The Courthouse

Across the United States the county courthouse located on the town square has been an historic landmark both revered and reviled.  These structures have been one of the most identifiable features of rural America.  Many of them have disappeared – destroyed for being outdated and not easily converted into our modern day world.  Some of them, with their unique architecture, have been renovated and preserved.  Citizens often have been vehement in their disagreement as to whether or not to preserve or replace these courthouses.

I, the author, grew up in a rural Nebraska town where such a structure once graced the town square and worked  summers  in that particular courthouse.

This book is a fictionalized version of what happened to one of these courthouses. The locale for the story line is such a rural Nebraska town. In no way do the characters and events relate to any real persons or true incidents.

The story has intrigue, bribery and humor.  Meet some of the characters.  There is Ned, the blustery retired farmer whose life has become the courthouse; add Coonie and his coonhound Tracker.  There is Harvey Morgan, the banker, as well as County Commissioner Ben Poole.  Let’s not forget Maudie Phillips who has a problem with her Pontiac.

Betty Dunn, a long time journalist, began her career as a reporter in her hometown of York, Nebraska, followed by writing for several daily Nebraska newspapers including Scottsbluff, North Platte and Lincoln, as well as Columbus, Ohio.  Her freelance work has appeared in many national publications.  She presently lives on a ranch outside of Navasota, Texas with her retired engineer husband.   She has three sons, and three grandchildren.

Dunn’s previous books include the recently published, In The Shadow of the Bluff, a novel pertaining to migrant field workers in the Platte River Valley in Western Nebraska; Ju-Ju Swallowed a Penny, described by her as a socio-economic study and memoir of her Nebraska childhood; and Legends Lost, a collection of little known or forgotten U. S. historical facts and anecdotes.