Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1876 - 1900 of 3734
Two defendants were arraigned in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh recently, while, in the wake of a pending winter storm, many either had their appearances continued to February or just didn’t show up. One defendant had his case dismissed. Austin R. Bertschinger, 30, of Oakdale appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor on Jan. 18 for arraignment on a count of possession of tramadol, a Class 4 felony alleged Dec. 10. Bertschinger requested court-appointed counsel. After holding an indigency hearing, Taylor appointed Antelope C...
Garrett Dwyer runs about 500 head of Hereford and Angus cattle on his Bartlett ranch on the east edge of the Sandhills. The land he's on today has been in his family since 1894, when his great-great grandfather homesteaded it. Dwyer, who grew up there, is now the fifth generation in his family to ranch this land. But Dwyer didn't take over the family ranch until he did something far from home. For five years, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two combat tours in Iraq. Now he's...
A Bowhunter education course will be held at the auditorium in Royal. The course will be taught in three sessions: Feb. 15 and 16, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Feb. 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Archery hunters, ages 12 through 29, must have completed a separate bowhunter education course and carry proof when hunting deer, antelope, elk or mountain sheep with a bow and arrow or crossbow. Bowhunter education courses provide instruction in the safe use of bowhunting equipment, fundamentals of bowhunting, shooting and hunting techniques, game identification,...
"Fluidotherapy is a high-intensity dry heat modality, used at Antelope Memorial Hospital, to treat extremities," said Sheleene Charf, OTR/L, CLT of MSM Enterprises. "The fluidotherapy machine suspends micronized cellulose particles in a heated air stream. Energy is transferred through the forced movement of the mixture into a convection-formed vortex, creating a dry whirlpool. Having the properties of a liquid, the mixture is circulated in the machine's chamber, around the body part being...
The Nebraska Department of Revenue, Property Assessment Division recently issued a reminder to property owners that the Nebraska Homestead Exemption Application, Form 458, must be filed with the county assessor after Feb. 1, and on or before June 30. The homestead exemption provides relief from property taxes by exempting all or a portion of the taxable value of the residence. The State of Nebraska reimburses counties and other governmental subdivisions for the property taxes lost due to homestead exemptions. In Nebraska, a homestead exemption...
Haiden Sleister, 19, of Tilden appeared in the Antelope County district courtroom in Neligh last Wednesday, Jan. 25, to be sentenced for attempted possession of a stolen firearm, a crime committed March 19, 2022. Sleister, who arrived late to court, had not yet produced a specimen for pre-court drug/alcohol testing when the Honorable James Kube called his case. Kube advised Sleister that he would revoke bond and keep him incarcerated until he tested clean. The judge further advised that he only held court in Antelope County one time a month, wi...
Reprinted by permission from "The Mercury" A mysterious mammal may be moving further into the Sunflower State. A pair of Kansas State University researchers are beginning work on a three-year project to learn more about the prevalence of the southern flying squirrel in Kansas. One thing that the researchers would be excited to discover is a clue about why this small mammal glows hot pink under ultraviolet light. "It's a strange phenomenon," associate professor Adam Ahlers said. Ahlers grew up...
A familiar face will chair the Antelope County Commissioners following a vote by the board, Jan. 10. Charlie Henery was elected to serve as the 2023 chairman, following a 4-0 vote. Keith Heithoff, of Elgin, was elected vice chairperson. Commissioners appointed Tom Nelson to serve as veterans service officer; Bryan Cornett, weed superintendent; Megan Wingate, zoning administrator; LaVern Schroeder, surveyor and Brian McDonald, highway superintendent. Committe appointments for the upcoming year...
Antelope County Commissioners approved a 20% pay increase for the county’s public defender during the board’s Jan. 10 meeting in Neligh. According to deputy county attorney, Joe Smith, the last approved contract expired in 2015. Currently, Patrick Carney, of Norfolk, fills the role for the county and receives $38,000 annually. He reported to commissioners he would like to continue in the position, which is an appointed office. After an analysis, Smith recommended an increase of 20%, or $7,...
A Clearwater man has been charged with sexual assault of a female juvenile shortly after midnight on Christmas. Michael J. Mueller, 26, of Clearwater faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on Jan. 18, for arraignment on first-degree sexual assault. Mueller, who is represented by Martin Klein of Neligh, requested a preliminary hearing on the Class 2 felony charge. Taylor set the hearing Feb. 1. Bond posted Jan. 4, in the amount of $250,000, 10% cash, is continued. Bond includes a condition for no contact,...
As Justin Taubenheim combined soybeans in a Buffalo County field on an October afternoon, he thought about why he does it. "I'm not farming to get rich,” he said. “I'm farming to maintain a legacy, a way of life. Faith, family and farming, in that order. The farm is kinda like the icing on the cake." Taubenheim, 31, sports fewer gray hairs than your normal Nebraska farmer. The average age of a principal Nebraska farm or ranch operator: 56.4 years old, according to census figures. The rising worry: There won’t be a next generation to carry...
A jury trial for a Neligh pharmacist accused of healthcare fraud has again been postponed, this time at the request of the prosecution, due to a witness who was subpoenaed to testify out of state. United States Magistrate Judge Michael Nelson signed an order Jan. 17, granting the unopposed prosecution motion to continue Danelle Charf’s jury trial in the US District Court of Nebraska, to 9 a.m., May 8, in Courtroom No. 4 in the Ronald L. Hruska United States Courthouse at 111 South 18th Plaza in Omaha. The case will be heard by Chief United S...
