Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1001 - 1025 of 1085
Not even the world's largest shamrock, located at the junction of U.S Highway 281 and U.S. Highway 275/20, could bring the luck of the Irish to O'Neill, as the majority of events during the annual St. Patrick's celebration have been canceled. According to Laurie Havranek, O'Neill Chamber of Commerce director, the decision to cancel activities resulted from a combination of things. "It's in the best interest of our community at this time," Havranek said. Friday evening's dodgeball tourney will...
Organizations and institutions across Nebraska are taking precautionary measures amidst concerns about COVID-19. While no cases have been reported in Antelope, Holt or Wheeler counties, the North Central District Health Department has identified a presumptive positive case in Knox County. NCDHD received notification a Cherry County individual tested negative for the disease. Here is a list of cancellations, as of Friday, March 13: Fish fries On Thursday, the Archdiocese of Omaha requested its...
The Nebraska Primary Election is May 12, 2020. Holt County received a lot of interest in filing for offices, but due to auto-advance rules, all local school board races, county supervisor district six, city races, airport authorities, Natural Resource Districts, Nebraska Public Power District and Northeast Community College races will not appear on the Primary Election ballot. These races will appear on the General Election ballot. Holt County voters will be voting on the president, Senate and Congress representatives. Local issues that will...
Six Holt County supervisors listened as nearly 50 citizens presented testimony last Friday afternoon. A public hearing regarding TC Energy's application for a pipeline construction permit was held in the district courtroom at the Holt County courthouse. Pipeline opponents, from elementary students to 90-year-old grandparents, packed the courtroom, filling approximately 100 seats, and spilled out to the second-floor hallway. Speakers were called in order of sign-up, which had begun in the morning...
This Friday, Holt County Supervisors will consider whether a conditional use permit will be granted for TC Energy or if a recommendation from the Holt County Planning and Zoning Board will take precedence. A public hearing is set to begin at 1:30 p.m., in the district court room at the Holt County Courthouse in O'Neill. At a Jan. 28 hearing, zoning officials voted 6-1-1 to recommend the board of supervisors to deny the application as incomplete, per section 2.1, paragraph three, until...
A Ewing man was sentenced to three years in a facility under jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections on Monday. Tyler J. Napier, 21, was sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district court for three crimes committed in August 2018. Kozisek sentenced Napier to serve 24 months, less 169 days credit for time previously served, on Count III, criminal attempt of terroristic threats, a Class IV felony; 12 months on Count VIII, third-degree domestic assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, to be served consecutive to...
Benjamin Parks, 22, of O’Neill appeared in Holt County court last Tuesday, Feb. 18, for a preliminary hearing on two charges filed by chief deputy Nebraska Attorney General David Bydalek last November, Count I, tampering with a witness, a Class 4 felony committed May 6, 2019, and procuring alcohol for a minor, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A plea deal was struck with prosecutor Mariah J. Nickel, assistant attorney general, and Parks attorney, Allison Rockey Mason of Norfolk. In exchange for a no contest plea to Count II, Nickel dismissed Count I. T...
One of the bills that I introduced this session was LB 770. It authorizes a free lifetime park permit for disabled veterans. This past week, LB 770 was advanced from the Natural Resources Committee on an 8-0 vote. I designated it as my priority bill and the Legislature gave it first-round approval on a 38-0 vote. Under LB 770, a veteran would be eligible for the free permit if they are a Nebraska resident, honorably discharged, and rated 50% or more service-connected disabled or 100% disabled, n...
The Honorable Kale Burdick presided over Holt County court last Tuesday, Feb. 11, handing down four sentences. Conrad A Lurz, 29, of Ellington, Missouri, formerly of O’Neill, faced Burdick for sentencing on two counts, second-degree false imprisonment, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor. He was sentenced to concurrent sentences of 30 days and five days in the county jail, respectively, and $60 costs of prosecution. Lurz was given credit for 10 days previously served for the May 4, 2019, offenses. Lurz changed...
The Holt County supervisors spent nearly two hours at a meeting last week, reviewing a road-haul agreement brought to the table by TC Energy representatives last October, paragraph by paragraph, despite having a new agreement drafted by Dave Domina in hand. The scrutiny came after Holt County attorney Brent Kelly presented a preliminary agreement drafted by the Omaha attorney who was hired by the county officials on a 4-2 vote Oct. 31, 2019, to negotiate a road-haul agreement with TC Energy. At Kelly’s suggestion, the supervisors held an execut...
Budd D. Sholes, 40, of Norfolk was sentenced last week in Holt County district court for December 2018 and January 2019 crimes committed in Holt County. The Honorable Mark Kozicek ordered Sholes to serve four terms in a facility under jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. If he loses none of his good time, Sholes must serve 15 months, less five days credited for time served in the county jail, before becoming eligible for parole, and 60 months (five years), less five days, before mandatory release. Sholes pleaded...
Currently, forty-nine state senators serve in the Nebraska Legislature. Under the Nebraska Constitution, this number could be increased to 50 senators, but an even number of senators could result in a vote ending in a tie, requiring the lieutenant governor to cast the deciding vote. Speaker of the Legislature, Sen. Jim Scheer, introduced LR 279, a constitutional amendment authorizing the Legislature to increase the number of state senators up to fifty-five. If LR 279 is passed by the...
