Governor, legislators try again to tame the state’s high property taxes Now that Gov. Jim Pillen appears to be on the road to recovery after a wild ride aboard a bucking bronco, his next rodeo act will be roping up enough votes to lower property taxes, cut government spending and return Nebraska to a “winner-take-all” system of doling out the state’s electoral college votes.

What a roller coaster ride Rod and I have been on these past two months. Someone is interested - but no help. Hopes up again - same problem. Then, all of a sudden, we met with two business owners on Wednesday, December 18th ending with hope. Thursday, December 19th they called and said they would like to meet again this time it was with three men and one wife. End of meeting on the 19th around 7:30 p.m. a gentlemens agreement was reached to take over the business of the Ainsworth Star-Journal. When the holiday is over and we get back to some type of normalcy, we will come up with a contract amongst us. Fortunately, we all know each other. We all have our own businesses. We all support one another and the transition will begin. Switching gears from sad tears to happy tears isn’t quite as stressful on my body. I think I might have enough kleenex to get me through until our second retirement date arrives in March 2025.

As reported in last week’s Ainsworth Star-Journal, the Worrells have agreed to sell their newspaper to three businessmen in Ainsworth. With the pending sale, the Worrells have agreed to continue publishing the Star-Journal through February, 2025 to give the new owners time to get all the business requirements in place.

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On the evening of Sunday, December 22nd, after the sun went down, residents could have expected a quiet, uneventful December night like any other. However, car engines were a-roaring and bright lights were twinkling through the night for the Christmas City of the Sandhills Christmas Scavenger Hunt.

Lottery applications will be accepted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission between December 31st through January 13th for a bighorn sheep management hunt. This hunt is intended to balance the current ram-ewe ratio and provide additional hunting opportunity.