Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hit the Midwest hard, Nebraska stands apart as the only state in the union halting the emergency boost to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from the federal government, which allows recipients to receive the maximum benefit in food assistance. Khalilah LeGrand, Nebraska Health and Human Services spokeswoman, argued that things are getting back to normal for workers and the assistance is no longer needed. Although unemployment is not as high...
North Central District Health Department has been made aware of 21 additional cases in the district, according to a Monday report. Fifteen cases in the district, through case investigations, have been determined to be due from community spread: four, Knox; one, Brown; six, Holt; one, Pierce; two, Rock and one, Cherry. Six cases in the district, through case investigations, have been determined to be due from close contacts with confirmed positive COVID-19 cases: three, Knox; one, Boyd; one, Brown and one, Pierce. Case count update, as of Sept....
The Ewing community churches will not be hosting the Sunset Banquet this fall due to COVID-19. The health and safety of senior residents is important and gathering together during this time is not advised. Church members said they look forward to resuming the banquet in 2021....
After a week filled with seven matches, the Lady Bobcats capped off Saturday play with a sweep at the Creighton Invite, laying claim to first place. Tuesday triangular On Sept. 8, Summerland hosted a triangular with Niobrara/Verdigre and Stuart, in Orchard, after EPPJ was unable to host their regular-scheduled double triangular, following a positive COVID-19 case. Summerland made short work of Niobrara/Verdigre, winning 25-11 and 25-2. Brenna Wagner and Emily Nordby finished with seven kills api...
Area residents will have an opportunity to donate blood or platelets during upcoming drives planned in the area. Many blood drives have been canceled, due to the pandemic, putting the blood supply at a critical level. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Red Cross personnel will be in Clearwater, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the American Legion. To schedule an appointment, contact Wendy Benson at 402-319-2673 or visit redcrossblood.org to sign up. While appointments are preferred, walk-ins are welcome. Ewing...
Dennis C. Statler, 50, of Neligh faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday, Sept. 2, in the Antelope County courtroom for sentencing on a Class 1 misdemeanor count of domestic assault, cause body injury, committed March 31. He was sentenced to a 12-month term of probation, including related fees totaling $390 and $60 costs of prosecution. In addition to standard terms of probation, Statler was ordered to complete a co-occurring evaluation and to follow recommendations; complete an initial diagnostic interview for Batterer’s I...
Entrepreneurs interested in growing their business during COVID-19 are invited to attend a variety of workshops set to occur throughout September. These free, online events are sponsored by the Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Assistance Project. “Troubleshooting Accounting” on Thursday, Sept. 17, from 3 to 5 p.m. “Guidance to Close your PPP Loan” on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. “Sales Acceleration” on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and Thursday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Business Plan Review” on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 3 to 5 p...
Northeast Community College faculty, staff, students, volunteers, donors and other guests gathered Thursday for an event that is literally and figuratively groundbreaking for the institution's agriculture program. A ceremony marked construction that is presently underway on the Nexus project which consists of a new veterinary technology building and a combination farm operations building and large animal handling facility at the new Acklie Family College Farm. The site is located near...
The Northeast Community College Board of Governors has given unanimous approval to the institution’s 2020-21 budgets, which include no change in the property tax levy. The action took place Thursday following public hearings during the board’s monthly meeting in Norfolk. The board approved a general operating budget of $49,731,153, a building improvement budget of $17,839,751, and an ADA/Hazardous Material budget of $74,492 with the three tax supported budgets totaling $67,645,396. The general operating budget is funded from property tax...
People who want to enjoy an agricultural field day that will feature a variety of topics will soon will have the chance. A demonstration field day will be held 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Bazile Groundwater Management Area’s soil health site near Creighton. To find the soil health site, people will need to travel two miles south of Creighton on Nebraska Highway 13, turn east onto 870 Road and travel three-fourths of a mile. The outdoor event, during which social distancing will be...
In rural America, we understand the importance of postal mail to connecting our republic. Sites across Nebraska’s Third District on the Pony Express Historic Trail commemorate the value of this service back to our earliest days as a territory and state. However, the United States Postal Service has been in the news more than usual lately for two reasons – its financial troubles and the increase in mail-in voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our founders recognized the importance of postal mai...
Nearly six years after forming the Clearwater Sons of the American Legion, organization members are proud of its community service activities. Yet, members believe there is more work to be done. Sons of the Legion Commander Fred Thiele said the group holds a variety of events for the community and surrounding area, including an Ash Wednesday fish fry and Veterans Day supper a. Members also hold poker tournaments, participate in Memorial Day services, sponsor a local softball team, bartend for...
Cancer cannot keep Barb Roland out of the classroom. The K-6 Title I teacher and literacy coordinator for Summerland Public School in Ewing has been battling various oral cancers for the past 11 years. However, that has not stopped the Oakdale woman from teaching and working with students, which is her passion. "I enjoy helping children grow and learn," Roland said. "My doctor told me to do what I love, and this is it. I am taking precautions with COVID, as we all are doing." Her battle with...
