Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1879
The Summerland school board unanimously approved a series of engineering changes July 1 that will reduce the cost of the district's wastewater lagoon replacement project by about $74,458 without compromising the system's long-term performance. Board members approved the project during a July 1 special meeting. Savings come primarily from redesigning the lift station, delaying construction of a second lagoon cell until it's needed, and simplifying pump controls after the engineer determined the...
After exiting an executive session, Ewing trustees voted Monday to purchase the former Ewing School playground, known as Tigerland, for $15,000. The purchase includes the area marked by white flags, with the village also covering surveying and legal costs. Tigerland has served local children since 2008, when it was installed at Ewing Public Schools. Created through fundraising efforts and grant writing spearheaded by Becky Kaczor, the orange-and-black playground features slides, climbing equipme...
Ewing Trustees finalized new playground equipment plans at Schmidt Park, located along Highway 275. After narrowing choices to two options last month, and asking for public input online, trustees approved the purchase of option two from Cunningham Recreation. The purchase price is $135,944.97, which includes installation fees. Trustee Kane Fry said the village is guaranteed one grant for the new equipment, which will cut between 40 to 50% from the final cost. Village Clerk Jennifer Ramold...
It's a busy month, personally and professionally. I have a "milestone" birthday, although it's just another trip around the sun. Daughter Lacey and her husband, Ross, will soon welcome a new family member. We'll make the trek to their home for a diaper shower. I have so many gift ideas, but Scott keeps telling me I need to spread them out over the first year instead of dropping a mammoth package on the doorstep. We'll see about that. SAM will begin its eighth year in business mid-month. (Oh gosh...
Get a jump start on this weekend's plans by celebrating the nation's 250th birthday in Ewing. Members of the Ewing Young Members Club have planned a July 3 community get-together that will feature fun for all ages. All events will be held at Schmidt Park, along US Highway 275 in Ewing. Registration for a cornhole tournament will begin at 5 p.m. Kids won't want to miss time jumping on inflatables. They will be in operation from 6 to 9 p.m. Kiddie train rides will also be available. EYMC members...
Dori Hollenbeck proved why she's the queen of barrel racing after completing a 15.92 run during Saturday's performance at Clearwater's Big Rodeo. The Winner, South Dakota, resident took home $1,365.73 for her efforts. Hollenbeck and fellow performers in all events pocketed more than $30,000 in prize money from the three-day event sponsored by the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce. Kyle Nall-Sillivan of St. Paul finished second in barrels, running 16.14. She received $1,130.26. Dianne Axman of Loup...
A year ago, I wrote about why the July 4 holiday is one of my favorite times of the year. A week later, a reader told me I obviously didn't believe in freedom and America and democracy because of an immigration column printed on the same editorial page as my Fourth favorites. Opinions on the editorial page vary, as they should, representing individuals from all walks of life. The person questioning my choices didn't bother to ask if I agreed with the column. Instead, I was labeled a liberal...
Drivers did a double take. Some slowed down. Others smiled, pointed or reached for their phones. Parked beside a gas pump in Clearwater on June 19 sat what appeared to be a giant green pear on wheels. It wasn't a parade float or an art display. It was Andrew Glubbey's ride to Seattle. The Florida resident has traded the comforts of a car for a one-of-a-kind scooter wrapped inside a pear-shaped shell he built himself, traveling roughly 250 miles a day on a journey that has already carried him...
Despite hearing research supporting early childhood education programs and discussing ways to identify learning and behavioral needs earlier, Summerland Board of Education members voted 6-0 on June 17 not to accept a $50,000 Nebraska Department of Education grant that would have expanded preschool services to three-year-olds. The board spent significant time discussing the proposal before board member Jeremy Wagner made a motion to accept the grant. The motion ultimately failed on a 6-0 vote,...
When Tyler Braden takes the stage on Main Street during Clearwater's Big Rodeo on Saturday night, concertgoers can expect more than just a string of country hits. They can expect the same energy, emotion and connection that have helped propel the former firefighter from playing local shows to becoming one of country music's rising stars. Braden will headline the annual Clearwater's Big Rodeo concert on June 27, bringing a performance he describes as high-energy, personal and designed to take...
Following a public hearing June 8, the Orchard Village Board upheld a determination that multiple structures on property owned by Earleen Jensen are dangerous buildings and must be demolished and removed. During the hearing, Earleen Jensen and Justin Jensen outlined efforts they have made to repair and secure the buildings. Justin Jensen told the board work has been completed on a weigh room portion and cleanup efforts have taken and will continue to take place between structures on the...
Garbage prices for Village of Clearwater residents will see a 75-cent increase, retroactive to June 1. During the June 13 monthly meeting, trustees learned Bud’s Sanitary Service notified Village Clerk Angie Hupp about a “temporary 75-cent per gallon fuel surcharge.” “We don’t have an amount when it will go away. She said until diesel is at least under $4 a gallon,” Hupp said. A week later, Bud’s management personnel asked if the village had renewed its contract with the company. It expired in...