The Honorable Kale Burdick, in Holt County court last week, sentenced Joshua A. Boettcher, 28, to serve 30 days in the Holt County Jail for a Class 2 misdemeanor count of theft, less than $500. The complaint, filed in June 2019, stated Boettcher took movable property of another between Jan. 9, 2018, and Jan. 9, 2019. Boettcher will serve a 45-day sentence at the same time on a conviction of second-degree forgery, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed Oct. 27, 2018, included in the same complaint. As part of a plea agreement entered in October 2019,...
Summerland will enter post-season play as the third seed in the C2-7 subdistrict. On Monday, Feb. 17, Boyd County, the fourth seed, will meet fifth-seeded West Holt at 7 p.m., at O'Neill High School. The winner of that contest will play top-seeded Crofton, Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. Summerland will tipoff against North Central at 7:45. Winners of Tuesday's games will battle for the subdistrict title at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20...
The Summerland Lady Bobcats will meet Boyd County in the consolation game in the Niobrara Valley Conference tournament, Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., at Atkinson-West Holt. Thursday, CWC tripped up the Cats, 41-31, in the semi-final game in Niobrara. Head Coach Greg Appleby said the game was a tough loss against a very good CWC team. "We played well enough defensively to be in the game, but our offensive was not efficient or productive enough across the board." Summerland's defense...
Holt County citizens filled the county supervisors’ meeting room in the courthouse last Friday morning as the county leaders took care of business. Bryan Steskal of Steskal read a letter penned by his wife, Diana Steskal, who was unable to attend the meeting. In the letter, Steskal wrote the Holt County zoning board members denied TransCanada’s conditional use permit until two conditions are met, including one that requires obtaining easements. Many, she said will most likely be appealed. She also cited three federal court cases filed aga...
Niobrara Valley Conference officials recently announced names of students who qualified for the NVC Principal's All-Academic Team for 2019-2020. To be eligible, students must be a junior or senior with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or above. Seven Clearwater students were named to the list, including Kierra Bearinger, Lauren Behnk, Taylor Ann Bolling, Tyler Hupp, James Kester, seniors; and Hunter Klabenes and Eli Thiele, juniors. Nine Ewing students received recogniton including...
The O'Neill Volunteer Fire Department, its chief and two community members were recognized by Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts last week for service performed during the March 2019 floods. Ricketts made a stop in Holt County on Friday to present fire chief Terry Miles and members of the fire department with a flood hero proclamation. The award commemorates the department's rescue of a rural resident who was stranded in his home by the flood waters, as well as the volunteers' efforts in helping...
Niobrara Valley Conference basketball tourney action tips off this weekend, with games scheduled in Niobrara and Santee. Girls bracket The fifth-ranked Summerland Lady Cats will meet West Holt at 5 p.m., Saturday, in Niobrara. The Lady Huskies enter as the number 12 seed. At 3:30, seventh-seeded Elgin Public/Pope John will play Niobrara/Verdigre, the 10th seed, at 3:30 p.m., in Niobrara. In Santee, the host team will face Neligh-Oakdale, at 3:30 p.m. Santee enters as the eighth seed, while the L...
The North Central Nebraska Job Fair will be Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 3 to 8 p.m., at the O’Neill Community Center, located at 501 S. 4th Street, O’Neill. Meet with employers from across the region about their available job and career openings. Full-time, part-time, and seasonal opportunities available. For more information, contact Holt County Economic Development at 402-336-1504 or email info@growholt.com....
Michael Braband, 25, of Elgin faced the Honorable Kale Burdick Jan. 21, in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on a Class 2 misdemeanor count of issuing a bad check, less than $500. He entered a guilty plea per terms of a plea agreement reached with prosecutor Brent Kelly. Burdick sentenced Braband to pay a $50 fine, $34.01 restitution to First Stop in Atkinson and $50 costs. Braband wrote the check Sept. 4, 2019. Rowdy J. Berger, 26, of O’Neill entered an amended plea of guilty to a Class 3 misdemeanor count of driving under suspension aft...
Charlie Henery was elected as chair of the Antelope County commissioners for 2020, when they met last week. Henery takes the gavel from Dean Smith, who took on the chairman duties when the former chair was removed from office. Regina Krebs, who was appointed to the board in October 2019, was elected vice chair. Henery and Krebs were each the only nominee for their positions, nominated by commissioners Eli Jacob and Carolyn Pedersen, respectively. Reorganization of the board was delayed until...
Memorial services for Roger W. Pofahl, 82, of Ewing, were Thursday, Jan. 23, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Clearwater with Pastor Daniel Feusse, officiating. Sherri Ahlers and Bob Sisson provided music. Honarary pallbearers were his grandchildren. Roger died Jan. 19, at Arbor Care Center in Neligh. Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater handled the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for future designations. ~~~ Roger William Pofahl was born Oct. 22, 1937, to Louis W. and Edith M. (Huff) Pofahl at...
“At Holt County Economic Development we believe we are stronger together. When all of Holt County’s communities work together we build a stronger rural community in Holt County,” said director Darby Paxton. Holt County’s leadership program, HomeTown Leadership Institute, is a way to learn more about the people, businesses and organizations in Holt County and bring the communities together. Join the 2020 HomeTown Leadership Institute to be inspired to build a stronger rural community and continue to grow Holt County. HomeTown Leadership Institu...
Three Holt County supervisors agreed, when the leaders met at the courthouse in O’Neill last Thursday, to serve on a committee to look for ways to improve efficiency within the road department. Road superintendent Gary Connot described several recent issues he attributed to lack of training, oversight and accountability. “I personally think we have got to get more oversight, more practical training and more instructions to our motorgrader operators,” he said. “We had a guy this last summer – we had the best set of roads in the county – in a per...
