Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 327 - 351 of 361
The Holt County supervisors approved a road-use agreement for duration of potential construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, despite the county leaders’ denial of a construction permit in February. Consideration of the road-haul agreement was on the agenda when the supervisors met in the courthouse for an in-person meeting April 30. The agreement had been drafted by Omaha attorney David Domina, with Brent Kelley, Holt County attorney, proceeding, at the request of the supervisors, to negotiate terms with TCE officials. Kelly was present in t...
Joel Schrader, 48, of Martel, one of three men convicted in a 2018 burglary at a business in Atkinson, was granted continuance of his sentencing, due to COVID-19 concern. Schrader, who pleaded guilty to a Class 3 felony charge of attempted burglary in January this year after reaching a plea deal in Holt County district court and was to be sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek on March 30, is now set for sentencing Oct. 19. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and defense counsel’s wish to keep himself, his family and those around him safe, defense...
A worker at a Red Cross blood drive, held April 1 in Atkinson, has tested positive for COVID-19. The North Central District Health Department announced the investigation April 9 and initiated contact investigations with the Red Cross, Central District Health Department and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, to assess risk of donors and volunteers who attended the drive. On April 10, 14 potential close contacts were identified and contacted by Red Cross officials. All the individuals are asymptomatic and are quarantining and self-...
When ESPN commentator Stuart Scott accepted the Jimmy V ESPY award in 2014, Scott said, about his fight with cancer, "I'm still here, I'm fighting. I'm not losing." Scott Leisy, physical education instructor at Clearwater Public Schools and co-coach for the Summerland Bobcat girls' basketball team, said similar words to the Advocate-Messenger in July 2019, in an article which appeared in the July 25th inaugural issue. Leisy's fight with colorectal cancer lasted a little more than two years. The...
The Holt County supervisors held a regular meeting at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, March 31, with all seven supervisors in attendance. The supervisors adopted a resolution, declaring a state of emergency in the county, beginning Jan. 31 and continuing, due to the health and safety of county citizens in relation to a global pandemic. The declaration allows expenditure of emergency funds if deemed necessary. Chad Thies with Zelle Human Resource Solutions in Lincoln discussed a proposed contract via phone conference. The board took t...
Graveside services for Scott Leisy, 34, of Atkinson were held Thursday, April 9, with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery in Atkinson. A celebration of life service is being planned for a later date. Leisy died April 6, at his home, near Atkinson. Seger Funeral Home of Atkinson is in charge of arrangements. ~~~ Scott Russell Leisy was born Oct. 28, 1985, in Sidney to Lisa (Sterling) Lamb. He was adopted by Darrel and Wilda Leisy at four months old, and he always felt the utmost gratitude to his birth...
Elly Herley knew she wanted to see instructor and coach, Scott Leisy, one more time. And, she wanted the rest of the Bobcats girls' basketball team to visit, too. "I wanted to do something for him so he knew how much I cared about and for all he had done for me," Herley said. "I knew from COVID-19 we couldn't gather in a group." So Herley, a junior at Clearwater Public Schools, made a few phone calls and organized a Saturday quarantine cruise night, April 4. One phone call snowballed into...
Chubby Checker's 1959 classic "The Twist" blasted from cars, pickups, SUVs and the occasional minivan traveling the main drag in area towns Saturday night. Unlike a scene from the 1950s or early '60s, carloads of teenagers didn't unload and fill a local malt shop, sharing cheeseburgers and sipping chocolate shakes from separate straws. In the age of COVID-19, participants of the Coronavirus Cruise Night, sponsored by KBRX, in O'Neill, remained in their vehicles, took a few whips along Main...
Holt County supervisors are considering the engagement of a human resources firm to help navigate employment issues. A telephone conference was held with Chad Thies from Zelle Human Resource Solutions in Lincoln during the March 16 meeting at the courthouse in O'Neill. After hearing what the firm offered in services, chairman Bill Tielke asked Thies to submit a proposal. Supervisor Steve Boshart estimated an annual cost of $36,000 to $40,000. "It will be high," Tielke said. "But the thing is, if...
Ashley Koenig, Sidney Stallbaum and Gage Clifton received first-team post-season honors from the Niobrara Valley Conference. Teams were announced Monday. Girls basketball Joining Koenig and Stallbaum were Taylor Peter and Morgan Ramsey, Chambers/Wheeler Central; Miah Wiebelhaus and Hunter Wiebelhaus, North Central; Olivia Nall, Elkhorn Valley; Kalli Kayl, Boyd County; Hannah Sheridan, Santee; Reaghan Engel, Stuart and Kayce Kallhoff, Elgin Public/Pope John. Brenna Wagner and Tiana Thramer were...
The Nebraska Primary Election is May 12, 2020. Holt County received a lot of interest in filing for offices, but due to auto-advance rules, all local school board races, county supervisor district six, city races, airport authorities, Natural Resource Districts, Nebraska Public Power District and Northeast Community College races will not appear on the Primary Election ballot. These races will appear on the General Election ballot. Holt County voters will be voting on the president, Senate and Congress representatives. Local issues that will...
