Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The Summerland school board unanimously approved a series of engineering changes July 1 that will reduce the cost of the district's wastewater lagoon replacement project by about $74,458 without compromising the system's long-term performance. Board members approved the project during a July 1 special meeting. Savings come primarily from redesigning the lift station, delaying construction of a second lagoon cell until it's needed, and simplifying pump controls after the engineer determined the...
After exiting an executive session, Ewing trustees voted Monday to purchase the former Ewing School playground, known as Tigerland, for $15,000. The purchase includes the area marked by white flags, with the village also covering surveying and legal costs. Tigerland has served local children since 2008, when it was installed at Ewing Public Schools. Created through fundraising efforts and grant writing spearheaded by Becky Kaczor, the orange-and-black playground features slides, climbing equipme...
Ewing Trustees finalized new playground equipment plans at Schmidt Park, located along Highway 275. After narrowing choices to two options last month, and asking for public input online, trustees approved the purchase of option two from Cunningham Recreation. The purchase price is $135,944.97, which includes installation fees. Trustee Kane Fry said the village is guaranteed one grant for the new equipment, which will cut between 40 to 50% from the final cost. Village Clerk Jennifer Ramold...
On Saturday, July 4, we will celebrate Independence Day. This day celebrates the foundational principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, specifically, that all people have fundamental, unalienable rights to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” Notably this day will also mark the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. When the United States declared its independence in 1776, it established a radical new system of government whose experiment in self-governance revol...
Despite hearing research supporting early childhood education programs and discussing ways to identify learning and behavioral needs earlier, Summerland Board of Education members voted 6-0 on June 17 not to accept a $50,000 Nebraska Department of Education grant that would have expanded preschool services to three-year-olds. The board spent significant time discussing the proposal before board member Jeremy Wagner made a motion to accept the grant. The motion ultimately failed on a 6-0 vote,...
Following a public hearing June 8, the Orchard Village Board upheld a determination that multiple structures on property owned by Earleen Jensen are dangerous buildings and must be demolished and removed. During the hearing, Earleen Jensen and Justin Jensen outlined efforts they have made to repair and secure the buildings. Justin Jensen told the board work has been completed on a weigh room portion and cleanup efforts have taken and will continue to take place between structures on the...
Garbage prices for Village of Clearwater residents will see a 75-cent increase, retroactive to June 1. During the June 13 monthly meeting, trustees learned Bud’s Sanitary Service notified Village Clerk Angie Hupp about a “temporary 75-cent per gallon fuel surcharge.” “We don’t have an amount when it will go away. She said until diesel is at least under $4 a gallon,” Hupp said. A week later, Bud’s management personnel asked if the village had renewed its contract with the company. It expired in...
GENERAL ELECTION NOTICE & OFFICES TO BE FILLED BY ELECTION AND FILING DEADLINES, ANTELOPE COUNTY, NEBRASKA I, Lisa Payne, Antelope County Clerk/Election Commissioner, hereby give notice of the offices to be filled by election that will appear on the 2026 General Election Ballot to be held Nov. 3, 2026, in Antelope County, Nebraska, as per State Statute 32-601. Notice is also given that the filing deadlines for such offices are July 15, 2026, for incumbents and Aug. 3, 2026, for non-incumbents. An incumbent is anyone serving in an elective...
Residents urged the Ewing Village Board of Trustees on Monday to reconsider negotiations for the former Tigerland/school playground property, arguing the community could benefit from maintaining both the school playground and planned improvements at Schmidt Park. The discussion centered on the former Ewing Elementary School property, where the Tigerland playground has served local children since 2008. Created through fundraising efforts and grant writing spearheaded by Becky Kaczor, Tigerland...
Memorial Day has come and gone, so it's time to hit the road. As a lover of Nebraska stuff (you know, corn, the Huskers, Busch Light) I've never understood why more people don't vacation in our state. There's plenty of stuff to see and experience. And with gas prices through the roof, you can save a buck or two. But I guess the Cornhusker State isn't for everybody. (Oops, that last phrase got a state tourism director fired. Better be careful). Anyway, here's my list of cool, and sometimes...
Nebraska Public Power District identified four locations for a potential nuclear plant. So far, plans haven't sparked the backlash generated by previous wind and solar projects. This story is made possible through a partnership between Flatwater Free Press and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. Applause echoed through the halls of the Gage County courthouse. The county board had just approved new, more stringent wind energy regulations, and the overflow crowd of residents...
Elections often bring surprises, but the upset victory of retired Omaha businessman Scott Petersen in the Republican primary for Secretary of State wasn’t that surprising. Sure, he defeated an incumbent, Lincoln attorney Bob Evnen, who was seeking a third, four-year term. His office runs our state elections and handles several different tasks, like registering corporations. More than a couple of things were working in Petersen’s favor. First off, Petersen appeared to mount a more aggressive camp...
Voter turnout in last Tuesday's primary election exceeded the statewide average of 27%, according to data from the Nebraska Secretary of State's office. In Antelope County, 1,808 of the county's 4,329 registered voters - or 42% - visited the polls. Approximately 35% of Holt County voters cast ballots. Polling data shows that 285 registered Republicans requested early voting ballots in Holt County, while 45 Democratic voters made the same request. That trend continued in Antelope County, as 92 re...
