Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Recently, many of you received your new property valuation notices. Once again, many of you saw increases in your property value, even if you made no improvements to your property. This is not surprising given the high-demand for housing, farm, and ranch land. It is rare that a home or land is sold for less than the tax assessed value. When the market value of real estate rises, county assessors are required by law to adjust tax valuations to reflect those current market prices. In determining...
The two highest-paid nonprofit employees in the state benefit from a bonus system criticized for incentivizing more medical procedures. Nebraska's state auditor calls it inexplicable. A former health insurance CEO suggests it's excessive. A veteran doctor says it's unheard of. They're reacting to what a nonprofit hospital paid its gastroenterologist in 2024: Nearly $5 million. That same hospital, Faith Health in Norfolk, paid a plastic surgeon $3.8 million. Those sums made the doctors the two...
Ashton Cleveland What are your plans after graduation? Work and have a life of my own. What makes you proud to be a student at Summerland Public School? Learning independently. Who is your role model and why? My great-grandpa, he always worked hard and had strong values and patience. What is your favorite high school memory? Taking Kaczor's classes. Karley Dawkins What are your plans after graduation? I plan on going to Wayne State College and major in Early Childhood Education. What makes you...
A new Flatwater analysis shows the state has fallen behind its neighbors. Business leaders are diagnosing why - and hoping new efforts will reverse the troubling trend. Not long ago, Nebraska's growth was quite literally a national cover story. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts soared through the air wearing skis and goggles on the Olympic-themed March 2018 cover of Site Selection, an economic development industry magazine. The cartoon image illustrated Nebraska's high-flying, three-year run as...
For many homeowners, property valuation notices arrive in June with more questions than answers. How was the number determined? Why did it change? And who decides what a home is worth? In Nebraska, the answer lies in a structured, data-driven process guided by state statute, local sales, and oversight from state officials. Under Nebraska statute, all property must be assessed at its "actual value," meaning its market value in the course of trade, essentially what a typical buyer would pay a... Full story
Nebraska Public Power District sought public input during an open house Tuesday in Clearwater on a proposed 345-kV transmission project spanning about 27 miles across Antelope County. The project would use steel single-pole structures and the process will take about three years to complete, connecting a substation in southeast Holt County near the Antelope County line to an existing substation northeast of Neligh. According to Grant Otten, NPPD media relations specialist, 72 people attended the...
This is a time of tremendous opportunity in farming and ranching for beginners looking to start a venture of their own. Alternative crops and high-value markets offer profit potential and lower risk for new farmers than do commodity crops commonly priced at break-even levels. But regardless of the crop or market, farming depends on land access. If land ownership is the preferred route, funding will have to come from savings, bootstrapping, investors/partners, or loans. There are no grants, or...
A U.S. Department of Agriculture program is helping producers turn raw commodities into value-added products, allowing more of the income to remain in rural communities. The Value-Added Producer Grant program, administered by USDA Rural Development, supports agricultural producers, as well as farmer and rancher cooperatives, that want to start or expand value-added activities. Producers can apply for up to $50,000 in planning grants or up to $200,000 in working capital grants. Applications are...
This week, I would like to highlight a number of the proposals that have been introduced this session that have the intent of reducing property taxes. Both the Education Committee and the Revenue Committee have begun to hold public hearings on these measures now that there has been some time for agencies and groups to analyze many of the different measures. LB1182 and LB1183 represent the two components of the so-called Apple Tax Plan that is sponsored by the group known as Advocates for All...
Holt County officials received good news regarding health insurance costs for county employees. During the Nov. 17 meeting, County Clerk Cathy Pavel said she received "a bit of a joy" regarding renewal costs. "The renewal will be 18.9%, not the 28% that had been anticipated," she said. During discussion, board chairman Bill Tielke asked if the increase includes a change in deductible. According to Pavel, a change to the deductible will have to wait until next year since officials accepted the...
This holiday season, will you shop at one of the 33.2 million small businesses that make up 99% of all businesses in the U.S? Up and down rural main streets in rural America, shopkeepers are readying their stores for the season. Business owners are stocking special gifts and rolls of wrapping paper to provide added value when you spend your money with a local retailer. Independently-owned businesses are what keep our rural communities thriving. They rely on our patronage during the crucial holid...
Funeral services for Cheryl Thramer, 69 of Ewing, were Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at St. Peter de Alcantara Catholic Church of Ewing, with Father John Norman officiating. Burial was in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10, with a 7 p.m. wake at St. Peter de Alcantara Catholic Church in Ewing. Cheryl died peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Country Lane in O'Neill. Arrangements are being conducted by Snider Memorial Funeral Home of Clearwater....
Antelope Memorial Hospital welcomes the addition of Kimberly Wiese, APRN, to its medical staff. Originally from Bradshaw, she attended McCool Junction High School, graduating in 2007. She attended college at Central Community College, graduating in May 2014 with her LPN degree. She then began working at Columbus Community Hospital in surgery in June 2014 and in labor and delivery in August 2018. While working at CCH, Wiese went back to college at CCC in to acquire her Associate Degree in nursing...
