Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Before he became a world-record pacer known across the country, Shade On was a young colt in Ewing with a broken leg and an uncertain future. Known for his resilience and, according to historical accounts, "almost human intelligence," Shade On became one of the region's most recognized racehorses. More than a century later, information about the horse continues to be preserved through exhibits at the Antelope County Museum, the Shade On Memorial in Riverside Park in Neligh, and local historical...
The Summerland Advocate-Messenger has been selected to participate in a national initiative aimed at strengthening the future of rural community newspapers, giving local readers, advertisers and residents an opportunity to help shape the newspaper's next chapter. This month, the newspaper will partner with journalism leaders and researchers to gather feedback on what readers value most, where improvements can be made and how local news can remain strong and sustainable for years to come. The...
Summerland Board of Education members will address transportation and hiring needs when they meet Monday, July 20. Four action items are included on the agenda for the 7 p.m. meeting, including approval on classified staffing work agreements, action on policy updates, discussion and potential action on transportation needs and consideration of membership in the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association. Following opening formalities, a celebration of excellence will feature staff and student...
Get ready for small-town horsepower. Royal's annual tractor parade returns, Saturday, July 18, sporting a brand-new route that will cover southern Antelope County. Organizer Gary Ober said tractors will depart Orchard at 11 a.m. This year's route will take participants near Clearwater, south toward the Antelope-Wheeler county line, to Neligh and points northeast. Registration will be at Royal Bar and Grill. For more information, contact Gary Ober at 402-340-0170....
Individuals who want to donate blood will have two opportunities next week. On Tuesday, July 21, a blood drive, in memory of longtime Red Cross volunteer Rita Shabram, will be held at the St. Peter Lutheran Fellowship hall. Donations will be accepted from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-in donors are welcome. To schedule an appointment, contact Amanda Shabram at 402-394-1938. The Ewing Community Blood Drive will be held on Wednesday, July 22 at the Ewing City Hall from noon to 6 p.m. Contact Nancy...
NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT Nebraska Public Power District will host an open house on July 21 in Clearwater to gather public input for a new transmission project in the area. The open house session is informal and offers an opportunity to review project information and visit with project team members. The in-person meeting will be held at the Clearwater American Legion Hall from 3 to 7 p.m. NPPD plans to build an approximately 27-mile, 345 (kV) transmission line to connect the existing NPPD...
Independent U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn told Clearwater residents that Washington policies are putting increasing pressure on rural Nebraska during a July 10, meet-and-greet. During the event, Osborn outlined his campaign priorities, focusing on support for family farms, congressional reform and protecting rural communities. Osborn, of Omaha, is challenging U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, and is traveling Nebraska, meeting with voters about issues affecting rural communities. Osborn said...
By GameChanger A.J. Hobbs hit two home runs and drove in six as the Tri-County Titan Seniors defeated Plainview Sr Legion Post 148, 9-7, on July 7 at Plainview. Hobbs homered in the fifth and eighth innings. Tri-County opened the scoring in the first after Isaac Hoferer drew a walk, scoring one run. Kaleb Gardner singled to the left side of the infield, which helped Plainview tie the game at one in the bottom of the second. Tri-County took the lead in the top of the third. Rogan Robertson grounded out, scoring one run, to give the Titans the...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed 35 impaired drivers from the road over the Independence Day Weekend. "As America turned 250 this Independence Day weekend, our troopers and dispatchers remained vigilant to keep Nebraskans safe," said Colonel Bryan Waugh, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. "There are many more local events on the schedule as the summer continues across Nebraska. If any of those events involve alcohol, always make sure to have a sober driver." This effort...
By GameChanger Levi Hoferer struck out 14 batters as the starting pitcher led the Tri-County Titan Juniors past Valentine Juniors, 11-1, on Saturday. Hoferer surrendered one hit and one run over five innings while walking two. Max Bruce collected three hits in four at bats in the win. Bruce singled in the second, fourth, and fifth, innings. Tri-County got on the board in the top of the first inning after Landyn Coffey flew out, Hoferer walked, and Valentine committed an error, each scoring one run. The Titans added to their early lead in the... Full story
Joseph and Kierra O'Brien of Petersburg are the parents of a son born Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at Faith Health in Norfolk. The baby, named Leo Joseph, weighed eight pounds, eight ounces. Grandparents are Jarod and Tammy Bearinger of Clearwater and Ed and Ruth O'Brien of Tilden. Great-grandparents include Bob and Rita Kester, Doug Bearinger, Jeanette Bearinger, the late John and Mary O'Brien, and the late Francis and Rita Arens....
When elementary school counselor, Denise Meyer, painted a banner for her classroom door at Summerland Public School, she never expected it would lead to a side business serving customers across the area. What started as a creative project at school has grown into Brushed Design Co., where Meyer creates hand-painted banners for birthdays, baby showers, bridal events, businesses and other celebrations. After viewing a social media post where someone painted a banner, Meyer believed that she could...