Last year, I highlighted several ballot initiatives that have been approved by the Secretary of State for circulation ahead of this year's November General Election. This week, I would like to provide another overview of those measures that may still be seeking signatures. Although I provide information about these initiative petitions, this newsletter series is meant to be informative and neither represents an endorsement FOR nor AGAINST any particular measure. The Choose Life Now Amendment...
PROCEEDINGS SPECIAL MEETINGS VILLAGE OF EWING BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY 14, 2026 The Ewing Village Board of Trustees convened for a special meeting on May 14, 2026, at 6 p.m., to discuss the purchasing of the school playground. Chairman, Jeremy Tuttle, called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. Notice was given to the posted location of the open meetings law. Board members present were Jeremy Tuttle, Kane Fry, Dustin Jorgensen, Kent Stallbaum and Katie Cunningham. Jorgensen did need to exit the meeting before voting. Also present were Don Ruroede,...
On April 30, the House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, moving the nation and rural communities one step closer to a new farm bill. The bill was passed by a vote of 224-200. Fourteen Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the bill, with three Republicans voting against it. Unlike the vote that took place March 5, which was limited to members of the House Agriculture Committee, last week’s vote was made by all members of the House. The debate l...
Registered voters not affiliated with a political party - Nonpartisan - who plan to vote in the May 12 primary election may request a partisan primary ballot for any one of the State-recognized political parties, pursuant to Nebraska Revised Statute 32-912. Additionally, Nebraska Democratic Party and the Nebraska Libertarian Party opened their ballots to nonpartisan voters, allowing nonpartisan voters to request a Nonpartisan Partisan ballot from one of these parties with all of that party's...
Almost every time I head over to the local work-out joint, there's some petition circulators waiting. They scurry up and ask for my signature on a proposed ballot initiative that would make it harder for state legislators to change laws that voters have passed at the ballot box. Nebraska is one of only 26 states that allow voters – if they collect enough signatures to put something on the ballot – to directly pass laws and constitutional amendments, or to repeal such measures via a ref...
Summerland Board of Education members approved a resignation during the April 13 meeting. Katie Andrew, high school English/Language Arts instructor, indicated her intent to leave the district in a letter read by board president Nate Schwager. In her resignation, Andrew wrote, "Teaching here has been such a rewarding journey, and the staff at Summerland is truly exceptional." Andrew has accepted a position as the director of NECC extended campus in O'Neill. The board also approved a teaching...
Clearwater village officials considered four bids for hay and/or pasture during the April 13 meeting held at the fire hall. Jay Snider bid $3,500 to pasture the lagoon parcels and $700 to hay the tree dump and dike. Fred Thiele submitted a bid of $2,551 to pasture lagoon parcels and install or repair fence line as needed. Blake Kester submitted a $2,750 bid to hall all parcels, and Kasey Shenshew bid $2,000 to hay all parcels. Trustee Cody Kester said he would like to see permanent fencing...
The 109th Legislature’s second session has adjourned sine die. As of the day of adjournment, the Legislature had passed 150 bills, excluding “A” (Appropriation) bills. Of the 107 priority bills designated this session, 75 bills were passed as standalone measures. Many priority bills were passed: LB525 to create first-of-its-kind agricultural data privacy protections for agricultural producers, LB958 to require Nebraska to pay the maximum amount of coverage for which Medicaid recipients are r...
This week, I would like to provide a broader overview of the proposed changes to the state's Brand Law. This session, I introduced LB1187 to allow the ability for the Brand Committee to adjust its inspection fee to help the Brand Committee manage a difficult budget situation. Due to the closure of the Tyson plant in Lexington earlier this year, as well as other factors, the Brand Committee's cash fund has depleted in recent years. Although the Brand Committee has indicated that it could...
This past week, the Legislature gave final approval to the two budget bills. During the long 90-day legislative session, the state’s biennial budget is crafted. During the short 60-day session, adjustments are made to the budget. Adjusting this session’s budget was a much more demanding task since senators had to weigh what agencies and programs would be cut. Combined, both budget bills contain a large collection of cuts, changes, and cash transfers which will bring the deficit down to abo...
The Nebraska Legislature began talking about "exterrestrials" the other day, and well, who could pass up writing about that? I have a buddy who insists that an alien craft hovered over his acreage outside of Ashland. There's another buddy who is convinced that he was followed by an alien ship while driving down a remote western Nebraska highway. So I've heard some stories. Thanks to these new-fangled "prediction markets" like Kalshi and Polymarket, we can actually place bets on the chances that...
This past week, Senators gave first-round approval to LB525, a bill introduced by Sen. Jacobson to protect data collected by farmers’ equipment. This measure would create a first-of-its-kind ag data privacy protection for agricultural producers on subjects like soil conditions, weather, and crop yields. This ag data has completely changed the landscape of agriculture thanks to the growing use of precision technologies in agricultural equipment. Senators also advanced LB1165 to the next stage o...
