Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1516
When an infant needed a lifeline, a 15-year-old Ewing teen sprang into action without hesitation. Little did Taelyn Nilson know the CPR skills she acquired through SkillsUSA - a career and technical education organization at Summerland Public School - would save a life on a cold December night. "I just thought it would make a good speech," Nilson said. On Dec. 19, after a basketball game in O'Neill, Nilson opted for a ride home with her mom instead of the school bus, craving a McDonald's $5...
Imagine 30 minutes in a warm, soothing environment that claims to deliver health benefits like easing chronic pain, reducing stress and even promoting weight loss. Thanks to 26 Renew, area residents can now experience these perks by booking time in an infrared sauna located in the heart of Orchard. Owned by Alexa Simons, 26 Renew operates out of the former girls' locker room at the Orchard Community Center. Simons, originally from Sutton, moved to Orchard in 2023 with her husband, Tristan....
Holt County officials reorganized for 2025, during a Jan. 9 meeting. Judge Kale Burdick swore in newly-elected supervisors Don Linquist Jr., Dustin Breiner and Darrin Paxton. Under the direction of county clerk Cathy Pavel, supervisors entertained nominations for chairman. Bill Tielke was nominated and re-elected as chairman. Doug Frahm was selected to chair the county board of equalization. After delegating committee assignments, supervisors reappointed Gary Connot as road superintendent and...
Since Antelope County Courthouse offices were open Jan. 9 on the National Day of Mourning, in honor of the death of former President Jimmy Carter, employees will receive a floating holiday. During a Jan. 7 meeting, commissioners approved a motion outlining the decision to remain open on Jan. 9, with a floating holiday for all county employees to be used by Feb 28. Antelope County Clerk Lisa Payne said since it’s a federal holiday, the state follows suit in declaring the holiday. “Our motion las...
Dear Mark Zuckerberg: How ironic your company axed its fact-checking program, aimed at stopping the proliferation of disinformation, earlier last week. Imagine my surprise on Thursday, when this newspaper, a community weekly covering the Summerland region in Nebraska, had a post celebrating Orchard Fire and Rescue Department members honored for long-time service, removed from Facebook. I linked the story from our paper’s website directly to your social media site, a procedure I’ve done mul...
Antelope County Commissioners learned about concerns regarding window frames and falling apart and buckling carpet during the Jan. 7 meeting in Neligh. Marlene Schindler shared concerns during the janitorial and maintenance report. "Most of the window frames are falling apart. Most of the windows I cannot even open," she said. Clerk Lisa Payne said she and Schindler discussed contacting a local handyman to see if he would tackle the job. Chairman Charlie Henery said if the individual can't, a...
The Summerland Lady Bobcats cruised to a decisive 37-16 victory over the Plainview Pirates in a Jan. 7 contest on the Pirate's home court. Summerland jumped out early, scoring eight points in the first quarter while holding Plainview to just four. Consistent offensive efforts by the Bobcats led to quarter scores of 8, 12, 9, and 8, while their defense kept Plainview at bay, limiting them to single digits in the final three quarters. Junior Jenna Funk led the charge for the Lady Bobcats, putting...
The Summerland girls’ wrestling team put forth a strong effort at the Norm Manstedt Girls’ Invitational in Columbus on Jan. 9, with six wrestlers earning medals and a 13th-place team finish out of 55 teams, scoring 93 points overall. Leading the charge for Summerland was Jaelyn Shaver (190B), who pinned her first three opponents to reach the finals. Shaver’s early victories included a swift 28-second fall over Karrie Weaver of Raymond Central and a semifinal pin over Laney Abell of Cente...
In a hard-fought battle of unbeatens on Friday night, Summerland's boys' basketball team edged West Holt, 43-40, in a home contest that came down to the final moments. Head coach Brett Kaczor praised his team's effort after securing back-to-back wins over challenging opponents. "Coming out of the week with two wins over two really good opponents is a big success," Kaczor said. "We will focus on fine-tuning our offensive execution and shoot countless free throws as we prep for a busy week with...
Summerland Public School played host to an action-packed Bobcat Wrestling Invite on Jan. 11, with the home team placing third overall by scoring 94 points. The tournament's final match provided a dramatic conclusion, determining the team championship in nail-biting fashion. Jason Shaver of Summerland stepped onto the mat in the decisive 190-pound championship match against Luke Hagedorn of Guardian Angels Central Catholic. With the team title on the line - a Hagedorn victory would secure the...
The Summerland Bobcats held off a late surge from the Plainview Pirates on Jan. 7, securing a 52-48 victory on the Pirates' home court. Despite a fourth-quarter rally by Plainview, Summerland's steady play throughout the game ensured the Bobcats remained unbeaten this season. By the end of the first half, Summerland led 30-24, thanks to a strong 19-point opening quarter. A defensive battle followed in the third, with the Bobcats outscoring the Pirates 9-7. However, Plainview found rhythm in the...
The Summerland Bobcat boys wrestling team returned from Elkhorn Valley on Jan. 9 with mixed results after a triangular meet against Howells-Dodge and Elkhorn Valley. Following a dominant 42-17 win over Howells-Dodge in the first dual, the Bobcats fell to a strong Elkhorn Valley squad, 53-23. Bobcats v Howells-Dodge Summerland opened the night with a decisive win over Howells-Dodge, powered by key performances from Ethan Kester (150) and Austin Mendoza (144), who both secured falls. Matt...
