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Articles from the February 13, 2020 edition


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  • Koenig joins the 1,000 point club

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Feb 13, 2020

    For years to come, Ashley Koenig has secured a spot in Ewing and Summerland basketball record books. Koenig needed four points to hit the 1,000 point mark. With 6:13 left in the second quarter of Saturday's Niobrara Valley Conference consolation game, Koenig put back a rebound from a missed Hadley Cheatum shot. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. The Bobcats outlasted a comeback from a scrappy Boyd County team, winning 44-41. Koenig knew she was close to reaching the mark, but didn't feel...

  • Little Texas to headline Ewing Funfest celebration

    Feb 13, 2020

    A popular country-rock band with nearly 30 years of experience wowing crowds will kick it up on Ewing's Main Street, Sunday, May 24. Little Texas will headline a main street concert that will conclude the village's 150th anniversary celebration. Omaha-based Hi-Fi Hangover will open the 8 p.m. concert, with Little Texas playing a 75-minute set at 9 p.m. Hi-Fi Hangover will return to the stage to close the show. Little Texas, part of the young country movement of the early '90s, shook up the...

  • Sales tax increase on Ewing ballot

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Feb 13, 2020

    Ewing voters will determine if a one-half cent sales tax increase earmarked for economic development will be approved. During Monday's board meeting, village trustees approved Resolution 399 and 400, which will place the issue on the ballot. Per Resolution 399, the purpose of the increase is to create an LB 840 fund for economic development. According to Chairman James Ramold, passage of the resolution will "create an economic development plan that will create jobs, generate employment opportuni...

  • Appeal filed with Nebraska Supreme Court

    Sandy Schroth, Editor|Feb 13, 2020

    An Oakdale man has removed his case from the Antelope County court, at least temporarily. Garrett Hill, 23, was scheduled for sentencing on two misdemeanor traffic counts last Wednesday, Feb. 5. He filed documents to appeal his conviction to the Nebraska Supreme Court on Jan. 29, along with several other writs. The Honorable Donna Taylor denied his application to proceed informa pauperis with the appeal, ruling it is procedurally frivolous. She then informed Hill he had 30 days to come up with the $126 filing fee. Hill confirmed it was his...

  • District wrestling begins Friday

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Feb 13, 2020

    A trip to the 2020 Nebraska School Activities Association State Wrestlng Championships will be on the line for Summerland wrestlers when district competition begins Friday, at 3 p.m., in Plainview. Competition will continue Saturday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m. In addition to Summerland, schools participating in the Class D-1 district include Arapahoe, Brady, Burwell, Cambridge, Clarkson-Leigh, Creighton, Elgin Public/Pope John, Elkhorn Valley, Fullerton, Meridian, Neligh-Oakdale, Niobrara/Verdigre,...

  • Mobile food pantry

    Feb 13, 2020

    The mobile food pantry, sponsored by various churches, individuals and businesses in the area, will be dispersing food, Tuesday, Feb. 18, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at the American Legion Club in Neligh. The goal is to provide free food to those whose needs are great and resources are limited without being restricted by income guidelines. Due to liability reasons, recipients will not be allowed in the building until 3 p.m. Individuals are asked to bring their own boxes. Any weather-related changes relating to that day will be announced over local...

  • -Isms

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Feb 13, 2020

    American playwright Arthur Miller wrote, “A good newspaper, I suppose, is a nation talking to itself.” What happens when a newspaper quits talking? One community in Nebraska is discovering the effect of no longer having a local newspaper. When Coleridge residents received the Jan. 1 edition of the Coleridge Blade, a bold hammer headline stretched across the top of the page: Final edition. The paper, published for 131 years, was part of the Northeast Nebraska News Company, which owns new...

  • Number of state senators could increase

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Feb 13, 2020

    Currently, forty-nine state senators serve in the Nebraska Legislature. Under the Nebraska Constitution, this number could be increased to 50 senators, but an even number of senators could result in a vote ending in a tie, requiring the lieutenant governor to cast the deciding vote. Speaker of the Legislature, Sen. Jim Scheer, introduced LR 279, a constitutional amendment authorizing the Legislature to increase the number of state senators up to fifty-five. If LR 279 is passed by the...

