Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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If the third graders at Summerland Elementary planned Thanksgiving, the guest list would be anything but ordinary. From favorite celebrities to fictional heroes - and even a few surprise visitors - these imaginative diners earned an invite for reasons as sweet as pumpkin pie and as silly as a turkey doing the hokeypokey. If I could invite anyone to Thanksgiving dinner it would be Jason because he is my best friend. The reason is he helps me. He is nice to me. He also plays with me. If Jason...
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Summerland FFA traveled to Osmond to compete in the District IV Leadership Development Events. "They did an outstanding job and qualified 19 members for state convention in the spring," said advisor Jacob Goldfuss. Leadership Development Events are contests that help students develop critical thinking, public speaking, and communication skills in a variety of areas, ranging from parliamentary procedure to prepared speeches on agricultural issues. The state convention will...
A group of enthusiastic student pacesetters shared their vision of leadership with the Summerland Public School Board of Education on Nov. 12. Elementary student council members Makenna Bergman, Shayla Horstmann, Jamie Miller, and LeAnna Mast provided an overview of the organization, what the group has accomplished, and goals for the future. According to Bergman, 12 elementary students, in grades five and six, comprise the student council. "Our mission is to make our school a better place by...
One Summerland senior will graduate at midterm, after receiving approval from the board of education at their Nov. 12 meeting. Connor Hemenway submitted an application, which included an essay covering the decision to exit early. Hemnway said he is ready to become independent. He plans to farm and will apply for a CDL next fall. “I feel like I’m at a point where I am ready to move forward and start focusing on my future outside of school,” he said. To graduate, Hemenway will need to pass four...
Summerland Public School hosted a Veterans Day program, Tuesday, Nov. 11. Instructor Dan Roeber worked with members of the government class to develop Tuesday's program, which focused on mental health awareness and programs that aid veterans. Heath Snodgrass and John Shaver, members of the Orchard American Legion, presented the colors. Approximately 15 veterans from Clearwater, Ewing, Orchard and Royal, along with members of the American Legion Auxiliary, were honored guests. Abryelle Kester...
Summerland's one-act team participated in two festivals, Friday and Saturday, at Creighton and Plainview. Five students, including Jennie Mejia Moncada, Reagan Parker, Kanyon Allemang, Leah Wiese, and Hudson Gray, received outstanding performer awards at Plainview. In Creighton, Wiese, Parker, Mejia Moncada, Gray, Ava Cleveland and Abigail Miller received recognition. The team travels to Hartington-Newcastle, Tuesday, for GNAC one-act. Summerland is scheduled to perform at 11...
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will accept applications for the Nebraska Elite 11 veterinarian program. Applications are due by Feb. 2. Applicants must be Nebraska residents who have been admitted to UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, with plans to major in animal science or veterinary science. The Elite 11 program offers financial assistant and hands-on experiences. Selected students must be incoming freshmen and residents of Nebraska, and show a strong commitment to the well-being of production animals and a...
Luke Kester, a sophomore at Summerland Public School, will perform with the 2025 All State Choir. He will spend three days in Lincoln rehearsing and preparing for a concert with 400 other musicians from around the state. A concert will be held Nov. 22, at 4:30 p.m. at the Lied Center....
Summerland Future Business Leaders of America will host a blood drive, Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The drive will be held at the school's auxiliary gym. Donors are asked to enter through door 10, located on the west side of the building. FBLA advisor Patty Sukup said, "This is a scholarship drive for our FBLA seniors." Appointments may be scheduled several ways. Contact the school at 402-626-7534, call Kyle Jensen at 402-910-0681, or visit www.redcrossblood.org. Individuals who...
Writing about life experiences creates the best stories. Summerland elementary students learned that lesson firsthand Monday from author Peggy Sundberg, known as Cowgirl Peg. Each of her nine children's books features a message - from anti-bullying and empathy to respect, friendship and handling peer pressure. SPS media specialist Tricia Whiting said those lessons - perseverance, overcoming adversity and kindness - are worth sharing. Sundberg last visited Summerland about a year ago. "I was limp...
The Summerland Public School music department invites the public to an evening of music, Monday, Oct. 20. At 6:30 p.m., members of the sixth-grade band, junior high choir, junior high band, high school choir, and high school band will perform selections. The concert will be held in the auxiliary gym....
Leadership opportunities • (l-r): Members of the Summerland SkillsUSA chapter, including Millie Shrader, Kanyon Allemang, Cassie Livingston, Sierra Thomson, Taelyn Nilson, Marlin Krysl and Zander Tabbert attend the Fall Leadership Conference, in Hastings, on Friday....
Summerland Public School announced its homecoming royalty during coronation and pep rally, Sept. 26. Maevlee Benson, daughter of Turee and Brittany Benson, and Cooper Maier, son of Chase and Kacie Maier, served as crown bearers. Senior court members Jadyn Hobbs, Shaylie Kester, Kenzie Sanne, Queen Caydence Schumacher, King Ethan Kester, David Stene, Ryan Rifer, Kevin Lopez. Class attendants included Lilly Kester (freshman), Belle Anson (sophomore), Charlee Wagner (junior), Beau Ahlers (junior),...
