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Last year I wrote a Christmas cookie article featuring some of my favorite holiday cookies I've made over the years. If you tried any of the recipes I hope you enjoyed them. This year I'm sharing recipes I found while going through my mom's recipe box. Some are clipped from newspapers or magazines. Others came from the coupon supplements found in the Sunday paper. A couple are on the packaging from the original product. What they do have in common is they all include chocolate in one form or... Full story

“Kids believe in Santa; adults believe in childhood.” Author Cate Kennedy hits the mark with that line from her short story collection, “Dark Roots.” Last week, while Scott, Elizabeth and I fulfilled Santa’s elf duty, stuffing toys, candy and fruit into brown paper sacks, visions from Christmases past reminded me of the good ol’ days and what days leading up to the holiday were like during the age of flower power and groovy, man. In Clay Center, Santa Claus made an appearance on Saturdays i...

Does American democracy survive without the backbone of independent local journalism? That question serves as the theme of the documentary, “Storm Lake,” airing recently on the PBS show, “Independent Lens.” The segment follows the daily ins and outs of Art Cullen and his family, who run the Storm Lake Times, which debuted in 1990. Initially, the paper printed weekly, with Friday distribution. Within three years, the Times began printing daily. A month later, another newspaper in Storm Lake st...

I don't know about you, but I missed holiday parties last year. And even though it's still smart to be careful, getting together with family and friends is something we all treasure. Holiday appetizers have always been one of my favorite things to prepare. I love looking through cookbooks and recipe files, looking for just the perfect tasty tidbit to take to a party. But before we get to the menu, let's first set the scene. Decide on a theme or an anchor activity - gingerbread decorating,... Full story
SECTION 00 10 00 INVITATION TO BID 2021 PAVEMENT REPAIR Sealed proposals for the construction of “2021 Pavement Repair, Brunswick East, Clearwater North, for Antelope County, Nebraska,” JEO Project Nos. 210460.00, 210457.00, 210458.00, QuestCDN No. 8064613, will be received by the Antelope County Clerk at 501 Main Street, Rm. 6, PO Box 26, Neligh, NE 68756-0026, until 10 a.m., on the 7th day of December 2021, and thereafter will be read aloud. The work is generally described as follows: Pavement repair and concrete pavement. Opinion of probable...

When my writing career started more than 30 years ago, I spent months establishing a freelance career. After long days of teaching and coaching, I stayed up late at night, crafting query letters and sending them via snail mail, hoping to get a bite from local publications ... or a big break with a national news outlet. It seems amazing, considering it was in the dark ages - er, I mean pre-internet times. It was hard work, but I was determined to form partnerships with trusted publications and...

It's no secret I'm not a big fan of pumpkin pie. Especially pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream. I know for some folks confessing I don't like pumpkin pie is practically criminal, but it is what it is. It's not that I hate pumpkin pie, it's just not my first choice. If I have one piece a year (hold the whipped cream, please), I'm good. When it comes to holiday desserts, there are other choices for me. And I don't dislike pumpkin in general (but don't get me started on pumpkin spice!). Several... Full story
SECTION 00 10 00 INVITATION TO BID 2021 PAVEMENT REPAIR Sealed proposals for the construction of “2021 Pavement Repair, Brunswick East, Clearwater North, for Antelope County, Nebraska,” JEO Project Nos. 210460.00, 210457.00, 210458.00, QuestCDN No. 8064613, will be received by the Antelope County Clerk at 501 Main Street, Rm. 6, PO Box 26, Neligh, NE 68756-0026, until 10 a.m., on the 7th day of December 2021, and thereafter will be read aloud. The work is generally described as follows: Pavement repair and concrete pavement. Opinion of probable...

Due to unforeseen circumstances with our delivery service, the Nov. 25 edition of the Advocate-Messenger will more than likely not arrive in your mailbox until Friday or Saturday. Newspapers were being delivered to the post office Wednesday afternoon. If you live in or near Clearwater, stop by the Advocate-Messenger office at 522 Main Street, in Clearwater, to pick up a FREE copy of this week's paper. We, along with the delivery service, regret any inconvenience....

Turkey basics If this is your first time preparing a turkey, here are a few pointers to keep in mind. These safety tips and recommendations come from the United States Department of Agriculture. Before you start cooking: Thaw the turkey, if frozen. If you haven't yet taken it out of the freezer, do it soon. Thaw it in its original package on a tray. Allow almost 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey. A 12- to 16-pound turkey will take 3 to 4 days to thaw in the refrigerator. If you forget to tha... Full story

Antelope County Commissioners approved five tourism grants during Tuesday’s meeting, in Neligh. Two promotional grants were approved for the Neligh Chamber of Commerce, for $350 apiece. One grant is for the upcoming Novemberfest event, scheduled for Nov. 6 and the second is for the yearly parade of lights. Neligh-Oakdale TeamMates received $200 to promote the Raft of Crafts event, planned for Nov. 13. St. Boniface Church, in Elgin, will receive a $350 grant for promotion of the yearly T...

Retired social studies teacher Laura Nelson is used to seeing her small town send its children, and its dollars, off to bigger cities. "We tend to go that way," to Lincoln and the Omaha metro, where her nieces and many former students live and shop. But lately, from her seat at the cafe table where she meets friends most mornings for coffee and an omelette, she's witnessed a reversal of fortune. City folks are spending their money in her hometown. "The cafe has managed to bring them up here,"...

