With the holidays fast approaching, Tim Smiley is braced for busy. He has been working 11- to 12-hour days since mid-October, a pace that's likely to continue for several more weeks. “It’s a madhouse basically – not a lot of downtime,” he says. Smiley is not in retail. He is in outreach, serving on the
Though it’s based in Grand Island, there’s something about Third City Community Clinic that’s good for everyone’s well-being; a vivid reminder that generosity is alive in the heartland, and it is changing lives. It is controlling diabetes that may not have been controlled or helping a child start the school year on the healthiest footing
It is tough being a calorie in the village of Shelton, Nebraska, these days. More and more are feeling the burn — and Amanda Thober and Matthew Walter could not be less sympathetic. "We’re giving our kids another outlet to be active, something else they can choose to do rather than go home and sit,"
In the red corner, weighing in at 222 pounds, hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska – a longtime heavy hitter in the local restaurant industry, an amateur photographer whose images pack a powerful punch: 51-year-old John Coffey. And in the blue corner – a chronic, mysterious challenger, Parkinson's disease. Diagnosed almost two years ago, Coffey refuses to
Vanita Jarmon’s mother was a teacher – so were her aunts and uncles. “I’ve been surrounded by education all of my life,” she says. “I knew right away it was going to be a job of hard work. I watched my mom work long hours … The greatest reward, I knew, was that I was
Louis “Big Lou” Parker is in the midst of dealing with life’s latest jab. In mid-August, a thief made off with his truck, the linchpin of his lawn service, Big Lou’s A Touch of Class. But the imposing Omahan is not angry or sullen. He is grateful. “The Bible says in all things give thanks.
Facing one’s demons takes incredible courage, especially when their grip is tight. “I turned a 12-week rehab program into a year-long program,”said Karlyn Walker of Omaha. She grew up on the north side of the city surrounded by addiction. The negativity eventually overpowered her, leading to a decade-long struggle with her own alcohol and meth
For almost four decades now, Pam Magdanz has been fearless about shaping the future, parlaying a passion for education into a legacy that has impacted tens of thousands of young lives. Her advice to anyone in education: “Continue your own journey of growth and learning. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try something new.”
“Find your passion – and go with it.” Both a straightforward piece of advice and an attitude embraced by the fearless, it has taken Steve Bennett, 64, from service in the Air Force to the heights of corporate success to a passion project with statewide impact. “I’ll work 365 days a year if I’m needed,”
Lincoln is an accomplished endurance athlete and has competed for 35+ years in marathons and triathlons. He has finished three 140 mile Ironman triathlons including the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. In 2013 he finished 6th in the world in his age group at the Triathlon Championships in London, racing for Team USA. He won
