Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The Board of Directors of Cornerstone Bank announced the promotion of the following officer in Clearwater, at their recent meeting. Austin Rice was promoted to assistant vice president and assistant manager at Cornerstone Bank's Clearwater branch. Rice started his career with Cornerstone in 2024 as a loan officer after previously working as a loan officer at another institution. He grew up in Neligh and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in Agribusiness. Cornerstone...
Dr. L. Dale Van Vleck died Dec. 23, 2025, after a brief illness. Dale was born on June 11, 1933. He grew up near Clearwater on his family farm. Dale earned his bachelor’s (1954) and master’s (1955) degrees from the University of Nebraska prior to serving in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. He then continued his education at Cornell University, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1960, working with Dr. Charles Henderson. Continuing his career at Cornell, he served as a research geneticist prior to a tenure-track position in which he was promoted thr...
The Board of Directors of Cornerstone Bank announced the appointments of the following officers in Clearwater and Orchard, at their recent meeting: Dalton Rotherham was named loan officer in Clearwater. Rotherham started at Cornerstone Bank in June 2023 as a personal banker; and he just recently completed the bank's financial services trainee program. Rotherham graduated from Northeast Community College with an Associates of Applied Science Degree in business, and he is currently continuing his...
LINCOLN--Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha had hoped to hear from state officials, including the governor and the director of the Nebraska Department of Corrections, during a committee hearing at the Capitol on Friday about plans to convert a state prison into a proposed immigrant detention facility. Instead, he heard from four dozen Nebraskans who showed up full of emotion, with posters and written statements to voice their opposition to turning the Work Ethic Camp in McCook into a federal facility to house those arrested by U.S. Immigration and...
While reading Paul Hammel’s “All Things Nebraska” column, I had to chuckle — and wonder how many of us spent our youth detasseling corn. Hand raised, even if only for two summers. If you’ve ever walked those long rows, ripping tassels out, you know about corn sweat. That suffocating heat made early mornings rough. Add a layer of center pivot water, and you’ve got the perfect mix of hot and humid. Detasseling meant climbing on a school bus before sunrise, long-sleeved shirts soaked in dew, and...
On June 18, Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Jason S. Doele, of Norfolk, as district court judge in the Fifth Judicial District, which consists of Boone, Butler, Colfax, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward, and York counties. Doele has been a partner in the law firm of Stratton, DeLay, Doele, Carlson, Stover & Stratton in Norfolk since February 2010. Before that, he was with the firm of Jewell, Collins, DeLay, Gray and Flood, also in Norfolk. Doele is licensed to practice in both...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Feb. 18, 2025 Board Meetings are held on the first working day after the 15th and the last working day of the month. Meetings are held at the Holt County Courthouse meeting room. Board of Equalization at 9:30 A.M. and Board of Supervisors at 9:45 A.M. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on Feb. 12, 2025, in the Summerland Advocate. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is available...
Cornerstone Bank is thrilled to announce the 2025 Travel Club lineup, offering well-planned travel opportunities for our communities and customers across Nebraska. Open to all ages, this program is perfect for those who love to explore new destinations without the hassle of planning. "We've partnered with Gannon Travel Associates of Grand Island to provide expertly curated trips, ensuring a seamless and memorable experience," said Mandy Hengelfelt, Vice President of Marketing & Business Developm...
There's a first time for everything. On July 25 to 29, Orchard will host the Class C Area 1 Senior American Legion Baseball Tournament. Jeff Shabram, coach of the Tri-County Titans based in Orchard, said the Jan. 21 announcement was exciting for Orchard, its ball programs and residents. Shabram, along with John Shaver, commander of Orchard American Legion Post #136 completed the application, which outlined the growth of the Titans program, facility upgrades and the village's experience hosting...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Jan. 16, 2025 Board meetings are held the first working day after the 15th and the last working day of the month. Meetings are held in Holt County Courthouse. Board of equalization at 9:30 a.m., and board of supervisors at 9:45 A.M. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on Jan. 8, 2025, in the Summerland Advocate. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is available for public inspection...
While I am not a big fan of Charles Dickens’ novella “A Christmas Carol,” I feel the ghost of Christmas past likes to visit every night in December. Some memories make me laugh, others are best buried under a blanket of fluffy snow. As I contemplated which gifts to purchase for the grandkids, my mind wandered to our Wausa grandparents. First, Grandma required we make a wish list of five items. In pure Grandma fashion, we would usually get most of them. Spoiled, I know. Then, I didn’t realize...
Effective Thursday, Dec. 5, the Bank of Orchard was merged into Cornerstone Bank. Bill Kester will serve as vice president and manager of the branch. Other Orchard employees include Heidi Blomenkamp, Mary Erb, Gage Clifton and Andrea Williby. "Cornerstone Bank is excited to become a part of the Orchard community and grow our banking operation in this region," stated Zac Holoch, president and chief executive officer of Cornerstone Bank. "Cornerstone is committed to serving the smaller...
Memorial Services for Cauy Shaw, 24, of O'Neill, will be at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Word of Life Christian Center in O'Neill with Rev. Jim Loutzenhiser officiating. Burial will follow in the O'Neill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Word of Life Christian Center. Cauy died on Thursday, Nov.7, 2024, at his home in O'Neill. Memorials may be directed to his family for future designation. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill. Cauy...