I've been thinking lately about a comment I hear others say repeatedly: "I'm not creative." Yeah, I'm bad about saying it, too. I'll look at a piece of artwork and wish I could paint or draw or whatever medium like those artists. I'm a painter of words. I've been known to tell others that a time or two. Usually, I end up saying my mom possessed the artist talent in our family and it's obvious Courtney inherited it. Somehow, it skipped my generation. Truth be told, everyone has creativity. It's...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION Oct. 13, 2021 Summerland Public School Board of Education held a regular meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the school. President Nordby called the meeting, advertised in the Oct. 6 paper, to order at 6:30 p.m. Nordby noted the Open Meetings At poster in the boardroom. Members present: Candice Hoke, Marty Kerkman, Ed Nordby, Nate Schwager, Steve Thiele, Jeremy Wagner. Absent: none. Motion by Kerkman, seconded by Schwager, to approve the agenda as presented. Voting aye: Hoke, Kerkman, Nordby,...

The publisher of one of the state's newest weekly newspapers has been named the Nebraska Press Women Communicator of Achievement, according to Ruth Brown, NPW COA director. LuAnn Schindler, who publishes the Summerland Advocate Messenger in northeast Nebraska, received the award at the NPW fall conference, Saturday, Oct. 9, in Grand Island. The award recognizes achievement in the communications profession, service to the community and industry and leadership in the organization. A native of Clay...

The first newspaper article I wrote and sold, at age 16, was typed on a Smith and Corona manual typewriter. Dad kept the brown-gray piece of technology in a leather-zipped carrying case, stored underneath the wooden office desk in the den. Despite having precise handwriting, he typed everything: Return envelopes. Weekly missiles to his parents. Ticket requests to the University of Nebraska athletic office. Worksheets and pop quizzes for English classes. The young version of me watched the...

When it comes to saving local newspapers, the solutions won't be found in web metrics, ad rates or shrinking news holes. The solution, seemingly simple yet terrifying complicated, is for newspapers to reconnect with the people they're supposed to be serving. That's the purpose of The Relevance Project, a national effort intended to make local journalism so relevant to people's lives that papers will once again become an essential purchase. The Newspaper Association Managers, a coalition of...

Pairing pears - Pears are good in salads, where they partner well with greens, especially the bitter ones, and be sure toss in a few nuts and goat cheese for creaminess. Try slices of pear with leaves of prosciutto for an appetizer, and pair them with blue-vein cheeses and nuts on a cheese platter. Surprise guests with sautéed pears as a garnish for grilled or fatty meats such as pork and duck. - Seasonal dessert menus welcome pears, too. Poach them in red wine, then serve with their reduced... Full story
PROCEEDINGS BUDGET HEARING SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION Sept. 13, 2021 Summerland Public School Board of Education held a budget hearing, Monday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m., in the school board room. President Nordby opened the budget hearing, which was published in the paper on Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. Roll call was taken. Present: Candice Hoke, Marty Kerkman, Ed Nordby, Nate Schwager, Steven Thiele. Absent: Jeremy Wagner. Nebraska Open Meetings Act was pointed out and visitors were recognized. Public participation was heard. Discussion:...
PROCEEDINGS TAX REQUEST HEARING SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION Sept. 13, 2021 Summerland Public School Board of Education held a budget hearing, Monday, Sept. 13, at 6:25 p.m., in the school board room. President Nordby opened the tax hearing, which was published in the paper on Sept. 8 at 6:25 p.m. Roll call was taken. Present: Candice Hoke, Marty Kerkman, Ed Nordby, Nate Schwager, Steven Thiele. Absent: Jeremy Wagner. Nebraska Open Meetings Act was pointed out and visitors were recognized. Public participation was heard....
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION Sept. 13, 2021 Summerland Public School Board of Education held a regular meeting, Monday, Sept. 13, following the budget and tax request hearings, in the school board room. President Nordby opened the budget hearing, which was published in the paper on Sept. 8 at 6:28 p.m. Roll call was taken. Present: Candice Hoke, Marty Kerkman, Ed Nordby, Nate Schwager, Steven Thiele. Absent: Jeremy Wagner. Motion by Schwager, seconded by Kerkman, to approve the absence of Jeremy Wagner. Voting aye:...

It's early summer and a Lakota woman stares into the trees, deep past the leaves and their shadows, her dark eyes misting up. Norma LeRoy tries to understand why a school secretary cut her two little girls' hair without her consent in the spring of 2020. The secretary was checking for lice, LeRoy was told - lice the mother said they never found. LeRoy feels like few in this remote region of Cherry County understand what they took. It's why the 36-year-old Rosebud Sioux has to turn away from her...

As summer draws to a close (where did it go?), so does the peak season for stone fruit. Stone fruits are a classification of fruits also know as drupes: They have a thin skin and a "stone" in the center, which contains the seed. They're in season starting in early spring and continue though early fall. Peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and cherries are all in vogue and ready for plucking and eating. Named for their pits that are hard as stone, the fruits have a fleshy, edible outer layer... Full story

Not only will it be nice to see actual fans in Memorial Stadium this fall and not cardboard cutouts, it will be nice to see parking lots full of fans devouring their favorite foods before the game. Tailgate parties are back! And while fun is at the forefront, food safety can't be forgotten. So before we get to the food, let's cover the basics. The key to keeping your food safe during a tailgate is a good game plan. Do you have enough coolers and all the tools you need to cook? In addition to a... Full story

Anyone who has grown zucchini in Nebraska knows that a little planting goes a long way. Zucchini jokes abound and there is even a National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day (more about that later), but zucchini is really a versatile vegetable that can be prepared in a myriad of ways. Let's start with some tips and tricks from Cami Wells, an Extension Educator in Hall County. "Whether purchasing or picking zucchini," Wells says "choose firm, slender zucchini with a bright green... Full story