Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Deb Ferris and Gene Snodgrass, representing Clearwater's Big Rodeo, accept the Mid-States Rodeo Association's Large Purse Rodeo of the Year Award from Pam Hollenbeck, M-RSA executive board member. The presentation was made Sept. 14 at the Mid-States Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo in Hastings. Clearwater's Big Rodeo, sponsored by the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, has been named the top large purse rodeo 15 times....
Oops, they did it again. For the 15th time, Mid-States Rodeo Association contestants voted Clearwater's Big Rodeo as the top large-purse rodeo of the year. Award recipients were announced Sunday. M-SRA members determine winners of the group's annual awards, voting in nine categories, including announcer, secretary, tier, judge, pick up man, bullfighter, timed event contractor and rough stock contractor. The chamber event was tabbed as the top rodeo in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 19...
Cowboys from across Nebraska and South Dakota converged on Clearwater, Aug. 9, for the fifth-annual Rough Stock Challenge, sponsored by the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce. The event also culminated a summer of rough stock action in Nebraska's Roughest Stock Series, sponsored by Justin Boots and Rocking Plus Rodeo Company. Prior to competition, contestants took part in a calcutta, with bidders hoping to capture a share of winnings. Three riders took home pocket change in bareback competition....
The Clearwater Rough Stock Challenge returns for its fifth-annual event, Saturday, Aug. 9. Competition is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., in the Gene Snodgrass Arena, located along West Highway 275. A calcutta will be held at 7 p.m., prior to the first event. Elgin Livestock auctioneer, Ted Baum, will handle auction duties. Stock for the challenge will be provided by Justin Boot and Rocking Plus Rodeo Company. The Clearwater show will be the finals in the Nebraska's Roughest Stock Series, hosted b...
REGULAR PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES July 14, 2025 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Mon., July 14, 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, 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 Kerkman,...
Clearwater is a small village of a few hundred people, boasting no Dollar General -a true Midwest feat -but filled with hearts of gold. Every year, the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce organizes the best weekend in June, three days of fun-filled action. For 58 years, Clearwater's Big Rodeo has brought some of the best contestants, bullfighters, and fans around. Although small, the village is mighty and unites to put on a great weekend. A question often asked is, "Why Clearwater's Big Rodeo?"...
It’s been a day. A Monday. A rainy Monday. Rainy days and Mondays always get me down. (Shoutout to The Carpenters. We sang that song in high school choir. Yes, I’m showing my age—and proud of it.) When the flood alert for Grove Lake popped up, my first thought was to grab my camera and head for Royal. But as hail—small, sharp—tapped the tall office windows, I reconsidered. Maybe it was time to head home. Instead, I took a detour around the north side of town to document the high water. Ju...
The 2025 Miss Clearwater Rodeo knows her way around the arena - and a saddle. Kaylee Thiele, of Clearwater, grew up horseback, riding alongside her dad, Curt Thiele. Working cattle with him taught her a valuable rodeo rule: when the ride gets rough, adjust your grip. She put that lesson to the test Friday night in the Gene Snodgrass Arena, during the crowning ceremony. "My horse was acting up. I was trying to listen and not focus on him," the 16-year-old said. Then the crowd let out a roar. "It...
The next Miss Clearwater Rodeo will either be from Clearwater, Atkinson or Plainview. Kaylee Thiele, of Clearwater; Aubrey Blackburn, of Atkinson; and Jozlyn Anderson, of Plainview, will begin the journey toward the 2025 crown, Friday, June 27, at 2 p.m. Horsemanship competition will be held in the Gene Snodgrass Arena. Queen Coordinator Devon Baum said, "Horsemanship is a large part of obtaining and holding a rodeo queen title and holds a lot of weight with our judges." Contestants will...
Bayker Blankenship is hitting new highs and signing record deals, all while still being a young adult. At 20 years old, Livingston, Tennessee, native Blankenship went viral on social media with his song "Maxed Out." Blankenship will perform Saturday, June 28, at 8:45 p.m., on Clearwater's Main Street. In a short period, his viral tune was all over the music world and had more than 100 stitches on TikTok. This success led the artist to sign with Santa Anna Label Group, an accomplishment for such...
The best weekend in June kicks of next weekend, as the 58th annual Clearwater's Big Rodeo takes center stage. Competition begins Friday, June 27, and continues through Sunday, June 29, at the Gene Snodgrass Arena, located along West US Highway 275 in Clearwater. Members of the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce have been preparing for the event for more than nine months. Chamber President Curt Thiele said rodeo committee members continue to make improvements at the arena, giving visitors and...