We begin a new "calendar year" at the office this week. This new chapter represents the first edition of volume eight. Where has the time gone? In 2019, Jenna, Sandy, Travis, Erin and I sat in house at the cedar dining room table, assembling and editing a six-page newspaper that we blanket mailed to every Summerland community. Now, that little newspaper that could has turned into one of the top publications in the state, or so I'm told. I'm not keeping track or comparing column inches or...
This week, I am continuing the series highlighting several of the more than 100 new laws that will go into effect on July 18. Some of those new laws include provisions from the following legislative bills: LB727 by Sen. Kauth authorizes law enforcement agencies to obtain, maintain, and possess epinephrine autoinjectors for use by law enforcement officers. The intent of this legislation is to allow law enforcement officers to administer epinephrine, such as in the form of an EpiPen, to treat...
That time of year is nearing – the time when you have to pay the second half of your property taxes, due by the end of July. It's a big check, and I write two of them, one for my house and one for the small farm that's still in the family. No one likes to write these checks, and we don't need a state hotline – as launched by Gov. Pillen recently – to tell us that. I'll save the state some money and the governor some time by stating the obvious – just about everyone thinks property taxes are too...
This story is made possible through a partnership between Flatwater Free Press and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. Google's Nebraska data centers consumed about 732 million gallons of water in 2025, the tech giant recently self-reported. Viewed one way, that's a lot of water: More than Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District customers use in an average week, combined, according to data from MUD. Viewed another way: It's less than you think. Google data centers consumed about a...
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Adam Ahlers, an ecologist and wildlife biologist from Kansas State University, has been named the director of the School of Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. Ahlers is a Clearwater High School graduate. Ahlers, a professor in the Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, will begin his new post on Aug. 1. He has been a member of the faculty at Kansas State University's College of Agriculture since...
The mobile food pantry, sponsored by the Neligh Faith Community Church, as well as other businesses, churches, and individuals will disperse food on Tuesday, July 21. The pantry will run from 2 to 3:30 p.m., at the American Legion Club, located at 115 W. Third Street, in Neligh....
Governor Jim Pillen is joining state partners in reminding Nebraskans about activities still available for celebrating America’s 250th birthday. “There are a variety of events and programs that continue across Nebraska, some lasting through the end of the year,” said Gov. Pillen. “They include quilt displays, community archives, films, live performances and more. I encourage Nebraskans to take in all the special events happening in their community as well as across the state.” Throughout the month of July, visitors to the State Capitol c...
SUBMITTED ARTICLE On Friday, July 10, the Antelope County Healthcare Foundation held its 21st Annual Golf Tournament at the Summerland Golf Club. The 18-hole four-person scramble drew a total of 108 golfers from area communities and businesses. Team winners of the champion flight included Heritage Bank of Norfolk, first place; Bank of Elgin, second place; and Cornerstone Bank, third place. The Real Bank of Elgin claimed the top spot in the first flight. The Long Shots finished second, and Hild...
Controlling invasive weeds takes more than one county working on its own. Through the Northeast Weed Management Area, local weed departments, and other partners work together to control invasive weeds, share resources, and help landowners manage problems across northeast Nebraska. While leafy spurge and musk thistle continue to be major concerns Antelope and Holt County weed superintendents are keeping a close eye on the other invasive weeds that continue to move in. For Holt County Weed...
Governor Jim Pillen recently joined Metropolitan Community College, the Nebraska Department of Labor, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, employers, and student trainees to announce the launch of Nebraska's Workforce Pell Grant Program. The program allows federal Pell Grant funding to be used for short-term job training programs leading to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations across the state. MCC is the first institution in Nebraska to establish Workforce Pell programs, offering programs in CDL, CompTIA Tech + with...
The Center for Rural Affairs will soon hold several classes, in person and online, including: • Brownville, Nebraska - Conservation Mentorship Network Field Day with Daryl Obermeyer, Wednesday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to noon, in Brownville. Obermeyer has been utilizing conservation practices such as rotational grazing, no-till, and cover crops since 1975. Attendees will hear from Obermeyer about his successes and challenges over the years and tour his farm. For more information, contact Andrew Tonnies at andrewt@cfra.org or 402.590.7096. • Onl...
By Gamechanger Even though Tri-County collected more hits than their opponent, they still fell 10-1 to Creighton-Bloomfield-Wausa on Sunday at the Area Tournament in Crofton. Tri-County was the first to get on the board in the first when Levi Hoferer singled, scoring one run. CBW captured the lead, 3-1, in the bottom of the first when Haiden Horstmann singled, scoring one run, and an error scored two runs. CBW juniors added one run in the third. Braxton Eggerling doubled to center field, making the score 4-1. In the fourth inning, CBW scored...
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS NELIGH, NEBRASKA JULY 9, 2026 Vice-chairman opened the meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approved agenda. Approved minutes of June 23, 2026, Board of Commissioner and Board of Equalization meetings. Public comments. Correspondence was reviewed. Clerk of the District Court, treasurer’s fund balance, treasurer's miscellaneous revenue, and sheriff’s monthly report. Zoning administrator: no report. Approved two (2) promotional grant requests. Commissioners Dittrich and...
