Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Ella Ricker was sitting in her elementary school orchestra class when she first considered a career in teaching. Her orchestra teachers at Lincoln Public Schools made learning to play music so fun, she wanted to share that joy with others. As a teacher, Ricker said, seeing her students excited to play their instruments and perform in school concerts was her favorite part of the job. But it was also only one part of a growing list of responsibilities in a profession in which she said a good work-life balance had become unattainable. So, after...
Back in the day, twice each year, a debate would break out at the news bureau where I used to work: "Who is going to write the gas tax story?" It was a story you could write in your sleep. "Nebraska's variable gas tax is rising/dropping to ... blah, blah, blah." But it was kind of important. A rise would mean a couple pennies more paid in taxes per gallon; a drop, a penny or two of a break. Nebraska's gas tax is called "variable" because the rate was set based on the calculated needs of state...
This past week, the Legislature gave final approval to the two budget bills. During the long 90-day legislative session, the state’s biennial budget is crafted. During the short 60-day session, adjustments are made to the budget. Adjusting this session’s budget was a much more demanding task since senators had to weigh what agencies and programs would be cut. Combined, both budget bills contain a large collection of cuts, changes, and cash transfers which will bring the deficit down to abo...
As nurses rushed Rachel Woollen to an Omaha operating room, all she could do was pray for the four tiny babies she was about to deliver. "All I could say was, 'Please, God, help them.' I repeated it over and over. One nurse heard me, grabbed my hand, and told me she and everyone else on the medical team were praying the same thing." Brett entered the world at 2:04 p.m. Brother Kaden, sister Parker and brother Cooper followed within the next two minutes. None weighed more than 1.8 pounds. The...
A recycling program could return to Clearwater if village trustees decide to apply for a grant through FirstStar Recycling. The grant would fund a sectioned trailer for cardboard, newspapers, plastic milk jugs, and glass. The sole cost to the village would be to transport recyclables to the compactor at Neligh. During the Jan. 12 village meeting, chairman Kelly Kerkman said he supports recycling and he had given the idea considerable thought. "I'm more concerned about the headache the trailer...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES JANUARY 12, 2026 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Mon., Jan. 12, 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,...
Every day, Laura Gamble sees the importance of Pender Community Hospital in the lives of her neighbors. The woman who drove an hour to deliver her first baby. The man in a mental health crisis. They rely on her northeast Nebraska hospital. "It's like an oasis on the hill," said Gamble, who grew up in the area and practiced as a nurse before becoming the hospital's CEO. The hospital is one of the largest employers in the 1,115-person town of Pender, Gamble said. It delivers more than 120 babies...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NOVEMBER 17, 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 Nov. 12, 2025, in the Summerland Advocate. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is...
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,...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 The Holt County Board of Supervisors met as a Board of Equalization with all members present. Deputy County Assessor Montana DeVries, Deputy County Treasurer Cathy Fuhrer and County Clerk Cathy Pavel were also in attendance. This meeting publicized pursuant to Section 84-1411 R.R.S. 1943. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on Sept. 10, 2025, in the Summerland Advocate. Chairman Frahm...
Hunting at Nebraska’s state recreation areas began Sept. 2. Several hunting seasons opened in early September, including archery deer, dove, grouse, early teal and other small game and furbearer seasons on Sept. 1. Regulations state that portions of some SRAs are open to hunting from the first Tuesday following Labor Day – this year is Tuesday, Sept. 2 – through the end of the spring turkey hunting season, unless restricted. Standard hunting regulations apply. A park entry permit is required for vehicles entering the SRAs. Parks with managed hu...
Labor Day is nearly upon us. Banks will be closed and mail service will be halted for the day. The Advocate-Messenger office will be closed. Staff members will work on the paper since its print deadline is on Tuesday. Contact staff members at lschindler@summerlandadvocate.com or call 402-851-0054. Copy and advertisements are due by noon on Saturday, Aug. 30. Antelope and Holt County courthouses will be closed. Summerland Public School will not be in session on Monday. Classes will resume at the...
