Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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For many communities in western Nebraska, the Fourth of July was celebrated without fireworks. While much of the state marked America's 250th anniversary with colorful displays, many western communities went without the fanfare. Amid rising wildfire activity and worsening drought conditions, state and local officials chose caution over celebration. Communities that have recently been impacted by wildfires, including Alliance, Chadron and Crawford, voted to ban fireworks. Box Butte, Dawes and Kim...
For Kaylee Thiele, the title of Miss Clearwater Rodeo was never about wearing the crown, it was about representing the people who inspired her love of rodeo. As her reign comes to a close, she credits her community and father for helping shape her journey. A Clearwater native, Thiele grew up around Clearwater's Big Rodeo. "I've been involved in it for as long as I remember. Whether I was hauling hay or helping carry flags, I've been a part of the organization for a long time," she noted. Her lov...
You've heard of "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens, but have you heard of A Tale of Three Clearwaters? The communities of Clearwater, Minnesota; Clearwater, Kansas; and Clearwater, Nebraska, all share a name - as well as a love for rodeo. The Silver Bullet Saddle Club hosts an annual rodeo located between Clearwater, Minnesota, St. Cloud, and the Twin Cities. In an interview, Kari Wrobel, secretary of the club, said, "We were established in 1979 as a saddle club and started putting on...
Clearwater is a small village of a few hundred people, boasting no Dollar General -a true Midwest feat -but filled with hearts of gold. Every year, the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce organizes the best weekend in June, three days of fun-filled action. For 58 years, Clearwater's Big Rodeo has brought some of the best contestants, bullfighters, and fans around. Although small, the village is mighty and unites to put on a great weekend. A question often asked is, "Why Clearwater's Big Rodeo?"...
Bayker Blankenship is hitting new highs and signing record deals, all while still being a young adult. At 20 years old, Livingston, Tennessee, native Blankenship went viral on social media with his song "Maxed Out." Blankenship will perform Saturday, June 28, at 8:45 p.m., on Clearwater's Main Street. In a short period, his viral tune was all over the music world and had more than 100 stitches on TikTok. This success led the artist to sign with Santa Anna Label Group, an accomplishment for such...
A Seattle-based bicycle vacation company, with eight cyclists in tow, stopped in Clearwater recently. On June 12, Bubba's Pampered Pedalers pulled into Clearwater, giving cyclists a chance to rest and have refreshments. The group's journey began June 9 in Valentine, and they were set to reach Norfolk by Friday, June 13. After pedaling the day's route, Bubba's Pampered Pedalers employees shuttle cyclists to a local hotel. Lodging and meals are included in the package. According to one of the...
Growing up in a small town in Georgia, Noah Hicks lives his music life as his most authentic self. From small gigs to working with top artists in the industry, he never forgets the farm he grew up on. Hicks was raised on a small chicken farming operation in Carrollton, Georgia. He was always playing guitar and music became a big influence in his life. In an interview in late May, he told SAM, "The dream really started when I had a friend named Reed Morris who pushed me to start singing. We were...
Nebraska native Luke Mills has been involved in the music industry for a quarter of a century. Since 1999, Mills has performed across the United States, with multiple songs becoming hits. He has toured with some of the biggest names in the industry but always stays true to his unique performing style. Mills was born and raised in Holdrege, a city with fewer than 10,000 people. While most artists hail from larger areas, such as Nashville or New York, Mills spent his life in the small Nebraska...
Country music artist Tim Zach never imagined he would one day be sharing the stage with the greatest musicians in the industry. A Wisconsin native, Zach went to college to study policing science with the aspiration to become a police officer. However, he soon realized law enforcement was not for him so he made the move to retail sales. He worked in retail for another decade and didn't get his break until he was in his 30s, when he was named the "Best New Country Act in Nebraska." Years later, Za...
Not many students can say that their parents are attending college at the same time they are, and even fewer can say all three are attending the same college. My unique journey started when my father, mother, and I all decided to attend Wayne State College this fall. Three Wildcats is much better than only one. Our Wayne State journey started when my father, Brian, decided to go back to college in August 2019 after his company went through a merger. Job insecurity was a risk and he wanted to...
Holt County Ag Society has announced its 2023 4-H and fair schedule. Events will begin Saturday, Aug. 5 with 4-H shooting sports action and end Saturday, Aug. 12, at the fairgrounds in Chambers. 4-H shooting sports participants will register Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., with competition in trap, .22, small bore pistol and muzzle loading scheduled to start at 9. On Sunday, shooting sports participants will compete for bragging rights and ribbons in BB gun, air rifle, air pistol and archery, at...
"Mom, Zach ruined one of my Barbies again! Mom, Emma ripped my Barbie's hair out." These sayings were common occurrences of mine, as a middle child, meaning my Barbie's went through the trenches. Missing hair, colored faces, torn clothes; all of these items were normal to see on my beloved dolls. For all who have had to face destroyed toys, we can happily celebrate Barbie-In-A-Blender Day. This holiday, celebrated July 27, was started by Freeculture.org to show support for photographer and...
