Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 178 - 202 of 250
Trey A. German, 20, of Inman appeared before the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district court last Monday, Feb. 22, for sentencing on one count, theft by unlawful taking, a Class 1 misdemeanor committed in October 2019. Kozisek sentenced German to a 24-month term of probation, including related fees totaling $630, and restitution of $4,000 to the victim of the crime. He was taxed $147 cost of prosecution as well. The charge was reduced from a Class 4 felony, theft by unlawful taking, Dec. 30, 2020, pursuant to a plea deal. In...
The Summerland Bobcat speech team competed Monday in the Niobrara Valley Conference tournament held in Elgin, placing sixth of 16 teams. Chambers was first; Stuart, second; St. Mary's, third; West Holt, fourth; and Boyd County, fifth. Medal winners included the duet acting team of Emily Nordby and Kyra Nilson, who placed third; the oral interpretation of drama team, comprised of Adrienne Parker, Madison Melcher and Ashley Melcher, finished fourth; Adrienne Parker, sixth in persuasive speaking;...
Robert M. Gotschall, 36, of Atkinson faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O'Neill last Tuesday, Feb. 2, for a preliminary hearing on a felony charge, abuse of a vulnerable adult. Pursuant to a plea deal with Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly, Gotschall entered a no contest plea to a reduced charge, third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Burdick found Gotschall guilty and sentenced him to 60 days in the Holt County Jail, with credit for 56 days previously...
Joshua A. Boettcher, 29, of Stuart was sentenced to 18 months in a facility under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services for a July 2019 crime. Boettcher was sentenced by the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the Holt County district courtroom Jan. 22. “Your prior history of criminal behavior is a concern…it began when you were a juvenile and has continued more or less consistently since,” Kozisek said, while reviewing sentencing guidelines with Boettcher. “Placing blame on your victim flies in the face of the facts…y...
Niobrara Valley Conference basketball tournament play tips off this weekend. The Summerland boys' team enters as the 10th seed and will face Elkhorn Valley, Saturday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m., at St. Mary's in O'Neill. Saturday games start with a matchup between West Holt and North Central, slated for 2 p.m., at SMH. At 3:30, Santee will face Boyd County on the Spartans' home court. A 6:30 p.m. game will feature Niobrara-Verdigre versus Chambers/Wheeler Central. They will meet at Boyd County. A...
Bobcat speech team members participating in the Jan. 23 Summerland Invite, in Clearwater, include (l-r): Jacob Behnk, Adrienne Parker, Ashley Melcher, Madison Melcher, Emily Nordby, Kyra Nilson, Natalie Stallbaum, Faith King and Austin Muff. The Bobcats placed fourth of nine teams. Stuart won the team title and West Holt received the runner-up trophy. Earning medals were Kyra Nilson and Emily Nordby, second, duet acting; Madison Melcher, Ashley Melcher and Adrienne Parker, second, oral...
A Texas couple, accused in the theft of a pickup and camper, recently had their Antelope County charges dismissed. Antelope County attorney Joe Abler told the Advocate, on Monday morning, “Local Antelope County charges against Rodney Anderson and Lauren Lucas were dismissed last week, after my office was contacted and informed by the Scotts Bluff County attorney’s office that felony charges and warrants for theft of the same motor vehicle had been filed in that jurisdiction. As far as the alleged felony theft of a camper from a business in Hol...
A Texas couple is being held in the Antelope County Jail on $25,000 bond, with charges related to a stolen pickup and camper discovered near Orchard on Monday, Dec. 28. Rodney A. Anderson, 28, homeless, and Lauren A. Lucas, 23, of Tomball, Texas, appeared before the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Jan. 5, facing felony charges related to the thefts of a Chevrolet pickup from Scotts Bluff County and a camper from Stuart. Each defendant is charged with two counts, a Class 2A felony, theft by unlaw...