Funeral Services for Cheryl Thramer, 69 of Ewing, Nebraska will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at St. Peter de Alcantara Catholic Church of Ewing, with Father John Norman. Burial will be in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, November 10, 2025 with a 7:00 p.m. Wake at St. Peter de Alcantara Catholic Church in Ewing. Cheryl passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Country Lane in O'Neill, Nebraska. Arrangements are being...
Funeral Services for Larry Charles Peed, 82, of Page, were Monday, Oct. 20, at Page United Methodist Church in Page. Burial followed in the Page Cemetery, with Military Rites provided by the Page American Legion Post #315. Pastor Janene Reynolds officiated. Larry died on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, at Accura Healthcare in O'Neill. Memorials may be directed to Page United Methodist Church. Arrangements were entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill. ~~~~~ In loving memory of Larry Charles Peed born...
Funeral Services for Larry Charles Peed, 82, of Page will be 10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 20, at Page United Methodist Church in Page. Burial will follow in the Page Cemetery, with Military Rites provided by the Page American Legion Post #315. Pastor Janene Reynolds will officiate. Visitation will be 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 19, at the church in Page, with a prayer service at 5 p.m. Larry loved his blue jeans, the Huskers, the St. Louis Cardinals, and his family. To honor him and his wishes, we invite... Full story
The multimillion-dollar project, mostly paid for by Nebraska ratepayers, will feed the energy needs of Jigowatt, which already demands the most electricity of any customer in Stanton County. Justin Kennedy had long envisioned more than a cornfield when he gazed at the plot of family land a half-mile from where he grew up. It was "the perfect setup" for building his dream retirement house in rural Stanton County. He long ago planted a shelterbelt across the dirt road, hoping the trees would one...
July 4th is Independence Day in America. This day commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. I hope that you are able to enjoy time with your friends and family. As we take the day to celebrate our country’s independence, we should remember the many brave men and women who have fought and sacrificed so that we may enjoy the gift of freedom. I also want to make known that July 1, was the implementation date for one final p...
This week, my family has been buzzing with excitement for our first trip to the College World Series in Omaha. With our new home-state Huskers out, we threw our support behind our previous home state team, the LSU Tigers, hoping they'd be playing in the game for which we had tickets. Early one morning before I had finished my first coffee, my wife, surprised at our luck, told me she saw online that LSU would indeed be in that game. Eager to confirm and view the bracket, I went straight to...
Whew! I’m still trying to recover from the 2025 Nebraska Press Association Convention, held in Kearney. I enjoy the annual conference for multiple reasons: great educational sessions, networking with fellow newspaper folk, meeting new vendors, great (but too much) food and an overall fantastic time celebrating the written word. It’s not all fun and games ... except for trivia night. That was a blast. I never thought I would hear “God Bless America” sung a beat box rhythm. Sessions begin early a...
The other day, I got a text from my uncle in California. He'd just watched a news report about the tumultuous, March 18 town hall held by U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, a Republican, in which shouts and boos dominated. "I thought Nebraskans were above this stuff," texted my uncle, who grew up across the river in northwest Iowa. Gotta admit, it wasn't a great look for "Nebraska Nice." But also gotta admit, I wasn't surprised - it wasn't the first time I'd seen an angry crowd in Nebraska confront a...
The time comes when you know you’re ready to retire. No, I’m not making an announcement today, so don’t get the rumor mill started. I’m bringing up retirement because last week I had an opportunity to join newspaper folk from around the country to watch a 30-minute documentary, “For the Record.” The independent film chronicles The Canadian Record and its owner/publisher, Laurie Ezzell Brown. The newspaper, based in Canadian, Texas, is located in the state’s panhandle. It’s survived oil bo...
When the new Trump administration directed a temporary freeze on federal grants and loans last month, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen's office offered a calm public-facing reaction. But emails and text messages show that many Nebraska state agencies - like organizations across the U.S. - were simmering with questions and concern. The federal directive had thrown into question if and when governments and organizations would get billions they use for everything from housing programs to highway constructi...
Agricultural producers looking to expand their operations through value-added products are encouraged to apply for a Value Added Producer Grant. Applications will be accepted through April 17. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced $30 million in funding for the VAPG program, which provides grants for producers, as well as farmer and rancher cooperatives. The funding can be used to generate new products and create or expand marketing opportunities that help producers...
Ekram Saleh sat in a classroom, surrounded by immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala and Sudan. They listened as the county's election commissioner talked about voting. Here's how you can register, the commissioner said. Here's who represents your city council district. And also – Hall County needs poll workers to run every election. Saleh was then a brand-new U.S. citizen, a Sudanese native who didn't know she could serve her new country by being a poll worker. The next day, she went straight to t...
