Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Maria Velasquez, a Summerland Public Schools junior, has been selected to attend American Legion Auxiliary Cornhusker Girls State, May 31 to June 6, on the campus of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Velasquez will study local, county and state government processes in this nonpartisan political learning experience. Every spring, the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program provides approximately 25,000 young women with a hands-on educational opportunity designed to instruct tomorrow's...
The Northeast Nebraska Motorsports Hall of Fame will host its 2026 Race Car Show, Saturday, March 28 at the WarHorse Event Center, 4300 W. Norfolk Avenue in Norfolk. This free, family-friendly event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is expected to feature nearly 60 race cars from across the Midwest. Fans will have the opportunity to get up close to a wide variety of racing machines, including 410 sprint cars, super late models, chili bowl midgets, bobby stocks, modifieds, drag cars, and...
Orchard trustees reviewed bids for armor coating when they met March 9. Following discussion, the board approved a bid of $47,155.89 submitted by Sta-bilt Construction Company. Trustees also discussed a potential lease for the former music room in the community center. Currently, the room does not have heat or air conditioning. Board members talked about developing a lease and setting rent at $200 per month until heating and cooling is installed. At that time, rent would increase to $400. No vote was taken. In other business, trustees: • S...
This past week, the Legislature gave first-round approval to the two budget bills which propose adjustments to the biennial budget that was passed last year. As I mentioned last week, the Legislature creates a two-year, biennial budget in odd-numbered years, and that budget must be balanced. The spending approved must not exceed the amount of revenue projected by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board in their most recent meeting prior to the end of the session. This frequently...
One of my favorite political slogans of all time is “a solution in search of a problem.” It’s used frequently in debates at the Nebraska Legislature to describe a proposal or idea that imposes new rules and restrictions to address a problem that doesn’t exist. You might call it “government overreach,” too. Anyway, the “solution in search of a problem” line is being used often today to describe President Trump’s efforts to change election laws via the dramatically labeled “SAVE America Act...
Thursday, Feb. 20 marked the last day for senators and committees to designate their priority bills for the year. A total of 107 bills and resolutions were prioritized. With the Unicameral now in the latter half of this short 60-day legislative session, the majority of the bills that will be debated from this point on will be priority bills and the budget. My personal priority for this session is LR283CA. Currently, the Nebraska Constitution specifies that every citizen of the United States shal...
On a 4-2 vote, Summerland's board of education approved a full-time Multi-Tiers System of Supports coordinator for the junior-senior high during its Feb. 11 meeting. Board members Chelsi McLain and Scott Thiele voted against the recommendation. MTSS is a comprehensive framework that offers targeted academic, behavioral, and social-emotional interventions for students. The process creates small-group and individualized support that focuses on prevention. In some instances, intervention through th...
This past week, senators debated LB669, a bill introduced by Sen. Storer, which would update Nebraska’s informed consent laws to require women be screened for coercion and abuse when they go in for an abortion appointment. This measure was introduced with the intent of combatting domestic violence and human trafficking. In debate, senators presented contrasting information on the potential impacts of this measure. Senator Storer and other supporters of the bill argued it was necessary to give v...
Clearwater's water and sewer systems are treading water financially, and village officials are looking at a rate increase to keep the utility funds from running dry. A recent utility rate study shows operating costs have steadily outpaced revenue, particularly in the water fund, leaving the village dipping into reserves to cover everyday expenses and prompting a push to adjust rates so the system can once again pay its own way. Trustees will discuss a potential rate increase when they meet Monda...
This past week, the Legislature concluded bill introduction for the year and began the committee hearing process. In Nebraska, all bills and constitutional amendment resolutions are referred to a legislative committee for a public hearing. Senators will continue to meet in the mornings for floor debate and attend committee hearings in the afternoons until the end of February. Full-day floor debate is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 3. So far this year, I introduced 15 bills and one...
PRIMARY ELECTION NOTICE & OFFICES TO BE FILLED BY ELECTION AND FILING DEADLINES 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 Primary Election Ballot to be held May 12, 2026, in Antelope County, Nebraska, as per State Statute 32-601. Notice is also given that the filing deadlines for such offices are 5 p.m on: Feb. 17, 2026, for incumbents and March 2, 2026, for non-incumbents. An incumbent is anyone serving in an elective office, even if they...
Across Nebraska and the country, lawmakers are gathering in their state capitols and Washington, D.C. to begin another year of debating and passing legislation. The democratic process is something America prides itself on and one that requires input to thrive. While the process for public contributions varies by state, one commonality exists-lawmakers need to hear directly from their constituents on issues that are important to them. How can you make sure your voice is heard? Whether you're...
Two familiar faces will assume new responsibilities following a Jan. 8 statutory session of the Holt County Supervisors. 2025 chairman, Bill Tielke, told supervisors he wasn't interested in running for the position since he will not seek re-election. Darrin Paxton will serve as chairman of the supervisors for 2026. "I'm not sure if my feet are different sized than Bill's, but I have some big shoes to fill," Paxton said following the vote by supervisors. Dustin Breiner was appointed to chair the...
