Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Hastings College has announced the dean’s list for its fall 2025 semester. For the semester, 342 students from 25 states and 10 countries were named to the dean’s list. To be eligible, students must achieve a grade-point average of 3.7 to 4.0 scale, be registered for full-time coursework and have finished all incompletes. Ady Mlnarik, of Clearwater, is included on the dean's list. She has a 4.0 GPA. Lydia Robertson, of Orchard is named to the dean's list, with a 4.0 GPA....
As we look forward to a new year, we reflect on the stories that defined our region in 2025. Articles in this list - and the rankings - are based on page views from summerlandadvocate.com. 1. Hometown Hero: Summerland freshman uses SkillsUSA training to save infant's life As an eighth-grade student, Taelyn Nilson learned CPR and won a state title in Job Skills Demonstration at the Nebraska SkillsUSA Middle School Conference. In December 2024, Nilson used those skills to save the life of an...
Personnel at the Orchard Swimming Pool dove into action Thursday during a coordinated emergency training exercise. After a simulated flip off the diving board, a lifeless body floated in the water. Lifeguard Preslie Robertson sounded her whistle and dove in. Co-manager Dani Janke called 911. Dylan Rotherham grabbed the backboard and sprinted to the scene. Lydia Robertson cleared the pool and joined the response. Once the "victim" was pulled from the water, the Robertsons and Rotherham took...
August Janke took a leap last week-not just off the diving board at the Orchard Swimming Pool, but into uncharted waters of courage. With lifeguards cheering him on, he tiptoed to the board's edge, nerves rippling like waves beneath the surface. Then, with a burst of bravery, he jumped into the deep end. "The guards told him, 'This is for the Huskers.' That's how they got him to jump off," said his mother, Dani Janke, who co-manages the pool with Angie Robertson. That moment marked more than a...
An Orchard native has returned to her roots and will serve as the Orchard village clerk. The Village of Orchard welcomed Mandi (Robertson) Weina, a 1994 Orchard High School graduate, to the position on April 28. Weina brings valuable customer service experience to the position. She was working in Norfolk when the position opened and welcomed the opportunity to work closer to home. While Weina didn't feel she had the full range of experience required for the position, she credited village officia...
As temperatures soared into the 90s on Friday afternoon, high school volleyball action - the first ever played on an outdoor court - sizzled. Summerland grad Lydia Robertson added to the fire, leading the Dark Team to victory in the Northeast Nebraska All-Star Volleyball Match. Robertson recorded nine kills in the five-set extravaganza, with scores of 25-13, 13-25, 25-18, 27-25, and 15-9. The match, played at Norfolk's Memorial Field baseball diamond, featured an outdoor court between the...
Northeast Community College in Norfolk has released the president's honor list and dean's honor list for both full– and part–time students for the Spring 2025 semester. To be named to the president's honor list, students must earn a grade-point average of 4.0 and be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours. Area students named to the list include Aislynn Kester, Clearwater, and Jaycee Reynolds, Ewing. Students named to the president's part–time list attained a 4.0 grade-point average while takin...
Volleyball day in Norfolk will take place this Friday, June 13, at 4 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Baseball Field. The Northeast Nebraska All-Star Volleyball Match will be played on an outdoor court for the first time. Summerland graduate Lydia Robertson is slated to play on the NEN all-stars dark team. Admission will be collected at the entrance, with adults costing $7 and children $5. Anyone age five and under will be admitted for free. Other players joining Robertson will be Chloe Henn, Elgin...
One Summerland track and field standout landed on the medal stand, Friday, during the Nebraska School Activities Association Class C State Track and Field Championships at Omaha Burke Stadium. Junior Ryan Rifer competed in high jump, earning the fifth-place medal. The Bobcat jumper cleared 5' 10 inches and 6 feet without error. He missed his first attempt at 6' 2 inches, but made adjustments and cleared the bar on his second run. When the bar bumped up to 6' 4 inches, Rifer missed twice,...
Two Summerland track and field standouts will have one final time to show why they belong among the this year's best. Senior Lydia Robertson and junior Ryan Rifer will compete in high jump in the Nebraska School Activities Association Class C State Track and Field Championships at Omaha Burke Stadium. Rifer will compete with 22 other athletes at 9:30 a.m., Friday, May 23. Robertson joins 19 other jumpers for an 11:30 a.m. start on Saturday, May 24....
Ryan Rifer will make his second appearance in the 2025 NSAA Track and Field Championships this weekend. Rifer took first place in the Class C4 district high jump, held May 15, at Battle Creek. The Bobcats finished seventh in the boys division, scoring 26 points. West Holt claimed the team title, tallying 142 points. Rifer's teammate, Ruger Switzer, ended fourth in high jump after he cleared 5' 11 inches. Alec Schindler received the fourth-place medal in the 300m hurdles. He finished in 43.91. Pa...
Extreme wind conditions couldn't slow Lydia Robertson. The recent Summerland grad cleared 4' 11 inches in district high jump competition, qualifying for this week's state championships at Omaha Burke Stadium. She claimed the top spot on the podium in the event. Lenora Kester finished fifth in triple jump. She landed at 32' 8 inches. She also ended with a fifth-place finish in the 300m hurdles, running 51.77. Karley Dawkins picked up the sixth-place medal after running 14:17.59 in the 3200m....
Tears of joy and moments provoking laughter played out Saturday, at Summerland Public School, as the Class of 2025 reached a milestone: graduation. Following the processional, played by the Summerland band, Superintendent Molly Aschoff welcomed faculty, family and guests. Lydia Robertson provided the senior welcome. She noted that the communities support and encouragement led to the moment. "Beyond this point, your continued guidance will allow us to accomplish great things in the next chapter o...
