Opinion – Page 53 – Panhandle Post Archive

SAFEWAY BUYS THIELE PHARMACY

Posted on October 15, 2012October 18, 2012

Click on the icon at the bottom of the page to access an audio report from KCOW’s Kevin Horn, which includes comments from Charles Lierk.

After remaining closed for four months following a June 12 police standoff at Thiele Pharmacy and Gifts, the store re-opened this past Monday under the new name, Thiele Gifts and More at 304 Box Butte in downtown Alliance.

The pharmacy portion of the business will remain in the former Alliance Medical Clinic building north of Box Butte General Hospital at 2307 Box Butte Avenue.

However, owner Charles Lierk is announcing today that his pharmacy has been sold to Safeway, and it will be relocated to the Safeway Grocery Store at Third and Mississippi in Alliance on December 5.

Lierk says the sale of his pharmacy to Safeway has been in the works for several months, and that he and several of his current staff members will be employed by Safeway. He says he feels that even though the business name will no longer be Thiele Pharmacy, he believes Safeway will try to reflect the image that Thiele’s has had for over 100 years.

The 63-year-old Lierk says the sale is a good match, because he will be able to retire in a few years, and yet keep the pharmacy in Alliance.

“I’ve always wanted to keep the pharmacy in Alliance,” he said. “Having the gift store downtown and the pharmacy at Safeway will be a good match. I really believe people will continue to see the Thiele image at Safeway. They understand the personal service we have provided such as charge accounts and delivery. They probably will also offer flu shots and other services to customers as well.”

Lierk stresses that the pharmacy at 2307 Box Butte will operate non-stop through Dec. 4, and then open on Dec. 5 at Safeway.

The new Safeway Pharmacy hours will be announced at a later date.

Listen:

Safeway_Purchases_Thiele_Pharmacy_1

ELI RATES THE GAMES: PETA SPOOFS MARIO, POKEMON

Posted on October 11, 2012October 18, 2012

ELI RATES THE GAMES
By KCOW Weekend Warrior and Resident Madman Eli Smith

The organization known as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) hasn’t been known for its love of video games. Not too long ago they released their own video game taking a strike at Nintendo and a popular item known as the Tanooki suit. In this “game”, you play as the Tanooki (a rare, small, and furry creature) who is fighting for his life against the lovable mascot of Nintendo, Mario.

marioPETA — Screenshot from PETA video game.

The Tanooki runs and Mario attempts to skin it, something that any gamer could easily be disgusted by. If this wasn’t bad enough, PETA has now taken another strike at one of Nintendo’s most successful franchises, Pokemon.

Following the release of a new Pokemon game (Black/White version 2) PETA is attempting to be clever by using it to create their own sick and twisted ideal. In PETA’s version (“Pokemon Black and Blue”) you play the part of a beaten and abused Pokemon, fighting off various humans in order to free yourself and free other Pokemon who are also trapped. The PETA game’s tagline is “gotta free ‘em all!” (as opposed to the normal Pokemon tagline “gotta catch ’em all”).

pokemonpeta — Title page of PETA “Pokemon Black and Blue” game.

The images used to advertise this thing are in poor taste, with disturbing portrayals of wild people attempting to trap their Pokemon again and battered creatures from the popular video game. Needless to say, this video game won’t be getting a good review from me because it is not worth it.

This does not necessarily mean that I am a heartless individual who does not care about animal cruelty. In reality, I just don’t like cruelty in general. But taking a stab at a video game is an obvious publicity stunt. When PETA has the feeling that the world has stopped caring about them, they attempt to make a new game to disturb and excite their audience. It is one thing to decide to not eat meat, test on animals, or avoid cruelty; but taking a stab at Pokemon is just plain stupid. Through the entire series of Pokemon games you are taught to value and respect the importance of these creatures. This ideal just oozes off of the television show as well, with Ash Ketchum running around telling everyone how much his love and respect for these Pokemon has given him a great deal of strength. In the games and the TV episodes, any Pokemon Trainer that does not follow this idea is eventually stopped in one way or another, creating an environment that discourages animal cruelty and encourages a partnership.

GLES NOTES: AREA BROADCASTER GETS HAIRCUT…AND OTHER FASCINATING TOPICS

Posted on September 26, 2012October 18, 2012

GLES NOTES
Mike Glesinger speaking of sports (and more…)

I have been a little slow in keeping up with technology. I don’t “facebook” or “twit” or is it “tweet”? I don’t even have a home computer…yet. But with the launch of our newest project here at KCOW/Double Q Country/KCNB..”Panhandle Post”, I have been given the oppourtunity to write a little piece..or is it a “Blog”..about things that I find interesting or unusual or just some of the things I find amusing or relevant. I will try to embrace this new venture with an emphasis on things that are fun and what I hope people will enjoy reading about.