To borrow a line from “Seasons of Love” from Rent, “How do measure, measure a year?” The next verse of the song seems pretty accurate for a journalist: “In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee (or tea in my case), in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes, how do you measure a year in the life.” In the case of SAM, how do you measure which story or articles written throughout the year were simply the best? Should website page views be the determining...
Three thoughts ... Among the tasks waiting for the Nebraska Legislature when it reassembles after the first of the year will be a budget shortfall, the perennial pitch for lower property taxes and a roster of issues from education to fulfilling the wishes of the electorate ... finally. State senators also will be dealing with a couple personnel issues during the 60-day session, a pair of stinkers that have already occupied a considerable amount of time not simply for lawmakers but for the...
The Nebraska Broadcasters Association Foundation has awarded $17,000 in scholarships to four students who are currently attending Nebraska universities with aspirations to work in broadcasting upon their graduation. Barrett Stearns of Ewing, a sophomore at Wayne State College and Summerland Public School graduate, is among the recipients this year of the NBAF scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. Stearns is pursuing a dual major in sports media and mass communication. He is the son of...
Every day, Laura Gamble sees the importance of Pender Community Hospital in the lives of her neighbors. The woman who drove an hour to deliver her first baby. The man in a mental health crisis. They rely on her northeast Nebraska hospital. "It's like an oasis on the hill," said Gamble, who grew up in the area and practiced as a nurse before becoming the hospital's CEO. The hospital is one of the largest employers in the 1,115-person town of Pender, Gamble said. It delivers more than 120 babies...
If you're like me, you probably have tuned in the latest, excellent documentary by Ken Burns, "The American Revolution." If there was only one reason to donate to public television, it would be to help Burns produce more historical documentaries like "The American Revolution," and those on the Civil War, baseball and country music. There is nothing more interesting on TV, if you ask me. Personally, on PBS, I'm also a big fan of "Frontline" and the excellent reporting it provides. Plus, I'm a...
On Tuesday, the Antelope County Commissioners met for their first meeting in December with all commissioners present. The meeting began with The Elgin Review being recognized, in a unanimous vote, as an official newspaper of Antelope County for 2026. Also earning ‘official’ status were Summerland Advocate-Messenger and Antelope County News. Much discussion centered on personnel matters, specifically wages, benefits, paid time off and sick leave. County Clerk Lisa Payne has been gathering information concerning upcoming wage increases for cou...
A community recognition award honoring Page residents for their volunteerism and community spirit bears the name of its first recipient. The Terry Bartak Community Recognition Award was presented posthumously to Bartak during Monday's village trustees meeting at the village office. Bartak, who died July 16, 2023, served about 10 years on the Page Village Board. During his time as trustee, he suggested honoring community members for their contributions. "Terry thought it was important," said...
Union Pacific Railroad is the lone Nebraska-based company publicly known to have donated to the new White House ballroom championed by President Donald Trump. It's also a Nebraska-based company that will soon need a federal regulator to approve a massive merger that, if green-lit, would give the company control of more than 40% of rail freight traffic in the United States. Trump recently fired the most anti-merger board member of that federal regulator, the Surface Transportation Board, as he...
One morning after a night of one too many drinks, I gave in and passed my then 2-year-old daughter my phone to watch cartoons while I slept it off. When I woke up, Peppa Pig was nowhere to be found, but my kid had somehow managed to purchase a vintage Nebraska Territory map online. Well played, eBay one-click Buy It Now. The previous night, I had rabbit-holed into the world of Nebraska yesteryear - and I don't mean the Tom Osborne era. I was marveling at how big Nebraska used to be. Established...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 The Holt County Board of Supervisors met as a Board of Equalization with all members present. Deputy County Assessor Montana DeVries, Deputy County Treasurer Cathy Fuhrer and County Clerk Cathy Pavel were also in attendance. This meeting publicized pursuant to Section 84-1411 R.R.S. 1943. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on Sept. 10, 2025, in the Summerland Advocate. Chairman Frahm...
Over the years, I covered more than one effort by the Nebraska Legislature to redraw the boundaries of districts for state legislators and U.S. congressional representatives, among others, due to shifts in the state's population. Those efforts, according to the State Constitution, always follow the latest U.S. Census, which happens at the beginning of each decade. There's a lot of data to pour through, and the process, in my opinion, becomes the most partisan exercise in the mostly nonpartisan...
I will continue a series where I highlight several of the priority bills and resolutions that are pending and could be scheduled early next session. This week’s newsletter will provide an overview of several carryover priority bills and resolutions whose fate, at least to me, is more uncertain going into next year. LB13, by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, would require that Nebraska file a state plan amendment for the Child Care Subsidy program to pay providers based on a child’s enrollment or aut...
