. As I enter my final session, barring any special session, there are some things I have yet to accomplish and we will get into those a little bit later. As many of you already know, on Thursday of this week, the governor will have laid out his plan on how we will spend the $1.04 billion of ARPA money which is the America Rescue Plan Act. Not much was known previously about what the governor would like to spend that money on. There will probably be money for a new prison to replace the aging State Penitentiary in Lincoln. I think there will be some money for LB 406, the ‘Star Wars’ Committee which is looking at increasing tourism through improving water resources and recreation in the State of Nebraska. Some of that money will be spent at Lake McConaughy in Keith County. Some of it will be spent in Knox County in Northeast Nebraska and some spent somewhere between Lincoln and Omaha on the Platte River corridor to provide additional water and recreation opportunities. Those impending projects will be exciting. Beyond that, there could be some additional money for broadband expansion in Nebraska to build up that broadband in unserved and underserved areas, which would be a very wise use of these funds. I don’t know if any of the money will go to roads but there is a lot of speculation there.

Students who want to serve their country as officers in the military can apply to the U.S. Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Applicants need excellent grades, solid test scores, and with the exception of the Coast Guard Academy, a nomination from their senator or representative.

ARAPAHOE - When Arapahoe businessman and personal trainer Tyler Cappel decided to run for a seat in the Legislature last summer, he did not think he would be facing an incumbent. As a resident of Dist.

As 2021 draws to a close, I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year for 2022. The next session of the Nebraska Legislature will begin next Wednesday, January 5 . This will be a “short” 60-day session that is scheduled to end on April 20, 2022. A number of bills from last year that did not pass will “carryover” to this next session, and senators will have ten legislative days to introduce new bills.