Antelope County Zoning Administrator Megan Wingate asked for approval for for appointments to two boards during the Jan. 7 county commissioners’ meeting in Neligh. Wingate suggested Dave Miller, Kurt Rakow and Ron Thiele be reappointed to the planning commission for a three-year term, expiring Dec. 31, 2027. Commissioners unanimously approved the recommendation. Corey Curtis and Derek Zuhlke were reappointed to the board of adjustment for a three-year term, while Miller was reappointed to s...
The Summerland Lady Bobcats hosted their annual invite on Monday, January 13, where 27 teams competed in an exciting day of action. The Lady Bobcats performed admirably, securing a fourth-place team finish with 107 points. West Holt claimed the championship title, tallying 129 points, while South Sioux City took second with 124 points, and Wayne rounded out the top three with 120 points. Individually, several Lady Bobcats shone on the mat. At 110 pounds, Ava Cleveland had an impressive run,...
That simple, snappy motto - We sell the best and recycle the rest - perfectly describes Ewing's Sunset Store. Originally opened in 2008 in the village's vacant lumber yard, the thrift shop has thrived through two relocations in its 16-year history. Now, volunteers are putting the finishing touches on the store's forever home in the former Ewing school building. Finding the store is as easy as ABC. Visitors can enter the former high school building through the southeast entrance, then proceed to...
When the clock struck midnight on New Year's Day, several new laws, as well as ballot initiative proclamations signed by Governor Jim Pillen, went into effective. The one exception: the paid sick leave initiative. It will go into effect Oct. 1. Minimum wage increases to $13.50 per hour. The increase was part of the scheduled increases outlined in the Nebraska Minimum Wage Statute Initiative, passed by voters in 2022. The first increase bumped the state's minimum wage from $9 per hour to $10.50...
I’ve been stuck in a “traditions” mindset lately. Last Wednesday, I couldn’t stop thinking about new year rituals. When the Huskers played in a Dec. 31 or Jan. 1 bowl game, Dad would place a 33LP on the record player and watch the needle land on a groove. The record: recordings from the University of Nebraska Marching Band. First song up: The Band Song. If you’ve ever followed the band to Memorial Stadium, you’ve probably heard it. It was one of Dad’s favorites. I can still hear him singing the...
School board members will take the oath of office when they meet in regular session, Wednesday, Jan. 15. Board officers will be elected and members will divy up duties among committees. Priority discussion items will include staffing and retirement incentive applications. Currently, Summerland lists two 7-12 positions available on the Nebraska Department of Education job website. Superintendent Molly Aschoff will also present an update from the Nebraska Associsation of School Boards. The...
The Summerland Lady Bobcat wrestling team showcased grit and determination as they competed in the Winnebago Lady Indian Invite on Friday, Jan. 3, finishing eighth in the team standings. Despite the tough competition, including Class A teams from a two-state area, several Lady Bobcats turned in impressive individual performances, with medalists emerging across various weight classes. Sophomore standout Ava Cleveland led the team with a second-place finish in the 110-pound division, earning 22...
As 2024 comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the stories that captured our communities' attention. Using website traffic data, we've compiled a list of the most-read stories from each month. This data not only reveals what resonated most with our readers but also helps us, as SAM publishers, identify emerging trends and areas of interest within the Summerland region. It's worth noting that the most-read articles aren't always the top news stories of the year. Sometimes, lighter...
A quick trip to Comstock on Saturday reinforced why I love Nebraska. The village, nestled against the Middle Loup River and situated on the Custer and Valley county line, boasts a population of 97 souls. I’m guessing on Saturday, the population may have doubled, as out-of-town visitors strolled or drove by the massive Christmas light displays stretching from one “Welcome to Comstock” sign to the other. Organizers boast the display contains more than a mile of lights, a dozen themed build...
Holt County Supervisors approved a base cost and procedures for the county's burial plan. An letter of agreement with local funerals homes will include a list of approved fees the county shall pay, according to clerk Cathy Pavel. Representatives from Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill and Seger Funeral Home, in Atkinson, attended the meeting and took part in discussion with the board during the Dec. 16 meeting. The motion, made by Duane Neiman and seconded by Darrin Paxton, includes a base cost of...
Summerland's girls' basketball team played two commanding games in the Summerland Holiday Tournament, bringing home the championship trophy on Saturday. The Lady Bobcats opened the tournament in dominant fashion on Dec. 27, defeating Winside 48-23 in the first round. A combination of aggressive defense and consistent scoring allowed the Bobcats to control the game from start to finish. The Lady Bobcats set the tone early, outscoring Winside 10-6 in both the first and second quarters, giving...
Two up, two defeated. That's the path the Summerland Bobcats took en route to the championship trophy in Summerland's holiday tournament. The Bobcats started their tourney run in the tournament with a commanding 71-24 victory over Winside on Dec. 27. Balanced scoring, relentless defense, and a fast-paced offense propelled the Bobcats to the decisive win. From the opening tip, the Bobcats set the tone, racing to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter. While Winside tried to claw back with a 10-point...
As Christmas draws near and holiday cheer fills the air, one figure looms large in the imaginations of children and adults alike: Santa Claus. With his twinkling eyes, rosy cheeks and hearty "Ho, ho, ho!" Santa is now synonymous with the spirit of giving, but few are aware that his origins stretch back centuries, through a rich history of generosity, religious devotion, and evolving cultural traditions. The Saint Behind the Legend The story of Santa Claus can be traced all the way back to the...