If 2020 vision existed, the past year may have turned out differently. Or, maybe we needed this year to define our strengths and guide us toward a revision of what we deem as normal. The year 2020 caused us to slow down and realize what matters most. While coronavirus - and all its implications - dominated the news cycle, other news items drew attention: groundbreaking for the new school site, cruise nights honoring graduates, new businesses opening and surviving a pandemic, pumpkin patches spro...
The Lady Bobcats took on the Stuart Broncos, in Orchard, on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Behind a strong offensive performance from Adyson Mlnarik, the Lady Bobcats won 54-34. The Summerland girls were able to gather an early lead that they took into half time. After the break they came out very sharp and took a commanding lead, supported by great shooting and strong third quarter defense. Coach Greg Appleby was pleased with the performance and believed they played a "complete game ... both offensively...
The Bobcats met a stout Stuart Broncos team on Tuesday, Dec.15, in Orchard. They fell to the Broncos in a tough game, the final score was 66-45. Levi Cronk led the way for the offense with 10 points. The Bobcats were able to keep things close and, going into the second quarter they were only down eight. Then, early in the second, the Bobcats went on a run and cut the lead to six, but the Broncos were able to hold them off and went into half-time with the lead. The second half proved to be...
Kyle L. Boettcher, 31, of Stuart faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt Count courtroom in O’Neill last Tuesday, Dec. 15, for a hearing on four counts, Count I, possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony; Count II, no valid registration, a Class 3 misdemeanor; Count III, possession of marijuana and Count IV, possession of drug paraphernalia, infractions. A plea deal was reached, resulting in Holt Count prosecutor Brent Kelly reducing Count I to attempted possession, a Class 1 misdemeanor, with a joint sentencing r...
The Lady Bobcats put in a strong performance, making nine three-pointers, in a game they won, 49-3,7 against the Boyd County Spartans this weekend. They were led offensively by Avery Cheatum and Adyson Mlnarik, who both contributed 11 points. The Lady Bobcats started the game slow in a close first quarter but were able to stretch the lead with good offense in the second quarter. During the second half, the Lady Bobcats were able to hold onto the lead behind precise shooting from deep court. The...
Avery Cheatum and Brenna Wagner were two of 12 players selected for first-team honors by the Niobrara Valley Conference. Selections for first- and second-team choices, as well as honorable mention nods, were announced Monday, by conference officials. The two Summerland seniors join Audrey Mohr and Lauryn Hoffman, Boyd County; Morgan Ramsey, Ryann Haburchak and Tessa Metschke, Chambers/Wheeler Central; Allyson Selting, Lexi Bode and Taylynne Charf, Elgin Public/Pope John; Carney Black, Elkhorn Valley and Lexi Schroeder, Stuart. Summerland Head...
Rebecca D. Strong, 56, of Stuart, appeared before the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom Tuesday, Oct. 20, accused of a Class 2 misdemeanor, theft by deception. Strong pleaded guilty to obtaining by deception, between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2010, three Liberty half dollars, having a value of $200 or less. The complaint was filed Oct. 1 this year. Burdick fined Strong $100 and taxed her $50 cost of prosecution. Ross A. Gribble, 21, of O’Neill pleaded guilty, by waiver, to a count of fur harvest/possess fur without a p...
Holt and Antelope county residents who want to request ballots in person to vote early, must do so by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at either county clerk’s office in O’Neill or Neligh, respectively. All ballots for early voting must be returned to the county clerk’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, either in person, by mail or in the courthouse’s dropbox. The polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day across both counties, including at the following sites: -Brunswick Precinct: Brunswick Community Room. -Clearwater Precinct: America...
The Lady Bobcats downed Neligh-Oakdale, Monday, during the second round of the Niobrara Valley Conference volleyball tournament. Summerland swept the Lady Warriors, 25-16, 25-10 and 25-14, in a contest played in Ewing. The Lady Warriors were pushed to five sets by West Holt, earlier in the evening. Five Lady Cats landed ace serves in the match, including four from libero Avery Cheatum. Coach Rachael Cheatum said, "They executed the offense, played great defense and were effective at the net."...
