•April 29, 2020•
By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

The coronavirus crisis has exposed critical fault lines in our nation’s bedrock, which must be addressed. I identify three below, but there are others, such as fiscal sufficiency for Social Security and Medicare, both programs taking a hit from the virus and our spending to combat it.
First, we obviously need an American technology/industrial policy. In many areas, China is surpassing our once vaunted technological prowess. The rapid rollout of 5G technology around the world by Chinese behemoth Huawei, while American companies struggle to catch up, should be a wake-up call.
And since we have exported much of our manufacturing to Asia, we find our nation without either the supply or the ready capacity to produce the health care goods we need to help staunch the viral spread.
Business, government and research labs at our universities and elsewhere must collaborate on strategies and funding streams for basic and applied research, as well as for capacity building for the production of goods and services that we need internally and for sale worldwide. Read More

25 Years Ago This Week

The vocal and piano students of Deborah Seelhoefer will present a spring concert at the First Christian Church in Sullivan.
Performing are Julie Bolin, Robby Randall, Mindy Griffith, Michelle Grohmann, Daniel Helmuth, Micah Ray, Brittany Cobb and Scott Light. Selections vary from classical to jazz including a medley from Guys and Dolls.
Tom Highland’s Industrial Arts classroom at Sullivan High School is fiber optically connected to cable and multimedia students are preparing to launch their own cable channel.Chad Ashinhurst is cameraman while Kurtis Tull takes on editing chores in the class control room.
The Fish Wrap concept came about in 1995. Editor Dan Hagen reported on an unusual reaction from students at the University of South Carolina to the original Fish Wrapper story. Read More

Proud to have Tabor Park

With the recent restrictions on our activities due to the coronavirus, all of us have had to change our lifestyles in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
My wife and I have been walking Tabor Park daily for our exercise. Still not sure why we cannot walk on a golf course, but we can’t. A few years back when I was a teenager, I had the privilege of mowing Ruth Tabor’s yard. Read More

25 Years Ago This Week

The Bethany Mustangs bats exploded for 32 runs in their first two games, while the pitching staff held opponents to three runs and three hits.
A 22-3 victory over Springfield Calvary and 10-0 shut out at Bement.
Against Springfield in the top of the first Phil Ozier (4 for 5 with 5 RBIs) knocked in Shane Martin for the first run. Aaron Osman used a bunt to score two runs. Bliss Schwartz smashed a single to center scoring a run. Jon Ashley knocked in Osman with a ground out.
Bethany voters bought at least three years life for their schools with a decisive vote facing steeper taxes. Voters approved a $1.25 tax rate increase 436-327 to prevent consolidation. Read More

•April 22, 2020•
Reduce, reuse, recycle is a mantra for many people. It’s difficult to imagine that just 50 years ago awareness of the state of the environment was not part of the collective consciousness.
An emerging public consciousness about the planet began amid environmental issues like increased air pollution and massive consumption of fossil fuels in the 1960s. The bestselling book “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson also raised public concern for living organisms and the links between pollution and public health. The push for environmental reform gained even more momentum on April 22, 1970, when the first Earth Day was celebrated. Then-Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin put Earth Day on the national stage following a large oil spill that struck off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif. Before this disaster, recycling was not a word in the popular lexicon. But when the disaster struck, people began to reason that changes would have to be made to save the planet. Read More