Lydia Robertson and Caydence Schumacher packed a one-two punch in high jump at the May 7th Plainview Invite to lead the Lady Bobcat track and field squad. The Bobcats finished sixth in team standings, scoring 57 points. Plainview claimed the team title with 105 points. Results by event include: 100m: Robertson, 3rd, 13.83, personal record; Sophie Rittscher, 17th, 16.63, PR; Ellie Brabec, 18th, 17.30; 200m: Belle Anson, 5th, 30.13; Savannah Gallagher, 13th, 34.11, PR; 400m: Lenora Kester, 6th, 1:08.59, PR; 1600m: Karley Dawkins, 6th, 6:31.42;...
Summerland Public School will bid farewell to its graduating class, Saturday, May 10. Commencement exercises will begin at 3 p.m., at the school, located at 51293 857th Road, Ewing. Under the direction of Emily Heithoff, the Summerland band will play the processional. Superintendent Molly Aschoff will present the welcome, Lydia Robertson will give the senior welcome. Principal Jacob Birch will announce senior scholarships and valedictorian medals. The class address will be presented by Jaycee...
Members of the Summerland girls track and field team set personal and season records during Saturday's Greater Nebraska Activities Conference meet in Atkinson. Lydia Robertson cleared 4' 10 inches and brought home the silver medal in high jump. Robertson placed eighth in the 200m. She finished in 29.89, after a 29.37 performance in the preliminaries. Robertson also finished eighth in the 100m, crossing the finish line in 14.34. She set a personal record in the prelim, running 13.89. Lenora...
Alec Schindler and Lydia Robertson were named the boys and girls athlete of the year. The announcement was made Friday, May 2, during the school's athletic awards program. The two also received honors as four-year, three-sport letter winners. Schindler will continue his athletic career at Wayne State College, where he will be part of the Wildcats football program. Robertson will play volleyball for Hastings College. Recently, she was honored as a Scott Scholar at HC....
The Nebraska School Activities Association announces the student recipients of the Winter 2024-2025 Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association Academic All-State Awards. Since 2006 this NSAA awards program has recognized students who meet the criteria for nomination by their school in the season of their activity. Each year, the NSAA and the NCPA recognize students during fall, winter, and spring seasons who are nominated by their schools for their individual academic excellence, leadership,...
Lydia Robertson and Caydence Schumacher took gold and silver, respectively, in high jump at the April 29 Summerland Invite. Robertson breezed over 4' 10 inches for the top spot. Schumacher set a season record with a jump of 4' 8 inches. Lenora Kester won gold in triple jump. She landed at 32' .5 inches. Kester earned bronze in the 100m hurdles. She set a personal record with a time of 18.06. She picked up a third medal of the day in the 300m hurdles, placing sixth. She ran 53.23. Karley Dawkins...
Three Bobcat high jump participants competed in the Norfolk Track and Field Classic, May 1, at Norfolk Senior High School Ryan Rifer cleared the bar at 6 feet 2 inches to finish second. Ruger Switzer cleared the same height and placed fourth. In the girls division, Lydia Robertson ended in ninth after she jumped 4 feet 10 inches....
Three Bobcat track and field athletes will compete in Thursday's Norfolk Track and Field Classic at Norfolk High School at 4 p.m. Ruger Switzer, Lydia Robertson and Ryan Rifer qualified in high jump. High jump competition will begin at 4, with Robertson competing at the north pit and Rifer and Switzer jumping at the south pit. All field event medals will be award at approximately 5 p.m....
The Nebraska School Activities Association and the Nebraska State College System recently announced the 15,246 recipients of the 2024-2025 Nebraska State Colleges Multi-Activity Student Award. The award recognizes students in grades 9-12 who participate in at least three NSAA sanctioned activities during the academic year. Each high school student who participates in at least three NSAA activities will be recognized and awarded a certificate of achievement by the NSAA and the Nebraska State Colleges. Activity participation will be tracked...
Summerland National Honor Society held its induction ceremony, Wednesday, April 23. Fifteen new members were initiated, including (front row, l-r): Brylie Billings, Isabel Ortiz Ramos, Ava Rittscher, Jaycee Reynolds, Jenna Funk, Sophie Rittscher, Sierra Thomson; (second row, l-r): Abryelle Kester, Ethan Kester, Parker Napier, Logan Kester, AJ Hobbs, Ryan Rifer, Breckyn Bergman and Cassie Livingston. Conducting the candlelight ceremony were current members (third row, l-r): Michael Koenig,...
From more than 150 applications to 40 participants selected for two Community Leadership Challenges to additional interviews that resulted in the final 15, the 2025-26 class of the Hastings College Scott Scholars program completed official signings April 5 and 6. Lydia Robertson, of Orchard, a senior at Summerland Public Schools was selected for the honor. "This is an extraordinary group of students who have already demonstrated their leadership potential and academic excellence," said Dave...
Summerland girls track team finished 11th at the O'Neill Classic Invitational, held April 17. This was the 64th annual event, according to O'Neill Coach Cole Hilker. Lydia Robertson led the Bobcats with a fourth-place finish in high jump. She cleared 5 feet. In her first time running the 3200m, Karley Dawkins placed fourth. She crossed the finish line in 14:12.97. In the 1600m, Dawkins finished seventh, with a 6:27.22 time. Other Bobcat competitors included: 4x100 (Belle Anson, Kanyon Allemang,...
