Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The Honorable Donna Taylor presided over an array of cases last Wednesday, stemming from fights, traffic crashes, driving while intoxicated or under suspension, to dog attacks. In a rare move, Taylor chose not to follow a sentencing recommendation county attorney Joseph Abler offered as part of a plea deal. Abler recommended a fine only for Smokie J. Pike, 24, of Kearney, in exchange for Pike's no contest plea to third-degree assault, fight by mutual consent, a Class 2 misdemeanor. After...
The Holt County supervisors finalized seating of a board of adjustment when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, June 30. Vice chair Steve Boshart presided, due to the potential for board of adjustment action related to TC Energy matters, with which chairman Bill Tielke has a declared conflict of interest. Clayton Goeke of Atkinson was selected, by written ballot from a pool of three interested citizens, to serve as the alternate board member. Goeke garnered three votes, Cheri Frisch of Atkinson, two, and Tom Schaaf of Lynch, non...
Justin W. Bennett, 24, formerly of Lancaster, California, currently incarcerated at the Antelope County Jail, appeared before the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom Wednesday, June 17, on an extradition request from Los Angeles County, California. Prior to facing the judge, Bennett informed county attorney Joe Abler he intended to request a hearing, to find out what the California charges are about. Documents in possession of Antelope County officials listed allegations by code only. Abler said he had not looked up...
The Holt County supervisors reviewed and set new parameters for daily meal reimbursement when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, June 16. Staff working outside the county will be allowed $10 for breakfast, $12 for lunch and $16 for dinner/supper. The motion was made by supervisor Steve Boshart, seconded by supervisor Doug Frahm and carried on a 6-0 vote, with supervisor Don Hahlbeck absent. Mike Zakrzewski of O’Neill was appointed to the board of adjustments, with Jim Hubel of Ewing, Mark Rossman and Barb Steskal of Atk...
SANDY SCHROTH sschroth@ summerlandadvocate.com Rebecca L. Preister, 32, of Oakdale faced the Honorable Donna Taylor Wednesday, June 3, for a preliminary hearing on a Class 3A felony count of third-degree assault on an officer. Pursuant to a plea agreement with county attorney Joseph Abler, she pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of resisting arrest, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Taylor ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing Aug. 5. Bond filed May 18, in the amount of $50,000, 10% cash, is continued. According to an affidavit, officers...
A former Antelope County deputy has been sentenced for making a false statement last year to a special agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Jeffrey Treu, 63, was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment for his conviction of making a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement, by senior United States District Judge Laurie Smith Camp last week, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Treu pleaded guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement with US attorney Joseph Kelly. The agr...
A former Antelope County deputy has been for making a false statement last year to a special agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Jeffrey Treu, 63, was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment for his conviction of making a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement, by senior United States District Judge Laurie Smith Camp last week, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Treu pleaded guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement with US attorney Joseph Kelly. The agreement was...
The Holt County supervisors approved purchase of a vehicle for the sheriff’s department, when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill on May 18. The lease-purchase through the Nebraska Association of Counties Leasing Corporation, was approved by resolution, in an amount not to exceed $26,900, with an interest rate of not more that 2.5%. The supervisors unanimously approved a $2,722,583 bid from Knife River Midwest from Sioux City, Iowa, for asphalt overlay projects near Page, Emmet and Stuart. Knife River was the only bidder. Proposals from 10...
Andrew J. Harris, 34, of Atkinson was sent to prison by the Honorable Mark Kozisek in the district court of Holt County on Monday. Harris was sentenced to concurrent 18-month terms in an institution under the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Department of Corrections, with credit for 136 days served, for convictions of counts I and II, attempted burglary and attempted theft by unlawful taking, both Class 3A felonies committed Jan. 3 near Stuart; and two concurrent 12-month prison terms, to be served consecutive to the 18-month terms, for...
North Central District Health Department recently partnered with the Nebraska State Patrol to conduct tobacco compliance checks in Antelope County. Checks aim to ensure retailers are properly checking I.D.’s and only selling to those who are 19 or older. Antelope County’s compliance rate was 94.74% with 19 retailers checked, two skipped and one fail. HiWay Mart, City Limits, Dean’s Market, Elgin One Stop, The Home Town Station, Antelope Lanes, Buff’s Dew Drop Inn, Lucky Joe’s Liquor, Casey’s Retail Co. #2378, Cubby’s Inc., Dollar General #6015...
The Holt County supervisors approved a road-use agreement for duration of potential construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, despite the county leaders’ denial of a construction permit in February. Consideration of the road-haul agreement was on the agenda when the supervisors met in the courthouse for an in-person meeting April 30. The agreement had been drafted by Omaha attorney David Domina, with Brent Kelley, Holt County attorney, proceeding, at the request of the supervisors, to negotiate terms with TCE officials. Kelly was present in t...
The Holt County supervisors approved hiring a human resource firm when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill on April 16. With all seven supervisors in attendance at the meeting, the leaders voted 5-2 to contract with Zelle Human Resources of Lincoln to provide consulting services for an initial six-month term, after holding a phone conference with Zelle representative Chad Thies. Supervisors Bob Snyder and Don Butterfield voted nay. According to Thies, the firm would update the county’s employee handbook, making sure it is relevant and mak...