Call-ins for mutton busting for the 58th annual Clearwater Rodeo will be Monday, June 23, from 5 to 6 p.m. To enter, call Elly Herley at 402-640-9738. Text messages will not be accepted. Participants must be 3 to 7 years of age. Each night, 15 spots will be reserved for call-ins. The remaining 10 spots will go to walk-in participants who register the night of the rodeo. Organizers suggest individuals wanting to register the evening of the rodeo should arrive early. Mutton busting will begin at...
REGULAR PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES June 9, 2025 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Mon., June 9, 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, 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 Kerkman,...
Young women ages 14 to 24 are invited to apply for the Miss Clearwater Rodeo contest. Applications are due by June 13 and are available by contacting Devon Baum, contest director, at missclearwaterrodeo@gmail.com or texting or calling 402-843-0446. The queen contest will be held Friday, June 27. Candidates will take part in mutton busting' activities as Clearwater's Big rodeo kicks off its 58th annual event. According to Baum, contestants will vie for several awards, including horsemanship,...
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...
Clearwater Village Trustees approved mowing bids and building permits when they met in regular session, April 14. A request for a home addition at 85130 515 1/2 Avenue, submitted by Andrew and Jessica Blecher, was approved. Tim and Kristen Kester submitted a permit for a "dog-proof" fence and a dog kennel to be located at 503 Mitchell's Avenue. Chairman Kelly Kerkman said he had been approached by the Kesters about adding the kennel instead of adding permanent fencing, as requested by trustees...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES APRIL 14, 2025 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Monday, April 14, 2025 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, 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 Kerkman,...
Jackie (Kallhoff) Sidman, who was named after her father, was born Aug. 28, 1964 in Neligh, the daughter of Jack and Bonnie (Damme) Kallhoff . She died at her home in rural Kensington, Kansas, due to complications from diabetes, on Jan. 9, 2025, at the age of 60. Her early years were spent on the family farm south of Clearwater. This is where the "cowgirl" was started, as she loved taking care of the animals and riding "her" horse Tom. She lived in and around Clearwater until graduating from...
As 2024 comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the stories that captured our communities' attention. Using website traffic data, we've compiled a list of the most-read stories from each month. This data not only reveals what resonated most with our readers but also helps us, as SAM publishers, identify emerging trends and areas of interest within the Summerland region. It's worth noting that the most-read articles aren't always the top news stories of the year. Sometimes, lighter...
When Larry and Judy Parker moved to Clearwater in 1965, little did they know they would spark the idea for one of the hottest rodeo tickets in Nebraska. On Nov. 9, Clearwater Chamber of Commerce honored the Judy Parker, the late Larry Parker and Steve Patras, of Clearwater, for orchestrating the first Clearwater Rodeo in 1967 and named the new building on the grounds the Double P Tack Room. Larry Parker died in 2004, in an automobile accident near Mission, South Dakota. During Saturday's event,...
Clearwater Chamber of Commerce vice president, Jeremy Sanne, and president, Curt Thiele, display the 2024 Mid-States Rodeo Association Large Purse Rodeo of the Year award during Saturday's chamber appreciation and dedication dinner at the rodeo grounds....
At first glance, the Clearwater Veterans Park, located at the intersection of Main and Nebraska streets, pays homage to those who served this country. Flags recognizing each military branch of service wave on the eastern side of a concrete walkway. A bright mural decorates the south wall of the library. A plaque, defining the term "veteran," is installed. Benches supply a place for visitors to sit and reflect. As of Sept. 11, two more pieces have been added: a battlefield cross and a soldier bea...
For the 14th time, Clearwater's Big Rodeo, scheduled annually for the last full weekend in June, received the Mid-States Rodeo Association's award for large-purse rodeo of the year. Award recipients were announced Saturday, during the association's finale in Broken Bow. The chamber was tabbed as the top rodeo in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Rodeo co-chairman Jeremy Kester attributes the event's success to a supportive community and large group...
Homecoming festivities for Summerland Public School kick off Sunday, Sept. 8, with a bonfire at the rodeo arena in Clearwater. Fun and games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Each class has been assigned a class color. Seniors will wear white; juniors, pink; sophomores, black; freshman, blue; and junior high, yellow. Dress-up days have been set and will be the same for all classes. Monday, Sept. 9 is 'Merica Day. Students are asked to dress in red, white and blue. On Tuesday, Sept. 10, grab a...
The Clearwater Rough Stock Challenge will add a few new features for its fourth-annual event, Saturday, Aug. 17. Competition is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., in the Gene Snodgrass Arena, located along West Highway 275. A calcutta will be held at 7 p.m., prior to the first event. Elgin Livestock auctioneer, Ted Baum, will handle auction duties. Justin Rumford, 10-time PRCA Pro Rodeo Clown of the Year will entertain the crowd between riders. "He'll be a hit with the crowd," said chamber president...
