Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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It started as a way to pay for a wedding but has now turned into 45 years of helping families celebrate the Fourth of July. Hamilton Fireworks, in Orchard, first started when Donna and Darrell Hamilton needed to pay for a November wedding in 1981 and decided to sell fireworks during the summer to cover those costs. "My husband and I were getting married in November and we sold fireworks that July," Donna Hamilton said. "A friend of ours hooked us up with somebody and we sold them out of the...
Dori Hollenbeck proved why she's the queen of barrel racing after completing a 15.92 run during Saturday's performance at Clearwater's Big Rodeo. The Winner, South Dakota, resident took home $1,365.73 for her efforts. Hollenbeck and fellow performers in all events pocketed more than $30,000 in prize money from the three-day event sponsored by the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce. Kyle Nall-Sillivan of St. Paul finished second in barrels, running 16.14. She received $1,130.26. Dianne Axman of Loup...
The Advocate-Messenger welcomed a new reporter to its team this week. Tayler Huntley joined the staff as a general assignment reporter. Huntley received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and multi-media studies from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Huntley served as an intern for the Delta County Independent. During college, she reported for the Fort Lewis College magazine, The Independent. In Fall 2024, Huntley served as editor of the college's literary magazine, Images. In 2026,...
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Mon., Jun. 8, 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, posted at US Post Office, Clearwater Market, and Cornerstone Bank and given to Board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly Kerkman, Marsha Hart, Cody Kester, Brian King, Jeff Schlecht. Others present: Angie Hupp, Michael See, Lauren Sheridan...
Northeast Community College recently inducted students into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society that recognizes academic excellence among students at two-year colleges. The spring induction ceremony celebrated students who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship, leadership potential, and a commitment to service. Sydni McConnell, Clearwater, and Omar Mejia Moncada, Orchard, were inducted. Phi Theta Kappa's purpose is to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college...
Way back in the day, when I was in high school, I had a summer job of mopping floors at a local hospital. Being a janitor was a really satisfying job because when you were done, you could easily see what you had accomplished, unlike a lot of other occupations. Anyway, one of my compatriots on the broom was a guy named Howard Johnson. Howard was as big as an actual Howard Johnson's and he had an axiom for work: "the simplest way is the best way." As I recently watched the Nebraska Legislature str...
In their own words, former Tyson workers and community members describe the fallout after their town was rocked by one of Nebraska's biggest-ever layoffs When the Tyson Foods plant in Lexington laid off more than 3,000 employees in January, it wiped out jobs for nearly half the town's work force and left no aspect of life untouched. Already, the loss of the plant has forced families to leave town in search of work elsewhere. Dozens of students have left the school system. Businesses have...
The Wheeler County Sheriff's Office responded to a two-vehicle accident at approximately 4:33 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8, at the intersection of US Highway 281 and Nebraska Highway 70. A preliminary investigation revealed that a 2014 Peterbilt with a grain trailer was traveling northbound on US Highway 281, approaching the Highway 70 East turn. Upon reaching the intersection, the Peterbilt collided with a 2007 Ford F-150 that failed to yield as the driver attempted to turn southbound from Highway 70 onto US Highway 281. The driver and sole occupant o...
I like to drive, and Nebraska gives you plenty of opportunities. The state's best road trip might be up the old Oregon Trail, past Chimney Rock to Scotts Bluff. Scenic. Historic. In the fall, you can't beat wandering the hills around Indian Cave State Park. Driving along Highway 12 from Ponca to Niobrara is a close second. Colors galore. The Sand Hills are beautiful in spring, with wildflowers blooming. And you can't beat driving through the Pine Ridge after a fresh snow – as long as it's not bl...
The Antelope County Commissioners met Nov. 10 with all commissioners present. Last week’s public discussion on a possible road closure of 512 Avenue, between 846 and 847 roads, will likely continue in December if easements from all pertinent landowners are signed. Road Superintendent Leigh Kluthe reported to the ACC of the purchase of a 2012 International dump truck. The truck was purchased, with approval from the commissioners, from Mountain Truck & Equipment from Longmont, Colorado, for just under $70,000. The truck is outfitted with a p...
Celebration of Life services for Dianne (Herley) Kent, 83, will be 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, at Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater, with Pastor Bruce Phillips officiating. Burial will be in Clearwater Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 to 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, at Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater. Dianne died on Nov. 2, 2025, at her home in Bentonville, Arkansas. Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be directed to...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES October 13, 2025 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Mon., Oct. 13, 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,...
Writing about life experiences creates the best stories. Summerland elementary students learned that lesson firsthand Monday from author Peggy Sundberg, known as Cowgirl Peg. Each of her nine children's books features a message - from anti-bullying and empathy to respect, friendship and handling peer pressure. SPS media specialist Tricia Whiting said those lessons - perseverance, overcoming adversity and kindness - are worth sharing. Sundberg last visited Summerland about a year ago. "I was limp...
One morning after a night of one too many drinks, I gave in and passed my then 2-year-old daughter my phone to watch cartoons while I slept it off. When I woke up, Peppa Pig was nowhere to be found, but my kid had somehow managed to purchase a vintage Nebraska Territory map online. Well played, eBay one-click Buy It Now. The previous night, I had rabbit-holed into the world of Nebraska yesteryear - and I don't mean the Tom Osborne era. I was marveling at how big Nebraska used to be. Established...
