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 184
Summerland graduate Ethan Kester played on the white squad in Friday's Northeast Nebraska All-Star Football Classic in Norfolk. After a scoreless first half, the Red Team took control and won, 16-6....
Economic development is often measured by new businesses, housing projects, and grant awards, but the work extends far beyond any single project. Since 2018, coordinated economic development efforts in Neligh and Clearwater have focused on strengthening local businesses, expanding housing opportunities, securing grant funding, preserving historic assets, and building partnerships that support long-term community growth. Over the past eight years, local economic development initiatives have...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES May 11, 2026 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Monday, May 11, 2026, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger, posted at US Post Office, Clearwater Market, and Cornerstone Bank and given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly Kerkman, Marsha Hart, Brian King, Jeff Schlec...
Clearwater village officials considered four bids for hay and/or pasture during the April 13 meeting held at the fire hall. Jay Snider bid $3,500 to pasture the lagoon parcels and $700 to hay the tree dump and dike. Fred Thiele submitted a bid of $2,551 to pasture lagoon parcels and install or repair fence line as needed. Blake Kester submitted a $2,750 bid to hall all parcels, and Kasey Shenshew bid $2,000 to hay all parcels. Trustee Cody Kester said he would like to see permanent fencing...
A complete surprise. That's how SAM co-publisher Scott Schindler described the moment his name was announced as the winner of the Feature Photo of the Year from the Nebraska Press Association. "You entered my picture?" He asked wife and co-publisher LuAnn, before making his way to the podium to accept the award during the Nebraska Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest awards banquet, Saturday, at The Cornhusker in Lincoln. "He sent me two photos that made the paper throughout the year,"...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES APRIL 13, 2026 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Mon., April 13, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger, posted at US Post Office, Clearwater Market, and Cornerstone Bank and given to Board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly Kerkman, Marsha Hart, Cody Kester, Brian King,...
On a cool Monday morning, the kind that carries the quiet promise of spring on the Nebraska plains, pride filled the streets of Clearwater. "Holy cow, it's just so fun to be with you here in Clearwater," Gov. Jim Pillen said, smiling as he addressed a crowd gathered to celebrate something bigger than an award, a way of life. That way of life earned the village of 380 people the state's 2026 Governor's Showcase Community Award, an honor given annually to one Nebraska town that exemplifies...
Summerland senior Ethan Kester will join the White Team, June 12, in the Red vs. White Northeast Nebraska All Star Football Classic. The game will kickoff at 7 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Field in Norfolk. Andrew Carlson, president of the NEN Classic board of directors said the organization is excited with the selection of coaches for the 2026 game. "The Northeast all star game is excited to have this excellent group of coaches for this year's game. They have done an outstanding job of selecting...
Two Bobcat wrestlers will represent Summerland at the 2026 NSAA Boys State Wrestling Championships, beginning Thursday, in Omaha. Jason Shaver and Austin Mendoza finished third in their respective weight divisions during Saturday's Class C-3 District Wrestling Meet at Centura. Mendoza, competing at 138, opened with a :56 pin over Cooper Cambron, Superior and claimed a 10-3 decision over Brayden Nuttelman, Cross County/Osceola. In the semifinal, Ashton Kuchar of Battle Creek downed Mendoza,...
A Ewing football standout will join Nebraska's Eight-Man Hall of Fame this June. Brett Kaczor, who led the Ewing Tigers to the 2008 Class D-2 Championship, will join two coaches and 12 players at an induction ceremony on Saturday, June 20 at The Osborne Family Sports Complex in Hastings. Kaczor, a 2009 Ewing Public Schools graduate, went on to play football at Nebraska Wesleyan University. The hall of fame is presented by the Nebraska Eight-Man Football Coaches Association and sponsored by...
Chasing goals. Bobcat wrestler Austin Mendoza said his first thought, after reaching 100 wins, was "Wow, it's about time I joined the club. It's a goal I've been chasing all year." The chase came to fruition, Friday, at the Central Valley Invite, when the Summerland junior pinned Yutan's Charlie Tasich in just over two minutes. " I knew I was close to 100 but did not think I would have gotten it the first match of the meet," Mendoza said. Head Coach Dan Roeber said reaching the century milestone...
Summerland wrestlers found success at Friday's Central Valley Invite. Five Bobcats earned medals, including two gold meals. For junior Austin Mendoza, competition included a special outcome. He reached 100 career wins. The team tied for fourth place with St. Paul. The two teams finished with 108.5 points. Aquinas Catholic took top honors, with 153.5 points. Yutan finished as runner up, scoring 131 points, and the host team ended in third, with 113 points. Mendoza worked his way through the...
The Bobcat boys wrestlers brought home five medals and placed seventh at Saturday's Battle Creek Invite. Ethan Kester finished second in the 150 division. He opened with a pin over Bridger Krammer, Gretna East, in 1:10. In the second round, he pinned Adan Hoff of Madison in 1:34. Next, Kester pinned Barrett Koehler, Battle Creek, in 1:02. In the semifinal, Kester pinned Denny Reynolds, Logan View, in 1:28. Easton Hochstein, Cedar Catholic, pinned Kester in the championship match, in 4:57....
