Sorted by date Results 156 - 173 of 173
In a proactive effort to prevent the potential for spread of the coronavirus disease at its facilities, parks and events, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is limiting some public access. The commission aims to protect its staff and customers by removing opportunities for crowds to gather at facilities and events and by maintaining clean facilities. To do so, the agency has taken the following steps: -- All agency-sponsored events and activities scheduled through May 31 have been canceled. This includes the Cornhusker Trap Shoot, National...
An Antelope County commissioner, who was set to face a jury of his peers in the Antelope County courtroom later this month, more than a year after an alleged theft of county property, pleaded no contest to an amended complaint when he faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday. Eli Jacob, 66, of Clearwater, who is accused of taking a heating unit from the Orchard county barn Jan. 1, 2019, appeared March 4 for a pretrial hearing in the case. Madison County Attorney Joseph Smith, as special prosecutor for Antelope County, told Taylor a plea...

If you believe the most annoying sound in the world is nails scraping across a chalkboard, you’ve obviously never slept with someone who snores. The sounds is ... well, in our house, a cross between a buzzing chainsaw and sputtering motorcycle. It never fails. Just as I drift into deep sleep, Scott rolls over and snores in my ear. I’ll whisper (okay, yell over the clamoring), “Stop it.” Or, I’ll attempt to roll him onto his other side, praying for a reprieve. Both are short-lived intervent...
The Antelope County commissioners were faced with issues arising from two recent road decisions when they met last Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the courthouse in Neligh. Working through the agenda, commissioners examined and approved payroll and vendor claims, all with an eye on the clock, completing their work before noon. A quorum for the afternoon was at risk, due to two commissioners indicating afternoon obligations elsewhere and commissioner Regina Krebs' absence. Casey Dittrich, who has served as Antelope County road boss for the last four...
Darrel Timm of Neligh and Julie Krause of Brunswick were appointed to the Antelope County Extension Board by the county commissioners, when the county leaders met last week at the Neligh courthouse. Local extension educator Brittany Spieker proposed the appointments of Timm and Krause to replace Gayle Wortman and Derek Zuhlke, who had each completed two terms on the board. The new board members were affirmed on 4-0 votes of the commissioners. Commissioner Eli Jacob was absent. Spieker also presented the annual extension office report. She...
The Honorable Kale Burdick, in Holt County court last week, sentenced Joshua A. Boettcher, 28, to serve 30 days in the Holt County Jail for a Class 2 misdemeanor count of theft, less than $500. The complaint, filed in June 2019, stated Boettcher took movable property of another between Jan. 9, 2018, and Jan. 9, 2019. Boettcher will serve a 45-day sentence at the same time on a conviction of second-degree forgery, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed Oct. 27, 2018, included in the same complaint. As part of a plea agreement entered in October 2019,...

The stereotype was established more than a century ago. Home economics curriculum focused on making life at home more efficient and included coursework covering nutrition, cooking, sewing construction and child care. In fact, The Morrill Act of 1862, which established land-grant colleges, led to the offering of domestic science courses adapted for farmers' wives, who were expected to maintain the household while assisting with the family farm. By 1945, home economics leaders pushed for the...
Holt County citizens filled the county supervisors’ meeting room in the courthouse last Friday morning as the county leaders took care of business. Bryan Steskal of Steskal read a letter penned by his wife, Diana Steskal, who was unable to attend the meeting. In the letter, Steskal wrote the Holt County zoning board members denied TransCanada’s conditional use permit until two conditions are met, including one that requires obtaining easements. Many, she said will most likely be appealed. She also cited three federal court cases filed aga...
An Antelope County commissioner, who was set to face a jury of his peers in the Antelope County courtroom this month, more than a year after the alleged theft of county property, had his trial continued when he faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last week. Eli Jacob, 66, of Clearwater, who is accused of taking a furnace from the Orchard county barn Jan. 1, 2019, appeared Jan. 15 for a pretrial hearing in the case. Madison County Attorney Joseph Smith, as special prosecutor for Antelope County, told Taylor he now anticipates a two- to four-day...

The Holt County supervisors addressed cyber security at their final 2019 meeting. The leaders met Dec. 31 at the courthouse in O'Neill. Steve Anson with Anson Insurance Services was invited, by chairman Bill Tielke, to present information about insuring the county against "hacking" of county computers. Tielke indicated cyber security concerns were raised at a recent convention he had attended. "I don't think it's a matter that we can keep beating around the bush and not doing something about,"...

A program designed to give high school seniors practical work experience or college class credit wrapped its first semester when Clearwater Public Schools closed for the Christmas break, Dec. 20. Program managers Kendra Shrader and Amy Selting say the senior transition program has been a positive experience. "It's been a learning process (for all involved), but I think we're getting there and making progress," Shrader said. Nine of the 10 senior class members participate in the program, which in... Full story

The Antelope County commissioners postponed action on an agenda item requested by Andy Frey, Elm Township road closures follow-up, sending a half-dozen county residents away without resolution. The commissioners held public hearings Sept. 3 on proposals to close two segments of county road. Both closure requests, one mile of 848 Road, from one-half mile east of 529 Avenue to one-half mile east of 530; and one-half mile of 847 Road, were petitioned by Frey. Brian McDonald, county engineer,...
Antelope County Commissioners adopted a new snow removal policy when they met last Tuesday at the courthouse in Neligh. Casey Dittrich, road superintendent, presented the policy that he and road foreman Aaron Boggs have been drafting over the past few weeks, with input from Tim Baxter from the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency, the county’s liability-insurance carrier. Input also came from road crew members and, according to Dittrich, has the “blessing” of county attorney Joe Abler. The policy establishes protocol for the order...

Dean Smith of Brunswick presided over his first meeting as chairman of the Antelope County commissioners last Tuesday, moving to the position from vice chairman after the former chair was removed from office. Two new commissioners had not yet been appointed, leaving Smith, Charlie Henery and Eli Jacob as seated board members to take care of business. The board addressed issues related to a road included in the Thunderhead wind farm road-use agreement. Listed on the agenda under the road...

As area residents prepare to fall back with the end of Daylight Saving Time, local fire departments remind everyone to check batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and to test that they are functioning. Homeowners who have alarms with sealed-in batteries should check that the alarms are still operational. Twelve fire-related deaths have occurred in Nebraska in 2019, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Working smoke alarms save lives. Three of every five home fi...

An Antelope County commissioner will face a jury of his peers in the county courtroom in January, more than a year after the alleged theft of county property. Eli Jacob, 66, of Clearwater, who is accused of taking a furnace from the Orchard county barn last January, faced the Honorable Donna Taylor last Wednesday for a pretrial hearing in the case. Madison County Attorney Joseph Smith, as special prosecutor for Antelope County, told Taylor he anticipates a two-day trial, possibly three days,...

Four days after tabling a proposal to purchase land for a new sewage lagoon, the Clearwater Village Board of Trustees met in special session, Sept. 30, and approved an agreement to purchase 116 acres for $3,879.31 per acre from Midwest Personnel Management, Inc. Regina Krebs, of Clearwater, serves as president of the corporation selling the property. During a special meeting on Sept. 26, Village Chairman Steve Hankla said grant monies from the United States Department of Agriculture will be...

Findings by a private law firm, engaged by the Antelope County commissioners to investigate one of their own, was made public recently, after the investigation itself became the focus in efforts to recall two commissioners. Woods & Aitken LLP, a firm with offices in Lincoln and Omaha, was hired to conduct an independent investigation of Eli Jacob, Antelope County commissioner and former road department worker, after he was accused of the theft of a heater and other items, according a memorandum...