October 31 - November 6, 2021 Sunday, October 31st During a traffic stop at 4th and Richardson St. in Ainsworth, a subject was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol and booked into the Brown County Jail.

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services It is not uncommon that the shorter days and colder temperatures affect people during the winter months. As Nebraskans realize the end of daylight saving time is coming, the challenge of the common Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also comes along and the COVID-19 pandemic only serves to potentially exacerbate this condition.

North-Central-District Health Department reported Monday, November 8th there were 29 new COVID-19 cases in the last seven days in Brown County. The data is through Sunday, November 7th.

In this week’s Ainsworth Star-Journal, you will see several thank you’s from businesses throughout the area to recognize our Heros, also known as Veterans, for their dedication and service to our country. These business owners have all had the opportunity to choose the profession they love to work in and to help our communities move forward.

One of the unspoken assumptions that many Nebraskans make every day is that we can call 911 and get an ambulance dispatched quickly if there is a medical emergency. Outside of the major population centers, this is not always true. Ambulance crews in Lincoln and Omaha do not have to hold fundraisers to provide the revenue they need to maintain their vehicles and equipment and operate their rescue squad. In rural Nebraska however, the local volunteer rescue squad is often all there is. If you get hurt and have to dial 911 in much of my legislative district, you are in for a long wait, over an hour sometimes. We had better MEDEVAC coverage in Afghanistan.

Prison’s Plumbing Problem Symbolic of a Broken System The Nebraska prison system has more than a plumbing problem. There are also problems with parole, personnel and programs that are just as serious as leaking pipes.