Apple and Android recently launched a new feature on their platforms, hoping to ensure the safety of users. The update allows for individuals to make emergency calls when in a tricky situation, a crash, or, on IOS, when cell service is unavailable. Although the feature seems great, it has caused major problems for emergency services receiving the calls. On Apple's IOS platform, users can make a call with SOS. This will immediately call the local emergency number and share the location with the...
Almost four decades ago, two coaches - one from the east coast, the other from the land of the Cornhuskers - formed an alliance. Maine and Nebraska would become as thick as thieves. Despite the large differences between the two states, a friendship was pinned down and has lasted for years. Lincoln Southeast wrestling coach, Mick Pierce, and Maine's, Wally LaFountain, a wrestling official from Maine, met in the 80s during a wrestling trip to Europe, according to current Maine coach Brian Cote....
The Summerland Public Schools Board of Education discussed lawn care, board policy and tech upgrades at its June 13 meeting. During public participation, the board learned more details about the pep rally honoring the Summerland SkillsUSA national qualifiers, sponsored by the “Summerland Advocate-Messenger.” Superintendent Kyle Finke outlined mower equipment available from Lazy T, with board members receiving information on lawn mowers in a range of prices. AKRS has also been contacted to give m...
Crowded hallways, cramped classrooms, chaotic assemblies. Many students face these battles every time they walk into the place they call school. No matter the personal struggles students face at home, they must walk into school the next morning with a smile on their face and deal with anxieties of everyday life. Mike Donahue, a motivational speaker, visited Summerland Public School, Jan. 23, to share his insights with students, speak on the topic of mental health awareness and address struggles...
From a young age, every student dreams of the day he or she will graduate. They can't wait to meet the day that all the hard work, tears and challenging tests and homework assignments lead to. For the Summerland Class of 2023, that day is approaching faster than they know. Members of the senior class want to unite together and make lasting memories before they go their separate ways for postsecondary education. Summerland senior, Olga Mendoza, came up with the idea for a senior spotlight...
A large population of women have grown up with opportunities to compete in sports. Others, however, haven't had the same luck. Moms, aunts, cousins and grandmas faced struggles of not being given rights because of their gender. Up until 1972, women were discriminated against; but this changed for good when Sen. Birch Bayh pushed for and President Nixon signed Title IX into law, preventing discrimination based on sex, giving women the right to participate in sports at the high school and collegia...
Aloha. A luau is in the air at this year’s 2022 Holt County Fair, which begins Saturday, Aug. 6 and continues through the Aug. 13. Directors and members are preparing for a fair bigger and better than any year before. A varied schedule of activities is planned for this year’s festivities, with many new events special to this year. Several prefair events will kick off the 2022 Holt County Fair. Saturday, August 6 Registration opens for 4-H shooting events at 8 a.m. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., .22...
Ewing's newest business is owned by 2021 Summerland School graduate Anthony Umphress. A Ewing native, Umphress was inspired to open his business - Tony's Tires - after working for Connot Tire Services in O'Neill for a year. Although he loved what he did, the idea of working for himself, instead of a boss, began to sound like a million-dollar idea. Although the endeavor was Umphress's idea, his father, Jake, inspired him to enter the business world. Jake owns a trucking company, Umphress...
NFPW Communicator of Achievement director Karen Stensrud and NPW COA director Ruth Brown contributed to this article. LuAnn Schindler of Clearwater received the 2022 Communicator of Achievement Award from the National Federation of Press Women. This prestigious award has been given for 65 years. Schindler received the honor during a celebration at the organization's annual conference, held June 23 to 25, in Fargo, North Dakota. Now in its 85th year, NFPW is a nationwide organization of... Full story
As summer days get hotter, more and more kids are leaning toward public pools to cool off. In our area, The Orchard Swimming Pool is one of the options to stay cool. Erin Schwager, manager of the pool, said the staff and village officials weren't even sure if the pool was going to open this year. "We didn't have many returning staff members, so we didn't have much experience coming into this. You have to be at least 15 to lifeguard and it was hard to find high school kids that wanted to be...
Nearly a year after many 4-H youths were not able to compete in event due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Holt County Fair is returning with a bigger and better schedule, according to fair officials. Fair events will begin Saturday. Saturday, August 7 4-H shooting sports events will begin, with competition in 22, trap, smallbore, pistol and muzzle loading slated to take place. The competition will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with registration scheduled for 8 a.m. Sunday, August 8 A second day of...
Like most 15 year olds, Julie Olivan looks forward to getting a learner's permit and starting her sophomore year in a new school. Unlike her classmates, Olivan's 15th birthday celebration was a rite of passage - a celebration of traditions and family bonds, honoring the Clearwater resident's path to adulthood. On July 10, Olivan dressed in a strapless, sequined pink gown and carried a bouquet of pink roses trimmed with silver ribbon and knelt before a priest, who blessed items from her...
Most individuals have heard about service dogs that help individuals with physical or mental disabilities. But, have you ever heard of comfort dogs? Unlike service dogs, comfort dogs are trained to serve the needs of multiple people, not just one. They travel across different states and provide comfort to those who have been through tough situations, are terminally ill, have never seen a dog in real life or even just come to libraries and teach others about comfort dogs. On July 23, Katie Comfor...
