In a society full of plastic, disposable items, Don McBride of North Platte is crafting family heirlooms in his backyard woodshop. About the time his two sons left home, McBride read an article in Woodturning magazine about using a lathe to “turn” green wood into bowls.  “It appealed to me, and I had to try […]

A career in and around the acting world has afforded Andy Buckley a unique perspective on how celebrities are like well-run businesses. His talk for the North Platte Town Hall Lecture series Tuesday focused on five characteristics of success – gratitude, work ethic, service, adaptation, and a positive mental attitude. While Buckley has appeared in […]

The State Board of Education met Aug. 7-8 in Lincoln after taking a break during July. Literacy continued to be a main topic of discussion. Much of the department of education’s work is centered around this initiative. Sherwood Foundation literacy grant One significant board approval was the acceptance of a $25 million literacy grant from […]

North Platte native Dr. Ron Titus returned home this week to speak at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning.  Growing up as one of six children, Titus reflected on the impact of his parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors in shaping him.  Comparing himself to a transplanted tree, Titus said, “I took my roots with me. I […]

“I always wanted to write but I had to have something to write about,” author, food writer, and podcast host Laurie Woolever told the audience at the North Platte Town Hall lecture series Wednesday. In her quest for writing topics, Woolever traveled the world, experienced new cultures, and ate exotic foods while working as an […]

The Nebraska State Board of Education met in March and April at the Nebraska Department of Education building in Lincoln.   Federal funding changes When the federal Department of Education pulled back all unspent COVID-19 funds from states and school districts, Nebraska had $9 million in unliquidated funds.  One project that was affected was a literacy […]

Using art to process the grief of his sister’s death, Sutherland native Robert D. Quimby, alongside his mother, Ruth Quimby, are featured artists at the Prairie Arts Center in February. “The goal of the exhibition is not to mourn, but to celebrate life and the possibility of healing,” said Quimby. “Grief is universal; so, too, […]

The Nebraska State Board of Education convened Jan. 10 for the first business meeting of 2025 after board training sessions and the election of officers on Jan. 9. Board elections The board was gridlocked along party lines, and voted 4-4 for the position of president for 53 votes. After a brief recess in which a […]

The Nebraska State Board of Education met on Dec. 6 in Lincoln, the board’s final meeting in 2024. Here are some of the main topics: Armed security The board adopted a model policy for authorized security personnel to carry firearms in schools as required in Neb. Rev Stat. 28-1204.04. This policy only applies to Class […]

Controlling one’s thoughts can impact the trajectory of a person’s life as well as the lives of the next four generations in their family, Dr. Lee Warren told the audience Oct. 21 at a North Platte Town Hall Lecture. Until the early mid-2000s, doctors believed the human brain was structurally fixed by inherited genes. Then, the […]