Greetings to all in Legislative District 16 and the surrounding area. I hope you’re staying safe, healthy, and encouraged during this time of social distancing. Though we’re facing challenges we’ve never encountered before, I remain very optimistic and encouraged by our future. Nebraskans across the state have found creative ways to stay engaged in their communities. Teachers are adapting to online teaching and families are adapting to home classrooms. Dinner tables are full as families spend less time running around to various events and more time at home together. The past month, and likely the foreseeable short-term future, has changed our lives dramatically; but it doesn’t have to be all negative. For this column, I’d like to share some positive news!
As of April 12, 2020, Nebraska has administered 10,991 tests for COVID-19 for which only 7%returned positive. 98% of those who’ve tested positive are under current care, in quarantine, or have recovered from the virus. This is tremendous news for our state and a testament to our grit, our love for neighbor, and the professionalism of our health care workers in Nebraska. We will likely never know how the virus would have spread without our social distancing efforts, but we have learned a lot bout the character of Nebraskans. It’s easy to focus on how the virus has negatively impacted our lives, but now more than ever its important to focus on the positive.
Ellie Stangl, my Administrative Assistant, and Fort Calhoun Native impacted her neighborhood in an especially creative and meaningful way this past week. While the state of Nebraska is under directives to limit gatherings, stay out of restaurants and most other businesses, she found a way to bring people together. Ellie organized a chalk art competition in her neighborhood. Around 50 households joined in on the fun through donating resources, creating the artwork and voting on the best designs. On her weekly trip for groceries, Ellie bought 45 boxes of chalk for kids and adults alike to use for the competition and delivered it to each house along with a flyer with specific instructions on what to do. The next day, people were out as early as 8:00 am filling their driveways with artwork even though voting didn’t begin until 5:00 pm. That evening, families walked around the neighborhood admiring the artistic talents of their neighbors and voting on the best art. Not only did winners receive gift cards to their favorite local business but the event brought people together who’d never met before or had only seen each other in passing.
These sorts of events are what Nebraskans are doing every day. I see stories of families decorating windows of nursing homes, of businesses adding delivery services and of people donating time and money to provide masks, gloves, and other needed resources to those who must come into contact with others every day. So, take some time and reflect on how your life may have changed for the better and how you can impact someone else’s life positively during this time. I’m grateful to live in this state and I’m honored to serve those in District 16.
(Data from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is representative of Nebraska residents, are provisional and data reported by the local health department should be considered the most up to date. Data as of 6:20pm CDT, 4/12/20)
