Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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For more decades than most remember, Ewing Summer Funfest has served as the unofficial starting line to summer in Holt County, a weekend where golf carts roll before breakfast and nearly every corner of town hums with activity. This year's celebration, set for May 22-24, once again blends old traditions with new attractions as families, alumni, visitors and longtime residents gather for a community event that has become stitched into the fabric of Ewing summers. Sponsored by the Ewing Young...
Two Summerland track and field athletes will compete in this weekend's 2026 NSAA State Track and Field Championships. The meet will be held at Omaha Burke Stadium, 12200 Burke Boulevard in Omaha. Ryan Rifer and Ethan Kester, both seniors, qualified during the May 14 district meet at Atkinson West Holt. Complete results and photos appear on pages 5 and 6. Rifer will compete in the Class C boys high jump at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 22. He will compete against a field of 17 other competitors....
Voter turnout in last Tuesday's primary election exceeded the statewide average of 27%, according to data from the Nebraska Secretary of State's office. In Antelope County, 1,808 of the county's 4,329 registered voters - or 42% - visited the polls. Approximately 35% of Holt County voters cast ballots. Polling data shows that 285 registered Republicans requested early voting ballots in Holt County, while 45 Democratic voters made the same request. That trend continued in Antelope County, as 92 re...
Summerland elementary students received an extra dose of motivation, Monday, during their weekly 8 a.m. meeting. Elementary guidance counselor Denise Meyer announced the school was the $5,000 national winner of The Kindness Games, hosted by Values in Action. Last year, the school finished third. This year, the community submitted 2,952 acts of kindness witnessed by students, staff and community members. A year ago, 414 acts were recorded. Meyer said the goal is simple: bring awareness to any act...
Northeast Community College recognized the achievements of 992 graduates during its 53rd Annual Commencement Ceremony, on Friday, May 8, at the Cox Activities Center on the Norfolk campus. Area residents receiving degrees included: Aislynn Kester, Clearwater; Associate of Arts degree; Deric Sayers, Orchard, Associate of Arts degree; Autum Pinkerman, Page, Associate of Applied Science degree in early childhood education; Kelsey Schlecht, Clearwater; Associate of Applied Science degree in physical therapist assistant; and Omar Mejia Moncada,...
On May 9, nearly 500 Concordia University, Nebraska undergraduate and graduate students were awarded degrees. The class of 2026 was honored during a commencement ceremony held in the Walz Human Performance Complex. Three local individuals received degrees. Katelyn Greene of Clearwater, earned a Master of Education degree; Trista Hemenway of Clearwater, earned a Bachelor of Science-Education degree; and Erin (Schwager) Manthei of Orchard, earned a Master of Education degree....
Emma Kerkman of Clearwater, NE, was named to the University of Sioux Falls spring 2026 dean's list. Kerkman majors in psychology. Kerkman was among 534 students named to the spring 2026 dean's list. To qualify, students must be enrolled in at least 12 semester hours and earn a term grade-point average of 3.5 or greater on a 4.0 scale....
Todd D. Drury 1962 - 2026 Funeral services for Todd D. Drury, 64, of Clearwater, were Monday May 18, at Full Gospel Church in Ewing. Pastor Mark Hoffman officiated. Burial was in Orchard Hill Cemetery in Orchard. Todd died on May 12, 2026, in Omaha. Condolences may be directed to the family at http://www.snidermemorial.com. ~~~~~ Todd Duane Drury was born in Gregory, South Dakota, on March 17, 1962. He was the oldest son of Keith and Dorthea (Anderson) Drury. Todd lived in Jamison, Nebraska,... Full story
EJ "Hap" Opp 1944 - 2026 EJ “Hap” Opp, formerly of Wood River, died on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Services will be held at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island at 10 a.m., on Saturday, May 30, with Derek Apfel officiating. Inurnment and military honors to follow at the Wood River Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 29, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. ~~~~~ EJ was born to Frederick (Fritz) and Hazel (Lilienthal) Opp on Nov. 8, 1944, in Wood River. He received his edu... Full story
SUBMITTED ARTICLE Ryan Gallaher, physical therapist/certified athletic trainer, is the 2026 Caring Kind Award Winner of Antelope Memorial Hospital. He was recognized for this award on Tuesday, May 12, during National Hospital Week. Each year, the Nebraska Hospital Association honors employees from hospitals across the state as "Caring Kind" employees. The honored employee must exemplify the spirit of someone who gives that something special to others. Ryan began providing physical therapy...
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln conferred a record 3,884 degrees during commencement exercises May 8-9 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The 3,761 graduates - also a record - are from 61 countries; 46 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico; and 230-plus Nebraska communities. DeMoine Adams, motivational speaker and former Husker football student-athlete, delivered the keynote address, "The Power of People," during the morning undergraduate ceremony. Mason Hoke, of Orchard, graduated from the College of Education and Human Services. He r...
Every summer in rural America begins the same way: somebody unfolds a lawn chair. Not because they particularly want to sit in the heat for six hours. Not because the food lines are short. Not because mosquitoes have suddenly become enjoyable. They show up because that’s what small towns do. This weekend begins another season of community celebrations across the Summerland area, and before long our calendars will blur into parades, rodeos, ballgames, barbecue smoke, gravel parking lots and l...
Every so often, you’re reminded that people are generally good. And, you get some idea how important the media is in helping generate good news. My latest refresher came via a story I wrote for the Nebraska Examiner, an online news site that used to consume most of my labors. It involved a woman I met when writing for the Omaha World-Herald about the tiny village of Whiteclay, where four beer stores were selling more than 3 million cans of beer a year to residents of the nearby Pine Ridge Indian...
