I am always working to ensure that federal policies make sense for communities in Nebraska. Nebraskans know all too well that rules crafted by career bureaucrats rarely benefit us — in fact, they often harm us.

Recently I received a mailing from my clinic reminding me it is time to schedule my annual preventative care physical. Apparently, doctors need to go to the doctor, too, even when they feel fine.

Dear Editor: Thank you for continuing to open up the lines of communication regarding the COVID situation. It is always good to raise questions and concerns, especially when it concerns people’s health.

Recently, thousands of Americans traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the national March for Life. The march celebrated its 50th anniversary this year and is an opportunity to give voice to the voiceless, stand up for the fundamental right to life, and demonstrate support for both mothers and their children.

Dear Editor, I am writing to thank Elwood-area residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season. Generosity throughout contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child.

Frequently, my patients will come to a visit and bring up a major concern: “Doc, I think I might have dementia; my memory seems to be slipping.” They might give examples of having difficulty finding words, forgetting people’s names, or just feeling like their thinking is slower. Many of them know a family member who had dementia, and they are worried.

Perhaps this is typical in most households, but maybe not. Whenever my wife has to leave town, she gets a bit uneasy about me being home with the kids by myself. I don’t think it’s necessarily a trust issue, but maybe an attention issue. You know, “take your eyes off the ball game every once in a while and check on the kids.”

When I was a young physician, we talked with almost religious zeal about the “Golden Hour.” Early on, this principally focused on the idea that within the first hour after an injury, a patient needed to receive definitive treatment in order to maximize the chances of survival, and recovery. We usually interpreted this to mean that the patient needed to be in the hands of the trauma surgeon before this hour was up. We took ATLS classes so we could make sure that the patient in our emergency room got the best treatment we non-surgeons could provide, until the surgeon could take over.

The first few weeks of the 2023 Nebraska legislative session are complete. The early session is shaping up to be one of the most promising we’ve had on a number of issues.

Nebraska has a rich heritage of military service. Over the years, thousands of Nebraskans have answered the call and served our country heroically.