Jake R. Short, 22, of Meadow Grove appeared in front of the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County court in Neligh on Jan. 18, alongside Antelope County public defender Pat Carney, to be sentenced for second-degree forgery, a Class 2 misdemeanor committed nearly one year ago. Taylor fined Short $200 and assessed $50 costs. Restitution of $433.73 had been paid and a second forgery count was dismissed by deputy Antelope County attorney, Joe Smith, as agreed to by the late county attorney, Joe Abler, in an October 2022 plea agreement....
Noah T. Storjohann, 20, of Norfolk appeared in front of the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last week for sentencing on two counts, third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Burdick ordered Storjohann to serve a 12-month term of probation for the June 5, 2022, crimes. He was taxed $60 costs and ordered to pay probation fees totaling $390. Probation order includes 24 days incarceration in the Holt County Jail, to be served two days per month unless waived. B...
Competition will be fierce, Sunday, at the Orchard United Methodist Church’s ping pong tournament. The event begins at 5 p.m. Organizer Jeff Shabram said two competitions will be available, one for novices and one for advanced players. Brackets will be drawn and prizes will be awarded. “We’ll have a lot of tables set up,” Shabram said. Food and drinks will be provided. Everyone is welcome to attend....
Travis L. Frickel, 40, of Atkinson faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on Jan. 17 for arraignment on nine Class 3A felonies and three Class 1 misdemeanors, alleged between Nov. 13 and Nov. 16, 2022. Frickel waived his right to preliminary hearings on the felony charges and was bound over to Holt County district court on counts I, II and III, third-degree sexual assault of a child, alleged Nov. 13, Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, respectively; counts IV through IX, child abuse, two counts alleged on each Nov. 13, N...
Three bills that would alter Nebraska fire-arm laws were the topic of controversy for four and half hours on Thursday, Jan. 26. Dozens of constituents gathered to testify in front of the Judiciary Committee at the Nebraska State Capitol to testify on separate bills that would, respectively, waive training requirements for concealed carry permits, require suicide awareness training for the same permits and allow off-duty police officers to carry handguns when picking up their children on school...
Clearwater Chamber of Commerce members and village trustees receive a $5,000 check from Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company officials, Jan. 11. Funds from the Foundation for Rural Service grant program will be utilized to construct a telehealth room in the Clearwater Public Library. The FRS grants, coupled with support from NTCA members, will support a broad range of community projects across rural America – from providing new equipment to local students, expanding digital inclusion i...
The sign on the backpack explains it all. Walking across America. Stephen Ashworth, a Terrell, Texas, native, estimates he's traveled more than 26,000 miles by foot. "I'm a traveler," he said. Ashworth ventured through the Summerland region last week, stopping in Clearwater, Wednesday. He dropped his gear at the village's park, pulled out his super cat stove - a well-worn cat food can - added fuel - HEET gas-line antifreeze works best - and placed a titanium pot on it to heat water for a Cup of...
An elected official from Antelope County died Monday. Joe Abler was elected to serve as Antelope County Attorney in 2010. He was reelected in 2014, 2018 and in the November 2022 election. Madison County Attorney Joe Smith, who also serves as deputy attorney for Antelope County, told SAM, "Joe died about 2:15 Monday afternoon, quietly with his family by his side." A Mass of Christian burial for Abler, 48, of Norfolk, will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 23, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in...
Ewing village trustees approved a one- and six-year road plan during the board's Jan. 9 meeting. Areas in red are in the one-year plan. Sections denoted in yellow will be addressed in the six-year plan. In other business, trustees approved a bid from Boyd's Electric, in the amount of $1,985, to replace outside lights at the fire hall and a quote of $3,919.84, from Protex Central, Inc., to replace the fire alarm control panel at the fire hall....
Helping law enforcement eliminate poaching in Nebraska just got a little easier, thanks to a new program by Nebraska Game and Parks. The new online reporting tool allows people to anonymously report suspected wildlife violations through a form at OutdoorNebraska.gov/WildlifeCrimestoppers. People can submit photos and even indicate if they are interested in a reward if charges are filed because of the tip. Once submitted, the report goes directly to the conservation officer in the county where the incident is suspected. “With this form, w...
Jericho D. Neal, 24, of Atkinson faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill on Jan. 10 to be sentenced for several crimes committed last spring - including Count II, a Class 1 misdemeanor, procuring alcohol to a minor; three Class 3 misdemeanors, Count IV, possession/discharge illegal fireworks, Count V, shooting highway signs, Count VI, shooting wildlife from highway; and Count VII, an infraction, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Burdick sentenced Neal to a 12-month term of probation, including $...
With her laptop open and credit card out, Allyson Mendoza watched the clock flip from 7:59 to 8:00 a.m. “Register now” popped up on her screen. The mother of three had set timers and reminders for this moment weeks in advance of the March deadline. By 8:02 a.m., she had scored spots for her two oldest children at Hummel Day Camp, the wildly popular city-run day camp held for the last 70 summers in Omaha’s Hummel Park. She had done so with mere minutes to spare. “It’s the most stressful 10 minutes of my life, and I’m a lawyer,” Mendoza said....
A 54-year-old O’Neill man was sentenced last week after he was found to be in possession of child pornography in 2021. Mark P. McDermott faced the Honorable Mark Kozisec in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill on Jan. 9 for sentencing on two Class 2A felony counts of possessing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Kozisec sentenced McDermott to a three-year term of probation, 60 days in the Holt County Jail, with credit for 14 days previously served and taxed him $147 costs of prosecution. Provided he loses none of his goo...
