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Last week’s column focused on optimism. I figured it was appropriate as we were ready to open a new chapter for the new year. The column included examples of how optimism leads to improved mental and physical health. It focused on the “glass half full” mindset, which translates to positive thinking. It even included a quote from Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” I believe in every single word and idea in that column. But ... I did not write it. I “suggested” it. Last week’s column was an ex...

A world premiere took place in Orchard, Dec. 17, when the 402 Theater Group presented "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." The 10-minute holiday play, inspired by the Christmas song, opened Dec. 17 at the Orchard Community Center. The script was penned by Orchard resident Don Lallier. Cast members included Jersey Grey, Jillian Henn, Raeley Meyer and Gunnar Shabram. Lynae Stelling provided musical accompaniment and Derek Henn assisted backstage. Following the production, Santa Claus paid a visit...
Here we are sandwiched between Christmas and New Year. Time to take stock of what we've been through as it impacts what lies ahead. In case you were somehow fortunate enough to sleep through it, 2022 was an election year. A couple really rich guys and some others ran for the Republican nomination for governor to replace term-limited Deep Pockets Pete Ricketts who still managed to throw enough money around to have an influence. Before you get all upset by that, remember that I have said before it isn’t illegal to spend his own money or the f...

Kitchen: a gathering place for friends and family, a place where memories are homemade and seasoned with love. So many holiday memories center around the kitchen, from preparing a meal to sitting around the kitchen table and swapping stories at the grandparents’ house to being part of the cleanup crew. Elementary-aged me anticipated the countdown to the first Saturday in December, when our family would bake cookies and make candies. We each had our specialty. Dad made peanut or cashew c...

Christmas can be many colors and styles. There is traditional red and green, then comes gold and silver. There’s a plethora of color schemes to decorate your tree. I change mine out every now and then and this year is red and gold with traditional ornaments. Ninety-five percent of the ornaments have been gifts. I recently had surgery and knew I wouldn’t be able to decorate the Christmas tree as easily. One of my daughters and a granddaughter helped me with the project three years ago and off...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION Dec. 14, 2022 Summerland Public School Board of Education held a regular meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at the school. President Ed Nordby called the meeting, which was advertised in the Dec. 7, 2022, newspapers to order at 5:46 p.m. Board members present: Candice Hoke, Marty Kerkman, Nordby, Nate Schwager, Steven Thiele and Jeremy Wagner. Nordby noted the Open Meetings Act posted in the board room. Motion by Thiele, seconded by Hoke, to approve the agenda as presented. Voting aye:...

An Orchard theater company will make its debut, Saturday, with a take on a popular holiday song. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," penned by Orchard resident Don Lallier, will be performed by the 402 Theater Group, at 5 p.m., at the Orchard Community Center. Organizers call the play "the perfect event for children and family to attend right before Christmas." Cast members include Raeley Meyer, Jersey Gray, Sara Trease and Gunnar Shabram. Lallier will direct the play, while Jillian Henn serves...

Tis the season to overindulge. Whether sweet treats, decadent desserts or cool cocktails provide temptation, now is a good time to strategize what to eat - and foods to avoid - to dodge the holiday blues. Now is a good time to adopt healthy eating habits. "Any time we overeat, the abudance of calories puts you in a state of needing to digest. Then you're sitting on the couch after Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner," said Angela Sucha, PA-C at Antelope Family Practice. "The extra calories are...

If I asked 20 Nebraskans, “What is your favorite holiday dessert,” I imagine I would receive 20 different responses. My favorite treat: bing bars. No shock to those of you who know me well. I also like smooth, creamy fudge; pink divinity, like Mom used to make; and Sandy’s decorated sugar cookies. Sure, there may be other desserts on the buffet table, but a well-outfitted holiday spread is all about the candy and cookies ... or so it’s been our family tradition. I was shocked when I saw a map o...

Nearly two weeks prior to the first day of winter, we have seen snow, ice and freezing conditions across the Third District. While precipitation is needed to relieve Nebraska’s fourth-driest year on record, and snowfall may have many dreaming of a white Christmas, colder-than-average temperatures are expected to accompany historically high energy costs this winter. Energy is an outsized operational expense for agriculture producers. Elevated input costs are taking a toll on farmers and r...
Koda K. Fernau, 18, of Clearwater appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor on Dec. 6, beside his court-appointed attorney Ryan Stover of Norfolk, for a status hearing on a felony count of making terroristic threats and for arraignment on two misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace. Stover asked for a continuance, “not out very far…Koda has been in the Antelope County Jail since September.” He then asked for review of Fernau’s $25,000, 10% bond. “I am sure he would like to be home with his family for Christmas. His mom agreed to...

Employees of Antelope Memorial Hospital were recognized for years of service and Caring Kind at the AMH Christmas Party, Dec. 9, at the American Legion in Neligh....


