Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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It started as a way to pay for a wedding but has now turned into 45 years of helping families celebrate the Fourth of July. Hamilton Fireworks, in Orchard, first started when Donna and Darrell Hamilton needed to pay for a November wedding in 1981 and decided to sell fireworks during the summer to cover those costs. "My husband and I were getting married in November and we sold fireworks that July," Donna Hamilton said. "A friend of ours hooked us up with somebody and we sold them out of the...
For a second year in a row, Summerland musicians earned superior ratings in both band and choir. Ten schools competed in Friday's competition at O'Neill Public schools. In addition to Summerland, O'Neill, Ainsworth, Boyd County, Creighton, West Holt, Valentine, Verdigre, Rock County, Stuart, and Chambers competed. Vocal soloists receiving superiors included Luke Kester and Ehmyt Samland. Landon McAllister, Zander Tabbert and Jennie Mejia Moncada each received an excellent rating for their solos. Four duets performed and earned excellent...
The Nebraska School Activities Association and the Nebraska State College System recently announced recipients of the 2025-2026 Nebraska State Colleges Multi-Activity Student Award. The award recognizes students in grades 9 to 12 who participate in at least three NSAA-sanctioned activities during the academic year. Summerland had 53 students named to the list include Ruby Ahlers, Kanyon Allemang, Belle Anson; Traevon Baker, Ethan Barner, Ayden Bazelman, Jayde Bazelman, Alvie Bearinger, Kiptyn...
Summerland Public School musicians will participate in the Class C, District 3 music contest this Friday in O'Neill. The choir will perform in the library at 12:42 p.m. Duets will begin at 12:48, with Luke Kester and Landon McAllister, followed by Kester and Jennie Mejia Moncada at 12:54; McAllister and Mejia Moncada, 1:00; and McAllister and Ehmyt Samland, 1:06. The Bobcat band will perform at 1:10 p.m. in the gym. Several students will perform the gym stage Luke Kester will solo, at 1:36; McAllister, 1:42; Samland, 1:48; and Zander Tabbert,... Full story
Summerland hosted its annual Golf Invitational on April 15 at Summerland Golf Course. Bennet Flenniken led the Bobcats, carding an 85. Dylan Gray was one stroke behind, finishing with an 86. Jacob Pierzina and Ian Rittscher each ended with 95. Cohen Schindler shot 105. Summerland finished in a tie for sixth with West Holt, with 361. Norfolk Catholic finished with 299 to take top honors. Runners-up North Central were 34 strokes behind, scoring 333. O'Neill JV shot 336; Neligh-Oakdale, 337, and...
Four Summerland SkillsUSA members received first place in their respective categories at the 2026 SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference, held April 9 - 11 in Grand Island. Dawson McLain, Max Shrader, and Corbin Schueth won the team engineering category. With the first-place finish, the engineering trio will qualify for national competition in Atlanta. Zander Tabbert claimed first place in junior mouse trap vehicle - speed. The contest is a state-only event. Taylen Nilson placed third in job...
Members of the 2026 Summerland Golf Team include Landyn Coffey, Liam Gallagher, Jack Heim, Emhyt Samland, Bennet Flenniken, Luke Kester, Aiden McAllister, Zander Tabbert, Cohen Schindler, Ian Rittscher, Parker McKillip, Dylan Gray, and Ayden Bazelman. The team is coached by Tom Thramer and Craig Flenniken. Their season begins March 31, with a triangular at Tatanka Golf Course....
Summerland Public School recently announced students who qualified for the principal's honor list and honor roll. Students named to the principal's list include Clair Krysl, Ryan Rifer, Ethan Kester, Bennet Flenniken, Shaylie Kester, Jenna Funk, Caydence Schumacher, Emma King, Shane Kindred, Karley Dawkins, Jose Montano Diaz, Abryelle Kester, Jacob Pierzina, Flabio Arias Ramierez, Magdalena Lux, Maverick Bradley, Cassie Livingston, Breckyn Bergman, Sierra Thomson, Kaylee Thiele, Hudson Gray, Dam...
