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I’m taking a break this week, trying to catch my breath and recoup energy. This week’s edition of the Advocate-Messenger includes eight pages of graduation coverage, including senior photos and future plans, valedictorian and salutatorian speeches and a collage of memorable moments captured on my SD card. I also hope all the mothers who read this had a special day. Scott whisked me away from work for a few hours and took me to one of my favorite spots for a lazy Sunday afternoon drive. Spo...

One year after area schools featured virtual and socially-distanced graduation ceremonies, Summerland School superintendent Dale Martin said 2021 commencement exercises will not have restrictions. "No special rules," he said. "It does sound like we will live stream all three graduations." Graduation ceremonies will be held at each site, beginning Friday, May 7, in Clearwater. Orchard and Ewing sites will hold Saturday events. Clearwater Ten Clearwater seniors are expected to receive diplomas...

Oh, to be on the edge of 17 again, ready to explore the world, ready to turn the page and start a new chapter of life. One of my parents told me, at the time, I thought I knew everything, that my worldly experiences offered a depth of knowledge unrivaled by my peers. So wait, Mom and Dad. Sarcasm noted. I didn’t know everything? Wow. Admit it, you, too, thought you knew it all when you graduated and couldn’t wait to leave the nest to fly on your own. Life at 17 doesn’t offer the same conce...

LUANN SCHINDLER lschindler@ summerlandadvocate.com Brad Thoendel has always been interested in teaching. The Wayne State College senior, originally from rural Ewing, said he wasn't sure if he would ever have an opportunity to stand in front of a classroom and present a lesson. The Chambers Public School graduate said dyxlexia - a learning disorder that affects areas of the brain which process language - nearly prevented him from following his dream. Thoendel will receive his degree from WSC,...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION March 16, 2021 Summerland Public School Board of Education held a regular meeting, Tuesday, March 16, at the Summerland - Orchard site. President Ed Nordby called the meeting, which was published in the March 10, 2021, newspapers, to order at 6:03 p.m. Roll call was taken. Board members present: Candice Hoke, Marty Kerkman, Nordby, Nate Schwager, Steve Thiele and Jeremy Wagner. Motion by Thiele, seconded by Kerkman, to approve the agenda as presented. Voting aye: Hoke, Kerkman, Nordby,...

Clearwater Village Board of Trustees reviewed results of a recent housing survey during the board's March 8 meeting. According to Clearwater Economic Development Director Lauren Sheridan-Simonsen, survey results identify the need for affordable housing as a priority for the village. "The housing shortage has been identified as a priorty for the ED office," she said. The survey evaluated current housing quality, while identifying needs. Included in the results is public comment about housing stoc...
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln awarded diplomas during a virtual graduation ceremony, held Dec. 19. The 1,382 graduates are from 42 countries, 36 states and the District of Columbia and more than 150 Nebraska communities. All 2020 graduates will be invited to participate in a future commencement ceremony. Students from the area receiving awards include Samantha Jo Funk, of Ewing, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in animal science. She is the daughter of Frank and Melanie Funk; Hanna Kay Cronk, of...

A memorial visitation service for Lamont Larson, 93, of Tilden, will be held Saturday, Jan. 9, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Peace United Church of Christ, in Tilden, with Pastor Melanie Miller officiating. A remembrance service is planned for 3 p.m. Private graveside services at the Oakdale Cemetery, in Oakdale, will be held at a later date. Per Lamont's requests, visitors are asked to wear red or Husker apparel to the visitation. Lamont died Thursday, Dec. 31, at Community Pride Care Center in Battle...

A memorial visitation service for Lamont Larson, 93, of Tilden, Nebraska, will be held Saturday, Jan. 9, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Peace United Church of Christ, in Tilden, with Pastor Melanie Miller officiating. Private graveside services at the Oakdale Cemetery, in Oakdale, Nebraska, will be held at a later date. Per Lamont's requests, visitors are asked to wear red or Husker apparel to the visitation. Lamont died Thursday, Dec. 31, at Community Pride Care Center in Battle Creek. Lamont Larson was...

Potential class options, and the implications of each, were presented to Summerland Board of Education members, Nov. 9, during the board's regular meeting in Ewing. Kendra Shrader, Summerland-Clearwater counselor, along with senior transition and business educator, Amy Selting, and Summerland-Orchard counselor, Denise Meyer, presented multiple schedule options. While compiling data, Selting said schedules from schools of different sizes, within the state, were reviewed. "We did take from the...
Wayne State College held its graduation ceremony, Friday, Nov. 20, in Rice Auditorium on the college campus. Due to statewide directed health measures, guests were not permitted at the commencement ceremony. Local residents receiving degrees include Skylar Reynolds, Ewing, business administration/agri-business and Logan Connot Kerkman, Clearwater, business administration and human resource management. Former Clearwater educator Kristen Strom, of Neligh, earned a degree in school counseling, PK - 6 and 7 - 12....

A photo which appeared in the June 25 edition of the Advocate-Messenger received the title of top news photo for the third quarter by the National Newspaper Association. The photograph, taken by LuAnn Schindler, shows 2020 Clearwater graduate Lauren Behnk hugging her niece and nephew following the school's graduation ceremony. Schindler titled the photo, "Sweet success," and included the following cutline: Lauren Behnk receives a hug from her niece and nephew, Cady and Andy Klabenes, during...

