Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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A longtime Orchard staple flipped its sign back on Jan. 12, and it's serving up more than just seconds. The Lunch Box, now owned by Monte Shabram and family of Orchard, is dishing out homecooked meals, early-morning breakfasts and a daily buffet built to satisfy even the heartiest appetites. Before reclaiming its Lunch Box name, the cafe operated as Sugarz. Then-owner Matt Wood was ready to step away from the restaurant business and planned to close if a buyer didn't step forward. "We got wind...
Questions recently circulating on Facebook about Orchard's water quality prompted discussion at the Feb. 9 Orchard Village Board meeting, according to Village Chairman Stephanie Cleveland. "During our board meeting last night, it was brought to our attention that there have been some questions circulating on Facebook regarding the water in Orchard," Cleveland said in a statement released on social media. "After discussing the matter, the village board would like to clarify some issues."...
Informal discussion on whether Clearwater, Ewing and Orchard could share a police officer took place Feb. 16, when representatives from each village's board of trustees met at Ewing City Hall. John Shaver currently fills the police chief position in Ewing. He said the biggest benefit of a co-op is that will be customized for the communities. "If there's an issue at this time of the day, patrolling will be easy," he said. According to Shaver, police departments can focus more in certain areas. "T...
After reviewing three bids submitted for a 7,200 square-foot pre-engineered metal shop, Holt County Supervisors, on Friday, approved a $1,798,965 bid submitted by Green Gable Contracting for a new District 6 shop, which will be located at 46748 882nd Road in Stuart. The bid also included a $25 per cubic yard cost for removal of soil and materials. The Ft. Calhoun-based business was recommended by officials from JEO Consulting, who are overseeing the project. A start date has not been set, but...
The Holt County Sheriff's Office responded to a single-vehicle accident, four miles north of O'Neill, on Feb. 24. Michael Simon was driving a gray 2010 Ford Focus SE, southbound on US 281. He became dizzy and blacked out. The vehicle left the road to the west side, continuing south, and impacting the north side of an embankment. The vehicle continued south over the roadway at 877 Avenue, and struck the south side of the ditch. The Ford Focus went through the fenced and flipped on its top. O'Neill Fire and Rescue responded to the scene to...
Summerland junior high quiz bowl team members Emorie Bearinger Callum Whiting, Isabella Hobbs, Raeley Meyer, Breeya Bergman and Mason McKillip prepare for a match against Christ Lutheran at the ESU 8 Quiz Bowl. The competition was held Feb. 24 in Neligh. The Bobcats finished 0-2-1 in the preliminary rounds, falling to Christ Lutheran and O'Neill. The team tied with Osmond....
Losing an extra hour of sleep may not be the worst thing that could happen when you "spring forward" at the start of daylight saving time. According to the American Heart Association, the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, scientific researchers have noticed a marked increase in heart attacks and strokes in the days following this time change each year. This year, daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 8. Daylight saving time is the practice o...
Funeral services for Elsie A. Wolfe, 98, of Clearwater were held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 2, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Clearwater. Pastor Ryan Janke officiated. Burial was at Clearwater Cemetery. Elsie died on Feb. 23, 2026, at The Meadows in Norfolk. Snider Memorial Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Condolences may be directed to the family at www.snidermemorial.com. ~~~~~ Elsie Anna Wolfe was born on March 14, 1927, to Henry and Martha (Bloebaum) Lange at Ewing. She attended...
Holt County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to a two-vehicle collision, Feb. 24, between 877 and 878 Roads, on Highway 281 north of O’Neill. At approximately 4:53 p.m., a 2017 Ford F150, driven by Kyle Sobotka, was southbound on Highway 281. Daniel Nickeson was driving a 2014 Chrysler 200 LX, headed north on Highway 281. Nickeson crossed the center line, entering the southbound lane. Sobotka attempted to avoid the oncoming vehicle but was unable to avoid a collision. Sobotka’s vehiclecame to rest on the shoulder of the southbound lane....
For nearly a month, I’ve had a nagging cough, drippy nose, and an overall feeling of malaise. During that time, I debated whether to drive myself to the emergency room in the middle of the night due to a high fever (Scott wouldn’t wake up, I tried), experienced muscle pain in the ribs from excessive coughing, and shuddered every time my ears popped. For relief, I tried a shot or two of blackberry brandy, antibiotics, over-the-counter meds and homemade concoctions. While some worked better tha...
Thursday, Feb. 20 marked the last day for senators and committees to designate their priority bills for the year. A total of 107 bills and resolutions were prioritized. With the Unicameral now in the latter half of this short 60-day legislative session, the majority of the bills that will be debated from this point on will be priority bills and the budget. My personal priority for this session is LR283CA. Currently, the Nebraska Constitution specifies that every citizen of the United States shal...
There are ways to change state policies, and there are other ways to change state policies. Which brings us to the "death by a thousand cuts" of the Nebraska Environmental Trust. The Trust was created back in 1992, when Nebraska voters decided to join a growing number of states launched state lotteries to generate extra revenue. (That seems like centuries ago, before casinos were in every big city, and before you could lose a paycheck in an afternoon at a "skill game" in your local tavern. It wa...
In their own words, former Tyson workers and community members describe the fallout after their town was rocked by one of Nebraska's biggest-ever layoffs When the Tyson Foods plant in Lexington laid off more than 3,000 employees in January, it wiped out jobs for nearly half the town's work force and left no aspect of life untouched. Already, the loss of the plant has forced families to leave town in search of work elsewhere. Dozens of students have left the school system. Businesses have...