PROCEEDINGS ANTELOPE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS December 9, 2025 Neligh, Nebraska Chairman opened the meeting. Notice of meeting published as required by statute. Approved agenda. Approved minutes of the Dec. 2, 2025, BOC meeting. Approved payroll. Approved vendor claims. General: MELVIN AHLERS ps 24.00; AMAZON ex 105.59; AMERITAS ins 22,777.10; AMY PICKREL ex 20.00; ANTELOPE CO COURT ex 234.00; APPEARA ex 80.50; APPLIED CONN TECH ex 6,269.90; FIRSTNET ut 643.48; BEAR GRAPHICS ex 572.17; BECKY KERKMAN ex 20.00; BLACK HILLS ENERGY ut 824.97;...
Summerland wrestlers will learn discover if their state-qualifying dreams are secured or dashed when they compete in the Class C-3 district on Valentine's Day at Centura Public Schools. In addition to the Bobcats, Battle Creek, Centura, Crofton/Bloomfield, Cross Couty/Osceola, Elkhorn Valley, Grand Island Central Catholic, Johnson County Central, Logan View, Norfolk Catholic, Red Cloud/Blue Hill, Scotus Central Catholic, St. Paul, Superior, West Point-Beemer, and Winnebago will...
The Wausa/Osmond Vikings looked like a team protecting their homeland, pillaging any plays that threatened their kingdom. They knocked off Summerland, 36-6, in a game played on Wausa's field. Wausa/Osmond scored late in the first quarter to give the hosts an 8-0 lead. By halftime, they increased the spread to 22-0, keeping the Bobcat offense flatlined. The Vikings added another end zone visit and PAT in the third quarter. By now, W/O's defense held Summerland to 88 yards of total offense....
The Bobcats advance to 6-2 on the season, following Thursday's 24-6 win against Elkhorn Valley in a game played at Summerland. Cash Kester put the Bobcats on the board first after he connected with Beau Aahlers for six. Aiden McAllister nailed the PAT, giving the Bobcats a 7-0 lead with 5:18 remaining in the first quarter. After a three and out by EV, the Bobcats fumble a punt return, giving the Falcons favorable field position. Eventually, Jarrett Werner took the ball in for a touchdown,...
After coming from behind in the first set against O'Neill, the visiting Eagles took control and down Summerland 3-1, in a Pink Out match played Oct. 7, at SPS. Allemang finished the contest with 14 assists and 13 digs. Kenzie Sanne finished with four kills, one ace, and nine assists. On Oct. 9, the Bobcats traveled to Neligh-Oakdale and swept the Warriors, 3-0. Caydence Schumacher finished with 10 kills. Belle Anson recorded three ace serves. Kaylee Thiele lead the team's defensive effort with...
It was a tale of two halves for the Summerland football team when they hosted Plainview on Sept. 26. Plainview struck first, when Gage Walton ran around the right side of the Bobcat line to put the Pirates up 7-0. Cash Kester responded for Summerland in the second quarter as the Bobcat quarterback sneaked in from the one-yard line. After a success kick, the game was knotted at seven apiece. Plainview scored with a couple minutes left in the half to take a 14-7 lead. Then, the Bobcats couldn't ge...
The Bobcats scored first in Friday's home match-up against Stanton, setting the tone for the contest which resulted in a 27-12 victory. Stanton kicked off and the Bobcats began a methodical 65-yard drive resulting in an Austin Mendoza touchdown. The PAT failed. The Mustangs replied with a quick score down the field and missed the pat. With :58 left in the quarter, the teams were knotted at six6. As second-quarter action began, Cash Kester located Mason Schwager on fourth down for a touchdown....
Crofton lit up the scoreboard Friday night, overpowering Summerland, 68-15, in Crofton. The Warriors jumped out to an 18-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, adding 20 more before halftime. Summerland broke through in the second quarter with a touchdown run by Cash Kester. Beau Ahlers powered in the two-point conversion, giving the Bobcats their first points. After the break, Ethan Kester found the end zone, capped by an extra point from Aiden McAllister, but Crofton's offense kept...
Summerland wasted no time showing its teeth in the season opener, clawing past Newman Grove/St. Edward, 51-0, Aug. 28. The Bobcats struck early and often, pounding the ground game and keeping the visitors out of the end zone. By halftime, the scoreboard was firmly in blue, black and silver's favor. Head coach Tom Thramer said his squad entered the night with some unknowns. "We weren't really sure what to expect going into Friday," Thramer said. "We knew we had a lot of holes to plug and we had...
During an Aug. 11 village trustees meeting, Clearwater maintenance man Troy Behnke said Rutjens Construction recently jetted the concrete box culvert located at Main and First streets. "It's coming apart. As he was sticking his jetter through there, his hired hand was watching on the other end and chunks of concrete were starting to come off," Behnke told trustees. "It's going to be something we look at in the future. I don't know how dire it is that it gets replaced." Chairman Kelly Kerkman...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES Aug. 11, 2025 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Mon., Aug. 11, in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7 p.m. after budget workshop. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger, was posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Clearwater Market and Cornerstone Bank-Clearwater and was given to Board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly...
The Advocate-Messenger earned 31 awards in the 2025 Better Newspaper Competition and ended in second place for the Allen & Linda Beerman Community Newspaper Sweepstakes Award, which includes weekly newspapers from all classes. The Stanton Register took top honors and the Aurora News-Register ended in third. SAM finished second in Division A, based on circulation and, in the digital sweepstakes division, SAM placed third. The paper picked nine first-place awards in categories, including building...