Summerland senior Jenna Funk placed fourth, earning a white ribbon, at State Range Judging, held in Keya Paha County, Sept. 24. Two hundred competitors competed in the senior division. Shaylie Kester received a green ribbon for her 42nd-place finish. Funk and Kester teamed with Ethan Kester and Breckyn Bergman to end in 10th place in the field of 54 teams. Ian Rittscher was the lone ribbon recipient in the junior division. He earned a green ribbon and ended in 56th place in a field of 252 studen...
Some academically motivated and engaged students at Northeast Community College were welcomed this month into a scholarship program sponsored by the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation. Twenty-four students were welcomed as First-year Scott Scholars, enabling them to take advantage of regular academic and social activities. The program also provides scholarship funds, helping students to develop close friendships with fellow Scott Scholars, and take advantage of cultural enrichment activities through field trips and guest speakers, among other...
Witnessing family friends struggle with the lose a son by suicide, Summerland volleyball players Charlee and Paityn Wagner made a decision to talk about the importance of mental health. Their platform: the volleyball court. "Paityn and I witnessed what their family had to go through and how hard it truly is to know what someone is going through on the inside," Charlee said. The sisters brought the idea to the Bobcat volleyball team. On Sept. 16, the team held a bake sale and sold T-shirts, with...
Homecoming festivities for Summerland Public School will begin Sunday, Sept. 21, with a bonfire at the ball park in Orchard. Fun, in the form of a paint war, will begin at 7 p.m. Students in grades 7 to 12 are asked to wear white. Dress-up days feature plenty of opportunities for all students to show school spirit. Monday, Sept. 22 is camo day. Students are asked to wear their best camouflage outfits. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the school may resemble a relaxing island getaway for tropical day. It's...
Summerland Board of Education members will shift their focus from a tax request hearing to regular business, Wednesday, Sept. 10, at Summerland Public School in rural Ewing. Action items on the agenda include discussion of the preschool playground, adoption of the 2025-26 budget, and approval of tax requests for the upcoming year. Board members will also consider a resolution that could increase the district’s property tax request authority by up to seven percent. Staffing will be addressed, a...
When the first bell of the 2025-2026 school year rang on Aug. 14, Summerland students met eight new staff members. Several have ties to Summerland communities. Some are kicking off a new career. Filling teaching positions are Abby Bauer, sixth grade; Kristen Napier, special education; Ashley Koenig, math; Anna Mayes, English; Cierra Morten, social science; and Andrew Steskal, math. Dani Janke and Brenna Wagner join the district as paraeducators. Abby Bauer Position: Sixth grade College: Concordi...
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. That advice from Gov. Jim Pillen stuck with four Summerland Public School seniors who took part in the first-ever Governor's Youth Summit, held Aug. 14 in Kearney. Shaylie Kester, Clair Krysl, Caydence Schumacher and Leah Wiese, along with Superintendent Molly Aschoff, joined more than 300 high school and college students for the day-long event, designed to connect Nebraska's youth with agricultural and business leaders. Schumacher said the summit gave...
As bus doors swung open on Thursday, Aug. 14, several students made a mad dash for the doors of Summerland Public Schools before the first beel rang. Others adjusted their backpacks, stuffed with fresh school supplies, and stopped to take traditional first-day photos. Guided by this year's theme, Together ,we..., staff and students are set to focus on teamwork, connection and shared success throughout the months ahead. During an opening assembly, all students viewed a video featuring school...
The countdown for the first day of the 2025-2026 school year is underway, as Summerland Public School students will return to class, Thursday, Aug. 14. A 1:30 p.m. dismissal is scheduled that day. Staff members reported to work for staff development Aug. 12 and 13. Families of students in preschool through sixth grade are invited to an open house, Wednesday, Aug. 14, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The Bobcat Booster Club will host a burger bash, Wednesday, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., at the school, with a...
With the school year starting next week, several events are planned to kick off the 2025-2026 year. On Wednesday, Aug. 13, elementary students and parents are invited to an open house. Between 4 and 5:30 p.m., may check out their classrooms. The booster club will host a burger bash from 5 to 6:30 p.m. At 6:40, the booster club will hold a meeting. Classes begin Thursday, Aug. 14....
Members of the Summerland Booster Club Golf Tournament Committee recently presented a check to the Summerland Booster Club for $32,000, proceeds from a May golf tournament at Summerland Golf Course. Accepting on behalf of the booster club are Gina Koenig and Ramsy Robertson. Booster Club Golf Tournament Committe members include Rita Anson, Josh Napier, Karmen Rotherham, Terri Hergert and Aaron Kruger....
A decision on replacing the Summerland Public School charter bus will hopefully take place in the next several weeks. Board of education members were in agreement to continue searching for a used bus with fewer miles and in better shape than the current bus, as long as a replacement can be found for $150,000 to $200,000. Superintendent Molly Aschoff said bus inventory "goes fast." If a replacement isn't secured, the current bus will require new tires and brakes. Board member Chelsi McLain...