Regenerative agriculture is gaining real momentum in Nebraska as producers search for ways to stay profitable in a very tough economic environment. Farmers are facing a significant financial squeeze in 2025–2026, driven by high production costs, low commodity prices, and rising debt. At the same time, a growing number of ag producers and rural communities are recognizing another urgent priority: protecting the soil and water beneath our feet. Across the state, what was once considered a niche i...
During the Feb. 18 Summerland Board of Education meeting, third-grade instructor Karley Jackson submitted her resignation effective at the end of the current school year. Jackson started her teaching career at Orchard in 2014 and has always taught third grade. In her resignation letter, Jackson thanked administrators and fellow staff members for their guidance and support. She has accepted a position at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge. Board member Chelsi McLain made the motion to accept Jackson's...
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer in both men and women and is very preventable. The most common form of colorectal cancer starts out as small abnormal growths, called polyps, that can grow and mutate over time to transform into cancer. If these polyps are removed when they are small, they never get the chance to evolve into cancer. These polyps grow slowly so screening doesn't need to be an annual event. Intervals depend on several...
An explosive second quarter from Crofton led to Summerland's elimination from subdistrict action on Feb. 25. The Warriors poured in 22 second-quarter points to defeat the Bobcats, 69-34, in a game played at Crofton. Only two points separated the teams at the end of the first quarter, but Crofton doubled up scoring efforts in the second and third quarters to push ahead. The Bobcats could only muster a single point in the final stanza. Ryan Rifer led the team with nine points. Preston Watson...
A third phone system upgrade was presented to the Antelope County Commissioners yesterday. A representative from Applied Connective of Albion gave a presentation to the ACC for two different options for phone upgrades. One consisted of a web-based system and the other a more traditional “in-house” system. The ACC looked the options over, considering service, pricing, and reliability. At next week’s meeting, county clerk Lisa Payne will be requesting all three companies that made upgrade proposals (Stealth Broadband, Great Plains Commu...
The Bobcat high school quiz bowl team finished second at the ESU 8 Quiz Bowl, held Feb. 25 in Neligh. Team members include Alan Arroyo, Maverick Bradley, Jack Heim, Alec Kester Alvie Bearinger Beau Ahlers, Parker McKillip and Shane Kindred. In the preliminary rounds, Summerland defeated Elkhorn Valley, Chambers and Norfolk. They faced O'Neill in the championship match, and fell to the Eagles, 75-40. Andrew Steskal coaches the team....
During a Feb. 9 Antelope County District Court hearing covering pretrial motions in a case involving Thomas Warnke, 22, of Beatrice, the Honorable Michael Long was notified a plea agreement, with amended information, was reached. Earlier that morning, Antelope County Attorney Joseph Smith requested to consolidate two cases against Warnke for the purpose of the hearing. Long granted the motion. Defense attorney Dustin Garrison made a motion to sequester witnesses. Smith did not object but requested the two lead witnesses remain in the courtroom....
LOCAL EXCHANGE AND NTAP INFORMATION Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company offers local exchange telecommunications service to all consumers in its service area. Single Party Residence Service $20.00/month Single Party Business Service $27.50/month This service provides subscribing customers with: • Voice grade access to the public switched network or its functional equivalent • Minutes of use for local service provided at no additional charge to end users • Access to emergency 911 and enhanced 911 servi...
Several Bobcat basketball players were named to the GNAC All-Conference and Honorable Mention teams. Ryan Rifer and Kanyon Allemang were named to the boys and girls teams, respectively. Receiving honorable mention on the boys squad was Ryder Hemenway. Belle Anson and Jenna Funk landed on the honorable mention list for the girls team....
A continuance was granted in a case involving 63-year-old Denise Blevins of Norfolk, during a Feb. 11 Antelope District Court session. She is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance, a Class IV felony. Martin Klein, representing Blevins, made the request to the Honorable Mark Johnson. Antelope County Attorney Joe Smith did not object and Johnson granted the motion. The judge continued bond at $1,500 personal recognize, with all previously ordered conditions still in...
CALL ORDER: 300 CONTRACT ID: 32291 FEDERAL PROJECT NO. NH-20-5(113) LOCATION: US-20, ORCHARD EAST & WEST IN COUNTIES: HOLT, ANTELOPE The Nebraska Department of Transportation will receive sealed bids in Room 109 of the Central Office Building at 1500 Nebraska Parkway in Lincoln, until 1:30 p.m., on March 12, 2026. At that time the bids will be opened and read. Bids will be opened and the bid totals will be read via Webex. The Webex information will be available on the BidX Letting webpage a minimum of two days prior to the opening, and can be...
CALL ORDER: 800 CONTRACT ID: 81162 STATE PROJECT NO. AFE-H051 LOCATION: DISTRICT 8 - PAINT STRIPING IN COUNTIES: BOYD, BROWN, CHERRY, GARFIELD, HOLT, KEYA PAHA, LOUP, ROCK, WHEELER, BLAINE The Nebraska Department of Transportation will receive sealed bids in Room 109 of the Central Office Building at 1500 Nebraska Parkway in Lincoln, until 1:30 p.m., on March 12, 2026. At that time the bids will be opened and read. Bids will be opened and the bid totals will be read via Webex. The Webex information will be available on the BidX Letting webpage...
