May 27 Bookworm

Agriculture in America is in crisis. The Great Recession which began in 2008 brought farm prices down. The trade war of the last few years eliminated much of agriculture’s export market. Net farm income has dropped 69% since 2013; farmers and ranchers are expected to lose another $20 billion…

Box Butte County has officially seen its second confirmed coronavirus case after COVID-19 Unified Command announced a man in his 20s, who was a close contact of a previously positive case, was diagnosed on May 24. The total number of cases throughout the Panhandle rose to 100, with 66 recove…

There are no new cases of COVID-19 in Box Butte County, but other counties in the Panhandle are seeing increases in their case numbers, bringing the total number of cases to 86 in the Panhandle as of press time.

During our COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing so many uncertainties combine to create problems for all of us. We have health scares. Many of us have lost jobs. Several of the products we rely on are not available right now. Food insecurity in our area is unprecedented. The media and social net…

As Directed Health Measures from Governor Pete Ricketts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 begin to change, the Box Butte County Commissioners are taking steps to ensure public safety while preparing to reopen the courthouse to the public.

Polls have closed for the Box Butte County primary election, bringing an end to an unprecedented election day. With concerns over COVID-19 allowing Box Butte County’s voters to mail in ballots, new election equipment and an ongoing renovation project at the courthouse, this election is histo…

As Directed Health Measures from Governor Pete Ricketts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 begin to change, the Box Butte County Commissioners are taking steps to ensure public safety while preparing to reopen the courthouse to the public.

 After listening to guidance from Panhandle Public Health District and reviewing the Directed Health Measures issued by Governor Pete Ricketts, staff at the Alliance Times-Herald has made the decision to postpone the community garage sale that was set to take place the weekend of June 13.

The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben: Found as a boy living feral in the woods, Wilde is a mystery to everyone, including himself. When a local girl goes missing, famous TV lawyer Hester Crimstein--with whom Wilde shares a tragic connection--asks him to use his unique skills to help find h…

Poverty affects a person’s physical health. Medical care is avoided. Nutritious food costs a lot more than processed, fried food. Limited access to gyms, parks, equipment, and athletic teams means that many cannot get needed exercise. There is also a strong link between poverty and mental he…

Due to concerns surrounding the uncertainty of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, during the regularly scheduled Box Butte Development Corporation (BBDC) Board of Directors meeting on May 6th via Zoom, it was decided by unanimous vote to cancel the 2020 summer concert series, Bands on the Bricks…

On Sunday afternoon, 70 people were tested for COVID-19 at the free drive-thru testing site in Alliance on Sunday afternoon.

Attorney General Doug Peterson and the Attorneys General from ten other Midwestern states are urging the Department of Justice to pursue a federal investigation into suspected national price fixing by meat packers in the cattle industry.

The Alliance Christian Ministerial Alliance (ACMA) is composed of leaders from local churches who meet monthly during the school year to support one another, dialogue, pray, and organize projects they can accomplish together. On one level, their fellowship is grounded in a common faith based…

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende: In the late 1930s, civil war gripped Spain. When General Franco and his Fascists succeed in overthrowing the government, hundreds of thousands are forced to flee in a treacherous journey over the mountains to the French border. Among them is Roser, …

Several new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Panhandle over the past week, bringing the total number of cases for the region to 45.

Bombshell: Academy Award winners Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman and nominees Margot Robbie and John Lithgow deliver tour-de-force performances in this provocative real story of three whip-smart, ambitious, strong women who anchored one of America's most powerful news networks - and risked…

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income households buy food. Formerly called Food Stamps, SNAP is intended to fill the gap between the cash a household has available to buy food and the cost of a “thrifty” food budget as set by the USDA.

Although the exhibit has been up since March 24th, we are only just smack in the middle of our 27th Anniversary Show! The show is a juried and judged exhibit that includes over 40 artists who compete in seven different media categories.

The number of requests for mail-in ballots has already surpassed the total voter turnout for the 2016 primary election as Box Butte County’s citizens opt for early voting.

Since Former Public Defender Jon Worthman was arrested for possessing cocaine in January, the Box Butte County Commissioners have been looking for someone to fill the position as fees for court appointed counsel are adding up.

Northwest Community Action Partnership (NCAP) is working hard in Box Butte County to help those affected by COVID19.  Through their Extra Helpings Food Pantry and Outreach Office, as well as through strategic partners, like the Salvation Army, Community Table and United Way, they are making …

The Box Butte County USDA Service Center will continue to be open for business by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and usin…

A two-vehicle accident on April 16 sent an Alliance woman and her daughter to BBGH to be treated for injuries.

One common belief is that poverty exacerbates life stressors and can cause domestic violence and child abuse. While it’s true that statistics show that people living in poverty experience more domestic violence and child abuse, we cannot infer that poverty causes violence.

The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) announced today that 15,994 new unemployment insurance claims were filed during the week ending April 11, 2020. This is a decrease of 40 percent from the previous week when 26,539, a record high, initial claims were filed. Over the past four weeks, 82,…

In response to Congress passing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) filed a request with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutritional Service (FNS) to provide emergency allotment funds for Nebrask…

The Alliance School Board took action at their meeting on Monday night to postpone the graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 in the wake of limitations on gatherings imposed by Governor Pete Ricketts’ Directed Health Measure to limit the spread of COVID-19.

With the announcement that the Pillars for the Park Project received a grant, the Alliance City Council entered into an engineering services agreement with Baker and Associates, moving the project one step closer to becoming a reality.

Box Butte General Hospital wants to update the public on what has been going on since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Many businesses in our area are being devastated by the closures and social distancing requirements mandated by our government during the COVID-19 epidemic. These pieces of legislation, passed in the last month by Congress, are designed to assist small businesses and nonprofit organizations …

The Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) announced today that 26,542 new unemployment insurance claims were filed during the week ending April 4, 2020. This is an increase of 8.2 percent from the previous week when 24,533 initial claims were filed. Over the past three weeks, 66,741 initial cl…

On April 9, Governor Pete Ricketts issued an executive order waiving penalties and interest on personal property taxes, which must be filed with the county assessor, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.