Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 276 - 300 of 383
The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board met last week and revised the current forecast upwards. The board projected an increase of $204 million for fiscal year 2020-21, $165 million for fiscal year 2021-22 and $93 million for fiscal year 2022-23, for a total increase of $462 million. The three-year average growth rate increased from 2.9% to 3.4%. Under LB 1107, the property tax relief bill passed last year, property taxpayers are eligible for a refundable income tax credit based on the...
As winter finally looks like it may be exiting, but before we usher in spring, what better way to spend a Sunday evening than at a soup cookoff. The Page community will host the cookoff, Sunday, March 7. Serving will be from 5 to 8 p.m., or until soups are gone, at the new Page fire hall. All funds will be used for putting on Page Community Day, Saturday, Aug. 28. Judges will be available to choose first, second and third places. In addition, all those attending may vote for their favorite by...
The extreme cold spell that Nebraska and other states experienced during the middle of February increased energy needs across the region, resulting in unprecedented short-term rolling blackouts. Public power districts were directed by the Southwest Power Pool to shed electricity usage immediately in order to prevent longer, more widespread power outages. The urgency of the situation, in which power demand exceeded generated power and minimum reserves were exhausted, prevented advance notice to...
On Feb. 26, the Revenue Committee voted to advance LB 408, as amended by AM 371, on a 7-1 vote. The amended version of the bill would limit the annual increase in property tax askings to no more than 3%, with some exceptions. The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, commented on its advancement. “Property tax relief requires a multi-pronged approach. One approach must be to place reasonable restrictions on property taxes. And that’s what this bill does.” Briese continued, “This...
The Legislature passed the one-third mark this week in the 90-day legislative session. The Appropriations Committee also presented its preliminary recommendations for the biennial budget. This provides a starting point for discussion of the various budget actions suggested so far. After the Appropriations Committee finishes its committee work, it will develop formal recommendations to be presented to the Legislature by mid to late March, at which time floor debate will take place. Although we...
A motion to remove a mask mandate for Summerland students in preschool through third grade failed during Monday's board of education meeting. The vote ended in a 3-3 tie. A handful of parents and patrons addressed the policy during public participation, and again, when the board addressed the agenda item. District patron, Seth Anson, of Ewing, said currently, masks are only a recommendation from the local health department. "It should be the parents choice to take the masks off our kids," he...
In early December, the former chair of the executive board, along with chairs of standing committees, sent an email to senators suggesting they limit the number of bills introduced. This would assist with safety measures being developed for senators and the public, in preparation for the legislative session during a pandemic. However, 684 bills were still introduced during 10 days of bill introduction. Although this number was less than the 739 bills in 2019, it was more than the 667 bills...
Holt County supervisors selected who will fill leadership positions during the board's Jan. 7 meeting. Bill Tielke was re-elected to serve as chairman and Doug Frahm will oversee the board of equalization. Per board policy, when a chairman is absent, the other chairman will preside. Four individuals were reappointed to positions they currently hold, including Gary Connot, road superintendent; Mike Durre, planning and zoning administrator; Deb Hilker, emergency manager and Ken Stenka, veterans...
Governor Pete Ricketts delivered his State of the State address to the Legislature this past week. He highlighted 2021-23 state budget recommendations for senators. This will be his last biennial budget proposal, as his eight years in office will be completed at the end of next year. Ricketts recounted the devastating flood in 2019 and coronavirus pandemic that followed in 2020. He commended Nebraskans for responding in the Nebraska Way - by working together to overcome challenges. The...
The Electoral College confirmed Joe Biden as the next president of the United States, Monday, as presidential electors cast 306 votes for the Democrat. President Donald Trump earned 232 votes. Nebraska electors cast four votes for the current president. The fifth elector vote, cast by Precious McKesson, of Omaha, went to Biden. It is only the second time a Nebraska electoral college vote was cast for a Democrat. Following the vote, McKesson said, "On Nov. 3, that one vote changed the direction...
An ice cream machine purchased for inmates at the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center has left one county commissioner feeling a little frosty. The board of commissioners approved a resolution regarding the commissary fee schedule for the county jail during their meeting Tuesday, Dec. 8, in Neligh, but the vote was not unanimous. The commissary fee schedule was on the meeting agenda due to the results of the county's annual audit report that were released last month by the Nebraska Auditor...
The Antelope County results are in for the 2020 general election. County clerk and election commissioner Lisa Payne noted 3,615 voters out of the 4,570 registered in the county cast ballots before and on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The people who turned out for the election voted for candidates who were running for positions at the local, county, regional, state and federal levels. "We counted 1,340 early voters, leaving 2,275 voting in person on Election Day," Payne said. "I did not hear of any problems...
The voters of Holt County have spoken by casting ballots in the 2020 general election. Important local races, combined with a battle for the White House, brought 78.6% of the county's registered voters to select their choices for leadership positions. County clerk and election commissioner, Cathy Pavel, said of the county's 7,144 registered voters, 5,615 voted. "Early voters totaled 2,163 and 3,462 individuals voted at the polls. Very busy all day with voting," Pavel said. Vote counts for local...