  • Out My Kitchen Window

    Bev Wieler, Columnist|Feb 13, 2020

    February 2020 is on the calendar as I look out my kitchen window. There are still red bows and swags of red berries decorating the flower garden. Moving from Christmas to February, we are ready for Valentine's Day. February is one of my favorite months with dashes of pink and red spread around my house and yard and hearts tucked in where I can. As I watched the Super Bowl ad for Google, romance was definitely in the air in the Feb. 2 ad, along with precious memories. During the ad, an elderly...

  • Ewing speech team earns six medals in six events

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Feb 13, 2020

    Ewing speechsters brought home hardware in six events and the varsity team ended seventh of 15 teams at Saturday’s Stuart Speech Invitational. In varsity competition, Katie Hawk and Sidney Stallbaum earned silver in duet acting. Hawk teamed with Skylar Eacker, Liz Nordby, Kyra Nilson and Emily Nordby to earn the silver medal in oral interpretation of drama. Allison Schrunk picked up the bronze medal in informative speaking. Stallbaum ended sixth in persuasive speaking. She was unable to p...

  • Hawk wins local poetry out loud competition

    Feb 13, 2020

    Katie Hawk, a senior at Ewing Public Schools, recently won the school's Poetry Out Loud competition. Ewing Public Schools participates in the program annually. Students memorize two poems and recite them. One judge scores accuracy, while a panel of judges rate each student on physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding and overall performance. In addition to Hawk, Olga Mendoza finished second and Adrienne Parker, third. Other classroom winners...

  • Commissioners ask for revisions to updated pipeline road agreement

    Sandy Schroth, Editor|Feb 13, 2020

    Darrel Timm of Neligh and Julie Krause of Brunswick were appointed to the Antelope County Extension Board by the county commissioners, when the county leaders met last week at the Neligh courthouse. Local extension educator Brittany Spieker proposed the appointments of Timm and Krause to replace Gayle Wortman and Derek Zuhlke, who had each completed two terms on the board. The new board members were affirmed on 4-0 votes of the commissioners. Commissioner Eli Jacob was absent. Spieker also presented the annual extension office report. She...

  • Prom Closet opens Saturday

    Feb 13, 2020

    Members of the Orchard junior class will host a prom closet dress exchange, Saturday, from 1 to 6 p.m., at the Handlebend building in O'Neill. Individuals wanting to sell or donate gently used prom dresses may drop them off at Orchard High School, Clearwater High School, KBRX or Joy Boutique in O'Neill, The Salty Blonde Salon in Atkinson or Antelope County News in Neligh. Individuals who are selling dresses are reminded to fill out a dress card, available at The Prom Closet: Formal Dress...

  • Youth basketball tourney this weekend in Clearwater

    Feb 13, 2020

    Youth basketball teams from the region will descend on Clearwater this weekend for the Bobcats youth basketball tournament. Grades five and six through junior high girls' teams will play Saturday, Feb. 15. Boys' teams for fifth and sixth grade and junior high are slated to compete Sunday, Feb. 16. Tip-off begins at 9 a.m....

  • Powerlifting team finds success at Midland Invite

    Feb 13, 2020

    Twelve Summerland powerlifters traveled to Midland University in Fremont, Feb. 8, for the Midland Warrior High School Powerlifting Invitational. Coach Jeff Shabram said it was a good-sized meet, with 64 lifters competing. "With a lineup of excellent competition from Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa, the Bobcat lifters competed very well and did an excellent job in representing our school and communities," the coach said. Summerland earned top honors in overall boys' team scoring. Columbus...

  • Grebin, Thiele strike gold

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Feb 13, 2020

    Howells-Dodge claimed the team title at the Bobcat Invite Friday. The Jaguars scored 155.5 points to lead the field of 10 teams. West Point-Beemer finished second, with 139 points. North Central ended third, with 128.5 points, while the host team finished fourth with 113. Other schools participating included Elgin Public/Pope John, 61; West Holt, 59; Fullerton, 53; Osmond, 46; Sioux City West, 46 and St. Mary's, 0. Rafe Grebin and Colton Thiele earned gold medals in the 126 and 195 weight...