Local races in the 2020 general election may pique voters' attention this year. Holt County voters have until Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m., to request ballots by mail or fax a request to vote early in this year's election. Individuals may request a ballot in person by Nov. 2, at 5 p.m., at the Holt County Clerk's office in O'Neill. Holt County Clerk Cathy Pavel said 1,900 early voting requests have been received, as of Tuesday morning. All early voting ballots must be received by the county...
Kyle R. Boettcher, 30, of Stuart faced the Honorable Mark Kozisek on Sept. 14 for resentencing after his probation was revoked. Kozisek ordered Boettcher serve 180 days in the Holt County Jail, with credit allowed for 65 days previously served. In addition, he was fined $100, taxed court costs of $75.82, in addition to the original $147 assessed last year, and accrued probation costs of $330. Boettcher was remanded to the custody of the Holt County sheriff. Boettcher admitted nine of 10 violations pursuant to a plea deal with county prosecutor...
Matthew D. Kershaw, 39, formerly of Ewing, currently an inmate in the Colorado Department of Corrections facility in Golden, appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom, electronically, to enter pleas to 2011 Nebraska charges. Kershaw’s attorney, Frederick Bartell of Norfolk, appeared in person. A plea deal was announced, resulting in Kershaw pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count, criminal mischief, $500 to $1,500, and agreeing to pay restitution. Two felony counts, possession of a firearm by a p...
Kraig A. Brown, 33, a former O’Neill resident who is currently incarcerated, faced the Honorable Kale Burdick, electronically from the Omaha Correction Center, last Tuesday, Sept. 15. Pursuant to a plea deal with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly, Brown pleaded guilty to four counts committed March 1, careless driving, an infraction; no proof of financial responsibility, a Class 2 misdemeanor; no valid registration, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and no operator’s license, also a Class 3 misdemeanor. In return, Kelly recommended fines only. Burdick sen...
After a week filled with seven matches, the Lady Bobcats capped off Saturday play with a sweep at the Creighton Invite, laying claim to first place. Tuesday triangular On Sept. 8, Summerland hosted a triangular with Niobrara/Verdigre and Stuart, in Orchard, after EPPJ was unable to host their regular-scheduled double triangular, following a positive COVID-19 case. Summerland made short work of Niobrara/Verdigre, winning 25-11 and 25-2. Brenna Wagner and Emily Nordby finished with seven kills api...
Holt County Supervisors faced a Shakespearean-like conundrum during the group’s Aug. 31 meeting at the Holt County Courthouse. To include $2.5 million, monies promised by TC Energy for a road-use agreement, or not to include that amount in the upcoming road and bridge budget, dominated more than an hour of discussion. Without payment in hand, the proposed levy would cost taxpayers an additional eight pennies, jumping to 36.25 cents, a 31% increase. In the end, supervisors agreed to pursue a $...
The siren song of the big city is quiet in greater Nebraska. Youth today overwhelmingly prefer the connections and comforts of smaller communities to the grind of major metropolises, according to Nebraska Community Foundation’s recent survey of over 1,300 high school students. In January 2020, NCF began working with the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research to co-create the Nebraska Youth Survey, with the purpose of examining young people’s perceptions and persp...
Marco A. Gomez-Rodriguez, 27, of O’Neill appeared in Holt County court last Tuesday, Aug. 11, facing an enhanced driving under the influence charge, no license on person and careless driving. Pursuant to a plea agreement with Holt County prosecutor Brent Kelly, Gomez-Rodriguez entered guilty pleas to a reduced Count I, DUI, first offense, low test, and Count III, careless driving, an infraction. In return, Count II, no license on person, was dismissed. The Honorable Kale Burdick sentenced him to a $500 fine, seven days in jail, with credit f...