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 class of 2020 has left the building. With diplomas in hand, the last class to graduate as Ewing Tigers spent Sunday afternoon together, surrounded by family and school personnel, during a 2 p.m. graduation ceremony. Principal Greg Appleby welcomed guests and reported while the class faced adversity during the final quarter of school, its legacy will be the accomplishments the graduates made throughout their high school careers. "These young kids - young adults, actually - are tough, they are...

Ewing Public School's senior class went from studying history to becoming part it. After spending the last quarter of school learning remotely, and living through a global pandemic, the last class to graduate from the Holt County district will receive diplomas, Sunday, July 26, during a 2 p.m. ceremony. Elizabeth Burival, Mackenzie Cunningham, Skylar Eacker, Katie Hawk, Xavier Hobbs, Joe Hoffman, Emma Hollenback, Ashley Koenig, Emily Kurpgeweit, Connor Napier, Gage Nilson, Elizabeth Nordby, Madi...

How many lifequakes have you experienced? After listening to Bruce Feiler on a podcast, and watching a segment with him on the Today show, I have to answer, “Quite a few.” A lifequake is exactly what it sounds like: a crisis situation that shakes and rattles your life, causing a disruption. Many times, the lifequake leads to a transition point in one’s life. Feiler experienced three crises in his 40s. He was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer, experienced financial trouble during the reces...

Four individuals will vie for the title of Miss Clearwater Rodeo 2020 during Friday's opening evening of rodeo competition. The winner will reign over the 53rd annual event, scheduled for Friday through Sunday, July 10 to 12. Taylor Bolling, of Clearwater; Josey Booth, Neligh; Morgan Erhardt, Orchard and Brooke Lehr, of Columbus, will be judged in horsemanship, congeniality and appearance categories. Prior to Friday's 7:30 p.m. rodeo opening, awards for all categories will be announced, in...

Clearwater Public School seniors did not let the coronavirus spoil graduation, despite limited attendance at Saturday's commencement exercises. The ten graduates turned a stressful final quarter of classes into a memorable celebration. Jackie Olivan welcomed family members and guests. Lauren Behnk, valedictorian, and Kierra Bearinger, salutatorian, shared memories and provided their take on spending one-fourth of the year learning at home following the school's March 13 closure due to COVID-19....

KIERRA BEARINGER Members of the school board, administrators, faculty, staff, parents, family, friends and members of the class of 2020: I would like to start off by thanking everyone in attendance - whether in person or virtually – for helping to celebrate the ending of our high school career and the beginning of the next chapter of our lives. It has truly been a crazy road to get to this day, but we made it and we are here. Many changes have occurred since we began our first day of kindergarte...

They survived a global pandemic and spent the final quarter of their high school career learning via virtual technology. On Saturday, at 1 p.m., 10 Clearwater seniors will walk across a stage in the school's gymnasium and receive their diplomas, the last Clearwater Public Schools class to note the distinction. Kierra Bearinger, Lauren Behnk, Taylor Ann Bolling, Taylor Rose Bolling, Trenton Fletcher, Zach Hoffman, Tyler Hupp, James Kester, Brooke Knievel and Jackie Olivan will receive diplomas....

A global pandemic, social distancing and threat of a thunderstorm didn't keep the senior class at Orchard Public Schools from walking across a makeshift stage to accept their diplomas, June 6. Family members watched from seats on the football field, as Chance Boelter, Gage Clifton, Ira Lampert, Eli Macke, Houston Marino and Gage Switzer became the last class to graduate from OPS. Exchange students Silvia Bode-Garcia and Madleen Reipen were not present. Both students returned to their respective...

Graduation different in midst of pandemic CHANCE BOELTER Valedictorian Family, friends, faculty and staff, welcome to the commencement ceremony for the graduating class of 2020. Thank you to those that were able to make it today, and I am so sorry to those that aren't able to join us under these special circumstances. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in time of challenge and...

In an unconventional year, graduation ceremonies at Orchard Public Schools will have a different look June 6, due to directed health measures in effect. Commencement exercises will begin at 2 p.m., on the football field. Members of the class of 2020 include Silvia Bode, Chance Boelter, Gage Clifton, Ira Lampert, Eli Macke, Houston Marino, Madleen Reipen and Gage Switzer. Bode and Reipen, exchange students, have returned their homes. Class members selected purple and silver as class colors, with...
Clearwater Public Schools will host commencement exercises, Saturday, June 20, at 1 p.m., at the school gymnasium. Social distancing requirements will be enforced. Chairs will be set up throughout the gym. Use of bleachers will be prohibited. Household members of graduates will be seated toward the front. Groups shall be no larger than six individuals, with one exception. Families who live under the same roof may sit together. Principal Mike Sanne said the ceremony will be as traditional as possible; however a few honored traditions will not...
Clearwater Public Schools will host commencement exercises, Saturday, June 20, at 1 p.m., at the school gymnasium. Additional details will be released at a later date....