Santa Claus visited two Summerland-area communities over the weekend, spending time listening to wish lists, taking Christmas card-worthy photos, and sharing the joy of the season. On Sunday, Santa stopped by the Orchard Community Center. Later that evening, he took part in the Ewing Light Parade and stopped by the Ewing United Methodist-Presbyterian Church to meet area youngsters....
Summerland Public School hosted a Veterans Day program, Tuesday, Nov. 11. Instructor Dan Roeber worked with members of the government class to develop Tuesday's program, which focused on mental health awareness and programs that aid veterans. Heath Snodgrass and John Shaver, members of the Orchard American Legion, presented the colors. Approximately 15 veterans from Clearwater, Ewing, Orchard and Royal, along with members of the American Legion Auxiliary, were honored guests. Abryelle Kester...
Leadership opportunities • (l-r): Members of the Summerland SkillsUSA chapter, including Millie Shrader, Kanyon Allemang, Cassie Livingston, Sierra Thomson, Taelyn Nilson, Marlin Krysl and Zander Tabbert attend the Fall Leadership Conference, in Hastings, on Friday....
The Bobcat golf team won the first-ever Greater Northeast Athletic Conference golf tournament, held May 6 at Summerland. Michael Koenig claimed the individual title after a playoff with Kayne Gratzfeld, Hartington-Newcastle. Dylan Rotherham placed fifth and Sam Cheatum tied for ninth. Team Champions include Zander Tabbert, Sam Cheatum, Dane Miller, Dylan Rotherham, Michael Koenig, Bennet Flenniken, Adyen Bazelman. Coaches are Tom Thramer and Coach Maier....
The Nebraska School Activities Association and the Nebraska State College System recently announced the 15,246 recipients of the 2024-2025 Nebraska State Colleges Multi-Activity Student Award. The award recognizes students in grades 9-12 who participate in at least three NSAA sanctioned activities during the academic year. Each high school student who participates in at least three NSAA activities will be recognized and awarded a certificate of achievement by the NSAA and the Nebraska State Colleges. Activity participation will be tracked...
Members of the Summerland SkillsUSA chapter competed at the 2025 State Leadership Convention, April 10-12, in Grand Island. The Teamworks crew, comprised of Ashton Cleveland, Bennet Flenniken, Willis Mast, and Alec Schindler, won gold, finishing in first place. The group qualified for national competition at the National Leadership and Skills Conference, June 23 to 27, in Atlanta. Jason Shaver and Marlin Krysl won gold and finishing first in drone technology basics, which is a state-only...
Summerland FFA, FCCLA, SkillsUSA and FBLA members participated in their respective state leadership conferences recently. Several brought home medals from the competitions. FFA: Jenna Funk: cooperative speaking, fourth place, gold rating; Sara Hemenway: discover speaking fifth place, gold rating; Conduct of Chapter Meetings team, Braelyn Bergman, Taylen Nilson, Kanyon Allemang, Jaelyn Shaver, Asher Whiting, Damien Hupp and Ryder Hemenway: seventh place, gold rating; Livestock Evaluation senior...
Bobcat golfers celebrate a first-place finish at the April 8 Summerland quad. Michael Koenig was the individual medalist with a 35. Team members include (front, l-r): Logan Kester, Koenig, Ayden Bazelman, Dane Miller, Dylan Rotherham, Sam Cheatum; (back, l-r): Omari Meyer, Zander Tabbert, Bennet Flenniken, Coach Tom Thramer and Coach Chase Chase Maier....
Members of this year's Bobcat golf team include Omari Meyer, Zander Tabbert, Mat Umphress, Logan Kester, Dane Miller, Michael Koenig, Sam Cheatum, Dylan Rotherham, Bennet Flenniken and Ayden Bazelman. Coach Tom Thramer said the team will begin its season April 1, at Niobrara. Tee time is 4 p.m....
