Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The countdown for the first day of the 2024-2025 school year is underway, as Summerland Public School students will return to class, Thursday, Aug. 15. A 1:30 p.m. dismissal is scheduled that day. Staff members will report to work for staff development Aug. 12 to 14. 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. Preschool...
The Antelope County 4-H shows I viewed were a lot of fun. You could tell members invested a lot of time and energy in their projects. And, despite the heat, animals mostly cooperated. I wish I had been able to see the other shows. Instead, I was battling an infection and made multiple trips to the emergency room to receive IV fluids and antibiotics. The descent into sickness began Tuesday, once the paper was put to bed. A quick whoosh of something washed over me and, within minutes, a 103° fever...
One of the most successful events for Antelope County 4-H members returns, Saturday, for its 14th appearance. The annual premium auction will begin at 4 p.m. in the show arena at the fairgrounds in Neligh. The premise is simple. Individuals place bids on beef, swine, sheep, goat, poultry and rabbit entries, shown by 4-H members. The auction gives the showmen an additional moment of recognition for efforts put into projects. With the exception of a 5% fee, retained by the auction committee to be...
How many barbecue sandwiches does it take to raise funds a new ambulance? Plenty. Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department will earmark funds from this year's annual meal, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 18, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the fire hall, toward the new piece of equipment. Dine-in, carryout or drive- thru service will be available. To place an order for pickup, call 402-485-2451 between 5 and 8 p.m., that day. Donations may be taken to the barbecue or mailed to the fire department at PO Box 11 in...
I don’t pay a lot of attention to television commercials; however, one in particular will always stand out. Picture it: a beautiful river, pastel orange sky and a rock-strewn shoreline. What viewers eventually see is a polluted river, smoke puffing out of factory stacks and garbage covering the shore. The narrator says, “Some people have a deep abiding respect for the natural beauty that was once this country and some people don’t. People start pollution and people can stop it.” Then, the camera...
The message from Clearwater residents is overwhelmingly clear: fix the streets. "We've been researching different options and trying to figure out a way to start improving the streets. When we went through the surveys done for the Downtown Revitalization project, and the housing grant two years ago, streets were the No. 1 concern of citizens of the community," said Clearwater Economic Development Director Lauren Sheridan. Navigating Clearwater's business corridor may get a whole lot smoother if...
Another trip around the sun. SAM and I have that in common. In 2019, the inaugural issue of the Advocate-Messenger made its debut on my birthday. Now, we're starting our sixth year of publication, a feat that isn't lost on Scott and me. It's been a positive and encouraging journey. Oh sure, there have been days when we wonder what the heck we're doing ... luckily, those days are few and far between. We feel like we're on solid ground and are excited to keep building the quality publication you e...
A bale of turtles, all sizes and species, stood in the spotlight, Saturday, during turtle races at Page Community Day. After Page Fire and Rescue chief Rod Isom cooled the cement racing ring with a dowsing of crisp water, box turtles, painted turtles and a red-eared slider moved like a herd of turtles toward the chalky neon pink finish line. Following heat races and a championship run, three reptiles crushed the competition, earning trophies for their trainers. Levi Schlem's entry was the...
It does not matter which side of the political aisle you gravitate toward. Saturday’s assassination attempt of former President Trump should give you pause and make you wonder how this nation has wandered so far apart. In the aftermath, I’ve seen tasteless memes and an abundance of misinformation spread through social channels. I urge you to take a step back, take a deep breath and critically think before clicking the share button or opening mouth (and possibly inserting foot). I’ll offer what...
Ask Ally Sedlacek what is Holt County's biggest asset and she'll quickly share her point of view. "It's the people," she said. "Without the people, this wouldn't be such a great place to live." An O'Neill native, Sedlacek has first-hand experience with the supportive and welcoming nature of area residents. This summer, she is highlighting locals who "have made a positive impact" and sharing why they love life in rural Nebraska. The end product: The People of Holt County, a compilation of video...
Antelope County is without a road superintendent. Following a nearly two-hour executive session on July 2, road boss Aaron Boggs announced, "I would like to formally submit my resignation at this time." What lead to the resignation was not made public. Commissioners entered executive session for personnel matters at 9:58 a.m. Chairman Charlie Henery asked Boggs to join commissioners at 10:38 a.m. He exited the closed session at 11:38. At 11:50, Boggs re-entered the exeutive session and left at...
Visitors to Royal's community celebration, scheduled for July 19 and 20, will find a slate of activities for all ages. On Friday, July 19, bring a partner and join the euchre tournament at the Royal Bar & Grill, 3020 E. Hwy 20. Cards fly at 7:30 p.m. Entry fee is $10 per person, with first, second and third prizes. Saturday events begin at 10:30 a.m., with registration for the tractor ride, at Royal Bar & Grill. Tractors are set to leave at noon. A light lunch will be provided for $10. For more...
Now that survey results from Clearwater's downtown revitalization study have been shared with village officials, the next step will include how to turn those dreams into a viable plan. Village engineer John Zwingman, with Advanced Consulting Engineering Services, will share cost estimates and provide an explanation of the project during a July 15 townhall meeting, at 6 p.m., at the fire hall meeting room. Paving, parking, storm sewers and water and sewer upgrades along Main Street were...
