The Summerland Advocate-Messenger - Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community

The purple ribbon atop the pencil drawing of a famous icon says it all: Best of Show. Caydence Schumacher, a sophomore at Summerland Public Schools, submitted a pencil drawing of Marilyn Monroe to...

Mary Reyes, of Page, was simply looking for something extra to occupy her time, when a conversation with her sister and brother-in-law led to a fresh idea. For nearly a year, Reyes has been creating...

The holidays are for celebrating and Small Business Saturday is a celebration of the key role independent, locally-owned businesses play in Nebraska's economy. Founded by American Express in 2010 and...

Chili. Just one little word that causes so much controversy. And no, I'm not talking about the whole "beans-or-no-beans" debate that seems to pit Texas chili purists against the rest of the world....

Known as "the other white meat," pork got a bad rap for decades. Cook it until it's completely done and it's dry as a bone. Leave it a bit pink in the middle and you'll die of food poisoning. It has t...

I previously wrote about how to save money on your grocery budget even though food costs are on the rise. I offered suggestions from Cami Wells, a Nebraska Extension Educator in Hall County, for foods...

It's hot. You're hot. And you want a cool treat to cool off. Preferably something that just came out of the freezer. Sure you can go to the grocery store and buy all sorts of frozen goodies: Ice...

I recently asked my Facebook friends and family to tell me some of their favorite foods for Easter dinner. While it's always nice to add new dishes to the menu, there is something about holidays that...

As you plan your Easter gatherings, don't forget to include everyone's favorite holiday dish: the ham centerpiece. According to the National Pork Board, around 70% of Americans serve ham for Easter...

This week saw the Legislature resume floor debate and consider several gubernatorial appointments and reappointments. The following people were confirmed this week: Jim Macy as director of the departm...

I know I've mentioned this in previous columns, but popcorn is one of my favorite snack foods. I bet it's one of yours as well. And our love of popcorn is just one of the reasons there is a lot to...

There are lots of dishes out there that are considered comfort foods (meatloaf, mac and cheese, chicken and noodles), but in my opinion, roasts - both beef and pork - have to be included on that...

For kids and adults alike, hot cocoa is often at the top of the list of favorite winter beverages. And with all the store-bought powdered packets available, it's certainly easy to prepare. But guess...

My turn to weigh on the new Husker hire. I’m no football guru, but I’ve been around the program long enough and have plenty of connections with former players (and we talk football a lot), so I fee...

This week, Governor Pete Ricketts is leading a trade mission to Japan to promote Nebraska's quality ag products and to pitch Nebraska as a top destination for international investment. The governor an...

For years, I was all about Christmas cookies. Over the course of several days, I'd bake like 18 dozen of six or seven kinds of cookies. I'd make trays to share with friends and coworkers. I'd try new...

I’m not sure there is a food in the world that says “summer” more than watermelon. Although it’s early in the season, we eat it at Memorial Day cook-outs. The Fourth of July isn’t a proper celebrati...

This past weekend is a blur. After wrapping up last week’s paper and making sure everything was organized for the rodeo, Scott and I headed north, to Fargo, where I was a finalist (and eventually n...

This week I'm sharing a few cool treats designed with the Fourth of July in mind: They are all red, white and blue! And they are not only colorful, but created with kids in mind. Most are simple...

Ask country singer Drew Green to describe one of his concerts and he'll tell you it's a blend of high energy and songs he loves to perform. "It'll be a party," Green said during a telephone interview...

Many years ago (the exact number will remain a mystery), the very first food section I put together for the daily newspaper I was working for was all about strawberries. It was just about this time of...

Thursday is St. Patrick's Day and - if you're like me - it snuck up on you this year. Maybe it was that hour of sleep we lost last weekend when we went to Daylight Saving Time. Who knows? But, while...

A few weeks ago, I read somewhere that March is National Peanut Butter Month. "Aha!" I thought. "Perfect topic for a column sometime soon." But when I began doing research, I discovered that whoever...

My first Crockpot - a three-quart avocado green model with a non-removable crock - came to me in the early 1980s when a friend who had recently gotten married regifted one of her five new Crockpots...

There is a reason dips are a favorite when it comes to party food. More than one reason, actually. And with New Year's gatherings and bowl games on the calendar, this is the time to add a couple of...