Commentary

A new feel-good event has hopefully found a permanent place on Aurora’s summer agenda with the unanimous support and growing success of the Bands on the Bricks concert series.
Sara Sutherland and the Aurora Chamber of Commerce deserve a ton of credit for coming up with that vision and then finding a way to make it happen. The second year was better than the first in terms of crowd size and support and there is every reason to believe that this gig will just continue to get bigger and better each year.

Dear Editor:
I would hope that one of the main goals of the Hamilton County commissioners would be public safety, but by their apparent lack of action this does not seem to be the case.
On Monday, Aug. 12, I was made aware that the county road conditions are getting more deplorable and unsafe to the point of some senior citizens, who count on a daily hot meal, being unable to receive home-delivered meals from the Hamilton County Senior Center. I might add that the pickup from the center does have four-wheel drive.
Some county roads are just rutted and pure mud due to the lack of appropriate maintenance and void of any gravel. Some of those roads have not had any gravel for at least four years in the Phillips area, so this is not just a new situation with the plentiful rains this summer, but has been compounded due to a lack of maintenance.

Dear Editor:
My wife and I and some friends went to the Band on the bricks Friday night (Aug. 2) and it was sprinkling rain. So they moved the band to the bandstand. WHAT A CONCEPT -- a band on the bandstand.
When was the bandstand last used for a band concert? Why don’t they do that every time? There’s shade and shelter for the band and the audience, not to mention our beautiful bandstand could be used again for what it was intended for. Then the street wouldn’t be blocked off and the venders could pull up to the sidewalk just like A’ROR’N Days.
Maybe some of the revenue from beer sales could help fix the spots on bandstand that are rotting out. So far all the bands have been really good and everyone looked like they were having fun. I think the shade would help bring more people out to see the bands on the bandstand. So in closing, move the band off the bricks and onto the bandstand.
Carlin Engert,
Aurora

When we were studying journalism in college our instructor cautioned us to avoid certain subjects when writing a column. One of those subjects mentioned was religion. Since I’ve broken many rules, I guess one more won’t make much difference.
While out of state for a few weeks, the Betterhalf and I happened to attend a church service where the minister’s preaching centered on the word, “sin.” He told his congregation that all people -- even including him -- have sinned and that there are many kinds of sins.
The minister expounded on the subject there were major sins such as murder, as well as less serious sins such as some of those little fibs, fish stories and stretching the truth a little.
He then brought laughs to the congregation when he related to two of his own personal “sinning incidents” that occurred in their household. He and his wife have four young children, three of which are boys.

The cycle begins again.
School bells began ringing this week, a tell-tale sign that fall is falling, even though the calendar and thermometer says it’s still late summer in the dog days of August.
All four area schools reported back to the classroom this week and we wish all area students, their families and teachers a wonderful, memorable year ahead in 2019-20.
The first week of school brings a familiar look and feel that reminds us another year of change, learning and opportunity has arrived. Whether your family is embarking on that first magical day of kindergarten, the jump into high school, that quantum leap into college life, or into unfamiliar “empty nest territory,” it’s yet another reminder that the only thing constant in this life is change.
Monday was also the first day for fall sports practices and we look forward, as always, to covering the Huskies, Hawks, Hornets and Storm.

Comprehensive plan could impact people's lives

An issue that stirred considerable emotion and debate three years ago in Hamilton County is back on the agenda.
One of the key questions to be contemplated this week is should large commercial wind turbines be allowed in Hamilton County, and if so what regulations should be in place regarding setbacks and other criteria designed to protect neighbors from potential impact to their health and property values.
Discussion on those issues got heated back in July of 2016 when a proposal involving Omaha-based Bluestem Energy Solutions and Southern Power District raised people’s ire. That project, if approved, would place four large wind turbines just south of Interstate 80 near Aurora.

The Betterhalf and I get lots of comments about our dedication to walking dogs at the Aurora Adopt-A-Pet. While there are those who have a wonderful vision of an early morning stroll with a great relationship from the dogs, nature, physical exercise and humans, there can be kinks in some of those ideal visions.
That kink occurred this past week even though over the years we and most of our canine companions have matched the ideality that has been portrayed.
Cisco (a mixed breed) and I had gone for our morning stroll down a gravel road near the compound simply enjoying our relationship between the two of us. As we rounded a curve we came upon a flock of turkeys and our tranquil morning erupted. Three hens with their broods of approximately 20 poults were also taking a morning stroll.

In today’s world it seems challenging to find a lot of things to laugh or smile about . . . particularly when you start your day reading the morning newspaper or close the day with the 10 p.m. TV newscast. Maybe that’s why I read the newspaper comic strips or as some of us old timers call them “the funny papers.” As for the evening smiles I’m rarely awake for the late night news at 10.
Over the years reading the funnies, I’ve found more and more of those strips seem to be a mirror of my own and the Betterhalf’s daily activities. I’ve become a little concerned of the increased frequency, but I am comforted by this thought. . . The funny paper content is better than watching a TV soap opera and seeing a replay of your life going on the screen before you.
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Now that was fun!
A Midwest tradition unfolded this week with a celebration that marks the end of summer while also honoring our ag-based heritage. This year’s version of the Hamilton County Fair was unique in some ways, and very much the same in others, all by design.
The weather cooperated, for the most part, setting the stage for a nonstop itinerary of animal shows, entertainment, good food and fellowship. A lot of folks were exhausted by Sunday evening, but that too is part of the age-old tradition of a county fair. We work hard, we play hard, we deal with whatever the weather stirs up and enjoy an event that in many ways reflects our community’s character.