Senior policy associate Center for Rural Affairs Across the country, farmers, landowners, and rural communities are taking a closer look at how solar development can work alongside agriculture instead of competing with it. Agrivoltaics, or dual-use solar, is growing interest as people look for ways to keep land productive, support conservation, and create new opportunities. Agrivoltaics includes beneficial practices such as growing crops beneath panels, grazing livestock on solar sites, and the...
The Bobcat track and field teams traveled to Atkinson West Holt, May 14, for a competitive Class C5 District meet. In the boys division, Summerland finished eighth, scoring 16 points. Battle Creek claimed the team title with 146, while West Holt kept the runner-up trophy with 93. Other teams competing included O'Neill, Elkhorn Valley, Crofton, Valentine, Boyd County, and Niobrara/Verdigre. Summerland's girls team finished ninth. West Holt topped the field with 133 points. Battle Creek claimed...
The Bobcat golf team finished fifth at the West Holt Golf Invitational, held May 12 at the Atkinson-Stuart Country Club. The team shot 370. The meet was originally scheduled for May 2. O'Neill claimed the team title with 331, edging out runners-up, Creighton, who finished with 335. North Central ended third with 342 and Ainsworth placed fourth with 365. Other teams competing included West Holt, 374; Niobrara-Verdigre, 374; Stuart, 383; Boyd County, 417; West Holt JV, 432; and West Holt-JJV, 474. O'Neill's Mason Buller took the individual...
Summerland golfers competed in the Class C-3 district, Tuesday, May 19, at Fair Play Golf Course in Norfolk. The Bobcats finished eighth in a field of 16 teams, shooting 377. Norfolk Catholic took top honors, finishing with 313. Cedar Catholic ended second with 324, and Battle Creek placed third with 333. Those three teams advance to next week's Class C State Golf Championships. Other teams participating in the district included Laurel-Concord-Coleridge, 355; Pierce, 363; Ponca, 371; Crofton,...
The Board of Directors of Cornerstone Bank announced the promotion of the following officer in Clearwater, at their recent meeting. Austin Rice was promoted to assistant vice president and assistant manager at Cornerstone Bank's Clearwater branch. Rice started his career with Cornerstone in 2024 as a loan officer after previously working as a loan officer at another institution. He grew up in Neligh and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in Agribusiness. Cornerstone...
Last year, I highlighted several ballot initiatives that have been approved by the Secretary of State for circulation ahead of this year's November General Election. This week, I would like to provide another overview of those measures that may still be seeking signatures. Although I provide information about these initiative petitions, this newsletter series is meant to be informative and neither represents an endorsement FOR nor AGAINST any particular measure. The Choose Life Now Amendment...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF EWING BOARD OF TRUSTEES May 11, 2026 The Ewing Village Board of Trustees convened in regular session on May 11, 2026, at 7 p.m. Notice of the meeting was published April 29, 2026, in the Summerland Advocate. An agenda was kept current and on file at the village clerk’s office. Chairman, Jeremy Tuttle, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Notice was given to the posted location of the open meetings law. Board members present were Dustin Jorgensen, Jeremy Tuttle, Katie Cunningham and Kent Stallbaum. Kane Fry was absent. A...
PROCEEDINGS SPECIAL MEETINGS VILLAGE OF EWING BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY 14, 2026 The Ewing Village Board of Trustees convened for a special meeting on May 14, 2026, at 6 p.m., to discuss the purchasing of the school playground. Chairman, Jeremy Tuttle, called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. Notice was given to the posted location of the open meetings law. Board members present were Jeremy Tuttle, Kane Fry, Dustin Jorgensen, Kent Stallbaum and Katie Cunningham. Jorgensen did need to exit the meeting before voting. Also present were Don Ruroede,...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY 13, 2026 Summerland Public school Board of Education met in regular session, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 7 p.m. President Nate schwager opened the meeting, which was advertised in the May 6, 2025, newspapers to order at 7 p.m. Schwager noted the Open Meetings Act posted in the boardroom. Roll call was taken with all members present: Ryan Ahlers, Chelsi McLain, Nate Schwager, Scott Thiele, Austin Twibell, and Jeremy Wagner. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Motion by Wagner, second...
APPROVED BILLS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL Elite Experiences, FBLA - Nat’l Lodging/trvl, 3,821.04; Amazon Capital Services, Inc., sup, 8.531.36; Avera Patient Financial Services, track incident, 436.00; Black Hills Energy, nat gas, 316.98; Bud’s Sanitary Service, LLC, trash serv, 2,240.00; Butch’s Towing, towing van #17, 87.00; Capital One Bk(USA), NA, sup/rooms/flights, 9,755.75; Carolina Biological Supply Co, sup, 189.55; Clearwater Market, sup, 19.18; ColdType Publishing, printing, 420.58; COR Therapeutic Services, LLC, school couns...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION Neligh, Nebraska May 11, 2026 Chairman opened the meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approved six (6) tax roll corrections. Meeting adjourned. Antelope County Board of Commissioners Charlie Henery Chairman of County Board Attest: Lisa Payne /s/ Antelope County Clerk Published May 20, 2026 ZNEZ...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS NELIGH, NEBRASKA May 11, 2026 Chairman opened the meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approved agenda. Approved minutes of the May 5, 2026, meeting. Public comments. Reviewed correspondence. Clerk of the District Court, treasurer’s fund balance, treasurers miscellaneous revenue, treasurer’s sweep account statement, sheriff’s fee report for April were reviewed. Approved payroll. Approved vendor claims. General: AKRS ex 7,200.00; AMAZON ex 596.72; AMERITAS ins 22,52...
