December 2021

Bixlers invite community to art barn for a country Christmas experience

DICK AND NANCY BIXLER enjoy visiting with neighbors, family, friends, art enthusiasts, and more. Those who stop by at their airbnb and gallery Bixler’s Art Barn south of Pratt get a good dose of Bixler hospitality, and that circle has just been expanded to include all of the Pratt community during a special Christmas in the Country event on Dec. 21, 22 and 23.

Read MoreBixlers invite community to art barn for a country Christmas experience

USDA announces more school meal funding

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2021 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is announcing today that the Biden-Harris Administration is providing up to $1.5 billion to states and school districts to help school meal program operators deal with the challenges of supply chain disruptions brought on by the pandemic. As the administration continues to work towards Building a Better America by investing in our communities, the funding announced today will help to provide our nation’s children with the nutritious foods they need to thrive.

Read MoreUSDA announces more school meal funding

Seek out the truth, not talking points

TRUTH is a verified or indisputable fact – a Webster definition. Our sixth step of Good Trouble is to seek out the truth not talking points. Welcome back to our series on Good Trouble. In our contemporary era, we have news 24/7 on a plethora of satellite television, radio, podcasts, and internet channels. Flip the channel to any news station and keep it on for a few hours and a recurring theme will prevail. This theme generally aligns closely with the philosophy and views of its station. If a person generally agrees with the underlying philosophy, that will become their “go-to” channel. Whatever happened to the good ole’ days when Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley presented the news in what we believed was an unbiased news media. Was the news of yester-years truly unbiased? Compared to the 24- hour news cycle today, it may appear so. Still, the news media has always been selective in sharing. Of course, to be fair 24 hours a day coverage could still never report all the important news of the day.

Read MoreSeek out the truth, not talking points

Relax, it will all work out, just like it did so many years ago at Christmas

OVER THE PAST four or five weeks, I have received dozens of emails from various retailers concerning orders I’ve made or my kids have made in preparation for our Christmas celebrations. These electronic notices are equal parts confirmation dispatches and shipping alerts. My favorites among them are those which predict the estimated delivery date of something I’ve secretly purchased for my wife. I’m especially pleased when the date noted is earlier than the date said gift is needed.

Read MoreRelax, it will all work out, just like it did so many years ago at Christmas