After listening to public input on potential administrative staffing and engaging in an executive session which lasted approximately two hours, Summerland Board of Education President Ed Nordby announced discussion and any impending vote on the matter would be tabled. The decision came toward the end of Monday's monthly board meeting, held in Ewing. Approximately 50 district patrons waited to hear the decision. In a phone interview, Tuesday, Martin said he had spoken with all three principals ab...
Holt and Antelope county residents who want to request ballots in person to vote early, must do so by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at either county clerk’s office in O’Neill or Neligh, respectively. All ballots for early voting must be returned to the county clerk’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, either in person, by mail or in the courthouse’s dropbox. The polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day across both counties, including at the following sites: -Brunswick Precinct: Brunswick Community Room. -Clearwater Precinct: America...
Local races in the 2020 general election may pique voters' attention this year. Holt County voters have until Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m., to request ballots by mail or fax a request to vote early in this year's election. Individuals may request a ballot in person by Nov. 2, at 5 p.m., at the Holt County Clerk's office in O'Neill. Holt County Clerk Cathy Pavel said 1,900 early voting requests have been received, as of Tuesday morning. All early voting ballots must be received by the county...
Antelope County residents who want to request ballots for early voting in the 2020 general election soon will run out of time to do so. The deadline for requesting ballots by mail or fax a request to vote early in this year's general election – scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3 – is 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. County residents who want to request ballots in person to vote early, must do so by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at the county clerk's office inside the courthouse in Neligh. All ballots for early vot...
istory, the Holt County Board of Adjustment held an organizational meeting, Sept. 24, to elect a chairman and set parameters for an Oct. 29 public hearing on the TC Energy pipeline construction permit application appeal. O’Neill resident Gene Kelly was selected chairman and presided over the meeting, which ran approximately two hours. Board members opted to hold the hearing at the O’Neill Community Center, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., with sign-up scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. A list of cri...
A proposed sale of the Clearwater site building was okayed by the Summerland School board of education, contingent on approval of a sales agreement, during its Sept. 14 meeting. Principal Mike Sanne said talks with ESU 8 administrator Corey Dahl have led to a sales price of $58,000. With the Sept. 14 vote, school and ESU 8 officials will begin the process of drawing up a purchase agreement. Several items will remain in the building. “Some pieces of kitchen equipment, there will be some other equ...
Many voters have received applications for an early vote ballot. These applications may be returned by mail, dropped off in the drop box at the southeast corner of the courthouse or taken to the clerk’s office, according to Holt County Clerk Cathy Pavel. Ballots will be mailed out, starting Sept. 28. Early voting in the Holt County Clerk’s office starts Oct. 5. Most importantly, according to Pavel,the polls will be open Nov. 3 for individuals who choose to cast a ballot in person. COVID-19 safety precautions will be in place. Some hou...
The Niobrara Valley Conference may expand its membership. Ainsworth approached NVC schools, sending a formal request to join. Summerland’s board of education discussed the application during its Sept. 14 meeting. Superintendent Dale Martin said 75% of member schools would need to cast an affirmative vote for the measure to be approved. In the request, Ainsworth superintendent Dale Hafer and co-activities directors Jared Hansmeyer and Scott Steinhauser, wrote that while the school has enjoyed b...
Random thoughts ... a.k.a. I am multi-tasking and a million ideas are racing through my mind. I’ll number them to give this column some semblance of order. 1. Best quote I have read in a long time. “Left, right or center - facts have no party line.” Spot. On. Many times at our house, Scott and I get into heated political discussions. He tells me I am not paying attention to what is happening (uh no, I pay attention all day long). Then I explain he fails to fact check before sharing some talki...
In rural America, we understand the importance of postal mail to connecting our republic. Sites across Nebraska’s Third District on the Pony Express Historic Trail commemorate the value of this service back to our earliest days as a territory and state. However, the United States Postal Service has been in the news more than usual lately for two reasons – its financial troubles and the increase in mail-in voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our founders recognized the importance of postal mai...
Approximately 35 Holt County residents crowded the supervisor’s meeting room and adjoining hallway, Monday, to listen to discussion about whether the county should dissolve townships and move to a seven-member board of commissioners. A motion to the effect, made by Steve Boshart, would have placed the item on the November ballot, giving the people of Holt County the ultimate decision. Prior to the motion being made, supervisors spent more than 90 minutes hashing over the item, which was added t...
On the 100th anniversary of women earning the right to vote, I’ve been thinking about the long line of strong women in my family. I never had the opportunity to meet my paternal great-grandmothers. Great-grandma Larson died giving birth and Great-grandma Gropper died six years before I entered the world. I am a strong woman because a strong woman - Barbara Fields Larson - raised me. I imagine her strength came from role models - strong Oakdale women - she grew up watching: her mother, Neola; g...