The "Summerland Advocate-Messenger" will accept letters to Santa through Friday, Dec. 16, at noon. Youngsters are invited to submit letters via mail at Santa, c/o Summerland Advocate-Messenger, PO Box 277, Clearwater, NE 68726. Letters may also reach Santa via email at lschindler@summerlandadvocate.com Letters will run in the Christmas edition of SAM....
Concertgoers will have two opportunities to hear holiday spirit come to life at Summerland School. On Monday, Dec. 12, junior and senior high school choir and band members will perform at 7 p.m., in the auxiliary gym. Elementary musicians will perform Dec. 20, at 7 p.m., in the main gym. Fifth- and sixth-grade bands will start the show, followed by the kindergarten through sixth-grade program, “Holly and the Ivy League.” The musical, written by Roger Emerson and John Jacobson, introduces Holly Day, who is upset because girls aren’t allow...
6 will be the second largest capital credits payout to NNTC customers in the company’s history. On Dec. 1, capital credit checks were mailed to 4,492 current customers and 3,930 former customers, totaling nearly $5 million. Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company is one of seven telephone cooperatives in Nebraska. Co-ops have the ability, with board approval, to pay their customers back as the company’s financial situation allows. Since money was made by NNTC, that money stays in northeast Nebraska, giving the area an economic boost. Nin...

Clearwater will kick off the holiday season with its annual old-fashioned Christmas, Sunday, Dec. 4. Soup, sandwiches, desserts and drinks will be served between 5 and 8 p.m., at the American Legion. Donations to the Antelope County Food Pantry will be accepted. Canned items may be dropped off at the event. Santa Claus will make an appearance, so youngsters are urged to bring a wish list to share with jolly old St. Nick. Sleigh rides will be available on Main Street throughout the evening....

CORTLAND – It's five days before the big day. The Model A dashes down West Fourth Street. Its driver pulls up to a brick storefront and strolls inside, jaunty, dressed in his Sunday best. The black-and-white scene turns technicolor, like a Gage County "Pleasantville," as a brunette with cherry red lips leans in with a coffee pot and winks. Welcome to Paper Moon Pastries, the 1930s-style small-town bakery inspired by a classic movie – its public introduction captured by drone and iPhone. Tha...

It's a cactus, so it should be easy to care for – I just water it sparingly and keep it dry, right? Wrong. Whether you have a Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus (or an Easter one, for that matter), you take care of them the same way. Keys to their care come from their native habitat, which is not a desert but the cloud forests of costal southeast Brazil. The high-altitude costal areas where they're from are cool, shaded, and relatively humid with the mists and moisture rich air. They are epi...

For years, I was all about Christmas cookies. Over the course of several days, I'd bake like 18 dozen of six or seven kinds of cookies. I'd make trays to share with friends and coworkers. I'd try new recipes, adding to the basic repertoire every year. It was always fun. And then something happened. I lost my Christmas spirit and with it, my desire to bake Christmas cookies. But recently, I decided enough was enough and I dug out the recipe box and whipped up several batches of old favorites....

The gift of gratitude. The topic has definitely been on my mind lately, even moreso as the holiday season approaches. I’ll blame TikTok for the latest obsession. Earlier this month, East Idaho News, a digital news site based in Idaho Falls, began airing Secret Santa segments. An anonymous donor gave $1 million to bless community members who have fallen on hard times. Recipients come from all walks of life: a 69-year-old widow diagnosed with cancer; a seasonal worker whose tools of the trade w...
The Fred G. Dale Planetarium at Wayne State College will begin its 2022 holiday season Friday, Dec. 2, showing "Season of Light" at 7 p.m., followed by a holiday-themed laser show at 8 p.m. "Season of Light" traces the history and development of many of the world's most endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season. Other planetarium shows on Fridays and Saturdays in December will include "The Sistine Chapel,” a historical show that provides explanations of all of Michelangelo's works in one of the most a...

The farmer was growing impatient. He and dozens of other central Nebraska farmers had gathered for mandatory training in Columbus a few weeks before last Christmas. In response to high nitrate levels, the Lower Loup Natural Resources District had designated a "Phase 3 area." That led to new requirements – like this training to help farmers manage their nitrogen fertilizer use. The farmer didn't like this. He told NRD leaders he had been drinking water containing nitrate at 40 parts per m...

The Clearwater Chamber of Commerce will continue to develop plans for a proposed building at the organization’s rodeo grounds. The size of the building is yet to be decided, following a vote of members at the chamber’s Nov. 1 meeting. President Curt Thiele said the organization entered a purchase agreement, with Carla and Eli Jacob, for approximately 1.73 acres adjacent to the chamber property during July. Then, plans were devised to construct a 60-foot by 50 -foot building, which would hou...

Sometimes I need to look out my front door rather than out my kitchen window. Today was one of those moments. What a show I was gifted with. The sunrise was a ribbon of colors that would be very hard to duplicate. I snapped a photo of the sky, streaked with golds, oranges and blues. There were little puffs of clouds that looked like very stiff whipped egg whites spread across the sunrise. Perfect! There isn’t any more that can be said to describe it. I’ve said goodbye to my colorful view out my...