  • Holt County Judge hears variety of cases

    Sandy Schroth, Editor|Feb 13, 2020

    The Honorable Kale Burdick, in Holt County court last week, sentenced Joshua A. Boettcher, 28, to serve 30 days in the Holt County Jail for a Class 2 misdemeanor count of theft, less than $500. The complaint, filed in June 2019, stated Boettcher took movable property of another between Jan. 9, 2018, and Jan. 9, 2019. Boettcher will serve a 45-day sentence at the same time on a conviction of second-degree forgery, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed Oct. 27, 2018, included in the same complaint. As part of a plea agreement entered in October 2019,...

  • Man caught three times without interlock device sent to jail

    Sandy Schroth, Editor|Feb 13, 2020

    A Neligh man was sent to jail by the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday for repeatedly circumventing an ignition interlock device ordered in a Pierce County sentence for driving under the influence of alcohol. Kasey Swyear, 28, was convicted in three Antelope County cases, after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutor Joe Abler. In the first case, Swyear changed his not guilty pleas to guilty on two counts committed Aug. 24, driving a vehicle without an interlock, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and speeding, 82 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone, an...

  • Bobcats down Boyd County in consolation game

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Feb 13, 2020

    Summerland survived a late rally by Boyd County to earn a hard-fought 44-41 win Saturday in the conference consolation matchup in Atkinson. Ashley Koenig led the Bobcats with 16 points and cemented her name in basketball history as she reached the 1,000 point career mark. Summerland took control in the first quarter, leading 10-1 at the break and maintained a 21-10 lead at the half. In the third quarter, the Lady Cats extended the lead to 30-20, but could never pull away from the Spartans. A pes...

  • Tilden man faces additional charges of child sexual assault

    Feb 13, 2020

    A 78-year-old Tilden man was arrested Saturday, on allegations of sexual contact with five under-aged females. Tilden Police Chief, Robert Peterson, and Officer Randall Arrison, arrested Roger Stuckwisch, 78, at his residence in Tilden. Stuckwisch appeared in Antelope County Court, Feb. 5, for arraignment. Wednesday, he was charged with five counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, Class IB felonies and seven counts of third-degree sexual assault of a child, Class IIIA felonies. A Class 1B felony is punishable by a sentence of 20 years...

  • FFA students compete in livestock judging competition

    Feb 13, 2020

    Members of the Orchard FFA chapter competed in District 4 livestock judging recently. The junior team finished fifth of 16 teams. Levi Cronk finished 13th with 440; Maddy Melcher, 19th, 439; Cassidy Bearinger, 14th, 436; Dillon Moser, 41st, 417; Logan Mueller, 38th, 421 and Ty Rix, 60th, 397. The senior team ended 11th of 15 teams. Competitors included Joseph Ferris, 91st, 328; Collin Mullins, 80th, 421; Gage Switzer, 67th, 452; Taelyn Switzer, 12th, 525 and Kaci Wickersham, 27th,...

  • Teacher negotiations complete for 20-21 term

    Sandy Schroth, Editor|Feb 13, 2020

    Orchard school board members took no official action, other than consent agenda items when they met in the high school business room Wednesday, Feb. 4. Orchard principal Cathy Cooper told board members negotiations with the teachers’ association had been completed, with the 2020-2021 base salary for Summerland teachers set at $35,000. Currently Unified teacher base is $34,700 and Ewing’s is $35,000. Cooper said it would basically be a raise for everybody. “The base went up or the salary schedule percentages increased,” she said. “One item that...

  • Summerland will face North Central in subdistricts

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Feb 13, 2020

    Summerland will enter post-season play as the third seed in the C2-7 subdistrict. On Monday, Feb. 17, Boyd County, the fourth seed, will meet fifth-seeded West Holt at 7 p.m., at O'Neill High School. The winner of that contest will play top-seeded Crofton, Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. Summerland will tipoff against North Central at 7:45. Winners of Tuesday's games will battle for the subdistrict title at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20...