The current legislative session officially concluded on day 60, which was Thursday, Aug. 13. We concluded the session by hearing remarks from the six term limited and outgoing senators and passing several bills through final reading. One bill we passed was LB 1107, a comprehensive package of property tax relief and business incentives. The focus on property tax reform this past session began as the Revenue Committee’s LB 974. It was a combination of foundation aid for all school districts in N...
When students returned to school Aug. 13, they were greeted by new faces in the classroom. Four staff members are based at the Summerland - Clearwater site: Whitney Beacom, Jacob Birch, Jayde Haburchak and Scott Kraus. Tabetha Frank and Heidi Nelson are instructors at the Summerland - Ewing site. Here’s a look at new teachers joining the district in 2020-2021: Whitney Beacom Sixth grade - Clearwater Hometown: Born in Fremont Residence: Neligh Education: Received Bachelor of Science degree in M...
A dad, who had been remanded to the county sheriff’s custody to serve a jail sentence, drove away from the courthouse in a private vehicle last Wednesday, with his children as passengers. Shane Sleister did not go directly to jail. Instead of proceeding north toward the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center, Sleister’s vehicle headed west on 5th Street, followed by Antelope County deputy and courtroom bailiff, Lyle Juracek, The 46-year old Oakdale man faced Taylor for sentencing on a Class 3 misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, a cha...
The selection of a jury for an upcoming trial in an Antelope County civil case will have to be moved from its usual location due to the COVID-19 pandemic. District court clerk Angela Mortensen and county attorney Joe Abler met with the board of commissioners Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the courthouse in Neligh regarding a change in venue for the jury selection. Mortensen requested the board’s permission to rent a facility for the jury selection, which will be scheduled to take one day on Oct. 5. ...
Steph Allen has already weathered one unimaginable crisis, the nightmare scenario that struck Grand Island and her new Teaching Tree childcare center this spring. She had to close the Teaching Tree for eight weeks as the COVID pandemic hit Hall County earlier and harder than almost any other spot in Nebraska. When she reopened in June, her enrollment and revenue plunged by 40%. It’s only now that enrollment is back up and daily operations are starting to feel somewhat normal. The good news is that both Steph and her high-quality child care c...
In many communities across rural America, we are beginning to ease into new norms and routines of quarantine. Each of us is attending to the impacts of COVID-19 on our friends, families and communities as we all reflect on these unprecedented times. Similarly, yet distinct, tribal communities and indigenous people have been presented with unique challenges across America that many of us may not be familiar with. By taking a closer look at how food sovereignty rebuilds disconnected nutrition...
The North Central District Health Department, in collaboration with Summerland Public School, has been notified that a positive COVID-19 case has occurred with a student at the Clearwater site. Principal Mike Sanne confirmed Monday that a high school student has tested positive for the virus and has been asked to self-isolate until Aug. 30. According to communication sent to patrons by the school, received by the Advocate-Messenger Monday morning, "Family and other close contacts are also being...
One of the great benefits of living in a rural community is our ability to enjoy food grown locally. Families appreciate easy access to high quality nutrition. Many farms and ranches depend on these local sales. Like so much of our daily life, this system was disrupted by COVID-19. When work is interrupted at industrial processing facilities, commodity producers flood local meat lockers with their product. With already limited reservation space being taken up by large growers, those who depend...
Emotions ran high again this week, as legislators tried to complete their priorities during the last few days of this legislative session. As I had hoped, the Revenue Committee advanced a package that joined property tax relief, business tax incentives and a major project at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This proposal was contained in a compromise amendment to LB 1107, a placeholder bill introduced by the Speaker of the Legislature, Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk. The current Property T...
Only one of the three Summerland Public Schools sites has seen much in the way of building repair projects this summer. The school locations in Clearwater, Ewing and Orchard underwent normal summer cleaning, repair and maintenance, according to Superintendent Dale Martin. "In addition to that, there have been some building repair projects necessary to get us to the next step," Martin said. "The Orchard site has a sewer project where a line was getting plugged fairly regularly last year during...
As the 2020-2021 fiscal year neared its second month, Antelope County leaders started their annual budget work with a special workshop meeting last week at the courthouse in Neligh. The budget must be submitted to the state by Sept. 20, with a public hearing required prior to its adoption. Although values won't be certified until later in the month, Assessor Kelly Meuller-Oltjenbruns has unofficially reported about a 3% decrease in valuation countywide. Commissioners reviewed department's...
The Legislature passed the budget bills this past week, containing their recommendations for adjustments to the biennial budget that was passed last year. Now it will be up to the governor whether he signs the legislation or uses his line-item veto authority. Earlier in the week, senators gave second-round approval to the budget bills after a lengthy debate. An amendment to LB 1008 was offered by Omaha Senator Machaela Cavanaugh to direct how the remaining funding from the federal Coronavirus...
