12-20-12 Courier e-Edition - Callaway Courier

Page 2—Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, The Callaway Courier
Meanderings
by Michael A. Wendorff
If weekly newspaper editors were in charge of
calendars, all holidays would be adjusted according
to convenience. No longer would there be
three- or four-day weekends that end on Monday.
All holidays would fall on either Thursday or Friday.
We believe it would bring order to the universe
in ways that only a weekly newspaper editor
could truly appreciate.
Leap Year really threw a monkey wrench into
the weekly newsroom rhythm works this holiday
season with both Christmas and New Year’s Day
falling on Tuesday this year. Thus, your stodgy,
habit-formed creature of routine for an editor is
forced to adapt and adjust. We thought at first
that printing on Monday for Tuesday delivery
might work though you would still get the Christmas
issue on Wednesday. The obvious answer is
in your hands. We broke a week early. Duh.
Be that as it may, Merry Christmas to all, dear
readers. We look forward to serving you in 2013.
We will take this upcoming Tuesday holiday in
the spirit for which it exists by enjoying our family
and spoiling grandchildren beyond all reason. In
light of recent events in Connecticut, it seems even
more important. What a horrendous, unnecessary
tragedy. Keep your loves ones close, folks.
* * *
A number of us journeyed to Curtis to watch the
South Loup basketball teams play Medicine Valley
Friday night. I found it a bit disorienting driving
in the rain until once again getting used to it. The
windshield wipers did work as designed though I
fully expected the rubber parts to have long dryrotted
away. Lovely moisture. It’s been too long
since we’ve seen ya. Please drop by more often.
* * *
On the political scene, as Pres. Barack Obama
prepares for his second inauguration in January,
the new term cabinet shuffle is in high gear. It
appears 0ur very own former Sen. Chuck Hagel is
the favored pick to become our next Secretary of
Defense. There’s been speculation that some of his
fellow Republicans will not be particularly happy
to see him get the job. Endorsing former Sen. Bob
Kerrey in the last election will cause that kind of
feeling among the brethren of one’s party.
Personally, I’ve always kind of liked Hagel
because he repeatedly showed the capacity for
independent thought while our Nebraska senator.
He opposed then Pres. George W. Bush’s
plans for invading Iraq and repeatedly showed a
penchant for “reaching across the isle” to reach
accords with Democratic members to get things
done. This did not engender love and affection
among the partisan elite.
Hagel, I think, embodied both the old-time
senator willing to be pragmatic to get the nation’s
business accomplished and a new breed
still on the sidelines we are increasingly calling
Independents. I liked his style in the Senate and
the Vietnam vet should make a fine overseer of
the nation’s military — one who understands the
common troop as well as the needs of national defense.
Mr. Obama should not expect a “yes” man if
he gives Hagel the nod.
Yes, it can be argued that Hagel endorsed Kerrey
for just this possibility. Quite possible. Still,
that’s the nature of politics when it comes to
pragmatic scratching of backs. Kerrey still lost for
reasons that had little to do with endorsements.
Prize winning
newspaper 2012
Nebraska Press Association
The Callaway Courier
Michael & Suzanne Wendorff, Publishers
Correspondents: Mary Johnson, Oconto
Phone: (308) 836-2200, email: ccourier@gpcom.net
Volume 45, Issue 40 Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012
Established March 25, 1968. Published weekly at Callaway, Nebraska,
68825, Wednesday A.M. for Thursday A.M. delivery. Periodical Class
Postage paid at Callaway, Nebraska. Publication number: 085540.
Newspaper Policy
All Advertising and news copy must be in by no later than 9:30 a.m.
Tuesdays. We reserve the right to refuse any advertising or news
deemed not suitable for publication. The Callaway Courier cannot be
responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of either advertising
or news copy. Claims cannot be considered unless made within one
week from the date of publication. No allowances can be made when
errors do not materially affect the value of the advertisement. All letters
to the editor must be signed to be considered for publication.
Subscription Rates
$25.00 per year in Nebraska
$27.00 per year Out-of-state
Attention Postmaster For Change Of Address:
The Callaway Courier, P. O. Box 69,
Callaway, Nebraska 68825-0331
Editorial Page
Christmas cookie rules
1. If you eat a Christmas cookie
fresh out of the oven, it has no
calories because everyone knows
that the first cookie is the test and
thus calorie free.
2. If you drink a diet soda
after eating your second cookie,
it also has no calories because the
diet soda cancels out the cookie
calories.