When ESPN commentator Stuart Scott accepted the Jimmy V ESPY award in 2014, Scott said, about his fight with cancer, "I'm still here, I'm fighting. I'm not losing." Scott Leisy, physical education instructor at Clearwater Public Schools and co-coach for the Summerland Bobcat girls' basketball team, said similar words to the Advocate-Messenger in July 2019, in an article which appeared in the July 25th inaugural issue. Leisy's fight with colorectal cancer lasted a little more than two years. The...
Three football players with ties to area schools have been selected for the Northeast Nebraska All-Star Classic. OC's Eli Macke will join Clay Curtis of Royal, who plays for the Creighton Bulldogs and Josh Klabenes, of the CWCE Renegades, in the June 13 classic. The game will be played at Veteran's Memorial Field in Norfolk. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. Mike Sunderman, president of the event's board of directors stated the board will continue to plan for the game. A final decision will be...
Korban A. Palmer, 24, of Meadow Grove appeared in the Antelope County courtroom for sentencing last Wednesday, April 1, on a Class W misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. The Honorable Donna Taylor sentenced Palmer to an eight-month term of probation, including fees of $280, a $500 fine, revoked his drivers’ license for 60 days and assessed him $307 costs for the Dec. 7, 2019, offense committed in Oakdale. He was credited $10 paid for a court-ordered alcohol evaluation. Palmer, a self-litigant, pleaded guilty when he was...
Ashley Koenig, Sidney Stallbaum and Gage Clifton received first-team post-season honors from the Niobrara Valley Conference. Teams were announced Monday. Girls basketball Joining Koenig and Stallbaum were Taylor Peter and Morgan Ramsey, Chambers/Wheeler Central; Miah Wiebelhaus and Hunter Wiebelhaus, North Central; Olivia Nall, Elkhorn Valley; Kalli Kayl, Boyd County; Hannah Sheridan, Santee; Reaghan Engel, Stuart and Kayce Kallhoff, Elgin Public/Pope John. Brenna Wagner and Tiana Thramer were...
The Ewing speech team traveled to the Niobrara Valley Conference speech meet, at Keya Paha County School, in Springview, March 2. Tiger speakers finished sixth of 14 teams. Stuart won the championship and Chambers finished in the runner-up position. Five Ewing speakers earned medals. Katie Hawk finished third in humorous prose and Elizabeth Nordby earned a fifth place medal in poetry interpretation. Sidney Stallbaum teamed with Hawk to earn bronze in duet acting. Hawk, Nordby, Allison Schrunk,...
Ewing speech team individuals placed in five events at Saturday’s Creighton Speech Invitational. Twenty-one teams participated and Ewing finished eighth in team standings. Speakers qualified for championship finals in three events. Elizabeth Nordby earned bronze in poetry interpretation, while Katie Hawk finished third in humorous prose. The OID team of Skylar Eacker, Kyra Nilson, Emily Nordby, Elizabeth Nordby and Hawk earned fourth place medals. Two individuals qualified for the next-in finals. Sidney Stallbaum received the silver medal in e...
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...
The Ewing Tiger speech team tied for second with Stuart in the O/C Whirlwind Invitational speech meet, Feb. 29. Creighton won the meet Kyra Nilson earned gold in serious prose. Katie Hawk and Sidney Stallbaum finished first in duet acting, while Nilson and Emily Nordby ended fourth. Hawk claimed the gold medal in humorous prose. Stallbaum finished second in entertainment speaking and third in persuasive speaking. Three speakers placed in poetry interpretation: Elizabeth Nordby, third; Natalie Stallbaum, fourth and Olga Mendoza, sixth. The oral...
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 Ewing speech team traveled to Burwell, Saturday, where they placed third of 19 teams, behind Ord and Stuart. Medal winners included Liz Nordby, Oral Interpretation of Drama and poetry interpretation, third; Skylar Eacker, OID, third; Katie Hawk, third, OID and duet acting and fourth, humorous prose; Sidney Stallbaum, third, duet acting; (back row, l-r): Allison Schrunk, third, informative speaking; Olga Mendoza top novice informative speaking; Emily Nordby, second, duet acting and third,...
Cyclones speech team members have been fine-tuning performances for competition. Jackie Olivan displays a first-place medal she won at the Stuart Speech Invite, Feb. 8. Olivan, a member of the OC Speech team, was the lone medalist for the Cyclone team. Cyclone junior varsity speakers earned hardware in the novice division at Saturday's Wausa Invite. (l-r): Earning medals were Jacob Behnk, sixth, entertainment speaking; Brynna Umphress, fifth, duet acting; Faith King, fifth, duet acting and...
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...
Ewing speechsters brought home hardware in six events and the varsity team ended seventh of 15 teams at Saturday’s Stuart Speech Invitational. In varsity competition, Katie Hawk and Sidney Stallbaum earned silver in duet acting. Hawk teamed with Skylar Eacker, Liz Nordby, Kyra Nilson and Emily Nordby to earn the silver medal in oral interpretation of drama. Allison Schrunk picked up the bronze medal in informative speaking. Stallbaum ended sixth in persuasive speaking. She was unable to p...
