Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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It's a busy month, personally and professionally. I have a "milestone" birthday, although it's just another trip around the sun. Daughter Lacey and her husband, Ross, will soon welcome a new family member. We'll make the trek to their home for a diaper shower. I have so many gift ideas, but Scott keeps telling me I need to spread them out over the first year instead of dropping a mammoth package on the doorstep. We'll see about that. SAM will begin its eighth year in business mid-month. (Oh gosh...
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE MIDWEST MESSENGER As the Fourth of July nears, a nationwide celebration reverberates from coast to coast in anticipation of America's 250th birthday. In Nebraska, another lesser-known place also has an upcoming milestone. Turning 150 years old, this community on the outskirts of the Sandhills will not be recognized with such fanfare or fireworks, though. That's because to most people, Deloit is a mystery on the map. If not for Kent Backer contacting Midwest...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Board meetings are held on the first working day after the 15th and the last working day of the month. Meetings are held at the Holt County Courthouse meeting room. Board of Equalization at a.m., and Board of Supervisors at 9:15 a.m. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on June 10, 2026, in the Atkinson Graphic. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is available for public inspection...
Economic development is often measured by new businesses, housing projects, and grant awards, but the work extends far beyond any single project. Since 2018, coordinated economic development efforts in Neligh and Clearwater have focused on strengthening local businesses, expanding housing opportunities, securing grant funding, preserving historic assets, and building partnerships that support long-term community growth. Over the past eight years, local economic development initiatives have...
Are you one of the many farmers without an identified farm successor? Purdue University says that's around 75%, and about half expect nonfamily members to take over. A gradual shift of responsibilities and ownership, plus an extended mentoring period, can help ensure the continued success of the farm business. After checking out a candidate's experience and references, a short trial period with paid labor can be a good step. This probationary period can help both of you assess how well you work...
Ella Ricker was sitting in her elementary school orchestra class when she first considered a career in teaching. Her orchestra teachers at Lincoln Public Schools made learning to play music so fun, she wanted to share that joy with others. As a teacher, Ricker said, seeing her students excited to play their instruments and perform in school concerts was her favorite part of the job. But it was also only one part of a growing list of responsibilities in a profession in which she said a good work-life balance had become unattainable. So, after...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAY 18, 2026 Board Meetings are held on the first working day after the 15th and the last working day of the month. Meetings are held at the Holt County Courthouse meeting room. Board of Equalization at 9:30 a.m., and Board of Supervisors at 9:45 a.m. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on May 7, 2026, in the Atkinson Graphic. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is available for...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES May 11, 2026 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Monday, May 11, 2026, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger, posted at US Post Office, Clearwater Market, and Cornerstone Bank and given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly Kerkman, Marsha Hart, Brian King, Jeff Schlec...
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...
Karter Otte of Orchard earned second place in the traditional bracket and a prize of $12,500 in the 39th annual University of Nebraska-Lincoln New Venture Competition, hosted by the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship, April 10 and 14. Sixty-four teams representing 46 majors at the university vied for $80,000 in donor-funded prizes during the business plan tournament. Otte, a senior majoring in agribusiness, competed with the startup Pickup Lines Striping, which provides parking lot striping...
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...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APRIL 16, 2026 Board meetings are held on the first working day after the 15th and the last working day of the month. Meetings are held at the Holt County Courthouse meeting room. Board of Equalization at 9:30 a.m., and Board of Supervisors at 9:45 a.m. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on April 2, 2026, in the Atkinson Graphic. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is available...
Fouad Mhadji Issa looks to his adopted home of Nebraska when searching for a comparison to describe the role of vanilla in his home country of Comoros. "Vanilla is farmed widely in Comoros," he says, "like corn is in Nebraska." The marriage of those two disparate places lies at the heart of Issa's business, Koponi Vanilla. The company launched in Grand Island four years ago selling vanilla extract and has since expanded to sell coffee, syrups and body oils - all of it infused with vanilla...
NOTICE OF MEETING SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Summerland Board of Education will hold a regular monthly meeting, Monday, March 16, 2026, at 7 p.m., in the school board meeting room. The agenda sequence is provided as a courtesy only. The board reserves the right to consider each item in any sequence it deems appropriate. Therefore, we encourage visitors to attend the meeting from the beginning. A copy of the agenda, reflecting any changes, will be...
Separating your business and personal finances is one of the smartest (and simplest) steps you can take to protect your business, your sanity, and your future. Whether you're a brand new business owner or have been operating for years, here's why financial separation matters. Dividing your business and personal finances simplifies accounting, protects personal assets, and establishes credibility. 1) Separate accounts make bookkeeping and tax filing easier. When business and personal funds are...
NOTICE OF MEETING SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Summerland Board of Education will hold a regular monthly meeting, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, at 7 p.m., in the school board meeting room. The agenda sequence is provided as a courtesy only. The board reserves the right to consider each item in any sequence it deems appropriate. Therefore, we encourage visitors to attend the meeting from the beginning. The tentative agenda contains a list of subjects...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS JANUARY 16, 2026 Board meetings are held on the first working day after the 15th and the last working day of the month. Meetings are held at the Holt County Courthouse meeting room. Board of Equalization at 9:30 a.m., and Board of Supervisors at 9:45 a.m. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on Jan. 8, 2026, in the Atkinson Graphic. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is available...
SILICON PRAIRIE NEWS Stone Pillar International is a software and intelligence company that uses drone-acquired data for actionable decision making. The company's official launch comes as Nebraskans face the threat of invasive eastern redcedar and the opportunities of new drone rules and advancements. Nebraska is on the front lines of both tech innovation and woody encroachment. As pilots and entrepreneurs look to the skies with new uses of drone technology, researchers and ranchers are looking...
Holt County employees who utilize the county's health insurance plan will see an increase in contribution amounts for single and family coverage beginning Jan. 1. During the Dec. 16 Holt County Supervisors meeting, officials approved increasing single coverage from $25 to $100, while a family plan will now require a $200 contribution, a $150 increase from this year's plan. The last increase in employee contributions occurred in 2006. Supervisors learned in October that insurance premium costs...
PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Mon., Dec. 8, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger, was posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Clearwater Market, and Cornerstone Bank-Clearwater and was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly Kerkman, Marsha Hart, Cody...
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...
State officials requested a sign in Ewing, located along Highway 275, either be moved or repainted due to its "shabby condition." The black and orange steel sign, notating accomplishments of Ewing Tigers activities teams, will need to move to a new home. The sign was donated in 2009 by the Ewing Young Members Club. Hubel Iron, Inc., designed the tribute board. "It can't be read from the road," village clerk Jen Ramold told trustees at the Nov. 10 meeting at city hall. "Are we on a timeline?"...
REGULAR PROCEEDINGS VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER BOARD OF TRUSTEES November 10, 2025 The Board of Trustees of the Village of Clearwater met for a regular meeting Mon., Nov. 10, at 7 p.m., in the fire hall meeting room. Meeting opened at 7 p.m. Notice of meeting was given in advance by publication in Summerland Advocate-Messenger, was posted at US Post Office in Clearwater, Clearwater Market, and Cornerstone Bank-Clearwater and was given to board members prior to meeting. Public was informed of location of Open Meeting Act poster. Present: Kelly...
Holt County Supervisors received frightening news on Halloween when they learned health insurance premium costs for county employees are projected to increase 24.1%, effective Jan. 1. During Friday's scheduled meeting, Anson Insurance Agency representative Steve Anson told supervisors that current-year losses have been more than expected. According to Anson, Meritain Health expected $1.3 million in claims. "We already have $1.3 million," he said. Typically, three to five individuals on the plan...
