Linda Dierking is one of the luckiest gals in the state and I'll betcha she'll agree. She's engaged to Allen Beermann, Secretary of State. And foxy ole' Allen slipped the ring on her finger moments before he escorted her into Pershing auditorium at Governor Exon's ball.
Linda never had a chance to think it over. The ring was slipped on her finger and away they went onto the auditorium floor under the spotlights where the announcer introduced the state officiale and his "fiancee" Linda Dierking.
Congratulations to a fine young couple.
We've known Linda since she was in high school at Senior High in Nebraska City. She was a determined student as she kept at the books and even read for the visually handicapped in her spare time.
She left Nebraska City for the University, graduated there and has been a Channel 10-11 camerawoman for several years. She has made many return visits to Nebraska City to film many events here.
Allen is an officer with the National Guard and we were guests of the Guard last summer on a two-day trip to Camp Carson, Colo., when Company A was training.
We had a pleasant flight and visit as Allen joined other guard authorities in hosting our group around the camp.
And I'm sure that if he conducts the state office with the dispatch and courtesy that he exercised at the guard camp, Nebraskans can well be proud of their state representation.
An office visitor said the other day that we ought to pass out a few compliments instead of "givin' 'em hell" all the time.
He has friends at the post office and at Wyuka cemetery.
Actually our visitor is right! So let's just take a few moments to pat the guys on the back.
The post office folks are veterans at delivering mail in crummy weather. And most are also military veterans, people who proudly wave the American flag, not spit on it.
What better representatives could we "civilians" have doing a government job than people who take great pride in their heritage?
It's really a patriotic organization at the corner of Eighth Street and First Corso. The grounds are always well kept, the old building looks pretty well scrubbed and maintained for its age and there's always Old Glory waving in the Nebraska breeze.
Corny? No sir-ee . . . bob! They're proud!
When the blizzard whipped Nebraska City, the folks at the post office were just as hog-tied as were we who drove downtown on Sunday morning to get the mail.
They field a lot of gripes, because they have more customers than anyone else in town and their average customer spends six cents each. That really makes him king of the hill.
So, congratulations to the post office department for doing a fine job. Keep up the good work and keep an eye on Jesse.
Wyuka cemetery is another place where the service continues regardless of the weather.
Superintendent Elmer Micke, who is modest about publicity for the cemetery crew, is pretty proud of the operation and service of the city department.
The cemetery is governed by a board appointed by the city council.
But did you ever consider that with all the snow removal following a blizzard or the 12 or 20 below zero temperatures when you read in the paper that graveside services for someone would be at 2 p.m., the next day?
We take for granted that those details will be taken care of despite the weather. Things are different at Baton Rouge, La., where water seepage is a problem or in Minnesota where they really get snow and freezing temperatures.
Here at home, a machine is used during the major winter months to thaw the ground. Merle Short has cooperated with the maintenance of the equipment.
The job gets done. And we know little about it . . . except that we assumed the job would be done regardless.
That's what you call "taken for granted."
When Arnie Kreifels starts his new job soon at Norman's IGA store, he goes to work with the assurance that he doesn't have to work Friday nights and a few Saturday afternoons.
Arnie says his son plays center for the Lourdes football team and he doesn't want to miss any games.
And on a number of Saturdays, Arnie wants to take advantage of his own season tickets to see the Huskers win more football games. The arrangement will be helpful to Norman Stehlik. He tries to give his employes tickets to Husker games, so now he will have an extra ticket for "the boss."
Ed Sasse, who will leave the grocery business to enter the banking business at Farmers Bank in Nebraska City, may have to look the other way when baseball season comes around.
Ed co-coached the league champion Optimist club boys last season. Their streak of baseball "victims" included the Farmers Bank team.
Guess who will be the assistant (or assistant's-assistant) on the Farmers Bank baseball team will be next season? You bet your sweet bell bottoms — Ed the banker.