Finally got around to eating the fortune cookie from my Saturday trip to Hastings. This little gem was inside: You are admired as a leader in your community. Aww, thanks, Panda Express. In reality, I’m just a small-town girl at heart, who grew up watching her parents volunteer for everything. Pitching in, helping out was, and is, expected. It’s part of who I am, like the other volunteers and leaders in our communities. Drive through any small town on a Saturday morning and pay attention. Som...
When Brett Kaczor walked into the Ewing football program as a freshman, longtime Ewing coach Ed Johnson didn't need much time to recognize what he had. "We (Coach Brock Eichelberger and I) made a decision to bring him right up right away," Johnson recalled. "We thought he was ready, and we used him right away and didn't waste any time at all. He proved us right, I guess." Nearly two decades later, that decision looks even more obvious. On June 20, Kaczor was inducted into the Nebraska Eight-Man...
Clearwater Chamber of Commerce's rodeo committee is busy putting the final touches on the group's 59th annual rodeo, which begins June 26 and continues through June 28 at Gene Snodgrass Arena located along West US Highway 275 in Clearwater. Chamber President Curt Thiele said planning for the 2026 event began last summer, and chamber members continue to make improvements to the three-day show. "We're a fan-friendly and family-friendly rodeo," Thiele said. A fun addition to this year's rodeo is...
I've often said that rural people measure time differently. We don't always go by clocks. We go by seasons, weather, and whatever is happening outside the kitchen window. Summer, especially, has its own calendar. The day starts when the sun peeks over the trees and ends when the last streak of pink disappears from the western sky. Lunch isn't necessarily at noon. It's whenever you finish what you're doing. And evening plans are always subject to change depending on whether a thunderstorm is...
Residents urged the Ewing Village Board of Trustees on Monday to reconsider negotiations for the former Tigerland/school playground property, arguing the community could benefit from maintaining both the school playground and planned improvements at Schmidt Park. The discussion centered on the former Ewing Elementary School property, where the Tigerland playground has served local children since 2008. Created through fundraising efforts and grant writing spearheaded by Becky Kaczor, Tigerland...
summerlandadvocate.com Holt County's history came to life, Saturday, as the historical society hosted a caravan tour in towns along the US 275/20 corridor. Ewing historian Butch Rotherham shared yarns about days gone by, including stories about the Savidge Brothers, the famous race horse, Shade On, the ElDorado Theater, as well as other main street businesses. Memorabilia, ranging from athletic programs to cheerleading uniforms, photos, and full-page advertisements from The Ewing Advocate filled...
Summerland Public School board members will tackle several facility, staffing and policy matters when they meet Wednesday, June 17, for their regular monthly meeting. Among the most significant items on the agenda is consideration of the Nebraska Department of Education Preschool Expansion Grant. Board members are scheduled to discuss the opportunity and determine whether to move forward with the grant application. While details of the proposal have not yet been made public, the grant could...
During Saturday's Holt County Historical Society Caravan Tour, I was reminded that history isn't just found in textbooks or archives. Sometimes it's tucked inside a faded photograph, an old movie ticket, or a well-worn letterman's sweater hanging on a display wall. The tour made several stops throughout the county, each sharing stories that helped shape the communities we know today. In Ewing, local historian Butch Rotherham welcomed a large group of visitors and shared stories about the village...
Every year about this time, I start making grand plans. This is going to be the summer I get things done. I'm going to organize closets. Pull weeds before they become a crop. Hose off the deck. Clean the garage. Maybe even tackle those projects that have been sitting on my to-do list so long they've become family heirlooms. The motivation arrives right on schedule, usually sometime in May when the first warm breeze blows through and the trees start leafing out. By June, however, that motivation...
A couple known for their generosity as business owners in the Ewing community are the newest members of the village's Hall of Fame. Family of the late Ralph and Hazel Munn accepted the award from village chairman, Jeremy Tuttle, on Sunday at the Ewing FunFest parade. Ralph grew up about 100 miles southwest of Chicago in Streater, Illinois. His siblings included Bernadine, William, Eileen, Verle, and Jack. William Senior and Lucy Anne were his parents. Following high school, he moved to...
Summerland Elementary students spent the final weeks of the school year working toward a memorable reward, and on May 19, their efforts paid off as approximately 200 students gathered outside to watch Principal Cathy Cooper get duct-taped to a school bus. The school's "Level-Up Challenge," created by the Multi-Tiered System of Supports team, was designed to keep students engaged and focused on positive behavior during the final three weeks of school. "This was the culmination of our last three...
The open road has long connected Holt County’s communities, carrying generations of families, stories and traditions across the Highway 20-275 corridor. On Saturday, June 6, residents will have the chance to travel those same roads while taking a closer look at the places and people who helped shape the county’s past. As part of Holt County’s 150th birthday celebration, the Holt County Historical Society will host a Historical Caravan Tour, a daylong journey through five communities that highl...
It’s late Monday evening, and rain is spilling from the heavens, with a few pieces of hail thrown in for good measure. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning and, judging by the lake flowing down our sidewalk, it’s easy to see why. Last week’s drought monitor, released May 21 by the University of Nebraska, showed approximately two-thirds of the state in severe to extreme drought. Across eastern Nebraska, most counties ranged from abnormally dry to severe, with only the s...