Memorial Services for Cauy Shaw, 24, of O'Neill, will be at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Word of Life Christian Center in O'Neill with Rev. Jim Loutzenhiser officiating. Burial will follow in the O'Neill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Word of Life Christian Center. Cauy died on Thursday, Nov.7, 2024, at his home in O'Neill. Memorials may be directed to his family for future designation. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill. Cauy...
One word best defines how Megan Landes-Murphy and her husband Tom Murphy met, made career choices and launched a unique-to-Nebraska business. Sheep. Neither spent much time around the animals while growing up in northwest Wisconsin and the Omaha area, respectively. Now, they have sheep, a few chickens and two Great Pyrenees dogs named Milo and Birdie on their 12-acre ranch east of the small south-central Nebraska town of Lawrence. Two years ago, Landes-Murphy launched Kestrel Ridge Pellet Co.,...
I turned 13 when a magical show debuted on Saturday evenings, full of comedic genius and up-and-coming musicians. I grew up watching what was first dubbed NBC’s Saturday Night. It didn’t become known as Saturday Night Live until 1977, after ABC dumped its lackluster Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell. Those first seasons with the Not Ready for Prime Time Players - Gilda, Dan, Chevy, Jane, John, Garrett and Laraine - are classics. From Roseanne Rosannadanna to Landshark to the Killer Bee...
On Aug. 7, Ben Clifton, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Orchard in Orchard; Kelly Holthus, chairman of Cornerstone Bank, and Zac Holoch, president and CEO of Cornerstone Bank in York, announced an agreement has been reached for Cornerstone Bank to purchase the Bank of Orchard. The Bank of Orchard has total assets of approximately $35 million with total deposits of $30 million and total loans of $9 million. The purchase is subject to regulatory approval with a...
Ben Clifton, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Orchard in Orchard; Kelly Holthus, chairman of Cornerstone Bank, and Zac Holoch, President and CEO of Cornerstone Bank in York, Nebraska, announced today an agreement has been reached for Cornerstone Bank to purchase the Bank of Orchard. The Bank of Orchard has total assets of approximately $35 million with total deposits of $30 million and total loans of $9 million. The purchase is subject to regulatory approval with a...
Isn’t it amazing how a game changes over the years? During the late 1960s, Mom coached volleyball in Clay Center. I remember sitting on the stage in what later became known as the “old gym,” watching her toss the ball to the girls, running some kind of hitting drill. I can see a line of girls practicing their underhanded serves, some of the balls skimming over the top of the net and landing in the back corner of the court. I vaguely remember a few games taking place against area schools. There...
“Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.” I read this quote, by author Mason Cooley, recently and it made me think about Halloween traditions and costumes from my childhood and ones my kids wore. Mom loved Halloween. She’d decorate our house with pumpkins and black cats and ghosts. Then, on Oct. 31, she’d create a tablescape by the front door, with a kitschy orange plastic pumpkin overflowing with candy, black taper candles and a notebook with parchment paper, so trick-o...
I wonder if people who think nothing cool happens in Nebraska have paid attention to the Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska contest, sponsored by the state’s manufacturing alliance. ICYMI, here’s how it works. Manufacturers and related sectors were invited to nominate their favorite Nebraska-made product. The top 16 were placed in a bracket, with head-to-head voting taking place. What products made the top 16? Chocolate Meltaways from Bakers Candies; M Grills Big M Smokers made by Kinney Man...
It's unlikely Alex Thiele will forget the significance of Saturday. The senior wrestler became the first Bobcat to record 100 career wins. The record was set in the third-place match at the Wakefield Trojan Wrestling Invite, when Thiele pinned Edwin Carey, a Millard South junior varsity team member, in 2:59. "It is super exciting to be the first Bobcat wrestler to get 100 wins," Thiele said. "Ever since I started wrestling, it has been a goal of mine. It especially means a lot because I have...
Memorial services for Betty L Vackiner, 97, formerly of Ewing, will be held later in the spring. Betty died at Arbor Care Center, in O'Neill, on Jan. 6, 2023. Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater will be handling the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.snidermemorialfh.com. Per Betty's wishes, her cremains will be joined with Ed's and laid to rest in Snyder, Nebraska, in the spring. Memorials are requested to the Ewing American Legion Auxiliary and Ewing Fire and...
A Kansas trucker received hefty fines for an overweight load in Holt County after leaving the scene of an Aug. 10 traffic crash site in another county. A Nebraska State Patrol carrier enforcement officer cited Robert A. Bradfield, 46, of Clay Center, Kansas, for offenses including two counts of overweight single axle/group of axles - actual weights of 33,100 and 36,000 pounds (legal weight allowed on each – 20,000 pounds); one count of having no law enforcement escort; and a count over c...
The Honorable Kale Burdick sentenced four defendants when he presided from the Holt County bench Sept. 6. Michael Ford, 34, of Oakland appeared for sentencing on a Class 2 misdemeanor count of issuing a bad check. Burdick sentenced Ford to a 12-month term of probation, including a $30 enrollment fee and $60 in drug testing fees, to be served concurrently with probation ordered in a recent district court bad check case. Probation program fees of $300 were waived. He was ordered to pay $394.85 restitution to Big Red Motorsports and was taxed $60...