"You should be allowed to say outrageous things." "There's ugly speech. There's gross speech. There's evil speech. And all of it is protected by the First Amendment." Both of the above quotes are attributable to Charlie Kirk, a political activist, media personality and evangelical Christian who was recently murdered, allegedly by a young man angered by Kirk's views on homosexuality and gender transitions. It was a sickening crime, witnessed by hundreds of students attending a Kirk event at a Uta...
Alarm bells are sounding over the lack of robust job growth in the state's two largest cities. A recent study commissioned by the Omaha-based Aksarben Foundation indicated that job growth in Omaha and Lincoln lagged behind its peer cities, such as Sioux Falls, Des Moines and Oklahoma City. An analysis by old buddy Henry Cordes in the Omaha World-Herald found that the number of jobs in Nebraska's top cities grew by 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively, from 2020-24. That's quite a bit less than the 1.8%...
A memorial service for Gregory J. Spurck will be on Sept. 29, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church at 12330 South 36th St., in Bellevue, at 10:30 a.m. Burla will be at 12:30 p.m. at Omaha National Cemetery, with military honors. Greg's visitation will be held Sept. 28, from 3 to 5 p.m., at John A. Gentleman Funeral Home, 3402 Samson Way, Bellevue, with a rosary to follow at 5 p.m. Gregory died on Sept. 22, 2025, in Omaha, surrounded by his loving family. ~~~~~ Greg was born and raised in Geneseo,...
What’s the best thing about a reunion? The wait in between. (Ba dum tss!) Okay, maybe not. But this summer was full of reunions—mini and mega. First up: a gathering with my mom’s siblings and cousins in Tilden. Then a Schindler shindig back at the farm. And most recently, the Class of 2005 from Lutheran High Northeast pulled me into their get-together. At the Fields family gathering, the food table groaned under the weight of sweet treats. Ten desserts—overkill or perfection? Depends how str...
Even though the Legislature stands adjourned for the year, senators and committees are already laying the groundwork for the next legislative session. One way this groundwork is laid is by the holding of interim study hearings by the various legislative committees. Interim study resolutions are typically introduced by senators or committees in the regular session in order to examine public policy issues in-depth during the time the Legislature is adjourned. This past week, the Natural Resources...
As an American flag ripples in the breeze, a soldier returning from the battlefield lifts his wife high into his arms. In her rush to greet him, her shoes become casualties of love, scattered beneath them as their daughter clings to his leg, her face blooming with relief. The embrace is cast in bronze, now a permanent part of Clearwater's landscape. Sculptor Sutton Betti, of Loveland, Colorado, installed the piece - Returning Home - Monday at the veterans park near Main and Nebraska streets....
The 2025 Tandem Wing Fly-In "Field of Dreams" is coming to the O'Neill, Nebraska, Airport. The event is hosted by local pilot/builder Barry Stearns of Ewing. Plans and pilots from California, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, Texas - and places in between - will descent on the Holt County seat. Stearns said some aircraft could arrive as soon as Thursday, Sept. 4, with the majority scheduled to arrive Friday, Sept. 5. The public is invited to attend a fly-in breakfast, Saturday, Sept. 6, from 8 to 11 a.m,...
A memorial service for David Sehi, 82, of Clearwater, will be 10:30 a.m., Aug. 23, at St. John's Catholic Church in rural Clearwater, with Father James Kramper, officiating. A private family burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be 5:30 to 7 p.m., Friday Aug. 22, at St. John's Catholic Church, with a 7 p.m. prayer service. Snider Memorial Funeral Home of Clearwater is managing the arrangements. Dave died on Aug. 15, 2025, at his home, surrounded by family. Condolences may be sent to th...
MINDEN - Waylon Petersen wore a wary look as his family entered the white red-trimmed pavilion. But when the calliope music kicked on and Grandpa hoisted him on a race horse, the 2-year-old's lingering suspicion turned to joy. Over decades, similar scenes had unfolded countless times on the more than century-old carousel at the Harold Warp Pioneer Village, a 20-acre attraction packed with historical items in the heart of Nebraska. Then they stopped. Time and Mother Nature made the carousel -...
A memorial service for David Sehi, 82, of Clearwater, will be 10:30 a.m., Aug. 23, at St. John's Catholic Church in rural Clearwater, with Father James Kramper, officiating. A private family burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be 5:30 to 7 p.m., Friday Aug. 22, at St. John's Catholic Church, with a 7 p.m. prayer service. Snider Memorial Funeral Home of Clearwater is managing the arrangements. Dave died on Aug. 15, 2025, at his home, surrounded by family. Condolences may be sent to th...
Nebraska is slipping into a "two steps forward, one step back" trend when it comes to supporting women in science, technology, engineering and math fields. In 2023, women held a little over a quarter of STEM jobs in the state. That's a slight increase since 2015 and puts Nebraska marginally ahead of neighbors like Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado and Kansas. But the improvement came with bad news: In 2015, Nebraska women in STEM earned around 86 cents to every dollar made by a man. In 2023, that dro...