3. If a friend comes over while
you’re making your Christmas
cookies and needs to sample,
you must sample with your
friend. Because your friend’s
first cookie is calories free, (rule
No. 1) yours is also. It would be
rude to let your friend sample
alone and, being the friend that
you are, that makes your cookie
calorie free.
4. Any cookie calories consumed
while walking around will
fall to your feet and eventually
fall off as you move. This is due
to gravity and the density of the
caloric mass.
5. Any calories consumed during
the frosting of the Christmas
cookies will be used up because it
takes many calories to lick excess
frosting from a knife without
cutting your tongue.
6. Cookies colored red or
green have very few calories. Red
ones have three and green ones
have five - one calorie for each
letter. Make more red ones!
7. Cookies eaten while watching
“Miracle on 34th Street”
have no calories because they
are part of the entertainment
package and not part of one’s
personal fuel.
8. As always, cookie pieces
contain no calories because the
process of breaking causes calorie
leakage.
9. Any cookies consumed
from someone else’s plate have
no calories since the calories
rightfully belong to the other
person and will cling to their
plate. We all know how calories
like to CLING!
10. Any cookies consumed
while feeling stressed have no
calories because cookies used
for medicinal purposes never
have calories. It’s a rule! So, go
out and enjoy those Christmas
Cookies — we only get them this
time of year!
* * *
Reason for
the season
A woman was Christmas
shopping with her two children.
After many hours of walking
down row after row of toys and
by Sen. Mike Johanns
Let it snow, let it snow, let it
snow. This phrase from a popular
Christmas song has never
before been sung with such
sincerity and intensity as it is
this year across Nebraska.
With more than 96 percent
of Nebraska suffering from extreme
or exceptional drought,
we desperately need the moisture.
Farmers and ranchers
have been battling severe
drought conditions across the
entire state, in what has become
one of the driest and hottest
spells on record.
Drought conditions extend
to more than 60 percent of the
contiguous United States and
have become a national crisis
for ag producers. With belowaverage
precipitation expected
this winter season, these conditions
may continue for the
foreseeable future.
As this drought draws on, I
continue to monitor the changing
conditions and how they
impact our state’s economy
and our ag producers. I met
last week with members of the
National Drought Mitigation
Center team based in Lincoln.
They have been following every
aspect of the drought in Nebraska
and across the country,
providing risk management
information and best practices
for those coping with the lack
of moisture.
Nebraska’s farmers and
ranchers are no stranger to
natural disaster and the importance
of risk management. Just
last year, the problem wasn’t a
lack of water, but rather an overabundance
of it. Over the years,
ag producers have adjusted
their practices to increase efficiency
and minimize risk. The
increased use of crop insurance
has limited the amount of costly
federal emergency disaster programs
needed to protect against
after hours of hearing both her
children asking for everything
they saw on those many shelves,
she finally made it to the store
elevator with her two children
in hand.
She was feeling what so many
of us feel during the holiday
season time of the year, getting
that perfect gift for every single
person on our shopping list,
overwhelming pressure to go to
every party, every housewarming,
taste all the holiday food
and treats, making sure we don’t
forget anyone on our card list,
and the pressure of making sure
we respond to everyone who sent
us a card.
Finally the elevator doors
opened revealing a crowd . She
pushed her way in and dragged
her two kids and all her bags of
stuff in with her.
As the doors closed she
couldn’t take it anymore and
blurted out, “Whoever started
this whole Christmas thing
should be found, strung up, and
shot.”
From the back of the car,
a quiet calm voice responded,
“Don’t worry, we’ve already
crucified Him.” The rest of the
trip down was so quiet you could
have heard a pin drop.
Don’t forget this year to keep
the One who started this whole
Christmas thing in your every
thought, deed, purchase, and
word. If we all would, just think
how much better this world
would be.
Jesus is the reason for the season.
Wise men still seek Him.
* * *
Santa Claus
and Grandma
I remember my first Christmas
adventure with Grandma.
I was just a kid.
I remember tearing across
town on my bike to visit her on
the day my big sister dropped
the bomb: “There is no Santa
Claus,” she jeered. “Even dum-
such disasters.
Ag producers are
doing their part to
make it through the
worst drought since
the dustbowl, and
it’s important that
Congress does its
part as well. While
we can’t make it rain,
we can and should
provide much needed
certainty and assistance for
farmers and ranchers through
a new farm bill. Existing farm
policy — including programs
which provide relief in times
of drought and other disaster
Worth
Repeatin’
From the collection
of Pat Young
mies know that!”
