The Public Pulse: Praise for classic film event; Nebraska's roads; Dodge Park and Lyell Bremser

Omaha Classic Film Event

On Oct. 27, my family and I had a gem of an evening at Bruce Crawford's Omaha Classic Film Event, An American Werewolf in London. The film's star, David Naughton, entertained and charmed the crowd with amazing behind-the-scenes stories. Imagine spending 10 hours in the makeup chair, having prosthetic makeup applied. Imagine shooting a scene in a wolf-filled pen.

What a treat to see a classic film, not on TV, but the way the filmmaker meant it to be seen: in a theater, with a live, enthusiastic audience.

We can't wait for the next event!

Doug Sasse,

Salute to Nebraska's Department of Transportation

I was recently called upon to pick up a specialized part that was only available in Beatrice to fix a broken down combine. I left Omaha about sundown, drove to Beatrice, picked up the part and delivered it to the waiting farmer in West Point. Virtually the entire trip was on divided highways with speed limits of 65 and 70 mph. The quality and safety of these roads was amazing. I especially appreciated the routing around the populated areas.

It is most gratifying to see these long term road plans come together. My sincere compliments to the the Department of Transportation for a job well done. Your new roads made it an easy drive of 287 miles, got me back in Omaha by 11:00 PM, and a combine back in the field the following morning.

That's a road system I can appreciate.

Stan Fullner,

Kudos to Dodge Park crew

There was a recent letter in the Public Pulse expressing the opinion that it is too bad that Dodge Park is not better maintained ( " Dodge Park is lovely but... ", Pulse, Oct. 25). I want to point out that the maintenance crew at Dodge Park has done an excellent job of maintaining the park including the soccer fields and the baseball fields in the past few years. The flood that occurred this spring/summer wreaked havoc, as did the windstorms. The parks crew has had to start over to remove fallen trees and replant the fields, and repair the damage from these weather events. I am a very frequent user of the park, and appreciative of all the work that has been done! Kudos to the crews at Dodge Park!

Jo Williams,

Husker radio icon

I loved your on Lyell Bremser ( " 'Man, woman and child!': Lyell Bremser was a Husker radio icon ," Oct. 20). I was one of those Husker fans who had the Nebraska football game on the TV and turned the volume off to listen to Bremser on the radio. If you miss Bremser, you should tune into John Baylor on Husker Volleyball Radio. He's a great announcer with comments that will keep you laughing out loud. Such as: "Reilly fooled everyone in Lancaster County;" "Ka-Boom;" "Call the grandkids;" and "She dug that one like an archaeologist," etc.

Dick Meredith,

Let's all be neighborly

There are blue dot signs and red state signs all over Omaha. In front of our house, we have a purple dot sign and an invitation to a weekly Neighborhood Happy Hour.

At Happy Hour we talk about anything and everything except politics and religion. Let's all be neighborly. There is so much more that connects us than what divides us.

Megan and Bob Vacha,

Our deceased WWII American vets

While stationed in Germany, I visited the American cemetery in Luxembourg. There are 5,076 Americans buried there and most of them died in the Battle of the Bulge. It is a beautiful place with all the grave markers lined up so perfectly and in such a mass that it is breathtaking. To try to contemplate the sacrifice all of these Americans made for our freedom is beyond comprehension. And to say that even one of them is a sucker and a loser is sick and disturbs me no end.

Merle Rakes, Nebraska City

Native American boarding school policy

I write in regard to the , "Biden plans to apologize for boarding school policy" on Oct. 24. This boarding school policy is now considered as containing "elements of genocide." Surely the federal government's purest intentions with this program at that time were to provide food, shelter, education, and a launchpad for the future of all these indigenous children. So much for good government intentions. I think this gives a cautionary note for evaluation of any future government programs, doesn't it?

Ken Merkel,

Wildlife killing contests

Most Nebraskans are unaware that wildlife killing contests occur in our state. Participants compete for cash and prizes to kill the most, largest, or smallest coyotes, although contests nationwide also target foxes, bobcats, and raccoons. At the end of the contest, piles of dead animals are photographed for bragging rights and then discarded.

Flimsy arguments supporting these egregious contests have no basis in science, which indicates that native carnivores play an important role in maintaining balanced ecosystems. Also, coyotes adapt to fluctuations in population and will produce larger litters when their numbers decrease, thus challenging the need for management rationalization. They are social animals with families and experience fear and pain. The contests are not ecologically necessary and simply satisfy bloodlust and killing for thrills.

A 2022 poll showed that 80% of Americans oppose wildlife killing contests. Ten states already have outlawed killing contests, and there is pending federal legislation to ban them on public lands.

We are presently witnessing a 6th mass extinction event and horrific loss of biodiversity worldwide. There is no place for mass slaughter and wanton waste of wildlife in our enlightened society. Isn't it time to ban wildlife killing contests in Nebraska?

Debbie Goebel, M.D.,