The Nebraska State Patrol reminds motorists to finish the summer driving season in a safe manner. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign focuses on impaired driving through Labor Day, Sept. 1. "Our troopers have been working hard throughout the state to maintain safe roadways all summer long," said Colonel Bryan Waugh, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. "As we close the summer travel season, there are still several high-traffic events going on." In the first 10 days of the Drive...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AUGUST 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 a.m., and Board of Supervisors at 9:15 a.m. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on Aug. 14, 2025, in the Summerland Advocate. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is available fo...
Driving down the road the other day, I was startled to hear one of our congressional representatives tell NPR that both Nebraska and Iowa were experiencing "basically a recession economy." Both states have agriculture-based economies, for the most part, and rely on foreign trade. Plus, low crop prices have dogged farmers in recent years. The new tariffs being imposed, here and there, by President Trump have disrupted export markets for American goods, such as corn and soybeans, and caused a lot...
NOTICE TO ALL ANTELOPE COUNTY LANDOWNERS Referencing Nebraska State Statutes 39-301, 39-302, 39-1811, 39-1812, and 39-1813. You are informed that the Antelope County Board of Commissioners adopted the following resolution at their April 13th, 2021, board meeting: WHEREAS, in 2008 the Antelope County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution regarding obstructions in Antelope County Road rights of way, it is the Antelope County Board of Commissioners intention to update said resolution; and WHEREAS the Antelope County Board of Commissioners has...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS JULY 16, 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 a.m., and Board of Supervisors at 9:15 a.m. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on July 9, 2025, in the Summerland Advocate. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is available for...
NOTICE TO ALL ANTELOPE COUNTY LANDOWNERS Referencing Nebraska State Statutes 39-301, 39-302, 39-1811, 39-1812, and 39-1813. You are informed that the Antelope County Board of Commissioners adopted the following resolution at their April 13th, 2021, board meeting: WHEREAS, in 2008 the Antelope County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution regarding obstructions in Antelope County Road rights of way, it is the Antelope County Board of Commissioners intention to update said resolution; and WHEREAS the Antelope County Board of Commissioners has...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAY 16, 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 May 7, 2025, in the Summerland Advocate. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is available for...
NOTICE TO ALL ANTELOPE COUNTY, LANDOWNERS Referencing Nebraska State Statutes 39-301, 39-302, 39-1811, 39-1812, and 39-1813. You are informed that the Antelope County Board of Commissioners adopted the following resolution at their April 13th, 2021, board meeting: WHEREAS, in 2008 the Antelope County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution regarding obstructions in Antelope County Road rights of way, it is the Antelope County Board of Commissioners intention to update said resolution; and WHEREAS the Antelope County Board of Commissioners has...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS April 17, 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 April 9, 2025, in the Summerland Advocate. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is available...
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,...
Even in the best of times, farming is a precarious enterprise. There's drought, floods, hail, wind storms and pests of all kinds to deal with. The cost of fertilizers and pesticides always seems to be on the rise, equipment always seems to break down at the worst moment, and now, prices paid for the crops are below the expected break-even point. And then, in Nebraska, there's property taxes. But now the state's farmers are being thrown a nasty curveball - again - as part of President Trump's...
Melissa Harrell watched from the crowd as members of Nebraska's congressional delegation presented an oversized check for $1.3 million to her City of Wahoo colleagues. The federal grant would allow the city of 5,000 to replace two miles of century-old, leak-prone natural gas pipes. Sen. Deb Fischer, a Republican who voted for the bill that created the grant program, touted the award as proof that "real, bipartisan, and responsible infrastructure reform is possible." Less than a year later,...
This past week, my bill LB246 was debated on General File. Under LB246, the commercial sale and distribution of cultured protein products would be banned in Nebraska. Such products, also known as lab-grown meat or synthetic meat, are made by combining animal stem cells and other ingredients in bioreactors. However, LB246 would not impact the sale and distribution of plant-based protein alternative products. My intent with this bill is to address public safety concerns and help preserve Nebraska...