A person may not always verbalize how they feel. Trust me, their actions will always show you the truth. For example, I can tell when Courtney becomes frustrated with me when I voice my opinion and we don’t necessarily see eye to eye. She’s mastered the art of the eye roll, those long, thick lashes fluttering as she defends her way of thinking. Wonder where she learned that behavior? (Looking to my left, checking to my right, searching in the mirror to see if I’m the culprit.) Did I just roll...
Holt County Supervisors will hear real estate valuation protests when they meet as a board of equalization, July 17, in O'Neill.The BOE will also review a destroyed property report , as well as receive a three-year plan of assessment from the assessor. The board of equalization will meet at 8:15 a.m., with the supervisor meeting set to start at 9:15. Budgets for the upcoming year will be reviewed, beginning at 10 a.m. Supervisors will also receive a semiannual report from the county treasurer...
When the Summerland Board of Education meets July 15, policy updates, equipment and cement work will dominate the conversation. New superintendent Molly Aschoff, who began July 1, will lead discussion during a hearing to approve the Student Fee Fund Policy and the Parent Involvement Policy. Under new business, the board will discuss the purchase of custodial equipment and cement work, talk about disposal of an old school bus and review policy updates, handbooks and student fees. The meeting is...
What a show! Overflow crowds watched nearly 300 cowboys and cowgirls provide thrills and spills over the weekend at Clearwater's Big Rodeo. In the process, competitors took home approximately $34,000 in prize money. "What an amazing three nights of rodeo," said Curt Thiele, Clearwater Chamber of Commerce president. "We were blessed with very good weather and competition was high, with a big number of competitors." Sutton Schrunk, of Valentine, scored 77 in bull riding to take home the top prize...
Since she was a young girl, Luci Koinzan has dreamed of the moment she would be named rodeo queen. The dream became reality, Friday, when the Neligh native was announced as Miss Clearwater Rodeo 2024. "It's going to be a journey," she said. "I'm excited to start." Koinzan's path to becoming rodeo royalty is dusted in the footprints of her grandmother, Sandi Stroheide Koinzan, the first Miss Clearwater Rodeo, crowned in 1976. "I'm proud of her. It's a dream she's had," Sandy Koinzan said. It's...
If I ask you to define nuance or manifest or antecedent, would you be able to provide an answer? According to a recent study, “nuanced” is the “hardest SAT word.” Shades of gray, I say. Crossword experts at WordDB.com measured “the difficulty of every word listed as an answer option in the reading and writing section of the most-recent SAT practice tests.” The study’s methodology: evaluate the number of times each state searched on Google for the definition of 257 words included in six SAT pr...
Orchard trustees agreed to sponsor a community cleanup event when they met in regular session on June 10. According to village clerk Brenda Harrison, dumpsters are expected to arrive July 15. Additional information will be announced on the village's Facebook page. Trustees also approved hiring AMGL CPA, of Grand Island, to complete the yearly audit. The board requeted bids since Herley & Reinke CPA, of Norfolk, no longer conducts municipality audits. Harrison said three companies were...
Country star Nate Smith knows a thing or two about fire. In 2018, he lost everything he owned in the wildfires which whipped through Paradise, California, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history. Despite being safe, Smith found it difficult to adjust to the devastation and turned to music. He wrote "One of These Days," about his experiences, hoping it would resonate with others. The song caught on, going viral. Soon, Smith found himself singing at benefit concerts...
Early on a hot, summer Monday morning, a string of cars line Nebraska Street in Clearwater. They slip out of their vehicles and trek across a driveway to a mint-green stand, complete with crock pots, mini fridge and drop box. The sign in front of it says it all: Self serve stand open. Welcome to Rollin' Farm Stand, the brainchild of Haily Schlecht. It's a little bit produce stand, a little bit grab-and-go food source. No matter how it's labeled, it's filling Clearwater residents' stomachs with...
It’s almost “the best weekend in June.” Are we having fun yet? With the exception of contestant pages, the rodeo program has been at the printer for almost two weeks. Hallelujah! There are plenty of noticable changes. At the rodeo grounds, the bull - formerly part of the old steakhouse sign - towers above the entrance, foreshadowing action visitors are about to view. The bull’s devilish facial expression may be a nod to Laredo, the infamous bull that reveled in jumping the fence in the early d...
The countdown is on for the best weekend in June as rough and tumble action will take center stage at the 57th annual Clearwater's Big Rodeo. Competition begins Friday, June 28 and continues through Sunday, June 30, at the Gene Snodgrass arena, located along U.S. Highway 275. Clearwater Chamber of Commerce sponsors the annual event. Rodeo visitors will see a few new additions on the grounds. Clearwater Chamber president Curt Thiele said the rodeo committee and chamber members continue to make...
Call-ins for mutton busting for the 56th annual Clearwater Rodeo will be Monday, June 24, from 6 to 7 p.m. To enter, call Elly Herley at 402-640-9738. Text messages will not be accepted. Participants must be 3 to 7 years of age. Each night, 15 spots will be reserved for call-ins. The remaining 10 spots will go to walk-in participants who register the night of the rodeo. Organizers suggest individuals wanting to register the evening of the rodeo should arrive early. Mutton busting will begin at...