I will call this blog “Gles Notes”. That way I am not limited to strictly sports but other topics as well. Now understand, besides my wife Sarah, sports is my true love so you will see a lot of sports here. I read and report on sports 4-5 times per day on the radio. I broadcast approximately 50-60 sports events per year and I watch or listen to much more than that. I have a lot of friends involved in sports. But I have a lot of other interests too. I love all kinds of music, movies, old television shows. I love to read..mostly sports biographies and history. I enjoy collecting different things..I am still trying to find that rare baseball card that will make me rich!! I like to play golf, ride my bike, take walks in the evening and attend events that involve our local kids. I like being involved in the community and volunteer to help when time permits–so…my interests are many. I will try not to be too opinionated , but these thoughts are mine and not necessarily the opinions of the radio station. I will try not to be too boring with things like..” I got a haircut today”. Now if I find a rare baseball card on my way to Kurl and Swirl, then You will hear about that. My writing style may not be the best..I tend to write like I talk. So please excuse my grammar and spelling, I’ll do the best I can. I’ll try to add a picture once in awhile, maybe a joke or two. Like I said at the beginning, this is a new venture for me, but one that I think I will enjoy and I hope you do too.

Glesinger_and_Sarah_Wedding_2 — Mr. and Mrs. G!

WENTY'S TWO CENTS: A TRIP BACK IN TIME

Posted on September 24, 2012

WENTY’S TWO CENTS
The caffeine-addled ramblings of KCOW “Wakeup Show” host Jason Wentworth

September 24, 2012
Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.
As an abysmal high school and college student, I can assure you that the same goes for Spanish, Biology, and Algebra. I had to take each of those twice. (It’s that stellar academic record that led me to a career as a morning radio disc jockey.)
But I digress. Back to history–it really is important for us to appreciate where we came from. And generally speaking, important things are not usually fun things. But this is one of the exceptions!
Recently I spent the day at Dobby’s Frontier Town in Alliance. I am more than a bit ashamed to say that it was my first visit in fourteen years as a resident of The Best Hometown In America. And boy do I feel silly to have waited this long. And just on the outside chance that there are one or two others who’ve never experienced it, I thought I would share my thoughts.
It is truly amazing to walk through the buildings and see America as it was. On my whirlwind tour of frontier days I sampled some rhubarb wine at the still (shades of The Baldwin Sisters and The Recipe); engaged in gambling at the saloon; visited the room above the saloon (ahem)…and then went to jail.
I kinda feel bad because while I was in the jailhouse, I spent a good while chatting with the Sheriff about the history of Dobby’s Frontier Town…and I think I saw someone bringing one of the prisoners a cake with a file in it.
Okay, maybe I didn’t see that–but the amazing thing about Dobby’s Frontier Town is the way it draws you into an era. And here’s how they do it: there are no velvet ropes. There are no big glass walls. You can touch, sit, and fiddle with everything to your heart’s content. I think this is why every kid I saw there was having such a great time. Whether they realize it or not, they are enjoying an interactive experience (no screen required). And as a 40-year-old with an overactive imagination, I must confess to acting kind of like a big kid myself.

jasonatdobbys — Publicity still from my upcoming History Channel miniseries, “Pioneer Doofus.” (photo by Steven Crabb)

Another thought came to me as I lingered on ancient displays and old wanted posters– I believe that there are a lot of people who are interested in U.S, history but would never consider themselves a “history buff”. Example: is your TiVo is loaded with episodes of “Pawn Stars”, “Antiques Roadshow”, “Storage Wars” or any of the other TV shows that hang on the concept of “Look at this old thing”?
From one fan to another: you have got to see Dobby’s Frontier Town. A 1950s Pepsi-Cola cooler, an ancient linotype machine, old spice tins and about a thousand and one other amazing relics…and you can look as long as you want without hitting the “pause” button.
Did I mention a 1950s Pepsi-Cola cooler? It resides in one of the two buildings that, although existing outside the “frontier” timeline, will be especially appealing to Alliance baby boomers. I’ve heard the stories about Rex’s Hamburgers and the Kandy Snap…and they are now reborn at Dobby’s.
If this sounds like a whole lot of fun…it is. And it’s free. And they’re there every day. I know I’ll be back to Dobby’s Frontier Town a heckuva lot sooner than another fourteen years.
For one thing, I forgot to bring a handful of nickels on my first visit to spend on taffy and Tootsie Rolls at the Kandy Snap.

DAWES CO. GRAND JURY RULES IN CRAWFORD AREA SUICIDE

Posted on September 18, 2012November 6, 2012

A Dawes County grand jury has determined that a Minatare man committed suicide after an incident with police near Crawford in late June, and that law enforcement did no wrong in the incident.

Dawes County Attorney Vance Haug says the grand jury into the death of 40-year old Chad Sorensen met last Thursday in Chadron and returned a finding of No True Bill.

Nebraska law requires a grand jury to be convened whenever anyone dies in custody or while being apprehended, but the proceedings and testimony presented to the grand jury remain sealed.

The initial investigation into Sorensen’s death found that he’d brandished a pistol at Dawes County Sheriff deputies in downtown Crawford just after 11:00 pm on June 26th. The city contracts with the county for law enforcement services.

Sorensen then led officers on a roughly 15-minute, low-speed pursuit around 35 mph before stopping in the southbound lane of Highway 2/71 approximately two miles south of Crawford.

Deputies, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Chadron Police Department set up a perimeter around the vehicle and attempted to make contact with Sorensen.

After getting no response, officers protected by a tactical shield approached the vehicle and found Sorensen dead of what was later determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.