The Summerland Bobcat one-act team presented Jerome McDonough’s Dirge, Nov. 19, at the Greater Northeast Activities Conference competition held at Elkhorn Valley in Tilden. "The team received great critiques to help improve their performance," said coach Julie Harley. Recognized for outstanding performance were Talya Nilson, Lenora Kester, Raina Krebs, Mathew Umphress, Carlee Livingston and Aubrey Parker. Other members of the cast include Addisyn Fletcher, Sydni McConnell, Kyah Bruhn, Ava Cleveland, Brylie Billings, Reagan Parker, Katelyn K...
A dozen Summerland art students brought home approximately 35 awards from the Niobrara Valley Conference art show, held in Bassett, April 26. Caydence Schumacher received three judge's merit awards for Marilyn Monroe, Avator and a bird watercolor. Three pieces received first place, including a colored flower, a clay gnome and a rose painting. A drawing of Freddie Mercury placed second, as did an ink drawing of a skull. A heart drawing received honorable mention. Two pieces - an ink collage and a clay cookie, were each given a commendable...
Medalists • Ten Summerland SkillsUSA students participated in middle school competition, March 1, in Grand Island. (top) Taelyn Nilson won job skills demo "A" category, while (below) Zander Tabbert placed second in mouse trap cars. Also competing were Jaelyn Shaver, Jorden Cox, Liam Gallagher, Asher Whiting, Luke Kester, Kanyon Allemang, Cadi Soper and Jack Heim....
The annual pingpong tournament, hosted by the Orchard Methodist Church Youth Fellowship, drew a crowd of approximately 30 competitors. The event was held Sunday, Jan. 27, at the church. Competitors were divided into two age groups, with a bracket for younger competitors and another for those with more advanced skills. Zander Tabbert took top honors in the younger bracket. Jersey Gray finished second; Dylan Gray, third and Ali Sonnenfelt, fourth. In the advanced bracket, Ramsey Robertson placed...
Since we're writers, we, at SAM love lists. Trust us, we keep and use them every single day. But, how does one determine which articles should be at the top of the yearly list? In the past, we've based it by reader count from our website. This year, we're still relying on reader count, featuring the top-read article by month. We wrote nearly 2,000 articles in 2023 and, while some of our favorites don't appear on the list, we're sure these are a newsworthy representation of the Summerland region....
The Summerland junior high golf team wrapped up its season at the Ainsworth Middle School Golf Invitational, held May 9. “We had four medal and the team came in second,” said coach Kris Tabbert. In team standings, the Bobcats earned the runner-up trophy, shooting 171. North Central took top team honors, shooting 153. Earning individual medals were Landon Nelson, fifth, 41; Zander Tabbert, sixth, 42; Adyen Bazelman, ninth, 43 and Ayden Hartigan, 15th, 45. Also competing were Jacob Pierzina, 20th, 47; Braelyn Bergman, 38th, 53; Abbi Miller, 45t...
The Summerland junior high golf team participated in the 2023 West Holt Junior High Invitational, April 27. More than 100 golfers competed in the tournament. Summerland 1 finished eighth in team standings, shooting 214. Summerland 2 ended in 17th place, carding 251. Zander Tabbert led Summerland 1, shooting 51. Jacob Pierzina ended 34th, with 52. Ayden Bazelman shot a 55 to finish 38th. Ayden Hartigan placed 45th, carding a 56. Landon Nelson finished with a 60 and placed 60th. Omari Martin led Summerland 2, with a 55. Braelyn Bergman shot 57...
Summerland middle school members of SkillsUSA highlighted technical skills in a variety of competitions at the March 1 Middle School Skills Conference in Grand Island. Chapter advisor Mike Odell said eight students took part in the opening session and competitions. A team of four students will advance to the state competition in April. Cassie Livingston, Jaelyn Shaver and Sierra Thomson won first place in team engineering. Odell said the contest involves critical thinking and decision-making...
