Columns

The True Cost of Raising a Child I have seen repeatedly the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It’s nice, really nice! The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle-income family (this was several years ago).

The 109th Nebraska Legislature concluded Friday, April 17, with two key outcomes: passing a balanced budget and upholding the Governor’s vetoes. I was able to get 11 bills passed this session including LB 1195, which provides a direct benefit to counties across Nebraska.

If there is one thing we all learn living in a small community, it is the importance of neighbors helping neighbors. The blessing that comes with having others volunteer their time to assist someone in need is priceless.

April 14 was International Chagas Day. What is Chagas? This is a disease caused by a parasite living in the blood.

The 109th legislative session is nearing adjournment. We were all hopeful that would happen last Friday, April 10, but with several unexpected bumps in the road, primarily the struggle to pass the budget, we will sine die this Friday, April 17.

The Year was 1955 Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter? If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store. When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25¢ a gallon? Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.

In 2017, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute took on an interesting project. They went to a likely habitat in Scotland and set up game cameras. Their purpose was to locate, trap, and then radio collar 10 unicorns over the next 10 years. (https:// nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/equus-unicornu-science- first) You read that correctly. The unicorn (Equus unicornu), is native to Scotland, where it is the National Animal. As a reference, the National Animal of the United States is the American bison, also called the buffalo.

I consider myself one who adapts to change fairly easily. The changing seasons, for example, is something I love. My life has included job changes, new family members, lost family members, lots of moves, and a host of other changes that have trained me to just roll with the punches. The one change, however, that I really do not like is…the time change.

If My Body Was a Car Scary how true it is! If my body was a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I’ve got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish, and my paint job is getting a little dull.

As I type this morning, I’m enjoying a little “Java”, otherwise known as coffee. Coffee is the most popular drink in the U.S., with an estimated 66% of adults drinking it daily. Coffee comes from the beans of a tree native to the Kaffa region in Ethiopia. From Ethiopia, coffee plants were taken to Yemen, specifically the port of Al Mokah, and from there, around the world.