Six Holt County supervisors listened as nearly 50 citizens presented testimony last Friday afternoon. A public hearing regarding TC Energy's application for a pipeline construction permit was held in the district courtroom at the Holt County courthouse. Pipeline opponents, from elementary students to 90-year-old grandparents, packed the courtroom, filling approximately 100 seats, and spilled out to the second-floor hallway. Speakers were called in order of sign-up, which had begun in the morning...
This Friday, Holt County Supervisors will consider whether a conditional use permit will be granted for TC Energy or if a recommendation from the Holt County Planning and Zoning Board will take precedence. A public hearing is set to begin at 1:30 p.m., in the district court room at the Holt County Courthouse in O'Neill. At a Jan. 28 hearing, zoning officials voted 6-1-1 to recommend the board of supervisors to deny the application as incomplete, per section 2.1, paragraph three, until...
Benjamin Parks, 22, of O’Neill appeared in Holt County court last Tuesday, Feb. 18, for a preliminary hearing on two charges filed by chief deputy Nebraska Attorney General David Bydalek last November, Count I, tampering with a witness, a Class 4 felony committed May 6, 2019, and procuring alcohol for a minor, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A plea deal was struck with prosecutor Mariah J. Nickel, assistant attorney general, and Parks attorney, Allison Rockey Mason of Norfolk. In exchange for a no contest plea to Count II, Nickel dismissed Count I. T...
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...
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,...
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...
The Summerland Lady Bobcats will meet Boyd County in the consolation game in the Niobrara Valley Conference tournament, Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., at Atkinson-West Holt. Thursday, CWC tripped up the Cats, 41-31, in the semi-final game in Niobrara. Head Coach Greg Appleby said the game was a tough loss against a very good CWC team. "We played well enough defensively to be in the game, but our offensive was not efficient or productive enough across the board." Summerland's defense...
Holt County citizens filled the county supervisors’ meeting room in the courthouse last Friday morning as the county leaders took care of business. Bryan Steskal of Steskal read a letter penned by his wife, Diana Steskal, who was unable to attend the meeting. In the letter, Steskal wrote the Holt County zoning board members denied TransCanada’s conditional use permit until two conditions are met, including one that requires obtaining easements. Many, she said will most likely be appealed. She also cited three federal court cases filed aga...
Niobrara Valley Conference officials recently announced names of students who qualified for the NVC Principal's All-Academic Team for 2019-2020. To be eligible, students must be a junior or senior with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or above. Seven Clearwater students were named to the list, including Kierra Bearinger, Lauren Behnk, Taylor Ann Bolling, Tyler Hupp, James Kester, seniors; and Hunter Klabenes and Eli Thiele, juniors. Nine Ewing students received recogniton including...
Niobrara Valley Conference basketball tourney action tips off this weekend, with games scheduled in Niobrara and Santee. Girls bracket The fifth-ranked Summerland Lady Cats will meet West Holt at 5 p.m., Saturday, in Niobrara. The Lady Huskies enter as the number 12 seed. At 3:30, seventh-seeded Elgin Public/Pope John will play Niobrara/Verdigre, the 10th seed, at 3:30 p.m., in Niobrara. In Santee, the host team will face Neligh-Oakdale, at 3:30 p.m. Santee enters as the eighth seed, while the L...
Michael Braband, 25, of Elgin faced the Honorable Kale Burdick Jan. 21, in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on a Class 2 misdemeanor count of issuing a bad check, less than $500. He entered a guilty plea per terms of a plea agreement reached with prosecutor Brent Kelly. Burdick sentenced Braband to pay a $50 fine, $34.01 restitution to First Stop in Atkinson and $50 costs. Braband wrote the check Sept. 4, 2019. Rowdy J. Berger, 26, of O’Neill entered an amended plea of guilty to a Class 3 misdemeanor count of driving under suspension aft...
Memorial services for Roger W. Pofahl, 82, of Ewing, were Thursday, Jan. 23, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Clearwater with Pastor Daniel Feusse, officiating. Sherri Ahlers and Bob Sisson provided music. Honarary pallbearers were his grandchildren. Roger died Jan. 19, at Arbor Care Center in Neligh. Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater handled the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for future designations. ~~~ Roger William Pofahl was born Oct. 22, 1937, to Louis W. and Edith M. (Huff) Pofahl at...
Jade T. Buss, 19, of Atkinson was fined by the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County court last week, after changing his pleas to no contest on two counts amended pursuant to a plea agreement reached with Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly. Burdick judged Buss guilty of the July 2 offenses and sentenced him to pay a $175 fine on Count I, failure to report a property damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor; and $175 on Count III, reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and $60 cost of prosecution. Kelly reduced Count I from a Class 3A...
Three defendants were sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek for crimes committed in 2018, on Monday, Jan. 13, in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill. Preston D. Janzing, 39, of Atkinson was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with credit given for one day previously served; a 24-month term of probation, including $930 fees; and a $1,000 fine. After deliberating about two and one-half hours, a jury found Janzing guilty of three of four counts Sept. 11, 2019, Count I, aiding and abetting kidnapping; Count II, strangulation; and Count IV, f...