My Grandma was not the
gushy kind, never had been. I fled
to her that day because I knew
she would be straight with me. I
knew Grandma always told the
truth, and I knew that the truth
always went down a whole lot
easier when swallowed with one
of her “world-famous” cinnamon
buns. I knew they were worldfamous,
because Grandma said
so. It had to be true.
Grandma was home, and the
buns were still warm. Between
bites, I told her everything. She
was ready for me. “No Santa
Claus?” she snorted ...”Ridiculous!
Don’t believe it. That rumor
has been going around for years,
and it makes me mad, plain
mad!! Now, put on your coat,
and let’s go.”
“Go? Go where, Grandma?” I
asked. I hadn’t even finished my
second world-famous cinnamon
bun. “Where” turned out to be
Kerby’s General Store, the one
store in town that had a little
bit of just about everything. As
we walked through its doors,
Grandma handed me ten dollars.
That was a bundle in those days.
“Take this money,” she said, “and
buy something for someone who
needs it. I’ll wait for you in the
car.” Then she turned and walked
out of Kerby’s.
I was only 8 years old. I’d often
gone shopping with my mother,
but never had I shopped for
anything all by myself. The store
seemed big and crowded, full of
people scrambling to finish their
Christmas shopping.
For a few moments I just stood
there, confused, clutching that
$10 bill, wondering what to buy,
and who on earth to buy it for.
I thought of everybody I
knew: my family, my friends, my
neighbors, the kids at school, the
people who went to my church.
I was just about thought out,
when I suddenly thought of
Bobby Decker. He was a kid with
— have expired. If
action is not taken,
we will be reverting
to agriculture
policy created in the
1940s.
I am continuing
to push for action on
a five-year farm bill.
It’s crucial we provide
much needed disaster
assistance for ag
producers dealing with weather
conditions like drought. Admittedly,
time is growing short for
action by New Year’s Eve so it’s
important to remember that we
have been here before. Farm
bad breath and messy hair, and
he sat right behind me in Mrs.
Pollock’s grade-two class. Bobby
Decker didn’t have a coat. I knew
that because he never went out
to recess during the winter. His
mother always wrote a note,
telling the teacher that he had
a cough, but all we kids knew
that Bobby Decker didn’t have a
cough; he didn’t have a good coat.
I fingered the ten-dollar bill with
growing excitement. I would buy
Bobby Decker a coat!
I settled on a red corduroy one
that had a hood to it. It looked real
warm, and he would like that.
“Is this a Christmas present
for someone?” the lady behind
the counter asked kindly, as I
laid my ten dollars down. “Yes,
ma’am,” I replied shyly. “It’s for
Bobby.”
The nice lady smiled at me,
as I told her about how Bobby
really needed a good winter coat.
I didn’t get any change, but she
put the coat in a bag, smiled
again, and wished me a Merry
Christmas.
That evening, Grandma
helped me wrap the coat (a
little tag fell out of the coat, and
Grandma tucked it in her Bible)
in Christmas paper and ribbons
and wrote, “To Bobby, From
Santa Claus” on it.
Grandma said that Santa
always insisted on secrecy. Then
she drove me over to Bobby
Decker’s house, explaining as we
went that I was now and forever
officially, one of Santa’s helpers.
Grandma parked down the
street from Bobby’s house, and
she and I crept noiselessly and
hid in the bushes by his front
walk. Then Grandma gave me a
nudge. “All right, Santa Claus,”
she whispered, “get going.”
I took a deep breath, dashed
for his front door, threw the present
down on his step, pounded his
door and flew back to the safety of
the bushes and Grandma.
Together we waited breathlessly
in the darkness for the front
door to open. Finally it did, and
there stood Bobby.
Fifty years haven’t dimmed
the thrill of those moments spent
shivering, beside my Grandma,
in Bobby Decker’s bushes. That
night, I realized that those awful
rumors about Santa Claus were
just what Grandma said they
were — ridiculous. Santa was
alive and well, and we were on
his team.
I still have the Bible, with the
coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.
Monitoring the drought and the Farm Bill
Mike Johanns
bills often drag into the next
season, but Congress must act
and give farmers a clear picture
of the policies impacting their
work before the next round of
spring planting.
Farmers and ranchers have
weathered many storms, and I
believe this one will be no different.
But, Congress should not
add to the challenges Mother
Nature provides. Ag producers
and taxpayers alike deserve an
updated farm bill that is fiscally
responsible and reform
minded, and we should not let
any more time unnecessarily
slip away.