There is no place like Nebraska

Nearly two full years into this dreaded pandemic COVID-19 hit the Aurora News-Register hard in recent weeks.
In the 22 years Paula and I have owned this newspaper our staff has never, ever been quite as short of manpower and challenged to get the weekly edition out as we were the last two weeks. We’ve always known we have a terrific, talented, dedicated staff, but this time some were asked to go way above and beyond their already busy routines to get the job done and paper out, on time.
And they did. Most readers will never know the angst and overtime that went into hitting that deadline, but it meant the world to Paula and I.
We can all share gut-wrenching stories about people we know and love who have suffered serious COVID health challenges, or tragically lost that battle. Fortunately, all of our colleagues, who we consider to be part of our family, have recovered, or are on the road to recovery, though only after being wiped off their feet.
Already down one staff member due to a transition in the newsroom, a fourth of our staff tested positive within a couple week’s time while others, including Paula and I, were scheduled for belated time off not possible during the holiday season. Having been given a secretive invitation from our soon-to-be son-in-law that he was going to propose to our daughter Robyn, cancelling our trip to Texas was simply not an option. That was a bucket list moment for me, and a precious life memory for all of us.
Back home in Aurora that left our crew extremely thin for a five-day span, with everyone having to pitch in as needed in various ways, making sure ANR fulfilled its legal obligation to publish a newspaper each and every week.
I understand now how some local and regional businesses have had to close their doors for a day or more due to illness, COVID or otherwise. At least one area school shut down for a couple days with teachers and students all fighting illness, and I’ve talked with several business owners who shared that they’ve been thrown curveballs they have never seen before, thus there is no blueprint on how to respond. Based on area health reports, we may see more of that in the weeks and months ahead, and have no choice but to deal with it as best we can.
I’m so thankful that our crew is all back on the road to recovery, and that we’re blessed to be doing what we’re doing here in Aurora, Nebraska. I’ve said it many times before, but my perception of reality bears repeating now.
When things go a little bit sideways, caused by conditions out of anyone’s control, living and working in a place where people share a sense of respect, work ethic, honesty, faith and loyalty makes all the difference in the world. Folks here don’t look for excuses, even when they have legitimate reasons to holler uncle, but instead buckle down and help each other out the best they can. What a blessing we all share.
Like the slogan says, there is no place like Nebraska!

KURT JOHNSON can be reached at kjohnson@ hamilton.net